Kai screamed and turned around immediately. Shock, confusion, and anger ran through his mind as he glanced around for Moon, to see if he could find her. But he didn't know what he would do if he did find her. Attack her? Kill her? Run after her? He was only ten and Thorn hadn't taught him much about fighting before he had been removed from Luke's body. 

Kai risked turning around again, but instantly regretted doing it. There was way too much blood for his comfort, and he whipped around again. Images of his mother flashed through his head as he squeezed his eyes shut. He tried to take a step forward and nearly collapsed, so he gave up and sank to his knees. He screamed again, but mostly in anger and pain. His friend was dead, and the one who had done it was gone. She was definitely going to come back to hunt them down, to destroy them.

Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes, and he didn't try to stop them. Before long, he was sobbing so hard that it was hard to breathe. Tears were running down his face, and when he put his hands on his cheeks, they were immediately wetted with tears. He slouched forward until he had his stomach on his knees and his nose close to the dirt. 

Probably five minutes later, Kai remembered that he should go back to his family. He straightened back up, still sobbing, and pushed himself to his feet. He took a few shaky breaths and began walking. He didn't dare glance back at Luke, and only when he rounded the corner did he break down again. He had to stop to gather himself so he could even walk. His vision was too blurry from tears and his legs didn't feel right. He felt numb on the inside, like he couldn't control or decipher what he was feeling. 

After a few moments, he was able to walk again. He moved forward so quickly and didn't stop until he was running. He was running away from Luke, from death, from his problems. He felt like he couldn't do anything but run. He ran until he saw the door and slowed down only so he could duck through. He sped back out again, skidding to a stop. Linda grabbed him before he fell over, yanking him back to where he was.

"What?" she said sharply when she saw the tears streaming down his face. "What is it? Where's Luke? What happened?!"

Kai put his hands on his face again, but removed them immediately. There was blood on his fingers and palms from setting his hands on the bloody dirt. He yelped and wiped his hands on his pants, then wiped his face off. He gasped and gasped again, trying to gain his bearings. 

"What happened?" Abby said softer than Linda had. "Is Luke alright?" 

Kai shook his head again and again. He sank down onto the grass and began sobbing again. He covered his face again and sobbed into his palms. Linda placed her hand on his shoulder gently, and soon Abby was hugging him.

Finally, Kai found his words. "He's ... He's dead. Moon killed him. He's dead, and Moon's gone." He didn't try to keep talking anymore - he was sobbing so hard that it was hard to breathe again. His whole body was shaking, and Abby was hugging him too tightly anyway. 

"He's..." Abby didn't finish her sentence and buried her head into Kai's shoulder. She sniffed but didn't sob and hugged him tighter. 

Linda was silent. So were Gabriel and Chase. Finally, Chase yelled in anger and sat down next to his father. 

Luke was dead, and now they were farther from their destination than they had been before they had even started. They almost had no hope of reaching the town before Moon found them. What was tugging at Kai's head the most was What are we going to tell Shintaro?

~

It was late in the day before Shintaro finally woke up. Abby and Chase had been tired and fell asleep leaning against each other while leaning on a tree. Linda and Gabriel were sitting next to Shintaro, who suddenly groaned and brought his hands up to touch his forehead. 

Linda jumped to her hands and knees. "Shintaro? Shintaro, are you alright?" 

He didn't answer, only pushed his arms under him so he could sit up. Linda helped him, saying: "Here, lean against that tree." She pushed him toward the tree behind him, and he didn't protest. He rubbed his face and took a shaky breath. 

"Shintaro?" Kai said quietly. He didn't want to be the one to tell him that his friend was dead. That would be terrible. What would Shintaro think of him then? 

"Shintaro," Linda said again, touching his shoulder, but he flinched away. With a gasp, he looked back up and glanced around himself. He realized they were in the woods and relaxed a little, but he still looked very shaken and stunned. 

"Shintaro, answer me," Linda said firmly. "Are you alright?"

Shintaro looked up at her but didn't say anything. He took a deep shaky breath, but again didn't say anything. 

Kai wondered what Shintaro could have seen. What was his trauma? Did he even have any? He seemed to fierce and strong of a person to have anything that he hated to a point of trauma. But Kai knew that he was wrong. Shintaro was shaking terribly. 

Linda sighed. "Fine, let me help you, then." She reached forward to touch his forehead, but he swatted her hand away.

"Don't," he said in a scared, rushed tone. "Don't. Please don't." He shook his head twice and shuddered. 

Linda paused to stare at him, then tried again. "I'm not going to go peeking around your head, alright? I'll just ... help you. Besides, it's already hard enough to hear you at all. Please let me help you!" she added when he pushed her hand away again. 

"Stop, Linda," he said, his tone the same but mixed with anger. "Please don't go inside my head. Just leave me alone. Please just don't." He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around himself. 

Linda shook her head this time. "No, Shintaro, I'm going to help you. You're not going to stop me. You need it." She reached up again, placing her hand on his forehead and holding his arms down with the other.

Shintaro gasped and squeezed his eyes shut again, but didn't struggle. In fact, he grabbed her free hand tightly. She tensed a little, her cheeks turning a bit pink, but she closed her eyes in concentration. 

Kai shivered and felt tears spring into his eyes again. What in the world would they tell Shintaro? How would he take it? What would he think of them for listening to Luke and not trying to help him? What would Shintaro do to Moon if she ever showed up again?

Another question ran through his head. Will we find my father?

~

OHMYGOSHGUYSICANNOTBELIEVEIHAVEDONETHIS. I'M DYING RIGHT NOW, ARE YOU GUYS DYING RIGHT NOW? PLEASE DON'T KILL ME FOR KILLING LUKE, FOR ALL THOSE WHO LIKED HIM... 

I'M SORRY! 

AHGKJAHGJAKJHGJAHGJHGAHJASHJDFGASDJHFGAJHSFGAJHSFGASDGFHAGFHGAFAAGHAGGAGG!!!

Well, until the next chapter!! 

Peace!~~