Night Marchers (Special Edition) by Rebecca Gober
Author: Rebecca Gober
Date: 2011-10-13 04:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Paranormal; Young Adult; Fantasy; Romance; Paranormal Romance; Magic; Mythology; Supernatural; Fiction
Description: An all new Young Adult paranormal series that will have you averting your eyes for years to come! “NEVER, EVER lock eyes with a Night Marcher!” Everyone in Hawaii has heard this warning, except for seventeen-year-old Emma Townsend that is. For most Hawaiians know that looking into the eyes of Night Marcher can strike a curse that will end in death or eternal servitude. Even though her father, who is a paranormal investigator, solely raised Emma, she has little experience in the realm of the supernatural. When she is forced to move with her father to Hawaii, only months before her graduation, E
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Night Marchers

By: Rebecca Gober and Courtney Nuckels

© 2011 by: Rebecca Gober and Courtney Nuckels

Cover Photo: © Konradbak / Fotolia

Cover Work: Marya Heiman
http://www.nightmarchersbook.com
http://www.facebook.com/nightmarchers

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this free ebook. Although this is a free book, it remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied and distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy at Smashwords.com, where they can also discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.

Table of Contents:

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

About the Authors

Connect With Us

Chapter One:

“Dad, slow down!” I scream at him with tears of frustration falling freely down my cheeks. My father is driving my convertible like a bat out of hell. The infuriating part is that I have no idea where we’re headed or why he’s in such a rush. Salty air blows in my face as we wind down a road that snakes through the lush rain forest. The scenery passes by us in a green blur.

My dad just glances over at me through his peripheral vision without uttering a word. I’ve never seen my dad so livid. This is how he’s been since Tristan and I got home earlier this afternoon.

Tristan is the caretaker’s son. My father and I are currently living in a home in Kauai, Hawaii owned by the Kealoha’s; a wealthy couple that hired my father to do a documentary on some very real evil spirits called the Night Marchers. Our home comes with its own caretaker, Alani. Alani and her son Tristan live in a small home next to ours. Tristan and I have a bit of history; he was the first person to help me get settled in Hawaii after my father moved us here during my senior year of high school. Tristan and I have some unresolved feelings for each other that I’m not ready to delve into yet. After all, right now I have much larger issues to worry about.

“Dad, are you going to talk to me? At least tell me where we are going, please!” Suddenly, I realize that my voice has turned into a childlike whine and I can tell it’s not helping the situation. I can see that his mouth twitches slightly but his lips remain sealed. My tears are rendered useless so I brush them aside with the back of my hand. There used to be a time when my crying was all it would have taken to slice through my father’s anger, not anymore.

I guess I can’t really blame my dad for his fury. Tristan and I were missing for twenty-four hours and, where we were, there was no cell service to allow us to call in and let our parents know that we were okay. For all my dad knew, I had up and disappeared, once again.

Yes, this isn’t the first time I’ve gone missing. It seems like forever ago, but only a few days back Tristan found me in the forest unconscious and sporting a broken arm. I had been running from an evil Night Marcher who was after my soul.

My dad makes a sharp turn breaking me from my thoughts. The wind starts whipping hair around my face now that we are angled in a different direction. I hastily try to push it behind my ears only to have it fly back into my face a second later. I didn’t even have time to get a stupid hair band before my dad was dragging me out of the house to the car a few minutes ago...

When Tristan and I arrived home, both Alani and my dad were at the door waiting for us. I could tell from their haggard appearance that they hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before. Alani took Tristan into her arms immediately with an exasperated hug. She started talking rapidly to Tristan in Pidgin. I had never heard her speak in a different language other than English before. From the nods that Tristan was giving his mom, it was apparent that he must have understood what she was saying, which stunned me.

Guilt hit me hard when I looked away from them to my dad who was raking his fingers through his hair causing it to stick out in all the wrong directions. I’m not sure if my mind was playing tricks on me but his hair seemed to have a lot more salt than pepper in it today. Looking in his eyes, I could see the exhaustion; I doubt he got much sleep last night. I don’t recall having ever seen my dad look so worn-down.

I was standing still just staring at my dad. I had expected him to embrace me in a hug or yell at me or do something. So I was surprised when the only words from his lips were, “Emma, go take a shower.”

I looked down at myself and sighed. I hadn’t realized how ragged I looked. My clothes were covered in mud and grass stains. Threads were hanging down from the right knee of my jeans where there was a hole stained with blood. I knew by now that if I inspected my knee where I had fallen yesterday, all I would find is a fading scar, no proof of where the staining blood would have come from. I’ve been healing at rapid speeds lately.

Questioningly, I looked back up and into my dad’s eyes. He kept his gaze firm and steady then gestured with his head towards the hallway that lead to my room. “Fine!” I spat out of irritation then stomped off to my bedroom to take a shower.

It took me a while to find something to wear after my shower. My closet seemed devoid of clean clothing. I guess it was laundry day or something. I settled with a plain white tee and a fresh pair of jeans. After running the brush through my knotted hair I stood for a few seconds looking at my reflection. I hadn’t bothered drying my hair and when it was this wet, it looked more black than brown. Mostly though I was taken aback by how much more grown up I looked. It might be psychological but my face looked more mature, less juvenile. Stress and lack of appetite had thinned my cheeks. My brown eyes looked tired and haunted. I’d seen too much and lost what I’m not sure that I will ever get back. I wonder if some day I will again resemble the innocent seventeen year old that I was only a week ago.

“Emma!” I heard my dad hollering to me from down the hall. I threw on my flip-flops and ran out to meet him. He was at the entryway with my car keys in his hand. I had thought that perhaps he was going to take my car away from me, which I certainly would not have blamed him for. I set my jaw and held my head up high ready to take my just punishment. Instead of grounding me, my dad just told me to get in. Confused I followed him and got into the passenger side of the car, which is where I sit now.

I look over to my dad again to see if he’s softened any, but his jaw is still set on edge. Succumbing to the fact that I will just have to wait and see, I gaze out into the rainforests that line the road. The thick luscious vegetation displayed in numerous shades of green sends shivers down my spine along with unpleasant memories. I’m thankful when we head into a more developed part of the island and I’m able to look at houses and businesses with hotels and tourist shops dotted in between.

Then it hits me! I know where we are going…the airport! “Dad, what’s going on?” He still doesn’t speak, and his face is set with even more determination the closer we get. I’m instantly set at unease. This can only mean one of two things. One, Kaylee, my best friend, is arriving here a week earlier than expected. Or two, my dad and I are leaving. I pray that it’s the former thought that takes the prize; I can’t leave right now. Anyhow, Kaylee is set to come in next Friday night. The Kealoha’s paid for her ticket to visit me knowing that I would need support after what happened.

Tristan isn’t the only one who knows about my run in with the Night Marchers. Mrs. Kealoha confronted me about it two days ago. She had earnestly asked me if I had seen her son among the Night Marchers; he had disappeared a few months earlier. From what her son’s friend stated, she believes that her son is now one of them, a Night Marcher. Night Marchers are ancient wandering spirits of soldiers who are believed to wander from their graves to places of battles past. Not all Night Marchers are ancient soldiers though. There are those who choose to turn in order to become immortal, those who became unfortunate slaves due to a curse and most recently one who chose to sacrifice his life for another. Hawaiians believe that looking a Night Marcher in the eyes can strike a curse, which would end in either death or eternal servitude. I not only believe this legend, my experience has proved it true. Mrs. Kealoha's son had locked eyes with a Night Marcher just like I had done. Only he was not so fortunate. He most likely is among their ranks now. For me, someone else took my place…Kai. A knot the size of Texas swells in my chest at the thought of Kai, with his stormy grey eyes. He’s still out there and I have to help him. I push my thoughts of Kai down deep as the airport comes into view up ahead.

I start shifting nervously in my seat when my dad passes the arrivals exit. Anxiety sets in and nausea fills my stomach as my dad pulls into the departures parking lot and takes the key out of the ignition. “Dad…” I say at a tone barely above a whisper.

He doesn’t respond, he just presses the trunk release button and exits the car. With my heart beating a hundred miles per hour I can do nothing but follow suit. My dad pulls out a suitcase, slams the trunk and says his first words since we left home. “Let’s go Emma.” I instantly wish to have the silence back again. Hearing him finally speak to me in a tone so full of pain and anguish cuts through my heart. Tears well in my eyes as I follow him up to the airport doors.

I stay standing near the door as my dad continues on towards the ticket counter. The last time I was here in the departure wing I was seeing Tristan off for his two-week training in the Army reserves. It was a time filled with hope: hope for our relationship and hope for our future. Heat hits my cheeks as I think of the kiss we shared before he left. That was when everything seemed so simple.

I don’t believe I will ever look at this place the same again, through eyes of hope. I’m filled with despair at the thought of leaving Kauai. A month ago I would never have believed it when I moved here from Texas. I thought I would hate it here. I don’t though. I have found a new life in such a short time and I can’t leave now, especially not with everything that’s going on. I can’t leave Kai! He needs me! He sacrificed himself to save me! I need to help him!

My dad comes back with a ticket in his hand. “Emma, please don’t cry.” He says compassionately, all hostility now gone.

Instinctively I wipe the tears from my eyes. I hadn’t even realized I was crying. I look to my dad and then down at the ticket in his hand. Ticket as in singular... “Where’s your ticket?” I ask already resigned to the fact that I am obviously the one who that ticket is destined for.

“Emma, I love you. I can’t even explain how I felt…I mean, when you didn’t come home…. again.” His voice is shaky which is truly hard for me to take, especially coming from a man of my dad’s stature and poise. “I think it was a mistake, my taking you here with me. It’s just too dangerous. I should have agreed with you and allowed you to stay back in Texas. You are not safe here and I don’t know if you understand how hard it is for me to admit that I can’t keep you safe here. The only thing I can do to protect you is to send you home.” His eyes are pleading earnestly to mine.

“I am home dad!” I yell loud enough to make a few people turn and stare. “This is my home now.” I say a little quieter, embarrassed for having caused a scene.

“Emma, you are better off in Texas. I’ve arranged for you to stay with Kaylee and her mom. They will be waiting for you when you land.”

“No.” I whisper. My spirit deflated.

My dad grabs my shoulders in earnestness. Looking straight into my eyes he says, “You must go Emma. You are all I have left. I love you too much. I cannot loose you too…” He barely chokes out the last words as tears rim his eyes.

He’s talking about my mom. We lost her when I was three. She disappeared and was never found again. My hand goes to my jeans pocket reflexively. Thankfully I transferred my mother’s picture into it. I carry it with me everywhere; it’s my only reminder of my mom, a picture of us at the park on my third birthday.

“I love you.” My dad says and pulls me into a hug more powerful than any we have shared in a long time. I quietly sob in his arms. My heart aches. We stay locked together, my dad just holding me close into him, smoothing his hand over my head again and again in a comforting gesture. It takes me several minutes to stop crying and to pull back.

I brush the tears away from my eyes and say, “I love you too dad.” We just stare at each other for another minute allowing our souls to speak what words cannot express. Then I gently pluck my ticket from his hand, take the handle for my carry on suitcase and walk towards the security line.

Chapter 2

Sitting in first class doesn't hold the same excitement as it did a few weeks ago when I was on my journey to Hawaii for the first time. After all, eight hours of sitting still can't be healthy for the average human. It's too much time for the mind to run rampant when there is nothing else to do. I wish I could numb my thoughts or just check out. The events of the past few days weigh heavily on my heart. How can my life have been flipped upside down in only a matter of a week? I thought I knew who I was, what I wanted in life, what the world was like. Now all I know is that I know very little about life, about this world and most importantly, about love.

Last night was anguishing. I went to help a friend and quite possibly may have hurt one in the process. I still don't know how I feel about Tristan, who knows if it's love? With my feelings for Kai it can't be, I don't think. You can't intimately love two people at once, right?

Trying to process everything seems impossible, but I allow my mind to wander to the events of the past twenty-four hours, which started off with my visit from Paul.

Yesterday, Emma's room around 9p.m.

It had been a long and emotional day. My heart aches for Mrs. Kealoha who just shared with me that her son Noa had been pulled into the ranks of the Night Marchers. He had struck the curse by looking a Night Marcher in the eye and was not as fortunate as me to escape with his life intact. I wish I could have given Mrs. Kealoha some comfort or closure. I'm determined to help Kai and if I’m able, I hope to be able to help Noa in the process. There must be a way to undo this curse and return them to their human state.

Kai took my place; I should have been the one cursed and forced to walk among the night wandering spirits for eternity, not Kai. I just can’t move on with my life and pretend like all of this did not happen. I will find a way to save Kai. I will not stop trying ‘till I do. It makes my heart ache for all the people that I have inexplicably dragged into this mess; it’s horrible and unfair.

I bow my head, close my eyes and pray earnestly to God for Noa, for Kai and for my Mom whom I lost all those years ago.

Opening my eyes I register a movement in my peripheral vision on the patio. It was so quick and slight; I wouldn’t have seen it had I opened my eyes any later. My heart starts racing as I head towards the door to investigate.

At first I don’t see anything but when I get closer I see that the person on my patio is half the size of a normal human. It’s a Menehune! My heart starts returning to normal the moment I realize that there’s no threat. Menehunes, pronounced meh-neh-HOO-nehs, were the first natives of the Hawaiian Islands. They are a small and private race who usually only grow to be a mere three feet tall. They built most of ancient Hawaii themselves. They are extremely skilled builders who use their speed and teamwork to build structures in the astonishing span of a single night. Many Hawaiians only know of the Menehune's through legends yet they are believed to be extinct. However, I know better, they are far from extinct.

The Menehune's took Kai in a long time ago when he befriended Adam who is one of them. I laugh silently to myself when I think of Adam and his wife Eve, such a loving and lively couple. Kai brought me to them when we were running from the Night Marcher. He knew that his best friend would be able to help. I am the only other human who has ever gotten the privilege to see the Menehune city that is hidden deep within a cave. The Menehune's took me in and to me they are like family now.

I step outside hoping to see Adam; hoping to hear news that he knows how to help Kai. Instead I find Paul. Paul is one of the Menehune's messenger boys. He helped send messages to my father when I was in hiding. It’s extremely dark outside so I flip on the patio light switch to get a better look at him.

I gasp! I couldn’t tell in the dark but now in the light I can see that he’s hurt. He looks like he’s been beaten! He’s standing on my patio shaking like a leaf covered in scratches and contusions and he has a black eye beginning to form on his right eye.

“EEeemma....” He says, shaking and stuttering.

“Paul, are you okay?!” I ask freaking out.

He starts shaking his head back and forth wildly. “Nooo... He’s ggot hiiim. He...liiike Kkkai bbuttt nnottt liiikke Kkaii.” I can barely understand him he’s stuttering so badly. “He won’ttt sstop till hee hass it...”

“Got who? Has what Paul?” I’m starting to get angry, not because I can’t understand him, but because something, someone, did this to him. An innocent Menehune boy!

“Tthe Chhieefs bbbones.” He says and then looks at me with tears streaming down his face. “Hhee hhas Aadamm!”

I suck in a quick breath. “No!” Nausea wells up in my stomach as feelings of despair set in. "Adam? What do you mean he has Adam?"

"Iii ddonnt knooww. I meeaan heee hass hiimm." Paul is shaking so hard that I fear he may fall down and begin seizing or something.

"Okay Paul, it's going to be okay. You’re safe now. Here, sit down." I gesture him to a patio chair. He sits down but it doesn't seem to be helping. I jump when I hear someone walking up the steps to my patio behind us. Looking around for some sort of weapon to defend off any ‘would be attacker’ I grab a broom that's perched against the railing and turn around. Relief washes through me when I find two Menehune's ascending towards us. I recognize them, but I don't believe we have formally met. Their faces are filled with concern and uncertainty as they brush past me hastily towards their friend.

"Paul! Oh my goodness, Paul, what happened?" One of the Menehunes with reddish brown hair exclaims. The other Menehune with bright white hair just stands there staring at Paul wide eyed. I'm sure they are not used to seeing any Menehune's hurt. The Menehune's seem like such peaceful people.

I can see that Paul is having a hard time trying to communicate so I speak for him. "He's hurt pretty badly. He said that someone has Adam and I think whoever that someone is, hurt Paul."

"What do you mean someone has Adam?" The Menehune that had been silent up until now spoke up.

"I think he said it was Kai, or someone who looked like Kai. I believe it may be his twin brother. I don't know." I reply. Kai's twin brother Kao is the Night Marcher who tried to kill me. Kao may look nearly identical to Kai but he's nothing like him. He's pure evil through and through.

"I know who you speak of. Kai has told me the story of his brother. He is a very dangerous man, not one to be taken lightly. We must get Paul back immediately and bring this to the attention of the Elders." The white haired Menehune says. Without waiting for my response they both pull Paul to his feet. Paul puts his arms around each of their shoulders ready to head home. He looks so frail and small as he starts hobbling off towards the exit from my patio to the beach.

"Wait!" I yell at them. The white haired Menehune turns his head towards me. While I have his attention I ask, "Aren't you going to go after Adam? We can't wait, we need to go now." I say insistently.

His look is mixed with understanding and sadness. "I wish I could go in search of Adam, we just don’t have a definitive location as of now. I must consult with the others. You see that we are a small race. It wouldn’t do any good for us to go up against a man such as Kao alone, if we were even able to find him that is. Kai has told us that he was a mighty warrior as a human, but now, as a Night Marcher, he will be even more powerful. We need a plan of attack. We would be of no help to Adam if we ended up like Paul or worse yet, dead."

I don't correct him and tell him that Kao is not a Night Marcher anymore. Or that Kai switched places with him, becoming a Night Marcher himself. Instead I nod, understanding that what the Menehune says is wise and makes sense. Even though I don't totally agree, I think time is of the essence and we must go after Adam now, wherever he might be. After all we don't even know if it is Kao that we are dealing with. Paul might mean that the person who has Adam is a human like Kai, as opposed to a Menehune. Who knows, with how distraught Paul seems. I hear him moan loudly and instead of arguing with the Menehunes I allow them to carry their injured friend home while I remain helplessly and silently behind.

I watch them hobble across the beach and into the forest. It only takes me a few minutes to make my decision. If they can't go after him now, then why can’t I? I know it's reckless, but I don't care. I need to do something!

It doesn’t take long for me to pack a small backpack with basic essentials: a flashlight, a bottle of water, a few snacks, and a pocketknife. I quietly move through my room changing out of my pajamas and into jeans and a t-shirt. I press my ear to the door to verify that my dad isn't awake to hear my exit. Putting my backpack over my shoulder I take a deep breath and step over the threshold of my patio door into the pitch-black night.

Following the footpath down the short trail to the beach I stop just short of the sand. What am I doing? I don’t even have the slightest clue where Adam is, but I have an idea of where to look, Kai’s tree house. Adam helped him build it and maybe if he got away from his captor somehow, he might be hiding out there. I might, or might not be right but I can’t simply sit here and watch on the sidelines. If the least I can do for Kai is help his best friend Adam, then I have to try. The tree house is where Kai took me on that fateful night when I first looked into the eyes of the Night Marcher. I'm not certain as to where the tree house is located though. The only recollection that I remember is the dense forest and how close it is to the beach. I also remember Kai pointing to the woods beyond this beach when he told me he lived nearby the first time we met. I take a deep breath of salty ocean air and steady myself to do the impossible.

Looking ahead at the murky tree line, I pull the straps of my backpack up and set off down the long stretch of beach. It's eerily quiet tonight and I try to keep myself from getting freaked out as I near the tree line. I don’t get too far when all of a sudden two hands wrap securely around my mouth! I let out a muzzled scream while my heart starts racing painfully in my chest. As I ready myself to fight back I hear a familiar voice whisper in my ear. “Shh, Emma, it’s just me. Calm down. It’s me, Tristan.” He slowly releases his hands from my mouth and I turn to stare at him wide-eyed. Reaching my hands up I touch his face. It is very dark out here and for my sake I need to make sure it really is Tristan. I’ve made that mistake before and I don’t plan on making it again, especially under these circumstances.

Tristan brings his hand up to his face and places it over mine. “Emma, what are you doing out here?” He whispers furiously to me.

I quickly withdraw my hand and gawk at him. I know he can’t see me very well in the dark, but a look of utter shock splays across my face. “What am I doing out here? I think the question is what are you doing out here?” I place my hands firmly on my hips. I don’t know why I am reacting this way to his presence, but to me it feels like he’s been spying on me, and that is an invasion of my privacy. Ever since I got back after those three days that I was missing I have been under a microscope. It’s like I can’t even go to the bathroom without a chaperone!

“I’m so sorry Emma, I just can’t help it. I have this deep pain in the pit of my stomach when I try and lay in bed at night. I feel like I failed at protecting you the first time and I don’t want to make the same mistake twice. I’ll admit, ever since you came home, I have been checking on you each night. I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I didn’t. Then when I saw you leave with the backpack on your back, I couldn't let you go without finding out why you were running away. I just have this eerie feeling that you are going to leave and never return.”

I see his face drop in the dark shadows displayed by the moon. All the anger and animosity that I had felt just a few moments earlier subsides and in its place a feeling of peace and sincerity fills me. "You watch me every night?" It’s the only words I can get out of my mouth. We both stand there for a few moments as the silence fills the air. I don’t know what else to say.

Breaking the silence he says, "Yes Emma, I do watch you every night and obviously, rightfully so. I just can't let you go. You can't run away." He steps in front of me blocking my path towards the woods.

“Tristan, you have to let me go. My friend is in trouble and he needs me. I’m the only one that can help him now. You need to let me leave.” I say the last words barely above a whisper. I don’t want to leave Tristan but I know deep down I have an obligation to at least attempt to help Adam, and nothing is going to change that.

“Then I’m going with you!” A look of determination is set in his expression.

I stand there at a loss for words. “What?” I ask.

“I’m going with you Emma; I can’t let you go alone. Not this time, not ever. Whatever you need, I’ll be there.” He doesn’t wait for an answer as he steps to the side and grabs hold of my hand. “Lead the way.”

I don’t argue, I don’t even think about what just took place; I can't waste valuable time. I just allow myself to lead Tristan down the beach, hoping I am going the right way.

When the light of the moon can no longer guide us, I shuffle through my bag for the flashlight. Turning it on I display the beam before us looking for some sort of pathway or trail that we can follow. I know enough to not venture into the woods without some sort of guiding path, or someway to establish directional guidance. I shine the flashlight towards Tristan and find him just a foot behind me with worry lining his eyes. I give him a grim smile, since it is all I can muster at the moment. I wonder if Tristan knows the secrets these woods hold, especially in the dead of night.

After wandering around aimlessly for a few minutes I spot a small trodden path that leads away from the ocean. Since it’s the only footpath I have found thus far I go with my gut and we begin our trek upwards through the woods.

Off in the distance I hear rolling thunder and upon looking up I confirm that the dark sky is filling with churning storm clouds. It's amazing how fast a storm can brew on this Island. I look over to see that Tristan has noticed the storm as well. Not allowing his worry to faze me, I continue trekking ahead.

It seems like we follow the same trail for over an hour or so and still I catch no sight of Kai's tree house. Doubt starts filling my mind as I realize this probably isn't the right way. Sounds are amplified all around from the storm that has continued to blow in and from the night wandering creatures. Shuffles of feet, and scurries are haunting to my ears. I try not to let my imagination wander as I focus on Adam and how much he needs me. It doesn’t occur to me until now, that I have no clue what I am going to do once I find him, that's if I find him. If he is being held hostage, we still aren’t sure by whom. Paul said the person looked just like Kai, so it's most likely Kao, but there is no guarantee. Whoever it is, Is that person going to be there when we arrive to try and rescue Adam? I try and settle my mind’s thoughts by looking back at Tristan. He hasn’t uttered a word since we spoke on the beach and the uncomfortable silence puts me more on edge.

Suddenly, as we reach the top of the hill my foot gets caught under a root and I fall hard on my face as the flashlight rolls down the opposite side of the hill and comes to a stop about twenty feet in front of me. Tristan rushes over to my side and helps me sit up. My foot is still deeply buried under the root and I can’t seem to wiggle out of its hold. But, I soon realize my foot is the least of my worries. The faint sound of drums begins radiating through my ears! Fear rips through me as I look to Tristan. We catch each other’s eyes for a moment before we are hurriedly trying to free me. The sound draws nearer as we both aggressively tug at my foot. We even try to remove my shoe, but to no avail. Boom-boom; boom-boom. The drum’s rhythm nearly matches my pounding heartbeat. Closer and closer still the drums are coming. I feel as if we are in one of those horrible scary movies where the girl is stuck on a railroad track and a train is barreling towards her at maximum speed.

Fire! I see fire through the dense vegetation and in my desperation I jerk my foot so hard that it comes barreling out of my shoe, the force driving me straight back into Tristan. I grab my shoe and slip it back on quickly before the first flame appears. Without a second’s hesitation, Tristan whisks me into his arms and starts running in the opposite direction. Kai! The thought of him rips through me as I begin flailing my arms and kicking my feet trying to get Tristan to release his grip on me. I fight with all I’m worth to get out of Tristan’s grasp. All the while Tristan repeats, “Emma, calm down! What on earth are you doing? We need to get out of here!” But, he doesn’t understand and I have no time to explain. I finally rip out of Tristan’s grasp and land with a hard thump on the ground. There is no time for pain as I grab the earth with my fingernails and haul myself up taking off in a sprint towards the steady drumming.

I don’t get more than five feet before Tristan tackles me from behind. He wraps his legs and arms around my entire body and holds on tight as I try to implement everything I ever learned about fighting. In this position though, my efforts seem fruitless. I begin to scream at Tristan to let me go, but he isn’t listening. The drums are growing more distant as I see the flickers of flames moving off towards the West. My heart sinks to know that Kai is so close, yet so far. I still flail every limb not wanting to give into the total exhaustion my body is demanding. I feel Tristan’s grip loosening as my strength begins to falter. Tears are streaming down my face. I begin sobbing as my body goes limp. I feel so helpless, confused, and beaten. Tristan rearranges himself so he cradles me in his arms like a small child. Small droplets of rain begin falling from the sky. So it is not only I who mourns, but perhaps God himself as well. It doesn’t take long for the rain to become increasingly intense soaking us through. Tristan lifts me from the ground and hurriedly sweeps me away. I can tell that the rain is making the climb very hard on him now that it has moistened the soil. With no strength left of my own I just sink into Tristan’s arms, close my eyes and let God’s tears cover me from head to toe.

It isn't until several minutes later that Tristan sets me down softly on the hard ground. I am soaking wet but the ground I lay on is dry. There is only a small sliver of light from the cloud-covered moon that casts a small ray across the stone floor. It doesn’t take me long to see that Tristan has brought me into a cave. I watch Tristan’s shadow as he walks around the cave picking up what looks to be different sizes of sticks and pieces of wood.

My eyes struggle to adjust in this dim light, but soon I see sparks of ember igniting. The cave slowly comes into focus as a fire begins to burn. Flaming shadows dance on the cave walls sending an eerie chill down my spine. Tristan feeds the fire more wood and then comes and takes my hand. Without a word he helps me up and leads me near the fire.

The wind whistles loudly outside as the rain pounds harder and harder against the rocks. Brief flashes of lightening streak across the sky followed by the deep bellow of thunder that shakes the ground beneath us. As if my body finally realizes it’s cold, I begin shivering as Tristan sits me down next to the fire, my back to the cave wall. Instinctively I reach my hands out towards the warm heat. I rub my hands together and watch as they change from a cold purple back to their normal pinkish color.

It feels like I will never be able to stop shivering. I'm unable to warm up in these rain-drenched clothes. My face hasn’t dried either, and I can’t tell if it’s the tears I cried or rain falling softly down my cheeks from my hair, or maybe a little of both. Tristan wraps his arms around me in a comforting hug. He rubs my arms trying to warm my skin with the friction from his hands. I'm not sure how I should feel, should I feel anger for him holding me back from seeing Kai? Or, should I be relieved that he saved me from a possible nightmare? I don't even know what I would have done if I had found Kai. I watch the rain fall down in thick sheets over the cave opening. I feel utterly defeated. I have no energy to figure out my feelings or what to do, so I let my head fall into the curve of his neck. We sit there for what seems like hours. No talking. No moving. Words aren’t needed now, not needed at all.

My body may be limp, but my mind is still running at full speed, trying to sort itself out and make sense of things. It gives me the dreaded time to think about everything that has gone on these past few weeks. All of the emotional baggage I now carry makes the burden all that more difficult to bear. I inhale deeply trying to regain composure before I completely lose it. I feel numb, unable to process everything, unable to give it reason, or understanding. I snuggle deeper into Tristan, yearning for the comfort he so willingly provides.

"Six months ago, I lost my best friend.” Tristan combs his fingers gently through my hair. Through his voice I can hear old pain that was once buried deep skimming to the surface. I stare blankly at the fire hoping my silence will encourage him to continue. I rest my head in his lap as Tristan leans his back against the wall. Still caressing the strands of my hair he continues. “We had been friends for as long as I can remember. We had a knack for running into trouble instead of away. Not like law trouble, more like we sought out risky adventures each time daring to do more than the last. One Friday night, with nothing to do, we met down by the beach with plans to go on a late night hike. It was a cool night, an eerie moon had risen up in the distance; I will never forget the way it looked. Deep down I knew something just wasn’t right, but I couldn’t put a finger on it. The two of us were experienced hikers and had all of the correct gear so I just wrote it off as we headed further and further into the woods. Looking back I wonder if the feeling was a premonition or a foreshadowing of what was to come that night. I usually check my flashlight for batteries before leaving on any type of night trip so I'm not sure what happened that evening. The next thing we knew we were smack dab in the middle of the woods when the bulb of my flashlight went out. It was a pitch-black night, like tonight, and neither of us had any extra batteries or a secondary light source. It's dangerous to hike at night without light; we would be too susceptible to injury so we decided it would be best to find a place to set up tent. We had survival gear on us so we knew if needed, we could find a place to spend the night out there. It was about that time that we began hearing drumming in the distance. We honestly didn't understand where it was coming from. We thought that perhaps there was another camper out there or maybe even a Boy Scout troop or something. Curious, we began to shuffle through the forest towards the noise. As we got closer and closer we were able to see several lights shining through the trees. My friend took the lead as we rounded over the hill. What we saw next made my stomach churn. It was a procession of Night Marchers headed straight for us. I grabbed his arm and began pulling in the opposite direction but he wouldn’t move. It was as if his eyes were locked in on what was ahead of him grounding his body as well. I pulled with all I was worth but it was of no use. I ran behind a tree and covered my face with my hands. I prayed and prayed hoping God would hear my pleas. I felt guilty for having left him there, but I had no other choice. My mother had told me legends of the Night Marchers since before I could walk and I knew I was running out of time. I just—I didn’t know what to do. I kept hearing screaming—someone was screaming over and over and over. I couldn’t look up, because I knew what would happen.”

Tears began streaming down Tristan’s face. I reach up and wipe a single tear away holding my hand there in comfort. As he exhales a shaky breath he continues. “I just didn’t know what to do. From the legends my mother told me, I knew that if I were to just run after him it wouldn’t do any good. You can't reason with a Night Marcher. It was one of the worst feelings you could imagine, to not be able to help your best friend when they needed you most. When the drumbeats faded off I ran towards the spot where I had last seen my friend. I had heard stories of Night Marchers trampling over people that got in their way. I feared the worse, which was that I would find my best friend trampled to death. Instead I found nothing, no sign of him, no sign of what may have happened to him, nothing!" Tristan stands up and starts pacing the cave. I watch his shadow move back and forth furiously across the cave wall. I'm not sure if he's furious with the Night Marchers or himself for not being able to save his friend.

He turns towards me almost too quickly and says earnestly, "I spent the night looking for him Emma. I did not just abandon my friend! I was the one who had to tell his parents, the Kealoha's, what happened." I gasp as I connect the dots. Tristan looks at me then resumes telling me what he needs to say. "I told the Kealoha's that I would not stop trying to find a way to get Noa back. I am the one that found your dad when I was doing my research online. I needed to find a way to undo the curse. I was hoping that your dad would help me. Or if he couldn't help me break the curse, then I was hoping that eventually he could lead me to them. I have tried to hunt down the Night Marchers by myself. I never found them; tonight was the first time I had seen them since I started searching. With you in danger, I couldn't stop and try to find a way to help Noa, I had to get you to safety." His expression softens as he gazes at me.

"Tristan," I say softly. I’m in complete awe of his story. Not so much the story itself, but the way he put his heart on his sleeve. I want to comfort him but I have no idea how. After all I’m in the same exact position as him. Both of us need to save someone, a Night Marcher. Tristan obviously isn't aware though how unnervingly similar our stories are to each other.

He sits back down in front of me. His aquamarine eyes look as if they are trying to stare into my soul. "Emma, you are what matters to me. Out there...tonight, I couldn't imagine what I would have done..." His voice breaks and the look on his face has me on the verge of tears.

"Tristan..." I barely choke out as well.

"No, let me finish. I don't know if you got my letter, I don't know much of anything. I haven't pressured you to tell me anything that happened while you were missing. But, I've felt disconcerted since you've been back. I don't know if you know how I truly feel. Then, tonight when those things were coming...and you were stuck. I just couldn't bare to know that anything could happen to you or to me without you knowing..." Tristan puts his finger under my chin pulling my gaze back up to his. "Emma, I love you." He stares into my eyes as if he could imprint those words on my heart with a single look. Before I can respond or look away his lips come crashing down on mine with a fierceness that I have never felt from Tristan before. His hand is perched behind my head as if he wants to make sure that I don't pull away. With my heart beating fast and a million butterflies doing the waltz in my stomach, I'm swept up in the moment. Closing my eyes, I let go of all of the anxieties that rest on my shoulder and allow myself to do what I know I will regret later. As if sensing my submission, his hand relaxes moving down to my back and our kiss becomes increasingly gentler as we melt into each other.

Tristan is the first to pull away, both of us a little breathless. He rests his forehead on mine and we both take a moment to allow the dizziness and frantic heartbeats to settle. This is when it really hits me. I'm kissing Tristan, who just confessed his love to me but what about Kai? I haven't even told Tristan about him. I'm so confused and I have no idea what my feelings mean. When I'm with Tristan I feel amazing and safe. When I'm with Kai, I feel that intense electricity and I know deep down that Kai would do anything for me. He already has. They both love me. How? Why? I'm not even sure if I love either of them. I’m not sure if I have ever been in love before, so how could I know what it feels like? All I know is that I feel so good with both of them. That can't be right! I do know one thing right now; I am a horrible person! How can I do this to two men that I care for deeply? I don’t deserve either of them at all! I pull away from Tristan putting a little bit of distance between us.

Tristan cuts me off from my self-bashing, "Emma, did I upset you? What's wrong?" He must have taken my distancing myself for being something he did, which makes me feel even more horrid.

Looking into his amazingly beautiful blue eyes, I’m filled with sincerity. Thinking about how wretched I am leaves me speechless. Gazing down, the waterworks begin and I can't hold back my tears anymore.

"Emma, it's okay..." I look up and it's as if tonight's events spring to his mind alerting him of an unanswered question. His body goes rigid, "Emma...Why did you fight against me when I was trying to save you from the Night Marchers?"

I look up at him and I can't help myself, my sobbing just increases. I know I look like a blubbering fool but I don't know what to say or where to start. I still haven't spoken to anyone about what happened when I was gone and I’m still harboring a massive amount of guilt. I just don't know if I'm ready to lay everything on the table yet.

Tristan braces both of his arms on my shoulders and I begin to wonder if he's going to shake me. He doesn't though, he just says seriously: "It's okay Emma, you can tell me..." He exhales a shaky breath, as I'm sure the thought popping into his head is an unpleasant one. "Tonight is not the first night you have seen the Night Marchers...Am I right?" Tristan reaches his hand up towards my hair and lifts it out of my eyes in a tender gesture.

My crying becomes more frantic as I think of what transpired and how I could word everything that has happened to me. I pull away and stand up turning away from Tristan trying to privately compose myself. If I were not so emotionally exhausted I would be worried about how bad my eyes look right now or if my mascara is running everywhere. I have no energy to worry though. I wipe my eyes and take a few shaky breaths. Finding it easier if I don't look at Tristan when I confess. I answer him in a simple, "No." I don't turn around when I hear Tristan take a deep breath. It's now or never so I continue. "When you left town I went to the waterfall that you took me too. I was just going to hang out a while and enjoy the scenery but I ended up falling asleep, thinking that a quick nap wouldn't hurt anything. The sound of the falls was peaceful and easily lulled me to sleep..." Tristan put his hand on my back, but I just take a step forward letting his hand fall away. I can't bare his comfort right now; I won't be able to finish this. "When I woke up, it was dark. I tried to find my way out but I wasn't prepared. I had no light and I still was rusty on how to get back to my car. Using my cell phone light I tried to find the path I took to get there. I ran into someone in the woods that night, a man. Kai..." I whisper his name. To hear it spoken out loud is nearly unendurable and to discuss Kai with Tristan makes it all the worse. Guilt pulses through me as I hunt deep down for the courage I’ll need to finish this conversation. I knew it had to happen sometime; I also knew I would never be fully prepared to handle it. I’m still not, but I continue anyway. "He was going to help me, find my way to my car but that's when we heard it...the drums. He knew what they meant. He grabbed my hand and hurried me away from them. We ran out into a clearing and hid behind a boulder. I saw them, the Night Marchers. It was just like you described, stomach churning. Kai..." I take a deep breath. "He tried to shield me from them, but I didn't know not to..." I turn around and look at Tristan now. He's stunned and the look on his face is filled with worry and perhaps a tinge of defeat. Like he failed me somehow by not being there for me. Which makes me feel even worse. I keep going though. "I looked one of them in the eyes. I couldn't avert my gaze. It was as if I was caught in the Night Marcher's web. It all happened so fast after that. Kai was running with me and the Night Marcher was chasing me trying to kill me. I didn't know why. We barely escaped it by tumbling down a steep hill. I hurt my leg severely and ended up passing out from the pain." Tristan's face flinches when I mention the last part.

"When I woke up I was with Kai and he told me about the curse and how the Night Marcher would not stop hunting me until I was either dead or one of them. It wasn't safe for me to go home. We went on the run trying to find a way to break the curse. A...um...group, of Kai's friends took us in." I can't think of how to describe the Menehune's right now, nor do I know if talking about them would be like sharing a sacred secret. "One of them in particular helped us a lot, Adam, he is the one I was going after tonight. He is in danger and I need to help find him." I feel horrible that only now, am I remembering the mission I was originally on tonight. Seeing the Night Marchers and knowing that Kai was near was all it took for me to completely switch gears to wanting to save Kai. But, I know that in order to save Kai, I will need the Menehune's help...Adam's help. Tears start coming to my eyes when I think of how Paul looked when he came to me: beaten, bruised and terrified. My stomach rolls with dread at the thought of what condition Adam is in right now.

I blink away my tears and look at Tristan who is waiting patiently but I can tell he's struggling with wanting to comfort me. I appreciate that he knows I need to keep going and that I don't need to be coddled at this moment. I continue. "Anyhow, Adam and his friends did some research and thought they found a way. If I could kill the Night Marcher myself, I could break the curse. I tried, but it didn't work."

Tristan's face is outraged. "What? You went after a Night Marcher by yourself? How could that man, Kai you say, let you do something like that? Or this Adam for that matter! What Idiots! When I get my hands on them Emma!"

I have never seen Tristan this worked up before. In this instance it makes me rather pissed off! He doesn't know Kai or Adam...he doesn't know what happened. I calm down when I think of that fact. He doesn't know so it's understandable that he’s upset. I still try to make him understand though that it's not their fault. "First of all, they are not idiots! Adam only relayed to me the research he found and Kai, he didn't want me to go after them Tristan. In fact I had to sneak away from him to go after the Night Marcher on my own. And in the end Kai saved my life. He took my place!" I yell the last part out so loudly it bounces off the cave walls repeating itself several times in a muzzled expression. I look away now, tears flowing again. I can't bare it, thinking about how Kai sacrificed himself for me. I relive it in my mind over and over, and each time hurts as much as the last, if not more.

Turning to look at Tristan I see that he is speechless and a little confused. I can't take it. I can't take being here right now. I can't take looking at Tristan and seeing the questions in his eyes. I can't deal with this. Before I break down entirely I turn on my heal and run with all of my might away from the cave and away from Tristan who calls after me. Away from my thoughts and the pain that I feel when I think about Kai. The rain hasn't let up any but I don't care. I run through mud and water puddles, splashing my shoes and pants with muck. The rain soaks my drying hair again and sends water droplets streaming down my face and into my eyes. It doesn’t matter though, because running feels good; it’s the one thing in my life right now that I can control. Even though every breath sends needles of shock through my chest it feels amazing. Like if I can just keep running, I will eventually run off all of my worries and anxieties.

"Emma! Emma, please!" I can hear Tristan pleading to me from a few yards back. Guilt finally catches up with me as I think about how I'm making him chase after me in the rain. We had finally started to dry up by the fire and now the two of us are soaked to the bone once again. As if I don't have enough guilt weighing on me, now I could cause one of us to get sick from being out in this weather.

I stop running abruptly. My breathing is labored as I try to calm my heartbeat down. The air has turned cold and my breath sends smoke signals drifting into the night sky. Standing still sends my body into shivers, but I don’t seem to notice. I just stand there numb, emotionally and physically.

I slowly turn towards Tristan who is still calling my name. Instead of waiting for him to catch up to me, I meet him half way. In an accepting silence, Tristan puts his arm around my shoulder and leads me back through the woods to the cave. The rain pelts us so hard on the trip back that I walk most of the way with my head down and my eyes closed. Feeling depleted, I just allow Tristan to lead me, trusting that he will get me to where I need to go.

Back in the cave we wring out our clothes the best we can, then sit next to each other in front of the fire. Both of us lean our backs against the wall and stare silently at the flames. Personally, I've seen enough flames to last me a lifetime, but there isn't much else to stare at since Tristan and I are avoiding looking at one another.

An hour passes, all the while, the silence continues. The pounding rain and the crackling fire that Tristan has kept going, by periodically adding wood, is beginning to lull me to sleep. Just as I close my eyes and nearly submit to sleep, I hear Tristan break the silence. "Emma?" He whispers.

"Yes?" I say groggily. We both continue to avoid eye contact. Subconsciously, I'm sure we both are aware of the conversation that we would eventually need to have.

"Kai...Is he," I can tell Tristan is considering how to word his question and is trying to tread carefully. "What is he to you?"

"What is he to me?" I ask back, pretending like I didn't really understand where he was going with his query. All the while feeling the guilt building inside of me.

Tristan doesn't buy my aloofness. He turns towards me, which forces me to make eye contact with him. The look on his face is that of frustration and underlying hurt. "You know what I mean Emma." He says it forcefully but not in a rude manner.

"Kai..." It hurts to say his name. Not only because he's not here, but it hurts to say it to Tristan. I care for Tristan. How can I possibly explain to him that I also care for Kai? Breathing in deeply, I close my eyes and try. "He saved my life, more than once. He took my place. I need to help him. I owe him." I open my eyes and try to blink away tears that are blurring my vision.

We both turn towards the fire. It's as if a giant gap has formed between us. A few minutes pass and I hope that he has decided to let it drop for now. He doesn't. Instead he asks me a question I do not want to answer right now. "Do you love him?" I can hear the hurt and anguish he is emitting in his words and I cringe as I wonder how on earth I could possibly answer this question.

Do I love him? I wish there were an easy answer to Tristan's question. A yes or no, but still, I do not know. Understanding that he needs and deserves an answer I say, "I care for him. I don't know if I love him." I suddenly realize that I have been holding my breath so I force myself to inhale and exhale slowly. I turn towards him and the pain on his face makes my heart break. I hurt him. This man who loves me. I don't deserve him or Kai or anyone.

He stands up and turns his back to me. His hands are balled into fists. Not fists of anger, but I'm pretty sure he's just clenching his hands in an effort to keep it together. In this moment all I want to do is make it all go away, but how? I plead with him, "Tristan, you haven't asked me how I feel about you."

I watch him slowly release his hands from fists. He takes a deep breath and turns towards me. I can see moisture in his eyes and it takes all that is in me to not cry as well. I don't wait for him to ask me how I feel about him. I tell him. "I care deeply about you too. I don't deserve you, but you mean so much to me. I loathe myself for making you hurt Tristan. I don't know how I feel. I don't even think I understand love or how one can interpret it. All I know is that when I'm with you I feel happy and safe. I feel your love and I wish I could tell you right now that I love you. But, how can I say I love you when I also care for someone else? I’m not worthy of you Tristan; I’m not worthy of anyone! I am no good Tristan. No good for you or for anyone!" There is no way for me to hold back the tears now. Not when I feel this deep gashing hole inside my chest. "I understand Tristan if you don't want to be around me; I understand completely. You don’t deserve this." I pull my knees up towards my chest, cover my eyes and weep. I hadn’t realized just how cumbersome this burden had become.

"Emma, please don't cry." He says in a hushed voice. I barely hear him walk over to me. He sits down and puts an arm around my shoulders, which makes me feel even more horrible. I should be comforting him. I'm the one hurting him. "Listen to me Emma. I don't understand love in its entirety either. You can't help the way you feel. You have been through things in the past few days that would break an average seventeen year old down. You aren't an average seventeen year old though. That's what I love about you. You are strong, tough, caring and honest, just to mention a few."

I shake my head because I totally disagree with him. "Yes Emma, you are." He says so strongly that I find myself wanting to believe him.

Getting my sobbing under control I pull my head up and wipe at my eyes. It takes me a few seconds to get up the courage to turn my eyes on Tristan. Afraid of seeing the hurt I inflicted on him. I say, "Tristan, it's okay to be mad. You don't need to comfort me. I’ll understand and respect your choice if you want me out of your life."

Before I can push my gaze away from him again he gently re-directs me to him with his finger under my chin. "I am not mad. Am I upset or disappointed? Yes. Not in you or in who you are...in the situation. I don't want you out of my life. I can't bare the thought Emma. I will respect that you need time to figure out how you feel. I can wait."

I have nothing that I can say in response. I try to allow my heart to speak to him through my eyes and perhaps my heart will even translate to me what it's saying. He breaks our gaze first when his attention is pulled to the fire that has depleted down to mostly just embers. He rubs my shoulder affectionately then stands up to gather more wood to fuel the flames.

After the fire has been re-ignited, he and I lay down next to it. No more words tonight. My chest feels like it's been broken into pieces and my empty stomach aches with pain. This intensely emotional night has taken a toll on me. When sleep finally comes I welcome the exit of this night that has left me feeling like only a shell of the girl I once was.

***

The morning light stirs me from my sleep. I don’t move; I just simply let my eyes open slowly. It takes me a few moments to gather my bearings and last night rushes back to me full force making me cringe. The feeling is short lived though as I notice an arm draped around my middle keeping me warm. I can hear Tristan’s steady breathing just behind my ear and I close my eyes cherishing this moment. I quietly roll over slightly turning my face to see him. He looks so peaceful and beautiful in the early morning light. Like a younger version of him, the version I had not yet corrupted. I hear a few of the embers crackle behind me as I brush a small strand of hair off his forehead. Tristan’s eyes slowly flutter open and a slow smile creeps onto his face. “Good morning beautiful.” Tristan says in a husky voice. He tightens his grip on me just enough that I am pulled into the crevice of his body. He strokes my hair with his chin as I simply melt into his arms.

It’s as if all the worries and anguishes of last night have simply melted away, even if it’s only for the moment, it comes as a welcomed relief. This is the Tristan I know and adore. I wish life hadn’t gotten so complicated…but yet it has, and I desperately need to accept that. I feel his soft lips gently grazing my neck. All of the worries and anxieties are quickly replaced by a serene peacefulness. I feel myself shiver at his touch. Within a few moments I feel our bodies shift into facing one another as Tristan continues to kiss me. I don’t stop him, nor do I want to. I shut my mind off and allow myself to just be, ignoring this chaotic web I have spun. I feel warmth spread through my body as my head fits into the curvature of his neck. I return his kisses with one of my own near his ear and I can feel his body shiver. Tristan’s kisses become more urgent as his mouth lands on mine hungrily. Kissing Tristan feels so easy, it's like we are puzzle pieces meant for each other and just being with him fits. I'm jolted back to reality when the thought of Kai pops into my head. I try to ignore it, but I can’t push it from my mind. Tristan must sense the tension because he stops kissing me and turns his face towards mine. He brushes my hair softly out of my face. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”

My heart melts as he says this. The pet name he has just given me feels so much more intimate than I had anticipated. I close my eyes and just shake my head. I can’t bear to tell him to stop, because in all reality, I don’t want him to. Tristan leans closer and I feel him kiss my forehead leaving a warm feeling flowing over my face. Tristan continues stroking my hair until I gather my bearings and am able to open my eyes again.

He simply smiles back at me, so I return one to him.

“You look so beautiful in the morning.” Tristan begins. He still has his bedroom voice on and it causes my heart to flutter. He takes a deep breath and continues, “Sorry,” he laughs. “I guess I just couldn’t help myself.”

I giggle a little with him. “Don’t think you were the only one,” I say as matter of fact as possible. In a few seconds we are both giggling and when I look back at Tristan I see the man I met only a few weeks before. I want so badly to go back to that moment, when we didn’t have a care in the world. When we could surf, and take walks, and go on drives, and just be. But realization dawns on me as I realize that innocence is lost. Tristan must realize my change in demeanor because his face changes from giddy to a small look of worry. “What’s wrong, Emma?”

I just stare back at him. I so badly don’t want to ruin this moment, but I just can’t sit here and let myself go while there is so much worry that is running through my mind.

Tristan doesn’t wait for a response before talking to me again. “It’s okay Emma, I know you have a lot going on. I miss it too.”

Before I have a chance to ask him what he misses he continues. “I miss the simplicity, and the time when there were no worries.” He takes a deep breath and exhales. “Most of all, I miss you.” His eyes drop from mine and his brow creases in sadness.

I hate how I am making him feel, but if we ever have a chance to go back to the way things were, we have to help Kai, Adam and Noa first. How in the world did life get so complicated I think to myself then whisper to Tristan, “I miss you too.”

He wraps me in a comforting hug and then helps me to my feet. Sitting up, I stretch my arms up over my head only to find myself landing back on the ground after Tristan tackles me and begins tickling me. Grateful for his way of diffusing the tension between us, I throw my head back in full fledge laughter as I playfully try to fight him off. I begin tickling him in return and I laugh so hard it makes my side hurt. In a stealthy rolling move, I manage to get out from under Tristan and run to the other side of the cave while he playfully chases me.

I don’t get far before I notice a strange shadow appear at the cave entrance. I turn towards it when all of the breath comes barreling out of my chest. I inhale sharply and let out a shrill scream backing myself abruptly into the cave wall. A look of pure horror flashes over Tristan’s face as he yanks his head towards the entrance. But it was of no use. The shadow had disappeared, and along with that shadow went Kao.

Chapter 3

"Folks, we have begun our descent to DFW international airport where the current weather is eighty-four degrees. We'd like the flight attendants to prepare the cabin for arrival. And once again, thank you for flying with American Airlines." I hear a pilot with a smoky voice say over the intercom.

I'm grateful for the interruption of my flashback to earlier this morning. I shiver thinking of Kao and his evil black eyes. I didn't tell Tristan what I saw. Instead I blamed my screaming on a spider. I know it's lying but, Kao is dangerous and the last thing I need is to have Tristan risking his life by running after him. I can’t even imagine the things Kao is capable of and I definitely don’t want Tristan caught up in this more than he already is. I also didn't want to have to go into detail about Kai's twin brother who is now a human after he once tried to hunt me down as a Night Marcher.

A blonde flight attendant announces that we need to turn off all electronics and put our seats back in the upright position. The man sitting in the seat next to me puts his laptop away. I shake my head a bit trying to clear it from the daze I was in throughout the flight. My stomach growls and I realize that I didn't eat or drink a single thing. I don't even remember the flight attendant coming by and asking for my order. I look over to the attendant who is cautiously checking to make sure everyone is following directions. She looks at me with a strange expression. Blushing, I realize it's most likely because I must have been basically unresponsive these past eight hours. I turn my gaze out the window, trying to not draw any additional undue attention to myself.

Seeing the familiar flight tower of the Dallas Fort Worth airport brings back memories of the many trips my dad and I made for his work. My stomach sinks when I think about what I've put him through and the sacrifice he is making by sending his only daughter thousands of miles away to keep her safe.

Once we land I grab my small carry-on from overhead and follow the shuffling group of weary travelers out onto the jet bridge. Stepping out on the gate I take a second to really absorb the fact that I'm back home, in Texas. While I wasn't happy that my dad sent me here when I need to be in Hawaii trying to help Kai, Adam and Noa, I can't deny that seeing Kaylee isn't getting me excited.

I look at my watch to see that it's already six p.m. It has nearly been twenty-four hours since Paul's terrifying announcement that someone captured Adam. Paul's friends said that they are looking into a way to find Adam and I can’t help but wonder if they were successful. My rushed attempt last night was totally faltered. My chest aches thinking of Adam still being out there somewhere hurting. I offer a silent prayer to God that the Menehune's have been able to find a way to get to him.

After a long walk I finally turn the corner into the baggage claim area only to hear a high pitch, deafening scream, which captures most of my other fellow travelers attention as well. It doesn't take me long to recognize those vocal cords. Tears spring to my eyes as I see Kaylee running towards me. My heart wells up as I run meeting her half way and we crash into each other in a heart felt hug. I can't believe how much I missed my BFI. Best friends infinitely are what we call each other. Not forever, because with a friendship like ours, forever is too short. I'm sure people are staring at us but we don't care, we just stand in the middle of the baggage claim hugging and crying like two sobbing fools.

After a few seconds Kaylee pulls away but keeps her hands on my shoulders. Searching my eyes she says, "Emma, it's going to all be okay now. I'm so glad that you’re home." Not able to respond I just nod and hope that she's right. Even if she's not, at least I have my best friend to talk to now.

As we hear the beeping sound announcing that luggage is going to start spitting out onto the carousel, we both start wiping our eyes with our hands. I'm pretty sure that my mascara is running everywhere, so is Kaylee's, but of course she still looks like a super model with her big blue eyes and blonde hair.

A few seconds later my luggage comes circling around. I didn't pack my stuff; I'm guessing that my dad did. It doesn't matter though if he missed anything. Kaylee and I wear pretty much the same size so I can always borrow what I don't have from her.

With my luggage in hand, Kaylee and I head out into the balmy late spring air of Dallas, Texas. The sun has already set and all of the city lights have come on full force. Kaylee grabs her keys out of her purse and we take the long hike towards her red Volvo.

After stuffing my luggage in her small trunk we both hop in, Kaylee starts the ignition, pulls out and starts driving towards her house.

"By the way, my mom is going to be heading out of town tomorrow for a week long business trip. She couldn't cancel it. Your dad was okay with everything though. After all, both of us are less than a few months from turning eighteen." Kaylee says with a sly smile. I consider this predicament. It couldn’t be more convenient, or ironic, at how well this may turn out. I may very well have just been handed an opportunity.

"Well, that's mighty convenient Kaylee because I could really use your help." I say as the wheels start churning in my head.

"Oh really? Spill girl." She says allotting a short mischievous glance in my direction before returning her gaze back onto the road.

I inhale deeply allowing myself a moment to gather my thoughts. After all this time I thought it would be easy to spill the beans to Kaylee. After all, we’ve been friends for what seems like forever. Shouldn’t this be like second nature? I try to think of where to start only to have to retort to plan B, then C and so on… I just can’t figure out how on earth to tell her about these evil wandering spirits who kidnaped Kai and Noa and my need to drag her across the Pacific to help them. It doesn’t even seem plausible in my mind much less if I were to say it aloud.

Kaylee must sense my hesitancy but just patiently waits for me to begin. I twiddle my thumbs in nervous anticipation. I haven’t done that since I was small but find myself resorting to it for some form of comfort. I watch the cars zip past us on the expressway and I try to clear my head. There is only one way to start this, and it has to be from the beginning.

***

I hold tight to the ‘oh-crap’ handle as Kaylee drives frantically through the city. Tires squeal as she makes a sharp right turn into a gas station and parks at a neck breaking halt.

“So let me get this straight,” Kaylee begins in a frenzy. Her eyes are wild and she’s sort of scaring me right now. I don’t think I have ever seen her like this before. “You go to Hawaii, meet a guy, fall for him, and then get caught up with some ‘Night Marchers’?” She says the last part with air quotes. If there is ever a time to be afraid of Kaylee, it’s when she uses air quotes. “Then you meet a hot guy named Kai who saves you and you break your leg in the process of getting rescued.” Her eyes begin bugging out of her head at this point and she grabs the center console. “And then somehow, your ‘broken leg’ heals in a day.” Using more air quotes again. “ Then you train with some Menehunes to fight the Night Marcher and fail, so Kai steps in and becomes a Night Marcher himself releasing his evil brother Kao. Then later on you find out Tristan’s best friend was also taken? Seriously Emma? What do you think I am, a fool? You are on drugs Emma, right? What kind? That's so jacked up, seriously, we vowed not to do stupid crap!” Well, at least I can say she was paying attention.

At this point I am plastered to the passenger door wondering if my best friend’s evil side is going to come slamming at me full speed in an all out brawl. Kaylee is breathing heavily and staring me down, making me feel insignificantly small.

“Yes,” it was all I could squeak out as I cringe waiting for her reaction but then I correct myself when her eyes bug out in horror. I realize quickly my error and stumble to correct myself. "I mean, no, I'm not on drugs! Yes, I am serious about everything I told you. No hallucinogens were needed for any of that."

She watches me for a long second and then begins to straighten out her hair with her fingers. It was as if Mr. Hyde had put Dr. Jekyll back in his place. All the anger and animosity has simply disappeared leaving my BFI Kaylee in its wake. She relaxes into her seat and puts her hair down looking me in the eyes. “Why didn’t you just tell me everything before now?” A look of hurt flashes across her face and in that moment the guilt of keeping all this to myself comes rushing out in the form of tears. “Oh, honey.” Kaylee reaches over and embraces me in one of her reassuring hugs. “It’s going to be okay.” Kaylee says reassuringly. “We’re going to figure this out, I promise.” Kaylee abruptly pulls me from her embrace and braces my shoulders forcing me to look her square in the eyes. “But you promise me one thing missy.” She doesn’t wait for me to respond before she begins again. “Don’t you EVER keep things like this from me again!” I simply nod as her face softens back to the friend I have grown to love.

Pulling up to Kaylee’s house I breathe a sigh of relief. It’s good to be back, is all I can think. Kaylee’s mom comes rushing out the front door wearing a hot pink muumuu. The funny thing is, she looks good in it. I don’t think anyone else could rock it the way she does.

Kaylee’s face has a look of pure horror as she takes in the sight of her mom. “Mom! You’re embarrassing me! What if the neighbors see you in that getup?”

Her mom simply ignores her and wraps me into a rib-crushing hug. Feeling as if all the life has drained out of me, she finally releases me.

“Hi Dyan.” It was all I could muster after being practically crushed to death.

Kaylee’s mom Dyan is like the mother I never got the chance to have. She is extremely eccentric, but that is exactly what I love about her.

Dyan grabs my luggage and ushers us into the house. Inside, the house smells of fresh baked cookies and all sorts of homemade goodness. My stomach begins to churn at the smell. I honestly can’t tell if it’s because I’m hungry or because the smell reminds me of Alani and all of her homemade goodies.

Dropping my luggage in the foyer, we all plop onto bar stools and dig into the pile of cookies.

“Thanks mom,” Kaylee says through her mouth full of food. One thing I will never understand is how Kaylee can eat like she does and never gain a pound or a blemish. It doesn’t seem cosmically possible.

Before I am on my second bite of cookie Kaylee grabs the plate and drags me back to her room. I smile at the sight before me. It looks like the color pink threw up in here. There’s a child’s canopy bed set up against a rose pink wall along with other antique furniture dotting the room. Teddy bears are piled up in the corner in mesh netting displayed for all to see. Kaylee’s mom installed a trundle bed underneath the canopy so that we could have sleepovers. I’ve spent countless nights in here growing up and the sight and smell of it is comforting in and of itself. It's like coming home.

"So, why did you pull me away so fast?" I mumble trying not to let the cookie crumbs fall out of my mouth. I can’t deny that I was looking forward to catching up with Dyan too.

Kaylee gives me that roguish grin that always sets me on edge because I know it means that she's got some type of mischief planned. That's when I see the light bounce off a metal blade in her hand. I instinctively drop my cookie and gasp when Kaylee pulls out a butcher knife that she must have grabbed from the kitchen on our way in here. Now it makes sense why she flew out of the room with me in tow in such a hurry.

"What the hell Kayle?" I yell at her just a tad bit freaked out.

"I have an idea." She says raising her eyebrow at me as if silently asking me if I'm game.

"Um, okay but I don't think now is the time to try to do some type of 'blood sisters' ritual or something like we did in the seventh grade." I say a little nervously. I can't see how anything that has to do with a knife like that could be a good idea.

"No, Emma, I'm not doing some stupid ritual, after all we are already sisters, we don't need to share blood to know that. I was just thinking...and it's totally up to you, but perhaps we can test out this rapid healing of yours."

If I could see myself in the mirror, I'm sure my eyes would bug out of my head. "WTF?"

Kaylee tries to lighten the mood by joking, "Why The Face?" She sees that I'm still looking at her in dismay so she says, "I'm not suggesting that we plunge this into your heart or anything. I'm just sayin’ a little cut is all."

"Well then you could have grabbed a smaller knife! Geez Kaylee. That giant butcher knife is really freaking me out."

She turns if upside down and hands it to me handle first. I gladly accept it. She then clarifies herself. "A broken leg healing in a matter of days? That's comic book stuff. Maybe something crazy is happening to you. I mean, obviously it's something good, but it's still crazy nonetheless. Don't you want to know if you are still healing that rapidly and why?"

I think about it for a minute. The anxiety of what happened to Kai has been stuck in the forefront of my mind so I really haven't allowed myself too much time to dwell on my fast healing. I have no idea what's going on or more importantly what’s causing it. The only two things that I can think of is perhaps it has to do with the curse that I struck or the drink that Kai gave me. But, Kaylee is right. I do need to find out if I'm still healing fast or if it's slowing down. "Okay, but a small cut and I will do it myself." I say resolutely.

"Um, of course Emma. I don't feel like slicing up my best friend. I'm not that much of a lunatic." She says laughing.

I just look at her nervously and position the knife over the inside of my forearm. I take a deep breath and make a slow slash. It's no deeper than a paper cut but it stings like the dickens.

We both stand there for five minutes staring at my bleeding arm. Kaylee hands me a few tissues when some of the blood starts dripping over. Both of us are so silent that you could hear a pin drop. After a few more minutes we both look up at each other and then start cracking up uncontrollably. My arm is still covered in blood, but what did we think? That we would just stand there and watch it close up like on some kind of crazy sci-fi movie?

Laughing with Kaylee is one of the first normal moments that I've had in several days. When our giggling dies down, Kaylee suggests, "Why don't you go clean that off. I don't want to get your blood all over my nice pink rug."

"Yeah, we wouldn't want that." I say smiling, then turn towards her attached bathroom to rinse it off. As I'm washing my arm off I steal a glance of my reflection in the mirror. I look pretty haggard. My dark hair is oily and flat and my brown eyes look red and tired. I desperately need to get some sleep.

When I go to turn off the water I look at my arm and my breath goes whooshing out of me. I barely find myself able to stutter, "Kkayllee."

She comes running in and we are both stunned into complete sober silence as we stare at my bare forearm. Other than a fading white scar, there is no evidence that I just cut myself a few minutes before. I look at Kaylee in complete shock. I'm grateful that she has the same shock on her face, which tells me that I'm not crazy. After all if I were crazy, she would not be as surprised as I am that my arm has healed so quickly. I pick up the tissue that has my blood on it, proof that my arm had been bleeding.

"OMG, Emma. This is totally nuts. Do you know what this means?"

I look at her in question and answer, "No..."

"You’re immortal! Maybe you’re a vampire or something. Or a werewolf or something as equally impressive!" She says, her words spitting out a thousand miles a minute.

Raising my eyebrows I give her a serious look and then bust out laughing. I laugh so hard that I can't stand. I sit down on her bathroom floor unable to contain my hysterical cackling. "Yeah, or maybe I'm Wonder Woman now. Maybe I can fly!" I can't help myself I'm cracking up so bad.

"Hey!" Kaylee says hands on her hips, trying to act annoyed even though I can tell she's doing her best to suppress her giggles. "Okay, okay, maybe you aren't a super hero. But, you have to admit, this is pure craziness."

Calming down a little, since laughing is now making my side hurt, I reply, "Yes, it's crazy but Kaylee, you have been reading way too much paranormal teen fiction. I am quite positive that I'm not immortal or some type of new breed. I'm not certain what is going on with me, but I have much bigger fish to fry." Thinking about the last part sobers me up completely.

Kaylee sees my change in mood and sits down next to me. She traces over the scar on my arm with her finger as if she needed to do that to really believe that what she saw was reality. Then turning towards me she says assuredly, "It's all good, whatever it is Emma. I think it's pretty cool, but I know that this is the least of your problems. We are BFI's though and now your problems are my problems. We’ll get through this. We just need to brainstorm...What's our game plan?"

It doesn't take me long to come to terms with what I need to do. "Well, one things for certain Kaylee, I need to go back."

"Okay, but you do mean we need to go back, right?" She asks.

I think about it for a moment weighing everything out. I want Kaylee with me, but do I really want to put her in danger. I mean risking my life is one thing, but to risk hers too? I don't know if I'm okay with that. I look at her in the eyes and can tell that she's reading my thoughts because her face is all scrunched up in that, 'oh no you don't' look of hers. "I just don't want to put you in danger Kaylee, that’s all."

"Okay, let me clarify this for you Emma. If you are going back to Kauai, I will be going back with you. I am not asking you, I am telling you. I will not let you do this alone and you will not shut me out. Understand? "

I have known Kaylee long enough to understand that there is no more discussing this. When she is set on something, she is immovable. I can however put in my own stipulations. "Fine. You can come with me, but, if I am ever in a situation of danger, you will listen to me and not follow me into it if I tell you to stay put. Now, I have had more training than you and obviously I can heal quicker than you so this is non-negotiable. Capiche?"

"Capoosh! So what's the plan? Hi-jack a boat or stow away on a cruise ship?" Kaylee says excitedly.

"Nah, I get sea sick." I reply jokingly while simultaneously raising an eyebrow at her. "How about an old fashioned plane ride?"

"So practical Emma. I would be more into a more modern plane ride though, I heard those old fashioned ones tend to be really bumpy in the sky." Kaylee says.

I've really missed how natural and fun it is to jump into witty chatter with Kaylee. "Here's the problem, Kaylee, those modern plane rides cost mucho dinero and I don't have any." I watch as Kaylee ponders this dilemma.

"Well, would you consider this an emergency?" Kaylee asks.

"Of the highest sort, yes." I reply.

"I agree. Then I would say that this would be a good reason to dip into my emergency college fund. Now, I know you like to roll in style, but this girl can't afford first class tickets." Kaylee says with a laugh.

Instead of laughing though, my eyes start tearing up. They are good tears though. I have an amazing friend. Kaylee realizes that I've gone into 'serious mode,' and it doesn't take long before her eyes go all watery too.

She grabs two Kleenex’s from her nightstand, hands one to me and then uses the other one to dab at her eyes. "Thank you so much Kaylee. I don't know what I would do without you."

"I don't know either." She says lightening up the mood a bit with her quick wit. "Anyhow, we are family and family helps each other."

I nod and then blush when my stomach lets out a ferocious growl.

"Well then," Kaylee jokes, "I guess it's time to scrounge up some dinner."

We both head to the kitchen. Kaylee's mom has already gone to bed since she has to get up at four a.m. for her flight tomorrow. So with her asleep, we are left to fend for ourselves. After carefully weighing out the option between cereal and ramen we decided on ramen.

Kaylee fills me in on all that's been going on at our high school, senior pranks and all as we slurp our noodles. After dinner we head back to her room, open up my laptop and hunt for deals on last minute flights. We consider trading in Kaylee's ticket that the Kealoha's purchased for her, but decide that it could end up tipping them off on our plans. We check out numerous sites and finally end up settling on one that only costs an arm and half of a leg. Rates on flights must be exponentially higher this week because Texas is out on spring break. We use Kaylee's debit card to purchase and confirm our flights.

With plane tickets set up for tomorrow, I'm exhausted with jet lag and feel sleep calling to me but I have one last thing to do before getting some shuteye. Pulling out my IPhone I send a quick text letting Tristan know the details of our flight. A minute later my phone vibrates; I open it to see the response.

"R U sure? I think perhaps u r safer in Texas." Tristan texts back.

I take a deep breath and try not to be frustrated by his response. "So are u sayin u don't want me 2 come back?" I know I’m being a total girl and twisting his words, but I can’t seem to help it.

A few seconds later he responds, "No! Of course I want u back. I just also want u safe."

Kaylee looks at me and raises her eyebrows in question when she sees me rolling my eyes at the phone. I ignore the question and text back, "Understand. So do u want 2 help or not?"

He doesn't respond. I wonder after a few minutes if he's going to even bother. As I'm about ready to throw my phone out the window in frustration, he says, "K. What do u need me 2 do?"

Using my two thumbs I type out my game plan to Tristan and in the end, the only response I get from him is, "K."

I can tell that he's not too thrilled about how secretive we will have to be, nor is he happy that I'm going to be back in the line of danger. While I care about Tristan and what he thinks, I'm not going to waver on what I need to do. Kai is in this spot because of me. I can't just sit back and let him stay that way while I go on with my life. It's not possible. I send Tristan a final text, "Thx. G Night."

He doesn't text back, but that's okay. I know he's upset and probably feels like I'm pulling his arm since he knows that if he doesn't help me, I will still do this without him. Just call me stubborn. But, tonight, I can't worry about that. I'm too exhausted to worry about it. She sets her alarm for five in the morning, both for making sure her mom is gone, and because we have a flight to catch at nine. As I fall asleep, I can't help but wonder what Kai is going through tonight and if he's thinking about me.

Chapter 4

It seems so bizarre to be loading luggage back into the car so soon after I’d just arrived. Kaylee is sleep walking over to the coffee maker to get her breakfast. She is pretty much useless in the morning until she has had her first cup of jo. We sit at the counter sipping our coffee and I watch as Kaylee comes alive. The dawn is becoming apparent as the first rays of light seep in from the window.

“We better get a move on Kaylee if we’re going to catch our flight.”

Kaylee nods in response. “You know Emma, I don’t know if it has just hit me until now that I am actually going to Hawaii!” Yep, she woke up. “I mean, that is so cool!”

I watch her as she jumps off the bar stool and runs into her room. Struggling to catch up to her, I find her packing several different swimsuits, sundresses, flip flops etc. into her suitcase.

“You know, I hate to be a killjoy Kaylee, but I don’t think we are going to have a lot of time to sit around and soak up the sun while we’re there. Remember what this is all about!” I am trying not to be a Debbie Downer, but I can’t help but squelch her spirits if she is thinking of this as some exotic vacation.

Kaylee stops mid pack and looks up at me. She exhales softly looking deflated. “Sorry Emma, it’s just—ever since I was small I’ve always wanted to go somewhere like Hawaii, I’ve just never had the chance, what, with my mom being the sole provider and all.”

Feeling utterly horrible I kneel down to Kaylee’s level. “Trust me Kaylee, if there was any other way…” I leave it at that. I know I really don’t have to explain myself, because in a few hours time she will be immersed in it as well.

Getting to the airport doesn’t take long when Kaylee is driving. If there were ever open auditions for NASCAR I would sign her up myself. My hand remains glued to the ‘Oh Crap’ bar as we drift into the nearest parking spot. I cringe just knowing she’s going to be paying $20 a day to park here.

Standing in line for the ticket counter to pick up our boarding passes feels like the longest wait of our lives. Not because the line itself is long, but because we know that when we get to the counter, they will need to check our IDs. They could technically say something about us being minors and that could put an end to our trip before it has even begun.

Once we finally get to the front of the line an older woman behind the counter calls out, "next!" I start to head forward but Kaylee grabs me abruptly by the arm and then kneels down, pretending to mess with her shoelace. Since she's stalling for some apparent reason, I turn around to a young couple behind us and offer them to go ahead in front of us.

Once they move ahead Kaylee stands up and gives me a mischievous look. That's when I hear a man at the far end of the counter call out, "Next!" This airline employee is somewhat young; I would say early twenties if I had to guess. Kaylee turns slightly towards me whispering, “Let me do the talking.”

Oh boy, I have no idea what she intends to do, but she better not blow it! We finally get to the front of the line when I see Kaylee’s hair flipping back flirtatiously as she cocks her hip. Oh. My. Gosh. Is all I can think right now. She bats her eyelashes as she waltzes up to the ticket counter and leans forward over it, leaving only about a foot of space between the two of them. I look at the young man who is paying no attention to me. I can tell that he is a little shocked by Kaylee's audacity, but I can also tell he is enjoying every second of it.

Kaylee places our confirmation print outs we got online in between the two of them. Then she begins in a throaty soulful voice, “Hey handsome, have we met before, you look familiar?”

“Um, I don’t think so,” the man hesitantly replies. He methodically places each print out under the bar code reader without even looking down.

“Hmmmm,” Kaylee ponders. She twirls her hair around the tip of her finger. “Maybe it was just in my dreams.” I see a smirk little smile etch across her face.

Oh brother…

I hear a flirtatious giggle before she continues. “It looks like you have a very important job.” She reaches for his nametag tracing the name Tad with her index finger. She turns to me and grabs my arm bringing me to her side. “And this is my friend Emma. Emma and I are on our way to Hawaii!” She giggles again.

My face is probably beet red and I am so over this moment wishing it would end soon. I could only imagine what the people behind us are thinking right about now.

"Sounds like fun," He says flirting right back. Kaylee hands over her ID while she tries her best to distract Tad. He only steels a quick glance to confirm that the name matches the computer. It takes an agonizing moment before he gives it back to Kaylee.

“You ladies have a good trip,” Tad says while giving Kaylee the once over. He quickly checks mine but is still looking at Kaylee out of the corner of his eye. I do a mental eye roll as he hands me back my ID along with our boarding passes. I have no idea how he processed and printed them without even looking at the screen.

Kaylee takes a sharpie out of her purse then grabs his hand and places her digits on his palm.

“It was nice to meet you Tad,” I say while pushing Kaylee past the ropes and towards the security area. Kaylee reaches her hand up extending her thumb and pinkie finger to her ear, call me, she mouths back to Tad.

“Okay, seriously Kaylee, I think you might have just taken that a little too far.” I say giving her a playful shove.

Kaylee laughs, “I got us through didn’t I.”

She has a point, so I just nod in mutual understanding as we make our way through the security checks.

Once we make it through, I check my watch seeing we have about 30 minutes or so until our flight boards. It’s just enough time to stop at Starbucks and get a steaming cup of coffee. I grab a pastry as well knowing all about the revolting food they serve in coach. This should tide me over for a few hours at least, I hope.

***

Kaylee unscrews the air nozzle above her in the plane letting out a burst of cold air.

“Hey,” I chide as Kaylee turns it back down.

“Sorrree,” she chides back.

To say I’m a little on edge would be an understatement. I feel like I’ve been running in circles uselessly since I last saw Kai, and I’m not sure what to do with myself. I go to recline my seat only to be stopped just inches back. I push the button and try again only to get the same resistance. I look behind me and get a very dirty look from an overly large woman. I let out a long sigh and settle in for the remainder of the long trip ahead.

Chapter 5

As Kaylee and I exit onto the air bridge I shoot her a semi-dirty look. She looks so refreshed from her five-hour nap. I on the other hand am as stiff as a board from sitting straight up for eight hours. I shrug off my annoyance; after all, I wouldn't have been able to sleep anyhow, even if I was laying all the way back in first class.

As we walk through the terminal I catch a glimpse of my reflection in a poster frame. My hair looks affright; so I reach up to try to straighten it out a bit with my hands. Kaylee smirks at me then pulls a brush out of her purse. I gladly accept it and start pulling it through my tangled mane.

When we near baggage claim my heart starts doing the quick step. Knowing Tristan might be there is one of the things that have kept me wide-awake throughout the entire plane ride.

Kaylee looks at me knowingly and gives me a reassuring pat on the back. "Breathe Emma, it will be okay."

"Easy for you to say," I mutter. I have no idea how Tristan is going to act when I see him. That is, if he even comes at all. He was none too pleased about my asking for his help. Not that he doesn't want to help me, he just doesn't want me in danger. He made that perfectly clear when I was awoken around two a.m. this morning by the sound of his text. He obviously didn't think about the time difference. Anyhow, he was pleading with me to stay put in Texas. We argued back and forth until I sent a final text to him saying: Never mind, I don't want your help. I will do this on my own. I then shut off my phone and haven't turned it back on since.

When we reach baggage claim, Tristan is nowhere to be found. I don't know if I should be relieved that he's not there or if I should feel bad or worried. I know he's not happy with me, but I care about him and I don't like that we’re arguing. In addition, I was really counting on his help with my plan. I take a deep breath, clear my thoughts and turn to Kaylee, "Whatever, we can do this on our own anyway. We don't need him!" I think I say this more to try and convince myself than her.

Kaylee looks at me worriedly. I'm sure she knows that I'm upset but doesn't make a big deal out of it. "You bet Emma, we are woman, hear us roar!" I stifle a laugh.

She always knows how to lighten my mood. We both head over to the luggage carrousel and grab our bags. "Well I guess we will just hail a taxi," I say.

Kaylee nods and follows me out the exit into the arrivals parking area. Outside are dozens of taxis. I start heading towards the one nearest to us when I see it: Tristan's yellow Jeep, idling at the curb.

My breathing becomes labored and my stomach is sent into an anxious tailspin. Although I'm nervous about seeing him, I'm also grateful. Had Tristan not shown up I would have been forced to resort to plan B. But since I didn’t have a plan B, I would have been really up the creek.

I turn towards Kaylee and she looks at me slyly as if asking the silent question, 'Is that who I think it is?' I nod and we both start wheeling our luggage towards the Jeep.

When Tristan spots us he gets out and comes to assist us. "Hello Emma," he says and I can tell by his tone that he's still not happy about my decisions. "And you must be the infamous Kaylee." He smiles at Kaylee and offers his hand out for a shake, still the gentleman.

"Yes, and you must be Emma's night and shining armor, Tristan." She diffuses the tension of the situation. Instead of shaking his hand she goes in for a hug and says, "We’re from Texas hon, we don't shake hands, we hug."

He smiles and gives her a quick hug, but doesn’t linger. Then he grabs our bags and starts putting them in the back of his Jeep.

Tristan never fails to surprise me. I've dated many guys who couldn't help but be ferociously attracted to Kaylee. I can't ever blame them; she is absolutely gorgeous with her long blonde hair and baby blue eyes. If I were a guy, I would be like a moth to a flame as well. But, Tristan looks at Kaylee like a brother looks at a sister. It's unbelievably respectful to me and I can tell that he's not forcing himself to act that way. That thought makes me feel even more nervous because that would reveal just how intense his feelings must be for me. Butterflies go fluttering in my stomach as I think back to when only a day ago he told me that he loved me.

"Kaylee, why don't you sit in the front?” I say to her. She gives me a confused grimace but then a look of understanding comes over her as she realizes that I need a bit of distance from Tristan right now.

We all hop in and I steal a glance towards the bed of his Jeep. Noticing the lack of supplies, I wonder if we’re still on the same page. For all I know, he could be taking me back to my Dad ending this whole charade. I shake off the thought knowing that Tristan wouldn't betray me that way.

Kaylee, unable to just sit quietly, sparks up a conversation. "So, Tristan, how long have you lived in Kauai?"

"Pretty much my whole life. I was born in Australia but moved here when I was two." He replied.

"Australia, cool! I bet it was awesome growing up in Hawaii." She says.

"Yes, I of course have enjoyed it. I'm sure growing up in Texas was just as cool for you guys." He says.

Kaylee crinkles her nose and says, "Boring is what it was. Anyhow, so what's the plan?"

I look up and catch Tristan's aquamarine eyes staring at me through his rearview mirror. "Emma didn't discuss it with you?" He raises his eyebrows in a questioning look.

"No, I figured I would just surprise her." I call out from the back seat.

"Yay, I love surprises. I hope we are staying at some high end resort." She turns towards me with a big smile.

I groan inwardly. No, I didn't discuss it with Kaylee because I didn't want to sit for eight hours on a plane ride hearing her complain. I know she won't be too happy with where we are staying. I just reply, "Well, you will just have to wait and see."

Tristan glares at me through the rearview mirror. We will just add this to the top of the list of things Tristan is mad at me about.

We spend the next hour in silence with the occasional "ooh" and "ah" from Kaylee as we pass through the scenery. When Tristan takes a turn off of the main road and onto a dirt road, Kaylee looks back at me nervously. I just avert my gaze and pretend like I'm admiring the scenery as well. She straightens back in her seat, but I notice her fidgeting out of the corner of my eye.

A moment later Tristan comes to the end of the road and puts the Jeep in park.

"Um, where are we going?" Kaylee asks a bit on edge.

Tristan refers to me with a gesture of his hand and I reply, "The Hilton." I go to grab my luggage but Tristan waves me out as he grabs both of our suitcases. Kaylee and I only have to take our carry-ons. I feel bad, since the terrain we are about to embark on isn't ideal for rolling luggage. Anyhow, Tristan starts heading towards a make shift trail among the thick foliage in front of us. I know where we are headed of course, but Kaylee does not.

"I don’t like this Emma. Not one bit!" She says giving me the stink eye. Her suitcase bobbing up and down along the dirt path.

"Sorry Kaylee; I just didn't want to mention it and have you be mad at me the whole way here. I did warn you that this wasn't going to be an ideal vacation. I meant it. If you want, I can have Tristan take you back to civilization and check you into a hotel. I need to stay here though." I look at her hopefully. Only in my wildest dreams would she agree to go back to a hotel. Not that I don't want her with me, but if I could keep her out of danger, that would be the best option.

"No way Jóse! Not happening, you aren't getting rid of me that quick Emma Ann Townsend! I'm coming along, but I don't have to be happy about it." She makes a harrumph sound and starts walking ahead of me following Tristan's lead.

I groan and head after her with my carry on suitcase bumping awkwardly behind me. This is going to be a long hike.

An hour later we step out of the brush and are face to face with our waterfall. I'm still taken by the beauty of this place. I can tell Kaylee is too. She stands there open mouthed looking all starry eyed. She mouths a single word, "Wow."

"Am I forgiven?" I ask looking at her.

She looks at me and as she is about to respond, she catches sight of something behind me, then says, "Um not yet missy." Putting her hands on her hips she gives me a glare.

I turn around and see that Tristan has already pre-set up two tents for us. Camping supplies are organized around the area and a fire pit is all ready to go in front of the tents accompanied by a stack of extra firewood.

I turn back around to Kaylee and say, "Sorry Kay." I try to give her my best sad frown-y face.

She groans then loosens up and says, "Fine, but there better not be any bears out here Emma."

"No bears." I say relieved that she's not going to stay mad at me all night. Mutually glad that she didn’t bring up any other creatures that could possibly consider us prey.

"No bathroom either." She says under her breath as she heads towards the tent.

Tristan doesn't help matters when he chides in, "There's a tree over there," he smirks.

Kaylee gives him a deserving glare, which wipes the smirk right off his face. I laugh at that and follow her to the camping area.

We put our stuff in the tent and then I take Kaylee over towards the base of the waterfall to watch the sunset. Tristan stays back and works quickly to get the fire lit and to set up a cooking station. I don't know what he's planning on making, but my stomach is growling in anticipation. I only had that pastry and a bag of peanuts since the food in coach looked puke worthy.

"I like him." Kaylee says once we are out of earshot. "I can tell he cares about you a lot."

"Yeah. He's a good guy." I say.

"Good guy...hmm, what do you really think Emma?" Kaylee raises her eyebrows.

"I don't know." I say looking down at the ground. I begin nervously pulling up small bits of grass off the ground and tossing them aside.

"Do you love him or not?" She asks so matter of factly it takes me off guard. Leave it to Kaylee to be blunt.

"Pry much?" I say sarcastically looking up at her. It’s a silly question though since Kaylee and I have never kept secrets from each other…up until lately I guess. I sigh and then let my gaze wander over to where Tristan is working methodically.

"Well?" She pries.

"Well, I don't know Kaylee. I don't know how I feel. I care for him so much. But, then there's Kai. I care for him too, a lot. I don't know what love feels like, all I know is that I'm too confused and mixed up right now to decipher it." I hurt just thinking about this hot mess that I've gotten myself into. I also feel really bad jumping all over Kaylee like that. It’s not like she’s done anything to deserve this. The only thing she’s done is try and help, and here I am being vague and not giving her any answers.

Despite my animosity, Kaylee puts her hand on my arm drawing my attention to her. She says so sincerely that I nearly believe her, "Emma, you can love two people at once."

I take a deep breath as tears start building up in my eyes. I shake them off. "That wouldn't be fair, to either one of them. I can’t just play them both like puppets."

"Love's not always fair." She says simply. Even in its simplicity, it’s still a profound statement. I nod my head and we both turn our backs to Tristan and watch the sunset somewhere behind the waterfall. Once twilight has started to set in we head back towards the campsite to join Tristan.

"So who's hungry?" Tristan says.

My stomach growls loudly in response. I look behind Tristan to find that he has a table all set up with hot dogs, buns and condiments. We head over to put our hot dogs on wire hangers that Tristan must have fixed up for roasting. I haven't roasted hot dogs over an open fire since I was a kid. I have to shoo away too many raw emotions as I think about the father and daughter camping trips we used to take. I feel horrible about deceiving my dad and Kaylee's mom for that matter. I wish I didn't have to, but neither of them would willingly let me risk my life to save Kai and understandably so. They wouldn't be able to understand that I need to do this...Well, perhaps my dad would understand. He would have done whatever it took to save my mom if he could.

All three of us head over to the fire and start charring up our hot dogs. I make mine nearly black, just the way I like it. As we eat our dinner at the table I listen as Tristan asks Kaylee about herself and she gladly tells her life story as well as how she met me. I get beet red as she relays some of our more embarrassing adventures like the time we convinced a couple to take us to the other side of a lake on the back of their kayaks. They probably thought we were nuts but obliged anyhow. We had heard that there was a burger joint somewhere closer to that side of Lake Lewisville. Once we made it across, Kaylee and I found ourselves burger-less, soaking wet from the knees down and stranded. Kaylee's mom was none to happy to have to drive an hour out of her way to pick us up from the other side of the lake.

After dinner Kaylee yawns and says she needs to call it a night. I walk her over to the tent giving her the look that says I'm calling her bluff.

"Whaaat?" She says trying to play innocent. "I figured you two could use a little alone time. The tension is so thick between you and y’all have barely said two words to each other the whole night."

"Thanks, I think." I say giving her a half smile as I unzip the tent for her. Looking inside, I notice that Tristan has set up two air mattresses for us, both fully made with bedding and all. I grab a lantern that's sitting next to one of the beds and turn it on for her.

"I'm just going to read, don't mind me." She says pulling out her newest self help book titled, The Art of Extreme Self-Care, by Cheryl Richardson.

“Seriously Kaylee?” I chide.

“Hey, don’t judge, I realized just the other day I needed to get some more pampering in my daily schedule if I’m going to remain happy. But right now is not about me; you need to get back out there with Tristan. Y’all try not to beat each other up, or get all hot and heavy since I'm within ear shot, K?"

I shove her jokingly and say, "Whatev!" I turn to crawl out of the tent trying to calm the knots that have formed in my stomach. I shouldn't be nervous about spending alone time with Tristan but I am. I know he's upset and what kills me the most is not knowing if I can make it any better.

I zip up the tent for Kaylee once I'm outside. I look back and I can see from her shadow in the lantern light that she must be changing into something more comfortable. I'm sure right about now, she's realizing that the dresses and high heels she brought with her are now deemed useless. I'm glad I forced her to bring a few pairs of jeans and her Sketchers.

Turning back towards the table I see Tristan sitting there staring directly at me. I wonder how long he's been watching me. I start twirling my hair nervously as I head towards him.

I figure I should be the one to start this conversation. "I'm sorry, Tristan." I say genuinely.

I see his steel gaze melt a bit at that. "I still don't like this idea Emma," he says with a face full of concern.

"I know." It's all I can say. I'm not planning on wavering on this in anyway so there is not much more to add.

"Okay, well you’re here, and so now I will just have to deal with it." He says sternly.

Hurt a bit by his comment I respond, "Ouch, Tristan."

"Oh, I didn't mean it like that Emma." He says flustered realizing how his words came across. "I just mean, now that you’re here, I need to step up my a-game and be ready to protect you."

I look at him strongly and say, "You don't always have to protect me you know." I try to look away when I see the intensity in his eyes but he reaches out with his hand and turns my head back towards him gently.

"Yes I do." He says, his hand still under my chin forcing me to keep my gaze on him. As if I can see into his soul, I read the same hurt there, the concern and the love.

I break the intensity of the moment by pulling my head back out of his grasp and standing up. "Thank you Tristan. But, this was my decision and I'm going into this of my own accord. I appreciate your help and all that you’ve already done for me."

"Understood, but you will not try to run away from me. I plan on being there every step of the way." He says. "I looked up the moon phase schedule. Based on it, the earliest we should expect to witness a Night Marcher encounter is possibly tomorrow or the next day."

Feeling my spirit dwindle, I should have thought of the possibility that we might have to wait a few days to get to Kai and Noa. I start pacing back and forth along the length of the table. For a moment I ponder the thought of where exactly they might be right now. Where do the Night Marchers go when the sunrises? I wish my phone could pickup a signal out here. I hadn't thought about how little I know about the Night Marchers. It would be nice to be able to do a little more research while we’re waiting. I wonder if Tristan would care if I dig deeper into the legend, or if he would prefer me to stay far away. My bet is on the latter.

Tristan gets up from the table and moves over to a blanket he spread out near the fire, motioning me closer. When I get close enough, he grabs my arm and pulls me down seating me in his lap. Squeezing me closer, he wraps his arms around my middle. Letting go of any frustrations I have right now, I go with it and nestle my back into his chest. He responds by putting his chin on top of my head. We sit silently for a while watching the embers crackle in the open fire. I love being like this with Tristan, but the downfall is that it leaves me more time to think about all the un-pleasantries: like Kai, and my relationship with Tristan. Just a few weeks ago my life seemed so uncomplicated and in just a blink of an eye I went from being an innocent girl with no care in the world to a life where uncertainties and problems abounded at my every turn.

Chapter 6

I must have dozed off, because the next thing I know a foot is kicking me in the side. “Good morning sleepyhead!”

“Crap,” I say trying to gather my bearings. Tristan and I are intertwined like a pretzel and all I can think about is what Kaylee must be thinking. I try and wiggle myself free of Tristan only to feel his grip on me get tighter. He moans softly in my ear and I blush knowing that Kaylee probably heard that.

“This isn’t what it looks like, I swear!” I hurriedly tell Kaylee. I try and elbow Tristan but I only hear him grunt in response. He must be a hard sleeper.

I watch in absolute horror as Kaylee audaciously picks up Tristan’s canteen and pours it slowly over his face. Tristan jumps up in response flailing his arms in the air. I've never seen anyone get out of bed that quickly. I just duck and cover hoping he doesn’t trample me in the process.

Kaylee is laughing hysterically at Tristan and I find it hard not to join in. Tristan glares at us, then grumbles, "What the heck?"

Kaylee just shrugs and I cover my face trying to stifle the giggles that threaten to explode into all out laughter. Once I'm sure that my giggle fit is contained I spare a look up at Tristan. He is definitely sporting the bed head this morning. I'm amazed though that he still looks good with his messy locks and muddled expression. I can't help but smile at him, swooning just a bit.

Kaylee interjects, "Sorry Tristan, I was just worried for a minute there that you were going to suffocate Emma. You had a really tight hold on her!" We both can't control our giggles now.

"MmHm." He says sourly then turns to head out into the woods.

Kaylee shrugs and says to me, "Guess he's got to do his business." More laughter follows from the two of us. "Speaking of which, where are the restrooms? Is there a public one or a port-a-potty or something around?"

Smirking, I pick up a leaf from the ground and hand it to her saying, "Nope."

"Gross, Emma! You so owe me for this!" She stands there scowling at me with her hands on her hips. "Well? Let's go!" She says.

"Argh, okay," I say getting up slowly. My body filled with kinks and aches from the night spent on the tough ground.

A few minutes later, with empty bladders, we head over to the base of the waterfall to wash up. I look down at my reflection in the water and cringe. My eyes are red and bags are starting to form giving me a tired and weary appearance. I look over to Kaylee's reflection to see her perfect little face staring back at mine.

She puts her hand on my back and says, "You really need to get more sleep Emma."

I let off an exhausted laugh, "Yeah, I look that bad huh?"

"No honey, you could never look bad. You just look tired and overwhelmed." She turns towards me and says seriously, "No matter how hard you try, you will never be able to carry the world. So you need to get it off your shoulders before you break your back."

Looking at her, I think about how good she is at making up analogies. Although it would make a great quote, I'm not trying to carry the world. I am just trying to save the people I care about. "I know, but as long as I'm here...as long as I'm alive, I need to try Kaylee. I will rest when this is over with."

We both stare each other down, trying to decide if we need to continue with this conversation. Kaylee nods and is the first to break eye contact, turning back towards the water to wash off her face. I follow suit.

The smell of bacon and coffee wafting over to us draws our attention back towards the camp. Stomachs growling in return, we both smile at each other and head back to the site. Nothing speaks better to a teenager than food.

Tristan has set up a portable two burner, gas camp stove near the table and he's slaving diligently over it making a bacon and egg scramble that makes my mouth salivate. On the other burner he has a Coleman camp coffee maker brewing up a fresh pot of aromatic coffee. Knowing how expensive camping equipment like this can cost, I say to him, "You really went all out Tristan; I hope you didn't purchase all of this for me."

He turns around and smiles at me, which is nice to see since our wake up call this morning was none too pleasant for him. "I may love you Emma, but I'm not rich. I borrowed it from the Kealoha's."

Kaylee jabs me in the side with her elbow and gives me an expression, which silently says, awe, how sweet. I don't have time to really appreciate his words; instead nervous anxiety starts pounding through my brain. "Tristan, you told the Kealoha's?" I say, not so nicely.

"Of course not Emma. I'm not stupid. They had it in the garage and I just borrowed it. My mom knows I took it. I told her I was going on a camping trip with some of the guys from my Army Reserve unit who were in town." He says with a hurt expression.

Feeling like a total jerky face, I apologize. "I'm sorry Tristan, I'm just a little on edge. I'm also sorry that you had to lie to your mother for me."

"No big deal Emma. As for my mom, yes I hate lying to her, but what I said wasn't entirely false. I am on a camping trip and some of the guys from my unit are in town. They are staying at the Marriot though.” He says nonchalantly. “We have to rough it all the time in training, so the last thing they would want to do on vacation is camp." He flashes me a smile showing off his perfectly white teeth. I return it with a well lacking half smile.

Tristan finishes up the food while Kaylee and I start setting the table. Our breakfast was perfect and the conversation at the table was kept to lighter subjects, which was nice.

After we finish our meals and put everything away, Kaylee excuses herself so she can go and change out of her pajamas.

"So, what's the plan for today?" I ask Tristan now that we’re alone.

"I have an errand to run. I got a lead from one of the guys who helped your dad with some camera work while they were island hopping getting interviews for his documentary." He says.

That well-known guilt that has been my constant companion lately rises up when I think of my dad. I wonder what my life would have been like if my dad wasn't a paranormal investigator and if he never got offered to do that documentary on the Night Marchers. While I wouldn't be going through all of this danger and pain, I also wouldn't have gotten the chance to meet Tristan or Kai. "So what kind of lead?" I ask.

"A possible lead on how to bring a Night Marcher back. I don't know if it will result in much of anything, but it's worth a shot. I've been calling and emailing basically anyone I can think of who has any types of dealings or knowledge of the Night Marchers. This guy emailed me yesterday telling me that he has a book that was passed down to him from his great-great grandfather. He is going to loan me the book, but I have to drive out to get it and he lives near the airport." He looks at me concerned then asks, "Do you think you two will be okay without me for the day?"

Before giving him a solid answer I think back to all the ‘interesting’ situations Kaylee and I have gotten into over the years. I can’t say we are very good at staying out of trouble; it’s more like trouble finds us, but that doesn’t mean we can’t at least try. "We’re big girls Tristan, we can handle ourselves. Just go get that book. Anything can help."

"I know you two can handle yourselves. I just don't know if you can stay out of trouble." He pokes me in the rib with his index finger to show that he's joking. Feeling he’s getting too close to the truth I try and dissolve the situation.

"Well, we’ll try not to do anything too wild and crazy." I reply giving him a smirk.

"Good cause, while it may be spring break, this isn't the best place to go all Girls Gone Wild on me. At least, while I’m not here." He gives me that incredibly sexy half smile of his. I swat him on the arm jokingly. "I’ll be back well before night falls. Please stick around the site though, I don't want to risk you two getting lost." He adds seriously.

I nod, but he gives me a look that says he wants more of a commitment than a simple nod so I cross my heart and say, "I promise, we won't venture off from this area."

Looking conflicted, like he's torn between going and staying here to play protector, he nods. We both stand up and he gives me a quick unexpected kiss on the lips then heads back to his tent to grab his things to head out.

Even though the kiss was short and sweet, it still sends my head into a dizzy spin. I must feel something big for Tristan if I get all fluttery when he kisses me. Right? I don't allow myself to ponder on it more because I know that will just send me back to thinking about the confused circle of feelings I have for both Tristan and Kai. Instead, I head over to the tent to change out of yesterday's clothes and to talk with Kaylee.

Unzipping the tent I duck inside to find Kaylee dressed only in her bathing suit, lying on the air mattress messing with her phone. "You get reception out here?" I ask her amazedly.

"Nope, I wish. Just playing a little Angry Birds while I was allowing you two lovers some time to chat or get all kissy-kissy, or whatever it is y’all do."

"Ha! Well thank you Kaylee for being so considerate. So are you going swimming or something?" I ask.

"I figured I might as well. It's not like I can go to the mall or watch a movie. Our entertainment options are a bit limited out here. Want to come?" She asks.

"I guess. Friends don't let friends swim alone, or so I’ve heard." I say thinking about the lectures both Tristan and Kai gave me when I went for a swim in the Pacific. That was before everything got so crazy.

"Cool." She says and then gives her attention back to the game while I change into my swimsuit.

Towels in hand we both head out of the tent. We catch Tristan just as he's about to leave and he gives us a whistle, waves goodbye and heads out towards the trail that leads to his Jeep.

"You're it!" Kaylee tags me and starts running towards the base of the waterfall.

"Oh my gosh, are we in like seventh grade or something Kaylee?" I yell after her.

Kaylee turns around, sticks her tongue out, puts her thumbs in her ears while doing that childish hand waving thing and says, "Nana-nana, boo-boo." Then she dives into the water giggling.

"OMG Kaylee, you are such a total dork!" I say laughing hysterically. I run after her and dive in trying to tag her back. We may be nearly adults, but I guess nobodies too old for a good game of tag.

I swim after her around the base of the waterfall for a few minutes trying to tag her. When I nearly catch up to her, she diverts me with a huge splash to my face. The water rushes up my nose and stings my eyes. It takes a few seconds for me to rub the water out of my eyes so I can open them again and continue our childish game.

When I open them though Kaylee's nowhere to be seen. I stay still, dog paddling to keep afloat while I search around the small area of water waiting for her to re-appear from underneath. Thirty seconds pass, then a minute. Knowing how hard it is to hold your breath for a minute, I start getting nervous. "Kaylee?" I say and then I yell louder, "Kaylee!" I don't hear from her. My heart starts pounding furiously as I think about my best friend possibly drowning while I am bobbing around here calling her name like a fool.

When I still don't hear her or see her, I dive under trying to grasp at anything. Nothing. Kaylee is nowhere. I come up for air and then repeat. I dive deeper this time, straining my eyes to try to see as far as I can under the water. No Kaylee. I stay under for as long as I can, scanning the area around me. Having no choice but to come back up for air, I start kicking for the surface. I break water and look around to see if Kaylee may have re-appeared. Not seeing her, I take a deep breath ready to go under again but this time I'm pulled under by my ankle! I swallow some water in surprise as I submerge. Kicking violently trying to free my ankle from whatever has a hold of it, I finally break free. I take that moment to push myself away from whatever or whoever had a hold of me and in my retreat I feel my foot make contact with something...someone. With the knowledge that I'm in danger I don't allow myself to worry about who or what I kicked. I just swim as fast as I can to the surface and away from whatever pulled me under.

That's when I hear her groan, "Emma..." I turn around to see Kaylee paddling in the water holding her hand to her head.

"Kaylee!" Relief pours out of me knowing that she's okay. Then the anger sets in. She was messing with me this whole time! "What the freak Kaylee? You totally suck! I thought you were dead or something!" I'm so frustrated that I want to lash out at her, but I see the red mark forming on her forehead where my foot met her skull only a few moments ago.

She paddles over to me and apologizes. "I'm sorry, I found something really cool. I was coming to get you and just jokingly pulled you under by your ankle. I didn't expect you to kick me in the head!"

"You deserve it for scaring me to death! How in the world did you hold your breath that long anyhow? I didn't see you come up, not even once!" I ask out of breath.

"Oh, I wasn't holding my breath. Just wait till you see this!" Excitedly she grabs my wrist and together we start swimming towards the waterfall. I try to ask Kaylee what she's talking about but the roaring noise of the spilling water hitting the base makes it impossible to hear anything.

Kaylee gestures with her hand for me to hold my nose. I comply and then, holding her hand, we dive under the pounding waterfall. We emerge only a few seconds later behind the pouring water. Because there is so much water spilling down, we can't see the outside pool that surrounds its base anymore. I turn around to see what is behind me and see that we are backed up against a rock wall. One foot above my head is a crevice. It looks like it might be a cave or a small inlet behind the fall.

I look to Kaylee and she mouths the words, 'told you,' to me. A look passes between us and then nodding, we both work to lift ourselves up to get a better look. It's a cave and it looks pretty deep. It's so dark that I don't think we will be able to see much of anything in there. I try to yell out over the rushing water to Kaylee, "We need a flashlight!" She looks at me questioning, since she obviously can't hear me.

Mimicking her earlier mime gesture, I tell her to hold her nose then grab her hand and swim back under the waterfall. When we get to a point in which we can actually hear each other, I repeat myself. "We need a flashlight."

"Oh! Good idea!" We jump out of the water and head over to the campsite. I grab a waterproof Ziploc bag that I so conveniently just happened to have and stuff two mini flashlights into it. Then we both run back to the water and make our way to the other side of the waterfall.

This time we lift ourselves all the way out of the water and into the cave. Opening the bag, I hand Kaylee a flashlight and take one for myself. We turn our lights on at basically the same time and both suck in all the breath we can. The view from where we are is breathtaking. Stalactites point intimidatingly downwards from the tall, cathedral like ceiling. While I can’t really say I’ve been officially spelunking, I will say that this cave is definitely unique since it is made from volcanic matter. Everything around us mimics a dark black obsidian color with the rough texture of volcanic rock. The cave ceiling has to be at least twenty feet high and there is about twenty feet from one side to the other.

Back in Texas my dad and I would make short weekend trips to some of the caverns around us. But this one is completely different, this is a wild cave and it screams dark, mysterious and dangerous.

Kaylee turns to me at the same time I turn to her, both of us searching for the right words here, but neither able to come up with any. “Wow,” is all I hear Kaylee whisper.

“Yeah, wow.” I reiterate.

We shine our lights around the room looking at all of the different curvatures in the walls. Both of our lights meet up towards the point of the room that seems to veer off to the right. Turning to Kaylee I bite my lower lip, “Should we see where it goes?” Why I am asking her this, I have no clue. It’s not like Kaylee is the restrained one of the two of us.

“Well, yeah!” Kaylee says while putting some spunk to her step. She’s on a mission now; there is no stopping her. I lag behind a little, still unsure about this cave. I have no idea what to expect, and maybe I am overthinking all the deadly dangers lurking at every turn.

The cave begins to constrict little by little the further in we go. I am starting to get a queasy feeling in the pit of my stomach but I try to ignore it. The cave walls feel like they’re closing in on me and panic begins building in my veins.

“You okay back there?” Kaylee calls from up ahead.

The distance she has put in front of me makes me quiver so I begin picking up my pace. I definitely don’t want to get left behind. “Yep, just great,” I manage to muster.

The light of my flashlight beams off the walls creating spooky formations. While I'm still working to catch up, I am stopped dead in my tracks when I hear a shrill scream. My heart begins to race as I struggle to find Kaylee. In my panic I trip over something and land hard on the volcanic rock. “Kaylee!” I yell. “Kaylee, are you okay, can you hear me?” I’m trying to feel my way around because everything around me has turned to black…my flashlight broke.

“Oh my gosh Emma, I’m freaking out. Where are you?” The panic and desperation in her voice is sending my panic into overdrive.

“I’m over here; I dropped my flashlight and can’t see a thing.”

“Emma, don’t move. I’m turning around now to try and find you.” While she says this, her voice gets comfortingly closer and I manage to get in some deep breaths. Finally I begin to see a small light bouncing off one of the walls as Kaylee rounds the corner. The light hits me straight in the face as I shield myself from its overwhelming brightness. Kaylee rushes over and helps me to my feet.

“What happened?” She asks me. I can see the panic in her eyes and hear the franticness in her voice.

“I just tripped over something when I was trying to get to you after I heard you scream. What was that all about? You about gave me a heart attack!”

A look of utter horror flashes across Kaylee’s face, “I—I found something.”

I’ve known Kaylee long enough to know that she isn’t easily flustered. It doesn’t take long for me to figure out something isn’t right—something seriously isn’t right. Kaylee helps me to my feet and grabs my hand. Squeezing it tight she takes me around a few bends in the rock. We manage to wiggle through the last narrow opening and another great room opens up before us.

The sight that lay before me makes me want to throw up and curl into a ball. I am beyond stunned and I can tell Kaylee feels the same. It’s not often she is at a loss for words. All around us are meticulously placed skulls seated upon carved pillars. They all face different directions, almost like they are keeping watch beyond the grave. Necklaces and other artifacts lie next to some of the skulls in a sacrificial manner. I find my body shaking uncontrollably as I try and understand what I’m seeing.

“Burial Cave,” Kaylee whispers above the deafening silence.

“How on earth do you know what this place is?” I ask Kaylee just barely above a whisper.

“I read about it in one of my books. It looks like an ancient burial site to me. But this one is unique because it looks like it hasn’t been touched. All of the artifacts are still intact and the skulls don’t look like they’ve been moved.”

I'm shocked by Kaylee’s knowledge, but also comforted by it. In my panic I forgot to understand the historical significance of a place like this. Kaylee lets go of my hand and begins to wander towards the skulls. I wrap my arms around my middle and squeeze. It is the only thing holding me together right now.

“Look at this one Emma, it’s so small.”

She was right. The skull was about half the size of the others. “It must have been a child.” I find myself saying aloud. I guess when we think of the dead, elderly people come to mind, not usually a child. Whoever lost that child was probably never the same.

I try to move on from that though when, out of the corner of my eyes, I spot an empty pillar about twenty feet away. “Kaylee, pssstt.” I call, trying to get her attention.

Kaylee turns towards me and I ask, “Why do you think that pillar doesn’t have a skull on it?” It seems bizarre that this one is empty. For some reason it feels so set apart from the others, like it was of more importance.

Kaylee wanders over to the pillar and drags her fingers across the top surface. “I’m not sure,” she says. “It seems odd since nothing else is out of place.” Kaylee doesn’t dwell on the fact too much before her flashlight spots another rather large fissure in the cave; my guess is it leads deeper in.

“Kaylee, come on. Lets just get out of here, it’s starting to give me the creeps.” But the fact of the matter was, I have been having the creeps since we first stepped into the cave.

“It’ll be just real quick. I’m curious now.” Of course she was. I have no flashlight so there’s no chance at staying put. Besides, I would have to stay in a room full of skulls and we both know that’s not going to happen.

Kaylee slides along the fissure with her back to the wall. There is barely enough room for us to get through, but seeing Kaylee’s determination; I know we’ll make it. About twenty feet in, the fissure starts to open up and once again we come across a large room. Only this one is different—very different. It looks like someone has basically moved in. There are different pieces of furniture made from native woods scattered among the room. You can tell they are homemade and not from the pottery barn by the ruggedness of the structures. In one corner is a small bed, just large enough for one, stuffed with long leaves and other soft plants. Goosebumps begin gathering up my arms as I realize that this might not be the best discovery to find.

I stand fast by the entrance while Kaylee saunters over and gives the items further inspection. I watch her pick up and examine some trinkets near the bedside table. The nervous jitters running amuck in my stomach are telling me that this is all a bad idea. "Kaylee, don't touch that stuff. We need to go. Now."

"Emma, I'm just looking. You know that I have an insatiable curiosity. We’ll go in just a sec." She doesn't even turn to look at me when she answers, which just steeps my frustration.

"Well, you know what they say about curiosity, It killed the...Oh bother." I say snidely under my breath. I decide I might as well move away from the doorway and have a look too. That's when I see it, in the corner of the room. It looks like something dark splattered across the wall. I move closer to get a better look and immediately regret my decision. Nausea rolls in my stomach and my mouth starts salivating warning me that I'm about to loose my breakfast. I turn away trying to calm my stomach as to not puke all over this strange cave.

Kaylee turns around and alarm hits her face when she sees me. "Emma, what’s wrong? You look green!" She walks over to me and when she gets close enough to see the scene behind me she gasps. "Blood!" She says as if most of her breath had swooshed out of her.

I nod, grab her hand and say once again, "We need to go!" Hopefully this time she will listen to me. I start walking and she follows for which I am grateful.

We head out of the strange room someone must be using as a bunker and back into the room with skulls. Thoughts of murder and death begin filling my mind. I rush us as quickly as possible back towards the main cavern while Kaylee works to keep the light shining ahead of us as far as possible. The light from the flashlight is shaky and I can tell that Kaylee must be freaked out, if her hand is really that unsteady.

When we make it back to the cavern that faces the back of the waterfall, I breathe a huge sigh of relief. I know that I need to get to Tristan and tell him about this as soon as possible. Whatever that was back there, I doubt it could be good.

I hear a rustling noise, which puts me on high alert. I can tell by how hard Kaylee is squeezing my hand that she must have noticed it too. My heart starts pounding hard in my chest and my breath quickens. Kaylee starts darting her flashlight around the cave trying to find the source of the noise. Everything inside me is screaming to run. We don't have a chance as the light falls on a dark figure blocking the exit to the waterfall.

Kaylee and I simultaneously gasp and Kaylee accidentally drops the flashlight. We both bend down floundering frantically to grab the flashlight when instead a new light appears. We bump our heads together when we move to stand up.

The dark figure is holding a lantern, which shines directly at us like a spotlight. I can't see the person though because they are cleverly holding the lantern just far enough away from their face that they remain in the shadows. The seemingly deafening silence is broken when I hear a man’s voice whisper in surprise, "Heleya."

No! My blood runs cold as ice as I think of what that name means, who it signifies and the person who must have spoken it. Having nowhere to bolt to, but back into the pitch-black cave I decide that I have no choice but to stand my ground. Here and now. Trying to not allow my fear to show through, I bend down calmly and grab the flashlight that I can now see thanks to his lantern's light. I turn it on and shine it directly at the figure, which is soaking wet, confirming that it is whom I thought it was. Kao. At first sight, my brain wants to tell me to run up and hug him because he looks so strikingly identical to Kai. But, my heart knows better, this is not Kai. Kao's obsidian black eyes stare inquisitively at me. I take a deep shaky breath and decide that since I can't run, I will have to figure out some other way around the monster who is all too human, standing in front of me. I put my hand on my hip and try to give off my toughest girl impression. "That is not my name."

Kao's lips turn up so slightly that if I hadn't been paying attention I could have missed his reaction. "I realize that. However, I do not know your name." He says simply.

After all of the things I have been through, I didn't think I could be surprised. For some reason, though, I am. It may sound stupid, but I didn't know if Kao would even know English. I mean, he's been a Night Marcher for centuries, would he have learned English there? Or did he learn it in his previous human life? I don't know much about this islands’ history, but I thought that most natives used to speak only the Hawaiian language. I don't have much time to think about it when he speaks again.

"So, are you going to tell me your name?" Kao asks slyly.

"No." I say bluntly.

"Her name is Emma and my name is Kaylee."

I groan and I have to hold back from elbowing her in the ribs like I want to right now. I turn to her raising an eyebrow trying to silently ask her, 'WTF?'

She whispers low, "What? He's kind of cute. So what if he knows our names."

Kao clears his throat then takes a step forward, which I counter with a step back. I have to literally force Kaylee back by yanking her shoulder. Kao seems to accept the space I'm declaring. "Emma." He lets my name roll off his tongue. I can't help but feel like there was a little slitheriness added to his voice, like a snake. "Nice to meet you Kaylee." He gives Kaylee a sharp smile. For a recently turned human, he has quite a white smile. He looks like the Cheshire cat with his sly expression.

"Nice to meet you too, and what pray tell is your name?" She asks with a little hoarseness in her voice.

I roll my eyes knowing what she's thinking when her voice goes like that. She's thinking fair game. It's sick just knowing that she could be even remotely attractive to Kao. Not that Kao is unattractive; I mean he's the identical image of Kai, who is miles far from having been hit with the ugly stick. I give Kao the once over and have to force myself not to sigh thinking about Kai. His medium length dark locks, skin the color of bronze caramel and lean muscles showing off his strong build. I have to shake my head to remind myself that this is not my Kai. This man does not have my Kai's stormy grey eyes that I could lose myself in. No, Kao has pitch black, soulless eyes!

Having caught me in the act of staring, he answers looking directly at me, "My name is Kao."

Kaylee adds more syrup to her voice and draws his attention back to her by saying, "Kao, that's a unique name."

I cut off her flirting by demanding to Kao, "Enough with the pleasantries, what are you doing here?"

He raises his eyebrows in question and returns, "I was about to ask you the same. What are you doing here?"

Frustration and nervous tension has my every nerve heightened. I look to Kaylee and basically give her the stare down that says, 'don't you dare say anything.' Then I look at him with faked confidence and say, "We were just going for a swim when we stumbled upon this small little cave. Kaylee and I were just admiring the stalagmites and stalactites. I was just trying to explain the difference between the two. How, stalactites hang 'tight' from the ceiling and stalagmites 'might' be a danger if you step on one."

Kaylee whispers under her breath, "Great, making me look like the dumb blonde who doesn't know the difference."

"Well you don't." I whisper back and barely catch her rolling her eyes at me before I turn back to look at Kao.

He looks like he's contemplating something, more than likely whether he believes my story or not. He speaks up, "It is quite breathtaking in here."

"Yes." I say tightly.

"So, have you two beautiful young ladies had the opportunity to tour more of the cave?" He asks raising his eyebrows while staring me down.

I answer quickly so Kaylee doesn't get a chance. "No. We are both a bit claustrophobic and this small room is about all we could manage." My heart starts pounding in my chest as I pray that he believes me.

"Oh, too bad. I was going to offer you two a tour. There are some amazing caverns with larger stalactites further in." He says coolly all the while still staring me down with intensity as if he's trying to tell if I'm lying or not.

I grab onto Kaylee's hand, squeezing it tight. I'm trying to give her the code signal to play along or stay quiet. Thankfully she chooses the latter. "Thank you for the offer, but we really must be going. Our friends will be missing us if we don't return soon." I say trying to play cool too.

"You must be the ones camping near here. You know, it's not always safe in this area at night." This time he gives me a full on creepy smile.

I shiver. Him saying that to me, like it's some kind of intimate inside joke makes me sick. I try to play it off as to not upset him but still say through tight lips, "Yes, I know."

He moves to the side out of the path to the waterfall then gestures with his hand. "Well then, it was very nice to meet you Kaylee and Emma." He lingers too long on my name. I push Kaylee in front of me so that she can be the first to get out of the cave.

She gives Kao a big smile as she walks by and says in her sweetest southern drawl, "Nice to meet you too, Kao."

Yuck! I shake off her disgusting flirting and follow her giving Kao a slight nod. When Kaylee is at the drop down near the back of the waterfall I hear Kao say only loud enough for me to hear, "I will see you around."

Prickly goose bumps rise up on my skin and I hurry to fall in step with Kaylee who is letting herself down back into the water. We swim quickly under water and emerge on the other side of the waterfall in broad daylight. I squint knowing it's going to take a few minutes for my night vision to kick off.

Both Kaylee and I remain silent as we swim to the waters edge, get out and head back to the campsite. It isn't until the two of us are changed and in dry clothes that Kaylee says, "So what the heck was your problem?"

I immediately go on defense, "What was my problem? What was your problem? Ms. swooning love struck teenager."

"What? Are you blind? He was freaking hot Emma. Can you really blame me?" She folds her arms over her chest glaring at me.

I really can't, after all, I am immensely attracted to Kai which since they are identical twins, means that Kao must look attractive as well. "No, but you don't know him. He is not a good person Kaylee."

"How do you know?" She challenges me.

"Do you not remember why we are here right now?" I huff out a loud breath of exasperation when she gives me a blank look. "Seriously?" I ask but her facial expression still states that she doesn't get it. "Him! Kao! He's the reason Kaylee that I am here right now. He tried to kill me!"

I'm utterly amazed when Kaylee finally gets that look on her face that says a light bulb went off in her head. I calm down realizing that she just didn't put two and two together. I don't blame her, this whole thing has been utterly nuts.

"Sorry Emma. I guess I didn't realize that's who that was back there. I figured you would be screaming or passing out or something else as equally fright worthy." She starts fidgeting with the hem of her shirt contemplating how to word her next sentence. "I...I was just thinking...I mean, what if he couldn't help it?" She furrows her eyebrows and looks like she wants to say more but she's stopped by the look on my face.

"Couldn't help it? Couldn't help trying to kill me...twice? Or forcing Kai to take his place?" Kaylee flinches as I yell out the last part.

"No, I'm not trying to say...I mean, what I meant was...What if it's part of the curse. Like, how do you know that if you saw Kai today as a Night Marcher that he wouldn't try to kill you?"

"Why are you even trying to defend that...that demon? Just because you think someone's cute, doesn't mean they are a good person." I say meanly.

"Emma, that's not fair. I was just asking. I don't know if he's good or bad. I don't know him. I am certainly not stupid and would not just go off someone's looks to judge who they are. You know me better than that."

The look on her face sends instant guilt daggers directly into my heart. I am being horrible to my best friend right now. Why? Because I'm scared. In all fairness Kaylee did have a point. I don't know if Kai would try to kill me if I looked into his eyes. I would hope not, but who knows? "Kaylee, I'm sorry. I'm redirecting my fear and anger in this situation to you and it's wrong."

"I forgive you." She says then she gives me a hug. "I know that this is an emotional roller coaster. Emma, I trust you and if you say that guy is bad news, I believe it. I just wish I had more info."

Now that I think of it, I hadn't told Kaylee everything. "To be honest, I don't know if the evil acts Kao did were prompted by the curse. But, I do know that Kai told me that he was evil before he turned. Kao murdered Kai's fiancé, Heleya"

Kaylee gasps and looks at me wide eyed. "Heleya! Didn't he call you that when he first saw you?"

"Yes. He must think I look like her. Kai even said that I strongly resemble her. Kao killed her on the eve of their wedding. A spear through the stomach." I watch Kaylee cringe.

"That's sick. I'm so sorry Emma. That is weird though, the thing about you resembling Kai's dead fiancé." She says bluntly.

"Yeah, it is kind of weird. Although, there isn't much about any of this that is normal." I say off handedly.

"True." Kaylee says.

The loud growling of my stomach thankfully interrupts our conversation. As if on cue, Kaylee's stomach rumbles too which makes us both laugh. "I guess we should find something to eat." I say.

Kaylee nods and we both head over to scavenge for some food amongst Tristan's supplies. We find two Coke's and a package of Nutter Butter's and decide that it is enough to tide us over until Tristan get's back.

Thinking of Tristan sends my mind into a frenzy because I have no idea how he's going to react to what we found today. "Hey, what do you think we should tell Tristan? I mean about what we saw today?" I ask Kaylee.

"Hmmm. Honestly, I don't know. He's going to freak out, regardless. Not to mention, he most likely will make us move somewhere tonight since we ran into Kao only yards from our campsite." She says between bites of her Nutter Butter.

I hadn't really thought about that. It's true, if he is the one that's staying in that cave, we’re probably not safe here. I think back to that room and what looked like blood splatter on the floor and wall. Even if that's not his room, some psycho could be living in that cave. "Yeah, do you think we should tell him?" I ask.

"Um, do you have a gun?" Kaylee questions.

"No. Why?" I say raising my eyebrows wondering where she's going with that.

"Just wondering, because if you are packing then I don't see a problem with spending the night out here. But, if you aren't I don't feel like being murdered in my sleep."

"True and no, I don't have a gun. Last I checked minors still aren't allowed to get concealed handgun licenses. Anyhow, I agree. I don't think it's safe. I just wonder how much we should tell Tristan. He already is freaking out and ready to ship me back to Texas. I don't need to add more fuel to the fire." I say.

Kaylee thinks about it for a minute then answers. "Well, if you don't want to tell him everything, maybe you can just tell him about the cave. Not about Kao. That way it's not like the immediate threat is concerning you."

"Good idea. I like the way your devious little mind thinks sometimes." I say jokingly.

Kaylee mock pretends that she's offended by putting her hand up to her chest. "Devious? This coming from the girl who asked me if she should tell her boyfriend or not."

"Tell her boyfriend what?" I hear Tristan call out from behind me.

My face goes beat red and I give Kaylee a deer caught in the headlights look. I try to will my face to un-flush so that it doesn't give me away, then I turn around to face him. My heart flutters a bit seeing him. He must have gone home to get a change of clothes and he's totally rocking the plaid shirt and jeans woodsman look. "Um...Kaylee and I, we found something."

"Like what?" He asks concerned.

I look to Kaylee for help, but she just stays silent. "A cave behind the waterfall. We didn't mean to find it, but it was there." I re-hash the story of us finding the burial cave and then the creepy room. I omitted the part about Kao though.

"Are you girls all right? That had to have been scary. Not to mention dangerous." He says first starting out concerned but ending sternly. "You weren't kidding when you said the two of you have a knack for getting in trouble. I have been coming to this waterfall for years and never found that cave. It takes you girls less than twenty four hours."

I feel a little like Lucy and Kaylee is Ethel. Actually come to think of it, it's probably the other way around. Anyhow, Tristan is giving us the 'Ricky' talk but without the accent. It's actually kind of endearing. "Yeah that's us, trouble makers." I say jokingly.

"Well, I'm glad you two are okay. You need to be careful though. You can't just be wandering through caves and stuff. The Night Marchers aren't the only thing scary on this island." He says.

We both nod in unison.

“So were you able to find anything out today?” I ask, changing the direction of the conversation.

Tristan shakes his head. “No, sadly. Well, nothing I didn’t already know anyway. The book was old and in Pidgin, but from what I can translate, it's basically a generic history book with nothing more than advise about not looking Night Marchers in the eyes. That we've already learned first handedly.”

"So what's the plan then?" Kaylee asks trying to lighten the mood.

Tristan thinks about it for a moment. "I guess it's not safe here tonight. We don't have enough daylight left to pack up the site though. Why don't we just grab our things and I will get us a hotel room nearby."

Kaylee literally jumps up for joy at the word hotel room. She runs quickly to the tent to start packing. I roll my eyes and then ask Tristan, "We will be coming back right? Tomorrow?"

"Yes, we will. I'd of course rather you stay in the hotel, but I know you won't have that. So, we’ll come back." He says reluctantly.

"Good." I say with a smile.

I turn to head towards the tent to pack my stuff but Tristan grabs my arm pulling me to him. He gives me a hug and then whispers in my ear, "Boyfriend, huh?"

My heart starts pounding at the question. I don't know what to say. "Um..."

Tristan pulls out of the hug and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. "I'm just messing with you Emma. I know she was just razzing you."

"Yeah." I say a little unsurely and then give him another hug trying to add that reassurance that I do really care for him. Even if I can't call him my boyfriend, I do really care.

He brushes a quick kiss on my lips, which makes the butterflies dance in my belly. I blush and then head to the tent to pack.

An hour and a half later we pull in to a small cozy hotel. Kaylee and I wait in the Jeep while Tristan goes in to get us a room.

He comes back a few minutes later and says, "Sorry girls, they only had one room left. Not that I could afford it if they had two since it was two hundred dollars for a night. Anyhow, we got two double beds."

Kaylee jokes, "Well, isn't that cozy. Don't get any ideas though Tristan, we aren't gonna be cuddling up tonight."

We all laugh at that. I'm grateful that we can still be lighthearted after a day like today. Tristan, the gentleman that he is, grabs our bags and we all head in to find our room.

For two hundred dollars I would have thought the room would have been bigger or have a Jacuzzi or something in it. It was just a run of the mill hotel room though. We order a pizza for dinner then take turns using the shower. I know I only roughed it for one night, but I didn't realize how much I missed clean hot running water.

Feeling refreshed, Kaylee and I jump into one of the beds while Tristan takes the other. We stay up a little while longer watching re-runs of Friend's episodes on Nick at Night until finally we’re able to fall asleep.

Chapter 7

I wake up to the sound of Kaylee's ringtone playing out 'Tough' by: Kellie Pickler. The song is fitting for Kaylee's character. She doesn't seem to stir at all so I kick her lightly trying to wake her up so she can answer it. She just groans and pulls the covers up over her eyes. When the phone stops ringing, I contemplate going back to sleep but decide against it when I catch sight of the bedside clock. It's already eleven in the morning. I've been accustomed to getting so little sleep lately, that getting a whole ten hours actually left me feeling groggy.

The phone starts ringing again. This time I climb over Kaylee to grab her phone off her nightstand. I look at the display and it says: Mom. Oh crap! My heart starts racing as I think about how she might have found out we are gone! We haven't even thought to check in or anything over the past two days. I elbow Kaylee hard this time. "Kaylee, it's your mom!"

She opens her eyes quickly at that statement, grabs the phone and answers it groggily, "Hello."

I listen to the one sided conversation.

"Yes, mom. No, I was taking a nap."

Kaylee is a smart cookie. If she had said, I just woke up it would have alerted her mom that something was wrong since it's three p.m. in Texas.

She continues, "Oh, yeah, sorry mom. We were just catching up and I forgot to call." She pauses and then looks at me concerned. "Um, we spent the night at Annie's. You know, it had been a while since Kaylee saw her."

Kaylee puts her hand over the phone muffling it and says to me, "She sent a friend to check on us last night!" She uncovers the phone and answers her mom, "Yeah, we were going to spend the night again tonight. Is that okay?" She nods to me letting me know that her mom is okay with it.

Kaylee finishes up her conversation with her mom and promises to answer the next time she calls. I guess her mom had tried to call a few times yesterday but we didn't get any signal out at the campsite. When Kaylee hangs up I tell her, "You’re a quick thinker Kaylee. I totally forgot about calling your mom."

"Yeah, me too! I don't think she suspects anything though. I told her we were at Annie's because she lives in the boondocks. My mom knows that we often have problems getting a signal out there." She picks up her phone and then tells me, "I better call her and ask her to back me up just in case anyone asks."

"Good idea. Thanks again Kaylee. I know you don't like lying to your mom, but I appreciate you helping me out." I say sincerely. I’m sure her mom would hit the fan if she knew where we were.

"That's what BFI's are for honey." She says with a smile before picking up the phone to call Annie.

I get up to head to the restroom allowing Kaylee time to have her conversation. I catch a sneak glance at Tristan who looks like he's peacefully sleeping, undisturbed by our panicked conversation. I make it two steps from my bed when Tristan darts up pulling me down onto his bed playfully. "Hey!" I yell a little too loud.

"Got you!" He said laughing.

"Yeah, you play dead real well Tristan," I say while playfully jabbing him in the ribs with my elbow since he's holding me down in front of him. He loosens up just enough for me to sit up and face him. Man, he looks good with his bed head in the morning.

"Yeah, we learn how to do that when we are young in Hawaii. That's what they say you should do if you see them, the Night Marchers, you know. Play dead." He looks at me seriously.

"Really? They teach you that?" I ask believing him.

He smiles slyly then answers, "No, us kids just talk about it when we tell our ghost stories. Many Hawaiian's believe it's just a legend. Perhaps, they should teach the warning though since they are anything but a mere legend."

"Yeah, perhaps they should." I say solemnly thinking about Noa's fate. Kai made his choice to save me, but Noa didn't really have a choice. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Kaylee interrupts our conversation by loudly clearing her throat. We turn towards her.

"Sorry to interrupt love birds, but I've had enough PDA over the past two days so, let's get to business. What's our plan?"

Tristan and I both blush at her comment. I'm not sure what the plan is so I just look to Tristan referring it to him to answer.

"Well, I was thinking you could both stay here. Maybe get a manicure or something while I go and investigate the cave."

Kaylee and I simultaneously throw a pillow at him attacking him from both sides.

"Ow! Okay, okay. Then I guess, we should pack up and head back to the campsite." Tristan says pretending to rub his head in the spot where the pillows hit him.

"Sounds good to me," I chime in.

Kaylee nods her approval and we both start getting ready and packing our things. Before we head out, I make a quick phone call to my dad. We have a brief conversation in which I tell him that I'm fine and that I forgive him for sending me to Kaylee's. I keep it really short because I despise lying to my dad, so the less I say, the better.

Twenty minutes later, we hop in the jeep and head to the campsite. We stop to pick up some burritos from Red Hot Momma's along the way, which makes my stomach flutter reminding me of our first kiss. I can tell by the look in Tristan's eyes, that he is reminded of the same moment.

With our stomachs full, we drive to the waterfall and head off on the short hike to where we set up camp.

"What the!" I hear Tristan yell out in front of me. He had stepped into the clearing first.

When I get close enough to view the scene, I gasp in horror. The campsite has been ripped apart. Equipment and food strung out all over the place.

Kaylee sees it and asks, "Maybe an animal? A bear perhaps?"

Tristan shakes his head and answers, "There are no bears in Hawaii. It's possible that a wild pig could do this damage, but I don't think that's the case." He walks up closer to the campsite examining the destruction. "No, I think a human did this."

"Who would do that?" Kaylee asks.

Realization dawns on me, "Kao." I say his name with all of the venom I can manage.

Tristan wheels around quickly staring at me. "Who is Kao?" He asks forcefully.

Crud! I wasn't planning on telling him about Kao. We even went so far as to leave his name out of it when we told Tristan about the cave. "He's the Night Marcher who tried to kill me."

"You know its name! Emma, why in the world are you just now telling me about this? You can't just keep me in the dark and expect me to help you!" I can hear the hurt in his voice.

"I'm sorry Tristan. I don't like to talk about him, about any of it... He is evil and he is out there somewhere. He could have done this!" I say gesturing to the mess and pleading to Tristan with my eyes for him to forgive me. I feel like all I have been doing lately is screwing up and then apologizing. Rinse and repeat.

"Frankly Emma, I don't give a crap if you don't like to talk about him. You withholding information from me is just as bad as lying!" He runs his hands through his hair and pauses mid hair stroke. As if he just caught on to what I had said, he looks at me dumfounded and asks, "What do you mean out there somewhere?"

The emotion in Tristan's voice makes me flinch. I realize I never told him the part about how Kao became human once Kai took his place as a Night Marcher. Looking at Tristan I see the pure frustration and concern in his eyes. Even further down I can see how much he cares for me, loves me. Instant guilt washes over me as I think about how I have semi-purposely withheld information from Tristan. "When Kai stepped in to save my life, Kao and him switched places. I don't know how to explain it, but it's like something crazy happened and all of a sudden they switched roles. Kai turned into a Night Marcher and Kao turned human again."

Tristan just stares at me blankly but I can tell that his mind is trying to process what I just told him. I'm sure he's thinking about Noa. I hadn't even thought about it before now, but if what happened to Kai and Kao happened to Noa, then who knows... The Night Marcher who turned Noa, could be out there somewhere! "No, that's impossible Emma," he says, not quite believing his own statement.

I just shake my head and whisper back, "Nothing is impossible." It's hard for me to see Tristan hurting. I'm sure that my information just added a whole new slew of worries to his plate. To top it all off, I kept this from him. At first I just didn't tell Tristan about Kao because I didn't want to explain the whole story. It was too much to relive. I wasn't intentionally trying to keep things from him. But then, when we ran into Kao in the cave, I purposely didn't tell Tristan about it. I didn't want him to worry or make us leave. Or worse of all, tell my dad, because then this whole jig would be up and I'd be sent back to Texas. I couldn't take that chance.

For whatever reason though, it wasn't right. I should have trusted Tristan and been completely honest with him. I decide to start off right now. "There's more...We saw him, in the cave." I say nervously.

"You saw who?" Tristan says tight-lipped.

"Kao."

"What! He was here? Seriously Emma? Did you think maybe that I didn't need to know that?" He furrows his brows and pure frustration overcomes his face. "I just don't know what is up with you lately. It's like I don't even know you Emma!"

I wince at Tristan's angry tone, his words cutting my heart. I've really messed it all up now. I move closer to him and put my hand on his arm trying to calm him down. "I'm sorry Tristan."

He pulls his arm away from me as if my touch burned him. He turns his back to me and walks away.

Hurt and pain washes over me bathing me in a bath of self-guilt. Tears sting my eyes as I turn to do what I do best, run away. I run past Kaylee who had sat there quietly through the whole scene. I run past the beautiful waterfall and into the woods. I don't know when I became so fond of running, but it's the only thing I can think to do.

I run through the brush, dancing around obstacles on the forest floor. At first there are footsteps behind me, but I push myself harder and faster until the footsteps I once heard vanish. I keep running and I find myself relieved that I can be alone with my thoughts. Why did life have to get so confusing, so complicated? Just a few weeks ago I didn’t have a care in the world. Now, I don’t even know if I will be able to graduate, find Kai, Adam and Noa, or if I can avoid breaking Kai’s or Tristan’s heart. It seems like everything that was ever important to me is being taken away. To have Tristan openly reject me like that hurt me to the core of my being. He is my rock, my calm in the storm, and now I don’t know where to find my balance. All the feelings of the last few weeks come over me, weighing on my shoulders like a ton of bricks. At first silent tears come, and then the sobs begin. I can’t stop, nor do I want to. I just want to be alone for a moment, in private to let myself morn for everything that has happened and everything that may happen. I cry for my mother, and for Noa, and for Kai, and for Adam. I just let it all out. I eventually stop running and I allow my body to drop like a ton of bricks. I curl up into a ball on the hard forest floor hugging my knees to my chest. While the tears continue to flow, I close my eyes trying to release every last thought and fear. Total exhaustion flows over me, my tears spending the final ounce of my energy.

As if my mind is trying to give my heart some type of peace, the memory of Kai and me dancing in the Menehune’s cave pops into my head. I hold that thought replaying the way he held me and looked at me as well as the necklace he gave me. I take the necklace out from my shirt and hold it to my lips. Stealing all the memories I can from it.

I can hear Tristan and Kaylee calling for me somewhere in the distance. I don't answer though. I lay still; holding the necklace with my eyes closed; allowing myself to just be.

Chapter 8

It’s funny how time seems to stand still while I lie here in a heap. Night has fallen all around me, and I sit straight up in utter shock, disbelieving that I could have fallen asleep on this hard forest floor. I stand up and rub my eyes, as if rubbing them would activate my night vision. The moon is full tonight and I can see bits and pieces of it through the tree canopy overhead. "Hello?" I say in a croaky voice caused in part by sleep and in part by my earlier tears. I clear my throat and yell out louder this time, "Hello? Tristan! Kaylee!" Nobody answers me in return. Crap. What is up with me falling asleep out here at the worst times? Shrugging it off, I decide to get moving and try to head back towards the campsite.

I stand up and turn in circles trying to remember which way I came from. I shouldn't have run so fast earlier. I shouldn't have done a lot of things, but there's no point going down that road right now. I need to find my friends; I'm sure they’re worried sick. Up ahead, I can see that the trees seem to be getting thinner, so I start walking in that direction. At least I'd be able to see better if I find a clearing and there's always that faint possibility that perhaps by some miracle my cell will find some bars out here.

Déjà vu hits me strong when I reach the tree line and realize where I am. In front of me is the boulder that Kai and I had hid behind that first fateful night when I witnessed the Night Marchers procession. I walk over to it and put my hand on the cold, hard stone. The reminder of Kai hunched in front of me, protecting me with his arms like a shield sends my heart fluttering. Visions of memories flash through my head like a slideshow on fast forward. My heart aches when it stops at the last vision of Kai being pulled into the Night Marchers ranks as I ran helplessly after him.

Caught up in the memories, I barely noticed the approaching beat of the drums. When my brain finally processes that what I am hearing is in the present it sends the adrenaline pumping through my veins. I start looking wildly about for an exit plan while my heart pounds ferociously. The drums near closer and all of a sudden the scenery is passing quickly before my eyes. I hadn't even realized that my feet were moving me away from danger. I run for a few seconds allowing the tree branches to whip against my arms and scratch at my skin as I put distance between what I know is coming and myself.

Wait! I literally yell internally to myself. I stop just as suddenly as I started, my breath is labored and my mind is reeling. This is what I came for! Why would I run away now? Not when Kai is so close. I turn and start heading back towards the clearing. My body is sluggish and it feels as if I'm trying to walk through mud. It's as if my brain is trying to pull my body back away from the danger yet my heart is pulling me deep into the thick of it. I forget the internal war that my brain and my heart is waging when I see the flicker of the flames through the dense vegetation in front of me. Now I just do an all out run back towards the clearing, towards Kai.

When I reach the clearing, I see that the procession has started. I move silently over to the boulder keeping my eyes averted. Think Emma! I need a plan for what I'm going to do next. If only I could look into Kai's eyes, maybe somehow I can remind him of who he is. He's not one of them, he's...he's mine! I surprise myself with my last possessive declaration. Keeping my head down I watch as the flames throw shadows against the ground in front of me. I wait, watching the footprints glide across the dirt but I see no feet accompanying them. I don't dare look up, the last thing I need right now is to evoke another curse.

A thick fog rolls across the ground blocking my view of the footprints. I force myself to look up ever so slightly to check for the end of the procession. I know what will be at the end: Kai. I can see the ancient battle gear and the eerie ghostly tint of the soldier’s muscles that wear it. They march stoically in rows alternating men and women soldiers.

The weapons they carry are far from apparitions though. I know for a fact that they are very real and the glare of the metal tip of a spear sends a shudder through my body. I look up from the spear to the arm of the Night Marcher who carries it. The black ink of Kai's tattoo still stands out dark as night. My heart starts pounding, not entirely with fear though, more so with excitement. I force my eyes to look up now and I see his face. His beautiful face. I knew that I missed him but I had no idea how much. It's as if my heart leaps with joy at the sight of him and my body feels overwhelmed and excited in anticipation of touching him. I run towards him, but he doesn't turn to me. He keeps marching, eyes forward, focused intently on the back of the head of the soldier in front of him.

"Kai!" I yell out his name. I don't know if any of the other Night Marchers have turned to glare at me, I keep my eyes focused on him and him alone. He doesn't turn, but I can see his jaw clenched tight. Against my better judgment I run towards him.

"Kai!" I say out of breath from the sprint. I'm so close to him now that I can touch him. I reach out and grab at his arm. It's cold yet my hand doesn't pass through it like I would envision it would, being that he's basically a spirit. He still doesn't look towards me. Why won't he look at me? "Kai!" I yell in his ear and yank his arm so hard that his step falters and he can't help but look at me.

My breath catches and my arm drops from his as he stares at me, stepping away from the procession. He looks just like I remembered but different still. There is an eerie gleam to his skin that reminds me that he's not human anymore. His eyes are no longer completely grey. They are flaked with black specks starting at the pupils and heading outward. I shake my head as tears start filling my eyes. I'm too late!

"Emma." He says through gritted teeth. I look back into his eyes, hopeful when I hear him recall my name.

"Yes, Kai, I'm here. It's going to be okay. We will get you out I promise!" I say as tears spill down my cheek. I grab at his arm to try and drag him away with me, but he stands firm as if he's made of stone.

I look up into his eyes pleading with him to come back to me. As if the reminder of what we have together could free him from this eternal solitude that he's been condemned to. I don't know if I am just wishing for it, but I think I register a slight softening around his eyes. He's still in there! It was only for a brief flash of a second until his features harden and a look of anguish succumbs him.

"Em-ma." He says my name painstakingly so, as if it takes an overwhelming strength for him to force out the two syllables. The muscles in his body tense up almost to a point of which I think they might explode from within him. He stares at me and as if I'm hypnotized by his eyes, I stare back unable to look away even when it gets uncomfortable.

"R-un" He says through gritted teeth.

Run? I register a slow movement in my peripheral vision and realize that it's his arm moving, the one with the spear!

"R-u-n!" He says forcing the word out of his mouth. With his teeth clenched, a look of pure torture overtakes him.

Pulling my gaze from his might be the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I do it just as he takes his first step towards me. He looks like he's trying to advance against a hurricane. Every movement is counteracted with his suppressed will not to hurt me. He's fighting it! It's a good sign, but he's not strong enough. His hand slowly pulls the spear to where it's pointing at me now.

"Pl-ea-se!" He says urgently, eyes fixated on me.

Tears well up knowing that he can't hold back, he's fighting with all he's got, but he can't stop it. He can't stop the urge to try to kill me. I turn and run from him. I run as fast as I can into the forest and through the trees. I trip a few times but I pick myself back up. I can hear the snapping of tree limbs and foliage behind me. Kai is pursuing me! My heart starts pounding as I realize that this is a very real threat. He might not be able to hold back, I've struck a curse that I can't undo this time.

I don't know when I decided to do it, but I stop dead in my tracks. Something tells me that this is the only way. This is the way it should have been. Kai is a Night Marcher because of me and right now, I have a way to save him. If he kills me, I will switch places with him, freeing him from the prison I condemned him to.

I force myself to turn around slowly, my body is shaking like a leaf. My brain is telling me to run, but I'm fighting against it. I see the flame flicker behind a tree in front of me. It's time. I drop to my knees as Kai steps out from the cover of the tree. His eyes plead with me to run, but I just shake my head and look away tears overflowing.

I hear him take a step, then another one. Each step takes several seconds. I know he's trying to fight it, but he can't help it.

"Itt's okkay." I manage to stutter out. I close my eyes and a moment later I'm sailing through the air. At first I don't realize what's happening but when I open my eyes, I see the landscape flashing past me upside down. The blood is rushing to my head making me disoriented and dizzy. I try to use my stomach muscles to sit up but it's no use. I realize that I'm hanging over someone's shoulder in a fireman carry as they run wildly away. I have no idea who that someone is.

I crane my head when I hear running feet behind us. Kai! He's chasing us. His face is contorted with anger now. His spear raises and I shut my eyes tight. If this is how it ends, I don't want to see it. A conch shell blows and I look up just in time to see him as he's pulled backwards away from us. It looks as if he's being sucked up into a vacuum. I look into his eyes, which only a moment ago showed anger, now they show worry and panic. I continue to watch him, straining my neck until I can see him no longer.

The person who's carrying me stops and sets me down none to gently. The blood rushes back down my head from the sudden movement and I fight the urge to fall flat on my butt. I look up expecting to see Tristan. Nothing could have surprised me more. In front of me stands a very angry Kao.

The stark resemblance to Kai makes me cringe until I look into Kao's obsidian eyes. The evil that once was there, as a Night Marcher still remains as one of his most striking features. I can’t help but stare. I should be scared. I should run. But, for reasons I cannot say, I don’t. I just stand there and stare at him, feeling numb from all the emotions that came with Kai trying to kill me.

Kao is the first to move. I can see his chest rise and fall as he catches his breath. I hear him clear his throat as though he is about to speak to me. “Are you alright?” He asks me, his face contorting to one of concern.

No other expression from him could have surprised me more. I want to hate him. I want to be mad at him, but for some reason unbeknown to myself I’m suddenly not. I don't know if it's because I just saw Kai try to kill me, or what. He fought it with all he had and I did technically get away, but he still tried never the less. The urge to kill me was ingrained in him he had no choice, I think, trying to convince myself. Perhaps seeing this happen with Kai is what strikes this small bit of empathy for Kao. I'm not sure. “Yeah, I’m fine,” is all I can muster. I feel like I am treading thin ice here and have no idea what to say or do.

“Come on, let’s get you inside.” Kao reaches out and grabs my hand not so gently, leading me away. I have no idea why, but I don’t question it, or try to pull away. I just let him lead me, as if I am helpless and blind. I close my eyes for a moment and pretend that it's Kai leading me away to safety.

After several minutes of hiking through a non-existent trail Kao makes a turn heading towards a large pile of boulders that must have crashed down from above. He looks at me for the briefest of seconds and then turns his head back around weaving us through the undergrowth and trees. We walk for what seems like twenty minutes, still hand in hand, until we finally push through into a clearing. It’s not just any clearing though; Kai’s tree house looms up above us.

I stare up at it and then back down at Kao. It seems like my body is magnetically charged to attract trouble; I just can’t seem to escape it.

Thoughts of Adam and the Menehune's begin flooding my mind as I look at all of the intricate architecture and woodcarvings that illuminate before me. They definitely left their mark on this place.

Kao leads me gently along a trodden dirt path until we reach the stairs that lead to the main house. My heart starts pumping now, as if I just realized that I'm alone with a man who could very well be dangerous. I feel like I’m playing with dynamite. I wonder if Kao is going to hold me prisoner, or if I’ll be treated as a guest. I start ascending up the stairs anyhow since Kao is still leading me by the hand. I make it halfway to the top, when the wood step I'm standing on breaks, sending my foot right through it. I hear my pants tear and feel the sting of the wood slicing into my leg as I lose my balance and fall half way through the broken stair. In mid-fall I tighten my grip on Kao’s hand instinctively dragging him down with me. I’m in utter shock as I dangle nearly twenty feet above the ground. I’m in such utter dismay I can’t even breathe. The only thing that is holding me up is the fabric of my pant leg that's caught on the edge of the stair after ripping halfway up my calf and of course Kao’s hand. I look up seeing Kao’s black eyes staring back at me through the missing slat. He grabs my arm with his other hand and begins to pull me up. I continue to hold my breath when he picks me up and carries me the remainder of the way. We reach the top of the stairs and I let out a big exhale when he sits me on one of the benches that line the porch section of the tree house. I begin feeling the blood trickle down my leg as the adrenaline wears off. In the light of the moon it’s hard to see what my leg is really up against. Out of the corner of my eye I see Kao digging in a satchel, as he retrieves a flashlight. He fumbles with it for a moment before a bright beam of light shines directly in my eyes. I flinch and instinctively cover my eyes as Kao points the beam in a more downwardly direction. When the light first hits my leg, I cringe at the sight. A twelve-inch gash is running the length of my leg revealing a significant amount of blood flowing from it. The sight of it makes me woozy so I have to look away. I catch Kao taking off his shirt as he rips pieces of material from it, tying it in pieces around my leg. I try not to look at him, but I have a hard time averting my eyes. The similarities between Kao and Kai are so striking it sends an uncomfortable pang through my body. They even have similar tattoos. I look closer at the tribal markings on Kao's shoulder that run along his chest and over his heart. It could just be my mind playing tricks on me, but the edges of the tribal designs on his tattoo look more jagged and sinister than Kai's. A shiver runs up my spine and I promptly look away.

Once Kao gets the 'bandages' secured around my leg, the intense pain becomes a dull and nagging throb.

“Can you walk?” Kao asks me hesitantly pulling me to my feet. I test out my leg and stumble slightly. Kao takes that as his cue to fasten his arm around me to help me get inside. He opens the door and illuminates the tree house with his flashlight. It’s just as I remembered it from the one time Kai took me here. The wooden walls, log cabin style, sparsely decorated with only a few furnishings, one of these including a small cot with a table sitting next to it. Kao helps me to the cot and removes his arm from around my waist. I sit down and watch as he moves around the tree house getting matches to light the lantern. It’s eerie to me how well he knows this place, as if he’s been here before. I watch a flame come to life as he lights the lantern. More light begins spilling around the small, enclosed room. A feeling of Déjà vu fills me as I remember how not too long ago I sat in this very room with Kai, healing from a broken leg.

I watch as Kao silently, but methodically begins making me something to drink. For the first time I notice a small cooking area with a single gas burner. There is a basin that is beside it with a waterspout looking like an archaic sink. Kai returns several minutes later with a cup of steaming tea.

“Careful, it’s hot,” he warns. I lean in to take a few sips noticing the similar taste between the one I have now and the one Kai had given me previously. The only thing missing is the single berry at the bottom of the cup. I take a few more sips of the hot tea and set it beside me on the bedside table to let it cool. I lean my head back against the wall, struggling to not give into the pain that radiates down my leg. Thankfully, it doesn’t feel as bad as it looks. Kao brings a chair over to me and sits.

“You know, you look just like her.” I hear Kao say, barely above a whisper.

I let out a small breath of air and purse my lips. I’m not really sure what to say to this. I drop my eyes and look at my hands. The dirt has made its way under my fingernails giving them a dingy, filthy look.

Sitting in the silence finally gives me the opportunity to think. I can’t for the life of me figure out why on earth I am sitting here not freaking out. Kao should put me on edge, but yet he’s giving me no reason to mistrust him in this instance.

Before I have more time to make a list in my head of why I should hate Kao he begins to speak. “My brother and I use to be very close.”

My eyebrows turn in, and he must notice the confusion on my face. This goes against everything that Kai told me. According to Kai, Kao killed his fiancé Heleya because of a jealousy between the two, practically since birth. Apparently, Kao was older, but because the Chief found evil in his heart, he chose Kai to lead the tribe after his death. This in turn caused Kao to plot to destroy Kai’s life, taking away anything and everything he loved. I feel Kao’s eyes staring at me and I look up unsure of what to say.

Kao begins to fill the silence again. “I’m not sure what Kai has said about me, but I’m not the same person I was when I was younger. I’ve had a lot of time to think over the years…” his voice trails off as I can see him remembering what it must have been like being trapped as a Night Marcher. “I just wish I could apologize to Kai for everything I had done when we were younger. I wish I could take it all back.”

I’m not sure what I had expected Kao to say, but it certainly wasn’t that. "Well you can't." I say boldly staring at him dead on. I feel like I need to speak up for Kai. This man in front of me hurt him and betrayed him.

Kao holds my stare for a few uncomfortable moments and then says, "Yes. I realize that. I will work on making amends though."

I look down, severing our eye contact and wonder how one could make amends for so much hurt.

"Yes, Emma, I will make amends. That's why I was there tonight. I'm trying to find a way to free Kai from the Night Marchers."

My head jerks up to look into his eyes. I study them trying to read to see if his confession is true. Is he really trying to help Kai?

He continues, "I didn't expect to see you there though, but I know that Kai would have wanted me to help you. You are very special to him, I can tell."

The way he says the last part makes me feel uneasy and something inside me tells me that I shouldn't confirm anything to Kao. "He helped me, we were friends. That was about all." I say trying to add a blasé tone to my voice.

"Hmm." He says tapping his fingers on his knee before he stands up and walks across the room. I watch as he pours some hot water into a bowl and grabs a clean cloth out of a cabinet. He walks back over and sits down next to me. "Lets get that wound cleaned up." He grabs my leg and props it up on his knee. I don't even think about my rapid healing until he's already unwrapped the makeshift bandages.

He grabs the cloth, soaks it in water then rings it out. He puts the cloth to the clotting blood that covers my leg and starts wiping it away. I hold my breath and my heart starts pounding as I wait to see what will be underneath the drying blood. He wipes more blood away. The wound is still there, but it looks like it's closing up and nearly healed.

He looks up at me confused. I dare to look into his eyes. We hold each other's stares silently. He breaks the connection first and looks down at my leg and back up at me. This time, I see a look flash across his eyes ever so briefly, but it was there. The look was cunning and sly and it made my stomach roll with nausea. He couldn't know why I am healing so quickly, could he?

He breaks the silence, "Well, it looks like the cut wasn't as bad as it had first appeared." He tries to say it nonchalantly but I can hear the slight hint of tension in his voice.

I decide it's best to play along, "Yeah, it looks like it. Good deal." He gives me the once over which is my queue to change the subject. "So, what's the plan?" I hold my breath waiting to see if we can move on without him asking me any questions about my miraculous healing.

"You are safe for tonight, so it's up to you. Do you want me to take you back to your friends?" He says still eyeing my leg.

That's a good question. Going back to Tristan and Kaylee could very well put them in danger. If I stay away they will most likely involve the authorities because of my disappearance, which means that my dad will be informed that I’m here, and once again missing. That's absolutely not an option. I have put my father through more than enough to last him a lifetime. "We need to go back...Tonight."

Kao looks up at me and raises his eyebrow in question. "You want me to take you back tonight?"

I nod. It's my only option. I just hope that when I get back I won't find the whole area turned into a crime scene. Hopefully Tristan and Kaylee will have held out on contacting anyone, at least for one night.

He eyes me again and then nods in confirmation. "Well then, I guess we should head out. Does your leg feel okay to walk on?"

I guess it was too much too hope that my rapid healing had gone unnoticed with Kao. I shiver when I see him looking at my leg with greedy, hungry eyes. I can tell that his curiosity is peeked now. I feel like I’m walking on eggs shells; Kao is like a ticking time bomb. "Yes, it's fine. Like I said, it must not have been as bad as it looked." I stand up to prove the point and head towards the front door.

"Okay, lets go then." He says opening the door for me.

I head out first and once we make it to ground level I allow him to lead me in silence. My heart is pounding with anxiety. I'm not sure what I'm going to arrive to when we get back to the campsite.

Once we get closer Kao breaks the silence. "When we get there do you want me to explain what happened?"

"Um, well, I was hoping that we can part ways before we get there."

Kao spins around so fast that I literally run straight into his chest. I jump back startled. He stares at me with furious eyes, "You think I'm going to leave you alone? My brother is out there. He is going to hunt you down. There is no way I'm leaving you alone. You will be killed before the end of the day tomorrow. Or you will become one of them."

I feel the heat flame up in my cheeks as anger surges through me. "I didn't ask you to protect me Kao! I can deal with this on my own, I don’t need you to try to play hero. After all, less than a week ago you were the one trying to murder me! You were the one who turned your brother into a Night Marcher! Why should I trust you?"

His eyes widen in surprise, as if he's not used to being yelled at by women. What catches me off guard though, is that there's no anger in his expression. "I'm not asking you to trust me Emma. I'm telling you that I will not be leaving you alone. Yes, my brother is a Night Marcher because of me. The least I can do is help the woman he sacrificed himself for."

I stare at him trying to search his eyes for the truth. His words say that he's genuinely interested in helping me, but the tone he portrays hints at being artificial. I can see nothing in his black eyes that tell of his true motives. I don't know what to believe. How can this Kao that stands in front of me, be the same Kao that murdered Kai's fiancé so many years ago? Kai told me that he's selfish and evil. A person can't change who they are, can they? I don't know what to believe, but I can tell that Kao's going to stand firm on his decision to stick around. "Fine." I say.

He nods and starts walking again. I simply follow in silence.

Chapter 9

When we arrive at the campsite I find Kaylee sitting near the fire, her head in her hands. Tristan is nowhere in sight. "Kaylee!" I yell to her and start running. She looks up; her face is red and swollen with tears.

"Oh my gosh, Emma!" She says, tears of relief springing from her eyes. She runs and meets me halfway and we crush into one another hugging with all our might.

We both cry for a few minutes holding each other. "I'm sorry Kaylee." I say whole-heartedly.

She pulls away and searches my eyes. "What in the world happened Emma? Tristan is out making one more round before we were going to call the police. What the…!" She turns on her heal looking in Kao's direction. Her expression is so boiling hot with anger that you could probably fry an egg on her. She stomps forward to where Kao is standing.

I continue standing emotionless, as if the whole scene is playing out in slow motion. The piercing sound of flesh hitting flesh rings out in the air as Kaylee smacks Kao straight across the face. My eyes open wide in shock, "Kaylee!"

"You bastard! You took her! You better not have hurt her! I will freaking kill you if you laid a hand on her!" She rears her hand back to hit him again but I grab it just in the nick of time. Not that I didn't enjoy watching Kaylee smack Kao but he really doesn't deserve it in this instance.

She whirls around to face me, "Emma, what did he do to you?"

"He didn't do anything Kaylee, at least not today. He helped me." I say looking over Kaylee's shoulder at Kao. Thankfully he doesn't look pissed off, he just looks a little surprised and perhaps amused while he rubs the side of his face.

"He helped you?" She asks jabbing her finger in his direction.

"Yeah, he did. He saved me from...from Kai." Saying it out loud brings tears back to my eyes. "I...I looked at him in the eyes Kaylee. I was trying to shake him out of the Night Marcher trance, but it didn't work."

"She struck the curse, again." Kao chimes in.

Kaylee turns sideways so she can look at both of us. She doesn't show an ounce of regret for having slapped Kao. She asks, "Again?"

"Yes, the urge to follow through with his mission will consume Kai now. It's probably running through his blood, a need so strong that it can only be quenched through her blood, her sacrifice." Kao says it all like a man who knows intimately what Kai is going through.

I start shaking from the thought of what I caused. "It's a huge mess." I say quietly.

"A freaking hot mess! What are we going to do?" Kaylee asks looking from Kao to me. She notices my shaking and pulls me close to her. "Don't worry honey, we will get this all figured out."

"I'm not sure how we can fix this now Kaylee. I only came back to tell you that I've got to leave you here with Tristan. It's not safe me being around you while Kai is hunting me." I jump when a hand flies onto my shoulder from behind me.

"To hell you will!" Tristan says angrily. He spins me around to face him. "Where in the world were you?" His face is red hot with fury.

"I uh..." Words aren't forming in my brain. I have never seen Tristan look this angry and it being directed towards me really sets me back.

"Give her a break Tristan! She's been through a lot." Kaylee says stepping up to stand next to me. She always has my back.

"No offense Kaylee, but I'm talking to Emma." He looks back at me; his aquamarine eyes are set into a hard stone like stare. "I have been running around this island looking for you in a panic. Every horrific possibility of what could have happened to you flashed across my mind. I want answers now! Where were you?"

It takes a lot for me to keep from tearing up at his harsh tone, but I will myself to keep a straight face. I have been crying way too much lately, in fact, I think I've cried more than enough to last me the rest of my lifetime. I need to be strong if I want to get through this. I stick my chin up in the air stubbornly, "You don't have to yell at me Tristan, seriously!"

His eye brows furrow together as he says, "Emma, you ran away yet again! How do you expect me to react to your every other day disappearing acts?"

"Ouch Tristan!" I say seriously cut by his words. "I wasn't trying to disappear. I ran away yes, I don't know how to process all of this." I make a huge circling motion with my arms. "We keep fighting, I feel like everything is all my fault and that I'm having to apologize all of the time Tristan. There's just too much going on right now. I can't handle it!"

Tristan's features soften a bit. "I know it's a lot Emma, but I'm trying to help you and keep you safe at the same time."

"Ha! You obviously aren't doing the best job." Kao chimes in from behind me. I turn around to see Kao staring smugly at Tristan with his hands crossed over his chest.

Tristan's eyes lock onto him, his jaw clenching in anger. He looks like he's just now noticing Kao's presence. "And you are?" Tristan says in a disgusted tone.

"I'm the one who did keep her safe this time. My name is Kao, it's a pleasure to meet you." Kao says cockily.

Tristan nearly knocks me over when he lunges at Kao. I jump back in surprise and watch as Tristan punches Kao in the face then pushes him to the ground. They end up in a jumbled mess of flailing limbs on the forest floor. Tristan and Kao matching each other blow for blow.

Kaylee and I both yell out in unison, "STOP!" To our surprise they both comply, rolling away from one another. I run over to Tristan who has the makings of a black eye forming. I don't even look back at Kao. To be honest, I think he deserved anything he got, goading Tristan like that. I grab Tristan's hand and help him up from the ground.

"Seriously boys?" Kaylee says looking back and forth from Tristan to Kao. "Let's play nice okay? He helped Emma, we don't need to be pummeling Kao now even though his comment certainly deserved a good WWF brawl."

"Oh yeah? He helped Emma before or after he tried to kill her? Huh?" Tristan spurts out pissed off.

"After." I say a little incredulously. A hysterical laugh bubbles up at the absurdity of the situation. I break out in all out laughter as everyone turns to look at me like I lost it.

Kaylee doesn't stare at me for long until she breaks out in a full out cackle. "Yeah, it does sound pretty ridiculous when you say it out loud."

Tristan and Kao don't join in though, they continue giving each other the stink eye. I decide it's best to just go ahead and pull Tristan to the side and explain what happened to him privately. "Let's talk," I say grabbing Tristan and pulling him towards the picnic bench away from Kaylee and Kao.

I eye Kaylee as we walk away, silently asking her if she's okay with being alone with Kao. She nods back to me.

We sit down across from each other on the bench. I figure it's best to put a small bit of distance between the two of us. I start in on telling him what happened. I tell him every detail except how I truly felt when I saw Kai. I don't know how to explain that to Tristan without hurting him. How do I tell a man that bared his heart to me and told me that he loves me that I may very well be in love with someone else? What I feel for Tristan could be love, I care so deeply for him. What I feel for Kai seeps deeper filling in all of the crevices of my broken heart. Just seeing him again confirmed for me that what I feel for him is not an infatuation or a simple crush. I felt something big and having him torn away from me once again made my heart feel as if it had collapsed in on itself. No, I can't explain that to Tristan right now. I know that eventually I will have to, but right now I have too much going on to go there. I will however place more distance between us, at least until I sort everything out. I will not lead Tristan on.

After I finish telling Tristan almost everything he asks, "So he's coming after you? The man that took your place?"

I nod carefully. "He doesn't want to Tristan, but I don't think he can help himself. He expressed so much control but it wasn't enough. For every move the curse made him make, he countered it with his own desire not to harm me."

"Yeah, I get that Emma, but you have to stay away from him. It's not safe." He says concerned.

"I know. That's why I also need to stay away from Kaylee and you. I don't want you both to be in danger because of me. I‘ll find a way to correct this." I say determined.

"Not a chance! We are in this together and you will not run away." He says sternly.

I stare him down, hoping I can convince him with my eyes to let me go, but he doesn't give. "What about Kaylee? We need to keep her safe." I say.

"We can send her back to Texas." Tristan says simply.

"Ha, no way!" Kaylee chimes in from behind Tristan. I don't know how long she’s been standing there. "I'm not leaving Emma."

"Kaylee, please. I just need to know you’re safe. If you want to stay on the island we can get you a hotel room." She doesn't let down her glare so I continue, "Or a room at one of the resorts. You know, the ones with one of those fancy spas. You can meet a nice cabana boy..." Her glare turns harder and she throws her fisted hands on her hips. "Fine, but you have to stay back!" I say defeated. It's funny how Kaylee can win an entire argument without chiding in.

"Fine I‘ll stay back, after all you are the superhero Emma." Kaylee chimes in happy that she won the argument so quickly. There is, however, a slight hint of sarcasm in her voice.

I look around and thankfully don't see Kao anywhere nearby. I turn my glare towards Kaylee because of her blurted out statement. I hadn't told Tristan about my healing ability.

She covers her tracks quickly catching on to why I was glaring at her. "I mean you obviously keep escaping these crazed Night Marchers."

Tristan thankfully doesn't question her declaration. He chides in, "Well, she may have escaped but she's still not safe. We need to find a way to break the curse, and quickly." He looks around and continues, "Speaking of crazed Night Marchers, where is Kao?" He spits out Kao's name as if the word tastes like bile on his tongue.

Kaylee looks behind her, "He said he had to go. I'm not sure where he went."

"Well, hopefully he won't come back." Tristan says.

I nod in agreement. We all lapse into a moment of silence as the night's emotions catch up with us. During that silence I hear an odd chain of noises not too far off in the woods. The only way I can describe it is that it sounds like rocks being clicked together in some sort of Morse code. Both Tristan and Kaylee look around as well so I can tell that I'm not the only one who is hearing the odd clicking.

"What do you think that is?" Kaylee asks a little unsure and nervous.

"I'm not sure." Tristan says. He holds up his index finger for a moment while straining his ears to try and hear it better.

The clicking starts to intensify. "I think we should go check it out," I say.

Tristan looks at me worried, "I’ll go check it out. You two stay here."

"Absolutely not! We’re coming along." I say stubbornly. When Tristan opens his mouth to argue I cut him off saying, "It's just some clicking noises Tristan. I doubt any big evil spirits are trying to lure us into the woods. Plus, we are better off sticking together."

My last addition seems to satisfy him and he gestures for us to head out in search of where the noise is coming from. We start making our way into the woods. Tristan holds back branches as Kaylee and I make our way forward through the overgrown brush.

The clicking sound is not very consistent so it's hard for us to get our bearings on which way to go. It's as if the source of the clicking is getting tired at certain points and then at other points there's a burst of energy and the clicking intensifies. We continue walking, sometimes changing directions, when one of us thinks we here it get louder.

"Wait." Tristan whispers holding up his hand. We all stop walking at once and listen.

"It’s stopped." I say quietly. We stay silent for what seems like several minutes and right as we are about to turn around and try to make our way back to camp we hear a guttural wail. The ground shakes ever so slightly as if the earth itself is crying out. The cries sound like they are coming from a woman and whoever it is must be in complete agony. With a sickening feeling in my stomach I start running in the direction of the tormented howls. I can hear Tristan and Kaylee struggling to keep up behind me. Tree limbs scratch at my face, but I don't notice them much. My mind is too focused on the gut wrenching cries emanating from someone that is now only yards from me. I break out into a very small clearing to find a Menehune leaning over something weeping so hard that their whole body shakes in agony.

I hold my hand up to Tristan and Kaylee asking them to stay back as I move into the clearing. When I approach the Menehune she turns around. I gasp in shock. "Eve!"

The last time I saw Eve, Adam's wife, she was walking me home sharing all of the town gossip. She was always so full of spunk and character when I saw her. This Eve looks a thousand times different. Her delicate frame looks haggard and tired. Bags appear under her eyes and her light brown hair is frayed all about around her face. Tears stream down her tiny cheeks as she looks up at me.

"Emma..." She looks down again sniffling, "He's...He's gone." She breaks down and falls to the floor, her body so small and delicate like a doll.

That's when I see him. The world seems to tilt on it's axis and an overwhelming feeling to either faint or throw up overcomes me as I look at Adam's lifeless body lying on the forest floor next to Eve's shaking torso. I run over to put my arm around Eve. I feel like a giant touching her. I try my best to focus only on her and not on Adam's vacant eyes and tattered body. I had made a decision to try and not cry anymore but this is not a moment that I can hold true to that decision. I weep with Eve. I stay there by Eve for a long while, just hoping that by being near her comforts her. I don’t ask questions and I don’t say a word. I just let her cry and mourn her loss.

Eve sits up several minutes later just long enough to pull two sticks out from her pocket. She hits them together making a rhythmic clanking sound. When she finishes she allows the sticks to fall from her hands, as if they were too heavy for her to hold any longer. She then sinks back down and buries her face in Adam's breathless chest. She cries silently and I sit behind her stroking her back and her hair trying to provide a small ounce of solace.

A moment later I hear some rustling in the woods up ahead and I move in front of Eve ready to protect her from whatever is coming. I see Tristan tense up from the corner of my eyes. I hold my hand up stopping him from revealing himself as a group of three Menehunes push through the limbs of the forest. They stop in their tracks when they see Eve on the forest floor next to a lifeless Adam. I see that one of the Menehunes is Paul, and the other one I don’t recognize. Paul removes his hat and places it over his heart in reverence.

I watch as Eve dries her eyes blinking back the rogue tears that continue to try and escape. She sits up from the forest floor and turns towards me. Her expression has changed from that of agony and despair, to one of conviction and anger. I’m a little startled by this sudden change, but I figure if that’s the way she grieves, then more power to her.

“Paul, I need you and Tom to gather up Adam.” She chokes slightly when she says his name. She musters up her strength and continues. “I need you to take him back to the cave and prepare his body. Right now, I have some unfinished business to attend to.” She looks back down at Adam one last time and runs her finger along his cheek then kisses the top of his head and squeezes his hand gently. She closes his eyes making him look more peaceful. She leans into Adams ear and speaks words only meant for him to hear and then with restitute she stands. “Emma, I want to ask what you’re doing out here, but I don’t have the strength. I need to go and meet with the Elders to discuss what just took place. It seems like I have some pieces to the puzzle, but some things just aren’t clear as of yet. Regardless, we haven’t had a Menehune die in several hundred years and this is not something we take lightly.” Eve nervously rubs her hands together as she continues. “I would like to meet with you tomorrow to discuss some things. With Kai being…gone…I don’t have a human to help. We are in the midst of a war brewing and I want to make sure I have all my ducks in a row. You just might be the link we will need to be able to avenge Adam’s death.”

I nod my head in acknowledgement even though I'm not sure how I can possibly help or what Eve means by a war brewing. Eve nods back at me satisfied that I‘ll help.

Paul steps forward to join the conversation. “How can I help?” He asks Eve directly.

Eve rubs Paul’s shoulder. “I know this must be hard for you too. Yes, he is, I mean was my husband, but he was your friend as well.” Eve allows time for a short pause before she continues. “I do want to ask you a favor though. Tomorrow, will you bring Emma to the Āiwaiwa cave before dawn? We have some things we need to discuss.” Eve reaches for my hand and gives it a light squeeze before she turns away and heads into the forest.

It kills me when my eyes catch Paul’s depleted stance. He is barely standing and his head is hung low. I can hear him inhaling through his nose and see him wiping moisture from his eyes. “I’m so sorry Paul.” Is all the comfort I can come up with. It’s hard to know what you should say in times like this.

“Thank you Emma.” He responds in a sullen tone. He picks his head up and looks me in the eyes. “Where should I go to meet you tomorrow?” Paul asks.

“Well, we were camping by the waterfall until someone ravaged the site. I guess we can salvage what little is left so that we can be nearby for when I go meet with Eve tomorrow before dawn.” I can't imagine leaving the area tonight to go to another hotel. Not with all that's going on.

Paul responds, “I will meet you at the waterfall then.” He gives me a very brief nod before turning away, helping Tom with Adam's body. I watch as they swiftly build a makeshift gurney and hoist Adam's lifeless body onto it. I stifle a sob as they carry him off, both of their heads hanging low with grief.

When they are no longer in sight I make my way back over to Tristan and Kaylee. They haven’t moved any closer since we first arrived out of respect for my wishes and the Menehune's privacy. Both of them look mournful and I can tell that Kaylee’s eyes are a bit bloodshot as if she’d been crying.

“Thanks guys, you know, for giving them space.” I say quietly. "I um..." My voice cracks and I have to stop speaking for fear that I will break down entirely.

Kaylee gives me a forced smile that just curves the ends of her lips.

Tristan rubs my back gently; “We can talk more when we get back.” He says. I take one quick look over my shoulder to see that the Menehunes are gone.

When we arrive back at the campsite I tell Tristan a little about the Menehunes. He didn’t seem too terribly surprised about their existence, but I guess after you’ve seen a Night Marcher up close, you are probably able to accept the stranger things in life a little easier.

We begin salvaging what we can of the camp. The tents are lying pretty much flat. I reach into them and try and pull out the air mattresses only to find that they’re un-inflatable due to big gashes running down the sides. I grab as many blankets as I can from inside the tents and try to make three semi-decent beds beside the base of the waterfall. Tristan gathers wood and begins building a fire. I watch as Kaylee remains still looking down at the water. The moon is reflecting off the ripples running through the pool making a picture perfect scene. She pulls her knees up to her chest and hugs them tight. I take a deep breath as I try and put myself in her shoes. All of this is so much for even me to handle, I just wonder if Kaylee is accepting all of this okay. I keep telling myself just how lucky I am to have friends like Tristan and Kaylee that will be with me through the thick and thin.

I finish arranging the blankets and segments of pillows I found and we all pile onto our makeshift beds. Here are the three of us together, but not one person is speaking a word. Everyone’s thoughts are somewhere else and I don’t see myself breaking the silence any time soon. I stare at the crackling flames and try and piece together all that has happened. I still can’t believe that Adam died! It just doesn’t seem real; more like a dream than a reality. The sorrow from tonight brings me into a drained somber. I begin dozing off watching Tristan feed more wood to the fire.

Chapter 10

I couldn't have been asleep more than a few hours when I’m awoken by a small voice repeating my name over and over. The drone makes me think of an alarm clock. I reach over in my half slumber to try and hit the snooze button only to find myself slapping someone on the head. I’m so startled I nearly jump out of my skin. I sit up to find Paul rubbing the top of his head liberally with his hand. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry Paul! I guess I was dreaming that I was back home.”

Paul looks at me quizzically, “You hit people when you wake up?”

I look at Paul's expression more closely to see if he is kidding, hardly! I laugh quietly and respond, “Well, not exactly. Let’s just say I’m not always a morning person…or should I say before morning person.” The sky wasn’t even light yet, but I could tell we had been asleep for a little while because of the flames dying in the fire.

“Are you about ready to go?” Paul asks just barely above a whisper.

“Yeah, let me just tell Kaylee real quick.” I’m not even contemplating telling Tristan because I know how hard he sleeps. I tap Kaylee on the arm only to have her turn away from me. I give her a small shake and whisper in her ear. “Kaylee, it’s Emma. Wake up just a sec.”

I hear a grunt from Kaylee as she peaks at me from under her eyelids, “This had better be good,” she grumbles.

“I’m going to go and meet Eve with Paul. I’ll be back soon, okay?” Kaylee nods her head and curls back up into the blankets. I grab my shoes and flashlight then set off with Paul leading the way.

The walk doesn’t take more than twenty minutes before I see a rocky structure up ahead. The cave entrance is barely noticeable and if it weren't for Paul leading me to it, I wouldn’t have found it on my own. When we reach the cave entrance he gestures with his arm for me to go inside.

I hesitate ever so slightly, but force myself to go inside. Eve is sitting near the corner of the cave dressed in all white. If it weren't for her tired expression she would look nearly angelic with the flickering light glowing off her from the lantern stationed at her side. This cave is rather small, much like the one that Tristan and I took shelter in only a few days ago, so the light illuminates nearly every inch of it.

"Hello Emma." Eve greets me solemnly.

"Hi Eve." I say; my eyebrows drooped with sadness. I don't know what to do, should I go hug her or comfort her? "Um, how are you holding up?"

"I'm here." She says sadly but then clears her throat and straightens out her features. "Thank you for coming. Let's get to business."

I nod my head gesturing for her to lay it all down.

"I am not sure why you were in the forest last night, but I can only take it as a sign that you were meant to help me. I wouldn’t normally ask another human for their help, but with Kai gone, I don't know whom else I can trust. I just figured if Kai trusted you, then I should trust you as well." She pauses a moment contemplating how to word what she needs to say. "When I found my husband last night he was barely alive hanging on only for me. He signaled me by using 'ili 'ili stones. We often use river rocks to communicate to one another when we are working on larger projects."

I think about the clinking sound we kept hearing. "That's how I found you. I heard the clicking and followed it."

She nods slowly then continues. "He must have somehow sensed or hoped that one of us was nearby. He had barely escaped his captor. When I reached him his eyes sparkled for the last time as he told me that he loved me and then before he died he whispered the name of the person responsible for his death."

My eyes open wide in anticipation of hearing who this murderer is.

"He told me it was Kao." Eve says his name as if it were acid burning her tongue.

I gasp in horror. I mean I felt that Kao was evil, but to murder a defenseless Menehune? I stand up and start furiously pacing the small cave. Anger and fury radiate through my pores as the realization of what Eve just said sinks in. The fact that Kao has been allowed to murder once again sets me on edge. "It's my fault Eve." I say eyes burning with tears. "If it weren't for me, Kao would still be a Night Marcher."

She stands up and puts her hand on my back. I should be the one comforting her not the other way around. I suck in a deep breath and turn to face her ready to do whatever I have to do to make this right.

"It's not your fault Emma. You cannot control evil, my husbands blood is on his hands not yours." She says this so strongly that I almost believe her.

"You don't understand, I've seen Kao around. If only I could have known that he was the one hurting Adam. If I could have stopped him in time, maybe just maybe I could have prevented this." I say trying to work out the possibilities of what I could have done in my head. I think about how Kao had just been with me. The thought of why he left, probably to check on his dying prisoner, makes me want to puke. Luckily nothing is in my stomach.

"No Emma. You would not have been able to stop him. He is much stronger than you and I would never want to ask you to go up against a man of his caliber, but I might need to now." She places both hands on my shoulders as if trying to get me to stop blaming myself so she can get to the point. "First, I need to hear about these run-ins that you have had with Kao." She spits his name out again like venom.

I take a seat on the floor and she follows suit; then I tell her everything. I tell her about the first sighting at the cave with Tristan, then again underneath the waterfall with Kaylee, how Kao probably tore apart our camp to send me a message and lastly I tell her about how Kao saved me from Kai.

After I finish telling her everything she remains silent for a few moments. Just when I think she isn't going to respond, she asks, "So, you say that when he saved you he told you he wanted to help Kai by keeping you safe?"

I nod hesitantly. It does seem pretty absurd. It just doesn’t add up.

"What motive do you think he had for this? It makes no sense. Paul told me that when he was in captivity he was not positive who his attacker was. He said he looked like Kai and that he kept demanding that they tell him where the chiefs bones are." She looks at me expectantly, "Do you know anything about this?"

I shake my head confused. "No. I mean, Kai told me the story of how he was chosen as a warrior to bury his chief’s bones. He mentioned that they contained a mana so strong that he had to keep its whereabouts protected. He believes that this mana was what had given him the ability to live so long and avoid death."

"Yes, I remember him mentioning his history and why he was unlike other humans. I don't understand why Kao would think that we know where the mana is." Eve says contemplating.

"He was grasping at straws I'm sure. It's not like he could just go ask Kai." I furrow my eyebrows angrily thinking of how evil and greedy Kao is. He was so hungry for immortality that he murdered for it. "I don't think Kai ever told anyone where he buried his chief. He did mention that he buried the bones at the base of a tree. There are thousands of trees on this island though. He had said that the tree had a berry on it and this is how he believes he was given a gift of something along the lines of immortality." I gasp throwing my hands over my mouth as a realization dawns on me.

"What Emma? What is it?" Eve asks concerned.

I take a few deep breaths trying to calm my heartbeat down. I had not given much thought to the berry before or the correlation to the drink that Kai gave me. No, no, no. I can't be, no! Eve starts shaking me trying to bring me out of my panic. I calm down and begin, "When Kai saved me the first time from the Night Marcher I hurt myself really badly. When I awoke he had made me drink this tea that had a berry in it. Now, I don't know how to explain this; now I'm all messed up Eve!" My eyes are wide with shock. I can't think of a way to explain my quick healing other than just showing it to her. I grab a jagged rock from the ground next to me and slice my arm without thinking much of it.

Eve gasps in shock at my ridiculous action. She grabs a canteen next to her and brings my bleeding arm next to hers. "Emma, what in the world?" She says shocked before pouring water over my arm. We both watch in astonishment as the blood washes away from my skin showing only a quickly healing pink scar. I don’t think I could ever get used to seeing my rapid healing in action.

"Eve, what if that was the berry. You don't think...Please tell me that you don't think that I'm immortal like Kai now?" I say begging her to tell me I'm wrong.

Eve's eyes dart from my eyes to my healing arm and then back again. "Emma, I'm sorry honey, I don't know what to tell you. I don't know. Only Kai could know this answer." The look she gives me is motherly and concerned until a storm cloud passes over causing her features to furrow. "Has Kao seen you heal like this?"

My heart starts pounding again at the memory of his greedy eyes staring at my healing leg. "Yes." I say.

"Okay, okay, this may be an advantage for us. Kao is not interested in helping Kai, he is only interested in finding the source of immortality. Now that he's seen you heal like this he may believe that you know where this source is." Eve says.

"That's true, but how is that an advantage? I don't understand how this would help us any." I state.

I watch as Eve’s eyes become very focused like she’s lost in thought. “Emma, I have a plan and it just might work.” She taps her chin a few times before continuing. “What I am about to ask you to do might seem extreme and impossible. I just want you to know that this is ultimately your decision whether to do it or not. If you don’t feel comfortable, I will not for one second hold it against you.”

I nod my head in understanding, willing her to continue.

“I need you to act like you know the location of the chiefs bones and I need you to convince Kao of this too.”

I open my eyes a little wider but don’t say anything in response.

Eve continues, “So here are my thoughts. If you can get Kao to agree to help you rescue Kai in exchange for immortality I believe we just might get him right where we need him.”

“I’m not sure I’m following you.” I reply. “How is this going to turn in our favor?”

“Last night, after we left, I went back to the village and began rummaging through old documents from the earliest days of our people. There was a treaty that was created between the Chief of the Night Marchers and the Menehune Elders. It was a treaty for peace created in hopes that we two would remain civil and one not bother the other. There were a few rules that were drawn up along with the treaty. One of the rules stated that no Night Marcher shall harm or kill a Menehune for any reason and visa versa. Should something of this magnitude happen the two groups will call a meeting to shed light on the event and try and agree on an appropriate punishment for those involved. If the parties could not agree then the Pahu would sound, and the treaty would be considered null and void creating an all out war.

“Last night I was able to call a meeting with the Night Marcher Chief. We sat down with the Elders and myself to discuss what had just taken place with Adam. The Night Marcher Chief listened intently to our argument that even though Kao is in human form, he should still be considered a Night Marcher seeing as how he had chosen his fate as a Night Marcher on his own accord. The Chief agreed upon this fact but did make a very good point; ‘There are no witnesses to prove that Kao murdered Adam. Unfortunately we too work on the innocent till proven guilty system so we couldn't deny the fact that we have no evidence other than Adam's dying words.’ The chief closed the meeting with a declaration that he would not enforce justice without proof of the crime.

“As I was walking away from the meeting I felt overwhelmed with hopelessness just knowing that Kao could get away with murder. I didn't get very far before I had the most amazing idea come to me. I returned to the meeting place and called the meeting back to order. I asked the Chief for a few days to gather proof. He gave it a thought for a moment and concurred. He told me that if Kao speaks of killing Adam out of his own free will then he would have him put to death.

“I felt very relieved at the Chief’s declaration, but the more I thought about it the more it became clear. I didn’t just want Kao put to death," Eve looks up at me, her eyes seeking justice. She says, "No, that would be the easy way out! I want Kao to return to his Night Marcher form and wander the earth for all of eternity. I want him to suffer as I suffer. He took away my heart, I think the only true justice would be to take away his freedom!"

I've never seen Eve look so tormented or infuriated. Something inside me wanted to say, 'You go girl.' Eve is standing up for herself; she's not cowering in defeat.

Eve takes a few slow breaths to calm down then continues her story. "I spoke with the Chief about my request regarding Kao and he agreed that my requested punishment would be just. The Chief knew Kao though, so he was doubtful that I would succeed in making Kao talk. He asked me how I could possibly make Kao confess, but I didn’t have an answer for him at the time. I told him I would figure it out and we agreed to meet again tonight after I had time to think things through."

Eve grabs my hand before pleading with me. "Don’t you see Emma? If you can lead Kao to believing you are showing him the way to immortality, all you would have to do would be to get him to admit to killing Adam!”

I look Eve straight in the eyes and I see the hope. I can tell that deep down she believes that I can do this, but I don't know how in the world I could lead someone like Kao to confess. I can't even imagine being around Kao without trying to beat the crap out of him for all of the crimes that I know he committed, never the less take him on some false journey to find immortality. I can't deny Eve though; I have to at least try to help. There would be no one else, no one that had a connection to Kao beside myself that would ever have a chance of getting him to speak about Adam. I take a deep breath and right myself.

“I’ll do it,” are the words that pass through my lips. “But, how will you know when he says it? Will the Night Marcher Chief believe hear say again?” I mean, I have a valid point here. What if all my efforts are fruitless, and worst of all, what if someone else gets hurt in the process?

Eve snickers a little under her breath. “Emma, you don’t have to worry about one thing. One of the Menehune people will be not too far behind you at all times. As for the Night Marcher Chief, although for them to march in the day is extremely rare, the Chief has powers that are beyond those of his fellow Night Marchers. While he is still in ghostly form, he is able to walk among us at any time if he so pleases.”

I’m not sure what to say in response to what Eve just said. It all seems a little daunting to me at the present. I am going on a mission to turn Kao into a Night Marcher again and a Menehune and Night Marcher Chief will be watching this whole thing play out. No pressure... After thinking this through a thought pops into my mind. “Eve, if Kao is pulled back into the ranks of the Night Marchers does that mean Kai will be released?”

"I'm not sure yet. I would assume they would switch places again. If not, I am hoping once it is proved that Kao committed this crime, the Chief will be willing to grant my request to have Kai released." Eve says.

"That would be the least the Chief could do." I pause for a second, worry sickening my stomach. "Eve, what if I don't succeed? I mean, what if Kao doesn't confess? You said the Menehune's would go to war with the Night Marchers, but..." I don't know how to word what I'm thinking without it coming across as rude.

Eve catches on to what I'm thinking. "We may be small Emma, but the Night Marchers are smart to be afraid of us. Our cunning ingenuity and the fact that we know this island intimately, since we pretty much built it, makes us a force to be reckoned with. We have the power to destroy the Night Marchers permanently and they know this. Anyhow..."

"Kai is with them, you can not destroy them!" Fear bubbles inside me and I interrupt Eve mid sentence.

She puts her hand over mine to re-assure me. "I was going to say: anyhow, if we don't get Kao to confess this would not make us go to war. We would only go to war if they are unwilling to enforce the justice that is deserved. If however, Kao doesn't confess we can't force them to enact this justice since there is no solid evidence that they are at fault."

"The sun is beginning to rise." Paul says as he peeks into the cave and interrupts both of us.

Eve nods to Paul and he walks out without further comment. "It's time for Paul to take you back to camp. I wish we had more time so I can help you think of a plan, but you must go back."

I take a deep breath knowing that it's all on me now. "Okay. I'm not sure if I can do this Eve, but I will sure as heck try. I owe it to you and to Adam." My voice catches but I recover and continue. "I have to be honest though. I'm not sure if I will be able to find Kao. He left yesterday before I found you and I have not seen him since."

An emotion that I can't quite read passes over Eve's face. She says through tense lips, "Oh, he will come back Emma."

Fear trickles up my spine and anxiety sets in as I hug Eve and walk out of the cave to meet Paul. We walk most of the way back towards camp in silence. Before we arrive I ask him, "Paul, can you do me a favor?"

He stops and looks up at me. He looks years older than the young Menehune that I met for the first time less than a week ago. "Of course, what do you need?"

"My best friend Kaylee is with me. I need you and the other Menehune's to watch out for her. I don't know if I can convince her to truly stay back but maybe I can have her stay with those of you that will be following Kao and I."

"The pretty blonde, hmm... I think I can handle that." He says jokingly. His smile makes him resemble the Paul I first met. "What about the man that is with you? Must he come along too?" He doesn't sound too keen on the idea.

I hadn't even thought about what I'm going to do about Tristan. I shrug my shoulders at Paul. Hopefully a plan will come to me soon. "I'll figure something out. Thanks Paul for walking me back." We are close enough to our campsite for me to see the waterfall through the foliage. I bend down to give him a hug and I catch him blushing as I turn to walk away.

Tristan and Kaylee are both sleeping. I yawn and look down at my make shift pallet. I need to sleep if I'm going to be any good today so I lay down and cover up. Before I drift off into a heavy exhausted sleep I think of Kai. A tear drips down my cheek as I remember him trying to kill me last night and how hard he fought against it. When did life become such a whirlwind of one disastrous moment after another? And how can I possibly be in love with a man who may very well kill me?

Chapter 11

"Wake up!" I hear whispered in my ear. I open my eyes to see Kao standing in front of me. My heart sets off into a frantic beat. I hadn't expected to see him without having had time to think of a plan. I look around, the sun has already risen but the sky is filled with heavy bellied storm clouds, making it appear earlier in the morning than it is. Just great! I think to myself when I smell the rain in the air. As if I don't have enough obstacles to overcome, now I'm going to have to deal with the weather too. "Now." Kao demands.

I sit up slowly and look around me trying to shake the sleep off. Kaylee and Tristan are still asleep. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not. "What?" I say a little shaky. I hope he takes it as grogginess and doesn't read into the fear that hitches in my voice. I have a hard time looking him in the eye, knowing all that he has done, so I just pretend to pick at my nails.

"We need to go." Kao says all too coolly.

With that said I look up at him. He looks like he hasn't slept yet. There is something in his eyes, I'm not sure if it's frustration or anxiety. He looks like he's lost it or something. I try to stay calm at his desperate appearance. "Okay, let me just get my friends."

"No!" He says a little too loudly. I hear Kaylee moan behind me. She's starting to wake up. He quiets his voice a little more and tries to feign concern. "It's best that we leave them here. I have a plan on how to save Kai, but we don't want to put your friends in any danger do we?" He asks in a way that would insinuate that if anything happened to one of them it would clearly be my fault.

I don't want them to get hurt. I also don't have any chance of getting Kao to confess if they are around either. I still don't know what I'm going to do to keep them at bay though. "You’re right. But, I still need to tell them I'm leaving otherwise this island will be swimming with Emma search parties."

He considers it a moment then says, "Fine, but hurry up." Thankfully he walks a good distance away and waits for me near the tree line of the clearing.

I move over to Kaylee who is already waking up. "Kaylee, I need to go."

She runs her hands through her hair and wipes the sleep from her eyes. "Um, okay. Just give me a few seconds to get ready."

"No, I need go alone. I'm sorry, but I have to do this." I say hoping she won't put up a huge fight. She raises her eyebrow at me in suspicion. I try to ease her worries. "Look, I have a plan to save Kai but I have to do it alone. Some of my Menehune friends will be not too far behind me. I asked them to keep an eye out for you. They’ll be able to keep you updated at all times."

Kaylee looks past me to where Kao is standing. "You’re going with him? I don't trust that guy. He may be hot but he seems…slimy."

She doesn't know the half of it! If she knew that Kao is the one who murdered Adam, she would never let me leave with him. "Don't worry, I’ll be okay. Remember, I'm a superhero." I try to joke.

Kaylee still looks unsure. She glances over my shoulder at Tristan who's back is turned to us. "What about him." She says pointing back at Tristan with her thumb.

"Um, I was hoping you could help me keep him calm. He can't come after me, it will ruin everything if he does." I hate to put her in this position but I don't know what else to do.

"Emma, I don't think I can do that. Tristan loves you. He's not going to just sit around while you go tromping off to danger."

"I know, but Kaylee..." I haven't said it yet so my heart flutters when the words are spoken aloud. "I love Kai."

Her eyes widen with my spoken truth. Then she gasps.

I look behind my shoulder to see Tristan getting up. His hurt filled eyes lock onto mine. He turns and walks away. It takes everything inside me not to run to him and beg him to forgive me for breaking his heart so cruelly. I look back at Kaylee my eyes pooled with tears.

She looks at me with a compassion that I don't feel that I deserve right now. "Emma, he’ll be okay. I’ll talk to him. You go get your man back... I can't believe you are actually in love! Sensible Emma, in love." She says trying to lighten my spirit.

I blink back the tears before any can escape and give Kaylee a long hug like it's our last. When I pull away she says, "You can do this."

Kaylee always knows how to encourage me. I nod and get to my feet. "I’ll see you soon." I say hoping that what I say is not a lie.

"Be careful." She says.

"I’ll try." It's the best I can do. I look around to see if I spot Tristan anywhere but he's gone to I'm not sure where. Maybe he left, now that he knows I love Kai. It's better that way; at least I know he’ll be safe. I wish he would take Kaylee with him though, but I trust that the Menehune's will take care of her.

I take a moment to close my eyes and steady myself praying that God gives me the strength to do what I need to do. I open my eyes again; take a deep breath and head towards Kao.

I meet Kao behind a group of trees just east of the clearing. He has his body crouched down watching me walk towards him. “Okay, I’m ready.” I say watching him stand to his full height.

“What was wrong with that guy? He looked very angry.” He points towards where Tristan stalked off into the woods.

I stare at Kao for a moment, not sure how to respond. What happened with Tristan just a few moments ago happened so fast I haven’t had enough time to take it all in, nor do I want to deal with those feelings right now. “Oh, it’s nothing. He just needed to get more firewood before it started to rain.” I try saying this nonchalantly hoping he doesn’t hear the hurt I’m trying to hide in my voice.

Kao doesn’t even think twice before he turns and walks away; I take it as my cue to follow him.

Branches slap me in my face and arms as I follow Kao at a distance. It’s so much different than traveling with Tristan; Kao is definitely not the gentlemanly type. Nor is he the type for small talk. He hasn’t said a peep since we first left the campsite.

“Ow,” I holler under my breath as a branch slaps me across the cheek. I reach up to rub the spot it hit while another one pummels me in the leg. I pull my hand away from my face to find blood from where the branch scratched me. “For goodness sake Kao, think you could cut it out?” I yell at him from sheer frustration.

Kao turns to me suddenly forcing me to plow into his chest. I back up a few paces to create some distance between him and me and look Kao square in the face. At first I see a look of anger, hatred, and maybe a hint of jealousy. Then the look dissipates as if it never was and is replaced with a look of compassion, and understanding.

“I’m sorry Emma, I just have a lot on my mind right now.” His mood changing makes me wary to be alone with him, but I realize I’ve been left no other choice. I keep trying to tell myself that this is for Adam and hopefully for Kai as well.

“It’s okay, I understand.” Hopefully he buys it. Yeah, I understand that you are a murderous jerk. I watch him smile as he turns and begins walking again. Another branch comes and slaps me in the arm. I grumble an expletive under my breath as we continue walking.

We come to a clearing as Kai’s tree house looms from up ahead. I’m still not sure of Kao’s intentions for taking me here, but the thought that I have help within earshot helps to calm me. Silently, Kao ushers me up the several flights of rope stairs and into the main section of the tree house then closes the door behind me. I begin to feel a little uneasy knowing that the Menehunes can’t see me from here and I take a deep breath to calm my nerves. Kao puts a pot on the stove and begins moving about the kitchen gathering ingredients. There is an awkward silence hanging in the air that you could slice with a knife. I begin feeling a bit antsy waiting for Kao to explain why he dragged me here in the first place. I get this feeling that Kao is like a bottle under pressure and any minute he's going to erupt and show his evil side.

He returns, handing me a mug with steaming tea and grabs his mug so he can sit across from me at the table. I tap my fingers anxiously against the side of the mug waiting for Kao to break this silence. I watch as Kao studies me over the rim of his cup while sipping his tea. It looks to me like he’s waiting for me to say the first words.

Giving up on him starting the conversation I’m the first to break the silence. “So, Kao, what’s the plan? You say you can help Kai?”

Kao continues to study me making the silence he’s carrying very awkward. After what seems like forever he finally speaks up. “Yes, I think I have a plan, but first things first, we have something to discuss.”

I watch in nervous anticipation as he slowly takes a sip from his cup.

“Enlighten me Emma, why is it that you are able to heal so quickly?” I watch as Kao’s eyebrows lift in question and he stares deep into my eyes. I squirm in my chair a little as I try not to avert his gaze. He stands up and walks over to me. I catch a flash of something white in his hand. I flinch when he raises his hand to my face and begins wiping the dried blood off my cheek with a wet white washcloth. A look of satisfaction and greedy curiosity fills his face. I'm sure that he's looking at the newly fading scar on my cheek as he sits back down across from me and takes a drink of his hot tea.

Crap! “Well, I can’t say I’m really sure to be honest.” I am positive that isn’t what Kao wanted to hear, but I need some time to think. Out of all the things in the world he would ask me, that was not what I had expected to have to answer.

I watch as a sly smile slowly spreads across his face. “Is that so,” he replies. He sets the cup down on the table a little too hard causing me to flinch. Kao leans closer to me closing the space that is between us. “Emma, you expect me to believe that? I think you know more than you’re letting on. I think you know where the bones are. How else can you explain yourself? You want to know what I think?” Kao asks as he gets up from his chair and paces the room. He doesn’t wait for me to respond before he begins speaking again. “I think Kai entrusted you with his secret. Why else would you heal at such remarkable speed?”

I was about to answer him when it became clear his question was simply rhetorical.

His eyes narrow at me before his expression changes entirely. He begins talking to me in an entirely different way, almost with cheerfulness to his voice. “Because, you know, if you do know where the bones are, you could use that to free Kai. Make him human again.” He leans forward to insinuate his words. “You do want that, don’t you?” His proximity is making me nervous. He's so close I can feel his breath on my face. I know what this man is capable of, and I know he is not afraid to harm whatever he has to in order to get what he wants. I'm instantly grateful that Kaylee and Tristan aren't around.

I clear my throat and find the courage to speak. “Well, now that you mention it, I do remember Kai telling me about some powerful bones. He even took me there once to honor his fallen King, but I had never associated them with his immortality.” His eyes flash with desire when he hears the word immortality. Not a desire for me, but for it. I remain in eye contact hoping that Kao doesn’t detect my lie. “So, how does this help Kai exactly?” I ask with a little too much innocence in my voice.

Kao gives me a half smile before sitting back down at the table with me. He steeples his fingers as though lost in thought. “Ah, yes. Well, with that kind of knowledge, it would give us great trading powers with the chief Night Marcher. That would most definitely be something he would be willing to trade for.”

I can see the hunger in his eyes. I know all too well that Kao’s intentions are anything but what he just said, however I try to keep my knowledge of his true desires out of my voice. “There is such thing as a Night Marcher chief?” I ask trying to give Kao a reason to believe my feigned innocence.

"Oh yes, but he is a hard sell. He does not relinquish his people without having another to take its place. Perhaps this secret will motivate him to make a trade without the sacrifice." His eyes rake over me from head to toe, assessing me. A shiver runs down my spine and my stomach rolls with nausea. He continues, "So Emma, where are the bones?"

This is it, our plan. I just have to make him confess while I lead him to a supposed burial ground that I don't even know exists. "Um, they are not far from the inlet of the small beach that leads into the Honopu Valley. It's near a cliffs edge. I don't know how to get there though. Kai had taken me on a boat." I sigh a breath of relief knowing I pulled the location out of thin air. Plus, I figure if we are close to the Menehune cave perhaps if things go wrong, they can step in.

He stares me down, like he's a human lie detector. I try to keep my face as impassive as possible. He speaks up, "Yes, I think I know the place that you are referring to."

Of course he does! My mind flashes back to the night when Kai and I saw Kao down on the beach. We had spent the night there only a few days before when Kao had been hunting me. Hopefully the fact that he had tracked us to that beach will make my story even more believable. "Okay, how are we going to get there then?" I ask.

"The fastest way will be to go by boat. If I were to drag you through the valley, it would take all day. We need to get there before nightfall. Kai will begin his hunt for you the second the sun sets over the horizon." He says rather matter of factly.

"Do you have a boat?" I ask a little nervous. I guess I hadn't totally thought my plan through. I have no idea how the Menehune's and the Night Marcher chief are going to follow me if we go off into the ocean. I would think another boat following Kao and I would be a giant red flag.

"Yes. We should go now." He doesn't wait for me to confirm. He just grabs a bag and puts a few supplies into it. He hands me a flat piece of bread shaped like a pancake. "Eat this; I need you to have all of your strength today."

I reluctantly grab the cake of bread from him. I eat it as we exit the tree house and head towards the beach. It tastes good, almost like rolled oats and nuts made into some type of odd circular pastry. I don't know where he got it, but it appeases my hungry stomach.

Sure enough when we get to the beach area we find a small canoe roped off laying face down on the sand. He turns it over almost effortlessly. We both push it towards the water and I hop in. Kao pushes the boat further into the water and then hops in behind me. Just like the ride I took with Kai in this same boat; there is only one set of oars, so I let Kao do all of the work. It's fine though, I need time to think. I'm grateful for Kao's continued silence throughout the entire trip. I think through what I'm going to do when we reach land. I know that I need to stall a bit in order to give the Menehune's time to get there.

We reach land roughly an hour after we first set off. I look up at the sun and try to guess what time it is. Kao catches my gaze and says, "We still have about two hours before sunset."

I don't like that he can tell what I'm thinking, but I nod my head anyhow.

"So, where is it?" Kao asks as he turns the boat upside down on the sand.

Hopefully this will work as a stall. "Well, it was dark, but I know the bones are buried at the base of a near the cliff." I look up at the cliff that overlooks the beach. It's dotted with over a dozen trees. "I figure we could just examine a few trees first. Maybe one will jump out at me." I shrug my shoulders at him, hoping I'm not wearing his patience too thin.

He thinks about it a moment then replies, "I guess we don't have much of a choice." he looks across the beach to a narrow opening that leads into the valley. "Let's go." His bluntness makes me wary and uncomfortable, but I push through knowing the upside if I succeed.

We both walk side by side across the beach and head towards the tree line that leads up a jagged cliff. If I'm going to get him to confess, I need to get him to talk to me. "So, do you think this will work?"

Kao just shrugs his shoulders and says, "Hopefully."

Great, I need to get more than a single word out of him. I stop and pull off my shoe pretending to empty sand out of it. I figure I need to do some stuff to bide my time. I'm none too excited about making my way up that cliff with Kao. "So what was it like growing up with Kai?" I ask nonchalantly while putting my shoe back on.

He stops and looks at me incredulously. Like he can't guess why I would care or want to know. "It was fine. We were never very close."

Man, Kao really knows how to talk. I try again, "So, how did you become a Night Marcher? Did you look one in the eyes too?" I know very well that he chose to be a Night Marcher. He wanted immortality but did not consider that with that immortality came slavery.

"That is none of your business! We need to focus if we are going to keep your boyfriend from killing you." He storms off towards the tree line angrily.

I hold my ground and stay put. Knowing I need to stall and give the Menehune's time to catch up, I figure I will lie on a little bit of what I call girl guilt. I sit down on the sand and watch. Kao makes it all the way to the other side of the beach before he starts to turn around as if he just realized I wasn't behind him. I quickly throw my head into my hands and try to conjure up some tears so my act will be somewhat believable. It's not too hard to get the water works to flow these days. I have a lot to mourn for: Adam's death, Kai's sacrifice for me, Kai trying to kill me, hurting Tristan. I'm certainly not lacking in the woe department. I start racking my shoulders a bit to make it seem like I'm really sobbing once I hear Kao approach.

He lets out a long exasperated sigh. I listen to his feet marching through the sand back towards me. When he reaches me, he leans down next to me and puts his hand on my back. It takes everything inside me not to repel from his touch. He takes a deep breath and then asks a little gruffly, "What is wrong with you?"

I don't look up; I just sniffle and say, "Everything."

He moves his hand from my back and reverts to trying to stroke my hair lightly. It's very awkward and I can tell he doesn't feel comfortable doing it so he pulls his hand away a second later. "Look, I'm sorry I'm being so cross with you. Like I said, I'm frustrated and I need to get this done."

He uses his hand to lift my face up so I can see him. Goosebumps rise up on my arms as I think about the night when Kai first turned into a Night Marcher. Kao had lifted my head up with his hand to look at him just as he's doing now. I look away, so he doesn't see the pure hatred in my eyes. "Why Kao? Why do you really want to help Kai so badly?"

He puts his hands back down on his lap and says, "I told you Emma, I've made many mistakes. This is only a small part of penance that I can do for him."

I look up at him. I don't believe a single word he says, but I try to soften my features to pretend like I do. "You are just going to hand over the chiefs bones to the Night Marchers like that?" I ask wiping the tears away from my eyes.

"Yes, why would I need them?" He asks with an undertone of tension.

I want to say, because you are an evil bastard who's trying to gain immortality at the expense of human life and your very own brother's soul. Instead I say, "I don't know. I think it's great that you are helping Kai. You are a good brother." I want to wash my mouth out with soap.

He looks at me as if trying to tell if I meant it. I'm amazed that there is no hint of true remorse or guilt in his gaze. He says, "Well, I owe him." He stands up and puts his hand out to help me.

I take it and say, "Thank you."

"You are welcome. Let's start over, are you ready to go save Kai?" He says then asks, "By the way, what is Kai to you? Why are you going to such lengths to save a mere man?" I can tell he really wants to know. His curiosity has peaked his interest.

"He saved me so I need to help him. Also, I love him." I feel more and more free every time I acknowledge this fact. I didn't really know how I felt before, but knowing it makes me want to shout it from the rooftops. I just wish I could be saying those words to Kai himself and not his evil twin brother.

"You love him? You barely know him." Kao says amused as if I am confessing some immature childish crush.

"I don't expect you to understand, but I do. I will do anything to help him." I instantly regret saying those words. I can tell that Kao's wheels are turning in his head. I just offered myself up as a powerful pawn since Kao knows that I’ll do whatever it takes to save the man I love.

"Good." He says, then without further adieu he heads back across the beach towards the valley. This time I follow him.

I keep trying to think of ways to stall this trek we're on. If I could, I would fall and act like I injured something, but that isn’t an option right now. Kao would call my bluff. My brain is reeling as we climb up the towering cliffs. I force myself to not look down as Kao leads at an unprecedented speed. I slow myself, not because I can’t do it but because I need more time. I can act the part of slow, helpless, weak girl any day.

This time, Kao doesn’t get far before he realizes I’m lagging behind. He turns and glares at me and just as quickly his features soften. “Do you need help?” He calls down after me.

“Umm, yes.” It came out as more of a question than a statement.

Kao doesn’t seem to notice though as he climbs slowly back down to where I am. “Just follow me and put your feet where I put mine. That way you won’t fall.”

My eyes widen at his bluntness and I end up looking down. Worst. Mistake. Ever. I'm more than fifty feet above the beach where we last stood. Less than four inches of earth separate me from where I climb and where the cliff drops off. A feeling of vertigo sets in making my hands start to sweat and my legs feel shaky. I let out a small, shrill cry and grab to the rock for dear life. I hear rocks break ahead of me where Kao has his footing and squelch a little louder. I never knew I had a fear of heights, but I guess when I don’t have an ounce of protection like ropes or climbing gear it might make just about anyone scared.

“Emma,” Kao hollers from above. “Emma, just keep going. We are almost there. You can do it.”

I take several deep breaths before I respond, “Okay.” It was all I could muster at the moment, but it was enough to appease Kao. The sun is starting to set and I know I need to get to the top before I'm out here in the pitch dark.

Kao begins climbing again watching for me to follow every now and then. As he finally reaches the top he turns and extends his hand back towards me. I reluctantly grab it as he hoists me to solid ground. I fall facedown and grab the earth in my hand. My limbs shake as I lay there thankful I survived the climb. I turn my head to the side and see the ocean far below us. It makes me think about Kai, and what must have gone through his mind before he tried plummeting to his death. Could this be the very cliff he jumped off? I try not to think about it.

I don’t have much time to get myself together before Kao is at my side. “We need to go now,” is all he says as he starts walking to the nearest tree a few yards away. I scramble to get up and follow him. He is a man on a mission and I am very hesitant about making him wait on me.

We get to the tree as he pulls a small shovel out of his bag. Before he starts digging he turns to ask me, “Could it be this one?”

I nod my head instead of risking my voice. I have no clue what to do at this point other than continue stalling until, by some miracle, he spills the beans.

Kao begins digging in the soft green earth as I take the time to scan my surroundings. I am just truly hoping right now that the Menehunes and the Night Marcher chief are somewhere nearby. The sun is almost fully set and the sky is growing eerily dark. I watch Kao dig up the earth all around the tree until he has nowhere else to dig. He breathes in short breaths from the exertion of digging and turns his head towards me while his back is still hunched over. He slams the shovel down and comes barreling towards me. With nowhere to back up I close my eyes and put my arms over my face. “Any more bright ideas young lady?” He says in an all too irritated voice.

“It’s around here somewhere. I remember it being a tree close to the cliff.” I peak out from between my arms as I watch Kao’s face.

His eyes squint while he looks at me, probably trying to see if he believes me or not. He takes the backpack off his back and throws it at me. “Here, find a flashlight,” he says while turning around and grabbing his shovel.

I reach into the bag and find the flashlight. Looking up I check to see if Kao is looking, then screw off the back of the light. I quickly turn one of the batteries over and replace the back plate. I rush to catch up to Kao and hand him the light. He turns around just long enough to grab it roughly out of my grip and then continues on to the next tree.

When we arrive Kao turns back towards me. “Shine that light right here while I dig.” He hands me back the light. Knowing the light isn’t going to turn on I realize I’m going to have to play the part of innocent bystander.

I dramatically click the light on and off over and over and then look to Kao in utter confusion. “It doesn’t work.”

Kao throws his shovel down and stomps towards me. This time I only flinch as he reaches out and grabs the light back from my hand. I watch him as he switches the light on and off several times and shakes the light uncontrollably up and down. A guttural growl emanates from his throat as he throws the flashlight over the cliff. My eyes get wide as I realize he could just do the same to me if he wanted too.

“Those things never work well anyway.” I watch as he suddenly peels off his shirt revealing his all too toned abs. He takes his shirt and shreds it into several long pieces. He wanders around with the small amount of light he has left from the moon and finds a long thick stick. He begins winding the shirt around and around the top of the stick and somehow ties it all together. He grabs the pack from me and finds a lighter. I hear him mumble something about it being the best invention from the twentieth century and then he sets the torch ablaze. The eerie shadows that emanates off his face cause me to flash back to the night when I saw Kao for the first time as a Night Marcher. It’s eerie and almost more than I can bear.

I avert my gaze to the ground as Kao comes closer to me. He gently grasps my hand in his and places my hand over the bottom of the torch. “Hold this while I dig.”

I wrap my hand tighter around the torch and bring my other hand up to help sustain it. Kao begins digging again at the base of the tree, more than likely on a wild goose chase. My fingers nervously trace the complex patterns on the stick in my hands. I need to get him talking; I have to get him to confess or all of this will have been for nothing.

“So, Kao…” I begin, knowing good and well I am starting on a lengthy monologue. “Tell me something, are Night Marchers the only supernatural being on the Island? I mean, I think it’s pretty neat there’s more to life out there than most know. Where I come from, the only supernatural being that we talk about is maybe Bloody Mary and she isn’t even real. I would know; I tried calling out to her with my friend Kaylee when we were 12.”

Kao looks up from where he’s digging, interrupting my thought process. I force a small smile at him, hoping this gets him talking. He slowly puts the shovel down and stands up. He wipes his hands on the front of his pants and slowly starts to make his way towards me. I stand there trying not to let the torch shake in my trembling hands.

“Emma, you have no idea what other supernatural beings are out there. I don’t think you really want to know.” He pauses briefly as he edges closer to me. “There are things out there that would make your nightmares scream.” The way he says this makes my palms begin to sweat. His expression becomes far more sinister as he invades my personal space. The light of the fire dances off his irises making me shudder. “And to be honest with you…” Kao begins, “I’m not sure you would want to know. How do they say this now, ignorance is bliss?”

I nod my head in agreement as his finger glides over my cheek. He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear as I try and stand as still as possible. He smirks at me a second too long and turns around and begins digging again.

I take a deep breath trying to calm myself. He was extremely angry the last time he didn’t find the bones; there’s no telling how he’s going to feel this time around. Suddenly his shovel hits something hard near the base of the tree and Kao jabs it a few more times mimicking the same sound. I watch his hands as they begin to dig double time attempting to unearth whatever lies underground. Several small shaped bones appear, one after the other. Kao’s hands become greedy as he rips them from the earth.

What the heck? He found the proverbial needle in a haystack, I think to myself as I watch this impossible feat unfold. I'm literally dumbfounded that I actually lead Kao to the chief's bones without even knowing their true location. What are the odds?

Within a few minutes Kao has a small pile of bones stacked next to him.

Crap, crap, crap! I certainly wasn't prepared for this. Now that he has found his prize, I know that he is done with me. His eyes and body language say it all. There is no need to keep me around anymore. I'm so frustrated with myself for accidentally leading him here. To top it off how convenient for him that the cliff is right next to us? Such easy access to death.

An evil laugh permeates the silent night and I cringe in response. Kao gets up rather abruptly and comes and grabs the backpack from the ground where I stand. He fishes through it for different items he apparently needs. From here it looks like some small plants, a lighter, and some different pieces of delicate jewelry. He tosses the backpack back down after he has what he wants and goes back to the pile of bones. He begins placing them in an animal skin and ties them with a small piece of twine. He takes the small bushel of plants and begins lighting them on fire. An ancient smell begins to permeate the air as I hear Kao chant something in a different language. He gathers the small pieces of jewelry and places them on top of the bag with the bones tucked away inside. Kao stays like this for several minutes, chanting the same eerie saying over and over again. I watch him as he takes a knife from the dirt. I don’t remember seeing him grab that when he was searching through the backpack. He begins to rip through his pants continuing up to his knee. He repeats the chant one more time and waves the smoking plants in a figure eight and then places them by his side. I watch in disbelief as he takes the knife and slices into his leg releasing blood that pours down the side of his leg. He takes some of the blood onto his knife and drops it on the top of the jewelry letting it drip down to the bag itself. He bows his head one last time before his eyes gleam open. It’s almost as if he was in a trance-like state for the past few minutes. He turns his head towards me and an evil laugh permeates the air. I watch Kao with a fixed stare as he gets up off the ground. The blood is still dripping from the wound he caused.

Kao must see me staring at his wound. “Not to worry Emma, it will heal all too quickly now. You see, now I myself, am immortal.”

My heart is beating so hard I feel as if my chest is going to explode. My brain still hasn't processed everything I just saw, it's so other worldly and just unbelievable. How could I have led him to the chief's bones? It's absolutely absurd! A single tear releases from my eye unwillingly and my eyes drop to the ground. It’s all over now, I think to myself. There’s not going to be any way to help Eve, or get back Kai. Kao must sense that I know what’s coming next because he smirks evilly.

“Wait,” I surprise myself saying. “I know you’re going to kill me, and for some reason I'm okay with that. But please, I beg you, before you do I have just one question that I would like you to answer.” Kao cocks his head to the side and nods his head to go on. “Did you kill a Menehune named Adam?” I watch as Kao’s eyebrows rise up. I’m sure he is surprised to hear that I know about Adams death, but probably more surprised I know about the Menehunes at all.

“That’s your question, Emma?” He asks me point blank. I nod my head in response as his expression changes. “I did what I had to do. Did I kill Adam? Yes, I did. That little Menehune was supposed to be the key to me finding immortality. But when I realized that you would be the better pawn I did away with him.”

I flinch as he says this. It makes me ill thinking he can talk about something like that so nonchalantly. In the back of my mind I am hoping that the Menehunes and the Night Marcher chief hear his confession, but I know at this point it will do them no good. He’s immortal now; he can’t die.

I look down to the ground not able to look at Kao any longer. If I am about to die, his face isn’t the last thing I want to see. Kao is close enough to me now that I see his feet in front of me. Something strange catches my eyes as he stands there. The bleeding in his leg hasn’t stopped. If he is truly immortal like he says he is, then there shouldn’t be any blood dripping from his leg. It most likely would be dried up blood having already clotted and healed. Then it dawns on me. Kao isn’t immortal, he just thinks he is!

Forcing myself to look up at Kao, I find strength inside me I didn’t know I had until now. I smile brightly at Kao and say, “Here, can you hold this?” I must take him off guard because I shove the torch in his hands extra hard. “Thanks!” I reply. Then I do what I do best, run!

I try to put as much distance between the cliffs and me as possible. I make it into a wooded area and can hear Kao from behind, gaining on me. I will myself to run faster and harder than I ever have. My heart is pounding wildly out of my chest from exertion. Where are you Eve? I got Kao to confess so why didn't they come out? My heart sinks knowing they must not have heard him. They may not even be around.

I scream when my hair is jerked and I fall backwards. My back hits the ground so hard that the air is knocked right out of me. As I force myself to breathe I watch the tree canopy move above me. Panic racks my brain when I realize that the trees aren't moving, I am! Like a cavewoman, I'm being dragged by my hair back to where I had just been. "No!" I yell. "Let go!" I scream as I thrash about trying to free myself from him. I dig my nails into the dirt trying to slow our momentum but nothing helps. Kao is on some evil caveman mission to get rid of me. My head feels like it's on fire. I can feel each individual hair as it desperately tries to cling to my scalp. Thoughts of plummeting off the cliff fill my mind. I know I can heal easily but can I heal from a fall like that?

"Hello." I hear Kao say from behind me. He stops abruptly and lets go of my hair. I can't see the person he's talking to. I watch Kao pull a knife out from his back pocket. He turns around and points it at me yelling, "Get up now!"

My heart leaps to my chest with hope. Maybe it's Eve or the Night Marcher chief. I slowly drag myself up. I don't even get a chance to turn around before Kao pulls me in front of him like a shield holding the knife to my neck. I look ahead to see what he's so scared of and find Kai.

Tears of joy spring to my eyes and in this moment I don't care that Kao has a stupid knife to my neck. My Kai is standing in front of us. He doesn't have a shirt on so the greenish glow emanates all that much more across his skin. He's the hottest spirit warrior I could ever imagine, a stupid thing to think right now, I know! Most importantly, he's here in front of me! "Kai!" I say through eyes blurred with tears.

"Oh shut up!" Kao says from behind me. The knife digging deeper into my throat as it threatens to break the skin. "What do you want?" He spits at Kai.

"I've come for her." He says pointing at me. I realize then that Kai is glowing fiercely. He looks so sickeningly like Kao did when he was trying to kill me.

Kao lets out a boisterous laugh. "Oh right, there's still something you need to do."

Kai's body tenses up as he raises his spear up. He nods his head. "Yes. Let her go." He says through clenched teeth.

Kao whispers in my ear, "I don't have to kill you darling, your boyfriend will do the job for me." He laughs again. Then surprisingly he lets me go and backs away from me.

"Kai," I whisper unsure. My stomach feels so sick over this whole situation and I feel as though my head is spinning in shock. I have no idea what to do. Kai takes a forced step towards me. He's trying to fight it again, I can tell. Relief surges through me knowing that he doesn't want to do this. I don't want to run from him. I don't want to make it any harder than it already is.

I catch a movement to the left of me behind some bushes; Eve is sitting camouflaged. A small sliver of hope! I have to make him say it; I have to get Kao to confess again. Eve is here which means the Night Marcher chief is here too! I run away from Kai and back towards Kao. When I get to him I push him as hard as I can. "You evil bastard!" I barely move him.

He lets off his amused laugh.

"You took everything from him. You killed his fiancé. You are trying to kill me and you murdered his best friend!" I stab my finger in his chest with every word.

He looks at me with emotionless eyes. "Yes, so what?"

Will that work? I don't know, but I hope so. "You killed Adam!"

"Shut up and die already!" Kao says venomously. "Your man is ready to kill you now."

He's not going to say anymore. I'm so livid I can't control myself. I pull my fist back and slam it right into his mouth. Ouch! I've never punched anyone before and the throbbing in my hand reverberates up my arm. While it hurt, it still felt so good.

Kao raises his hand to his mouth and wipes some blood off his lip. He holds his hand in front of his eyes examining it in complete shock. He looks at me eyes wide with horror. Then he looks behind me in fear. I turn around to find Kai holding his spear only a few inches from my chest.

"Down." Is all he says. I don't hesitate, I drop to the ground and roll out of the way. I lift my head just in time to see Kai slide the spear into Kao's stomach. Blood gushes from the wound as Kao tries to pull it out frantically. The whole horrific scene makes me feel like I'm going to puke or jump for joy, I'm not sure which.

"Enough!" I hear a voice reverberate from somewhere behind the trees.

"No, no, no!" Kao whales.

"Head down Emma!" Kai yells. He pulls me into his arms pushing my head into his chest to shield me from whatever is happening. His body feels warm and firm against mine. Not cold and damp like I had expected. I open my eyes to look closer at his skin. It's back to the toasted coconut color that I love. My heart leaps with happiness.

"I, I love you." I say quietly into his chest. I want to look in his eyes, but his hand firmly holds my head down in place.

His heart beats harder and at first I worry that something horrible is happening and he's scared. Then he says, "I love you so much Emma."

I want to soak it all in but I'm cut off from this romantic moment when I hear Kao's shrill screams followed by a deep, authoritative voice. "You are hereby sentenced to an eternity of servitude. Kao, you are a slave who shall never be able to raise his head as a warrior again. You are the lowest of the low and will walk in chains forevermore."

"That was the Night Marcher Chief." Kai whispers in my ear. "Eve is here. I need to leave you for a minute. Will you keep your head down?"

I nod my head against his chest.

"Please Emma, don't look up. Everything is going to be fine now, I promise." He says and I believe him wholeheartedly.

He kisses the top of my head and then walks away. I turn my back to where the action is, draw my knees into my chest and rest my head in my hands. I listen intently trying to imagine what's going on behind me.

"Thank you." Eve says.

"It was just and right. I wish I could offer more of an atonement for your husbands death." The Chief says.

"Actually, you can." Eve says rather strongly.

There is an uncomfortable silence for several seconds until the Chief says, "You may ask for anything."

"I want you to release to me all of the innocents that are amongst your tribe. Their families don't deserve this grief that I feel for my lost husband." She pauses a moment to clear the emotion from her voice. "I realize that some of them may not have any family alive. Us Menehune's will take those individuals into our homes."

The Chief stays silent for so long that I have to force myself to keep my head down. I want to see what he's doing or if he is even still there. To be honest, I kind of want to see what the Chief looks like, although I know the implications for doing so. Maybe he thought her request was that ridiculous. Just when I think he's not going to say anything he says in a highly annoyed tone, "Granted." The earth trembles ever so briefly under my feet.

"Thank you." Eve says seemingly unperturbed.

The chief doesn't respond. A long minute passes before Kai puts his hand lovingly on my back. "It's safe to look now, he's gone."

I look up at Kai's face. Love washes over me so strong that I'm swimming in it. I open my mouth to say something but no words come out. I don't even think there are words in my vocabulary that could describe the overwhelming sense of elation for having Kai back, safe and sound.

Kai stares back at me mirroring the same look of adoration on his face. I notice for the first time that his eyes are no longer a full stormy grey. They have these interesting black flecks around the iris. I've never seen anything like them.

"Emma," Kai says. He wants to say something but he too is speechless. He pushes a loose strand of hair behind my ear then opens his mouth again to finish his sentence. He hesitates for a second and then his lips crash down on mine. He pulls me to him in an earth-shattering kiss. That electricity that we shared hasn't died down a single bit, if anything it just feels stronger. I close my eyes and relish in the intoxicating volts that pulse through my veins. The world as I know it falls down around me and it’s just him and me in this moment. I treasure it, not ever wanting it to stop. He pulls away and looks into my eyes again. "Words can't describe what I feel right now." He leans in and kisses me again, this time the kiss is gentle and undemanding. He kisses my lips then the bridge of my nose and finally my forehead. He rests his forehead against mine and says, "I love you so much Emma. That was the stupidest thing anyone has ever done for me. I thought..." His voice gets tight.

I move back just enough to catch his eyes. "I know it was reckless and stupid but I couldn't just leave you there. I know I haven't known you long, but I feel like you took a piece of me with you."

Kai looks at me a little confused but patient to hear what's on my heart.

"I mean, I don't know much about love or it's symptoms, but I realized when I saw you again that at some point I must have given you a piece of my heart. Now, I'm not whole without you. I love you Kai." I put my hand on his cheek and feel his warmth. I lean in and place a gentle kiss on his lips.

Kai, with eyes full of emotion says, "Emma, if I had to march an eternity in slavery it would be worth it knowing that you are safe. They can bind my wrists and shackle my feet, but they can't take away my memories, my heart. If I had to see you grow old from a distance with someone else, it would have been worth it. I have had more than one lifetime to learn that our love can only come around once." He hugs me to his chest then pulls me back and stares seriously into my eyes. "You must never try to sacrifice yourself again for me. That night when you ran away, I knew something was up. I could tell and because I doubted only the slightest bit, I was almost too late. Then when I had to leave you with Kao right there…" His face contorted to anger and pain. "I couldn't help you. I tried, I fought it but I couldn't get away. If you had not struck that curse with me by looking me in the eyes, I may not have made it this time. You must promise me to never do anything that dangerous again." His eyes plead with me.

I shake my head slowly a single tear dropping down my cheek. "I can't promise that Kai. I may not know much about it but I've learned that love is a sacrifice. Putting the one that you love in front of yourself comes with the territory. I would gladly lay down my life for you just as I know you would do for me again and again. You can't expect me to make a promise that you yourself wouldn't be able to keep."

If it's even possible the look of love that is displayed on Kai's face grows even stronger. He nods and says, "You're right. I feel like it's my duty to protect you, but I realize that you are just as strong willed as I am." He grabs a hold of my hand and says, "Emma, I would endure a thousand deaths for you."

I laugh at the irony of his comment. He can't really die; well at least he hasn't yet. I think about my rapid healing and wonder if the same holds true for me. A shiver overcomes me. I don't think I want to find out. Instead I just respond with a flirtatious smile, "Ditto."

Chapter 12

After Kai and I are done with our gushy romantic reunion I look around to realize that nobody else is around. "Where did everyone go?" I ask.

"Eve and the others went to the beach. The Night Marcher Chief and Eve both agreed that level ground would be a more suitable place to release the other Night Marchers." Kai responds.

My heart starts beating with hope and elation, "You mean everyone is going to be released? Kai, that’s amazing!" I bounce with excitement.

He smiles tenderly, "Yes it is, I've marched with some tormented souls who have lost everything. This redemption is long overdue." His face drops with sadness. "Some of them may not be able to handle life like they could before the marching. I don’t think any of them even held onto hope."

Realization dawns on me, "Oh...That's why they didn't want to release them so close to a cliff. They didn't want any of them to..." The idea of the horror that many of these people had to endure cuts right through me. Being taken from everything they knew, to march stoically for who knows how many years. "Was it that bad?" I ask Kai.

A dark look passes over his face. "I wasn't there as long as some of the others. We didn't just march if that’s what you’re asking. We had a purpose and the purpose in and of itself was to protect the island. I held onto that; knowing that at least protecting the island that the woman I love is on, it was enough to keep me going. Like I said, many of the captives have been marching for an unthinkably long time. They've lost everyone that they ever cared for; they had nothing left to hold onto. They are very bitter and hurt because their life was stolen away."

I feel horrible for them. I can't even imagine what that would feel like. "Do you think the Menehunes will be able to help them?" I ask.

"If anyone could help these people it would be the Menehunes. They are filled with love and they care so deeply for others..." Kai's head drops down and I watch his shoulders shake.

"I'm so sorry, Kai." I wrap my arms around him and hold him close to me while he takes a moment to mourn for his lost friend.

He takes a deep breath and wipes his face off. "We should go. Eve mentioned that your friends are there waiting for you."

Friends, that means not just Kaylee but Tristan too. A nervous feeling rises in my stomach knowing Tristan will be there. I decide it's best to be up front with Kai now. "Kai, I need to tell you something." Kai just gives me a loving look almost like he knows what I'm going to say. He doesn't speak up though; he lets me talk. "Do you remember that letter I received when we were with the Menehunes? It was before you became a Night Marcher." He nods. "It was from Tristan. Before we met, he and I were sort of dating. He found me that night when you turned. He took me home and took care of me. He also helped me try to find you again."

"Yes, I remember seeing him with you before we even met. You care for him, I can tell. I could tell when you read that letter." Kai says. Thankfully he doesn't seem upset by the news.

"Yes, I care for him a lot. He and I we have or had feelings for each other. I hurt him Kai. He loves me and I wasn't sure how I felt until a day ago when I saw you again. I made a huge mistake and blurted out that I'm in love with you and he overheard." I feel as if my whole body is shaking with nerves about seeing him again.

"Why are you shaking Emma?" Kai asks then puts his hands on my shoulders.

I try to blink back tears. "I just don't want to hurt Tristan."

"You must really care about him." He looks in my eyes. "Do you love him?"

Shocked I stand there unmoving for a second. I don't even blink. I allow myself to think about all of the little moments that Tristan and I had. "I think I do, but not like I love you. He's meant to be in my life though, I can tell. He’s important to me."

Kai rubs his hands up and down my arms comfortingly. "Then I'm sure you will be able to make it right." He kisses me on the forehead then says, "We better go."

I hold onto Kai's hand the entire decent to the beach. Kai cracked a joke about having unbelievable night vision left over from being a Night Marcher. When we reach the beach we see a scene that looks much like an airport arrival gate. There is so much activity and people gathered here and there. Nearly fifty Menehune's and more than two dozen human's are scattered around on the small beach. A large bonfire lights up the area. Separated into small groups, some people look like they are crying as the Menehunes are comforting them and some people are excitedly talking to others. Seeing how the Menehunes care for these complete strangers is truly heart warming.

My eyes dart around wildly looking for familiar faces. I spot Kaylee's blonde hair from across the crowd easily. Tristan is with her, along with another person and a few Menehune's. I let go of Kai’s hand and start walking forward with Kai on my heels. When I approach the first person to look up and notice me is Tristan. My heart skips a beat when our eyes meet. They aren't filled with pain and sorrow like the last time I saw him, for that I'm grateful.

"Emma!" Kaylee attacks me with a giant bear hug that nearly topples us both to the ground. "Oh my gosh Emma! I'm so glad you are okay!" We hug for several minutes not noticing anyone around us. Hugging Kaylee makes me feel normal again, like everything that is going absolutely berserk in my life is going to be okay.

"Hey, I'm glad you are safe too!" I pull back and look at Paul who is looking up at us goofily.

"Yeah, she's a piece of work Emma. It took three of us to hold her back from running after you when you took off on that boat with Kao. She was not having that." Paul says. But instead of annoyance, he gives Kaylee a look of utter admiration. Hmm, I guess Paul has a new crush. I giggle at the thought.

"Yeah, well I didn't like not being close enough to back my girl up." She smirks at me. "Paul's pretty strong you know." She gives his biceps a playful squeeze and Paul blushes from head to toe.

"I'm sure." I say laughing.

Kaylee looks over my shoulder behind me, "So you must be Kai. You look much hotter than your scumbag brother."

"Kaylee!" I say punching her lightly on the shoulder.

"What? It's true." Kaylee says. I turn so that I'm not blocking the two of them.

"You must be Kaylee." Kai says jokingly. He extends his hand and they both shake.

I look behind Kaylee to where Tristan is standing not too far off. "Why don't you two get to know each other for a few minutes. I need to speak to someone." They nod then go straight into talking.

I walk over to Tristan who is staring at me intently. "Hey there." I say.

"Hey," he says a little quietly like he's not sure what to say.

"Tristan, I'm sorry I hurt you today. I didn't mean for it to come out like that. I mean for you to have to overhear..." I don't know what I should say. My heart races knowing how much is riding on this conversation. I can't bear to lose Tristan altogether. I know that we can't be together the way he may want, but I want him in my life as my friend.

"Emma..." It sounds like on one hand he wants to say it's okay, don't explain and then on the other he needs an explanation.

I try again. "I didn't know how I felt, not until I saw him yesterday Tristan. I would never have led you on if I truly knew. I care for you so much and I never meant to hurt you." I start tearing up so I take a moment to take some deep breaths to clear some of the emotion. The last thing I want right now is for Tristan to have to comfort me. Once I'm sure the tears are put away where they belong I continue. "I love him, but I love you too Tristan."

His eyes grow big and confused. I realize I need to clarify before I spark false hope inside him. "My love for you is different Tristan. I mean, you are amazing and I can't imagine not having you in my life..." I don't know how to explain it. I see in his eyes that I need to try though. I end up speaking way too fast saying: "I don't want to say that I love you like a brother, cause that would be a lie. You are insanely attractive and our kisses were amazing so that would be pretty sick... I just... I didn't expect to fall in love with Kai. When we met though it was like I didn't have a choice, not that I would have wanted a choice, but it was like we were meant to be together. Like we were missing puzzle pieces in life…we just fit. I know that's not what you want to hear, but know I still love you. Now it has to be a friend type of love. I want you in my life. I can't stand the thought of having you hate me but if you want me to never speak to you again I understand." I finish out of breath and flustered. As much as I didn’t want to hurt Tristan, I still have to say it feels really good being truly honest with him.

Tristan stays silent for a moment taking it all in. I get so nervous that I start to sweat. Maybe he's not even going to respond. I ready myself; this could be the last time I will ever talk to Tristan. If that's what he wants, that is.

Thankfully he speaks up, "I'm not going to lie and say that I don't love you, or that I'm not hurt. I am going to say though that because I love you, I want the best for you. I was there when Kai came to save you. I saw the way he looked at you and how he took care of you. If I had seen anything other than absolute irrevocable love on his face, I would not step aside." He lifts his hand up to my face. "If he is what makes you happy, I will not stand in the way." He leans down and kisses me quickly on the lips. It's a gentle last kiss. "I will always love you though Emma. If I am forced to a fate of loving you as a friend forever, then that is a fate I can live with." He smiles just enough to show me that this can work.

My heart leaps with joy and I exhale a breath of relief. "Tristan, I don't deserve you."

"Hey, don't sell yourself short babe." He winces a small bit at the word babe. It's going to take a while to get used to this. All that matters is that we try though. He breaks the semi uncomfortable silence by saying, "Um, I have someone I want you to meet."

A man Tristan's age steps up beside him.

"Noa!" I yell in excitement.

"Um, hi. Have we met before?" His eyebrows furrow over my impromptu notification that I already know who he is.

"Not really, I mean, I'm a friend of the family. I've seen your picture and Tristan told me about you." I pull him into a hug because that's what Texans do and because he looks like he can use it. Reluctantly he returns the hug so I don’t linger.

I notice a few torches descending down the side of the cliff where we just came from and involuntarily I shutter. I could go a lifetime without seeing another torch. When they get closer I can tell they aren’t Night Marchers though because they are scattered, sporadic and well, short.

Eve comes to stand beside me and takes my hand in hers. “Since this is all over, and everyone is here, I figured we could give a final goodbye to Adam. I know he would love to have been part of this wonderful redemption of so many lost souls." She gives my hand a small squeeze and walks over to meet the other Menehunes who just descended down the hill. They were the ones I saw carrying the torches down to the surf. Four Menehunes, two on each side, carry a small wooden casket measuring no more than four feet in length. There is an array of different brightly colored Hawaiian flowers lining the outside of the box. Each of the Menehune's carrying it wears a matching leafy necklace and hairpiece made of flowers. I recognize the leaves that adorn the box and the Menehune's necklaces. They belong to the Ti plant, which is said to ward off evil spirits. I think I need to make one of those a permanent part of my wardrobe from this point forward.

I watch as they solemnly place the casket on the beach carefully and gather around behind it. Eve places her hand on it then looks over to the crowd and smiles. Even through her smile I can sense her pain.

“If I could have your attention please?” Eve announces. She may be small but her voice envelops a powerful tone that demands authority. Everyone grows silent and turns towards her. “As you all know my husband has passed on..." She pauses to collect herself. I'm sure announcing this fact in front of her gathered loved ones makes it seem all the more final. "I can’t tell you that I’m okay, because I am not. We were married for a very long time. If you asked him how long, he would have said: forever." She chuckles sadly at the memory. "Adam was my best friend, my confidant, my partner in crime, my uhane hoa, soul mate.” Through the firelight I can see a small tear run down her brave face. She wipes the tear away quickly and continues. “But, this is not a time for sadness, this is a time for celebration. Tonight we have many things to celebrate: Adam’s life, the redemption of the innocents, and the return of our adopted son Kai.” She gives Kai a sincere smile then finishes addressing the crowd. “If you don’t mind I would like to share a few words with you in honor of my late husband Adam.” She reaches into her pants pocket, pulls out a small piece of paper and unfolds it. “As I stand before you now, I want you to remember my husband Adam. As you all know, life is a very precious gift that we sometimes take for granted. Many of you here tonight remember Adam. Most of you knew him as the strong and grounded man he appeared to be, but I knew he was more than that. He was a man of emotions who I know loved me for who I was and that love never waivered. This is a letter I wrote to my husband so everyone will be able to hear how much he will be missed.” Eve holds the piece of paper closer to her face and begins to read. “To my dearest Adam: A small squeeze of the hand or a hug from you always let me know I was loved and that you were there for me. You always knew what to say to make me laugh, and for that I am ever grateful. I was proud of you everyday you were with me; I was proud to call you my husband. You left your mark on the world, and I know I am not the only one who misses you. You are and always will be my soul mate and my inspiration. No one will ever be able to fill your shoes much less take your space. You were my steadfast rock that helped me through thick and thin. Adam, you may now be with the angels, but I know you are able to look down on us with a bigger than life smile on your face. Now I have to say my final goodbye to you, my lover, my husband, and my best friend. You are and always will be forever in my heart. Love always, Your Eve." She folds the papers up, her face glistening with tears. The crowd of people remains stoically silent as she places the letter among the flowers atop the box.

Nearby Menehunes gather closer around the box; some of them skim their hand across the top. Eve kisses her hand and places it affectionately on the lid near where Adam's heart would be. She takes a deep breath then looks up, “Now, lets get this party started!”

My eyes grow larger than my face as some Menehune's break out their instruments and strike up a happy beat and others begin to dance joyfully. Across the beach I hear the corks pop simultaneously on several bottles of Champaign. The humans that are standing around me are not sure what’s going on; I can see it from their faces...They have the same look as I do.

Paul wanders over to where we’re standing and holds his hand out to Kaylee, “My lady, may I have this dance?” He bows at the middle like a proper gentleman and straightens back up looking at Kaylee intently.

I stifle a giggle and wait for her response. “Oh, why not.” Kaylee replies and takes Paul’s hand in hers. But instead of Paul leading her to the dancing area, Kaylee is in the lead almost dragging Paul along.

I feel Kai’s arms wrap slowly around my middle as he turns me towards him. “Emma,” Kai breathes in my ear.

“Yes Kai,” I barely manage to say. My heart is hammering in my chest at Kai’s proximity.

“May I have this dance?”

I simply nod my head in response. He picks me up and holds me close as he twirls me around once then sets me back down on my own two feet.

I smile up at him still encased in his arms. “I love you Kai.” I say knowing that in this moment, everything is right in the world. He leads me to the dancing area, a not so makeshift wood dance floor. At first I'm surprised to see it here in the middle of the beach, like it materialized out of thin air. Then I remind myself that the Menehune's did what they do best: build speedily without anyone noticing.

Kai expertly twirls me around the other dancers on the floor. Holding me tight he begins whispering in my ear things meant for me and me alone to hear. I melt in his arms as the energy I have grown to love encircles us. While this is unlike any other ‘funeral’ I have ever been to, it is most certainty the most memorable. I nestle my head on Kai’s chest and let all my cares and worries melt.

We spend the night dancing under the stars and I bend Kai's ear telling him all about how my dad sent me to Dallas and Kaylee and I sneaking back the following day. I find myself kind of enchanted watching Kai's face run through a gambit of emotions as I tell the story of my mission to save him. I see love, admiration, pride and anger, sadness and a bit of shame. He lets me know that the latter feelings were due to him not being able to save me.

Later that evening, as the party dies down the musician’s take their place by Adam’s casket again. Eve joins them at the head of the group. Kai excuses himself so he can stand at Eve's side. He drapes his oversized arm across her tiny delicate shoulder as everyone lines up to take their turn saying their final peace. Instead of heart wrenching goodbyes each person recalls a joyful memory of Adam. No one cries or seems distressed; they are accepting what is and allowing life to move on. I listen as they regale times of engineering adventures and talk about arguments regarding who has the best glass smashing skills. With each story, Eve's face lights up a little more. When it's my turn I share about how Adam had to throw a mini life preserver to me when Kai and I showed up in the middle of their town canal. Boy was I surprised at the size of that 'arm floatie.' Eve enjoyed the story and when I was done she grabbed my hand and pulled me to her side so that now Kai and I were surrounding her. I can't help but feel honored that she wants me to be at her side during this time.

When everyone is through sharing, Eve says as if talking directly to Adam himself: "Do you remember how you always called me ‘Woman’? It used to get under my skin and drive me crazy. It's funny how the things that annoyed you the most are the things that you will miss when they are gone." She smiles halfway then bends over the casket and rests her arms over both sides hugging it like a small child. She holds onto it for a few seconds and then she places a small kiss on the top.

As she stands up the four Menehune's who carried the casket pick it up and begin heading for the water. They wade into the water until it is up to their chests, then lay the casket in the ocean and gave it a small push. We all watch as the coffin is set afloat, being carried out to sea by the waves of the vast ocean.

“Bye Adam. You will be missed.” I whisper into the wind.

From behind me a hauntingly beautiful song in a language I've never heard before is sung melodically by all of the Menehune's. A flame catches my eye and I turn just in time to see an archer pull a flaming arrow onto his bow. He releases it and the crowd follows it's path until it hits the casket. We watch as the light of the fire overtakes it until it sinks to become one with the ocean.

When the flames in the Pacific are no more, an older gentleman Menehune with silver hair calls the crowd to attention. He holds his hand out to Eve who accepts it. He says to her, "The Elders and I have been turning the pages for days now trying to find a name suitable enough for you."

I look to Kai who has a sad yet understanding look on his face. He quietly whispers to me, "Without an Adam, there would have been no Eve."

Still not understanding I look at him then back to the Menehune gentleman and Eve. The man continues, "If you wish to accept it, we have chosen your new name," He pauses then says, "Tabitha."

The crowd oohs and ahs as if it is one of the most prized names of all. I try to figure out who Tabitha was in literature. The Menehune's have a standing tradition to choose a name that coincides with a figure in literature.

"An Emblem of beauty." Eve says a tear running down her cheek. "I am honored, thank you."

The crowd breaks out in a loud ongoing round of applause.

I continue trying to place the name in my head. Then a light bulb goes off as I remember the Bible story of the widow Dorcas whom everyone loved. She died but her friends believed that God could bring her back. They sent for Peter and told him all about the ways that Dorcas had helped all of the widows and believers. Peter heard them and got down on his knees to pray. Then he said, "Tabitha get up." She opened her eyes and sat up. God had restored her to life. Peter took her by the hand, helped her to her feet and presented her to her friends. Dorcas was considered beautiful in God's sight. Her love and good deeds that she did for others did not go unnoticed. With that she was bestowed a new name, Tabitha.

I smile realizing what a befitting and lovely new name that is for Eve. All of the Menehunes begin gathering around Tabitha to congratulate her. Tabitha glows from all the attention; she looks at peace now.

Kai and I stand back and watch the celebration from a distance. Kaylee, Tristan and Noa come up to stand next to us. We hadn't seen much of them during the party and the ceremony. I think Paul must have been occupying Kaylee, or the other way around. I had noticed Tristan and Noa sitting at the edge of the beach off in the distance for most of the evening. I'm sure they had a lot to catch up on. Tristan is the first to speak. “Well, I think it’s safe to say that we need to get you girls home. I guess the question is, which home?”

Kaylee and I share a quick glance both hoping the other has an idea. None come to mind and we end up standing there looking dumbfounded. We hadn't even thought about what we would do once we completed our mission. My heart soars knowing that we did, we completed what we came here for. I can't deny that there was a huge seed of doubt in the back of my mind; I had not pumped myself up for success. Now is the hard part. Telling my dad, because if I don’t tell him, someone else will.

Kai ends up breaking the awkward silence. “In life, nothing is better than the truth. Emma, I think first things first. You need to find your father and come clean about what happened.” He takes my hand in his for reassurance. “I will accompany you if you’d like.”

I conveniently ignore Tristan's rolling eyes. I appreciate how well he took me telling him that I love Kai, but I certainly can't expect that he would be okay with our PDA. I smile at Kai and give his hand a small squeeze. “I think you’re right Kai." Tristan makes a gagging sound so I punch him semi-playfully and semi-seriously on his shoulder.

I turn to my silent partner in crime. "Kaylee, what about you?”

Kaylee bites her fingernails, “Who, me? Oh, I’m good. I’m just gonna try and get home before my mom notices I’ve been gone.”

Tristan speaks up, “I can give you a ride to the airport if you’d like.” Kaylee smiles in return.

“Well,” I begin, “I guess we can all fit in Tristan’s jeep. You did bring the Jeep, right?”

Tristan laughs playfully. “Yes, of course I did. We just might have to walk a little to get to it.” With Kai leading the way because of his newfound night vision we slowly make our way to the Jeep.

It seems like hours, if not days of hiking in almost complete darkness before we reach the clearing where Tristan’s jeep is parked. I don’t care though, I’m still elated at having Kai’s hand in mine.

I watch as Kai stands there staring at the Jeep with a look of bewilderment on his face. Then it dawns on me. I don’t think Kai has ever been in a vehicle before.

"Is this your first time to...you know?" I ask Kai.

He looks at me at first seriously and then breaks out laughing. He leans in so closely that only I can hear him. He whispers into my ear, "I was here when the first car was brought onto the island." He gives me a gentle kiss on the ear, which sends goose bumps spiraling across my skin. He leans back and smiles unabashedly at me.

I blush and say, "Well then why are you looking at Tristan's Jeep like it's going to bite you?"

"I don't think it's a snake, I was just doing the math. There are four seats and five of us." Kai replies.

I look at the cramped space of Tristan's Jeep. Our bags are packed and placed in the small area behind the backseat. I wonder when Tristan took the time to grab our things.

I look back at Kai and say, "Well, I can always sit on your lap." I smile up at him.

"Not unless you want to get in a wreck when I have to hurl right in the middle of driving." Tristan says.

I look at him annoyed. On one hand I know I hurt him and I know he's only coping with it the best way he can. On the other hand, he's really starting to piss me off with his snide comments and gagging noises. "Fine, I will sit on Kaylee's lap." I say to Tristan.

He smiles big and says, "Oh yeah."

"Whatever!" Kaylee decides to chide in and smacks Tristan on the back of the head lightly. Kaylee and I laugh as Tristan rubs his head pretending like it hurt more than it did.

"I will sit in the back with the girls." Noa interjects while giving a sideways glance in Kaylee's direction. I can tell that Noa's already smitten.

"Sounds good." Kaylee says in her best southern drawl. Then she walks towards the Jeep shaking her hips just enough that I can tell she must be a little taken with Noa as well. I laugh to myself as we all pile in. Thankfully Tristan has the top off so the open air makes us feel a little less claustrophobic.

Tristan glares at Kai as he moves to sit in the front. I'm sure that if Tristan had the doors on his Jeep he would have slammed his door loudly to emphasize his unhappiness with this seating arrangement.

Kai doesn't look too comfortable being in the front either. He just sits back and stares out the passenger side window. Thankfully both of them keep their comments to themselves.

Once I take my seat on Kaylee's lap and we work the seatbelt across the two of us, Tristan takes off. I forgot how bumpy his Jeep can be when he's driving off road. I hold onto the roll bars to steady myself as we drive over the rough terrain. I know that the trip could be a lot less bumpy if Tristan drove slower, but he seems like he's trying to get this ride over with as quickly as possible.

"Kai!" I yell as Tristan takes a turn way too fast and Kai nearly falls out of the passenger side. Tristan slams on the brakes, which sends Kai jutting forward. Luckily he has quick reflexes and throws his hands out on the dashboard to steady himself before his head has a chance to slam into the windshield.

"Dude, what the freak? Haven't you heard of a seat belt? Seriously, you aren't freaking invincible. Buckle up!" Tristan scolds Kai.

Kai just breaks out laughing and I join in as well. Everyone else looks at us like we are sharing in some stupid inside joke. I doubt now is the time to blurt out that Kai is invincible. "Sorry, it was just funny. I mean, he almost fell right out." I say before I realize how it sounded.

On that note Tristan smirks as well saying, "Yeah, it did look pretty freaking funny. I'm sure if we had a video of him grappling onto the roll bars like a monkey during that turn, it would totally go viral." His mood seems to lighten a little bit. I realize that it's because to Tristan my comment sounded like I wasn't all out worried about Kai. I'm not going to correct him though. I've hurt him enough and if this makes him feel better, so be it. I can tell from the look on Kai's face that he didn't take any offense, which makes me love him all that much more.

Kai buckles up and Tristan takes off again. We remain silent the whole way to the airport.

Tristan pulls up to the departures terminal and parks in the no parking area. Kai and Noa stay in the car to make sure it doesn't get towed while Tristan and I escort Kaylee inside. We luck out big time when one of the airline representatives says that there is a standby ticket available for a flight back to Dallas that's leaving in an hour. We purchase the ticket and Tristan says his goodbyes to Kaylee. He gives her a hug and then stands to the side giving me a moment alone with my BFI.

"Kaylee..." Tears spring to my eyes and my throat closes up with emotion. I don't want her to go home.

"Don't worry, I will be back before you know it. If I can save up enough I will be back here in Kauai with you within a year." She gives me a weak smile.

"I will be saving too. I owe you big time. I love you lady!" I say giving Kaylee a big hug.

"You know it sista!" She says jokingly. "I've got to run if I'm going to make it on time. I’ll call you when I land." She grabs her bag from the ground and says, "I’ll talk to you soon!"

"Okay." It's all I can say. I watch as tears fill Kaylee's eyes and like the strong woman that she is, she turns from me raises her shoulders and walks towards security.

I watch her the whole time until she gets through security. She waves to me as she turns down the terminal towards her gate.

I feel like a piece of me just left and in a way it has. I wipe away the tears that I just realized were falling down my cheeks. When I get back to Tristan he gives me a big hug and says, "It will all be okay."

I know I shouldn't take anymore from Tristan than I already have, but I take his comfort at this time and I hope that he's right.

We walk side by side towards the Jeep. A feeling of peace passes over me. Something tells me that he is right. It will all be okay. It's not going to be easy telling the truth to my dad or trying to find a way to create a friendship with Tristan or being away from Kaylee again. No, this will be one heck of a bumpy road that I'm going down. But, it will all be okay.

Epilogue

“Dad, slow down!” I scream at him with nervous anxiety rising in my chest. My father is once again driving my convertible like a bat out of hell. I'm going to have to think twice next time I hand him the keys.

"If you didn't take so long to get all beautified I wouldn't have to! Do you want to make it on time or not?" My dad chides back.

I smile at him and reply, "Well you know I can't really answer that since I have no idea where we’re going!" My dad made me get in the car this morning and said he had a surprise for me.

It's nice to be on speaking terms again with my dad. He was none too happy when I brought Kai home over a month ago and I explained all that had happened which included the part about deceiving my dad and Kaylee's mom.

Thankfully Kai was there to help me explain the craziness that has been our lives for the past few weeks. The paranormal investigator part of my dad was über intrigued by the whole situation including the Night Marchers and the Menehune's. (We conveniently left out the whole chiefs bones and possible immortality part. No need to give my dad a heart attack.) The parental part of my dad on the other hand was mortified and infuriated that I, his only daughter, was put in the line of danger. Not to mention the fact that my best friend and I, plane hopped from Texas to Hawaii without his knowledge. When all was said and done though, my dad let me off pretty lightly by only grounding me until I graduated, which was yesterday.

I look to the backseat to see Kai sitting there smiling back at me. My heart hasn't yet gotten used to being near him so often. I still get all of those wonderful butterfly feelings fluttering about when I see him. I hope it never goes away.

Kai and my dad have really hit it off since the first day they met. He even allowed Kai to hang out with me at the house while I was grounded. (Under his supervision of course.) At first I was mortified when my dad grilled Kai for hours with questions about the Night Marchers. Kai assured me though that it didn't bother him. My dad was just amazed that a supernatural group like the Night Marchers could actually take a living human being and enslave them or force them to join their ranks. He's been researching other possible spirit wanderers throughout the world. My heart saddens when I think about his purpose for doing this. I'm sure he's hoping that maybe, just maybe, my mom may have been taken by a group similar to the Night Marchers. It's such a far, I mean really far off idea. I don't say anything to my dad though since I can see that there is a small bit of hope inside him. He hasn't had a lead or a hope of finding out what happened to my mom in a very long time. I could never squelch that for him. The Kealoha's offered to financially back all of his future research and documentaries, which only encourages him more.

If anyone knows what it's like for a loved one to go missing without a trace, it's the Kealoha's. No words can describe the over abundance of joy that they had upon being reunited with Noa, their lost son.

My dad slams on the brakes jerking me from my thoughts. "Here!" He says loudly.

Ah, the airport. I have many mixed feelings about this place and not many of them are good. I look at my dad anxiously.

"Don't worry, I'm not shipping you off again." He laughs. "Your graduation surprise is here though."

Still a little nervous, I hop out of the car. Kai holds my hand and as we walk to the automatic doors. I feel relieved to see the arrivals sign posted boldly above it. I look back at my dad who has a beaming smile pasted on his face. He's proud of whatever surprise he planned.

I barely have time to walk through the doorway when my name is shrieked out from across the room. My heart leaps with excitement as I start running and screaming, "Kaylee!!!"

We meet halfway and collide into a huge bear hug. "Emma!" She yells excitedly in my ear. "I know it's only been a month but I've missed you sooo much!"

"I know me too!" I say, unwilling to let go of her. We jump up and down giddily.

"Well, that's why she's staying permanently." My dad who must have approached without either of us noticing chides in proudly.

I look up at my dad and then to Kaylee who must have been in on this whole thing. "What do you mean? You haven't even graduated! "

Kaylee winks at me and gives me a sly grin. "You aren't the only one who can get their degree in no time with online home schooling. I booked it like nobodies business and finished up yesterday too!"

"What? You home schooled? Why?"

"Emma, we always said we would graduate together. I couldn't let you go and do that alone could I?" She smiles big. "Your dad just kept me updated on your progress. Man seriously, I had to pull some all-nighters to catch up with you lady!"

"I can't believe you've been able to keep this a secret the whole time," I say while giving Kaylee and my dad both the stink eye. I don't hold it long before I start cracking up. They both join in. I can't help but feel so encouraged and honored that Kaylee would give up walking across the stage to graduate at the same time as me. I have no idea how I landed such an amazing friend. A thought pops into my head. "By the way, how on earth did you save enough money to move here in only a month?"

"The Kealoha's chipped in." My dad interjects for Kaylee. "They said it's the least they could do for one of the girls who helped save her son."

I look to Kaylee and give her a knowing smirk then drawl, "Mmhm... I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that said son has a huge thing for said girl." Both Kaylee and I break out into a giggling fit.

Kai and my dad grab her numerous checked bags, eight in all and head outside. Thankfully the Kealoha's driver came in time to help shuttle the excessive luggage to our house. There's no way it would have been able to fit into my small convertible.

My dad ends up riding back with the driver so it's just Kaylee, Kai and I for the trip back home. I let Kai take the wheel. He only recently got his license but he's already a better driver than I am, plus he knows this island like the back of his hand. He is one of their longest living human residents after all!

With him driving it leaves Kaylee and me distraction free to talk and catch up. She delves right in telling me about staying up all night texting and Skyping with Noa nearly every day. She laughs about how she is falling for a guy that she's never even kissed.

"So, what's your plans for the summer Kaylee?" Kai chirps up from the front seat.

Kaylee happily starts diving in with a list of all of the things she wants to do this summer. I can tell she did her research by Googling all of this Island's hot spots. She shares the only two things that are on her 'avoid at all costs' list: camping and running into Night Marchers. I second her on both!

I let Kaylee and Kai talk for a little bit as my mind wanders off staring at the gorgeous scenery that is Kauai. I am so happy that Kaylee has found someone that she really cares for. I hope Tristan is able to find the same too. He had to return to training a week ago, (since he hadn't completed his last round.) My heart sinks a little when I remember the trip I took with him to the airport. He asked me to drive him, even though his mother offered to do it. He wanted to talk to me, he said. When we got to the airport we had over two hours to spare so we sat in the car for a while talking. His aquamarine eyes had a bit of a sad hue to them that day. It was like he knew that we were done for, at least in a relationship way.

"You know Emma, I kept hoping that maybe one day you would just wake up and change your mind. You know, like you would just look at me and exclaim that you love me and only me." He said.

My heart plummeted. I hate making Tristan hurt. "I'm sorry Tristan."

"Don't be sorry Emma. I didn't ask you to drive me so I could make you feel guilty. I just want to be honest with you. While I feel this way about you, I want you to know that I see how happy Kai is making you. It is enough for me to really know that you are taken care of. I will always be here for you." He says sincerely while brushing my hair behind my ear.

I close my eyes grateful for his touch, that contact which tells me that not all is lost in our relationship. "I know Tristan. I will always be here for you too. I want the best for you, I love you, you know that right?"

He smiles and lets out a weak laugh. "Yeah, I know. Not in the way that I love you, but I will settle for your love as a friend. That alone will get me through my darkest days."

I smile sadly and hug him tight. I hate him leaving broken hearted but time might be exactly what he needs to mend his heart. We get out and I walk him to the departures gate. I stand with him until he has to get into line at security.

He brushes a light kiss on my lips and I blush at the gesture. He really needs to get used to kissing me on the cheek soon, I'm sure Kai won't put up with the lip kissing forever. Upon seeing my blush he pulls me into a tight hug and whispers in my ear, "Keep me in mind though, if you ever get lonely...you know."

I pull away and laugh at his comment only to see him standing there seriously. "You are crazy." It's my best way to try to brush it off. "You stay safe." I say.

"Yeah!" He laughs. "I would say the same for you but we both know you will be just fine. Bulletproof, that's what you are." He hugs me again and then disappears amongst the other travelers herding through the security line.

I'm brought back from my flashback when I hear Kai and Kaylee laughing hysterically. I guess one of them said something funny. I think back to Tristan's last words and in a way I'm grateful that I told him about my rapid healing before he left. I hate having to keep secrets from him.

I look over at Kai who is smiling unabashedly, his grey speckled eyes sparkling with the reflections of the sun. He and I share that bond now, the rapid healing and the possible immortality, which I don't know too much about. I haven't taken the liberty of trying to test that out yet and I don't plan to. We have done tests though on our healing abilities. We've even timed it and found that when cut, Kai heals faster than I do by several minutes. We don't know what that means but we have several of the Menehune's researching it as we speak. What Kai and I still don't know is how such a small amount of that berry caused the similar outcome in me as the whole one did with Kai. I mean, I didn't even eat it; the berry was only mixed in with some tea. Kai told me though that he doesn't regret having given it to me. He said that without it, I surely would have died. I couldn't have made it to safety with the loss of blood and severe wounds. While we don't know much about this gift that was somehow past on by this 'Mana,' we do know one thing: we have to protect this secret. If that berry or the chief's Mana, were to fall into the wrong hands, horrible things could happen. I could only imagine the war that would commence if the world knew that there was something out there that could allow you to live forever or even extend your lifespan by a considerable amount. No! We can't let anyone else know about this. We've already taken too much of a risk by telling Kaylee and Tristan. Not that they would tell anyone, but even knowing of such a secret could be dangerous in and of itself. Luckily nobody, including myself, knows the whereabouts of where the chief's bones are hidden, other than Kai. And Kai will do anything to protect their location, as I will do anything to help him with his mission.

"Are you okay?" Kai asks looking at me through his peripheral vision.

I think about it for a moment and look around at my loved ones sitting in this car. "Yes, definitely." I say happily. This is one crazy world and my life is a roller coaster that has no hope of ever resembling "normalness" again. I'm fine with that though; normal is the new boring after all!

I have no idea what the future has in store for us but right now everyone is safe and healthy and happy. That is all that matters.

Pau

Finished for now...

###

Acknowledgements

We would like to take this opportunity to thank God first and foremost for your son and all of your many blessings. A special thank you to our husbands and children for their patience through all of our countless Skype dates and midnight writing rendezvous that kept us apart many a nights. A rock star thank you to all the different book blogs and book review sites that took the time out of their day to share our book and their opinions with the world. A shout out to our wonderful, supportive fans on Facebook for giving us insight when we felt blind and for their encouragement to keep on writing. An extra big Texas sized hug to Google for being a wealth of information and always there when we needed you. We heart you all!

About the Authors

Rebecca and Courtney are downhome country girls powered by chocolate and other random late night cravings. Coined in southern twang they bring new meaning to the word y’all. BFI’s since the 6th grade, with a knack for getting into sticky situations, has resulted in countless ideas to write about for years to come.

Connect With Us

We would love to hear from you! Please come visit us:

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/nightmarchers

Twitter:

Courtney: http://www.twitter.com/nuckelsc

Rebecca: http://www.twitter.com/midnitebeckie

Webpage:

http://www.nightmarchersbook.com

Don't forget book 1!

Table of Contents

- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 7
- Chapter 8
- Chapter 9
- Chapter 10
- Chapter 11
- Chapter 12
- Epilogue
- Acknowledgements