Mel: Hi guys! Sorry about the disappointment of the first chapter. It was one of those last-minute things...

Lottie: Any-hoos, we’ve changed the person to first-person...

Mel: In Freya’s POV...

Lottie: Yup-yup! So please be kind, as this is my first ever fanfic ever....

Mel: And I am only 13...

“What’s wrong with him?” I said, thoughts rushing through my head faster than a lightening bolt.

Papa (Odeon) looked solemnly at me, and couldn’t make eye contact.

“Papa, tell me!” I cried frantically. They had seen Fratley, they had seen Fratley...

“Well...a little girl saw him go down a path one day. She tried to warn him...” he said.

Warn him? Warn him about what?

“Yes, what was down the path?” I asked.

“A mysterious place. No one gets out of there alive, Freya.” Papa sighed, as if it was obvious what had happened. I stood there blankly. Linus looked at me sympathetically.

“So?” I said, irritated that my father was not giving me the full details.

“He never came out, Freya...” Papa said.

There was silence. Too much silence. I breathed in and out. Trying to take it in.

“No...” I whispered. Papa stood up and tried to comfort me. Instead my flailing rage boiled over and I cracked.

“NO!!!!” I yelled. “He can’t be dead! He isn’t I swear!!”

“Freya, I know you’re upset...”

“DAMN RIGHT I’M UPSET!!!” I SCREAMED. It was happening too quickly. He’s not dead, he’s not dead, he’s not dead...

Who was I kidding? No one saw him get out alive, and that little girl tried to warn him. She really did. But he ignored her...as if he didn’t care. Whatever was down that path, he wanted to find and kill. Stupid man...

Linus stood up and put a hand on Papa’s shoulders. “C’mon, Dad. Let’s go. Leave Freya to take it in.” and the two left.

I stood there in the motionless synthesist shop. The fire crackled endlessly and the clock ticked. I watched the empty doorway.

“You’re wrong...” I whispered. The whisper turned into a yell. “YOU’RE WRONG!!!” and I punched the stove, making my knuckles bleed. I didn’t care, I needed to get out of my life. My head was screaming, voices screaming. Someone was screaming, not just outside, everywhere. I ran outside and pushed past the heavy crowd, that were heaving towards the palace. I weaved through the polluted houses, the busy street workers, and the terrible stench of gysahl pickles caught in my throat. The other thing caught up in my throat was a giant lump, that wouldn’t go away, no matter how much I swallowed. It was choking me...

I gasped fresh air as I ran out of Lindblum. I looked back at the city. Smoke rose from the newly advanced airships. I turned tail and ran. Who knew where? Who knew what I was going to do? I just ran, hoping my worries would flee. I found a crystal clear glade in the middle of a forest. The trees winded around each other, twisting and swirling in an almost hypnotic way. The waterfall trickled down a small hill, and a spring gathered in the bottom. I knelt down and drank thirstily. The best thing about the forests was the springs always restored your health.

Present day

“Has it really been that long?” I said to myself. I thought. My father had been so hurt. It wasn’t his fault. It was mine. I was the one who cracked, and ran.

God, I’m a coward.

I pattered across the pathway, which weaved round the sunken hilltops. Smells of freshly cut grass wafted through the air.

What if I go back to Burmecia? Just this once? I mean, I haven’t missed anything...

Who was I kidding?

No one cared, no one understood me at all...no one except Fratley...

I sat down on the soft hill and flicked the hair out of my eyes. I could see from all around the place. Lindblum was always the place to go for great views of places. Like Burmecia...

I couldn’t resist taking a peek at Burmecia and Cleyra. It was raining down there, and clouds gathered above in the blue sky. I sighed deeply.

Fratley...

My thoughts carried off into the wind. The light breeze played with my hair and pushed into my face, much to my annoyance. Yet it felt just like Fratley when he played with my hair...he would usually do it into plaits, or bunches. But he’d make such a mess of it that it took a while to untangle it...

I stood up, determined not to think about the past too much. I started on my journey. When suddenly a hand grabbed my arm, and pulled me into an alleyway.

A hand pressed against my mouth, daring me to scream. I stared at the manly figure who had captured me. He stood, tall and dark, his black hair shaved off completely. His black eyes frowned at me menacingly, and his toothless grin scared the hell out of me.

“You won’t be telling anyone that Blackjack caught Freya Crescent...” he growled. The next thing was darkness as he knocked me out...

Lottie: SUPENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mel: Calm down dear...

Lottie: Anyway, please R&R!!

Mel: And please be kind!