20

Mark was at home pacing up and down wearing a hole in the carpet waiting for any news about Kaleen and Candice, a knock echoed through the house.

He jumped up, his heart pounding. He opened the door a police officer stood at the door, Mark’s heart beating faster. ‘Hi.’

‘Mark Spear.’

‘Yes.’

‘You phoned about your girlfriend been took off by Justin Hearshaw.’

‘Yes. Have you found them?’

‘Yes, well not just yet they got spotted three hundred miles away from here at a petrol station, the owner phoned us after he saw their photos on the television, he said he recognised the two males they went into the garage and brought some petrol and a substantial amount of food and drink. He thought that they were going on holiday until he saw the photos on the television. He said that there were also two girls with them and that they were trying to walk away from them but they stopped them, he didn’t get a proper look at them but he said that they got in the car with them and they drove off.’

‘Do you know where they’re going?’

‘We believe that there heading for Dover’s border to flee the country. I’ll take you there and you can meet back up with her.’

‘Thanks ever so much.’ Mark said grabbing his coat.

‘It’s my pleasure.’

Mark slipped into his coat closing the door behind him. ‘How long do you think it will take to get there?’

‘Not sure a few hours.’

The leaped into the car closing the car doors behind them and drove off down the highway onto the motorway heading for Dover.

X

Sandman and Ice were in the kitchen.

‘Come on sis let’s get out of here before they come back.’ Candice said

‘Sure let’s go.’

They were about to go through the door when Sandman entered the room. ‘Where are you going?’

‘Away from you!’

Sandman grabbed her arm. ‘You’re not going anywhere.’

‘Yes I am!’ She replied, grabbing a log from by the fire.

She swung the log at him. ‘CRACK!’ it echoed, shaking the room he loosed her wrist dropping to the floor. She reached down grabbing the car keys out of his pocket. ‘Come on let’s go!’

Kaleen and Candice ran out of the shack down the steps jumping in to the car shutting the doors behind them.

Kaleen put the keys in the ignition, turned them it spluttered. ‘Come on!’ She turned them again it spluttered again. ‘Come on baby, you know you can do it.’

Ice plodded back into the lounge to see Sandman lying on the floor blood gushing from his head. ‘Shit what happened? Are you okay bro?’

‘Leave me get them!’

‘Sure.’

Ice jogged out of the shack and down the steps.

That’s when the car finally decided to start, Kaleen put her foot down on the gas for a quick getaway Ice place himself in front of the car Kaleen saw a figure in front of the car she slammed on to the breaks he placed his hands on the bonnet. ‘Shit!’ she said.

Sandman struggled down the steps and flew for the car opening the door jumping in. Ice removed his Hands off the bonnet of the car door he opened the rear door and jumped in slamming the door.

‘Drive!’ Sandman snapped.

‘No! We’re not going anywhere until you get out.’

They pulled Kaleen and Candice’s heads back jolting them, placing a gun to their heads. ‘Now DRIVE!’

‘Okay, okay take that thing away first.’ Kaleen replied in a shaky voice.

‘Fine.’

They moved the guns away from them losing them.

‘What are you going to do to us?’ Kaleen asked her voice still shaking.

‘Nothing….yet! We’ll decide when we get over the border.’ He answered. ‘Now drive.’

Kaleen slammed down on the gad releasing her foot off the breaks speeding off. She zoomed out of the forest and back onto the main drag.

Half way down the road passing all of the wood land.

‘I feel sick.’ Kaleen said.

‘Keep driving.’ Sandman snapped.

‘I really do feel sick.’

‘We’ll stop off at the services. It’s only ten minutes away we need some more

Gas any way.’

‘How far is it?’

‘Not far about a hundred yards. Can you wait that long?’

‘I guess I’m going to have to.’ She replied turning the CD player on.

She drove for another half an hour wondering when they were going to get to these services she finally saw the service station sign she turned in and parked up. Her and Candice leaped out of the car and shot into the services shopping area to the bathroom Sandman and Ice walked casually into the gents then into the shop to get some cigarettes and stuff from the shop.

Candice was waiting for Kaleen by the sinks in the ladies as Kaleen constantly vomited. ‘Are you okay?’

Kaleen didn’t reply but vomited again. She flushed the toilet and came out wiping her mouth, she turned the water fountain on placing her mouth under it taking in as much water as she could.

‘Are you sure you’re okay?’

‘Yeah, must’ve been something I ate!’ She said lifting her head back up turning the water fountain off. ‘I’ll just go to the loo. I’ll be out in a minute.’

Kaleen went into the toilet, walking back out in a few minutes, they walked out of the ladies to be greeted by Sandman and Ice. ‘Where have you been we’ve been waiting for you for half hour the bog swallow you?’ Sandman said sarcastically.

‘Something like that.’

‘Come on let’s go and get back to the car and get some petrol.’

They draped their arms round Kaleen and Candice and walked outside into the fresh air. Sandman took his arm from round Kaleen and took a packet of bacon streaks out of his pocket and opened the packet. ‘Want one?’ he asked Kaleen shoving them under her nose.

She started to hurl. ‘No thanks.’

‘Sure?’

‘Just take them away.’ She said.

‘Sure.’ He said the packet still under her nose the smell perspired.

‘It’s no good.’

Kaleen darted to the nearest tree and threw up.

‘Are you okay babe?’

She wiped her mouth and turned back. ‘I’m fine just had something to eat that didn’t agree that’s all.’ She answered walking back over to them. Shoving a chewing gum in her mouth.

‘What about you Candice want one?’ He said shoving the packet under her nose too.

She caught a whiff of the bacon streaks her stomach churned. ‘No thanks, I think I’m coming down with whatever Kaleen’s got.’

‘Okay.’ He said taking them away. ‘More for me!’

‘What’s up with you two any way you two had the same as us and we’re okay.’

‘Well it affects people different doesn’t it?’

Sandman threw his packet in the bin. ‘Suppose, unless.’

‘What!’

‘Nagh you can’t be, not the both of you.’

‘What!’ Candice said almost swallowing her gum.

‘You can’t be not at the same time you can’t be both pregnant!’

Kaleen nearly choked on her gum spitting it out just in time. ‘Don’t be ridiculous!’

‘I’m not you’re both feeling sick.’

‘So! That doesn’t mean anything. It don’t mean we’re pregnant I already told you it’s something we ate.’

‘What-ever you say.’ He said grabbing her hand.

‘I do so can we please stop talking about it and go!’

‘Sure.’

They walked over to the car. Sandman got in the passenger seat after him and Ice put the stuff in the boot, Kaleen drove into the petrol station Sandman filled up and paid, he leaped into the car shutting the door. ‘Right let’s go!’

‘Where are we going?’ Kaleen asked curiously.

‘Keep driving until we get to the border there we’ll get on the ferry over to France and say goodbye to this dump forever.’

‘Then what?’

‘Duknow we’ll work something out.’

‘Okay.’ She replied driving off the petrol station. And heading down the motorway.

Kaleen’s eyes become weary, she yawned.

‘Are you tired?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Pull over and I’ll drive.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yeah take five and we’ll swap back at the next service station.’

‘Okay.’ She said pulling onto the side of the road.

They both got out the car swapping places, shutting the door behind them. Sandman looked behind him, Ice and Candice were fast Candice spragged across Ice his arm firmly across her. ‘Looks like someone else was tired too.’ He turned back Kaleen fast asleep in the passenger seat he leaned over and pecked her on the check. ‘Sweet dreams.’

He sat back put his seatbelt on looked to see if there was any oncoming traffic and pulled away. Speeding off down the road.

A few hours passed Kaleen opened her eyes, stretched, yawned ‘What time is it?’

‘About five thirty, nice sleep?’

‘Yeah thanks.’ She answered. ‘How much further to the next service station?’

‘We’ve just past one.’

‘Why didn’t you wake me?’

‘Not to worry there’s one about two miles down another half hour. Give you a chance to wake up and come around.’

‘Okay.’

Sandman drove for the next half hour down the motorway turning off onto the services.

‘Have we got enough petrol?’

‘Yeah.’ He replied. ‘Want anything to drink?’

‘Yeah please.’

‘Come on I’ll get one out of the boot then we can swap back okay.’

‘Okay.’

They got out of the car shutting the doors behind them silently trying not to wake Candice and Ice, who were still sleeping.

Sandman opened the boot taking out two bottles of lemonade he passed one to Kaleen. She went to take it off him there hands touching one another’s they looked at each other, she stared into his bright blue eyes for a slight moment she felt the spark the same one she’d felt five years ago. Was she falling for him again? Or was she desperate not to die?!!

They moved closer together he placed his hands on her face. ‘I love you Kay I’ve. never stopped. I’ll always love you no matter what.’

‘I-I- I love you too.’ ‘What am I saying? Do I love him? Or am I just desperate to keep myself alive?’

He place his lips on hers kissing her, she returned his kiss. He moved away she took the bottle of lemonade off him the walked in opposite directions round the car, getting in and closing the doors behind them.

He took a box of cigarettes out of his pocket. ‘Want one?’

‘Sure.’

‘Are you sure you should in your condition.’

‘I aint got a condition I aint pregnant!’ She snapped.

‘Chill I’m just concerned.’

‘Well don’t be it don’t suit you!’ She said taking a cigarette out of the box. And putting it in her mouth.

He flicked his lighter she took a drag lighting her cigarette. ‘Why do you like me I’m a complete bastard?’

Kaleen took the fag out of her mouth blowing the smoke out. ‘Well that’s how you’ve been for the past few months.’

He blew the smoke out of his mouth. ‘I’m sorry. I thought you liked a bit of rough?’ he smiled.

‘I do, but not that rough. I don’t even know why I’m here with you. You could’ve done this on your own.’

‘Cause you love me you can’t deny it cause I know deep down inside you do you could never resist me, and you still can’t.’ He said taking another drag and blowing the smoke out of his mouth.

‘Could he be right? Am I a sucker do I still love him, could I resist him if I tried?’ She thought as she took another drag blowing the smoke out of her mouth.

An air of silence grew the air thickened.

‘What’s up have I hit a rore nerve or something?’ He said. ‘Or you afraid of the truth.’ He said taking a drag blowing the smoke out of his mouth, he doubted the cigarette out in the ash tray.

She looked at him not knowing what to say, he looked at her, smiled. He leaned forward pressing his lips against hers kissing her she returned his kiss.

He pulled away slumping back in the passenger seat, pulling his cap over his eyes. ‘Wake me up when we get to Dover.’

Kaleen drove off winding the window down taking a drag of her fag, blowing it out of her mouth, doubting the cigarette out in the ash tray. Then searched for some tunes.

She changed the CD turning it down, slightly. She suddenly came to a halt hitting the traffic on the road down to Dover. ‘Great another hour’s going to be wasted.’

Candice finally woke. ‘What time is it?’

‘Hi Sis, its eight thirty.’

‘Must’ve fallen asleep.’

‘Yeah, about three hours ago.’ She said. ‘Sleep well?’

‘I guess.’ Candice replied adding. ‘Kay.’

‘Yeah.’

‘You know what they said at the services.’

‘About what?’ Kaleen said knowing what was coming next.

‘Do you think that we could be, you know.’ She swallowed. ‘Pregnant.’

Kaleen swallowed. ‘No, well I hope not.’

‘What if we are?’

‘I don’t know, I just don’t know.’

‘You know if we are they’ll make us keep them and stay with them forever!’

‘That’s what I’m afraid of. I don’t even want to think about it, just put it to the back of your head we’re probably not pregnant we probably more than likely had salmonella or something.’

‘I hope your right.’

‘Me too.’ Kaleen said her eyes fixed firmly on the road ahead.

Ice came round. ‘Morning.’

‘Afternoon or should I say night.’ Candice said sarcastically.

He looked at his watch. ‘Shit have I been asleep?!’

‘Yeah.’

‘Come here.’ He said draping his arm round Candice pulling her closer to him.

He placed his hand on the back of her neck pulling her towards him, face to face he placed his lips on hers kissing her, she returned his kiss trying her best to resist not succeeding as he wrapped his arms round her, gripping her tightly . He loosed the back of her neck she pulled away finally breathing.

‘What’s the matter?’

‘Can you please take it easy don’t come on so strong let me breathe.’

‘Okay, I’m sorry I thought you liked it!’

‘Not like that it’s too rough, try not to be so rough.’

‘Okay.’ He said.

He placed his lips back on hers the cold ice disappeared as she returned his kiss.

He moved away. ‘Was that better?’

‘Much.’

He wrapped his arms round her, she lay on his chest he began to feel a lot warmer than his usual ice box it was finally melting was she melting that cold prosper he usually carried round with him? He pecked her on the head. ‘I love you.’

She swallowed. ‘I love you too.’ She said, waiting for Kaleen to snap and say something.

She didn’t.

‘Phew she mustn’t’ve heard me. If I keep reassuring him that I love him the ice barrier that he’s built may melt.’

Kaleen continued driving down the motorway. Slowly in the traffic jam.