SOMETHING ROAMS THE NIGHT...

THIRTY NINE

Blood spattered all over my clothes. My mouth was open in a wide 'o' of horror.

No. Ezra couldn't be dead. He just couldn't.

I felt sick, and my head was spinning. 

"Ohhh..." Damon's low, exasperated cry, made me raise my eyes in his direction.

There was a gaping hole in his torso-I could see right through his body. Blood seeped into his shirt, staining it dark red. The gun slipped from his hand to the floor. His eyes locked on mine for a few moments before he dropped on his knees, and fell face-down at my feet.

"Hale?" Ezra got up from where he had been lying, steadying himself on his feet. "Haley," he fell into my arms, and we held each other as we stared at the dead body.

Damon was dead. The reaper was dead.

And Ezra was alive. Thank God.

"You both okay?" 

We turned to see a tall figure stride into the room, a shotgun hoisted over his shoulder. 

"Oh God, Zac?" Ezra breathed. "We're alright."

"Oh, hell," Zac gasped when he almost trodded on my aunt's dead body. "What the hell?" he had a shocked expression on his face as his gaze went back to meet ours.

"My aunt, she's..." I finally found the words. I could feel grief beginning to pour in. "He killed her."

"Hale, I'm here for you, don't worry," Ezra held me to him. 

"The police are outside, and so are the paramedics. Your mother, she managed to call for help," Zac told us after a while. "Son of a b-," he cursed as he kicked Damon's corpse with his large boot.

"You saved our lives," I said, forcing a smile. "Thank you."

"It's my job, I'm a Kane," Zac smiled back. "Now we don't have to worry about leaving town. Come, let's get out of here."

Ezra's arm slipped around my waist, and he glanced at me with his beautiful eyes as we headed outside. "Are you okay, Haley?" he asked me, his words filled with concern.

My eyes brimmed with tears. "I'm okay, Ezra," I said to him. "Are you?" I touched the nasty bruise on his left cheek. He winced, but then nodded.

"I'm just glad you're okay," he linked his fingers with mine. Once again, he was caring for me. Prioritizing me. And he was the one with the gun pointed at his head.

This time, I knew why I was attracted to him. It wasn't just his looks, it was his everything. He put me first, before his own needs. Cared for me when I never asked him to. And he was willing to die for me.

Ezra wasn't just my best friend, he was someone I truly cared for. Someone I truly loved.

"Ezra," I said, just as we were at the driveway. He stopped in his tracks, his hand still linked in mine.

"Hmm?" his eyes seemed to gleam as he studied my face. "What is it, Haley?"

I didn't say anything. Slowly I reached a hand to his cheek, tracing the blue-black spot lightly with my fingers. He jerked a little, but his electric gaze didn't waver. My other hand found its way into his silky brown hair, and I brought his face closer to mine.

He was staring at my mouth, so I bit my lip, feeling him tense up. 

"I love you too," I said at last, and kissed him. He kissed me back, his arms wrapping around me.

The world faded away, and there was only us.