The next day I awoke to a loud noise, I swung my arm out and hit the snooze on my alarm but then realised it was my cell phone, I looked at the screen and saw that Valkyrie was calling.

"Hey Val, what's up?"

"Sam? Sam!"

"Yeah, I'm here."

"You're ok?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I be?"

"You need to get here. NOW."

"Uh… sure, where are you?"

I heard muffled speaking before she spoke again. "Meet us in the clearing in the forest. But don't teleport into the open, go somewhere in the trees."

"Yeah... ok, what's going on?"

"I'll explain everything soon."

"Yeah but-" I was interrupted by the dial tone as she hung up. I stared at my phone. Well that was weird. I quickly jumped out of bed and as I was pulling on a pair of jeans I paused. Crap I have School! I yanked off the jeans and hastily put on my school uniform then tapped the mirror, my reflection stepped out as I was getting out of my uniform.

"You have to go to school again."

"Yes, I know."

"Oh, right."

I put on the first shirt I could find and searched for some shoes. What was so important?

"Here."

I turned to see my reflection holding out a pair of sneakers.

"Thanks." I accepted them and put them on, then checked the time. It was five in the morning.

"Damn it Valkyrie, why so early." I muttered as I tied the laces. "Ok." I said addressing my reflection, "You know why I have to go but I still want a way for you to keep in touch. I'll be taking my phone so see if you can find my old one. I think it's around here somewhere, take the bus money and buy a top up as soon as you can."

"Ok"

"It's too early to be up yet so just… lie in bed and pretend you're asleep, until it's time for school."

The reflection nodded then climbed into bed and shut its eyes. It looked forced and unnatural but I didn't have time to teach it how to sleep. If that were even possible.

I grabbed a jacket and teleported into the trees near the clearing. It was still dark, sunrise wouldn't be for another hour or so. I stretched and looked around, letting my eyes adjust to the darkness. I was alone, I strained my ears but couldn't hear anything. This is weird. I cautiously walked out of the trees and stood at the edge of the clearing.

"Valkyrie?" I whispered, "Skulduggery? Where are you guys?"

There was a noise to my left and I jumped, startled by the sound. I clicked my fingers to summon a flame and held it in my hand, using it to light the area.

Where are they?

Suddenly one hand grabbed me around the waist and pulled me backwards while another covered my mouth. Oh hell no, I am not being kidnapped for the THIRD time. I kicked backwards into my attackers shin and swung my arm back to press the flame in my hand into their stomach. I heard a groan and the hands released me, as soon as I was free I ran into the forest without looking back. In the darkness I stumbled over tree roots and plants whipped at my legs, but I wanted to make sure I was out of sight before I teleported. I paused and leant against a tree to catch my breath, my attacker was gone and the forest was silent. Where the hell are Skulduggery and Valkyrie? I went for my phone but it was gone. Just brilliant, I must have dropped it. I waited to make sure that the assailant was gone before silently retracing my steps, scanning the ground for my phone, I spotted it and quickly grabbed it, then went to teleport, but stopped. Valkyrie had called me here and it sounded urgent, so I was going to stay until I found her.

I crept silently through the trees, keeping an eye out for anything or anyone, when I heard footsteps, I froze, and hurried up a tree as quickly as I could, then held my breath as a dark figure stepped into view. They paused and looked around, then continued past. I let out a sigh of relief at how close they had come to finding me. But who were they? And why are they here? I waited to make sure they were gone before beginning my descent from the tree, I had to find Skulduggery and Valkyrie, they would explain. The branch I was holding snapped and I tumbled out of the tree, landing on the ground with a thud.

I groaned, that was not as quiet as I hoped.

I heard a soft chuckle behind me and spun around. To see Skulduggery leaning against a tree, I let out an audible sigh of relief.

"Were you there the whole time?"

He took off his hat and brushed something from the rim, his skull gleaming in the moonlight. "Just arrived actually, don't worry, I didn't see your graceful departure from that tree."

I scowled at him. "What is going on?"

He put his hat back on, and his voice grew stern."There is an assassin after you."

"There's a… what?"

"An assassin, you know, someone hired to kill people."

"I know what an assassin is."

"Oh good, so we're on the same page then."

"Why the hell did you call me to a forest at five o'clock in the morning?!"

"Because… there's an assassin after you." He said, as if it were obvious.

"That's not a very good explanation."

"We know that there is someone in the Sanctuary who is not on our side, and that was how Dragonclaw was able to get to you in your hometown."

"Do you think it was the guy I heard talking to Eliza?"

"Most likely, and if he has access to you then you're not safe at home."

"What about my family?"

"They'll be fine, as long as you're not home, then the assassin won't go to your house."

"But I am home… kinda. I sorta have a reflection standing in for me."

He sighed, "Fletcher?"

"Yeah."

"I'll get him later, but this might actually be helpful, this assassin, we don't know his identity yet, will most likely recognise it as a reflection and leave it alone… more or less."

"More or less?" I repeated, that didn't sound to reassuring.

"Well I guess we'll see."

"But how do you know there is an assassin after me? And why would someone hire a trained killer to get me? What have I done?"

"It's not safe to talk much more." He said with a lowered voice, "I think they're already keeping tabs on you, you're phone may be tapped."

"Well that explains how they knew I was here." I muttered.

"What was that?"

"Oh, some guy grabbed me before, but I got away, if that was him then he's not much of an assassin."

"Why didn't you mention this?"

I shrugged, "Like I said, I got away, no big deal. Plus you were talking too much for me to say much anyway."

"Give me your jacket."

"What? Why?"

"Just do it."

"Fine." I reluctantly removed my jacket and handed it to him. A cold wind hit me and I shivered.

Skulduggery inspected my jacket closely while he spoke. "If that was your assassin then they probably did tap your phone, and they aren't so clumsy as to let you go like that, they probably left a bug on you, some sort of microphone or… ah ha."

He held out his hand and I stared down at a tiny black dot sitting in the centre of his bony palm.

"And that is…?"

"Some sort of tracking device."

"Right, so... can I have my jacket back now?"

"Oh right, here." He said and handed it to me.

I quickly grabbed it back and put it on.

"You should probably stay with us for now, if not for protection then at least as bait so we can catch this mysterious assassin."

"Gee thanks." I replied sarcastically.

"Valkyrie is still searching for you, we should probably go tell her she can stop now."

He headed further into the forest and I followed close behind.

"Your shirt is inside out by the way."

I felt my cheeks go red and I quickly zipped my jacket up to my chin.