A/N:

I'm not too happy with this chapter if I'm honest… It's a bit of a filler but I had to explain a few things, so I put some Zammie in there too to make it hopefully more interesting! Anyway, I'm working on the next chapter at the moment and that one's got way more action and Zammie, so bear with me!

Thank you for the reviews, I've had such great feedback.

Previously:

Zach rolled his eyes again. "Sometimes I do wonder if you're as stupid as the others! Honestly Gallagher Girl, open your eyes, it's obvious to see what's going on!"

"Not to me!" I replied defensively. "Go on; tell me why I'm in here then"

"Oh, you'll find out soon enough, you don't need me to tell you. I think deep down you know"

Before I could demand an explanation Zach was gone.

I felt my eyes tear up again.

"Stupid Zach" I cursed him under my breath. "It's not bloody obvious; I have no idea why I'm in this hell hole"

I turned off the light again and cried.

()()()()

"You will all be sleeping with pillows and bed covers tonight" Madam Dabney told us as she inspected our room that night.

"Why?" Asked Macey.

"Because of the inspection tomorrow" Madam Dabney replied exasperated.

I raised my eyebrows at Macey. I'd already told her how we had to fake how great this place was.

Madam Dabney continued to fuss around our room, even positioning flowers on the cabinets to 'brighten the place up'.

"Remember, up at six tomorrow morning and then straight to breakfast" Madam Dabney ordered. "After that you will go to check the new activities board in the hall where you will be told where to go next, do I make myself clear? No messing this up" She growled.

"Yes miss" We replied meekly as she swept out the door.

I fell back onto the unusually soft bed and sighed.

"We can't let this opportunity escape" I said decisively. "This inspection is a chance for the outside world to see what this place is really like"

"Cammie, I know it's hard for you not knowing why you're in here, but really, what can we do? The inspectors won't believe anything we say they'll think we're exaggerating" Macey's voice suddenly hardened. "Like everyone else"

"It didn't go well with your parents then?" I asked.

Macey laughed sarcastically. "Of course it didn't, I told them how well I'd been doing and how I was well enough to go home now, but of course my mom wouldn't listen and Mr Smith said I still had lots of improving to do and showed them my stomach where I'd cut myself the other day. Of course that shocked them and so they asked him to 'carry on the good work'"

I was only half listening. I had withdrawn the note from earlier from my pocket and I was reading it again, looking for any hidden clues. Then I saw a drop of blood that stained the paper. My heart thudded under the new thick jumpers we'd all been given.

"Macey" I interrupted her rant. "Liz" I added. "I think something strange is going on here, and I don't think we should chance staying here any longer"

"What's that you have there Cam?" Macey asked as I put the note back in my pocket.

"Nothing" I lied. I was determined not to scare Macey and Liz.

"Fine" Macey replied exasperated, she hated being kept out of the loop and I knew she was itching to snatch the paper out of my pocket. "What's your plan?"

I sat up on my bed thoughtfully.

"I have nothing" I sighed. "I need the night to think things over…"

"Fine, well let us know when you come up with an ingenious plan to get us out of here" Macey rolled her eyes and I knew she was still angry I wouldn't show her the paper.

Liz was more supportive. "I trust you Cam, I know you'll get us out of here" She smiled encouragingly.

I smiled back, trying to fight the guilt at not telling them about the note, but Liz's pale and innocent face told me I was doing the right thing, I knew she couldn't handle something like this.

()()()()

That night I couldn't sleep. I tried to think of plans to escape, but my thoughts seemed to go around in a continuous circle. After I'd thought of about twenty plans but then aborted them all, my mind came to rest on one last option. One option that was risky but at the same time sure to work.

()()()()

"Cam get up!" Macey yelled, we're late!

I groaned, my head felt groggy and I was sure I was still half asleep. Then Macey's words sunk in.

"Shit!" I groaned as I leapt out of bed. "How late are we?"

Macey was running around the room in a panic. "Half an hour late!"

I groaned louder. We were in so much trouble.

"I can't get put down another level Cam" Macey sobbed. "I just can't, I'm so near getting out of this place"

"Why didn't Liz wake us up?!" I asked angrily, glancing at her empty bed that had already been made.

"I have no idea, but I'm going to kill her!" Macey replied.

We chucked clothes on manically and I was sure half of what I was wearing was inside out.

We ran for our lives down the corridors towards the food hall. "They're going to kill us, its inspection day as well; they're really going to kill us!" Macey panted.

We skidded to a stop outside the closed doors of the food hall. We looked at each other in confusion. Either we were going mad (Which was likely) or there was… music playing.

"Is that… classical music… coming from the hall?" Macey asked in shock.

"I… think so" I replied uncertainly.

I pushed open the door, preparing myself for the wrath of ten angry staff.

"Ah Cammie, Macey, where have you been?!" Someone cried out curiously. Not angrily.

"I'm… so sorry… Mr Smith" I said weakly. "I'm so…"

I paused as I took in the sight of the food hall. Vases of flowers had been placed on the tables, the normally boarded up windows had been uncovered and beautiful stain glass windows let in the bright light from outside.

I looked back at Mr Smith who was actually smiling. "Oh Cammie, don't be silly, there's plenty of food left, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to deduct a star from both your chart's which means no TV for a week"

I stared at him. Since when had we had a star chart? And Since when had we had a TV?!

"Oh…" Was all I could say, lost for words.

"Cammie, come and meet Mr Jones, our inspector" Mr Smith gestured to the man standing closely behind him, obviously listening to our conversation.

"Oh… Urm…" I stuttered stupidly as Mr Jones came towards me and held out his hand for me to shake, giving me a dazzling smile.

"Sorry about Cameron, she's very shy" Mr Smith shot me a warning glare. Luckily Macey stepped in.

"Hello Mr Jones, lovely to meet you" She shoved me gently out the way and greeted Mr Jones. He smiled at her.

"Hello… Macey, is it?" he asked politely, and very slowly, as if he were speaking to a five year old.

"Yes, Macey" She replied.

"Well, I don't want to keep you from breakfast as you're late already, why don't you go and enjoy your food" He grinned.

"Yes, thank you" She replied as she started walking to the tables, dragging me with her. I glanced back at Mr Smith who was watching me. He glanced at Mr Jones and around the room to check no one was looking and then he made a throat cutting action against his own throat. That was when I realised I would be paying for being late after the inspectors left. I gulped.

We sat down at the nearest table where Tina was eagerly talking to a young woman who I also guessed was an inspector.

I stared at the food on the table. Croissants were piled up high on plates along with bread roles and cereal. I'd never seen so much food before. I may have been confused, but I wasn't stupid so I immediately tucked into the food hungrily, savouring the opportunity.

"And what movies do they let you watch?" The woman was asking Tina.

"Oh… just Disney movies of course" She replied hesitantly "Nothing bad." I was sure she'd never seen a movie in her life.

"And what do you think of the classical music they play you in the mornings to keep you calm for the rest of the day?" She asked Macey.

"Oh, it's great, it really does relax us" Macey mumbled through her mouth full of croissant.

I noticed Liz who was sat at the table next to us. I slipped over to her.

"What happened Liz? Why didn't you wake us?" I asked angrily.

"Oh Cam, I'm so sorry! The moon was still out so I went to go and sing and then Mr Smith found me and…" She paused and looked down at the table. I noticed Mr Jones hovering nearby, listening to our conversation. I looked at Liz closer. It was then that I noticed the black rimming her eye and the foundation line where she'd tried to cover it up. I clenched my fists under the table.

"Mr Smith did that to you?" I tried to ask calmly.

"Shh!" Liz whispered as she glanced worriedly up at Mr Jones.

"Liz, this is ridiculous, they can't do this us!" I knew my voice was rising to a dangerous level, but I had no intention of stopping it.

"Cam, please, don't get yourself into trouble" Liz pleaded.

I exhaled slowly and felt my body relax.

"It didn't hurt, not really" Liz whispered.

My fists stayed clenched under the table. I suddenly didn't feel hungry anymore.

After everyone had eaten we all filed out to go and look at the notice board.

"Therapy's been replaced with lessons" I whispered to Macey.

"And the night hike has been replaced with afternoon games" Macey whispered back.

We all had personalised timetables and to my utter horror I realised I had Maths first… with Mr Smith.

The lessons passed fairly uneventfully.

Mr Smith would ask us maths questions, no one would answer, and then he'd move onto the next one. I knew all the answers. But I wasn't going to help Mr Smith out.

Mr Jones sat at the back of the class the whole time, writing notes on his clip board. Mr Smith shot him worried glances all the time.

"Well, what did you think of the lesson?" I heard Mr Smith ask Mr Jones worriedly at the end of the lesson.

"I think it seemed to go fairly well, but I think we need to give you an easier syllabus, it seemed as if none of the pupils knew the answers"

"Excuse me miss!" I turned round as Mr Jones beckoned me over.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Did you know the answers to the questions Mr Smith was asking you?"

I glanced up at Mr Smith who shot me a pleading look, but behind the look I saw the threat of a punishment if I didn't answer Mr Jones.

"Yes, I did" I said.

"Then why didn't you answer?" Mr Jones asked me kindly.

"I…" I looked down at the floor. "I'm just shy, I guess"

"Well maybe we could arrange for you to have therapy to get over your shyness?" Mr Jones offered.

I was certain he didn't see me shiver at the mention of therapy. But Mr Smith did.

"Oh, we already offer therapy, but we cancelled that today as we thought it would be best for you to see us doing our lessons rather than that kind of stuff"

"Very well" Mr Jones nodded. "Off you go Cammie to your next lesson"

The day couldn't go fast enough. I felt like I was going to explode by the end of it, and that wasn't just because I'd eaten more food today than I had in the past three weeks. It was mainly because I wanted to speak to Zach.

"Hey, Zach!" I called out after him before dinner.

"What is it Gallagher Girl" Zach seemed wary, almost as if he knew what I was going to ask.

"Zach, I think you should see this, I found it in Mr Smith's room after he… hit me"

I handed him the note and I watched as his face turned from wary to amused.

"Oh Cammie, you do know this is nothing but a note from someone who was probably mental don't you?" Zach laughed. I frowned angrily.

"But Zach, there's blood on it, I…"

"Cammie!" Zach grabbed my hands. I felt the familiar warm sensation fill my body. "This is just an old note from some messed up teenager, have you forgotten where we are?"

I looked down at the floor.

"So, what were you going to ask me?"

"I was… going to ask… if you'd help us escape" I replied glumly. It sounded stupid now, impossible. Just as I'd thought Zach laughed again.

"Cammie, I'm not going to help you escape just so you can get caught again and punished"

"But, if you helped us, we wouldn't get caught" I expected Zach to laugh at me again but his face was deadly serious.

"You still don't get it, do you? It's safer for you in here than it is for you out there"

"How is it safer?!" I replied exasperated. "I'm pretty sure there aren't maniacs out there who would hit me as a punishment"

"Aren't there?" Zach asked.

"Zach" I laughed. "Stop being stupid, of course there's not, my mom's out there, this is all a massive misunderstanding, she's probably trying to find me right now and…"

"Cammie, where's your dad?"

Zach's question caught me off guard. I felt the familiar tears well up in my eyes.

"I know about your dad Cammie" Zach couldn't look at me anymore and he dropped his gaze to the floor. I felt my eyes widen.

"Who the hell are you?!" I yelled suddenly. "How the hell do you know about my dad?!"

"Calm down, and I'll explain!" Zach pleaded. I tried to steady myself.

"I know more about you than you think Cammie. I know about your dad, I know about your mom, I know about your old school and I know why you're in here"

"Then tell me!" I chocked on my words. I was pleading with him now. "Tell me!"

Zach shook his head slowly. "I think you know the truth now, don't you"

"No" I whispered. "No it can't be…"

"Yes" Zach interrupted me. "It is."

I looked into Zach's eyes, pleading for him to explain.

"I know your mom's a spy. I know your dad's a spy. I know your dad is missing in action. I know your mom is headmistress of Blackthorne School for spies and that you went to school there… because I went there too. And finally, I know why you're here, because I'm here for the same reason. We can't leave Cammie, because there are people out there who are trying to kill us and will do way worse stuff than they do in here. There are people out there who make what happens in here look like child's play. Your mom sent you here to protect you; she offered them extra money to take you. She knew you'd be safe here because it's a mental institution, the last place The Circle would come looking for you" Zach looked at the floor again. "And it's the last place they'd come looking for me too, especially as my mom's the leader"

I frowned. Zach knew everything about me, but yet it felt like I knew hardly anything about him. "So your mom's the leader of the organisation trying to kill me?" I asked calmly.

"Yes" Zach shrugged.

"And my mom thought the best place for me would be with that woman's son?"

Zach suddenly looked into my eyes again. "Don't you trust me Cammie? Don't you trust that I'm the good guy? That I have nothing but pure hate for my mom?"

"Why should I?!" I asked. "You've been lying to me all this time" But I did believe him. He must be in as much danger as me to have to be sent to this place, and I guessed that being the son of a terrorist group made you pretty high up on their target list, behind me… Although of course I had no idea what it was they wanted with me.

Zach shook his head viciously. "Not lying… just the abridged truth"

"Oh, because that makes it so much better" I replied sarcastically. "So this fire I remember, that was the circle attacking Blackthorne wasn't it? Then my mom erased my memory so she could send me here"

"Look Cammie, I'm only telling you this so you know that your mom is doing this to protect you"

"So she sends me to a mental institution where they hit you and abuse you?!" My eyes teared up.

"She doesn't know that it's like this" Zach replied defensively. "But she thought you'd be strong enough to overcome it rather than run away from it"

"But she doesn't know what It's like!" I sobbed. "I want to go home"

"I know you do" Zach soothed. "But home isn't safe right now"

"And when will it be safe?" I whispered.

"I don't know… not for a while"

"How come I had my memory erased and you didn't?" I asked suddenly.

Zach grinned. "You don't think your mom would send you away unprotected did you?"

I snorted. "So she asked you to look after me?"

Zach smirked. "Something like that… she paid for me to come here too y'know, so I could be safe, I owe her my life"

I nodded.

Zach looked away again. "I know I haven't done a great job so far at looking after you… but I hope I haven't done too badly"

I smiled. "Well, I'm not dead yet"

"Not yet" Zach agreed. "But I'll look after you more from now on, I promise"

"I don't need babysitting Zach" I sighed.

"I know, but Mr Smith has it in for you, he's not allowed to do too much though because he needs the money your mom gives him to keep this place running, he knows if she found out what this place is really like she wouldn't pay him anything"

"So why here?" I asked.

"Have you not seen this place? It's the last place the circle would expect you to be and if they ever did suspect, then security here would be far too good for them to get through"

"I thought Blackthorne was meant to have good security?" I asked puzzled. "It is a school for spies afterall"

"Well it does, but the circle knew you were there, they have no idea you're here"

"Yet"

"Yet…" Zach agreed. "It's just until your mom can upgrade security and get you back safely"

I sighed and nodded.

"And of course there's Mr Solomon!" Zach smirked.

"What?" I frowned.

Zach rolled his eyes as if he thought I were the least intelligent person in the world. "You won't remember because you had a lot of your memory from the past year erased, but Mr Solomon worked at Blackthorne. He got a job here so he could watch over you"

"So that's why he's nicer than the other staff! And that's also why he wants me to stay"

"Yep" Zach replied.

It was nice to know how much my mom cared. The least I owed her was to stay here.

"If she knew you were being hurt here, she would take you away immediately you know"

"Well then she won't find out" I gritted my teeth. Zach seemed to stare at me with some new found admiration.

"You'd put up with being hurt just so the circle don't find you?" Zach asked astonished.

"Of course" I shrugged. "If it's to protect my mom and the rest of the school… I'm guessing they didn't all make it out of the fire alive"

"No" Zach shook his head sadly. He looked like he was about to say something, but then stopped himself.

"Why did I never see you at Blackthorne?" I asked curiously.

Zach shrugged. "We were in different lessons, different friendship groups and besides, I only joined last year so I would have been erased from your memory"

I don't actually know quite how what happened next happened. One minute we were a metre away from each other, the next I was kissing Zach and I was being held tightly in his arms. As a spy, I couldn't help but notice that the kiss lasted 3 minutes and 45 seconds. As a girl I couldn't help but notice the way Zach's body shaped around mine, the way his warm breath joined with mine, the way he was perfect.

"Hey!" Me and Zach pulled apart and turned to face a furious Mr Smith. "I think you two need to get to my office. Now!"

So now you know Cammie and Zach's backstory and all about Mr Solomon etc… so now I can get onto the more action-based stuff in the next chapter!

Review please; it honestly makes me so happy to read your reviews! Thanks!