Chapter One

“You will be under the protection of a group known as Rediunyn Jr.,” the Canadian informed them later on. “They have been selected because all of them speak fluent English, and they are a powerful reliable group who work together well. They’re all relatively young, but-”

“How young?” Charlie asked curiously.

“The eldest is eighteen, the youngest is just over six months.”

“What? How can she be in a crime group at six months?” Matt snapped. “It’s impossible!”

A look of shock appeared on the man’s face, “Mr. Willis. Rediunyn brains develop in the womb, allowing us to begin our lives much earlier than Humans. I wouldn’t be surprised if Andrea was as knowledgeable as you are.” He looked at his watch, “Ah. It is time for you to go to Manchester. Good luck. And don’t die.”

*          *          *          *          *

“Good luck, and don’t die,” Matt mimicked as they got out the car at their location. “Who does he think he is?”

“You say that one more time, you’re not going to remember who you are,” Charlie warned.

“This is a haunted house,” James commented. “They live on a haunted house.” He pulled his suitcase out the boot of the taxi and set it next to Charlie on the pavement before going to work on trying to wrestle out Matt’s holdall.

“You think it’s actually haunted?” Matt asked.

“Now I know that witches exist, I’m open for anything.” James grunted and staggered back as the holdall finally came out. He pulled Charlie’s suitcase out and shut the boot. Then he paid the driver and the black taxi drove off.

The door that the steps in front of the them led to opened, and a teenage boy came out. As he jogged down the steps to meet them, Matt’s eyes took him in, he was tall and athletic looking. His hair was dark and spiked and his eyes were dark to match. “Hey, you must be our targets,” he commented in a London-based accent. “I’m Martin. Young. And this is our house.”

“Matt Willis. It’s above a haunted house.”

Martin laughed, “Yeah. We know. My brother and I run the haunted house.

“James Bourne. Is it actually haunted?”

“Yeah,” Martin nodded, his hands in his pockets. “They were here when we got here. And one of them is verging on poltergeist material. But he refuses to leave and he torments all the visitors.” He shrugged, “Dunno why I’m complaining though, he’s turned into one of our main features.”

“Charlie Simpson. Does he ever come into the house?”

“No, they stick to the ground floor. I think we scare them.” He jerked his head towards the steps, “You wanna come up and meet the others?”