-Laelyn-

In sixth hour, all Link could seem to talk about was Alyrica. How perfect she was, how happy he was to be with her, date ideas... The list continued on and on. After the test- which I think went pretty well!- we got time to talk amongst ourselves. While Link went in detail about the first date he wanted to take Alyrica on, I let my thoughts wander to that strange dream in gym again. How was Beckham involved? If the person he was talking about in sixth hour was Daeva, and what happened in the dream really had happened, how could Daeva come back here? Wouldn't she know that someone would recognize her? It wasn't real- it couldn't have been- but even if it wasn't, she did appear in my dreams, quite a few times. That was a fact I could not deny, and it terrified me. I glanced over to Beckham's empty seat.. He really did skip, I realized. This person must be more dangerous than I thought...

I tried to keep myself from looking at her, but I just couldn't help myself. When I finally turned her way, she was already staring at me, shaking slightly. She almost seemed to be... laughing? What the hell? Why in the world would she be laughing? An icy chill moved down my spine, and I looked down at my desk. This was all becoming too creepy.

I jumped at the sudden creak of the classroom door opening. Beckham! Thank God. He didn't skip- but if he didn't, why was he so late?

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Gallagher," He apologized, handing her a late slip, "I was with the school counselor." Good, maybe he was getting help with that bully. Beckham walked silently the rest of the way to his seat, and gave me a fake smile. What's wrong? I asked him, internally. Not that he would answer me even if I had said it out loud. I kept trying to catch his eye, but when I did, he looked at me with the same pain his eyes had in fourth hour. I wanted to go over there, to ask him what he was trying to tell me, but there was no way to tell right now. If he wouldn't tell me when we were sitting alone in gym class, he certainly wouldn't talk in the middle of a classroom where anyone could hear him if they tried.

Beckham glanced over his shoulder at Daeva countless times, and I looked her way with him after awhile. She was intensely staring at him, an almost insane look on her face- as if she were imagining different ways to slaughter an animal. Again, too creepy for my taste. If I had needed any more proof that Daeva was the bully Beckham had been talking about, I had it. Beck seemed to be growing paranoid, and he looked fearful and panicky. What was going on? My brain was in hysterics, trying to understand. I tuned back into my group's conversation, but they were giving Link advice on how to handle having a girlfriend- surprisingly, Alyrica was his first. I instantly turned to Brent, hoping for a conversation that had a different topic and would take my mind off of Beckham and Daeva.

"Woah, Lyn, what's wrong?" He asked accusingly, as if I were trying to hide it from him.

"Nothing," I lied, not really sure how to answer.

"You know you can't do that to me," He stated simply, "I can see right through it."

"I know," I smiled against my will. This was why Brent was my best friend- he knew me well, and always made me smile for no reason. "I'm just not sure what I can tell you. I'm not even very sure of what I know."

"What?" He asked, confused.

"I just don't want to talk about it." I waved the question away.

"Oh... Well feel better then," He said, "You're really pale." I feel like I'm going to pass out.

"Yeah, I will." I replied. I focused my attention back on Beckham. My attempt to get him out of my head had been unsuccessful. His head turned to me, and I gasped quietly. He looked terrified, and there were tears welling up in his eyes.

"What's wrong?" I mouthed. He glanced around, then back at me.

"You're in trouble." He mouthed back. I took a double take. I'm in trouble? How? Millions of questions wanted to escape my head, but only one came out.

"Why?" I whispered.

"Because you're like... me." He whispered back, even quieter than I had. I turned to face forward and fell back in my seat. I'm like him? What on earth did that mean? I stared at Daeva, who was still acting quite suspicious, and I made up my mind. I had to find out what was going on. An idea developed in my mind, and by the time the bell rang I had a plan that wasn't very well thought out, but it was all I had. I stood up slowly and walked out into the hallway, heading directly for Alyrica's locker. She was waiting for me already, leaning against the wall and smiling at me.

"Listen Lyric, I don't have time to explain, and I can't really answer any questions, but I can't go over to your house tonight." I informed. I had other plans.

"What?" She asked, instantly unhappy.

"I'm really sorry. I am. But I need you to cover for me, alright?" I looked her in the eyes, and she nodded slowly. "Thank you so much. Happy birthday! I'm sure Link will want to spend time with you anyways." I said hurriedly, throwing my things in her arms and running off down the hallway. I had to find her, and I needed to do that quickly.

There, I thought, as I saw Daeva hurrying down the front steps of the school. Now I just have to find out where she's going. I had no clue why I wanted to know; I just did. I felt like I needed to. I ran after her, only a few feet behind. Every sensible bone in my body begged me to turn around, to stop following her, but I payed them no attention. I had to know. Did she have a home? A family? What kind of a life did she live? And where? Millions of questions swam around behind my eyes, but I kept going. Daeva glanced behind her every couple minutes, not wanting to be followed, and I hid behind trees and around corners- wherever I could. I could not let her see me; I was scared what might happen to me if she did. Eventually, we made it past the suburbs and into the downtown area of the city. I loved downtown, but this was different- the part we were in seemed eerie, abandoned. If I had been thinking straight, I would have turned around right when she ran into an alleyway, but I kept running behind her until she stopped. She halted too quickly, and I almost ran into her. I backed up as fast as I could, but she whipped around and stared at me with those unnatural silver eyes. My own eyes widened in horror as she began to shriek, so loud that it hurt my ears. I clapped my hands over them, and a sickening realization coursed through my veins. The dream, I thought, it's happening!

She made a graceful, yet creepy hand gesture to the wall at the end of the alley, and it began to glow again with that terrible false light. No, my mind screamed, this can't be real. It can't. It can't! I chanted that phrase over and over in my mind as she turned slowly around to face me again. It can't, it can't, it can't...

Daeva raised her arm painfully slowly, aiming her finger straight at my heart. "We'll have to make sure no one blabs, now won't we?" Her awful voice echoed the illusory one playing in my mind. I glanced around, frantic and terrified. This was the part where I was supposed to be saved, where Beckham stood up for me. But then, where was he? Daeva cackled with glee. Where are you Beckham? I screamed silently.

Author's Note!

You guys probably hate me for ending the chapter here, and I don't blame you! But I did do that on purpose... Hehe. What do you guys think will happen next? And how do you feel about Beckham? Let me know! Also, you guys can message me whenever you want and I'll try my best to answer your questions, without giving too much of the story away. ;) Love you lots!

Savy Pearson