Ryly smiled at me and then looked back at the road. We were in a very poor town now. She must be a billionair here. Who am I kidding? She's a billionair anywhere! Gaven still had his head in my lap and was drooling on my thie. I smiled for some reason and looked at his innocent face that still had tear marks on it. Finally, Ryly pulled over into an empty space and opened the car door. "Time to get out!" "Where are we?" Ryly laughed and shook her head, "We have to walk down here, the house is down this hill." I frowned, not looking forward to the walk down the deep, dark hill.

I opened the car door back up and kissed Gaven on the top of the head, he looked up with his mouth open and his eyes half way shut. "Gaven, we're here. C'mon! We're going to go see your nephew." Gaven glared at the car seat in anger and then slowly climbed out of the car. "I don't see anything." Gaven said as he grabbed my hand before I slipped on the wet grass. "You have to wait kid." Ryly rolled her eyes and kept walking. A smile seemed to slowly be painted on Ryly's face as you could make out the faint vision of a small, wood house that was lined with what seemed dead flowers. "Look! Look! There it is! That's where my little boy lives!" She soon sprang into a full on sprint twords the house and jumped infront of the door.

She thumped her fist against the door three times, "Thump! Thump! Thump!" By the time Gaven and I had reached the house Ryly's smile was fading. "Guys? It's me. Ryly." Footsteps fumbled around the house quickly before a pair of hands appeared from the door and pulled us inside. Gaven, who had nearly had a heart attack, was panting more then ever and had his right hand across his chest, covering his heart. "What was that!" He yelled as he clasp his other hand around my leg. We were sitting in a dark red chair that was only made for one to sit in. Ryly stood with an old lady, talking. On my right there was a dark hallway that had one door at the end. The door was black and no light was coming from under neath the door. "Is he awake?" I heard Ryly say to the old woman. But I turned my head, trying not to ease drop.

Then, I found myself wondering what was hidden behind this large, mysterious, black door. Was it her son? Or was it something else? I shook my head and cleared the thought. "What's wrong?" Gaven asked, "Nothing. I'm cold, hungry as hell." He half frowned and then wrapped his arm around me allowing me to rest my head imbetween his shoulder and neck. He was warm, warm enough to be catching a fever. "Are you feeling well?" I asked with a bit of hesitation. "Eh. I've felt a little sick today. But it's probably just all the excitment we've been through recently. You know." He shrugged and then gave me his puppy dog eyes that demanded me to lay my head back down.

It had been a long day and I was still tired, so I closed my eyes and fell asleep. In the middle of the night I lifted my head which caused Gaven to wake. "Lean on me babe! Babe! Lean on me! Babe!" He said just about a million times before I actually moved back. He was too tired to say anything except that. He turned and kissed my fore head and then said something almost unreconizable. "What?" "I love you..." "I love you too." Gaven placed his hand on his heart and began to tap his chest. "All my heart." I smiled, "All my heart too." Gaven's eyes were shut before he had finished his sentence and was already back asleep.

Gaven quickly grabbed my hand and jerked me out of the bathroom, slamming the door and holding it shut behind him. "Gaven! What was that for! You almost smashed her fingers!" Gaven rolled his eyes, "Seems pretty good for the girl that seduces my brother." I looked at Gaven, and then at the door as if Ryly was standing right there. "What?" "That chick, she's dating my brother. They've been dating since the second grade when we moved." "So how do you know she seduces him!" "I saw it!" Ryly knocked behind the door and pleaded for Gaven to open it, "Guys! Please open the door I'm scared!"

Gaven let go of the door and sent Ryly tripping into the bathtub. Before I could grab Gaven's hand, he gave her the finger. Ryly's jaw dropped as she finally realized he knew something. "Hey twit! You saw didn't you?" Gaven clenched his fist and then swung at her face. Blood was smeared all over my upper lip and on Gaven's fist. "You're a..." I glared at Gaven as he closed his mouth, refusing to finish his sentence. I didn't know what Gaven saw, or what Ryly did. But I was pretty sure I didn't want to know. Gaven stormed outside and left the door open behind him. After a moment of looking back and forth between Ryly and the door I headed after Gaven.

"Gaven! Gaven! Wait up!" Gaven stopped, but didn't turn around. "What did she do!" Gaven rolled his eyes up at the sky and then looked at the ground. "She took it..." I got ready to ask what he meant but soon realized. "...EW!" I shrieked as he covered his eyes and looked at me with disgust. "I know." "You aren't even suppose to do that until you're older!" Honestly, no one thought this was disgusting. Maybe the younger kids, no. Not even them. But the way we had been raised, we had known it very well to be wrong. You weren't allowed to do this until you were 25 and had been married for at least a year. Everyone did it anyways, just to go against the rules.

"But....everyone does it anyways." Gaven shook his head, "Thomas didn't. Thomas was very determined to keep his promise. Our whole family is." "Oh...My family doesn't care. Dean has a little girl back at Nikki's house." "How old is she?" I shrugged, "I'm not really sure. I think five." Gaven threw back his head, "Wow! Only thirteen?" I nodded my head, "I know right? Her name is Roselenne." "Cute name." We stood there, it was an awkward silence. "Hey guys! Come on. Get in the car, I have to go pick up my son!" Gaven and I turned around to see Ryly getting in some sort of small grey thing with wheels. "Get in!" Gaven ad I ran, but when we got in the 'car' Gaven had a confused look on his face. "You...have a son? You cheated o my brother?" Ryly shook her head, "What! No! It's his kid." Gaven's jaw clenched and he violently started punching the seat infront of him.

"Woh! Kid! Settle the heck down God!" Gaven had little tears in his eyes, he wipped his eyes and then let his head rest in my lap. I stroked his hair and then fell asleep to the buzzing sound of the car. When I woke up we must had drove two hundred miles! It was pitch black outside and Gaven was drooling in my lap. "Hey, we're almost there."

It was cold, and lonely, even though I had Gaven right by my side, his arms still wrapped around me tight. I didn't want to fall asleep, but as it got colder, I became more tired. I finally let my eyes shut for a decent night of sleep and woke up not even an hour later to a loud bell ringing. It was the amily's alarm clock I was guessing. I stood up and climbed up the ladder that escaped the trap door, before fully coming out of the trap door I looked around, making sure no one camped over last night.

I slowly crept out and walked around, looking for thebeeping bell noise. I heard someone moan and then saw an arm reach out of a bed and hit the alarm. They have alarms here? They are clearly much richer then our land. A moment later the blanket was thrown off the bed and a teen aged girl was sprawled on the bed. I wonder if she knows her family is dead. Her make-up was smeared across her face and she had mascara all under her eyes, from my guess she had been crying.

"Excuse me?" I said quietly as the girl's eyes darted over to me. She got ready to scream but then stopped and froze, looking at my face as if I was some disformed child. "Who are you? Why are you in my house." "Uh...Your parents. They let me stay last night. Did you see what...happened?" She nodded her head. Her make-up looked like she had been gangbanged by Crayola. She snuffled and then sat up, "So. What happened to your neck?" "What...What are you talking about?" She squinted her eyes and stood up, walking over to me. She took her finger and poked my neck. "That. Did you feel it?" I shook my head, she slapped my neck. I felt nothing.

She grabbed my hand and then pulled me to what seemed to be a bathroom. I mean, it looked like a bathroom. Of course I had never had on, let alone been inside of one. There was smoke coming from a little silver contraption that had a wire connected to it. "Oh crap! I left my straightener on!" The girl yelled as she yanked the cord from he wall and blew on the "straightener."  "Is this a bathroom...?" I asked, I felt stupid. She gave me a concerning look and then nodded her head. "Yeah. And this is a toilet, a hair straightener. And a sink. We have some more stuff in that closet. Your hair is jet straight, you wouldn't need to use that." Jet straight? What does that mean? I tilted my head back and gave her a pointless, "Ha. Yeah it is."

She rolled her eyes and opened a cabnet. She pulled out a roll that had some sort of white paper that was sticky wrapped around it. "Here, this is gause. I'll put it around your neck so it won't get infected." I shoved her hand back and looked in the mirror. There was a huge cut. "Why can't I feel it?" "It might have gotten some of your nerves, causing you no pain." But what if I wanted to feel the pain? I didn't like how I couldn't feel it. It made me feel unsafe. I heard footsteps coming to the bathroom, I could see Gaven in the mirror. "Hi Gaven. This is one of their kids." He didn't respond, he only looked down and nodded.

"Haha. Don't be shy! Come here, your sister has got a bad cut on her neck." Gaven looked at the girl like she was crazy, "What? She isn't my sister damn it! She's my girlfriend." I gave Gaven a sharp look for his rudeness, not that he cared. "Well, excuse me mister. God." She kicked the cabnet and glared at Gaven and then murmured something unpleasant. "What's your name?" I asked. She didn't look up, only continued to mess with my neck. "Ryly. My little sisters were twins, the one that was wearing the white night gown was Henrietta and the one with the green was Henriette." "Oh." I said, "What are you doing to my neck?" "Stiching it. With a needle and some thread. I was in medical school."

"What's medical school?" Gaven stepped into the convorsation and decided he would answer my question, "It's where they learn how to take care of people. My mother grew up here and she went to medical school. And...Is this a bathroom?" Ryly laughed and nodded her head, "Yes silly! Where did you guys live? It must've been pretty poor huh?" "Chelle. With The Watchers?" Ryly looked at me with death in her eyes. "My father killed a little boy there. Him and his father decided to hunt in our field." I almost asked her who before I realized it had to be Ferris and my dad. "That...That was...My older brother and my dad." Ryly covered her mouth, "I am so sorry..." I shook my head and swallowed, "It's fine. Really." She nodded and then began wrapping gause around my neck. Then, she stopped and cut it off.

She reached under the cabinet and pulled out a smaller brown piece of something, "Here, this is a bandage. It's like gause, only better." She peeled off some wrappers that covered it and then stuck the sticky surface of it to my neck. Pressing it on with no force. "So. Do you have Watchers on your case?" "Yes. Gaven's older brother called them on me after we started dating. Three years ago, they beat me every time they can. Gaven's oldest brother and sister Lucy and Thomas are Watchers. They're twins. After his mother was murdered Thomas and Lucy had to be Watchers." Ryly frowned, "Wait. Lucy and Thomas Teeteour?" Gaven nodded his head, "Why, you know 'em?" He muffled through his shirt. "Yeah man! We use to hang all the time when we were real little! Dude! I dated Thomas once! Then after first grade you guys moved away."

I closed my eyes and fell asleep to the feel of Gaven's heart pounding. In the morning one of The Watchers was beating on the door, but not opening it. I finally shoved Gaven off of me and walked up to the door, opening it slowly. It motioned it hands for me to come with it, but I didn't budge. I looked at the number, ten? I smiled and ran over to wake Gaven up. "Gaven! Gaven! Your borther and sister are going to save us!" He hoped up and darted out the door.

When we went to the entrance of the buildig we were in we saw number elee. They both pulled back their hoods and gave us hugs. "I've missed you so much Gaven! How's the family?" "Great." Gaven said with a smile as his sister remained hugging him. Thomas slowly opened the entrance door, "Now remember little bro, we never helped you out okay?" Gaven nodded his head and then Thomas looked at me to make sure I kneew this rule applied to me aswell.

"Run!" Lucy whispered as we both ran for our lives down the wooded rail, I didn't know where we were going or if we'd be alive when we got out but I was willing to take the risk of dying. After a long time of running we finally sat down and caught our breaths. "Maddie, where are we gonna go?" I shrugged, too tired to answer Gaven with a full answer. "I don't know yet, we'll just keep running until we find something fimiliar." Gaven nodded and put his hand on his heart to feel how fast his heart was going.

I watched him for a moment and then did the same. After a moment or two I stood up and held out my hand, offering to help him get up. He stared at it for a moment, as I drew back my hand he reached up and grabbed my waist and pulled himself up. Our noses touched, and neither of us moved. We stoo there, just staring into one anothes' eyes. He tightened his grip on my waist until I could feel his finger nails digging into my skin, Gaven had no fingernails. I knew I woud get bruises from this, I get bruises from everything! But I didn't care, he did this all the time.

He pulled my chest against his and started to sway back and forth with me in his arms, "I'll never let you go." He whispered into my ear as he pulled his head back to look at me, he smiled and then moved his head forward to kiss me. I closed my eyes and burried my face back in his chest, he was warm. He let go and grabbed my hand, ready to go on. We walked for what seemed hours until we saw a little town. "This um...Pingle right?" I looked around and listened to the way the people talked, "I think so."  "Great. This is where my aunt lives!" He got real excited and jerked me through the gates that enterted the town.

He looked around desperatly until he saw a sign that said, Coner Dr. "There's her street Mad!" He sounded as excited as a little boy that was getting to go to the fair. He tightened his grip on my hand and pulled me up on his back. I laughed as he ran down the road looking like a wild child, "There it is! There's her house Maddie!" He knocked on the door and set me down next to him, taking my hand again. The door opened and a woman stood there, "Yes?" Gaven's face got less excited by the moment, "Uh...Does Marcie Udeen live here?" The woman looked down and swallowed, "I'm sorry young man but, Marcie died just this following week on Wednesday. Could I help you?" Gaven skuffed his feet on the patio and shook his head, without another word Gaven turned around and walked me back to the top of the street.

I stepped out infront of Gaven and lifted his head up, "It's okay Gaven. Everything is going to be alright." He didn't look at me, "Why would she die? She was only twenty Madelene!" A man that was walking by stopped and looked at us. "Uh, um. Where are your kids' parents? You guys shouldn't be wondering around here, it's dangerous." I looked at the man, confused while Gaven lifted his eyes and tried to explain, "We don't know where our parents are. We came  to my aunt's house but I guess she died on Wednesday."

"Was yur aunt um uh, Marcie Udeen?" "Yeah. Why?" The man's eye grew wide and he grabbed our arms, "You children are in grave danger, you must come with me." He looked around, startled, like someone was watching. As he dragged us along the road I asked, "Does this town have Watchers?" "Uh, um. No ma'am we don't." A big bell rung three times and the man picked up his pace, "Come on children! We have three minutes before it comes back!" Terrified of whatever "it" was Gaven and I began practicly running with the man.

He stopped and ripped open the door to a little stone house. There was two little girls and their mother sitting by a fire, all wrapped up in a little blanket. "Don! Who are they?"  "Jenny, I found them wondering the streets, they have lost their parents and I wanted to keep them safe!" The woman that was named Jenny, nodded her head and stood up, "How many minutes left?" "One, maybe two." Jenny bit her lips and wriggled her nose. Before anything else was said I interupted the silence, "Who is it?" Don and Jenny looked at me in disbeliefe and then at one another.

"The killer! He comes every night and kills someone! Tonight it would have been you two if my husband hadn't found you!" Gaven waved his hand in the air and then squinted his eyes at Jenny, "Why is he killing all these people?"  "We don't know," I could hear the bell ringing like crazy, the killer must be entering the town. Jenny screamed as well as the little girls as they all ran to the basement for cover. Don locked the doors and shut the window blinds, locking them too. He ran over to the big hidden door that led downstairs and motioned for us to come too. He pushed us down the small enternace and then slammed the door shut, locking it too. You could hear screams outside, the little girls had tears in their eyes and were huddled with their mother.

Don sat down and wrapped his arms around Jenny. They all shut their eyes and began praying, i looked at Gaven, we both missed our families when they were all together. Gaven sighed and wrapped his arms around me, I was tearing up. I had never seen a family in such fear. I heard a big boom upstairs and watched as the family looked up and huddled closer and closer together. Gaven looked up too and grabbed me, scooting me over in a corner with him. One of the little girls let out a squeal and everything got quiet upstairs. Jenny's eyes flooded with fear as she covered the girl's mouth and looked up. He was trying to open the trap door.

The little girls' mouths were both covered to make ure they wouldn't scream. All the sudden a small beam of light entered the room, the trap door was being opened. I wanted to scream, but didn't. My throat tightened and Gaven covered my mouth, shoving me behind him further in the corner. A grunt came from above as the trap door opened fully, the little girls screamed as the man slit Jnny and Don's throat. After this he killed the little girls, Gaven was infront of me, but we weren't visible unless one of us said something or made a noise.

The man turned around and crawled back up out of the basement. Gaven and I sat there, staring at the dead bodis of a what seemed perfect, loving family. Tears filled my eyes and soon released all onto my clothes. Gaven held me tight, I was pretty sure he cried too.

My heart stopped, "Mom?" My throat dried up the longer I looked at her innocent eyes. I looked at her black ripped robe and saw the number 4 painted in red on it. "Number four...Number four!You beat me, you were the one that cut my neck with a knife!" I noticed I was screaming at my mother, not in anger or rage, but in disapointment. "Why would you do this to me? is this what you have been doing my whole life? Sneaking out and beating people? Beating, me!" My head began to throb, and my heart barley beated. Gaven had his head down, hugging m back.

With anger, I ripped his hands off and stormed back into the room of darkness. I heard foiotsteps run after me, I slammed the door shut and waited for it to open again. I sat in the corner, some what hoping I would see my mother's face walk through that door. But, it was Gaven's. "I'm so sorry Madelene..." he walked over to me and sat right infront of me, my knees were tucked tight into my chest, I could feel my heart beat through out my body. Slow, ready to stop at any moment. Gaven looked down, not sure what to say. He finally looked back up and grabbed the back parts of my legs and pulled his chest to my legs. He rested his head on the tops of my knees and stared at me.

"Why would she do this to me?" Gaven shook his head and pressed his lips to my knees, "I don't know." "Gaven, she tried to slit my throat! She tied me to a tree and threw rocks at me." "Maybe she had to Mad. I mean, being a Watcher isn't a ful choice. If your parent was a Watcher and they were killed by a citzen, their oldest child is forced to take their place." I knew he was right, but I didn't want to admit it. I just wanted to sit here and pout about my mother forever. "You know Maddie, they might have known you were her daughter and forced her to beat you." I rubbed my nose with my sweat shirt and then replid, "I heard if they fail at doing this, they get killed?" Gaven nodded his head, "Remember? My oldest brother and sister and Watchers. I bet they have beat me at least once." Gaven's older brother, Thomas, and his older sister, Lucy, are twins. When their mother died, Thomas and Lucy were forced to be Watchers.

"What number are they?" I asked, clearing my throat. "Ten, and eleven. Lucy ten, Thomas eleven." I've been beaten by them only once. Most of the time they would watch the others have at it. "Thomas bea me three times. Lucy has once. Lucy beat me with a tree twig, Thomas cut me once, and the other two times he punched me until I was unconcious." Gaven shook his head and showed the emotinal pain in his face, he hated it when I got beat. "Gaven, there's nothing you could have done." "Yes I could have! I should have been there for you! I could have fought them off, or tried!" I winced as Gaven tightened his grip on my legs, crushing them, they felt broken.

I didn't say anything, jus listened to him ramble on about how he should have been there. Finally, a scream made its way out of my mouth. Gaven instintly let go and looked up at me, "I am so sorry! I was, I just! I'm sorry." I smiled as he layed his head back on my knees, only this time I couldn't see his face. I began to pet his hair, and the leaned forward and rested my head right by it. Gaven lifted his head and pulled my legs straight and sat over me, looking at me, his eyes still gleamed in the dark. I crossed my arms and looked down, Gaven took his finger and lifted my head back up and unwrapped my arms, replacing them with his arms.

He looked at me, and then lay down his head on my chest. I would normally laugh if he had done something like thi, but this time, it was all seriouse. It wasn't a time of laughing. I didn't move him, or tell him to get off of me.  I just sat there and let him alone. I closed my eyes and thought about our old school. The cool spring breeze, the sweat shirts and flowers. The slamming of lockers, the screams in the halls. The faint sound of couples laughing together, one of those couples were me and Gaven. Gaven would walk with me to my locker and watch me scroll the lock until I had typed in my combination. Then, I would look at him who had been watching me the whole time anyway and smile.

Not a full smile, but the kind of smile that doesn't show your teeth. We would stand there for a moment, and then start laughing. Then, he would take me in his arms and sway me back and forth as he hugged me, or just sat there, his huge body bet over my tiny body, most of the time his hands were lower then they really should have been. Then, he'd let me go and kiss me, say he had to get to class and retreat to his locker. It never really mattered if he left my locker, because soon after I'd head off to his locker while he gathered his things and wait for him to hug me again before sending e off t class.

It was hard to listen to Gaven, but h had been right about everything so far, why would he be wrong this time? My tears stopped, it seemed like the whole world did. Gaven's eyes began to fill with tears, but he rolled his eyes away so I wouldn't be abel to tell he was actually scared. The Watcher carried us for miles it seemed, then, we passed a sign. It had the number 27 on it. My mind froze and wen back to the time before Daniel sent The Watchers after our families, the das we went to public school with all the other happy famalies. I saw Gaven, he was sitting on the back of a bench, me tracing the number 27 on his football sweatshirt, it was a warm summer day, but he refused to take off the sweat shirt. I called him a dork for it, I traced his number over and over again until I heard him, "Hey, hey. What are you doing?" I burried my face in his back and looked up at him, "Tracing your number and name." He chuckled and said, "Alright." He squeezed my hand that he had been holding the whole homeroom.

I layed my head on his back and felt every movement he made, every breath he took, I shut my eyes and listened to his voice, talking with other people and laughing at his own jokes. He moved his hand back to me and wrapped it around my tiny waist, I felt his head turn as much as it could to look at me behind him. I opened one eye and smiled at him, he smiled back and stared at me. His eyes were beautiful, green and blue, his dirty dark blonde hair and tan skin, every time he looked at me, I'd have to smile, you couldn't help looking at his face without smiling! He lowered his eyes and looked at me lips, this is what he always does when he wants to kiss me. I smiled bigger and took my face off his back and leaned forward to kiss him.

"Madelene? Maddie? Are you alright?" I jumped, we were inside some kind of prison. "Gaven? Where are you? I can't see you!" I began to get tears in my eyes and fear in my voce, "Hey! No, no! Don't cry Mad! I'm right here!" I heard shuffling around the room and then felt his arms wrap around me. He pulled me over so my head was on his chest, he was warm. As usual. I felt his breath on the top of my head, his hands wrapped around me, maybe a little lower then they should be. I heard a loud bang as light flooded the room, "Ah! What the?" I heard Gaven yell as he pulled off one of his arms to cover his eyes, I burried my face in his chest, the light burned. After a moment my eyes ajusted and I could see who was standing at the door, it was The Watcher that brang us here.

I screamed in terror that they were going to kill us but Gaven quickly tightended his grip on me so I began to suffocate in his shirt. I looked up at Gave, his eyes were closed and he was moving his lips, repeating the same line over and over again, "It's all going to be okay." I tried to move my head before my tears soaked into his shirt but it was too late, faster then ever, he looked down and wiped away my tears, "Don't cry. I love you." I mouthed it back, but no words came out. He half smiled and layedhis head ontop of mine.

He nudged me to stand up as he pointed to the door, The Watcher was pointing out of the room, it was time to die. We stood up and Gaven gripped my hand until I was sure it had fallen off. Gaven was sure pulling off the "I'm not afraid" look. I failed at this horribly, tears streamed down my face as The Watcher grabbed Gaven's shoulder and pulled us to stand on a circle on the floor. I looked up, "What do you think Ferris would do?" I looked at Gaven, "What do you mean?" I said, "You know. If your dad and Ferris were still alive, if they knew you were introuble?" I thought about this before answering and then looked back at Gaven. "I don't really know. My father, nothing. Ferris, he would try." My tears came faster and gaven pulled me close. I cried harder, I wasn't expecting it, but I felt tears running down my scap and down the back of my neck.

Gaven was crying, I looked up at him. His face was blank, but he was crying. "Gaven?" He raised one eye brow and looked down at me, "Yeah?" "...I love you." He smiled, "I love you too." I heard footsteps and looked over at an entrance where The Watchers walked in. They all muttered to each other and left the room, except one that walked over to us. No one had ever seen a Watcher's face, and no one probably would. I looked at The Watcher and thne quickly jumped forward, ripping off its hood. "...Mom?"

I could hear the television playing in their room, that's all they did in that room, at least, I think that was all... I heard someone knock at the door, I wasn't sure if The Watchers had passed on by or not so I hesitated to open the door. I barley opened the door beforeit was slammed shut again. Gaven took a deep breath as he leaned against the door. "You ran here?" He nodded his head and sat down on the love seat. "So, are they still out there?" "Yeah. They are trying like crazy to get you." I frowned and looked at the floor, "What'd I do this time?" They saw you take bread from the bakery this morning. I sighed and then took the loaf of bread out of my bag that I hid under the couch.

"It's Madison's birthday tomorrow. I thought this would be a good present." Gaven smiled at me and the gave me a hug. The hug lasted for a long time, we both just sat there, in each others' arms. "So. They are going to beat me again for stealing bread?" I said, I expected Gaven to let go and look at me by this point but he remained holding me in his arms. "Yeah. I ran here, they almost got me..." I jerked away from Gaven and looked at him sternly. "They beat you?" He looked at the floor and didn't respond. I clenched my fist, "Take your shirt off." He shook his head violently and held his sides. "Gaven!" He sighed and pulled his shirt off and threw it on the floor. There was nothing on his chest, "Turn around..." Gaven slowly turned around, "They're only scratches..." He whimpered. "No, these are more then scratches Gaven. They're like three inches deep!" They deep cuts covered his whole back, some of them fresh.

"Did they beat you this morning?" "Last night." I felt the anger filling my body as I closed my eyes. He took me in his arms again. "Don't worry, everything is going to be alright." Gaven was one of the few people I would even dare to hug. I loved hugging Gaven, I loved how he was taller then me, it made me feel safe. I nearly fell asleep against his chest. He kissed my fore-head and picked me up. I didn't bother opening my eyes to see where he was taking me. After a while I opened my eyes, I was laying in his lap on the love seat, right where I wanted to be. The sun began to set, and we still hadn't moved. If it was up to me, I would stay like that forever. I looked up at Gaven just to see him looking down at me, he always looked at me.

"Madelene." I raised my eyebrows to show I was listening to him, "Why do you put up with this?" "I put up with it because I love you Gaven." "I love you too." He smiled as I shut my eyes to sleep for the night. When I woke up I was laying on the couch, not in Gaven's lap. I sat up immediatly to find him. "Maddie! You woke me up..." I turned around to see Gaven laying right behind me with one arm still wrapped around my waist. I covered my mouth and started to laugh, "Sorry!" Gaven's eyes opened in fear, he froze and then quickly covered my mouth ad pulled me down into his arms. "Don't...move." I wanted to scream, but I had no reason to yet. I saw a shadow pass our window behind the curtains. It stopped and turned our way like it could see us. Gaven pulled me tighter to his chest, I could feel his heart beating faster with every moment.

I shut my eyes, if I shut my eyes, I wouldn't have to see anything. If I didn't see anything, I wouldn't be as scared. The only thing that scared me was how Gaven pulled me tighter and tighter every second and his heart beat thumped faster, and louder then ever before. I finally opened my eyes, all I saw was black. Gaven had pulled me so close to his chest that I couldn't move. Slowly, his grip loosened, but not by much. He managed to look down at me and tell me it was all going to be okay. Gaven had always told me this to clam me down, even when I knew it couldn't be okay. "Are they gone?" I whispered. He nodded his head and smiled at me. I outstreched my arms to loosen Gaven's grip on me but he didn't budge. "Gaven! Let me go please." He whispered something and then let me go.

I stood up to strech and yawn, "So? Who was it?" "Them." "Oh..." Gaven stood up and walked over to the window, slowly, he opened the curtains. "They're gone though. I think they wanted us...After all, I'm in trouble with them, and so are you." "What? Why are you in trouble?" He clenched his teeth and sat down in the chair, "I wouldn't help them in a plan to get you out of your cottage, so I was beat. And last night when I escaped, they saw me heading for here." I kicked the small wooden stool that sat next to the door and watched as it flew across the room. "Hey, hey!" Gaven calmly said as he headed for me, "It's not your fault Mad, don't worry! It'll all be okay someday!" I felt the tears coming, but I didn't let them out, "Yes it is Gaven! It's all my fault! You have to tell them, and help them when they want to find me, if you don't they'll hurt you! Don't do this for me Gaven..."

Gaven's face went from clam, to complete anger in a matter of seconds, "Madelene! It is not your fault! I love you! That's why I'm doing this for you! You are doing the same for me, it's my fault you got on The Watching List anyway!" "No it isn't! I knew Kyle would do this to me if I went with you, so it was my choice! I wanted to be with you!" This was the first fight we have had in months. "Why do you stay? It's not like I'm bringing you any good anyway." "...but you do..." Gaven kicked the wall and sat down on the love seat again. I could tell he was angry with himself. I sat down next to him and grabbed a pillow and set it in my lap. I poked his shoulder and then patted the pillow. He rubbed his fingers through his hair and then nodded at me. His eyes looked tired, and sad. He scooted over to me and then put his head down on the pillow.

I raised my hand and began to stroke his hair, I do this at least every day. I loved his hair, he hated it. I heard the bedroom door open and Madison and Ragin walked out, "What do you guys need?" Gaven asked without even looking up. Gaven loved my brothers, and they loved him too. Ragin and Madison looked at each other for a moment and then screamed, "GAVEN!" Gaven laughed and sat up to see the boys. "Hey guys, how are you?" The boys didn't say anything, they just hugged Gaven. Ragin released himself from gaven's arms and made his way over to me, "Hey Maddie, could you make me some grilled cheese?" I kissed Ragin on the fore head and headed to the itchen that was only feet away from the love seat.

I pulled out the bread and cheese as the boys played patty-cake with Gaven. I watched them and laughed, Gaven would make a great father someday. I put the bread and cheese in the microwave that barley worked until the cheese became warm. We haven't had real grilled cheese ince I was four and Ferris died. Ragin jumped up and down and sat next to Gaven, this was where he always ate, next to Gaven. After takign one big bite out of his sandwhich he offered some to Gaven. Madison took the offer instead, Gaven laughed and then looked my way. He sat there for a moment, staring at me, then he got up and joined me in the kitchen. He walked behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist and layed his head on my left shoulder, I laughed.

"Maddie! Somebody is knocking!" Ragin said with bread stuffed in his mouth. "Thanks buddy!" I laughed as I headed for the door, without thinkning, I opened the door up all the way to a big, black, cloke. It was one of The Watchers. Before I had a chance to scream The Watcher slammed the door open and grabbed me in one arm, then, he headed for Gaven. Gaven opeed up one of the kitchen drawers and pulled out a knife, "Put her down!" He yelled as he waved the knife infront of him. The little boys were screaming, but mom was still no where in sight. They both fled to the bedroom and slammed the door shut. The Watcher grabbed the knife's blade and bent it to the end of the handle. While Gaven looked at the knife in confusion The Watcher knocked it out of his hand and grabbed him with his other arm.

Gaven looked at me and then grabbed my hand, "It's going to be alright!" He yelled as I screamed and kicked at The Watcher. I felt the tears run down my face for the first time as I struggled to get out of The Watcher's grasp. He didn't budge.

Kyle had always trust me, I was like a little ister to him. But a few months after he knew Gaven and I were together, he kept a closer eye on me. Asking me weird questions about my past, writting down anything I shouldn't have done when I was younger. Kyle was one of the boys that would walk around school talking about having twenty girlfreinds, he only had one. My older brother especially disliked Kyle. Kyle would copy his answers in math, and moan during every sentence... My two youngest brothers, Madison, who was seven years younger then me, and Ragin, who was ten years younger then me and the youngest of the family. Dean was our oldest brother, he doesn't live with us anymore. They took him away to see if our family could live without him. I have contact with Dean, but only once a month at the most. I get to call him for about fifteen minutes, then they cut the phone line off. My mother and younger brothers miss Dean, but I don't. I don't miss him because I know he's going to come back for us some day.

I took a deep breath and slowly unravled myself from the ball position I was in and stood up. My mother placed her hands on my shoulders and gave me a hug. "I'm so sorry Madlene." She pulled me tight to her chest and wrapped her arms around me. I didn't hug her back, I just waited for her to let me go and return to her room with my brothers. My mother finally realized I wasn't going to hug back and she went to her room. I sat down in the old chair and covered my face in my hands. I heard little foot steps comign up the hallway, I quickly looked up and saw Ragin making his way down the hallway. He had one hand covering his mouth and blood running down his chin. "I got a nose-bleed Maddie." I smiled and took his hand as he walked to the kitchen. "Let me see it." He took away his hand and looked up at the sky, we didn't know exactly why Ragin had always done this but it always seems to realx him.

I wet a cloth and held it to his nose until it stops bleeding. Ragin kissed me on the cheek and ran back to his room with mother and Madison. I heard all of them talking in the room, I didn't know what about, and I didn't honestly care either. I was never really concerned, or even interested for that matter to ever take step in that room. I didn't know what was in there, or what it looked like. All I knew, i that's where Ferrise use to live. Before he died that is, Ferris would be my oldest brother. Even older then Dean. I always looked at Dean as a substitue for Ferris. This May, Ferris would have been twenty two years old. Mom told me what had happened to my father and him. They were found hunting on someone's property, and they were shot to death. Ferris was only eleven at the time he died.

I have always hated my father for being so stupid as to send young Ferris out there, even though he knew they would be shot to death if they hunted there. I was young when it happened, but not too young to forget about him. Sometimes, my mother would call Dean, Ferris. Dean has told me about Ferris and his old adventures. Dean was only six when Ferris died, he was also there to see it happen. He told me dad sent Ferris into the field and then watched him get shot to death, and after a few momments of standing there, my father stood up and started to walk away. Dean knew better then to stand up, he wold get shot to death too. He told me he yelled for dad, but the gun had already gone off before dad had a chance to turn around.

I hated my father for this, I especially hated him for planning to take me with him that day as well. I felt my eyes fill up, but I didn't cry. I haven't cried since I was four and heard that my father had killed my oldest brother. Now, I hide every emotion. Crying is a sign of weakness, I think that's why my mother locks herself and the boys in that bedroom all day long. She can't hide her emotions like I can.

I felt the chills go down my spine as the cold hand gripped my shoulder. I closed my eyes, trying to block out all the sound around me, I felt the world spinning around me, faster and faster with each moment. I felt the air go in through my lungs, it was cold air, winter air. I opened my eyes and turned around, no one was there. I picked up my pail and headed home. It was winter time and snowing, but it wasn't quite cold enough to freeze the water just yet. So every morning mom would have me go get a pail of water from the bank down in the woods of our house. I was always afraid, but I never let my feelings show. I felt y foot get stuck imbetween something, and fell to the ground. "Ugh!" I moaned as I hurried to get back up to see if I spilt the water. As I picked the pail back up I heard their footsteps running through the woods, their whispers saying unheard things to one another.

I looked around for a moment, and then backed away adn headed to my home. I heard the voices getting louded, the footsteps getting faster. I dropped the pail and started to run. I finally saw the smoke coming from our chimney and our little cottage. "Mom!" I screamed as I got closer, a few seconds later she opened the door and gave me a questioned look. "Move! Get inside!" She moved out of the door way as I came running in and then asked me, "Where's the water?" Unable to breathe, I panted like some dog and spun my wrist in a circlular motion. My mother looked at me like I was crazy, I pointed out the window and her eyes widdened. "Again?" I nodded my head, holding myself in my father's rocking chair. She sighed and closed the curtains.

"I don't understand why he won't tell the to leave you alone..." I felt too scared to answer, they might be able to hear me. For the past 3 years of my life, I have been running from un-seen faces that follow me every where I go. I know who sent them after me, my boyfriend's older brother. Kyle. And I know what they are, they're Watchers. They watch me as I sleep, when I'm with my friends, when I eat, or even when I sit down in the living room to read my book. The Watchers will never go away, not until me and Kyle's little brother Gaven and I stop seeing each other. We were 13 when we became interested in one another, when we decided to be more then friends. Since that day, nothing has been the same for me. Or even Gaven in that case. Gaven gets flooded with questions about how I treat him, if he gives a wrong answer, I get beaten. And I'll never be able to know what it was for. Sometimes, I think they come after me just to scare me.

It sounds like something The Watchers would do ya know... Today, Gaven had answered another question wrong, and they were going to beat me for it. It's never a short punishment for what ever it is I have done, it always last for an hour or so. They would tie my hands with barb-wire and tough rope that would rip and burn my skin as I would be jumbled around, being abused by each one of them. My mother suggest I leave Gaven. But you wouldn't understand, I have cared about Gaven since we weren't even old enough to talk. He's always cared about me, he always let it show. But I'd pretend I had nothing to do with him and was interesed in other guys. But it was always Gaven, it had to be him.

The days he would look at me with a sadder look each time, and say, "Would you date me if you weren't dating..." I'd always wait a moment, and then sharply say no before returning back to my school work. Gaven wasn't someone everyone would go after, but a good magority of girls that had not heard of his previouse heart breaking experience with girls. Gaven would say yes just to make the girl feel happy, then dump her. Or, he'd say he loved her, and dump her a short while after. Everyone calls him a jerk, but so am I. Cold hearted, makes fun of the weak, hunts the poor, and steals from the rich. Gaven and I were in this together, he was always right by my side...