Chapter 6

Jace:

It'd been almost a week. A week since Selene told me how she truly felt about us. I knew our moments were just a film of one night. Our kisses, confessions, were too unusual and strong for that one night. I mean, who confesses love on the first date?

Except, Ted Mosby.

And... me.

I hadn't seen much of her ever since our date. She had only shown herself a couple of times in social class. Though in school, she disappeared. I was desperate to catch her once at the least. I wanted to hold and shake her enough to tell me why.

Why didn't she think that we could make a future?

Even if this was messed up. Even when she was in her condition. Nobody knew what could happen to anyone.

I mean for God's sake, I could die in a road accident any day.

But, that didn't mean that we should stop cherishing and living what we hold now.

As the world and good fate would have it, I decided to talk to Mr. Tobias about her location. I knew he would know. I didn't know what'd taken over me, but I was finding myself taking every possible turn which could eventually, at least, bump me into Selene.

I knocked on his door once and sighed when no reply came. Again, making the impulsive decision of not giving up, I knocked. The door didn't open.

"Jace?" I heard a gasp, and then a little voice behind me. My heart constricted and I felt stiff. I turned to find the bright blue eyes, I had been looking for everywhere, stare at me.

"Hey." I released the breath, clogging my throat. I couldn't breathe. I'd forgotten how beautiful she was, but she seemed so... weak. There were dark circles under her eyes, almost thinning the contour of her cheeks. Her lips were the faintest of pink, despite her constant biting and nipping. The nasal tube that rested on her upper lip, still existed, still begged attention, but it was the red seam under her eyes that caught my eye. She hadn't slept properly. I wanted to kiss her face and hold her to warm up. I felt the need to wrap my arms around her and never let go.

When no more words came from me, she dropped her head to the Inferno titled novel in her arms and started turning around. I caught her elbow in my fingers and pulled her into my body. It was a good thing that there were classes going on and this main second floor corridor was empty in that minute.

She gasped as she landed, flat palmed, on my chest. Her face craned up to look at mine and her mouth released her sweet and minty breath. She had her favorite mint lime drink. I could tell.

"Jace." She whispered, "Please." She closed her eyes and a tear slipped from her right eye. She let her forehead drop against my chin and I felt agony, drowning my heart. She sobbed so softly. I could hardly catch it. I moved my hands from her elbows to the sides of her waist. She released a short breath and turned back up to me, locking eyes with mine. I loved her... so much. I couldn't deny it for the life in me.

I knew there was something in her heart for me too.

"Please.." She shut her eyes, "...let me go." She breathed and I felt pain sting me so hard that after helping us stand still, I moved away from her abruptly. She pursed her lips and before I could whisper her name, she was gone. Gone from my sight.

I raked fingers through my hair and stormed towards my locker.

I needed to leave.

Selene:

I'd been avoiding Jace, since the day he told me he loved me. How could he just do that? How could he just love me? That was so crazy! He was a great guy, an innocent one, and all I was going to do was make his life an uphill battle.

As soon as he released me, I ran with all the speed I could muster up. I couldn't face him anymore. He told me he loved me and I broke his heart. I let him go, just because I couldn't come to him myself.

I ran into the bathroom that was in the far, chemistry corridor, where all the labs were and nobody really visited. Locking the main door of the three cubicles sectioned bathroom, I dropped against it and let out the most gut wrenching sob I could hold. God, I never thought that a boy could affect me so.

I never thought that a boy's affection could be so painful and overwhelming. I did like Jace, in fact, a lot more than my own imagination, but it just wasn't clear to me.

I curled my knees to my chest and found it hard to breath, but I couldn't care any less. Just when I was about to drop my head in my lap, a blaring sound, pierced the air around me. The sound was like a short explosion and so loud that I felt my throat tighten.

A shot!

A shot had rung in the air outside.

My phone vibrated in my back pant pocket, buzzing me to alert.

I pulled out my phone and saw that it was a text from Sean.

I could practically hear Sean screaming over the text.

Sean: WHERE ARE YOU?

I was about to respond when another text popped on the screen.

Sean: Please ... please, please tell me you aren't in school!

Selene: I'm in the school. Stay put. I'm safe.

I could hear myself pant as I typed.

Another shot rang outside and I felt my heart race. My body started sweating and nothing, not even a muscle moved in me. My breathing was unsettling and my palms were moist. Soon a bell rang in the air and stopped abruptly.

"Lockdown." I whispered to myself.

Then I felt a little relieved at the realization that Allan was sick enough to stay home. Thank God!

Then the next thought that ran through my veins, brought me to more tears. Jace.

He was out there...

I had to find him. I had to!

I, Selene Arly, without thinking, remembering my self defence classes and boxing lessons from dad, jumped up to my feet. I wore my bag on my shoulders and tightened my grip around the trolley I was dragging. And then, I picked up the most stupid and bold move to open the bathroom door to pop out.

I looked around and felt my legs go weak at the empty and hollow hallway outside.

Too late to chicken out.

No, if I wanted to become someone as strong as a person of the US army, I should have the courage to go and find the boy I love.

Yes, the boy I love.

My heart was beating so fast that I could hear it all the way to my ear drums which pumped and whimpered in my ears with every beat. Adrenaline was rushing in me but fear was taking over.

Just when I took a couple steps towards the end of the hallway, where another, perpendicular hallway started, I heard rapid footsteps. Light, but fast.

"Uh." I breathed and ran in the other direction. My tank and trolley made me more breathless, ironically, due to me carrying them in my arms. The other end of the hallways however held double french doors which led to a cold staircase to an exit of the front of the school.

I could escape. I knew.

But, no...

Just when I was close to the door, I turned to my right and hid in the small turn that had a dead end to it. My chest was rising and falling as I tried catching my breath and my body was utterly stiff.

Suddenly my phone buzzed in my pant pocket and I quickly pulled it out to receive another text. Except it wasn't from Sean.

Jace: Baby, where are you?

Please tell me, you're okay.

Selene, I'm not in school, please say something,... wherever you are! Please be safe! Please!

I held my breath reading all of those messages. I relaxed and felt unavoidable fear at the same moment.

He wasn't in harm's way.

Thank God!

I was about to type up a message when I heard guns cocking and worse, footsteps. I quickly put my phone on silent and shoved it back in my pocket.

The footsteps increased in volume and so did my heart.

This is it. This is how you're going to die. My subconsciousness informed me, sending my heart in utter deflation. I had to keep my breath steady.

I loved the movie Die Hard, but I knew I was no John McClane, or Holly Gennaro!

Suddenly the school's lights went out and my muscles twitched.

"Shit!" I heard a growl and my heart almost came to a halt as I realized that the source of the cussing, wasn't far from me.

"Cover all exits! Get Tony, Marco and Peter to cover the front! You and I, will do the back!" He shouted, "Boss'll do the rest!"

I felt my breathing go rigid but then I brought myself to a little calm and thought about what would John McClane do?

He would kick ass! My brain chortled.

Bad idea! I told myself, inwardly.

Strategically think! John McClane's voice boomed in my head.

I was crazy.

Yes, totally crazy.

Then I did a rethink.

Number of men he just commanded.

So far.

Six.

Tony, Marco, Peter, the guy who screamed the orders, the one he asked to accompany him and finally, the boss.

I smirked a little at my brilliance.

Nope, I was stupid as shit.

Jace:

I was just a couple blocks away from school when suddenly, my phone's ringtone burst out. It was the sound track of Real Steel. I know, old movie, but still a catchy piece of entertainment. I pulled my phone out, only to find the call to be from Hailey.

I rolled my eyes and shoved the phone back in my pocket. I knew she was nice but I needed space in that moment. I turned the volume off and put my phone on vibration before shoving it back in my pocket.

I walked a couple more blocks into the streets of the hot city, looking around at hotels and coffee shops, until my eyes landed on Martin's Cafe. I loved that place.

Heading inside, I ordered a cold and large, iced coffee. It was a violation to the diet plan, coach told me last year, which I still followed. I just didn't care. Again.

The coffee was mixed and stirred in less than two minutes and handed over to me, with a 'Have a great day' message scribbled on the side of the transparent, cuboid cup. I nodded a thank you before dropping a ten, leaving seven dollars of tip.

When I headed back out of the shop, my phone buzzed again, as if someone was calling me.

"Ugh, stop calling me, everybody!" I groaned, before pulling my phone out. My eyebrows furrowed at the notifications. Over ten missed calls from Hailey, five messages from William and one message from Draco's brother, Sean.

I ignored Hailey's calls and checked Will's messages.

William: Hey man, I know this is tough, but I think I just saw Selene, head to the chemistry hallway bathroom, she didn't look so good.

Then, just a minute or two, after that.

William: Jace, where are you?

William: Jace, did you hear that shot?!!

Shot? My mind exclaimed and automatically my feet, picked up speed.

I scrolled down with heavy breathing and light steps which were carrying me back to the road that led to school.

William: Jace, I think Selene is still in that bathroom. I DON'T KNOW! WHERE ARE YOU MAN???

William: JACE I HOPE YOU'RE SAFE!

These messages were received almost five minutes ago. My heart was beating faster than my steps and my palms had gone all sweaty. Instinctively, I threw the cup in a metal garbage can I came across. Holding onto my bag, I started running. Lucky for me, I was a champion in rugby, so I could run with the maximum speed in me with a good stamina.

Although, I was good at it, I didn't need that to make me run. The motivation was the fear for the girl who was at the end of the marathon. My girl. My Selene.

As soon as I reached the school, my jaw dropped at the amount of police cars and ambulances. Almost eight police cars, black and white stood in the front, who knew how many were all the way around the building. Five ambulances stood neatly, parallel to the walkway across the school.

There were cops, walking here and there, talking on walkie talkies and giving out orders. Some of the men holding a crowd back at the other side of the road.

"Jace!" I heard a familiar scream and when I turned to my left, my heart felt a little bit of relief at Hailey, who jumped up at me and wrapped her arms around my neck.

"Oh, thank God! Oh God! I thought you were in there!" She cried on my shoulder.

I caressed her back and did not deny the fact that I was glad that she wasn't in there. I felt guilty of not answering her calls and this made me come to a platform of light relief.

When she let go of me, I felt more remorse at the amount of tears, spilling from her eyes. I wiped them away with the pad of my thumb and just when my finger touched her skin, a thought came to me.

My eyes widened.

"Selene." I whispered and pulled out my phone as I moved away from Hailey.

My eyes landed to another message bar that I hadn't read earlier. Sean's message.

Sean: Jace, is Selene with you?

He cared for Selene, more than any of her friends I knew. I wanted to text him back but I knew who was more important and automatically my fingers found her message window.

Jace: Baby, where are you?

I texted and waited a moment, then I started typing again.

Jace: Please tell me, you're okay.

I wanted her to reply, but when no reply came, I started typing again, with rigid breathing and a hurting heart. I felt light tears sting my eyes. A thought had come rambling to me. What if she was worried for me? I had to let her know that I was safe and she had to keep herself the same way too!

Jace: Selene, I'm not in school, please say something,... wherever you are! Please be safe! Please!

I looked up to find a man, murmuring in his walkie talkie, standing in the opened door of his black and white, Dodge Caliber. I tried running to him but a few cops and a crowd blocked my way.

"Please, please. My girlfriend is in there. I need to talk to an officer. Please. She is not well!" One of the cops, shook his head in sympathy.

"Please. I need to let someone know about her. Please." I begged. He dropped his head and loosened his arm around the corner of the bushes, I snuck under it and ran ahead.

"Officer!" I ran to the man and he let go of the talkie that still rested in his death grip, and turned to me. His tall and firm structure, resembled that of mine. He was dressed in a pair of black pants, a crisp blue button up shirt and a black leather jacket on top. His golden brown, eyebrows raised in question as I approached him.

"Sir, my girlfriend's in there. Please, can you tell me what's going on?" I panted as I questioned him.

"Son-" he started but was interrupted by a call on his radio that rested in his hand.

"Officer, a message has been dispatched from inside. I repeat a message has been dispatched." A man's voice echoed.

His brows furrowed again and he leaned into the radio, while pressing a button on the small, black box's side.

"What message?" He asked in his heavy and dominant voice.

"A girl has reported of six men, confirmed in sight." The man answered and my body stiffened.

Six psychos.

"Any information on the girl?" The officer questioned with gritted teeth. I could basically, feel his anger, radiating off of him.

"Said her name was Selene Arly, Brian." The man's voice softened and I saw, clear fear, raging on the man's face.

"Selene." I couldn't help but gasp. What was she doing giving an insight on those men? Was she captured? Oh God, did they have her?

Many fearful and painful thoughts drenched my body.

"You know her?" The man looked at me with disbelief.

"Sh-she's my girlfriend, sir." I whispered with my mouth agape.

His lips pursed and anger fueled him further.

"Is she safe?" He asked with much more power.

"She said she was hidden, Brian." The man answered and my heart relaxed a little.

"Wait, is she okay?" I jumped up to him with more questions, "S-she is scared, I bet! Damn it, I should've never left her be!" I raked fingers through my hair, frantically.

The man was looking at me with pain. His eyes were lightly wide and there were gentle traces of tears in his eyes.

"Sir, sir, she's a little not well today. Please, please, ask them to find her." I shook his shoulders and no answer was coming from him.

With his lack of talking and responding, anger started building up in me and I was so close to punching him. What the hell was wrong with him?

"Son of a-" I stopped my tongue when I realized that he was an officer.

"Listen to me, damn it, find Selene, now! Or I swear to God, I will go inside myself and bring her out! You hear me!" I exclaimed with anger urging in every word that left my mouth.

"No, you will not." He kept his face clean of any emotions and gave me a death glare.

"Don't count on it!" I dropped my bag and prepared to walk in through the doors. I didn't care if I was going to die. My Selene, just delivered a message to them. She put herself in utter danger and they were doing squat to find her.

Just when I was about to walk towards the entrance of the building, a firm hand caught my elbow and then I was slammed into a car. A forearm was against my chest and Brian was looking at me with fire shooting daggers at me.

"You will do no such thing. All you are going to do is get her and everyone with her, killed. If you really care for her, get your damn act together kid!" He hissed, pushing me further into the car, before moving away and turning his back to me. He was scared but so angry at the same time.

I couldn't understand his reaction. I understood he was a cop, but his reaction was a little bit different.

"How can I be sure?" I questioned. I had to ask. Selene was one girl and the others, a whole another crowd. What if they prioritized those people over her? I know I was being selfish, but to hell with that. I wasn't going to lose Selene to this bullshit, "How can I be sure that you will pull her out safe and sound to me, huh?" He was a cop, and I was being disrespectful, but shit, I couldn't hold it.

His body stiffened and I watched him straighten, still keeping his back to me.

"Because, nobody cares for that girl, more than I." He stated, before shoving his hand in his pocket and walking away from me.