Chapter III - SLIPPERY SECRETS

CHAPTER III

SLIPPERY SECRETS

"That's a lot to take in all at once."

"I know. That's why I was counting on coming here and you sorting it out for me." Seth's eyes drifted closed as he allowed himself to become lost in the moment of wind whipping against his face, freely tousling his hair. Flying was liberating, like he'd left all troubles far behind. Nothing could reach him here, it was just him and the sky and nothing to stand in his way.

"I'll try, but I doubt I'll be much help. I'm just as clueless as you are about what's going on in the world. But Freaks..."

"It's not just me, is it?"

"No, it's not just you. The word does something to me too. Like a tickle in the back of my mind."

"Good. I thought I was just a nutcase."

"I'm not saying you're not, I'm just saying I know what you mean."

Seth peeked through an eye to look to his flying companion, who wore a wide grin on his scarred face.

"Very funny."

"I thought so, Mr Stone."

"Jyro!"

Jyro laughed loudly, flipping in circles in the air. Seth glanced down at the world zipping past in a green blur and shook his head.

"I still can't believe she adopted you! That changes everything!"

"I know."

Jyro stopped his aerobatics and resumed place flying beside Seth, laying on his back with hands behind his head, looking as relaxed as possible next to his tightly wound friend.

"That means she must've known you were a Freak, or at least that there was something weird about you when she did it. You've got to give her credit for that. For all she knew you were an alien baby who would grow up and eat her in the middle of the night."

"I don't think Ms Stone has that much imagination."

"She believes in Freaks, doesn't she?"

Seth frowned thoughtfully. That was true. Someone as sensible as Ms Stone believed in the Freak creatures, whatever they were. Immediately Seth's scepticism dropped a few notches.

"But I don't feel like a Freak." Seth lifted his hands, looking them over. It was hard to believe silver coursed through his veins. "And what does it mean to be a Freak anyway? Am I supposed to know it or feel it some how?"

"I wish I could tell you." Jyro was genuinely sympathetic. "If you want, I could ask Scary No-Face. He seems to know everything about everything."

Seth shrugged, gently flipping over so he too flew on his back looking up at the clear blue sky.

"I just don't know what to think. I've had all this info heaped on me, and now I have to try to buddy up with the new kid just to keep him quiet. I hope he never says a word, then I won't have to trick him just to save myself."

"Why does it have to be a trick? From what you said he sounds like a great guy."

"All I said was he doesn't speak and stole a hot dog stand."

"Exactly! If I were there I'd want to be friends with someone like that. He must have a load of stories to tell living on the streets!"

Seth smirked.

"Only you would look at the positive in such a helpless situation."

"Has any one ever told you you worry too much?"

"You, all the time."

Jyro shrugged and turned over, flipping in dizzying circles.

"I live vicariously through you, so if you worry, it puts a downer on both of us. So cheer up, everything's turned out for the best! Ms Stone's taken care of everything, and she's right about being the only authoritive figure Slip can dob too. I don't think there's anything to worry about."

"You know," Seth frowned thoughtfully, but quickly broke out in a grin. "With Ms Stone handling everything... that means I don't have to make friends with the new guy!"

"Technically you don't have too. But it would be nice of you."

Seth rolled his eyes.

"Who cares about nice! My butt's on the line!"

"Well I'm sorry about your butt, but as one loner to another, I can see from Slip's perspective. He's a new shy guy taken from his free life on the streets and shoved into boy prison, and he's found no one worth talking too so he must feel lonely, and no one's making any effort to be nice to him! As a fellow outcast you should make him feel welcome."

"I'm not - " Seth paused. There was no point denying it. "Fine. I'll think about it."

"Good. You're a nice boy, Seth Stone."

Seth sighed heavily, flipping over, casting his eyes down at the blurred green landscape below.

"I know. I have a feeling one day it's going to get me in trouble."

---

From that point, Seth saw the world in a new light, and life had a shiny, happy glow. Even the unchanging, dull events of the Iron House seemed bearable. Lessons were suddenly more interesting, he began actively participating in afternoon sports, happiness infusing him with a feeling of invincibility. No one dared try anything against him, but if they did, Seth was in too good a mood to let anything bother him. He felt like he walked on clouds, head held high as the words 'special' and 'irreplaceable' swelled in his mind, giving him confidence he never imagined he could feel. Only one thing deflated him in an instant - Slip.

It was as if Seth passed initiation into the Iron House and Slip was the new Seth, the replacement outcast. He sat alone in lessons, slouched in his chair, floppy hat pulled low to hide his face, never answering questions. Then he sat alone under the shade of a tree during afternoon sports. At times Seth had an uncomfortable suspicion he was being watched, but pushed his paranoia aside and repeated his glory words. Guilt settled inside him the size of a pea, sitting as a tiny stone in his stomach keeping him aware of it, but too small to fully acknowledge. As the days passed it continued to grow, swelling inside him until the third day when it morphed into full-blown shame, with encouragement from Jyro. Even the fact Slip still refused to speak didn't make him feel better.

The third night since Slip's arrival started like every other as the boys piled into the dining room from sports, bellies empty and grumbling for food. Seth took his usual place on the end of the bench while the others piled next to him, and like every night since he'd arrived, Slip sat on the same bench but at the opposite end. Through the raucous around him, Seth could see Slip sitting as usual, slouching, chin down, large hat flopping over him like it had sat in the sun too long was melting over his face. Guilt bit at his stomach but he swallowed hard, convincing himself it was just hunger pains.

Ms Stone was nowhere in sight as the food was brought and distributed amongst the tables, the boys quickly helping themselves in a wild frenzy of stabbing forks piling food onto their plates. Tonight was sausages, mixed vegetables and macaroni and cheese. Seth quickly joined the fray, filling his plate, almost stabbed numerous times in the process, but coming away unscathed and tucking into his plateful.

"Aren't you going to eat anything else?"

Seth unwillingly heard the gruff voice of the large boy who'd thrown the basketball at his face speak and automatically turned to him. All eyes flicked him, though hands continued to stuff food into mouths at the same time. Seth's heart felt heavy as rock seeing the bully sitting opposite Slip. Slip easily ignored him, continuing to eat a bright plateful of only mac and cheese.

"Is it true you got your name from stealing stuff?" The boy beside the bully asked eagerly, leaning over the wooden table. Resting his elbows on the table, he dropped his chin in his hands, staring with wide, questioning eyes. "Is stealing hard to do? Can you teach me to do it?"

Slip's only response was lifting his fork and digging it gracefully into the pile of macaroni and cheese steaming on his plate, bringing it up to his hidden mouth. His head hung so low Seth wasn't sure he could see the plate. Amazingly, he expertly found his plate without looking and fed himself without dropping a single piece of pasta. Seth caught himself staring, transfixed by the scene he knew from personal experience would get out of hand, fast.

"Don't be selfish, Slip." The bully snorted, nudging the boy next to him with a sly grin. "Teach us all how to do it. Unless," His grin widened, "- it's all rubbish and they call you Slip because you're a klutz."

Slip ignored them, continuing to eat without looking up.

"Hey, I'm talking to you!" The bully barked, pounding his fists on the table and springing to his feet, all knives and forks clanging loudly. Some boys jumped in surprise, but most started to snigger at the amusing display. Seth watched closely, unconsciously biting his lip as Slip still ignored him.

The boy sitting beside Slip suddenly darted forward, elbowing Slip on purpose as he reached across and scooped a handful of his macaroni, shoving it greedily into his mouth, not caring it dripped messily and dropped over his and Slip's clothes.

"Oo dun mine, do oo?" He gargled, letting it dribble down his chin as he gave a wide, yellow grin. The table exploded into laughter, even more so when the boy added, "If you do mind... just say so!" When he'd managed to swallow. Seth's hands balled into fists as he watched Slip continue ignoring the laughs. He still didn't look up, but carefully placed his fork neatly beside his plate, obviously done eating.

"Now that's not very nice." The bully tutted. He stood on the long bench, boldly stepped on the table, then down to the opposite bench as the boys moved out of his way. He turned dramatically around for show, a smug smirk on his gruff face, then plonked heavily down beside Slip. Some laughed, but Slip remained completely still with head hung low.

"You haven't gotten off to a very friendly start here, have you now, Slippy?"

The mass of boys gathered around Slip like a pack of vultures come to feed off a defenceless animal, Seth's insides began to heat as he watched the cackling, mindless sheep pandering to the bully's need for attention.

"Now Slippy," The bully began in a sing-song, mocking voice, "The best way to make friends is to talk to them... tell them your secret and feelings." He smirked as those around him broke into fits of laugher, some clutching their sides as they cackled wildly. Seth watched in disgust, hands starting to quiver from hot, growing rage.

"Maybe the only trick he knows is how to eat rats!" A boy snorted across the table, waving his fork in gestures as he spoke. "And what's good to eat from a rubbish bin!"

The boys roared with laughter. Seth felt his temperature rising.

"Now wait a second." The bully cut through the laughter in a polite tone, flashing a wide smile and giving Slip a friendly squeeze. "We don't want to be insulting him if he's going to be one of us." He looked at Slip, who acted oblivious of the bully's arm draped over his thin shoulders, and he was being spoken too.

"So... what do you say? What's your real name?"

Silence. All eyes stared eagerly, waiting for his answer. Ignoring the bully wasn't a good idea, especially when they could see him quickly losing patience. The bully cleared his throat loudly, visibly tightening his grip on Slip's shoulders, crushing him uncomfortably closer to his larger body.

"Come on, Slip." He urged in a less friendly tone. It was a warning, everyone knew. "Don't leave us in suspense. Tell us about your street tricks, unless all you really do is eat out of rubbish bins. The only way we'll know the real answer is if you tell us."

Slip remained as inanimate and silent as a statue. He stayed completely unperturbed, even as they began to mutter to one another in low, annoyed tones at his ignorance. The large bully's frown was the deepest and most irritated, his brow furrowing deeply. He snatched his arm from Slip's shoulders dramatically, as if realising he was touching something disgusting.

"Fine. You've made your choice." He slowly stood, the room dropping to deafening silence in knowing anticipation. The bully stepped carefully out from the bench and backed up, arms folded gruffly across his broad chest.

"I bet you don't have any tricks at all. I bet you were born in a gutter and raised by rats... eating filthy rubbish and mouldy food and... and..."

"Pigeon poo!" A boy shouted from the bench, exploding into wild squeals. The rest, including the older boys, whose interest was caught hearing the conversation, erupted into crazed laughter.

"Is that true, Slippy? Did your dirty, ratty Mummy and Daddy feed you pigeon poo?" The bully sneered loudly, shaking his head in disgust. "What about dog poo? Or wasn't that good enough for the Ratty family?"

The laughter verged on the point of maniacal as various shouts exploded from the different tables, making the laughter grow by the second and Seth's anger boil so intensely hot it wouldn't have surprised him if steam shot out his ears.

"What about cat poo?"

"Did you like eating maggots too?"

"Nice juicy maggots and poo for tea!"

"I bet you ate your own poo 'cause you were so poor! Didn't you, Rat-boy?"

"He ate his ratty parents poo too! NO! He ate his ratty parents, that's why he's here!" Another boy shrieked wildly, the laughter now so loud it shook the room, the tinkling of jostled cutlery adding to the crazed din.

Seth was livid. Hunching over, he glared fiercely at the bully who started it all, breathing harshly as he struggled to control his unfamiliar fury. His whole body burned from the inside as if his blood had turned to lava. His face was bright red but not from embarrassment, just red hot fury, the heat intensifying as the mocking continued, pushing him to an edge he'd never been before.

"Rat muncher!" The boys taunted over and over. "Rat muncher! Rat muncher!"

The volcano inside Seth exploded, rage forcing him to his feet.

"SHUT UP!"

Overhead the lights dropped to a dull hue, suddenly dampened by an unseen force. The room fell into instant silence as all eyes turned to gape at him in the dim light. No one moved, no one made a sound. They simply stared, opened mouthed, frozen expressions of horror on their faces. Seth's eyes darted from terrified expression to terrified expression, boiling hot anger instantly dissipating as cold fear overwhelmed it. He vaguely registered his knife and fork stuck to the back of his hands as if magnetised, because of the most chilling thing of all. Slip finally moved, staring at him like the others, though his eyes remained hidden.

"What's going on in here?"

Seth jolted in surprise at the demanding tone of Ms Stone. Instantly the dull lights brightened to their normal glow, his stiff knife and fork sliding off his hands loosely.

"What on Earth is going on?" Ms Stone walked nosily into the room, eyes to the ceiling at the lights above. It didn't take long to notice the eerily silent boys and where their gazes were locked. Slightly stunned, she approached Seth, hands on her hips.

"Knightly, can you explain what - "

Seth took off running as fast as his legs could carry him, out of the dining room, up the stairs, and didn't stop until he reached his bedroom. Slamming the door behind him, he cursed its lack of a lock. Mind in a state of panic, hands shaking, he backed away from the door, staring at the doorknob hoping with all his might Ms Stone didn't follow him.

He didn't understand what happened down there. He was furious and shouted to stop them teasing Slip, had lost his temper, but why had they stared at him like that? The fear in their eyes, the shock on their faces... they couldn't think he was responsible for the lights dimming. They were average lights with no dimmers, but perhaps the bulbs were old. No way his shout dulled light bulbs, it was ridiculous. A cold shiver tingled up his spine, he nervously raked his fingers through his hair. He couldn't think why they reacted the way they had, but he was sure Ms Stone was sorting it out. She would surely take care of it and brush off anything the boys told her.

The knots in his stomach loosened, he finally let out the deep breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. The others would eat dinner, then watch their after dinner movie, so he had a few hours to himself. It was a relief having some time alone to think things out.

And just as the thought entered his head, it was dashed instantly as soon as he turned around to face the long, bed-strewn room. A lone figure sat on the top bed of Seth's bunk, casually swinging his legs back and forth like he didn't have a care in the world. But it was impossible.

How had Slip made it to the bedroom before him?

Seth stopped dead, not moving a muscle, staring at the smaller figure. Slip stared, no surprise there, but his visible mouth was clearly pulled in a smug smirk. Something pleased him, if it was beating Seth to the room or amusement at what happened downstairs Seth didn't know, but his smugness was enough to snap him out of shock and take a bold step forward. He opened his mouth to speak, finally frustrated enough to tell Slip off for staring so much and creeping him out.

"Thanks for sticking up for me."

Seth's words caught in his throat. Slip's tone was light and playful, his grin widening.

"You didn't have too, but it was nice."

Seth gaped like a fish, voice suddenly gone. Slip spoke. Slip, who never said a word and looked miserable and moody all the time was smiling and talking like it was no big deal.

"I'm going to head down to watch the movie. I just wanted to thank you while you were alone." Slip stopped kicking his legs and pushed off the bed, landing softly on his feet. He giggled as he approached Seth, who remained as dumb as a statue, and as stiff. "And I'll tell you what, we can make a deal. You don't tell any one I spoke, and I won't tell any one what I saw through the fence."

A hollow feeling spread from Seth's stomach outward, heart suddenly feeling like a stone weight in his chest. Slip giggled playfully, tilting his head back, shifting his floppy hat to allow him to see better.

"Don't have a heart attack, Seth. Your secret's safe with me."

With one last wide grin, Slip strutted confidently to the door. Seth heard it open, then close, then he was alone. Legs like jelly, face white as a sheet, he barely managed to stumble to his bed, collapse on it and lay with eyes open wide, mind spinning.

To his surprise, the thing that most disturbed him was the fact Slip addressed him by name. No one ever used his name. In fact, he was sure most of the boys didn't know it. There was something about Slip, something strange and worrying and to Seth's immense shock, despite all that, he couldn't help but feel himself starting to like the little weirdo.

He spent hours alone thinking, but when the boys from the movie came to get ready for bed, he closed his eyes, feigning sleep. He didn't flinch when he heard his name and the others talking about him and what happened. Most blamed the lights dulling on him, though none had a real explanation how. Within half an hour, the light was off and the boys scrambled to their beds, lying still and quiet as the door gently opened and Ms Stone peeked inside. She glanced around the darkness, then closed the door, satisfied. Almost immediately the room sprang into secret life. Whispers began as boys gently climbed out of bed, moving to others, some carrying torches, others carrying games to play but most moving to just sit with friends to discuss the movie. It was the usual nightly ritual, Ms Stone would check to make sure they were sleeping and once she was gone, they moved around, socialising well into the night. Seth never participated. He had no one to visit and no one ever wanted to visit him. Until now.

Taking a deep breath, he tried steadying his nerves. In his hours of thinking, he decided now Slip was talking he had no choice but to go through with the plan befriending him. It would be harder now Slip admitted what he'd seen, but Seth had come up with an explanation he hoped Slip would believe.

He pulled back his covers, sliding his legs out. Nervously he stood on his bed, staring at the bunk above his. Heart racing a mile a minute, he couldn't stop touching his hair. With only moonlight as his guide, he saw Slip's outline lying with his back to him, quilt pulled up so high all that was visible of him was the top of his large hat, which Seth was shocked to see he still wore. Cautiously, he reached out, wondering if it was better to shake or poke him. Deciding a poke would do, he gave a sharp one where he guessed was Slip's side. Slip's body jumped in response, Seth sure he heard an odd giggle before he suddenly finding himself face-to-face with Slip, who whipped around so fast Seth barely had time to draw his hand back. He snapped it back to his body as if Slip were about to bite it off.

"Uh, hi."

"Hi." Slip replied in a low, casual tone. "What's up?"

"I wanted to talk to you."

"Sure." Slip sat up, shuffling his smaller body back, sitting on top of his pillow. He patted the area in front of him. "Come up."

Stunned by the fact Slip was talking so easily, Seth obeyed, hauling himself onto the top bunk and sitting opposite. Looking at Slip wearing his floppy hat and mismatched pyjamas, a strange calm spread through him. Moonlight dimly lit Slip's face and Seth saw a pale smile, the rest of his face remaining hidden as always.

"So what's up?"

"I noticed you were talking." Seth's cheeks flushed as he realised how silly that sounded. "I mean, I figured you were talking so you know, you wanted to talk. To someone. To me, I guess. And I wanted to talk to you too." He added quickly.

"Yeah, I decided it was Ok to talk to you now. But I'm still not talking, so don't tell any one else."

"Why aren't you talking?"

"It's easier not too." Slip shrugged. "I'm usually not at an Orphanage more than a night so it's usually pointless. I escape the first night and go home."

"You've been here three days." Seth pointed out, then silently cursed himself for being rude. He wouldn't win Slip's friendship being rude. "Can't you get out?"

"Of course I can! I can leave any time I want!" Slip snorted defensively, puffing out his chest.

"Then why are you here? Don't you want to go?"

"Course I do, don't you?"

Seth paused, caught off-guard by the question. He couldn't see Slip's eyes but felt them staring and he couldn't help squirm under his gaze.

"This has been my home for eleven years. I can't imagine being any where else."

"You've been here eleven years?" Slip's mouth dropped. "With Old Stony? How have you not climbed the fence and escaped to sanity by now? Wow... I didn't think you'd been here the whole time!"

"Whole time?" Seth frowned, face wrinkled in confusion at his choice of words. "Whole time of what?"

"Whole time of being an Orphan." Slip said too quickly, giving the distinct impression of hiding something. Seth decided to let it go, taking a short breath in, preparing to say what he had practiced all afternoon.

"Uh, Slip," Seth began too casually, hand running nervously through his hair for the hundredth time. "About what you said today. What you saw through the fence your first day. I don't know what you think you saw, but I just wanted to make sure - "

"Blood." Slip cut in simply. He adjusted his hat, lifting it slightly so Seth could see some of his nose. "Silver blood. Coming out of your nose and head. Are you all right by the way? I figured you were since you seem Ok, but I didn't ask at the time because of the not talking."

"B-blood? There wasn't any blood... I mean I had silver all over me, you can't possibly think that was blood, it was the wrong colour. It was paint, just paint!" Seth tried to force a laugh but Slip's straightforwardness had thrown him off balance. He only managed a weak cough. Although he couldn't see it, he knew Slip's eyes rolled.

"Think I'm stupid? I know blood when I see it. Don't worry, I meant what I said. Your secret is safe with me. I'm not going to tell any one." Slip grinned. "It's no big deal. You think everyone's insides are rosy red? As if!"

"But it wasn't blood, it was paint, I had just been painting inside in class and the other boys - "

"Forget it, I don't believe you."

"It was only paint!" Seth argued desperately, insides squirming frantically like he'd swallowed a bucket of worms. Slip let out a warm laugh.

"Seriously Seth, I don't care! It's not a big deal, so calm down before someone hears you and sees me talking!"

"How do you know my name?"

Slip's smile dropped. Seth's heart raced, panic skyrocketing hearing his name, a rare gem to his ears. Hearing it casually spoken from Slip's lips when it was barely known and never used rattled him, more than the blood talk.

"Oh, I heard it - "

"No," It was Seth's turn to cut in and catch the lies. "There's no way you could've heard it. How do you know my real name?"

An internal struggle waged inside Slip, Seth saw it on his face and body language. Suddenly he didn't look so comfortable and carefree, he squirmed under Seth's hard gaze, knowing he was sprung.

"All right!" Slip hissed exasperatedly, twisting his fingers together. "I guess there's no point lying about it. I went through your stuff and saw your name on the photo album cover. Seth L Knightly. In the bag with the baby clothes."

"You went through my stuff?!"

"Ssh! Not so loud!" Slip folded his arms, pale lips pouting. "I was curious, so don't get mad or I'll stop talking again!"

"Are you threatening me?" Seth's mouth gaped. Anger subsided beneath a wave of pure astonishment. "You went through my things and won't talk to me if I get mad about it?"

It made no sense whatsoever, but Slip nodded defiantly.

"You're overreacting." He stated simply, unfolding his arms, slouching forward. "Come on, it's no big deal. I wanted to learn about you so your stuff seemed the right place to start."

"How is looking at old baby photos learning about me? And why do you want to learn about me?" Seth demanded in a hot whisper. He suddenly felt naked, violated learning his things were rifled through by a stranger.

"I only flicked through half the album and clothes. They were boring. But your letter was exactly what I needed to see."

Seth's heart stopped. He forgot the white letter was there, as well as his photo strip.

"That," He forced himself to speak calmly, a difficult feat as the urge to rip Slip's head off was suddenly overwhelming, "Was a very personal letter."

"I know." Slip replied without a hint of guilt. "But I needed to be sure and now I am."

"Sure of what?"

"That you're the one I've been looking for. That we've all been looking for." Drawing in a deep breath, Slip leaned closer, hat casting most of his face into darkness. "Seth, you have no idea what going on out there, do you?"

He didn't answer. He merely stared, at a loss how to feel about the shorter, arrogant boy. Fury bubbled under the surface, but something he couldn't explain kept him from returning to his bed. Something held him from passing final judgement on Slip just yet.

"We're in danger. We're being hunted down, taken away, never to be seen again. Hundreds of us are in hiding, but he still finds us no matter where we are; eventually he tracks us down or traps us. We constantly have to keep outrunning and outwitting him until the time comes for him to be taken down." Slip paused. He sighed at the blank expression on Seth's face.

"I'm not explaining this right, am I? Seth... the Freaks are in danger. He's tracking us down and taking us away so he can search for the one Freak he's trying to find. Right now there's a Prophecy at work; a Prophecy about a Foretold One who will rise and save the Freaks from enslavement and destroy the scarred man who has taken them. It's all happening now, Morticus is taking Freaks and is searching for the Foretold One so he can kill him before he's killed himself, but no one knows what the Foretold One looks like. The only description in the Prophecy says he will rise as a Silver Knight and will have rare powers." Slip's head tilted back, showing a glimpse of a wide, smug grin that drained all colour from Seth's face.

"Seth, you know about Freaks, right?"

Seth numbly nodded.

"And you've heard about the kidnappings in the City?"

He nodded again.

"All Freaks. Every single person taken has been a Freak. Morticus is the scarred man enslaving us. He's a huge man with horrible powers and a huge scar across one side of his face. We've had no trouble for eleven years, but a few months ago he came out of no where and started hunting us down." Slip shook his head. "It's horrible. Sometimes we stay in hiding for weeks and run out of food, but we can't go out and get more because of the danger. My friend Drayk has to eat rats and pigeons to give his share to the rest of us. Seth... you've gone very quiet."

It was a full minute before Seth's muddled brain organised thoughts to words. So many thoughts rushing through his mind was dizzying, but he forced himself to speak.

"Slip, why are you telling me all this?"

Slip's face fell.

"Don't you understand? I just told you the story."

"You told me about Freaks. Why?"

"Because it involves you." Slip's tone changed. It became gentle, as if he were softening a blow. "Seth, don't you get it? The Prophecy says the Foretold One will rise as a Silver Knight. Your last name is Knightly and you have silver blood. See where I'm going with this?"

Seth knew. He realised as soon as the words first escaped Slip, but purposely shoved them aside and steeled himself. But as he feared, Slip said exactly what he didn't want to hear.

"Seth... you're the Foretold One. The evidence is right in front of me, I... I really can't believe I've finally found you." Awe overwhelmed him as he stared at Seth from under shadowed hat, as if seeing him for the first time. "You don't understand what it means to find you before Morticus. To think I almost didn't come here! Remember when we first saw each other through the fence? I ran away from the C.S woman because I got scared and had second thoughts, but then I saw you and you were bleeding silver and I knew you were the one! You're the reason I came on this mission!" Slip wriggled excitedly as he struggled to suppress his joy. "Your letter confirmed everything! I've finally found you, you don't understand what this means! We need to get out of here and back to my friends so we can decide what our next move is. Oh! Are you packed? We can go tonight! We can sneak out when everyone's asleep!"

"L-leave?" Seth barely managed a whisper.

"Yes, we need to go. Morticus wants to kill you and there's no one to protect you here. My friends and I have a great hiding place. You'll come live with us and the Prophecy can be fulfilled! I can't believe this is finally happening! So what do you think? Do you want to leave tonight?"

"I... I think... I think..." Seth stammered, stomach twisting in anxious knots. "I think... you're completely insane."

Slip's smile dropped but Seth didn't care. Cold terror spread through his limbs and the only way he could think to stop it was to get as far away from Slip as he could. Without waiting for a response, Seth hurriedly climbed off the bed, ducking under the top bunk, burying himself deep in his comfortable bed. Throwing his quilt over his head he lay staring into darkness, chills coursing through his body. Slip's words were deeply disturbing, not because he thought it was crazy like he implied, but the opposite; something embedded deep inside him stirred, confirming everything Slip said as truth. But he firmly decided to pretend it wasn't.

Foretold One. He was no Foretold One, of that he was one hundred percent sure. He didn't have powers, rare or otherwise, and even with silver blood and last name Knightly it didn't mean anything. It was just a coincidence. A Freaky coincidence.

"Seth?" The small, hurt voice of Slip whispered from above, but Seth didn't move. "I'm sorry, I must've explained it wrong or... I don't know. But - " He paused, sighing softly in defeat. "I'll be ready whenever you want to leave." The bed creaked as Slip pulled up and settled into bed.

Shock jolted through him as tears welled unwillingly in his eyes. Closing his eyes to fight them, he willed sleep to take him to Jyro, to tomorrow. He wanted to forget every word Slip said about Prophecies, Foretold Ones and Freaks.

But that night there was no Jyro, and what Seth witnessed changed his opinion of Slip completely.