Chasing Forever: Jacob's Story

"The stars are dancing."

 "Where are you going?" Chyenne says, stepping out of the trees past the training area with my little sister, making me jump.

 "What? Uh, nowhere." I lie, my heart beating hard in my chest at the sight of the two of them in front of me with their arms crossed. Chyenne raises her eyebrows at me and I sigh. "I'm meeting someone."

 Nichola sighs impatiently. "Obviously. Who are you going to meet?"

 "Somebody." I say, taking a step forward. "And I'm going to be late if I don't leave in a few moments."

 Chyenne steps forward to block my path, and for the first time I see distrust in her eyes. The same distrust I see in my mothers sometimes when she asks my father about his overnight trips. "Who? A girl?"

 "No!" I say quickly, staring into her eyes, trying to show her I'm not lying. "It's not a girl."

 "Mhm," She says, looking away. A twinge of fear floods through me. "Sure.."

  "It isn't," I say, touching her cheek and making her look at me. "He's human."

 They both stare at me. "A what?" Nichola says, as if she can't believe what I'd said.

 "He's human. His name is Mike." I say quietly.

 "You're going to meet a human," Nichola says shocked. "Its after midnight, Jacob!"

 "Keep quiet," Chyenne says suddenly. "Your father got back today and we're very close to your house. I don't want him to catch us here."

 Nichola shuts up and I look at Chyenne and she cocks her eyebrow at me. "Is he who you've been sneaking off to meet after the dusk patrol?"

 I stare at her in shock. "You knew?"

 She nods. "Of course I knew. I was just hoping you would tell me and I wouldn't have to confront you on this."

 I look away. "I'm sorry.."

 "Are you going to let us meet him or not?" Nichola says, walking past me with my mate.

 "Uhm, sure." I say, running to catch up with them. "It's this way." 

  We walk for about ten minutes in silence when suddenly I hear yelling in the distance. "Do you hear that?"

 Chyenne tenses and nods. "Yes."

 I breathe in deep, praying that I don't catch the scent of blood or vampires. Please let Mike be okay, I pray as I speed up slightly. "No blood or vampires.." I mutter confused. "He isn't bleeding.."

 "So what do you think the yelling's about?" Nich asks, her voice concerned.

 I shrug, taking another deep breath before I freeze, realizing. "No.."

 "What?" Chy asks, her voice scared. "What is it?"

 "Fire." Nichola and I say together and I take off full sprint toward the human village.

 They struggle to keep up with me, but soon they fall a few feet behind as I run faster than I ever have before, toward the village where my best friend lives. My heartbeat in my chest is almost painful and my legs are jelly by the time I get there and run straight towards where the fire can be seen through the houses.

 My heart drops when I realize who's house is aflame. "Mike.." I say, terrified for his life. I don't even have time to think. I immediately pull off my shirt, ripping it and tying a strip around my face to cover my mouth and nose, to block  out the smoke.

 Chyenne stops next to me. "If you're going to go in there, you should wet that cloth." She says, pointing to a bucket of water being passed around by a few villagers, who are trying to stop the fire from spreading to other houses.