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They made him stand against the fence, and tied his hands together.
Becky started making up a chant.
Something about the coward who would not jump. Something about the wrath of the water, the wrath of the gods.
It sounded like something she’d seen in a film. The others thought it was funny. They joined in.
She got an apple from her bag and put it in his mouth. She made the others hit him with branches to get rid of the curse. She told Liam they would only pretend. She spoke softly. She told him it was only a game. The others went along with it. Some of them were hitting a bit harder than just pretend.
Becky started saying: squeal like a pig, squeal.
Liam thought that was taking it too far.
She pulled his swimmers down, and someone hit him really hard. Too hard.
Squeal like a pig. Oink, oink.
It was more than just jokes by then. It was out of hand. Liam tried to move away from the fence, but Becky didn’t want to stop the game. He had to push her off. James was there as well, and Liam couldn’t tell if James was helping him or helping Becky. He got his hands untied, and pushed them both off, and ran.
He could hear them running after him.
They probably thought it was still a game but Liam wasn’t laughing any more.
He had to pull his swimmers up as he ran. He ran quickly. It was downhill so it was easy to get the speed up. He must have run through some brambles, because when he looked down he thought he could see blood. He could hear the others shrieking and whooping behind him. They were running fast, but they didn’t seem to be running as fast as he was. He didn’t know what they thought they would do, if they caught him. He’d almost got down to the road at the edge of the woods when he turned and saw Becky close behind him, closer than the others. She had a wild look in her eyes. He slowed down until he could feel the gasp of her breath on his neck.
6: Claire
The screaming came from the woods behind the house.
Claire was just getting out of the shower when she heard it: a single long scream which ended abruptly. The window was open to let out the steam, and she leant out for a look.
She couldn’t see anything, of course. The air above the woods was dusty and still, and the sun was in her eyes. A pair of crows was circling. It was hard to tell if it had been a real scream or just kids mucking about. But she didn’t dwell on it. It wasn’t unusual to hear something going off in the woods. That time of year, with the long evenings and the kids off school, there would be all sorts happening sometimes.
It might have only been a fox in any case.
She went through to the bedroom to choose a dress.
They’d booked a table for dinner. It was their first night out in a long while, and Claire wanted to make an effort. Will’s mother, Maisie, had already come round to babysit, and Claire was taking her time. She’d poured the first glass of wine. She could hear Maisie reading bedtime stories to Tom, and Tom asking for more than he knew he was allowed. Maisie was a soft touch with him but she didn’t really mind. There was no rush. Will had been called out on a Mountain Rescue job, somewhere up near Black Bull Rocks, and had said he might be late.
She picked out a Chinese-looking print dress with a high button-up collar. Black, with flowers and dragons. Not quite silk but something pretending towards it. Will had liked it when she’d worn it before, a year or so previously. He’d said he liked the way it was high at the top but short at the bottom. Fashion wasn’t really his thing. It was nice that he’d noticed.
She had to wriggle her way in, but it still just about fitted. She heard Maisie saying goodnight and squeezing Tom’s door closed, and there was a long pause before her footsteps went slowly down the stairs. She checked the dress in the mirror, tugging out some adjustments and turning from side to side. She topped up her glass. She could hear Maisie moving around in the kitchen, fussing with dishes and pans. That woman. She’d say she was only wanting to help but it felt like interfering. Four sons and a husband, and she’d spent most of her life mothering them all. She wasn’t going to stop now just because Will had left home.
Claire plugged the straighteners in, and started on her hair.
*
She waited until she heard Will come in before she went downstairs, glass in hand. The sound of her high heels on the wooden stairs should have been enough to make him turn his head. But when she came into the kitchen it was Maisie who looked her up and down. It made her feel like a teenager who’d been at her mum’s make-up table.
I thought you were just going out for a nice quiet dinner? she said.
Claire smiled, and nodded. She could see from Will’
s face that he’d forgotten they were going out at all. He was filthy. Maisie had already put a pot of tea in front of him.
Did it go okay? she asked. He nodded.
He’s been twenty feet down in a sinkhole, Maisie said. Ropes and all sorts. Girl Guide fell through. They had to stretcher her out.
