SOMETHING ROAMS THE NIGHT...

FORTY

"Reapers are born from darkness. They can take the form of a human, of anything that has a life. But if they don't kill enough people, if they don't feed enough, they will begin to turn into the ugly creature they once were-their true form. Because that murderer, so-called Damon, had killed too many innocent people, there was this darkness that continued to grow in him, that made him stronger each day. That was why he could remain a human being, and only change forms whenever he wanted to." Zac explained.

"So how exactly does a reaper die?" Ezra queried his uncle. 

"That white light you saw? That wasn't just a light, it was an explosion. Your parents arrived not too long before that incident, Ezra," Zac turned to his nephew. "Your father handed me this bottle of transparent liquid. Silver nitrate. It's the only thing that could kill the reapers. It corrodes their skin, hence disintegrating their cells. So they'll just melt into black, icky stuff."

"You created an explosion," Ezra said slowly. "Did you know we could have died if the whole house happened to explode?"

"I used a fair amount of silver nitrate and ethanol," Zac said coolly. "Learnt that in chemistry, almost blew my own head off."

"You shot him," I recalled what had happened just a few hours ago. "How do you know for sure Damon  is dead?"

"He is. I used a shotgun, hence the large hole. And also, I laced the bullets with silver nitrate, which will instantly kill him."

"So you're saying...every single one of the reapers are dead?"

"Reapers are everywhere, Ezra," Zac replied pallidly. "They are attracted to those with a dark heart, with a dark soul. They obey the darkest soul as if it were their master. And from there, they will multiply in number."

"We're never truly safe," I realized. "They're more of them out there, just not here, not now."

"Yes," Zac nodded. "Nobody knows when they'll appear again. But when they do, we'd be ready."

"No time to think about all that now," Ezra rolled his eyes, blew out a breath. Then he turned to face me. "There's something I need to tell you, Haley."

"Okay, I'm just gonna leave you two lovebirds alone. But when you're done talking, don't forget, both of your families are waiting for you. They're worried as hell," Zac stood, and left.

"So, what did you wanna tell me?" I turned my attention back to Ezra.

"I wanted to say that I will never leave your side again," he took my hand in his. "I promise I will always care for you, always protect you, and always make sure you're never in danger. You'll always be the most important person in my life, and I would do anything just to make you happy. I would be the luckiest guy in the world to have you by my side."

"Haley, I know it sounds stupid, because we're only seventeen, but I know I'm going to love you for a very long time. So let me take care of you, let me be the one you can turn to whenever you need help, let me be yours."

"You are already mine," I said simply. "I love you."

"I love you too," he gave me that sexy grin again, and leaned in for a kiss.

"Oh, my God!"

A kiddish voice from the doorway startled me, and I tore away from Ezra. 

"Oh, my God!" Andy said again, obviously aghast.

"I can't unsee this," he mumbled, and with that, he turned on his heel and scurried away. 

I shot Ezra a look, and we both burst into hysterical laughter.