Lunar Clock

~ Chapter 18: RUN! ~

CPOV

We burst through the front door with a loud crash, come to find out we knocked over a long never used coat rack and that knocked over the umbrella hanger and... you can probably picture the rest. Andrew and Tori came running from the kitchen, but there was no sign of Simon.

"You know, I'm starting to get sick of you guys running away and dramatically crawling back so damn much. But for some strange reason I still come a' runnin' to the door."

"Can it Tori... this is... important." She huffed and turned her head away to show she was offended.

"What's wrong Derek, you guys seem you were in a real hurry to get back," he motioned at Derek's panting and probably was wondering why I was not. Sorry Derek... "What is this important thing you're talking about?"

Derek was still panting very hard, and when he tried to talk nothing but huffs were coming out. Andrew stepped in again.

"You look like you just ran a marathon, what have you...? Derek, every time you do this "taking off" thing you know that I worry don't you? How do you think I feel knowing that you're off on your own_"

"Andrew...it's...not really...the time_" Derek spat breathlessly.

"Then when IS the time? I never get the chance to talk with you cause you either are secluded to your room, going off at me, or out in that god damn_!"

"They FOUND us!" Derek shouted while still bent over. The two froze over, their bodies still and ridged when those words escaped his lips.

"Edison group, Derek saw them about two miles down the highway. They could be here any minute!" I continued for Derek, looking over at him doubled over, all I could think about was me telling him not to push himself so hard, but I understood now why he did. We had only a few minutes to get out, but that was a hell of a lot better than a few seconds... or none at all.

"Everyone, grab what you can from your rooms and head to the back door. We are going to try to make it back to my truck." Liam stepped from out of the corridor, only in his boxers and a t-shirt, but still completely serious.

"Well, GO!" I felt a hand brush my back, and realised I was being propelled up the stairs. "We don't have much time, so don't lolly gag, I mean it!" Derek broke his contact with my back and fled to his room, Tori was already at hers, and I just stood at my door. I was wondering about Simon, was he okay?

"Don't worry too much; I think they are going to make up. Simon seemed real upset with what he said to Derek. So you don't have to worry alright?" Tori proclaimed from her room nearby. I finally decided to turn open the door knob.

I met up with everyone at the back door, I was last... and I knew I would get chewed out by Derek for it, but when I looked up he was stiff and awkward looking. Simon was also, but the feeling between them was not necessarily of anger or hate like before, it was sort of an off forgiveness, like they made up, but were still wary and toiling over the words that they shared between each other.

Liam looked up to see that we were all there, and motioned for us to leave.

We made it half way down the lawn when Derek and Liam went ridged, they shot a glance at the house and I wondered what was going on. Then I turned my head, and heard cracking of wood, and guns going off. They were shooting at the house, probably thinking we were still inside. My stomach turned as I realised what would have happened if we were there just a moment later. I would of been...

NO CHLOE, pull yourself together, don't flake out now! You have to be strong, you have to bounce back with a smile, roll with the punches, don't be afraid... don't be afraid. When I looked up and realized I made it into the woods I did feel a rush of relief flow through me, I felt better, but when I looked back and saw the house on fire, flames sputtering into the clear blue sky I took back my words.

Don't be afraid; don't be afraid, but... what if I was?

A cold metallic Chevy was parked just in the tree line off of the highway. It looked rather small, maybe a three seat-er... but there was six of us, this was not going to be good.

Luckily when I got up closer I noticed the features of a five seat-er and thanked god for it. We piled inside (me sitting on Tori's lap) and took off as soon as Liam was able to warm up the engine enough. He seemed at odds over what to say to us after about 20 minutes on the road, Andrew was twiddling his thumbs, both the boys were staring out their windows, and I was stuck in the middle, crushing Tori underneath of me. I was able to smell the mixed scents of Derek and Liam, those two sharp pheromones that seemed to almost make them seem wild. But because of the small interior I was able to differentiate and contrast them, and noticed quickly that what I thought was similar was actually the complete of opposites.

I first did Liam's, the scent that rolled off his body although faint and could be easily over looked, had a husky richness that smelled of experience and maturity but also a very powerful and energetic quiver to it that gave the impression: he was still young enough to take you on, or... something like that anyways.

Then I moved on to Derek's, it was a powerful smell that hit you if you were looking for it. It had a sort of flatness that showed intelligence and logic of his well levelled mind, but when your nose was about to expel it out, you catch the wiff of what that first part of the scent was hiding. It was a deep and sad smell of protection and anger, of masculinity and uncontrollability. If his scent said what his body was trying to proclaim as his true character then I wondered worryingly how Derek must be feeling. He has been through so much, did all these factors contribute to this sense of instability and unconfidence?

I looked back through the rear view mirror at the lines coming away from beneath us as we sped over them, the truck was quiet, and the sound of breaths being took were the only signs of life in the cabin. It felt odd being alone with all these weird stimulating scents all around me, I felt like I should keep on my toes, being so unrelaxd with such threatening smells.

Then we rolled onto a dirt road, the traveling getting bumpy and everyone swaying form side to side from the force of the pot holes. A small sign appeared apart from the trees and I extenuated my neck to look over Simon's head as he tried to read it also.

"Welcome to the Town Of Geburt!" it read, and I heard Liam mumble to Andrew that Geburt meant birth in German, and I thought that maybe the first person to colonize the place could possibly of been German. And birth... maybe this was the nursery, where all the pack members were brought up...so, "Birth of the Pack" is what that name meant. We just kept turning on, one clump of trees to another; the woods hiding the only thing right now that could possibly make me feel safe. Then my mind whirled from the thought of the fangs Derek let show when he was huffing for air trying to get us back to the safe house... how those changes frightened me and I decided on the thought that the tree hid the only thing that made me feel safe, as well as nervous all at the safe time.

I had to hold strong, I had to, but they found us once, could they possibly do it again? The flames of the Safe House seeming like they were able to reach and start licking my hair as Derek rolled down a part of his window.

Was I ever going to feel completely safe?

Derek looked over at me, and as he said something I didn't really pay attention to, I stared at those wolfish canines.

No, I guess not.

Thanx 4 reading, please review... come on, I know you want to! _