A/N: I am so, so, so, so sorry for not updating this earlier. A lot of things had happened that put me off writing (*cough* some friend had told me to quit it like 2 years ago, and after a while I sort of forgot about this site*) for almost a year and now I've almost recovered from it thanks to a certain individuals!

—Reading Chapter 4—

Barry took the orange book in his hands and refused to settle in his seat, somewhere from the crowd Spook made a comment about him almost peeing his pants. Which only a few chuckled to, however Jacob stayed silent, when everyone asked him why exactly he wouldn't narrate Spook Jacob stated that he was indeed narrating inside his head and no longer wished to interfere with the reading pace of the chapter.

'Gina looked Dax up and down before she spoke, and for one mad second he though she might be about to ask if he was OK.'

'Clearly; he was intoxicated.' Clive shrugged casually.

'Yea, high on lethal chemicals.' Spook rolled his eyes. 'Carry on, I'm interested in how he gets out of this.'

'You mean, things other than yourself can be interesting.' Lisa asked. 'Wow, that's some character development.'

'All written in the next four books.' Spook smiled smugly, and Dax who understood the reference began to laugh out loud.

'Ha?'

'Inside jokes, inside jokes everywhere. You'll get it if we read on and see my crazy character development. So hurry up, Barry!'

''What happened?' she demanded, her eyes raking over him and the shed around him. He was drenched with sweat and shaking, but now he tried to look groggy too.

'The wind blew the door shut,' he mumbled, 'and then the latch fell down. I've been stuck in here since just after you left.''

'I don't know you guys but that is some pretty damn long response coming from somebody who's "groggy".' Darren stated in all honesty. 'You should've said something like: "Got locked up in the shed, blame the wind, haven't gotten out since you left" with random sighs.'

'Yes, and that would make this book a complete fiction bestseller now wouldn't it?' Spook asked sarcastically.

'She regarded him for a moment and he couldn't tell what she was thinking. After perhaps ten seconds she simply drew a short breath and turned back up the garden path.'

'Not too much of a surprise if you ask me.' Jenny rolled her eyes.

'Actually it is: she didn't snap at him.' Alex began, 'That's a shock itself.' Jacob finished off for him.

''Don't just stand there, then,' she said, over her shoulder 'Come in and get your tea.''

'The witch offers food!' Gideon exclaimed, to that action, Spook looked over his shoulder to face the eccentricity of the blonde boy. 'Don't take it Dax, it might be poisoned or something.' Gideon warned.

'It's all a part of her evil plan boy,' Clive carried on, 'it's like the warm cosy house invite a serial killer gives to the victim in horror movies!'

'Relax guys, she isn't that evil...' Dax said soothingly, as the shapeshifter was one of the most level-headed members of the group.

'In the kitchen, Alice was at the table wearing a new pink fur thing. He guessed it was a sort of waistcoat but Alice said, proudly, that it was a bolero, which sounded to Dax like something used to hold back traffic. Frankly, it was better suited to holding back traffic.'

'A furry bolero?' Spook recapped disgusted, "Not to mention: A PINK furry bolero!? What sort of a fashion statement is that? By the way bolero is some sort of Spanish vest, remember this if you don't want to sound like an idiot when your future girlfriend takes you out for clothes shopping.' Spook finished with a wink, Dax turned bright red for a millisecond but chose to ignore his last comment.

'Alice sort of fashion statement,' Dax suggested, 'give her a break Spook, she was nine years old, at least she doesn't wear a sparkly cape.'

'This isn't a fashion statement Jones!' Spook fended, as his face once again turned the same colour as his dark red hair. 'It's an occupational dress-code.'

'... You don't see David Copperfield dress like that...' Dax mumbled, softly enough that Spook wouldn't hear him. Soon enough, Barry decided to carry on:

'But Alice was in a good mood and quite friendly as Dax got himself a glass of water, twisting on the tap with a shaky hand.

'We saw Kelly at The Sphinx,' she chattered—'

'Worst. Name. For. A. Shop.' Lisa growled in disgust. 'Ever.' she emphasised to prove her point.

'Rather daft, don't you think?' Spook wondered tilting his head to the side with wonder.

'(The Sphinx was the daftest name imaginable for an English shopping centre),'

'See? Even Daxerella thinks so.'

'I'm telling you Alex, this guy here, he's a psychic.' Jacob muttered to his twin, who nodded in astonished amazement.

'You two are just easily amazed.' Spook rolled his eyes.

'I wanna call it: "Cousin's telepathy".' Alex agreed, and Spook only grunted in disagreement.

''and I'm going to a sleepover party with her nest week. Sorry, Dax, you can't come. Boys aren't allowed.''

'Dax, does your little sister have an "older brother complex"?' Spook asked.

'What? No! She resents me!' Dax pulled a disgusted face to the accusations of the redheaded boy. 'What made you think that?'

'Just her approach, it was almost as though she wanted you to be jealous.' Spook furrowed his eyebrows.

'No I'm pretty sure Alice doesn't have an "older brother complex" for me.'

'Dax snorted suddenly into his water, and choked slightly.'

'That's not very nice.' Darren commented crossly.

'Not at the thought of going to a sleepover party with Alice and all her little pink friends, but because he'd just noticed what tea was.'

'Chicken?' Barry guessed.

'Chicken.' Dax confirmed.

'Red and white striped boxes sat on the table —it was take-away fried chicken. Dax began to giggle, which made Alice and Gina stare. Dax wasn't generally given to giggling in their company.'

'Dax wasn't generally given to do anything in their company.' Rephrased Gideon, rolling his eyes.

'Meh, they probably didn't want to see signs of any amusement from him when he was around...' rephrased Spook, as he leant back to stretch his back, whilst letting out a drowsy, drawn out yawn. 'I'm sort of feeling a little worn out, maybe we'll stop at chapter four today?' Spook suggested.

'Hush little Spook now don't you cry,' Alex begun singing, and Jacob eagerly jumped in to finish the tune.

'Papa's gonna bake you a brand new pie.'

'Pie? I don't even like desserts.' Spook said, whilst laughing and lied back with a smug grin.

'Oh Spook, now that's just a bunch of baloney. Everybody likes pie.' Barry stated, whilst smiling a wise man smile, and shaking his head like a well educated adult.

'Ha ha ha… well now it's going to be everybody minus one.' Spook stated.

'This is blasphemy! Horror! This is God's punishment to us Jacob.' Alex exclaimed frantically whilst holding onto his brother and shaking him madly. Jacob, on the other hand, was sniffling and hiccupping onto his twin's shoulder. Spook sat up from where he was lying, he had an utterly confused expression on his face.

'What is the big deal? It's just pie.' Spook explained, 'and keep it quiet, if somebody hears us at this time of the day we will be in big trouble.'

'It's the meaning of life! It's eternal, it's… pie' Jacob said, starry eyed at the end of the sentence. 'We can educate you about the greatness of pie if you want.'

'Sure, give it your best shot, results will remain the same though' Spook replied defiantly. 'Can we keep going with the story please, I swear I feel as though I might fall asleep on someone.'

'Our lap is always open to you, Spook, our child.' Smiled Jacob, to that, even Luke looked like he was cracking a laugh and Darren was hiding his face from his best friend.

'Oh, this get's better.' Clive laughed.

'The plot just thickened.' Barry added and the two hi-fived each other in their "success". Spook was senile to what he had just heard; he merely thought he had misheard Jacob.

'Did you just say "our child"?'

'Dax, Spook, we have something important to tell you,' Alex stated, and Jacob came to his side. Both looked very much serious and solemn about what they were about to say. 'I… I mean we…'

'You two are our adopted children.' Jacob finished for him. Dax's jaw dropped to the floor, Spook on the other hand did not even say a word. 'We decided to adopt you two as our children because of your poor family lives.' Alex explained.

'I am not even surprised that it's me anymore, but why involve Daxerella now?' Spook asked.

'It's because we don't want to separate the cousins, now could you please read Barry? It's almost our babies' bedtime.' Jacob said, in a horrible maternal tone (or would it be paternal? Dax wasn't even sure anymore).

''What's wrong with you, boy?' snapped Gina and peered at him hard. In the bright glare of the kitchen light, his scratched and grubby face was obvious. 'What's this?' she demanded and strode across to poke him hard on his wounded shoulder,'

'Because, you know, poking at wounds is the best way to make them better.' Gideon faked an advertiser smile.

'Where a little flower of blood had bloomed through his sleeve. 'What were you doing in that shed?''

'He committed self-harm because life was just too much for him.' Lisa cried in sadness.

'Calm your farm, crazy. My cousin/brother isn't that desperate for escape yet, life has many, many obstacles in store for him.' Spook said as he threw an arm around Dax. Dax smiled wryly, as he knew this was the closest thing that he had yet gotten to a compliment with Spook, maybe not but the constant negative criticism had made him feel so.

'I wonder how cleverly our friend Dax will get out from this situation.' Stated Lisa, with a sharp hint of sarcasm dressing her tone.

''I—I—nothing,' stammered Dax.'

'As smoothly as expected.' Spook concluded with a slight snigger. 'You should feel privileged, not many people amuse me this much.'

'Why? It's an honour.' Dax smiled, he was by now used to Spook's teasing just as Darren had gotten used to it.

''I just fell over in it. I… sort of fainted. It was very hot.'

Gina looked at him hard and her face was impossible to read. Maybe she was about to strike him—she probably would—, or maybe smile and say 'never mind'. —Ha ha ha ha… not a chance— Perhaps she was worried about what his father might think.'

'I bet ten pounds on Dax being slapped across the face.' Spook declared raising his hand. The other guys (except Dax and Barry as they had been exposed to the result) looked at each other competitively.

'Make it twenty more on Dax getting smacked.' Gideon said. Dax looked at him dumbfounded, 'sorry mate, you don't stand much chance in making it out of this fine.'

'It's always nice to know that your best mate has no faith in you.' Dax rolled his eyes at Gideon's actions in betting.

'Don't take it personally, Dax. Spook pretty much has no faith in me and we get on just fine.' Darren said patting his friend on the shoulder. Like Mia, Darren was pretty much everybody's good friend, and had no nemesis within the COLA Club.

'Darren, you're the best comfort anyone could get.' Dax said teary eyed.

'Now that being said; Spook mate, I think that she is worried of what Dax's father might think so I will put thirty pounds on that bet.' Darren said, and Dax's jaw dropped: Darren doing something unkind, and disagreeing with Spook? This was just beyond extraordinary.

'Alex and I bet fifty more on being struck across the face.' Jacob declared, locking arms with his brother proudly. Luke looked from side to side shyly, and then wrote on his whiteboard.

I bet £20 on Gina being worried.

Luke showed the board with a wide grin across his face, as he too was enjoying this very much. Dax was pretty much distraught on how people were betting on his fate, or at least he seemed to be, whereas the girls stood in a circle shaking their heads in disapproval of the boys' behaviour.

'You boys are so immature.' Mia, of all people, stated in disappointment and Dax could've sworn to see a look of distraught wash over Spook and Luke's face for a second. 'You should be ashamed of yourselves.'

'Mia, Mia, Mia… betting is like religion for men. All of us have a way of performing it.' Darren replied. Spook looked at his usually introvert friend, no longer able to recognise him, with all horror and shock written in every particle of his face.

'I don't know what you are, but please stop possessing my friend Darren at this minute.'

'What? Even Dr Watson from Sherlock Holmes bets.' Darren stated defiantly.

'Well, Clive clearly knows better as he is the only one that hasn't bet on anything yet.' Lisa stated crossing her arms like an angry mother.

'Well, that's because clearly in a situation like this. The unlikely is most likely to occur. I bet a hundred pounds Gina will smile and say 'never mind'.' Clive suggested, and with that all girls lost hope in the guys of the group and just talked amongst themselves instead. The boys sniggered and laughed at Clive's theory and the amount of money he had bet on it.

'Well bro, we are going to be rich either way.' Gideon smiled whilst throwing his arm over Luke's thin shoulders. Luke smiled back nodding eagerly.

'Dad was due home in a few days and the bruises might still show.'

'Ooh this is looking good for us, Luke!' Darren said, feeling totally piped up, his sudden character change not subsiding yet. 'We'll share the prize money £75 and £75?' Luke nodded in agreement. It was the fairest thing to do in a combined bet.

'Screw you!' Spook cut him off whilst praying he wouldn't have to lose his money.

''Eat your food,' she said shortly. 'And then get yourself cleaned up. You stink like a dog.''

'Irony…' Lisa smirked.

'Dax, still working hard to stop grinning, sat down and polished off his second fried chicken takeaway that day. Taken away from a shop rather than a bin this time, but still tasting much the same.'

'And still not figuring out the secret recipe…' Spook cried to himself. 'Alex, Jacob, why couldn't you guys have adopted me a smarter brother like Darren, Clive or Luke?'

'You're going along with it?' Jenny asked Spook, giggling.

'There's no other way around these two. Explain for me Dax?'

'You only waste your breath by going against or be happy to go along with it.' Dax explained. 'And you complain about a marvellous brother like me.'

'Some people are just smarter than you are, but you're smart too.' Spook rephrased with a smile, and Dax smiled back. Then they just stood there smiling at each other, nodding.

'Dude, you thought that the cold, wasted fried chicken tasted same as a freshly cooked one.' Barry said shaking his head in disappointment. 'I wouldn't trust a sense of taste like that, if I were you Spook.'

'After tea he got into the shower and after the shower he got straight into bed. He was extremely tired and achy, as if he'd run a marathon. His very bones felt sore. And they should. They'd shrunk and twisted and turned themselves into fox bones not three hours ago—and then back to boy bones again.'

'Come to think of it, that does sound very painful.' Mia stated, deep in thought. 'You must have great tolerance against pain, Dax.'

'I live with Gina and Alice. One does become accustomed towards pain.'

'Look at them Alex… aren't our sons magnificent.' Jacob turned to his brother with starry eyes, Alex looked back with a similar expression and a swooning sigh. 'Indeed Jacob, they are the best kids anyone can ever ask for.'

'Ew… incest, gay marriage?' Jenny looked at the twins in disgust.

'I prefer calling it, "tightening the family bonds", but yea, essentially gay marriage. Take note that this is legal in England.' Alex added.

'Hey, at least they do their research before they come up with their crazy ideas.' Clive stated. 'Now that I think of it, why did you search about gay marriage?'

'We came across it in a newspaper article, and immediately were drawn to it.' Jacob smiled broadly.

'Don't ask, questions, it's a waste of breath.' Spook re-stated.

'Just go with it.' Dax added.

'People told you about growing up and how it did odd things to you, reflected Dax, like growing hair under your arms and your voice changing. But no one had thought to tell him, 'Oh… and by the way—sometimes you turn into a fox.''

'HAHAHAHA! That's because it doesn't happen to everybody Daxerella you dumb dingo!' Spook laughed.

'Ok, son, that's enough comedy for you in a day, now settle down…' Alex said whilst trying to quieten down Spook. 'I swear he isn't usually like this when we get out.'

Though I must admit, it is amusing to see how Dax thinks that this is a normal situation. Luke showed his whiteboard with a broad smile across his face.

'See? That's what I'm talking about.' Spook said whilst gesturing at the whiteboard. 'Besides you can never have "enough comedy" with Dax.'

'Spencer, stop interrupting for one minute. Or so help me, I will rip out your vocal chords in your sleep.' Lisa threatened.

'Mummy…' Spook whimpered whilst hiding behind Alex.

'Wait, I'm the woman in this relationship?' Alex turned to Jacob. 'Why?'

'Now, baby, there is no need to confuse the child, our little Spook clearly needs our help and support.'

'Okayyy… I'm reading now!' Barry declared, seeing as how the situation was going to get out of control.

'It wasn't something they put helpful posters about up on the walls at school. A tired, mad little giggle eased out of Dax as he got sleepier. He pictured the poster. BOYS, it read, HAVING FOX PROBLEMS? CAN'T STOP SCAVENGING ON TIPS AND EATING SPIDERS? COME AND SEE THE SCHOOL COUNSELLOR...

Dax thought he heard the shrill scream of a distant vixen in the woods—your mate, I can call these things—as he drifted off to sleep, still laughing.'

'Ugh. That is the creepiest way to sleep, like, you look at them and they're just smiling emptily at you…' Spook said as he shivered in thought.

Lisa glared at him, and he went quiet again with a 'sorry'.

'And, of course, the next morning he was even more inclined to think it was all a dream.'

'Not this again,' sighed Gideon.

'It must've been. The hurt shoulder had happened when he'd fainted and he'd just had an amazing dream.

But before he left for school, on a cool, grey morning, he found an excuse to walk down the garden, and with a pulse of excitement, he saw clearly the broken plank at the back of the shed, and the scattered chicken bones and squashed box under the hedge. How had he managed that, if it was just a dream?'

'Wait, this cold, grey morning somehow feels familiar.' Clive thought out loud.

'Who cares about that? I think things will finally be getting interesting here.' Spook said.

'Clive met him at the gate—'

'Awww yea! I am first introduced! First!' Clive celebrated to himself.

'Ooh let's have a character introduction countdown, last person will have to go through a penalty, game of some sort.' Gideon proposed.

The last introduced character will have to buy soda and lunch for the rest of us, on a given day. Luke proposed, and everybody came into an agreement, however some of the kids were worried on whether or not their character would be introduced last.

'as he arrived at school. Clive's glasses were bent again and his Monday morning jumper, which should have been clean and ironed, was scrunched up and had muddy stains on it. Dax looked at his friend closely and saw his eyes were still wet.'

'Did you punch the people who did this?' Spook asked.

'Even better.' Dax smiled like a Cheshire cat.

'I am not ashamed to call you my cousin.' Spook smiled back twice as cunningly.

'He gave him a bit of tissue from his pocket as they headed into the school. There was nothing he needed to say. Clive had just had another smacking from Toby Rogers and Matthew Spacey. Clive told him they'd found out were he lived and were waiting for him at the bottom of his road.'

'I am pretty sure you could get them arrested for this mate.' Barry said, 'Pretty sure.'

''I don't mind getting thumped at school,' he said, daftly, because of course, he did mind. 'But I just can't stand it when they're outside my house too.'

'Are you going to tell?' asked Dax, although he knew what the answer would be. Clive eyed him as if he'd gone mad. He was a small boy, smaller than Dax, and clever.'

'This is slightly upsetting to hear.' Darren said. 'I understand how you feel, people were jerks when they found out that I lived with my nana.'

'Psh! They don't matter, you've better friends and classmates now.' Spook said, patting his best friend on the back. 'Not to mention, a best friend who's the most amazing, charismatic and funniest person alive on the planet.'

'I wouldn't have you any other way.' Darren smiled.

'Oh, look at them Jacob, they're just like us when we first met.'

'What do you mean: "met"? We've always been together woman!' Jacob laughed, and Alex joined him.

'He was extremely good at science and maths and he talked way too posh for a boy at Bark's End Junior School.'

'Aw, Dax, I am flattered.' Clive smiled happily.

'Clive had a quite unique unintentional habit of looking posh, too, which didn't help. He carried an old-fashioned brown satchel, rather than a backpack, and wore knitted v-neck jumpers and a tie, when he could have worn a school sweatshirt and polo top instead.'

'We should be happy Spence didn't go to that school, right?' Lisa giggled, eyeing Spook's back where a cape would have been, two years ago.

'One, it is Spook, not "Spence". And, two people stayed away from me in Junior High. I didn't really have the best time of my life either, and, three: you were the one who was complaining about my commentary not too long ago. Hypocrite…' Spook said crossing his arms, and pouting.

'Stop bullying my baby…' whined Alex, hugging Spook.

'Okay, mother-hen, calm down.' Lisa grinned leaning back.

'He was asking for it, really, as far as Toby and Matthew were concerned. So far this term, they'd smacked with large beans off the Indian bean tree in the upper school playground,'

'That sounds quite posh for a bully, don't you think so?' Darren commented.

'wrecked his scale model of a steamship and its mechanical workings which he'd spent hours on for a class project, held his head down the toilet bowl and flushed it, up-ended him in a bin, and shoved itchy rosehip seeds down his shirt countless times.'

'Seriously, this abuse is getting out of hand.' Mia commented, 'Someone needs to tell the teacher, call the police, do anything.'

'Don't worry, Daxerella will save the day.' Spook reassured Mia.

'Dax tried to help. He was the one who ended up sloshing water down Clive's back to get the seeds off and handing him the paper towels to dry his recently flushed hair. He'd spoken up boldly for Clive once or twice, answering back when Toby and Matthew were jeering at him, and got clouted on the nose for his efforts. Clive told him not to bother.'

'You're one loyal geek, you know that don't you?' Lisa turned to Clive.

'I take that as your compliment, thanks.' Clive smiled.

''Look,' he said, sagely, 'this is what school is for me. I just have to get through it. One day I'll be at college and then at university and then I'll have a really high up job and I'll hire Toby and Matthew to concrete the drive outside my mansion house, and when they're not looking I'll spit in their tea and rub their chocolate biscuits over the cat.''

'You plan on keeping a cat?' Spook asked, eyes shining.

'You like cats?'

'We use to keep one; mum had bought it as a kitten when she was pregnant to me, or so dad says. It was around until I was ten.' Spook explained. 'Apparently I cried for hours when we tried to give it to the pound, so my step-mum was kind enough to allow us to keep it.'

'What was it like?' asked Dax. 'Did it have a name?'

'It was like a white tabby with golden brown patch on its back.' Spook described, 'and its name was "Butter-chicken".'

'Wait!' Gideon stopped it, 'butter-chicken as in like the Indian food? Well, that just made a really sad story, not so dramatic.'

'It was either going to be curry, or rice. At the end she'd decided to make it 'Butter-chicken'. It was the best cat in the world, totally irreplaceable.'

'What made it so?' asked Mia, completely into the story.

'Well, you see, when favoured by it, Butter-chicken would retrieve a sock and present it to you, and then sleep on your lap, and play fetch.'

'I'll name my cat 'Curry' in the memory of Butter-chicken if you want.' Clive suggested.

'I'm sure Butter-chicken would appreciate that.' Spook said, with a nostalgic tone.

'I'm feeling hungry…' Barry whined quietly.

'Dax laughed until he cried. Clive could be so funny, without even trying. And it was true, he'd been enduring regular bruisings from Toby and Matthew and other part-time bullies for all his school life. Some things you just got used to.

But one day people may go too far. And for Clive it was that Thursday.'

'This author really knows how to build up tension.' Jenny stated, totally entranced by the story.

'Shh, I wanna read to you what happens.' Barry warned his glamour friend. 'Inconsiderate fool.'

Jenny pulled off a childish face at him, but let him read.

''That's fantastic! Really, the best I've ever seen!'' Mrs Radway beamed at Clive, who was pink in the face and delighted that his work was top of the class again. He'd just handed in another working model—a perfect clock, engineered from paper. It was an astounding thing, thought Dax, as Mrs Radway held it up and turned it gently under the fluorescent light above he classroom. Cut into precise cogs and levers from fine green card and pasted carefully together—it actually worked.'

Wow, that's amazing Clive and it happened 4 years ago? Luke wrote on his whiteboard, eyes wide with admiration.

'Nah, it's nowhere near as amazing as some stuff I have seen here.' Clive smiled.

'Casting illusions isn't that much of brainwork, Brainy.' Spook said, with similar amazement. 'You're not even a COLA, just a natural born genius.'

'I'm getting too much flattery here.' Clive said, turning pink.

''Clive, I'd like you to take this right down to Mr Clegg now,' said Mrs Radway. 'I think he should see what a clever boy you are.''

'Don't teachers ever think?' exclaimed Lisa.

'Don't teachers ever think? wondered Dax, as he heard Toby and Matthew sniggering. Don't they ever think about what's going to happen after they've said stuff like that? Clive was too thrilled to notice, but Dax could not only hear and feel the danger building up in the desks behind him, he could actually smell it. Hostility, resentment, and violence leaked out of Toby's and Matthew's skin like an evil fog and wafted down the aisles between the desks, sneaking towards Clive.'

'I can actually see how this will turn out to be…' Mia said, in her cool voice but face painted with agony.

'Dax, what you do to these simpletons better be worth the wait.' Lisa said angrily.

'Now that I think about it, it wasn't enough.' Dax smiled evilly. 'I should visit them again sometime.'

'Poor Clive literally skipped as he headed to the door with his paper clock—there was a long drawn out 'aw' from every person in the group—. And maybe that was the final straw. Toby and Matthew got up with the rest of the class as the bell rang for break, and then charged through the door after him.

In the confusion of each class emptying itself into the long school corridor, Toby and Matthew could no longer be seen; nor could Clive. It didn't matter to Dax. He could smell them. Their scent led away towards the head teacher's office and he hoped that maybe they wouldn't have the nerve to chase Clive too far in that direction. Suddenly, Dax picked up another, sharp, hot scent—it was one of panic and it came from Clive. He pushed hard through the swarm of children and tried to run but then drew to a halt and turned his head to the right. There was no classroom or exit to the playground, but a dull, blue-painted door, normally locked solidly against pupils.'

'Worst idea for a hiding place, I swear, bullies can smell fear.' Clive humoured.

'Why would you hide somewhere isolated? Why would you do that Clive?' Barry asked dramatically. 'I thought you were smarter than this.'

'It was the moment of panic, okay? You would've done the same.' Clive said sagely.

'He knew it led down to a short flight of concrete steps to the school basement, which housed the boiler and the caretaker's tools and cleaning equipment. Dax shoved the door hard and found he was right; the door swung open and a dim light shone up from the underground gloom.

Dax ran down the stairs and nearly slid, halfway, over some pieces of green card. With a groan, he knelt and picked up one or two shreds of Clive's wonderful paper clock.'

It's horrid what people do over jealousy. Luke wrote on his whiteboard, his face grim.

'Yea, I agree.' Darren said.

'Don't worry, karma will strike them back, and by karma I mean Dax.' Gideon said in his usual good mood.

'Anger punched into him and he yelled: 'Clive! Where are you?!' his sharp hearing immediately picked up a small whimper, followed by a snigger and a scuffle.'

'Anytime now, my son will show his awesome second character, and teach those hyenas a lesson.' Jacob stood proudly slapping Dax on the back. 'Please make sure they won't be able to walk again.' he said with a misfit smile on his equally misfit blissful face.

'Dax thundered on down into the basement and saw Clive wedged into a foot-high gap under the boiler, curled up on his side. Someone had yanked out his tie and shoved a rancid looking mop-head down the front of his shirt. There was a little smudge of dark red under his nose and the ancient dust under his cheek was congealing into a damp sludge where tears had trickled into it.'

'That is appalling.' Spook said as he pictured it in his mind.

'You don't say…' Lisa stated.

'Even I wouldn't do that to someone whom I wished for their death.' Spook stated, bewildered. 'Bullying was worst in your school, yea?'

'Yea…' Dax and Clive said together.

'If you ever go for a visit, take me along too. We'll chase them to the same basement and I'll make them meet my Halloween House of Horrors Ghost. I was able to successfully complete him after I could conjure plausible skeletons and intestines. I bet with that we can make it to the next Paranormal Activity film.'

'You're really obsessed with fame aren't you?' Clive said looking sceptically at Spook.

'Obsession is a young man's game. What I have for fame is simply a passion.' Spook stated poetically.

'Are you quoting from "the Prestige"?' Lisa asked, suddenly seeming interested in what Spook was saying. However, he just gave her a baffled stare, as though she were speaking Greek.

'What's "the Prestige"?' Spook asked.

'Oh, I thought you might know? An illusionist movie and all, it has Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale in it. I suggest you check it out.'

'Isn't Hugh Jackman Wolverine? And Christian Bale the "Batman"?' Spook asked.

'Yep, and in this movie they're both illusionists.' Lisa explained.

A long pause came by the air was full of consideration.

'I'm buying it.' Spook finally said, and the entire room cracked up in laughter. It was a nice relief from the heavy atmosphere that the little orange book was giving with its current scene.

'Dax was appalled. Fresh fury shot through him and he glanced around for Clive's attackers. Clive was saying now, raspily: 'Don't, Dax. Dax, just go. I'm OK.' The absurdity of his words stung Dax into action and he grabbed a short piece of wood from the floor and charged around the basement, clattering into old boxes and steel buckets and snake-like coils of hosepipe.'

'Strangle them with the hosepipe, yeah?' Barry suggested and laughed maniacally.

''Where are you?!' he shrieked. 'Come out, you stinking cowards!'

'And you'll do what?' Toby stepped out of the gloom, smirking across his thick, ugly face. Matthew sidled out next to him, his good-looking features blighted by his natural nastiness.

Dax heard his voice strangling in his throat as he said, 'I'll show you what.''

'Oooh! Shiz just got real!' Alex and Jacob chirped in perfect synchronisation.

'Clive cried out, 'Dax—don't! Just go!'

As he raised the wood Dax saw a flicker of confusion, rather than fear, in Toby's eyes. 'Oh, yeah—right—I'm scared,' chortled Matthew.

Dax brought the wood down as hard as he could in the direction of Toby's head. It cracked against him, but it was the boy's hand that had caught the blow—'

'Oh, come on. Dax! You had one job! You are a loser, a sole loser.' Spook mocked a whine.

'I get the feeling you had called me that before.' Dax scowled in consideration. 'As well as "foxy", you did give us some nicknames didn't you?'

'Have no idea what you're talking about, Jones. Look at me, I'm a ginger for Pete's sake, do I seem like the type of person who would give nicknames and mock other people?' Spook feigned innocence and everybody chuckled under their breath.

'The only true statement there was you being a ginger.' Gideon laughed.

'It was the only statement.' Spook rolled his eyes with a sly smirk. 'And in the wise words of Tim Minchin: only a ginger can call another ginger: "ginger". And the only "ginger" thing about you is your freckles, Reader.'

'Yea, something must've gone wrong with the creator on that day, aye? Because, I'm pretty sure these'—he pointed at the freckles on his face—'are meant to be yours mate.' Gideon said, and the two got into silent fits of laughter, until they were red on their faces.

'a large, thick hand, like its large, thick owner, which was even now clenching on to Dax's piece of wood and twisting it out of his grasp. Dax didn't have time to step back before the wood struck him across the cheek. Toby played cricket and all his expertise went into the swing.'

Ouch… Luke wrote in his whiteboard, and the way he held it up, made him resemble the Coyote from "Roadrunner" cartoon show.

'If you knew he played cricket, why did you attack him with a piece of wood?' Barry shook his head. 'You should've strangled them.'

'Dax was pole-axed—if you'd just strangled them, this wouldn't have ever happened—.'

'Or maybe he could've locked them in a tank full of water, a slow, agonising death.'

'Seriously, Spence? This is the second "The Prestige" reference you've made today.' Lisa glowered at Spook. Spook stared back, clueless.

'I have no idea what you're talking about, Hardman. But you better not spoil the movie I am so eagerly waiting to watch.' Spook knitted his brows harshly.

'As he tipped back and fell onto a narrow strip of stone floor behind the boiler, he could already smell his own blood, and the wave of rage that plunged down over him just before the back of his head hit, was like nothing he'd ever known.

It couldn't have been more than ten seconds, but to Dax it seemed longer and slower. He could feel the muggy heat at the base of the old boiler and smell the sharp iron scent of blood in his nose; he could feel his skin stretching and swelling around the impact point on his cheek; he could hear Clive whimpering again and Toby saying, 'That'll sort him out. He started it. Mate—you live by the sword, you die by the sword.''

'By that logic, these guys should die by torment.' Jenny stated

'No they need more suffering, like humiliation, disappointment.' Barry also added.

'I can't believe my eyes. This really has you guys worked up, aye?' Clive said, seeming very delighted and impressed by his friends.

'Of course, you're our favourite and only genius, Clive.' Jacob smiled as he patted him on the back.

'Gee, I'm flattered.' Clive blushed, from all the attention he was getting.

'Now only if Daxerella shapeshifted, and finished this pointless fight.' Spook leant back. 'And then, I can sleep in peace tonight.'

''Live by the plank, die by the plank,' added Matthew and the pair began sniggering helplessly.

Dax's skin was tingling weirdly all over. For a while his vision swam into inky blackness and the sound of taps turned on to their fullest was back in his ears and then he was lying on his belly, looking under the base of the boiler to the back of Clive's head and watching Toby's and Matthew's school shoes walk by, and pause by their victim. Maybe that would've been that, if Dax hadn't then seen one of each pair of scuffed black lace-ups senselessly give Clive a vicious kick.'

'That's it! Are you going to do anything about this Daxerella? The chapter's almost over and I am feeling very unsatisfied with your failures so far.' Spook crossed his arms, pouting.

'Dax screamed. The sound was so high and wild and loud that it scared even him. But the scream was only the start. His sleek auburn body curled around the boiler and then sprang at the two boys. There was a blur of grey and red and then Dax realized he wasn't the only one screaming. His claws found cloth and skin and hair, his teeth found flailing limbs and contorted faces; the wildness that stormed through him poured out on to Toby and Matthew as they cried out and stumbled and sobbed, clawing desperately at the thing that was attacking them, trying to get back up the basement steps.'

'Excellent, make sure that they die of rabies. Do you have rabies, Daxerella?' asked Spook.

'You are one gruesome child.' Lisa scowled. 'But I must admit, this is satisfying.'

'He had it coming~ He had it coming~ He only had himself to blame~' Darren hummed quietly, but loud enough for the group to here.

'Are you humming "Chicago"?' Mia asked Darren, with a smirk on her face. Even for her, to see a boy humming that song today was odd.

'I listen to a lot of musicals.' Darren said, turning bright red from embarrassment.

'Be careful, Mia, if he gets even more red. He will explode, what he lacks is a little bit of a backbone.' Spook smiled. 'Hence, I am transplanting some of my own into him.'

'Hush, I know that it may seem a little odd. I am not a big fan of it either…' Darren said even more quietly.

'Yes, and we are dying to find out what else is done to those two.' Jacob and Alex again said in perfect synchronisation.

''Help me! Help me!' cried Matthew. 'It's a monster! Mum! Mum!' Toby just kept up a high-pitched wail and tried feebly to beat Dax off his shoulder as he staggered up the steps.

The pandemonium grew louder and louder and more desperate and Dax felt his teeth pierce skin.'

'Remind me to never annoy you, okay?' Spook said whilst smiling awkwardly, he knew he wasn't nearly as bad as those two. But he was still too worried that someday he too might take his teasing a bit too far.

'Don't worry, Spook. I believe you're better than you were then.' Dax said reassuringly.

'I wonder how we will feel at our character introductions…' said Jenny, 'after all, it's been at least four years since then.'

'Well, I felt pleased with mine, because I earned your sympathy.' Clive said, turning pink again, 'And as far as I'm concerned, it's not healthy for me to get this red in one night.'

'I will be proud of my younger self, I just know it.' Spook said proudly.

'I will be annoyed with my younger self.' Lisa stated, aggravated. 'I think of myself as one of those annoying brats.' She added.

'Well we'll see…' Dax smiled, and signalled Barry to continue reading.

'Suddenly, the boy inside him registered revulsion at the thought of tasting this hateful creature's blood he dropped to the floor and slid back into the shadows, panting, watching as the two boys literally crawled up the steps, crying. Bloodied, scratched, and with large ragged tears in their sweatshirts and trousers—wow it makes it even better when you know they totally deserved it—, they finally reached the door at the top and, clinging to each other, pushed it open and fell out of the basement. The door swung shut again behind them and silence descended.'

'End of chapter four.' Concluded Barry.

'Well I must admit,' Mia began, 'that was satisfying at the least.'

'Agreed,' Spook chirped. 'But to be honest, I need sleep. We'll continue this tomorrow? It's a Saturday anyways, and the day after is a Sunday.'

'Yea, mate, we need a good rest too, but who will read tomorrow?' asked the Teller brothers.

'We'll have a coin toss if we must,' Clive said. 'But we need some rest after reading four whole chapters in one night.'

'True, that.' Dax agreed.

And so the worn out COLA children headed to their rooms to have a rest for the night to greet the next eventful day in delight. Before, going to their bed, however, the teens had another drink of lemonade in celebration of finishing four chapters, and laughed, joking, mocking and remembering the "good old days", before finally being exhausted enough to go to their long dreamless slumbers.

A/N: Word count must be have a glitch because I am seeing 7158 words in this chapter. And well, I have not written that many in a while so it feels odd to have that *blush*

Sorry if this chapter isn't as good, great or funny as the last few, but I didn't really know how to make humour of Clive being tormented at school. Hardest part of an author's life.

Also I believe I am getting a bit too rusty in writing. Ehe~! I really hoped you like this chapter my dear readers.

Merits must be handed down to:

Beth (for always awaiting my chapters)

ScarletCuteTiger

Lizzie

tlkin2much

Ashes Of The Innocent (whose writing I had admired for ages)

Subject 16

man of books and tv

guest

Strangely Penned

x-ema-x

Megadracosaurus (who's given me endless support)

ValkyrieVeela

avengerspotter

drebom

YeahI'mWeirdAndILoveIt

Arya54 (I have a friend of that name ^^)

Ferosianinja

randomdude

MEEEEE

tillyellen

The Princess Dragon

And special merit to Elizabeth (Liz) D. and Zachary (Zac) F. who've been in my life supporting me in my writing. Liz I hope my stories always cheer you up and I hope Zac, you always see me as the best writer in your eyes.

Thank you for the endless support guys, you have made my writing life so much juicier and better.