Hours must have passed, for when Leo woke up everything was dark. He blinked his eyes and wiped them to try and de-crust his dried tears, before moving to get up. As he moved his hands under his body, he felt some scrunched paper beside the doormat.

Having gotten to his feet and turned on the light, Leo gradually opened the letter and saw some familiar scrawled handwriting, except this time, there was more.

 Dear Leo,

There that feeling was again.

Hope.

Before Leo could read the letter for a fifth time, his heart sank as he realised that it must have been time for the meeting. He quickly rushed up to his room and chucked on the clothes he had left on the floor from the night before and headed out.

It turned out that Leo was not late and was in fact the first to arrive in the square, the centre point of their small village. Two benches sat on opposite sides of a light brown patch of grass where a flower bed spelt out, ‘Welcome’. He stood still and allowed the cool air to flick his hair across his face as he looked up at the sky. Twinkling stars pierced the night’s dark cloak, each one dwarfed by the glowing moon that kept a watchful eye on proceedings in the sun’s wake.

Lights went out in the surrounding houses as voices infiltrated the silence, followed by the sound of closing doors. Leo took this as the indication to place the first candle on the ground.

‘Hey,’ Bailey said tentatively, putting her arms around Leo upon reaching him, ‘where’s your mum?’

‘She's still at work. She doesn’t like getting here before the candles have all been lit anyway,’ said Leo, watching as the candles grew in number on the short blades of grass.

Dorian left his family towards the back of the gathering crowd to join Leo and Bailey, whilst Kaira came alone – her father worked through the night.

‘It’s preposterous isn’t it?’ Dorian said, as Leo readied himself for a recital on what he was sure Dorian’s parents had been talking about on their way here.

‘What is?’ Kaira asked, her light green eyes reflecting an orange glint from the candles.

‘Do you remember the amount of press we had only a few weeks ago? What with how many people are still missing and without a single clue yet to go on,’ Dorian briefly glanced at Leo, ‘I can't believe how quickly the press have withdrawn and moved on to the next story.’

‘You realise there's been a major fire in Manchester, right? More people have died. They need them just as much as we do,’ stated Kaira.

‘And yet all they’ve done to help is interview crackpot theorists. I’ve yet to see a report on any of those who’ve lost their lives.’

‘I’ve seen the stories about people believing it was the devil, or even a dragon,’ Bailey joined in, ‘survivors say they saw it inside the fire. For some reason people love to read that stuff. Since Rewan is no longer selling, we're yesterday’s news.’

‘It’s preposterous,’ Dorian tried whispering, though his monotone voice stayed the exact same pitch.

‘Just say it’s ‘stupid’, Dors. You are not playing up to mummy and daddy now,’ Kaira rolled her eyes before placing her head onto Leo’s shoulder where she whispered, ‘you OK? You know we are here for you, right?’

‘I know,’ he answered, ‘I’ve got to talk to you guys about something after this.’

He did not see it, but he was sure he felt them look at each other as he spoke.

‘We can talk about anything you want,’ Kaira said, reassuringly, ‘but that can wait. Your mum’s here.’

Without saying a word, Leo turned his back on his friends and immediately held his mother in his arms, and she squeezed him back as tightly as she could.

The golden shimmer from the candles flickered on the faces of those who had answered the call to come this evening. Both women and men, mothers and fathers alike, were all trying to stay strong for the sake of their children as well as themselves.

One man stepped forward from the crowd, a man Leo recognised as Mr Lek, the father of one of the children who went to his school. One of the children also regarded as lost. Ever since the first search, Mr Lek had taken charge of leading the village and the volunteers. And as time passed, his passion and belief had not dissipated, but he himself was unrecognisable from the man he had been before. Lowering his head towards the candlelight, his short black hair almost vanished as shadows were cast across his narrow face, giving him a skeletal look.

‘Thank you all for coming out tonight. It’s been five weeks to the day since Rewan ripped through our dear town and stole so many of our loved ones,’ he began in a low, booming voice that echoed around the square, ‘I’m sure many of you have heard rumours about what's coming, and I’m afraid I stand before you to let you know that many of those rumours are true.’

Gasps escaped the crowd as a flash went off from the only member of the local press who still bothered to turn up.

‘It’s the news we’ve been dreading, but it’s news that’s been coming. Having spoken at length with the authorities, they have informed me that the resources the police and the fire service have laid on are going to be limited. With the debris cleared from our roads, they believe that we can now get back to normal.’

‘But what about our children?’ A haunting scream came from one of the ladies who was huddled up against a man in the crowd.

‘Yeah, what do they expect us to do? Just forget?’

‘My boy is still out there somewhere!’

Members of the crowd started to shout to anyone who would listen. Screams and cries of desperation from men, women and children filled the air.

‘I know.’

Mr Lek spoke with enough authority that even those most distressed did their best to silence themselves.

‘I know your pain. Believe me, I do. But just because they have stopped searching, doesn’t mean we will. Just because the world no longer cares, doesn’t mean we stop caring along with it! Just because everyone else has given up, doesn’t mean I will! I will search every inch of this world until I find my child again,’ Mr Lek shouted, before taking some deep breaths and closing his eyes, ‘the press are gone, and now so are the emergency services. But we remain. So long as we stick together, we must believe that it is only a matter of time until we are all reunited with our families. If we keep searching, we still have hope. If we still have hope, we keep searching.’

The crowd remained silent for a moment, allowing his words to sink in.

‘What now?’ a man shouted.

‘Right now, we do all we can do. We continue our search. I need all those prepared to help to give me their details and availability. I will then make a plan utilising all of our time and energy. Our best chance comes if we stick together, because our loved ones need each and every one of us. I will leave a sheet here. Please write your contact details, along with any tools you have that could help.’

Mr Lek looked directly into the flames, the orange glow flickering over his dark skin.

‘I want each of you to look at the candles before you. They have been lit as a signal of hope, not as a reminder of what we have lost. Do not let the light go out.’

As Lek stepped back into the crowd, Leo noticed that he was here alone, and for a moment, the brave face he had worn for his speech was replaced by one of anguish. But that quickly disappeared as members of the crowd headed towards him, ready to put pen to paper.

‘I can’t believe we’ve been left alone,’ Leo’s mum said.

‘I mean we’ve been looking for weeks now and not found anything. We can’t find something that isn’t there,’ Leo said, not having meant for it to sound as callous as it came out.

‘That doesn’t mean something won’t be found,’ she said, as tears formed in her eyes, ‘we can’t give up, Leo. We can’t. Sam's out there waiting for us! I can’t bear to think of him scared and all alone.’

Before Leo could catch her, his mum had fallen to her knees with her head in her hands.

‘I know, Mum. I know,’ he said, kneeling beside her and taking her into his arms.

‘The last thing we did was argue. He said he wouldn’t come home, and I said good and shut the door. I can’t let that be the last thing I say to him, Leo. I want my baby to know that I love him.’

As his mum’s shoulders shook gently against him, Leo felt her tears roll onto his chest. As he comforted her, he found himself looking once more to the flames that burnt in the middle of the square. So many lost, and all they were left with was the faintest hope. A hope that felt like a bitter and twisted poison, staying only to eat away at them as they chose between the guilt of moving on, and the sorrow of chasing a seemingly lost cause.

‘Libero,’ Leo muttered under his breath.

‘What did you say?’ Leo’s mother mumbled into his black hoody.

‘Nothing,’ he lied, ‘what would you say to a little getaway if we’ve not managed to find anything come half term? I think it would be good for us to get away from everything for a bit.’

‘I don’t know,’ she whimpered.

‘Leo, this better not be what I think it is,’ Kaira said, having knelt with them.

‘There’s more to it now,’ Leo responded.

‘More to what?’ Leo’s mum asked.

‘Leo has seen a word a couple of times, Asena, and he thinks we should …’

‘… I think we should give ourselves a bit of a break. Spending all our time turning over the same stones is going to make us go insane. Maybe if we took some time out of our little village we could come up with some fresh ideas,’ Leo interjected.

Leo’s mum propped herself up and looked at Leo.

‘I will think about it. If come half term, and that is a big if, we haven’t found anything new, then we might be able to go away for a long weekend,’ she nodded.

‘Could my friends come too?’ Leo asked.

‘I give you an inch and you’re already taking a mile,’ she said, slightly agitated, ‘we’ll see nearer the time.’

Before Leo could say anything further, one of their nosey neighbours came over.

‘Asena, come here,’ a short bald man said, holding out his arms so he could lift Leo’s mother up, ‘we’ve all just been saying how shocking it is that …’ he spoke as he walked Asena into a small huddle of ‘friends’.

‘That was weird,’ Leo said as he stood himself up, ‘I’m still here, right?’

‘Who said that?’ Bailey joked, as she and Dorian joined them.

‘Funny,’ Leo said sarcastically, ‘but I’m glad you’re all here now. I’ve just spoken to my mum and I’m fairly sure I’ve persuaded her that we can go away for a bit in half term.’

‘It didn’t sound like it to me,’ snorted Kaira.

‘So, there are some terms and conditions, but if they are met – which I hope they aren’t – then we might be able to go …’

‘on your wild goose chase,’ Dorian finished.

‘Not exactly. Just let me speak!’ Leo said as he pulled the letter from his pocket, ‘this was posted through my letterbox today. Read it and tell me that there isn’t more to all of this.’

Leo held out the letter confidently, and even though they all looked apprehensive, Kaira’s curiosity was first to give as she grabbed the letter.

‘Do you believe me now?’ he asked as she finished reading.

Kaira gave no response but to give Dorian the piece of paper. Having scanned it over a few times, he then passed it to Bailey. They all took their time reading each hastily written word, trying their best to find holes. And Leo braced himself for the questions that were sure to follow.

‘But what is Libero?’ Kaira said at last.

‘Right now, Libero is the little bit of hope we've all been looking for,’ Leo said determinedly, ‘will you guys help?’

The three of them looked at each other, and then at the crowd lining up to give their details to search the same place they had searched countless times. Bailey and Dorian nodded, and Leo could not suppress his grin. But, as he looked at Kaira, she immediately looked away.

Gently, Leo took Kaira by the hand and led her to one side.

‘Don’t start, Leo. You know how much I want to come,’ mumbled Kaira, letting go of his hand.

‘I know you do. I’m not going to force you to do anything you don’t want to though,’ Leo said, trying to meet her gaze.

‘But it’s so selfish of me to just stay here while you all go off looking for your brother. What kind of friend does that make me?’ she said dejectedly, looking to the floor as her long, dark orange hair dropped down to cover her face.

‘What kind of friend would it make me if I made you come with us? I want you to be safe, Kaira. You know that.’

‘I know you do,’ she muttered, allowing her light green eyes to meet his, ‘I’ll come with you. But I’ll stay in my room if I need to. So even if I am there, I don’t know how much help I’ll be. I will try though.’

Leo gave her a long, tight squeeze.

‘I know you will,’ he whispered.

‘Now what?’ Dorian questioned as Kaira and Leo returned.

‘I guess we wait,’ Leo said.

‘How am I going to persuade my parents to let me come though?’ Bailey said, exasperated.

‘Just blame it on my lost brother,’ Leo shrugged, ‘play all the guilt cards.’

‘Yeah, alright. Mum and Dad, you know how Leo has lost his bro, can I go with him to the Lake District to try and find him?’

‘Well, you’re not meant to tell them that we’re looking for him there,’ Leo responded.

‘You’re right. That would sound odd, wouldn’t it, Leo,’ she winked.

‘So, we’ve actually got a plan,’ Kaira half smiled, ‘who’d have thought it?’

‘It isn’t the best plan,’ Leo admitted, ‘but it’s hope.’

Leo’s friends either gagged or face palmed themselves at Leo, causing the crowd around them to watch and tut.

Leo did not care what his friends said or did, for his heart was considerably lighter with them there. He gave them each a hug before he turned and looked towards the candles. As he looked at the fire, he thought back to the eyes he had seen in the storm. The eyes that burnt as true as the flames in front of him.

Was this the creature trying to contact him?

What if it was all a trap?

Leo shook his head. If it wanted to attack them, it could have done so at any point. And so, for now Leo settled on the feeling that had caused so much suffering, and for his friends some amount of cringing, but for him it was something to hold on to.

Hope.