The Last Witch: Volume One

Trying to sleep’s impossible. I’m more awake than I think I’ve ever been, and feeling uneasy as well as sick to my stomach.

It’s dark. I can’t see much, but that doesn’t stop me sitting on the window ledge with a blanket around my knees, staring out the window. It’s raining again. Pouring.

I watch as four bodies are bundled into the back of a truck and driven away. I see Nomads patrolling up and down, up and down. Part of me just expects to see Toby walk up the driveway.

Too much has happened. I’m drowning in all my emotions. Grayson’s a cold-blooded killer. There are no other words for it.

I’ve known him a matter of days, and he’s killed so many people. He attacked his own brother right in front of me, and everything he’s done has been in my defence. For my protection. Or so he says. Is it always like this? Or is it me? Have I brought this chaos into their home?

This house is swarming with people I don’t know. Any one of them could be on Toby’s side. He’s so manipulative it wouldn’t surprise me if they all were.

There’s a light knock on the door but the way I react it may as well have been a bomb. I jump up and stare at the door with my heart hammering and every nerve in my body screaming at me to either run or attack.

‘Lilly? Are you awake?’ Gabriel calls quietly. I don’t answer, but I’m thoroughly relieved it’s him and not…well, anyone else. I take two steps toward the door before I stop.

No. I can’t run to him. I have to keep him at a distance now more than ever, and besides, we’re not exactly on talking terms. His behaviour towards me and mine towards him is at an all-time low. I keep quiet in the hope that he’ll think I’m asleep and just go.

After a few moments of standing in the dark, I assume he’s given up and gone. With a sinking heart, I return to my window ledge, feeling more alone than ever. Even now, Toby’s driving everyone away from me. As I slump down on the ledge, the door opens, and the light from the hall streams in. Gabriel sees me and comes inside, closing the door quietly and making sure no one sees him from the outside.

I watch him as he walks over. He stops at the base of the bed and looks inside my mother’s backpack which I stuffed full of clothes a few hours ago. He pulls out a jumper and looks at me with raised eyebrows.

‘Are you leaving?’ he asks.

‘I’m thinking about it,’ I say simply. It was a rash reaction when I got out of the shower. I packed it and then got back into the shower still feeling disgusting. Part of me still wants to pick it up and go, but the rest of me is too terrified to do so.

He drops the jumper and takes a seat opposite me on the window ledge. He says nothing, just sits there watching me, listening to the rain hammering the house outside. I return my gaze out to the window hoping to get control of my anger, jealousy, fear and overwhelming want to be held by him.

‘Are you okay?’ he asks finally.

I pull my knees up close to my chest and look outside still avoiding his stare.

‘That was a stupid question. It’s five in the morning, and you’re wide awake. Have you got any sleep?’

‘No,’ I reply. ‘I feel like there’s still blood on me. I’ve had a dozen showers already and every time I close my eyes I see those men dying over and over. As well as Toby’s face. It’s enough to make me never sleep again.’

‘I’m sorry. I knew you being in there was a bad idea.’ He pulls up his knees and wraps his arms around them, still not taking his eyes off me. He’s reading me in the darkness, trying to gauge me. ‘And, I’m sorry that we fought.’ He reaches out and strokes my arm gently with his finger. I pull away. So he retracts it.

‘I think you should go,’ I say quietly, hearing the strain in my voice. ‘You shouldn’t be in here. Grayson won’t like it. Neither will Ava.’

‘I don’t care what Grayson would like. And Ava means absolutely nothing to me.’ He slides down from the ledge and kneels beside me instead. ‘I care about you! Always. Please-’

‘Funny way of showing it.’

‘Yes,’ he says, looking up at me with the moonlight reflected in his eyes and his hands holding mine.

‘Yes? What are you on about?’

‘Yes, I wanted you to see Ava. I wanted you to know that she spent the night because I wanted…no, I needed to know how you would react.’

I knew it, and I can’t hear anymore. I get to my feet and barge past him as he gets to his.

‘You’re pathetic,’ I mutter as I go, swiping up my bag and heading to the door. ‘Screw this. I’m out of here.’

He takes my elbow and stops me, but I refuse to look at him.

‘I can’t do this, Gabriel. Not now.’ I pull my arm away, but he takes both my shoulders and refuses to let me go.

‘We’re not done. You will let me explain myself-’

I lunge at him, slamming my fist into his chest.

‘Hit me. I deserve it. I know I do! I know what I did was cruel.’

‘Why would you want to hurt me like that?’ I hiss furiously. ‘After everything you know I’ve been through. I trusted you!’

‘Because I had no idea if me being with someone else would hurt you! I have no idea if you want me the way…’

‘The way?’

‘That I want you. Okay? I don’t want just to be friends with you. The way you are with me, how we are together… It feels like more than friendship. But you keep pushing me away. So, I had Ava over hoping that you would realise that you feel something for me. That maybe, you would want to be more than friends. Nothing even happened between us. I got too drunk and-’

‘Wow,’ I yank my arm free of his impossibly tight grip. I should be thrilled at his confession, but I’m not. He’s showing me the man he really is. Manipulative and childish.              ‘How very Toby of you. Sleeping with another woman to make me jealous. Nice, Gabriel.’

‘I said I didn’t! And it’s not the same-’

‘Oh no? It sure feels similar. The fact that you did or didn’t actually sleep with her doesn’t matter. Your intentions do. You have feelings for me? Why couldn’t you just bloody tell me, talk to me about it? Not sleep, or pretend to sleep with another woman.’ The hurt inside is pulling me apart.

‘That’s what I’m doing now. I spoke to Collins, and he said that I should just be honest and tell you how I feel. That playing games is a bad idea. The man that did that, that’s not who I want to be.’

‘You’re a manipulative, womanising, pretty boy that uses sex and a smile to get what you want. You use your charms to get women into bed and turn them out before the sheets are even warm because you can. I hardly know you, and I can tell that that’s the type of man you are. I have no interest in being another one of your conquests and to be honest, Gabriel, I barely want a friendship with you after this. All I see when I look at you is the kind of man that enjoys manipulating women. I look at you, and all I see is Toby-’

‘Toby?’ His voice is low and furious. His face stern and dangerous. I’ve definitely triggered him. I’d be scared if I weren’t so angry myself. He yanks my backpack from my hands and tosses it to the floor. ‘You think I’m the same as Toby?’

‘Yes. Give me back my bag.’

‘You loved him. Maybe you still do. A full blown, self-confessed sociopath. I’d rather be a womanising pretty boy that’s afraid of getting too close to someone than what you are.’ He looks me up and down. ‘The willing plaything of a man that used you, manipulated you and physically hurt you. Toby doesn’t love you. He never did. He obsesses over you because of what you are. An Arcane. The same as Grayson. Without your magic, you’re nothing-’

Slap.

I strike him hard. Slowly, he turns his head back, and I can’t help it. I just burst into tears.

‘Why are you doing this to me?’ I sob. ‘What the hell have I done to deserve this?’

He holds my face in his hands and looks desperately into my eyes.

‘Without your magic, you’re nothing to them. But to me? Your something pretty damn special. You’re all I think about.’

‘I want you to get out of my room.’ I lower his hands. He has to go.

‘You’re funny.’

‘Please,’

‘You’re kind.’

‘Gabriel, stop. You need to go. I can’t deal with this right now.’

‘Don’t send me away. Please.’

I step back and clear a path for him to the door as he stands there.

‘I’m not leaving you. Not until we sort this out.’

‘I told you what Toby used to do. And you did the exact same thing. You know full well how I feel about you-’

‘That’s the fucking problem, Lilly!’ he says with complete exasperation. ‘I don’t know how you feel! I don’t have a goddamn clue! All I know is how I feel, and it’s driving me insane! Watching you and Grayson get closer…it’s killing me!’

‘Well, seeing you with Ava killed me!’ I want to scream at the idiot, but that will bring others into this room. And it’s complicated enough just us two. ‘Watching you get beaten by Grayson…it broke my heart. Almost losing you to Theo…it scared me to death. But Toby’s coming for me. And if he thinks for even a second that I have any feelings for you, he’ll kill you where you stand. That’s how I feel. Okay? I care about you, but being with me will destroy you, Gabriel… It will kill you.’

I storm past him and stand with my arms folded looking out the window, trying hard to get myself in control. The silence is deafening. Has he left? I turn, but he’s still there. Watching me in the shadows. I can’t see his face. I have no idea what expression he’s wearing. He takes a step closer, and he becomes bathed in moonlight. Seeing my tears, he comes to my side and takes my hands in his as the rain pelts the windows.

‘I don’t need protecting, and it will take more than Toby or Grayson to keep me away from you, Lilly Hooper.’ There’s a sadness in his eyes, and a vulnerability in his words. ‘I don’t care who stands in the way, I don’t want to stay away from you.’

‘What do you want?’ I ask, desperately.

He runs his nose softly along my cheek and holds his mouth close to mine.

‘I want to kiss you. I want to hold you. And I know what I did was stupid, but I just had to know if there was even the slightest chance you felt for me what I feel for you.’ His lips gently kiss my cheek. He looks back at me through his dark hair and moves his mouth to mine. ‘Kiss me. Please…’ But before they reach me, my bedroom door flies open.

I panic, terrified it’s Grayson. Or even Toby! And push poor Gabriel away from me so hard, he swears, stumbles and falls flat on his backside.

‘Lilly?’ Amara calls. ‘Are you awake, Honey? I can’t sleep after everything that…oh!’ She spots us both in the beam of borrowed light. ‘Gabriel…I, err…’

I could slump on the floor with relief that it’s her and not Grayson. Gabriel jumps back to his feet and straightens himself after my shove. We both stand there looking guilty as sin, smoothing ourselves down as Amara looks between us.

‘I’m sorry,’ her eyes looking between us. ‘I thought you would be alone…I’ll go.’

‘You don’t have-’

‘Good night!’ she chirps, smirking from ear to ear and disappearing so fast I couldn’t stop her even if I wanted to.

Gabriel’s looking at the now closed door, and then back to me with his eyebrows raised.

‘I’m gonna say…ow.’ He rubs his elbow and gives a small short laugh. ‘That’s not where I was expecting that to go.’

‘What the hell am I doing!’ I hiss, dragging my hands through my hair. ‘I can’t do this. It’s too much too soon. I’m barely out of the cellar, this is just…’ All I can do is shrug and shake my head as I slump on the bed to bury my face in my hands. ‘You know what…I’ve barely slept for the last two years. I close my eyes. And all I see is horror. I’m just so tired of being afraid.’ I look up at him as he stands above me. ‘Gabriel, I’m so tired.’

‘I won’t push you to do anything you’re not ready to do,’ he whispers, resting his hand on my shoulder. ‘I can’t even pretend to understand what you’ve been through. But let me tell you this. And you can tell me to fuck off if you want. And I will.’

He looks down at me as I look up.

‘Whatever you need, I’ll do my best to make sure I give it to you. You want space? You got it. You want me to leave you alone? Fine. But only if that’s what you want, and not because that’s what Grayson or Toby wants. And maybe, when you’re ready,’ he eases into his cheeky half-smile. ‘You can snog me instead of shoving me onto my ass.’

He’s completely broken all the tension I was feeling as I give a little laugh. His soft chuckle warms my heart.

‘There, I made you smile. My work here is done.’ He leans down and plants a kiss on the very top of my head. ‘I’ll come and see you in the morning. I’ll make lunch, and take you down to the lake for a couple of hours. The fresh air will do you good.’

My hand wraps around his wrist as he turns. He doesn’t move, just waits and watches me.

‘If I asked you to stay in here with me, just to keep me company, would you?’

‘Are you saying that because you think that’s what I want? Or do you really want me to stay?’

‘The only time I’ve felt remotely safe or comfortable in the last decade and a half, has been with you. I don’t know if one of Toby’s men will sneak in here while I sleep and slit my throat. I don’t want to be alone. I want to be with you. I want to fall asleep…in your arms.’ I feel myself blush. But he looks so touched.

‘I’d be honoured.’

Together, we lay side by side. My head fits perfectly on his chest, and his arm feels sturdy as he holds me close. We hold each other and just…be. The sound of the rain outside, the slow steady breaths he takes and his fingers gently running through my hair is so relaxing.

‘You didn’t have sex with Ava?’ I ask.

‘No. I didn’t. I swear to you.’

‘Good.’ I close my eyes as he pulls out his phone and starts tapping the screen.

‘The wife of a rich man fell sick:’ he says. ‘And when she felt that her end drew nigh, she called her only daughter to her bedside-’

‘What are you doing?’

Gabriel’s staring at his phone and reciting the first line of Cinderella which I know off by heart.

‘I heard that you’re a fan of the Brothers Grimm. That you lost your book in the fire at your uncle’s house.’

‘Yeah. It was a first edition illustrated copy. It was…my mum’s.’

His arms tighten. ‘Close your eyes. I’ll read it to you as you sleep.’

‘You don’t need to-’

‘No, but I want to.’ He gently runs his finger along my cheek and smiles kindly at me.

‘Why are you being so nice?’

‘Because I want to be nice to you. Because I need to. And because you have had a really, really rough couple of days.’ He returns his attention back to his phone and continues reading.

‘I’m still pissed about your stunt with Ava,’ I tell him, stifling a smile.

‘Quite right too.’ He continues, but with a slight grin. I look up at him amazed at how in one minute I think I hate him and in the next…

I close my eyes and listen to his voice as it takes me away into a peaceful sleep.

∞∞∞

I jolt awake as the sound of thunder shakes the house. Only with the moonlight can I see that Gabriel’s still here. He’s lying on top of the covers still facing me, but he’s fast asleep.

I lean in to see if he’s actually asleep. He doesn’t react even as I get closer, and closer. His face is so placid. He looks at peace here. And so beautiful.

I lean in, and with the gentlest touch, I rest my lips on his. I can’t help myself. He stirs and I sit up quickly watching him, but he stays asleep.

What the hell am I thinking? Am I determined to get him killed?

‘Lilly…’ he mumbles in his sleep. He reaches out his hand and slides it into mine.‘Please…’

‘Please what?’ I whisper back. He shuffles closer.

‘Please don’t…’

‘What, Gabriel?’ I ask, brushing the hair from his face. Still, he remains fast asleep. ‘Don’t what?’

‘Don’t hate me. Don’t leave me.’ He stills and continues sleeping.

My heart swells. Leaning down, I kiss his temple. ‘I don’t hate you,’ I whisper in his ear.

I get to my feet and look down at the sleeping man on my bed. The only man whose touch doesn’t hurt. Why? How can a man I hardly know have such an effect on me? It’s madness but what’s even madder is this pit I have in my stomach. This feeling of dread that something awful is going to happen. Not to me, that ship has sailed. But to them. To him. It’s more than I can bear. The mysterious gunman. Theo’s attack. How long until it’s more than a black eye for Amara or a stray bullet goes through Gabriel?

If I want to keep them all safe, I have to leave.

Quietly I pull on a pair of jeans, Gabriel’s hoody and my mum’s boots. I take a pen and piece of paper from the dressing table and write a note.

I’m sorry. I can’t stay. It’s for the best.

Lilly.

I’m not entirely clear on how I’m going to do this, but before I know it, I’ve grabbed my bag and I’m out the bedroom door sneaking my way towards the stairs.

The Nomad positioned outside my room has fallen asleep on a chair. His head is tilted back and his mouth’s wide open. He’s easy to get past, but more Nomads are patrolling the whole house, and they’re wide awake. It takes patience and my many years of honed sneaking skills to get downstairs.

The front of the house is crawling with guards. There’s no way I’ll make it out the front door, so instead, I leave through the back door, and I make it unseen.

Outside, the rain’s coming down hard. It’s so cold I see my breath in the air. I’m still not clear on my plan. All I can think is this…I care about the people in this house. Some more than others, and I know me being here is putting them all at risk despite what they say. They would never tell me to leave. I’m important to their spell, but what good will I be to them if I end up getting them all killed before the spell can even be done? Perhaps when everything calms down, I’ll come back.

Theo wants me. He almost killed Amara and Gabriel at the tree lot to get to me.

Grayson’s killed four men since I’ve been here. Collateral damage in his quest to ‘keep me safe’.

But Toby’s coming. It doesn’t matter where I am or who I’m with. If he wants me, he’s going to get me. And he’ll kill anyone who gets in the way of what he wants. Three years we were together. I know what he’s capable of. I’ve seen it, lived it. And what’s more, I know what I’m capable of when I’m with him. Because yes, he frightens me and yes, he’s a violent and cruel man. But I loved him and followed his lead for years. I don’t honestly know what I’ll do when I see him again. To say he had a hold on me would be the biggest of understatements. One thing’s for sure. I have no intention of being near anyone I care about when he does find me which I know, is inevitable.

The air feels different at night. Colder, uncertain and dangerous. The world’s hiding away in the darkness, and I know that somewhere, Toby’s playing in it. He always loved games, especially in the dark. He said he was free in the dark, where no one could see him. But I did because I liked to play there too.

With a final glance back at the stunningly grand house that I’ve been welcomed into and told to treat as home, I pull up my hood and sprint away across the grounds, fighting against tears. I’m going to miss Gabriel and Amara.

But I’m doing this for them. I have to keep Toby away from them all.

I’m soaked through in seconds. The sound of the storm drowns out any noise I may be making as I run further and further away. I have to dodge several patrols as I make my way across the grounds, and when I come across a huddle of Nomads bitching about the cold and unknowingly blocking my path into the woods, I duck in through the metal gates and into the orchard.

The deep groan of the old rusted metal screams out into the night. I glance back to make sure no one’s following.

I’m alone.

If I follow the path through the orchard, it should take me straight to the cliffs. I can follow the coastal path into a town and figure out my next step.

The mud’s thick beneath my feet. The rain’s falling so hard and so fast it’s almost painful on my skin. If it were a degree colder it would be snow, I’m sure of it.

Questions race through my mind. Where will I go? How will I survive? How can I keep myself hidden? Being on my own will be scary, but being with others will get them killed. I’ll keep moving. Keep my cuff on so I don’t lose control and just stay hidden.

I’ll be okay. And so will they with me gone.

I run. Through the trees, over their roots and not once do I look back. I follow the path for a good fifteen minutes until the apple trees disappear and become wild woodland. I stop running and walk through the untamed forest until I come to a wall that towers over me. It must be at least twenty feet high with barbed wire running along the top. Growing through that is thick brambles reaching over the rim. I hazard a guess that on the other side of the wall is a thick tangled mess of hostile shrubbery.

‘Shit.’

I follow the wall. It goes on and on. I walk for another ten minutes until I realise that this wall more than likely encircles the whole damn estate. With a loud, frustrated groan, I slide down the wall and sit with my bag clutched close to my chest.

How the hell am I going to get over that and through whatever lies beyond it?

The sound of a snapping twig has me sitting bolt upright and scanning the darkness to see what, or who, just made that noise.

‘Hello?’ I call out tentatively, hoping beyond all hope that no one calls back and I’m just imagining it. ‘Is…is someone there?’

Nothing. Just rainfall.

Snap!

‘Shit.’ I jump to my feet in a panic that fills up my chest to such a degree, I can barely breathe.

‘Grayson? Is that you?’ I start looking frantically around me. Every shape suddenly looks like a person. Every shadow’s a possible hiding place.

I drop my bag by my feet and strain my ears and eyes for any sign I’m not alone. My back’s flush against the wall but ahead of me is acres of woodland, and I have no idea where I am in relation to the house.

What the hell do I do now?

‘It’s just your imagination,’ I tell myself, hoping to calm my heart which is pounding in my chest. I hear another snap of a twig to my right which makes me jump a mile.

‘Who’s there!’ I call out. ‘I’m warning you…’ I put my hand over my cuff. I’m so full of panic taking it off would be a bad idea. I know that I’ll struggle to control my magic if I try and use it now, but I will if I have to.

‘Come out!’ My voice is quivering and my body’s trembling. I don’t want to blink in case I miss something. Another snap and I give a small yelp. It’s close, but I can’t tell where it’s coming from. I turn and look all around me but see nothing. No voice calls back. No one reveals themselves, but I know someone’s there. I can feel them watching me.

Wait. I can’t. I can’t feel them, not really. Not like I can with the others. I can’t sense magic so whoever is lurking out there…they’re not a witch.

‘I suggest you fuck off!’ I call out into the darkness. ‘You have no idea- ARGH!’

I’m body-slammed into the ground from behind and land face down in the mud as someone climbs on top of me. I struggle to keep my face out of the dirt so I don’t drown in the sludge. Their hand wraps around my hair as they sit on top of me. I go for my cuff, but whoever they are, they see and know what I’m planning. They pin my arm behind my back.

‘GET OFF ME!’ I scream as I thrash beneath them. I can’t get free, and the more I try, the higher they pull my arm. It’s almost out of its socket. The stranger laughs and yanks my arm higher making me cry out in pain.

‘WHO THE HELL ARE YOU? WHAT DO YOU WANT?’

They twist my arm, and I hear a pop. The scream that comes from me is high and blood-curdling as my shoulder comes out of its socket.

‘JESUS!’ I can’t help but sob and yell. It’s agony. ‘WHAT DO YOU WANT?’

They lean down and put their mouth close to my ear. Their laboured breathing stinks of tobacco. He whispers the words in my ear.

‘I want you to kill Grayson Kendryk.’

∞∞∞

‘I’m not going to kill Grayson,’ I repeat for the hundredth time as he pulls me back through the woods towards the house. ‘I’m not going to kill anyone.’

He has my good arm in his hand, and he’s pulling me on as my dislocated one hangs painfully by my side. We reach the orchard. He hasn’t said a word since telling me that he wants me to murder Grayson. I’ve tried hard to see his face or to get him to talk, but I’ve failed on both counts as he holds his silence and remains hidden by his hood. Who the hell is he?

We’re getting closer to the house, and soon I see the rusty metal gates leading back to the garden. The sun’s starting to rise. The slightest hue of orange is peeking out over the horizon, and the rain has almost stopped. When we reach the gates, he pushes me up against the wall, slamming my back against the brick hard and jolting my arm, making me yell.

‘Whatever you’re planning…I won’t do it,’ I insist, breathing hard and fast.

He pulls out a gun and rests it on my forehead. I stare back at him defiantly, even as he cocks it.

‘Guns don’t scare me,’ I tell him. ‘You’ll have to do better than that.’

‘You will kill him,’ he insists. His voice sounds familiar. But I can’t see his face under his large hood. ‘You have no choice.’

‘Or what? You’ll kill me? If I so much as even attempt to harm Grayson or any of his men, he’ll more than likely kill me anyway, so shoot me. I don’t want to kill him and you sure as hell won’t make me.’ I wish my body would stop shaking. ‘Who are you? I know you.’

‘LILLY! LILLY, ARE YOU OUT HERE?’ Grayson’s booming voice travels clear across the air. We’re out of sight, hidden just beyond the wall bordering the orchard, and he calls out again. ‘LILLY?’

‘Is she out here?’ I hear Gabriel ask in the distance. Oh no, not him too! I can’t let him get hurt. I can’t!

‘Does it look like it?’ Grayson snaps back. ‘Stupid bloody girl’s run off into a world that’s full of people that want her dead. She’ll be lucky to make it to midday if we don’t find her. If she thinks these last few days have been rough, she really has no idea what it will be like if she gets caught by Theo or Hunters. Never mind Toby.’

Shit, how right he is, I think to myself as I stare down the barrel of a gun with my arm ripped from its socket. And that’s before I’ve even made it beyond the boundaries of the house.

‘Call him over,’ the stranger orders. ‘Tell him you’re here and you need his help.’ I shake my head.

‘Fine,’ he grunts. ‘I’ll make him come.’ He clamps his hand down hard on my shoulder. I can’t help but scream.

‘LILLY?’ Grayson calls out when he hears me. ‘WHERE ARE YOU? WHAT’S HAPPENING?’

He starts issuing orders, telling people to fan out and search the grounds for me. He’s heading this way. The stranger gestures towards Grayson.

‘Call out, Hooper.’

‘No. I won’t,’ I insist. ‘You’ll have to shoot me.’

‘Oh, you will kill him.’ He pulls out a needle from his pocket and holds it in front of my face. ‘I was planning on sneaking you into the house before I set you off. But out here will be just fine.’

‘Set me off?’

‘Hmm. I’ve heard about your power. It won’t matter where we are. One shot of this and you’ll be Grayson’s very own angel of death. I have to admit…using you as a bomb is genius, even if I do say so myself.’

‘A bomb?’ I look at the needle. ‘What’s that?’ I ask nervously as Grayson and Gabriel’s voice gets closer.

‘This…’ he says, revealing the needle. ‘Is adrenaline.’

‘What?’ I look at the clear liquid and the point of the needle. ‘Why-’

‘Your inability to control your magic under stress mixed with a good dose of adrenaline will turn you into-’

‘A bomb!’ I gasp. ‘You want me to lose control and kill him with my magic?’

He laughs. ‘Oh yes, Red. Absolutely.’ He slams my head into the wall, stunning me, before stabbing the needle into my neck and plunging the syringe down, forcing the liquid into my body. ‘Toby sends his love.’

As I slide down onto the floor, holding my head, he pulls off my cuff and disappears into the trees.

It all happened so quick.

My body’s already starting to react to the adrenaline.

My heart begins to race. My hands start to tremble and blood’s pumping through my body so fast I swear I can hear it. My breathing quickens. I can feel my skin turn hot despite the cold temperature, and I hear Grayson and Gabriel just beyond the wall.

I look up just as they walk through the gate.

‘DON’T COME ANY CLOSER!’

‘What the hell are you doing out here?’ Gabriel demands furiously, watching me as I stumble to my feet. I need to get away. They need to get away! Gabriel starts to make his way towards me.

‘STOP!’ I yell, holding my hand up to stop his approach. My black and white fire springs to life on my palms.

‘What are you playing at?’ Grayson demands. Hell, he looks furious. ‘Put that fire out. Now!’

‘I can’t!’ I try to extinguish it. The more I try it just gets worse. I’m starting to panic, which only makes the adrenaline more powerful. ‘Grayson, I can’t.’ I look from my fire as I see it spreading up my arms. It’s a swelling mass of power inside me charged with fear, anger and pure adrenaline. ‘I can’t stop it…run!’

He furrows his brow and opens his mouth to argue, but the power inside is building.

‘RUN!’ I scream, but with the words comes a pulse and I send them both flying through the air away from me. I turn and sprint as fast as I can away from them and into the orchard. My fire’s up to my shoulders and spreading down my chest, burning my clothes in a way it’s never done before. I have absolutely no control over what it’s doing.

‘Oh god. Oh god.’ I look over my shoulder. Grayson’s getting back to his feet, but Gabriel’s already on his. He knows. He can see what’s about to happen and as Grayson goes to follow me, Gabriel stops him and starts pulling him away.

‘We have to get away from her!’ he tells Grayson. ‘She’s gonna explode.’

‘We can’t just let her go, Gabriel!’ he insists, trying to free himself from his brother’s grip.

‘GO!’ I scream at them. ‘GET AWAY FROM ME! GET AWAY!’ I keep running, desperate to try and keep control, to get as far away from them as possible. They’re shouting at others beyond the wall, telling them to run for their lives. Both are waving their arms in the air, ordering people to find cover.

When I turn to look ahead to see where I’m running, Collins appears from beyond the tree line several feet ahead of me. I skid to a stop and so does he when he sees my fire spreading.

‘Lilly…what-’

‘RUN, COLLINS. PLEASE! RUN!’

He turns on his heel and sprints away.

It’s no good. I can’t hold it back. There’s a massive surge of power from deep within my chest that completely takes my breath away, and with a horrified scream, I explode in flames.