"Wakey, wakey sleepy head" Bryn smiled as Thea groaned and rolled over. "come on, I hope you know what day it is" he smiled opening the curtains

"Ok, one no, two shut them, and three it's too bloody early" she whined.

"No can do short stuff" he smiled, Thea glared at him for this.

"Is she up yet?" Dante asked poking his head in.

"No, the birthday girl is being grumpy" Bryn laughed throwing a pillow at his step-sister.

"You have 5 seconds" Dante smirked.

"Hmm, what?" Thea asked still half asleep.

"And time up" Dante smirked grabbing her feet and pulling her off her bed.

"EEEEP" Thea squeaked as she was pulled onto the floor.

Bryn laughed at the pair and Thea's futile efforts to stay in bed.

"Ok ok, I'm up!" Thea yelled as she hit the floor.

"Finally! Now hurry up and get dressed, We're downstairs come down when you're ready" Dante smiled as he and Bryn left. Thea huffed and got up, grabbing some camo joggers/sweatpants, underwear, and a black T-shirt, she'd figure out the rest in a bit, chains took a while and she had to be downstairs now. 

"So what did you want?" she asked walking downstairs. 

"SUPRISE!" Alf, Bryn, and Dante yelled in unison. She looked around in shock, they'd decorated the main living room with happy birthday banners and balloons. There were a few presents along with a couple of cards on the table, the three men stood there laughing and smiling. 

"You've been dreaming of owning your own Land Rover since you were seven and I took you off-roading, you have worked so hard to restore the one you have and I am so proud of you for it, that's why when you see it today, I want you to be happy, ok?" Alf smiled. 

Thea simply hugged him for this "Thanks Dad" she smiled back. 

"I know you won't be my little girl forever, but I just want you to be the wonderful woman I know you can be" he explained, his voice almost breaking. 

"I'll always come back to you" she replied. 

"But it wasn't all me, Dante and Bryn also helped" he added. 

"Thanks, boys" Thea laughed giving them both hugs as well. 

"Whatever, personally encouraging your unladylike attitude and interests isn't healthy for you, hence why  I got you something more ladylike" Chloe grinned wickedly, this was the first time she'd ever been nice to Thea in years. "oh stop looking so suspicious it's not poison!" Chloe scolded pushing a floral gift bag towards Thea who used her gravity powers to lift out the gift. 

A dress. A pastel pink dress. Thea dropped it back into the bag in horror and shock. 

She then took a deep breath and smiled at Chloe, "Thanks Chloe, you've given me another art project idea" Thea smirked. Chloe on the other hand looked like she was about to pop, she was the colour of her lipstick, bright red. 

"THAT'S IT I'VE HAD IT WITH YOU!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. Thea took a step back in shock. "FOR SEVEN YEARS I'VE TRIED MY BEST TO FASHION YOU INTO A LADY BUT YOU JUST WON'T DO IT! YOU'D RATHER GO AND PLAY WITH CARS AND CLIMB MOUNTAINS BUT YOU'LL NEVER FIND A MAN WHO WANTS SOMEONE LIKE THAT! NEVER!" Chloe screeched.  

Dante looked like he was about to murder someone. Bryn buried his face in his hands and Alf looked just as pissed as Dante, if not more so. 

"You done?" Thea asked raising an eyebrow at her stepmother. 

"THIS IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF THING I'M TALKING ABOUT, DROP THE ATTITUDE, THE SASS THE SARCASM, THE METAL, AND THE HEADPHONES! YOU NEVER LISTEN TO ME AND ALL, THIS IS FOR YOUR GOOD! I'M TRYING TO DO IS MAKE YOU DESIRABLE, YOU'LL NEVER GET A BOYFRIEND LET ALONE A HUSBAND!" Chloe screamed. Thea didn't even flinch at Chloe's words, this wasn't new to her. 

"That's it. Chloe, pack your stuff and leave. I won't tolerate you trying to make my daughter someone she's not. Thea is wonderful just the way she is, she climbs mountains and fixes her car out of her money and time and she makes a new friend while doing it. She can make clothes, and she even changes the ones you buy to suit her style, every day she's nice to you, she doesn't like you can it's no secret but she doesn't try and change you." Alf scolded. 

"You-you're kicking me out?" Chloe asked in shock. 

"YES! Now go get your crap and leave" Alf ordered. 

"but-" Chloe started. 

"GET OUT OF MY HOUSE AND AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER!" Alf finally snapped. 

"Fine, I know when I'm beaten, Bryn pack up we're being evicted" she replied, still clearly angry. Bryn looked heartbroken at this, and so did Thea. Alf noticed this and spoke up

"Bryn you've done nothing wrong, you can stay if you'd like. You are an adult so you don't have to go with her and if you do you'll always be welcome back" Alf added. 

"I'd prefer to stay here, with you guys" Bryn smiled. 

"Then you're welcome to" Alf smiled back. Thea launched at Bryn and hugged him. 

"Good because I don't think this one would let me go" he laughed hugging Thea. 

"You backstabbing little-" Chloe cursed. 

"Mum you've moved me around with you all my life, we never stayed anywhere more than six months, but I've been here seven years, I don't want to leave, Thea is like a little sister to me, she's taught me so much about climbing and what it means to be a family, the things you never let me have friends, family, and hobbies" Bryn replied. 

Chloe growled in defeat and stormed off, hopefully, to pack up her stuff. 

"Now then, back to the birthday celebrations, and speaking of family, your mum sent this" Alf smiled showing Thea a small package with her name on the front. She gently opened it to reveal a small box, inside there was a note. 

"To my beautiful daughter on your birthday, I know I'm not there and I know it hurts, but I hope when you wear this you'll think of me and your brother and sister. I hope you still love purple as much as you did when I left. All my love, Mum" 

Thea smiled at the note and then saw what the box was really for. A small necklace with a single box chain and a small purple gemstone healed together by a silver star. 

"Let's see" Alf smiled as Thea picked it up "Aww that's perfect for you" he grinned. Thea smiled and put it on. 

"Now, come see your main present" Dante smirked. 

"Ok," Thea smiled walking towards the door. 

"One more thing" Bryn commented as Thea turned to face him, she was blindfolded. "no peaking" he smirked. 

"Dude you know I can fall over anything on a good day do you really think this is a good idea?" Thea asked holding her arms out and attempting to walk around but accidentally walking into Dante. 

"I can see that now" Dante stated turning Thea back in the other direction. 

"Pun intended or nah?" she asked. 

"Hmmm sort of" he replied 

"Come on you got to see this" Bryn smiled. 

"Stop with the sight puns and where are my shoes?" Thea laughed as she crashed into the kitchen table. 

When the three got up to the carport Lili had a full roof rack, roll cage, ladder, and towbar fitted. 

"Happy Birthday from- oh wait you're still blindfolded" Bryn laughed realizing the blindfold was still on. He removed it from Thea's eyes. 

Thea's eyes lit up in delight when she saw Lili. 

(Like this but the Land Rover would be black)

"Lil" she smiled going up to her and climbing up the ladder. "Thanks, guys!" she yelled from the roof rack. 

"No problem" they yelled back in unison. 

"Fancy a drive?" Dante smiled.

"Heck yes!" Thea squeaked in joy and almost threw herself into the driver's seat. 

When she landed in the seat she found a small box tucked behind the steering wheel, when she opened it she found a collection of bracelets. 

"Happy birthday sweetheart" Lili commented as Thea slipped them on 

"Thanks, baby, I'll take you for a nice long drive today to say thank you" Thea smiled. 

"Yay! Now go get dressed properly" Lili laughed. 

"What do you- oh" Thea realized then that she was only in a hoodie, t-shirt, jeans, and sliders. 

"Yeah, go get a nice chocker, some good gloves, and a pretty leather jacket" Lili suggested. 

"Hmm yeah, I can do that" Thea replied.

"Then go" Lili laughed. 

"I will be back for you soon enough missy, don't go anywhere" Thea laughed back and got out of the driver's seat. 

"Well?" Bryn asked. 

"I love it thanks" she smiled. 

"Good" Bryn smiled back. 

"I'm going to go get showered and properly dressed and I will see you in a bit for a drive" she suggested. 

"Yes because we pretty much dragged you out of bed" Dante laughed. 

"Pretty much? Mate, you literally dragged me out of bed" Thea laughed back. 

"Yeah, yeah, whatever, go get ready" Dante smiled. 

Minutes later Thea ran back up to the carport now dressed in a black leather jacket with small spikes, a black T-shirt with slightly larger spikes, purple camo trousers, the necklace from her mum, the bracelets from Lili, some earrings, studded Converse, her favourite yin-yang choker and her favourite gloves.  

"All set?" Dante asked. 

"You bet" Thea smiled.

When the pair drove through Leek there was more traffic than usual and police cars. 

"What happened?" They asked one of the officers.

"Triple murder, hit and run, 3 girls in their late teens" The officer answered. 

"Yikes, any suspects yet?" They asked again. 

"I can't disclose any more miss, please keep moving" They replied. 

"Ok well, thanks anyway" Thea smiled. 

"Tripple murder?" Lili asked sounding shocked 

"Yeah, that's unusual for here, it's boringly quiet on a good day" Thea answered. 

"Sounds lovely" Lili replied 

"It usually is, this is the first time I've ever known something like this to happen," Thea replied. 

"You mean people don't die here?" Lili asked. 

"No, they do, Leek is 50% old people, I meant they're not usually murdered, something is off" Thea answered. 

"What's all the police for?" Dante asked over the radio. Thea looked semi-freaked out at this. 

"Oh that's how I and Marie keep an eye on each other, we can hear each other and the occupants of us through the radios, don't fret sweetheart" Lili smiled. 

"Ok, and Dante, there's been a triple murder" Thea explained. 

"Do they know who and how?" Dante questioned. 

"Sort of, three girls, my age, hit and run" Thea replied. 

"Thea, you have an incoming call from, "Idiot Father" Lili announced. Dante burst out laughing at this 

"Hush you or you'll have an equally daft name" Thea warned. 

"Thea?" Alf asked. 

"Hey, what's up?" They asked back. 

"The police are here, they want to talk to you and Dante" Alf told her. 

"Ok, we'll head home, going to be a while as the traffic is nuttier than most days" Thea replied. 

"Drive safe" Alf warned. 

"I will, don't worry" Thea responded. And hung up the phone. "Dante, change of plans, the police are at mine, we have to go back" she informed. 

"Understood" Dante replied. 

(time skip)

"Miss Ratcliff, Mr Hasselhoff. I'm Detective Super Intendant Cameron Wood." The detective reached out a hand to the two friends who both shook his hand politely. "This morning we found the bodies of three girls you went to school with, Miss Ratcliff. The bodies are suspected to be those of Alisha More, Ciara Cooper, and Jasmine Jones." The detective informed. 

"I can't say I'm surprised I knew they'd piss off the wrong person eventually, all their lives they've done nothing but bully and tease me and my friends. They probably just yelled at the wrong person at the wrong time." Thea explained. 

"That's another thing, there was an altercation in Mini Beans Coffee shop yesterday, involving the two of you and the three girls." The detective added. 

"Well if you know about that then you probably could see they came into the shop, started teasing Thea about her style of clothing and interests then tried to flirt with me. We were simply putting them in their places." Dante explained. 

"What my friend is trying to say is, yes we did get into a fight with them, but they came over to us and started bothering us. They were alive when we left the shop, all be it a little bruised" Thea smiled. 

"The security camera shows you back flipping and kicking one of them in the face." The Detective replied, unimpressed with the two friends' answers. 

"If you had heard even half the things they have said to me since I met them at 4 years old, you'd understand why she deserved it," Thea replied. 

"Ok, so would you say you didn't like them?" Detective Wood asked. 

"Understatement much" Thea replied. 

"Ok then, where were you both last night?" Detective Wood questioned. 

"Here, we got back at around 10 pm, went straight to bed, and slept through until 8 am when somebody decided to wake me up." Thea sent a playful glare at Dante. 

"Can anyone confirm that?" Detective Wood asked, again. 

"Yes the CCTV camera on the door, would you like me to get the footage?" Thea asked. 

"If you don't mind" Detective Wood replied. 

"I'll be back in 5 minutes" Thea smiled and walked off. 

"I've got to ask Mr. Hasselhoff, how did you get that body?" Detective Wood smiled. 

"A lifetime of brutal training and hard work" Dante replied.

"Well I've been trying for 6 years and it looks like nothing has changed" Detective Wood laughed. 

"It doesn't happen overnight, keep trying and you don't need to take any drugs, your body wasn't made to be a chemical warehouse," Dante explained. 

"Solid advice" Detective Wood replied.

"Detective" Thea called out as she walked in with her laptop. "This is the footage from last night, it's from the camera in the old door knocker" she explained as the footage played. 

It clearly showed Thea using her keys to get into the house and Dante with her at 10 pm the previous night and no activity until 3 am when a wild fox walked across the lawn and again at 8:30 am when Thea, Dante, and Bryn left to look at the cars. 

"Ok fair enough, is there any other entrances or exits?" Detective Wood asked. 

"Yes, but it would be covered by that camera and we couldn't get from upstairs to that door without crossing the sight of the camera" Thea replied. 

"Very well, thank you for your time, Mr. Hasselhoff and Miss Ratcliff, I'll be in touch" Detective Wood smiled and left. 

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Thea asked.

"I hope so" Dante replied.

"We need to talk to Lili and Marie" Thea added. 

"Food" Dante smirked. 

"Fine, you get food and I'll talk to the girls" Thea sighed and walked up to Lili. 

"What did the human want?" Lili asked. 

"To ask about the murders last night, you wouldn't have anything to do with them would you?" They asked

"Us? No! Don't get me wrong they deserved what they got but still, this wasn't our doing" Lili smiled innocently. 

"Hmm, ok, I'll believe you, this time" Thea replied "But if I find out you lied, there will be trouble" Thea warned.

"Understood" Lili replied. 

Thea turned to walk back to the house but Marie caught her attention. 

"A word" she semi-growled. 

"what's up?" Thea asked trying her best to sound caring and interested. 

"Break my sister's heart, I'll break your legs" Marie warned. 

"MARIE!" Lili scolded. Thea laughed at this. 

"Oh Marie, don't worry I don't plan on it." She laughed "And that's a very cute threat, but let me teach you a proper one." she smirked. 

"Oh? I doubt you could even make me flinch" Marie replied confidently. 

"Break my best friend's heart, I'll break your neck" Thea replied with a crazy smile that would terrify any normal person. 

"That all you got?" Marie asked cockily. 

The two sisters failed to notice Thea pulling a dark purple throwing knife from a knife holder on her leg. "That's a promise" she smiled throwing the knife barely missing Marie. 

"Dinner!" Alf called from the house. Thea pulled her knife out of the rock using her gravity powers and walked back down to the house. 

"Don't kill her" Lili warned. 

"No promises" Marie replied. 

"MARIE!" Lili snapped. 

"Ok, ok, I won't kill her, but I want to kill someone!" Marie whined. 

"What about Chloe?" Lili suggested. 

"Ok that is an idea I can get behind" Marie smirked

It just so happened that the bitch in question walked past them.

"Stupid girl" Chloe growled dragging her bags with her. 

"Mum! Wait up!" Bryn called. 

"Come to gloat?" Chloe asked unimpressed. 

"No, let me help you find somewhere good for tonight, then you can do your own thing" Bryn smiled. 

"Fine, you can drive me to Leek, but leave me be from there on" She warned. 

"Whatever you want" he replied. Chloe handed him her bag he simply smiled, put it in the back of his car, and started to drive to Leek. 

But halfway there Bryn noticed something odd in the rearview mirror. 

"Hey mum, can you call Thea from my phone?" he asked. 

"Sure why?" she asked back.

"That's her Land Rover following us" he replied. 

"How can you tell?" she asked unlocking his phone. 

"The number plate, Lili, I don't know anyone else who drives a black Land Rover Defender with a roof rack and roll cage," he explained. 

"Hey, dude what's up?" Thea asked casually. 

"What's up? You're following me to Leek that's what's up" Bryn replied bluntly. 

"No, I'm not, I'm in my room working on something" Thea answered. 

"Then who the hell has followed me from Rudyard to Leek in your Land Rover?" Bryn asked. 

"But Lili is still under the carport, I can see her- it, on the camera" Thea replied simply. 

"Do me one favour, go up there and check that?" he asked nicely.

"Ok but I'm telling you she'll be there" she laughed. 

"And I'm telling you she's not" Bryn replied simply. 

"keys are still here" Thea informed. 

"It's possible to take a car without keys especially one that old" Bryn replied. 

"Oi, be nice, I'm walking up to check now" she warned playfully. 

"Well?" Bryn asked. 

"Bryn" Thea responded after a moment of silence. 

"What?" he asked. 

"She's gone. Lili is gone" Thea replied in shock. 

"Then who the hell is following me?" he asked in fear. 

"Lili" she replied. 

"Lili? yeah, I gathered that but who is driving?" he asked getting more scared by the second. 

"Bryn this is going to sound crazy but you have to believe me" she told him, she too seemed scared now. 

"When is it not a little crazy with you?" he replied with a nervous laugh. 

"Lili IS the Land Rover, she's a soul that inhabits the vehicle like a body, the soul of a girl murdered decades ago by the name of Lili, she can drive herself without anyone at the wheel," she told him in a rushed panic. 

Then there was an almighty crash at the other end of the phone. 

Then silence.

"Bryn?" Thea asked in a panic.