I wake to see light streaming in through the windows. For a second I'm left squinting and blinking, wondering why I'm on the sofa.

Until I remember,

Scar's GIGGS-ing.

I was waiting for him.

I struggle to my feet, and out the room, hoping he saw me asleep and decided not to wake me when he got back, or he didn't see me here. Or he was so tired he just went upstairs to sleep. There were no calls to say he was in danger. Scar can't have run out of battery again.

'Scar?' I call as I climb up the stairs. 'Dude?' I reach the landing. Scar's door is still wide open, so I peer inside.

He's not here.

I pull out my phone. No messages. He won't reply to a text, so I call, pacing the landing as I wait for an answer. Why didn't he message me if he wasn't going to be back? Did something happen?

'Hello?'

That's not Scar.

Someone else has Scar's phone. Scar lost his phone.

'Where's Scar?'

'Is this Cub Fan?'

'Who are you? Where is Scar?'

'My name is Xisuma, a police officer. You should come to Southern Park. Now. I can explain more there.'

He hangs up.

The phone drops from my hand.

I can barely breathe, tears blurring the screen. Scar's in danger. He's hurt, or lost, or he got into trouble with authorities.

And Grian didn't tell me.

I'm not changing out of my pajamas. I don't have time for anything except a coat and keys, sprinting out the house and across town.

My stomach twists with panic as I reach the bridge to Southern Park. Police swarm the area, putting up tape and keeping people away. I don't see Scar, or GIGGS. But I was told to go to the scout hut, not the park.

'Excuse me sir, this area is closed to the public.' The officer outside the scout hut says.

'A police officer, Xisuma, told me to come here. I want to know what happened to my roommate.' I hear my heartbeat, loud in my ears. My breath sticks in my throat. Every word takes me further towards tears. 'I'm Cub.'

I'm allowed in. Gem waves, in tears. Grian, Impulse, and scout leader Wels all look half asleep. Rage burns through me. Grian and Gem are safe. And they didn't tell me anything.

'What happen3 to Scar?' I spit. I take a step closer.

'He ran into the forest. We've been hunting him down all night!' Grian snaps back.

'Scar's lost in the forest?' I can't breathe. I want to scream. I want to murder Grian for the fact that, far from worried, he's annoyed at Scar for being in danger.

'We tcalled the police the moment we had signal.' Gem adds.

'Scar's- dude- you're telling me my best friend is lost in the woods and you DIDN'T CALL ME?!' I yell through the first sobs. 'I told you to FUCKING TELL ME,' I punch Grian, hard. 'If ANYTHING HAPPENED!'

I raise a fist to hit again, but Impulse is faster.

'GET OFF HIM!'

I crash to the ground. Impulse is on his feet, being wrestled back by Wels.

'Hey, hey, hey, break it up!'

'You're FUCKING MONSTERS!' I snarl back, sobbing. 'Scar's- you... you left him there to die.'

'There was no chance of finding him on our own in the whole forest! We called the police, we were going to call you, but we never had a chance. Skizz and Martyn ended up in hospital. Ren's tied up, unconscious, in the theatre. We've been talked to by the police. We've been up all night, Cub. This isn't our fault!'

A door opens. I turn to see Scott, who lives nearby, with a police officer behind.

'Excuse me, what happened here?'

'Cub attacked Grian!' Impulse is quick to reply.

'One hit. Because he didn't tell me my best friend was lost in the forest. And then he shoved me to the ground!' I snarl back.

'I don't have time for this. Impulse, do better. Scott, you are dismissed. Cub, come in. I have some questions.'

I pull myself to my feet, still fighting tears as I enter the office.

'Take a seat.' Xisuma signals to one of the chairs. 'I know this is hard news for you this morning, but it's no excuse for violence. We will find Scar, or what happened to him. Now, how much do you know?'

'GIGGS, the ghost-hunting company Scar's part of, went on a mission late last night to find Ren Diggedy in the forest. I don't know why he was there, or why it was their duty, but they forced Scar to join them. And then this morning I find out that he was abandoned in the forest last night, and I wasn't told about it.'

'Ren Diggedy? From Renchanting Theatre?'

'Yep.'

'Ok... that's good to know.' Xisuma writes down their names onto a piece of paper. 'And this is all you know?'

'Yes.'

'Alright. What I know from the others is that, at some point during this mission, Scar ran off. Grian Xelqua and Gemini Tay proceeded to follow his tracks, finding these pieces of evidence on the way.' Xisuma lays 3 clear bags on the table, containing Scar's phone, a scrap of bloody fabric, and his bag of ghosthunting supplies. 'Can you confirm these items belonged to Scar?'

I nod, silent. My attention stays fixed on the blood.

'After finding his bag in a dried up river, they decided to return, saying they'd lost the footprints they'd been following. They also offered a theory that Scar Goodtimes is a Vexling. Can you confirm or deny this?'

What.

My breath catches in my throat. The police know. GIGGS know. Are they pretending they didn't see him? Did they kill him? Turn on him? Is that why he ran away? My anger only grows.

'How is this relevant?'

'As a reason for his disappearance, evidence towards finding him, and, if he is a vexling, it is important that we know so we don't put anyone in danger searching for him. Is Scar Goodtimes a Vexling?'

I still don't answer.

'Mr Cub Fan, this is a very important matter and will help us find your friend and keep our police safe. Is Scar a vexling?'

I shrug.

'You don't know?'

'He never told me he was.' True. I figured it out myself.

'Ok. And, another difficult question, I'm afraid, have there been any signs recently of Scar getting more reclusive, or upset, or that he might run away intentionally?'

'No.'

'Are you sure?'

'Yes.'

'Do you have any idea why Scar would run off into the forest?'

'Because I told him to.'

The truth sinks in.

'You told Scar to run away?'

'No- no, not like that.' With every word the truth cuts deeper. 'I told Scar that if he was feeling scared, or couldn't handle the situation, to find somewhere alone and call me. The only reason he didn't call is because he lost his phone.' Tears blur Xisuma's face in front of me. 'I told him to run off if he was in danger so I could rescue him.'

'That is very useful to know, thank you very much. I promise I will do whatever I can to find Scar, or what happened to him. Take my number and I will keep you updated, and you will mention if you find anything yourself.'

I can't reply, just breaking down again. This is my fault. Scar's disappearance is my fault. He's alone in the forest, from the sight of the blood on the scrap of fabric, hurt.

And it's all my fault.