Chapter 11

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I swallowed. My heart thudded against my chest, the heartbeat racing in my ears. My mouth went dry, feet frozen to the spot.

The dark fingure continued to stare straight at me, stance powerul and foreboding.

Trembling, I took a shaky step forward. And another. Keep going Gemma.

As I got closer, the person darted behind the tree. I continued to move closer, eyes adjusting to the dim light. He was male, I could tell. Before I managed to croak out anything, the dark figure turned and slipped through the ghost-like trees.

I blinked. Had I been so upset that I imagined it? I rubbed my eyes, thankful that I hadn't worn any makeup. The dark cluster of trees was still there.

Sighing, I walked briskly on. I saw that 50 meters further up, street lights beamed over the pavement, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

Suddenly a pair of strong arms gripped my waist tightly.

"Ahhhh!" I screamed, before my throat constricted. I flung my head back and smacked into  a muscly chest.

"Ooof! Jeeze, I knew you were angry, but..."

"Jack?!" My heart, that had been pounding like  crazy, slowly settled town, into just a pitter-patter of footsteps, as I took in the floppy blonde hair and shiny eyes. "You terrified me!" I swallowed, pushing him.

"Sorry, I er, couldn't let you go like that, it's so dark, and I have to explain. I can't lose you already."

He enclosed my shaking hand in his warm paw.

I breathed another shaky sigh of relief. "Well, come on, it's so dark here." I shivered, biting my lip, eyes wide, watching his round in concern. 

"You're really scared, aren't you? Come here. Have my jacket." It was so cliche, but, ah, the soft, supple leather slung over my shoulders was so comforting. I was shrouded in his minty scent. He wrapped his warm arm around me.

"W-was it you back there? W-watching me? In the trees?" I tried to look up at him, but I was snuggled under his arm, so when I looked up, I was faced with an armpit. "Stood still... in the trees, and then you ran... back into the trees..." I trailed off.

"The trees? No, Gemma, I just walked behind you and put my arms around you. I didn't go in the trees."

"Oh..." I gulped.

"Why...?"

"Someone was w-watching me. In the t-trees. I walked towards them, and they went away."

He stiffened beside me.

My blood ran cold.

"Well, it wasn't me."

 *********

"So... Amber's your sister?" I frowned, blonde eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

He nodded, honey streaks flopping over his forehead. He bit his lip and glanced at me with those dazzling eyes.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you before, and said they lived in London...."

I shrugged. "It's fine. It's just... why didn't either of you want me to know?"

He laughed lightly. "We're not very popular around here, I guess. We don't want everyone knowing everything about us."

"I wouldn't ever tell anyone!" I said.

"I know." He smiled at me sadly.

Jack tucked my curls behind my ear and cooed. "You've got tiny ears!"

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