EVER'S POV

My breath clouded in front of me as I trudged to school. My toes had frozen, and if my skin wasn't naturally olive, my nose would have been red too. Snowflakes settled in a little pile on top of my head and wind whipped my hair around my face. Tiny flakes stung my cheeks. I took each step hesitantly as it came; afraid of falling down. My gloves were soaking wet and slowly freezing my fingers. I turned and looked at Lukas, knowing there was no place I'd rather be.

"What are you thinking about, Ever?" Lukas asked, his amber eyes burning into me. He grinned at me, making my heart thump in my chest, like a drum. I brushed his chocolate, floppy hair out of his eyes and he mock bit my hand.

"I'm thinking that I'm hungry," I began. "Are you? Shall we go to the café? I'll pay." I trailed off as he gave me a stern look. "It was just an idea" I mumbled.

"You're a bad influence on me, Ever" he grinned. Lukas's hand reached to brush the snow off my cheek. His touch left a burning fire in it's wake, burning the places he touched me. He smiled that smile that made my heart pound, a fist beating my chest to the point where I was sure he could hear it. I continued to walk, not bothering to argue with him.

"Lost in your own little world again?" he asked. I nodded. It was snowing heavily, making the floor a death trap. Squinting in an attempt to see through the mini blizzard, I managed to make out a silhouette leaning against a tree. A bump poked out of the back of his jacket, showing that he was wearing a shoulder holster. They'd come for me again. I couldn't stop walking; the silhouette would know I'd seen him. All I could do is prey, and prepare for yet another fight on my life.

"They're here," I whispered to Lukas. "Stay behind me." He knew better than to argue with me, but I felt him tensing up, ready to jump right into any fight I may have got into. Typical man. 

I heard fast footsteps behind me, and tensed. I pulled Lukas in front of me, out of the way of harm, and closed my eyes. Showtime. The footsteps got closer and closer, matching the pounding of my heart. I tried to clear my head. They were close.

I spun around, startling him. My body jerked to the side as a thin, steel blade scraped my cheek. Nothing like reflexes to save your life.

I focused. A man faced me, looking in horror. He was wearing a tan leather jacket and jeans. He didn't look dressed to kill. "It's you," he whispered, suddenly terrified. "You're the eradicator". I grinned. At least somebody knew who I was. His knife glinted in his hand, temporarily forgotten. I gave a sharp kick upwards into his hand. The knife went flying and a gasp escaped his lips. His hand flew to his arm, which was bent at an odd angle; probably broken. I advanced upon him. He turned and fled.

I jogged over to the knife and slipped it under my sleeve. I'd need it later. I couldn't go back to school; not if they'd found me. I needed to go home and notify Boss. Lukas was in danger too if they saw him with me. He needed protection as soon as possible.

I looked behind my shoulder, looking for Lukas.I rubbed my eyes, and checked again. I couldn't see him anywhere. My head whipped back and forth looking for somewhere he could have taken cover. My eyes locked on a familliar tree.

I sprinted in the direction of the tree, ready to rescue Lukas from his hiding place. I froze, realizing that there was more than one figure.

Another man; the one with the gun was holding Lukas by his collar. His beard seemed to have a mind of it's own, flicking out in random places. It brushed Lukas's face, the silver of his knife winking against Lukas's pale throat. His head lolled to the side, proving what I already knew. He was unconscious.

"No!" The word escaped from my lips in a strangled cry. I stumbled back and dropped the knife to the floor. My hands slowly link behind my head.

"I'm the one you want, not him" I whisper. "Leave him be. Please." He dropped Lukas to the floor, leaving him in a crumpled mess. The nameless man started forward for me.

"Get down on the floor!" he shouted, drawing his gun and dropping the knife. A .357. It would leave a pretty big hole. I dropped. He advanced.

I waited until he was within touching distance, then reached for the knife. My hand scraped the blade, slicing my palm. Regaining my grip on it, I threw, aiming for his arm and rolling out of the way at the same time. The bullet buried in the floor where I'd been seconds earlier. The knife embedded deep in his shoulder blade, leaving him unable to handle the gun. Those few seconds it took to change his gun from one hand to another was all I had. I leapt forward, taking the man down with me and kicking the gun away from his hands. The knife he'd dropped previouslt was against his throat. Straddling him, I pulled the other knife out of his shoulder.

He whimpered and punched me in the stomach, knocking the breath out of me. His hand drew out, covered in blood. It wasn't his. I looked down to find a pen knife embedded in my stomach. The knife in my hand came down hard, pinning his bad arm to the floor. He screamed in agony. I pulled the third knife out of my stomach and sliced his stomach. I left my mark. An 'E' in the stomach. So people knew I beat him.

"Listen, Fuzz Face," I spat at him. "I'm going to leave, and you're not going to come after me. If you do, then I will kill you." He convulsed on the floor. "Oh, and by the way," I smiled sweetly. "I have AIDs". I turned and walked away. I didn't, but it was sure worth the look on his face.

Pretty sure that Fuzzy wasn't getting up anytime soon, I turned around to tend to Lukas. He was still slumped on the floor, it didn't look like he was breathing. I checked his airways to see if they were blocked. They weren't. My hand automatically found his pulse in his neck. It was faint and thready, but it was there. I held my hand above his mouth to check if he was breathing. My hand felt warm, moist pulses.

He was alive. I gave him a sharp slap round the face. Probably not the best thing to do, but it sure helped me. "Wakey wakey, Lukas." I paused. "Lukas, get your lazy **** up right this minute" I scalded.

His eyelids fluttered, then opened. His face broke into a weak, but heart stopping smile.

"Thanks," he whispered. I helped him up, onto his feet. 

"Do you want me to take you home?" I asked him.

"Only if you come with me," he replied. Typical Lukas. He just died, and he is already flirting. I rolled my eyes. "I mean so you can sort out your 'battle wound'" he grinned, then ducked out the way of my hand.

"Let's go!" I replied, grinning. "Though I still don't understand why you insist on being friends with me - you only ever get attacked."