Hollow Woods ✔

Back & Gone Again

~Rhydian~

"Bro! Where have you been? We all thought you were dead," Adam said then faced Dean, "and I hoped you were dead."

Dean just shook his head and walked away.

It's been almost a month since we last went to school and a week since we last saw Ex, everyone had questions. Nora and Sophia stayed home as they are too old for High School. They also wanted time to think and process everything.

"Bro? Ya good?"

"Yeah, just have a lot to think about, catch you later." I did my bro hug with Adam and walked into the cafeteria.

I found Dean and sat with him. He lifted his head to acknowledge me but then went back to poking at his food.

"She's acting like a stray dog." I looked at him strangely and he looked up at me. "She can't be pulling this shit. Sophia came back to see her and she pulled a gun to her head." I never expected Dean of all people to give up. "You know what, fuck her! I tried to help and she nearly got me killed." Dean raised his fork and stabbed the biscuit on his tray.

He got up, leaving the food behind. What's his problem? Sure I get that he's mad at her but he would never leave a friend like Ex. They have a special bond.

I got up and decided to skip the rest of the school day. As I walked over to my car a small figure ran across the parking lot. Two tall and buff figures followed it, and it seems like the small figure is faster. I opened my car door and quickly shut it when I heard gunshots.

I ducked down as I heard footsteps get closer at a fast rate. The passenger door flew open, bloody, yet pale, legs slipped inside. I looked up and came face to face with a girl with beautiful straight raven locks and these mesmerizing cyan eyes.

"Ex?"

"Drive, now!" Her voice was dry and cold.

I turned the key and pulled out of the parking area. Before I could ask questions a bullet shattered my back window, exposing the back of our heads.

"Duck and drive!"

I had no idea how it would be possible but I ducked down and stomped on the gas pebble. Ex's back hit the dashboard due to the sudden speed. She quickly composed herself and began shooting out the broken window. Shots traveled through the air hitting my car and the one following me. I had raised my head just enough to see through my windshield.

A black car pulled out from an alleyway and blocked my way. I made a tight U-turn and started driving the wrong way on the road. The car that was behind me was now racing to hit my car from the front. I slowed down a bit to let the other car catch up.

"What the hell are you...!"

"You're in my car now shut up!"

I sped up and turned at an intersection. The cars that once chased me were now smashed together, hoods first. One guy had flown out the window and lay sprawled out on his hood. Did I kill him? Panic set into my body until the man moved. I was about to get out of my car to help him but Ex pulled on my shirt.

"Good job, now drive away before the cops come."

She got out of the car and ran in the opposite direction. I sat there dumbfounded, I could have killed those men. With shaky hands and legs, I drove towards the nearest auto repair shop.

On my walk home, I felt like I was being followed but I did my best to ignore it by thinking about Ex and what she has done. After I got home I realized that my feelings for Ex had vanished. Sure her toughness was a turn on for me but knowing that she killed, who knows how many people, I was lost in lust and fear. In the end, fear won and I swore to stay away from her. I just felt bad for everyone. Sophia, they escaped and grew up together. Nora, she trained Ex for years. Dean, they helped each other get over their pasts. Ex gave Dean a home and family

So why?

I sighed and walked up to my room and fell on my bed. I was close to falling asleep when I heard glass shatter downstairs. Pushing myself off my bed, I grabbed a bat and quietly went to check out the noise.

The window in my living room was shattered. I looked around and saw that nothing was stolen. That's weird? I put the bat on the table and went into the kitchen for a bag so I could dispose of the glass. As I turned around to return to the living room a cloth was placed over my mouth and nose.

I fisted my hand and aimed for the crotch but it didn't seem to affect them much. So it's a girl. As I was about to throw her over my shoulder when I fell to my knees and blacked out.

~Nora~

I watched as Sophia paced around the room. After everything, she and I decided to stay at her house. Ex really did a number on all of us but it really broke Dean and Sophia. They were a chosen family, no one left behind sort of thing.

"I can't believe it" Sophia sat on the bed and covered her face. "I... she didn't have to." She started to cry into her hands.

I rubbed her back but we both froze when glass shattered downstairs. Placing a finger over my lips telling her to keep quiet. Sophia got up and quietly got out two guns for us. We quietly went downstairs to see that the kitchen window was in pieces.

No footprints, no finger or hand prints could be seen.

We lowered our guns and that's when something rammed into us making us fall to the floor hitting our heads hard enough to blackout.

~Dean~

I sat on the couch at Adam's house, watching the news.

-TV-

We are standing at the accident sight right now. Earlier today the police got reports of a car chase. Eyewitnesses say that one of the cars was being chased by one car when another drove from an alleyway and tried to ram the car. The two SUVs crashed into each other and the other got away. We are still looking for the runaway. If you have any information please contact 1-800-222-5252.

I shut off the TV and headed into the bathroom. A hand pulled me to the dark hallway and stuffed paper towels into my mouth. They then proceeded to deliver punches and kicks to my face and body.

After a few good hits and kicks, I was out cold.