A/N: I hope you enjoy this chapter and I think it will totally catch you all by surprise!

Previously:

I clicked onto the internet and typed into Google 'secluded holiday getaways'. I sighed at the thousands of links that appeared on the page… but one caught my eye. I clicked onto the link and read the description.

'Getaway Now Holidays' offer secluded holiday cottages in one of the only countryside landscapes in America.

I clicked through various links on the site and imagined what I would have clicked if I were Macey. I found a section where it stated the availability and I saw someone had booked it from the day Macey had gone missing until a few weeks' time. I knew it could mean nothing. I knew I might travel all that way just to come back home again without Macey beside me… but I had a good feeling that this was the place Macey would choose to be alone, because it was the place I would have chosen to go to be alone too.

()()()()

Everyone on the train was staring at me. I wasn't sure if it was because I was clearly too young to be traipsing around America by myself of because I'd had to escape through the secret passageway and my clothes were caked in dirt.

I found my way fairly easily around America, swapping disguises and passports like Macey had probably done. Everyone had probably realised I'd gone missing now… so I had to be extra careful.

"Excuse me miss"

I turned quickly to face one of the train conductors.

"Are your parents here?"

I was totally ready to freak out at that point, but then I remembered… I went to the only girls spy school in the world; I had been the most rebellious girl they'd ever had at The Gallagher Academy.

I looked the man straight in the eyes as I pointed to a couple sat at a table next to me who were deep in conversation. I rolled my eyes like a spoilt brat as I replied "They're my parents… I had to come on this stupid family holiday with them"

The man laughed and moved onto the next person. I breathed a sigh of relief.

I finally got to the holiday cottage at ten at night. I was cold, tired and hungry… but more than anything I just wanted to see Macey.

It was exactly like I'd seen in the pictures, secluded and surrounded by a large lake; it was the kind of place you could hear yourself think.

I took a deep breath before I knocked on the door, it opened immediately.

A boy about my age with glasses open the door, he had a shifty look about him as if he weren't sure whether I was about to attack him or not. My heart instantly sunk.

"Is… Urm… I'm looking for…"

"I'm the only one here" the boy interrupted shyly. "My dad owns this house, he's away on business, there's another house next door though; you could try that one"

I nodded and thanked him. I tried the house next door without much expectation, and sure enough no one was in. Just as I was about to leave I suddenly had a thought… why book into one of these crazily expensive houses and then go out at ten at night…

I turned around and stared into the distance, it was so peaceful here, especially by the lake. Then something caught my eye, something in the lake. I put my bag down and I walked a little closer but immediately I felt my feet begin to sink into the mud, I decided to just carry on for a while, the thing in the river was starting to get closer and closer and I was starting to feel my heart race as I began to make out what it was.

Before long my feet had sunk straight into the mud and I could hardly move my feet. I took off my shoes and carried to wade bare-foot through the mud, beginning to feel the cold of the water seep into my skin. I was beginning to think I was going mad… why the hell was I wading through a river at ten at night? Soon enough I was waist deep in the water. And then I could see it. What I'd been scared of admitting… there was a body in the water. I pushed myself even further into the lake until the water reached my shoulders. I swam wildly the rest of the way, almost screaming as I finally could make out Macey's long hair trailing on top of the water. Her arms were still flailing wildly and I sped up even more, trying to appreciate the fact she was still moving. By the time I reached her body her head had gone under and I could only imagine the little amount of time she had left before she stopped breathing.

As soon as I grabbed her body she starting struggling, threatening to pull me under too. I managed to drag her head up and sighed with relief as she took a deep breath and spun herself in the water to face me.

"Cammie!" She cried in relief. At least I think that's what she said… her teeth were chattering and her lips were a deathly blue colour.

I couldn't reply. I was starting to feel the cold too and the water was beginning to drag me down. I knew I didn't have much time so I began to drag Macey all the way back to the muddy shore but she kept struggling under my arms.

"Just… stay… still" I muttered urgently. She finally relaxed and I was able to pull her more quickly towards the bank.

"Hold on, I'll help you!" I heard someone call from the bank but they sounded so far away and my vision was blurred. I realised suddenly that I wasn't as close to the shore as I'd hoped. I stopped kicking my legs and felt my head go under.

"Just keep moving!" I heard someone say from beside me as they pulled me back up to the surface. I did as they said and together we were able to get Macey to the bank where she collapsed on the muddy earth.

"We'll go back to mine, there's a fire; we'll warm up quicker there"

I suddenly remembered the boy as the one whose house I'd knocked on and I trailed behind him as he dragged Macey's limp body to the house where she collapsed in front of the large fireplace.

"So… cold…" she muttered weakly.

"You'll warm up soon" The boy shivered in his wet clothes and then he looked at me.

"My name's Preston by the way" he said.

Preston handed me a large shirt and told me to dress Macey in it while he went to get changed himself. I did as he said and soon enough Macey was starting to warm up.

"So… sorry… Cam" she managed to mutter, still shivering.

"It doesn't matter" I said as I changed into my own dry clothes. Preston must have brought my bag in.

"Macey… why did you try to kill yourself?" I asked carefully as I sat down beside her in front of the fire.

She stared at me for a while then laughed at me.

"Macey it's not funny!" I said angrily.

"Oh Cam, I didn't try to kill myself!" Macey laughed. "I was sitting by the lake when the bank started to cave in, I didn't realise how late it was, and you save my life Cammie!"

"I don't think I can take all the credit" I said as I turned to face Preston who was standing in the doorway. He blushed.

"Are you girls okay?" He asked. He stared at Macey as he said "Are you hurt?"

She shook her head.

"I'll go make us some food" Preston said shyly as he went into the kitchen.

I nudged Macey. "He's got the hots for you"

"Oh shut up" Macey rolled her eyes as she stared into the fire thoughtfully.

"Why did you leave Macey?" I asked… although I was sure I already knew the answer.

"The Gallagher Academy only accepted me because I'm the descendent of Gillian Gallagher" she said quietly.

"But…"

Macey smiled as she interrupted. "But, I know now, that's not why they kept me"

Macey sighed as she said "I just needed a place to get my thoughts together"

"You know… we're not that different after all" I said suddenly.

"What do you mean?" Macey asked.

"Well, I knew you'd come to a place like this, because it's the kind of place I'd go" I said.

Macey smiled.

"But… there is something that's very different about us" I said sadly. "I was only accepted into the Gallagher Academy because my mom works there… and that's the only reason why they're keeping me"

Review please!