_________________________________

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

S K Y

I tuned in and out of conversations, aware only of Jameson as he traced circles on the back of my hand.

He leaned into me slowly, saying, "I'm sure your mum won't be that angry."

I smiled, "She'll behead me and castrate you." I whispered to him, aware of everyone else around us.

He shook his head, "She could never be angry at Noah."

I bit the inside of my cheek, shaking my head at him, giving him a silent answer. Feeling eyes on me, I turned to see Jace looking over at us. He smiled at me when he saw that I had caught him looking, and I hesitatingly smiled back.

It was then that the door flew open, a raven-haired angel appeared, with an eagle-eyed dove behind her.

Everyone froze, heads snapping up to see what the commotion was about. It was then that Lexi held up a thick book and a piece of paper above her head.

"I know where the cryptic messages are coming from." She said, eyes alive with victory but also with rage. It was a dangerous combination.

She slammed the paper and the book down on the table.

"Remember the previous death list?" She asked everyone, and those who were there nodded, "Remember that it was signed off?" She asked next, "N.Y.A, from TP-MA?"

Everyone nodded, itching for the answers. She smiled.

"TP-MA," she said, raising the paper she had brought in, before unfolding it and revealing another set of words "The Ports-Mouth Academy'," I stared, knowing her conclusion before she even got there, "'The Portsmouth Academy'," she said, "the cryptic messages and the death list have been coming from the Academy."

There was a silence for a few moments before Bria was the first to speak up.

"We kind of already guessed that." She said, tucking her hair behind her ears so that we could see her face clearly.

"Well, now we know for sure," Alexi said sourly, and I turned to see her crossing her arms over her chest and narrowing her eyes.

"So you've spent two days figuring out the obvious?" Harry asked, joining Bria's argument. I turned to Lexi, feeling bad for her—until she started laughing.

"You," she said to Bria, "should be more surprised that I actually meant to succeed in finding something, since you're so useless," Bria's mouth fell open as she stared at Alexi dumbfounded. I bit at my lip, sensing a storm coming.

"And as for you," she said, whirling on Harry, "you're the poorest excuse of a Guardian I ever did meet—please know that you're only here out of sympathy, and if you piss me off one more time, you're out."

With that, Lexi spun around, slotting the paper into the book and slamming it shut.

"Come back when you have better information!" Harry yelled at her as she turned to leave.

She froze.
I held my breath.

She didn't turn for a while, but when she did, she did so slowly. She stared at him for a few moments, challenging him.

"Come back with better morals. Don't you get sick of drugging girls' drinks?" Everyone turned to look at Harry, glancing between the pair, wondering if it was true. I swallowed, my heart beating fast as I watched Harry clench his jaw. "I certainly wished I had reported you when you did it to me." With that, she turned and stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

We sat in silence, mouths open and unblinking as the room shook.

My eyes met my mum's, but only for a second, she soon glanced away and rushed out of the room, presumably to follow Lexi.

Someone cleared their throat, and I turned to see that it was Cassie.

"I have to wake up Colton," she announced, "and console the other victim." She muttered under her breath before striding out of the room, leaving the door wide open.

I stood up abruptly, feeling as though Harry was breathing down my neck. I didn't want to believe speculations but sometimes I did—especially when the evidence came from Alexi Abbot, my best friend. And Lexi rarely lies.

Jameson followed me as I walked out, and Jace met us at the door. Jameson placed a palm on Jace's shoulder for a moment or two, who just smiled in response at the silent comfort.

We looked around uselessly for a while, trying to figure out what to do—all I knew was that I needed to get away from Harry. I didn't know where Lexi was, and it was hard to find her at the best of times, nevermind when she's angry.

I turned to Jameson for help but found him narrowing his eyes at the front door.

I glanced between the door and Jameson, confused. "What is it?" I asked him, alerting Jace too.

"Did you not hear that?" He asked.

I paused, "Hear what?" I asked, glancing once more at the door.

He frowned, "Like the sound of a car pulling up."

I too frowned. "A ca–" At that moment, the doorbell rang.

I froze in my spot, turning to look at the door. Jameson pulled a knife from his boot, holding it discretely in his hand as he edged forward towards the door. I watched him with wide eyes, scared for his life.

Jace side-stepped in front of me, body angled to protect me from harm. I placed a palm on his shoulder, thanking him quietly.

Jameson lunged for the door suddenly, launching it open and revealing–

"Toby?"

The boy in question grinned, stepping forward. I immediately noticed the bandages on his arm, and that it was...and that it stopped at the start of his upper arm. Toby had lost half his arm to the bomb. I could imagine that there were other wounds, too, and I could see small cuts on his face and neck, some stitched and covered by medical tape.

"Hey guys," Toby said, coming into the house and bringing the wind in with him. Seeing us paying particular attention to his wounded arm, he smiled.

"Freedom cost me an arm and a leg, you know."

At that, I came out from behind Jace and pulled him in for an embrace.

"I'm so sorry, Toby," I whispered to him, feeling his right arm reaching around me, and his left arm touching my side.

"It's okay, hot stuff, didn't need the left one anyway." I scoffed, pulling away from him and shaking my head, letting Jameson and Jace greet him too. I shut the door and welcomed Toby into the kitchen, where a few other people followed, having heard the commotion at the door.

"I've seen Lexi, but how's Colton?" Toby asked as he sat at the kitchen aisle.

I smiled, "He's all good, thanks to Lexi."

Toby nodded, thanking Jameson as he handed him a drink. "She's very smart," I nodded in agreement, "and very hot." I rolled my eyes, watching as Jace rose an eyebrow at Toby.

Toby laughed, "Sorry man, but it's true," he said, shrugging.

Jace, thankfully, left it at that and we all soon fell into our own private discussions. Sipping at a glass of water, I watched as Avery joined Toby at the island in the middle of the kitchen, engaging in a private conversation with him for a while.

I watched the pair curiously, having never seen them engage in a conversation before, nevermind one that seemed this funny. His eyes watched her every movement and she seemed nervous, though happy, in front of him.

It was then that Elle entered the kitchen. Without Lexi.

I placed my glass down on the countertop immediately, my eyes finding hers. She smiled at me, and I walked over to her, gesturing to the door. She followed me out, and we breezed past Harry, who was coming out of the sitting room, head down. When my mum noticed that I was heading towards my dad's office, I felt her slow slightly. I opened the door, holding it open for. I clenched and unclenched my hands so many times I think I lost circulation in my fingers. My mum closed the door behind us, walking in slowly.

"How is Alexi?" I asked her, my back to her.

I heard her sigh, "I couldn't get much out of her, but upset." I nodded, biting my lip.

I turned around, "I'll find her later, I can't believe what she said happened." I told her, watching my mum's expression turn grave as she nodded.

"I actually wanted to talk about something else, though," I said, taking a seat on the black sofa and beckoning for her to follow and take a seat next to me.

My mum frowned, though sat next to me. "Is everything okay?" She asked after a few moments of silence, which I spent trying to mentally prepare.

I blew out a breath.
Say it, Sky.
I inhaled.
Say it, Sky.

___________________________________

yeehee

GUESS WHOSE MFING 3 YEAR ANNIVERSARY IT IS !!!!

HOLLOWS DUH

i ain't got a bf xx

to celebrate I have decided to update

yay !!!

-on Thursday I have failed my a levels

FABULOUS SONGS

Songs that played when I was writing this chapter (in order):
Mirror - Ellie Goulding
Don't Get Any Closer - Bebe Rexha
True Disaster - Tove Lo
Heaven Help Me - RAIGN
Shaking Heads - Foxes
The Man Who Can't Be Moved - The Script
Don't Say A Word - Ellie Goulding
Walk on Fire - RAIGN
Love Is Red - Ed Thomas
I Remember - Evan Duffy
Ember - Katherine McNamara (THIS IS AVERY LMAO)
Just Tonight - The Pretty Reckless
Touch It - Ariana Grande
War of Hearts - Ruelle
Animal - Miike Snow
Painted - MS MR

END OF FABULOUS SONGS

Date written:
24/07/18
25/07/18 (I just wrote like the last paragraph and those three sentences lmao #hardwork – 25/07/18)

_______
Next update: hopefully soon
_______

CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO SPOILER:

What really happened between Alexi and Harry?