A/N:
Date 5-13-17

Hey everyone! Here's another chapter for TA! This is the second one of the day, making up for being late.

I think the picture for this chapter is hilarious! It's a telepathy joke XD

Word Count: 1819

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Chapter 10: Making A Friend

Richie looked at me with a half awed/half scared expression. Then he said, "She's telepathic? How come no one told me that?" Zane sighed and said, "Because we all knew you would've been more reluctant to come today. Anyway, Robin switch me so I can keep an eye on Alicia." Robin tried to let go of me and grab Ash, but we reacted too fast. We got out of the way and started to fight.

I turned, punching Zane in the face and kicking Richie in the stomach. Richie fell backwards but Zane only stumbled. His eyes were getting brighter as he prepared to attack me. They really should've seen it coming though. No way did they think we would go quietly.

Metaphorically speaking, because we didn't make much noise while fighting. There was a certain calm I felt when my fists connected with flesh that wasn't there before. I was swift and efficient.

In the periphery of my vision I saw Ash push Robin down while trying to keep Richie on the ground. "I've got these two Alicia! You get Zane!" Ash looked regretfully away from me so he could fight. I think he was actually worried about me. I was distracted for only a second but it was enough time for Zane to throw me against a tree.

I knew Zane would attack before I could get up, so I kicked at Zane. I used the tree for balance as I stood up. I thought I would've at least managed to trip Zane but he dodged it. Zane pressed his whole body against mine to keep me from escaping and pinned my hands at my sides. I struggled, but between the tree at my back and Zane at my front I couldn't make any progress.

I stood on slightly higher ground than Zane, so he had to lift his chin slightly to look me in the eyes. I liked this small detail, because I preferred being taller than people. It's easier to stare down at them with a disapproving look that way.  It's more effective. But without that extra height, I realized Zane was basically the same height as me.

I held my breath as I searched for an escape route. There wasn't one yet. My head anxiously pounded so loud that I thought Zane could hear it. My mind rushed for a plan. Any plan really. Zane laughed and pushed my back harder into the tree so the bark dug painfully into my spine. Unfortunately, that brought us closer together. I could feel and smell his breath on my face.

That's how I knew he had fed recently. I also knew because of the dot of red on the collar of his shirt. Blood had a kind of fruity smell to me, but this blood smelled different. It was a few hours old. He'd probably been gaining strength to catch us. Zane would need a lot more strength to easily catch me. I wasn't ready to go back to Storm yet. I wouldn't ever be ready. Zane may have had a job to do, but I wanted to survive. That meant I would fight much harder.

"You were right." Zane said unexpectedly. He had a smile on his face that I didn't like. "Oh really? I didn't think I said you really are an idiot out loud." Zane's smile faded away quickly and he slid his hands onto my wrists. I couldn't help the cry that escaped my lips from Zane squeezing my wrist bones way too hard.

Zane smiled again but this one was even more evil looking than the last. I realized for the first time that he was devilishly handsome. It kind of went well with his stupid cunning smile. Zane ignored my comment and said, "You were right when you said we are taking you to Storm." I stayed silent in defiance but Zane just kept going on. "Storm had heard the rumor that you were turned. He told us to watch over you, and if it was possible, take you to him."

Zane paused for dramatic effect but I kept my face blank. "Anyway, this mission was supposed to last a week or two. It has only been a day." "But how did you hear I was vampire?" I couldn't help but ask. Zane shrugged, "It's confidential." Zane looked smug when he said that.

"Since that vampire..." He looked to Ash and I said, "His name is Ash." My voice was cold but Zane again ignored me. "He took you out and gave us the perfect opportunity to take you." I didn't like that I was failing, so far, at annoying Zane. I was actually feeling more annoyed than Zane probably was. That did not make me happy. I was supposed to be the annoying one.

"You mean kidnap me after you stalked me?" I asked with extra fierceness. Maybe that would get his attention. Zane gave me a look that showed he was finally getting annoyed at my comments. I smiled as sweet as possible at him, loving my small victory. Zane pulled his hand back to slap me, but I punched him in the stomach first. He shouldn't have let go of my wrist. I ran away at full speed. I was really surprised when no one followed me, not even Ash.

"Stop!" I heard Zane yell. Of course I wasn't stupid enough to do what he said though. "Or else!" I laughed and yelled back, "Or else what?" I was still running away, but with my newfound hearing I could still hear them clearly. Even if Zane whispered I could've heard. "Or else he gets it." I looked over my shoulder to see what Zane was talking about.

I tripped on a root and tumbled to the ground. I was on my back but I sat up to rub my eyes and make sure I was really seeing what I thought I just saw. Ash was laying on the ground with Zane standing over him. Richie and Robin stood near Zane making a sort of triangle formation. I held my breath and listened carefully, hearing four people breathing. I sighed in relief.

I saw Zane had a familiar object in his hands, hovering it point down above Ash's heart. I'd seen it in my books, and recognized the deadly object was a stake. Where did that come from? I also wondered why Ash wasn't attacking. "Ash?" I called out softly. He didn't answer. I called again, this time louder, but Ash still didn't answer. "What have you done to him?" I yelled at Zane before I thought about it.

"Your precious Ash is unconscious, but if you walk away now I will kill him." Zane said with a vicious smile. I think Zane smiles too much. I almost said so what, but then I thought about what that would mean. Ash may not be innocent, but he didn't deserve to die. I knew that now. I thought about all the time I've spent with Ash.

I attacked him on the bus, he attacked me back. It was his right to sense I attacked first. Then he turned me into a vampire instead of killing me, which I was still kind of upset about. But I couldn't change that, so I was slowly getting used to it. Plus I hadn't wanted to die.

Then Ash helped me through the first day of being a vampire, although it was technically still my first day. But Ash could have left me to fend for myself and come back later to use me, but he didn't. That was kind of nice of him. I thought about all the times his eyes told me he actually did care about me.

I wasn't in love with Ash, or even close to being his best friend. But I thought about being in the woods today with Ash. I found out he's actually kind of funny. I think Ash and I are, surprisingly, starting to be friends.

So I can't let him die. Zane saw the look on my face from where I sat and smiled. He really needed to stop doing that. "Come over here." I stood and walked over to them silently. As I got closer I saw that Ash had a cut on his forehead that was slowly healing before my eyes. It took me a few seconds to get to Zane because I was in no hurry.

Zane went over and picked up Ash. "Hey! I thought we had a deal!" Zane replied, "We do." He dropped Ash into my arms, making me stagger so I just barely stayed upright. "But you have to carry him." With that said, Zane walked in front of me. I felt a nudge on my back so I started walking after Zane. Robin and Richie followed closely behind.

We walked for half an hour and Ash still didn't wake up. I was kind of starting to worry. I mean, I was risking my life to save him and he still wouldn't wake up. I thought vampires heal fast. That means Ash is really hurt. So how did they knock him out? "Why isn't he awake yet? What did you do to him?"

No one answered me so I stopped and said louder with a more venomous tone, "What did you do to Ash?" Richie tried to push me forward but I wouldn't budge. The second time he went to push me I turned and growled, scaring him so bad he stumbled backwards. Robin grabbed my arm and pulled me forward.

"I said what..." I shut up when Zane stopped suddenly and I ran into him. I just barely kept my hold on Ash. "Oh my gosh, do you ever shut up?" Zane's eyes were burning bright with annoyance, making him actually look scary. That made me nervous. Zane took a deep breath and said, "I knocked him out."

"I know that! But why hasn't he woken up yet?" Zane sighed and kept walking. "We put a sedative in him and if you don't shut up we'll do the same to you. Then I'll just make Richie and Robin carry you." I stopped talking for a while after that. In fact, everyone shut up. All I could hear was our breathing and natural forest sounds.

I listened closely with my better than average hearing and heard the crunching of leaves on the forest floor. We stepped off the path to weave in between the trees, getting us deeper and deeper into wilderness. There were no birds singing here.