A shiver creeps down my spine in a mix of coldness and something eerie I can't put my fingers on; all I know is that it's the complete opposite of what I've felt this morning when I've woken up in Alex's arms. Unfortunately, I've had to leave the warmth of his embrace to go back home because of a family reunion at lunchtime. Fortunately, I will soon find Alex's arms again, and the rest of his body. I've just had a little work to put the finishing touches on here at school, and now I can go join him.

As I close and lock the back door of the elective and extracurricular activities building, I still have this strange sensation. It's probably because I'm not used to see this place empty; usually, it's teeming with people, parked cars, and the background sound of school life. But now, it's deserted. There's not a single soul out there, which is normal for a Sunday late afternoon, yet actually a little creepy like a deserted theme park or a ghost town, the cold wind and the foggy weather not helping.

Though maybe I should trust my gut more...

Because as soon as I pass the school gates, someone is waiting for me behind the wall, and I'm caught by two large arms gripping me in a tight hold. My heart stops. I want to scream, but a hand is pressed over my mouth. My heart resumes beating in a restless pace, spreading an adrenaline rush in my veins that makes me react almost instantly, applying Alex's lessons. I stomp hard on my attacker's foot, who by the way, rapidly becomes the victim when I elbow him hard in the stomach and aim to kick him again. Though I'm stopped by another guy attacking me. I dodge him – I don't even know how, but I guess Alex's lessons are paying off. Then, I kick him in his most sensitive part, where the sun doesn't shine. I trip my first attacker and kick him hard in the same area.

A surge of pride and power seizes me as I see them both bent double on the ground. Though it doesn't last long as I lift up my head, ready to run away, and realize I'm encircled by about ten guys, not looking really friendly, with big arms, tattoos, and sadistic smiles.

The surge of pride and self-confidence drains away from my body as quickly as the blood drains from my face.

Paralyzed, I watch a raven-haired guy with a quite beaten face enter the human circle.

In an ultimate survival instinct, I open my mouth to scream.

"If I were you, I wouldn't," he silences me, pointing a sharp knife to my throat as another guy immobilizes me in a tight hold from behind.

My heart jumps against my ribcage, trying to break free, while the rest of my body is unable to move. I can't even swallow the lump forming in my throat in front of the sardonic smile forming on the guy's face.

"What do you want? I don't have any money on me," I manage to say, my voice tight.

"Oh, I don't want your money." The guy holding the knife – probably the leader since he's the only one talking and they're all watching him, seemingly under his command, even though they're all around the same age, around my age – leans closer, and I can catch sight of an evil glint in his black eyes.

Fear creeps up all my members as the realization of what he might want from me freezes me.

I try to retreat, but I'm trapped between the bulky guy holding me and the knife under my throat.

"Don't worry, I don't want anything from you," he adds as if reading my mind, and his vile gaze travels up and down my body, bringing the exact opposite sensation Alex's tenebrous eyes can arouse under my skin. "You're hot, but I'm not one to get distracted from business by a bitch." His evil smirk widens. "You're just a lure."

My stomach knots in a sour sensation as it all clicks: their bad boys looks, his beaten face, and the 'lure'. They are gang members, and not just any gang, the rival gang of Alex's one, and the guy threatening me with a knife is the rival gang leader whom Alex has told me he's taught a 'nice lesson' to.

The sourness spreads in my veins faster than a sickening poison, and it is even worse; it's a sharp terror. I don't know if I fear more for myself with the knife at my throat or for Alex who is fearlessly coming in this ambush, well actually I know when the acid dread reaches my heart. So while the leader is ordering something to one of his minions, I wriggle around, throwing a kick at the guy holding me and getting out of his hold. Alas, two other minions jump on me and immobilize me.

The leader turns his attention back to me, snickering. "Nice try!" He stops laughing and orders in a bark. "Tie her up!"

"Er, how Leo?" One of the minions holding me, with big muscles but apparently no brain, asks with his mouth open.

"With the ropes, dumbass!" the leader, well Leo apparently, fumes.

I can't help but mock under my breath, "Really skilled team!" I don't even know why I open my mouth in a situation like this, but the poisonous fear must have numbed my brain, and my survival instinct is clearly out of order – unless, it is Alex's advice to not let them show my fear echoing inside. Anyway, my fright becomes evident when Leo grabs tightly my hair, making me lower my head, and the burn of my scalp reminds me painfully that my fear is perfectly justified.

"Fierce, I see! Let me explain it to you: I need you alive for now, but that doesn't mean I can't make this little sharp tongue of yours shut up." He traces my lips with the cold blade. "Capite?"

I nod quickly, not daring to talk, not able to anyway.

A mad smirk expands on his lips as he lets go of his grip and pushes me away like I'm a simple rag doll, though I kinda feel like it when they tie my hands roughly behind my back.

The useless impression grows inside all my members, turning them into shaking jelly as a distant roar, that I know by heart, is heard.

"Hide her!" Leo orders.

I'm shoved behind the taller minions, the lump in my throat growing so big that it's hard to breathe.

I try to inhale deeply, counting slowly in my head, but it is impossible the second the motor's roar stops, and all I can focus on is each small noise behind the tall and large minions.

"Oh, Alex! Welcome, we were waiting for you!" Leo exclaims, and I can easily imagine the sick smirk on his beaten face.

"Cut your bullshit! Go straight to the point!" Alex's tight, annoyed voice makes my heart skip a beat.

"You know what I want," Leo states.

Alex scoffs, and I'm not breathing anymore as I sense his cocky answer. " And you think you'll impress me by making me come alone in front of your little crew?! You're dreaming! Do you want me to repeat the little 'lesson' I gave you the other day?"

"Who told you you are alone? I have a new argument that might make you change your mind."

The tall minions step aside, and I'm pushed in front.

I meet Alex's dark eyes wider than I've ever seen them, making their darkness stands out even in the gloomy surroundings, and my heart jumps out of my chest, like drawn magnetically to his owner.

Alex quickly gets back his unreadable mask, and I feel only now Leo's arms almost crushing my bones in a tight grip.

"So... can we negotiate now?" Leo smirks.

Alex doesn't reply. He stays still, stoic, an aura of danger stronger than ever emanating from him and annihilating all the others around. All those big bad boys are looking pale in comparison, even their leader. Though even if he doesn't look as dangerous as Alex, something in Leo's black eyes seems rotten, insanely evil; there is no light in them, contrary to Alex's dark ones.

Alex breaks the silence with a dark chuckle, drawing even more all the eyes that are already on him as he simply lifts an eyebrow. "You think I care about some bitch I just fucked?!"

It is a harsh bang, his words echoing in my ears and bringing a loud pang in my head and my chest.

I try to reason with myself, telling myself he's just bluffing to get us out of this ambush. I try to replay the distant murmur I've heard last night: 'I love you too Miss Cutie...', but has it been just a dream? My hopeless romantic mind? Or has it been just a lie told in the blissful moment? A little part of me is believing the words he's just pronounced now more than anything else. They're echoing louder and louder, annihilating the faint and more and more distant whisper and cracking my heart with each reverberation.

"Really?! Then, if you don't care..." An evil smirk spreads on Leo's lips.

My heart thumps loudly and painfully in my chest, resonating in my throat where the knife is edging closer and closer until it stops by the line of my jaw.

I close my eyes, feeling the tip of the knife piercing slowly my skin, and I helplessly accept my fate, preparing for I don't even know what. I don't even have the strength to fight. I don't move as it would surely worsen it all, yet I don't even feel the pain from the blade. My body is too numb and frozen with everything that has just happened.

CLIFFHANGER!!! Please don't hate me!! 

So did you see this coming?! What do you think will happen next?! Is Elena gonna get hurt? What is Alex really thinking of Elena?

And new character! What do you think of Leo? Totally rotten and evil, isn't he? ;)

I hope you like this chapter even with all the drama, please please let me know what you think in the comments, vote... Your help and feedbacks are more than welcome! :)