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him. She had her head resting on Sam’s arm. Watery brown eyes stared ahead, not seeing, not blinking. Sam had sagged against the door, his gaze ahead. They hadn’t said a word to Aaron since talking with Michael. They didn’t even look his way. They had got into the car, avoided looking at him, and sat in complete silence.
    Aaron turned his head, staring out of the window. He didn’t blame Sam and Rose for not wanting to talk to him, but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt. Aaron closed his eyes, as confusion and uncertainty stabbed at him again. The truth his parents had told him was still being protested in the back of his mind. Like thorns, it pricked at his conscience, and at his logic. Mages. Powers. A different realm. It was too ludicrous to be real – but then, what other explanation was there?
    “Where are you taking us?”
    Sam’s voice carried clear in the car, drawing everyone’s attention.
    “Somewhere safe,” Chris answered, keeping his eyes on the road.
    “Where is that?” Sam asked.
    “It’s hard to explain,” Chris answered. “Once we get there, you’ll understand.”
    A moment passed in silence before Sam said, “Stop the car.”
    “We can’t,” Chris replied. “We need to keep going.”
    “I said, stop the car,” Sam repeated, his words dripping with anger. “You can go wherever you like, but let me and Rose go.”
    Rose lifted her head off her brother’s shoulder to stare at him.
    “Samuel–” Chris started.
    “No! I want out!” Sam yelled suddenly. “Who are you to take us away?” he asked, his fists curled into balls. “Let me and my sister go!”
    Kate turned in her seat, looking at him through the steel mesh. “I know you’re upset, Samuel, but please, just stay calm.”
    “ Calm ?” Sam repeated incredulously. “How can I stay calm? We were just attacked! By...by something I...I can’t even begin to understand. And my mum and dad–” His voice broke and he stopped abruptly. His eyes glistened with unshed tears but he shook his head, as if refusing to succumb to grief. “We want out,” he stated. “I need to go back, back home to my parents. I won’t leave them...not like this.”
    “Michael is with them,” Chris said. “He’ll make sure everything is arranged accordingly.”
    Sam slammed a hand against the mesh; the loud thwack rang in the car.
    “They’re my parents!” he hissed between clenched teeth. “I’ll do what needs to be done!”
    “Samuel, you can’t go back,” Chris said in a tone that warned him not to argue. “None of us can go back – never again. Michael’s already explained this to you.”
    “Those men,” Sam said, his eyes glazed over in memory of the dark figures appearing out of the mist. “Who were they? What did they want? Why did they kill my mum and dad?” His voice broke again. “What did they want from them?”
    Kate turned around as much as she could in her seat. “They didn’t want anything. They were there to kill, simple as that.” She glanced once at Aaron before her gaze snapped back to Sam. “If you or Rose go back, they will sense you because of the Trace. They will come for you.” She tilted her head in remorse. “I’m sorry, really, I am. But the harsh reality is that you can’t stay here. Where we’re taking you, you’ll be safe. We’ll all be safe. So, please, just calm down and let us do what needs to be done, okay?”
    Sam didn’t say anything but he leant back in his seat, turning his head to stare out of the window so he wouldn’t have to look at anyone else.
    Aaron watched him silently. He couldn’t blame Sam for getting angry. They had lost everything in the space of just a few hours: their parents, their home, their freedom, their life . And all for what? Because they had chosen to be his friend. Because they had wanted to do something nice for his birthday.
    Aaron lay back, resting his head against the seat. He closed his eyes, in bitter self-condemnation. What a way to