Robbie and Sportacus were sitting in the living room reminiscing over old times. Kit and Robyn had gone to deliver late presents to everyone and had suggested going for a walk afterwards. It had been two days since Christmas and there was snow on the ground still but Robyn had been adamant about trying to deal with her phobia. Kit had pinched a whole supply of chocolate chip muffins from Robbie's secret stock just in case they were needed.

"Where has the time gone, Sportacus?" Robbie asked after a break in their conversation.

"How do you mean?"

"It doesn't seem like it's been fifteen years since Robyn was a little girl. Some mornings I wake up and I expect a four year old kid to come running into my room but instead there's a nineteen year old there."

Sportacus nodded, "I know what you mean. Sometimes I look at her and I have to take a second look to make sure my eyes aren't deceiving me. I watched her grow up but it hasn't changed anything, I still see her as a child no matter what I do."

"We are getting old. That's the main problem. Take Robyn for example, she has her own mind now and always has done if I remember rightly. She does what she wants to do and if she gets a bee in her bonnet there's nothing that will shift it. No matter how many times I remind myself that she has her own mind and is old enough to make her own decisions I still feel a need to interfere."

"Yeah."

"You know she has a tattoo?"

"I didn't have the slightest idea," Sportacus replied surprised, "How did you find out she had one?"

"I found out for myself. She was coming out of the bathroom in that robe of hers and I could see the tattoo through that."

"Where is it? Weren't you mad?"

Robbie smiled, "It's behind her right shoulder, and I couldn't see it in great detail but its there. To be honest I wasn't mad, I have a tattoo somewhere and I couldn't tell her off for doing something I'd done. She still thinks I don't know about it."

"I didn't know about it either. My guess is that Kit had a hand in this."

"Not at all. He and Robyn went snail racing, at her wish, and both put bets on and I think both lost."

It was Sportacus' turn to smile, "I wonder where he's had this tattoo put."

"He didn't get a tattoo this time. He got his nipple pierced"

"Ouch."

Kit getting his nipple pierced wasn't the only 'ouch' he'd suffered in the last six months. Listening to Robyn practising her new violin was quite painful on his ears. He'd suggested that they go quite a way out of town in the opposite direction of the mountains to avoid polluting anyone else's peace and quiet. Kit made a mental note to bring his flute with him next time he took Robyn out violining, that way he could try to tune it with her.

After twenty minutes Robyn suggested that she and Kit walk a little farther. They still had an hour until they were due back for lunch and could easily get back to town in no time. Kit agreed with the suggestion and they walked hand in hand still going in the opposite direction of the town.

The two were about to turn back after fifteen minutes of walking when they spotted a structure in the distance. Letting go of Kit's hand Robyn ran over to it, she knew what it was. Getting closer she could see that it was a ramshackle shack, in the daylight it was much clearer than it had been the last time she'd seen it. It was Cain's hide out.

Kit finally caught up with Robyn and saw what she was looking at. The shack was dilapidated to the point of almost collapsing. It looked as if it were the last standing shack out of what had once been a camp site. There was an atmosphere about the place which cut through the air like a dagger. It was so powerful it made the hairs on the back of Kit's neck stand up. There was something wrong about this place.

"Princess, I really think we ought to make our way back home now." Kit said making to back away from the shack.

Robyn didn't reply.

People were running everywhere absolutely terrified. There were flames licking the buildings and the people trapped inside. No matter where they ran to people couldn't escape the fires all around them. Within minutes the fires increased breaking out of the buildings in horrific explosions killing all of those nearby.

She was stood right in the middle of the disaster, trapped by the screams of the wounded and dying. A great stench had risen in the air from all of the burnt bodies filling her lungs with the acrid smoke from the fire. Holding her breath didn't work, the smoke was seeping into her skin, breaking into every fibre of her being. With terrified eyes she watched as fire crews arrived but they were too late.

There was no one left to save. No one was alive.

Through the noise of the fire and the screeching of the sirens Robyn could here someone shouting her name. The voice was female and sounded as if it was coming from inside the shack she was standing in front of. Drawn by extreme curiosity Robyn followed the voice with slow steps. As she reached the shack the flames parted for her allowing her admittance. When she cleared the door the flames rejoined blocking her escape.

Kit saw Robyn walk into the shack and followed her but when he got to the front of the shack it burst into flames. He jumped back in shock and landed in the snow. Getting up quickly he shouted for Robyn even though he knew it was futile if she was in a trance, nothing would get her attention.

The inside of the shack was lit by the flames outside. There was no fire inside and the images, sounds and smells from the outside were fading. Robyn could still hear the voice calling her and she continued to follow it unaware of what awaited her when she found its source. As Robyn moved further into the shack the voice grew louder, after a few more steps she came to a door. The voice sounded like it was coming from the other side of a door and reluctantly she opened it.

Slowly Robyn entered the room. Inside was a bed that looked like it had been slept in recently. Old cupboards lined one wall their doors all open and the shelves inside bare. After taking a few more steps inside the room Robyn heard a noise behind her and before she could react she was sprung upon by the person who had been calling her.

Kit heard screams from inside the shack and knew he had to act. Before he could do so he was joined by Sportacus, the hero's crystal was beeping furiously. Making a silent decision one man ran around to the back of the shack and other made an attempt at the front. No matter which way they tried to get in the flames followed them and seemed to anticipate their every move, it was hopeless. Kit ran over to Sportacus who had about as much idea about what to do as he had. There was nothing they could do.

Before Kit and Sportacus could think up another plan they heard a window break at the side of the shack and ran over to it. When they got there they could see Robyn lying face down in the snow. Crimson trickles marked the flawless white of the snow and Robyn was drawing in quick but shallow breaths.

Without a second thought Sportacus picked Robyn up and carried her up the ladder to the airship. Kit followed closely behind and watched as the shack collapsed before entering the airship. Robyn had got out just in time.