Hi! And welcome back to the Bohemian Legacy Chapter 4.14.

Last time, following Phoenix’s health scare, Generation 5 of the Bohemians, including a newly childifiedCoriander, went on holiday to Three Lakes with their grandparents, leaving Requiem behind. Rhapsodynearly burned the house down, Journey reluctantly bonded with Cori, and Elise obsessed over herbrother’s health. After discovering half a formula for a cure for death left in the Three Lakes cottage byits previous owner, Elise decided that the only way to save her brother was to track down the personwho had potentially invented this cure, one Mr.Goth of Pleasantview, and the Generation 5 teensdecided to embark on an adventure in a bus.

So, if you’re with me, turn the page for Road trip adventures!

“Food?”

“Check.”

“Money?”

“Check.”

“Sleeping bags? Emergency medical kit? Flashlights? Auto repair manual? Phones? Clean clothes?”

“Yes Daddy, for the last time we have everything we could ever possibly need.” Dee smiled amiably into herfather’s shirt as he nearly suffocated her with a hug. “Food, fresh clothes, sleeping bags, emergency medicalkits…I’m pretty sure I even caught Journey lugging his guitar into the back earlier. We’ll be fine I promise.”

After several hours of arduous concentration and group brainstorming during which they systematicallydiscarded increasingly elaborate lies to tell their parents, in order to be allowed to skip out on school and otherresponsibilities for an uncertain stretch of time they had come up with the perfect ploy.

Tell the truth.

It was dastardly in its simplicity and surprisingly effective.

River released his daughter “Well be safe and have fun driving down to the city.”

Ok, so not the whole truth. There were limits even with their parents. They were quite happy to release theirchildren into an irresponsible road trip to wander aimlessly in the general direction of Sim City. They wouldmost likely be somewhat less happy to release them on a very deliberate mission to track down a potentiallydangerous scientist and ask for his help in bending the rules of humanity for Phoenix.

That was the moment Journey chose to lean on the horn and glare out the window impatiently at his sister.

Giving her parents one last perfunctory goodbye hug Rhapsody dashed down the porch and settled into thedriver’s seat of the bus.

River wrapped his arm around his shoulders as they stood on the porch and watched the bus jerk its waydown the road.

“They’re up to something aren’t they?”

“Almost definitely. It’s cute that they think we haven’t realized that though.”

No sooner had they left the scattering of houses that constituted their lost little corner of thedesert behind, it quickly became apparent to the seven teenagers that they were in for asingularly boring scenery.

The desert was immense and empty. They drove for hours through the barren golden landscape,following the straight road by sandy dunes and flat stretches of nothingness until it becamealmost hypnotic.

“You ok?” Turner shook Rhapsody out of her reverie several hours into the monotonous drive.

“Yeah, I’m good” she smiled, rolling her shoulders stiffly “I was just thinking about how if we hadn’t alreadyseen the mountains and the lakes I might not believe there was anything but desert in the world…”

Turner squinted ahead “Well even there isn’t at least we’re not the only people who live there. Check it out.”He nodded ahead “A town…sort of.”

Dee peered out the windshield into the dimming sunlight where Turner was pointing. Sure enough, shiveringuncertainly in the distance like some sort of heat induced mirage, she could make out what was clearly signs ofcivilization.

Requiem stepped up beside Turner, a frown on her face, as they drew level with the houses lining the asphalthighway “Strangetown?” She read a dusty metallic sign as they drove past “I don’t remember that from any ofthe maps…”

The others were already crowding around the windows as they began to roll past the first signs of life they hadseen since leaving home.

“Have we taken a wrong turn?”

“I’ll check. Where did you put the maps?” Turner asked, automatically flipping open the glove compartment.“Dee? Maps?”

“Right…maps” Dee smiled sheepishly at her cousin “I knew I was forgetting something.”

“Are you serious?” Elise, overhearing the conversation was up beside them instantly “You forgot to bring mapsand we’re already lost? How is that even possible! I looked at those directions, and it’s a completely straightroad! And we’re on that road! We can’t conceivably be lost!”

“Oh man, is this going to turn into a teen horror flick where we end up hopelessly lost being picked off one byone?” Journey grinned settling back into his seat as his sister needlessly paused at the stop sign on completelyquiet road, “Hey Elise, start worrying, cheerleaders never make it far in situations like these.”

“Yeah and you definitely have horror movie survival skills Journey.”

“Well they’re better than yours.”

“Guys! We’re not lost and we’re not going to die. I promise. I’ll just pull in here and we’ll ask for somedirections.”

“Well that’s almost as bad as saying ‘I’ll be right back’”

Satisfied sounds accompanied stretching as seven antsy teenagers piled out of the hot bus into the slightly lesshot outside.

“I am dying for a nice cold drink.” Cayenne sighed as she let a warm spring breeze roll across her bare skin.Journey muttered something under his breath which she decided to ignore “I saw some machines when wewere pulling in. Who’s in?”

There was a general noise of assent which was followed by some stiff staggering steps around the bus to fulfilltheir quest for refreshments.

They’d taken approximately six steps when they found themselves stopping short.

They were being watched.

Or rather, stared at.

In complete silence.

And with obvious curiosity.

It was incredibly disconcerting and the only thing they could really do was stare back. Journey voiced whatthey were all thinking first “What is up with their clothes?” Elise jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow inresponse.

Rhapsody Bohemian however was hard to disconcert,.

“Hiya!” She smiled easily as she stepped up to the closest boy in green “We could use a bit of help, wemight be lost. Except we’re not actually sure if we are or not. Because I haven’t seen any turns, exceptthis town’s not on our maps. Or at least we don’t think it is, we don’t actually have any maps. Is thereany way you could give us some directions? Or maybe tell us where we could buy a map?” She finishedhopefully.

The boy in green blinked huge obsidian eyes at Rhapsody as she spoke very fast before finally speaking“You’re actually lost?”

The girl in pink laughed a high clear sound that pierced the awkward silence “Golly you can’t actually belost can you? That’s impossible.”

“Clearly you’re underestimating my sister’s ability to defy the laws of possibility.” Journey mutteredscuffing his foot against the asphalt.

“But- I mean- No one ever comes here by accident. I mean, Jinx, we’re literally halfway down the road tonowhere...” The girl’s smile had become rather fixed now as confusion flashed behind her eyes “We’renot supposed to be found...”

“Are you spies?” It was one of the boys, clad in an unseasonable sweater and tie, who spoke up thistime, apparently sharing his pigtailed companion’s confusion.

“Don’t be kookie Petey, they’re too young to be spies.” The blonde girl perched in the back of the truckpiped up. “Maybe they’re scientists.”

“No, that one’s too naked to be a scientist.” The leather clad boy nodded towards Dee.

“Are you getting a creepy blast from the past vibe from this place or is that just me?” Phoenix whisperedleaning over to his sister.

“I get the feeling we should maybe just keep driving...” Elise admitted, trying to shake off the weirdnessfactor.

The other teens seemed to be feeling the same, the girl in pink however was somewhat less tactfulthank Phoenix as she blurted loudly “This is like so strange! No one ever comes here unless they’relooking for us first. They’re not supposed to find us unless they know where we are. It’s why we’re noton maps or anything.”

“Ok, that’s only a little unnecessarily weird.” Requiem commented drily.

The boy in green was scrutinizing them still as something seemed to occur to him “So...you’re actuallyhere without official authorization?” He sounded baffled by the very notion.

Rhapsody shrugged “I guess...does that matter?”

The boy opened his mouth to respond when suddenly the sound of a car engine shattered theincreasingly eerie silence.

The five teenagers immediately stiffened and their heads snapped around in time to see a large mudsplattered truck pulling off the barren strip of desert road and into the parking lot.

“I don’t want to scare you or anything...” the blonde girl straightened her glasses nervously “...but youmight want to hide. Quickly.”

The door of the vehicle slammed shut behind an impeccably uniformed man, his eyes rested on the fiveteens almost immediately, pressing into a thin disapproving line. This technically qualified as loitering.

“Good afternoon General Grunt.” Five voices chorused, like a class of small children greeting theirteacher.

“Good afternoon.” He replied brusquely, then he noticed the giant yellow bus.

“What” he inquired, “Is that?”

Minnie Curious’s eyes went wide and innocent “What’s what General?”

“That.” General Grunt indicated the bus. “The Illegally parked government issue vehicle?”

“If you already knew what it was why are you asking my sister?” Ricky Curious piped up from hisposition on the hood of the red sports car.

“That was here when we got here sir.” Minnie lied quickly. “We don’t know anything about it.”

This seemed to somewhat mollify the general, but his eyes flicked across the teenagers suspiciously asthey fixed him with blankly innocent stares.

“I will arrange for it to be towed in the morning.” The general concluded finally, turning his attentionaway from the bus “And I assume that you are all aware that curfew begins in an hour?” The Generalreminded the five teenagers sternly.

“It’s the same time tonight as it’s been for the past sixteen years general, we know.” Jill Smith spokewith a cool politeness that no one could possibly reproach her, including the general, but there wassomething tentatively insubordinate in her voice that he did not miss.

“Then you might also know Miss Smith, that when sitting in a motorized vehicle passengers are requiredto occupy seats properly equipped with safety measures, and are not to be perched on the edge.”

“Gosh, of course I know that General. I also know that that rule is only in effect if engine is running.” Jillsmiled sweetly from below her pink frames as the general turned on his heel and strode across theparking lot to the grocery store.

“Ok...I think he’s gone.”

“Oh thank plumbbob! It was sort of crowded in there.” Seven Bohemians unfolded themselves from the back of the pickup truck, clambering out of the car with varying degrees of grace and speed.

“Jill right?” Turner glanced up at the blonde as he allowed his sister to clamber over him, “Way to stickup for yourself there kid.”

Jill flushed prettily “Thanks. Sorry if I kicked you a couple of times while you were hiding.

Turner grinned up at her “Don’t worry, it was a pleasure hiding out next to your feet. Nice legs by theway.” Jill turned bright red as Turner pushed himself to his feet and swung over the side of the truckbehind Cayenne.

“Ok, what was that all about?” Dee inquired, brushing stubborn dark hair away from her face as sheturned to Minnie.

“If you’re here without authorization, you might get in really really big trouble! And curfew is in lessthan an hour. We have to hide you before then or you’ll be arrested.”

“They can’t do that! They can’t arrest us just for being here? Can they?” Minnie didn’t reply, but Peteanxiously glancing after the General told Dee everything she needed to know. “What kind of place isthis.”

“It’s just Strangetown.”

Welcome to Strangetown, your new home!

What’s Strangetown you say? If you’re asking that question it probably means you’ve been brought hereagainst your will. Don’t worry, you’re not the first, we’ve been doing this for decades, you’re in goodhands. So, while the knockout gas wears off, please sit back, relax and enjoy this short video where we’llexplain everything about your new life inside this wholesome government compound.

Strangetown is a town built just for you! That’s right you Mr. Scientist! We want to provide you with theopportunity to conduct experiments with all the resources you could possibly want, and all to benefityour government, you patriot you! Here in Strangetown you don’t have to worry about funding, andethics, we’re bringing you together in a town full of minds just like yours to collaborate with. Becauseuniformity it good for industry!

Of course it’s not just folks like you here. You’ll be living with some of the top military men in our system.Yes sirree, they’re here to keep you safe twenty four seven, and to keep you from breaking any of ourrules of course.

But here in Strangetown we want you to feel at home, which is why we’ve built this whole compound tolook just like a real town. Take a wander down to our good old fashioned ice cream parlour, or go havegood clean fun at the drive in and meet some of your neighbours. Why here’s two of Strangetown’s nicenormal residents now. Wave hello ladies! Yep, just good clean wholesome citizens in our fair town.

We’re sure you’ll settle in here quickly. Strangetown is a great place to raise the family. We offer some ofthe best educational facilities in the country and we’re sure your little tykes will learn a whole lot justfrom being around the house with you. After all here in Strangetown we don’t think of it asexperimentation, we think of it as good clean family fun!

Heck who knows, maybe in time your experiments will even be part of your family. Everything’s possiblehere!

Get settled in and join our wholesome little community out here in the desert, where no one will everfind you. And you know what they say, in Strangetown no one can hear you scream! Forget about yourfamily and friends back home, Strangetownites are your new family, and here we know how to take careof each other.

So Welcome once again to Strangetown. We hope you enjoy it here, because thanks to the advancedhigh tech tracker we injected into your leg while you were passed out, you’re never leaving! After all, youalready know to much. We hope you like it here!

“I hate it here already. Why can’t we just keep driving?”

“Well gosh, you’d never get out of town at curfew time. That’s when security gets really serious. Theydid a study and it showed that 90% of the people who have tried to escape from Strangetown havedone it at night. Not that any of them made it very far of course. I mean there’s the fence the wholeeast side of town and it’s desert as far as the eye can see on all the other sides, you don’t last longwalking miles through the sand and the heat. By the time they find you with your tracking device you’repretty glad to see them.”

“This place sucks. And blows. It sucks and blows. I hate it here. Why the hell did you have to drag usthrough here.”

If Rhapsody heard her brother’s complaining she gave no sign of it as the teenagers made their way into thederelict industrial building. Journey complained frequently enough that it eventually became white noise tothose around him, and in that moment, no matter how much she loved him, Rhapsody was more interested intheir surroundings than her brother.

“What is this place?”

The boy who had introduced himself as Ricky Curious shrugged “Old weapons factory, it’s bee closed for years.We used to play here when we were kids.”

Rhapsody felt an unpleasant sensation run through her and shrugged it off quickly. “Recycling a building” sheforced a smile onto her face “cool. Looks like a great place to sleep! And we’ll keep driving in the morning.”

“You’re going to go home you mean?” Minnie spoke up, trailing along nervously behind “Back the wayyou came...you’ll never get through the other way, there’s a checkpoint set up, they’ll never et youthrough.”

Turner snorted “We don’t need their permission.” He winked at the green girl “We’ll be creative. It’swhat we do best.”

The pretty young blonde girl was lingering at the door as the others explored the old factory. “The sun isgoing to set real soon.” She bit her lip “That’s curfew, we should be going.”

“You don’t have to you know. You could stay here if you wanted to...you could even come with us. Outof here.”

Jill looked at Dee “We can’t.”

“Of course you can.”

But she just shook her head “We live here, this is our home.”

“But you can’t be happy here. And you have to know that them keeping you here...everything they’redoing here, it’s not right. You must know that.”

Jill just stared at her penny loafers, “I have to go.” And then as quickly as that she ducked out of thedoor, followed rapidly by the others. And all Dee could do was watch them go.

“Testing! Testing! 1 2 3! Ladies and Gentlemen this is your captain speaking. Guess who found thespeaker system!”

Cayenne’s enthusiastic voice echoed around the empty walls where they had set up camp. Night hadfallen quickly after the Strangetown teens had left, and the sound of rain beating on the windows madeeveryone grateful they had somewhere dry to spend the night.

“What’s more!” Cayenne continued into the microphone, “Thanks to this family’s questionable, priorities,while we don’t have any maps we do have about eight billion CDs, so…” Cayenne’s voice crackled out to silencefor a moment before being replaced by the blare of loud music.

No I don’t know where I’m going, But I sure know where I’ve been Hanging on the promises, In songs of yesterday

And I've made up my mind, I ain't wasting no more time…

…But here I go again…

“Idiot” Journey remarked offhandedly abandoning their makeshift fire to sink down next to Phoenix a littleway off.

“Me or her? Or just people in general?” Phoenix asked, laughing.

“Her obviously” Journey scowled “Although while we’re at it, you’re a bit of a jerk.”

“What did I do this time?”

“I finally worked it out today. I’d been wondering you know. Yeah, don’t think I don’t notice these thingsPhoenix.” The blonde boy glanced over his shoulder to notice his cousin scowling angrily at a neon lightingfixture.

“You’re going to have to help me out here Journey, I’ve got no clue what you’re talking about.”

“I’m talking about this whole roadtrip thing. Ever since Elise started mucking about with those papers and thistrip you haven’t said a thing about any of it and I finally worked out why. You don’t think we can save you doyou?”

…Though I keep searching for an answer, I never seem to find what I’m looking for…

Phoenix smiled tiredly and leaned his head against the crumbling brick work “No I don’t”

“Then why the hell are you letting us all trek across the desert and put ourselves all through this if you thinkwe’re just going to end up being disappointed in the end? You jerk.”

Phoenix suppressed the smile, he knew Journey well enough to know he was lashing out at him out becausehe was upset, and he didn’t want him to think he was laughing at him. That rarely went down well withJourney.

“My mom once told me that the hardest thing about dying wasn’t the dying bit, or the being dead part. Atleast not for her. She said it was coming back and seeing how much everyone who loved her had suffered.Grandma and Grandpa, your Dad, aunt Saffron…” Phoenix pushed the hair from his brow as he looked at hissister, deep in conversation with Requiem around the fire “I don’t want to die Journey. But what sucked themost when I was sick last time was how much it sucked for you guys. So if there’s even a tiny chance that thiscan save me I’ll go along with it because it makes Elise happy to have some hope, because not letting her trywould be more selfish than demanding that you do…”

“Because we’re the ones who have to live without you if you die. Not the other way around” Journeycompleted.

“You’re the most annoyingly selfless dying person I know Phoenix”

“I try.”

…and I’m gonna hold on for the rest of my days, ‘cause I know what it means, to walk along the lonely street of dreams…

...and here I go again on my own, walking down the only road I’ve ever known...

“Are you all right?” Dee turned at the sound of Em’s voice “Normally I wouldn’t ask because your usualsetting is happy go lucky. But you’ve been walking around up here for an hour now, so I though I wouldcome check.”

Dee was silently for a moment as Requiem fell into step beside her “I don’t like this place.” She admittedfinally.

Em raised her eyebrows in surprise. For as long as she had known Dee she had found something positivein everything, she had even found something positive in her, and Em was trying to remember if she hadever heard her dislike anything.

“It makes me feel so...vulnerable you know. Because what they’re doing here, it’s just not ok.”

Rhapsody was heiress to a name, a house, a Legacy, and a way of life. And it was one she couldn’t sharewith these anxious oppressed and horribly used teenagers. The realization that she could not have beenmore powerless to help people was not an easy one for someone who thrived on an almost unconsciousability to infect anything she touched with happiness.

“I’ve been walking around through this huge place for an hour because I’ve been trying to findsomething that’s not machinery or discarded bullet casings and I don’t know how we’re going to get outof this place either and-”

“I know.” Em said nothing more, but those two words were enough to help as they continued in silencefor a few moments. The Dee swung open a door and her foot struck something hard and metallic.

And all of a sudden the world was not such a terribly dark place anymore. She felt a smile tug at her lips.Her eyes lit up as she looked at Em, who raised her eyebrows helplessly. Turning Rhapsody belloweddown the stairs.

“Hey guys! Who wants to help me with a project!”

“This is never going to work, we are so screwed.”

“Of course it’ll work, just remember your job Elise, keep your foot on the accelerator and don’t panic.”

“This is never going to work! And I’m the only one here who seems to be rational and all I’m saying...”

“....is that this in no way qualifies as camouflaging the bus! If anything we’re more conspicuous now.”

“You say that like it’s my fault we ran out of green and had to improvise. And look how snazzy Belle looks!”

“Who?”

“Belle Lebus, I named her.”

“When we get arrested or court marshalled or whatever they’d better now put me in the same holding cell asyou.”

“Awww, you’re just cranky because we were up ‘til 3 a.m doing this.”

“I’m cranky because we’re going to get arrested.”

“Both of you shut up for a second, we’re at the town border.”

“Gee I wonder if that fence is electrical.”

“Probably. Cayenne, you sure you’re up for this Kid?”

“Indubitably.”

“Hi” Cayenne smiled nonthreatingly perching herself on the bus’s step, “How are you today?”

The officers stared mutely at her, obviously trying to conceal their confusion with officious silence“Ooook. So I was thinking maybe you could raise that barrier for us. Would be much appreciated, wehave official business outside of Strangetown.”

“What Business?” The man who was obviously of superior rank to the others demanded.

“The classified kind we can’t tell you about.” Cayenne kept her face straight.

“You will state your business or will report you to the General.”

“It’s very complicated you see, we’re undercover agents, we’re infiltrating a gang of teenage hippies...”

“Goddam Hippies.” One of men muttered. Cayenne knew she officially had them distracted enough tonot notice her cousin sneaking around the other side of the bus.

“What is she going on about?” Elise drummed her fingers anxiously on the wheel, beside her Turnershook his head.

“Who knows, but they seem to be buying it. You ready to put the pedal to the metal as soon as Dee’sout of there?”

“So if you cold just raise the barrier for us we’ll...” Cayenne caught movement out of the corner of hereye and grinned “Actually nevermind, there it goes on it’s own.”

The officers spun around in confusion as Belle’s engine roared to life and began to pull forward as thecrossing barrier rose and Dee grabbed the other side of the bus.

Cayenne flashed the men a smile as the bus pulled away “Outwitted by teenagers and a little creativity,shame on you. Peace out fellas!”

“I told you it’d be fine.”

“What if they follow us though! We can’t outrun anyone in a bus.”

“Might be a problem yeah, if I hadn’t emptied their gas tanks last night while the rest of you weretarting up our Belle Bus.”

“Sweet.” Elise grinned relieved at Turner as she floored the accelerator, and the angry shoots of theofficers faded behind them. “I vote we drive around Strangetown on the way home though.”

“Agreed.”

“So!” Elise piped up all business as the scenery extended emptily ahead of them once more “Even withoutmaps I’m pretty sure I’ve got this itinerary figured out. I think we can probably be in Pleasantview in two days.”

“Yeah right, that seems like it’ll happen.” Journey leaned over Elise to get to the stereo “Who wants somedriving music?”

“If we drive through the night, and don’t get distracted any more we can make it in two days.”

“Elise” Journey sighed, giving his cousin a withering look “Lighten up.” He jammed a CD and hit play. As itturned out he was right. It definitely took them more than two days.

Whooo mmm yeah...

Well, life's like a road that you travel on

There's one day here and the next day gone

Sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand

Sometimes you turn your back to the wind

There's a world outside every darkened door

Where Blues won't haunt you anymore

For the brave are free and lovers soar

Come ride with me to the distant shore

We won't hesitate…

…To break down the guarding gate…

There's not much time left today

Life is a highway…

…I wanna ride it

All night long…

I f you’re going my way

I wanna drive it...

...All night long

Through all these cities and all these towns

It's in my blood and it's all around

I love now like I loved you then

This is the road and these are the hands

From Mozambique to those Memphis nights

The Khyber Pass to Vancouver's lights

They knock me down

And back up again

I'm not a lonely man

You're in my blood

There's no load I can't hold

The road's so rough this I know

I'll be there when the light comes in

Just tell 'em we're survivors

Life is a highway

I wanna ride it….

All night long

If you’re going my way…

…I wanna drive it all night long

Life is a highway…

…I wanna ride it…

...All

...Night

...Long

If you’re going my way…

…I wanna drive it…

…All night long

There was a distance once…

...Between you and I...

…Between you and I…

…A misunderstanding once…

…But now, we look it in the eye…

Ooooo...Yeah!

There ain't no load that I can't hold…

The road's so rough this I know…

I'll be there…

…when the light comes in…

Just tell 'em we're survivors

Life is a highway, I wanna ride it ….

…All night long

If you’re going my wayI wanna drive it

All night long

Life is a highway…

…I wanna ride it All night long…

If you’re going my way…

I wanna drive it…

…All night long…

“Hi Daddy!”“Hey Grandma it’s me!”“Hey Mom. What’s up?”

“Yes Mom, your Vagabond children are still alive…we did call two days ago youknow….Somewhere near this place called Pleasantview…yeah it’s just suburbia, nothinginteresting. Just one thing that Elise wants to check out, but we figured it was a bit late when wefinally got here, so we’d at least wait ‘til dawn before we started…sight seeing…No we’re campingout near this old abandoned shack tonight so no need to break into anything, but thanks for thetip...”

“No I’m still fine Mom, really…Elise took my temperature three times today, I’m being careful, Ipromise…Yeah I will…yeah Mom… How about this, if I die, I promise to call and let you know….Ohcome on, it’s sort of funny Mom...”

“Yeah, I know Daddy…No, we’re good for cash now…No nothing, it’s fine, we took care of it…nowithout breaking the law and everything!...Yeah I know.”

“Ok, we’ll call tomorrow…Mmmhmmm, give my love to Mom and Grandma and Grandpa...I loveyou too Dad.”

“Heya.” stowing the cell phone safely in her pocket Rhapsody flopped down next to Requiem bythe fire with a smile.

“Hey.” A moment of comfortable silence passed between the girls, the kind that can only existbetween friends who have known each other a very long time and understand each other betterthan most. Then Dee spoke up.

“Em…are you sure you don’t want to call your parents? We’ve been gone a while now and youhaven’t checked in with them once. They must be getting worried about you.”

Requiem shrugged “They know where I am.” She tactfully omitted to mention that thisinformation had been relayed via a note taped to the fridge just before walking out the door withher suitcase to get on the bus. Her father was probably worried. She wondered bitterly if hermother would have even noticed she was gone if she had just left without even the courtesy of anote.

Of course she would have. Requiem got the feeling that even when she was being wholly ignoredby her mother there was little she missed.

“Emmi,” Rhapsody spoke carefully, “you know I’ve never met your family…”

Requiem’s shoulders stiffened visibly, her eyes quickly darting away from her as she began to sinkinto herself, carefully beginning to build a wall around herself like she had every single time theissue of family came up since they were children. And Rhapsody had always allowed it, she hadnever pushed Requiem when she didn’t want to be. This time she pushed.

“Emmi. What are you hiding from me?”

Requiem fastened her eyes on Rhapsody, something oddly dangerous flashed there, like a trappedanimal who was about to attack and for a moment Rhapsody felt a shiver run through as herfriend stared at her. Then Em looked away.

“You wouldn’t understand.” The words came out sharply, forbidding any further discussion.

“Why not?”

Requiem pushed herself to her feet, fighting the sudden surge of emotions pulsing through herchest. “Because you’ve never hated anyone Rhapsody.”

“Em, please don’t walk away from me…I’m your best friend” Rhapsody stumbled on a concealedtree root as she followed Requiem away from the warmth of the fire. “…and I’m your drivehome…so you’ll have to come back anyway...”

The absurd simplicity of this last statement caught Requiem off guard, her step faltered and shefelt a laugh bubble up inside her and her shoulders began to shake.

“With you life is completely uncomplicated Rhapsody, and I love that, I love being here, and all thestupid things we’ve done this week, and I love having fun and I don’t want things to change and-”She felt the tears coming and quickly looked away, “And I love that you’re my best friend and I loveyou and-”

In all the years they had been friends it was the most open she had ever been with Rhapsody. Sheknew Dee took it for granted that they were best friends and that they cared about each other,but saying it outright was different. She blinked the tears from her vision and not quite daring tolook at her.

Rhapsody said nothing. Instead she simply reached out and pulled Requiem into a hug. She clungto her best friend, shaking a little.

Neither of them said anything else, and nothing important had been said. Dee still did not knowwhat it was that haunted Em’s eyes. And yet, it felt like their friendship had changed, and it was nolonger a relationship between children.

In spite of the lack of address or phone number it turned out that it wasn’t hard to find Mr. Goththanks to Elise’s genius suggestion that they pull over and ask for directions the next morning.

As it turned out she was right in her assumption that Pleasantview was just one of those placeswhere everyone knew who everyone was and where they lived.

The house they were directed to was normal in every possible way. A normal colour, a normallawn, a normal size, on a nice normal and completely peaceful street.

The peace was shattered the second they rang the doorbell.

The house erupted into a cacophony before the doorbell had even died away. A dog began tobark, eliciting a scolding female voice which was practically drowned out by a baby suddenlybeginning to scream somewhere upstairs and amidst it all voices reverberated around the wallsdemanding that someone get the door.

Finally someone did as the sound of running feet was accompanied a moment later by theappearance of a cheerful looking small boy with messy brown hair who wrenched open the frontdoor and then stopped.

Mommy! Daddy! I got the door like you said, ‘cept it’s strangers. I’m not allowed to talk tostrangers!”

“Oh for the love of-, ok, chill out Davey. I’m coming.” A teenaged girl materialized in a doorway,tucking dark hair behind one ear, a large dog attempting to trip her up as it darted around herheels. The latter barked once at the Bohemians before darting out the door and through their legsinto the garden, followed a moment later by the small boy who nearly bowled Rhapsody over inthe process.

The dark haired girl leaned in the doorframe, “Hi, what can I do-” The rest of the sentence died onher lips as her eyes flicked across the scene in front of her, rapidly taking in the seven teens andthe brightly coloured bus. And then she burst out laughing “Nice. What is this? Pimp my ride toschool? Putting the cool back into school bus?”

Journey laughed a little in spite of himself. The girl had an easy inviting smile, the kind that madeyou want to smile with her. She winked amiably in his direction and Journey found his grin gettingwider.

Cayenne gave him a sideways look. Since when did Journey smile?

“Ummm…is this the Goth residence?”

“Sooooort of.” The girl pulled a face. “I mean it’s technically half of my last name, but Mom hasn’tbeen a Goth since like two husbands ago. Still what can I do for you?”

“Well we’re looking for a Mr.Goth, one of your neighbours pointed us here. Is he in?”

“That kind of depends, the only Mr. Goth here is-” A door swung open behind the girl and sheglanced back over her shoulder.

“Nicky! Speak of the Devil.” The girl rounded on a dark haired teenage boy who bore a distinctresemblance to her.

“What about me?” The boy Nick, blinked at his sister, caught off guard.

“As far as I know Nick is the only Mr.Goth here. Although like I said technically It’s ‘Goth-Lothario’,we hyphenated.” She shrugged apologetically.

“Actually I think we’re looking for someone a bit older…”

“Yeah I kind of figured. You’re probably wanting Uncle Alex, right? He doesn’t live here, but I thinkhe’s coming home from Uni for a visit next week, if you want to talk to him then?”

“Actually we’re looking for the person who wrote this.” Elise interrupted. Stepping forwards shehanded the pair the battered old science fiction volume. They flipped the cover open and glancedat the inscription.

A look passed between the two before they spoke again “That’s our grandfather’shandwriting…Cassie, that’s our mother…”

Elise leaned forwards hopefully “Yes! Great. Is he in?”

The girl shook her head “Grandpa died a few months ago.”

Elise felt like someone had just punched her in the stomach.

Everything, all the travelling, all the planning, all the hoping it had all been for nothing. Despairfilled her as she looked at her brother, his face unreadable as he stood unusually quiet next to her.

The man who was supposed to be able to cure death was dead, and that meant there was no wayto save her brother.

Phoenix’s arm was around her a moment later “Elise, don’t worry, you did everything you could.And I’ve had fun on this crazy drive of ours. Don’t beat yourself up.”

The dark haired girl had flipped forwards in the book to where Elise had been keeping the jumblednotes. A curious expression passed over her face as she handed a few of the pages over to her brothersilently.

“I’ve seen this before...” The dark haired girl spoke, half to herself.

Her brother nodded seriously as he inspected one of the sheets of scribbled notes “It’s an early stage ofproject Grey.” He looked up at the Bohemians seriously “You’re after Grandpa’s immortality formula.”

“For the last time dad I don’t want you to drag me and my family into this craziness.”

“Least you forget Cassandra, I am part of your family too. I have been working on the Grey project since youand your brother were children, and I think I have finally perfected it. You’ve seen the workings, you know thatit’s sound.”

“Yeah I have seen it, and that’s why I know that it’s unethical and illegal and sick!”

“It’s logical Cassandra, and genius if I do say so myself, it regenerates any sick cells almost instantly, it keepsaging and dying cells from degenerating. I can’t die if I have nothing to die of, neither age or disease.”

“And can you honestly tell me you don’t see anything wrong with that! You can’t eradicate death Dad. Peoplearen’t meant to live forever.”

“Don’t be absurd Cassandra, it’s not forever. It will simply be until Ingrid is old enough to fend for herself, then Iwill stop taking the drug it and I let sickness and age have at my body. Will that make you happy?”

“Oh don’t you dare try to guilt trip me about this Dad. That’s not fair. I don’t want you to die. But at least I’madult enough to face the idea that dying is a fact of life.”

“Is this about inheritance Cassandra? If you need money darling-”

“You are so impossible!”

“It’s not what you think.” Elise interjected quickly as the suspicion suddenly sparked in the otherteenagers eyes “We’re not looking for immortality. We’re just trying to keep my brother from dying. He’ssick...his immune system is degenerating and before too long his body is going to start attacking itselfand he’s going to die. We don’t care about the immortality thing...I just want to stop the his bodydegenerating and dying faster than anyone can do anything about it. Please...he’s my brother.”

“Hello, Nicholas, how you feeling?”

“Hi Grandpa. I’m sick. That’s how come Mommy says I have to stay home from school today.”

“Yes I heard. I’ve dropped by because I believe I can help. I have some medicine that will make you feel better,but you mustn't tell your mother about this, all right?”

“Mommy said you weren’t supposed to do ‘speriments on us anymore...”

“This isn’t an experiment Nicky, it’s the same medicine Grandpa takes. It’ll cure up anything just like that. Don’tyou want to get better quickly?”

“I can’t believe you Dad. You gave some of your warped little drug to my son. My son Dad! Can you evencomprehend how wrong that is!”

“Well the boy got better Cassandra, I fail to see why you are blaming me for curing your child.”

“He had the flu Dad, he would have gotten better with some bed rest and chicken soup! I thought I’dmade it clear you weren’t to try to ‘help’ my children with your experiments anymore. You know anormal grandfather would just have brought him a toy or something.”

“In spite of your efforts to deny this fact Cassandra, I am not normal, and neither are you, regardless ofhow mundanely suburban the house you have chosen to ensconce yourself in is. And neither are yourchildren, whether or not I do anything to help them. You will need to accept that fact some day my dear.”

“I’m going to make this very clear Dad, start being normal around my children, or they will grow upwithout a grandfather in their lives, no matter how old he lives to. Do you understand me?”

“As far as I know....the formula was for an injection...it had to be administered every few months to keepGrandpa alive forever....” The boy passed one hand through his dark hair making it stand on end “But ifyou were just going to use it as a one off from time to time to keep someone from dying...theoreticallythat could work...”

“What Nick is trying to say is that we might be able to help you, but we have to get out of here rightnow before our mother starts-”

“Anastasia Belladonna Lucrezia Goth.”

The dark haired girl winced “Dammit.”

“Oh hey Mom. Fancy seeing you here.”

“Annie, what did I tell you about cleaning your room yesterday?” A dark haired woman bouncing a small boyon her hip gave Anastasia a stern look.

“That it was my room and I should be able to keep it however I want?” If her mother caught the sarcasm sheignored it, turning to her son instead.

“And Nicholas, I saw you were working on something for the science fair. I hope you can get that finishedtoday. I need you to babysit tomorrow ok?”

“Mom, it’s not even due for another month.”

The woman glanced at the doorway seeming to notice the presence of the seven Bohemians for the first time“Who are your new friends?”

“Uhhh…”

“Hi! I’m Dee.” Rhapsody waved cheerily from the porch. The dark haired woman nodded, apparently satisfiedby this wholly useless response.

“Annie, when you’re done with your room I’m going to need a few things done around the house before yourstep brother drops by tomorrow.”

“That’s great mom, you know I woke up this morning and I was wondering what could possibly be missing inmy life and now I have realized, chores! Is Dirk bringing the princess of Darkness too?”

“I think Lilith” she emphasized the name sternly “is staying on Campus actually. Now can I count on you guys totake care of things for me and not just spend your Saturday goofing off with your friends?” She fixed the pairwith a motherly gaze as she bounced the toddler on her hip.

Annie and Nick traded a glance, perfect understanding passed between them “Yes Mom.”

“So how much trouble do you guys figure you’re going to be in with your mom?”

“Meh, probably the usual amount.” Nicholas shrugged.

“And it’ll probably take her a while to realize we’re gone anyway. Assuming she even tears her attention awayfrom the baby long enough to ever notice. Ok, this is it. It used to be Grandpa’s house. Nicky and I were bothborn here too, but we moved when mom got remarried, and Alex is at college, so now it’s just Aunt Ingrid.”

The Bohemians peered up at the grey monstrosity looming over them like something out of a horror film. If ithadn’t been the middle of the day a flash of lightening in the background and some organ music might nothave been out of place.

If Anastasia and Nicholas noticed the creepy vibe they gave no sign of it. Annie pushed the door openconfidently calling loudly as she went “Ingrid! You home?”

“I’m right here Anastasia, no need to shout.” Journey following just behind Annie blinked in confusion at thegirl who had stepped gracefully into the hallway.

There couldn’t have been less of a resemblance between the two girls. Where Anastasia was dark Ingrid waspale to the point of near translucence, blonde almost white hair framing elegant haughty features.

Anastasia ignored the blonde girl’s raised eyebrows as the seven Bohemians traipsed into the house behind her. “Listen Ingrid, you haven’t cleared out any of Grandpa’s old lab have you?”

“Mmm?” Her tones were distracted and cool “No, why would I? I did try to get the maid to take care of it after he first died but she refused, said she didn’t want to go poking around all those experiments, that it might be dangerous. Useless woman. It’s impossible to get good help these days you know.”

Turner’s lip quirked up in amusement as he inspected the petite blonde “She’s your aunt?”

“Yep. Well half aunt I guess if you want to get technical. Grandpa’s daughter from his second marriage.She was actually born just a few days after Annie and I. We all grew up here together. She’s more like acousin.”

“And she lives here alone?” Dee sounded concerned.

“Yeah, Ingrid, Alex and Mom all inherited one third of the house after Grandpa died. Mom didn’t wantanything to do with it, Alex is off at college, so it’s just her. Her mother was declared unfit when wewere all kids, just after Grandpa divorced her and Grandpa’s will didn’t leave her a legal Guardian, Iguess because he wasn’t expecting to die before she turned eighteen. Mom was going to be put incharge of her, but they never got along, so she sued for emancipation.”

“So listen, it’d be cool if these guys poked around up there for a while right?” Annie continued “You wouldn’tmind?”

The blonde fixed the seven Bohemian suspiciously for a moment before waving her hand airily “I suppose not.Just…try not to make a mess. Do you think they can manage that?”

“Ok. It is not humanly possible to make this more of a mess.”

“What happened here?” Elise stared at the tiny attic space that looked like the sight of recenthurricane.

Nicholas shrugged “Grandpa happened here. Organization was not one of his strong suits. I triedto find a couple of things after he died and gave up pretty quickly to be honest, but then it wasn’ta matter of life or death for me.”

“But he always knew exactly where everything was. Although most of the time that was in hishead. He was cautious about writing things down after Mom found some of his notes when wewere all toddlers and flipped out. Turned out he’d been secretly dosing our milk with somecompound that was supposed to make us grow up super intelligent. She just about killed him forthat.”

“Your grandfather drugged you as a child.” Elise suppressed a shudder. She was liking the sound ofthis man less and less. “I can’t say I blame your mom for freaking…if someone had done that tous…” Elise trailed off. She could barely imagine her mother’s wrath if anyone had ever endangeredher or Phoenix.

“He was trying to help, in his own screwed up way…He was like that. Same reason he startedmessing with immortality. He wanted to be there for us.”

“Listen Nick” Elise bit her lip anxiously as she looked around the cluttered lab, she so wanted tobelieve there was something here that might save her brother, but she couldn’t ignore theevidence “I don’t mean to be rude, but the fact of the matter is your grandfather failed. He died. Iappreciate you bringing us here and everything but, there’s not much point in digging around hereif all we’re going to find is a formula that doesn’t work.”

“Oh, it works fine. Grandpa, died the healthiest youngest looking ninety-eight year old I’d everseen. He probably could’ve lived to see us all graduate, get married, have our own kids…if hehadn’t been murdered.”

Downstairs the remaining Bohemians had readily accepted Ingrid’s begrudging offer to raid the fridge and make themselves some breakfast. Journey however found himself wandering curiously through the old fashioned living room, inspecting the photos that lined the walls. The first one showed an elderly and frankly fuddy-duddy looking old man who must have been Mortimer Goth, his arm draped around the shoulders of a stunning blonde who was easily a third of his age. A goofy smile was plastered on his face, as if he couldn’t believe his luck in even getting close to a woman like her, let alone being married to her. He didn’t look like someone who could conquer death and change what it meant to be human to Journey, especially not in that bow tie, but what did he know, he’d never had a head for science.

The second photo showed… “My parent’s wedding.”

Journey turned to see Annie smiling at him from the doorway. Instantly an unfamiliar flutteryfeeling settled itself in the pit of his stomach. He swallowed hard. “Cool.” He shrugged, striving fornonchalance.

She smiled again and closed the distance between them in a few steps. “Journey right?”

“Yeah. And it’s…Anastasia?” He tried to sound as casual as she had.

“Yeah. But for the love of all that’s good call me Annie.”

“So those pictures…” Journey gestured over his shoulder “I’m guessing either that’s mini-you oryour evil twin.”

“Well technically if she weren’t me, she’d be my evil triplet. Nicky’s already my twin. So who’s tosay I’m not the evil one out of the two of us. I mean look at my face. You just know I’m plottingsomething by the way I’m drinking that bottle.” She grinned wickedly at Journey and he felt hisbelly flip flop “The other one…” her eyes strayed to the picture of three children grinning foolishlyat the camera, obviously her, Nicholas and Ingrid “That, was taken on Ingrid’s birthday, just beforemy parents split up.”

Journey felt his smile falter, suddenly he was sorry he’d brought it up “Uh…sorry…that sucks.”Mentally he cursed himself for not managing a more articulate expression of sympathy.

Annie didn’t seem to mind though, “Yeah that pretty much sums it up.”

“What happened? I mean…you don’t have to tell me or whatever…I was just wondering but if youdon’t want to…”

“Nah, it’s cool. Same thing as every two out three marriages happened I guess, or whatever thosestats are for divorce these days. Mom and Dad started fighting a lot, she was unhappy butpretending she wasn’t, he was never around…”

“The cheating probably sealed the deal though.I mean I didn’t know about it until years later,but mom caught my Dad in the sack withGrandpa’s wife” she nodded towards theblonde woman adorning the walls, somehowJourney wasn’t surprised that a woman withcleavage like that was cheating on a man in abow tie.

“Turned out she wasn’t the only one he hadgoing on the side. She kicked him out that night.I didn’t know about how messed up it was at thetime. I was only seven and all I knew was thatmy Daddy was leaving me. And before I evenhad time to get over that, mom was alreadygetting remarried. I must of cried for weeks, Iwas pretty pathetic I guess.”

Anastasia smiled ruefully “Sorry, didn’t mean to go all TMI on you there. Now you must think I’m a totalwhacko.”

“Cool. I mean…no. I don’t think you’re a whacko. It’s cool that you told me. I mean, my parents are together,and it’s kind of sickening. So whatever. Maybe you’re better off.” Mentally Journey was kicking himself for notbeing more emotionally articulate. But Annie just laughed amiably.

“Seriously, should we be worried about this? I mean he hasn’t insulted her even once yet. He’s actuallyattempting to be nice to her. Journey’s not nice to people.”

“Maybe he likes her…”

“No, that can’t be it. You’re his best friend, he likes you. And earlier he told you to get your idiot blondeterminally ill head out of his face first thing in the morning. I mean that’s just how he shows affection.”

“Yeah you’re right…he must really like her.”

“So you guys drove here all the way from the desert in a bus? That’s pretty badass”

“Yeah I know! I mean…it’s ok or whatever. Back home I have a motorcycle.” Journey tried for acocky grin but it came out more lopsided and goofy, something about Annie seemed to do that tohim.

She returned the smile “That is so cool.”

“Yeah, whatever, I mean it’s totally not a big deal or anything.” He beamed inwardly, he was justwondering if he could work the fact that he played the guitar into the conversation when itoccurred to him that they were totally alone in the living room, and that Annie was standing onlyinches away. Her full lips parted invitingly into a smile. Journey leaned forwards a little…

“So it looks like they’re going to be digging around up there for a while.” Journey’s head snapped up as Turnerstrode into the room and frowned at his interrupting cousin, while simultaneously attempting to discretelywipe his sweaty palms on his jeans.

“So we should probably find somewhere to leave Belle Lebus.” Turner continued oblivious to his cousin’s ire “Imean I doubt your mother will be thrilled with us if we just leave her blocking traffic in front of your house forhowever long it takes the brain squad up there to put this together. We should also probably find somewhereto stay that’s actually in town.”

“You guys can stay here if you want.” Annie offered. “It’s a big house and I mean, I’ll ask Ingrid but I’m sure she won’t mind, in fact she could probably use the company.”

Turner smiled dashingly at Annie “That would be awesome, thanks kid.” Annie smiled back and Journey abruptly found himself glaring daggers at his older cousin. Then she turned the smile onto him.

“Besides if you guys stay here I’ll know where to find you to come and hang out.” And with a mischievous wink at the dark haired boy she turned in search of her teenaged aunt.

“Cute kid” Turner remarked offhandedly as the pair watched Annie’s retreating back.

“Yeah, she’s pretty cool or whatever. If you like her type.” Journey shrugged, wondering where thisurge to start a fight with Turner for no apparent reason was coming from. Something in Journey’svoice caught Turner’s attention, he glanced over at his younger cousin. Journey noticed the lookand scowled “What?”

“Nothing.” Turner grinned. Perhaps he’d wait until the murderous look left Journey’s eyes beforehe started winding him up about his crush.

Annie was as good as her word and for the next few days it seemed like she was at the Goth family home anytime she wasn’t at school or asleep. However much to Journey’s annoyance, as huge and sprawling as the oldhouse was it seemed to be difficult to get any privacy.

Meanwhile the rest of the Bohemians were hard at work. Or rather, Elise was, the others helped where theycould, until their limited attention spans inevitably wore out. When that point was reached all Elise really askedwas that they not distract her as she dug through piles of notes and painstakingly deciphered notes scribbledacross books, scraps of paper and once or twice on the backs of food stained delivery menus.

But no matter how much they worked and searched, they came up with precisely nothing to show for it.

Until finally, late on the afternoon of the third day of their stay Phoenix confronted his sister with a sportsanalogy. “Elise, I think it might be time to drop back five and punt.”

Elise turned her grey eyes tiredly onto her brother “What?”

“Like in football, when you don’t think you can get the ball ten yards by the fourth down so you-”

“I know what it means.” Elise interrupted impatiently “I’m a cheerleader remember, unlike the rest of our artsyfamily I actually understand sports. You’re telling me to give up. To cut my losses and give up on figuring outthis formula. To give up on helping you. I’m not going to do that Phoenix.”

“Elise, you found some scribbled notes in a book by complete chance. You worked through them, figured outthe science behind them. You managed to figure out who’d written them through trickery and you got us allthe way here, to the house of a man who was murdered. Which frankly freaks me out on a whole differentlevel, but that’s not our problem right now. You’ve done more than I could possibly have imagined in trying tohelp me just by getting us to this point. But I think we’ve come to the end of line here. And I don’t want to seeyou destroying yourself trying to push this further if it’s futile.”

“It’s not futile…I can do this…it just might take a while…”

“Elise we don’t have a while. If we stay away much longer you’d better believe Mom will come down here anddrag us back kicking and screaming if she has to. You’ve done everything you could with this. Now maybe it’stime to admit that you’ve struck out and throw in the towel.”

“Those are two different sports.” Elise pointed out, preparing to return to her search.

“Elise.” Phoenix caught her by the arm “you know what I mean. You can’t always win, no one can.I’ve accepted that. And you’re going to have to one day.” Elise swallowed hard. She knew theyweren’t talking about finding the notes anymore. But she shook her head.

“We’ve come miles and miles for this Phoenix. I can go the extra ten yards.”

Before Phoenix could argue any further there were footsteps on the stairs and a moment laterAnastasia appeared looking cheerful. “Hey guys. I don’t mean to interrupt your work, but we’vekind of decided to throw a party. Here tonight. Just thought I’d let you know. Sound good? Youboth in?”

Phoenix’s face lit up immediately “Oh we are so in.” He spun to Elise, seeing protest alreadybeginning on her face “Elise, if you’re not going to give up on this can you at least do me a favourand take a time out. You haven’t had any fun since we got to this town. Can you chill out for onenight. As a favour to me.”

Elise’s mouth quirked into a smile “I can handle that, I guess.”

It quickly became apparent that this was not the first party the Goth children had thrown in the old house. Infact it seemed that parties there were expected by the rest of the teenagers of Pleasantview. After all, howmany other teenagers in town had a huge house all to themselves and no adult supervision?

By the time darkness had fallen over the little slice of suburbia the old house was filled to the rafters withteenagers that the Bohemians were rapidly getting to know.

“Oh and this little creature is Cara Mia, she’s our half sister…and Ingrid’s too actually. Cara, this is Journey.”

“The one you told me about?” The dark haired girl Annie was introducing to Journey seized himenthusiastically in something between a hug and a handshake. “And call me Cara, or I will die from the shameof my full name.”

“You’re her half sister and her aunt’s?” Journey looked oddly at Cara “That’s messed up.”

“Welcome to our family! You should meet our brother who’s also my cousin.” Journey wasn’t sure if she waskidding or not.

But before he could ask Cara had already moved on, and appeared to be giving him a thorough once over “Youknow she was right, you are cute. In a kind of skinny way.” And with that she clapped Journey on the shoulderhard enough to make him stagger and wandered off into the next room.

When Journey turned back to Annie he could have sworn she was blushing under her dark skin. “Sorry, she hasa bit of a brain to mouth filter problem…”

Journey felt a smile spreading over his face “So I’m cute?”

“I take the fifth.”

“I mean awesome I get. Or cool, hot. I just didn’t know I was cute-”

“Well I- Leo!”

“What?”

Without warning Annie launched herself into the arms of a handsome dark haired boy who had just steppedthrough the door. “I haven’t seen you in days! I thought you’d ditched me.”

“Oof.” The boy exhaled as she knocked the air out of him with the hug before folding his arms around her“Ditch you? I’d never dare.” He released her with one last squeeze and a smile. Journey hated him instantly.

Momentarily forgetting about Journey Annie was beaming happily at Leo “What happened to you hair.” she reached up and tugged a curl on the top of his head, the boy batted her hand away playfully.

“I lost a fight with Mom and a pair of scissors. Apparently my old hair was, and I quote, ‘beginning to make me look homeless’.”

“Awww, I thought it suited you in a dashing kind of way.”

Journey glared at the other boy. He was emanating jealous so very violently that Cayenne could sense it all the way over on the other side of the room.

“Oh for the love of…” Cayenne put down her drink on top of the piano and took a few confident stridesforwards placing herself in between Journey and Anastasia.

“Hey, what-” Journey began to protest, but his cousin silenced him with a look.

“Ok. I’m telling you this because as fun as it’s been watching you pine after this chick and fight back your evilnature around her, I can only get so much pleasure out of your pain before it starts getting painful for me to.So I’m going to give you some advice.”

“I don’t need-”.

“Of course you do. Trust me I know more about girls than you do. I am one. So shut up. Now, you need to stopfollowing her around looking like a lost puppy. It’s not attractive. Just leave her alone, mingle, make her cometo you. Also if I’m right, Annie seems like the type of girl who likes her guys to be jerks. And you’re really goodat that. So clearly this is a match made in heaven.”

“But that guy…” Journey peered over her shoulder to where Annie and Leo were still deep in conversation.

“Ignore him.” Cayenne advised. But Journey’s eyes never left the pair. She sighed and shook her head, she’dnever seen anyone have it this bad for a girl before. If that someone weren’t Journey it might have been sweet.

“Besides, if you used your admittedly limited brain cells for anything apart from planning to pick a fight withany guy who even looks at her, you might have noticed that they have the same nose. He’s obviously family notcompetition. You idiot.”

“You’re the idiot.” Journey muttered as Cayenne punched him in the shoulder and turned him very deliberatelyaway from Annie.

“Veronica Beatrice Langerak, I’m not even going to acknowledge your existence if you’re going to start smack talking .”

“Ok first, Beatrice is not my middle name you dork.” Ronnie Langerak rolled her eyes under dark bangs at Cara “Second, I’m not smack talking anyone all I’m saying is that their new stuff is better than their old stuff.”

“Yeah see all I heard there was ‘blah blah blah I don’t know what I’m talking about, blah blah blah, my taste in music clearly sucks.’”

In spite of his initial protests against Journey was actually having fun that didn’t involve stalking Annieand waiting for the right moment to make a move.

“I dunno, I’ve got to go with Cara on this one.” Journey shrugged, “The new stuff just feels like they’retrying too hard or whatever.”

“Exactly. Trying is so overrated. See, clearly the smart people are correct.” Cara gestured pointedly,sloshing her drink on herself in the process.

Ronnie raised an eyebrow at Journey mischievously “You know…it’s kind of loud here. Maybe you and Ishould go and talk about this somewhere in private…”

“Uuuuuuhhhh…”

“Ok you two, stop molesting him.”

“Annie!” Cara turned and beamed at her sister who had fortunately saved Journey having to come up with ananswer for Veronica, “You impinge my honour. I’d never molest a soul. It was all Ronnie and her mini skirt ofsireny doom. Doom I tell you!”

“Yeah ok I’ll buy that.” Annie rolled her eyes amiably at the other girls before smiling at Journey “Hey you feel like being rescued from my two crazy sisters here?”

“Oh it’s cool, I don’t mind we’re just- OW!”

“Ow?” Annie looked inquisitively at Journey he glared at Cara who had just delivered a sharp kick to his shin and was now busy pretending to examine a spot on the opposite wall with an innocent look in her green eyes.

“Umm…no, not ow, I mean, yeah. Rescue. That sounds cool…” he trailed off as he allowed Annie to lead him away from the two other girls.

“Silly boy.” Cara remarked to no one in particular as they left, smashing her cup on her head to emphasize herpoint.

“Your family is pretty cool.” Journey remarked as they flopped down on a nearby couch together. “I mean,they’re all totally messed up, but you know…cool.”

“So’s yours. I mean, probably not as messed up as mine…but I like your cousins, they’re cool. And yoursister…does she ever stop smiling?”

“I know right! It’s so annoying!”

“I dunno, I think she’s sweet-”

“…and I think you’re sweet too.” Journey swallowed as Annie shifted her weight across the couch closing thegap between them.

Her leg was pressed up against his, he could feel the warmth of her body through his jeans. She turned herface towards him. There was an expectancy in the look she gave him. Journey discovered that his arm hadsettled itself on her back and his right hand strayed tentatively to her bare knee as he pulled her towards him.

“Annie?” Journey’s attention was reluctantly diverted from his dark haired companion as a blonde haired boy appeared a few feet away. The expression on his face changed abruptly, passing from surprised to upset to angry in the space of a few seconds.

Annie looked up “Uh-oh.”

Somehow Journey didn’t like the sound of that. “What the hell Anastasia.” He boy practically snarled at her, then rounding hid gaze on Journey “And you get your hands off my girlfriend squirt.”

Annie was on her feet in a second, her brown eyes swept the boy looking unimpressed “Jim, what are youdoing here?”

Journey followed her up from the couch more slowly, feeling a little dazed “You have a boyfriend?”

“Yeah she does.”.

“No I don’t. All I have is a clingy delusional friend who thinks that just because we went on a couple of dateswe’re as good as engaged.” She glared at the blonde boy.

“Oh don’t give me that Annie, you’re fine with me being your boyfriend when it suits you.”

“I have never once called you my boyfriend. Not to mention you’ve spent the last three weeks ignoring me. If Iwanted that I would have a boyfriend. Hell I’d get married right now if I wanted to be ignored and treated likecrap by a guy.”

“You are so freakin’ damaged Annie.”

“Listen man” Journey stepped between the pair before things could get any more out of hand, people werealready beginning to stare and he was actually beginning to feel a little sorry for Jim, as much as he liked her itwas beginning to seem like Anastasia was in the wrong “Just back off and chill out ok. We can talk about this.”

“Get out of my face kid.”

“Journey, don’t, It’s fine.” Annie reached out and rested a hand tenderly on his back. Apparently this was thewrong thing to do.

Jim’s fist caught Journey squarely in the nose.

Journey reeled backwards in surprise and pain as Annie let out a little noise of surprise and distress. Thesecond hit caught him in the chin and knocked him to the ground.

By now they definitely had an audience.

“Ooh right in the kisser. Kick him while he’s down Jimmy, Annie hit him below the belt, Journey get up and sockhim right in the face!”

“Who’s side are you on Cara?” Kayla Pleasant was watching with wide eyed horror and fascination as Journeyhit the floor.

“Side?” Cara inquired without looking up at her blonde friend “There are no sides, I just wanna see a goodfight! Come on hit ‘im again!”

Journey sat on the ground, more stunned than in actual pain. He had managed to hit his head on the sofa onthe way down and the room was spinning a little. He felt something warm on his face and touched his nose.His hand came away bloody. He blinked at it in confusion. He’d never been hit before, he wondered distantlyhow much this would hurt when the shock wore off.

He began to stagger to his feet dazedly to return the blow when he noticed that Anastasia’s legs seemed to beplanted firmly in his way.

“What are you brain damaged or something! What the hell is wrong with you? You can’t just go around hittingpeople!” Anastasia was shouting, furious as the other guests began to gather around at a safe distance, clearlyhoping someone else was about to get hit.

“Get out of my way Annie.” Jim’s fists were still clenched “I’m not done with that skinny sonnuva bitch.”

“Yeah you are.” Journey blinked as a third pair of legs appeared in his bleary line of vision. It took him amoment to realize it was Phoenix’s voice that he was hearing, it sounded much more threatening than usual.

Then he felt hands on his shoulders, warm and comforting. He looked up to see his sister, kneeling beside himand looking concerned.

“You ok?”

“Fine.” Journey mumbled. He wiped the blood from his face onto his sleeve as he pushed himself to his feet.

Meanwhile Phoenix was doing his best to keep the peace. “Come on let’s all chill out here guys. Jimright? Why don’t you just cool down and we’ll talk about this.”

“Nothing to talk about.” The other blonde boy fairly growled the words “That’s my girlfriend.”

“Your Neanderthal possessiveness if very attractive you know.” Anastasia drawled, earning herself aglare.

Journey lurched to his feel fuelled by anger, bravado and sheer stupidity “Hey, leave’em alone, I’ll fight you ifyou-”

Before he could finish the bombastic threat however Journey felt someone grasp him by the collar. He wassuddenly jerked backwards, his sister and cousin catching him simultaneously in mid fall as Turner released hiscollar.

“Hold him.” Turner instructed the girls without looking back.

Dee and Cayenne’s hands folded around Journey’s arms obediently and Cayenne offered him a raised eyebrowthat somehow managed to look both mocking and sympathetic as her brother strode forwards.

As it always did, Turner’s presence brought with it the certainty that things were under control.

“No one’s going to fight, isn’t that right Jimmy boy.” Though not much taller than the blonde boy Turner seemed to look a long way down at him.

Instead of replying Jim turned to Annie. “How many boyfriends do you have here to stick up for you sk-”

“Hey Jim”

“Don’t talk to my sister that way.”

The end of the word died on his lips as a fist connected squarely with his jaw and he toppled to the ground.

Leo Caliente stood over him, and shrugged at Turner. “Sorry, didn’t mean to deprive your cousin there of the pleasure. I was just worried that with those spaghetti arms he wouldn’t do enough damage on behalf of my sister.”

Turner smiled wryly “I’m sure Journey’ll live. I was hoping we could end this without more violence though.”

“Eh it’s fine, Jim and I are still cool.” Leo looked at the blonde boy leaning against the wall nursing his nose, “Come on man, we should get you home.”

Jim glared at Annie as her brother attempted to usher him out.

“You’re a real piece of work, you know that.” he spat at her. Annie didn’t look at him as he turned andstalked out of the room.

Turner felt a twinge of pity for the blonde boy as he watched him leave, but if he had learned anythingfrom his parents it was that family was supposed to be on each other’s side, even when they were in thewrong and flirting with someone else’s girlfriend.

“Ow!”

“Oh don’t be such a baby. You’re fine. Your nose isn’t even broken.”

“That freakin’ stings Elise! Are you sure you even know what you’re doing?”

“Are you actually asking me if I have enough medical training to disinfect a cut?”

Elise straightened discarding the last bloodied cotton ball in the sink. His nose had stopped bleeding bythe time she got to him, all she had need to do was clean away the blood and disinfect his lip where theblow had split it rather nastily.“You’re fine.” She told her cousin patiently, “You probably won’t even bruise.”

Journey scowled then winced “You’re sure?”

“Well if you really want me to I can stitch something or poke a needle into you, but that wouldn’t reallydo anything. You’ll probably have a bump where you hit your head but you came out of things in goodshape all things considered. Trust me I may not be a doctor but I’m the closest thing to one in thisbathroom right now. So if you’re done I’m going to get back to work and-”

The door swung open interrupting Elise mid sentence. Abrupt silence fell over the bathroom asAnastasia stepped in.

“Hey…” she looked around the room uncertainly “I came to see if you were ok and if there was something Icould do…”

“I think maybe you’ve done enough for one night.” Phoenix’s tone was not unfriendly as he spoke to the darkhaired girl, but it was certainly firmer than any of his cousins were used to hearing. He liked Annie fine, but asfar as he was concerned she looked like she was trouble for Journey, and that he wasn’t going to stand for.

Annie at least had the grace to look ashamed of herself as she turned her eyes to the dark haired boy. “Look,I’m really sorry about what happened- it’s just…” she paused, looking round the silent faces in the room “Doyou think we could talk in private? Outside?”

Journey hesitated for a moment before sullenly pushing himself up from the edge of the bathtub and followingAnnie out into the corridor.

It was not until they had stepped outside into the cool night air of the garden that Anastasia spoke again.“What happened earlier…that was really lame of Jim. I didn’t actually think he’d hit you, not in a million years.Normally he’s not a bad guy, he’s just a little rough around the edges…but I’m really sorry.”

Journey didn’t look at her immediately, shoving his hands sullenly in his pockets. “You could have told me youhad a boyfriend you know.”

“I don’t have a boyfriend.” Annie scuffed her heel angrily on the dimly lit garden path as they wandered slowly“I just have a guy who’s asked me out a few times and who’s a bit of a commitment addict and who can’t seemto get a clue and realize I’m not the girl he wants to settle down with. I mean I like him, but I don’t want to beone of those girls who just settles down and marries someone in the town she grew up with and stays hereand has a million kids, and that’s what he wants and that’s fine but it’s just so not for me, and I then there wasyou and I really liked you and I didn’t want you to think that- and- I mean- This is so frustrating!”

Annie kicked a tombstone angrily “It’s just…complicated you know. And I’m sorry that my sucky handling ofrelationships got you punched in the face. I really feel so horrible about that.” Her eyes met Journey’s, silentlybegging him for forgiveness. “I wouldn’t blame you if you hated me. I’m pretty sure your family now things I’ma grade A bitch. But just know that I’m really sorry.”

Journey snorted “I don’t hate you. No matter how much I hate being punched in the face.”

Tension fled Annie’s her features visibly at his words. “Does it hurt?” She asked, examining his face carefully.

“It’s not bad…” Journey shrugged stoically “I mean, you know, whatever. It’s cool, I can cope.”

“Yeah?” Annie reached out tentatively towards the wound on his lip. Impulsively Journey caught her hand andpulled her towards him.

Pain blossomed in cut on Journey’s mouth as their lips met. But it came with an intense flood of pleasure atkissing Anastasia that seemed to block out any other sensation.

Which was why neither of them noticed they were not alone until the ghost actually spoke.

“Young man I will thank you to stop groping my granddaughter!”

The pair broke apart faster than if they’d been struck by lightening.

“As for you Anastasia. Does you mother know you’re here?”

Journey was very glad that Annie screamed first. He would have hated to be the only one.

“Grandpa?” Annie’s voice came out hesitant as she stared at the spectral form wide eyes.

“Young lady you were not brought up to hang around in graveyards kissing boys and bumping into people’stombstones and disturbing them!”

“But- but- you’re dead.” Her voice came out barely a whisper “You died, I was at the funeral!”

The ghost sighed, it came out a sharp unearthly whistling sound “You never were as bright as your brother.”

As if conjured by the Ghost’s words, at that moment the back door of the house swung open with a violentrattling of wood and glass and eight teenagers poured out at a dead run Nicholas in the lead.

“Annie! I heard you scream, what did he- Grandpa?”

“Just so we’re clear” Rhapsody’s words came ragged as she ran “Everyone else sees that right?”

“What the transparent looking guy in the bow tie? Of course we see him Dee!”

“Oh good.” She smiled back over her shoulder at Cayenne “For once it’s not just me!”

“Hey! There’s no need to be a jerk to her!” Journey was scowling at the ghost, apparently forgetting to beterrified of it “All she said was that you were dead. Which as far as I can tell is entirely true. So back off!”

“Journey, don’t pick a fight with a ghost ok?” Dee rested her hand quellingly on her brother’s back.

“Ghosts aren’t supposed to real! I mean everyone’s always said this house is haunted but…” Anastasia pulled aface “This is beyond the realm of creepy.”

But Mortimer Goth’s attention was no longer on his grandchildren, his translucent colourless eyes werefixed to his right, where his daughter was standing, her pale face and icy blonde hair making her lookalmost ghostlike herself.

“Ingrid”

“Daddy.” The teenager’s voice was level, as if seeing her dead father’s shade did not perturb her in theleast.

Then Mortimer Goth spoke again, with the same calm as Ingrid “You murdered me.”

Ingrid Goth never even blinked “I did.” Her tone was cool “What of it?”

“How could you?” His voice did not crack with grief but it did not sound far from it, even amidst thestrange unearthly syllables.

The blonde girl sighed, as if almost annoyed by the question. “Oh Daddy, how can you ask that. Youknow why.”

“I did what time and nature could not because of your tampering.” Ingrid’s tone was flat and matter offact “You knew it was wrong as well as I did father. You knew what you were doing was not right, that itwas playing with the rules of the universe.”

“You saw it just as well as I did father, the things that shouldn’t have been there, the ghosts walking outin the night clear as you are now. They whispered things to me while I was sleeping, they told me it waswrong, that you were meant to be crossing over, that you were fighting nature.”

“So I did what you wouldn’t and helped you die.”

“It wasn’t my fault father. You know that.” Ingrid’s voice was emotionless and unyielding, but her darkeyes danced with something like a childlike grief at a lost parent, starkly contrasting with her adultfacade.

Mortimer Goth’s transparent face seemed to soften a little at her words.

Her niece and nephew were not so easily forgiving though.

“You killed Grandpa!” Nicholas’s arm was still around his sister’s shoulders but instead of fear confusionand anger were warring on his face.

Anastasia seemed to have no indecision about what emotion she should give way to however as shepulled herself from Nick’s grip “What the hell Ingrid? How can you think this is ok! How can you justifythis but claiming it wasn’t murder if you were just the universe’s hitman. You’re a completepsychopath!”

“This isn’t right...” Requiem spoke almost inaudibly as something in her mind began to turn. She feltsomething in the lost pits of her mind struggling to rise to the surface where her consciousness couldgrasp it and link it to the other pieces of knowledge floating haplessly around her mind. “This shouldn’tbe happening... Ghosts aren’t supposed to...”

And then suddenly it clicked.

Rhapsody turned as she heard a sharp intake of breath from Requiem. Em’s eyes were fixed squarely onher, “What’s wrong.”

“It’s you- you’re causing this.”

“I’m causing what?”

“Him.” Em nodded towards the shade of Mortimer Goth “And everything else.”

Everyone was looking at Em now, who seemed to have come alive with an almost feverish look in hereyes, that reminded Dee of a mad scientist she had seen in an old movie once, as he animated a corpse.

“It’s always been you...” Em was talking half to herself now her eyes in a distant place.

It was Turner who stepped in this time “Em, you’re going to have to help us out here. The babbling onlymakes sense in your head.”

“Death” Em spun to face Turner, “It’s not like this normally.” She gestured vaguely at Mortimer tocompensate for her continued lack of coherence.

Turner didn’t bother to ask her to be clear again. Instead he just gave her a look Em got the message.She took a deep breath as if to focus herself back to normality “I read in a book that things like ghosts,they echo through from the afterlife all the time, especially in old places like this...or your house...” shenodded to Dee “But not like this. Not solid and conscious. Usually they’re just...whispers in the darkwhen there’s no one there, that thing you see out of the corner of your eye in the night...the feeling youget sometimes that you’re not alone...”

“Yeah ok, but Mom said she saw a ghost when she was my age. Just after aunt Snow died. She evenspoke to it.”

Em gave Turner the sort of impatient look she only got when she was so wrapped up in knowingsomething she forgot to be guarded “I’m getting to that, if you’ll let me. Apparently the reason ghostscan’t manifest more visibly is because the metaphysical barrier between our world and the afterworldwon’t let them through as more than a flicker... Except it’s not like that all the time. When someonedies, the reaper comes from the afterlife and the soul passes through the other side...it’s like...atemporary door opening between our world and the next. It creates a weak spot at the place of thedeath that lasts about a day surrounding the time of the death... When your mother spoke to the ghost,like you said it was just after your aunt Snow died. Weak spot.”

“The problem here is that no one has died here since...well, him.” She gestured elegantly at the ghostwho was listening patiently as Requiem reasoned it out. “So this shouldn’t be possible...just like acertain other number of...apparitions that have been...recorded recently, haven’t surrounded a death.”Requiem pointedly avoided Dee’s gaze. She didn’t want to betray her best friend’s confidence.

“Those other cases I heard about, I couldn’t work it out...and then Ingrid said, about the ghostsappearing when her father was meant to be passing on. Even without a death, the barrier wasweakening because he should have been passing on! Just his presence was creating a weak spot. Do yousee! Which means that the weak spot can be created by other things than a death, it can be caused by aperson.”

Nine bewildered teenage faces stared back at her. The tenth face was looking at her flip-flops instead.

“So you’re saying...one of us is supposed to be dying...” Annie spoke up finally “But...wouldn’t we havealready died...”

“I’m not sure about that.” Requiem admitted, “But there’s sort of been a common factor betweencertain...recorded anomalies like this...”

“A common factor?”

“Me. I’m the common factor aren’t I?”

All eyes were on Dee, but as she raised her head it was Em that she looked at.

“Yeah, you are.”

They were silent for a moment as the implications of that settled in. Even Journey managed to bite backsarcastic comment about his sister being a walking supernatural anomaly weirdo.

“Pity, I was beginning to think you were clever until you got to the end.” It was Mortimer Goth’sunearthly voice that interrupted the morbid silence.

All ten teens turned to look at the old man, who had a surprising air of nonchalance about him. But thenagain, it was probably difficult to worry about things when you were dead.

“Or maybe,” He turned to Dee “You’re just fantastically self absorbed.”

“Hey back off.” Turner stepped forward “You don’t get to talk to them that way.”

Em looked confused “What are you talking about?”

“Your reasoning. It was impeccable up until the end. Your friend in that absurdly revealing ensemble itnot the one who’s the problem. It’s you.”

Requiem had the sudden feeling of all the blood being drained from her extremities to fuel the suddenfurious pounding of her heart “Me?”

“No, of course not only you. Him as well.” He nodded to Turner “And you.” He pointed to Cayenne who’seyes immediately went wide.

“You’re lying.” The petite brunette whispered “You couldn’t know this.”

“Of course I could. Shades of you have all been over to the other side several times. I’ve seen youthere.”

Suddenly every single instance Rhapsody had been afraid she was going insane rushed to the front ofher mind. Every time she had turned around and someone she cared about had been missing.

As she considered the alternative that had suddenly presented itself, she wondered if she mightn’t havepreferred to have been mentally unbalanced.

“We’ve died? Wouldn’t we know if we’d died?”

“Don’t be so absurd.” Mortimer Goth spared a derisive look for Cayenne as he drifted by her “If you’ddied you’d be dead. You’ve simply been repeatedly pulled out of existence, towards the afterlife. Theproblem of course is that it has been premature and without something concrete to kill you it will neverstick.” Mortimer Goth went on “You’ve been repeatedly bounced back into the world of the living.”

“Well thank plumbbob for metaphysical bungee cords.” Turner muttered, putting his arm around hissister’s shoulder.

Mortimer Goth ignored him. It was Em who interjected with the crucial question “Why us?”

“Hmmm?” It seemed like the old man was losing interest in them as he turned to his Granddaughter “A glitchin the metaphysical fabric of the universe I would imagine. I’m sure your removal from existence will stickeventually though. Probably within a matter of years. I’ve noticed a significant increase in the number of timesyou intrude on our eternal rest.” Mortimer Goth shrugged “But I have better things to do in the afterlife thanworry about your problems. I only took interest in you as a possible means to return myself to the living world.I see you have only begun fritting away larger parts of your dignity since I died Anastasia. Do you suppose yourskirt could be any shorter, I never would have stood for it if your mother had dressed like that.”

Annie tugged at her skirt, as she fumbled for a response, but before she could formulate one Cayenne pipedup. “Dad!”

Turner looked at his little sister “What about him?”

“Mom always said he wasn’t from the desert. She told me once. Because I asked why we’d never metour other grandparents. She tried to explain...” Cayenne furrowed her brow as she tried to recall theconversation “I didn’t really understand what she was talking about, I was nine. But she was going onabout some experiment and...” Cayenne’s face cleared suddenly “and about passing through death toget here.”

Turner rubbed his eyes “Of course.” he said drily. “Yeah, that might explain why we’re boomerangingintermittently between life and death. That’s great. What about Em though?”

“I...might have a similar problem...” Requiem said vaguely.

“So might Aunt Kestrel’s kids actually, now that I think about it.” Phoenix interjected.

“How do you know that?”

“Gavia Tegenaria was my lab partner last semester. She’s mentioned her Dad not being from here acouple of times.”

“So has Janey, come to think of it.” Turner added, referring to his red headed Austen friend.

There was silence as the horrifying implications sunk in.

Requiem, Turner, Cayenne, Coriander Jane and Byron Austen, Raphus and Gavia Tegenaria.

That made at least eight people who were at risk of disappearing permanently, and more they mightnot know about. Rhapsody felt sudden uncontrolled panic rise in her chest, that she quickly fought back.This had been happening for years. Always getting closer and closer to a final end for people she caredabout and she hadn’t done anything about it. And if what Mortimer Goth was saying was true, it wouldsoon be too late.

“Well this is just awesome.”

“Could probably be worse.” Rhapsody tried.

“Oh yeah? How?”

“I’m not sure...” She told her cousin honestly. “But we’re going to fix this. I swear. It’ll all be ok.”

“You don’t know that.” Requiem challenged.

“No...that’s true I don’t. But I’ll do my best to make it ok.”

It was shortly after that a group of thoroughly deflated Bohemians decided it was best to make theirway back into the house and leave Annie, Nick and Ingrid to their disturbing family reunion.

But in spite of her brother’s protests Elise lingered a moment.

Six minutes later she emerged into the living room brandishing a piece of paper.

“I’ve got it.” No one had any doubt as to what it was. She sounded exhausted and relieved, as if all themanic energy that had kept her going towards her goal for weeks had suddenly fled her.

“Are you out of your mind.” Phoenix shook his head sleepily “After everything we heard about this formula?After we spoke to the shade of a man whose own daughter murdered him for using that? I won’t take it Elise.”

“Please. You have to! If not for you, do it for me.”

His sister knew him too well, she knew what button to push to make guilt and premature regret spring up inhim. Phoenix ran a hand through floppy blonde hair “Fine...but not forever. And not all the time. Just when Iget sick. Agreed?”

Elise beamed at her brother and dropped down wordlessly next to him, leaning her head into her shoulder.

Phoenix peered at the notes in her hand “I’m pretty sure at least three things on there are illegal.” Hetold the top of her sisters head. But Elise had already dozed off.

Across the room Turner mouthed silently not a problem kid.

Phoenix smiled, he might not like the way they’d gotten the result, but he was happy to not have to die,and thrilled to have found a solution to a seemingly impossible problem. it was almost a relief to have aproblem to focus on that they could fix, while there was a much larger problem looming ahead of themthat none of them were sure they were up to tackling, no matter what Dee said.

It was something to hold onto, especially now when an even larger more impossible problem seemed toloom ahead. They’d stopped him from dying, now they had to do the same for everyone else.

Morning dawned rainy and miserable over the Goth house. Even the presence of a brightly patchworkedBelle LeBus could brighten the atmosphere.

After a degree of sulking, which led him to eventually be told that he could either get in the bus of hisown will or they would make him, Journey was busy bidding an enthusiastic farewell to Anastasia on theporch.

Meanwhile their respective siblings were trying very hard to ignore them.

“Sorry about intruding of your life with our weirdness and stuff...”

Nick shook his head “Don’t apologize. I’m glad we finally know about Grandpa, even if it means weknow about Ingrid now.”

Dee smiled “See, bright side of life.”

Finally everyone and their luggage were loaded into Belle. Including Journey.

Cayenne spared a glance for her sullen looking cousin and rolled her eyes. “Oh write a bad song about itand stop sulking Journey..”

The fact that she might potentially be trapped in the afterlife forever was the only thing that sparedCayenne from a sharp retort.

Belle’s doors swung shut laboriously and Turner revved her protesting engine, and pulled away from theGoth Mansion as Journey tried not to look back.

The bus was unusually silent as the houses of Pleasantview began to roll by. No one spoke, no onesuggested that they put on music as one suburban house melted into another.

They didn’t stop on the way home.

And that is the end of this chapter. Phew. I know that was long, believe me. If you made it all the waythrough that, congratulations. I will strive to be briefer in future. But I hope you enjoyed this long roadtrip chapter anyway, and seeing the little Bohemians expand their horizons a little and live up somewhatto the itinerant life of their gypsy predecessors.

Turn the page for credits and all that jazz!

Songs used in this update:

“Here I go Again” Whitesnake

“Life is a Highway” Rascal Flatts

Special thanks to Orikes and Ndainye who recoloured FreshPrince’s yellow school bus to a more artsy look for my littleBohemians !

And thanks as well to Dicreasy and Lea and Gintasticnecat who offered all sorts of awesome advice in an attempted to help myincompetent self with beating slideshare into submission so it wouldn’t distort my photos. (Which was eventually managedhurrah!)

And also thanks to HystericalParoxysm at ModtheSims for creating the Megahood which I used for this update. And while I’mat it, thanks to all the CC creators who make stuff I use, and who make stuff I don’t use for that matter. You guys rock.

I’m sure you’re tired of listening to me talk by now, so...Thanks for reading because without you guys this wouldn’t be nearly as much fun!

I’ll see you soon with a new chapter!