I love The Nine lives of Chloe King and I've been waiting for a chance to write a story about Alek and Chloe. And once I watched the summer finale, it clicked. So I'm going to see where it takes me. And by the way, I watched it at like 11 and started writing around 1. I'll post the second chapter soon.

- One -

I have no idea how Amy and Paul managed to get me out of the theater. But they had. Amy put me carefully in the front seat of her car while Paul took the back.

"We need to get you home," she said. I didn't want to go. I just wanted to sit here. My phone rang in my pocket. It was Alek.

"Answer it," Amy urged. She picked the phone back up because I had placed it face-down on my lap. I couldn't deal with the blonde British boy that I had hurt two hours ago. I just couldn't. Amy answered my phone for me. I glared at her.

"Hello, Alek," she said.

"She's right here."

I shook my head but she placed the phone to my ear anyways. My glare didn't go away.

"Hello," I asked timidly. I expected him to shout at me, or say something rude.

Instead he asked, "Where are you?" His voice was strained and tired. I could hear him hurrying – running – through the streets.

"The Hallody Theater," I said. "Alek, what's going on?"

"I'm coming to get you. Don't go anywhere, please."

"Okay," I said.

"Chloe, I need you to listen to me and not argue."

"Alek…" My voice was suspicious.

"I'll explain once I'm positive we're safe, I promise."

"But I can't just leave-"

"I've already assigned the Mai to look after them. Chloe, my main concern is you right now. No harm will come to your friends; they'll join us when the time's right."

"Alek what's going on?"

"Jasmine and Valentina were nearly killed tonight. They're in critical condition; the healers are doing all they can."

"What?" I gasped. "What happened?"

"Chloe, I can see you. I'll explain later."

I didn't get a chance to ask him anything else, because he hung up on me.

I put my phone away. I stared Paul in the eyes.

"Promise me no matter what, that you'll be safe," I said, "both of you."

"I wouldn't be much of a sidekick if I got hurt, wouldn't I?" he asked me. I keep eye contact with him. I wasn't joking. He gave me a small smile. "Chlo, I promise. We'll both be safe."

The passenger door opened. Alek had blood smeared all over his shirt.

"Alek what happened?" I demanded. He reached in, wrapping his arm around my waist; he pulled me out of the car.

"No time. The Mai will escort them home and watch over them. There's another team already making sure that your mom's safe. Now I need to get you out of here."

I only managed to wave a small goodbye to my best friends before Alek tugged me forward.

"Can you run?" he asked.

"Can you?" I shot back. He smiled.

"Of course, I'm better than you aren't I?"

Leave it to Alek to make a comment like that in a situation like this. It was like that comment at the dock, when he said that beating up bad guys didn't count as a date. Something was seriously up; I've never seen him look so worried. He slipped his hand in mine.

"Let's go."

I don't know how long we ran. But by the time he allowed me to rest, I was beyond exhausted. We were in the woods now. Alek thought it would've been too risky to be traveling by roofs this time. I leaned against a tree trunk. Even he bent his hands on his knees to catch his breath.

"The blood…" I asked in between deep breaths. "Is it yours?"

"Some," he admitted. "The rest is from Jasmine."

My breath caught in my throat. He looked up at me and straightened up.

"She was stabbed," he explained. "Zane did it."

"What? That's crazy!"

Zane was Mai. He couldn't. He wouldn't. But Alek's expression told me otherwise.

"I walked in when he was staring at both of them. He poisoned Valentina. Then he told me he was my brother."

I stared at Alek, he looked so vulnerable, so lost.

"Where is he?"

"I don't know," he said in a frustrated voice. "We got into a fight, and I barely escaped with my life. As soon as I knew the coast was clear, I called the rest of the pride. The Hunters said he wasn't there, they're still looking."

"Why? Why would he do this?"

"I don't know."

My breathing was under control now. Alek grabbed my hand again. When I nodded, we ran again.

I think we covered two miles before I couldn't run anymore. I yanked us to a stop, nearly causing Alek to fall over.

"Where are we going?"

"There's a safe house another mile from here. Completely undetected," he said. He placed his arms on my shoulders and leaned down slightly to look me in the eyes.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"No!, I cried, "I'm exhausted! I killed Brian! I lost another life! And I just found out that you; Valentina and Jasmine were attacked by Zane. It's just a lot to process Alek!"

I didn't mean to snap at him. I seriously didn't. But he let me. He pulled me into his arms and just rubbed my back.

"I know," he said, "it's a lot to process but I'm doing it too, Chloe. I just found out Zane was my brother."

"I'm sorry for snapping at you," I said.

"Don't worry about it."

Then he tightened his grip on me. I wrapped my arms around him. I pushed the tears back. I could cry later.

"We have to keep going," he said finally.

"I can't," I mumbled. "I can't go any further."

He considered that, and then picking me up with ease, he swung me onto his back. He grabbed my legs to secure me, and I wrapped my arms around his neck so I wouldn't fall.

"Alek…"

"I need to get you to safety, Chloe. I don't care what it takes." I heard the determination in his voice. He walked this time though, instead of running. He didn't complain once as we continued on our way, but he did keep light conversation with me until I felt too tired to talk. He told me to go ahead and sleep. I closed my eyes and leaned my head on his shoulder.

Alek Petrov was really something.

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