Orion, think! It’s as if I can hear my mother’s voice inside my head. It’s times like these I hear her the loudest. I know I shouldn’t be at this club tonight. Not when things are getting suspicious. A few people we know have been acting strange, and I’m beginning to wonder if the Hunters are getting smarter. They could be anybody, and it’s hard to trust anyone.

I can also hear my mother scolding me about missing classes. I know I should be going, but it’s hard when you have a pack of Hunters trying to kill you. We have been here for three months and going to classes still isn’t my top priority. I would have never applied to go to college and just worked, but I felt like I owed going to my mother.

“So, my place tonight, or?” Sage asks as she scans the crowded club with fearful eyes. She stated earlier that she had a bad feeling about tonight.

I take another drink of my alcoholic, purple something and say, “I think I’m just going to stay alone tonight.”

“You can’t! You know things have been weird lately!”

I give her my best I-don’t-give-a-damn look.

Standing up from my seat, acting as if I’m about to go to the dance floor, I say, “You worry too much. I will be fine. Now, go have some fun! It could be the last night of our lives!”

Sage groans as she stands to her feet. “Every night could be the last night of our lives. Sometimes, I wonder why I’m even friends with you.”

“Because you are smart as hell. Who would not want to be friends with me?” I set my drink down when I feel the alcohol rush to my head. I’m the one driving tonight, so I don’t need any more to drink.

“Do you really want me to answer that?” She asks with raised eyebrows and taking a hit off her cigarette.

I take her cigarette from her and laugh as I inhale the nicotine. I exhale the smoke slowly. “I’m done with this conversation. Meet me at the car at midnight.”

She rolls her eyes and walks to the dance floor. I act as if I’m going to go and dance, but as soon as I’m out of her sight, I run out the nearest exit.

I’m thankful for the peace and quiet of the dark alley. As I walk, I kick a can and hum a song by my favorite band. When I see cars passing, I realize I’m almost at the end of the alley. I turn around and kick the can as hard as I can and listen to it scrape down the concrete as it comes to a stop. I turn back around to make my way to the busy street.

“Ana? What are you doing out tonight?”

Turning to the male voice, I smile and say, “Hey, Liam. I’m on my way to find the car. I was at the club, but it was lame.”

“Yeah, I was there too but left.” Liam looks scared, and I want to ask why he keeps looking over his shoulder but decide against it. It’s most likely drugs causing him to jitter nervously.

I point in the direction of my car and say, “So… I’m going to go find my car. See you in class Monday.” I start to pick up my pace when Liam places his hand firmly on my shoulder.

“Please don’t leave me here. Can I have a ride?”

I look curiously at his hand on my shoulder and move away from him, causing his hand to fall to his side. “I’m in the roadster. I have to give Sage a ride. Sorry, no room.”

Liam grabs both of my shoulders, backing me into the alley. In a hushed tone and scanning his surroundings, he says, “You don’t need to be alone. There was a guy asking for you in the club. What is going on? He seemed dangerous.”

I quickly move away from him. “What? Did he say anything else?”

He successfully pisses me off by not replying and running in the opposite direction. I run my hands through my hair in frustration and turn to walk back to the parking lot to where my car is parked. You can’t ever tell if Liam is telling the truth or not. He is always weird like that. He is proof of what messing with drugs can do to you.

I make it to the crosswalk and cover my thumb with the sleeve of my shirt. I don’t want to make contact with the grimy-from-frequent-use button. The signal blinks telling me it’s safe to go, and I step forward.

When I make it to my car, I see Sage standing nervously at the car, and I hit the unlock button. She immediately jumps in. I get in the driver’s side, and before I close the door, she is hitting the lock button repeatedly. “It’s locked!” I yell.

She wraps her arms around herself and looks at me with fear in her eyes. “I was so worried you would be dead.”

“What are you talking about?” I back out of the parking space and flip my blinker to the right, waiting for my turn to turn onto the busy street.

“Sphere Hunters.” I take a sharp intake of breath as she says what I was hoping she wouldn’t.

“Dammit.” I hit my steering wheel and curse under my breath. I realize it’s my turn to turn onto the road. I turn and start driving straight, keeping up with traffic.

“They were asking around the club for us. They were playing it off as if we were their dates. It was two guys. As soon as Micah came and told me, I had him show me who they were, and I knew. It’s like those damn Hunters have radars or something.” She looks out her window and then says, “You really shouldn’t stay alone tonight. Not with the Hunters being here.” She turns down the radio that I turned up to ignore her. Maybe I should be fearful of the Hunters, but I’m not. I’m more annoyed at the fact that we may have to move again. I like it here.

“I was listening to that!” I say as I try to turn the radio back up.

Pushing my hand away, Sage turns the music back down and says, “Civil Twilight isn’t as important as talking about our plans for safety tonight!”

Letting her win the radio battle, I say, “Fine. You can stay with me. We will be fine. You seriously worry too much.”

“Only because there is reason to worry.” I ignore her cryptic response and turn the radio up again.