Special thanks to Poison Black Holly for always reading my stories, but also thank YOU all those who reviewed! Also in this chapter we have our first Eddie POV, marked by his name alone on one line. And now, a speedy update for Peddians and the Patromians who have humoured me by coming to this story:

Just Step Away

Chapter Two, Out of Place

Patricia

I steadied myself on the slippery drive and looked up to the cabin once again. There were no welcoming lights like I had imagined. The garden which looked to have once been well manicured was now over run with thorns, nettles, and a few thistles.

"Well, so much for the luxurious cabin retreat," I said slowly. Then I turned to him. "Eddie, I think your Dad needs a raise if this is what he comes up with for Christmas break."

"Agreed," he grunted.

"So whose going in first?" Jerome asked, swallowing.

I could almost see Fabian wail silently in protest as Nina walked bravely towards the door.

She pushed it open a crack. Then she quickly turned back, a smile on her face. "Come on guys, it's not so bad. I think the lights must just be out. I can see some candles," she said reassuringly.

Jerome, determined to not be viewed as the chicken, strutted towards the door. "Don't worry, I can take it from here," he said arrogantly.

Stupid Jerome. He had barely strutted inside the house when we heard a thin shriek. "AAAAAAAH!" came a voice from inside the house.

"What on earth?" we heard Jerome's voice speaking out again.

I smiled as Fabian, Eddie, I, and Mara all followed Nina in. There was no way I was going to screech like that.

When we had forced the door open enough for us all to follow, we spotted Jerome sitting on the floor in the small dark kitchen. A box of purple candles were sitting on a shelf high above his head.

I could hear Mara fighting not to laugh as she looked at him sitting there, completely still.

"So Shrieker, did the box of candles frighten you?" Eddie asked grinning.

I elbowed him. I don't know why I did it, he just annoyed me when he said stuff like that. It was stupid, and more importantly, American. At least I thought it was American. I wasn't really sure.

"Oh right," he said, turning to me as if the invention of the light bulb had just dawned on him. "Sorry Yacker, I'll save the 'er' suffix for you." He smiled painfully.

"Don't try and use big words, they don't suit you." I snarled.

"I forgot your vocabulary was so limited, I'll try and remember in the future." he said with a smirk.

"Come on Jerome," Nina sighed and pulled him to his feet.

Mara stood smiling. "Did the candles come and get you?" she asked playfully.

Jerome scowled at her. "Be lucky you're not Eddie." he said. Then he turned menacingly to Eddie. "If you ever call me Shrieker again, before bed time tonight you will be very sorry. Especially as I didn't shriek." he added as an after thought.

"Whatever prank boy," I said tiredly.

*.*

Eddie

I watched in amusement as Fabian cursed trying to get the fuse to work. A bunch of wires were snapped in it. Jerome was still insisting that he hadn't shrieked, which only made it more fun to tease him.

I didn't get where Fabian got his curses from, and I really didn't want to know. As curses, they were awful. But as nerd points, they were awesome. He used words like, "Flibbergibbit!" or "Giddyhop!" A Harry Potter spell gone wrong or what?

"Okay, I give up." Fabian said. "We'll just have to use candles."

If Amber had been there, she probably would have said something about it being really romantic. I wasn't really sure and I didn't really care right now.

I turned back to the empty fireplace and returned to my task. Maybe going to Scotland hadn't been such a great idea after all, but everyone else seemed to be enjoying themselves. Apart from Fabian and Jerome, anyway. Nina came in to remedy Fabian's nerd-swearing though, and everyone just ignored Jerome, so it was okay.

We ate what was apparently a 'traditional british meal' of beans on toast.

Nina said to Fabian, "Can't you just imagine if Amber was here?"

"Yeahh..." he said. He let out a sigh. "She'd be so mad right now."

"And doing those hand gestures," Nina pointed out.

"Why does everyone keep thinking about Amber?" Jerome asked, taking the words out of my mind. I just didn't want to make Patricia mad, and I wasn't entirely sure why. Then again, it was kind of fun to make her mad. She'd clench her fists and her face would heat up and her colored hair streak would sway ever so slightly to the right and... what was I thinking? Yeah, it was fun to make her mad.

"Well..." Nina trailed off when she remembered who wasn't there. She was partially glad Joy wasn't there, I could tell.

Usually I couldn't tell other people's feelings, so it was weird that I could tell her. It must be like a fellow American psychic bond or something.

Nina was taking the dishes into the kitchen when we heard Mara scream.

*.*

Patricia

We all rushed into the hallway where she had disappeared to. She was standing in the dark and cold living room which had a second fireplace, staring at a dusty plank which had fallen from the ceiling.

My eyes slowly travelled up from Mara with her hand over her mouth to the open trapdoor.

"There must be an attic up there," Fabian gulped.

"What happened?" I asked urgently.

"It... it just fell from the ceiling right where I was standing!" she said in a shaky voice.

I took a quick glance at Nina once the boys had left and we quickly left the room as well. "Okay, so whose going to talk to her?" Nina asked.

"Where's Amber when you need her?" I said wryly.

"I don't think Amber is the girl from the job. What if there's something else going on? Like something Sibuna-y? Something is definitely out of place." Nina said in a hushed voice, her brown hair hanging down.

I looked up at her. "Okay. You talk to her, I think I'm going to go talk to Jerome. Tell Fabian when you get a chance."

Nina nodded as I left. "You think he really didn't shriek?" she asked then.

"Or maybe there was a reason to," I answered.

The dark hallway stood empty for a moment, as if biding its time.

Well well. Once I get 3-5 reviews I'll try to give you another speedy update. :) I only have one other story I'm working on.

Sibuna!

~Iceshadow