When the gang turned around - phantom Phil was gone.  “Wow!” Exclaimed Emma in disbelief.  Toby delicately lifted Emma's top and saw that there wasn't even a mark from the bullet.  Mike flexed his muscular arm and found to his surprise that it didn't hurt a bit.  "So," said Cassie in between Mike's loving kisses "When did Phil get superpowers?"  Toby hugged Emma again and stated "I honestly have no idea."  The ambulance driver turned to them and said "Who are you people? What are you doing here?"

They all stooped and looked at the ambulance driver.  "You don't remember us"? Toby asked.
"No I don't, now if your not hurt I have to go" the ambulance driver said starting the engine.  They all moved back as the ambulance drove away.  "Ok what the hell was that all about"?  Cassie exclaimed as a confused expression washed over everyone’s faces.  "I have no idea, But whatever it was, I'd definitely say Phil could explain it", Mike replied while fishing around in his pocked for his mobile. He picked it up and realised that it was flat.

He fished around in Cassie's pocket and pulled out hers, dialling Phil's number.  An answering service picked up "Hello, you've reached the phone of Phil - I'm out saving the world right now - so leave a message and I'll get back to you."  "That was a lot funnier when I knew it wasn't true" groaned Mike. 
"So" said Emma "we're out in the middle of nowhere - again!"  "We've only got one person left to call" said Toby pointing at Mike "Your big brother."

Mike groaned "Do we have to?”  "Yes we do", Emma said grabbing the phone off of Mike and dialling Andrew's number.  "Hello", Andrew's voice rang out over the line as he picked up.  "Hey Andrew, it's Emma.  I’m really sorry to disturb you but we have a problem,” Emma said wondering why Andrew sounded out of breath then shuddered realising she probably did not want to know.

"Emma! Thank God it's you!" Exclaimed Andrew! "Some guy in a balaclava just stormed my house and has ruined the place!"  "Oh" thought Emma "that's why he's out of breath"  She grinned sheepishly and began to see how the older of the Tierney’s was.  "Are you alright Andrew?"
"Yeah" he replied, he laughed "I hid behind the toilet" 
"You idiot!" Emma said jokingly.
"Ask him to pick us up Emma" urged Toby.
"He can take my two seat Pontiac."
"God you're a dork!" said Cassie!
"Tell him to use the van - we won't fit in the two-seater!"

Emma asked Andrew and he said he'd be there in about 30 minutes. That gave them enough time to pull themselves together.  The time passed quickly and in no time at all they were all on their way to Andrew's place.  When they got home everyone decided not to bother going back home and they all just crashed at Andrew's. 

They awoke the next morning to the sound of Emma's phone ringing.
She answered it croakily "Hello?" it was Phantom Phil.  "Phil! You've got some explaining to do!"
"I know, I know!" he replied - I'll try and do some later - but I need a favour."
"Anything!" She said "You saved my life!"
"Do you remember anything about the guy in the balaclava?"
"No" She replied.
"What?" said Toby - "last night you knew who it was - you cried 'It's...’"
"I..I don't remember..."

Andrew smiled as he lay in his bed listening to the phone conversation going on in the lounge room.
"Come on Emma you looked so sure you knew", Cassie said sitting up from her position next to Mike on the sofa bed.
"I, I really don't remember". Emma stuttered.  Cassie mumbled something under her breath and lay back down cuddling up against Mike again.  Emma sighed, She didn't understand why she couldn't remember. She had been so sure she knew who it was.
Toby leaned over and took the phone from Emma and putting it up to his ear.  "Hey Phil, How about you come over and we can try and clear this up when you get here"? He said as he yawned and leant over to rub Emma's back.  Emma sighed as she leant her weight against Toby and closed her eyes.  "Look Phil, just come over ok"? Toby said and hung up the phone.

Emma began to drift back to sleep when Andrew rushed out!
"What are you doing Toby?! Not in my house - please!"
Toby grinned and said "Awww...poor widdle Andy Pandy wants a back rub too"
"No!" said Emma - "You're mine!"  Toby kissed her.
"You know it!"  Andrew looked embarrassed.  The doorbell rang, it seemed Phantom Phil had super-speed too.
"Never fear! Phil is here!" said Phil as he removed his mask.
"Excuse me Phillip" - said Andrew as he went into the toilet. 
"Why did he call me that?" said Phil "He knows I hate it!"

 Andrew rushed out of the toilet - raging!  "Who the hell blocked my toilet?!"  Mike giggled, "um...well..."
"Mike! My own brother! I thought you'd grown out of flushing stuff down there!"
Toby smirked "Did you really do it?" he questioned mike.
"I couldn't help myself, anyway, it's just a roll of paper, all he needs to do is reach his hand down there and..."
"Ewww! Gross!" said Cassie, cutting him off with a playful swipe to his forehead.

"Ow!" mike exclaimed and rubbed his forehead.
"God Mike don't be such a baby, you always were a wimp", Andrew said and shook his head.
Mike poked his tongue out at his brother when he turned his head.  "Oh, now that was so mature wasn't it?!" Toby laughed.
Andrew turned around and glared at everyone in the room then stomp off back into his room.
"What crawled up his butt and died"? Emma questioned.
Everybody shrugged.

Emma followed Andrew to see what the problem was.  He was frantically un-blocking the toilet, with his hands.  She laughed and he looked up at her "WHAT!?" he said furiously.  Emma felt her heart jump and ran out of the room.  Toby grabbed onto her and looked into her eyes "Are you ok?"  He tried to remember the last time he saw that look in her eyes.  "You look just before you got..." he didn't need to continue.  "I...I...Andrew just scared me is all..."  Toby got up but Emma grabbed his arm and stopped him "It's not his fault."  She said, shaking her head.
Phil spoke "So, you guys need to tell me everything that happened last night"   The all looked at each other, took a deep breath and started all talking at once.  "Ok, one at a time guys"! Phil exclaimed trying to get some order.

They gang sat down and Toby tearfully told Phantom Phil the whole story.  "Now tell us" said the Tobester "when did you become Phantom Phil?"
Phil said "sorry - I can't tell you that.  But right now I'm tracking the balaclava bandit…”

"The balaclava who?" Emma interrupted.
"The balaclava bandit. He's been terrorising restaurants all over the city, It's been getting worse over the past few months.”
"Do you have any idea's on who it is?” Andrew said as he came out of his room and sat down with everyone else.  Toby had to restrain himself.  Everyone looked at Andrew as if they didn’t trust him.  "What"? he asked.
"I thought you were pissed-off", Mike stated.  Andrew shrugged and they continued talking about what happened and Phil told them everything he knew.

After much discussion, Phil began again.   "So, Emma knew who he was,  but she doesn't remember..."  Emma shook her head and Toby hugged her.  “Would you guys know him if you saw him again?”
"For sure!" Cassie said. the others nodded.  Emma looked worried. No one but Andrew noticed but he didn't say anything to her.

Over the next few days they all spend every day together, finding out anything they could about the balaclava bandit. The police hadn't had any luck with finding him, so the group had taken it into their own hands.  Cassie slammed down the notes she was reading and sighed rubbing her temples.  "Guys this is so not working.  I've been reading the same stuff for days and haven't found out anything." She said looking extremely discouraged.

 "Hey guys - I might’ve just got a lead" called Emma.
"What?!" Toby rushed after her.  Andrew looked up from the couch.
"Well, he's only hit restaurants right?"
"Yeah" replied Phil.
"Well," continued Emma "why restaurants? - what's so special about them?"
"You're right! What do restaurants have that makes them a good target?" Toby agreed.
"Now we're getting somewhere"
"Toilets!" said mike!
"You idiot!" said Phil! "Toilets on the brain!"

"God what is it with you and Toilets this past week"? Toby said shaking his head.
"Well think about it guys, the only thing that all the restaurants have had in common are toilets." Mike explained.
"WAIT!"
Yelled Toby - "I get it!"
"What?! Yelled Emma.
"The toilets! It's so simple!"
"You're lost Toby..." Said Phil dryly.
"No - whoever...whatever is doing this..."
"Needs a toilet?!.." Emma wasn't convinced. 
"Needs more fibre in their diet"? Cassie giggled.
Toby looked at Cassie and Emma in disgust.
"You girls can be so thick sometimes”, he said shook his head
”Come on be serious, ok"? he said trying to stop the smile that was threatening to overtake his lips.
"Alrighty..." said Emma.
"So...the person needs a toilet" she couldn't help but giggle before continuing "for some reason".
”Hey! Where's Andy gone...?” Said Phil.

Cassie looked at Phil - "I don't know...did you guys have a fight or something...he doesn't seem as friendly towards you as usual".
Phil replied "He's only been like that since he found out about my superheroishness"
Mike giggled "Is that even a word?"
"Yes it is a word", Phil exclaimed...
"What, cause you just made it one", Cassie giggled.
Phil shot Cassie a dirty look.
"Maybe he's just jealous, cause you have super powers or something", Toby chimed in.
"That could be it, I supposed" Phil shrugged.
"Well whatever is it, he needs to get his head out of his ass and start helping us with this, because we need everyone's help if we’re gonna do this properly."  Phil stated as he stood and went off in search off Andrew as mike went off in the other direction in search of the dictionary mumbling under his breath "I know it's not a word"
”I'll follow Shorty if you don't mind.” Said Cassie.
Toby didn't mind - that left him and Emma alone.
"God Phil!" Andrew came storming out doing up his fly! "Can't you leave a guy in peace!?"
"Listen!" said Phil glaring at Andrew. "We have to find this guy - and I have a plan..."

"Well it can wait until I’ve been to the bathroom...unless you've like me to pee all over you or the floor?” Andrew shot back before turning around and heading back into the bathroom.
"I cannot believe this. “We are all trying to find answers to the same things, yet we can't even get along well enough to have a decent conversation,” Emma exclaimed sounding like she was just about to boil over.
”Look, Phil said he had a plan right?” She looked at their masked hero “Then let's hear it." Cassie said cutting Emma off before she could blow her top.
"Ok well the plan is…Uh, well…ok…the plan is.." Phil started to say.
"Do you even have a plan",? Cassie questioned looking suspiciously at him.
"Yes I do if you'd let me finish", Phil shot back. He took breath and started explaining again.
"The plan is, I'm going to call a contact of mine and see if he has any ideas on who the bandit might be. He'll come stay with us while this is going on and help us out as much as possible. My contact knows more than anyone else around about this kind of thing. I don't know why I didn't think to call him first.”

The arrangements were made and Phantom Phil's "contact" would be flying in that afternoon from somewhere in America.  That afternoon everybody piled into the van and drove to the airport. Only Phil got out and went to meet this ‘mystery man’ at the terminal.
About 30mins later Phil came walking back carrying a suitcase, everybody gasped when they saw who was actually walking behind him.  "I don't believe it, it's...it's..", Cassie stuttered.
"Darren Hayes", Emma exclaimed as her jaw literally hit the floor. Well, maybe not literally.

"What the...?!" cried Cassie in true Rove fashion.
"Y-Y-Y-Y-You guys are...like...friends?" Emma struggled to speak.
"No!" said Andrew "The guy's an ars..."
"He's an informant" Phil cut him off before Andy said something Phil knew he'd regret.
"I'm going to the little boys room" said Andrew.
Mike laughed "Little is right!"
Cassie smacked him "Good thing it doesn't run in the family!"
Emma could see Andrew's blood boiling as he stormed off to the toilets. "Not again!..."

Cassie jumped up and started after Andrew, She knew Emma wouldn't go into the men’s toilets. Not even if her life depended on it.  She knocked on the door and heard the lock click and a muffled voice telling her it was ok to come in. She slowly opened the door and looked at Andrew.  Really looked at him.  He stood in one of the cubicles and breathed out slowly.  Cassie started..."are you alri....?"  She screamed as she and Andrew were suddenly sucked through the bowl.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

She reached out and grabbed onto Andrew. He just held her as tight as he could knowing he knew he couldn’t let anything happen to her no matter what. They spun and twisted and eventually landed with a thump on the floor.
"Ooommff" Andrew grunted as Cassie landed on top of him.  Cassie lay shaking on Andrew’s broad chest, scared and in shock from what had just occurred.  Andrew gently moved Cassie off him and got to his knee's and leant over her.  "Cass", he said shaking her.

Meanwhile Emma and the rest of the gang were getting worried, Cassie and Andrew had been gone quite a while and Mike was starting to worry that Andrew has lost his temper and done something not so good.  "Do you think they're ok?" Said Mike.
"I'm sure Cassie's fine," replied Phil "I'm just a little worried about Andrew"
"W-w-w-what if Andrew's done something to Cassie?" said a worried Mike. "If anything ever happened to her I'd never forgive myself" he continued.
"Mike, it's ok." Said a much calmer Emma. I mean, how much bad stuff can go on in a..."
Mike cut her off. "OH MY GOD!" he cried! "I'm going in after her!"
"I'll come with you!" cried Phil as he stripped off his clothing to produce his Phantom Phil costume.  Emma giggled "Oooo...I love a man in uniform. Why don't you get a superhero suit Toby?" she teased.
Phil poked his tongue at her and rushed with Mike to the toilets.
"I really have to crash" said Darren after being silent for so long. "Do you mind if I..." he indicated that he needed a drink.  Something with alcohol.  It had been a stressful flight.
"Go for it mate," said Toby "We'll be fine on our own".
Toby looked over at Emma and smiled cheekily, she grinned back but was interrupted by a terrible scream.  It was Phantom Phil, and he was in trouble.

Toby and Emma raced towards to toilets as fast as they could.  They reached then jump in time to see Phil and Mike get sucked in. Emma gasped not believing what she had just seen.
"We've got to go after them", Toby boldly stated.
"But. But it's a toilet", Protested Emma. Before she could protest any further Toby had grabbed her hand and they too began to get sucked in.

They landed with a thud on the hard floor. Emma groaned and closed her eyes to try and stop her head from spinning. Toby got to his feet and looked around the room. He was filled with anger as he noticed something in the corner. It was Andrew and he was leaning over Cassie. Toby's blood started to boil and Emma gasped as she opened her eyes, Toby's eyes were swirling like fire. She didn't understand it. Just then Toby let an almighty roar and out of nowhere a strong wind picked Andrew up and flung him against the wall. Andrew let out a load yell as he hit the wall hard.  “Toby!” Emma yelled and jumped up grabbing Toby's arm.
Toby raced over to Cassie. She groaned and coughed before looking up and the faces standing over her.  "Emma...Toby.....what happened?" She said barely above a whisper. 

Emma looked up at Toby, "What?  How?  Why?"  Toby collapsed onto the ground, his energy clearly depleted.  Emma hugged Cassie "I won't let him hurt you anymore"
Cassie looked over at a seemingly lifeless Andrew.  "Wait!" said Emma. "Where are Phil and Mike?"
"What?!" exclaimed Cassie. "I thought they were with you!"
Andrew moaned. It seemed he was in a lot of pain. But he was still conscious.
"Don't move!" commanded Emma. "How could you?!"
"I...I'm sorry", Andrew chocked out and then started to cough violently. He spat a large amount of blood onto the floor before passing out.

Emma just sat down with Cassie, the minutes passed and finally after a few hours Toby started to stir. He got to his knees and looked around. Clearly confused as to how he'd done what he had.  He looked over at Andrew who was beginning to move again.  It was all up to him. Hey got to his feet and moved over to Emma and Cassie and spoke quietly.  "I'm gonna have to leave. Andrew clearly needs medical attention".  Emma looked up at him.
"WHAT?? You can not seriously be thinking of leaving us here", Emma exclaimed.
He walked over to Andrew and picked him up. So that was Emma's answer. She sighed as she sighed as she watched the love of her life leave not knowing what she was going to do now.

"What are we gonna dooooooo?" cried Cassie.
"I don't know," said Emma "What happened to Mike and Phil?"  Cassie suddenly came to the realisation that Mike wasn't there. So much for love of her life!  "Where is Mike?" she asked. "MIKE! Where are you?!"
Emma joined in "Phantom Phil!"  No one answered. In fact, there was no noise at all.  "It's so quiet" said Emma.
"Help!" cried Cassie, clearly distressed.  "Michael John Tierney - where are you?"
Suddenly Emma heard a noise above them. She taped Cassie on the shoulder and pointed up towards the opening of the room.  She could see some eyes looking down at her. Cassie watched as Emma began to shake uncontrollably. Her legs collapsed under her and she fell to the ground.
”It’s…”

"Oh God!" cried Cassie.  "What's the matter?" she shook Emma by the shoulders. She looked into Emma's eyes and could see nothing but mortal fear.  She looked up and the eyes were gone.  What was she gonna do?  The last time she saw Emma like this was just after she'd been…  She didn't even wanna think of the horrible night.  But did that mean? Those eyes....did they belong to who she had begun to think they did?  Were those the eyes of...The Balaclava Bandit?!

Well Cassie didn't want to stay around to find out. She grabbed Emma by the arm and headed in the direction Toby had left in. Room after room, they passed through door after door seemingly not making the slightest bit of progress. It was if they were walking in circles. Cassie collapsed onto her knee's. She looked around, Emma was in a daze still and didn't look like coming out of it anytime soon.

Cassie peered around, and gasped when something appeared in the distance, she couldn't tell who or what it was at first, but as it got closer she realised.  "MIKE!!!"  Cassie leapt towards him.
"Cass!" he screamed.  They ran together and Mike wrapped his muscular arms around her in a tight embrace.  He whispered to her "I'll never let you go again."  He somehow pulled his attention away from her and saw the entranced Emma.  "What's up with Emma?" he asked.
"Ummm..." Cassie suddenly snapped back to reality and remembered how much danger they were in.  "We gotta get outta here!" said Cassie.

"It was him, it was him, it was him, it was him" said Emma.
"Where's Phantom Phil?" questioned Cassie.  As if in answer to her question the superhero came lumbering through the corridor.  "What's happened to Emma?" he asked.
"He's gonna get us!" she screamed.
Phil went over to her and picked her off the ground - "Who's going to get you?" he asked calmly, looking into her eyes
Emma shook her head. "Toby left us!"
Phil put his hand under her chin "It's ok.  I won't let anyone hurt you".  He put his arms around her and let her collapse into them.
He felt her tense up and she started to stutter again. "he's...he's...he's..."

Phil whipped around to see a dark outline move from the shadows. He let out an evil sounding cackle and moved forwards. Phil shot up and stood in front of Emma, Mike and Cassie.
"Show yourself"!! Phil Demanded.   The shadow moved even closer.
"Hey, when did you guys get here?” a familiar sounding voice replied. The dark shadow moved into the light to reveal a slightly tired looking Toby.

"Toby!" Emma suddenly recovered when she saw her blond, spikey-haired hero.  She leapt to her feet and hugged him tighter than ever before.  He winced and she let go suddenly, there was blood on his shirt and as she delicately lifted it she saw a large gash just above his belly button.  "What happened?!" she cried.
"I really don't remember" he tried to think really hard.
"I took Andrew to the hospital and into the emergency room. I began to leave to come back for the girls when something hit me from behind." He rubbed the back of his head.
"I turned around to see the bandit. He took out a knife and slashed me across the stomach" his voice wavered as he tried to recall it. "I ran as fast as I could back towards you guys, I couldn't leave you alone."  Emma kissed him and insisted he lay down as she checked the wound.
"You're lucky it's not too bad" she said.

"Hang on..." said Phil. "What's this about Andrew?" 
"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Suddenly a booming voice was heard from the corridor behind them. Cassie turned first "It's....it's..."
Emma turned around a fraction after Cassie and finished the terrified girls sentence "The Bandit!"

The terrified look in Emma's eyes was one that Toby had only seen once before and it made him furious. He leapt at the man in the balaclava. "You bastard!" he cried as he pummelled the bandit with his powerful fists. The bandit grinned, there was a glint in his eyes and Cassie cried out "TOBY! - Watch out!". Her warning had come to late - the bandit knocked Toby to the ground with what seemed no effort at all. He laughed as the spikey-haired hero unsuccessfully tried to rise. He kicked him in the stomach and turned his evil eyes towards Phil still laughing. "Wait!" Phil cried He looked towards Emma and smiled "I know who the bandit is...it's..." The bandit - not wanting his identity revealed quickly leapt into action and swung his lightning fast fist straight into the Phantom's face. Phil's nose shattered and blood spurted in all directions as he was flung against the concrete wall. The superhero lay unconscious at the foot of the wall and the bandit slowly approached him. "He's still scared of him" whispered a cowering Mike. The bandit reached into his pocket and pulled out a blade. "No!" Cried a paralysed Toby "Not Phil!"

The bandit looked at him and laughed as he raised the blade above the unconscious Phil. Cassie began to creep towards Phil. "What are you doing?" questioned Mike in a harsh whisper. Emma looked away. "I'm saving Phil"
Mike grabbed her arm. "Please... don't..."
"I have to!" she cried.
"No! I won't let you get hurt!" He blocked her way.
Cassie slowly began to sit back down. Mike relaxed and she burst past him with an energy Mike was unaware his true love had. Cassie leapt at the bandit and the blade was knocked across the room as he was pushed to the ground. Emma ran over to Toby and pulled him to his feet. He hugged her and watched in awe as Mike ran towards Cassie. The dazed bandit regained his composure and reached for his knife. "NO!" cried Mike as the bandit plunged the blade into Cassie's stomach. The bandit grinned and got up. He walked back over to the defenseless Phantom Phil. Mike was in shock and he walked over to the love of his life. Blood was pouring out of a gash in her stomach and he put his hand over it to try and block it. Emma left Toby and ran over to her best friend. "Make it stop!" cried Michael, tears rolling down his cheeks. "I can't" Emma looked into his eyes. "There's...to much blood...unless we get out of here soon...” Emma paused and prepared herself for what she needed to say.  “Cassie... she's going to die, Mike"

"Call an ambulance!" cried Mike running around in circles. Emma tried to calm him down "Just tell her how much you love her.  No ambulance is gonna find us in here. We can only pray..." She looked over at her one and only as he rushed towards the bandit. "That Toby knows what he's doing."  Toby looked at the bandit...and then back at his friends. The unconscious Phil, the dying Cassie, the terrified Mike, and the love of his life. He was suddenly filled with such rage, such anger. His eyes began to swirl. "Oh Sh.." The bandit was cut off as Toby's scream filled the room. The bandit was flung against the wall - unconscious.
Emma ran towards the bandit and began pummelling him.
"I hate you! I hate you!  You bastard.  Do you have any idea what you’ve done?  I hate you. You should die.  I hope you die.  No wait.  I hope your in pain.  I hope it never stops.  I hate you!"
Toby fell to the ground. Clearly exhausted from his sudden burst of energy.

Mike cradled the lifeless body of Cassie in his arms. "It's gonna be ok, it's gonna be ok.." he whispered over and over again.  He rocked Cassie back and forth as blood flowed effortlessly out of the wound.  Toby pulled himself up and made his way over to the screaming and almost hysterical Emma. Taking her in his arms he held her tight assuring her everything was going to be ok.  She eventually calmed down and they both went over to make sure Phil was ok. They looked around...."Uh guys....Where's Phil"? Toby questioned completely confused.  Mike looked up, his face tearstained and his whole body shaking.
"I...he was right there a minute ago" Mike said before starting to rock Cassie again.

Where had Phil Gone? Would Cassie hold on long enough for them to get to her a hospital? Who was the Balaclava bandit anyway?

Find out in the next instalment of…