Melanie ran into the school, not having to head to her locker and instead heading towards Gwens. She stood beside the girl, giving her a big smile that Gwen just rolled her eyes at, holding back a smile as she closed her locker. "You don't have to follow me around everywhere."

Gwen started walking down the hall and Melanie sped up to walk with her, linking their arms. "I'm just trying to keep you safe. We're sticking together." Gwen scoffed out a laugh, turning to her with raised brows. "So what? You're gonna sit through all my classes?"

Melanie pursed her lips, shrugging. "We have most of them together." She reasoned and Gwen turned to her, a small smirk on her face. "And what about after school? What about all night?" Melanie instantly smiled as Gwen stopped walking. Melanie unlinked her arm with Gwens, grabbing the girls hands in her own happily. "We can have a sleepover?"

Gwen shook her head at the girl, making Melanie playfully frown. Gwen slowly had her eyes leave Melanie and travel to her right, making Melanie turn as well. The Yukimura girl's eyes went wide at the two of them standing in front of the restrooms and she slowly turned back to Gwen with an awkward smile. "You know what? How about you meet me in the library when you're done?"

Gwen rolled her eyes, not answering the girls question and walking into the restroom. Melanie sighed in embarrassment, turning on her heels and walking towards the library. As she walked in, her eyes fell on Mason and Liam in a far table in the back and she instantly smiled, walking towards them.

"What's a k-index?" Melanie heard Liam ask as she got to the table. Melanie smiled, taking the seat beside him as she took off her backpack. "It's a scale that meteorologists use to measure thunderstorm activity."

Liam smiled at his girlfriends entrance, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her towards him to kiss her cheek. "Hey..." He cheered before grabbing one of the legs of her chair, pulling her closer to his chair. "English please?"

Melanie laughed slightly, opening her backpack to search for one of the many books she had about lightning and Ghost Riders. "So, a k-index value less than 20 means no activity, and above 35 is severe."

"How bad is severe?" Liam asked and Mason sighed, tilting his head. "Well, the average storm has about 1,000 lightning strikes. In the past three months, the average storm in beacon hills had 5,000."

"What's it reading now?" Melanie asked as she found the book in her bag, setting it on the table and sliding it towards Liam. Mason pursed his lips, squinting at the computer in front of him before turning it around to show the couple. "Uh, 14. We're clear."

Melanie and Liam nodded, Liam squinting slightly at the computer. "Okay, so if a spike in the k-index means more lightning, then we can tell if they're coming." Liam said, almost making it sound like a question and Melanie nodded. "Yeah."

Mason let a relieved smile grow on his face, nodding. "This is good." He said when the computer started beeping, making the three freeze. Melanie watched as the number on the screen got higher and higher and she slowly turned to Mason, leaning across the table to whack him. "Way to jinx it!" She grumbled and Mason just looked at her with wide eyes.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry!" Mason rambled, shutting his computer and looking between Melanie and Liam. "We need to hide them. The people that saw the Ghost Riders."

Liams face scrunched, immediately shaking his head. "We need to fight the Ghost Riders." He said and Mason looked at Liam with wide eyes, leaning across the table slightly as if it would prove his point more. "We need to hide them."

Melanie nodded, making the Hewitt boy smile, glad she was on his side until his face dropped when she spoke. "You can hide them. I'm gonna fight them."

"Who's them?" A voice said, standing over the three. The sophomores turned their heads, their eyes landing on Scott who was watching them with an amused smile.

"The ghost riders." Melanie and Liam said as Mason said, "The kids at the party." at the same time. Scott pursed his lips, taking the seat beside Mason as he nodded. "Got it."

Liam scooted his chair into the table more, turning to Scott. "We could get a lightning rod. Attract the ghost riders and catch them off guard." Mason pointed at Liam, shaking his head before turning to Scott as well. "But since everyone from the party is in danger, all we need to do is find a safe place to hide them until the storm passes."

Melanie shook her head at Mason plan, a frown growing on her face. "The ghost riders ride the lightning. Nowhere is safe." Melanie said and Mason turned to her. "It is, if we're underground. The earth can ground the lightning's electrical charge. Everyone would be safe."

Melanie and Mason both turned to Scott, wanting to hear his thoughts. Scott looked between the three with wide eyes before sighing, leaning closer to the table so only they could hear him. "Okay... Here's what we're gonna do. We take everyone into the argent bunker. It's underground."

Liam rolled his eyes, angry that Scott didn't agree with him. "We stopped the ghost riders last night. We can do it again." Scott turned to Liam, raising his brows as he shook his head. "You didn't stop them. They just retreated. We don't know why."

Melanie sighed in defeat, knowing Scott wouldn't change his mind. She let her head fall into her arms that were resting on the table, looking up at Scott tiredly. "Okay. How do we get everyone inside the bunker?"

...

"Is this a joke?" Nathan asked, looking up from the picture of the Ghost Rider Melanie had given him after explaining what they are and that they're after him. Melanie sighed, knowing this was a stupid plan. "No. And you got to take this seriously. Once we're all in the bunker, we'll be fin-" "I'm not gonna miss the first game of the year so that you can make captain." Nathan snapped at the girl, crumbling the paper and throwing it at her face.

Melanie felt anger fuel up in her. She bent down, picked up the paper and stomped after Nathan. "Can you get your head out of your own fucking ass for once!" Melanie yelled, pushing Nathan's back, making him stumble forward slightly.

Nathan turned around to look at Melanie in shock before cowering slightly at her angered look. "There was a man with a gun. And he's coming back for everyone that was at the party. So how about you listen to me, save yourself, hide in the bunker and maybe you you won't die." Melanie yelled, her eyes squinting as she said her last sentence.

Nathan gulped at the girl, nodding his head. Melanie gave him a fake smile, tilting her head. "Good. And by the way..." Nathan looked up at her, watching as her smile dropped and she glared at him, "I'm getting captain way before you ever will." She snapped.

With that, Melanie passed the boy, bumping her shoulder with his and continuing to her next class.

...

Melanie slowly walked into the locker rooms. It was later in the night and she was supposed to be at the bunker with everyone else but she couldn't wait around like a sitting duck for the Ghost Riders to take her.

When she walked down the many aisles to get to her locker, she saw Gwen standing at her own. Gwen looked up from fixing her jersey, her eyes landing on Melanie and her brows furrowed. "What are you doing here? I thought you'd be in the bunker."

Melanie sighed, walking towards her locker and opening it. "I've accepted the fact that I'm gonna be taken, might as well play one last game." She said, turning to Gwen as she grabbed her jersey and Gwen sent her a small smile, almost as if she were thinking the same thing.

...

"Why are we underground?" A random voice from the crowd of kids asked as Belle, Mason, Liam, Corey and Hayden led them through the bunkers to meet with Scott, Malia and Chris. Belle turned around to the huddle of kids, not knowing who spoke but answered nonetheless. "This is the way to the bunker."

Nathan scoffed at Belle's words, making the Parker girl roll her eyes. "You guys have a bunker? Who are you people?" Nathan snarked and Belle turned around, ready to yell at him but Liam stuck his hand out, stopping her and answering instead. "We're the people who know things about the things that most people don't know about." He yelled and Nathan's face scrunched. "What?"

Belled groaned, rolling her eyes. "Ignore him. Just keep moving." She told Liam, turning to continue walking towards the room where they were meeting Scott, Malia and Chris before she froze, her eyes slowly widening as her heart fell. She slowly turned around and scanned the crowd of kids, worrying only filling her up more when she realized her best friend was no where to be seen.

"Liam... where's Mel?" Belle asked quietly and Liam froze, turning around to look in the crowd as well and when he realized she wasn't there he groaned, kicking his feet against the cement. "Dammit!"

Belle looked at Liam with sad eyes, noticing how stressed the boy was after realizing Melanie wasn't there after a few seconds. She sighed, catching Liam's attention. She sent him a small smile and pushed his shoulder. "You go."

Liam's face softened, looking at Belle with wide eyes. "You sure?" He asked, knowing that Belle wanted to go find Mel. just as much as he did. Belle let out a small laugh, nodding. "Yes! Now go find our girl!" She said and Liam smiled, nodding and running out of the tunnels.

...

When Belle, Mason, Corey and Hayden got the teens to the bunker room, the four immediately headed towards Scott with eager looks in their eyes. "Hey, we're missing three, plus Gwen and Mel." Belle said and Scott looked at her with wide eyes as if they were crazy. "No one kept an eye on her? Really?"

Hayden rolled her eyes, shaking her head and waving her hands slightly. "That doesn't matter right now. We're running out of time." Belle turned to her girlfriend who had grabbed her hand in hopes it would comfort her. Hayden turned to Belle, sending her a reassuring smile. Belle took a deep breath, turning back to Scott. "Scott, we have to get them."

Scott sighed, knowing Belle was right. "I'll go. The rest of you stay here." He said and Belle instantly straightened up, shaking her head. "Hell no! I'm going too! Who knows how many are gonna be there tonight?" Scott looked at Belle protectively, shaking his head. "You're marked."

Mason pursed his lips, raising his hand. "So am I." Corey copied his actions, looking between the group. "Yeah, me and Hayden too, but at least I can see them coming."

Scott looked at Belle for a few seconds, the Parker girl raising her brows, both of them knowing he would give in. Scott looked around the teens before sighing in defeat, nodding. "All right. But if you see them coming... run."

...

"Boy coming in! My eyes are closed." Melanie and Gwen heard Liam yell as he walked into the girls locker room. Melanie let out a small laugh, peaking her head out of the aisle she was in, laughing at Liam with his head facing up, his hand over his eyes.

Just as he was about to walk into one of the rows of lockers, Melanie sped over to him, grabbing the hand that was covering his eyes and removing it off his face so he could see her.

Liam instantly smiled at Melanie, pulling her into a hug, glad she was safe. Before the girl even had a chance to hug back, Liam pulled away, his hands going on either of her shoulders. "Mel, we have to go back to the bunker."

Melanie instantly frowned at Liam's words, shaking her head slightly. "Liam, I'm not waiting in a bunker to get taken. I already made that clear. And I told Gwen we're sticking together so she's not leaving either." Melanie said, raising her chin higher in determination. Liam felt his heart drop slightly at her words, shaking her head and taking a step towards her. "Last night, it took all of us to stop one of them. If you go out there, they'll take you too."

"They'll find us wherever we are. Just like Phoebe." Gwen said, walking out of the aisle she and Mel were once in so Liam could see her. "I'm sorry we couldn't protect her. But we can protect you." Liam said, giving Gwen soft eyes before he turned to Melanie, looking at her with almost begging eyes. "Both of you"

Melanie cupped Liams face, making her turn towards him. She took a small step closer before looking into his eyes, her eyes saddened and soft, tears pooling up. "Liam, they can go through mountain ash. We don't even know if the bunker will work and even if it does, I'm not gonna stay there forever."

Liam looked at Melanie for a few seconds, a part of him knowing she was right but the other part of him didn't want to lose her. Melanie bit her bottom lip to hold back her shaky breath as she looked up at Liam, the boy she loved but never got to say it to, with sad eyes. "I'm sorry but I'm not going. I'm staying and I'm playing tonight's game."

Melanie slowly let go of Liams face and moved passed him to walk out of the locker room. The girl didn't make it that far though, considering as soon as she stepped outside of the room, she ran into Scott. Scott grabbed Melanie's arm, making Melanie shut her eyes, cursing under her breath. "And there she is." Scott sarcastically cheered like a mother who had just caught their child doing something they were supposed to be doing.

Melanie sighed, letting Scott keep his grip on her as he turned to Mason. "You've read everything there is to know on the ghost riders. Have you come across anything that could stop them?" Mason looked at Scott with wide eyes, shaking his head. "Not yet. But I can try." Scott nodded eagerly at Masons words. "Do that." He said before heading towards the boys locker room, pulling Melanie with him as Liam, Belle, Hayden and Corey followed behind.

As soon as they all stepped into the room, they were met with an angered Coach. "You're late, McCall!" He yelled before noticing him, Belle, Liam and Corey were not in there jerseys. "Why aren't you people dressed?" Coach yelled, walking towards them, making all the teens turn to him with wide eyes as he continued to yell.

"Get your asses moving. Everyone on the field! Hustle! Hustle! Hustle!" Coach yelled and the three boys quickly scurried to their lockers, Belle heading towards the girls locker room to get dressed.

As Coach walked out of the locker rooms, he noticed Melanie, in her proper attire following him, making him smile and grab her shoulder. "See! Yukimura's ready to play! Captain material!" Coach yelled, rubbing Melanie's shoulder proudly. Melanie felt her heart drop slightly at Coach's words.

Before the man could even react, she pulled him into a hug. "You're a great Coach, Coach." Melanie mumbled before letting go of the man and jogging towards the field. Finstock looked at Melanie in confusion, looking around to see if anyone saw before rolling his eyes, sighing. "I will never understand teenagers." He mumbled before walking towards the field after her.

...

Scott, Belle, Liam and Corey walked onto the field, Belle putting on her helmet as Scott sighed, stopping the three sophomores to get on the field to talk to them really quickly. "I'll take Steinbach and Wallace."

When the teens nodded, he turned to Corey. "You're on Okafur." He said before turning to Liam, nodding towards him. "And you'll have Mel and Gwen."

Liam and Corey nodded as Belles face scrunched, shaking her head as she turned to Scott. "What about me?" Scott shut his eyes, knowing Belle would be annoyed and mad with his next words but turned to her nonetheless. "You're our goalie. Can't do much from there."

Belle looked at him angrily and just before she could open her mouth to complain, Corey spoke up, changing the conversation so Belle wouldn't snap. "What if we see ghost riders?" Scott turned to him, slightly relieved for him changing the subject and nodding. "Yell. Then get ready to fight."

...

All they game continued to play on, Melanie noticed that the three were keeping an extra careful eye on her, Gwen and the three other boys. When the referee blew his whistle, signaling everyone to go back to their position, Melanie felt someone walk beside her, she turned her head and saw Gwen who was looking at her with furrowed brows.

"Are they..." "Following us? Definitely." Melanie said, nodding her head. Gwen groaned, walking back to her position as Mel went to her own. As she walked, she passed Scott, who grabbed her shoulder, stopping her. "You keep saying that you're okay with this but what about everyone else around you? What about your parents."

Melanie's face fell into a glare and Scott immediately realized it was probably a bad idea to use her parents as a reference, now thinking he could've used Belle, Liam or even himself. Melanie glared at him with a saddened look. "Scott, my parents already act like they don't remember me. At least this time, it'll be true." She snarked at him before walking towards her spot, hitting her shoulder against his in the process, making Coach cheer.

"Yes, Yukimura! That's the kind of passion I want to see. Unleash hell!" Coach yelled and Melanie turned to the Coach, smiling and sending him a thumbs up that the man almost instantly returned.

Liam and Corey slowly walked towards Scott, looking at Mel with wide eyes. "What's gotten into everyone?" Liam asked, his eyes leaving Melanie, turning to two boys on the opposing team, just about ready to fist fight.

Scott looked at the teens around him with wide eyes before turning back to Liam and Cory. "What if it's the wild hunt? What if it's affecting everyone?"

Suddenly, the sound of horses neighing echoed throughout the field. Melanie felt every bone in her body freeze, goosebumps forming on the back of her neck as wind blew against it. She slowly turned around to face the part of the field that faced the woods and could faintly see the outline of four men on horses.

"Shit." She muttered as Belle left her spot at the goal, running towards Melanie.

"Liam! Scott" Melanie yelled as Belle ran up to her. The two boys turned their heads to look at Melanie before they both felt Corey beside them grow tense.

"I see them." Corey muttered, staring in the same direction Melanie was. Scott looked in the direction Corey and Melanie were looking and saw nothing. He turned to Liam who had the same expression as him. At the same time, the two boys grabbed Corey and dragged him towards Melanie and Belle who had Gwen, Okafur, and Wallace with them.

Scott let out a relieved breath, looking between the teens that had seen the Ghost Riders. "Okay. We've got all four, right?" Belles face fell at his words, shaking her head as she looked around the field. "Scott, there were five."

Scott looked at Belle with wide eyes and instantly, everyone in the group started looking around the field for Steinbach. The sound of screaming made them all turn their heads, their eyes landing on Steinback, his ankle wrapped in one of the Ghost Riders lassos as they dragged him towards them.

Once he was about a foot from the Ghost Riders, green smoke clouded around him until he was gina entirely. Okafur let out a small gasp, jumping back and looking at Melanie with wide eyes, not believe i g her when she first confronted him lien she had with Nathan earlier in the day. "Oh, my god! They're real!"

"We gotta get out of here!" Belle yelled when rain started to put on the field, drenching the teens. Scott turned to her, nodding before turning to Melanie, Gwen, Okafur and Wallace. "Stay together. We'll protect you." He said and the four nodded. Just as they were about to run, the Ghost Riders had fully circled them.

"What do we do?!" Gwen screamed over the rain as Belle stuck her arm out protectively in front of her and Melanie as Liam turned to them, making his claws appear. "Stay close!"

Suddenly, Liam roared, his eyes bright yellow, and his fangs and claws out. Melanie, knowing her boyfriend and noticing his stance, immediately knew he was about to run towards the Ghost Rider closest to her.

"Liam! No!" Melanie yelled, breaking out of Belles grip and running towards Liam. Melanie got up behind Liam, wrapping her arms around his torso and pulling him back, making sure that she turned them both around so if the Ghost Riders did happen to try and shoot him, they'd get her instead.

Instead of trying to shoot her or Liam, the ghost riders turned to Wallace and Okafur all four of them pointing their guns at the boys and firing. Wallace screamed as the smoke clouded around him while Okafur let out a gasp of breath.

The teens left standing looked at the spot where someone, they couldn't remember who, once stood before the Ghost Riders' horses neighed louder. Melanie jumped at the sudden noise, turning her head and feeling her heart drop slightly at all the Ghost Riders turned to her. "Guys? They're all looking at me." Melanie let out worriedly as the Ghost Riders started to circle the group.

The group froze, watching as the Ghost Riders circled them, eyeing the two girls. Scott growled slightly, his eyes glowing bright red as he glared at the Ghost Riders. "Protect Mel and Gwen!" Scott yelled over the rain. Belle nodded, making her claws appear as she roared at the Ghost Riders.

Melanie felt her heart practically beating out of her chest. Gwen, noticing Melanie's panic beside her, grabbed her hand, squeezing it. Melanie turned to Gwen for a split second, sending her a small smile that Gwen returned in hopes to calm her down. While the girls were looking at each other, a horse just a few feet away from them neighed loudly.

They both turned their heads and watched as a Ghost Rider stood right in front of them, his gun pointed at Melanie. Gwen's face turned stone cold and just as the Ghost Rider pulled the trigger, she stepped in front of Melanie, taking the bullet.

Melanie watched with wide eyes as Gwen slowly was engulfed in blue smoke before disappearing entirely.

In one split second, Melanie couldn't remember who was recently holding her hand. No one was around her to hold her hand so who was? Before she could even question it, Liam grabbed her waist, spinning her around so she could face him. "Mel, you have to run!"

Melanie felt her heart break at his words as she slowly shook her head. "They'll just keep coming back for me. More people will get taken. There's no other choice." Melanie said, her voice shakily slightly and Liams face fell, looking Melanie over before he cupped her face, taking a step towards her.

"I promise I'll get you back! I won't forget you!" Liam screamed over the rain. Melanie felt tears sprinkle in her eyes as she slowly shook her head. "But you will... I love you, Liam. So much." Melanie cried out in a small whisper.

Liam felt his heart hurt slightly as he nodded, rubbing his thumb over Melanie's cheekbone. "I love you too."

And with that, the ghost rider pointed its gun at Melanie's back and pulled the trigger.

Melanie felt a cold sensation run down her back before she felt it all fade away and her eyes drifted closed.

"No!" Scott screamed, running towards Melanie and Liam but by the time he was beside Liam, Melanie was gone. Liam watched as Melanie disappeared from his hands. He looked up and found nothing in front of him in the pouring rain.

He stared off in front of him, feeling like he was forgetting something. Something important. His mind was screaming at him to remember but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't. The wind blew passed his face and he could almost hear a soft voice whisper "I love you, Liam." but before he couldn't recognize the voice no matter how hard he tried.

Liam squinted ahead of him, a part of him screaming to remember whatever was erased from his mind but he just couldn't.

—incase you guys don't know, that was melliams first i love you😟💔
DONT KILL ME🏃‍♀️