19

Mark phoned the police in a frantic panic.

‘Hello police how may I help you?’

‘Hi, you’ve got to help me my girlfriend’s in trouble he’s took her and he’s going to kill her.’ Mark replied in one long sentence not even catching a single breath.

‘Slow down, take your time you say your girlfriend’s in trouble?’

‘Yes.’

‘What’s your girlfriend’s name?’

‘Kaleen Summers.’

‘And who’s she with whose going to kill her?’

‘Sandman.’

‘And who’s this Sandman?’

‘Justin Hearshaw.’

‘Okay we’re on our way, will there be anyone with Miss Summers?’

‘Her sister I guess, Candice Summers.’

‘Are you aware that his brother escaped alongside Mr.Hearshaw.’

‘No.’ He said. ‘Shit Candice she’s got a new boyfriend Kaleen said there wasn’t something quite right about him.’

‘Do you know what his name is?’

‘No said he was called Ice or something didn’t give them a real name just a knick name’

‘It might be his brother, Right we’ll get the armed police to cover all areas, and don’t worry sir we’ll find them.’

‘Thanks.’

‘No problem we’ll contact you when we find them.’

‘Okay thanks again bye.’

‘Bye.’

Mark turned his mobile off. ‘Don’t help me much why didn’t you tell me before Kay? He’d have been back behind bars by now, you’d be safe and you’d be here with me instead of being wherever you are with him, the person that tried to kill you. Now there’s two of them please be okay.’ He thought as his eyes filled with tears of fear and anger ‘She must’ve been really scared, no wonder she didn’t want to see me. He must’ve been there when I phoned her and when I called round but how the police managed to miss him he’s so URGHH! I hate him he’s ruined her life he’s ruined everything for her. Now he’s managing to do it all over again he’s making things worse by taking her and Candice with them they can be had for abduction and kidnapping if they catch them.’

X

‘We’ve been on the road for hours where are we going?’ Kaleen asked. Her eyes fixed on the road in front of her. Her hands gripped firmly on the steering wheel.

‘Turn here and we’ll get some petrol and supplies.’ Sandman replied.

Kaleen turned down a dark road, half way down the road she turned into the garage. She parked up and they all leaped out of the car closing the doors behind them Kaleen filled the tank with petrol.

‘I’ll pay you two go to the bathroom and do, well whatever you girls do in there, we’ll meet you back here in ten.’ He said holding his hand out. ‘Keys.’

Kaleen passed the keys to Sandman he clinched them tight in the palm of his hand.

Kaleen and Candice walked away and headed for the toilets whilst Sandman and Ice went to pay for the petrol and supplies for the long journey ahead.

‘What are we going to do?’

‘What can we do he’s got the keys.’

Kaleen and Candice walked out of the toilets and headed back to the car.

‘Come on let’s get out of here!’

‘How? There’s no point he’s got the keys.’

‘Just walk away then leg it.’

‘Worth a try, I suppose.’

‘Come on before the get back.’

Kaleen and Candice started to walk away.

BUSTED!

A voice echoed. ‘Where are you two going?’

‘Shit!’ Kaleen said. ‘Just stretching our legs.’ She shouted.

‘No time. Come on we’re going.’ Sandman said.

Kaleen and Candice turned back and walked back to the car.

‘Where were you two off?’

‘Nowhere.’

‘You wouldn’t’ve got far any ways we’d’ve found you.’ Sandman said smiling. Opening the car door.

Kaleen got in the car shutting the door behind her wondering when the nightmare was about to end.

Sandman jogged round the other end of the car, opening the other doors, him, Ice and Candice got in closing the doors behind them.

Ice draped his arm round Candice pulling her closer to him. ‘Alright babe?’

‘Yeah fine.’

‘Good.’ He replied leaning forward kissing her.

‘Keys.’ Kaleen said.

Sandman held the keys out to give to her, she went to grab them, he moved forward. ‘Kiss first!’

She swallowed feeling sick inside. He placed his lips on hers kissing her she returned his kiss reluctantly.

He moved away. ‘That was nice.’

‘Who for? You maybe, not me!’

‘Here.’ He said, passing her the car keys.

She took them off him. ‘Thanks.’ She said abruptly.

‘There’s no need for that.’ He said smiling.

‘Yes there is! You want to get out of here don’t you?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Well stop messing around then!’

‘Just chill!’ He replied, his smile fading. ‘Just drive.’

She slipped it into third and drove away, she sped down the road after turning off the garage.

‘Slow down you’re freaking me!’ Sandman said gripping onto the seat.

‘What like you did that time you thought someone was after us?’

‘There was, but there aint now so slow down.’ He snapped.

She looked at him out of the corner of her eye to say ‘Don’t talk to me like that!’

His voice softened. ‘Please.’

‘That’s better.’ She said slowly taking her foot off the gas.

‘Thanks, take the next turning.’

‘Okay.’

‘Turn off now.’

‘What into the woods?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Why?’

‘There’s a cabin we can stay in for a few days.’

‘Okay.’

Kaleen turned and drove down a long stretch of road.

They finally entered the forest she drove deeper and deeper into the darkness of the woods the sun flickering through the tree tops.

‘How much further?’

‘Not far you’ll see it soon.’

Kaleen continued through the never ending forest and into a clearing, she saw a wooden shack come into view.

‘There it is.’ Sandman said.

She drove up to the shack and parked up. They all leaped out of the car shutting the doors behind them. ‘Where’s the stuff?’

‘In the boot.’

Kaleen opened the boot.

‘Go in and get yourselves settled you need to rest, we’ll bring it in.’ Sandman said considerately.

‘Thanks for your concern, pity you didn’t consider that before you forced us into the car and made us come here with you.’

Kaleen and Candice walked up the steps to the wooden shack, Sandman and Ice grabbed the supplies out of the boot and locked it. Kaleen and Candice went into the shack to their surprise looked a lot bigger than it did from the outside and was fully furnished with a television two; two setter sofas and a table looked to be as if it was rented out in the holidays or something.

‘It’s okay aint it?’ Sandman said dropping the bags on the wooden floor.

‘Yeah.’ Kaleen replied, adding. ‘How did you know about this place?’

‘Mom and Dad used to bring us here as kids, we’ll before they turned weird.’

‘Geese bro do you think we’ve got enough?’ Ice asked placing the final three bags onto the wooden floor.

‘Yeah, if we aint we can always get some more.’

‘What you done brought the shop! I thought we were only stopping a few days.’ Kaleen pointed out.

Sandman smiled. ‘We are.’

‘Looks like we’re stopping for a month!’

Sandman smiled. ‘Looks like we’ve got to get some wood for the fire, do a drink while we’re gone.’

‘Sure Bro.’

‘Come on Kay you can give us a hand to bring it back.’

‘And I suppose I’ve got no choice in the matter?!’

Sandman smiled frowning. ‘Correct.’ He looked at Ice. ‘We’ll be back in a while don’t get doing anything I wouldn’t!’ he laughed.

‘Sure bro what-ever!’

Sandmen took Kaleen’s hand and lead her out of the shack closing the door behind them and headed of into the forest.

‘I hope you know the way back.’

‘Just chill will you.’ He said turning, pulling her closer to him placing his lips on hers, she pulled away. ‘Shouldn’t we be getting the wood for the fire?’

‘Relax.’ He said kissing her once more.

She returned his kiss knowing not to hesitate now that they were in the woods and with no-one else around he could easily kill her if he chose. He pushed her against one of the trees he lifted her rapping her legs round his waist.

He pulled away her legs dropped from round him her feet landing softly on the ground. ‘Come on we better get that fire wood.’ He said taking her hand leading her out of the forest picking logs up on the way.

They opened the door of the cabin they walked in closing the door behind them, Ice lay on top of Candice.

Sandman coughed. ‘Well we know what you two have been up too.’ He laughed.

Ice jumped off Candice looking straight at Sandman, flushed. ‘Didn’t hear you come in bro!’

‘No need to state the obvious. Enjoying yourselves?’

Ice smiled, Candice pulled herself up sitting upright on the sofa.

‘Your drinks are on the table.’

‘Cheers I’ll just put this on the fire and light it its getting cold in here.’ He turned to Kaleen. ‘Sit down.’

Kaleen sat on the un-occupied sofa she placed the car keys on the table and slumped on the sofa whilst Sandman placed the logs on the fire, he pulled the lighter out of his pocket and a scrunched up sheet of paper, lighting the paper then placing it on the logs, he shoved the lighter back into his pocket, he watched as the flames grew.

‘It’ll be worm in here soon.’ He said pulling himself up, he turned and strode over to the sofa where Kaleen was sitting he slumped down besides her draping his arm round her, cuddling up to her.

The following morning Kaleen woke with Sandman’s arm placed firmly across her. She gently lifted herself up placing his arm on the sofa, she walked across the room to Candice she gently shock her. ‘Candice, Candice wake up!’

Candice slowly opened her eyes. ‘Wha!’

‘Come on lets go for a fag.’

‘Okay.’ Candice said yawning.

Candice pulled herself up gently taking Ice’s arm from round her, she swung round placing her feet firmly onto the floor sitting up, and she sprung to her feet.

Kaleen grabbed the cigarettes and lighter. They tiptoed over to the door opening it hoping it wouldn’t creek.

It didn’t even squeak

They walked out of the cabin gently closing the door behind them.

The slothed down the steps, onto the grass. Kaleen passed Candice a cigarette.

‘Cheers.’ She said taking it off her. She pulled a cigarette out of the box for herself and put the packet in her pocket she light both cigarettes and shoved the lighter into her pocket.

Candice blew the smoke out of her mouth. ‘What you going to do sis?’

Kaleen took a drag off her fag and blew the smoke out of her mouth. ‘We’re getting out of here.’

‘When?’ Candice asked taking another drag of her fag then blowing the smoke back out.

‘Tomorrow, I’ll grab the car keys and you can wait here for me.’

She took another drag then blew the smoke back out of her mouth.

‘Tomorrow seems such a long time to wait we could be dead by then.’

‘I’ll go and grab my keys you wait here okay.’

‘Hi girls.’ Sandman shouted, startling them.

‘Shit.’ Kaleen said then whispered. ‘We’ll have to do it tomorrow dropping the nub of the cigarette on the ground and doubting it out.

Sandman and Ice walked over to them. ‘What are you doing out here?’ He asked curiously.

‘Needed a fag and some air.’

‘Come inside and have something to eat while Ice and Candice get some more fire wood.’

Sandman took Kaleen’s hand and started pulling her away from Candice and towards the shack. She looked behind her, she and Candice looked at one another not knowing what was going to happen to either of them.

‘Come on she’ll be fine.’

‘Easy for you to say she’s my sister and she may never come back. He could kill her out there and you could kill me right now.’ She thought as she watched Ice and Candice disappear into the forest.

Ice took the cigarette off Candice. ‘Cheers.’

‘Hey!’ She said pushing him. ‘That was mine!’

‘Sorry.’ He said pushing her back.

‘Hey.’ Candice said pushing him again

‘What was that for?’ He said pushing her once again. Smiling, draping his arm round her pulling her close to him smoking the cigarette they walked further into the forest, he dropped it on the ground stamping on it making sure it was out.

He turned without warning pouncing on Candice pulling her to the ground he placed his lips on hers kissing her, she returned his kiss. He kissed her harder and harder rapping her legs round him she found it increasingly hard to breath he kissed down her face and neck she finally felt un-woozy he pulled away, her legs dropped to the ground he jumped to his feet, he held out his hand. ‘Come on let’s get that wood before they freak out.’

She grabbed his hand, he pulled her to her feet.

‘Chill babe they’ll be fine.’ Sandman said trying to reassure Kaleen that everything would be fine.

Kaleen spooned up her cornflakes nervously unable to keep her hands from shaking.

Sandman pulled himself up off the sofa opposite he took the bowl off her and placed it on the table, then sat beside her, he gripped onto both of her hands and held them tight. ‘Why are you shaking? She’ll be fine he won’t hurt her.’

‘How do you know?’

‘Trust me.’

‘Yeah-right how many times have I put my trust in you and you’ve let me down?!’

He loosed her hands and placed his hand under her chin lifting it she dropped it back down looking directly at the wooden panelling.

‘Look at me.’

She raised her eyes slightly until they came in line with his she looked at his big flueresnt blue eyes the ones she’d fell for in the past, but would she this time? Or were her eyes crying out. ‘Help get me out of here!’

‘She’ll be okay I promise.’ He leaned forward placing his lips on hers kissing her. ‘Just relax she’ll be fine.’ He said placing his lips back on hers kissing her.

She returned his kiss they leaned back lying on the sofa. He kissed down her neck she felt sick inside as if she was going to vomit he kissed her neck digging his teeth in sucking her neck

He pulled away looking into her eyes burning bright blue. ‘Shit what’s he going to do kill me cause it wasn’t good enough?!’

He raised his hand moving it towards her, she flinched. ‘What’s up Kay I aint going to hurt you.’ He said flicking her hair out of her eyes. ‘Sorry, but it was bugging me, what do you think I was going to do kill you?’

‘The thought had crossed my mind.’

‘I already told you if I wanted to kill you would’ve done it the first night I came back. I aint going to kill you.’ He said gliding the back of his hand down her face. ‘I love you I’d never hurt you, not again. I never meant it to happen the first time something snapped inside it won’t happen again.’ He said leaning forward placing his lips on hers kissing her. She felt as if she was about to burst into tears, she swallowed to stop herself from crying as she returned his kiss.

The door banged shut, startling Sandman, he jumped off Kaleen to his feet. ‘Shit bro.’

‘Sorry guys didn’t mean to disturb you.’

‘Next time give us a little more of a warning instead of banging the door shut.’

‘Shall we come back?’ Ice said placing the logs on the fire.

‘Nagh its cool light the fire it’s freezing in here.’

‘Really can’t say I’ve noticed!’ Ice replied smiling. Lighting the logged fire.

‘You never do bro, you never do!’

They both laughed.

‘Sit down babe.’ Ice said, looking directly at Candice.

She slouched on the sofa. Ice threw the flamed paper on the fire. The flames flew. ‘There you go, but I still say it aint cold in here!’ as he walked over to the sofa and sat beside Candice. Who was shivering. ‘Cold?’

She nodded, her breath floating in the air, he raped his arms round her rubbing her arms. ‘Is that better?’

‘Yeah. Thanks.’

‘Want anything to eat?’

‘Maybe later.’ She said snuggled up to him. Closing her eyes.

‘Sure know how to please ‘em bro.’

Ice smiled.

Candice woke to find Sandman and Ice was not in view she sat up, stretched. ‘Kay! Kay where are you?’

Kaleen walked into the lounge out of the kitchen. ‘What’s up sis?’

‘I thought, you know.’ She said almost in tears.

‘Nagh, they went out hours ago, don’t know where, I fell asleep not long after you, here eat this.’ She said passing Candice a sandwich.

‘Cheers.’ She said taking it off her. Gulping it down her neck

‘Geese you were hungry.’ Kaleen sad sipping her coffee.

‘I aint had anything since we got here I’m famished.’

‘Here have some of this you don’t want to get dehydrated too, just hope there’s some stuff in the car.’ She said passing the mug to Candice.

‘Cheers.’ She replied taking the mug off her gulping it down placing the mug on the table.

‘Right meet me outside by the car. I’ll get my keys.’

‘Okay.’ Candice replied pulling herself up.

Candice leaped off the sofa and looked back at Kaleen smiled to say ‘thank god we’re getting out of here.’

Kaleen returned the smile. ‘I’ll be out in five. I’ve just got to find my keys.’

‘Okay.’ Candice said. She turned back and walked out of the door.

Kaleen went over to the table where she’d dropped the keys. ‘Shit where are they?’

‘Looking for these?!’ a deep voice said, startling her.

She turned her face dropped. ‘Sandman give me my keys.’

‘Come here and get them.’

‘Here we go again. I hope he don’t hit me over the head this time’

Kaleen walked towards him. He stretched his arm up in the air.

‘Give them to me. NOW!’

‘No.’

‘Please Sandman just give them to me.’

He lowered his arm, placing his hand in front of him the key lying in the palm of his hand.

She stretched her hand out to grab them, he grabbed her wrist with his other hand, squeezing it in his fist.

‘Let go of me!’ she screamed.

‘No you aint going anywhere.’ He said shoving the keys back into his pocket.

‘Please Sandman you don’t need me now you can stay here, let go and I promise I won’t tell anyone you’re here.’ She said almost in tears.

‘NO!’ He snapped.

‘Please.’ She said, tears rolling down her face.

‘No. I love you, I came back for you, so we could be together.’

‘I’m with Mark.’ She said trying to get out of his grip, his grip getting tighter her eyes flooding with tears.

‘You’re with me now. I love you and no-one’s going to stop me from being with you, not this time.’

He pulled her closer loosening his grip placing his arms firmly round her gripping tightly so she couldn’t move. He leaned forward pressing his lips on hers kissing her, her lips began to tremble.

‘Don’t be afraid.’ He said kissing her.

She reluctantly returned his kiss her lips continued to tremble.

‘When will this night ever end?’ she thought then suddenly realising. ‘Shit Candice!’

She quickly pulled away. ‘Candice!’

‘Don’t worry she’s safe. Ice is with her.’

‘That’s exactly what I was afraid of!’

‘There’s no need he won’t hurt her he loves her too much, like I love you.’ He said. ‘Now stop worrying and come here.’

She looked into his eyes as he pulled her towards him.

‘I love you.’

She swallowed. ‘I love you too.’ ‘Not!’

He placed his lips on hers kissing her, she returned his kiss, he pulled her down onto the sofa.

‘What are you going to do to me?’ Candice asked shaking.

‘Nothing.’ Ice replied, walking forward.

He reached out placing his hand on her face, she flinched. ‘Look Candice I aint going to hurt you I love you at least trust me on that.’

She looked at him into his glazed green eyes he leant forward pressing his lips against hers she swallowed returning his kiss.

He moved away. ‘That wasn’t so bad was it?’

‘I need a fag.’

He laughed. ‘You know just how to turn someone on don’t you!’ he said leaning forward.

‘No!’ she said pushing him away. ‘I need a fag.’

‘Okay-okay.’ He said stepping away from her pulling the box out of his jacket.

He took two cigarettes and lighter out of the packet and crushed the empty box in his hand throwing it on the ground he slipped the cigarette in his mouth and lit it he took it out of his mouth and passed it to Candice. ‘Here.’

‘Cheers.’ She said taking it of him as he blew the smoke out of his mouth

He replaced it with another and lit it, he shoved the lighter back in his pocket and blew out the smoke. ‘So tell me about yourself.’

Candice looked at him. Shocked ‘He’s never asked me about anything before, it was always sex, sex, sex always sex.’

She blew the smoke out of her mouth. ‘What do you want to know?’

‘Everything we’ve never had much chance to talk have we?’ He said smiling.

‘I suppose not.’

‘So when did you start smoking then?’

‘When I was thirteen I used to sneak out for one. Mom would’ve killed me if she knew she didn’t even know when I was eighteen. She told me if she ever caught me smoking she’d make me eat them until I was sick.’

‘Really!’ He said laughing.

‘Really. Now she’s gone I aint got to sneak around and hope she don’t cop me smoking.’

‘Geese your mom was tough.’

‘Yeah she was.’ Candice admitted.

‘Do you miss her?’

‘Sometimes.’

‘So how about your sister how long has she been smoking?’

Candice took another drag then blowed the smoke out of her mouth. ‘Not long, about five years since your brother got sent down. She was a mess she smoked to relax and keep her cool and it worked.’ Candice explained dropping her nub on the ground. ‘So what about you?’

‘There’s not much to tell suppose Justin filled you in!’

‘Not really he hardly spoke about you, not even to Kaleen.’

‘Well I hated mom and dad as much as Justin did they treated him like a leper by the time he was fourteen he was the black sheep of the family he got the beating I got the praises, I hated them for it that’s why we did what we did they pushed us just that little bit too far and we snapped.’

‘So why are you always so cold?’

He took a drag of his fag dropping the nub on the floor, blowing the smoke out of his mouth. ‘I was sent to a nutter home after the fire I sort of lost my head they gave me loads of ice baths guess I just got used to them they was to charge my brain guess they didn’t work. I blanked the cold and the pain out.’

‘I’m sorry I daint know.’

‘No one does even when I worked at the Rock Emporium. They just thought that me and Justin were freaks with attitude an axe to grind.’

‘I don’t think you’re a freak.’

‘I know.’

He grabbed her placing his lips on hers kissing her she returned his kiss without hesitation.

He moved away. ‘Come on we better go in it’s getting a little chilly out here.’ He said smiling.

‘I didn’t think you could feel the cold?’ She said sarcastically.

‘That’s right I can’t!’ He said laughing.

He leaned forward placing his lips on hers kissing her, gently placing her on the bonnet of the car. ‘I love you Candice I really do and I will make you happy I promise.’

‘I love you too.’ She replied. ‘Shit did I really just say that?’

He leaned forward placing his lips on hers kissing her.

Sandman lay on top of Kaleen, he glided his hand through her hair moving it out of her eyes, gliding his hand down her face. ‘You know I really do want this to work will you please give me another chance to prove to you it can.’ He said looking into her eyes with his big bright blue eyes.

‘I suppose I’ve got no choice. I’ll just go along with it for now.’

‘Okay.’

A beaming smile spread across his face. He leaned forward placing his lips on hers.

Ice and Candice walked in hand in hand. ‘Excuse me.’ Ice said coughing.

Sandman looked up.

‘We didn’t disturb you did we?’

‘No bro we’ve just got back together and I see you two have sorted things out too’

Kaleen looked at them hand in hand then looked up at Candice in horror. Candice not looking too impressed with her either.

‘Yeah.’ He replied.

Sandman pulled himself up off the sofa.

‘We’ll be back in a while okay bab.’ He said turning to Ice. ‘Come on bro let’s chat.’

‘Sure.’ He said loosing Candice’s hand. ‘I’ll be back in five babe.’ He said kissing her on the check.

‘Sure.’

Sandman and Ice walked over to Sandman and they disappeared. Candice sat beside Kaleen. ‘Look I’ve just told a man I hate I love him.’

‘Me too.’

‘So why get back with him?’

‘To keep the peace, you?’

She nodded.

A sound of laughter echoed from the kitchen.

‘What they laughing at?’

‘Don’t know and I prefer not to.’

‘What are we going to do?’

‘Get out of here first thing in the morning.’

‘What if it doesn’t work?’

‘There’s only one way to find out. Do it.’

Sandman and Ice walked back into the lounge with food and drinks they placed them on the table. ‘Eat up.’

They sat down on the opposite sofa. Kaleen looked over at Sandman he smiled at her she returned his smile and continued to eat.

Candice felt like someone was staring straight through her. She looked up, and over at Ice who smiled shaking his head as he ate.

After they’d eaten Sandman and Ice walked over to Kaleen and Candice taking their hands pulling them up off the sofa taking them into the rooms leading off from the lounge.

They stopped, smiled. ‘Don’t be afraid!’

Sandman and Ice looked at one another, laughed.

Kaleen and Candice stood still thinking. ‘What are they going to do to us are they going to suggest we have a foursome ewe!’

‘Nagh!’ they said to each other.

‘See ya bro.’ Sandman said.

‘Laterz.’ Ice replied.

‘Phew.’ Kaleen and Candice thought as they lead them into the two separate rooms.

Sandman shut the door behind them. He pulled Kaleen to him ‘What’s up bab? Did you think we were going to have a foursome?’ He laughed.

‘It did cross my mind.’

‘I wouldn’t do that to you I love you. It would’ve been fun though wouldn’t it!’ He said trying to keep a straight face, laughing.

‘Ewe!’

He pulled her close. ‘We did discuss it, but decided against it.’

‘Is that what you were talking about?’

‘We were deciding which positions to have you two in, we thought it was so funny we knew that you wouldn’t go for it!’ he said still laughing.’

‘You creep.’ She said pushing him.

‘I know, but you love me for it!’ He said. ‘Come here and give me a kiss.’

He placed his lips on hers kissing her.