Next chapter :) thanks so much to everyone who reviewed :D

Uriel's POV

'Hey, do you know where Josiah and Taz are?' Saff asks me, scanning her eyes around the beach.

'Umm…where would they normally be?' I ask.

'Josiah normally plays by the sea and Tazzy hangs out around by the speakers.' Saff frowns, glancing around nervously.

'I'll go and look for them.' Jengo says and jogs off.

A young girl around Jos's age comes running up, panting.

'Saffron, Saffron!'

'Shona. Have you seen Tazzy or Jos?'

'Mila says she saw Taz and Jos go to the car park behind Shady and then they drove off in a black car…you know…those posh ones.' The little girl pants, trying to get her breath back.

Saff sends a panic stricken look towards me, grabs my hand and we run to the car park. There weren't any cars in the car park; in fact, it was empty.

'Uriel, where are they?' Saff says, tears welling up in her eyes.

'Shhh, don't cry baby. Look, why don't we check your house first to see if they've gone home? Jengo's checking the beach.' I try and comfort her but her thoughts leak into my mind and she's thinking about the worst possible scenarios.

'Uri…the man who was following us…you don't think it was him?'

'I don't know Saff; let's check the home first before we think about it.' I say, gently guiding her away from the car park.

Saff takes us through a short cut to her house so it took a lot less time…or it might have been due to the fact that we were running. Once we arrived to Saffron's house, she pushed open the door, nearly breaking it off completely, only to reveal an empty room; it looked exactly the same as they left it last time.

'Taz! Jos!' She calls out, her voice breaking with the tears. I don't know what to say. I mean what can you say? Sure I could tell her that it was all going to be okay and that they were fine but I couldn't lie to her.

'What do we do Uri?' She turns to me, a silent tear slipping down her cheek.

I notice a white piece of paper sitting on top of the bed in scrawled handwriting. Picking the note up in my hand, I quickly skim my eyes over it. As soon as I read it, I feel sick to my stomach.

'What does it say Uri? I can't read it.'

'I...I….don't….' I stumble, lost for words.

'Just tell me.'

'I don't want to.'

'URIEL!' She exclaims, looking up with me with desperate eyes.

I hesitate and sigh before reluctantly reading out the note.

'Dear my Darling Saffron.

It's been a while, hasn't it, my dear? Ever since you left 10 years ago, you have been all I could think about. Sure I tried looking for you; I met some very interesting characters with very interesting stories about you. You thought I couldn't track you down? Well you are wrong, my dear. I need you back Saffron. I have Josiah and Tazzia and if you don't come to me quickly…well….let's just say there will be consequences.'

'My uncle.' Saff whispers.

Saffron looks faint. She just stares; it's as though all the life and sunshine has escaped out of her.

'Saff….' I reach forward to comfort her but she steps back.

'Don't.' She warns me.

'Saff please…' I say, moving closer.

'No Uriel! Don't tell me it's all going to be okay! It's not okay! I just…I don't know what to do.' She says and then breaks down in tears, leaning against me for support.

I stroke her hair and let her cry on my shoulder but I don't tell her it's going to be okay because the truth is, I don't think it is. There's a reason why Saff is keeping secrets about her Uncle from me and none of those reasons can be good.

Saff cries for ages and ages and I stand there and hold her, trying to work out what to do. What do I do?

'Saffron. Stop crying.' I say sternly, tilting her head so I can look into her eyes. Surprisingly, she obeys me and her cry turns to a sniffle.

'Look, crying isn't going to get us anywhere. I'm going to take you home and you're going to calm down. Then I'm going to ring my parents and tell them. Then…then you need to tell us everything about your uncle.' I say confidently. Saff weakly nods in agreement.

As we left, everyone who lived around Saff were standing outside, looking at Saff with concern. They must have heard her crying. I told Saff to wait and I ran up to the boys who were leaning against a building, the same boys that nicked my wallet.

'Do you know Taz and Jos?'

'Yeah. Why do you want to know?' One of them says.

'We think they've been…taken, you know…kidnapped. Look, could you just keep an eye out for them. Maybe search around for them?' I plead.

A lot of the boys nodded although one boy said 'so what's in it for us?'

I raise my eyebrows. 'You have my wallet; I think that is payment enough.' The other boys smile at me, thankful that I'm not angry.

'Sure we'll look for them. I hope you find them, American.'

Afterwards, I took Saffron back home and led her into the kitchen. Neither of us spoke a word. She sat down on the kitchen chair, drawing her knees into her chest and sucking her thumb, making her look like a young child. I pour her a glass of water and handed it to her which she took with trembling hands.

When I finally deemed her stable enough to be left alone for a minuet I told her that I was going to ring my parents. She barely glanced in my direction; I don't think she even heard me.

'Dad?' I say the instant my father picked up the phone.

'You okay son? Where are you?'

'Dad, Saff and I are at home…I don't know what to do, dad. Tazzy and Jos…they've gone.' I say, trying to bite back the tears.

'What do you mean they've gone?'

'Saff's uncle. He's taken them. Please just come home soon. I can't manage this on my own.'

'They've been taken?'

'Yes.'

'God. Okay we're on our way. Is Saff okay?'

'I don't know.' I say quietly.

'Look, we'll be 20 minutes tops. Just stay there till we get back.'

'Okay. See you.' I say weakly before hanging up.

Saff's in exactly the same position I left her in.

'Saff sweetheart? They're on their way.'

She doesn't reply.

'Drink some water it will help.' I say, handing a glass of water to her. 'Sip it slowly.'

She obeys me and quietly sips her water. I couldn't stand seeing her like this anymore. I suddenly stood up and crouched down beside her.

'Saffron. I promise that Taz and Jos are going to be okay. I promise. We'll get them back safe and sound. You just have to hold it together, Saff. Be strong, for the kids' sake.'

'I love you Uriel.' She whispers.

'I love you too Saff. Always and forever.' I hug her tightly, clinging on to her like a life line.

The door bursts open shortly after and we hear voices filling the hallways. I squeeze Saff's hand with reassurance and go out to meet them.

'Uriel!' My mother gasped and hugged me. 'I'm so sorry Uriel.' She murmurs against me.

'No, don't say that. They're going to be fine.' I tell her sternly.

'Let's go into the kitchen and talk about it.' Victor decides.

'Just…just take it easy on Saff. She finds it difficult to talk about her uncle.' I warn them.

Everyone walks carefully into the kitchen in silence, as though Saff's a wild animal that might just crumble at any second. I took the seat next to Saff and took hold of her hand for comfort. Victor, being Victor, seems to be oblivious to Saff's delicate metal state and goes straight in with the questions.

'Uriel said that your uncle took Taz and Jos? Is that right?' He asked, putting his serious face on.

'Yes.' Saff answered quietly. 'He left a note.' She said nodding towards the piece of paper I left on the table.

'Is your uncle a savant?' Victor said, skimming his eyes down the note.

'Yes.'

'How well do you know him?'

'I used to live with him until I ran away when I was 14. I didn't think he would find me.'

'Why did you run away?'

'Because…because…' She looks at me for support.

'He hurt her.' I answer for Saffron.

'Look Saff, I know this is difficult for you but you need to tell us more. Maybe show us?' Victor asks.

'Saff…you can show me, you know. I won't think of you any differently. And it might help us get Taz and Jos?' I say, knowing that Vic is probably right. We do need to know more.

Saff seems to be considering this for a second, trying to work out whether she can trust me.

'Who will see?' She asks.

'Just me and Zed.'

'Zed?'

'He's a mind reader. You can show him. He won't care either.'

'He might not want to see. It's…not very nice.' Saff replied, always thinking about others over herself.

'I'm sure he'll be fine Saff.' I say glancing at Zed.

'Okay then.' She said unsurely, biting her lip.