Chapter One

The storm had blown in sudden and unexpected. The ominous thunder crashed overhead as she walked home. The lightning lit up her features as she hurriedly walked down the sidewalk. Her light red hair blew out behind her in long ringlets while her hazel eyes darted back and forth, scanning the bushes for any sign of danger. She held the books to her chest and moved faster. Again the vision of a boy flashed across her mind’s eye. His light blonde curly hair shined in the sun while his pale skin attempted to soak in as much pigment as possible. If it wasn’t for the boy’s eyes, Jenna would never have known that something was wrong. He sprinted through the streets of some unknown town away from some unknown evil.

                Jenna stopped and gasped aloud. After seeing this boy for the past two weeks she figured she would’ve been used to it by now but she wasn’t. She wanted to help this boy with all her heart but she had no idea what his name was or even where he was. He was handsome and seemed to be a rather nice guy from her vision. His eyes always amazed and drew her in.”Who is this boy?”   Jenna slowly struck up a brisk walk to get out of the rain. She needed to reach the safehouse.

                After walking for several more minutes through the winding streets of Ireland she came to a two story house with three balconies and a rather large yard filled with emerald green grass blades and her beautiful horse, Denali. His velvet, coal black fur was drenched through with rain but he still looked regal. He held his head high as he heard her open the front gate then took up a smooth canter toward her.  “Hey there boy.” She set her books down on the porch and rubbed his ears with gentle hands. He nickered at her as she pulled as carrot from her pocket and held it out to him. 

                “Jenna! There you are!” a tan boy with dark black hair stepped onto the porch.

                “Hey, Jacob.” Jenna said, never diverting her true attention from Denali.

                “I was getting worried about you. Where did you go?” Jacob’s voice was firm with concern.

                “I just went to the bookstore.” Jenna finally left Denali and climbed onto the porch steps.

                “Please just tell someone before you go again. I don’t want anything to happen to you again.” Jacob hung his head.

                Jenna rubbed the scar on her wrist then raised her hand to Jacob’s cheek, “It wasn’t your fault.”

                “I almost lost you, we almost lost you. All because I was stupid and not paying attention.”

                “Jacob, please forget it. I am here and I am safe, thanks to you.” She smiled up to him and slowly pulled him into a hug. They stood like that for a long while. Her arms around his waist with her head pressed against his chest.  His face was buried in the crook of her neck and his tan muscular arms wrapped around her small body frame.

                “Come on . Let’s get you something to eat.” Jenna pulled him by the hand into the house. “What would you like today?”

                “How about some crushed snails?” A voice called from the stairs.

                “You haven’t eaten either?” Jenna turned to see Matt coming down the stairs.

                “I figured you would fix something for Jacob, so I waited.”

                Jenna busied herself with the stove as she put a pot of water on to boil. Jacob watched her every move with a hint of a smile playing on his lips. She was beautiful to him and he loved her. He loved everything about her. He loved her playful personality and strong determination, the way her pale pink lips turned up in smile when she saw him, the way she treated him with kindness even though he had almost gotten her killed, and he loved her red hair. The way her body moved in graceful steps and turns just blew his mind. “What?” She turned to him with a smile.

                “Oh, nothing.” Jacob shook his head letting a smile creep up onto his face. He scooted closer to her and pushed one of her red curls behind her ear. “You are beautiful.” He whispered in her ear.

                He brought his face closer to her face and softly brushed his lips across hers. She gasped and clutched her head, moaning in pain. She fell to the floor before a stunned Jacob could catch her. “Jenna, help me! Please!” The boy flashed across her eyes yet again. His bright light green eyes were filled with terror. He looked into her “eyes” once more then took off running.

                Jenna gasped in pain again. “Jenna! Matt! Help me!” Jacob frantically picked her up and laid her on the couch. “Get Michael and Kiernan. Quick!”

                Jenna clutched her head in pain as Jacob gently stroked her hair. She grabbed his hand in her sweaty one and clutched it as hard as she could. After several long minutes the pain subsided and she opened her eyes. Jacob laid his hand gently on her face as she slowly sat up. “Are you okay?”

                Jenna nodded her head. “What happened?!” Kiernan banged through the screen door to stand in front of her best friend.

                “I had a vision.” Jenna said quietly.

                “Was this all of the sudden?” Michael came to stand beside Kiernan.

                “I have been having them for about two weeks now but never like this.” Jenna’s voice came out weak.  Jacob sat down beside her, as her head fell onto his shoulder.

                “Why didn’t you tell anyone?” Michael’s voice came out harsher than he meant it to.

                “I could never get a name or place where this boy was.”

                “What made this time different?” Kiernan grabbed Michael’s hand.

                “He spoke to me.” Jenna raised her head to look at her friends. “He needs our help.”

                “Did he give you a name?” Matt asked.

                “No, he just said he needed help.”  Jenna’s eyes began to droop as she spoke. “I’m really tired. “ Jacob gently lowered himself back onto the couch as Jenna curled up to him. He stroked her hair in a soothing calming way and watched as she fell asleep.

                “What do you think this means?” Kiernan turned to look at Michael.

                “I am not sure but it must’ve been a powerful vision. Look how exhausted she is.” He whispered.

                Jacob turned his worried eyes to Michael, “Do you think there is another of us and that’s who she is seeing?”

                “What do you mean? Another person with strange abilities?” Kiernan asked as her eyes swept over the still form of her sleeping friend.

                “That’s exactly what I mean. I know it sounds unlikely but that is one theory.”  Jacob sighed and slowly started stroking her hair again. It was soft and silky to his rough fingertips.

                “What do you think we should do?” Matt’s voice echoed inside everyone’s ears. They had, for once, been happy. They enjoyed living here without the threat of their enemies finding them. They had lived here for two years happy and undisturbed. They hated for that to be messed up but there was someone needing their help. 

                “Let’s let it go for now. If she can’t provide us with any tangible evidence to who this person is we can’t help them. Kiernan, will you start dinner.” Michael said as he started up the steps with silent footsteps. Sarah busied herself in the kitchen, Matt went outside to feed the horses, and Jenna and Jacob laid on the couch in silence.

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                “I don’t have what they want. I thought I had gotten through to her.” He shook his head in confusion, his blonde hair fell into his face. His breath came in heaves from running but he let his back slowly slide down the wall. His bright green eyes scanned the catacombs for the men who would soon find his hiding spot. He was scared and he wouldn’t deny it. He had no idea who they were after or even how he had seen that girl and gotten in contact with her. All he wanted was to go home but home was nowhere now. His parents had turned him over without even the slightest hint of remorse. He had ran then, ran as fast as he could, that’s how he ended up here in Paris.

                His head fell into his sweaty hands. He breathed in the deep earthy smell of the floor as he tried to calm his racing thoughts.  “How am I going to get out of this? How did I get into this in the first place?” He brought his head back up to rest against the slimy wall. His head spun with the simple exertion of energy. He needed food but he was afraid of venturing into the sunlight again, afraid of being hunted down yet again.  “The only thing I can do is attempt to talk to her again.” He whispered to himself as he pulled himself up from the floor and started walking down the catacomb corridor.

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                Jenna slowly pulled herself from the groggy sleepiness that had enveloped her brain. Her eyes scanned the room and fell on the tan face that had been right beside hers only a moment ago. A little smile crept up her face as she gently stroked his face with her fingertips. She stroked his eyebrows, lips, nose, forehead, cheek bones, and jaw line.  His tan skin was a dark russet brown pulled smooth over the strong bones of his face. She laid her hand on his chest, feeling the rise and fall of his chest and the strong heartbeat that she would do anything to keep beating. 

                Looking out the window she could see that dusk had already fallen. She slipped up and took a warm blanket from the closet and placed it over him. She tucked it in tight at his sides and feet, “Goodnight, Jacob.” She whispered as she planted a soft kiss on his forehead. She quickly gathered up a pillow and sheets and made herself a bed in the floor. She turned her face to him and smiled as she fell once again into unconsciousness.

                The tunnel was dark and the moisture from the air seemed to seep into her clothes, chilling her to the very core of her being. “Can anyone help me? Where am I?” Jenna called into the blackness. She turned as she heard footsteps coming closer and closer to her. “Can you please help me? Where am I?”

                “Jenna! We have to run!” a pale hand grabbed her own and pulled her farther into the darkness. She felt herself run as hard as she could while she clenched this stranger’s hand in hers. This guy was a stranger but yet she felt as if she knew him. She trusted him.

                “Who are you?” Jenna asked breathless.

                “Jenna, they are after me and now that you have chosen to help me they are after you.” The boy pulled to a stop and turned toward her, Jenna gasped. His hair was made of light blonde ringlets; his skin was a soft pale while his eyes were a light green, the kind of green that you found on the underneath of a leaf. His lips were a pale rose color that stood out from his skin. “I will never let anything happen to you! Ever, do you hear me?” He grabbed her shoulders in his hands and looked into her hazel eyes.

                Jenna felt herself shake her head in a yes answer, “I trust you Justin, I trust you with my life.” Jenna’s heart sped at the sound of his name coming from her lips. His intense graze was on her and it was invigorating. He brought his face closer to hers and found his lips press against hers in a rough but passionate kiss, it wasn’t the kind of gentle kiss that she gained from Jacob but the kind of kiss a man gives his wife when he knows he is going to die. Jenna gasped as he kissed her harder and found herself kissing him back. His hands were cupped at her face while her hands were at the back of us head pulling him in closer and closer. She never wanted that kiss to end, never. Finally, the boy called Justin pulled away. “Jenna, they are coming. I have to leave.”

Jenna watched in horror as Justin’s figure began to shimmer and fade. “Justin, no! Please, stay with me!” Hot wet tears fell from her eyes as he faded from her and the boy that had once been so strong and firm was now intangible.

“No! Justin! No!” Jenna’s voice rang out across the quiet living room.

“Jenna. Come on. Wake up!” Jenna slowly registered the voice that was calling her wasn’t Justin anymore. Her eyes popped open to find Michael’s worried eyes looking down at her. “Are you okay?”

                “I’m fine, I think.” Jenna rubbed her temples with two fingers. “I’m going to go for a ride.”

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Jenna’s thoughts seemed to clear as she moved to the rhythm of her horse’s hoofbeats. Riding was always able to calm her down. She focused on Denali’s strong muscles surging beneath her, the proper leg pressure that only Denali knew, his deep breaths, and the beat of his hooves and strong heart. This was when she felt the freest, this was her element.  As she rode the scenery passed her in a blur; her hair whipped out from her face.

After reaching her favorite spot, Jenna dismounted. She promptly laid the reins at Denali’s neck as he put his head down to graze. She patted his muscled shoulder and silently sank down into the long grass blades. She looked up to the green canopy, all she could think of was Justin. It had all felt so real, the kiss, his warm sweet smelling breath, his bright green eyes, and the soft feel of his curly hair. She closed her eyes as she allowed the sweet shade to envelope her.

Her eyes popped open and her heart began to beat so hard it seemed it would beat right out of her chest. Jenna lurched up and grabbed her chest while her breath came in rasps. Her eyes were wild as she looked left and right. She felt something seriously tight around her wrists and a hot, painful slap across her cheek. “Justin.” She whispered. Suddenly, she felt the gun barrel at her forehead.

“Thought you could get away? Not even a chance, now we are going to make it worse for you.” 

“Justin! Don’t give in!” Jenna screamed as tears ran down her face. Then it was gone as quickly as it had come. She looked around in confusion. She saw Denali standing only a few feet from her chewing the sweet blades of grass. She pushed her bangs out of her face and exhaled.

“I have to help him, I have to help Justin.” She stood and retrieved Denali. She quickly put her foot in the stirrup and lifted herself into the saddle. Her mind wheeled as she asked Denali to strike up a trot. As she raised herself up to the beat of the trot she made a mental list of all the things she would need to take with her; food, clothing, a sleeping bag, and her weapon. This time as she rode her face was grim and harsh. She knew what she had to do and she had to do it soon.