First Light (43 page)

I got myself up, dressed swiftly and filled a small rucksack with my passport, a toothbrush and a change of clothes, leaving the velvet box in the middle of my bed where Rachel would find it. Then, rummaging through a trunk of my childhood things, I found my copy of
Little Red Riding Hood
and placed it in my bag with the rest of my stuff, lingering for a moment over the image of the wolf standing in front of the girl in her famous red cloak. To me, the wolf didn’t seem so bad... perhaps just misunderstood.

Finally, clasping the silver locket that hung around my neck, I took a deep breath, and walked out the door.

Epilogue

The docks were quiet,
but there were more people around than there had been on my first visit. I was nervous. Not because of what I had decided, or that a killer could jump out at me at any moment, but because I might have been wrong. All my hopes were pinned on him watching me from the shadows and me being able to draw him out by doing something reckless. If I was wrong and he’d already left, I wasn’t sure my heart could take it.

As I wandered between the huge boats, images of him flashed in my mind: his eyes, his smile, his laugh. I couldn’t bear the thought of living the rest of my life with only my memories of him. The prospect felt as though I were being cut, from the inside out. My watch showed eight-thirty and with every step I took, my panic increased until I thought it might consume me.

And then he was there.

As if out of thin air, Kalen appeared in front of me, his arms folded across his chest, his eyes betraying conflicting emotions of joy and sorrow.

‘Going somewhere?’

The pain inside me dissolved. It was everything I could do not to throw myself at him. But I held back – he was not getting off that lightly. ‘Yes, actually, I’m looking for my pigheaded boyfriend, who seems to think he knows what’s best for me.’

He lifted one eyebrow. ‘Pigheaded? Maybe he was trying to do the right thing?’

‘Maybe I couldn’t care less about the right thing. Kal, I’m coming with you.’

‘Ronnie.’ He said my name like it was painful to him, but hearing it from his lips made my choice even clearer.

‘I’m leaving England tonight, Kalen Smith. With or without you. What’s it gonna be?’

For a while he just stared, his jaw set as a silent battle took place behind his eyes.

‘You said you’d show me the world,’ I added hesitantly. ‘Remember?’

Finally, a whisper of a smile tugged at one corner of his mouth. He laughed darkly, linking his fingers behind his neck and glancing at the sky before back at me. ‘Do you know what you’re saying, Red? I mean, are you really sure about this?’

‘I'm sure that I love you. It's the only thing I've been sure of in my entire life and I can't lose you again.’ And as I spoke the words, I knew I meant them. I knew I’d now be a wanted fugitive too, and that while we may have triumphed for the moment, an inevitable confrontation with the people who wanted him dead probably awaited us somewhere in our future, but I didn’t care about any of that now. Right now, I was exactly where I wanted to be and nothing else mattered.

Stepping towards me, he brushed a strand of hair from my face, studying my eyes like he couldn’t believe I was real.

‘Well?’ I said. ‘You gonna kiss me, or what?’

He smiled. ‘Yes, ma'am.’

Acknowledgements

A big thank you
... first and foremost to my mum, Helen, for your unwavering encouragement and always telling me to follow my dreams no matter what. To Phil, for listening to me talk about my fictional world for the last three years and still smiling about it – I really couldn’t have done this without you. To Kay at klediting.co.uk, I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your patience and guidance in helping me turn First Light into something I’m proud of. You’re the best! Danielle – the sister I never had – thanks for being you, for loving Kalen and Ronnie along with me and always telling me how great I am... even if you are biased! And to Jaime for "Five Fifteen".

I would also like to thank the following people for being the best family and friends in the world. Without you guys I wouldn't be me. I love you all to pieces. Errol, my oracle! Your love and support really means everything to me. Paula, I don't know what I'd do - or what I would have ever done - without you. Catherine and Lizanne, for always being there no matter what and telling me what I need to hear, even when sometimes I don't want to hear it! And Tiki, for my childhood... things could have sucked, but you were there, making sure they didn't.

Last but not least, a special thank you to someone who can’t be named. Interviewing you was a surreal, eye opening experience and your input not only helped bring the world of Project Five Fifteen to life, but also made me realise that kick-ass heroes really do exist. You know who you are.

Thank you all so much, from the bottom of my heart x

B
ook 2

Project Five Fifteen

As You W
ere

Coming soon.

For more information visit:

projectfivefifteen.com