. I know that this is long overdue but I really

The soft humming of the cold night wind is like a lullaby to my ears. It soothes me and makes me feel as if I'm standing in an alternate universe.

A place where everything isn't so fucked up. Where I the girl I love isn't disgusted by me. Where I'm not considered a screw up. Where I'm not standing before my brother's grave.

Another whoosh of the wind resonates around the graveyard. Leaves of the trees I was standing underneath rustle as my eyes once again fall on the writings on the grave. It's late at night, maybe even midnight, but my eyes have adjusted themselves to the dim light that is coming from the streetlight a few feet away. So I have no trouble reading the carvings. Again.

Aaron Parker Woods.

Loving son, brother and friend.

You came into this world as a blessing, you are going as a legend and you'll be remembered as a memory.

Pain laces around my heart. Binding me in an unending torture as it grew.

I don't deserve happiness.

Since I'm the one that ended his.

My small carry-on bag is lying near my foot. I pick it up and slung it over my shoulder. I kept an emergency bag full of some clothes and money hidden in a small gym locker. Just in case, I had to run again and couldn't go to my house.

I just couldn't face my mom.

I still remember the first time I left. It was heartbreaking for her. Since every man in her life seemed to leave. Her husband, her son. Everyone. Still it amazes me how she still holds her head up high and smiles without a care. How she still remains so strong instead of succumbing to painkillers and depression pills.

Allie is not much different from her in that department I guess.

I let out a small sigh as I cast a glance towards his grave one last time and begin to walk.

The mildly wet grass crunches beneath my shoes as I cross the graveyard. Placing my hands on the cool metal of the entrance gate, I pull it close behind me.

Suddenly the loud honk of a car snaps me out of my thoughts.

I look up and witness the most weirdest scene I have ever seen in my life.

And bear in mind that I know Alison Farrow. So yeah, I have seen a quite number of weird scenes.

A Range Rover, which I immediately recognize as Andrew's, is speeding through the empty road at the speed of light.

Really, it's that fast.

But it's speed isn't what's weird. It's the sight of Sam's full upper body leaning out the window as she waves her hands like a madwoman screaming, "Fuck faster! Fuck faster!"

My jaw drops on the floor along with my bag that slips from my loose shoulders.

"What in the name of....?" I blink a few times to assure myself that I'm not dreaming.

Andrew stops the car as he passes me by and it makes a screeching sound as it turns slightly to the right.

The sudden action almost makes Sam topple out of the window but luckily a hand reaches out from inside and grabs her waist.

I'm still in shock to even breathe let alone move.

The sound of three car doors slamming brings me back to reality. Sam stands there with a murderous expression as Andrew stands beside her with an emotionless face. Another dark blonde guy I have never seen in my life leans on the car as he watches the scene play out.

Sam nods towards Andrew, "Do you wanna have the first go?"

Nodding Andrew strides towards me with his fists clenched by his side and a small smile on his lips.

I eye him weirdly, "Uh, dude? Why do you look like you're going to punch-"

I don't finish the sentence because he literary does punch me.

"Fuck you Ryder!" he yells as I stumble back holding my nose.

"What the hell-"

I can't finish this sentence either because someone punches me again in my stomach.

"Go to Hell Ryder!" Sam screams as she throws another punch.

I knew that they'd be pissed at me for leaving without a notice but they are taking it to an entirely different level.

"Guys!" My shout stops them from throwing another round of punches.

"What is this? WWF?" I ask them incredulously, "I'm sorry I'm leaving without any notice but-"

"It's not about that you bastard!" Sam yells making me flinch.

Damn this girl has some impressive vocal chords.

"Well it is," she glares at me, "But there's more. How can you just pack up and leave as if nothing has happened when because of you Lisa has been kidnapped?!"

Wait, what?

Terror flooded me but I try to push it away.

No, this can't be true...this must be a joke.

A horrible joke but a joke nonetheless.

I look at Andrew confused, "This is some sick joke right?"

Andrew only glares at me with venom, "What do you think, you bloody coward?"

I flinch as if I've been shot.

But he's true, isn't he?

I am a coward.

Instead of staying here and protecting the people I love, I chose to run away and thus leave them in despair.

Is that truly protecting them?

No.

Then slowly the rest of the information sinks in.

Lisa has been kidnapped.

Allie has been kidnapped.

"Explain," I say in a deathly calm voice. Both of them back away as they knew the tone of my voice.

It's the tone of wrath and terror.

Sam's glare lessens but still doesn't fully disappears, "It was late and she still hadn't gone home. Worried her parents called me, since she told them she was coming to my house. I knew about your date so I made up an excuse," she licked her lips, "But when I called her cell and she didn't pick up, I started getting worried."

Wrapping her arms around herself as if to comfort herself she continued, "Then an unknown number called me, it was Lisa. She said she had went to your house to apologize for fuck-knows-what and the door was open. While she was looking around for you, someone hit her and made her unconscious. When she woke up, she found herself in some creepy ghostly room and in front of two guys with guns."

Shit.

Oh shit.

Remember the terror I pushed away? Yeah, well now it hit me like an angry bull and threw me halfway across America.

"It's the Hounds gang."

Scratch that, halfway across the solar system.

The Hounds. The people responsible for everything. Because of them, I along with Andrew was forced to leave two years ago. It's partially their fault that I was leaving tonight too.

My head snaps towards Sam, "Are you serious?"

She sighs, "I'm afraid I am."

The grim expression on Andrew's face doesn't help in reassuring me.

I intake a sharp breath.

"Let's go."

Those two curt words were enough to send them both into action. Andrew throws open the car door as he slides into the driver seat. As I pass Sam, I lean in to whisper, "Who's the blonde? And how much are you paying him?"

She glares at me through gritted teeth, "Why do you guys keep asking me that? Mason is not, and I repeat, NOT a prostitute!"

Despite my tensed state, my lips quirk upwards as I slide into the passenger seat.

Friends. The ones who can always make you smile even in the hardest of situations.

How can I leave them again?

I strapped my seatbelt as Andrew started the car.

"Hurry the hell up."

As soon as I said that, Andrew slammed his foot on the accelerator and we sped throughout the dark night at the speed of light. Again

*****************

My eyes roll over the scene before me sharply. Soft light from the moon casts a gentle glow over the abandoned warehouse that stands in front of us. A thin fence made of wires and nets, that seemed to be at least 6 feet high, surrounds the place. It didn't look 'Hey! Want a cookie?' welcoming but not so threatening either.

"Are you sure this is the place?" I ask Mason as I press myself against a wooden crate to shield my body from any prying eyes.

"Yeah," he replies as he does also crouches down behind a wooden barrel. Sam is crouching down beside him, occasionally peering over the barrel to look over the warehouse.

I narrow my eyes at him. Having known him for only fifteen minutes, you can't blame me for being suspicious.

After we left, all Fast & Furious style, we suddenly realized that we had no idea where Allie was.

Then Mason made a few calls. Apparently he had connections with some people who could track phone calls. After tracking Allie's call, which came from an abandoned warehouse in the middle of nowhere, we had immediately sped here.

But is this truly the right place?

I sigh and close my eyes. Sam seems to trust him and she has even bigger trust issues than me.

I guess I have to trust him too.

Opening my eyes, I took a deep breath and jerked my head in the direction of the warehouse, "Let's go."

Before I can move, Andrew interrupts placing a hand on my shoulder, "Wait."

I glance at him surprised, "So you're talking to me now?"

Rolling his eyes, he pulls out something from his back pocket, "Here."

I freeze as I take in the object he is holding out to me.

A gun.

"Andrew," my voice sounds hoarse and steel hard at the same time, "Don't. You should know that I would never touch that thing again."

He clenches his jaw, "Ryder, how many times do you need to be told? It. Was. Not. Your. Fault."

The memory of that night hits me once again. It takes all I have to not flinch.

Shaking my head I curtly reply, "Don't. Just don't. And I'm not taking the gun."

Turning away from him, I take a deep breath and step out from the shadows.

I hear Andrew sigh annoyed from behind me but he also follows my lead.

Light footsteps pad the ground as we try to stay as silent as possible. The area is full off wooden boxes and iron crates so it's easy to keep ourselves hidden among the shadows. We spread out keeping our distance so we wouldn't attract any attention but still remain in each other's sight so we can help if something happens.

We still haven't reached the wired fence and it's worrying me how we are going to jump over them. As far as I can see, there aren't any gates on this side.

I motion Sam and Mason with my hand to stay put. They nod and hide themselves behind an iron crate.

Hiding my way towards the fence, I cast a glance inside as I once again pressed myself against a crate.

No one seems to be here.

My eyes brighten when they fall on the solution of how we were going to get in there. Few feet on my left, three steel boxes that placed in a way that resembled stairs, are standing just beside the fence.

Not checking to see if the others' are following me, I bite my lip and make a dash for it. Lifting my right leg, I hoist myself on the first box; then the second one and then the third on. I look down on the ground.

It's a six feet jump, maybe even more.

Bracing my legs, I jump.

As soon as I feel the hard concrete ground beneath me, I bend my legs and try to cushion the fall as much as I can.

When I'm sure that I can perfectly walk I lift my head to look up.

And meet two guys pointing their guns directly at me.