Sighing, I turned to him in irritation. "What is it now?" I asked banging the locker door. It took him a moment of contemplation to speak after folding his lips. "You have to stay away from Adrian. He's up to kill you." Pressing the back of my fingers over my forehead, I rolled my eyes at his answer.

"If that's all, I'll take my leave," I added. Throwing my bag behind me, I resumed walking. He quickly turned around rolling in tongue in hesitation. With a serious look, he screamed, stopping me at my tracks by the locker room entrance.

As his latter words rang though my ears, I swiftly turned to face him with wavery eyes. "What did you say-"

  "I know you asked me to stop following you. But I'm not dumb not to notice that he's Max too, a vampire, and so is the one pursuing you." Trembling over my grip on the shoulder pad of my bag, I moved a step towards him in surprise. "How did you find out?"

He heaved a sigh and passed his fingers through his hair. "There's a scar on his neck. It's obvious to me because I studied on them back in elementary school." He remained silent for a moment and decided to walk up to me. As he bit his lip, he looked into my eyes.

"That day by the burnt cottage. Remember there were some weird noises in the bushes. To avoid being noticed, I slipped a rabbit out on time." When I looked up, I remembered Max checking the bushes when he heard a noise. So it's true he was following us.

"I didn't mention my investigations because I knew you wouldn't believe me. With Tricia's death, I'm sure you're doubting him too." Fidgeting with my lips, I turned away from him without answering. "I'm not going to believe you like before-"

"-You have to believe me this time. All of this is a plan between those two. He's a vampire after all. Would he be content with just being around you? For crying out loud!"

"That's none of your business. You know nothing about how I survived all these years."

He threw a gaze around when he heard someone's footsteps getting closer. "It's all probably part of their plan. How do you think Ian can access the items without getting someone attached to you? Don't you find it weird that he's always there to save you? Do you think Ian can't defeat a low leveled vampire like him?"

  Taking in a deep breath, he continued, glaring into my eyes consistently. "I know I didn't step in when he attacked you on Payprus Street. I was too scared to fight him alone. I've been trying to get the police on my side, but no one believes me."

I lifted my head and shook my head, closing my eyes. "I'm not going to believe you this time!"

"You have to! Why do you think Kate was distant and acting strangely before she died? Did he tell you where is was on the day she died? You can ask him. He followed you and befriended you on his orders. What did he survive on all these years?

He has your daily route and he knows your school. But he wants to do it carefully with Adrian's help. Please don't trust him. 

My thoughts strayed as I shook my head in disapproval. "Shut up! You're lying!" I debated. "He's the only one who knew where your mom's cottage was. How do you think Ian found it and burnt the cottage?

 And he approached you as two different guys! Come on! Can't you see? He's reaping benefits from Ian by gaining your trust. I'm sure he'll ask for the items soon. Tricia also died but his whereabouts weren't known. Your fingerprints are also on the body. I know you wouldn't do that. He pinned his murders on you! When will you see the truth?! Where is he now? He left you to the press!" Unable to take his words on any longer, I screamed at him and stepped back.

"I said shut up! Stop talking. I don't want to listen anymore!" Hearing my sharp echoing scream, he became silent. Folding his lips, he let out a sigh. "I'm looking out for you. We have to figure out how to take the blame of you. But first, you'll have to leave the country. I'll help you."

Laughing at his propositions, I shook my head unable to process whatever he just said to me.

"I'm not running. I didn't kill anyone! I'm not going to run away like I did when my mom died. I don't care about why you followed me up till now, but I don't believe your insinuations!"

  I turned away and started running back to the hall. As my hair dangled over my back, I ran as fast as I could from him. "Clara!" Yelling out to me, I ignored his calls.

 As his words rang in my ears, I stopped by the entrance to the class closing my eyes. With his words consistently lurking around me, I pushed my palms against my ears shaking my head.

He's lying. Why would Max want to kill me? Why would he save me if he could've taken the spell books when I took him to my house. With a deep breath, I wiped my eyes with my arm and started walking into class. I marched inside and sat down, dropping my bag over the chair.

  When I sat by him, he quickly pushed his phone under the desk and glared around I hesitation. "I was looking for you back there. I hope you're okay?"

Staring under his desk with folded lips, I reluctantly nodded. Jess quickly moved her eyes from my direction when she saw me. Lowering my eyes, I felt empty inside. I looked up to the door when another student marched into the class.

After realizing it was Nathan, I looked away, putting my head on the desk. I patiently waited for Mrs. Plum to finish so I'd leave immediately. Just when she concluded taking the project works of each group, I raised my head.

  "That's all for today. Have a great day students!" Bowing to us, she stepped out the moment she finished packing her things on the desk. I started packing quickly too. But I heard a phone beep from Adrian's phone. Jess pushed het desk back and marched out.

Standing by him, he tried to talk to me, but the phone kept on ringing. "You should take the call." Just after saying this, I noticed the tension in his eyes. It was almost as if I had touched a delicate spot by saying that. "Clara. Wait!" Adrian called out. But I couldn't stay back. "Clara Dickson, we'll need you at the station tomorrow."

My birthday was next week, unfortunately. The police has started bugging me too. Keeping my eyes closed, I threw myself on the bed and grabbed the old camera I used to take pictures with with mom.

I slipped a memory card from my drawer in it and flipped each picture and video. Smiling, I moved over to the old ones, particularly the ones with only mom. Suddenly, I noticed a video at the last part. I furrowed my eyebrows pausing there. Looking at the date, it was a day before mom died.

When I tapped on play, it started playing a video of mom in the hall.

 She took a deep breath before starting to talk. "I hope you'll find this. I-I know I wasn't the best of a mother to you. I hid a lot of things about your identity. More details are in my diary. If you're watching this, I might be dead by now," she begun, wiping a trickle of tear.

 "Ian needs you to fulfill his desire to destroy the world. He has a grudge on humans of which I have no idea why, up on till date. After investigating that boy we met at the hospital, I found out that he's extraordinary for a reason I couldn't find out. That boy has the ability he has been searching for years for. If you meet him one day, be wary. I didn't know why he chose him. You're a the descendant of a werewolf and witch giving you the upper hand in his defeat. That's why I didn't want you to be around him in the hospital before.

  I have some spell books in the basement. Study them. There's one I couldn't master due to time. Protect that spell book no matter what. The lives of everyone's in your hands," she gaped. She paused when the thunder stoke. I'm sure that was the time I was almost home.

 Wiping a tear, she resumed, "I'm sorry for leaving you alone. But I have to do this. Your sister might still be alive. Look for her too. I believe she can assist you. I love you very much, remember that!" The video ended there. "Mom," I cried touching the screen.

Was Nathan right? Did I fall into their trap? Thinking about all these, I heard a knock on the door. I wiped off my tears and walked to the door. "That must probably be the delivery man." Peeping through the hole to be sure, I realized Max was standing outside.

After a moment of contemplation, I touched the door knob and turned it to the left, cracking it open.

I moved to the kitchen as he walked behind me. "You were quiet today. I came to check up on you. I also bought some items. I noticed you didn't have any the last time."

  I checked the fridge for any fruit but I had none. Of all the chaos in my life, I haven't even had the chance to buy groceries.

He dropped some bag of groceries on my table before looking at me. I folded my lips looking away when I moved to the sofa for a seat. "I'm fine. I want to ask you a question though." Nodding, he started washing a few vegetables.

"Where were you when Kate died?" The vegetables slipped out of his hands after hearing my question. Keeping silent, my eyes fell in silence too. Why wasn't he answering?

  "I got your favorite hamburger from a store nearby. Want to have it now?" I nodded and glared at the hamburger in his hands. "You know, I thought you might have something on Ian if you knew something." He didn't comment though and just kept unpacking.

Unable to maintain my posture, a glass of water fell off my fingers, crashing on the floor into numerous shards. "Why are my fingerprints on her body when I had gloves on?" I demanded looking into his eyes. He hesitated for a moment making my eyes tremble.

 "You're hurt on your leg. Wait here," he debated before trudging for the first aid. His phone beeped while he was away. As I turned to the unlocked screen, my hands started to shake.

I rummaged the room making sure that he was gone before opening his bag. Reading the message, I stumbled back on my feet. "Bring the items soon. I'm loosing my patience. You wouldn't like the effect of my anger." My heart sank skipping a beat while holding on to his phone.

I felt sick to my stomach. I stared at the message bluntly without moving a finger. Unable to move, Max moved back with the first aid kit. But he was forced to pause when he saw me holding his phone.

I dropped his phone back on the table angrily. When he approached me to talk, I threw the tables down holding my tears back. I was fooled again. They were right about him, and this time, I have to believe.

"You're an imbecile and a manipulative jerk! How long have you been in contact with him! Tell me? Are you here for them?!" I assented rushing to the kitchen. He shook his head and threw the box on the table to go after me.

"No. Wait, you're mistaken. I can explain," Max alluded running after me. Tears gushed through my eyes as I searched the kitchen table.

"You made a deal to hand over the items right after gaining my trust? Am I wrong?!" I screamed taking out a kitchen knife.

"Don't come near me!" I yelled while bringing the knife closer to my wrist. "Please put it down. We need to talk," Max pleaded moving closer after shaking his head.

 "I'll kill my self. I'm not going to let more victims like me be created. Since I'm the only one who knows its whereabouts, I'll kill myself, right here!" I looked down tearing up before I left the sharp part of the knife on my wrist. I closed my eyes ready to take my life.

  "No! Don't. Clara!"

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