So I know that it's been a long, long time, but I don't like to leave stories unfinished. I enjoy writing this one as I like the characters and the plot and I hope you lot do to. A quick shout out to all my reviewers for encouraging me.

A Party Invitation

"We have to see her."

I came downstairs in the morning to a commotion in the kitchen.

"I've already told you, we want nothing to do with this," said my mum.

"You told Evelyn about what your daughter said," it was Mac sitting at the table trying to convince my mum.

"In confidence," she replied.

What were they talking about? Was it my dream? I know mum didn't want to acknowledge it, but it seemed like Mac thought it was important too. There was something very strange going on here. If this seemingly ordinary man was putting so much store by my nightmares, then that was odd in itself. Most people were not so superstitious.

"It could be dange-"

"Morning," I said interrupting them. "Hi Mac."

"Oh hello Poppy, you look well," he smiled, if a little unnaturally, like he was trying to guess how much I had heard.

"How's Evelyn?" I asked.

"She's fine," he replied. "She sends her thanks. Hey listen, she should be better in about a week and we really wanted to thank you for everything so we're having a bit of a party for the baby shower, but also to celebrate Evelyn's fortune. Would you two be interested in that?"

My mum looked wary, like she didn't trust him.

"Of course we'll come," she said. "Evelyn would want our support."

"Great," he said. "Well I've got to get back home now, but I'll see you both then."

He smiled warmly and mum let him out of the door. She watched him until he disappeared into his house. I had never seen her so troubled by an invitation to a social event before.

"What's the matter?" I asked.

My mum was silent, analysing me for a second.

"I heard what you were saying," I admitted. "Mac was about to say it could be dangerous. What was he talking about."

"Nothing," said my mum. "It's just a weird cult they have going around here. I wouldn't pay any attention to it I were you and don't spend too much time with Connie Lionheart or with Col Clamworthy at school please."

She swept back into the house before I could say anything else and turned on the radio, probably so that she could pretend not to hear me if I asked anymore questions.

Things were getting seriously strange. I was beginning to think my dreams were real and that there was something about our neighbours that Mum was trying to hide. She had never interfered in my social life before, but suddenly I wasn't allowed to get too friendly with the families I had just spent a night supporting at the hospital. What on earth was going on and what was this cult she was talking about?

Well whatever it was, I was going to find out. If somebody could explain these dreams to me then I wanted to hear it. Maybe I would finally be able to leave my father's memory in peace. These people sounded like they knew about the dark thing that had attacked Evelyn and therefore my father.

I had been searching for answers within myself for months, but perhaps I had been looking in the wrong place.

-O-

I hurried into school. It was a funny old red brick building with a couple of strange attachments on either side where someone had decided to extend the school, but had forgotten what the original school actually looked like.

When I got into reception, I found that I had been given a buddy to show me around for the day. It was in fact Connie, the girl from next-door.

"Hi," she said. "How are you feeling? I mean, after you know…?"

"I'm okay I think," I said. "How about you? She's your aunt isn't she?"

"Yeah, I'm okay," said Connie. Her face was oddly cloudy, but it cleared almost immediately. "So let's take a look at your timetable. Hmm, 116 – maths. That'll be this way."

We set off along one of the corridors. Every now and then someone would smile or wave at Connie. Probably her friends. I hoped I would soon make some friends of my own. It felt pretty scary to be walking through this place when I knew absolutely nobody, except the girl next to me and a boy who we smiled at as we walked passed.

I felt so out of place here. Back home, I had known everyone, but this was all new and strange. I wanted to pay attention to all the directions Connie was giving, but my mind was more pre-occupied by what my mum had said.

"That's the canteen," she announced as we passed.

"I'm packed lunch," I said.

"Oh well you can still eat in there as well. This is the library, great place: lots of books. I'm actually one of the librarians on Tuesdays," she told me.

"That must be interesting," I said, going in with what detectives call a leading question. "Do you do any other extra-curricular activities?"

She hesitated just a moment and that gave me all the information I needed.

"No," she said, but I got the feeling that she was lying.

Perhaps mum was indeed right about this cult.

"Anyway," said Connie. "Here's your maths class. Have fun."

"Thank you," I said. "For showing me around."

"It was nothing," she smiled and walked off down the corridor.

I don't know why, but I got the feeling that there was something decisively odd about her. Whatever it was I was going to get to the bottom of it.

The plot thickens, our protagonist becomes more and more embroiled…

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