Well its took me most of the day to learn this, but here is my first pattern. Enjoy

Hearts By Flid

Please see thread for installation instructions.

Hi

Thank you all who sent me so many kind messages with regards to the attack the site received from a hacker. I'm pleased to say the site is up and working again, however with a difference.

The Sims 2 UK is going home.

On the 7th January 2003 www.simsmad.co.uk opened its doors with downloads for The Sims 1, then on 22nd August 2003 The Sims 2 uk was launched for The Sims 2. With the release of The Sims 3 we have decided to go home. The Sims 2 uk can now be found at www.simsmad.co.uk We will cover The Sims 1, The Sims 2 and The sims 3. So now you can have it all in one place instead of having to register at a new site. Dont worry if you are using bookmarks, the links from The Sims 2 UK will still work, but will now go to www.simsmad.co.uk.



We've also added some new clothes today.







There is also now and area for your to upload your own Sims creations for all version of the sims.

Click here to submit Sims 1 Downloads

Click here to submit Sims 2 Downloads

Click here to submit Sims 3 Downloads

Be sure to view the instructions on doing this that can be found here.



Also on the site:

Game over A short story by TheJoker

Blank Canvas A Story by WickedDiva

Jenna X By Bob_lover



Regards



Flid



www.simsmad.co.uk

TheSims2UK

New clothes added today.

The overhead street lamp barely illuminated the dark musty alleyway. It was virtually impossible to see further than a few feet ahead.
   A man stood at the foot of the alley. His long silver hair almost grey as the dismal shadows stretched across him. He didn’t need light to see, his burning ember eyes cut through the dark like a hot knife in butter. The alley ahead of him deserted all except a stray cat that was rummaging through the trashcan for any morsel of food it could find.



   The man took an effortless, but heavy step foreword into the darkness, the cat stopped, turned, and hissed. Its fur spiking up in harsh peaks as it back its way into a darker corner.
   He would have hissed backed and had a little fun, but there was no time. There were deadlines to meet if everything was to go as planned.




   Ignoring the cat, he bent down and placed the limp unconscious body on the damp ground.
   “Its nearly time my friend.” He said and the deep velvet of his voice still heard even though he spoke in a whisper.




   “You were so mean to that guy.” Said Amanda.
   “Oh come on, he deserved it. What with his stupid last century top and his cheesy chat up lines.” Said Dani. “Heaven must be missing an angle tonight.”
   Both girls laughed at Dani’s impression of the guy.




   “Yeah ok so he was an idiot, but still—”
   “Mandy don’t be such an old woman.”
   Amanda paused and slowed down, she gripped a little harder on Dani’s arm that was linked with hers. “Did you hear that?”
   Dani rolled her eyes and sighed. “It was nothing, just probably some horny alley cat waiting to get laid.”
   “No I’m serious listen.”
   They both stopped. Amanda’s eyes were wide as she listened and scanned the area.”
   “It’s nothing.”
   “No, no.” she said. “Listen. Again. Over there.” And she pointed over to the alley at the back of the restaurant.



   Dani stepped forward, loosening her arm from Amanda’s, but Amanda caught her top and pulled her back.
   “What are you doing?” asked Amanda.
   “Going to look.”
   “Are you mad? It could be anyone. Let’s go back and walk round.”
   “Yeah right, it takes ages to walk that way, I want to get home and to bed. I told you it’ll be some damn cat, and I’m damned if I am going to let it make me walk miles to get home.”
   Amanda reached out and took Dani’s hand in hers. “Better a long walk than dead in an alley.”
   “Now you’re over reacting. It’ll turn out to be nothing, I’ll show you.”
   “It doesn’t sound like a cat.”
   “Come on I’ll show you.”
   Dani let go of Amanda’s hand and was out of reach before she had time to react.
   “Don’t Dani—”




   “Oh crap. Amanda you better get over here.”
   “I aint coming no where near.” She said as she wrapped her arms around herself, even though she wasn’t cold.
   “Oh come on, there’s nothing—” Dani pretended to scream and choke herself. The thin heal of her shoe caught in a crack in the ground and she fell backwards.
   “Dani!” Amanda rushed over to the alley. Dani sat on the ground rubbing her ankle.
   “What is it?”
   “Dani burst into laughter even though her ankle hurt like hell. “The look on your face.” She said struggling to speak.
   “Your not funny.”
   “Nope, but you are.” Dani continued laughing and Amanda folded her arms.




   The silver haired man smiled as he watched them. Keeping his eyes black as the night. This was going just as he planned.



   Dani and Amanda hadn’t noticed the body on the ground next to them and they both screamed as his hand rested lightly on Dani’s leg.

If any of you have read Alone and A Fathers Sacrifice then you will know this family already. This is story number 3 staring Morgan and Adams daughter Vanessa.


I apologise for the quality of part one, i forgot to turn my settings back up. All other parts should be normal standard.

I love it when the evenings are just giving into night after a hot day. When the last of the summer breeze is just blowing by without a care in the world. Carrying the scent of fresh cut grass and barbeques from earlier in the day.



I love listening to the sound of laughter heard from the surrounding houses as the remaining family and friends stay and enjoy just one last drink. The sound of the crickets hiding and playing their games in the dark garden at the back of my house.




I stood outside after a busy day with my daughter Robin, I loved her so much, she was my life, my reason for living, but I loved to just stand outside alone and take it all in while she was safely tucked up in bed. It was nice to let my body relax after a day of paddling pools and sandcastles.




Smiling to myself I took one last deep breath of fresh air and went back into the house. It was if Bexley knew that I wanted to be alone. He was curled in his basket watching me, waiting for me to finish so that he could get up.




"Hey boy" I said as I bent down and ran my hands through his grey fur. Bexley was our dog, well Siberian husky actually. I had never wanted pets, didn’t really have time for them, but my aunts dog had had pups and Robin had begged and begged, she even enlisted the help of my grandfather to persuaded me into giving in. The pair of them had driven me mad until I finally said yes.




I had to admit though its nice having him around. Sometimes it’s as if he is more than just a family pet, he was more like a fury friend.

I filled his bowl before going back to my studio and he gave me a happy wag of his tail. I swear sometimes he smiles.




I am a painter. Mostly I paint pictures from photographs. Sometimes I paint them exact and other times I like to put my own ideas into them. Like the painting of my mother and father on their wedding day. They never got married, they didn’t live long enough. My mother died three days before her wedding and my father on the actual day, but on my canvas it’s another world.

In my picture they are together, happy, smiling. My mother in her white dress, her long red hair piled neatly on the top of her head and my father in his tuxedo, no hat though, just his blonde hair casually flopping nearly covering one of his bright blue eyes.







I suppose my paintings; my art is just a way of me sharing my childhood hopes and dreams. Hope that somewhere my parents are happy together.


I don’t remember either of them. I was only two when they died. My grandfather brought me up. Don’t get me wrong my childhood was fantastic, but there was always something missing. Some part of me that had a hole in it that could not be filled.





I started at my half finished painting. It was a painting of my grandma. Taken just after my mother was born. Her hair was blonde then. Her face perfect and floorless. Not like now. Now her life showed on her face, the years of worry over my mother and all the things that had gone wrong. Her hair too silvery grey shimmering like the stars on a bright night. But her face in the picture seemed to hold sadness. It was as if my grandfather had captured what she was feeling as well as her image.




The soft beep of my alarm rang out and Bexley’s ears stuck up. It was bed time. I have to have an alarm when I am painting otherwise I get lost in what I am doing. I would paint all night if it wasn’t for that clock and that is not a good idea when I have a bright bubbly six year old to get up to. And Robin does not know the meaning of a lie in.





After closing the house down for the night I slipped on my shorts and t-shirt that I wore for bed. They had been a birthday present from Robin, she knew I was mad on teddy bears, any thing she ever gave me was teddy bear orientated. I must have been a lot more tired than I though, I fell asleep almost as soon as I shut my eyes. Bexley was curled up in another one of his baskets just out side our bedrooms. He always slept there at night, like our protector.




“Mummy.” Said Robin as I tried to decide if the voice was real or if I was still asleep. “Mummy wake up.” Whispered Robin again gently rocking my shoulder this time.
“What is it baby?” I said my voice still heavy with sleep.
“It’s Bex, Mummy he is whining. I think he needs to go out.”




I let my arm drop from her shoulder and gave a sigh, he chose his moments. “Alright.” I said. “You get into bed and I’ll go sort him out.”
“Please don’t tell him off Mummy.” She said.
“I won’t.” she always said that if Bexley had done something, I don’t know where she got the idea from, I very rarely shouted at him or her.




I left Robin in my room curling her self up in my bed. Looks like I will have company for the rest of the night.

Bexley was by the back door of the house when I found him, his snout was raised and teeth barred. “Bexley?” I called gently. “Bexley what’s the matter?”




He seemed to not hear me; either that or he was ignoring me. I crept up to him, not wanting to make him jump and have him turn those teeth on me. He was a gentle thing, had never hurt anyone, but they say that it’s in every dog and with Bexley basically being a wolf, I bet it was in him more.




A shadow danced across the glass of the door, almost forcing my heart to smash out of my chest. Bexley saw it too and his snarling seemed to escalate.

I grabbed my fire extinguisher; it was the hardest weapon I could find. Grabbing my keys off the hook I nervously tip toed over to the door. I don’t know why I was tip toeing, Bexley was making enough racket as it was. The back garden was covered in darkness when I opened the door.
“Hello?” I called out into the night. “Is someone there?”




Bexley’s growling went down to a whimper and I stared at him watching as he seemed to shrink into himself as he backed away from the door. I couldn’t see what ever he could see. I flicked on the kitchen light, but there was still nothing. Just Robins swing gently moving too and fro in the night breeze. There were no shadows, no one hiding. “Stay there Bex.” I said as I ventured out. “Hello?” I called again.




The shed stood in shadows at the bottom of the garden. I should have brought a torch, but too late now no going back. I walked slowly up to it, never taking my eyes of the small dark window. The shed was unlocked when I reached the door. Maybe I had forgotten to lock it. I opened the door and flicked on the light. Nothing there, just my lawn mower, and various other gardening tools. I closed the door again and this time locked it behind me.




I walked the parameter of the house, there was no one there. I don’t know what had set Bexley off, all I could see that possibly answered what I saw were some of Robin’s clothes still hanging on the washing line.




My heart rate seemed to slow down as I reached my back door again. The back door was shut when I reached the back of the house. Weird, I was sure I left it open when I went out.




Robin!

Click to read the profiles

Well its finaly here. Written by Flid and Nhayes. Enjoy.  





The day had arrived that every sim worth a simolean had been waiting for, the night of The Simmies award presentation. Stars of the big screen glided along the red carpet, each hoping to be better than the rest. Cameras flashed as they waved to the crowds of onlookers, beaming their best Simmywood smiles that showed off their perfect, ultra white teeth.



Stephan sat down with a distracted smile on his distinguished face. Glancing around at all the expectant faces in their designer formal wear, the ladies with their hair freshly styled, their elegant necks dripping with diamonds and other expensive jewels. The men sitting stiffly in their tuxedos, sipping cocktails and weighing up the competition. The atmosphere was palpable with nervous excitement. Each year it was the same. If you reached out your hand you could probably grab a handful of air thick with anticipation.



There is one difference this year he thought rather smugly. He knew what a number of people in the room were all thinking about, and he knew that it wasn’t the awards. It was the same thing on his mind. He looked around for the people he had chosen and he could see the item of their thoughts on their tables or sticking out of their pockets and handbags. He could tell each and every one of them wanted to talk about it, hoping that someone had figured out what the mysterious message inside meant.



Charlie Rivers, resplendent in his tailored dinner jacket, glanced surreptitiously over at his younger brother. He hoped to catch his eye without Christyana noticing. He wondered if Matt had worked out the strange message they both had received earlier that day. He had gone over and over the note since he got it, but he still couldn't decipher its meaning.



At another table, Ashton Phoenix rubbed the back of his neck and sighed loudly.
“You ok?” asked Rachel watching him from across the table
“Yeah I. . . er.” He subconsciously pulled the black letter out of his pocket and twirled it around in his hand.
“You got one, too?” inquired Sienna, suddenly interested in the conversation. “Do you have any idea what it means?”




The ceremony started as the presenters made their way onto stage and took their microphones.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” one of the elegant female presenters began, as silence descended and the Awards were introduced.




As the ceremony progressed, only Stephan noticed that some of the audience wasn’t as rapt as the others. Some of them looked decidedly distracted as they fidgeted and fiddled with small black envelopes. He noticed Charlie trying to catch his brother’s eye, Sienna and Ashton whispering animatedly to each other and Clay with a brooding look on his face as he sat quietly, lost in his thought. A triumphant smile crept across Stephan’s face as he watched his plan pan out beautifully before him.




Christyana watched anxiously as the nominees for best actress began. She hoped it was her name that was called out to receive it. Already a three time winner, she desperately wanted to make it a fourth.



“Welcome to Simmywood’s Simmie awards. I am Megan Zimmerman and this is Julia Devonshire. " said Megan over the microphone.

The ceremony was coming to its conclusion when Julia made a special announcement. “Tonight we have four very special awards to give out. These four people are outstanding stars and I hope you will all agree. "



Julie smiled and looked over the crowd of waiting celebrities. "So with out further delay. The first award tonight is Outstanding Female Performance. Now I am sure you will all agree that this actress is by far one of Simmywoods most admired female actresses, if not one of the most envied."

The room waited in anticipation and Julia paused and smiled.

"This award goes to Aimee Salinger."


"Now where is our dear Aimee?"



Aimee approached the stage as the camera and the spotlights followed her. She took her place at the microphone and breathed in. "Wow I don’t know what to say. I am overwhelmed. I guess I should start by saying thank you to my co stars in Chalk and Cheese, I really couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you very much everyone."



They watched as Aimee made her way back to her seat with her award before Megan began the next award.
"Well we have had Outstanding Female performance, its only right that we give the guys a chance too. Now this man came into our lives as a little known actor, but his role in his last film, certainly marked his arrival to the big time. Tonight I announce that the winner or Outstanding Male performance is Clay Denver. "




Clay walked up to the stage, not letting his nervousness show. All this time in front of the camera and he could still feel the edge of stage fright.
"I am so stunned to be here. I can’t believe it. Standing here looking at all of you and knowing I won makes me very proud.
Let’s hope Matt doesn’t steal my title next year. "



They all laughed at Clay's parting comment as he quickly went back to sit down in the comfort of the crowd.

Julie cleared her throat and smiled broadly for the cameras. "Now this next award makes me very proud to be here. The winner of this one definitely deserves it. She has made us laugh, cry and above all entertained us. The next award is life time achievement. And I am very honoured to be giving this today. "

"The winner is…Christyana Jobert. "




Christyana took hold of the microphone without hesitation. She smiled confidently as everyone watched her.

"It's a funny thing about winning a Simmie Award, this will always be sort of synonymous with your name from here on. Simmie-winner Christyana Jobert, life time achievement 2006.
It’s nice to know that they got one award right tonight. Hey, I’m joking…well mostly.
I'm honoured to be presented with this award for lifetime achievement award; I'm making it my aim to be the first person to win this twice! I'd like to take time to thank the most important person in my career so far.. so well thanks to me without whom I wouldn't be where I am today standing here in front of you all with a smug grin on my face. Oh and thanks to the writers, producers and stars that I’ve worked with over the years. "



"Well, erm thank you Christyana." Said Megan not sure what to say after Christyana's speech. " Now quickly moving on. There is just one more award to give out tonight. And this one isn’t for the actors and actresses I see before me. It is for the man who helped make you all what you are today. Let me take the pleasure in announcing The Director of the Year goes to my favourite vampire. Stephan Cruz."




"It’s a great honour to be stood here looking out at all the faces of the people whose lives I have made hell, but I hope it hasn’t scared you all off. I look forward to working with you all in the future. Without you all I wouldn't be stood up here today, and for that I thank you."
 


Julie and Megan smiled and clapped as Stephan made his way to his table. They closed the awards and thanked everyone for coming.

Simmywood's finest made their way to the bar. Socializing was the best way to get ahead in this business and they all knew it. It was also rumored that Stephan was about to start on another project, and many of them were eager to learn more. Some of them, however, had other things on their minds.



Christyana walked over to where gorgeous Matt Rivers was talking to his friend and colleague Clay Denvers. He saw her approach, and his face broke into a warm smile. “Christyana, congratulations.” he exclaimed, kissing her on both cheeks in the continental way.
“Oh Matt, come on now. No need for flattery. You know that award wouldn’t have gone to anyone else in this room,” Christyana answered vainly.
“Good old Christyana,” thought Matt. She could always be depended on to come up with something egotistical. Mind you, when you looked as good as Christyana, you could carry anything off.
“Yes, well, er,” he replied, unsure of what to say without causing offense.
Christyana moved closer to Matt and ran her hand over his broad shoulders.
“You know, you really should have won male of the year,” she whispered softly in his ear.



Rachel Addison noticed that awful Christyana Jobert talking to Matt. Anger raced through her as she watched them laughing and flirting.
“He never could resist a pretty face,” she thought in annoyance, squaring her shoulders and navigating her way through the crowded bar to them. She was not going to be put off talking to her own husband by some spoiled, jumped up actress.
Matt saw Rachel approaching and his heart sank. This wasn’t going to be pretty. Despite everything, he still loved his wife, but they hadn’t been able to have a civil conversation for months. Too much alike, they always fought for the last word.
“Rachel,” Matt said, acknowledging her.
“Talking to the trash again, are we Matt?” said Rachel as she rolled her eyes angrily at Christyana.
“Excuse me, who do you think you're talking to?” demanded Christyana, raising her voice. “Did you see WHO just won lifetime achievement?”
“Yes, well, the number of people you have taken to your bed is quite an achievement, too,” retorted Rachel, furious now.
“You bitch,” hissed Christyana, her voice dripping with venom.



Matt stood between them both, hoping that they wouldn’t launch at each other. “Ladies, please. There is a time and a place. Do you really want a cat fight on national television?”
“Well, if you take the rubbish out and put it where it belongs, I have something to talk to you about,” Rachel informed him.
“I will not stoop down to your level, Rachel. No wonder Matt is divorcing you. You drove him into Sienna’s bed with your constant nagging and bad temper.”



Clay noticed Matt’s predicament, from the bar where he was ordering drinks, and ran over to help him. “Rachel come on, just leave it for now. You don’t want to cause a scene.” He encouraged her calmly, guiding her away by the arm.
“Oh, don’t try and be all macho, Clay. Leave the little actress to make a fool of herself. At least she would make front page news for the first time in her life,” laughed Christyana harshly.



Clay steered Rachel towards the bar. “I don’t need to be dragged away like some misbehaving child, you know, Clay.”
“Oh, come on Rachel, that’s not fair. Matt is my mate and we grew close in Alone. I don’t want to see either of you getting bad press, especially not while both your careers are on such a high. Do you really want to see "Simmie award winner Rachel Addison Gets Into Bar Brawl" written across every newspaper tomorrow?”
Rachel took a deep breath. She knew Clay was right. He always was.
“I’m sorry Clay. She just winds me up.”
“She winds everyone up. I think she does it on purpose.”



“Well, I must say today is turning out to be just great,” sighed Matt dramatically.
“You have me, Matt, and there is still plenty of today left to make it end happily,” Purred Christyana, pushing herself against him, winking seductively, and leaving him no doubt what was on her mind.
“Matt,” said Charlie, interrupting them. Christyana cursed silently in her head. Was she ever going to get Matt alone?
“Did you have any thoughts on that letter?” Charlie asked eagerly.
Matt’s stomach flipped as he remembered the black letter in his pocket.
“I thought you might know what it means or who sent it.”




Blake overheard Matt and Charlie talking. At the mention of the black letter, he felt in his pocket for his own that he also had found on his doormat that morning. His name was written across its shiny black surface in red ink like a bloody smear. He hadn’t been able to fathom out what it meant either. He pulled the black letter out from his pocket and read it over again.

“Only the son of the dragon shall see me at midnight, no one else’s blood is worthy.”

And underneath in smaller text:

“It is in your interest to discuss this letter only with other recipients. Your silence will be well rewarded should you solve the puzzle.”




The riddle had echoed around in his head all day. Both he and his wife, Vivien, had received one, identical in all but the name on the envelope.
“Excuse me a moment,” Blake said, as he turned to Matt and Charlie, who were discussing their letters. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I overheard you discussing this,” he said holding out his letter.
Charlie took the letter from Blake’s hand and read it. “It’s the same as mine. How many people do you think received one?”
Matt shook his head. “I have no idea but I would love to know what it means. Maybe we could ask Stephan. He’s into this kind of stuff.”




Matt, Charlie and Blake scoped the crowded room, looking for the familiar figure of Stephan Cruz. However, tonight he was nowhere to be seen. Matt thought it was a little odd. Normally at parties, Stephan would be holding court in amongst the largest crowd in the room. Tonight he had vanished.
People began to notice the three of them looking around, each one of them spotting the letters they held.
“Where did you get that?” asked Oliver Noon, marching over from the table where he had sat moments before.
Matt raised his eyebrows. “You have one, too?”
“Yes, I got it today.”
“Right. One second.” Matt put his fingers between his lips and whistled as loud as he could to get everyone’s attention. He held his letter up to show them all. “What does this mean to you all?” He looked across the faces. He could pick out everyone who had received a letter by the looks of shock and recognition in their eyes.




He gathered everyone up and they congregated in a quiet corner. They stood together for a good half hour trying to figure out the note’s hidden meaning. It was almost twelve. The letter said midnight. They didn’t have long left.
Charlie burst out laughing. “God have we been stupid.” They all looked at him, confused. He turned to Blake. “Can't you see it? You of all people should have figured this one out.”
“I’m not following,” replied Blake, lost.
“Son of the dragon,” read Charlie excitedly.
Blake looked at Charlie, knowing he was missing something. He thought about that part. Son of the dragon, sounded too familiar, but he couldn’t recall why. Suddenly the penny dropped, and a look of comprehension lit up his face.
Smiling, he said, “Count Dracula?”
“Precisely,” confirmed Charlie.




The others looked at them both as if they had gone temporarily insane.
Blake ran off toward the library with Charlie close on his heels. The rest of the small group followed tentatively, curiosity getting the better of them.




Stephan owned the building that hosted the Simmie. Blake knew that there would definantly be a copy of Dracula in the library.
Smiling victoriously at the book on the shelf, he raised his hand up and pulled it. Nothing happened. The book appeared to be firmly stuck. Blake tried harder to pry it out of its home, but it wouldn’t move.




Oblivious to all the actors and actresses entering the stately library, he continued to pull at the book, determined to free it. But he feared that he would rip the cover if he carried on. It was less than a minute until midnight. They didn’t have long.
“Maybe you are wrong,” Angel suggested from the back of the small crowd.
“No, this is right. I know it is. I bet this is Stephan’s idea of a joke,” Blake answered, still tugging at the book.
The clock ticked over to midnight, and Blake gave the book one last tug. He stumbled forward into the bookcase as the book unexpectedly moved. A loud hiss sounded behind them, and they all turned in its direction. They watched in awe as the wall of the library slipped out of place and opened to reveal a hidden corridor.




They all stood gaping at the corridor, as if expecting something monsterous to come charging out of the newly exposed doorway.
“Ah, come on people,” said Doug, taking charge. Gibson Douglas, Doug to his friends, was not a man to scare easily. “It's not like it's a movie. Nothing is going to jump out and eat us.”
Doug tutted disdainfully and strode off into the corridor. The others looked questioningly at each other, unsure whether to follow. Eventually, one by one, they entered the passage.




The corridor was short and curved around to the left. At the end of it was a large, empty room. Unadorned rough brick walls greeted the group of stars as they gathered together in its centre, facing a small stage at the back. All of them stopped and waited, not sure what to do next. They didn’t wait long as the door to the side of the stage creaked slowly open. Stephan appeared and walked through to take his place at the microphone.




“Good evening, all. I am very pleased that you managed to find your way here.”
“What's this all about?” Cherry called loudly above the noise of everyone else’s murmured questions.
Stephan waved his hand to silence her. “All will be revealed in a moment. Please listen to what I have to say. Believe me when I tell you that an opportunity as good as this won’t come around again.”




“I have worked with all of you and I have come to see you as my greatest finds. I ask you here tonight to take yet another journey with me. A journey that will prove very rewarding to any of you that accepts. I cannot disclose further details tonight. I am merely relying on your trust and friendship. However, I will tell you this: Join with me today, and you will go down in history.”




“This offer will not be repeated. Laid out on the table in the far corner are some contracts. Find the one marked with your name, and along with the contract you will find some airplane tickets. If you accept, you must sign the contract now. Anyone who doesn’t wish to be involved can leave now.
Stephan paused, looking around to see if anyone turned and walked out. He hoped they wouldn’t. He had big plans for them. He watched, smiling, as they each took their contracts and eagerly signed on the dotted line.




“You each have two days to sort your affairs out, after which you will meet me at Simmywood airport where we will board a plane and fly to New Zealand. There will be no script to this movie. Instead, instructions will be issued every morning. I estimate that this will take approximately two years to complete, after which you will all be highly rewarded. It’s time for you to leave. I will see you all in two days.”




Stephan nodded good night to them and left the same way he had entered.

They all stood still, struck dumb for a moment, not knowing what to think.



Clay staggered through his front door, nearly falling over as he entered his luxurious house. The house seemed more like a holiday home more than anything. It was always clean and tidy with minimal amounts of furniture. He had spent less time here than anywhere else. Most of the time he was on a film set somewhere or promoting something that he had just finished. The life of a film star may look glamorous, but it was far from it.



He wandered over to the cabinet and reached up to the shelves. His head started to spin from the alcohol as he lent his head back to look up. The award clattered as it hit the wood floor. He tuted and walked away, he could pick it up in the morning. What was it worth anyway? Someone else would get it next year and he would just be forgotten like everyone else. Unless what Stephan had said was true and this new movie would make them go down in history.



But why all the secrecy? He couldn’t work it out. Stephen was normally coy when it came to a new project, but not this coy. They were at least given a summary of what it was about and an extract from the script it self. Maybe Matt knew what was going on, because he certainly didn’t.



 “Matt” he shouted, hoping that his friend would be back from the awards. Matt had left just before Clay. He had somehow managed to grab the attention of Christyana Jobert. She was a good actress, but off the screen she was a total bitch.
“Matt you here?” he called again. “Of course your not bloody here are you.” He said to him self. “Only sad old me, but not you? You will be in the arms of some woman wont you?”



Clay fell back onto the sofa as he continued to ramble to him self. He sank into the soft cushions and laid his head back as he let the alcohol send him floating to sleep.



 Loud banging jolted him awake about an hour later. Clay lifted him self up from the seat and fell back down, his head swimming. “For god sake” he cursed as the impatient visitor knocked again.
“I’m coming.” He yelled towards the door.



He half marched and half staggered to the door to open it, ready to give who ever was on the other side a piece of his mind.
He flung the door open. “What do you want.” He said before registering that Rachel was stood there.
Rachel had been his co star in his last movie, Alone as well as the wife of his best friend Matt.
“Oh Rach, I’m sorry that wasn’t meant for you. Come in.” he said as he held the door open for her.



“Do you want a drink?”
“You got any beer?” she asked him
“Do I look like I would have beer in this house?” he said jokingly. “That bad taste I leave for you husband. How about a JD?”
“Yeah sure. Is Matt here?”
“Nope, not seen him.”
“Oh”



Rachel sat her self down on the sofa as Clay handed her, her glass. She looked up at him her eyes shinning with the tears she was trying to hold onto.
“Don’t you dare shed a tear over that idiot Rach, he isn’t worth it.”
“Sorry, I just can’t help it. I love him still. Just wish he felt the same.”



Clay sat down next to her. He fought with himself mentally. If only he hadn’t invited Sienna to join them that night when he and Matt went out drinking. His friends would still be happily married. It was all his fault and he didn’t know how to fix it.



 “You can do better you know?”
“I don’t want better. God this is stupid. Do you know I had thought Sienna was my friend? When we were filming she was so nice, but then she goes and sleeps with my husband and I have to pretend I like her for the cameras. And now he’s of with that stupid cow Christyana.”
“Rach stop it; just don’t torture your self. You’ll get over it.”
“Yeah? What do you know? When was the last time you let anyone close to you?”
“Rach that’s not fair.”
“I know, I’m sorry. It’s not your fault, its his.”



Rachel put her glass to her mouth and drank. She felt the cold liquid burning her throat as she swallowed it as fast as she could.
Clay moved closer to her and put his arm around her.



Matt unlocked the door quietly not wanting to wake Clay. The bright morning sun stung his eyes even through his dark sunglass, he hadn’t had a wink of sleep all night, but it had been worth it.


The sun reflected off the gleaming floor and he shielded his eyes as he closed and locked the door behind him. Dropping his keys into the bowl on the table he walked into the lounge.



“What the hell is this?” he yelled. Clay and Rachel sprang up from where they had fallen asleep together on the sofa. Matt stood over them looking like he could kill.
“Matt” said Rachel trying to straighten her dress.




“What’s going on? Thought you would try out my friends now?”
“You have room to talk whose bed where you in last night? Or can’t you remember her name?”
“Oh don’t start Rachel.”
“Don’t start? I come here looking for you and your in some jumped up tarts bed, then you have the audacity to come back and shout the odds at me. So what if anything had happened with me and Clay. Its none of your business is it? We’re separated.”



Rachel picked up her bag and hurried towards the front door. Clay stood in the background not wanting to get involved in their argument.
“Don’t you walk away from me Rachel.”
“Get lost Matt.” She spat as she walked out of the house and slammed the door behind her.



Blake opened the door for his wife Vivien. She met his eyes as she passed him and sighed. He hadn’t spoken to her since the meeting they had just attended at the Simmies. It was so unlike Blake. Normally after an awards ceremony he would be talking so much that her head would hurt, but this time he was silent.



She threw her purse onto the glass table that took centre stage in their dining room and poured herself a brandy. Blake slumped down onto one of the cushioned chairs by the table. He rubbed his temples trying to relieve the stress that was building up. Vivien poured Blake and herself another drink and joined him.



“Talk to me Blake”
“About what?”
“This, you know. What’s going on?” Asked Vivien as she reached across the table to touch his hand.
He pulled away and rested his body back into the chair. “It's this thing we signed. It just doesn’t feel right. I mean don’t get me wrong, I would do anything for Stephan, but … I don’t know.”



“Are you thinking of not going?”
“Well yeah. I mean I have this other thing that I accepted.”
“Have you told Stephan?”
“I was hoping I wouldn’t have to.”



Vivien stood up, she couldn’t believe that Blake was willing to turn Stephan down and work for someone else behind his back. Stephan had been good to both of them and Blake was one of Stephan’s closest friends.



“It's wrong Blake. I wont let you do this.” She said.
“I am not going to this thing that he is planning. I have accepted this other offer and I am going to take it.”
“You will take it Blake Diamond or…or.” Her voice was raised, never had Blake put another job offer before one of Stephans.



“Or?” he asked her daring her to carry on. Vivien knocked back the rest of her drink and stormed to the bedroom. It wasn’t like Blake to be so awful, normally he was laid back and would do anything for anyone especially Stephan.



They had been married for over 20 years and Blake had stayed and looked after their children while she pursued her movie career. Once the children had grown up and left home Stephan had brought Blake into the movie world. The pair had always got on well, ever since it came to light that Blake shared the same interests in vampires as Stephan did. Vivien just couldn’t understand why he was acting so out of character now.



She pulled the suitcase out from the back of her walk in wardrobe. If he wasn’t going to listen willingly she was going to have to make him with force.
Vivien forced herself not to cry as she packed her ordinary clothes into her case. She stood and thought for a moment. Would she be packing just for one night at her mothers or two years on this project?



“What are you doing?” asked Blake as he eyed her up from the doorway.
“Packing.” She said not want to get into another argument with him. She loved him, she didn’t want to fight with him, and she didn’t want to say something she might regret later.



Vivien pulled a pair of jeans and a t-shirt out of her wardrobe; she never had felt comfortable in the glamorous movie star attire. Blake watched her as she undressed. Even after she had brought his three children into the world she still had a great figure.



“Where are you going to go?” he asked her bringing himself back out of the daydream.
“I am going to my mothers and then I am going with Stephan.” She bit her lip, not wanting to give him the ultimatum, but he had left her no choice.
“And what about me, what about this other movie I have. More importantly what about us?”



Vivien examined the contents of her case. It was virtually empty. She filled it with anything; she just wanted to get to her mothers before she lost her nerve. She threw in jeans, shirts, skirts and dresses without folding them. She could iron them again later.
“You just going to ignore me Vivien?” asked Blake.
She stood in front of him, her eyes meeting his determinedly. Reaching for his hand she placed her wedding ring in his palm and closed his fingers around it. “You get on the plane with me and Stephan and give me this ring back, I will put it on. If you don’t then you can keep the ring.”




She pulled away from him and ran out the door. If she looked back her cool exterior would melt, but she had to do this.



Blake opened his hand as he heard the front door slam. He had a decision to make.

Just incase you wanted to read the story before A Fathers Sacrifice

This is actually the story of Morgans parents and how she got to where her story started.



Index

Part 1

Here is my sims story.

Morgan was 13 when she killed a man to protect her mother. Her fathe took the blame and went to prison.

Morgan sat on her bed and looked out of the window. She sighed deeply and shrank into herself. Silent tears spilled inside her. It was the evening of her birthday. Neither of her parents had come to see her. She hadn’t even received a card. She looked down at her hands remembering how they had destroyed her family. That one act of protection had ended everything good in her life. How she wished she could turn back time.


The last she heard her father was in prison for a crime that she had done. She pictured him in her head. Alone in some dingy prison cell all because of her and what she had done. She wanted to feel his strong protective arms around her like when she was little. She loved the scent of him. Closing her eyes she imagined the smell of his aftershave. He always wore it. She remembered the feel of his slightly whiskered chin against her cheek and how he used to tickle her face with it on purpose when she was small.


She would never again have that because she had protected her mother. She remembered watching her mother being beaten by that man. His face twisted in anger and her mother on the floor trying to protect her-self. He would have killed her if she hadn’t have stepped in. She saw herself running into her father’s room and grabbing the gun that she knew he kept in the wardrobe. She had seen enough to know how to load it. Not thinking like the child she was she had gone back to the hall where mother was being attacked, closed her eyes and fired. It wasn’t until he fell to the floor that she had realised what she had done.


Her body had started shaking uncontrollably and the tears just fell. Her father was at the door. She turned towards him. She remembered the horror in his eyes. Her mother still down on the floor, looking at her with total shock.


Morgan took a deep breath and forced her memories away from that night. She didn’t want to remember; she didn’t want that to be the last image she had of her parents. She missed them both deeply, but she knew she would never see them again. If she could just tell them both she was sorry.



 She had asked over and over again if she could see her mother or if she had called, but always the answer had been the same. “No”


Isabelle, her foster carer was nice enough. She ran a house full of kids from many sad and different backgrounds. Occasionally Isabelle had tried to console Morgan, but she didn’t want it. She wanted her father; she wanted to turn the clock back. She wanted to be small and innocent again.


Morgan pulled the covers over her and closed her eyes. The tears running coldly down the side of her face. She breathed slowly trying to make it all better, but it never would be, ever. She was tainted. She was a murderer, no better than the man she had killed.


----------------------------

Morgan opened her eyes, she squinted her sleep filled eyes trying to adjust to the dark. She sat up slowly on the bed; she didn’t want to make any noise. She reached down at her feet and found the bag the she had packed earlier. This was it now. She turned on her small bedside light gently illuminating the room. Quietly she eased her wardrobe open and changed into jeans. She gave the bag one last check to make sure that she had everything she needed. Tip toeing she crept to her door and twisted the handle. The door creaked open and Morgan looked silently down the dark hallway. She closed the door behind her, making sure that it was gentle enough so that it didn’t click too loud.


Quietly she walked along the side of the hall. Alex and Ethan’s room was only two away from her own, and she wasn’t going to leave with out them. She slung the backpack over her shoulder and crept into the twins’ room.


Looking down at both of them she knew she was doing the right thing. They couldn’t stay here, they need their mother, and they needed her. She bent down over Ethan’s cot and gently lifted him out. Slowly she put his coat on. He stirred slightly in her arms, but she hushed him back into his dream.
 

Morgan froze as she heard another door not far away open. Her heart pounded in her chest as she listened to the footsteps getting closer and closer. Holding Ethan to her chest she looked quickly at Alex. She couldn’t carry both of them at once.
Tears fell down her face as she leant over Alex’s cot.
“I’ll come back for you Alex.” She whispered. “I promise.”


Pushing back the voice in her head that screamed for her to take Alex, she climbed out of the window with Ethan in her arms. She held him close to her and ran. She needed to get away before anyone knew that she had gone. She felt the fear running up her spine as she ran. Sure that if she looked back she would see someone coming after her.


She ran for as long as she could. Ethan was awake and crying as his sister clutched him tight. He was cold and tired. Morgan’s chest was heaving badly trying to get the air in that she needed to run. Stopping she crouched down with Ethan.
“Ssshhh Ethan, its Morgan. Everything’s alright.”
Ethan calmed a little as he heard his sister’s voice. She reached in her bag and got a tissue to wipe his tears.
“Let’s go and find mummy shall we?” she said trying to cheer him up. She knew he didn’t quite understand, but the statement was as much for her benefit as his.


Morgan picked Ethan up again, but her body protested and pain shot through her legs as cramp took over. Weekly she managed to walk over to the bench and sit down with Ethan. She gently ran her hand through his soft brown locks, as she rocked him, hoping that he would go back to sleep.


“Morgan!” a voice called from the distance.
Morgan sprang to her feet her heart suddenly hammering again. She turned to look into the darkness. Trying to adjust her eyes to see who was running towards her. Turning around she tried to see if there was somewhere to run too.
“Morgan wait!” The voice called closer this time. She let out a scared gasp. She couldn’t fail, not now.
Ethan woke up again in her arms.


A hand rested on her shoulder.
“Morgan, will you stop?” said the voice between exhausted breaths.
Morgan stepped back. Adam stood there in front of her, bent down and gasping for air.
“Leave me alone Adam.”
Adam straightened himself and put his hand on his stomach trying to relieve the stitch. “Where are you going?” he asked.
“Home.”
“You can’t go home.”
“Why cant I?”
“Your father killed someone right?” he asked.
She clenched her jaw, the bluntness of his statement cut right through her.
“Your home is a crime scene; you won’t be able to go home.”


Morgan hadn’t thought that her home wouldn’t be home anymore. The thought of returning to it had kept her going. Without it she had nowhere to go, no one to turn too. Tears threatened to fall as she desperately tried to think what to do. She looked down at Ethan. His eyes focused on her. Totally dependant.


“I can’t go back.” She said her voice quivering. “They’ll take me away from Ethan and Alex.”
Adam ran his hands through his short blonde hair as he thought what to suggest.
“Do you know where your mother may have gone? Does she have friends or family that she may have turned to?”
“She could have gone to my uncles, but he was living with us before I er…” she stopped herself before she blurted out what she had done. She didn’t want anyone to know she was a murderer.


“Ok.” Said Adam hoping that he was getting somewhere. “Does your uncle have a house of his own that they may have gone to?”
Morgan bit her lip to keep from sobbing. She nodded at Adam. “But I don’t know the address.”


Adam reached for her, not sure if she would push him away. He didn’t like to see people cry. It reminded him too much of his own pain that he had quenched years ago.
“Come on Morgan, don’t cry. We’ll figure something out.”


Adam led Morgan back to the bench and sat her down.
“Do you know which area your uncle lives in?”
Morgan wiped the tears from her face and tried to calm her self before she spoke. “He lives just outside of Imperial Town. I would recognise it if I saw it.”
“Well that’s a start isn’t it?” He said smiling, hoping that he could some how cheer her up and get her concentrating on the task ahead.


“Why are you helping me? You should go back before you get in trouble.” She said hoping that he wouldn’t.
“I am sixteen; already they have started to teach me how to be independent. Soon I will be living out in the world on my own, I am quite sure they won’t really care where I am.”


Morgan heard the hint of sarcasm in his statement. “But won’t they inform your parents.”
“Oh yeah I could just see my fathers reply to that one.” Adam laughed. “What's it to do with me? He didn’t come from my loins, let the bleeder rot for all I care.” He said in a voice mocking his fathers. “Do you really think if I had a family who loved me I would be living this crappy life? My father doesn’t want me, and he wouldn’t give a damn if I was dead in some gutter somewhere.”


“Well my parents love me and they would care but I am still stuck in the same ‘crappy life’ as you put it.” Snapped Morgan.
“Ah look I’m sorry I didn’t mean yours don’t love you. They do, but when you have experienced my life then you would be a bit negative too. Anyway are you ready to go, my backside is getting numb sitting here and if I shiver anymore I swear I’ll break my teeth.”
Morgan laughed at his remark, and he smiled. It was his intention to get her to laugh. She didn’t know him, but she was happy to talk to him. Not like everyone else who knew that he wasn’t good enough to be spat on.


Adam reached over and took Ethan from her. “I’ll carry this one for a while.”
Morgan tired to protest scared that he might run back to the home with her brother. He saw the fear on her face. “Don’t worry, I’m only helping.”
They walked side by side; Morgan secretly kept hold of the loose tag on Ethan’s top just in case Adam did decide to run.


They walked for just over an hour. Ethan had fallen asleep, even when they had passed him too and fro between them he hadn’t woken. Morgan’s feet were aching. Cramp ran up her calf muscles, but she pushed her self on, if they stayed out in the cold they would they would all certainly catch a chill. Adam had kept her going with his silly jokes and comments.


They arrived at a run down trailer. Morgan stopped and looked at it. It was filthy and decaying where it stood. Broken furniture littered the yard that surrounded it.
“This is your dads place?” she asked.
“Yeah it was, he doesn’t live here anymore, after he dumped me in the gutter, and I mean literally, he moved so that the authorities wouldn’t have his address.”
“Nice dad.”
“Yeah, well you get used to it. At least if he isn’t here he can’t beat me.”
“He beat you?”
“Yeah but that’s another story.”


Adam kicked himself mentally. He didn’t want Morgan to know his past, but he couldn’t help it from spilling out of his mouth with every joke. He didn’t want her to know what he was, he was ashamed.
He could see his father in that house. Sat there waiting for him, the smell of stale beer and a weeks worth of sweat coming from him. He hated that smell. He showered at least three times a day just so he couldn’t be reminded by his own scent.


Adam took a breath and walked towards the trailer. It had been a long time since he had been here, but he doubted it had changed. The odd rat may have moved in, but other than that the trailer was like the rest of Imperial Town. Dead, dirty and forgotten.


He grabbed the handle of the trailer door and forced the door open. Years of neglect had rotted the door so much that it broke when he pushed on it.
“Oops” he said trying to make a joke of it. “Not to worry, I’ll find a board and cover it, not like any one is going to come here.”


Morgan stayed at the door. She was apprehensive about entering the trailer. She didn’t want to fall over anything with Ethan in her arms, in fact she didn’t want to go in there full stop, but she had little choice.


Adam managed to find a couple of candles in the mess in one of the draws. Pulling a lighter out of his pocket he illuminated the dark corners of the room. He looked around; it was just as he left. He could still see his childhood clothes on the floor where his father had thrown them as he was having yet another drunken rage.
“You can come in you know.” He called to Morgan.


Morgan cautiously walked into the trailer. She expected it to smell foul, but gently allowing her nostrils to take in the air all she could smell was the damp. Looking around the place was a mess. There were clothes and papers everywhere. A thick layer of dust rested on everything. She stood and watched as Adam tried to tidy the room and make it as presentable as possible.
“No rats” he joked. Morgan smiled at him. “Right, the couch is as clean as I can get it, you and Ethan take that and I’ll take the floor. In the morning we’ll head out. What do you think?”


Morgan nodded at him. She walked over to the couch to inspect it. As much as she didn’t want to put Ethan down on it, she knew she had to. Her arms were going numb with the strain of holding him for so long.
Adam saw her apprehension. “Here.” He said as he laid his coat down for Ethan to sleep on.
“Thanks.”


She gently lay Ethan down; he stirred slightly, his eyes threatening to open. She stroked his hair gently soothing him back to sleep. He yawned and opened his eyes briefly.
“Close your eyes Ethan.” She whispered to him.


Morgan lay down on the floor next to Ethan and let her thoughts wonder.
“You’re not sleeping on the couch?” asked Adam.
“No I’ll let him have it. At least one of us can have a comfortable night. I don’t think I’ll sleep much anyway.”
“Oh, well I’m gonna board up this door and try to catch an hour if you don’t mind?”
“No, sure.”


Morgan sat stroking Ethan’s brown hair as Adam tried to board up the open doorway as quietly as possible.
After blowing out the candles he settled him self in the chair near the door.


Cade sat in the dark cell. Lights out had been hours ago, but he couldn’t sleep. It was his daughter’s birthday. She would be thirteen. Morgan was growing up fast and everyday she looked more and more like her mother. She had the same beautiful eyes and her nose was decorated with the same gentle scattering of freckles.


He smiled as his mind went back to the time he had playful joined them up in a game of dot to dot. Mia, her mother had rolled her eyes at them, until he had pinned her down and done the same to her too.


He closed his eyes and wished her a happy birthday. He imagined holding her, watching her. She was his first born and he would do anything for her. At least she was safe at home with her mother. He hoped that she had enjoyed her birthday as best she could. He just wished he could have shared it with her too.


------------------------------

Mia slammed the phone back into its cradle. It was useless; no one would tell her anything. She had missed her daughter’s birthday the day before. The social workers refused to let her have contact until the children were assessed.


Mia had pleaded over and over to just see Morgan on her birthday, but her request had been refused. They wouldn’t even pass a card and a present onto her.


She sank down onto the couch and cried. It had been two weeks since Morgan had shot her ex husband Jimmy in a brave act of protection. Two weeks since she had seen her children and her husband. Two weeks of utter hell.


The authorities had continually fobbed her off, every day she had called and each day she had been given an excuse. Who were these people? What right did they have to deny her children the love of their mother?


She wished Cade was with her. He was the strong one, not her. She missed him terribly, but she understood why he had taken the blame. Morgan was his first born, his daughter. He had to do it for her.


Morgan opened her eyes. Disorientated she jumped up and looked around her. Ethan lay asleep on the couch still. Memories of a few hours before came back to her and she relaxed remembering what she was doing here. She looked over to the chair for Adam, but he was gone. Pulling the board away from the door where it was propped up she looked outside and found him sat and an old barrel.
“Morning.” He said smiling at her.
“What time is it?”
“Just after 6.”
“How long have I…”
“Been asleep? Just a couple of hours. I got breakfast, you want some?” he said holding out a bread roll to her.


She hadn’t realised how hungry she was until she saw the food, her mouth started watering almost instantly and she reached for the bread. She ate it dry. Forcing the large bites down her throat, she tried to get the food inside as fast as possible.
Adam laughed at her. “I take that as a yes then.”
Morgan tried to speak but her mouth was to full, she gave him a bread filled smile and nodded.


“Did you go shopping?”
“Er sort of.”
“You mean you stole it?”
“Borrowed it.” He said winking at her.
“You shouldn’t steal.” She scolded.
“Ah come on.” He said. “It’s a big super market chain, I am sure they won’t suffer from the loss of some bread and a couple of drinks. I got the little guy a carton of milk and there’s some bread left for him too. I didn’t really know what to get him.”


Morgan was annoyed at him for stealing, she just wanted to get to her family, and she didn’t want to get in trouble for stealing. She had already had her share of crime in her short life and she didn’t intend to have any more. Adam held the bread and milk out. She stood their not sure if she should take it. Ethan needed it, but it was stolen.
“You can’t let him suffer because you have morals.” Adam said thrusting the bread at her. “You better get him up, if you want to get to your uncles before dark.”


Morgan reluctantly took the bread and milk and went back into the trailer to wake Ethan. Adam stayed outside. He looked up at the new morning, enjoying the sun shining down on him. It was the first time he had been able to sit outside the trailer and not have to worry about being attacked by his father. He could imagine his dad inside, passed out from the drink the night before. Cans littering the floor and the remains of a takeaway on his lap. Adam had many times tried to take what was on his fathers lap when the hunger got the better of him, but whenever his father had discovered what he was doing he had beaten Adam for it.


Shaking the thoughts from his head Adam went to get Morgan, they really did need to set off if they wanted to get to her uncles.


“I want to go back for Alex.” She said as Adam entered the trailer.
“You can’t. They will know we are missing now.” He replied to her sadly.
Her eyes glazed over at the thought of not going to get her. She cursed her self. She should have gone back for her the night before. Before any one would know they were missing, but she had felt so defeated that she hadn’t had the strength.


They walked most of the day, stopping occasionally to rest from the strain of carrying Ethan. Adam had suggested snatching a pram or a buggy from a park while the un suspecting mother was occupied with the her child, but Morgan had put her floor down, making it very clear that they were not going to steal anything no matter what they needed.


They had stopped in a library after Adam had suggested that they take a look on the Internet to find her uncles actual address. They had stuck lucky and Nathan had been listed. Printing it off along with the directions they had set off again with the sun beating down on their backs.


When they arrived at her uncles the night had started to draw in again. The sun turning the sky orange as it slowly sank. They stood outside a small two-story house in a row of houses that all looked very similar.
“This is it.” Adam said.
“Yes, it is” she nodded.


Morgan passed Ethan to Adam and crept up the driveway of the house to the front window. She stooped down below window level and tried to listen through the glass. She could hear her uncle laughing. Carefully she rose up and peeked through the open curtains. She could see her uncle lounging on the sofa watching television. Karen, her soon to be aunt was sat on the floor with Nathaniel their two-year-old son. He was laughing at what ever Karen was doing.


Morgan’s heart sank at the thought. She couldn’t wreak their lives. For the first time in a while her uncle looked happy. She didn’t want to destroy that. If she knocked on their door the police would have to be called and they would be dragged into the nightmare that was her life.


Adam joined her bringing Ethan with him.
“What's wrong? Knock on the door.”
She looked him in the eyes, her bottom lip quivering. “I cant, I can’t do it.”
“What? Why not, this is what you came for. This is what we walked all day for. Here hold Ethan.” Adam thrust Ethan into her arms before she had time to protest. He got up and walked to the door.
“Please don’t.” she pleaded.
Adam shrugged his shoulders. “Too late, they have seen me.”


Morgan crawled over to the bushes with Ethan and hid. “Please” she begged as the front door opened. She listened as she heard Nathan’s voice. She wanted to come out and throw her arms around. She wanted to cry, but she couldn’t.


“Hello?” said Nathan to Adam
“Hi. I er.” Adam thought quickly what to do. He couldn’t understand why she had, had such a change of heart, but the look on her face showed the sincerity of her fear.
“Can I help you?” Nathan tried again.
“I’m sorry to disturb you sir, but I am just looking for directions. Can you tell me where the local telephone box is?”
“Do you want to use my phone?”
Adam grimaced at the suggestion.
“No it’s ok; I just need a telephone box, if you can just point me in the direction of the nearest one.”
Nathan rubbed the back of his neck, not sure whether or not to question the boy more.
“It’s just round the corner, but if you need some help, I don’t mind you using mine.”
“No its ok. Thank you for your help.”


Adam walked off cursing himself for coming up with something so pathetic. He could feel the pressure of Nathans stare as he walked quickly back down the drive.
Morgan watched. She pleaded in her head for Nathan to go back in the house before Ethan started to voice his complaint about being in the bushes. She had already had to clamp her hand over his mouth to silence his childish mutterings.


Once Adam was out of his sight Nathan gave the outside a glance and went back into the house, locking the door behind him. Morgan watched from the bushes as she saw Nathan enter the lounge and talk. Carefully she eased herself out, trying to keep in line with them as she crept down the garden. She kept her eyes on Nathan, hoping that he would resume lounging on the sofa so that she could get up properly and ease the cramp that was starting in her calves.


Ethan chattered happily. She had no idea what he was saying; just the odd word was understandable. She cringed as she tried to keep him quite and move at the same time.
Finally getting out of the garden, she saw Adam peeping out from being a tree further down the street. He motioned for her to join him and she signalled to let him know that she had seen him.


Looking back into the house could see that Nathan had finally sat down or left the room, as she couldn’t see him anymore through the window.
Morgan rose to her feet, taking please of her leg muscles stretching.
“Hey” called Nathan from the door.
Morgan gasped, she hadn’t checked the door, and she hadn’t expected him to come back out. She turned on her heal and ran. Ethan started screaming in protest at being bopped up and down with her running, but she clutched him tight and carried on. She could hear Nathan calling out behind her. She had to get away; he couldn’t see it was her.