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T h e H o l l o w s I n
O U R F R E E D O M
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S K Y

I frowned, noticing that the sound came from downstairs.

"Was that Lexi?" Jameson asked, joining my side from where he had previously been, unpacking his clothes into the wardrobe.

I hummed, nodding, "I'm pretty sure."

He frowned, "What's wrong now?"

I shook my head, placing my toiletries down onto the side, "I have no idea but I'm getting best friend intuition."

I started for the stairs, trying to think of where Lexi could have gotten to. Entering a long corridor, I recognised Jace's figure stood in the room at the end of the hallway and frowned. I was starting to make out what they were all saying as I got closer.

"...we didn't invite you."

"You didn't invite Harry either."

I reached the room finally, pushing open the door and spotting Lexi, arms crossed over her chest and eyes narrowed. Jace stood behind Lexi, glancing between his girlfriend and whatever was behind the door. Lexi's eyes met mine and, when they did, they widened slightly.

When I saw who it was—a blond girl, dressed in all black, I froze.

"Sky, it's nice to see you."

I clenched my jaw. "How dare you–"

Jameson halted my moving body with just a hand, holding me back from trying to attack the girl and probably embarrassing myself too.

Amelia Brown.

Back at the Academy, she and two others—Owen Everon and our very own Jonah Torrest—had been told mine and Jameson's biggest secret. We were in love with each other but, according to Guardian laws, it was illegal. I think our love was always a big factor in our escape but the Academy's faults was now an even bigger reason. We were not safe there.

Amelia, who went by the nickname Mel to her Special One, Saph—she was my best friend who lost her life for this mission—was an enemy of mine at the Academy. Just as Eden—Jameson's best friend when we had met—had done with Harry, she tried to ruin my life. How? She distracted Jameson with the idea of her, the idea that she loved him—she lured him in with desperation.

She nearly cost me my life. This was last year, seven months ago. And now she's back.

I inhaled. "Leave, now."

Mel's lips quirked up into a smirk. "Or what? You'll suffocate me with your long, blond hair, Rapunzel?"

I clenched my fists, itching to throw them into Mel's face. Jameson held me back, again.

Someone joined me. "No, Brown, the pleasure is all mine," Lexi said, voice low. I was glad that she was almost as angry as me, maybe even more—it meant I was still 'rational and sane Sky'.

Lexi and Mel had always had some sort of opposition between them. I suspected that they had been rivals in their classes but maybe it was much more than I ever thought.

Mel didn't seem fazed and instead laughed. "You haven't changed one bit, Abbot. Though, what was I expecting from a young, poor delinquent? No wonder your parents never want to see you," At that, I felt Lexi stiffen beside me.

She took a few steps forward, intimidating Mel with her height. "You have one minute to explain why you're here before I kick you out," It surprised me that Lexi was acting so rational. If anything, I thought Lexi would be the one to decapitate Mel—but she was controlling her anger. It was odd to watch.

Mel stifled a laugh. "You're controlling yourself, and why would that be?" She asked, before looking around at us. I frowned, following her glance to see Jace standing by the window. "Ah, because you're finally being seen to by a shrink, that makes sense."

I watched Lexi clench her fists, "Thirty seconds."

Mel shook her head, smiling. "I didn't know therapy sessions were free..." she watched Lexi carefully, a glint in her eyes as she waited for a response to her words. "Then, maybe they're not," I frowned at her, glancing between Lexi and Mel. "Maybe you're selling your body for them—I always wondered when you'd start charging,"

At that, Lexi lunged for her, pinning her against the wall. I watched as Mel smashed into the wall, hitting her head, though still looking up at Lexi with that same smirk on her face.

"Time's up–"

"Okay, what is going on and who the hell is this random girl?"

I turned around, seeing my mum standing by the doorway.

"Oh, hey. I would love to introduce myself but I'm backed into a wall at the moment," I turned to see Mel smirking and Lexi rolling her eyes, who soon shoved Mel away from her, backing away.

Mel approached my mother and I watched closely, eyes narrowed.

"It's nice to see someone I don't recognise; maybe you can direct me to my girlfriend—I miss her dearly," I watched my mother scowl, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Don't play me for a fool, child. I know that Alexi may be impulsive at times but she always has a good reason for hailing someone to the wall. I would advise you to leave—now," I tried to hide my smile, not that Mel would've seen it anyway.

Mel laughed, though, completely unfazed. "You're right, Alexi is impulsive—but so am I. So I would advise you to lead me to my girlfriend,"

I could feel my mother's temper rising but she did not show it. "This is my house. You're trespassing—I'm sure the police wouldn't mind an afternoon duty call."

I thought my mum had Mel stumped but she still managed to find humour in what my mum was saying, "More like an afternoon booty call, right, Jameson? I know you enjoyed wasting your minutes calling me up all the time."

Someone scoffed. But it was not Elle, it was not Lexi, and it was not Jameson.

Every head turned around just as Jace started to speak, "As if he'd waste more than a second on you."

My mum sighed, "Okay, now it's time–"

"Keep dreaming about your perfect brother, Clarke, because he most certainly did."

With that, my mum grabbed her by the shoulders and steered her out of the room. As they left, I heard Mel shouting something about indecency and privacy. I huffed in anger, my fists tightly clenched as I gritted my teeth.

Alexi and Jace suddenly focused on Jameson and I as we exchanged glances. Jameson picked up my hand, rubbing his thumb across my knuckles.

"Are you okay?" He asked me tentatively.

"Yeah, Sky, that snake really just butchered the hell out of your relationship," Lexi quipped but then reached out to tuck strands of hair behind my ears, "but seriously, are you okay? The both of you?" She asked, glancing between Jameson and I.

I sighed, "I'm fine," I told her, "but that was not cool."

"I know right," Lexi said, at the same time as I heard Jameson and Jace exchanging a few words. I turned to see Jace pat Jameson on the shoulder, and Jameson thank him.

"To pretend you're straight, and in love with Jameson—of all people. Seriously, she should've just come out of the closet—so not cool." I ignored Lexi, and instead darted for the door, breezing down the corridor and heading for the stairs.

"–or I will call the police–"

"–why did you do it?" I asked, interrupting my mother as I reached the bottom of the stairs.

Mel furrowed her eyebrows at me, shaking my mum off her, throwing her a sour look. "Do what?" She asked.

"Pretend to be into Jameson? I mean, I know it was to keep him away from me, but it was such a cruel thing to do."

Mel laughed, buttoning up her coat, "Well, she most certainly didn't get her kind heart from you," she shot at my mum, before turning back to throw me a fake smile. "Some people, Sky, like both men and women—I really did fancy Jameson, but his obsession with you was a major turn off, so there we have it."

"You're bisexual?" I asked, forgetting everything else she just said.

"Problem?" She responded, flicking her hair back behind her shoulders.

I shook my head, though still confused. "Of course not; sexuality is such a harmless thing to have a problem with."

Mel just stared at me for a few moments, before a small smile appeared on her lips. "Sometimes, Sky, I wish the universe didn't place us on opposing sides."

I rolled my eyes, "Stop blaming everything else for your sins."

Mel stuck her nose up, "I–"

"Mel?" The voice that interrupted us also entered with the smashing of doors.

Jim followed closely behind, "I'm sorry, Elle, Kathleen and I were trying to keep everyone away like you asked–"

"Seriously, Bria, now is not the time to be nostalgic, you know what she–" I had begun talking when I recognised who it was that had entered in the first place. But then I broke off horribly when I realised who Mel's 'girlfriend' was.

Bria launched into Mel, embracing her in a very tight hug before she pulled away and pressed her lips onto hers.

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could u guess ???

probably not bc I haven't updated in ages so u forgot so couldn't guess

anyway

merry Christmas!!

I hope you've all had a lovely day :)

Love from your hollows series OTPs:

Skyson
Jaxi (u ship?)
Elexi (they're important)
Skelle (they're biologically important)
Jace (I didn't know what else u could make lmaooo #brotherlove)
And now
Mia (that's kinda cute ngl)

which one u ship most?
any additions?

ty for tuning in

u may get another chrimbo surprise soon

brb gotta put another record on

-yes I do

FABULOUS SONGS

Songs that played when I was writing this chapter (in order):
Which Witch - Florence + The Machine
Start Of Time - Gabrielle Aplin
Fool of Me - Say Lou Lou
Fools - Lauren Aquilina
BTSK - MS MR
Young And Beautiful - Lana Del Rey
Don't Say A Word - Ellie Goulding
I'll Hold My Breath - Ellie Goulding
This Isn't Control - MS MR
Lights - Ellie Goulding
The Unknown - Foxes
Only You - Selena Gomez
Breathe - Fleurie
I Remember - Evan Duffy
Way Down We Go - Kaleo

END OF FABULOUS SONGS

Date written:
28/07/18
31/07/18
11/08/18 (been some time oops)
14/08/18

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Next update: could be now or next year
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CHAPTER EIGHTY-SIX SPOILER:

Is Mel only here to stir up trouble, or does she come to leave a trail of clues wherever she walks?