I opened my door slowly and carefully but my heart was pounding, the sound filled the room. I tried to hold my breath to slow down my heart but it was a weak attempt. I decided to grab a baseball bat from my room; this was from the distant memories of my uncle trying to teach me how to play sport. I gripped the bat, closed my eyes and jumped downstairs. I went to the kitchen because I thought that was the safest place… it was.

After scanning the kitchen then hallway, I saw a hand print of blood on the wall. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat. But it wasn't shifting. I held up my bat, let out a deep breath and turned into my living room. There he was.

My uncle lay there motionless on the floor. He was covered in blood, he definitely put up a fight and the whole room was painted in his blood. For a moment, I couldn't walk up to him shock glued me to the ground, paralyzing me. Then I dropped my bat and ran to my uncle. I knelt at his side and checked his pulse. I didn't feel a pulse on his bloody hand, so I checked his neck. No pulse. Then as a last resort, I put my hands to his chest feeling for his heart. No pulse.

The pain I felt in that moment was indescribable, Knowing someone for so long and then they leave you is an awful feeling. But knowing that this is your fault is a pain unbearable. I lean on his body not fazed by the blood covering me and I just cried clinging onto my uncle as if I were clinging on to his life. Pain and anger overwhelmed me, pain because one of the people I love the most is gone and it was my fault the anger towards the person cruel enough to do such a thing. Paladins. Sadistic minds that destroy everyone around you and when you have nothing left they destroy you. But not me. I mustn't give up; I must protect the only person I have left, Alice. I will get revenge on the things that did this.

I dragged myself up from his and called 999 and explained the situation. I couldn't stay though, so I got some new clothes and said my goodbyes.

Today has been a long day.

I got back to Griffin's place and he was lying down relaxed, he looked like he was deep in thought because he didn't even acknowledge me at first. Then he saw me and his eyebrows squeezed together. Then his face fell, I didn't need to say anything; he just knew. Even though I don't know Griffin; in that moment I just walked to him and hugged him. He embraced the hug and patted my back; I was happy to know that I wasn't alone in this moment.

'You should probably get some sleep, mate' Griffin whispered pulling away from the hug.

'Yeah' my voice croaked, I was surprised I managed to get a word out.

I changed into the fresh clothes; trying not to remember that it was covered in my uncle's blood. I then moved towards the sofa where Alice was sleeping and I laid next to her. It's funny how much she missed in a short but never ending night. Sleep then took me even though my mind was panicked.

I wished so hard for a dreamless night but of course it wouldn't be. I had a dream that I could see darkness and there was my uncle on the floor bleeding, dead and still. Then I looked up from his body and there was a paladin with Alice in his arms, she was crying and his grip was getting stronger around her neck. I jumped in front of him to save her but before I could touch her she disappeared and I was holding empty air. I woke up abruptly and jolted Alice; she didn't even wake up. What if I was a paladin coming for her? Wouldn't she wake if one of them picked her up? I couldn't think about it anymore; so I shut my eyes tight and forced sleep to take me again.

'Do you think we should wake him up?' the voice said.

'Awww but he looks so cute when he sleeps' the delicate velvet voice whispered. The other person scoffed and I felt a push against my shoulder.

I strained my eyes open and I could just about see Alice and Griffin looking down on me, Griffin looked stressed and wary but Alice looked happy, bright. It hit me like a tonne of bricks, Alice didn't know. She had been asleep… my face must have looked sad and scattered because Alice's face turned panicked.

'I told you we should have let him sleep!' Alice said to Griffin angrily.

'It's not that Ali' I quickly replied, 'I'm just tired that's all.' I tried to shoot her a smile but she knew I wasn't really happy.

'Don't you think your school would realise that you weren't in your beds?' Griffin asked.

Oh. I had completely forgotten about school, San Francisco, Jeremy… everything. I feel like my life has completely changed in the last 12 hours. I could see that Alice had forgotten about everything too as my shocked face matched hers.

'Yeah, we really do need to get back' Alice murmured.

'You have a jumpsite at your hotel, right?' Griffin said.

'Jumpsite? What does that mean?' I questioned still tired.

'Places you have been before and you can jump back to' Griffin's voice suggested that I should know that already.

'Oh. Well I do have a couple' I murmured, blushing slightly.

'Okay, well you should get going' Griffin replied.

'Sure' I said and added, 'Could we – er – come back some time?'

Griffin was silent for a bit and responded. 'You might as well' he smiled at the end and laughed.

'Well if you insist. We will be here later today?' Alice smiled while dancing towards me. She squeezed me hand, even though I was sitting up on the sofa.

'I'll try and at least be in the country' Griffin laughed.

I stood up and held Griffin's shoulder, 'Thanks man, for everything.' Then I jumped to my room in the hotel and Jeremy was just coming out of the shower. So I jumped to Alice's room, well the door and I smiled at her.

'Is this the right room?' I laughed while looking at the sign on the door.

'I think so' she giggled then her eyebrows pushed together 'Griffin is a bit weird, right? You seem to get close overnight'

'A lot can happen overnight' my voice was shakier than I expected.

'Are you okay baby?' Alice knew me and she knew something was wrong.

'Not really but I'll tell you later, okay hun?' I replied with a sigh.

'Sure' Alice then put her hands around my neck and kissed me softly.

Then our moment was ruined.

'I knew you would be with your boy-friend all night!' Hayley, Alice's roommate opened the door.

'I'll be off then…' I said awkwardly and walked away quickly. When it came to Hayley, less is more and a lot easier!

I jumped to the outside of my room and knocked on my door. Jeremy my roommate answered; 'There he is! I was going to start a search party for you!'

'I was with Alice, calm down mate!' I replied trying to lift my mood.

'Ohhhh, sure you were!' Jeremy hit my shoulder and winked at me.

'Stop being so crude' I said and walked towards my bed.

'Okay, okay' he joked, 'but you have about 10 minutes to get ready before we have to go.'

'Shit' I flung my top on the bed and ran to the bathroom. After the day I had yesterday, I deserved a nice long shower. But I guess a quick 5 minute shower should be enough. I was still so tired but I had a new day in front of me.

We took a coach to the Grand Canyon, it took hours but at least I caught up on my sleep. Jeremy wasn't pleased he had to talk to the people behind me as he kept reminded me when I woke up. We got off the coach and two teachers who looked like they had been crying came up to me. Alice came up behind me at the same time the teachers came up to me.

'What's wrong Miss?' Jeremy asked.

'We need to speak to Jamie' the teacher I didn't know said. I tried to keep my face casual so that the teachers wouldn't realise the panic that washed over me.

'Er that's me' I croaked and then cleared my throat. 'What is it?'

The teacher I knew, Miss Baker said, 'Jamie, well – well – we got a call from home and I'm really sorry to tell you' tears started rolling down her face, I knew what was coming, 'your uncle is dead.'

I was frozen stiff by the image that popped into my head, him. Lying there motionless.

'Oh my God!' Alice cried as she clung onto me crying. Jeremy looked really upset and he could only hold my shoulder and look down. I was frozen and I felt deflated. Though there was only one pressing question distracting me from breaking down again.

'How did it happen?' I coughed out quietly.

After a short pause Miss Baker said, 'He was beaten to death in his house – your house.'

The image burned my mind but the pain hurt more. I opened my mouth but the words just wouldn't come out so I just nodded and walked away. Breaking the hold that Alice and Jeremy had on me, furious tears streamed down my face.

The rest of the day wasn't the same, everyone was quiet and careful. Alice was the quietest, she didn't laugh, she didn't smile and every time she looked at me she started to cry more. I could understand that though, my uncle and her were close; we were all family. When we got to the hotel, I decided I would speak to Alice, I needed to comfort her.

'Ali' I sighed and she started to cry again. 'It's okay' I whispered then hugged her tightly and squeezed me back.

'Let's get out of here for a bit' Alice said sniffing.

I grabbed her hand; no answer needed and jumped us to the hotel we stayed at in Italy. This was our favourite holiday and I thought it would be the perfect place to forget the world.

'You always know the perfect place Jamie' Alice gasped looking at the view out of the window.

I just needed her comfort so I lifted her up against the window sill and wrapped my arms around her body. I was going to say that I loved her, so I pulled back from the hug and said, 'I-'

She cut me off with a kiss, her kisses were warm and her lips were always so soft. I ran my fingers through her hair, squeezing it and the kissing became more intense. I didn't want to let her go; we were stuck in each other's hold. I smoothly crushed her body against the window not leaving even a centimetre between us and moved my hands to her waist. Then her legs wrapped around my waist and I carried her to the bed in the room. I felt her smile on my lips and I kissed her cheek and traced her jaw down to her neck and kissed there. Then we got lost in the night.