"Deal."
                          
"Alright, come with me." Logan took my wrist without waiting for me. I stumbled after him. My runners squeaked against the shiny floor of the hallway. My short legs weren't going to keep up with his pace and if only he had just told me where we were headed; I wouldn't have to put up with these stares. I only hoped they weren't perceiving this as something else entirely. Who knew what went on in hormonal teenage minds? 
                          
"Are we there yet?" I asked. We were already outside, behind classrooms where plants grew wildly and blocked us from the view of other classmates. Even the sun had struggle trying to peek through the dense foliage above us and to the side was a thick red brick wall that belonged to the school auditorium. 
                          
"Yep." Logan breathed and let go of my red wrist. Werewolves were really strong even though Logan had been trying to reign in his strength. Or I might be just fragile. 
                          
"So?" I asked patiently. 
                          
"You can't tell anyone and you must definitely not get involved. If Alec knew, he'd kill me for telling you and probably lock you in your bedroom for the rest of your life." Logan threatened and I nodded sheepishly. His blue eyes were really striking, like unstable electricity. 
 "So Teya outlined what the rogues were planning. Alec confirmed this with the council and his parents since he hasn't officially got his title yet. This is still his trial run if you didn't know. That went well, they set up counter measures but they still don't know what time the attack will happen and a proper funeral was set up for today for the three people who died. That's why there aren't that many people at school. I felt like coming cause it's not meant start until 2 hours but everyone's there cause they want to skip school. I'm getting a little off topic but there's a battle coming and we all would greatly appreciate it if you stayed away from the forest." Logan explained but his eyes flickered everywhere, never settling down in one place for too long. Was he wary of some incident that could occur at school? 
                          
"Actually, why don't you just hole up in your bedroom for the rest of the week?" Logan grinned at his suggestion. "Bye." He gave me a wave before leaving me in amongst the trees. 
                          
How had it come to this? 
                          
Not even the warmth of the sun could melt the fear the enclosed my body. Oddly enough, I wasn't scared for myself. It was for the others. Teya, Alec, Ainsle and maybe even Logan. Would Finn be caught up in this too? 
                          
I shivered from the slight breeze that rustled the trees. The earthy smell of damp soil clung to the breeze that had filled my nose and mouth. It was like a rush of nature was invading my senses and drawing me away from the school. What was so enticing out there? 
                          
Hesitating at the school gate, I could smell it. The curiosity was building up inside of me. I'd wait until school was finished to find out. I wasn't about to ditch class just for this impromptu field trip. 
                          
By the time school had ended, the inquisitiveness had welled up into an avalanche that flowed out of me. Not even Teya and the subject of werewolves could distract me from this and for that I was glad. It meant I could occupy myself with a healthier obsession. 
                          
So I gathered my wit and told my parents I'd stay at the library after school to study. Exploring into the deep of the natural habitat wasn't going to take long. Plus I wasn't expecting anything in particular. What could be so special about the wildlife park near our school? It was only a long path that extended into forest and looped back to the beginning. There wasn't going to be any danger. 
                          
Or would there? 
                          
No, I brushed the uneasy thoughts from my mind like dust off a window sill. Having less things to worry about made my mind clearer. Less foggy and I started to notice once again the way that light flew past the leaves, penetrating the green and lighting up beautiful spotlights on the growing seedlings. 
                          
Grass and weeds, to me none of that mattered. I neither cared nor bothered with their names, just as long as they were alive. What would it feel like to be a plant? Sometimes I wondered this but to be rooted to one spot for the entire duration of their lives; I didn't want that. 
                          
I didn't want a lot of things and look where I stood now. Alone and on a path heading away from the truth and family. Why was I walking away from their instructions? Why was I purposefully disobeying them? What was I looking for? 
                          
There was no escape for me out here. No solution to my fear. I had no questions yet I wanted answers to something I didn't know I was looking for. I was so lost and the only ones who I can turn to were the trees. That in itself wasn't reassuring. I was depending on nature, a force that I had no source to communicate with or talk to. 
                          
"I really am talking to trees aren't I?" I murmured whilst I leant against a damp wooden fence that stopped people from falling off the boardwalk. Each plank was old with moss growing along the edges but still safe. Some areas the wooden rails of the fence had fallen off but that was further down the track where most people had already decided to stop and head back. I didn't know why but some people did feel a menacing presence in the forest for them. For me, I felt calm and stress free. Each breath was drawing in the serene life of the earth and dirt and each exhale was omitting the poison in my body. 
                          
"You shouldn't be out here alone." The voice made me jump in bewilderment. I had thought I'd be alone, so far down the track but for someone to say something like that. Maybe I should have lingered near the entrance inside of venturing. I never could listen to my own advice sometimes and I had preferred to stay in my own tight shell and away from the heat of everyone else. 
                          
Even so, I regretted it as I whirled around. No one stood there in front of a huge tree with trails of moss growing on its trunk. If I had tried to wrap my arms around this tree, you could stand on the other side and never see my fingertips. It take at least 10 of me to cover the entire circumference. 
                          
"Why aren't you scared?" The voice was carried by the wind that blew brown and yellow leaves onto the footpath. 
                          
"Because I'm here." Even with the silenced birds and the slow rustle of the leaves that brought down light showers of scattering light, I had no fear of him. 
                          
"Being here isn't going to change anything." The male voice was just as calm as my heartbeat. Why hadn't I panicked? Why hadn't I tried to run away? I knew he had evil intentions yet I stayed, simply because of curiosity. Who was he and why did he approach me? What were his intentions?
                          
All these questions filled me from my head to toe. I wanted to know the answers so badly. I was sick of people evading the truth just because they thought of me as useless, unnecessary and as just another person in this world. Why couldn't they understand my feelings for once? Why couldn't they understand what hurt me, what made me feel sad and yet some people continually tried to rub it in. They'd laugh, not at me but at what matters to me. They don't value the same things I do and they still don't understand or see it so they laugh because it doesn't matter to them. 
                          
Would this person be any different? Was I waiting for someone who bright the penetrating light to my life and give me courage? Courage to stand up for once and have some confidence and overcome my fears which had such a tight control over me. 
                          
"You really should have more trust." The voice whispered right next to my ear. Feeling the hot breath slide down my ear canal, I tried to turn fast enough to catch the mysterious ghost but to my surprise a hand had clasped itself onto my face. A white damp cloth had closed in over my mouth and stopped me from screaming. The feeling of strong hands held me back and even as I clawed desperately at the skin of my captor, he never flinched or moved. 
                          
"Don't scream. It's gonna be alright." The last words before my vision finished it's dimming into jet black. The trees slowly faded away and the sounds disappeared altogether. Where was I going? 
                          
Yes!!! I've got more votes! It's really made my day so I decided to post up another chapter as quick as possible. I hope you enjoyed it and please vote or comment, it encourages me to write faster...
                          
And thanks so much to JesseFejeran, your votes were really appreciated