Chasing Shadows

Thunder rolled and lightning flashed over head. It had been a long day at work for John Parker.

He was a background investigator for the secret service although he was trained to be a field agent in the cases. But as age caught up with him and a growing family he decided to lower his position for his safety and the safety of his family. He missed the field work but with the longing came thoughts of a beautiful wife and 2 young daughters at home. He smiled. He was back early from a case that had taken him overseas he couldn't wait to surprise his family.

"Martha? Hannah? Katrina?" the house was dark and quiet.

"You picked the wrong time to come home!!!" a sinister voice whispered in the darkness.

John quickly turned on a light all he saw was the glint of a blade in a gloved hand. The man brought his arm around john turning him around catching him in a hold.

"You're treading on the wrong ground John!" the man whispered before john could free himself and his gun or yell for help in hopes of being heard by a neighbor his attacker had thrust the knife into john's side to stop him. John tried to scream but a hand clamped over his mouth and nose silencing him and at the same time strangling him so he couldn't breathe. John fought for consciousness but was slowly losing it for lack of oxygen.

John managed to free his mouth from the man's clamp and screamed. The attacker was startled for a second. John used this time to free himself from the hold and he caught hold of the man breaking his attacker's wrist. The attacker brought the knife up slicing john's throat in one quick motion. The attacker, to ensure the finality the fight, broke john's neck. He stood over his victim until the violent spasms subsided and john's chest heaved no longer before the attacker took what he had came for, sheathed his knife and left.

* *

*

"Oh my gosh!!! What's happened here?" Martha screamed when they had arrived home hour's later to see their house blocked off for a crime scene with the police all around and inside.

"Ma'am I'm sorry. Your husband. your husband was murdered earlier this evening. I'm sorry."

An officer informed her once they had entered the house. Martha was in shock not believing what she was hearing or seeing. She walked slowly around the house taking in the men in her house photographing and sketching and documenting all the evidence in her house. She rushed from the house and vomited when she saw her husbands' body, lifeless, lying in a pool of his blood.

"I'm sorry about what happened here tonight Mrs. Parker I promise we will do everything in our power to make sure this killer is put to justice." Hours later when the forensics team had left Martha walked over to her neighbors house where she had left her children she had no idea as to how to break

the news to them that their father wouldn't be coming home. Her neighbor was nice enough to put her family up for a few days while the house was cleaned up. He daughters were heartbroken. Katrina, 10 ½ sobbed on her mom's shoulder for a little while then not fully knowing what was wrong got up to go play with her friend.

Not understanding the entirety of hat had happened there that night. Hannah. Age 10, broke her mom's heart. She refused to cry right then. But late that night she could hear her daughter's muffled sobs against the pillow heard her angry cries into the darkness of the night. In the dawn's silence Hannah dried her eyes, sat up straight and whispered to herself and the darkness a silent plea and a tearful vow of silence, a child's idea of revenge that would stay with her for the rest of her life and change her life in a big way.

Lightning flashed from the window outside causing Hannah Parker and her sister to jump from their beds and run into their mom's room terrified. It was nights like these that terrified the young girls.

5 years ago when Hannah was only 10 years old her father was brutally murdered. The murderer was never caught. The investigators of the case did what they could but were unable to find a lead on her father's killer. So as time went by the case was forgotten and the newer cases were put to top priority as the case of her father's death went unfinished.

Hannah was now 15 years old a freshman in high school. The family had relocated to California almost two years after the murder. Mrs. Parker figured a change of scene and a new house and school would help to give them a new start at life. When the girls' grades began to drop at school and were living in a constant fear closing themselves off from life and their friends Mrs. Parker moved her family to California to give her girls a new chance at living to the fullest again hoping that maybe this change would help the family heal. Tomorrow would be Hannah and Katrina's first day at their new high school.

As Mrs. Parker held her girls speaking soothing words to calm their fears she couldn't help but feel a sense of peace and hope that things would change for her girls and herself and a new life would indeed present them another chance to life as they had once known it to be. She hoped that tomorrow would be the day the girls' lives changed dramatically and given time her two young daughters would indeed LIVE. Momentarily she drifted off to sleep.

* * * *

Monday morning 8:00 a.m. Cedar Glen High.

"Welcome to Cedar Glen. My name is Mrs. Peterson. I will be your Algebra teacher for this semester. I do not tolerate tardiness."

Hannah sat listening to her new teacher give an opening school year lecture and tried not to yawn. The storm the previous night had kept her up late and then a new school. Having to leave her friends behind had been harder than Hannah would admit but at least she was across the country from where her father had been murdered. Hannah was gathering the school's surroundings and felt uneasy under all her classmates' scrutiny. Being the new kid was definitely NOT fun. Hannah was trying to sit still

and pay attention to the notes her teacher was writing on the whiteboard and get her thoughts off of her father and home. It was an unusually long first hour and a half for Hannah. or so it seemed. She was relieved when the bell rang signaling an end to her class. Hannah gathered her books and hurried out of the room to find her sister, at least one familiar face and someone to talk to. Hannah glanced over and saw her sister flirting with a couple of high school guys over by her locker. Hannah wished she were outgoing and pretty like her sister, able to make friends and be cool her first day of school.

Oh well she would have to pass for being the smarter one and also shy. Since her fathers death Hannah had withdrawn to herself. Her smile had faded and her laughter was scant heard these days. Hannah was about 5'4" with Dark brown Hair and even darker eyes. She was of average build and had a nice, slim figure. She was a very attractive girl overall but her father's death had left her scarred. The twinkle in her eyes had gone leaving a fire burning in them. She had been 10 when her father was killed and even though she didn't fully understand it she had made a vow to herself that she would not let evil continue in this world today. When she grew old enough she would make sure that the man who killed her father paid a price and was put behind bars for life. She would make sure that a repeat of that night would never happen again and that no little girl or family would go through what she had went through and was going through as a cause of it. Hannah entered the lunch room and sat in a far table alone. Hannah ate her lunch in silence listening to the conversations around her.

"Oh my gosh he is so cute." One girl was saying.

"I know I mean what's his name...doesn't he have the most GORGEOUS blue eyes you have ever seen!!!"

"I wonder how old he is?"

And on and on the girls went mumbling on and on about some guy.

"Who are you guys talking about?" a girl asked as she joined her friends at the table.

"The most popular guy in school of course!!!" all the girls giggled.

"OH you mean Tyler" and the conversation continued again. Hannah glanced up to see who they were talking about but couldn't see his face. Too many people were crowded around him.

'Oh well' Hannah thought to herself. As she got up to throw her trash away and head to her next class. Everywhere Hannah went she heard talk of this most popular guy in the high school. Tyler. She wondered what the big deal was.

* * *

*

"So...Tyler? Have you seen the new girl yet?" Tyler and his group of friends were standing in the hall way talking when his girlfriend brought up the new girl. "I've heard about her but I haven't seen her." Tyler was about 5'8 and ½" he had deep blue eyes and jet black hair. He was well built and beautiful. "Hey man look there

She is coming up the hall!" one of his friends whispered to him.

"Hannah was walking up the hall when she saw Tyler Nelson. 'Oh my gosh he is So.wow! He's gorgeous. And his eyes!' Hannah quickly looked down when she realized she had been staring at him. 'Okay idiot just make a fool of yourself staring at the hottest most popular guy in the school! You have no chance with him you're the new kid, the shy girl.' She was scolding herself.

* * * * *

"Hey man! Look she's staring at you! Someone's got a crush!" his friends were laughing at him and making fun of her.

Tyler had noticed her perusal of him and then saw how she gazed into his eyes he saw her lips part in shock, then how she had averted her gaze. He wondered what was going on through her head. She wasn't a bad looking girl. Although the way she looked at the floor said something about her confidence in herself. She looked...broken in a way, Sad.

"Hey man check this out!" his friend Kurt had been saying, although Tyler hadn't heard him. He was too busy thinking about the new girl. Tyler watched his friend Kurt and saw him approach the girl and knock the books from her hands. Tyler's friends were laughing around him.

"Hey man, Not cool...pick them up man...NOW!!"

Tyler yelled at his friend who just glared at him like he was crazy and then walked away with the rest of Tyler's cool group. Tyler heaved an annoyed sigh as he watched them walk off then returned his gaze to the girl. She was bent over picking her books up. Tyler walked over to her and knelt to the floor to help her.

"I'm sorry about him. He's trying to be cool, Even if it means being a jerk." Tyler apologized for his friend's behavior. She brushed the hair from her face and looked up to see who was talking to her. She felt her heart do a flip flop and hoped that the heat she felt rushing to her face didn't show there. She averted her gaze quickly and muttered a quiet "thank you."

* * *

* *

Tyler was shocked when he looked into the girl's eyes. He tried to keep his amazement from showing. 'She's beautiful.' He thought, and then scolded himself for thinking so. He liked the sound of her voice. It was gentle and a bit shaky he could tell she was nervous. But yet it was a soothing sound; soft and very pretty. He rose and offered her his hand to help her up. She hesitantly took it. "My name is Tyler. Tyler Nelson. And you are?" he asked. She looked into his eyes again.

"I'm Hannah Parker. The new girl. Thank you for your help...Tyler." Tyler smiled.

"Any time." She liked his smile. Was there anything about him she didn't like? He was perfect. Hannah thought. They stood there just looking at each other for a minute. Then the bell rang signaling that lunch was over and it was time to get back to class. "It was nice to meet you Hannah. See you around?" Hannah forced a smile.

"Maybe, Thanks again Tyler." She turned and walked off quickly. Tyler watched her until she was mixed in with the crowd and out of sight before he turned and headed to his next class.

* * *

*

"So how was your day at school today Ty?" Tyler's mother asked when Tyler walked in the door from school earlier that day. Tyler smiled up at his mom.

"Pretty good, I met the new girl today."

"New girl? What was she like? Who is she?" Tyler laughed.

He and his mom had an open relationship. Tyler had never known his dad who ran off when he was just a baby. So in a way never having a father had deepened his relationship with his mom. They talked about everything in an open and honest way.

"Well her name was Hannah Parker. She's about. 5'4 is my guess. She has really pretty brown eyes and long flowy brown hair. Voice is like an angel. She was really pretty. But it seemed as though there was something about her." Tyler's voice trailed off leaving his thought unsaid. "I don't know. She seems I don't know. Quiet. Held back..."

Tyler had always had a good sense about people. It seemed he could see a certain depth to them, to their spirits. A view of people most often missed and left forgotten. Tyler couldn't see their problem he couldn't read minds but he could sense their pain or sense that something was amiss. "Hannah's hurting.

There's something about her that just seems missing. And I intend to find out what." Tyler muttered. Mrs. Nelson approached him and laid a hand on his cheek.

"You're very special to me Tyler. You know that. You are my pride and joy. I am so proud of you. How you will go out of your way and risk your popularity to ensure someone else's security."

"Mom what is popularity worth these days. You're living a lie and held back by what your peers might think of you. It's not worth it to me. I'm not going to be a stuck up jerk just to stay on top. And this girl was something else mom. It's not entirely for her" Mrs. Nelson gave a knowing smile. The two laughed together then Tyler walked upstairs into his room to do his homework and think more about the mysterious new girl...Hannah.

* * *

*

"Is this seat taken?" Hannah looked up from her lunch to see "Tyler? Hey. No that seat's empty." She told him. She was shocked when she saw him sit across from

her. "Can I help you with something Tyler?" Tyler looked over at her.

"Why would you ask?"

"Why would the popular guy risk sitting with me?"

"I want to get to know you. I told you I would see you around. Do you mind?"

"No. course not. I'm just a little shocked that you would...never mind." Hannah looked down and started to eat her lunch again. After a few moments of silence hung between them before Tyler broke it.

"Are you always so quiet?" he asked. "What? I don't know what to say. I admit you have me shocked. What is this like some bet? Between you and your friends?" Tyler raised an eyebrow at her question. "

Hannah I just want to get to know you to try to be your friend. Why are you already assuming the worst of me?" the question caught Hannah off guard. She lowered her head.

"I'm sorry Tyler. I just...I guess I just don't understand why you would sit with ME when you have your girlfriend and more popular gang over there. Why sit with the new girl? I took you the wrong way. I apologize." Tyler smiled at her.

"It's okay Hannah. But I meant it I want to try to be your friend; I want to get to know you. Will you let me?" Hannah's heart did a flip when he smiled at her.

"Sure." She looked away quickly. He was staring at her, willing her to look at him. When she did he tried to get her to talk to him.

"So where did you move here from?" he asked. He loved the sound of her voice and wanted to get her to trust him. "Baltimore, Maryland." She answered.

"From one side of the country to the other huh? Wow!" Tyler laughed lightly. "So why'd you move? Job transfer?" Hannah shook her head slowly and he heard her let out a shaky breath.

"We needed a change." Was all she said. She didn't look up at him. Tyler could tell that there was more than what she was telling him but didn't question her further. He sensed that there was something hurting her he had a feeling he had just treaded on unwanted ground. A thick silence hung between them. The bell rang.

"I got to go. Sorry Tyler."

"Bye Hannah. I'll see you later."

1 WEEK LATER

"So Ty, what is this all about? What's with the new girl man? You've got Diane pretty worried." Tyler was shooting hoops with his friend outside of his house when Paul tried to bring the subject of Hannah up to Tyler. Tyler laughed and gave a slight shrug of his shoulders. "I don't know. She just looks like." Tyler stopped and brought the ball up swishing it through the net. He turned to look at his friends.

"What is Diane worried about anyway?"

"Umm, hello? Wake up. She's your girlfriend right?"

"Yeah so what does that have to do with anything?" His friend Paul walked up to him and shook Tyler.

"Are we a little slow this morning Ty? We've watched you this past week. You've stopped eating lunch with us and you're constantly leaving us to run to her. Diane is a little worried that something might be going on between you two." Paul finished it almost like a question.

"No man. Nothing is going on between us. Have you ever been the new kid at a school? It sucks doesn't it? And normally the people you least expect to help, the people who are more likely to push you around are the more popular kids. I don't know but I have this feeling that right now. I was talking to her last week and there's a reason she moved out here from Baltimore. I could see the pain in her eyes when she answered and then avoided my question of WHY? Do you get what I'm saying? Right now all she needs is a friend. And I want to help her. So you can tell Diane that." Tyler said.

Paul was shocked as he listened to his reply. Tyler had been pretty new himself but with his good looks and charm and humor he was quickly made as "the popular guy." Tyler had depth to him. He was a black haired, blue eyed beauty. He was tall and handsome, funny, and yet at times he as just overly quiet. He had a fire in his eyes; a purpose. Paul was always surprised when listening and watching Tyler because of this depth to Tyler. He was always learning something new from him.

"Hey Ty are you going to the school game night tonight?"

"I don't know I was thinking about it. But I'm not sure. Who all is going?" "Well, Diane will be there and I will be. Basically our gang and a bunch of other people from school will be there."

"Okay I'll try to go then."

* *

*

Hannah looked out her bedroom window to see the sky.

"I hope it's not a storm." She whispered to herself when she saw the dark, overcast clouds looming over head. Hannah sighed heavily as she lay back down and picked up her book to get her mind off of the darkness that was creeping in outside. Hannah jumped when the phone rang and resumed reading.

"Hannah! It's for you!" Mrs. Parker yelled to the top of the stairs so Hannah could hear her.

"Okay mom I got it!" when she heard the click on her mothers side and knew she was alone in her conversation she spoke.

"Hello?"

"Hey Hannah, its Tyler. I found your number in directory I hope you don't mind?"

"No, I don't mind. Shocked that you're calling me but you're continually shocking me lately." She heard Tyler laugh. She liked the sound. He had a deep, fun laugh. She smiled.

"Sorry, anyways about why I called?"

"Ahh, yes I knew you had a reason." She teased.

"Yeah umm...Are you going to the game night tonight?"

"I don't think so Tyler. My mom is working late tonight and so I'd have no way to get home."

"I see. Will you come if my mom drove you home after the thing?"

"Why would you do that for me?"

"I told you Hannah. Remember? I told you I want to be your friend. Well last time I checked friends help each other. So I want to help you. Do you want to go because if you do my mom will be able to drive you home?"

"Let me ask hold on a sec." silence hung on the line as Tyler waited.

"Hello?"

"Hey Hannah I'm still here. So what's up?"

"Yeah I can go. My sister will be at a friend's house and my mom works so she'll take me and then you can drop me off later on tonight?"

"Yeah sounds good. Okay I'll see you at 7:30 then."

"Okay thanks Tyler."

"No problem Hannah bye." Hannah disconnected.

* * * *