Outside, it was dark as hell. Folks around here hit the sack early, so there wasn't a soul in sight, not even a stray cat.

Quinn just hovered by the doorway. She was wearing the new outfit she bought in town today a thin black floral dress that wasn't doing much against the evening chill. She rubbed her arms, feeling the cold. There was this old tree stump stool by the door, so she plopped down on it for a bit.

After about half an hour, she figured Alexander must be out cold by now, so she got up and headed back inside.

But the second she stepped in, the place was empty. She looked around, but there was no sign of Alexander.

The old window was wide open, letting in a breeze.

He bailed!

Quinn realized she'd been played again. She knew his injuries well enough to know he couldn't just walk out without her noticing. For a moment, she was fuming.

She kicked the bed in frustration.

"Go ahead and die out there for all I care!" Quinn muttered angrily.

Sitting in the car, Alexander sneezed.

Nathan glanced at the rearview mirror, looking worried. "Mr. Kennedy, you good?"

"I'm fine," Alexander said, leaning against the car window with a cigarette dangling from his lips.

Nathan didn't push it. He glanced again at the blurry shadows in the rearview mirror and kept driving.

"Is it cool leaving Quinn there alone?" Nathan asked.

"Nope," Alexander replied.

"Then why'd we bail?" Nathan pressed.

"If we didn't, how would Landon show up?" Alexander said.

Nathan nodded, getting the picture.

It was late, but the bar was still hopping, and the dance floor was packed with people who didn't know the meaning of tired. Sean and Matthew were squatting in a corner, nursing their drinks, eyes glued to the entrance of the private room.

The loud music was both deafening and oddly soothing; after a while, it started to make them drowsy.

Just as they were about to nod off, Matthew jabbed Sean hard.

Sean's eyes snapped open, and he saw Walter and the others coming out.

Walter was leading the pack, with Alistair and Hetastian looking plastered and needing help to walk.

Sean and Matthew jumped up to follow them out.

Once outside, Alistair looked up, grinning at Walter and Alton. "Thanks for the good time. Let's split here."

Alton said, "You guys are wasted. Can you even drive? Let me call someone to get you home. Safety first, you know."Text © by N0ve/lDrama.Org.

Alistair waved him off. "Safety? My guys are coming to get me. No need to bother."

Alton and Walter exchanged a look. Alton smiled and said, "You brought backup?"

"You said it yourself. It's not safe out here. Of course, I brought some muscle," Alistair said, laughing. He raised his hand, and a bunch of people, like thirty or forty, piled out of several cars by the curb. Walter's eyes flickered when he saw them.

He shot a glance at Alton, who looked just as puzzled.

When Alistair first showed up, he didn't have this many people. In no time, he had gathered a small army, clearly ready for something.

Did he figure out what they were up to?