Chapter Two
Shyla sat on the hard wood that was beneath her. She sighed impatiently, and picked up her flashlight once again, flashing it into the window for the fourth time. "Where are you? That's our signal..." Shyla muttered to herself.
She leaned her head against the walls of the treehouse, and closed her eyes painfully.
"Shyla," she famaliar voice whispered. She heard footsteps climbing the ladder to the wooden structure, and then she saw Taylor; his face looked oddly pale in the moonlight. Taylor look one look at her, and a look of sympathy crossed his face. "Aw...no...Shyla, did he...hit you?"
Shyla took a sharp breath in, but nodded her head. "Hard...for at least an hour. It hurts like anything, Taylor, and I don't know how much more I can put up with. I begged him to leave Landry alone...but he didn't... and she's in worse shape than I am, and-" her voice broke off, and warm tears trickled down her scratched cheeks.
"Shy...you...you have to tell someone about this! The police, my mom, anyone that can do something about it!"
"No, Taylor, no! I'm not telling anyone about this," she said, her voice a harsh whisper. "And you have to swear to me," she said, looking deep into his eyes while she spoke, "that you won't tell anyone about this."
"But Shyla, he could kill you! You have to tell someone! You-"
"No! Not a word of this to anyone!" The urgency in Shyla's voice worried Taylor.
"Shyla," Taylor said, taking a deep breath. "Shyla...tell me why not. Give me a good reason why I shouldn't go into my house and tell my mother."
The tears were coming faster down Shyla's face now, but she brushed them away roughly with the back of her hand. "Because," she said, her voice just above a whisper. "He'll kill me."
"Not if we say something first!"
"For the last time, I am not uttering this to anyone! Not a word of this conversation leaves the treehouse. Understand?"
Taylor was going to protest, but didn't, in fear he would lose his best friend. "Okay. Okay Shyla, if you don't want me to say anything to anyone... I won't."
"Promise me, Taylor. Promise me now... that no matter how bad things get... Promise me you'll never leave me; promise me that you'll never let go of the hope you have for me."
Taylor nodded. "I promise, Shyla. I promise."
Shyla nodded, as silent tears of sadness combined with happiness streamed down her face. She suddenly found herself in Taylor's embrace, and for once in her life, she felt safe.
Taylor held Shyla close to her. For once he actully feared for her life. Not wanting Shyla to see, he wiped his cheeks with his index finger, stopping the tears that had previously fallen down his cheeks. Shyla was special; he couldn't lose her. Not now.
Chapter Three
