Chapter 2

Lauren returns

Sarah's POV

We sat there twiddling our thumbs and wondering how on earth we were going to explain this situation! The girl lay sprawled out on Ethan's bed, she had been unconscious for a while now and we expected her to come around any time soon.

"This is bad; the rogues are attacking harmless innocents now." Said Erica tensely

"How are we going to explain this not only to the girl but her parents we have to get her home?" I panicked

"Calm down Sarah we will think of something." Said Benny

"No, Sarah's right we are in a very tricky situation, we don't even know how much she saw before she passed out and how much she will remember. She saw us in the coffee shop too do you think she will recognise us?" said Ethan

"There is no telling how she will react when she wakes up but all I know is that there is not much time left for us to debate about this she will be waking up soon, she has been passed out so long!" I hurried

We sat there in silence trying to make some sense of what had happened outside the coffee shop a few hours before. Everything had changed since the rogues had started appearing. We didn't even know how they came about but what we did know was that they were extremely dangerous with enhanced powers and abilities. There had been so many killings and disappearances around Whitechapel lately. Lauren was one of the half blooded rogues and had attacked the girl from the coffee shop. We managed to save her but Lauren is still out there somewhere along with the others.

I sank back into the beanbag that I had been sitting on deep in thought. We needed to sort this out, as Whitechapel just wasn't safe anymore.

"Benny did you manage to contact your grandmother to tell her about the attack." I questioned

"Yes, she is on her way over with one of her usual brews to coax this girl out of her concussion and help her get a grasp on things. There is no point trying to convince her that what she saw wasn't real as it has just gone too far."

"Too far! Of course it has gone too far; these rogues are multiplying every minute and are stronger than even us. They are going around and attacking whomever they wish and they don't even care about the mess which they have left behind!" Erica shouted in frustration.

"Calm down Erica we can fix this somehow, we just need to calm down and think logically. We need to understand how these new vampires work and why they are doing this." I reasoned.

"Yeah and we also need to know how they are so much stronger than us." Ethan added.

Suddenly Rory jumped up and peered out of the window.

"Guys I think Benny's grandma is here." Rory gushed.

Ethan went down stairs to fetch the door whilst the rest of us waited for them to come up. It was 9:30pm I wonder where Ethan's parents were, it's probably a good thing they are out so late though. They probably didn't want to come home and find us all here with a girl passed out on Ethan's bed.

The door slowly opened and the two of them stepped into the room. Benny's grandmother was silent as she pulled out a small vile from her bold patterned handbag. It was a small glass bottle with a deep purple liquid which shimmered and fizzled as it splashed up and down the sides of the glass. She set down her bag quietly and removed the cork stopper with a little pop. The room was deadly silent and tense as we watched with anticipation as she slowly dripped the runny purple concoction into the girl's mouth. We sat and waited glancing at the clock on Ethan's desk as often as possible. It had been 10 minutes yet she still hadn't woken.

"Grandma what's happened?"

"I don't know sweet heart it should have kicked in by now, she should be awake!"

"Are you sure you gave her the right drink?" I questioned.

"Yes, absolutely Sarah I know what I'm doing."

"Then why isn't she awake." Ethan panicked.

"I don't know! Should we give her some more?" I asked

"Yes, perhaps we should." Benny's grandmother said before reaching for the vile once more and slipping a few drops between the girls lips.

"Look she is beginning to stir." Rory gasped.

The girl rolled over, her hand dangling off the side of the bed as slowly the colour began to creep into her face again. Her eyes fluttered open before her deep brown eyes gazed from side to side scanning the room sluggishly. Carefully she propped herself up on her elbows her face panic stricken as she examined the people before her.

"Who, who are you?" she cried

Everyone in the room was speechless; we didn't know how to even begin explaining what had happened. Slowly every ones gaze shifted to Benny's grandmother.

"Wow, this is awkward!" Muttered Benny.

"Here sweetheart, you had a little accident and we found you on the street and brought you here. You were unconscious for quite a while." Benny's Grandmother said.

"Ummm, yes well, errr thanks for looking after me but I would really like to go home now." The girl said groggily.

"Hmmmm, yes of course dear. Do you remember anything about your accident?"

"No, It's umm just a blur. Ouch! Eurgh my head hurts." She said.

"Yes, well you should probably drink something and then we will take you home. Perhaps you should phone your parents to tell them you are okay. Benny dear, could you please fetch the phone for us."

"Yeah sure." Benny said as he left the room.

"Oh and we didn't even catch your name." Benny's grandma said.

"Oh yes its Amanda." She said wearily.

"Hi I'm Sarah, this is Ethan, Rory, Erica, Benny's grandma and well Benny is getting the phone." I said.

"Um, hi, can I please have that drink now? My head is killing me." Amanda asked.

I was worried, the poor girl looked shaken, unhealthy and scared and what if her memory loss was only temporary, what if she did remember what had happened to her. I rushed out of the door to fetch her water; she looked as if she would faint if she didn't get any fluid into her. EURGH what were we going to do. I padded down the stairs and pulled up the tap in the kitchen, the cold water gushed out as I filled up the glass before catching sight of Benny standing in front of the mirror.

"Benny, what are you doing?"

"Duh, that girl is super cute! I have to look good when I bring the phone upstairs for her so I'm vamping myself up a little."

"You're such a bonehead! She's not going to be thinking about you and the way you look when she's just woken up from a concussion! Just take the phone upstairs already!"

"Sheesh! Alright, alright. I'm going!" he muttered.

"Benny, I'm sorry I'm just a little stressed about this whole situation." I sighed.

"Don't worry Sarah its fine."

We climbed the stairs and turned into Benny's room before handing over the water and the phone. Amanda still seemed tense but that was understandable after what had happened to her. Slowly she punched in some numbers into the phone and began talking.

"My dad is very worried, I should go home. Thank you for everything." Amanda said after gulping down the water and hanging up the phone.

"Come on Benny we can take Amanda back home and the rest of you should probably get back home too." Benny's grandmother said.

"Coming." We all muttered.

"Hey Amanda are you okay." I questioned after everyone had left the room.

"Yeah, I'll be alright when I get back home and get some rest I'm sure."

"Here." I said offering her my arm so I could help her up. "I'll help you downstairs."

"Thanks."

We managed it down stairs and into Benny's grandmother's car alright though Amanda was bit shaky. I stood on the pavement and watched as she closed the car door behind her whilst Benny began spouting chat up lines once more. It was extremely difficult to supress an eye roll. The engine revved and they drove off into the night.

I could feel a warm hand on my shoulder and turned to see Ethan standing there, his brown eyes glimmering under the street lights.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine just tired though. I wonder where your parents are."

"Yeah me too. Shall we finish watching that zombie movie whilst we wait? Jane's asleep and Erica and Rory have left."

"Sure, I could do with a good film right now. Let me just check on Jane and I will be down in a minute."

"Great, I'll put some popcorn in the microwave then."

We headed in doors before I crept up to Jane's room. Ethan's little sister was so sweet when she slept. I rounded the corner and headed towards Jane's room but the light was on. I always tell her not to stay up reading those stupid witches academy books especially on a school night. I burst into the room ready to give her a lecture when I caught sight of the fiery red hair through the corner of my eye.

"Lauren!" I shouted.

"Sarah!" Jane whimpered in the corner.

"Jane, hold on it will be okay."

Lauren hissed violently, her yellow eyes looked crazed as she crouched in a hunting position near Jane's desk.

"Back off Sarah! I have just come for the girl then I will leave." Lauren hissed

"Jane!" I questioned

"NO! Don't play games with me! I have come for her! The chosen one!" She screamed hysterically as she stalked closer.

"The chosen one!"

"Don't you remember, the one you saved." She sneered sarcastically

"Amanda." I whispered under my breath but I wasn't quiet enough. She heard me an began chuckling menacingly

"So you do know of her."

We began circling each other like cat and mouse in a deathly game. I was terrified of Lauren, she was so much stronger than me but I didn't let on my fear. We just continued circling one and other. I hinted to Jane as much as I could to get towards the door and find Ethan but it was difficult. Lauren was watching me like a hawk, planning every move carefully. Then she pounced. Pushing me towards the floor.

"Run Jane." I managed to shout before my head slammed into the dresser

We wrestled aggressively licking our fangs in contempt whenever we managed to hurt the other. I pushed her off me, slamming her against the opposite wall before dragging her to the window in an attempt to push her out. Her fingers dug deep into my soft skin as we clawed each other viciously. I managed with my last ounce of strength to shove her out.

"You will pay for this Sarah!" she snarled as she tumbled to the ground. Crouching on the soft grass below her eyes burned into me as I slammed the window shut. Ethan and Jane came running into the room; Jane's face was wet with tears.

"How did she get in here! Ethan asked worriedly.

"I don't know, ask Jane." I said

We both stared at her but she did not answer.

"Well, Jane did you invite her in." Ethan asked

"No, she just jumped in. I had left the window open because it was so hot in here and she just appeared," she whispered.

We both gazed at each other in shock. The halfblooded rogues didn't need to be invited in to a house to enter it, but how could that be?