The pub has shut because the silence once again has fallen around us, all the people have left, no more beer will flow tonight. I hear dad plod around in the lounge I imagine making his last coffee before he heads for bed right on time he pops his head around the door to check on me. He smiles when he realises I'm still awake "how are you feeling, any better?"
I don't answer I can't lie to him anymore "Would you like a drink before I head off to bed?" I still don't answer, the smile slips from his face. He slowly walks in I think half afraid I'm ill again. "Jane are you ok".

I shake my head slowly "Dad you said if it was bad we could run ... It's bad dad" He comes and sits on my bed but I wiggle away afraid of what I will do to him.

"It's bad Jane?"he mutters, I nod weakly I'm so tired, I'm afraid to sleep for fear that whatever hurt the vicar will come back, I'm petrified I'll hurt someone else maybe even Dad.

He goes to move my hair from my face, I scream to which he jumps back. "Don't touch me, I don't want to hurt you".

The fear creeps on his face and crinkles around his eyes "hurt me?" he splutters "has someone hurt you?" I shake my head vigorously frustrated he can't understand, why would he.

"There's something wrong with me, very wrong with me, if you touch me you'll get burnt". I can see he doesn't believe me, why would he, I'm rambling like a madwoman but I need to make him see. "I burnt Bell, all I did was grab her wrist, I didn't mean to. You believe me don't you?" my pleading voice is falling on deaf ears I know he thinks I'm ill again, the doctor said hallucinations can go hand in hand with seizures. "Ask her to show you, please then you'll see".

He tries to soothe me "I will but for now I'm going to ring the doctor" he places his hand on top of mine I squeeze my eyes and turn my face waiting for the burning to happen then he will see but there is nothing, he looks down at our hands then at me. "See you didn't hurt me, you're not well Jane".

Am I ill? Is it all in my mind? I squeeze his fingers a little tighter to be sure but still nothing. I know regardless though I want to leave here. I look up at him my protector, my only family that I have in this world and beg him. "Will you run with me or do I go on my own? because I can't stay here any longer" I wait for him to barter with me but he can see the fear in my eyes and even though he has no idea what has scared me he nods in agreement.

"I told you I would only do this if you were with me, if you go I go. I'll talk to Bell in the morning and explain we are moving on". I thank him, again and again, I can see the sadness on his face with the very thought of leaving everything he's craved for so long, a home, a job, normality and while it kills me that I'm taking it away from him I have no choice. we need to run, where to I don't know but as far away as we can.

The early hours of the morning I hear the low growls in the courtyard, it's the feral boys, I know this without even getting out of my bed to look out of the window. Their hatred radiates and manifests in every blood-curdling growl and snarl. I can only imagine how they wish to rip me apart for hurting their precious master Bell. No longer will I have the silent protection of the feral boys.

There I lay trying to stay awake watching out for the shadows - more to the point what hides in them, my ears listening to every creak and crack a building makes while the owners sleep as if the silence gives it permission to moan and groan, the whistling wind has a strangely relaxing hum as is whistles down the fireplace, here I lay until my body finally works against my mind that desperately trying to stay alert until it finally gives in and shuts down as it gives in to the release that is sleep.