Song of the Day: Heart Bursts Into Fire by Bullet for My Valentine :) 

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My heart stopped beating completely. I now wished I never had to see the light again. Then again that would mean I'm being selfish and a coward. This is not about you! I yelled at myself.

I kept my head down and wished for the ground to swallow me whole. And to make everything disappear from sight because he doesn't deserve this along with his friends. No one does. Angered, determined foosteps slightly shook the ground underneeath, sending their agitated waves directly at me. I could just imagine and feel his crystal like eyes staring at me with a fiery intensity, those two cold marbles flickering with different emotions. They pierced a hole in my soul and waves of sadness slowly tore me apart. Making my heart ache as I felt my ribs crush me with cruelity. My body shivered and I shakily bit my lip. 

I swallowed as Shadow's eyes glanced away to me to Sebastian. I lowered my head and let my red hair fall around me like a shameful curtain. I clenched my hands and gasped as Shadow spoke again,"So I see you haven't killed her yet. Not such a surprise." Shadow's voice was bored and dark.

"Well, I was getting to that, but a little rat got in the way," Sebastain shot back.

I peeked through my hair to see Shadow's reaction and his mouth was curled in a tight line making his blue eyes appear bluer and colder. He blinked and then looked my way, making me immediately drop my head in guilt.  

He gave me a small grin of remorse and then turned his sharp eyes to Sebastian again. "And the skunk in front of me is a totaly failure. Not even his stank keeps the others away." 

Sebastian's dark brown eyes flickered with anger, but he slowly started circling me in a predatory kind of way, but his eyes were set on Shadow. Tempting the predator. And I was the bait. 

Shadow's jaw clenched and he followed Sebastian with unblinking eyes. I stood rigid and cringed whenever Sebastian's foot brushed against my ankles.

"I see that your alone; what a mistake," a self-satisfied smiled crossed his lips.

"Yes, well, I figured I could kick your scrawny ass by myself. Which I will accomplish by the way," Shadow smirked.

"You really have to stop considering yourself higher than others, Shadow. You may be surprised when your opponent may be the one killing you," Sebastian pointed out. He made another circle around me and this time there was a pocket knife twirling on his hands. My eyes turned into huge saucers and I felt my heart stop. At this close range, he could kill me at any moment. He ran a pale finger across the sharp tip and I felt myself bubble up with fear and sadness. 

Shadow blinked and a stern expression crossed his face. My lip quivered and my whole being was focused on that weapon. A weapon that could end my whole life with one strike: my heart.

I felt someone staring at me and I looked up to Shaodow's blue eyes staring at me with love and concern. I practicly melted in that gaze, but my eyes slightly widened at the message they sent me. My mouth slightly opened and he silently nodded. I gave a tiny nod and reluctantly tore my gaze away from his beautiful face. 

Sebastian had a tiny smile of triumph on his lips. My mouth twitched in disgust. "Hmm. I think you should rethink your last answer because I don't think you'll make it out," he stated. "Along with her. Also there are three of us and one of you. Which really gives you no chance."

"I think I can take your friends also."

A short laugh came from my left. I looked back to Jay's eyes filled with amusement and skeptism. The other guy was nowhere is sight and I really didn't care.

Sebastian's eyes sparkled with dark amusement and then the next thing I know, he was kneeling beside me. I gaped and then looked at Shadow who watched as Sebastian eerily ran the knife along my neck. I held my breath as he ran it along my shoulder blade and the small hairs on my back rose. 

My heart started punding on my chest and right now I was helpless on his grasp. "Too bad. I was going to give you a secnd chance, but you failed to get my message." He pressed the tip against my shoulder and I cringed as I felt it dig in, tautingly. 

My eyes started watering and I lowered my head to the ground. Too late now. Hot pain shot through my arm as he made a swift line across my forearm. I tightly shut my eyes and a cry of despair hissed through my teeth. 

Thud!

My lips twitched. Another thud. The coolness of the knife was removed from my arm and I felt another thud. This time farther away from me. Somethings wrong, I thought. 

I slowly opened my eyes and my mouth popped open in horror at the sight laid in front of me. Shadow held Sebastian in a headlock as they kneeled on the floor. Sebastian tried to punch Shadow's sides, but Shadow immediately smashed his face on the broken floor. I winced as he made contact with the floor and I scooted away as I heard a loud crunch.

I made a strangled sound and they both looked my way. I paled as I saw Sebastian's face smeared with blood. Shadow was more than fine, but he was very tensed.

"What aree...you looking at!" Sebastian slurred angrily and then started to lash at me with his arms. Shadow grounded his teeth, propped a leg up, and kicked Sebastian hard on the shin.

I stayed frozen on the ground with my arms laid back. Suddenly, I felt smooth leather on my hand which was followed by a grunt.

I looked back and another surprise came in store. Ash was wrestling on the floor with Jayk. From what I could see Ash was winning since Jayk was being strangled by Ash. I reeled back and watched with pitying eyes as Ash knocked Jayk unconscious. Then I gave out a cry of pain as the pain in my arms increased. 

Ash pushed Jayk aside like a rag doll and then looked at me with hard eyes. I bumped against a log and tiredly laid against it. Then I smelled it. I smelled fresh blood. My nose wrinkled in distaste and my mouth was filled with salt and strong iron. I started getting light-headed. Then I felt liquid slithering down my throat. 

I frowned and looked down to see blood gushing out of my open wounds. The blood wasn't really "gushing", but fair amounts of blood spilled on my Halloween costume. I still couldn't believe I was wearing it. 

"Oh, shit!" someone said in horror. Suddenly, I saw Ash scramble toward me with a worried expression and as he kneeled beside me, he ripped a long piece of his white shirt, and tied it around my arm. He ripped another piece for my other arm. I bit my lips as he pressed it to my skin, really hard.

I hated laying there like a worthless dummy. I should be helping Shadow or the others, but no, I had to let myself get hurt instead of giving Sebastian a good punch of the face. How could I though? With that thing sliding against my skin, seconds away from slicing my neck. I shivered at the memory and looked at Ash with weak eyes. His face softened and then he said,"Wait right here. I need to go help the others. Take this for protection." He handed me a gun. I stared wide-eyed at it before I took it. Then he scampered away. What am I going to do with a gun? Murder someone? He has lost his mind. I carefully set the gun beside me and wished for everything to end soon.

Then that's where I heard a gun shot. Bam! Bam! Bam!

I froze with fright and shakily took hold of the gun. Having the gun on my hand made me feel...powerful...and...

I shook my head from this sickening spell and then the heavy footfall of footsteps headed my way. My finger stayed above the trigger and I held the thing more tightly as I saw a shadow descending. It grew larger and larger. My heart pounded against my chest and I made a desperate cry in the back of my throat. Shivers went up and down my spine as fear took over me. Then when I thought it was over for me, two blue eyes peered at me. 

"Arielle," he sweetly whispered. My heart gave out and I found mysefl bursting into tears. My heart was bursting with joy and grief since I thought I would never hear him say my name again. 

Shadow gently took hold of my hands and pulled me against his chest for a warm and sweet hug. This was bitersweet. My breathing came out in hard breaths and lights danced across my vision. I cursed at myself for being weak. Shadow softly pressed his lips against my forehead and he wrapped his hands around my waist. Right now nothing mattered. As selfish as it sounds right now I was in my safe haven. I relaxed in his strong arms and took in his smell that was filled with love, determination, and strength. 

Then Ash, TJ, and a lean, brown-haired guy came running toward us. Their faces and clothes were powdered with dirt and sweat. TJ grabbed the gun and placed it inside his boot.

"Shadow, we gotta go. She's hurt and it's gonna take us more than a day to get back to Oregon," Ash insisted. My eyes widened, but they squinted again because I had a feeling that Sebastian would take me somwhere faraway from my home. Which includes family and friends.

Shadow nodded and gently picked me up in his arms. I cringed as hot pain ran through my veins in both of my arms. He ran a gentle finger across my cheek and then he wrapped his jacket around me. 

Ash and TJ walked ahead of us as Shadow walked me away from my death bed. A fall breeze tickled my cheeks and the sky was gold with orange streaks running across it. It was such a sight. I cuddled closer to Shadow and he pressed me closer to him.

Before I knew it I was inside a warm, cozy car with Shadow and the others. My hands pressed against Shadow's stomach and he kindly smiled down on me. 

I smiled back and then I yawned. Shadow leaned forward and pressed his soft lips against the tip of my ear. "Go to sleep, Arielle. I'll watch over you."

I softly moaned and pressed my face against his hard, but soft chest. Under my fingertips I felt a shiver go through Shadow. 

Before I started slipping to sleep I heard Ash speak softly,"At least she's safe now, but I'm afraid of what her mom is gonna say about this..." 

"Not now, Ash. Right now lets just focus on getting home; her home. Now I'm going to make sure no one ever touches her again," a new edge formed in Shadow's deep voice. 

"Like I said before, no one messes with us especially with our loved ones," Ash said. 

Shadow smiled and then it grew quiet. It was only the the soft, almost there sound of the radio and the gentle hum of the car. And Shadow's protective arms around me. 

The last words I heard were:

"I love you, Arielle."

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AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Awwwww! I became really soft and emotional when I typed this. :) I would've cried, but my mom and sis are here so yeah, but sometimes that don't stop the tears from coming. THIS WAS MY FAVORITE CHAPTER IN THE WHOLE BOOK!!!!!! <3 It was soo bittersweet and even though Arielle got hurt a lot of magical things happened. I'm jealous. Why can't guys in reality be like this...? *Sniffs* 

The picture on the right is Ash, Aiden, and TJ! About time 'cause I want you to kinda get an image of how they "might" look like. So, far these guys fit! :) 

......................................................................................... *Sniffs*

Vote, comment, and maybe fan. :) I wonder how long this chapter is. Oh and a new chapter of "Humanoid" will probably be posted on Monday. :) Hey, for you guys who have read Janelle's chapter, who should play Janelle? Lucy Hale from Pretty Little Liars or Shailene Woodley from The Secret Life of the American Teenager? Please tell me your thoughts!!!!?? 

P.S. I just noticed how much my writing has improved! Yayy! Oh and love you guys! <3<3