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21 | the clock

Taylor didn't show up at school and is the center of gossip. None of the teachers knew who set the poster on fire and neither did the students.

Only two students saw me doing it but surprisingly, they didn't rat me out. I never knew who they were nor get a good look at them. Right now, I'm trembling. Dax is coming today.

I was alone walking down the halls and Dax showed up in front of me. Students were putting their stuff in their lockers and passing us.

"What do you want?" I ask in a disgusted tone.

He just shrugged. "We should finish where we left off." He put his fingers on his chin and looked around. "Should we do it here?"

"Just go away." I say. I brushed past him but he grabbed my shoulder. I yank forward and he lost his grip. Breathe, Breathe. I trudged the rest of the way to class. I sat in the same spot like yesterday. Kyran rushed in and sat by me.

"You met him?" He asks, pulling out his books.

I nodded. "Yeah. I have goosebumps all over. Say, how do vampires not age?"

"We stopped drinking human blood. Besides, who wants to live ten years as one year in Ordinary years?" He answered.

"How do you not get burned by the sun?"

He flipped through the pages of the book. "We eat a blood raisin two times a month."

"Why don't you drink human blood?" I twirled my pencil.

"We drink- wait, why are you asking me all these questions?" He said, turning his body to me.

"I'm... Just curious." I say.

"You're curious of your vampire self? Why don't you know any of these?" He furrowed his brow.

"I never wanted to pay attention to vampire history and development. I only though of being a Pure wolf." I sheepishly turned to face the window.

"Are you saying you don't despise having a vampire side anymore?" He asks.

"No- That's not what I'm saying... It's just- Actually, I don't know."

"Sure. Whatever. But we drink a blood substitute every forty hours. If not, there's a possibility that we may die."

A minute of silence passed. I brought all of my thoughts together. "I'm... Going to use my vampire side more often. I think it's useful."

"Really? Cool." He said.

I rolled my eyes. Obviously, he wasn't listening. Then a thought struck me. "Wait, blood every forty hours? Then that means-!" I covered my mouth.

He didn't say anything. His hand twitched. No wonder he wasn't so happy. It had been thirty-five hours since Dan had gone missing.

: : : : : :

Thirty-seven now. Kyran throughout the day kept on disappearing. I want to help him. I really do. But everything I catch him, he disappears. The only class I have with him are only English, History, PE.
  
I put my books in my locker and Dax came to me. "So, I heard that little Dan is missing."
  
My breath was caught in my throat. "No, he's not." I lie.
  
"Breeze, quit your lies. I know already since I was the one who kidnapped him."
  
I whip my head to him. My eyes stern an full or rage. Anger is all over me. "What the hell did you do?" I hiss.
  
"He's a distraction. But, do you know who Kyran really is?" What does he mean by that? I shook my head. "I don't care." I slammed my locker and walked away from him.
  
"We'll meet again!" He called out.

I ignored him and kept walking forward. I saw Kyran exiting the school doors. I quickly ran to him and slip through the door.
  
"Kyran. Kyran!" He didn't stop. He kept walking. When he got to his car, I grabbed his shoulders and spun him around. "Kyran!"
  
His eyes didn't look at me. They were looking at the left and he clenched his fist. "Kyran, look at me." He didn't. "Kyran, please."
  
He shook his head and finally met my eyes. His eyes were all glassed and sad. "What? What do you want and why did you follow me?"
  
"You're going out to look for Dan, right? You are." I say.
  
I let go of him and walked to the passenger side. "Take me with you. Let's find him together."
  
"Breeze, it's too dangerous."
  
"How will you know it's going to be dangerous?" I ask, looking at him. He had dark circles and his hair was messy and parted in different directions. "Dax, right? Dax told you the location."

He closed his eyes and let out a sigh. "Yes. Yes, he did!" He shouts. "I need to find Dan. I don't care how dangerous it'll get, I just want to save him."
  
"Then let's go." I tapped the window.
  
He hesitated but unlocked doors. We both climbed in and he backed up the car.

: : : : : :

"This is the location?" I ask as soon as I closed the door. We were in front of the woods after an hour drive.
  
"Yeah. This is it." said Kyran, walking towards it.
  
I walked side by side with him and we entered. Sticks were snapped and I almost tripped on a stone. The sun didn't shine through the trees and left the woods being cold and windy.
  
"Kyran, did you bring blood?" I ask. He nodded but didn't face me. I brought my hands to my arms an rubbed them.
  
"Why didn't you dress warmer?" He took of his hoodie.
  
"Oh, no, it's fine!" I say.
  
"Either I put it on you or you put it on, choose." He said.
  
I shivered when a gust of wind hit me. I shakily brought my hand out and grabbed it. "T-thanks, Kyran." I say. I put it over my head and I was in it.
  
His hoodie went past my thighs. Kyran's cologne filled my nose and I exhaled. We continued walking and Kyran began shouting out Dan. All of my thoughts were on Kyran.
  
Why is he so nice to me but not back then? Was he left in someone else's care? Who is he?
  
"Wait, in front of us."

I pulled away from my thoughts and looked up. A cave was right in front of us and faint cries were coming.
  
"Dan," said Kyran. He sped into it.
  
"Kyran!" I shout. He was long in the dark. Damn it, Kyran. Reluctantly, I entered. The light was still behind me but I feel like walking down a hill.
  
Dan was tied up in a corner. His hands were tied to his ankles, tape was on his mouth, and a black bag over his head. Kyran ripped them and Dan stood up and swinging punches.
  
"Dan!" I cried. "Stop! It's just Kyran and Breeze."
  
I pulled the bag from his head and his hair was in a mess. He has a bruise on his forearm and legs and his lips were chapped. Kyran pulled him into a hug and breathed deeply.
  
"Thank God. Thank God you're okay." He said.
  
"I'm thirsty," whispered Dan.
   "Breeze, in your pocket." said Kyran.

I dug my hand into Kyran's sweater and grabbed out a bottle that was covered all over in paper and hand it to Kyran.
  
He opened it and gave it to Dan who sat down and gulped it.

Once he finished, he lets out a deep breath. "Oh my God."

"Who did this to you? Tell me." demanded Kyran.

"Kyran, let's not tire him out. We'll ask the questions later." I spoke. "Right now, he needs rest."

Kyran nodded and helped Dan to his feet. We hiked up the hill and we all are out of the cave.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." said someone.

Its voice was from the top of the cave. I looked behind my shoulder and Dax slyly smiled at me.

"That was too easy. You didn't think I'll let you all go, right?" He snickered.

"It's him," whispered Dan. His eyes focused on Dax.

"What do you want, bastard?" said Kyran. His fists were clenched and he tightened his jaw.

Dax laughed out loud and a shiver went down my back. It made me angry. He's not Dax. There's just a wisp in him.

"GET OUT OF HIM!!" I screamed. The trees shook and crows cawed. All that was on Dax's face was a sly grin. He clasps his hands together and opened his mouth. "To make this more fun, I'll have some fun time with your mate. See ya, if you get there in time."

He disappeared in thin air. I panicked. He's going after Jurian and he's at school. "K-Kyran. We need to go."

"Don't tell me twice." He puts Dan on his back and looked back at me. "Focus on your speed and not anything else. Don't stop running till you reach my car."

He ran first and I close my eyes and exhaled deeply. I relaxed my energy and focused on my speed. I opened my eyes and sped forward.