Date: six years ago, early May.

Time: 12.34

Whereabouts: Barkstone.

A car pulled up ouside a house. Although the house was nothing special, it's small garden was well kept and filled with different plants. Farther Roberts stepped out of the driver side before going to the passenger side to let out the young girl with white hair. She had not long been let out from the hospital and Roberts had took pity on the child since she had no other guardians who could take her in. Rather than allow her to go into care with who knows who, he agreed to care for her till they found her a new home. They headed up to the house where he let her inside and showed her round till another young lady ran down stairs to greet them. She was older than the white haired girl by a couple of years, looking as though she was close to hitting 16.

"Ely," farther Roberts said to the white haired girl. "This is Tammy, my daughter," farther Roberts introduced as Ely gave the second girl a light, but not really happy smile.

"Hello," Ely said quietly.

"Hey," Tammy said looking at Ely for a moment. "So your like, staying here? Like my new sister or something? I've never had a sister before."

"Erm... I guess," Ely shrugged.

"This is going to be so cool," Tammy smiled.

"Do you think you can show her round the village please while I sort out a room for her," Roberts asked.

"Sure Dad," Tammy nodded.

The two made their way out of the house and into the village where Tammy introduced her to some of the locals and showed her round. After half hour of exploring though, they reached a old looking building that was boarded up. It had a sign outside with the Darkened Fairy written on.

"This was my mothers," Tammy said looking at the building. "She use to run it till a few years ago."

"What happened to her?" Ely asked as Tammy gave a quick glance down the street.

"Cancer," she said simply before speed walking to the side of the building where their was a small ally that led round the back. "Come on."

Ely followed unsure where they were going. They reached the back of the building where Tammy began to use a screw driver she had stashed under a rock and began to remove a screw on one of the bottom corners of a large board that was covering up the window. It was obvious she'd done this many times before as she finished unscrewing and swung the board out of the way to reveal the window was missing the glass.

"What are you doing?" Ely asked watching Tammy climb in.

"Come on, it's okay," Tammy said as she made it inside.

Ely didn't take much convincing before she was following the red head in. Inside was dark but as it was day out, the sun that could make it through between the boards in the windows made it just visible enough to see. The pub was dusty with a bar to the fare side and tables with over turned chairs resting on top of them.

"I know what it's like to not have a mum," Tammy said as she made her way behind the bar. "I miss mine, I use to remember sitting on that stool and she let me be in charge of handing out snacks like crisps or scampi fries. Some times if I acted really nice, they buy two packets and let me keep one."

"That's sounds nice," Ely said with a light smile but it faded quickly as she remembered her own mother.

"I know it's hard and I know your going to hear this a lot but, it does get easier," Tammy said leaning over the bar and taking Ely's hand. "Take it from me."

"Thanks," Ely nodded not really feeling that cheered up as she sat and stared at the bar.

"You know, when I turn 18, this place is mine," Tammy said trying to change the subject. "I'm going to do it up as it use to be but my dad isn't a big fan of booze and stuff so, I could do with a partner."

"A partner?" Ely asked looking unsure.

"Yeah," Tammy nodded. "I mean, I'll be behind the bar so I will need a cook. Can you cook?"

"Erm... I've baked a bit," Ely said thinking.

"It's a start," Tammy smiled as she made her way back round the bar. "We can get the places painted and make it look amazing. Everyone will drink and eat here in fact, even people not from around here will flock to the Darkened Fairy."

"You really think so?" Ely asked with a slightly more genuine smile.

"Hell yeah," Tammy said sternly. "I'll learn some of that bottle spinning stuff and by then you'll be cooking like Jamie Oliver. What you say? Wanna be my partner?"

"Okay," Ely nodded and they both shook hands before Ely pulled back and hunched over slightly.

"You okay?" Tammy asked looking worried.

"It's my back," Ely said as Tammy went round and noticed that the top right hand side of her back had blood seeping through the t-shirt.

"Oh man, theirs a medical kit here somewhere," Tammy said running behind the bar. "Take of your shirt."

"You know what your doing?" Ely asked once she did as she was told and Tammy had found the kit and was returning to Ely.

"No," she said simply as she looked at the large medical pad that covered the younger girls back. Tammy peeled the pad back at the top where it was bleeding from and saw the large burn mark that ran over her flesh. "Jesus, is this what they did to you?" She asked as Ely didn't say a word.

Date: six months later, end of November.

Time: 9.00 am

Whereabouts: Barkstone church.

"Thanks for your help girls," Farther Roberts said as Ely and Tammy helped carry a few boxes.

"That's okay dad," Tammy said putting one of the boxes down near Ely who was putting together bits for the nativity.

"Yeah, we don't mind giving you a hand," Ely said before setting up a ladder to reach some of the more higher hanging bits.

"Even so, I'm sure I can treet you two tonight for all your hard work," he smiled as Ely began to head up the ladder.

"A treet hey... Will it be Cake?" Tammy asked looking excited.

"Could be, you'll have to wait and see," he said before someone walked in. "Are you two going to be okay on your own for a bit?" Roberts asked as Ely gave a nod from the top of the ladder while Tammy gave a thumbs up.

Roberts approached the man who was in a black hoodie and jeans. His hood was up hiding his face but with how cold it was outside, Roberts didn't see it as anything out of the ordinary. It was more when he got close enough that the man pulled out a gun that it made the Farther stop dead in his tracks.

"Keep your God dame mouth shut and give me anything of value," the man warned looking round to make sure anyone else wasn't thier. "Else I'll pop one of them off," he said looking over at the two girls.

"This is a church..." Roberts starred before the man raised the gun up.

"I know," he said simple. "You get plenty of donations and I've seen the golden crosses. I want them... now."

Farther Roberts thought for a moment's before answering, "There in my office."

"Then leed the way, Farther," he said as Roberts did as he was told.

They headed to the office where the crosses were sat on a shelf with several gold candle holders. The man grabbed what he could before making a run for it. He ran out of the office and headed to the exit that was by the nativity where Ely was now at the bottom of the ladder.

"What the... Is he robbing us?" Tammy asked as the man was running there way.

Ely didn't think but instead pulled the ladder back before letting it fall down just narrowly missing the robber but blocking his way. He dropped the gold crosses in his right hand before pulling the gun out to point at the girls but Ely had already picked up a broom and had swung at him, smacking the gun out of his hand before slashing again to hit the man in the face. He hit the floor looking in pain.

"Dad! Call the police or summat," Tammy called as Roberts looked at the two girls.

It was a hour later after the police had come and gone when the three of them finally had the church back to themselves.

"That was so amazing," Tammy said looking excited.

"I know, I never hit anyone with a broom before," Ely smiled.

As the two carried on there chatter, Roberts headed back into his office before kneeling down and pulling back a rug. He proceeded to lift a loose floor board and picked up a box. He sat at his desk with the box apon it before opening it up and revealing a black and white masquerade type mask. He sat back and sighed.

"She's just a child, she doesn't deserve such a burden," He said looking at the mask as voices echoed in his head. "Okay, it will be done. Oh Ely, I'm so sorry."