Hey guys! I'm back :-D

Hope everyone has enjoyed their summer! And to anyone who was getting exam results, hope you got what you want and good luck for whatever you do next!

Here's the next installment :-)

Enjoy :-)

xxx

Skye:

"Lucas!" I called.

I could just see him up ahead from me, but he didn't wait for me to catch up. Instead he disappeared around some thick foliage. We were outside in the depths of the dense jungle. The sun had long since set, replaced with the bright glowing moon. I couldn't remember why we were out there; but I knew I had to get to Lucas. Yet even as I ran through the dark forest, I couldn't reach him. Every time I neared him, he'd vanish behind some trees and I was left wondering where he'd gone. I couldn't understand why he wasn't waiting for me.

I ducked through the bushes where I'd last seen him, but he'd gone. Frowning, I stopped moving and looked around myself. But it was too dark for me to see anything. The trees above my head kept most of the moonlight out.

"Lucas!" I called again, begging him to answer me.

But I didn't hear his voice. The forest was silent except for my own laboured breathing. I bowed my head in defeat, knowing I'd lost him. I sunk down to my knees, feeling a wave of pure depression hit me. I'd lost Lucas, just like I'd lost everyone else in my life.

Suddenly I heard the rustling of leaves followed by a twig snap. My head whipped back up and I stared over in the direction of the noise. Logically I knew it could have been any number of animals. Yet somehow I knew it was him. I jumped up from the ground and began sprinting after him once more.

Thorny branches scratched at my legs and the leaves tried to block my path to Lucas. But I forced my way through the foliage, fighting my way to him. I kept calling his name, again and again, but I never heard him reply. I seemed to go on for what felt like hours, and yet mere minutes only passed. My heart was thudding the longer I couldn't find him.

Then through the quiet jungle I suddenly heard my name. At first it was only a whisper but then I heard it again, louder that time. I shouted for him, pleaded with him to tell me where he was. My name grew louder and louder until it was screamed through the trees. I covered my ears with my hands, tears rolling down my face.

"Lucas!" I cried, wanting him to come and take me from that nightmare.

A shrill cry rung through the trees, echoing all around me. I frowned, knowing the sound didn't fit the jungle. I looked around, trying to work out where the wailing was coming from. But it seemed like it was simultaneously coming from all directions. My eyes shifted to my left as I continued to listen. Something was drawing me in that direction.

Slowly, I started pacing through the trees. It was so disorientating; everything looked the same at night. But I continued forward until I stumbled out into a large clearing that was filled with moonlight. I gasped when I saw a small crib, rocking in the centre of the clearing. Hesitantly I began approaching, terrified of what I was about to see.

My mouth fell open when I saw a tiny baby that was wrapped in a snowy white blanket. It only looked a few hours old. My heart broke when I realised it must have been abandoned. As I neared, it ceased its crying, comforted by my presence. Its watery blue eyes gazed up at me. I smiled down at it and reached out to pick it up. The baby gurgled as I lifted it into my arms. I grinned down at its little face and stoked its soft cheek.

Suddenly tears were spilling down my own face. It was my baby. I didn't know how I knew; I just did. It was my baby that had been alone in the middle of the jungle. It had my bright blue eyes and delicate features. In fact it was a carbon copy of me. I couldn't see any feature that resembled Lucas at all.

"It's not mine."

I jumped when I heard a male voice behind me. Whirling around, my heart soared when I saw Lucas was there. He was glaring down at the little bundle in my arms.

"Lucas!" I exclaimed. I also looked back at our baby. "Look." I instructed. I beamed proudly down at my child, stroking the back of its hand with my thumb as it clung onto my forefinger. "Look what we made."

"It's not mine." He muttered.

I frowned back up at him then. He was scowling over at me, looking disgusted.

"What?!"

"It's not my baby. I don't even know who you are." He snapped. I swore my heart fractured into a million pieces right there and then. He shook his head, rage flashing in his green eyes. "You're no one to me. You never have been."

His eyes glanced back down at our baby. His nose twitched in repulsion. Then he started to turn away. My eyes widened and I stepped forward.

"No Lucas! Wait!" I yelled.

But he ignored me and disappeared back into the trees. My baby started wailing again and I cried after him, begging him to come back. But he didn't. He never did.

XXX

I woke with a start that morning. My heart was racing and I realised my pillow was damp. I brought my hand up to my face and shivered when I gathered I'd been crying in my sleep. Slowly, I sat up.

I was relieved to see I was in my own bed in my own room. I couldn't really remember coming home last night. It was all a blur. Part of me wasn't even sure if Lucas had definitely come home. It seemed too impossible. I'd gotten him back and lost him again all in a matter of minutes. That part of the night was crystal clear. I doubted I'd ever forget the look Lucas had given me, as if I were a complete stranger. He'd never looked at me that way before. Not even when we had first met. He'd always gazed at me with such intensity as if he'd known me my whole life.

I closed my eyes, trying to block out the mess my life had become. Instead my thoughts turned to the dream I had been having. It was a bit foggy, but I knew I'd been running outside. Then my heart lifted as I recalled holding my baby. I could remember it had looked just like me with light blue eyes and wisps of soft brown hair. It had been a little girl; I was sure of it. I smiled down at my middle and placed my hand over my tummy. I wondered if I would have a girl. I'd never really thought about having kids much; but when it had crossed my mind, I'd always liked the idea of having a girl. Yet it didn't really matter what it was. As long as it was healthy then I didn't care. Suddenly I cringed. Taylor knew. I'd blurted it out to him.

"Shit." I muttered to myself.

I hadn't even stayed to explain. Once it had hit me what I'd said to him, I'd sprung up and ran away. Taylor had tried to call me back, but I had ignored him. I hadn't wanted anyone to know. I wasn't ready for my secret to be exposed. The emotion had just taken over and it had slipped out.

I rubbed my forehead with my fingers. Taylor hadn't come to find me last night. He probably had figured I needed my space. Though I knew he'd expect me to find him that day and tell him everything. I winced. He was going to kill me. I doubted he was going to be impressed. Taylor was such a traditional man. He would have wanted me and Lucas married before we had started to think about children.

I wondered what he'd say to me; whether he'd try to encourage me to get rid of it. I shivered to think he wouldn't accept my baby. If I wasn't going to be able to rely on Lucas, then I was going to need Taylor. Besides, I wanted my baby to have one of its grandparents in its life.

Sighing to myself, I slipped out from under the duvet. I knew I wouldn't be able to get back to sleep, despite having a terrible night. I trembled as I left my warm bed. The air was cool and nipped at my exposed legs. I wore only one of Lucas's shirts, which barely covered my thighs. But it had felt comforting being able to smell his scent.

I plodded out from my room and into the bathroom. The house was silent; I doubted my roommates would have stirred for at least another hour. Hunter especially was renowned for sleeping in.

I much preferred being up and about early. I was always able to get so much done in the mornings. I couldn't imagine waking up until late morning; it would have felt like half of my day had been lost.

Stripping myself of my clothes, I switched on the shower. It buzzed gently as warm water began gushing out. I stepped into the glass box of the shower and closed my eyes as I allowed the water to engulf my body. Instantly I felt more relaxed. There was something about being in the water; I always felt more at ease.

After a few minutes of just letting the water cascade down onto my skin, I began rubbing in lotions and hair products. Sweet smells of flora and fruits combined filled my nostrils. As I stroked over my middle with the shower cream I couldn't help but smile. I knew at only 4 weeks, I was nowhere near showing. Yet I swore my skin felt tighter as if I were bloating. I pressed my hand to my belly and thought about how it would feel in a few months when I could actually feel my baby inside me. It was both terrifying and exciting. Already I knew it was going to be a little fighter. Over the past few weeks, I'd endured so much stress and heartache. I was surprised it was still there hanging on.

A surge of pride and relief filled my chest. Although I had had my doubts at the beginning, I knew then that there was nothing more that I wanted than to have that baby. Knowing that I still had a part of Lucas with me was what was getting me through my living nightmare. Thoughts of my baby pulled me through each day.

Still smiling softly, I started rinsing out the conditioner from my hair. I wondered if it was a girl if she'd inherit my wild mane. The thought of trying to tackle her thick locks the way my mom had when I had been younger caused me to giggle quietly.

I clicked the shower off and reached out for my towel. First, I patted down my face. Then I wrapped the soft towel around my body. I got a second and quickly pulled my hair up into a turban style, hating the feel of the water dripping from my hair down my back. Gathering the clothes I had been wearing, I padded back across to my room where I hurriedly dried and dressed.

By the time I was in the kitchen pouring myself some orange juice, the sun was starting to rise in the early morning sky. I gazed out of the window, staring at the colours that blended together perfectly. I smiled sadly to myself as I recalled when Lucas and I had gotten up early to watch the sun rise together. It had been so peaceful, so perfect.

I sighed to myself and went and sat down at the kitchen table. I didn't feel hungry that morning; in fact I felt a little sick. So I simply sipped at my orange juice. Despite it being early, I was sure Taylor would already be up. I knew he'd be desperate to see me; to talk about everything that had been said the night before. I was dreading that chat; yet I knew the longer I left it, the worse it would be.

Still, I wanted time to prepare myself. I knew my roommates would be surfacing soon. I really wasn't ready to face them either. I wasn't sure if they would know about Lucas or not. I supposed they might have heard about him being in the hospital, but I very much doubted they'd know about his condition.

Finishing off the last of my orange juice, I got up from the table and walked to the sink. I just wanted to be on my own for a couple of hours; someplace no one would find me. Quickly, I rinsed out the glass I'd been drinking from. Then I headed for the door; grabbing my coat and slipping my feet into my shoes on the way.

The early morning air was cool and I pulled my jacket around myself protectively. I strolled carelessly through Terra Nova, barely seeing anyone on my way. Normally at that time, the marketers would be setting up their stalls for the day. However, most of the market had been wiped out from that sonic blast that had hit us.

But as the battle had finally been won, I knew Taylor would start to focus on rebuilding Terra Nova to its former glory. Already the perimeter fence, which had all but collapsed from the explosion, had been reconstructed. It at least felt safe again to walk outside and not have to worry about a stray Slasher creeping around. Workers had been focusing on the hospital as well. Luckily the infirmary had been a sturdy building anyway, so remarkably it hadn't been too damaged. Only the west wing of the building and the labs had been affected from the blast. Much to my amusement, Boylan's bar was unscathed.

The housing units had been the worst affected. Families had had to have been moved to new houses, as their accommodations had been obliterated. Some people had lost all of their possessions. I was one of the lucky ones. My home was still standing. There wasn't even a scratch on it. It looked good as new. Taylor's hadn't been so lucky. His house was closest to the gates and was one of the many that had been destroyed.

Still, we were lucky. Despite the devastation, there had been no fatalities. There were broken bones and some pretty nasty cuts and bruises. But everyone had survived through it. It could have been a lot worse.

I stared proudly over at the Command Centre. Even though it was only made of wood, it somehow was still standing. Sure it needed a bit of a paint job; but still it was there, the heart of Terra Nova.

My heart jolted when I saw Taylor walk by the window inside. I wasn't ready to see him, so I quickly darted off before he spotted me. Once upon a time, I would have snuck out of Terra Nova and strayed into the forest. It was quiet and peaceful out there. I loved relaxing in the trees, listening to the sounds of nature. That had always been the place I'd gone to when I needed to think.

But no more would I sneak out of the safety of my home. I had to think of my unborn child; I couldn't risk anything happening to me and my baby. If ever there was a time for me to learn some responsibility, it was then. So instead I plodded toward Memorial Field. A few of the graves had been damaged from the bomb, including my father's. His headstone had cracked along the top. It was sorrowful to see.

I weaved down between graves until I reached my parents. I frowned at the black stains that smudged both my parents' graves. I'd already tried cleaning it off as best I could, but still I could see the marks. But I tried not to let it bother me too much. I was certain Taylor would make sure each grave was properly restored.

Until then, I made a mental note to bring some flowers with me next time to brighten up the place a little. Sighing, I settled down in my usual spot, in between the headstones. My legs folded neatly and I rested my hands in my lap.

"I miss you guys." I whispered, leaning my head against my mother's gravestone. "I really wish you were here right now." Already I felt my throat start to burn as grief grew within me. "Lucas is back...but something happened to him and now he's forgotten everything. He doesn't even recognise me." I could practically hear my dad's voice telling me how he'd known Lucas was no good for me from the start. I knew he never would have approved; yet I also got the feeling Lucas would have won him around eventually. "But urm...I'm kind of pregnant." I revealed to the silent graves. "And I don't know what to do." I looked at my mom's name scrawled into the stone. "And I really need you mom because I don't have Lucas at the moment." My voice croaked. I felt a slight breeze caress against my cheek. I closed my eyes, imagining it was my mom's hand stroking away my tears. "I just don't know what I'm supposed to do." I looked down at my middle and gently pressed my hand against my jacket. "I don't want my baby to grow up without it's dad like how I had to." I looked across at my dad's name then. "I missed you so much; I don't want that for this little one." I looked back at my tummy. "I just wish I knew what I was supposed to do."

I sniffed miserably. The wind picked up again briefly, brushing my hair back from my face. I wiped at my damp cheeks and rested my head back against the cold stone of my mother's grave. I couldn't even describe the feeling of complete loneliness I felt then. Never before had I needed my mom so much. It seemed so unfair that I was forced to go through my life without having her guidance. So many times I'd hear people moaning about how overbearing their parents were; but they didn't know how lucky they were. I'd give anything for an over-protective dad telling me that my boyfriend wasn't good enough for me; or a mom who wasn't quite ready to accept that I wasn't her little girl anymore.

"I thought everything was starting to get better." I murmured. "When I found out that they'd found Lucas and he was okay, I thought everything was going to be okay." I shook my head. "But it's not. It's all just a mess." I brought my knees up to my chest and hugged them tightly. "And I know it's my fault. It's my punishment for betraying Taylor for all those years." I blinked back some tears that were threatening to fall. "I know I don't deserve a happy ending." I swallowed, trying to get rid of the lump in my throat. "But my baby does. It needs its mom and its dad." I exhaled pitifully. "But I know Lucas will never accept it. He doesn't even remember me. He won't want to have anything to do with it." I shook my head. "I don't even know if he would have wanted it before all of this happened." I groaned to myself and hid my face in my hands. "I just don't know what to do anymore."

I lowered my hands back down and jumped slightly when I saw a creamy white butterfly fluttering around me and my parents' graves. I smiled softly as I watched it flying freely through the air. Then it started to move away from me, heading in the direction of the market place. I frowned to myself. When it came to the afterlife, I wasn't really sure I knew what I believed, except that I liked the idea that I would somehow get to see my parents again. But I did take that butterfly as a sign from my parents that I needed to head back and go speak to Taylor.

"What am I even supposed to say to him?" I mumbled.

I shivered as another sharp breeze rushed past me. I rolled my eyes and got to my feet. Sending one final glance at the graves, I then followed the direction the butterfly had gone in, back toward civilisation.