Shock

The shadows slammed and collided with a shield of shadows, exploding into a dark mist. Once the dust had settled she could see Lucian stood in front of her, dagger raised and staring at Raven.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"You heard the guy!"

"And you believe him?! He's a murderer for fucks sake!"

Raven went to say something but Faith couldn't take it anymore. She walked in front of Lucian and addressed Raven.

"Raven, a word please, out in the hallway"

His eyes showed uncertainty about the request, but after some deliberation he walked out of the room. She nodded and warmly smiled at Lucian before following him. Once she had closed the door she relaxed a little, but saw that Raven very much still had his guard up.

"Raven, what's going on?"

"What do you mean what's going on? We are being hunted"

"I meant why are you so defensive? Jumping all over everyone, accusing people."

"I...this isn't the best situation to be in"

"I understand that, but you can't let your fear control you. I know you want to protect Avelija but you need to remain calm, otherwise you can't fully be there for her"

Raven nodded and then looked away, like he wasn't sure he should say what was on his mind.

"Raven, talk to me. What's going on?"

"I...this is going to sound stupid but...it could be Av"

"What? What do you mean?"

"The psycho side of her, when we were upstairs earlier, she went to the toilet with a headache. I don't want it to be true but...it's possible"

"First off, did she have enough time to kill someone? And secondly, do you really think she could do it?"

"I don't think so, and no, of course not, but the psycho side isn't really her. It's hard to explain, but it's like if Smoke corrupted her"

"I know that all too well the little fucker. I'm surprised he's not behind this"

"Me too"

"He was behind almost everything for the last seven months"

Raven tilted his head in thought and then nodded. "Wow, he really was. He never gave us a break did he?"

"Nope, first he corrupted Skulduggery, then messed with Mr Bliss, then there was the whole Smoke family thing, and then his revenge when he returned. Guy was busy"

"Probably had nothing better to do"

"Maybe, right, are you calmed down?"

"Yeah. Sorry for attacking you"

"It's okay, you just need to calm down so we can all work together to get this all sorted. I'll talk to Skully and then we can all move on okay?"

"Okay"

Faith pulled him in for a hug, they hugged for a little while before she broke it off.

"In we go"

When they both re-entered the living room they saw Skulduggery about to question the guy again.

"Got anything from him?"

"Ah, Faith, good to see you are both still alive"

Raven walked back over to Avelija and she asked him if he was alright, Faith just bowed.

"Please never do that again"

She scowled at him as she joined him. "Right then, your name?"

"The grand ol' duke of York"

"Somehow I doubt you're being sincere"

"Fine, i'm the gingerbread man"

Skulduggery, along with a few others, sighed which bought a laugh out from the man.

"No? Okay then. I'm Skulduggery Pleasant. I'm a skeleton and I think i'm so coo-"

He was cut off by the sound of a gunshot, his once mocking voice was now strained screams. Skulduggery raised the gun from his knee.

"I'm tired of your pathetic games, tell me either your name or really is your boss. Or I shoot something more important"

The man bit his lip in pain before answering, is amused tone had dropped completely and you could hear the pain in his voice. "That...was rude. I gave you a hint as to who it was. My name? It's of no importance, you can't do anything with it. Let's reel off the reasons why someone could have done it. Avelija is straight up crazy, enough said. Vixen is too innocent, hiding behind a lack of understanding. It's clear you know what's going on and what you're doing. Ebony has no empathy, or any emotions for that matter. Mendacious hates Ravel for what he did, as do you. Lucian is Ravels Dead Men replacement, so Ravel reforming could've been bad for him. And Faith, she's so looney tunes that insane people even avoid her."

Skulduggery cocked his head, then shot him in the other knee. The man arched his head back and wailed in agony.

"Are you going to give us anything useful at all?"

"Really? Help.. the person shooting me...you can fuck right off"

"Right, such a shame, you just lost your chance to be a good person"

Before the man could respond, the light in the hallway went out. Lucian went and checked it out. "Without fully looking upstairs, seems every light aside this one has just gone out"

"Lovely, was this your doing?" Faith asked the man, but he just smirked.

A sound came drifting through from upstairs, it gradually got louder and then they realised what it was. A baby. Crying.

"What the hell?" asked Vixen.

The man had bow taken to laughing. "This is where all the real fun begins"

The noise of a fire joined the babies cry's, after a few seconds more they mixed together to make the sound of a baby being burnt alive.

"Sick son of a bitch!" Mendacious screamed.

The noise cut out but the void of silence didn't last long. The sound of a child begging for help echoed down into the room.

"M..Matthew?" Faith couldn't believe her ears, the sound of her own son.

"Faith" Skulduggery said urgently. "Don't"

"Skulduggery that could be my son!"

"Muuummy" echo in.

"Lilianna...." She took off into the darkness, barrelling up the stairs as if she had just been shot out of a cannon. She could hear Lucian running after her. The only thing she cared about at that moment was finding the source and making sure it wasn't her children. There was no way her children could actually be here. Arriving on the top floor, Liliannas voice sounded again, coming from her bedroom. Because of course it was. She sprinted down, kicked the door down, and scanned the room. Waving the flame in her hand to see. She gasped and almost collapsed when she saw Lilianna by the corner, facing away from her, hand in hand with Matthew. The cries had stopped, but they didn't turn or speak.

"Lilianna...Matthew...i'm here."

They still didn't respond, even as she walked across the room. Panic crept in, ugly thoughts forced their way into her mind. If the killer had done anything to her kids she'd kill them in the most gruesome way possible. She'd lose it, her insanity included. Pleading to herself that they were okay, she placed a hand on Liliannas shoulder. Both Lilianna and Matthew fell to the floor and she cried out. She scrambled to the floor and picked them up, seething with anger when she saw it. They weren't Lilanna or Matthew. They were dolls, with got and you etched into their foreheads.

Faith! Where are you?"

"In my room!" she cried out as she shakily got to her feet. This had gone too far, all she wanted to do was call Saracen and talk to her kids. She heard Lucian running down the hall, she turned to meet him but just before he ran into the room the door slammed shut, a sheen reflecting across it.

"Damn it!" Lucian shouted as he punched the door repeatedly.

"This was all a trick...."

"Stay calm Faith, are your kids okay?"

"They were never here, whoever is responsible for this is going to die. Painfully."

Her voice was losing the fear and quickly gaining the rage she felt inside. She looked around the room for something she could use to break the door. She could hear Lucian slicing at the door with shadows to no avail.

"Urgh!! I can't break it!"

"Lucian...i'm trapped..."

"I'll get you out"

"Lucian..stop..please it's no use"

"What else am I supposed to do? Leave you in there?"

"Yes. I can't get out so go work out what to do"

"I'm not leaving you" She heard him lean against the door before sliding down it and sitting against it. She mirrored him and sighed.

"I didn't think it would come to this"

"Me neither. When someone comes up i'll let them know the situation and then they can go downstairs and devise a plan."

"Lucian?"

"Yeah?"

"I know this isn't the best time but... I love you" She hadn't told him that before, but if she didn't tell him now she may never get the chance.

"You can tell me that when I get you out of there... but... I love you too"

She smiled and turned her head, then hating the door even more now.

"Lucian?"

It was the voice of Vixen, she must have come looking for them.

"Over here"

"Oh thank God, where's Faith?"

"She's been trapped in her room"

"Oh... how do we get her out?"

"I... I don't know, can you tell Skulduggery and the others?"

"Yeah, sure"

She walked back down the hall leaving Lucian and Faith on the top floor, she reached the second floor and paused. Was her mind playing tricks on her? Or could she see a shape in the darkness?

"Hello?"

"Vix?" The shape called out.

Vixen sighed with relief, it was Avelija.

"Oh thank God, what are you doing up here?"

"Looking for you"

She saw Avelija come into focus as she neared.

"Faith is trapped in her room, Lucians going to make sure nothing happens up there."

"Oh, okay" Avelija walked right up to her.

"We should get back to the others"

"Yeah, ok"

Vixen took the first step but stopped in horror when she heard the gurgle. She spun around just in time to see Avelijas body hit the floor. She went to cry out but then a mass charged at her. She twisted and felt the knife stab her shoulder, but she couldn't retaliate as she was shoved down the stairs with force. She cried out as she heard her arm snap as she hit the bottom. She moaned in pain, her eyes blurring with tears. She could barely make out the killer walking down the stairs to finish the job.