I feel someone shaking me and I flinch away. "Don't kill me!" "Madge, it's me, Joy." I open my eyes to see my six year old sister frowning down at me. "O-of course, of course, it's only you." I smile shakily and sit up. My bed is damp with sweat and my blanket is wrapped crazily around my legs. Was I thrashing around again? Well, it's all that dream's fault. This time, it wasn't me I was dreaming about. It was a girl that I had never met before, but she had long fair hair just like mine. She was running away from the same men that I had seen in my last dream, vision, whatever it had been. I hadn't been able to see what happened to the girl because Joy had woken me up.

I was so glad she had done that. I usually love dreaming and am extremely angry if anyone disturbed me in the middle of one, but for once I am far from mad.

I reach over and hug my little sister. She smiles and cuddles up on my lap. She gazes up at me with her big innocent blue eyes. Her scraggly curls are all over the place and she looks tired. "So, why are you awake this early, and why did you wake me up?" I ask her. She frowns disapprovingly. "Vin says we have to go into the big city." Kinsley and Joy have both started calling my brother Vin, and I guess it is sort of rubbing off on me, since I've found myself calling him that too occasionally. Anyway I turn my mind back to the present. "Into the city? But why? We don't need to go shopping there, a new shop opened last week and it's only a few minutes away from our house." Joy shakes her head. "I don't know why." She suddenly looks fearful. "Madgick, I hate the city. It's so loud and there are so many people. I don't want to be kidnapped or to get lost." "Me neither, Joy. Let me go talk to Vincent. I'm sure I can make him change his mind," I ruffle Joy's hair before gently pushing her off my lap.

I quickly get dressed and head downstairs. I grab a banana out of the fruit bowl since I'm too apprehensive to eat anything else at the moment.

Suddenly I hear scratching at the back door. I frown in confusion and walk over to open it. A dog stares up at me with his big blue eyes. I gasp and smile as I recognise the puppy I found in the field several days ago. I had been feeding him every day for a while now, but he had never come this close to my house. I reach out and gently pick him up. His tail starts wagging as I use my free hand to stroke his head. I scratch behind his ears before setting him down on the kitchen tiles. The pup runs around, sniffing under the chairs and poking his head into every little nook and cranny. I laugh. "You're so nosy."

Then I head over to a cupboard and reach inside. I bought some dog food at the small pet store in the village nearby a few days ago. Now I pull out a clean bowl and pour some kibble into it.

As soon as the pup hears me pouring the kibble he stops snooping around and comes running over to me. He stares hopefully up at the bowl. "Ok, ok. You're such a greedy little dog," I say as I bend down to put the bowl in front of him. He immediately gobbles up the food and then licks the bowl for good measure. I laugh again.

The door opens and my brother comes in with Kinsley following sulkily behind him. I quickly throw the now empty bowl in the sink and shoo the pup out of the back door, which is still standing open. Vincent frowns. "Is everything ok in here?" "Yeah." I say, though my heart is pounding.

I look down at Kinsley. Her tear-streaked face looks woe-be-gone as she goes to sit down at the dining table. I'm guessing she doesn't want to go to the city either and made a fuss about it. Vincent runs his fingers through his hair before grabbing the box of cornflakes and pouring himself a big bowl. I look at him. "Vincent, why do we have to go into the city? Has something happened with your job?" Vincent works online and he seems to be doing well, but who knows? However my brother shakes his head. "No, nothing's wrong, Madge. I just thought it'd be nice to wander around for a while. Besides, we need to pay Grandma a visit. We haven't seen her for months." I grit my teeth. "Can't you go alone? You know that Kinsley, Joy and I hate the city." "Madgick no. It's about time you girls face your fears. The city isn't that bad. It has much better internet for a start, and great food. Come on," Vincent says. I beg him to let me and my sisters stay home but it is useless.

Soon we are out the door and on our way into the unknown. It is so busy in the city. Cars are constantly roaring past and each time one drives by I cringe. People are everywhere, walking down the streets, rushing around with shopping carts and laughing with friends. I honestly feel sick. I just want to curl up in a corner, but Vincent just strides around like he owns the place. He stops to talk with several people and I stand there, shifting from foot to foot. Joy and Kinsley are both clutching my hands. "When are we going home?" I ask but my surroundings are so loud that nobody can hear my question.