The flames surrounded me. I didn't know which way to turn. What to do. I began hyperventilating, the smoke. The blaze. This was how it had ended. With blue fire and screams.

"I'm sorry Mabel."

"You'll never save me. Because you'll always make the same mistakes."

The image from my dream stabbed me like a dagger. Going straight through my heart like a hot poker.

Blue flames. Blue flames.

I heard screaming around me. Yells and the sound of flames and fighting. I didn't want to hear. I held my hands over my ears and closed my eyes, curing up as I struggled to get my breathing under control.

Blue. Such a bright blue. Like his hat.

I wished I had it with me now. I wished I could hold it one last time.

I didn't want to die. I didn't want to scream as I burnt. With no one to help me. I didn't want to feel the pain I had felt in my dream. I didn't want to die.

Blue. Blue flames. Black smoke. Black heart. Scared eyes. Words. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry Mabel.

I'm sorry Mabel.

I'm sorry Mabel.

Why was he sorry? Why? What did he have to be sorry for? It was my fault. My mistake. I had been right there. I could have saved him. He was only an arm's length away. I was sure I could have grabbed him. I could have saved him.

I didn't want to think about it. I didn't want to. I didn't want to. Don't make me relive that moment.

I was crying. I was screaming with a voice that had long since gone quieter than death. Quieter than him.

And then there were arms around me. A hug. An embrace. I opened my eyes in surprise. What?

Someone was behind me. Hugging me close. The flames were gone. The gnomes were gone.

For a long time I didn't move. My rapid breathing slowed down as I held onto the arms of the person hugging me.

"Wh-what happened?" I tried to turn around to see who it was.

"Don't." A voice said. I stopped.

"Don't turn around. Don't see me. Just... Just please stop crying."

I blinked. "Demon?" I whispered.

"Please don't be afraid." The hug got tighter.

I looked down. The arms holding me were pale and scrawny. Not an ounce of muscle on them.

"Who are you? Why won't you let me see your face?" I asked.

"I... I don't know anymore! Just please..."

"Let me see you." I said softly. I felt the arms around me go limp. I turned my head slightly, and almost glimpsed his face before he looked down and held up an arm to hide it. It was a boy. He looked my age. He had blond hair and-

Before I could look at him properly there was a flash of light. And he was gone.

I blinked. His face... Other than the eyes I hadn't seen it at all. He had brown hair. That was it. That was all I had seen.

I stood up, "hang on, come back! I've been looking for you!"

I waited. For a long time. And then I closed my eyes and kicked a piece of grass.

And then a small piece of paper appeared out of thin air in front of me. I jumped back, stifling a scream, as the paper fluttered down to the ground. I waited. Slowing down my breathing. And then gingerly poked the piece of paper. It wasn't hot. I picked it up and turned it over. Written in pen were four words.

Don't look for me.

I scrunched the paper into a ball and threw it.

I was so frustrated. Why wouldn't the demon let me see his face? Why would he hug me and then just leave? Those sounds of fighting - had he chased the Gnomes off? Why would he write that message on my medication bottle? Why didn't he want me to look for him?

And why was he so familiar?

I heard a squeal and saw Waddles running through the woods and jumping into my arms. I fell back from the weight and laughed softly as he nuzzled me.

"Mabel!"

Following Waddles burst Great Uncle Ford. He held up his futuristic laser gun and pointed it. "What's wrong? I heard screams and I followed the pig here!"

"Great Uncle Ford!" I ran up to him and hugged him around the waist. "It was you! You must've saved me from all those gnomes!"

"Gnomes?" Ford repeated. "Sweetie, I just got here."

"You did?" I asked. Blinking.

"Yes."

"But... Then it must've been him." I said. Turning back.

"Who?" Ford asked.

"The Demon."

I looked up at him and saw the colour level his face. He readied his gun. "Mabel sweetie. Let's go home. You can talk there."

He took my hand and held it firmly but gently as he walked away hastily. Pulling me along.

We weren't as far away from the Shack as I thought. It took us less than ten minutes to walk there. Ford wouldn't let me talk.

When we got home he called for Grunkle Stan. When he arrived Ford whispered something in his ear. He turned to me and motioned for me to come, "let's go watch some ducktective, Mabel." He said softly, pulling me along.

I looked back to see Ford punching the code into the vending machine to unlock it.

I didn't want to, but I agreed to watch Ductective with Stan. Every time I asked where Ford was he just smiled and patted my head and answered, "just a bit busy."

And then, three minutes before the episode ended Ford came in. "I put up the Force Field. We can talk now." He said.

"Force field?" I asked.

"Yes. The unicorn hair was still mostly there but I had to arrange the moon stones appropriately. We can talk without anyone listening." He sat down on a chair and looked at me seriously. "Now, Mabel. What was it you said about a Demon?"

Alright JUST so everyone knows this is NOT a BillDip OR a Pinecest (Because that's just gross, sorry Pinecest shipperzzz!) in fact it is not ANY ship at all. This book is NOT a romance. I repeat, NOT a romance. So if you read this book hoping for some lovey dovey stuff then I a-paw-ligize but no. Just... No.

Muse: (no comment because I taped her mouth up)

Me:OK so bye now and ON TO THE NEXT CHAPTERRRR...