Series 9 Episode 5
"The Siren"
Frozen to the spot, Yasmin wasn’t sure what to do. She couldn’t let go of Josh and Oscar’s hands. They were all trapped inside her vision, and she didn’t know how to get out. Never before had she felt a vision so intense, so consuming, and it was draining every ounce of energy from inside her body. Yasmin felt tired, but she couldn’t rest. Not until everyone was safe.
In front of them, the black cloud grew darker and more defined. A large, tall, wide figure was forming, standing over them as if it were in charge. Two red, threatening lights began to glow near the top. The eyes.
“What the hell is that?” Oscar panicked.
“Red eyes,” Josh twigged, “We know what that means.”
“Alpha,” Yasmin realised. Whatever this beast was, it was a werewolf. One unlike any they had ever seen before. It was scarier, and undoubtedly tougher an opponent, “I can’t get us out.”
“Yes you can,” Oscar encouraged, “Remember when I first met you? You thought Dylan was dead. You were grieving, but you pulled through to help show me around. You overcame every bad feeling you had. You can do it again.”
Oscar was right. Yasmin could do anything if she tried, and she wasn’t going to be defeated so easily. She had to break free from that spot; there was no other option. This alpha couldn’t be allowed to materialise.
Focusing intently, Yasmin tried to release her grip. Something had to give if she tried hard enough, not that the supernatural world ever followed the laws of physics. Nonetheless, Yasmin gave everything she could to breaking the force. It was the only thing on her mind.
Both hands fell loose. The bond was broken, but the vision was ongoing, and both boys were still there. Yasmin was even more concerned – where was the exit? How could this stop?
“What happened?” Josh panicked.
“We need to hide,” Yasmin instructed, shouting against the full force of the draught. The creature in front was getting more and more defined. It was solidifying itself, and that was terrifying to Yasmin.
Together, the trio ran for the dorm. It was the safest place they knew, though Yasmin wasn’t going to be happy until this nightmare of a vision was over.
In front of them, the black cloud grew darker and more defined. A large, tall, wide figure was forming, standing over them as if it were in charge. Two red, threatening lights began to glow near the top. The eyes.
“What the hell is that?” Oscar panicked.
“Red eyes,” Josh twigged, “We know what that means.”
“Alpha,” Yasmin realised. Whatever this beast was, it was a werewolf. One unlike any they had ever seen before. It was scarier, and undoubtedly tougher an opponent, “I can’t get us out.”
“Yes you can,” Oscar encouraged, “Remember when I first met you? You thought Dylan was dead. You were grieving, but you pulled through to help show me around. You overcame every bad feeling you had. You can do it again.”
Oscar was right. Yasmin could do anything if she tried, and she wasn’t going to be defeated so easily. She had to break free from that spot; there was no other option. This alpha couldn’t be allowed to materialise.
Focusing intently, Yasmin tried to release her grip. Something had to give if she tried hard enough, not that the supernatural world ever followed the laws of physics. Nonetheless, Yasmin gave everything she could to breaking the force. It was the only thing on her mind.
Both hands fell loose. The bond was broken, but the vision was ongoing, and both boys were still there. Yasmin was even more concerned – where was the exit? How could this stop?
“What happened?” Josh panicked.
“We need to hide,” Yasmin instructed, shouting against the full force of the draught. The creature in front was getting more and more defined. It was solidifying itself, and that was terrifying to Yasmin.
Together, the trio ran for the dorm. It was the safest place they knew, though Yasmin wasn’t going to be happy until this nightmare of a vision was over.
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Every second in the car felt like dead, wasted time to Dylan. Though it was productive, and he was on his way to Freddie, Dylan didn’t feel like anything was being achieved. Freddie was in danger, and the wait could make all the difference.
Jono’s car was jam-packed. George, Sammi and Lily were squeezed into the back seat. Dylan loved how many people were keen to see Freddie found quickly and safely. He was the life and soul of the pack, never failing to cheer everyone up with a well-timed joke, mostly at Josh’s expense.
Of course, Dylan valued him on a personal level, too. Freddie had become a brother to him, and they had made it through the werewolf world together. After all, they were bitten only days apart. They had each other every step of the way, and that wasn’t going to change.
Dylan had never been to the hut before. He knew Brett was fond of it from his time on the run with Johnny, but Dylan expected things were somewhat different for Freddie. He couldn’t imagine how he must have been feeling.
“Here it is,” Lily pointed out, following the directions on her phone. Sure enough, standing alone along a quiet road decorated only by a few empty buildings, was a small, wooden house. It was ordinary; so ordinary that anyone driving past wouldn’t look twice at it. Dylan supposed that was the point.
Worryingly, just outside was Freddie’s car. The driver door was wide open, but nobody was in sight. The bonnet sported a large dent – something that would have required a lot of force. Dylan’s concerns were only growing. Where was Freddie?
“Hey,” Jono stopped the car, placing a hand on Dylan’s leg as the other three clambered out of the back, “We’re going to find him.”
“I’m responsible for this. I’m the alpha. I should have seen this coming,” Dylan vented. His mood had only sunk lower and lower.
“If you think that way, anyone could be responsible. Everyone you’ve ever met is responsible for what happens to you. It’s not fair on you, Dyl. We’ve all been so busy,” Jono reminded. He knew the best way to put Dylan’s mind at ease every time he panicked.
“I guess. I just…I could have stopped this. Freddie’s my beta. If anyone should be looking out for him, it’s me,” Dylan sighed.
“You’re amazing. You try so hard to look after everyone else, but you can’t forget yourself. You just moved away from home, Dyl. That’s hard for anyone,” Jono reassured, “You’re the alpha but you’re not psychic. Nobody knew what was happening with Freddie.”
Dylan nodded. Jono was right, and he felt better for talking to him. Dylan didn’t know what he’d do without Jono. Together, they stepped out of the car. Already, George and Lily were inspecting the state of Freddie’s abandoned vehicle.
“The door’s intact,” Lily observed, “He wasn’t dragged out.”
“The bonnet though,” George worried, “She’s got him. She must have.”
“He’s not here, we need to keep going,” Sammi stressed. She couldn’t stand still, pacing up and down the path impatiently.
“Where? We need to be smart about this. There’s no time to waste,” Dylan reminded. He wasn’t taking any chances.
“He was here not long ago,” Jono mentioned, “His scent is strong.”
“He must be nearby, let’s go,” Dylan concurred. The race was on, and none of them were prepared to slack.
Panting. Losing momentum. Freddie was growing tired. Even werewolves had a breaking point, and he was extremely close to his. He couldn’t give up, though. He knew Summer wasn’t far behind. She couldn’t outrun him, but she wasn’t giving up.
The small array of buildings around the hut provided very few hiding places. Freddie had to be smart. He dipped inside a boarded-up house, which couldn’t have been more than ten minutes down the road. Freddie checked behind him on his way in – no sign of Summer. The coast was clear, for now.
Inside, behind the rackety front door barely gripping onto its hinges, was a dilapidated front room. A solitary sofa sat facing the window, its arms sliced open and its exterior fabric rotting away, exposing the off-white padding underneath. The rest of the house wasn’t much more glamorous, either. Every surface was coated in dust, and Freddie didn’t want to touch anything. He couldn’t just stand around, though. He had to hide.
The best idea Freddie had was the basement. A wooden door with white paint chipping off its surface was just to his left. There had to be a hiding place down there.
Each stair on the way down creaked, no matter how lightly Freddie trod. Thankfully, Summer still didn’t appear to be near. Freddie kept his senses on high alert just in case, though. He couldn’t afford to miss a thing.
Downstairs was much the same. The basement had clearly been used for storage in the past; it was filled with furniture and appliances, some with plastic sheets over the top to attempt to preserve them. Freddie couldn’t pinpoint much else. The basement had little natural light coming through, and he wasn’t risking the lightbulb – that would have given his game away.
Quickly, Freddie ducked underneath the tatty sofa. He wasn’t convinced it was the best hiding place, but the plastic sheet helped hide him away. Now all Freddie had to do was wait. Dylan was on his way, but he had to find him, too. With Summer on the loose, that could have proven difficult. Freddie could have lured Dylan into a dangerous trap.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Freddie listened closely. Water was trickling its way into the basement. He could just about see a small puddle beginning to form on the hard flooring at the bottom of the stairs.
“Come out, Freddie,” Summer’s voice rang harshly through his ears, “It’s no use hiding.”
Slamming the dorm door shut behind him, Oscar was panicking. He had no idea what was happening, and every exit route seemed to be cruelly boarded up. If Yasmin couldn’t get them out of her vision, who could?
Oscar wasn’t sure whether it was a relief or not that Josh felt just the same as him. Josh had been doing this longer than him. Longer than any of the pack, in fact. He knew the most about the supernatural world, and yet, he was truly terrified as well. It was some tiny comfort to Oscar to know he wasn’t simply out of his depth as a newbie.
“What do we do now?” Oscar frantically queried. He couldn’t begin to think about a way out.
“I don’t know,” Yasmin yelled, pacing back and forth. She had her hands pressed firmly against her head. It was too much. It was hurting her.
“Hey, come on,” Oscar held her shoulders, “You can do this. You’re the smartest person I know.”
“Darn right,” Josh concurred, “But I think you might need to be smart a little quicker. It’s almost here.”
Josh was right. Oscar focused his hearing, but he didn’t need enhanced hearing to notice the loud, thudding footsteps on their way up.
“I can’t,” Yasmin closed her eyes, “My head hurts.”
“You can,” Oscar encouraged, “The Yasmin I met on one of the scariest days of my life would have moved mountains for her friends. You can do it, and we’re here for you.”
Yasmin opened her eyes. She looked like she was in pain, but there was a newfound determination in her eyes. She’d listened to Oscar. She’d found her last reserves of strength.
“Our bodies are still present in the real world,” Yasmin theorised, “And sometimes, my visions allow me to move. Maybe, just maybe, if we grab onto something real, we can get out.”
“How do we move our real bodies?” Josh panicked, still guarding the door.
“Connect with yourself. Use your mind. Make a conscious decision,” Yasmin guided.
“To do what?” Oscar wasn’t put at ease yet. This seemed so complicated.
“Visualise where we were stood. What could you feel? Touch something,” Yasmin clarified.
Oscar followed the instructions. He pictured where they were stood. They were outside, by the river, leaving very little in the open, grassy space for him to touch. Nonetheless, Oscar knelt down. He kept the image vivid in his mind, focusing as clearly as he could. His hand brushed against the ground. To his amazement, Oscar felt the gentle tickle of the blades of grass. He’d found reality.
Awestruck, Oscar looked around. He’d snapped out of the vision. He was back in the real world. He could see the gentle ripples of the river, and the dim sunlight peaking out from behind the clouds. He was safe.
“Woah,” Josh commented. He was out as well. They did it.
“One more to go,” Oscar turned his attention to Yasmin. She hadn’t moved yet. She knew what to do, but the connection hadn’t been made yet. Seconds passed, and still nothing. The worried glances Oscar and Josh were sharing said it all.
Yasmin was stuck in side, and she was on her own.
Sammi felt somewhat left out from tracking Freddie. She couldn’t follow a scent like Dylan, Jono or Lily could, and she didn’t have the brotherly instincts of George. That said, Sammi had her own super strength. She cared for Freddie in a way that nobody else did. She loved him. Above anyone and everyone.
She felt somewhat embarrassed that it had taken her so long to realise that Freddie was the only one she truly wanted. Everything that went on with Jamal had played with her mind. She had pushed away the one person she truly needed. Now he was in danger.
Dylan led the way through the small array of buildings that lined the road. There didn’t appear to be anyone else around. The atmosphere was eerily silent, in fact. Why was this place so horribly quiet? There had to be some interesting history to the place.
“Maybe we should split up? We’ll find him quicker,” Sammi pondered.
“No,” Dylan insisted, “We don’t know what we’re up against. None of us really know what Summer’s capable of. We have to stick together. I’m not losing anyone.”
Sammi couldn’t fault Dylan’s approach. He was the best alpha she could wish for, and she trusted him entirely. He would have done anything to bring Freddie home safe and sound.
“The scent’s getting stronger,” Jono observed. They were approaching a house, looking just as dilapidated as every other building. It didn’t take a werewolf to detect the uneasy, eerie vibes from their location. Sammi wanted to find Freddie and leave as soon as possible, but life was never that simple.
“The door’s unlocked,” George announced as the front door creaked open with a small push.
“Be careful,” Dylan advised. Sammi didn’t need to be asked twice. She knew her body couldn’t heal like a werewolf’s could. Getting herself killed wasn’t going to help Freddie.
Inside, the place looked like it had been turned upside down. Tatty furniture had toppled over, the top of the worn-out sofa colliding with the disgustingly dusty floor. The place had been completely ransacked. Someone had been there already.
“Sh,” Lily commanded.
“We didn’t say anything,” George was confused.
“No, listen. It’s coming from below,” Lily directed. Sammi couldn’t hear anything. The downside of not being a werewolf.
“Sounds like a bath running,” Jono observed.
“Who’s running a bath in this place?” George questioned.
“No,” Dylan interrupted, “That’s not the question. Why would there be running water in the basement of a place like this?”
“Good question, alpha,” another figure emerged from the back room. It was her. Summer. Sammi was enraged. She was ready to fight.
Water level rising. Panic setting in. Freddie regretted choosing a hiding place so low to the ground. It seemed genius at the time, too. If only he had hindsight. A Yasmin vision or two could have been really helpful.
The worst part was that any movement would instantly make a sound. Summer couldn’t know he was there for sure. She was trying to flush him out, and Freddie didn’t know what to do.
He knew he had two options. He could stay where he was and attempt to hold his breath, keeping his cover, but even a werewolf wasn’t immune from drowning. Alternatively, he could attempt to move, risking being heard and exposed. Freddie couldn’t decide if it were a risk worth taking. There were no good options.
The deceptively gentle drip-drop of the water ceased. Freddie paid extra attention to his ears, or rather, his left ear. It was the only one not submerged in water, after all. Why had it stopped? No sound was coming from the steps, and they would creak for an ant.
Perhaps this was Freddie’s chance to escape? Maybe Summer had given up, assuming he wasn’t down there? Freddie’s plan could actually have worked. He couldn’t miss the opportunity.
Moving very slowly, doing his best to minimise noise, Freddie slid his way out from under the settee. The water covered the underside of his body, his face just about remaining dry. Freddie glided cautiously to the bottom of the steps. He began to hear some noise from upstairs, though whether that was good or bad, he couldn’t make out yet.
So many theories were running around Freddie’s mind. The water in his right ear was blocking his hearing. He couldn’t figure out who was up there. He wanted to be optimistic; Dylan was on his way, so perhaps he had arrived? However, he couldn’t forget Summer. She could surely have found him.
Regardless, Freddie needed to know more. He slowly and carefully lifted himself out of the water and onto the first step. Immediately, he could hear the voices more clearly. Dylan. Freddie kept going up, one step at a time, though with a stronger sense of urgency. His friends were upstairs. Summer couldn’t get to them too – Freddie was not going to put them in danger.
The different voices filled Freddie with hope. Jono. Lily. Sammi. George. They had come for him, and it meant a lot. He wasn’t fighting this battle alone.
“I don’t know where your friend is,” Freddie heard the spine-tingling voice of Summer. A voice that previously filled him with excitement and joy. She was surely lying, too. She was just metres away from him. She must have known he was there.
“She’s lying,” Lily immediately detected. She and Freddie had learnt from the same book – Dylan was an excellent mentor, “Her heartbeat is all over the place.”
“The Drummond pack. I’ve heard so much about you all. You’re practically famous, Dylan. Famous for being the biggest party pooper around,” Summer harped on. Freddie had heard enough. He burst through the basement door, immediately catching eyes with Dylan. Oh, it was good to see him again.
“I don’t think so,” Summer interrupted, firing a blast of water at Freddie. He fell backwards, unable to grab a hold of anything. He tumbled back downstairs, feeling every single harsh bump on the way down.
SPLASH!
Panic setting in. Yasmin had tried to hard to remain calm, but any hopes of that were long gone. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t connect with reality. Josh and Oscar had succeeded – they had faded from the vision just as Yasmin had hoped, but bow she was on her own, and she was scared.
Yasmin knew that the inside of her mind was a scary place at times. She was trapped inside her own vision, and it was a claustrophobic feeling.
The door slammed open. Yasmin was cornered. The black, smoky figure glided towards her, its shape slowly becoming more and more defined. It had short but wide legs, and long arms with sizeable claws. It looked more like a giant wolf, and that scared Yasmin more than anything – her two werewolf friends had made it back safely, and her powers were useless.
“This is just a vision,” Yasmin told herself, though she wasn’t convinced. She was trapped against the wall. All she had left was hope. Hope that reality would kick in eventually. Nope that nothing could actually hurt her in a vision.
The figure approached, stopping directly in Yasmin’s face. She looked into the bright red lights that must have been the creature’s eyes. She couldn’t tell anything from them – they were soulless, completely void of any and all emotion. Nothing about it was remotely reassuring.
Yasmin closed her eyes. Whatever happened next was out of her control, and it was bound to be unpleasant. Suddenly, its shape began to filter away again, back into the black smoke Yasmin first saw. It streamlined into a cloud and sucked itself into Yasmin’s mouth.
Blinking rapidly. Yasmin’s eyes were blinded by the sunlight. She was outside. Back in reality. She could see the river, and the grassy banks surrounding it. Josh and Oscar were looking worriedly back at her. She was home.
“What happened?” Yasmin’s heartbeat slowed again. She felt so relieved to have made it out.
“Err,” Oscar stuttered. He glanced at Josh, who wasn’t saying anything. Now Yasmin was worried again. What had happened?
“Guys, tell me,” Yasmin nagged.
“Your mouth,” Josh broke the news, “Whatever that thing in the vision was, it came through your mouth. It’s in this world.”
Yasmin was horrified. Her vision had made it into reality. It was real.
Cornered. No way out. Dylan’s brain was working overtime trying to figure out how to get away. It was easier said than done, though. Summer was strong, and she had the upper hand. Freddie was trapped in the basement, and none of them would be able to get down there quickly enough to retrieve him.
Dylan could see the range of emotions on everyone’s faces. Sammi was angry, furious in fact. George was much the same, but the scent of worry in the air was strong. Either side of Dylan were Jono and Lily, and all three of them were feeling horrified. They were terrified of Summer.
“What do you want?” Dylan questioned. He had to be brave. The pack were relying on him, and he needed all the information he could get. The one missing piece of the puzzle was the reasoning. Why was Summer targeting the pack? Everyone had a motive.
“I want…a pack,” Summer replied brazenly.
“You want what?” a gobsmacked Jono blurted out. Dylan agreed with his sentiment. It was an unusual way of getting their attention, to say the least.
“There are whispers everywhere. Something terrible is coming. I’m surprised you don’t know already, everything around here seems to revolve around the Drummond pack. Something’s coming, and it’s going to devour everything in its path,” Summer explained, “I’m sure you understand the strength in numbers.”
“Why didn’t you just ask?” George angrily questioned, “Instead of tormenting my brother.”
“I’m not stupid, your pack has a reputation. Dylan Drummond’s elite pack, only taking the best. You destroy everything that doesn’t fit your ideal. Making the world more boring with every day,” Summer hit out.
“This is your pitch?” Dylan was appalled. Her words were hurtful.
“I had to take drastic action. Allow me into your pack, Dylan, and Freddie will be just fine. He’s so sweet, isn’t he?” Summer bargained.
“And what’s in it for us?” Lily stood form.
“Loyalty. You’ll get a siren on your side, and I’ll fight whatever comes your way. All I ask is for the same in return. We’ll be on the same team,” Summer explained.
Dylan looked at Jono. He wasn’t sure what to do. His morals told him it was a terrible idea – Summer wouldn’t gel with the pack; her intentions were all wrong. However, her offer was surprisingly tempting. It would spell an end to the threats and killing, and it would be a safety net for the whole pack. Jono simply smiled at him. A reassurance that whatever he decided would be okay. Whatever he decided would work.
“You have once chance,” Dylan decided, “We work as a team here. If you’re serious about that, you’ll do the same.”
“What?” Lily glanced at Dylan in shock. Evidently, that wasn’t the response she had anticipated, but Dylan felt confident. This was, at least, the lesser of two evils.
Head pounding, Freddie was in a daze. He couldn’t remember what had happened. His vision was blurry. Where even was he? The only colours he could make out were all dark.
Strangely, his hair was drenched. His clothes were soaking wet. He was half-submerged in water, or at least, he assumed it was water. Freddie began to remember. Summer. Hiding out. Seeing Dylan. He was so close to safety.
Carefully, Freddie tried to push himself up, but he couldn’t quite manage it. He had little strength left inside him. It took a lot to wear a werewolf down, but Summer had succeeded. His body took quite a knock on the way down. The good news was that the pack were upstairs. George. Sammi. Freddie hadn’t realised how much he’d missed the sight of Sammi’s face. Summer had been so all-consuming that Freddie had forgotten who he really loved. It had always been Sammi.
“Freddie,” a voice called from above. Light flickered through. The door at the top of the basement stairs flung open. George. As soon as he noticed Freddie lying at the bottom, George sprinted down, barely touching each step on the way, “Hey, Freddie, are you alright? Are you hurt?”
“A few bumps and bruises,” Freddie downplayed, “I’ll be okay.”
“I’m sorry. This shouldn’t have happened,” George looked glum.
“This isn’t your fault. You were miles away, how could you have known?” Freddie refused to let him take responsibility. George had taken care of him for years, but Freddie was an adult now.
“I knew you were distant. You weren’t returning my calls, I just assumed you were busy with college,” George sighed.
“I’m okay now. That’s what matters,” Freddie insisted, “Where are the others?”
“Look, Dylan struck a deal with Summer, and you’re not gonna like it,” George began. Freddie immediately felt concerned. What deal could possibly have been made with someone like her?
“He’s keeping us safe. He’s keeping you safe,” George insisted, but the lack of details was only unsettling Freddie more.
“Tell me, please,” Freddie pushed.
“Summer said something bad is coming, and she needs safety in numbers. In return, she’ll fight for us,” George summarised. A shiver shot uncomfortably through Freddie’s spine. The last thing he wanted was the lingering scent of Summer around him and his friends.
“What the hell?” Freddie couldn’t hide his annoyance.
“Save your energy. Let’s get out of here first. Don’t be mad at him,” George advised. Freddie sighed. He didn’t know what to think. He always trusted in Dylan, but somehow, this felt a step too far.
It was a relief to get back to the dorm for Dylan. Though he hadn’t lived there long, he was amazed at how quickly it began to feel like home. He had his friends around him, and Dylan had realised that home wasn’t the building, it was the people, and he lived with some of the best people he’d ever known.
The journey home wasn’t long, but it was tiring. Dylan wasn’t sure whether his decision about Summer was the right one or not. Freddie had barely even looked at him when George helped him up from the basement, and he’d been quiet the whole way home. Dylan always knew something was up when Freddie was quiet.
George and Sammi had taken Freddie home to Crystalshaw for the night. Understandably, college wasn’t the first thing on his mind. Dylan knew he was in a tight spot – he loved Freddie like a brother, and Summer made Freddie uncomfortable. However, he had a whole pack to consider. This way, everyone could be safe.
“Did I do the right thing?” Dylan pondered. Everyone else had filtered back into the dorm, but Dylan paused in the doorway. Only Jono remained.
“I don’t know,” Jono shrugged, “It’s too early to say. What I do know, though, is that you’re trying to do the right thing, and I think that’s what counts.”
“Yeah,” Dylan raised a slight smile. As always, Jono had put his mind right at ease.
“Hey, Dylan,” Josh called out from inside. Dylan felt relieved to hear the comfortingly familiar sounds of his brother’s voice. He ushered Jono inside and closed the door, ready to settle down as quickly as possible.
“He’s safe, he’s with George and Sammi,” Dylan relayed. He knew Josh, Yasmin and Oscar would be keen to hear how Freddie was doing.
“That’s great, but there’s another problem,” Oscar revealed. Dylan’s mood immediately dropped. They were spiralling from one issue to another, and it was the last thing he needed.
“What’s the deal?” Jono interrogated.
“You remember the power of three, right?” Yasmin began. She looked tired, exhausted even. Yasmin was never tired – she kept the most sensible, rigorous sleeping pattern, “I’ve been seeing things since. It’s like a lingering effect that won’t fade.”
“Seeing what?” Dylan was worried. Yasmin’s visions weren’t anything new, but if something had changed, that could only be a bad thing.
“Ghosts,” Yasmin uttered. Dylan’s mind was frazzled. Ghosts existed? Since when? It made no sense.
“Woah,” Jono spoke Dylan’s mind. Just when the supernatural world seemed familiar, something had to remind Dylan that he knew almost nothing still.
“How long has this been going on for?” Dylan was concerned. Why had Yasmin not shared this with them?
“A while,” Yasmin sighed, “But that’s not all. Most of the ghosts, I’ve never seen before, but one of them, well…”
“Someone we know?” Dylan’s mind began to race. Who could she have seen?
“Someone you know,” Yasmin corrected, “Dylan, I saw your dad.”
Dylan’s heart dropped. How could Yasmin have seen his dad? An old wound just re-opened and his heart began to ache. He missed his dad every day, but over the years, things had become slightly easier. Within seconds, every bit of progress seemed to fall away.
“Can I see him too?” Dylan immediately asked. Suddenly, it was the only thing he wanted.
“I’ll see you tomorrow morning, text me if you need me,” George assured, fist-bumping Freddie through the driver’s window of his car. Sammi loved watching them; she’d never seen brotherly love quite like theirs before. Growing up an only child and being deprived of her twin was something she’d never be able to forgive.
Freddie was spending the night at the Chadwick house with Sammi. She didn’t want to let him leave her sight, not after she’d fought so hard to get him back. First, though, she had some grovelling to do.
“Look, Freddie,” Sammi turned to him as the Chadwick house gates parted, taking as long to open as they always did.
“No,” Freddie paused her, “I know what you’re going to say, and it’s okay, I forgive you.”
“I need to say it, please, because it’s taken me a stupidly long time to realise what I had in front of me was all I needed,” Sammi pleaded, “I’m sorry I pushed you away. I was stupid, and selfish. Jamal got inside my head, and it shouldn’t have taken me this long to figure it out, but you’re the one I want, Freddie. I don’t deserve you, but all I’m asking for is a chance.”
“Sammi,” Freddie took her hands, “I was there for you the whole time. You didn’t need to push me away, because I understood. I’ve never cared for someone as much as you.”
“Is that a yes to the chance?” Sammi anxiously waited. She wanted to hear him say it, because this was her final step. This was the forgiveness.
“I’d be stupid to say no,” Freddie smiled uncontrollably, “Samantha Chadwick, I love you.”
“I love you too, Frederick,” Sammi smiled back, pressing her lips firmly against his for the first time in way too long. For that moment, nothing and no-one else mattered. Freddie was the person she wanted and needed. She broke the kiss, feeling a chill against her skin, “Go on, it’s cold here, I’ll close the gates and follow you in.”
“Sure. I’ll put the kettle on,” Freddie nodded, dashing off. Sammi pressed the button to close the gates back up. As they slid back to their usual position, a figure approached the gates. Felix. Darn. Sammi had forgotten to reply to him entirely.
“You’re okay, then,” Felix simply stated. He was visibly annoyed. Sammi felt bad – he needed the truth, and she hadn’t been fair on him.
“I’m sorry, I got caught up. Look, we need to talk,” Sammi fretted. Had he seen her and Freddie kissing?
“Save it. See you at school,” Felix skulked off. Sammi sighed. She needed to know more. Felix had information that could expose not just her, but Jeremy too. Things could go seriously wrong.
Jono’s car was jam-packed. George, Sammi and Lily were squeezed into the back seat. Dylan loved how many people were keen to see Freddie found quickly and safely. He was the life and soul of the pack, never failing to cheer everyone up with a well-timed joke, mostly at Josh’s expense.
Of course, Dylan valued him on a personal level, too. Freddie had become a brother to him, and they had made it through the werewolf world together. After all, they were bitten only days apart. They had each other every step of the way, and that wasn’t going to change.
Dylan had never been to the hut before. He knew Brett was fond of it from his time on the run with Johnny, but Dylan expected things were somewhat different for Freddie. He couldn’t imagine how he must have been feeling.
“Here it is,” Lily pointed out, following the directions on her phone. Sure enough, standing alone along a quiet road decorated only by a few empty buildings, was a small, wooden house. It was ordinary; so ordinary that anyone driving past wouldn’t look twice at it. Dylan supposed that was the point.
Worryingly, just outside was Freddie’s car. The driver door was wide open, but nobody was in sight. The bonnet sported a large dent – something that would have required a lot of force. Dylan’s concerns were only growing. Where was Freddie?
“Hey,” Jono stopped the car, placing a hand on Dylan’s leg as the other three clambered out of the back, “We’re going to find him.”
“I’m responsible for this. I’m the alpha. I should have seen this coming,” Dylan vented. His mood had only sunk lower and lower.
“If you think that way, anyone could be responsible. Everyone you’ve ever met is responsible for what happens to you. It’s not fair on you, Dyl. We’ve all been so busy,” Jono reminded. He knew the best way to put Dylan’s mind at ease every time he panicked.
“I guess. I just…I could have stopped this. Freddie’s my beta. If anyone should be looking out for him, it’s me,” Dylan sighed.
“You’re amazing. You try so hard to look after everyone else, but you can’t forget yourself. You just moved away from home, Dyl. That’s hard for anyone,” Jono reassured, “You’re the alpha but you’re not psychic. Nobody knew what was happening with Freddie.”
Dylan nodded. Jono was right, and he felt better for talking to him. Dylan didn’t know what he’d do without Jono. Together, they stepped out of the car. Already, George and Lily were inspecting the state of Freddie’s abandoned vehicle.
“The door’s intact,” Lily observed, “He wasn’t dragged out.”
“The bonnet though,” George worried, “She’s got him. She must have.”
“He’s not here, we need to keep going,” Sammi stressed. She couldn’t stand still, pacing up and down the path impatiently.
“Where? We need to be smart about this. There’s no time to waste,” Dylan reminded. He wasn’t taking any chances.
“He was here not long ago,” Jono mentioned, “His scent is strong.”
“He must be nearby, let’s go,” Dylan concurred. The race was on, and none of them were prepared to slack.
Panting. Losing momentum. Freddie was growing tired. Even werewolves had a breaking point, and he was extremely close to his. He couldn’t give up, though. He knew Summer wasn’t far behind. She couldn’t outrun him, but she wasn’t giving up.
The small array of buildings around the hut provided very few hiding places. Freddie had to be smart. He dipped inside a boarded-up house, which couldn’t have been more than ten minutes down the road. Freddie checked behind him on his way in – no sign of Summer. The coast was clear, for now.
Inside, behind the rackety front door barely gripping onto its hinges, was a dilapidated front room. A solitary sofa sat facing the window, its arms sliced open and its exterior fabric rotting away, exposing the off-white padding underneath. The rest of the house wasn’t much more glamorous, either. Every surface was coated in dust, and Freddie didn’t want to touch anything. He couldn’t just stand around, though. He had to hide.
The best idea Freddie had was the basement. A wooden door with white paint chipping off its surface was just to his left. There had to be a hiding place down there.
Each stair on the way down creaked, no matter how lightly Freddie trod. Thankfully, Summer still didn’t appear to be near. Freddie kept his senses on high alert just in case, though. He couldn’t afford to miss a thing.
Downstairs was much the same. The basement had clearly been used for storage in the past; it was filled with furniture and appliances, some with plastic sheets over the top to attempt to preserve them. Freddie couldn’t pinpoint much else. The basement had little natural light coming through, and he wasn’t risking the lightbulb – that would have given his game away.
Quickly, Freddie ducked underneath the tatty sofa. He wasn’t convinced it was the best hiding place, but the plastic sheet helped hide him away. Now all Freddie had to do was wait. Dylan was on his way, but he had to find him, too. With Summer on the loose, that could have proven difficult. Freddie could have lured Dylan into a dangerous trap.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Freddie listened closely. Water was trickling its way into the basement. He could just about see a small puddle beginning to form on the hard flooring at the bottom of the stairs.
“Come out, Freddie,” Summer’s voice rang harshly through his ears, “It’s no use hiding.”
Slamming the dorm door shut behind him, Oscar was panicking. He had no idea what was happening, and every exit route seemed to be cruelly boarded up. If Yasmin couldn’t get them out of her vision, who could?
Oscar wasn’t sure whether it was a relief or not that Josh felt just the same as him. Josh had been doing this longer than him. Longer than any of the pack, in fact. He knew the most about the supernatural world, and yet, he was truly terrified as well. It was some tiny comfort to Oscar to know he wasn’t simply out of his depth as a newbie.
“What do we do now?” Oscar frantically queried. He couldn’t begin to think about a way out.
“I don’t know,” Yasmin yelled, pacing back and forth. She had her hands pressed firmly against her head. It was too much. It was hurting her.
“Hey, come on,” Oscar held her shoulders, “You can do this. You’re the smartest person I know.”
“Darn right,” Josh concurred, “But I think you might need to be smart a little quicker. It’s almost here.”
Josh was right. Oscar focused his hearing, but he didn’t need enhanced hearing to notice the loud, thudding footsteps on their way up.
“I can’t,” Yasmin closed her eyes, “My head hurts.”
“You can,” Oscar encouraged, “The Yasmin I met on one of the scariest days of my life would have moved mountains for her friends. You can do it, and we’re here for you.”
Yasmin opened her eyes. She looked like she was in pain, but there was a newfound determination in her eyes. She’d listened to Oscar. She’d found her last reserves of strength.
“Our bodies are still present in the real world,” Yasmin theorised, “And sometimes, my visions allow me to move. Maybe, just maybe, if we grab onto something real, we can get out.”
“How do we move our real bodies?” Josh panicked, still guarding the door.
“Connect with yourself. Use your mind. Make a conscious decision,” Yasmin guided.
“To do what?” Oscar wasn’t put at ease yet. This seemed so complicated.
“Visualise where we were stood. What could you feel? Touch something,” Yasmin clarified.
Oscar followed the instructions. He pictured where they were stood. They were outside, by the river, leaving very little in the open, grassy space for him to touch. Nonetheless, Oscar knelt down. He kept the image vivid in his mind, focusing as clearly as he could. His hand brushed against the ground. To his amazement, Oscar felt the gentle tickle of the blades of grass. He’d found reality.
Awestruck, Oscar looked around. He’d snapped out of the vision. He was back in the real world. He could see the gentle ripples of the river, and the dim sunlight peaking out from behind the clouds. He was safe.
“Woah,” Josh commented. He was out as well. They did it.
“One more to go,” Oscar turned his attention to Yasmin. She hadn’t moved yet. She knew what to do, but the connection hadn’t been made yet. Seconds passed, and still nothing. The worried glances Oscar and Josh were sharing said it all.
Yasmin was stuck in side, and she was on her own.
Sammi felt somewhat left out from tracking Freddie. She couldn’t follow a scent like Dylan, Jono or Lily could, and she didn’t have the brotherly instincts of George. That said, Sammi had her own super strength. She cared for Freddie in a way that nobody else did. She loved him. Above anyone and everyone.
She felt somewhat embarrassed that it had taken her so long to realise that Freddie was the only one she truly wanted. Everything that went on with Jamal had played with her mind. She had pushed away the one person she truly needed. Now he was in danger.
Dylan led the way through the small array of buildings that lined the road. There didn’t appear to be anyone else around. The atmosphere was eerily silent, in fact. Why was this place so horribly quiet? There had to be some interesting history to the place.
“Maybe we should split up? We’ll find him quicker,” Sammi pondered.
“No,” Dylan insisted, “We don’t know what we’re up against. None of us really know what Summer’s capable of. We have to stick together. I’m not losing anyone.”
Sammi couldn’t fault Dylan’s approach. He was the best alpha she could wish for, and she trusted him entirely. He would have done anything to bring Freddie home safe and sound.
“The scent’s getting stronger,” Jono observed. They were approaching a house, looking just as dilapidated as every other building. It didn’t take a werewolf to detect the uneasy, eerie vibes from their location. Sammi wanted to find Freddie and leave as soon as possible, but life was never that simple.
“The door’s unlocked,” George announced as the front door creaked open with a small push.
“Be careful,” Dylan advised. Sammi didn’t need to be asked twice. She knew her body couldn’t heal like a werewolf’s could. Getting herself killed wasn’t going to help Freddie.
Inside, the place looked like it had been turned upside down. Tatty furniture had toppled over, the top of the worn-out sofa colliding with the disgustingly dusty floor. The place had been completely ransacked. Someone had been there already.
“Sh,” Lily commanded.
“We didn’t say anything,” George was confused.
“No, listen. It’s coming from below,” Lily directed. Sammi couldn’t hear anything. The downside of not being a werewolf.
“Sounds like a bath running,” Jono observed.
“Who’s running a bath in this place?” George questioned.
“No,” Dylan interrupted, “That’s not the question. Why would there be running water in the basement of a place like this?”
“Good question, alpha,” another figure emerged from the back room. It was her. Summer. Sammi was enraged. She was ready to fight.
Water level rising. Panic setting in. Freddie regretted choosing a hiding place so low to the ground. It seemed genius at the time, too. If only he had hindsight. A Yasmin vision or two could have been really helpful.
The worst part was that any movement would instantly make a sound. Summer couldn’t know he was there for sure. She was trying to flush him out, and Freddie didn’t know what to do.
He knew he had two options. He could stay where he was and attempt to hold his breath, keeping his cover, but even a werewolf wasn’t immune from drowning. Alternatively, he could attempt to move, risking being heard and exposed. Freddie couldn’t decide if it were a risk worth taking. There were no good options.
The deceptively gentle drip-drop of the water ceased. Freddie paid extra attention to his ears, or rather, his left ear. It was the only one not submerged in water, after all. Why had it stopped? No sound was coming from the steps, and they would creak for an ant.
Perhaps this was Freddie’s chance to escape? Maybe Summer had given up, assuming he wasn’t down there? Freddie’s plan could actually have worked. He couldn’t miss the opportunity.
Moving very slowly, doing his best to minimise noise, Freddie slid his way out from under the settee. The water covered the underside of his body, his face just about remaining dry. Freddie glided cautiously to the bottom of the steps. He began to hear some noise from upstairs, though whether that was good or bad, he couldn’t make out yet.
So many theories were running around Freddie’s mind. The water in his right ear was blocking his hearing. He couldn’t figure out who was up there. He wanted to be optimistic; Dylan was on his way, so perhaps he had arrived? However, he couldn’t forget Summer. She could surely have found him.
Regardless, Freddie needed to know more. He slowly and carefully lifted himself out of the water and onto the first step. Immediately, he could hear the voices more clearly. Dylan. Freddie kept going up, one step at a time, though with a stronger sense of urgency. His friends were upstairs. Summer couldn’t get to them too – Freddie was not going to put them in danger.
The different voices filled Freddie with hope. Jono. Lily. Sammi. George. They had come for him, and it meant a lot. He wasn’t fighting this battle alone.
“I don’t know where your friend is,” Freddie heard the spine-tingling voice of Summer. A voice that previously filled him with excitement and joy. She was surely lying, too. She was just metres away from him. She must have known he was there.
“She’s lying,” Lily immediately detected. She and Freddie had learnt from the same book – Dylan was an excellent mentor, “Her heartbeat is all over the place.”
“The Drummond pack. I’ve heard so much about you all. You’re practically famous, Dylan. Famous for being the biggest party pooper around,” Summer harped on. Freddie had heard enough. He burst through the basement door, immediately catching eyes with Dylan. Oh, it was good to see him again.
“I don’t think so,” Summer interrupted, firing a blast of water at Freddie. He fell backwards, unable to grab a hold of anything. He tumbled back downstairs, feeling every single harsh bump on the way down.
SPLASH!
Panic setting in. Yasmin had tried to hard to remain calm, but any hopes of that were long gone. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t connect with reality. Josh and Oscar had succeeded – they had faded from the vision just as Yasmin had hoped, but bow she was on her own, and she was scared.
Yasmin knew that the inside of her mind was a scary place at times. She was trapped inside her own vision, and it was a claustrophobic feeling.
The door slammed open. Yasmin was cornered. The black, smoky figure glided towards her, its shape slowly becoming more and more defined. It had short but wide legs, and long arms with sizeable claws. It looked more like a giant wolf, and that scared Yasmin more than anything – her two werewolf friends had made it back safely, and her powers were useless.
“This is just a vision,” Yasmin told herself, though she wasn’t convinced. She was trapped against the wall. All she had left was hope. Hope that reality would kick in eventually. Nope that nothing could actually hurt her in a vision.
The figure approached, stopping directly in Yasmin’s face. She looked into the bright red lights that must have been the creature’s eyes. She couldn’t tell anything from them – they were soulless, completely void of any and all emotion. Nothing about it was remotely reassuring.
Yasmin closed her eyes. Whatever happened next was out of her control, and it was bound to be unpleasant. Suddenly, its shape began to filter away again, back into the black smoke Yasmin first saw. It streamlined into a cloud and sucked itself into Yasmin’s mouth.
Blinking rapidly. Yasmin’s eyes were blinded by the sunlight. She was outside. Back in reality. She could see the river, and the grassy banks surrounding it. Josh and Oscar were looking worriedly back at her. She was home.
“What happened?” Yasmin’s heartbeat slowed again. She felt so relieved to have made it out.
“Err,” Oscar stuttered. He glanced at Josh, who wasn’t saying anything. Now Yasmin was worried again. What had happened?
“Guys, tell me,” Yasmin nagged.
“Your mouth,” Josh broke the news, “Whatever that thing in the vision was, it came through your mouth. It’s in this world.”
Yasmin was horrified. Her vision had made it into reality. It was real.
Cornered. No way out. Dylan’s brain was working overtime trying to figure out how to get away. It was easier said than done, though. Summer was strong, and she had the upper hand. Freddie was trapped in the basement, and none of them would be able to get down there quickly enough to retrieve him.
Dylan could see the range of emotions on everyone’s faces. Sammi was angry, furious in fact. George was much the same, but the scent of worry in the air was strong. Either side of Dylan were Jono and Lily, and all three of them were feeling horrified. They were terrified of Summer.
“What do you want?” Dylan questioned. He had to be brave. The pack were relying on him, and he needed all the information he could get. The one missing piece of the puzzle was the reasoning. Why was Summer targeting the pack? Everyone had a motive.
“I want…a pack,” Summer replied brazenly.
“You want what?” a gobsmacked Jono blurted out. Dylan agreed with his sentiment. It was an unusual way of getting their attention, to say the least.
“There are whispers everywhere. Something terrible is coming. I’m surprised you don’t know already, everything around here seems to revolve around the Drummond pack. Something’s coming, and it’s going to devour everything in its path,” Summer explained, “I’m sure you understand the strength in numbers.”
“Why didn’t you just ask?” George angrily questioned, “Instead of tormenting my brother.”
“I’m not stupid, your pack has a reputation. Dylan Drummond’s elite pack, only taking the best. You destroy everything that doesn’t fit your ideal. Making the world more boring with every day,” Summer hit out.
“This is your pitch?” Dylan was appalled. Her words were hurtful.
“I had to take drastic action. Allow me into your pack, Dylan, and Freddie will be just fine. He’s so sweet, isn’t he?” Summer bargained.
“And what’s in it for us?” Lily stood form.
“Loyalty. You’ll get a siren on your side, and I’ll fight whatever comes your way. All I ask is for the same in return. We’ll be on the same team,” Summer explained.
Dylan looked at Jono. He wasn’t sure what to do. His morals told him it was a terrible idea – Summer wouldn’t gel with the pack; her intentions were all wrong. However, her offer was surprisingly tempting. It would spell an end to the threats and killing, and it would be a safety net for the whole pack. Jono simply smiled at him. A reassurance that whatever he decided would be okay. Whatever he decided would work.
“You have once chance,” Dylan decided, “We work as a team here. If you’re serious about that, you’ll do the same.”
“What?” Lily glanced at Dylan in shock. Evidently, that wasn’t the response she had anticipated, but Dylan felt confident. This was, at least, the lesser of two evils.
Head pounding, Freddie was in a daze. He couldn’t remember what had happened. His vision was blurry. Where even was he? The only colours he could make out were all dark.
Strangely, his hair was drenched. His clothes were soaking wet. He was half-submerged in water, or at least, he assumed it was water. Freddie began to remember. Summer. Hiding out. Seeing Dylan. He was so close to safety.
Carefully, Freddie tried to push himself up, but he couldn’t quite manage it. He had little strength left inside him. It took a lot to wear a werewolf down, but Summer had succeeded. His body took quite a knock on the way down. The good news was that the pack were upstairs. George. Sammi. Freddie hadn’t realised how much he’d missed the sight of Sammi’s face. Summer had been so all-consuming that Freddie had forgotten who he really loved. It had always been Sammi.
“Freddie,” a voice called from above. Light flickered through. The door at the top of the basement stairs flung open. George. As soon as he noticed Freddie lying at the bottom, George sprinted down, barely touching each step on the way, “Hey, Freddie, are you alright? Are you hurt?”
“A few bumps and bruises,” Freddie downplayed, “I’ll be okay.”
“I’m sorry. This shouldn’t have happened,” George looked glum.
“This isn’t your fault. You were miles away, how could you have known?” Freddie refused to let him take responsibility. George had taken care of him for years, but Freddie was an adult now.
“I knew you were distant. You weren’t returning my calls, I just assumed you were busy with college,” George sighed.
“I’m okay now. That’s what matters,” Freddie insisted, “Where are the others?”
“Look, Dylan struck a deal with Summer, and you’re not gonna like it,” George began. Freddie immediately felt concerned. What deal could possibly have been made with someone like her?
“He’s keeping us safe. He’s keeping you safe,” George insisted, but the lack of details was only unsettling Freddie more.
“Tell me, please,” Freddie pushed.
“Summer said something bad is coming, and she needs safety in numbers. In return, she’ll fight for us,” George summarised. A shiver shot uncomfortably through Freddie’s spine. The last thing he wanted was the lingering scent of Summer around him and his friends.
“What the hell?” Freddie couldn’t hide his annoyance.
“Save your energy. Let’s get out of here first. Don’t be mad at him,” George advised. Freddie sighed. He didn’t know what to think. He always trusted in Dylan, but somehow, this felt a step too far.
It was a relief to get back to the dorm for Dylan. Though he hadn’t lived there long, he was amazed at how quickly it began to feel like home. He had his friends around him, and Dylan had realised that home wasn’t the building, it was the people, and he lived with some of the best people he’d ever known.
The journey home wasn’t long, but it was tiring. Dylan wasn’t sure whether his decision about Summer was the right one or not. Freddie had barely even looked at him when George helped him up from the basement, and he’d been quiet the whole way home. Dylan always knew something was up when Freddie was quiet.
George and Sammi had taken Freddie home to Crystalshaw for the night. Understandably, college wasn’t the first thing on his mind. Dylan knew he was in a tight spot – he loved Freddie like a brother, and Summer made Freddie uncomfortable. However, he had a whole pack to consider. This way, everyone could be safe.
“Did I do the right thing?” Dylan pondered. Everyone else had filtered back into the dorm, but Dylan paused in the doorway. Only Jono remained.
“I don’t know,” Jono shrugged, “It’s too early to say. What I do know, though, is that you’re trying to do the right thing, and I think that’s what counts.”
“Yeah,” Dylan raised a slight smile. As always, Jono had put his mind right at ease.
“Hey, Dylan,” Josh called out from inside. Dylan felt relieved to hear the comfortingly familiar sounds of his brother’s voice. He ushered Jono inside and closed the door, ready to settle down as quickly as possible.
“He’s safe, he’s with George and Sammi,” Dylan relayed. He knew Josh, Yasmin and Oscar would be keen to hear how Freddie was doing.
“That’s great, but there’s another problem,” Oscar revealed. Dylan’s mood immediately dropped. They were spiralling from one issue to another, and it was the last thing he needed.
“What’s the deal?” Jono interrogated.
“You remember the power of three, right?” Yasmin began. She looked tired, exhausted even. Yasmin was never tired – she kept the most sensible, rigorous sleeping pattern, “I’ve been seeing things since. It’s like a lingering effect that won’t fade.”
“Seeing what?” Dylan was worried. Yasmin’s visions weren’t anything new, but if something had changed, that could only be a bad thing.
“Ghosts,” Yasmin uttered. Dylan’s mind was frazzled. Ghosts existed? Since when? It made no sense.
“Woah,” Jono spoke Dylan’s mind. Just when the supernatural world seemed familiar, something had to remind Dylan that he knew almost nothing still.
“How long has this been going on for?” Dylan was concerned. Why had Yasmin not shared this with them?
“A while,” Yasmin sighed, “But that’s not all. Most of the ghosts, I’ve never seen before, but one of them, well…”
“Someone we know?” Dylan’s mind began to race. Who could she have seen?
“Someone you know,” Yasmin corrected, “Dylan, I saw your dad.”
Dylan’s heart dropped. How could Yasmin have seen his dad? An old wound just re-opened and his heart began to ache. He missed his dad every day, but over the years, things had become slightly easier. Within seconds, every bit of progress seemed to fall away.
“Can I see him too?” Dylan immediately asked. Suddenly, it was the only thing he wanted.
“I’ll see you tomorrow morning, text me if you need me,” George assured, fist-bumping Freddie through the driver’s window of his car. Sammi loved watching them; she’d never seen brotherly love quite like theirs before. Growing up an only child and being deprived of her twin was something she’d never be able to forgive.
Freddie was spending the night at the Chadwick house with Sammi. She didn’t want to let him leave her sight, not after she’d fought so hard to get him back. First, though, she had some grovelling to do.
“Look, Freddie,” Sammi turned to him as the Chadwick house gates parted, taking as long to open as they always did.
“No,” Freddie paused her, “I know what you’re going to say, and it’s okay, I forgive you.”
“I need to say it, please, because it’s taken me a stupidly long time to realise what I had in front of me was all I needed,” Sammi pleaded, “I’m sorry I pushed you away. I was stupid, and selfish. Jamal got inside my head, and it shouldn’t have taken me this long to figure it out, but you’re the one I want, Freddie. I don’t deserve you, but all I’m asking for is a chance.”
“Sammi,” Freddie took her hands, “I was there for you the whole time. You didn’t need to push me away, because I understood. I’ve never cared for someone as much as you.”
“Is that a yes to the chance?” Sammi anxiously waited. She wanted to hear him say it, because this was her final step. This was the forgiveness.
“I’d be stupid to say no,” Freddie smiled uncontrollably, “Samantha Chadwick, I love you.”
“I love you too, Frederick,” Sammi smiled back, pressing her lips firmly against his for the first time in way too long. For that moment, nothing and no-one else mattered. Freddie was the person she wanted and needed. She broke the kiss, feeling a chill against her skin, “Go on, it’s cold here, I’ll close the gates and follow you in.”
“Sure. I’ll put the kettle on,” Freddie nodded, dashing off. Sammi pressed the button to close the gates back up. As they slid back to their usual position, a figure approached the gates. Felix. Darn. Sammi had forgotten to reply to him entirely.
“You’re okay, then,” Felix simply stated. He was visibly annoyed. Sammi felt bad – he needed the truth, and she hadn’t been fair on him.
“I’m sorry, I got caught up. Look, we need to talk,” Sammi fretted. Had he seen her and Freddie kissing?
“Save it. See you at school,” Felix skulked off. Sammi sighed. She needed to know more. Felix had information that could expose not just her, but Jeremy too. Things could go seriously wrong.