The three of us sat in silence underneath our tree, watching the stars twinkling against the velvet black sky.

"You know you guys can't tell my family I'm alive, right?" I asked.

"Why?" Jax questioned, confused.

"Because it'll put them in danger," I replied.

"But you can vanquish Elise quicker with their help," he countered.

"Ack you sound just like Cole and James," I rolled my eyes.

"Then they're also smart," Alex piqued in.

I shot them a look, "can we not talk about this, please?"

"Fine," I could practically hear Alex's eye roll.

I stood up and dusted myself off, "it's late, so I'm going to go. See you guys later."

"We'll drop you off," Alex declared.

I protested, "no... I'll be fine, don't worry. Go home, get some rest and I'll text you when I reach, okay?"

"But it's not safe for girls to walk around this late," Jax shook his head sadly.

"I have my gun, paralyser, phone, pepper spray and knives," I said gently, "I'll be fine, guys," I repeated.

Reluctantly, they let me go; but only after making me promise to text them when I reached safely. Chuckling slightly at their behaviour, I began my journey home.

I breathed in the fresh night air, smiling happily. Fortunately, I made it home without harm. I quietly slipped inside, not wanting to wake up Cole or James, and went to my room. I texted Alex and Jax and flopped on my bed, quickly finding out that I was too full of adrenaline to get much sleep.

Even though it was still dark, I dyed my hair and got changed in warm clothes. I took my weapons and decided to go for a brisk walk.

I meandered through the lands, not really having a fixed destination in mind. I ended up in an abandoned alleyway.

"Hello," I looked over to see a blonde haired man. Warily, I greeted him, my hand inching towards my knife.

"Iris West-Brown," he grinned and my guard was instantly up, "I've been looking for you. Your mother-Elise- figured out your little ruse quite quickly, and entrusted me with the task of bringing you to her."

"I'm sorry, I think you have the wrong girl," I said blankly, bristling at the fact he called Elise my mother.

"Oh I don't think I do," Moron chuckled and withdrew a gun from his pocket, "now, we can either do this the hard way, or the easy way."

In reply, I quickly got out my dagger and threw it at his forehead. Moron ducked at the last second, and I heard the weapon clatter somewhere in the shadows.

"Hard way it is then," Moron sighed and fired.

I dived and rolled, hiding behind an acrid dumpster. I discharged my gun and began firing. I was worried that the bullets would ricochet off the brick walls and hit me or an innocent bystander, rather than Moron.

Sadly, the alleyway was cramped, so my hiding place was soon discovered. Moron knocked the gun out of my hand before I'd even fired a shot, and picked me up by my hair. I grunted and kneed him repeatedly in the stomach and his grip slackened, allowing me to wriggle free of his grasp. I slapped and punched Moron, fumbling for my paralyser. Unfortunately, he recovered faster than I expected.

Moron and I wrestled for the weapon and I managed to send it skittering off the paved pathway. On the bright side, at least he doesn't have a weapon-

"Oof!" I exclaimed as Moron slipped a knife in my abdomen. I pushed him away and collapsed, applying pressure to the bloodied wound. I crashed against the wall and slid down, feeling the energy ebb from my body.

"Pah!" Moron snarled. I noted- with satisfaction- his face was mottled with bruises. I'm pretty sure his nose is broken.

In the distance, sirens wailed. Whether they were here because of the ruckus we created or something else, I don't know. Moron glared at me and quickly sprinted away, "I will be back!" He cackled.

Lethargically, I dragged myself over to the dumpster, trying to keep hidden from view. I took out my phone and groaned in frustration when I had no battery. Stupid phone.

Yeah, the phone was so stupid, it forgot to charge itself the night before, my conscience replied.

Not the time! I snapped and chuckled maniacally. I'd lost quite a bit of blood so I was probably going loco. Dear lord, now I was going crazy.

"Caroline?"

I looked up and saw Daimen looking horrified.

"Hi," I smiled, "can you-uh-give me a hand here, please?"

"Dude what's- holy cow that's a lot of blood," Oscar came into view and gaped at me. What is this, a family reunion?

"Little help, please?" I gasped as a wave of pain washed over me. The boys hurriedly came next to me and supported me as I stood up. I groaned in pain, but managed to limp over to their car. Inside were the rest of my brothers, who's expressions morphed into one of shock when they saw me.

Immediately, Will tended to my wounds, taking out a medical kit they kept in the car. I sat between Daimen and Oscar. I was feeling delirious from pain, but wasn't so incapacitated that I forgot I was in disguise.

"What happened?" Elijah asked.

"Some guy attacked me," I gritted my teeth, "and my phone was discharged so I couldn't contact Cole or James."

"All done," Will sighed and straightened, "you're lucky that Daimen and Oscar heard some shouts, otherwise you could have died from blood loss."

"Well, there's a cheery thought," I mumbled. Tiredly, I brought my knees to my chest and rested my head on it, "can someone please inform Cole and James what happened? I don't want them to worry," then I was out like a light.

After Caroline fell asleep, me and my brothers exchanged looks. Julian removed his jacket and wrapped it around Caroline.

"Am I the only one who feels like I know her from somewhere?" Julian asked quietly.

We all agreed.

"I have this feeling," Brandon hesitated, "like this insane protective brotherly feeling towards Caroline, like I had towards Iris."

We were quiet for a moment. I knew that we all felt the same thing.

I started the car, but didn't start driving. The plan was to go to an important meeting, but by silent agreement, we decided to go home.

"No!" Caroline mumbled and stirred in her sleep. She gripped Julian's jacket tighter and squeezed her eyes shut, "please! Don't hurt them!"

Daimen wrapped an arm around her and whispered something in her ear. Caroline slowly relaxed and went back to sleep.

"I think she's Iris," Oscar said quietly, tearing up a little.

"No," Julian said, shaking his head, "Iris is dead," but even he didn't seem to fully believe it.

I stared straight ahead and began driving. I badly wanted Caroline to be Iris, but I was terrified of me and my family's hopes raised, and then broken. I don't know if we'd survive that.