'The very concept of objective truth is fading out of the world. Lies will pass into history.'

- George Orwell

IRIS STARED at Wrench, feeling her heart pound in her ears.

Wrench. Living, breathing Wrench, was standing right in front of her.

What was he doing here? Had the police enrolled him here too? Iris doubted it. A part of her knew it was more than that. Wrench was the type of person to follow up on unfinished business. And apparently, they had more than enough of that.

It hadn't been long since she'd last seen him, but he seemed different – maybe it was because he didn't have any weapons on him; all that was left was his battle scars, most likely some inflicted by Iris herself, and the same, tattooed neck, beady eyes staring at her with a look of arrogance. It was Wrench all right.

And just like that, her gang life had caught up to her.

Iris opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by someone behind. "What's this?"

Levi.

She turned around, staring at the boy who was eyeing up Wrench with a certain look Iris couldn't decipher. Of course. She'd forgotten that she had run away from him back near the lake. 

Oh, god. Wait.

Wrench was going to tell him everything. She was fucked. They would know about her life back home.

What would they think of her then?

"I'm Louis." Wrench replied. His voice was steady, scarily soft, and serious. Certainly nothing like the Wrench she knew. In fact, she didn't even know his real name was Louis. All Iris knew was that he belonged to their rival gang, and he was a venomous, hatred-driven, aggressive person, hunting for blood. Specifically, Iris's. "I'm new here. Pleased to meet you."

Levi looked surprised. "Oh. Cool, man. I'm Levi. Do you two know each other or something?"

Iris replied 'No' at the exact same time Wrench said 'Yes'.

"Oh, come on," Wrench grinned, moving forward to punch Iris playfully on the arm. "You're gonna ghost me like that?"

Iris dodged Wrench's fist, feeling the knife wound from weeks ago throb as she stared at the hands of her attacker. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"We were together." Wrench said to Levi, as if Iris wasn't there. He cocked his head as if to mimic the cute nature of a puppy, but Iris knew he was playing a game of manipulation. Why he was, she didn't know. "We had to break up because Iris was coming here. I just thought – why don't I also go and then we can be together?"

Iris felt the blood drain from her face. "No we were not."

"Yes, we were. You know how we met? Well, we were both in gan-"

"Right, Levi!" Iris cut off Wrench, swivelling round on her heels. She tried to forget the look of irritation on Levi's face. He knew she was lying to him. "Should we head back now?"

Levi's hazel eyes gazed at her, his eyebrows furrowing so that his eyelashes brushed against them. Against the sun that was beginning to make its descent, his cheekbone was illuminated, highlighting the soft glow on his skin. "Look, I'm going to head back. I'll see you, Iris." He stared at her again, longer this time, before nodding halfheartedly at Wrench and turning back around, walking towards the sleeping tents.

Iris watched his rigid muscular shoulders as he moved, tensing and untensing. She had no idea what had just happened.

"So, nobody knows about you, then?" Wrench's voice cut clean and clear into her daze. She had almost forgotten that he was there.

"What?" She snapped. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

He grinned. "The Revenant. They know about you, as Iris. But not you as the Revenant. Damn, is this gonna be fun."

She watched the way his eyes shone mischievously and immediately felt like repeating the fight scene they had previously been in by stabbing him. His hand, where her knife had hit, seemed to still be bandaged up – it was a lot more noticeable than the wound on her ribs. She was instantly glad that he hadn't stabbed her somewhere that people could see it. Then again, now that he was here, the truth was going to come out whether she liked it or not.

Just as she was about to ask him why he was here, she was cut off.

"Okay, Louis Brend." Lisa popped her head out of the reception tent, a big smile plastered on her face. "Come on in!"

Wrench winked at Iris. "See you around, Revenant."

♥♥♥

Ember was sat in the tent by herself when Iris returned, lying on the bed with her feet in the air. Her hair was down, spilling onto her shoulders, and her eyes were beginning to droop with the magnetism of sleep. A couple of days ago she would have ignored Iris, or quite possibly have left the tent completely, but instead she looked up and frowned. "What's up with you?"

"Oh, nothing." Iris replied, sighing as she fell on her own bed. It was beginning to darken outside, but she didn't feel like going to sleep. She was on edge; tense and alert that everything could come tumbling down at any moment. And to think that it was all in the hands of Wrench fucking Brend.

"Well, something's up." Ember argued, turning around onto her side so that she was facing Iris. Her piercing blue eyes squinted at her as if Iris had algebra written on her forehead. "You look like shit."

"Some guy I used to know is here." Iris found herself saying. The good thing about Ember was that she never asked you more if you didn't want it; she wouldn't push it further. After all, she had her own dark secrets, and Iris knew that, so they were both on an understanding. "We have some unfinished business, is all."

Ember whistled. "Damn. Is he hot?"

"Hey – you have a boyfriend."

"So what?"

"So what? Wouldn't Chase be mad if he found you hitting on him?"

She nodded vigorously, so hard that Iris was worried her head would fall off. "Hell yes. But a girl can dream, okay?"

"Okay." Iris smiled. Both girls settled into a silence, and Iris decided to try and close off her mind from any unwanted thoughts. Around an hour later she woke to find that she had fallen asleep. It had been a long day after all, and though she had thought she wasn't tired, the fatigue and ache in her bones said otherwise.  At least the time had gone by. 

 Apparently, due to the snoring next to her, Ember had done the same. Iris yawned, and simultaneously she woke up, an expression of annoyance on her face by the loud interruption. 

"I'm getting out of this tent now." Iris stated plainly. "You coming?"

Ember stood up and stretched out her arms like a cat. "Sure."

As the sun was setting, Camp Juvy began to thrive in a sea of honey orange and pink, the trees kissed by the last remnants of sun, the air beginning to slowly decrease in temperature. Iris instantly regretted not bringing a jumper, but she couldn't be bothered to go back. By the looks of it, Ember felt the same way too, for she shivered and ran her hands up and down her arms, but carried on walking with an air of determination.

They found themselves walking to the boys' tent, though Ember was mainly leading the way. Iris wasn't too sure if she wanted to see Levi. Not only had she run away from him in a desperate attempt at escaping whatever conversation he was trying to have, but she had lied to him, so clearly and openly in plain sight when Wrench was there. Then again, not just a couple of hours ago she was mad at him for something. What was it again? 

Nevertheless, nothing was seeming to calm down Iris' nerves. She felt exceedingly anxious, and that was unusual for Iris. She'd thrown the first hit at gangs before plenty of times, and yet going to see a boy that she might or might not have had an awkward encounter with was something that trembled her insides.

Number 120 soon came into view, a tent that looked exactly the same as all the others, but placed closer to the lake than theirs. From inside came the voices of the boys, who Iris could only guess was Chase, Hunter, and of course, Levi.

She held her breath as they went inside.

"Oh, hey!" Chase said loudly. His voice seemed to be slightly slurred – much to Iris's surprise. He couldn't be drunk, could he? Where would he have gotten the alcohol?

Strong arms wrapped around her waist, and Iris was pulled into the embrace of someone with hard, rigid muscles. "Klutz."

The smell of alcohol seemed to be wafting throughout the tent; proving Iris' initial theory to be correct. Iris and Ember shared a look.

Levi, however, was preoccupied with tucking a strand of hair behind Iris' ear. "Hey, why'd you run away from me today?"

"I needed to leave." She stared at the boy who was holding her, confused. He was obviously under the influence of whatever it was they were drinking, but he seemed to be a lot more calm and free than usual.

His thumb caressed her cheek as his hazel eyes stared back. "To see your boyfriend?"

"Uh...he's not my boyfriend, Levi."

Levi moved so that she fell onto the space next to him. Chase, Hunter and Ember were all staring, pretending not to be eavesdropping and therefore not doing a very good job of it.

"Yeah, right." He scoffed.

Chase seemingly couldn't help himself. "Your boyfriend?"

"He's not my boyfriend. It's just some guy...I used to know back in the UK. No big deal. I don't know why Levi here is making such a big deal out of it."

Levi didn't answer.

Ember sighed loudly. "Anyway, what are you guys drinking?"

"Nothing." Chase replied, with a loud burp bursting from his lips in consequence. "Absolutely nothing."

"They're drinking Vodka." Hunter said. He seemed irritated, as if completely drained of spending time with these boys. Iris instantly felt sorry for him. Having a brother like Levi would be pretty hard work. Iris was beginning to feel the effects of his nature, but Hunter being forced to spend virtually everyday with him since he was born?

Iris shuddered.

Levi, who was singing softly under his breath, whacked Hunter on the back. "What are you, a pansy? Drink with us. Come on."

It was as if a chord in Hunter's brain had completely snapped. He stood up and turned to Levi with a look of complete and utter anger. Iris immediately noticed then that the Hunter standing there was completely different from the Hunter she had seen a few days ago. It was as if his whole body was the essence of despair; even his hair was sagging as dispiritingly as the curve of his mouth. And his eyes. His eyes bore no sparkle of happiness, no indication of excitement, exhilaration, hopefulness. No. They were the epitome of a lost soul, the momentous exactitude of someone who had simultaneously lost everything at once.

"Really, Levi?" He said, his voice wavering. His eyes were beginning to water, and instantly Iris saw the youth in his features. He was only two years younger than them, but suddenly he bore an element of infantility – or, rather, vulnerability. "After everything that's happened you're going to pressure me into drinking?"

There was a moment of silence as a drunk Levi swallowed in shock.

For a moment it seemed as if Hunter was going to sit back down again, but after no conversation was continued, he stood up and left the tent, the door swinging slightly with impact as he went.

Levi cursed under his breath, standing up with a wobble. "Oh, fuck. I'm such a fucking idiot. Fuck, what have I done? Fuck. Fuck!"

Helping Levi stand, Iris led him out of the tent to see where Hunter had gone. It was now completely dark, and she was aware that there was a curfew and that if she was found in the boys' tent, she would quite possibly have to endure even more therapy sessions than she had as punishment. That wasn't something she wanted to think about. At all.

But a part of her also worried about Hunter himself, alone, in the dark.

As Levi and Iris left the tent into the cool night air, they scanned around the area that was lit up by fairy lights.

Levi stood up rigidly, swivelling around to scan every possible direction his brother could've gone in. "Hunter?" He shouted, swearing again. "Hunter!"

Iris felt her heart beat faster.

Hunter was nowhere to be seen. 

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

AUTHORS NOTE: BOOM! SURPRISE AGAIN! 

Another chapter? WHAT? Two in ONE DAY??? THREE WITHIN LESS THAN A WEEK?

You guys, I guess I'm on a freaking roll.

Writers block = COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY DEFEATED!

BOOOOOOM! 

I might even write another chapter tomorrow???? Who knows!

Lol, sorry, I've gone crazy with ideas for this book. Boy is it gonna be good. 

I really really wanna know what you guys think, so let me know any thoughts!

Lots of love,