Cringing slightly as she watched the person she hoped was Penny struggle to write on the glass, Sarah felt as though she could barely breathe. If it were, in fact, her friend, she hated to put Penny through something so obviously painful - but she had to be sure that it was Penny. When Alasdair Frame’s name was scrawled across the windowpane, she couldn’t help but clap her hand over her mouth in shock. Raising her eyes to those of the girl outside the window - Penny - she could feel herself trembling. She motioned to Penny, pointing to one side and mouthing “back door,” before racing down the hallway to take down her wards and unlock the cottage’s rear entrance, which backed onto a small alley.
She met Penny in the alley and quickly ushered her inside. “Oh Merlin, Penny...get in here!” She looked over her shoulder as she made to close the door. The alley seemed to be deserted; she only hoped that all was as it looked. Closing the door and re-warding the cottage, she turned back to her friend, unable to stop herself from peppering Penny with questions. “What happened? Where have you been? How did you get hurt?”