Izzy

Everyone was ready to leave. Well, everyone except for me. I didn't want to just leave Liam's body there for the animals that lurked in the woods, I was dead set on bringing his body back to town even if it meant fighting off every damn Hunter that got in my way. But as usual, Austin wasn't so keen on leaving me behind.

"We have to go now," he told me impatiently. "I don't want to leave Liam any more than you do, but we need to now."

Chris gave him a much needed rude awakening after he said he wanted to fight the Hunters as we were then which wasn't currently in my best interest. I thought that at least Austin would want to help me bring Liam safely back to town, but much like everyone else, he feared the newest threat we've received. I had no doubt in my mind that the Hunters would carry through with it if given the chance. Even so, after everything that had happened, I definitely wasn't in the right mindset. At that moment, nothing was more important than bringing Liam back, not even the well-being of everyone else.

"I'm not just going to leave him here!" I cried.

I was on the verge of breaking down again. Austin reached out his good arm to grab me but I moved away quickly and threw myself on the ground next to Liam's body. I stubbornly wrapped my arms around him careful not to hit my broken fingers.

"Dammit, Izzy, you're going to get yourself killed!" he screamed as he angrily pushed his messy hair back.

I didn't respond to that - I didn't know how to. Was dying what I actually wanted? I didn't even know myself. Everyone else watched my argument with Austin play out, no one knowing what they could do to help. I turned my back to them all and only focussed on Liam. The rest of the Rescuers had Austin, they would be fine. They didn't need me.

I felt a hand being placed on my shoulder before seeing a figure squat next to me from the corner of my eye. Assuming it was Austin, I didn't even bother turning around.

"Izzy," said a voice that was obviously not Austin's.

Finally looking away, I noticed that Chris was the one next to me. I figured he was only there to give sympathetic and encouraging words like everyone else. Boy, was I wrong.

"To be quite frank, you're being pretty selfish right now," he told me, snapping me right out of my pitiful mood. "You're not the only one who misses Liam, just look around you. Not even that, these people rely on you to lead them. If you stay behind like you want to do you really trust Austin to lead them by himself?"

I couldn't help but let a small smile appear on my face at his joke. As much as I wanted to argue, I knew he was right; I really was only being selfish. Even so, I still didn't want to leave Liam's body where any wild animal could find it.

Quickly wiping my tears away, I stood up and looked at everyone before me.

"You guys are right, we do need to leave," I said. "But first, I just want to make sure that his body will be safe. Austin, will you help me move him into the cave?"

He opened his mouth as if to say something but then quickly shut it. Nodding, he walked over towards the body of his dead brother. My dead boyfriend. I was on the verge of tears once again and it must've been obvious.

"You stand with the others. I'll carry him for you," Chris told me.

Without a word, I only nodded and did as told. Once again, he grabbed Liam's legs and just as Austin was trying to figure out how to grab his arms with only one hand, someone stepped in and helped.

"You shouldn't have to do this. Don't worry, I've got it," Bryan told him, a sincere look of pity on his face.

I almost expected Austin to refuse his offer but to my surprise, he accepted without any argument. Perhaps he didn't want one his last memories of his brother to be him having to hide the body inside a dark cave.

As we watched Chris and Bryan carry the body inside the cave, Austin wrapped his good arm around my shoulders protectively. If anything, that only made me feel worse. At that point, the only thing I needed protection from were my own emotions. No one could protect me from them.

Chris attempted to return the foliage back to its original place blocking the cave entrance from sight to try and prevent wild animals from going inside, but it was hard to do after David had trampled over them. In the end, the entrance was only half blocked which was the best that could be done.

"The Grove is about an hour away from where we are now. If we can get there, you'll all be safe," Chris told us.

After a nod from all of us, he began to lead the way which I had no complaints against. As everyone else began to walk away following Chris' lead, I stood back for a few seconds just staring at the somewhat hidden entrance to the cave. It all felt so unreal to me. I almost didn't believe that Liam was really dead, it felt almost as if it was all a dream...

The dream!

The beginning of that dream I had was already coming into play. I somehow had a forewarning of the tragic events that would take place this day. Did I have it so I could have the power to change it? It was foolish to think but even so, if I did pay more attention to that dream then I would've been able to save Liam. He would still be alive and my birthday that was supposed to be the best day wouldn't have turned into a complete hell like it is now.

"Izzy," Austin called, his face emotionless. He may have looked emotionless but I knew the true emotions that were tormenting him.

Without a word, I turned my back on the cave and started walking with him in the back of the group. I would've been more than happy staying in the back for the whole way to The Grove. I had no interest in socializing with the other members and I didn't think anyone could blame me. I barely even wanted to socialize with Austin after everything that happened. That dream gave me the power to save Liam's life and I ignored it. In a way, I was responsible for his death.

Taking a quick glance at Austin I noticed that his emotionless look was now replaced with one of deep thought. His thoughts were usually easy to read on his face but it wasn't then. I had no idea what he was thinking about but an angered look grew more visible on his face the more he thought about it. Grabbing my arm, he suddenly began to drag me towards the front of the group to where Chris was.

"Austin, what are you doing?" I asked as he continued to pull me along.

"We have something to discuss," was all he said.

He didn't stop pulling me behind him until we reached Chris who looked somewhat surprised to see us. Before he could say anything, Austin started talking.

"What was it that Liam kept repeating before he got killed?" he asked the two of us.

"Uh, um, how would I know? I barely knew him," Chris said.

Ignoring his answer, Austin now turned to me. I didn't know for a second what he was asking. Liam said a lot of things before he died but I couldn't think which of the things he did say that played any importance. Except for one thing.

"H-how he talked about the spies?" I asked.

"Spies?" Chris repeated doubtfully.

"Exactly. All he talked about was how there were spies in the Rescuers and how the Hunters would go far enough as to kill us. He was right about the last part and now I think he was right about the spies too."

"That's a possibility, but we have no proof-"

"Except we do," he said, cutting me off. "Liam brought Chris to the cave which was only known by the Rescuers. How was David able to know they'd be in the cave?"

"David ran after them once they left, he was probably following them and stumbled across the cave," I said, trying to be reasonable.

"He wasn't following us," Chris told us, his face going dark. "We stopped for a few minutes before going in the cave, I would've definitely heard him during that time."

The three of us continued walking in silence. I didn't want to accept the truth that I couldn't trust one or possibly even many of the Rescuers. There was too much evidence to ignore, though. Even so, it was still so difficult to think of someone who would betray us like this...

Austin's sudden scream snapped me from my thoughts. Whipping around, I noticed that he stopped walking and was clutching his broken arm tightly against his chest.

"What happened? Are you okay?" I asked frantically.

"Yeah, fine," he managed to get out between his gritted teeth. "I wasn't looking where I was going and the branch hit my arm."

"You need a minute?" Chris asked after he stopped walking to check on him.

"No, keep going," Austin replied. "I'll be fine."

After a moment of hesitation, he did as told and kept walking ahead. Austin didn't take long to recover and start walking again, but I knew he was still in a lot of pain.

"Look at him," a snotty voice from behind us remarked. "We all have injuries and he can't even suck up a little branch."

Austin normally kept a cool head but after everything that's happened, I couldn't blame him for snapping at that. He didn't waste a second to reply back.

"Oh, really, Kayla? I don't see you with a broken bone," he shot back.

"If I did have one I would suck it up and not be a wimp about it like you."

The smirk that appeared on his face let me know that he was just hoping she would say that. After that, I knew exactly what he would say before he even said it.

"Huh, really?" he asked sarcastically. "Because I clearly remember the time you broke your leg. What was it that you said? Something along the lines of 'Oh, please carry me, Austin. It hurts too much.'"

Her face quickly grew red with a mix of anger and embarrassment. She opened her mouth to say something back but I interceded before that. I was beyond done with their constant fighting.

"The both of you just shut the hell up! I'm sick of this!" I screamed, immediately silencing them.

Austin and Kayla didn't always fight like this. About a year ago they were actually dating for a few months after being friends for a while. She was the first girl he liked but I knew from the start she wasn't good for him. She was controlling and manipulative to the point where she was almost successful in turning him against both his brother and myself. Despite that, he still fawned over her. I had a slight feeling that his true emotions for her were blinded by her perfect body and her misleading innocent face.

Thankfully, he eventually realized how manipulative she truly was and left her. That brings us to why the arguments always start between those two. The only reason why we still let her in our group is because we're already low enough on people as it is. But as I thought about it more, could she be one of the spies...? Sure, she was a great suspect of it considering that she hated both Austin and me with a passion, but she didn't originally join the Rescuers to be with him, she did it because she wanted to save innocent lives like us. Would her hatred for us really make her go that dark?

"There's something I should probably tell the two of you," Chris said.

"What?" I asked curiously.

"Before Liam died, we were talking. I think you guys have already met my brother. It would make sense if you did."

"Your brother?" Austin repeated.

"Yeah," Chris said, his voice seemingly emotionless. "Liam told me about that coyote attack that happened last year and that werewolf that came out to apologize. From how he described him, I really think that was my brother."

"Is it important that he knows us?" I questioned.

"It's probably in your best interest that he does when I take you to The Grove."

Before either of us could ask what that meant, we stumbled across a path with fallen trees covering it. Despite how difficult it looked to cross it, that still wasn't the reason why we stopped. Suddenly, a sudden wave of utter fear washed over me. The fear was so strong I felt like I would puke right then and there. After a quick and shaky observation of the others, everyone looked just as scared as I felt. Everyone except for Chris.

"W-what is this?" I asked him.

"Shit, I completely forgot about the barrier," he said angrily.

"Barrier?"

"It wards off both vampires and humans. Vampires won't be able to go past it but humans are able to, it's just very unlikely. The effect of it on humans is the feeling of intense fear which will make them stay away."

"Well, it works," Austin said as he warily looked at the path before us.

"We have to keep going," Chris told us.

"No," I said as I shook my head.

No one else was eager to keep going either despite the circumstances we were under. But due to that barrier, it felt like The Grove was more dangerous than even the Hunters.

"Please, guys. Just trust me. Vampires can still attack us here, the barrier doesn't keep all of them out, just the majority. A few can make it in and they will if they see us all standing here. Trust me and I promise I'll protect you all."

I barely knew him but somehow, I did trust Chris. I was terrified of what was to come if we walked any further, but I didn't think he would purposely lead us into anymore. Shaking off the fear that kept me chained to the spot I was standing it, I started walking. Slowly, everyone else did do until we were all once again heading to The Grove.

"The further you walk the less intense the barrier will be. Only for humans, that is," Chris told us encouragingly.

The barrier was just one more obstacle we had to get over. Next up was getting over the abundance of fallen trees that blocked our path. Any other day it would be easy for us to get over them but due to the severity of some of our injuries, it was much more difficult. Austin and I were a perfect example of that. It was difficult for us to keep up with Chris while making sure not to injure ourselves even further.

I nearly jumped with joy when we finally reached a clearing with no fallen trees in sight. As happy as we all were for a clear path, that happiness was soon ruined. Before we could continue walking to The Grove, a loud noise about twenty feet ahead made us all stop in our tracks. There was someone- or something- else here. No one moved. We all focussed on the noise that was obviously moving closer to us.

"Please not vampires," Chris whispered.

The lace of fear in his voice did nothing to help my nerves. I already knew that vampires were awful creatures but if they could make Chris this scared, we were in trouble.

"What the hell is that?" Austin asked, his voice as loud as ever.

"Shhh. Keep quiet, you idiot," Chris said quietly, his eyes darting nervously around us. "I'm going to look around. Stay here and don't move unless you see them."

"Won't they kill you?" I asked nervously.

He never replied. His body was tense as he slowly walked away from us. If he was this scared then this was definitely bad. I just hoped that he wouldn't get injured anymore. As much as he tried to hide it, the wound on both his leg and side were clearly evident even though they somehow seemed to have gotten better since he first received the wounds.

He was almost completely out of sight when it happened. We all screamed in unison when they suddenly appeared looking fierce.

Two wolves jumped out, growling at us all.