guilty confessions | mphfpc

Chapter 7

I walked into the swimming building, rushing over to find my parents. In the far corners, were my parents on the phone, talking to people. There eyes landed on mine and she hung up. I smiled at her and walked towards them.

"Where have you been?" Dad asked.

"Sorry, my ferry was late." I lied.

"Well, wher- wait."

I shushed my dad as I heard my race being call. I looked at what I was wearing and sighed. A baggy shirt and light trackpants.

"This will do." I mumbled to myself.

"Hadley, wait!" My dad called but I was already at the starting line.

I heard a girl snigger next to me in a laughing matter. "Oh my god, are you seriously going to swim in that. This will be easier."

I rolled my eyes. "I could still beat you."

"Ok then, if you beat me, I owe you a favour. If I beat you, you owe me a favour." The girl said. I nodded and shook her hand.

I got up on my podium and got ready to dive.

"Ready."

"Set."

"Swim!"

I dove into the water and swam as fast as I could. I powered through and had swam to the end in ten seconds. I tapped the wall and swam back. I felt a rush of adrenaline in my blood and I placed my hand on the wall. I smiled and got out of the pool.

In second place, was a girl who was four seconds behind me. Third was the girl who made the deal with me.

"I stand corrected, you're quite speedy, aren't you? The name is Saffron. Here is my number. Call me when you need me." And the girl walked away.

A lot of people gave me dirty looks as I walked to my parents. Aurora and Neil flashed a smiled and hugged me deeply. "I'm so proud of you."

I smiled and nodded. "I'm proud of myself."

"Where's Kayla?" Dad asked out of the blue. I gave him a weird look and laughed.

"Australia, duh." I said, in an obvious voice.

"No, I sent her to get you from the island. She was coming to watch you race."

I stood there, shocked. "Did you send her to the right island?"

"She went to Cairnholm."

"Well, that's the right island but I never saw her there."

***

The children sat at the dinner table, ready to eat but someone was missing.

"Miss Peregrine, where is Hadley?" Claire asked. Everyone else nodded and Miss Peregrine looked down.

"She left."

The whole table burst out into sounds of annoyance. Then the door knocked.

"Hadley!" Claire said, loudly and excited.

Miss Peregrine settled everyone down and went to get the door. Instead of Hadley, a man stood there. He had a knife to a girl's throat with blonde hair and big eyes.

"Caul."