Nick looked up at the stairs that seemed to lead on up to another world.  The stairs were way too tall for Nick to climb without exhausting his powers.  Yet he had no choice, Sam was in trouble and he needed to get to her now.  She was somewhere on the upper floor trapped and most likely scared.  Concentrating Nick decided it would be best if he just teleported up the stairs and then search the rooms for Sam.  He still couldn’t locate her exactly but he knew she was somewhere on the second floor and off to the right of the steps.  Closing his eyes Nick tapped into his powers about to release them when there was a slamming of a giant sneaker next to him destroying his concentration and forcing him onto his back.

“I’m heading up stairs to piss,” slurred the drunken giant who owned the foot that nearly killed Nick.  Thankfully he was too drunk to notice Nick as he wobbled slightly standing at the foot of the stairs.  He seemed to be judging if he could make it up the steps.  Nick debated on hitching a ride and decided that it would be the most cost efficient and he should save his strength, he would need to get down the steps later might as well save his strength for that.  Quickly Nick closed the small distance to a shoe lace that was dangling on the side of the shoe and grabbed as the drunken behemoth started his journey to the bathroom upstairs.  Nick started to regret it as the man was stumbling his way up the steps.  Nick feared that he wouldn’t make it, not that the ride was rough but also the man didn’t seem to be in any condition to be walking up stairs.  As soon as they made it, Nick jumped off and quickly hid in the banisters shadow in case the drunk decided to look down and have enough cognitive ability to identify him.

As soon as the man walked off to the left where the bathroom was, Nick hurried toward the right side of the hallway where there were 3 doors.  There was one on the left side of the wall, one dead ahead, and one off to the right of the wall.  Trying to sense where Sam was he noticed that each room had occupants but other than that Nick didn’t know.  Walking toward the doors Nick reached out toward the first door to his left, the moment his hand touched it the door swung open and a couple left the room.  Nick waited till they went downstairs to peer into the room and saw that there was no one else in there, small or large.  Trying the next door Nick was about to move on when he heard a muffle cry for help.

Julie sat on the bed with Brett next to her as the downstairs music play.  The muffled music outside the room made it hard to hear what was going on outside.  Julie frowned as she wasn’t sure how exactly she got in the room as the alcohol was taking its toll on her.  “Here,” Brett said as he handed another beer to Julie who took it.  Why was she here again?

“You know I’m really glad you showed up,” Brett said as he set his beer down.  “I’ve been trying to get your attention all year in class.”

Julie snorted at the comment, “Really?” 

“Yeah, you’re just my kind of girl,” Brett said as he slid his hand up Julie’s leg causing panic to swell up in her.

“Wait,” Julie said as she tried to distance herself from Brett.  She barely even knew who he was and he was already trying to get into her pants.  “I think we’re moving too fast,” Julie said as her head started to spin all of a sudden.

Brett just smile as he closed the distance and started to lean Julie back on the bed as she tried to protest, “I think we’re moving just fast enough.”

“Please,” Julie said trying to fight off Brett wasn’t doing much.  Brett was already pulling off her clothes and touching her in places she hadn’t let anyone else touch.  Feeling hopelessness building in her she tried again, “Brett I don’t want this.  No, stop.” 

Brett didn’t listen as he continued to touch and probe her body as she tried to gain control of her reflexes but they weren’t listening to her.  “Come on you’ll enjoy this.”  He started to kiss her but Julie turned her head away.  “Don’t be a bitch,” Brett said angrily as he grabbed her and pulled her up further on the bed.  He started to take his clothes off and said, “I can either make this pleasurable or not,” Brett let out a chuckle, “I don’t care, either way is fine with me.”

Tears started to form in Julie’s eyes.  She was so frighten right now that she couldn’t help but shake in fear at what was going to happen.  Brett went in for another kiss and again Julie tried to deny him access to her lips.  Letting out a growl, Brett flipped Julie over so she was on her stomach.  “Fine,” he growled into her ear as he pinned her to the bed.  “The hard way it is,” Julie tried to call out but was muffled by the mattress.

The next 10 minutes were the worst moment in Julie’s life as Brett had his way with her.  When he was done he got up off her and went for his beer.  “Don’t go anywhere,” he chuckled, “we still have another couple of rounds to go.” 

“Please help,” Julie weakly called out.

“No one can hear you,” Brett said as he started to come close to Julie for another round.

Julie closed her eyes waiting for the horrid sensations to come back. 

“Get off her.”  Julie felt her body freeze at the frightening voice she just heard.  Julie looked toward the voice and saw Nick on a night stand next to the bed.  She couldn’t believe what she was seeing, how… 

“I told you to get off her now,” Nick said in a deadly voice that again caused Julie to be frightened.  She never heard anything so frightening; never did she think that the Nick that she knew could sound so threatening and frightening.

Brett on the other hand didn’t seem to understand as he eyed Nick like he was crazy.  “What the…” Brett laughed as he got off Julie and made his way over toward Nick who didn’t seem to care how large he was to him.  “Are you talking to me like that you bug?  Let me put you in your place like I did her,” Brett said as he reached down to flick Nick off the night stand.

Nick didn’t move an inch as the curled finger moved forward to flick him.  It was inches away and was ready to spring forward to launch Nick off the table to the floor, possibly even his death.  Julie watched in horror wandering why he wasn’t running away.  She was about to stop Brett from flicking Nick but was too slow as the finger was let go to smash into Nick.

The finger was about to hit Nick but before it connected Nick with unbelievable speed and strength punched the finger away causing Brett to let out a howl as he jumped back.  He grabbed his finger and cussed in pain as Nick stood there like he had been before.  When Brett was done cussing he set his murderous glare down at Nick, “Your fucking dead.” 

“I’ll give you one chance to leave,” Nick said again in a deadly voice.

Brett didn’t listen as he went forward to smash Nick with his hand.  He didn’t even move a step before Nick disappeared from the nightstand and appeared floating right in front of Brett’s stomach.  Julie watched in complete shock as Nick delivered a punch to Brett’s gut which collide and made a huge indent, about the size of a large fist, slam into Brett’s gut and ripple out forcing Brett to his knees gasping for air. Nick didn’t let up as he disappeared and then reappeared right in Brett’s gasping face near his nose.  Again Nick punched him on the noise and as if there was a giant invisible fist, it smashed into Brett’s face breaking his noise and sending him reeling onto his back. 

Brett was wailing and holding his noise as blood oozed over his face.  Suddenly Nick was standing on the broken noise looking down at Brett who had fear in his eyes.  “Get out,” Nick said in that deadly calm voice that made Julie pray that she wasn’t next.  Brett quickly scrambled away and grabbed his clothes and quickly ran out the door and out of the party.  Julie didn’t move until she saw Nick appear on the bed covers.  She quickly gasped and hurried to cover herself up with the blanket on the bed.

“Are you ok,” Nick asked with his voice back to normal.  He stepped forward toward Julie but she tried to scoot backwards as far as possible.  There was a sadden look on Nick’s face as he said, “I’m sorry I… I could have stopped this from happening if I wasn’t so oblivious.  None of this would have happened.”  Julie was in shock right now from all that happened in the past 10 minutes but she didn’t know which was more shocking Brett or Nick.  She didn’t say anything as Nick walked closer until he was at her the base of her feet that were under the covers.  “Are you ok?”

Julie had to find words to answer that question.  “I, umm, yeah I think.  How,” Julie asked confused.

“It’s a long story,” Nick answered, “Are you sure you’re ok,” Nick asked worried.

“I’m sure…” Julie said still shocked but as soon as those words came out it hit her and she couldn’t help but feel those hands and that helpless feeling from before.  She started to cry as she covered her face with her hands and pulled her legs up to her chest.  “How could this happen to me?  Why me,” Julie said through her tears.  She couldn’t stop until she felt a small pair of hands on her hand.  She pulled them away to see Nick in front of her on her knees trying to comfort her.

“Shhhh, it’s ok.”  Nick said trying his best.  He didn’t know what to do or say.  He could only do what he thought would help which is be there for her right now.  Julie’s large eyes had tears in them as Nick could read the pain and anguish in those eyes.

“You don’t understand, he…” suddenly Julie let everything out as she started to cry, “I never been with anyone before and he made me feel secure and safe with him tonight.  I thought I could trust him and then took it away from me and made me feel so hopeless and weak and-”

“Don’t,” Nick said cutting her off.  “Think of something nice, happy thoughts.  Think of your family, think about something else.”

“How,” Julie asked still crying.

“What makes you happy?  Anything,” Nick said trying to help her get through this.

“I don’t know,” Julie said still upset.  “I guess Kaylee.”

“What about her that makes you happy?”

“I don’t know,” Julie said frowning “I guess I like how she always makes me laugh.  I like how she brightens up my day when she smiles, or how she always looks on the bright side of things.  I like how she always there for me like when we first meet and help fend of those boys at school.  I love how she stops whatever she is doing to help me,” Julie started to smile as she starts to recall her best friend in the world.  “I love those blue eyes that seem to be able to look into me and know when something is wrong…” Julie stopped and looked at Nick.  “What?”

“It sounds like you really like her, like a lot.  More than a friend,” Nick told her.

“What?  She my best friend I don’t like her like that,” Julie said defensively, but as she started to think about it… No Julie shook her head, “There no way.  I can’t be in love with her I mean, I couldn’t be.  Sh-she likes boys, she has a boyfriend.  I mean what would I say to her?” Julie looked to Nick for an answer.

Nick shrugged, “Tell her what you told me.”

Julie though about it, “Do you think it would work?”

Nick reached out and wiped away a big tear from her chin with his hand, “I think if you truly feel the way you do, you should let her know and see where it takes you.  The worse that happens is she doesn’t feel the same.  It sounds to me that no matter what she will still be your friend.”

“You think,” Julie asked hopeful and almost complete forgotten what happen before.  Nick nodded.  “Thanks,” Julie said as she leaned forward a little more and kissed Nick.  When she pulled away she had a sadden look, “I’m sorry for, well, everything I did and said.  I never had good luck with boys.  They always teased me when I was a kid and so when I saw you, a weak male buggy,” Julie couldn’t help but start to turn sorrowful.  “Nick please forgive me.”

“It’s ok,” Nick told her.  “It’s in the past.”

Julie kissed him again, “Thanks.  Umm, do you mind if I get dressed?”

Nick blushed, “Oh right.”  Nick jumped down and slide down the blanket to the mattress as Julie got out of bed and dressed.  Julie came over and picked up Nick when she was done.  “Julie, I need your help finding Sam.”

Julie’s eyes grew wide at the mention of Sam, “I forgot!  Oh no,” Julie said scared.

“It’s ok; she’s in the next room over.  I just need you to open the door and find her.”

“Of course,” Julie said as she quickly left the room and went to the last room the last door in the hallway.  She knocked to see if anyone was in there.  There was no answer so Julie opened it quickly and looked inside to find that no one was there.  “Sam?”  Julie called out.

Nick looked around feeling his stomach do a flip at no sign except for an empty bowl where Sam was last seen.  Closing his eyes Nick concentrated to try and see where Sam was but couldn’t sense where.  “No,” Nick said as he was breathless.  Trying harder, but there was still nothing.  Nick couldn’t sense her at all which meant only one thing, she was dead…