Okay, here's chapter two!

Chapter Two: The Five of Pakistan

The Test match began, and it wasn't too long before the first evil spirit was revealed. Gilchrist and Michael Clarke were batting well on day two. Shoaib Akhtar was bowling, and both men noticed his left hand linger longer than usual on the ball. Suddenly, as Akhtar ran in, Clarke –who, like all the non-Clayr Aussies, was given the ability to see the Charter Marks on their team-mates' foreheads –noticed that Adam's Mark was glowing like crazy. Adam, meanwhile, could see that the ball was glowing too. As the ball was delivered, he realised it was imbued with Charter Magic. He tried to pull away, but too late. The ball turned into a ball of spikes, and all Adam succeeded in doing was stopping it from hitting his chest, which would have meant certain death, but making it hit his stomach, ripping the skin. He fell to the ground at once in pain. Pup raced down as the ump called a dead ball. 'Gilly! Are you all right?' 'It's Akhtar,' groaned Gilly, in considerable pain, 'It's Akhtar!'.

A messenger from the dressing rooms came out. 'Would you like someone to tend to you?' Fully aware of the fact that Akhtar was standing two feet away, he chose his words carefully. 'Mate, could you get JL to come out with my compression bandages? He knows where they are. So do Haydos, Watto, and Hoggy. Get them to stand by with them. Only get them to come if…I seem overwhelmed. Marto does not know where the bandages are so do not send him. Say exactly what I said, please.'

The message, of course, was coded. The players realised this at once when the messenger got back and repeated word-for-word what Gilly had said. 'It's a code!' cried Ricky. Warney nodded sedately. 'He's calling for JL's support, he knows it's Akhtar. He's also cleverly put the other three on standby so that if the other spirits reveal themselves, you can help him. But the last part of his message might have been too simple; telling Marto outright not to come, Akhtar and anyone else who heard it might guess who our healer is.' 'I will, however,' Justin cut in, 'take his bandages anyway, as I'm hopeless at healing magic.'

Adam was still clutching his stomach, hoping against hope that it would stop bleeding, that the others understood. Pup was just standing there, helpless. He couldn't perform the healing magic needed. What should he do? Should he attack Shoaib? Should he flee? Should he grab his captain and flee? Should he tell the umpire? Suddenly Justin appeared at his side. 'JL! Thank goodness, you gotta help him.'

Justin tightly wound the bandages about Adam's stomach. 'Who?' 'Akhtar.' 'Right. On the count of three…'

Suddenly Justin and Adam jumped up, Charter Marks glowing about them. They stood there in their armour, tunics, cloaks, swords in their hands. Akhtar began laughing uncontrollably, then began to speak in a voice that was undeniably not his own. 'So, that little bitch got to you, did she? Well, you won't last long. Thrael!'

The body of Inzamam Ul-haq, the Pakistani captain, turned to them. He too was inhabited by a spirit not his own. 'Ah, Mrael. Let us destroy these beings. But I do not want one-on-one fights. Srael! Gror! Trael!'

Kamran Akmal, Yousuf Youhana, and Danish Kaneria all advanced on the pair. Pup was trapped in the circle too, terrified, for he had not the power to repel them. But then, hurtling into the middle of the circle, came Watto, Hoggy and Matt! They struggled against the magic, the Pakistani Five obviously more practised, but just when it seemed that all was lost, the clear tune of a Saraneth pipe rent the air. That was when they realised. Of course! They all had panpipes! The Australian Five blew as one on Saraneth. The Five Pakistani spirits stopped. Matt and Watto, being the ones with the biggest lung capacity, then switched to Kibeth. The five bodies slumped to the ground, motionless. Five dark spirits soared into the air and vanished.

Damien came hurtling out onto the ground. 'Oh, thank God!' 'Damien, was that your Saraneth?' 'It was. I had to make you realise somehow that you had to use those panpipes! I only stepped out the dressing-rooms for a minute to sound it, to let you know. Now, Adam, hold still.' A small net of Charter Marks wound themselves into Adam's stomach. 'Thanks, Damo. Check Pup.' 'Pup? Are you hurt?' 'No, just frightened.' 'Matt? Justin? Shane? Brad?' 'Just some burns from the Charter Marks.' Nets of Marks settled on all of them, just to be sure. Damien added some Healing Marks to the Pakistanis. Then, as a group, they cast an enormous net about the stadium, Marks of forgetfulness. Thankfully, the power had cut out with Akhtar's first spell, so no-one would have seen it on TV. The match continued without futher incident. Funnily enough, Australia won.

How did you like it? Please review! I know the action scene suck but I will get better! I promise!

Next Chapter: Lirael discovers something potentially useful...