He sighed and stood. She had been kidnapped a year and a half ago. They had found her but what that man, that thing, did to her was bad. When she came around she couldn't remember much other than her name, which made her flinch when she heard it, and that some of the people she saw wouldn't hurt her. These people were mainly ghastly, Tanith, fletcher and himself. He had brought her here when she was allowed to leave the hospital. He had changed the room, made it so she couldn't hurt herself during one of her fits, but he left photos, drawings, anything he could.

At first he tied her to the wall. The girl had been able to escape the ropes but most of the doors had been locked and none of the windows showed. When he would return she would be at the door or hiding waiting for him. He always caught her but she kept escaping even if she just sat in one of the different rooms until he came. This was the first time she didn't leave.

Flashback:

She had given up on any of the others coming for her after Tanith had came unannounced while he had the door open. She had screamed and dragged out of her bonds but he had tightened them so she was trapped. Tanith had kept walking even though she was trembling and hadn't glanced at the screaming girl in the other room. After Tanith had left skulduggery came in and saw her lying on the floor blood on her wrists from the rope and her clothes ripped from her frenzied struggles. He had untied her and washed her face and arms before fixing her cuts. She had one of her 'fits' that night. They came when she would remember something and would get caught up in the memory.

Back to present:

The next morning the girl woke to find her food laid out for her and a note in his writing beside it. He did that sometimes when she was still sleeping when he needed to leave.

Little bird- Stay in the room today. There will be a treat for you if you behave. ~Skulduggery.

She didn't know how he knew when she had been out but he did and as much as she hated to admit it she loved his 'treats'. Once he had brought her a beautiful drawing pad or when he gave her photos of different people who she used to know and some she remembered. She placed the note with her others in one of the drawers in her desk. Her room was simple but well organised. Her bed was at the wall furthest from the door and everything was placed so it was in reach but she couldn't get to the door. The bathroom was beside her

bed. The only thing she couldn't reach in her bonds was a locked press beside the door. She got her drawing pad and started to sketch a bird with the curling words

The sparrow flies south for the winter

underneath it. She kept thinking of this phrase.

Late that night the girl heard two men coming in. She had her pyjamas on by then and was sitting on her bed drawings scattered around her.

"Little bird?" A velvety voice called.

"Here!" She called back moving the pieces of paper out of her way.

The door opened and he stepped in.

"Have you even moved?"

"Yes! I was lying down when you left."

"I'm guessing that means you haven't eaten?"

She bit her lip and nodded sadly.

"Alright. There's someone here to see you ok? You can talk to him while I get something for you."

She paused but stood up and followed him down the hall. They stepped into one of the many sitting rooms and she paused again. A man with scars all over his head was sitting there. She knew him and ran back to the room to get her photos. When she had gathered them all she ran into the sitting room and gave them to the scared man. He smiled at the pictures and picked one up.

"This one was taken in France. These men here are friends. They were part of the same group as us…."

"The dead men."

He nodded, "This is Saracen rue, that's Dexter vex, he is Erskine Ravel…"

She frowned and shook her head, "No. He's… a traitor."

"He is. Do you know the others?"

She shook her head and he smiled.

"This is Anton shudder, that's me, ghastly bespoke, that's you-"

"Little bird."

"Little bird." He echoed. "And this is skulduggery."

Skulduggery stepped in and the girl jump to him.

"Treat?"

He chuckled and led her back to the couch. "Ghastly I was wondering if you would make some clothes?"

"Make clothes? I don't know skulduggery… sounds dodgy."

The girl grinned. "Yeah why would a tailor make clothes?"

Both men froze. The girl paused and smiled. "I remember! You are ghastly bespoke, tailor, pro boxer, friend, and good guy. Loves tea."

Ghastly laughed and picked her up and spun her. "That's my girl!"

She wrapped her legs around him and laughed.

"I'm trying ghast. Just give me time." She whispered to him before he let her go.

He smiled. "I will."