Eddie's POV

I'd done exactly what Jess and Katy had - figured out that something was off. I'd done some searching myself. Turned out the three boys who went missing lived on scream lane.

Was it chance that two of Hillary's friends appeared at the exact time I did?

I looked up. Hillary probably wouldn't want to leave - whoever this guy was, he was rich. I felt my stomach lurch at the thought of losing her.

"I have an idea," i told them. "I'll go find Hillary. You two go after the others, and we meet up back out here-" I muttered the next bit, "if you're alive."

They nodded. "Alright." Jess told me before they both ran off, heels clicking on the pavement.

So, how was I going to get inside?

***

Katy's POV

I ran into the castle. Jess and I had laughed at how it had been so easy - an unlocked back door. So simple.

I was alone now. I was looking for Hannah, Jess had gone to search for Jessica. The hallways were elegantly decorated, as had the outside been. Hannah was walking along and hallway with... oh shit.

And... wait a sec. What the hell was she wearing?

The man turned. Oh crap, this was the end.

"are you new here?" he frowned. Oh. My. God. He didn't know. I nodded, careful to look nervous. Wait, what was I supposed to be?

Hannah stared at me, but she didn't say anything.

The man smiled. Ok. Creepy.

"would you please take my mate to her room? She's gone through some... changes."

It was then I noticed. Hannah was tall. She had boobs and hips. She was 17. How the hell did that happen?

I nodded and he left, leaving me with Hannah. She gasped, running up to me.

"Katy, what are you doing here?"

I sighed. "Hannah, it's a long story - all you need to know for now is that we're rescuing you, and you do want that, right?

She nodded, and I grabbed her hand. "then come ON!"

We began to run back down the halls, towards the back door.

"um... what happened?" I asked her. She sighed. "it's... a long story,"

We fled into a room, but the escape stopped there. I knew we wouldn't get away with it.

***

Jacob's POV

I was on my way to visit Hillary, explain to her some... stuff, when I heard the voice of a boy in her room. I peeked through the keyhole and listened carefully.

"Eddie, what are you doing here?!"

"I'm here to rescue you!"

Hillary shook her head. "that's a fools wish! Eddie, you need to get away! They'll kill you!"

He hugged her. "I'm not letting you go, Hillary. Ever." and then he kissed her, and she kissed him back. I growled and felt my throat churning. Who was he, and why was he kissing my mate?

I'd hidden from view after that, allowing him to lead my love out of the room and down the corridor. I only bothered to step in his way when I noticed my brothers mates, the boy must be helping them all escape.

What the hell was this?

I stepped out from the shadows, my plan set. I knew what I had to do.

***

Hillary's POV

Words could not describe how happy I'd been when I'd first seen Eddie, but then I'd been worried - the reason I contacted Jess was because they'd disguise themselves as maids, but Eddie...

Now here we were, being faced by Jacob, and I KNEW this was the end now, he would kill me without a second glance... it was a shame I never got to live that life that any girl wanted.

"well," Jacob growled. "Hillary I have done my best to make you feel at home and I am sorry you don't feel safe around me, but I asked you one thing and that was for you to not run!"

I gasped at the harshness of him words. Yep, it was over.

"but this..." Jacob laughed. "this suprised me. I'm sorry Hillary but clearly my words aren't affecting you, so I will have to make you understand using actions."

And that's when he reached out and grabbed Eddie, tugging him away from me. That's when my boyfriends fate was sealed, and I guess I'd known it the moment he'd stepped into this darn castle.

I still screamed when I heard his neck snap, when I saw Jacob do the dirty job so easily it was like snapping a twig. I fell to my knees, tears streaming down my face, sorrow pouring out of me like water going through a plug hole.

The strangest thing was my tears weren't mainly because he was my boyfriend, nor because he had just been killed. The main horror was that he'd been killed before my eyes, and I'd done NOTHING to stop him.

When he saw me, Jacob's eyes filled with sorrow once more, but those eyes were red. He'd just killed Eddie without a second glance at who he is, and that was sick.

I screamed at Jacob, a stream of curse words and repeatedly squealing "what have you done?!"

But of course, I knew what he had done, and as soon as he left the room I knew I would never forgive him for it.

***

Jessica's POV

"Katy!" I called. Of course, I was scared. Eddie had just got killed before my eyes... but I didn't really know him so I couldn't shed any tears for him.

Katy and Jess scurried out from under the desk, and I sighed. I couldn't believe Jacob hadn't seen them. It had been so close.

"Common," Katy told us. "if we're going to make a move, it's now or never. Someone will find us and know we're not maids - plus there's no doubt the other boys will punish you for this."

I shivered. The thought of all the punishments Vincent could give me were horrible, especially the worst ones. I shivered.

"OK, let's go."

Between all of us, we managed to get a struggling and crying Hillary off the floor, telling her we'd have to leave Eddie's body, while she screamed at us.

Katy led us to the back door, which was thankfully unlocked, and led us out. There was a van parked out front and Jess pulled out the keys. I gasped.

"Guys, we're underaged!" Katy and Jess frowned, turning to each other. Then I had an idea. "wait... ONE of us isn't."

I grinned at Hannah. She snarled. "No way. I'll crash us straight into a gorge."

I sighed. "would you prefer to stay here?"

She bit her lip and shook her head, and Jess handed her the keys. I was only just realising how much Hannah had changed.

She climbed in, leaving us to heave Hillary into the back. Jess took the front seat, while Katy and I grabbed the back 2. Hillary lay across the final layer of seats behind us.

Any other time and I would of asked where they got the van from, but I was too busy worrying. The quicker and further we got away from this castle, the better.

Hannah put the key into the lock and turned. The van gave a rumble and Hannah bit her lip.

"I THINK I can remember the basics..." she mumbled, and put her foot on what I hoped was the gas. The car span into motion, and Hannah soon had it under control... which I marvelled at as the drove us onto the little gravel path leading, hopefully, as far away from the castle as we could get.

"which way?" Hannah asked Jess as the car smoothly ran through the gates and onto the hard tarmac. Jess grabbed a map from the compartment above and began giving directions.

There was a low mumble from the back of the car. I unplugged my seatbelt and made my way over to Hillary.

"What's happening?" she asked.

"Katy and Jess hid when... well Jacob left and we got you into this van. Don't worry Hillary - we're going home."

"we can't," Hillary lowered her head. I shook mine.

"why not?" Hillary gestures to herself and Hannah.

"I don't think anyone back home is used to seeing people age 6 years over a matter of days."

I gulped. I'd forgotten all about that. What were we going to do?

"we can find something," I told her. "I don't know... a cave. Jess!" I called up front. Jess turned.

"yeah?"

"we have a slight problem. Hannah and Hillary have been... age accelerated, you could say. They can't go back - it just wouldn't work."

Jess gulped. "Hannah, turn to the left instead of right. We can camp out in a cave for a while... we don't really have much choice."

I nodded and turned back to Hillary. Her eyes were wet and filled with tears.

"Eddie..."

I shook my head, taking her hands in mine. "Hillary... Eddie's gone. He died doing something we will always be grateful for, he died a saviour."