The woods were silent, we were all staring at the gap in the ground.
Lily crept forward and knelt down. She gingerly put her hand into the ground.
"Lily!" I gasped. She turned around and glared at me.
"It's just a hung... I felt something on the hand..." she said. There was another silence, this one full of suspense, as we watched Lily.
There was a quiet snap, and she pulled out her hand. She stared at her hand, then at the ground... and then rolled slightly and was sick.
When she felt better I cuddled her close.
"What is it? Tell me?" I asked, for her thoughts were going too fast for me to understand.
"It's Nancy... the body is Nancy." she whispered.
"But that's impossible-" I started, but she pressed something into my hand, and showed me her wrist.
"They're matching friendship bracelet's that we made when we were eight. It was on her wrist in the ground." she hissed. Freddie grabbed the shovel and dug frantically. A body was unveiled, and when he uncovered the face... we saw it was Nancy Walters.
Although she was weak, anger and sorrow gave Lily strength. She pushed me away, picked Nancy up, and cradled her in her arms, crooning softly like she were holding a baby.
We followed as Lily carried Nancy inside and laid her on her bed.
"Lily." Kt's voice said sharply. "Get. Away. From. That."
"What?" Lily said, but she was pushed aside. Kt examined Nancy's body.
"It's a fake." she and I said simultaneously as I read the thought in her head.
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"Positive."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa- what d'you take me for? A fool? You're actually trying to tell me that one of my best friends isn't dead, and this is a trick?" Lily snapped.
"Well, yes. Lily don't you think if Nancy had died you would... feel it? This has Marie Lawrence stamped all over it- you've been thinking so yourself. Look, Lily. Really look. You can see all the faults- the eyes just that bit too close together, the mouth the tiniest bit too small. I also would've thought you'd notice... it is four inches too small. It's a cheap imitation." Kt said.
Lily inspected the body closely, and agreed.
"This thing is even shorter than me." Lily said, nodding.
"Ah, Lily, everyone is taller than you." Freddie smiled.
"Anyway, the question remains- why exactly did Marie do this? There has to be a reason..." Kt said.
"I think its a warning, to shock us into the reality of the situation. This isn't some kid's game. Some of us could get hurt." Freddie said solemnly. I nodded in agreement.
"Wow Fred. I think that's the most sensible thing you've ever said." Kt said.
"And you kept a straight face too- top marks, Fred." Lily said, clapping.
"It was Marie."
The voice was one we didn't expect. The statement came from Cooper.
"Cooper?" Lily said tentatively. She was confused, we all were- his mind was blank.
"I should've said something... it's Marie... she comes to me... in my dreams, in my room, at night... she whispers in my ear... bad things. Evil things. She's like a ghost in my room at night." Cooper said. His voice was distant... it had a slight echo.
"Cooper, are you ok?" Lily asked, kneeling beside him. His head snapped towards her, his eyes wide and frightened- and unblinking. Lily slowly reached out a hand to touch his arm.
"Lily!" he said suddenly. His arm shot up and snatched her hand.
"Ouch! Cooper? You're hurting me!" she shrieked.
"It's all your fault Lily Evans!" he hissed, and it wasn't his voice, it was harsh and horrible.
"Ok, you can add freaking me out and breaking my hand to your list of accomplishments for today... Cooper? Let... go..." Lily said... and then she folded in his wheelchair, unconcious.
*
"Why is it me? Why is it always me?"
"I don't know, Lil. Oh gosh... I'm so sorry about last night... I swear I don't remember anything!" Cooper said.
It was midmorning the next day. Lily and Cooper were sitting underneath a tree a few metres away from me and the others. We were reading in the morning sun. Cooper wasn't in his wheelchair today, he was fully healed, but Lily had a small bandage on her hand- she had two fractured fingers.
"She doesn't like being called Lil." I snapped.
"Oscar, shh!" Lily replied quickly. She came over to me, pulled me up and led me a little way away.
"What?" I asked quietly, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.
"I'm going to lead Cooper off for a walk and try to tap into his memories of what happened last night." she told me with a smile. She walked off with Cooper... and twenty minutes later came storming back, and locked herself in our room. We followed her, hammering on the door whilst shunning Cooper... who happened to look rather pleased with himself.
"Only Oscar can come inside..." she called out eventually, and then opened the door for me to slip inside.
"What happened?" I asked, pulling her into a hug. She felt so small against me, like if I hugged her too much she would snap. Her head only just reached my shoulder.
"He told me that he loved me and that if we left together he could hide me and protect me from Marie... and I don't want to be stuck in a love triangle Oscar, I don't know what to do... and why has my life suddenly gone all Twilight?" she gabbled.
"Lily, honey, you don't have to do what Cooper says. The guy can't even remember last night. Just ignore what he says and stay here. He's stuck in a fantasy, that's not your problem, he doesn't have to drag you into it... and you're surrounded by shape-shifters and a crazy lady who wants to kill you, of course your life was bound to go Twilight eventually." I said.
"Can we kick Cooper out? Please?" she asked.
"Are you sure?"
"Oh yeah, I'm sure."
"We sat down at the table with Cooper- after locking Freddie and Kt in another room.
"So what's all this about?" he asked, looking excited.
"I'm thinking... of a way to say this nicely... but I can't- so GET OUT." I said. There was a pause- and then Cooper started laughing.
"Good joke Oscar..."
"No Cooper, I'm serious." I said. He stared.
"Well, you may want me to go, but Lily doesn't. You won't let him kick me out, will you Lil? You don't want me to go... do you? That's all him!" he said, turning to Lily... but she clasped my hand and shook her head.
"Actually Cooper, it was my idea to kick you out. No offence... actually every offence intended." she said.
"Have you gone crazy? You people need me!"
"Actually, we have three shape-shifters and a Seer... we don't really need you at all!" I reminded him. He glared at me and turned back to Lily.
"But I have an active link to Marie!"
"That could actually be a problem... she could use the link to trace us and track me. She had to know where we were to bury 'Nancy'." Lily piped up.
"That's not a bad theory Lily- well done!" I said, and she beamed at me.
"Well that's all fine and dandy, but back to me please." Cooper barked.
"Well you don't have a suitcase to pack so... off you go." Kt said as she walked into the room.
"How did you get out? Oh right... shape-shifter..."
"You'll regret this. All of you. Especially you, Lily." Cooper said, standing up before giving her an evil glare. He walked out. Lily followed him, but only to kneel beside the planted flowers as she watched him leave. When he was out of sight, she snapped the head off the chrysanthemum.
*
"Play it again Oscar!"
I strummed a few chords on the guitar I'd fashioned and Lily clapped her hands. She was sitting on her bed, with me on the floor at the foot of the bed. I smiled, and pulled her off the bed. I kissed her gently... and there was a knock at the door.
"Go away!" I called, and kissed her again.
"Oscar, we have a visitor!" called back.
"Oh for goodness sake! How does everyone find us?" I snapped, jumping up and wrenching open the door.
Then I stopped.
Lily walked over to me and looked at the visitor- but she didn't recognise her.
I, however, did.
"Hello Oscar." the visitor said.
She smiled up at me. She was only just taller than Lily, and Lily is tiny. She was wearing a grey pinafore over a white shirt, with a white blazer and black knee-length boots. Her eyes were their normal shade of lilac- calm but knowing. Her long light brown hair was in a smooth pony-tail, not a single hair out of place.
"Eliza!" I whispered, and swept her tiny frame up into a hug.
"It's nice to see you again!" she sang, her voice slightly muffled from where her mouth was pressed into my shoulder. I released her and smiled.
"It's so great to see you!" Here, I want you to meet-" I started, but Eliza had already looked Lily up and down.
Eliza's eyes glazed over and she cocked her head to the side.
"Lily Evans, aged sixteen, daughter of Helen and Mark Evans, only child, no pets, best friends Nancy, Harvey, Kt, Freddie, boyfriend Oscar Jones," she said, and then her head snapped back upright and she blinked so her eyes could move again. She turned to me, "she has a nice, good mind Oscar. She's a strong girl... a good catch!"
"You can tell all that... just by looking at me?" Lily asked, looking gobsmacked.
"I am a woman of many talents." Eliza said, holding out her hand and flashing a dazzling smile at Lily.
"It's very nice to meet you Eliza." said Lily, and they shook hands. As their skin touched, Lily's eyes glazed over and her smile faltered slightly.
"Lily?" I asked nervously. Her eyes flickered and her smile disappeared. Behind my eyes I saw the door to Lily's mind. I opened it...
"Oh my..." Lily gasped.
"Don't worry Lily. I have seen this vision many times." Eliza said. Her voice always sang out... her voice is indescribable, unexplainable, beautiful... it sings even when it is near silent. You can't help but hear it. You remember every word she'll ever say to you.
"But Lily... you can't!" I said.
"For goodness sake, Lily, why won't your mind open to me?" Kt asked, frustrated that she didn't know what was going on.
"Eliza I can't... I can't let this happen!" Lily was saying repeatedly.
"Calm down Lily."
"What's going on, why can't I see it?" Freddie snapped.
"You won't do it Lily, I know-"
"But-"
"Why-"
"Silence." Eliza whispered... and you had to comply.
"I won't kill you Eliza, I swear!" Lily sobbed.
*
My dream that night was very erratic.
It started by me holding Lily's hand and smiling.
"The kids are in bed." I said. Kids? What kids? Where the hell did that come from?
"Good." Lily whispered.
"Just think, a couple more nights and we'll be Mr and Mrs Jones!" I said.
"I can't wait."
"How's Nancy?"
"She's looking forward to the wedding... just not looking forward to her part! She thinks people will find it weird that we're getting married but we already have children and she's my engaged, pregnant Maid of Honour..."
"Yes, well, having twins is a big thing for her and Harvey." I said.
"I suppose. I'm so happy for them. I'm so happy for us." she smiled, and kissed me.
The image dizzolved and the next image was Lily on a sofa... crying.
"Oscar... where are you?" she whispered repeatedly...
...and then I sat up, wide awake. I looked to my left, and Lily was sat up too. She stared at me.
"Oscar I just saw-" she started.
"I know Lily, I saw it too." I whispered.
"Is that our future? Or just a dream?" Lily asked.
"I don't know. I guess we'll just have to wait and see." I sighed.
"But if it is the future-"
"- we have children." I said, and leapt onto her bed, my hand on her stomach, staring at it.
"Oscar I'm not pregnant right now."
"I know."
"So why are you feeling my tummy?"
"I... don't know. Sorry." I said sheepishly.
Breakfast the next morning was an awkward affair. Lily say at one end of the table, Eliza at the other, both trying- and failing- to forget their future. To add to that, every so often I'd look at Lily's ring finger and think about our future. We'd get so close to marriage. We'd have kids.
Then I'd leave.
Why would I do that?
"Why would I do that?" Freddie said, snapping me out of my reverie.
"I don't know but you're normally the practical joker, and someone has swapped the salt and sugar." Kt said.
"So blame the funny guy..." Freddie muttered.
"I intend to."
"How did you hear that? It was practically silent!"
"Dude, I can hear your thoughts."
"Ugh... so Oscar, what're we doing today?" Freddie changed the subject.
"Why are you asking me?" I asked him.
"Well, you're the plan man. What's the plan? We can't stay here forever." Kt said.
"Well I... I... don't know." I said.
"Maybe we should go home and wait it out?" Lily suggested.
"Are you insane? Marrie will kill us all! I'm surprised she hasn't found us here yet!" Fred said.
"That's actually not a bad idea..." I said.
"... that's totally what I meant," Freddie said, blushing. "well done Lily. Great plan."
"Kt, help Lily pack up the bathroom supplies, me and Fred will do the rest. Eliza, go home, we'll meet there." I ordered quickly.
Getting home was easier than getting there- quicker. We'd dismantled everything I built and set fire to it- controlling the fire by transforming Fred into water of course. Before we left, Lily picked up the flowers we'd planted, and she threw them into the fire.
"We don't need them now that Cooper is gone- we are family." she said with a smile.
We got back to Brentwood in the early afternoon. Mum and dad weren't at home and it looked like no-one had been in our house for some time. We put all the food in our cupboards and then I went up to my room to get changed.
I went to open the door. It opened a few centimetres and then got caught on something. I shoved the door open all the way, and was confronted with what could only be called... a mess. Everything I owened had been smashed and strewn across the floor. The carpets looked like a tiger had used it's claws to slash it open.
"Oscar!"
Eliza came rushing into my room after me.
"Eliza, what are you doing here?" I asked her.
"Marie's been in here. Hold on..." she said. She looked around the room and nodded, and the room rearranged itself, and everything was repaired.
"Thanks. So... I'm just gonna get changed, we'll meet you at your house." I told her, and with a smile she danced out of the room.
*