Secrets

Lock Down

Chapter 16 - Thorne

"Right," Logan called as the SUV rolled to a halt in front of the Salus, "everybody out and into the building. I'm calling an emergency meeting with every single soul that is here." Silently, we all shuffled out of the vehicle in the black of night.

Aurora was rubbing the mark on her chest; it was strange how everyone seemed inclined to touch the marks. I had to touch Seb's when I saw it, and Skylar's mine, I forced myself to withdraw from asking her then, and Felix when he lifted his shirt back at Aurora's house.

"Guys how late is it?" I queried.

"Well we got to the sports hall at about ten, so I'd say it was eleven, half past?" Skylar immediately joined me after locking the car, wrapping his arm around my waist in a way that sent the butterflies off again. He glanced me over to check that I was OK, and began leading me to the entrance. Seb and Felix were frustrated and storming ahead of us, followed by an equally foul looking Claudia.

Everyone was tense as they gathered in Logan's office. Alyx was standing impatiently by her desk, she flicked her dirty blonde hair away from her confused looking face.

"What happened?" Logan, who had brought up the rear as everyone entered, returned after locking the main doors, something he never did.

"We're on lockdown." He said to his wife. "Get everyone in here, we've already got all you guys so Felix? Can you go and round up all of the youngsters? Thanks, we won't start until you're back." He nodded obligingly and walked out of the room. Logan gestured for everyone to sit as he turned to explain things to his wife. The silence between the rest if us was awkward as everyone assumed a seat, we were all still breathing heavily and shaken up. This time Skylar claimed the far right of the sofa, beside Aurora, and patted his legs for me to join him. I sank snugly into his lap, allowing him to scoop me up and hold me in the embrace. Sebastian sat on the other side of my best friend, his jaw was clenched whilst Claudia stood, arms folded. I noticed how the gash on his arm was already thinner and shorter.

Felix returned promptly, followed by the small tribe of Serena, Finley, Quinn and Merryn, all of whom were wearing their pyjamas and looked extremely agitated. They shuffled in confusedly.

"What's going on?" Finley asked impatiently.

"I was hoping you would ask. Please gather round, I have a serious matter to discuss with you." They all obliged, Felix perched himself on the arm of the sofa next to Sebastian whilst the children cumulated, kneeling on the floor in front.

"You know dad, you need make the seating in here more formal and adequate..." Logan glared at Finley.

"That is not important right now! Everyone, we are going on lockdown. No one goes, no one enters!" There was an ominous groan from the youngsters on the floor.

"This is a measure that I have to take, and I apologise. On the raid today we were ambushed, this wasn't suspicious activity, it was a planned attack, designed to lure us in. Claudia, you said you were tipped off? Do you know who it was?"

The girl shook her head whilst twirling her finger nervously around her hair.

"Yeah but why are we on lockdown?" asked Serena, flicking her long, dirty blond hair over her shoulder and crossing her arms.

"Because," Seb answered, "those shadowers knew how to attack us, they knew our weak points and our strengths already and used them against us. It's like they'd watched us and studied us in training or something, but because this place is protected by a charm, I don't understand how they could get in unless we have a rat."

"Exactly," agreed Logan, "I hate to say it but he's right. There is someone in this room who has betrayed us. You are all innocent until proven guilty but at the same time, you are all suspects." Everyone gawped at the man stood before us. Alyx stepped forward and joined him.