Awake

  Shit. Run, baby.

  The muscles in my arms ached from the struggle, and I didn't know how much longer I could hold him off. My head swam, dazed from hitting the wall. I kicked my leg, and Dad grunted as it came in contact with his shin.

  "What will Mum think?" I said. "Or Finn?"

  "They'll understand because they haven't been poisoned," he said through clenched teeth, straining to get the upper hand. Growling, he slammed me back again, and my head hit the wall for a second time with a loud thud. My vision blurred, and I saw black dots float in front of my face.

  Dad used it to his full advantage; he punched me in the stomach hard enough that I doubled over and felt like I was going to throw up all over the floor. He pushed his whole body weight against me, forcing me to stand up straight. I was pinned against the wall. My abdomen in agony, and I could barely see properly from hitting my head so hard. But I didn't need sight to feel the pinch of the knife against my skin and then the hot, blistering pain as he shoved it into my gut.

  I was frozen, suspended in time as he stepped back, retracting the knife. It hurt so badly, but the shock kept me from crumbling to the floor and shouting.

  "Likeliness is she went out of that door," Donald said. "Let's go."

  Neither of them looked back at me as I slowly slid down the wall. I tried to breathe evenly, but I couldn't do it.

  I was cold, shivering and already felt dead.

  Scarlett

  I COULDN'T STOP running. The stich in my side slowed me down, but I wasn't going to stop until I found a town. I promised Noah I would keep running, and that was exactly what I was going to do. But I also wanted to go back for him. I was scared about what they'd do after he turned his back on their sick cult.

  My feet hit the ground, crunching the crisp leaves beneath them as I went. Sunrise was just around the corner; between the trees I could see a glow of orange starting to appear. I had to have been running for two or three hours at least. I hadn't stopped at all, just slowed down to grab a bottle of water from the bag.

  I was hungry, thirsty, and tired, but I wasn't going to stop. They could be anywhere in the woods. I was terrified that I'd run into one of them. As far as I knew, I'd been running straight but without being able to see I could have easily veered off to the left or right. I just wanted to find someone who could help and get back to my parents.

  I wanted to be safely in my mum's arms. Before I was taken, I was so angry with them for lying to me. Now I understood what they were protecting me from. I just hoped I got the chance to tell them how much they all meant to me - even Jeremy.

  Noah was nowhere to be seen. I half expected him to pop up and tell me to run faster. They loved him, so I wanted to believe that they would never hurt him, but I wasn't so sure. They'd done something to Seamus and Bridget at the house, and they were completely innocent. That wasn't supposed to happen. If we'd have known they would do something like that we'd never have gone there.

  Tears leaked from my eyes, rolling down my face. I felt awful for them, they were nice, decent people who took us in, and they didn't deserve anything bad. When was it going to end? Who else was going to be hurt over me?

  Continuing to run became increasingly difficult. I could feel the fear and heartache slowly start to pull me under, digging its ugly claws into my skin. If I'd just handled my parents telling me the truth better, I probably wouldn't be here now. If I hadn't fallen in love with Noah, then it never would have happened.

  Then I lost my footing on damp, slippery leaves and crashed to the ground. I threw my arms out and pain shot through my wrist. "Ahh," I cried out, instantly stopping myself by slapping my good hand over my mouth.

  Sitting on the damp floor of the forest, holding my screaming wrist I had never felt so alone.

  Get up, keep moving.

  I took a few deep breaths and battled the urge to cry. I'd done something to my wrist and while I was at it stretched the cut on my forearm, too. Everything seemed hopeless. I forced myself up, crying silently as I hobbled forwards again, trying to work up to a jog. My muscles, bones, screamed at me to give in, and I almost listened.

  But from somewhere I found the strength to keep going.

  Every step sent sharp pains the full length of my legs. I didn't know how much I had left inside before I gave in to the need to curl up and for it all to be over with, one way or another. But then I heard something. I froze, gripping a dead tree for stability.

  Road traffic. I had never been so happy to hear cars before, but I wasn't so stupid to go straight out onto the road in case one of Eternal Light was on it. A shimmer of hope was all I needed to keep going.

  I stumbled forwards, barely having the energy to move anymore. I saw houses first, on the other side of a road and burst into tears. The area was built up and to the right of the housing estate were shops. There must be a police station nearby. Please. Sobbing, I ran faster, stopping briefly to make sure there were no cars coming.

  I ran along the street, probably going no faster than a walk, desperately trying to see through tear filled eyes. People stopped and looked, a few pointed and at the end of the road two police officers did a double take and then ran towards me. They knew who I was.

  Oh, thank God.

  "Scarlett Garner?" one of them said as they approached.

  I cried harder and collapsed into his arms, nodding my head. He scooped me up and turned around; walking back they way they'd come. "It's alright," he said. "You're safe now."

  They had me bundled in the police car within seconds and started talking on his radio. I rambled about everything, the cult, almost dying but mostly about Noah. Where was Noah? Even I knew I wasn't making sense, but I couldn't stop the jumbled words flowing out of my mouth.

  The officer who sat in the back with me placed his hand on my upper arm. "Scarlett," he said.

  I looked over my knees where I was huddled against the door and finally spoke my only legible word, "Yeah?"

  "I need you to calm down so we can find out what happened and help you. Can you do that for me?" I nodded. "Where are they?"

  "I-In the forest. Noah's still out there; you have to find him."

  "Noah? The Noah who took you to Ireland?"

  I knew how it looked. "Yes, he was the one who helped me escape in the end. He turned his back on them and now he's out there and if he didn't get away in time..." I took a deep, shaky breath. "They found us in a house, and I don't know what they did to the people living there, but Bridget screamed for Seamus and then Noah made me run. Please. Please go back to that house, check the old couple are okay and find Noah."

  "Okay, shh, calm down. We'll have people check that out, don't worry. Are you hurt?"

  I shook my head even though I was. My feet ached and stung from running barefoot for ages; pain throbbed through my wrist and the cut to my arm had started to hurt, too. But I didn't want to go to the hospital first because they would make it all about me. I needed to go to the police station and tell them what happened so they could find Noah and arrest every crazy member of Eternal Light.

  "No, I just need you to find Noah and that house."

  He nodded once. "Alright."

  When we got to the station, I was helped to freshen up in the bathroom, given a hot drink and biscuits and a blanket to wrap around myself. I sat in a room with my hands hugging a steaming mug of coffee, trying to keep it together long enough so that I could go over everything - again.

  "Hello, Scarlett, I'm Detective Crossby but you can call me Adele, and this is my colleague Detective Long. We need to speak to you and ask you a few questions if that's alright?"

  I nodded and sat up in the seat. "Do you know where my parents are?"

  "They're in Ireland. We want to have a chat with you first."

  Thank God. It was a good sign that they were free to go wherever they wanted. "What do you want to know?"

  She scratched the back of her neck, probably not knowing where to start either. There was so much. "Your family have said
you've no memory before the age of four, is that correct?"

  At least she was still referring to them as my family and not making them out to be child-snatching criminals. "That's right. Want to start from the beginning?"

  Detective Crossby smiled and tilted her head in a nod, making her short black hair slide into her eyes, and I went right back to where I could remember - waking up a scared and confused child.

  When I'd told my story, every detail, right up to escaping two hours had passed. It was the same story I'd already told the police, but they had been lucky enough to only need the condensed version. Naturally she had a lot of questions.

  "So, you were never told where you were really from? You knew nothing of Eternal Light?" Detective Crossby asked.

  "No, I only found out... Um, a few weeks ago, I think. It was recent anyway, not long before Noah brought me to Dublin. Listen, I know in the eyes of the law my parents did wrong taking me but they were going to kill me. My mum and dad saved my life, and I just want to see my family again."

  "We understand, Scarlett, but we need to establish all of the facts and make sure you're protected."

  "Everything I told you is true, and my parents do protect me. They could've left me and lived a normal, lie-free life, but instead they risked everything to keep me safe. No one else out there is going to go through those lengths for me. You have to believe me."

  "We do, Scarlett. We just need to hear your side of things, that's all," Detective Crossby said.

  "Now you have, Can I please see my family? Please."

  She smiled. "Absolutely, in a little while, I promise. We need to take you to the hospital and get you checked out first, though."

  "Why? I'm fine." I want my parents.

  "You've been through a terrible ordeal; you're exhausted and probably in dire need of some pain medication. Especially for that wrist," she said, lifting an eyebrow.

  How did she know my wrist hurt? I thought it'd get better after a while, but it didn't, it was throbbing.

  I pursed my lips. "But what about-"

  She held her hand up. "We're taking you to the hospital to get checked out and then we will call your parents to meet you there. Okay."

  It was an order, not a question.

  Nodding, I replied, "Yeah, okay."

  Detective Crossby drove me to the hospital and had me checked out. I had a sprained wrist from the fall and minor cuts and bruises on my arms. The cuts to my feet stung now and walking was slow, but it wasn't too bad. I was alive.

  I was finally given a bed, had an IV for pain relief, a drink and some toast. It was now just after six in the morning. I'd been awake for twenty-four hours. I felt like putting toothpicks in my eyes just to keep them open.

  "Thank you, Adele," I said as she handed me another cup of coffee.

  She'd stayed with me, asking the odd question, while I waited for my parents and Jeremy to arrive. I'd asked for an update on Noah every five seconds, but they hadn't found him or the rest of them yet. It'd been hours. He should've been found by now.

  "Are they here yet? Has Noah been found?" I asked, feeling my eyes getting heavy. I yawned and blinked hard. There was no way I was going to sleep until I knew how he was. If I found my way out, then he should've done it by now. I didn't want to think of any reason why he wouldn't be able to.

  "You're exhausted, Scarlett, please try to relax. Your parents are due here any minute now, and I promise you as soon as we find Noah we'll tell you. Now drink your coffee if you won't sleep. I'll wait outside your room until your parents get here."

  I waited until she got outside before I collapsed against the pillows.

  Please hurry up. All of you.

  Scarlett

  I HAD BEEN IN the hospital almost two hours when my parents and brother burst into the room.

  "Scarlett!" Mum sobbed. I started crying the instant I saw them. It was over, they were here, and I was safe.

  "Mum, I'm so sorry," I said, crying on her shoulder as she held me tighter than she ever had before. She smelt like home, and it made me grip hold of her and never want to let go.

  "Shh, it's okay. Everything's going to be okay now, sweetheart."

  We sat together crying for a good ten minutes. Dad and Jeremy joined in, huddling in on my bed.

  "Are you okay?" Dad asked for the millionth time.

  "I am now. Just worried about Noah."

  "He'll be fine. They'll find him," Mum said, stroking my hair. "Does your wrist hurt? We can get you some more pain relief."

  "I had some not long ago. Stop fussing, I'm fine." Jeremy stared out of the window, at the police officers outside my room. "What's up, Jer?"

  He turned back and spoke more to Dad when he replied, "I think we should leave, like right now? If they're all in Ireland and the police feel the need to have two people guarding Scarlett maybe we should go."

  Mum squeezed my hand and looked up at Dad. "He has a point. The police in England can work with the police here. There's no need for us to stay here."

  "I'm not going anywhere," I said, causing a stunned silence. "I mean it. Noah is out there somewhere, and I'm not leaving." Besides, could they just go off with me? I was sixteen and a minor in the eyes of the law, they didn't have me or adopt me, so they weren't legally my parents.

  "What?" Jeremy said. "These people almost killed you and you're worried about one of them?"

  "No. He's not one of them; he's one of us. I would've been dead now if it weren't for him."

  "None of it would've happened if it weren't for him," Jeremy said.

  I didn't like how Jeremy spoke about him, even if it was understandable. I felt loyal to Noah, and I wasn't going to let him down. "I know that, but it wasn't his fault, not really. He realised the truth and put things right. Sound familiar?"

  Jeremy's mouth set into a hard line, knowing I was right. They'd nearly stood by while I was killed, too. "Fine."

  "Calm down," Mum said. "Jeremy's just worried, we all are, but we know exactly what you mean. Hopefully, Noah will be found soon, and then we can go home."

  "Can we go home? Are you allowed to do that?"

  Dad smiled. "We've been speaking to a very good lawyer and a solicitor and both seem to think given the unique situation and circumstances we'll be able to adopt you. It's going to be a long process, but we'll fight it."

  "So, I can't go home with you yet?" I asked, panicking. Where would I go? I didn't want to be in some facility; I wanted my room in the house I shared with my family.

  "We've already applied for a Residence Order, which means we'll be fostering you. After that, we'll go for adoption. Our case is a little more complicated, but we're hoping that might go in our favour," Dad said.

  "And if it doesn't? What happened anyway? Were you arrested?"

  "Shh," Mum said. "We were all questioned for hours when we reported you missing, but we're thankful that they believed us. Your father had two leaflets on Eternal Light and our stories matched, of course, so that helped. We've been told that no charges will be brought against us for taking you as your life was literally on the line and we were fearful of what the cult would do if we were found, which is why we never told anyone, not even you."

  "So, you won't go to prison, and I can still live with you?"

  Mum squeezed my hand again. "We're not going to prison and there is no battle we won't take on to have you with us."

  That wasn't quite what I wanted to hear, but I realised it was probably the best I was going to get right now. "Okay. When will we know if I can go home with you?" I asked.

  "We're hoping in the next day or so. The doctors want to keep you here until tomorrow anyway."

  Right. After everything I'd been through and my family had been through, you'd think I'd just be allowed to go home with them. They saved my damn life it wasn't like they'd taken me because they felt like having a daughter that day.

  "Don't worry, love, there is no way we're not going home as a family," she said, brushing my hair from my face.

/>   I nodded, wishing I could be as optimistic as her. It would be cruel and wrong if they tried to split us up, but it wasn't like things like that didn't happen every day.

  "Will you tell me about Fiona and Donald? They treated you well?"

  "Yeah. Well, besides the obvious."

  Smiling sadly, she brushed my hair again. "I'm glad they weren't cruel." She frowned. "You know what I mean."

  "I do. How were you and Dad part of that, Mum? I don't understand how it could have ever made sense."

  "Neither do we now. At first Eternal Light was just about living off the land. It was such a simple and beautiful way to live. We did believe that there was someone that would take us into eternal peace, much like any other God in any other religion. But then you were born, and Donald announced that you were the one. He said he could feel it the second he held you. For hundreds of years animals and humans had been offered as sacrifices, we knew that; we studied it and already celebrated the element and nature with rituals and food offerings. When Donald said about sacrificing you on your fourth birthday, we felt joy..." She cleared her throat and blinked to stop her tears falling. "We felt joy because it wasn't the end, not for you and not for us."

  "Right." I couldn't dwell on that, it'd happened, and the main thing was they took me away. "How did you and Dad start questioning it?"

  "We asked Donald why when you were four and not older so you could experience growing up and falling in love. He said it was because he couldn't risk our community being found and broken up, or something happening to you. It all made sense, and we accepted it, but the more we saw you, the more unfair it seemed. We had many late night talks when Jeremy was in bed and the more we spoke, the less sense any of it made."

  "Do you know what happened to Evelyn?"

  Mum gulped but wasn't surprised that I knew about her. "No, honey, I don't. When we settled down, we tried to find out. There were no reports of a child being found, so we assumed Eternal Light had her. She wouldn't be in any danger if she were back with them. She wasn't the one. She wasn't there, huh?"

  "No. They let her go" Mum gasped. "They sent her into the woods as some sort of messed up exchange. Her life for my return. How terrible is that?" My heart hurt for a little sister I didn't even know. "Didn't you know about that?"