Title: Missing
Author:N'kala
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Summary: Nick vanishes without a trace. It's up to an unlikely alliance of his friends to find him before it's too late.
Author's Note: Yay! Foray number two on the way. I wanted to get the first chapter out there, but I'll be posting the rest of the story quickly.

Missing
By: N'kala

Chapter One

Nick Burkhardt panted heavily as he raced through the forest, glancing behind him to check for pursuers. Tree limbs whipped at his face and clothes, catching hold of him as he ran as if to slow him down. Nick paid little mind to the small cuts opening, his heart pounding in his chest. Run, he had to run . . .

A roar of fury sounded behind him; how far back, he didn't know. Adrenaline flooded his system, giving him an extra burst of speed.

Have to get away! Have to get away have to get away havetogetawayhavetoget-.

Nick let out an abrupt cry of surprise when his feet found nothing but air. He tumbled end over end down a sharp ravine, fingers desperately scrabbling for something to grab onto.

Something large and unyielding halted his movement, knocking the wind from his lungs. Nick winced in pain and coughed, trying to get his breath back. The danger was still there, still too close. He had to get up.

The rustling of the bushes above him caused his insides to freeze; he was too late.

As Nick's slate gray eyes rolled up to meet his end, a final thought flashed through his mind.

I should have listened to Monroe.