I stood staring at the exact spot he had been just moments ago, with one small but serious question on my mind.

How?

This wasn't just a case of running away or disappearing into thin air. There had been no movement or vanishing effects. I was positive that I kept my eyes fixed on him so where and when did he go? It was as though he hadn't even been there at all. One second I was staring at a human form and the next it was just a black space.

"Alexa? Oh good you're still here, I thought you might've left with Aiden"

Even in my puzzled state my ears still perked up at the mention of Aiden.

"Why would you think that?" I asked, my eyes never moving from the spot before me.

"I saw him leaving when I went in"

That sentence was enough to pry my eyes away and onto Adrian's face.

"What?"

"He was leaving when I went in, so I thought maybe he'd offered to give you a ride"

This couldn't be a coincidence, Aiden left when Adrian went in and the hooded guy appeared at that time. I went over that thought again.

Aiden leaves the party, the hooded guy appears.

Had I made a mistake by letting him off the hook so quickly? They had both dressed the same, except for the big black hoodie but he could've easily gotten that from his car then come to scare me or whatever it was he wanted to achieve. And no doubt he would be at home... Waiting.

From the day he set foot in our house, I felt the fear, the unease and the danger that radiated off him. It stuck to his aura like a leach. Now slowly, the fear was getting to me, the fear of the unknown.

"But why did it take you so long to get your keys?" I asked slowly as I true to control my voice which threatened to break.

Adrian chuckled before answering "You missed me that much? I was only gone two minutes"

"You mean like fifteen minutes" I said facing him.

"No really, I ran in got my keys and came right back out. But maybe I'll try to make it 30 seconds next time so you don't miss me so much" he finished with a wink.

But I couldn't comprehend anything he said. He wasn't making sense.

"Quit playing with me Adrian, you were gone way longer than that" I said with a nervous laugh.

"No really I glanced at the clock when I went in it was about 11:17pm and..."

I didn't wait for him to finish his sentence. I turned away, reaching for my phone in the small silver bag I had strapped on my shoulder.

I thought I was scared before, but my heart skipped a beat when I saw the time on my phone... 11:21pm. It had only been four minutes since Adrian left for his keys.

"Let's go"

"What's wrong Alexa, are you okay?"

"Yes I'm fine" I lied "Let's just go"

Adrian looked like he wanted to speak again, but instead he led me into his car. I knew he could sense that I wasn't myself so he was thoughtful enough to stay quiet till he got me home.

"Alexa, are you sure you're fine" Adrian asked when we reached my doorstep.

"Yes I am" Another lie.

"Would you like me to stay with you a while? Or call Laurel to stay? I just don't want to leave you all alone tonight because you don't look very fine to me"

I took a shaky breath as my eyes fell on a black car next to mine on the lawn.

I wouldn't be alone.

"Thank you for being so... Nice, really. But I'm really tired, I just need some sleep" I told him with a small but sincere smile.

He nodded and turned away, he paused a few seconds and faced me once again as his hands went around me embracing me in a tight but comforting hug. His body came in contact with mine and I realised just how in need of warmth I was. When he drew away, I had to resist the urge to pull him back to me.

"Goodnight Ally, take care" He said as he finally got into his car and drove off.

At that moment I didn't know if I wanted Adrian to come back because I was scared of facing Aiden or because I truly missed him and the warmth of his hug.

As my hand put the key into the keyhole and gave it a turn, I felt myself breathe slower, I turned the door handle quietly and unconsciously tiptoed into my own house. I prayed in my heart that he had gone to bed already and that he wouldn't hear or see me.

I had my phone's torch light on to illuminate the darkness around me. I had managed to successfully get up the stairs without making too much noise and as I neared my room my heart beat quickened. When my hand turned the door knob, I felt safer.

"Going to bed?" the hallway lights suddenly came on, hurting my eyes that had gotten accustomed to the dark. I didn't need to turn to know he was standing right behind me"

"Yes" I answered without turning. After that, I heard nothing so I turned to see if he was still there, he was.

He looked almost angry but he was trying hard to hide it. Who gave him the right to be upset, if anyone was in the position to be angry then clearly that person was me, considering he'd scared the crap out of me just moments ago.

I acted like I could not see his obvious annoyance and instead wished him a goodnight and entered my room. I put my back against my bedroom door, waiting, he was still out there.

I didn't hear footsteps when he left but I knew. It was then and only then that I took in some air. With a shaky breath, I heaved a sigh of relief and walked to my bed.

I didn't know what to feel, there was so much... Fear, anger, frustration, worry and guilt. I couldn't decide on one emotion so I felt it all. What would I do, it was clear that I had been stupid to trust Aiden. I only wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. Clearly I was wrong.

From what had happened, I knew this guy wasn't someone to mess with. He must be a serious sociopath or something. My mind went back to that day at the restaurant, back then I wasn't sure it was him but now... I was. He'd mentioned grams name, oh God what did he want?

It was obvious that there was more to him than it seemed. Robot or demon or human, he was dangerous either way.

Should I tell grams? I wondered.

But what if he knew we were on to him and he did something terrible to her? I would have to keep it to myself, I would let grams know at the right time. I needed to try and forget the events of that night and focus on the exams on Monday.

I closed my eyes helplessly hoping for sleep to come and take me away from real life problems. At that moment I didn't even mind having a nightmare, I just wanted to fall asleep. And eventually I did.

"I don't think I read Economics one bit"

"Well that's probably because you were out partying all Saturday night then you just had to have cheerleading practice yesterday Laurel"

"I had to, the football team is having a big game next week Wednesday after our exams. We won't have anytime to rehearse till Tuesday so..."

I rolled my eyes at Laurel's excuses. She always does things like this right before exams. Then she'd complain about the many subjects she was unable to cover. I wanted to remind her that it was her idea to go to a party the night before our exams. I really wonder how she manages to still pass.

I knew Laurel wasn't just beauty, although it was easy to mistake her for one, I noted as I studied her facial features. Her bold hazel eyes made her appear innocent and her shoulder length brown hair was always in one style or another unlike mine that was almost always in a pony tail. Her lovely tan skin also contrasted with my pale and lifeless one. She was bold with an awesome sense for fashion and sometimes I even envied her self confidence. And to top it all off she was a cheerleader or should I say 'The Cheerleader'

But Laurel was like a gift box, one would only be able to tell what was inside her after getting to know her better. Sometimes I felt Laurel was way smarter than I was. She had siblings to take care of, cheerleading, her friends, Sebastian yet she was still a B student.

She was constantly surrounded by fake people especially because of her social class in school but that aura of kindness and honesty never left her. I had really gotten lucky with her, I couldn't have gotten a better bestie.

I wasn't worried, I knew she'd be fine.

"Just chill, I know you'll do fine" I told her as I placed a hand on her shoulder reassuringly.

"Uh... okay let's go"

We were having English and economics that day, both of which I was prepared for. I never really worried about exams, I focused more on subjects involving calculations, since they weren't really my strong suit. I submitted my paper first and went to the library as I always did.

Usually when I was alone and surrounded by books, my mind never wondered. Every word of every sentence of every paragraph of every page of the books always left me hooked. Every book I read symbolised a new story and world which I got to be a part of. But today, I couldn't focus on anything.

Deep inside me, the fear that I had felt last night was still hidden and everytime it resurfaced, it reminded me that I wasn't safe and there was nothing I could do but hope and pray that the nightmare would end soon.

I needed to talk to someone about it, but who? I wasn't even sure of what I saw, if I told anyone they would think me to be crazy. I would definitely see the hooded guy again, that I was sure of. And I would get to the bottom of it all.

Everyday after that, I went for long walks after dinner in the hopes of finding him again. I knew his true identity now, but I also knew that he wouldn't confront me as himself. He'd want to keep the game going on long enough. It would be no fun if his victims knew his true identity. But what he didn't know was that I knew.

It was the day before my last paper. I was sitting on a bean bag with my calculus note on my legs and a bag of chips next to me as I studied the long confusing calculations in my note. I never felt very keen on reading for the last exam, we usually ended exams with easier subjects but this time, I had to force myself to read even while I wondered whose dumb idea it was to make calculus the last paper.

I'd had my dinner already but Aiden didn't go out that night so I thought there was no point going out either.

"And if I multiply the identity element by the inverse... ughhh!" I groaned shutting the book. You'd think with my 'abilities' I'd at least be good at maths but no...

I shoved my hand into the bag of chips so I could stuff my face but it was empty. I sighed as I got up to get some more.

The house was eerily quiet and dark. Gram was alseep and I supposed Aiden was too. He was a student in my school but I was pretty sure he didn't give a hoot about his grades or graduating and getting into a good college. So yeah he was probably alseep while I was battling with laws and formulas.

I could see fairly well in the dark so I didn't need to turn on any light switches although I did feel a little uncomfortable in the dark. I moved my hand about the kitchen cupboard till I touched a new bag of chips.

I left the kitchen quietly and with stealth because I always felt a need to blend into the night and maintain its sacred peace. Like there were things in the shadows waiting, watching and with the slightest disturbance, they would rise.

Or I could just be crazy.

I had reached the stairs already before I remembered to take some water with me so I went back.

I hadn't heard footsteps, but I'd noticed movements and saw as the front door opened noiselessly and a figure merging with the night went out. I completely forgot about my water and dropped my chips as I followed him out the door.

At that moment I didn't care that I had exams the next day, or that I was in my pjamas and it was like 12AM. I was only concerned with following him.

I slowed my pace so he wouldn't hear my footsteps. He didn't seem to be in a hurry either, he was walking casually and kept looking left and right so I had to hide each time.

Did he know I was following him? Or was he looking for someone?

He turned again and this time, I barely had enough time to hide behind a waste bin. I stilled, holding my breath. Had he seen me? I closed my eyes, frozen and unable to move out of fear even as my heart thumped hard within my chest.

I stayed there a while, unable to tell if he had moved or not. After what felt like minutes, I took a peek and finally let out a deep, shaky breath. He was gone.

"Now where did he go?" I wondered about loud. I walked faster, following the path he'd been taking. I had walked far into the end of the street where most of the garbage was dumped and cats, rats and raccoons often roamed. As grand as the estate was, this part of it wasn't very pleasant.

I didn't know what to be more worried about, the likely criminal I was following or the rodents that could jump out and attack me.

I thought about going back but the sound of voices in the distance caught my ear and I moved further. I quickly recognised one of the voices as Aiden's

"Why are you here?" Adien said to the other guy. I couldn't see him well since it was dark but he seemed about Aidens height with rough shaggy hair.

He spoke with a deeper voice, "the same reason you're here" he smiled, at least I think he did. He moved closer and the moons rays fell upon him making it easier for me to see him.

I was right, he couldn't be more than two inches shorter than Aiden was and beneath the moon light, his eyes shone a light green that reminded me of fields in the summer sun. But his eyes were bright and cold at the same time.

"You should know by now that this is my territory and it will remain as such for as long as I'm here. So why don't you run along before someone gets hurt and by someone, I mean you" Although I couldn't see his face, Aiden sounded menacing.

"Is that supposed to be a threat?" Aiden said nothing and instead turned his back to the other guy. I crouched lower behind an old car which was now my only protection from being seen.

I saw the other guy run at Aiden with such a speed that it surprised me when Aiden managed to move out of the way right before he hit him. In a second, Aiden's hands were around his neck. The other guy tried and tried but he couldn't get out of Aiden's iron grip.

So he changed tactic and pushed his head backwards, hitting Aiden in the face. Without giving him a chance to recover, he delivered a series of blows to his face.

"Look who's gotten weak pretty boy" the other guy said, "how pitiful" he bared his fist back but this time, Aiden caught it and twisted his arm round his back. He tackled him to the ground and with his free hand, held his head to the ground.

"Now who's weak?" I heard Aiden whisper as a loud scream filled the air, followed by a sickening crack that resonated about the abandoned space. I didn't need to look to know that Aiden had broken the other guys arm.

Somehow, I mustered the courage to look again. Blood was splattered all over Aidens face as a result of the blows he'd received and the blood of the other guy who was writhing and groaning in pain. Aiden stood over him, looking with hard heartless eyes.

The other guy stood up slowly, but what surprised me was that he was laughing, all signs of pain had simply dissolved from his face.

"Nice... now I won't play nice" the other guy ran, full force at Aiden and they both fell to the ground. It became difficult for me to tell who was winning, heck I didn't even know who I wanted to win.

The other guy rose and reached for a broken stick lying close to him with the same hand that Aiden had snapped just minutes ago. I paused looking at him carefully, his hand was complete healed. He held the stick high, prepared to stab Aiden with its sharp end.

I wanted to scream to Aiden to stand up and get out of the way. Luckily he rolled off the floor but not before sweeping the other guy off his feet and snatching the stick from him. It seemed like a long process, but it all happened in seconds and the game changed. Aiden was on top of the other guy, stick in hand.

He delivered a final line "who said I played nice either" before shoving the stick deep into the chest of the other guy who barely groaned or showed pain as his eyes shut themselves forever.

I didn't see what happened after that as I stalked away from the place. I mean what else could've possibly happened. Aiden had just killed someone, he was the last man standing. He would no doubt try to dispose the body and after seeing such a bloody fight, I couldn't stand to watch anymore.

I ran all the way home and shut myself up in my room. Although I hadn't known him I didn't even know if he was the good guy or the bad guy. Never the less, I couldn't stop the tears that escaped my eyes. The moment when Aiden had impaled him kept replaying in my head and I kept hearing the sound of his arm being torn from his body.

I had just witnessed a murder, and the worst part was I was living with the murderer.