'JUMP OUT!!!' Slink screamed, as he and the others started to run after Matthew.

Jump out, panicked Matthew? Is he crazy? Cratey's pace had picked up considerably. He wasn't going to do that. Slink screamed something else but Matthew, being too far away now, couldn't make out a single word.

Soon, Matthew crossed the tree line. He was now alone, surrounded by forest.

'Oh, crud,' Matthew suddenly yelled, seeing the bump in the lantern's beam.

It was a big bump and Cratey was launched up into the air before slamming back onto the track and continuing on.

Further down, there was a narrow stream, and as Cratey didn't have a windshield, Matthew's face got absolutely soaked, water getting into his eyes. He couldn't see anything now, including the sharp turn up ahead.

Matthew began to scream for dear life, not knowing what was happening. He didn't even know he had left the track and entered into the trees until he hit something and was launched, once again, into the air. He kept on screaming until he felt Cratey fall from under him. The sensation of flying through the air while going through a torrent of branches was quite something.

It was at least two flips later when Matthew stopped with a crunch, a relatively soft bush kindly getting between him and a massive boulder. He didn't even see the boulder until he had wiped his eyes and the lights from several flashlights were swarming around him.

'Matthew!!!' he heard his pursuers shout.

Matthew sat up and grabbed his arm. It was bleeding from a shallow cut. Accept for plenty of scratches, it was his only injury.

Shortly, he was surrounded by familiar and welcome faces.

'Are you all right?' said John, helping Matthew to his feet.

Dusting himself off, Matthew replied, 'Yeah, I'm fine.'

'What are you smiling for?' Chloe asked him.

Matthew was indeed smiling and it was a great big one too. 'Although I was scared out of my mind, what just happened was thrilling.'

'You're nuts,' said John.

'Did you see Cratey?' asked Matthew. 'I'm sure I heard it crash while I was in the air.'

'Yeah, we saw Cratey,' replied Slink. His tone was not encouraging.

'Well?'

'Smashed to smithereens I'm afraid,' said John.

'Sorry about that,' said Matthew, disappointed.

'It's not your fault, the brake pedal broke off,' said Chloe.

As they collected what was left of Cratey, Slink took Matthew aside and said, 'Apart from the crashing thing, I was quite impressed with your driving.'

'Really? I was just trying not to die.'

'Half of racing down the track is trying not to die.'

Astrid, Jennifer, Norman and Ramon were waiting for everyone next to their carts at the top of the hill.

'Where were all of you?' asked Norman. 'Were you practicing the first corner or something? And what are you lot carrying?'

'Cratey,' said Chloe.

'What?' snapped Jennifer, shocked. 'Did someone crash?'

'I crashed,' said Matthew.

'Are you all right?'

'Just a small cut and some scratches.'

'Cratey's brake pedal broke off,' explained Chloe.

'It must have been a design flaw,' said John.

'No, it wasn't . . . it was your fault, John,' Slink replied casually. He had the brake pedal in his hand and was giving it an investigated look.

'Come again,' said John, everyone turning to him. 'I installed the pedal to your exact instructions. Don't blame me.'

Slink showed Cratey's brake pedal to him. 'No, you didn't. You used the wrong bolts. They're too big.'

Anger grew on the faces staring at John.

'Don't even,' said John, holding up his hands. 'You, Slink, said to use the bolts in the green jar and I used the bolts in the green jar.'

'I said to use the bolts in the green bottle,' said Slink.

'Oh,' John simply said. He turned to Matthew, looking ashamed, and mouthed, 'I'm so sorry.'

'There's no need for that,' said Matthew, smiling to show John there was no hard feelings. 'It was a mistake.'

John put his arm around Matthew and said to him, 'Thanks.' Then, as if Matthew hadn't almost been killed, he said to Slink, 'So, now with Cratey out of the way – I mean – not with us anymore, I guess we'll have to continue our practice using another cart . . . a proper one.'

'Not a chance,' replied Slink.

'Anyway,' said Chloe, 'it's getting late . . . we should call it a night.'

Once the carts and what was left of Cratey had been returned to the garage, Chloe, Jennifer, Norman and John took Matthew to visit Aldo and Jeff, bringing with them the package of food and clothes they had put together.

Aldo and Jeff lived on a disused plot of land twenty minutes from Maple Hill Park. Their house of stacked broken toilets, which looked like an igloo, lay in the middle with thick weeds as tall as a man hiding it from view.

The door to their home stood ajar and it was dark inside.

'Aldo?' Chloe said, as she knocked. 'Jeff?' There was no answer.

'Aldo? Jeff?' John said really loudly. Chloe gave him a look of disapproval. 'What? They could be sleeping.'

'So why would you want to wake them up? Let's just leave the package and go.'

'Guys, something's not right,' said Norman. 'If I was living here and I had just been attacked by dogs, I would keep the door locked at all times, especially if I was sleeping.'

'Maybe they've moved,' said Jennifer.

'Ramon said they were staying put,' said Matthew.

Everyone began to look worried.

'Aldo? Jeff?' John called out. He took a flashlight out from his pocket, turned it on and slowly opened the door.

The place was a wreck. Sleeping bags had been sliced and gutted, a cupboard had been smashed and glass from a lamp hanging from the ceiling lay shattered on the floor.

'My word,' said Jennifer, 'those dogs really did a number.'

'Well maybe they have moved,' said Chloe.

Norman had a look of confusion on his face. 'How would a dog be able to smash that lamp? It's too high.'

'Aldo or Jeff may have done it by accident when the dogs attacked,' answered Jennifer.

'Ramon said that Aldo and Jeff were outside when the dogs attacked, chasing them away,' said Matthew.

'That's right. Aldo and Jeff were never inside,' said John.

'Then how did the lamp get smashed?' said Jennifer, a quake in her voice.

Suddenly, there was a loud scream. They were about to find out how the lamp got smashed.

'That's Aldo,' snapped Chloe.

Matthew followed the others outside, where he heard an angry shout followed by pained moans. All of them then hacked their way through the tall weeds toward the noises. Once through, that's when they saw Aldo and Jeff on the ground, scared, bloodied and surrounded by a mob of six.

'Members of the Mongraw Gang,' Chloe said in a nervous whisper.

'We need to help them,' said Norman. Even though he looked like he was about ready to spring into action, he was shaking.

Chloe held out her arm in front of him. 'Don't even think about it.'

'We have to,' said Norman.

'You know we can't,' said John. 'If we even fought them off, that could be it for us.'

Norman didn't say a word but drew back.

Matthew was surprised by how frightened the four of them were. They were taking on a criminal organization but were scared of a gang of children. He watched as a member of the Mongraw Gang , a boy of massive size, crouch down in front of Aldo and Jeff.

'That's Leech,' said Chloe. 'He's the second in command of the Mongraw Ga–'

'They're leaving,' breathed Jennifer, and the moment the six members of the Mongraw Gang disappeared out of sight, the five of them rushed over to Aldo and Jeff.

Probably thinking the Mongraw Gang had come back for more, the boys screamed when John flashed his flashlight on them, revealing their bleeding gashes and nearly swollen eyes.

'Whoa, it's all right,' said Chloe, bending down, 'it's Chloe .' She grabbed John's flashlight and shone it on herself. 'Norman, Jennifer, John and a new friend of ours are also here. Don't worry, the Mongraw Gang's gone.'

'Chloe,' moaned Aldo, wiping his blood-matted blonde hair from his face. 'It's good to see you.'

'Are you two all right?' cried Jennifer. Aldo and Jeff nodded. 'Is anything broken?'

'No,' they answered.

'Let's take them back to our place,' said Norman. 'We can clean them up properly there.'

'No, no,' groaned Aldo. 'Just take us back to ours.'

'But your place is a mess,' said Chloe.

'Please,' said Jeff, 'it's our home.'

Aldo and Jeff were helped back to the toilet igloo that was their home and onto what was left of their sleeping bags.

Lighting the glassless lamp hanging from the ceiling, Chloe said, 'Are you sure you guys are all right?'

'Yes.'

'So what on earth was that all about?' Norman asked.

Clearly not wanting to talk about it, Aldo turned to Matthew and said, 'Is this your new friend?'

'Yes. this is Matthew,' said Norman, annoyed at the change in subject.

'Nice to meet you, Matthew,' said Aldo.

'What were you guys doing here?' asked Jeff.

'Bringing some supplies for you,' said Chloe. 'Thought you may need them after what happened with the dogs.'

'That was very kind of you,' said Aldo, 'but you didn't have to do that.'

'Did dogs really attack you?' Norman asked. 'Or was it the Mangraw Gang? And tonight they attacked you again.'

'It was dogs,' said Aldo. 'I swear. Vicious monsters they were. Big fangs they all had.'

'Now, back to my first question,' said Norman. 'We're all friends here.'

'Oh, all right,' said Aldo, sitting up. Shame was written all over his face. 'The Mongraw Gang loaned us some money and tonight was when we had to pay it back . . . plus interest.' At this, Chloe, Jennifer, Norman and John made an enormous fuss and started to pace around, livid. Each one was talking a mile a minute. 'That's why I didn't want to tell you. I knew you would react like this.'

Squeezing his head in frustration, John said, 'I guess you didn't pay them back.'

'No,' said Jeff.

'But you still have to right?' said Norman.

'They gave us another week,' said Aldo, 'but now they're asking for a lot more money.'

'Why did you ask them for money in the first place?' asked Jennifer.

A tear had formed in the corner of Aldo's swollen left eye. 'Last month was very hard for us. Our bottle collecting wasn't what we had hoped for and we needed money.'

Chloe, Jennifer, Norman and John's hard looks eased.

'Why didn't you come to us?' asked Chloe. 'We would have helped you.'

Jeff shrugged. 'You guys have enough mouths to feed.'

'Well, we'll help you now,' said Jennifer. 'We'll give you the money you owe.'

'We can't take your money,' said Aldo.

'You'll have to leave Spring Heights then,' said John. 'The Mongraw Gang will kill you if you don't pay them next week.'

'We're not leaving either,' said Aldo. 'This is our home.'

'Then that's it,' said Chloe, 'we're helping you.'