Amber's Point of View

My best friend in the entire world is gone. Swept off by some creeper Patricia knows as father. It wasn't fair; Nina was so sweet and kind. She could make anyone feel better with just a smile or a quick comment. Now she was gone; taken away by Joy, a crazy evil witch. I would jump for joy if Joy was out of the picture forever. And to think she used to be my friend.

"Can't you drive faster Jerome!" I cried out from the backseat. It was taking an eternity to drive the forty-five minutes to Lancaster Castle. He gripped the driving wheel so hard his knuckles turned white.

"I'm going as fast as possible Amber! There's a limit you know! Wouldn't want to get pulled over by the police would we know?" he snapped at me. An evident look of hurt must have crossed my face because his face softened for a moment and he whispered, "I'm worried about them to Amber, we'll be there in a minute alright." Even Jerome was going soft. Couldn't anyone be strong during this whole fiasco?

My right hand was suddenly gripped tighter by Alfie and I sighed, trying to let my emotions escape from me so I could feel better. It didn't work. Every time I shut my eyes flashes of Nina, Patricia, and Mick filled my mind. Why couldn't I be in their place? I would have done anything to save my friends.

The car squealed to a stop and we leaped out as fast as possible. A tall beautiful stone building greeted us and it took my breath-away. Too bad this wasn't a time for sight-seeing, I would have loved to live there.

"Umm mates, I just remembered something…Lancaster Castle isn't really a castle anymore…it's a men's prison," Fabian spoke for the first time since Nina was taken. Lancaster Castle was a prison. So what did Joy lose in a prison. All of our phones began to beep in sync.

Ask for Frederick Mercer.

Fredrick Mercer was Joy's father. So that meant Joy lost her-

"Joy lost her dad here," Alfie's muddled voice was shocked and upset at the same time. "What do we do now since we know what Joy is missing?" he asked. Wasn't it obvious.

"We ask for Fredrick Mercer, come on," I told him and we began to walk to the closed doors. A man in full uniform stopped right in front of me.

"Excuse me ma'am, but do you need Fredrick Mercer?" he asked in a hushed voice. I nodded as politely as possible. This man was probably in on it as well. He motioned for us to follow him and we did. We walked for a while until we reached a small garden that was encased by an iron rod fence. The man unlocked it and gestured for us to go inside. One by one we walked in and he followed us and closed and locked the gate behind him, the whole time not saying a word. He raised a finger and pointed off to a distant bench where we saw the backside of a man in a suit.

All of us exchanged tentative glances but we walked slowly over to the men.

"Mr. Mercer?" Mara's soothing yet frightened voice came out timid and squeamish. The man turned his head around slowly. It took all that I had to contain my gasp. His blue eyes looked so deranged; his hair snow white hair stuck up everywhere, his suit would have been wonderful if it were not so rumpled and frayed. This man had to be insane as his daughter.

"Hello dearies," his voice was rough, yet so soft and murmured I almost felt bad for him. Almost. "Joy gave me this to give to give to you, but that was five years ago, she hasn't been back since, because she's dead." A maniacal laugh took over as he flung a gold locket over to us. Fabian caught it quickly and pried it open. A small, yellow slip of paper fell into his hands. He glanced up at Mr. Mercer but he was already gone, farther into the garden.

"Read it Fabian!" Alfie exclaimed. Fabian's mouth hung open for a while before he mustered enough of whatever he had to muster to speak.

"There's nothing on it," How could there be nothing on it? If there was nothing on it why did we need it?

"It was a distraction," the grumble of the officer came from behind us and we all whipped around to be greeted by him holding his arm over Mara's mouth, sticking a gun at us, and holding a small cell phone. "Here, wait for her to call," he ran off as fast as possible, disappearing into the landscape, and tossing the phone at us.

"Mara!" Jerome yelled and tried to rush forward after them. Fabian and Alfie hooked onto his arms and held him back.

"Stop it mate! We'll get her back don't worry!" Alfie tried to console him. Jerome thrashed about for about a minute more but slowly he slumped into their arms.

"That's easy for you to say, you still have yourwife, me and Fabian we have nobody now." His heartbreak made me want to cry. He loved her so much and now she was just out of his reach.

Just as I was about to go over and try to comfort him the phone rang. I picked it up from the ground and answered it.

"Yes Joy, what do you want now? Where are we off to next?" I asked. I knew her game now, and I was getting so sick of it.

"Aww Amber is catching on; maybe you aren't as stupid as I thought. Head off to Sunlight House in Manchester will you; watch out for the ghosties, they may get you before I do." The phone cut off as soon as she was done. I started at the blue device in my hand for a moment and I threw it as far as possible. Getting rid of that thing wouldn't stop what was happening but it would help me relieve my frustrations, if only in the slightest.

All of the men gaped at me.

"You heard the girl! Off to Manchester it is!"

AN/ I just found out Lancaster Castle isn't really a castle anymore but a prison. It worked with the plot though so yay! Read and review peeps!

Water wolf 100- You should feel special because you are special!

Samcabral- No but your giving me some ideas….

Princess Fafa- Why thank you! I haven't seen Criminal Minds but I might watch it….

Luv-ya-dearly -Don't sweat it! Thanks for the review hope you like this chapter

Pandacat1baillion- Now it's poor Mara!

Xx CamilleElizabeth Stormxx- Ummmm good? :P

I Write Sins Not Tragidies- Wow that's so sad and I feel so bad for you. But ehh thanks for the awesome review!

Written-In-Hearts- Yeah I do!