I stood in the hall for a few more moments and watched as everyone else dispersed into their rooms, then slowly retreated into my own. Once inside, I laid down onto my bed and heard the crackle of crumbling paper as my head hit my pillow. Curious, I sat up and reached into my pillow case, searching for the item that had made the noise.

My fingers soon curled themselves around what felt like papier-mâché. Pulling my hand out, I saw that I held what looked like a half crushed flower, made in all paper, folded with delicate precision. I almost smiled until I noticed the bit of writing at the tip of one of the petals; it seemed to be disappearing into the flower. My curiosity getting the best of me, I carefully unfolded the paper until it was a full sheet and I could read the script.

I don’t know what to say,
You’ve underestimated me
You’re a coward, a runaway.
And you think that I can’t see
But don’t forget who taught you what you know
Just remember, I’ll be watching, everywhere you go.

I gasped aloud and dropped the note onto my bed sheet. “There’s no way,” I whispered to myself as I stared at the creased paper. I sighed, trying to calm my breathing, and pulled my cell phone out of my pocket. Dialing the number, I tried to urge my head to relax as I tapped my foot nervously.

“Hello?” I bit my lip and tried to make my voice even.

“Hi, listen, Zane, do you think that it’s possible that someone from the Tanghar could be here, in Italy?” I asked in a wispy, breathy sounding voice.

“Well, they’re located everywhere, Summer. Just like murders, and all the other villains, there’s at least one everywhere you go. As for them harming us or even noting our presence, no one knows we’re here, if they did, we would’ve known by now.” I felt my stomach flip and vile rise in my throat. “Why, Summer? Is everything okay?”

“No, Zane, everything’s not okay,” I whispered through the phone and I felt fear beginning to rise in me. “I’m scared. I went to bed and found a note, and now I’m scared. Do you want to know the worst part? I can’t stop being scared because it’s not me I’m scared for. It’s you

. It’s you, and Sierra and Stephanie and Lance. It’s my mom and my dad, and it’s everyone else who’s ever meant something to me. And now, because of me, they’re all in danger.”

I heard Zane sigh through the phone, “Summer, whatever happens, no matter how dangerous or how treacherous it gets, I will always be there for you. I’ve already tried life without you, and it’s not worth living.”

“Don’t say that!” I insisted as I ran my fingers through my hair while keeping my phone balance on my shoulder.

“Why not, why can’t I say that? I certainly mean it! Summer, I proposed tonight, and you said yes, and that means that through thick and thin, we should want to be there for each other. Why won’t you let me do that? Why can’t I be here for you?”

“I won’t let you help because I don’t want you to get hurt!” I said in an exasperated tone, “I can’t lose you Zane, and though I want you to be here and help me through this, I won’t let myself put you in danger. I want to handle this on my own.”