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I didn’t go exploring that day I stayed at the Cirque Du Freak and celebrated Shancus’s birthday He loved his new snake, and I thought Urcha was going to float aith joy when he found out Shancus’s old snake was to be his The party went on longer than expected The table was loaded up with ry Rhamus Twobellies could finish theht’s shohich went ahead s faces in the audience, looking for old neighbours and friends But I didn’t see anybody I recognized

The next , I slipped out Although it was a bright day, I wore a light anorak over my clothes, so I could pull the hood up and mask my face if I had to

I walked rapidly, thrilled to be back The streets had changed a lot - new shops and offices, s - but the names were the saht my football boots Mum’s favourite clothes boutique The cineent where I shopped for coh a vast complex which used to be my favourite corown beyond recognition I tried out soaet when I’d come here on a Saturday and blast away a few hours on the latest shoot-’e area, I visitedestate but the other was unchanged I saw a grounds to a bed of flowers - old Williarandfather William was the first person from the past I’d seen He hadn’t known ht past hi spotted

I wanted to stop and chat with Alan’s grandfather, and ask for news about Alan I was going to tell him that I was one of Alan’s friends, that I’d lost touch with him But then I reer like me So I walked on, silent, unobserved

I was anxious to check out my old house But I didn’t feel ready - I treht about it So I wandered through the centre of town, past banks, shops, restaurants I caught glimpses of half-remembered faces - clerks and waiters, a few customers - but nobody I’d known personally

I had a bite to eat in a cafe The food wasn’t especially good, but it had been Dad’s favourite place - he often brought e in the shops It was nice to sit in the fas and order a chicken and bacon sandwich, like in the old days

After lunch, I strolled pasthad been added, and there were iron railings around the perimeter, but apart from that it looked just the way I re I watched from underneath the shadows of a tree while the students filed back into class I saw soht es, mostly to older students I’d had her for half a terular teacher was on a leave of absence

I’d been much closer to the other teacher - Mr Dalton! I’d had hilish and history He’d beenwith some of his students as he entered class after lunch, and by their smiles I saas still as popular as ever

It would have been great to catch up with Mr Dalton I was seriously thinking about waiting for school to finish, then going to see him He’d knohat had happened to my parents and Annie I needn’t tell hi disease, which keptaway my "death" would be tricky, but I could cook up so held o, in Mr Crepsley’s home city, I’d been branded a killer by the police, and my name and photo had been flashed all over the TV and newspapers What if Mr Dalton had heard about that? If he kneas alive, and thought I was a ht alert the authorities Safer not to take the risk So I turned my back on the school and sloalked away

It was only then that it struck ht have picked up on the "Darren Shan - serial killer!" hysteria What if my parents had heard about it! Mr Crepsley’s city was in a different part of the world, and I wasn’t sure how much news travelled between the two countries But it was a possibility

I had to sit down on a street bench while I considered that horrific potential I could only begin to i it would have been if, years after they’d buried me, Mu ht about it before?

This could be a real proble to see my family - too painful for everyone But if they already kneas alive, and were living with the misbelief that I was a killer, I’d have to set the record straight But what if theydidn’t know?

I had to do some research I’d passed a brand new, ultra- back to it, I asked a librarian for assistance I said I was doing a school project and had to pick some local story from the last three years to write about I asked to examine all the issues of the main local paper, as well as the national paper which ured, if word of my exploits in Mr Crepsley’s city had spread this far, there’d be a mention of me in one of those two papers

The librarian was happy to help She showed me where the ot the knack of getting thee to the next, she left me to my own devices

I started with the earliest editions of the national paper, from a fewfor anyit Ionly at the international sections I found a couple of references to the ! Apparently journalists here were amused by the vampire rumours which had swept the city, and the story was treated as light entertain the news that the police had caught four suspects, and then carelessly let all four escape No names, and no mention of the people Steve had killed when he broke out

I was relieved but angered at the saht to that city, the lives they’d destroyed It wasn’t right that such a griends, simply because it happened in a city far away from where these people lived They wouldn’t have found it so a if the vampaneze had struck here!

I made a quick check on issues from the next few months, but the paper had dropped the story after news of the escape I turned to the local paper This was slower going The main neas at the front, but local interest stories were scattered throughout I had to check es of each edition before I could h I tried not to dwell on articles unrelated to raphs of thebefore I was catching up with all the news - elections, scandals, heroes, villains; policeiven the town a bad na third in a national tidy towns coraphs and read clips about several of my school friends, but one in particular stood out - To with Steve and Alan Morris We were two of the best footballers in our class I was the goal-scorer, leading the line up front, while To off spectacular saves I’d often drea on to be a professional footballer Tooalkeeper

There were dozens of photos and stones about him Tom Jones (he’d shortened the "Tommy") was one of the best keepers in the country Lots of articles poked fun at his naer called To bad to say about Toh the aned for a local team, made a name for himself, then played abroad for five years Noas back home, part of the best team in the country In the most recent editions, I read how local football fans were buzzing with excitement at the prospect of this years cup se held in our town, and Tommy’s team was in it Of course, they’d have been a lot happier if their own tea

Reading about Toreat to see one of ood neas that there was no mention of me Since this was quite a small town, I was sure ould have spread if anyone had heard about s I was in the clear

But there was no mention of my family in the papers either I couldn’t find the na for it - I’d have to dig around for infor back to the house where I used to live