We made it back to Malvin's cult that night.

Once again I hadn't slept in days. I was so exhausted that I barely managed to argue with Jeremiah for Jake and Veera to take up residency.

I'd left Shir sleeping (comfortably) outside the amphitheatre because I figured a lion walking into the place would freak them out.

Obviously that had been a good call since the cult had been so persistent to kick Jake and Veera out.

I didn't realise cults were so picky.

The only benefit that I had was that Jeremiah hadn't seemed to realise who Jake and Veera really were.

I had a feeling the moment he found out, poor "Mr Maxwell" would be out on his ass.

"Please Jeremiah." I nagged. "They're my friends. You said you wanted me here. Either they stay or I go."

Jeremiah sighed reluctantly. "Fine."

He then proceeded to ask the two of them if they'd be comfortable with staying in the same tiny little room together since there was a shortage of places left.

I felt a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. Suddenly I remembered the first time that I'd met them and they were busy being... intimate.

Jake immediately said no.

"Are you sure?" I asked. "It's not like you haven't been roommates before."

I'd immediately realised how jealous I'd sounded. My cheeks heated up but it's not like I could take it back.

Jake simply gave a curious look and said, "I'm sure."

"Well then, Pacem will just have to stay with Malvin." Jeremiah concluded.

On the way to the huts, Malvin emerged and was running in my direction with a hop in his step.

Veera's face literally had turned green at the sight of him. I thought she might turn back there and then. I certainly wouldn't have stopped her.

When Malvin reached me he leapt into a hug which nearly made me fall over since he was ten times stronger than me.

I guess hugging was our thing now.

We walked with Jeremiah as he showed Veera and Jake to their huts. I'd noticed that Jeremiah had been very abrupt when he addressed them compared to the false warm welcome he had first given me.

Obviously there wasn't a lot of trust in his circle.

Luckily it didn't matter. Jake said that all I needed to do was show these people what I was capable of and they'd follow me.

I grinned at the thought.

The whole thing was slightly idealistic. Especially coming from Jake, but his faith in me only made me want to try harder.

By the time Malvin and I got back to our hut, the only thing I wanted to do was crash.

Jeremiah had given us all some ugly clothes that I tried my best to make the most of. He'd also pointed us towards a 'luxurious' pond that we could bathe in.

I chose the mattress closer to the door and closed my eyes eagerly. Just as I was drifting off I heard a faint voice break the silence.

"Pacem?"

I reluctantly opened the one eye. "Yes?"

"I knew you'd come back for me."

"Always Malvin." I smiled. "We're family."

I think I'd actually meant that.

I'd planned on coming back for Malvin anyway. I was going to show him how crazy these people were. But I knew that before I could convince him to leave, we needed an alternative place for us to go.

So I left in search of one.

And, in truth, a part of me needed to find Jake.

"Don't mess around with words like that Pacem," he said firmly.

"I'm not," I assured him. "I mean it."

Malvin beamed.

Malvin reminded me of my own brother. Caleb had only been ten when I'd left, and Malvin had certain childlike attributes despite his intelligent way of speaking.

I could see he needed me and looked up to me the same way my brother had. In return he'd given me a feeling that I hadn't felt since I'd woken up in this strange world.

He felt like home.

I heard the whisper. "Don't let the bedbugs bite.

I smiled.

"Goodnight Malvin."

FYI; it was not a good night.

Malvin was... loud.

He had been the same in the dungeon, but when you're alone in a dark room, it's actually comforting to hear the sound of someone else's voices.

Not tonight.

He'd started reciting a story I'd heard from his incessant sleep talks many times.

Once, a long time ago, there was a twin boy and a twin girl.

Blah Blah Blah.

The story would usually last about five minutes, but when the girl and boy finally died, all he did was start all over again on a loop.

I only managed to drift off for fifteen minutes at a time and I ended up dreaming about the boy in the boxing ring anyway. Either way, I didn't get any real rest.

I tossed and I turned until eventually I realised how pointless my efforts were and went outside for a walk.

I was surprised at the iciness of the early morning air since the previous night had been so humid, and I rubbed my hands on my arms in an effort to warm up.

"Are you cold?"

I spun around on my feet in shock and saw Jake staring back at me.

"What are you doing out here?"

"I should ask you the same question." Jake took off his jacket and walked over to me to place it on my shoulders.

"Malvin won't shut up and I can't sleep," I confessed. "Your turn."

"I couldn't sleep either. I was thinking about you," He paused and looked me in the eye. "And what you did yesterday with your drawings."

I shrugged, "It was nothing."

"It was a lot more than nothing."

A feeling of excitement gushed through me, but I concealed it by putting my hands in my pockets before looking down. I didn't say anything, so Jake changed the subject.

"You know you can always come and sleep in my room. I don't mind sleeping on the floor."

Suddenly I had an epiphany. "I have a better idea."

I led Jake through the tunnels to the centre of the amphitheatre. Jake kept searching for details on where we were going, but I remained silent, reining in my enthusiasm.

Earlier I had noticed patches of grass growing around the arena. They made the place look like something out of an Indiana Jones film, and I remember thinking it appeared rather comfortable.

I got down on the floor relaxing my back onto the long grass before looking up at the sky.

Jake peered down at me as if I was mad.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"No matter how many years go by, there's always going to be one constant." I smiled. "The stars."

Jake paused before getting down next to me. Finally he relaxed and rested his arms beneath his head.

I focussed on the night sky above me.

It was just as I had remembered. The shiny ornaments decorated it and intensified its beauty.

That's when I became aware of Jake breathing from beside me. I found it rather soothing.

"My gran used to say when a person dies, they go to the stars." I searched the sky. "She'd say the people you love would always be watching over you. And no matter what; you'll never be alone."

"Well I bet she's up there watching us now."

I glanced at Jake.

His voice had come out a lot softer than usual. He seemed to be concentrating on what I had said as if he was trying to determine if it was true. That's when I realised that he had someone up there too.

"I've been thinking..." I began fishing. "You know a lot of things about my past but you haven't really given me any clues on yours."

I turned around and rested on my side so that I was facing him.

He smirked and I could tell it was an effort to hide his thoughts from me.

"There's not much to tell."

"Saying that every time doesn't make it true."

His face turned very serious all of a sudden and after a while, I thought he wasn't going to say anything. Just as I was about to lay back down and face the sky again he spoke,

"It was a different time to what you grew up in, Pacem. People were just beginning to find out about the Karnoi and there was a lot of...bitterness."

"I told you there was a lot of bitterness when I was from too-"

"No you don't understand." He cut me off. "People would set Karnoi on fire and shoot them in the shops if they saw their eyes glow. There were rumours that some Karnoi were going crazy and murdering people, but the truth was that everyone was just murdering everyone. I didn't really understand it at the time. I was just a kid, but I did see things and I always knew there was a threat."

He hesitated, contemplating whether to continue.

"The one day my parents and I went out to dinner for my mom's birthday. It was some expensive restaurant that my dad had been saving up for. I was so excited and I guess my eyes must have glowed or something because one of the waiters pulled out a gun and pointed it at me."

There was so much pain in his voice as he spoke, and I found that seeing him so sad was hurting me too.

"How old were you?" I asked.

"Four at the time, but I remember it as clear as day," he nodded, seeing the stunned look on my face. "When the shot fired, my mom leapt in front of me and it hit her right in the chest. My dad tried to fight off the guy, but he just ended up shooting my dad too. By the time anyone had time to look for me, I was gone."

He went silent for a moment.
"I just left them there."

"You had too, Jake." I placed my hand on his cheek, moving in closer to him. "Your parents would have wanted you to live."

He laughed bitterly. "And what good has it done? It's not like I did anything with my life. All I am is Alluna's evil sidekick."

"Do you really believe that?" I used the same words he'd said to me.

"I see you as someone who's trying to make a difference. We're going to show people what matters together, Jake. Any parent looking down from the stars at their son would be proud of what they see."

He kissed me.

I'd been so surprised that our lips had met, and at first I couldn't move. Once I relaxed it- it felt like the most natural thing I'd ever done in my entire life.

I'd never really been kissed before, not by somebody who actually cared, and it felt like every romantic movie had merged into one.

Fireworks exploded, doves flew and birds sang a song.

It wasn't just lust; it was something else that I'd never experienced before.

We needed each other.

Do you like Pacem and Jake as a couple?

Will their relationship work considering his past with Veera and all the other woman???