A/N: Sorry, this is a really short one! (And sort of a bad one, too.) It would be longer, but I didn't want to keep you guys waiting forever.

Upload date: 11/24/11

Disclaimer: Cassandra Clare owns The Infernal Devices.


"Jem, I've got it." Will said, entering the room again. "Jem—" Will stopped and looked around. "Where is she?"

"I'm not sure," Jem said. "I threw one of my blades into her stomach and she went into one of the other rooms. We're just going to let her come back to us."

"And Ms. Crawford? Jessmine?"

"Here!" Jessamine appeared from behind an overturned couch. Crawford's sister was behind her.

"Is it all right to leave?" Anna asked.

"No. We all need to stay together. If Tessa finds out you've gone, she's not going to have any reason to remain here and we'll probably lose our chance to get her back," Jem said. "Just lie low for now." To Will, he murmured, "Stay away from there, or she'll figure out where they're hidden. Try and focus on those instead." He nodded at a covered table and other places within the room that might have been a useful hiding spot.

"Got it. Now, give me that rope."

"What?" Jem frowned at Will.

"You have it, don't you?" Will said, knowing if it wasn't on Jem, he didn't have another plan.

"Yes…" Jem dug around in his pocket and pulled out a length of rope that was neatly corded up. Will unrolled it and estimated it to be about five and half feet tall. To cut it down…that would mean Will would need to get dangerously close to Tessa. But what other choice was there? He slashed the rope down the middle and wrapped a small section of one portion around his. He gave the other half to Jem. "Why—?" Jem started.

"Just follow my lead. And be ready."

For a while they all stood on guard, completely still. Will could hear his heart pounding in his chest, the blood coursing through his veins. His hands were trembling slightly; he clenched them so hard that it hurt. Pause in battle always was unnerving to Will. He didn't like feeling so vulnerable.

Soon, there came an echo-y rattle from above them. Moaning and groaning. Tessa was stumbling through the house, obviously disoriented from her injury. The five of them stayed silent as more thumping followed. Tessa was thudding her way down the stairs again. She had probably smelled them.

"She's coming," Gabriel softly.

Will moved toward the entry way and crouched next to it, making sure he was hidden at an angle where Tessa would not see him.

Tessa rounded the corner, her face distorted with fury. Will could see Jem's weapon lodged into her abdomen, but this only distracted him for a second before he jumped into action. With a flick of his wrist, the rope lashed out and coiled around Tessa's ankles. Will pulled the rope tight and it became taut. He grabbed his arm back, and Tessa fell to the ground, arms flailing about. "Jem! Get her hands" Will shouted.

Jem leapt forward, as did Gabriel and Jessamine. They struggled for a moment, trying to contain her. Will was busy tying the rope around Tessa's ankles secure, knotting it as many times as possible. Then he heard a psst! and looked up, feeling the thrashing stop. Tessa was knocked out, her head lolling. Jem finished binding her wrists up and stood up, looking shaken.

"What just happened there?" Will demanded. "How'd she—"

Gabriel held up a little bottle. "My father gave this to me. It makes anyone who gets a faceful go unconscious."

"Let's get her back to the Institute," Jessamine piped up. "Is it all right to touch her, do you think?"

"Probably not," Jem said. "Anna, do you think we could use that tablecloth?"

Will looked around. He had completely forgotten why they were there in the first place. Anna came out from behind the sofa. "Yes, please do."

Jem removed the tablecloth and wrapped it around Tessa's immobile body, leaving her face free to the air. The three boys picked her up and started to slowly climb back up the stairs, with the women following.

Will was surprised to see the darkness outside. He had lost track of time over the last few hours. Looking up, he could see a sliver of moon, the rest of it a shadow, a long, hazy cloud covering it up. The stars were faint, and it was sprinkling little drops of rain on the pavement.

They loaded Tessa into the carriage. "Anna, get in," Will said. "It'll be a tight fit, but you need to come with us."

She nodded slowly. Jessamine ducked her head and followed her into the carriage, then Gabriel, who pulled the door shut. Jem and Will climbed up onto the driver's seat and Will whistled to the horses. He took hold of the reins, driving the horses through the street, even though all he wanted to do was go to sleep.

A/N: Happy Thanksgiving to American readers! I'm thankful to everyone who sticks with me, even when I update with a lousy chapter like this. I promise the next chapter will be longer and better.

PS: I recently finished The Hunger Games (yeah, I'm a bit late in joining the fandom) and it was so good. I love the movie trailer too. My favorite character by FAR is Finnick, he's so cool! I've spent the last week reading fanfics all about him . *squee* I love him!