The Ghost Hunters and The Familiar Strangers
Never Say Never

Emerald got to the house where she and the team stays. She was tired from the whole incident but she tried not to show it. "where have you been?". Jim asked.

"she probably went sightseeing again". Sophia said laughing.

Emerald wasn't concerned about them, she was concerned about the one guy that could read her mind as he created her. The one guy that could tell something was wrong and no matter how she tries to deny it, he ends up making her tell the truth. All she wants right now is to avoid Evan as much as she can. She just wants to go to bed and sleep the night away at least that would make her regain her lost strength back.

"Hey Sugar". Adam said touching her by the shoulder. "where have you been?".

"out". She replied bluntly. She scanned the room looking for Evan but he was nowhere in sight. So she decided to ask Adam. "Where's Evan?".

Adam didn't like it when he was with her and she just keeps bringing Evan into the picture. He had no idea what to do to show her he loves her. But he decided to answer her nevertheless. "He is in the bathroom". He told her and left. Emerald sighed relief as she tried to maneuver her way to her room but before she could get to the door of her room, Evan came out from the bathroom, with a white towel wrapped around his waist. There were droplets of water falling from his hair down to his bare chest. He was wiping the water on his hair with a small white towel when his eyes caught sight of her.

"Emmy, is that you?". He asked moving closer to her. Emerald quickly put on a fake smile as she approached him. "where have you been?". He asked walking towards her.

"Why? Were you worried about me? Did I happen to cross your mind? Did you miss me?". She asked as Evan stopped wiping his hair and gave his full attention to her. "did you at least feel bad for being unfair to me?". "Are you OK?". He asked her as she cleared her throat.

She needs to pretend she's fine, she needs to hide the fact that she was bitten by another vampire who claimed her, she needs to hide that her heart still beats like crazy when she's around him. She needs to pretend no matter what even if that means being rude to him. "tell me, Evan, why are you asking where I went to? I thought you didn't care". she said as Evan tried to touch her but she moved back a little.

"Emerald". He called and Emerald could swear that she felt goosebumps coming out of her skin when he called her name.

I am being claimed. She said to herself. Despite how Evan tried his best to read her mind, he couldn't. It was like she blocked every area of connection. One more look at him and she walked out on him.

Evan stood there dumbfounded. He could sense something was wrong and he could also sense she didn't want him to replace out but there's no way he's going to keep quiet about it. Even though he didn't love her the way she wanted him to, he still loves her as a member of the team and each member meant a lot to him.

Emerald went into her room, shutting the door as she stood behind the door, leaning on it for comfort as the tears she had been holding back came rushing down her cheeks.

If they replace out she has claimed another vampire, she would be sent away from the team and she wasn't ready to leave yet at least not now.

*********

Reed got to his team's house and he met them already asleep. He sat on his bed as the event of tonight came flashing back into his mind. Now he knows Laura's dad is a vampire like him and that he also gets affected by the necklace. But who exactly is he? What kind of person is he? Why do I feel like I know him? He asked himself but instead of getting answers, he was getting more questions.

"Why did Evan get Laura the necklace and why isn't he affected by it?". He asked.

Flora heard something so she woke up only to see Reed talking to himself. She came down from the bunk bed she was sharing with Bianca. She walked up to him touching his shoulder which startled him. "Bianca". He called.

"where have you been?". she asked. "we waited up for you all evening to the point we got tired of waiting when you didn't show up and Phoebe was worried sick about you". She said rubbing her sleepy eyes. Reed turned to look at Phoebe who was sleeping at the top of the bunk bed that she was sharing with him. "I was busy". He told her still looking at Phoebe.

Phoebe was in love with Reed when they were in school and back then Reed couldn't control the monster inside him. When they were kissing, he got carried away and bit her neck, turning her. Although it took a while for Phoebe to recover, she didn't regret it as long as she was close to him.

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"Is everything OK?". Bianca asked.

"Things are becoming crazy and to be honest, I feel like our lives are in danger". he told her. Bianca couldn't understand where all of this was coming from but she decided to pay attention. "Laura's dad is a vampire". He told her. Bianca was lost. "Who is Laura?". she asked trying to recall if she knew anyone with that name.

"the girl I told you guys I met that left her phone with me..... That wears this weird necklace that seems to affect me". He explained as she remembered, nodding her head and gesturing for him to go on with the story. "her dad is a vampire". He said.

"Seriously? How did you know?". She asked.

"it's kind of a long story. The necklace Laura had on her affected me and I was not myself and it was like he understood what was happening but he didn't know how. And somehow, he got affected by the necklace too and he also started acting up but do you know the weird part?".

"what?".

"I feel like I've known him all my life. I don't know how but I feel connected to him and I know he feels the same way. I know this sounds crazy". Reed said as he looked at Bianca trying to read her thoughts but Bianca's mind was blank. They sat there together in silence

"you said you've never seen your father". Bianca broke the silence.

Reed nodded.

"Could it be he is your father?". Bianca asked him.

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Reed thoughts of the possibilities but to him, the chances of Laura's father being his father is zero. "I doubt it, Bianca".

"Well, never say never Reed." she yawned. "I'll be going to bed" she stood up as she climbed the stairs and sunk into her bed." you'd better have a good explanation for Phoebe when she wakes up. Goodnight"

"Good night Bianca". Reed said as he spent more time debating what Bianca said.

"my head ". Laura said waking up from her slumber. The moment Laura woke up, Ashley woke up too. "Did someone drug me?". Ashley said. "I feel like I've been put into a very deep sleep". She said. Martina came to her daughters, happy her daughters were awake. "Are you girls OK?". She asked smiling.

"I don't know. I feel weak and...". Laura tried standing up but she fell back right into her seat. ".... Dizzy". She said.

"It's late. You guys should go get some sleep". Martina said as Ashley pecked her mom goodnight, staggering into her room.

Laura managed to stand up although her feet were failing her, she held onto the table for support. She looked around for Reed and Evan but they were not in sight. Her mother noticed she was searching for the guys so she told her. "they left already". She said.

Laura nodded and tried her best to go to her room without tripping. She and Ashley didn't seem to remember anything except that the guys came and they were gone when they woke up.

After they had gone to their rooms, Martina went to check up on her husband. Jones was still sleeping, his scars were already healed. But he was taking so long to wake up. She remembered all the incidents that took place, how she almost lost her life if Evan hadn't interfered. She knew this was just the beginning and looking at how this went, she wasn't sure she was ready for the task ahead. She glanced at her husband again, hoping he wouldn't vampire out and bite her when she was asleep. Despite how much she loves her husband and though she has accepted him for who he is, she is fearful for him. But why?, Maybe she loves him as Jones but not as a vampire.

She lay down on the bed beside him, she couldn't get any sleep because she was watching him just in case he woke up and he was looking for blood but after some time she gave into the night.