Hello to anyone who may still be following me on here! So I think it's been around FOUR YEARS since I last wrote anything, which is just crazy. My last story I wrote 'Rebellious' got SO many incredible reviews from you guys, so I just want to say thank you, even though I wrote it around 4 years ago now I still sometimes get random reviews from people still reading it and it's just amazing!

Anyway, I still love the Gallagher Girls and I just had the urge to write another fanfiction. So this idea came to me.

I hope you enjoy!

*DISCLAIMER: I do not own GG of course, GG belongs to the fabulous Ally Carter*

As I dragged my filthy bare feet along the cold stone floor of the Gallagher academy. I reached up to my head with shaky fingers to feel the laceration on my temple that streaked blood down my face, wincing as my fingers brushed against the burning mass of pain.

I wanted to cry out with every step I took. Agonising pain tore through my body as I hobbled slowly, but purposefully, through the castle corridors. Instead I hissed out air through my clenched teeth, trying to stop myself from making too much noise.

It was late at night, and I was in the corridors that housed the freshman. It would be their first night here, September 1st, I didn't want to wake anyone on the first night of term, all the students would be exhausted after a busy first day.

I grimaced as I caught sight of my mangled body in the reflection of one of the windows. Fresh blood still seeped from the cut on my head and trickled down my body. My body contorted slightly right at an odd angle, probably something to do with the cracking of what could only be my ribs every time I moved. I blushed, because all I had to hide my modesty was a tank top that had been ripped apart just below the chest, and some leggings that were several sizes too big for me. I was annoyed at myself for being so superficial when, clearly, there were much more important issues than my clothing, or lack of, but I was genuinely embarrassed. I'd gone away on my mission, promising everyone i'd be back safe and well, and I couldn't even keep my clothing in one piece.

I leaned against the cold castle wall and groaned, resting my head against the cooling bricks. I wanted to go to my room, rip off my shredded pieces of clothing, stop the blood that poured from the gashes around various parts of my body, gobble down some food to put all the weight i'd lost back on, and change into something that suggested I hadn't come back from my mission almost dead.

But before I could take another step, I was momentarily stunned by the sounds of a shrill siren along with the deep booming sound of the automated "CODE BLACK. CODE BLACK. CODE BLACK", followed by the sound of shouting and screaming and doors opening and slamming.

I instinctively shrunk back into the window alcove, holding my hands tightly over my ears as if that would do anything to block out the excessively loud siren that pounded through my aching body like some form of torture.

Torture.

I want to remain silent, I so badly need to remain silent, but I'm so cold that I can't stop my teeth from chattering, and I know Catherine will count that as me making noise.

As if to mock me, my stomach chooses that exact moment to rumble, loudly protesting the fact that it's been 5 days now without food, 2 without water.

Upon hearing the sound of my betraying stomach, Catherine whips around from the chair she's sitting in, seated alongside the rest of The Circle members. Some of them look round too, distracted for a moment from their meeting.

"I'm sorry about that," Catherine snarls, her eyes narrowing in on me. I'm tied to a chair in the corner, the ropes are so tight around me that I'm struggling to breath. "I'll deal with that rodent later".

Most of The Circle members snicker. A few avoid looking at me, clearly feeling some pity for me, but not enough pity to stand up for me.

The meeting continues on. They're talking about what they want to do with me, whether to kill me, show me what happens to spies who won't talk.

I should care. But I don't. I'm actually hoping that they do decide to kill me, because I don't want to live another agonising day with these people.

I feel myself dozing off a few times, but quickly force myself awake with a jolt, terrified that I might snore and bring unwanted attention to myself again.

What must be hours later, the meeting ends, and the members begin to slowly disperse. I think I was in and out of consciousness for most of their meeting, so I still don't have any idea what they plan to do with me. But again, I don't really care anymore.

Catherine storms straight over to me as soon as most of the members have left, her eyes staring daggers into me.

I don't realise that i'm chewing my lip until I taste blood.

"You embarrassed me in front of everyone!" she hissed, grabbing the thin fabric of my tank top, ripping it in the process.

I don't reply. It's better to stay quiet.

I hiss air through my teeth as Catherine slaps me round the face and pain shoots across my skin.

Catherine stares at me for several seconds, clearly hoping I'll make some kind of noise so that she can torture me further, but finally, she takes a step back.

I feel my mouth water as she grabs a water bottle from her bag, taking a huge gulp.

She seems to notice the longing expression on my face and smirks, taking another gulp, making sure I can see clearly.

"Maybe if you behave you'll get some water. Tomorrow, perhaps,"

She watches in satisfaction as tears of anger and longing fill my eyes. I am so thirsty I can't take my eyes off of the water in her hand.

I don't let the tears in my eyes spill down my cheeks until Catherine leaves the room. Before I even realise, I'm sobbing, huge sobs that wrack through my aching body.

I jump out of my skin, shocked into silence, when I feel the sensation of cold glass against my hand.

I look from the glass of water in my hand up to the man who has given it to me. But his head is turned towards the shadows so I can't make out his face.

"Quickly," he whispers.

I don't need to be told twice. I finish the glass of water off in just a few gulps, washing the last gulp around my dry mouth and throat. And just like that I feel like I've been reborn. I've never tasted something quite as miraculous as that glass of water. I tilt the glass against my mouth again, getting out the last drop.

I watch in absolute surprise as the man instantly snatches the glass back out of my hand, and heads out the door, leaving me alone in the cold, dark room again, my quenched thirst the only sign that I didn't just hallucinate the whole thing.

"Thank you," I whisper into the darkness.

"Her, this person! This is the intruder I saw!"

I glanced into the face of the freshman Hattie Davidson who pointed at me with a trembling finger. Hattie looked like she'd aged a few years, which was impossible considering i'd only been gone a few months.

I watched as recognition suddenly flashed in her eyes. "Wait. Oh my god. What the- Is that-?"

"Thank you, Hattie, but I think I can handle things from here."

"Wait. But that's-"

"Hattie! I don't want to have to tell you again!" My mother snapped, trembling from head to toe. "Back to bed. NOW."

Me and my mother watched as Hattie sprinted back to her room, but not without several glances back behind her.

My mother waited for the sound of Hattie's door closing before she spun back round to face me, like she was suddenly terrified that I was going to disappear.

"It is… Cammie… isn't it," My mother drunk me in, tears pouring down her face.

I was suddenly speechless.

"You're not back there now, you can talk, talk, idiot…" I thought to myself.

"It's me," I managed to croak.

I watched as my mum prepared to launch herself at me, and I prepared myself to be wrapped up in her arms, but then suddenly, her arms dropped back down to her sides. I watched as her lip began to tremble.

"Cameron. Morgan. Do. You. Have. Any. Idea-"

"How worried you've been?" I finished.

My mom nodded.

I reached out for her hand, but she quickly pulled away from me as if I were dangerous.

I felt myself recoil. I knew they'd be mad at me. I'd been gone the whole summer and the only thing they'd known of my mission to find my dad was a crappy note i'd left behind. I'd messed up, I knew I had, but was I really so awful that she couldn't even touch me?

"Infirmary. Now." She crocked.

My mom walked ahead of me at a brisk pace that I was seriously struggling to match, but I didn't want to make any more of a fuss than me being back was already making.

"So, I know you guys must have missed me, but did you really need to welcome me back with a code black?" I joked, trying to break the steely silence.

My mother said nothing, just carried on walking quickly towards the infirmary.

When we got there, the nurse on duty dropped her papers in horror when she saw me.

"Doctor to the infirmary. Now!" She spoke into her radio.

The nurse ushered me to a bed, immediately grabbing all her tools from around the room.

My mom watched as the nurse did her best to glue and bandage me back together.

"It looks much worse than it is," the nurse assured my mom who was steadying herself on the bed, looking pale and sweaty, as the nurse began to sort the wound on my head out, doing her best to stop the bleeding and glue it up.

"She'll need x-rays at some point of course," the nurse told my mom who stared into space and didn't even seem to be listening, "blood tests too."

The doctor arrived just after the nurse had finally helped me out of my tatty clothes and into some hospital pyjamas. I'd tried to stay out of view from my mom, knowing my skeletal body might scare her even more, but I knew from her gasp as I bent over to pull my trousers up, she'd seen the way my spine now protruded from my back.

I wanted to grab her arm and tell her it may have been a few months, but it was still me, Cammie. I could put all the weight back on, my bones would heal, my scars would fade and my cuts would close up. But she stood so rigidly it scared me because it was a whole world away from how relaxed and cheerful she'd been before i'd left. It even looked like she had her first wrinkle on her forehead.

"Cammie, I'm Dr Clarke, I think we better have a little chat…" The doctor spoke for the first time.

I stayed silent as everyone else left the room. I couldn't even look at my mom. I'd been gone only months, but it felt like a lifetime.

Dr Clarke took hours running through my physicals. A broken rib, sprained ankle and a possible concussion. I was dehydrated, malnourished and sleep deprived too, but there wouldn't be any lasting damage. Hopefully.

"Can I go now?" I asked eventually. I was so tired everything was blurry.

"Cammie, we haven't even begun the most important tests of all," Dr Clarke replied.

I sighed. "And what are they?"

"The psychological testing," Dr Clarke said, pulling out his notebook.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm fine."

Dr Clarke actually snorted with laughter.

"I mean it!" I snapped, feeling the anger building inside me. I was tired and thirsty and hungry and cold. I wanted to devour the leftovers of the first day of term feast and then curl up in my favourite blanket and go to sleep. "Please. I'll do this another day, I want to go to bed."

"Fine," Dr Clarke replied to my relief. "I'll compromise with you. I just want you to answer three questions."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine."

"What's your full name?"

"The Queen of Sheeba," I replied sarcastically.

Dr Clarke didn't even smile.

I sighed. "Cameron Ann Morgan"

"And do you know where you are now?"

"The Gallagher Academy"

"And what's the date?"

I swung my legs off the bed, preparing myself to sprint out the room and never looking back after I aced these dumb questions. "1st September," I replied.

Dr Clarke Looked at me for a second too long. Then lowered his glasses. I felt my heart skip a beat.

"What year," he asked.

I'd had enough now. I didn't have any energy left inside me. I began to edge towards the door.

"2014, obviously" I sighed.

With one quick movement Dr Clarke had blocked the doorway.

"Miss Morgan, I suggest you sit back down."

"What the hell?!" I shouted, startling even myself, but Dr Clarke didn't even blink. "You said three questions. You said-"

"Miss Morgan, I'm sorry, but I think you are more confused than you think. September 1st 2014 has been and gone. Today it is 1st March 2015."

I felt my entire body go cold. I hadn't been gone for just a few summer months. I'd been gone for over a year.