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Once I got the all clear, I returned tomy diary up to date I’d soon filled out thematerial I wrote all about my adventures with Harkat in the barren wasteland which seemed to be the world of the future I described ardless of on the War of the Scars, and that I ht be in so Harkat’s true identity and returning home A quick rundown of our recent travels with the Cirque Du Freak Then the latest cruel chapter, in which Tommy died and I learnt that Steve had a son

I hadn’t thought ht I knew the police were scouring the city in search of his killers, and that RV and Morgan Jaht others and wounded eneral public made of the murders, or if I’d been identified as a suspect -me all the local papers from the last few days There were poor pictures of RV (full-varaphed, but RV’s an James, but none of round, when I’d been attacked, but the police didn’t seem to place much importance on it or link it with the stadiu a photo of a s on the end ofa lot of ti with ood friends ere kids," I sighed

"Do you think he knew about Steve or the vampaneze?" Debbie asked

"No He was an innocent victim I’ important to tell you?"

I shook s we had to discuss about Steve, but he wasn’t specific I don’t think it had anything to do with this"

"It scaresit over

"You’re scared because they killed Tommy?" I frowned

"No - because they did it in front of tens of thousands of people TheyThey wouldn’t have dared pull a stunt like this a few years ago They’re growing more powerful all the tirunted "They were safer when nobody knew about theht, but they seeood for creatures of the night"

Debbie put the paper aside "How’s your shoulder?" she asked

"Not too bad," I said "But Alices stitch work leaves a lot to be desired - I’ to have a terrible scar when the wound heals"

"Another one for the collection," Debbie laughed Her s and deep Did you get it when you went aith Harkat?"

I nodded, res had caught between my shoulder blades and ripped doards sharply

"You still haven’t told hed "It’s not soht now"

"But you found out who Harkat was?"

"Yes," I said and let thesecrets from Debbie, but if that orld really was the future, I saw no reason to burden Debbie with foreknowledge of it

I woke early the nextwith a terrible headache There was a sh only a thin shaft of light was visible, I felt as if a strong torch was being shone directly into , I stumbled out of bed and pulled the curtains closed That helped, but my headache didn’t io away When it didn’t, I got out of bed again, et soainst a wall, asleep, although his lidless eyes were - as always - wide open

I had taken a few steps down the stairs when a wave of giddiness overcaed to catch it before I toppled over, and slid to a bruising halt halfway down the stairs Head ringing, I sat up and looked around, dazed, wondering if this was an after-effect offor help but I could only work up a croak

A short while later, as I lay on the stairs, gathering th in an effort to crawl back to ht sight of ain I could only for a step forward "What are you doing? You haven’t been drinking again, have you?"

I frowned Why had she confusedalike

As Debbie climbed down to help, she realized I wasn’t the trauard "Who are you?" she snapped "What are you doing here?"

"It’s? asped, but she didn’t hear

"Alice!" Debbie shouted "Harkat!"