Free Sucked Under by Z. Fraillon

would be fish food.’
    There wasn’t any point arguing, especially as Saffy was right. He hated it when Saffy was right.
    Felix walked into the room. ‘Has she called yet?’ he asked chirpily, heading over to the fridge for a chocolate bar.
    Jasper moaned and shook his head.
    â€˜She will. She’s just making you sweat it out a bit.’ Mac sucked on a lollipop thoughtfully. ‘I wonder what your punishment will be.’
    â€˜But I got the monster, didn’t I?’ Jasper said weakly.
    â€˜Yeah, but you also went into known monster territory without your hunt belt on. Even Saffy took hers, and she was escaping!’ Mac said.
    â€˜OK, OK, I get it,’ Jasper groaned. He got the feeling Mac was enjoying this.
    â€˜There’s no chocolate left!’ Felix complained from behind the fridge door.
    Saffy shook her head. ‘Don’t even think about it,’ she said, just as Felix made a lunge for her chocolate bar.
    Mac leant over and looked closely at Jasper. ‘Seriously, though, it was good work to let yourself be guided. You kept control of the whispering beautifully,’ he said quietly.
    Jasper froze. ‘How do you …?’
    Mac glanced up at the others. Saffy and Felix were still fighting over the last chocolate bar and weren’t taking any notice. ‘It’s a bit freaky at first, but once you get your head around it, it’s actually pretty cool. It’s like having an internal monster compass. You just have to show it who’s boss.’
    Jasper was stunned. Mac! A Whispered?
    â€˜You can kiss my ...’ Saffy squirmed out of Felix’s reach, then shoved the last bit of chocolate into her mouth. ‘Which reminds me,’ Saffy turned to Jasper. ‘Which foot do you want to kiss first?’
    Felix burst out laughing.
    â€˜You said that if I escaped, you would kiss my feet,’ she reminded Jasper sweetly.
    â€˜No way! It doesn’t count! You came back!’
    Jasper said indignantly.
    Saffy stood up and started towards him.
    â€˜That’s only because I had to rescue you,’ she smiled smugly. ‘I could’ve been long gone.’
    Jasper turned to Mac for support, but he just laughed.
    â€˜She does have a point,’ said Mac. ‘Plus she’s got a cool idea for getting rid of the Scramblers in the lake. You better find your earplugs and nosepegs.’ He wandered out of the room.
    Jasper was really looking forward to enjoying a nice relaxing swim in that lake. He hoped the plan was a quick one. Or one that consisted of Jasper lolling on the water while everyone else caught the monsters.
    Saffy flicked Jasper with her towel. ‘Come on, where’s your hunt belt?’
    â€˜Weren’t you planning to escape more permanently?’ asked Jasper.
    â€˜What, and let you lot try to handle things?’
    Saffy snorted. ‘I don’t think so!’
    Felix rolled his eyes. ‘And I thought we’d finally got rid of her.’
    The phone began to ring. Felix and Saffy looked at Jasper.
    â€˜Saved by the bell. Enjoy,’ Saffy whispered, but she looked quite sympathetic.
    Felix patted him on the back. ‘Tough one, mate,’ he said quietly.
    Jasper plucked up his courage, and picked up the phone. ‘H-h-hello?’ he said, trying not to sound nervous.
    â€˜Got ya,’ said Mac on the other end. He was calling from the other room.
    â€˜Mac!’ groaned Jasper. ‘She’s going to ring any minute!’
    â€˜No, she won’t. I didn’t say a word,’ he said.
    Jasper couldn’t believe it. ‘But – I thought you had to report everything ?’
    â€˜I was just winding you up,’ said Mac. ‘What happens on a Hunt, stays on a Hunt.’
    Jasper smiled and hung up the phone. Mac popped his head around the door. ‘I wouldn’t look too relieved,’ he warned. ‘You haven’t heard Saffy’s plan