Sorry if I haven't been updating a lot lately. My summer has been... stressful. Yes I'm only 14 but well... let's just say there's been a lot going on here at home.

Patricia's POV

Hearing Eddie's voice picked me up a bit but I couldn't deny the fact that my whole body was aching, I was covered in bruises, and the blood seeping from the cut on my arm had dried up. Hang in there Yacker. Eddie's words ran through my head. This was the only thing that was keeping me going. I know that Ysabella has something planned for later but I have no idea what. Well, I do but my headache just worsens when I think about it.

"There we have it! I've won Patricia!" she saunters in, wearing a siren red dress, a triumphant smile on her lips.

"We aren't playing a game Bella. You DO know that right?"

"Oh yes we are Trixie. It's called the game of love" she winks and pours herself a glass of champagne situated on the table next to her. I kept quiet, having absolutely nothing to answer.

"Speechless dear? This is a first" she says after draining her goblet down. "Allow me to share a little secret with you. Do you want to know?"

"I guess so" I mumble, not wanting to hear what she has to say deep down.

"I've had THE biggest crush on Jerome Clarke. oh and Eddie too. Tonight, those two will be mine, and I'll make sure to let you get a glimpse of what will happen." She picks up a remote and presses a button, causing the television I was facing to turn on.

"What I'm about to show you, Trixie dear, is a tad bit secret, so I ask for you to keep it that way" she winks, a sly smile plastered on her lips. This could not be good. A video starts playing. First, showing Ysabella, clad in a violet halter dress, start walking to no other than EDDIE. Then she wraps her arms around her neck and presses her lips onto his. At first he looks stunned at what happened then he relaxes a bit and wraps his arms around her waist. The green- eyed monster in me emerges, making me look away in jealousy and anger. That bitch. It hurt to watch but my eyes trailed back to the screen in front of me, just in time to see the image of Eddie and Ysabella fade away, and a picture of Ysabella and Jerome kissing take its place. Mara will NOT like to see this. When that ended and the telly was turned off, Ysabella approached me.

"So you see? They're both MAD for ME. Not for you, not for Mara, not for anybody else. ME." she sneers, seeing me wince at her words. I couldn't help it. It was disgusting! Then her gaze casts off to my neck, where the necklace I had gotten from Eddie was hanging.

"That's a pretty necklace Patricia!" she tells me, walking closer to get a better look. "I think I'll keep it!" she unclasps the chain and puts the necklace around her own neck. I could have strangled her. She turns to the mirror and examines it. I mutter something under my breath, but to my dismay, she hears it.

"What did you say?" she asks, eyes flashing with annoyance and anger.

"Nothing Ysabella" I reply. Before I can do anything, she slaps me with her right hand, leaving in its wake a very sore cheek.

"Try to think before you say anything more about me Williamson. You know what I'm capable of" she threatens before leaving the room. I sigh. Yes. I know EXACTLY what she can do. I just wish I can get out of here and be reunited with my friends, especially Eddie, real soon.

"Get some sleep Patricia! I don't want you dozing off later!" Ysabella calls out from the other room. Mac then drags me upstairs to a tiny bedroom. It's almost 1 in the morning and after the long night I've had, I fall asleep instantly.

Mara's POV

"Why didn't you tell us this before?" Nina asked, a worried look on her face. The eight of us were seated in a circle, facing each other.

"It seemed insignificant then" I shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant about the whole situation.

"Didn't seem SIGNIFICANT? Jerome was KIDNAPPED Mara! And what if something happened to one of you?" Amber exclaimed, sounding a bit like my mom.

"Oh c'mon give her a break Millington! We survived that!" Jerome shot back, cutting into our conversation. "And besides, we have a BIGGER issue that needs discussing right now"

"Yeah, I guess you're right" Amber said, lowering her voice. "So what do we do now?"

"We're going. Easy as that" Jerome answered matter- of - factly.

"You can't do that mate!"Fabian said.

"Watch me Rutter" Jerome answered him.

"He's right Fabian" I say.

"Mara, you of all people should know how dangerous this is. We can't just jump to conclusions right away! We need to think about this first!" he answered. I let out a sigh. He's right, as usual. I steal a quick glance at Eddie's face. Then I think about how I felt when Jerome was taken. I know EXACTLY how Eddie must be feeling. I knew something had to be done.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures Fabes."

"But how do you know that Ysabella WILL let Patricia free that quick? You know how cunning she can be"

"I've got a plan Fabes. That is, if you guys are willing to participate"

"Sure" They all agree. Then I look over at Mick.

"Hey Mick?"

"Yeah?"

"You don't have to go along with this plan. Stay with Joy. That's where I need you to be. Right now, she needs you more than ever" I say meaningfully.

"I will." He nods, casting a tiny smile. I know how agitated he must be. He loves Joy. I can see it by the way he looks at her. I guess Amber did rub off on me a bit. I smile back then turn back to the issue at hand.

"Anyway, Jerome and Eddie?"

"Yeah?" they answer together.

"Are you sure you're up for this? You know how Bella can get"

"Sure. Might as well spend my last few days in High School doing something good, don't you think?" Jerome beams.

"Mara, you know I'd do anything for Patricia's sake." Eddie answers seriously. He really DOES love her.

"Okay. Here's the plan" Jerome, Eddie, and the others huddle closer as I speak in a hushed tone, not wanting to disturb Victor and Trudy, who are both sound asleep in their rooms. And also, I don't want them to know about what we're going to do.

After discussing my idea, and making a few changes to it, we all head to our respective sleeping bags.

"Get some sleep everybody. Tomorrow's going to be another long day" I say. When we finally finish bidding each other a good night's sleep, we all settle down and shut our eyes. I fell asleep instantly, tired from everything that had happened.