Chapter Two: 

We both freeze. 

Adrenaline pumps through my body, making my heart race inside my chest like a runaway helicopter. The voice is familiar somehow, but I can’t exactly put a face to it. It’s feminine; soft and slightly high pitched. 

Jasper turns and stares at me, eyes wide. He mouths, “Did you hear that?”

“Mo? Is that you?” 

His eyes seem to bug out like a fish’s out of water. My mouth drops open, shock sizzling through my veins like shaken soda pop. 

The newer voice is deep and rugged, tainted with some sort of accent that I can’t name at the moment. I carefully take several steps forward, replaying the last voice’s inquiry over and over. It bothers me, but I can’t explain why. 

As I poke my head around one of the charred tree trunks, I realize why. 

She stands in front of him, arms folded across her chest tightly. Thick mahogany curls are pulled back, into the signature pony for most cheerleaders at our school, and tiny beads of sweat dot her forehead. I can’t see her eyes, but I can tell she’s giving the person her patented icy glare of doom. 

I grimace.

“What are you doing here?” Her words are venomous –squeezed through razor sharp fangs, almost snake-like. 

He doesn’t seem affected, however, as he walks around her. He runs a large hand through his short, spiky black hair, “Where are we?” 

“I asked you first!” Monique’s cheeks puff up like a puffer-fish’s.

“You asked why I was here. That’s not the same as inquiring about our whereabouts.” He retorts smoothly and I grin cheekily, feeling smug for him. I don’t like Monique. I don’t really know her, nor have I ever really taken the time to truly talk to her. But whenever we pass in the halls, it is not a pretty sight. 

She’s the cheerleader. I’m the strange outsider. This kind of stuff just happens. 

“Well, hello there.” 

I almost fall over. Jasper stands beside me, waving cheerfully at the two several feet away. I feel like I was just caught with my hand in the cookie jar. A cough works its way up my throat and I straighten up awkwardly, worming my way in between the tree and Jasper. His eyes dart my way and I shoot him a nasty look.

Monique lets rip a loud, ear-splitting squeal. 

“Oh-em-gee, you’re Jasper King!” 

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice a smug smirk flicker across Jasper’s face before the expression hastily vanishes. I roll my eyes as he steps forward slightly, happily accepting her giddy hug. She curls her arms around his torso, burying her face into his chest, and giggles. 

The other guy stares for a few moments and then shifts his gaze towards me. I blink and nod hesitantly, instantly feeling like a dissected frog. He’s dark, piercing obsidian eyes seem to possess the ability to make your skin crawl. 

He dips his head in a small nod.

“I am like your biggest fan.” Monique gushes excitedly, tearing my attention away from the stoic male. Jasper grins boyishly down at her, nodding occasionally and thanking her every now and again. 

She releases him. Jasper lets out a breathy laugh, brushing a few strands of blonde out of his face. His efforts are in vain, though, as his hair falls back into his face, sweeping across his forehead. I snort in amusement and startle Monique, who whirls around.

And then gives me a look as if she’d just passed a family of startled skunks. 

“Oh, it’s you, Scarlett, or Scar, or whatever you try to call yourself.”

“You sound so pleased to see me.” I smile brightly, the corners of my mouth strained, “And I prefer Scar.”

She rolls her eyes and shakes her head, looking back at the dark haired boy behind her. He blinks at her, a slender black brow lifted at her in question. She scowls at him, “Well don’t just stand there like a rock, Sebastian, say something!”

His gaze hardens. 

“Sebastian, is that right?” Jasper slinks forward. He throws an arm around the dark haired guy’s shoulders, grinning slyly, “You mean like the crab?” 

Sebastian shrugs his arm off with a grunt and takes a few steps away, gaze darting towards the trees around us. His arms fold across his chest, dark shirt strained against tan skin, and I notice the strange looking weapon dangling from his waist. Monique presses the back of her hand to her lips, suppressing her giggles. 

My eyebrows furrow and I look to Jasper, “So does that mean you sparkle?” 

“What does that mean?” He blinks in confusion.

Monique pins a nasty glare on the side of my face but I ignore her, “You know, like Jasper Cullen from that vampire book-series. Do you sparkle in the sunlight?” 

Jasper captures his lower lip in between his teeth and begins to nibble lightly, thoughtful gaze glued to my face. “I don’t think I do. But you never know, stardom might come with a sparkly price.” 

I shake my head while Monique bursts into a fit of bubbly giggles, “You might want to apply some ice to that burn.” 

“I don’t see how that was a burn.” Sebastian states coolly, tugging at a half-torn tree branch several feet away. 

Monique snaps at him, “I wasn’t talking to you!” 

“It doesn’t matter.” Jasper stretches his arms out before folding them behind his head, smiling cheekily, “What really matters is figuring out where we are. Does anybody know or have any ideas?” 

“I think we’re in a forest.” Monique’s teeth capture her lower lip, gaze darting around us.

“Really,” I can’t help myself, “And here I thought we were in the city.” 

The look she shoots my way could put ice to shame, “I’m not sure how much dumber you can make yourself sound.” 

I lift one shoulder in a half-shrug, “I apologize. Your IQ seems to be rubbing off on me.” 

“I’ll slap you.” 

“Ladies, ladies,” Jasper takes a step forward and slings an arm around each of our shoulders, pulling us into his chest, “There’s enough of the ‘King’ to go around. Relax.” My face presses into his chest, nose suddenly inflamed by the horrible stench of his cologne. 

I kick him in the shin. 

With a pained yelp, Jasper releases me and I step back. His hands rub at the soon-to-be bruised spot and he frowns at me. I glare at him, “Don’t touch me.”

“Hey,” Monique weasels in between us, advancing towards me. Her fingers are curled into tight fists at her sides; she looks ready to knock me out. 

But Jasper’s hand clamps onto her shoulder, fingers digging into her skin, and she freezes in place. 

“Did you guys hear that?” 

We stare at him, eyebrows furrowed in confusion, as if he’d just grown a third eyeball. After a few moments of dead silence and intent hearing, I look around and murmur, “Hear what?” 

Jasper holds a finger up, lips pursed into a tight, grim line. A small crease has formed between his eyebrows and his head is tilted slightly, ears listening for the slightest of sound. 

And then I hear it.

We all hear it. 

And my hand twitches towards the very large, very sharp broadsword sheathed behind my back.