Signal, that's what I realised I had and I bit my lip, knowing that this would be the start of changes, the outside world pushing its way back in, life resuming.

I groaned and sat down on the bed scowling at the device in my hand as it pinged and vibrated as it downloaded all the missed calls, text and other notifications. My mind praying it went flat before it finished. I needed to use the walkie talkie and let the others know.

I heard the click of the lock and was just about to call out to them when I realised it didn't feel right, I hesitated, moving silently towards the door and looking towards the hall way and common room area. My breath stalling as a dark figure moved into view, his back to me as his hand moved across the dresser, stilling to open a wallet, his fingers pulling out something before dropping it back down as he moved to stand in front of the fire, I moved backwards, as silently as I could and found the walkie talkie, sliding under the bed to hid and pressing the call button

"Hello, Ivo, help" I whisper.

"Per, what is it?" he replies back immediately and I hope he is not too far away.

"There's someone here, I heard them open the door and hid when I realised it wasn't one of you" I tell him, my heart racing with fear and my ears straining to know where he was in the dorm, would he find me, what was he looking for?

"We're coming, stay hidden baby" he tells me and I pray he will be quick.

The footsteps within the hallway get louder as they get closer and I freeze, my muscles locking up as I see boots enter the room, I can hear him moving about and then a low moan but I can't see what he is doing, after what seems like hours he leaves the room and I can hear him moving through Thad's room, I contemplate running but where would I go, he would hear me if I tried and if I didn't out run him, if he got hold of me, I didn't know what he would do.

Then I heard them, heavy rushing feet and shouts and shoving then a groan and thud, but I still can't move, I feel locked in place, my body wound so tight, I feel I might break. My logical mind knew this was shock, knew that now I was safe but my physical body had yet to catch up.

"Per?" it was Toppers voice and I saw his shoes come into sight and let out a small noise, his body blocking the lights as he dropped to his knees and peered under the bed.

"Baby, come out now, its safe" he asks gently, his hand coming out to clasp mine and my eyes fill with tears as he carefully pulls me out and up, his arms wrapping around me and holding me close as I shake within them.

"Its okay baby, I've got you" he whispers as he guides me slowly towards the door, us hesitating in the hallway, just out of sight of the rest and I know he is protecting me.

I listen as Ivo demands the man is taken away and two strange voices join in, making me tense.

"Its Mr Jones and the local ranger" Topper whispered to me and I nod letting him know I heard him. And we wait, hearing them moving him away and then Topper is moving me forward and I am surrounded and can soon feel the tears building as it sinks in I am safe.

Thad swings me up into his arm and carry me back to the fire, sitting and wrapping his body around mine as he soothes me. I know the others are around us but I am happy to hide in my bubble of Thad for the moment.

"Baby, what happened?" Rupert whispered kneeling in front of me and taking one of my hands in his. I hiccup a sigh and raise my head to look around at them all.

"I was just going to call you, my phone... i've got signal, then I heard the door, when I realised it wasn't you, I hid and called... I could hear him moving around, he came into my... Topper's room, touching things" I could hear the revulsion in my voice, and the remnants of the fear I felt.

"He touched someones wallets, took something" I tell them, looking over to the dresser" concerned.

"It doesn't matter, its probably just money" Ivo says carelessly looking at me. "its more important you are safe, he didn't touch you?"

I shook my head "I hid, he didn't know I was still here" I shivered again.

"What happens now?" I whisper out but they all hear me.

"Well we need to find out why the ranger was looking for you" Ivo tells me, his gaze on me, "And we need to check our phones"

"Mr Jones and Peter will be back any minute, are you up to this?" Rupert asked, gently caressing my hand in his.

"My Parents, they will have sent him looking" I tell them nervously "Will you stay with me?" I whisper, holding onto Rupert hand and Thad's top.

"Always" Ivo says and I want to believe in the promise in his voice. "Now, lets grab our phones and see what we can find out before they get back"

I free my hand from Rupert's and pull my phone out of my pocket, handing it to him "The passcode is 1103" I tell him before leaning back into Thad's embrace.

"You don't mind me looking?" he questions but I shake my head and let a dark laugh out, "No, I don't mind, if anything... I apologise now for what you are about to see" I trail off and am surprised when he leans down and drops a kiss on my forehead.

"We've got you baby, don't worry"

"Ivo, can you check mine and send a quick text to my dad, just an outline of what's going on" Thad asks him and I realise I am stopping him accessing his phone, I start to move, to get off, but he just tightens his arms. "Stop moving, I am where I want to be, Ivo can check my phone for me and I don't want to let you go until I absolutely have to" he tells me gently, his breath stirring the fine hairs on neck, and again I shiver but this time its with heat, not fear.

I can hear Ivo tapping away next to us and finally he stops, "I've set up a group chat, letting all the parents know we got stuck at school and about the power and signal. They are going to want to know what we are doing next?" he tells them all.

Rupert grunts from the chair he moved into with my phone in his hand "We can work that out later, we need to speak to Jones and Peter to find out what the options are" he growls out, sounding angry.

"Rupert?" I question carefully, looking across from him, his grip on my phone is white knuckled and I realise the anger is from reading my messages. "How bad are they?" I ask softly, bring the attention of all the boys back to me.

"Why would they be bad?" Topper questions me, coming into view, a tray of hot drinks in his hand, I hadn't even realised he had gone to make them.

"It will be my fault, I have let them down, caused them unnecessary issues and effort" I explain evenly, watching as they all scowl in some way.

"Are the voicemails going to be more of the same?" Rupert asks me and I hesitate before nodding, knowing myself they will probably be worse, my mother would be bitingly cutting in her reaction to my absence.

"Or worse?" Ivo questions, his gaze on me and I fidget on Thad's lap causing him to grin, his hands coming to my hips to hold me still.

"Per?" Ivo prompts and I drop my head.

"My mother can be a bit... vitriolic" I whisper out.

"And you father?" Rupert asks leaning forward in his seat.

"Doesn't care, i'm a business asset to him, not the heir he wanted, my job is to make the right connection to make his legacy bigger." I say blankly not looking at any of them, not wanting to see the pity...

"Baby, look at me" Ivo said from my side and reluctantly I raised my head, surprised to see the grin on his face. "Do you want to go to wherever you should have been this Christmas?"

"I have too, they won't let me stay here, not now there is signal"

"The ranger came here looking for you, he knew your name, but what happens next is up to you. Come home with us?" my gaze flies to his face, his gaze holding mine. "Any one of us would be exactly what your parents want, if one of us call and extend an invite to your parents for you, would they turn any of us down?" he continues.

"Why would you do that? Do you know what hell that would bring to you, they would expect... more" I whisper horrified at their suggestion. Oh I could recognise he was right my parents would jump at a union with any of their families, but I couldn't do that to them.

"No" I whisper out.

"Pick one of us" Toper says, joining in the conversation and my gaze goes from one to the other, they look happy and... determined.

"I can't and won't" I whisper out, looking down again.

"Do something for us and we won't push you...yet" Ivo offers and I look back up at him nervously and nod, biting my lip. "Just think about it, don't say no, not yet" he asks and I can't help but nod at his request.

"I need your words" he orders and I feel myself caving to his demands.

"Yes, I will think about it" I tell him and feel the tension ease between them all.

"The others will be back soon, Rupert, we need to check our signal"Ivo says and indicates their rooms, Thad's arms holding me still as I reach for my phone but Rupert takes it with him as he and Ivo disappear into Ivo's room.

"They are going to listen to the voicemails, aren't they?" I ask Topper and Thad, my mind worry about what they will hear, how much will my mothers rants change how they view me.

"Yes, they are" Thad agrees and I shiver again. I didn't want them to hear her, I didn't want them to know what I had to deal with, but at the same time I wanted the possibilities they offered, I knew they were right, a union or even potential one would change how my parents acted towards me.

Topper got up and held out his hand to me "Come on, lets boil another pan of water, I am sure Mr Jones and Peter could do with a hot drink once they get back from wherever they are storing that fucker" he offered and I felt a brief squeeze from Thad's hands before he was letting me go and Topper was pulling me into the kitchen area.

I jumped as I heard a bang from Ivo's room but Topper blocked me from heading that way. "Its fine" he said catching my hand and pulling me back to his side. My worries now more than ever, what had caused the bang, were they alright, what if...

A loud knock at the dorm door was almost enough to have me climbing the walls and I saw Thad glance at me as he passed to open the dorm door, letting in Mr Jones and the other stranger, they boys had said his name was Peter and he was the local rangers, but I wasn't quite sure what that entailed.

I could hear Thad greeting them and offering a hot drink which they accepted with thanks, Topper pulling out cups and everything we needed to make the two coffees, keeping me at his side as he carried them through to the common room. guiding me to one of the armchairs before going to get Ivo and Rupert.

"Miss Brooke- Bennett?" the man asked, his eyes had been on me, since I had entered the room.

"Yes" I whispered out.

"My name is Peter Matlock, I am the ranger for this area, sort of a cross between mountain rescue and the Police" he introduced himself and I nodded, relaxing a little as I note all the boys are with me. "Your parents reported you missing and have been trying to contact you" he sighed and looked around the room "I am here to escort you to the base where a flight out has been arranged for you" he explains and I feel a moment of panic before Rupert is in front of me.

"No, she is staying with us" he growls out.