Satara's head was an enormous hot water bottle half filled with helium.

If she didn't pay attention to the placement of her feet, she was sure she'd float off into the sky with all her thoughts and memories boiling in her skull. Is this what being high feels like? Or being drunk? Why would anyone choose to feel like this? She paused at the top of the slope leading down to the Cunningham house and the dreaded whispers she previously associated with the place turned into malignant growls.

I'm never coming back here again. She avoided the eyes of the ghosts that watched her from below and stepped onto the side road. The sky was as dark as it had been the last two times she returned there. Where did the day go? I hope Jayce isn't freaking out too much. She almost laughed at the idea. Everything she knew now threatened to stretch her brain and heart alike out of shape. The person who sneaked into the abandoned house a day ago had been wiped away and replaced by someone who still had more questions than she answers. Who took entirely too long to realise none of the lights were on in Melissa's house as she walked up the back garden path.

Are they all in the living room right now? What about Sin? Is he still sleeping? She knocked softly on the door and no one moved the curtains of the neighbours' softly illuminated windows. Maybe I should try the front instead. There shouldn't be as many people around this late at night. Sighing, she stopped right before she went through the side alley. If I lived here, why would I knock on my own front door after dark? I should try the window instead.

Keeping an eye on the neighbours' houses, she hurried back down the path and out through the gate, shutting it softly behind her. She followed the side road to the main road. At least no one'll pay too much attention to my pyjamas now. She pulled up her hood but paused in front of the house she believed to be Melissa's. There was only one other building between her house and the side road but the front room lights weren't on either. All of the windows were completely blacked out and the observation abruptly reconnected her reeling mind to her body.

Where are they? She checked the number of houses on either side once more but couldn't bring herself to walk up the front garden path, resting a hand on the gate as her feet hurt beneath her. Did they all … leave?

She tossed the thought away before it solidified. That's stupid. Even if Sin woke up and he did leave with Jayce – and Judy – Melissa and her mum should still be here. It's their house. I haven't been gone long enough for anything that bad to hap- A wordless voice in her head reminded her of the damage that could be done in a mere hour and told her she had come back too late. Again.

Shoving the gate open, she stalked up to the front door but her raised fist faltered. You're trying not to draw attention remember. Especially if they've been – No. No, they're probably just asleep. It's been a day at least. I don't even know what time it is. She didn't have a phone or a watch to check, just the bag hanging against her back. She leaned closer to the door. The silence was nearly as loud as her intrusive thoughts. Her breathing started to speed up. I shouldn't be here.

She backed away up the path and swallowed the urge to shout out her companion's names. There was no blood this time. No ringing in her ears. She looked at her hands and rubbed her fingertips together as if she were mixing cookie dough. Why aren't they here –?

“Satara?”

The unfamiliar voice behind her stilled her muscles for a split second. She spun around. I didn't –

“Holy crap,” said a brown haired man as he materialised from the shadow of the next door neighbour's hedge, his mouth half open as if he didn't know what jaw muscles were for. “It really is you, isn't it? It has to be.”

Who the hell –? Aside from him, the street around them seemed free of any other potential threats. She scanned his face as she stepped back. Was he on the motorway too? Everyone in the clinic was killed so he can't be one of them.

“Chill out. It's only me and I'm not going to hurt you.” He slipped something that looked suspiciously like a Gameboy into his pocket, then lifted his empty palms to shoulder height.

“Said every bad guy ever,” she retorted, keeping her distance as he edged closer.

He barely managed to silence a laugh with his hand, peering at her over his fingers. “Oh god, I like you already. Must be a family effect.”

Ten seconds. It hadn't taken more than ten seconds. Disgust curled her upper lip back in a snarl but his words stuck to her attention like burrs.

“What're you talking about?” He's probably trying to distract you so someone else can sneak up on you. Don't let that happen.

“I'm with your cousin,” he said and if she were utterly stupid she might have believed the sincerity in his eyes.

“And I know your mum,” she said drily, listening out for the rumble of an engine or the soft thud of feet.

He choked on a giggle this time, eyes wide. “I can't believe you just said tha-”

“I don't care who you are or who you think you know.” She pointed a warning finger directly at his face. “Don't follow me.”

She picked up the pace but he waved his hands as if he hadn't heard a word.

“No, no, no. You've got to come with me. I honestly do know your cousin.” He nodded earnestly. “Sinj – Ah – Sin- Crap, I've forgotten his real name.”

“You're not really convincing, you know,” she muttered.

“No really. I do know him. And your friend.” His face screwed up thoughtfully. “The red head.”

She paused mid turn. Anyone who's seen the news might know what Jayce looks like. It doesn't mean anything.

“I forgot his name.” He raised his hands again as she stared at him. “At least I'm being honest. If you'll hear me out, I can explain everything.”

He knows Sin is my cousin. He couldn't have found that out from the news. But I don't know how much our enemies know. If he's working for Saytarnia – The man had a crooked, semi-nervous smile and he looked like he had thrown on the first set of clothes that would make his appear normal. – she could've done much better than this.

“How do I know if you're being honest?” Her eyes narrowed. “Where are they?”

“Sinja asked us to pick him and the red head up from this house. We're his friends.”

He doesn't have a very good track record with his friends. Does that mean he woke up or is this guy saying that because he doesn't know what happened to Sin? Because he's lying?

“Prove it,” she said.

The road behind her was still relatively empty. A few people were hanging out by the shops not too far from them but they seemed normal enough. If he was going to try anything, I doubt he'd do it on a main road. I should stay around here. Maybe go into one of those shops – but what if someone calls the police on me instead of him?

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

“How?” Though he sounded nonplussed, the stranger watched her face intently.

“I want to talk to my cousin. Right now.”

“Uh, he wasn't exactly awake that last time saw him.” He laughed as if embarrassed.

“Then how did he tell you to pick him up from here?” she asked. “If he was still asleep.”

“He turned on his location. After he woke up, obviously,” he added hastily. “But then he knocked out again.”

“Sounds convenient,” she murmured.

“I know, right?” He reached into his other pocket and held out his hand as she started to back pedal. “I'm just getting out my phone. You can talk to your friend if you don't believe me.”

Despite his desperate speech, his gaze was too calm. This isn't the first time he's done this. She scanned her surroundings again, and again, but nothing stood out to her fearful senses.

“How do I know you haven't kidnapped them?”

A couple of people next to the shops looked in their direction for longer than usual and one of them pressed a phone to their ear. Satara remembered what Melissa said about nosy neighbours.

“Because Sinja's not a kid.” The man's grin wavered as he pulled out his phone. “Sorry. No, they came with us all on their own. You'll see once you talk to your friend.”

I have to go but what if he's telling the truth. The house remained dark and quiet several steps away. He might be lying and they might be in there after all. Should I knock just to make sure?

“I'm going to call them now, okay?” He placed the phone against his ear and all of a sudden she couldn't breathe.

Am I letting him call for back up? If I cause problems here, someone might call the police, if they haven't already. They might already be recording this. She remembered how the other kids rushed forward with their mobile phones lifted overhead whenever something broke out in her school, like reporters trying to get the best angle or scoop. If he follows me away from here, I could probably take him but it might be better to stay where someone can see. Or at least where there might be a camera.

There were no obvious cameras in the area but the shops were bound to have some form of security. Especially since they had a pub a further down the road.

“Des?” said the stranger. He smiled at her and her blood thickened in her veins. “She's here.”

The person on the other end of the line said something and he nodded as if the conversation were a face to face one.

“Yeah. She's not coming quiet- Uh, she wants to talk to Sinja.” He paused. “Yeah, I told her he was out for the count. What about the other kid?”

She's not coming quietly? Is that something you'd say about someone on the same side as you? She took another step back.

“Yeah, I was thinking she could talk to him so she knows we're not gonna eat her – Hey, where're you going?” The equilibrium on his features flickered as she moved towards the side road again.

If someone else comes, it'd be better if I'm somewhere I know. Somewhere I can hide. The idea of fleeing back to the Cunningham house, seeking refuge within its walls from a potential assailant, turned her stomach but the alternative was worse. If he's telling the truth, he won't try to force me into anything.

“Hey, don't go ye-” His hand closed around her arm and she immediately twisted it away from her, kicking his legs out from beneath him with a savage curl of her own.

His phone clattered to the concrete. She pressed her foot against his stomach and kept a tight grip on his arm as he groaned. It was almost too easy.

“I don't know who you are or who Des is,” she said quietly. “But you should've kept your hands to yourself.”

“You don't understand,” he hissed, giving up his attempts to free his twisted arm. “We can't lose you again. Sinja asked us to look after you both so we can't let you go until he says –”

“I don't believe you.”

“I can prove it. He's still asleep but Des' going to wake your friend up right now.” He searched for his phone, several steps away, then looked back up at her through agitated eyes. “I swear. If you talk to him, you'll see we're on your side. We even took the therapist and the other two with us so they couldn't tell anyone else about you and your cousin.”

He doesn't look like he's lying. She ground her teeth together. But some people don't and you never find out until it's too late.

“Give me the phone,” she said. “I'll see if I believe you after I talk to Ja- to my friend.”

“Of course.” He nodded quickly. “You can pick it up yourself, if you want. Des'll know it's you.”

She hesitated and a pair of headlights rolled up to obscure her vision. She covered her eyes with one arm and leapt back, relinquishing her hold on the stranger. If I run now, they might not catch me before I get to the garden.

“Don't move,” said one of the men as he came out of the car.

The other one lifted a radio to their lips.

“Ahh, officers.” The man on the ground snapped to his feet and shifted until he had blocked their view of her. “I know this looks sus but everything's fine.”

“Stay where you are,” said the same person. He wore a black and white uniform that still appeared in her nightmares.

I don't think so. She darted away from the stranger and past the closest police officer. She thought she heard the first man call after her and he sounded a lot more worried than the two policemen. If they caught her, she wouldn't get the chance to find Sinastar and Jason. I can't let them catch up.

So she ran towards her old house again and envisioned her younger self doing the same in the opposite direction. The image was bittersweet through her partially blurred vision. Rapid footsteps behind her only spurred her on but the incline worked against her. She considered taking a detour into Melissa's back garden but couldn't. Not when there was still a chance that Jason and Sinastar hadn't moved from the house after all.

She reached the top of the slope, gasping, and pelted down it toward the Cunningham house. A completely different journey from her one the night before. Did those people by the shops call the police? If they know who I am, they might know where I'll try to hide. She decided to take her chances in a heart beat.

“Stop!” shouted her pursuer. He wasn't far behind.

Does he really think anyone would listen to that? He just saw me attacking a random guy. Even if they doesn't know everything, there's no way he thinks I was doing anything good back there. She passed the Cunningham back door. He' ll see me even if I hide behind the fence.

She ran past the gap in the fence and further down the alleyway to the next side road where she had often played tag with the other kids. The Cunninghams had always said it was safer than playing on the main road and warned her to listen out for bicycle bells and motorbikes.

“Hey! We're the police!” yelled the man chasing her. “If you don't stop now, it'll only make things worse.”

He sounds out of breath. More out of breath than me? She swallowed spit that burned like freshly brewed tea and tried to remember the last time she had eaten something. She had had dinner with Melissa and the rest but couldn't remember if she had been able to put anything in her mouth.

“We're not gonna hurt you!” he panted. “Just stop so we can talk.”

You all need to stop lying. You're going to put those handcuffs on me the second I do what you want. I can hear them when you run, you know. She reached the side road and turned right towards the main road. The one that led to the ice cream shop. I could hide there but they'd probably report me instead.

She slowed halfway down the road. A backward glance revealed that the police officer was still following at a steady pace, although he struggled to keep up. She wasn't sure she could win a contest of endurance and sped up, pushing her muscles to their limits. The gelato shop welcomed her with the soft but upbeat music Janie hated but she ignored it, circling back towards the Cunningham house. The policeman cursed behind her but apparently didn't have enough air to spare on another full blooded yell.

She thought she saw movement by the entrance of the alley but ran without stopping, ducking behind the safety of the fence. She didn't have to time to catch her breath as she yanked the plant pot aside and pushed her way through the bushes. A stray twig scratched her cheek. She winced but kept going. The stones beneath her fingertips scraped down her knees and she felt every single one of them.

Almost there. Almost … Someone grabbed her arm and tugged her back out of the gap as if she weighed no more than a child.

“Easy there, missy,” said the second police officer.

She ducked under the arm he tried to wrap around her upper body and twisted around him. He moved with her and tightened his grip on her arm before she could kick the back of his knee. She hissed as his fingers punished her biceps and threw herself backwards. Her bag slid off her shoulder. He stumbled and she tried to jerk him into another armlock but he stepped in time with her again and pushed her back into the fence.

“Calm down,” he said. He seemed to think he sounded soothing rather than impatient. “Just calm down, okay?”

“Let go of me.” She lashed out and her knuckles slid painfully across his left cheek bone.

He grunted but the wooden fence slammed into her spine. No …

“Let go!” she hissed and planks creaked behind her.

He didn't. Heat rushed through her arms and she had half a second to use it, shoving him back and withdrawing her zai as he crashed to the ground a meter or so away from where Uncle Joe had fallen.

No. Don't …

She started to run again but the first police officer caught up and suddenly she was face down on the tarmac with her arms wrenched up behind her.

Don't do it …

Zai flooded her body in vengeful waves and she closed her eyes, reigning it in like a wild horse with fangs. She couldn't see the second policeman but heard him speaking into his radio again. The backpack was torn from where it hung off her elbow. Not that! She tapped at her wrists frantically until cold metal closed around them, one at a time, and her fingers rolled into fists. Give it back!

“You should've just played nice,” panted the first man. He dragged her to her feet as she struggled to free herself. “Where did you learn to run like that?”

She didn't answer and the Cunningham house watched as they marched her back to their car.

Jayce … Her steps faltered. Sin …

<><><><><>

Richie didn't swear that often.

Natasha and Damon did, though they toned their speech habits down after they realised it made Sinastar uncomfortable. Now, however, as he crouched in the refuge of someone's garden not far from the police car to catch his breath, a dozen swearwords formed a revolving circle in his head. He kept alert and fiddled with his phone which had switched off after Satara knocked it from his grip. Damon had been right. He should have picked up one of the new smartwatches like the rest of them when he had the chance.

“Come on. Come on,” he hissed at device through his teeth. “Turn on already. You're not that old yet.”

He almost dropped it again as the two officers returned with a handcuffed Satara walking sullenly between them. She looked more angry than scared but Richie knew better. No teenager was prepared to visit an active police station, even if they were on the right side of the law. God-bloody-damnit –

The policeman who had handcuffed him and placed him in the back seat sounded just as exasperated as he scanned the interior of the car and then their immediate surroundings. Richie remained perfectly still as the latter's gaze swept over him twice. The metal cuffs hung from his right wrist as he dialled Des' extension code, lifting the phone to his ear as the police guided Satara into the back of their car. They looked around a final time before they climbed in themselves and started the engine. Des answered after the first ring.

“What the hell happened to you?” he demanded.

Richie followed the car with his eyes as it drove post him, taking Satara out of their reach once again.

“Uh.” He gulped. “We've got a problem.”