Chapter 2 - The Sudden Shock

The bare branches of an overhanging tree scraped on the window

panes of Tina's small house as the heavy rain tickled its walls.

Nobody awoke finding herself wrapped up in a small blanket on a

brown sofa that smelled of fags. She realised she must have slept

through the rest of the day and began to wonder where Tina was.

However, when she heard loud snoring leaking down from upstairs

she didn't need to wonder anymore.

Nobody wasn't the only person awake on that cold and lonely

night, because loud snorts and wild and frantic whinnies could be

heard from the black horse's stable. Then an idea struck Nobody,

she wanted to try and repay Tina for her kindness, so what else

could be more helpful than dashing out in the rain to see what was

wrong with the stallion? Tina would look out of the window, see

that she had seen to the horse, and go back to sleep touched by the

kindness and generosity of the trouble Nobody had taken for her.

But Nobody couldn't have been more wrong.

Pulling on a rough black coat from the clothes peg she

stepped outside and was nearly blown away by the harsh wind

and thrashing rain that confronted her. Nevertheless, she

endeavoured to make her way towards the troubled horse.

She found that the long coat she was wearing had a hood and

pulled it up over her dark, wet hair.

She was surprised that Tina would own such a thing, it was

more of a cloak then a coat. She began to run in the slippery

mud towards the horse. Once she had reached the stable she

absentmindedly pulled back the lock and slipped herself inside

to shelter herself from the storm. The horse immediately threw

up his head wildly, snorting and thrashing about.

Instead of screaming, or running back to the house, Nobody

felt calm and tried to quieten the frightened beast.

"Easy there." She muttered under her breath, her hand

stretching out towards the horse. Surprisingly, the horses

breath eased and her soothing words seemed to get through

to the distressed animal. Nobody eased closer to him, until she

managed to place her hand on his wet body. Almost as soon

as she had done so, a sharp and sudden shock made her

withdraw. It was like touching an electric fence, but worse in

the way it was completely unexpected and left a tingle in her

fingers. As she was puzzling over what had just happened, she

began to feel light-headed and nauseous. The feeling grew

sickening and she leant against the wooden wall for support.

Then the feeling subsided and was replaced by an angry,

determined sub-conscious feeling like when your worst enemy

just slapped you in the face and you are suddenly filled with aggression.

The horse wasn't wearing a halter like the others, it was more

of a bridle without the bit and the other fiddly buckles. It had a

simple strap around the horses nose and another that went

up, behind his ears and back down to join on the other side,

and joined to that a strap that went under his throat. Nobody

grabbed this, and found it greasy and unclean to the touch.

Now she had little control over her pale, thin body and was

shaking with a combination of cold, anger and fear. Anger at

what, she wasn't sure of, but it spread like a burning flame

over dry hay and gave her strength. Her intent was unclear,

even to her, but she knew she wanted to be away, away from

all this. This little house, these neat little stables and most of

all her, Tina.

But how can I say this, when all she has shown me is kindness?

She thought, utterly disgusted with herself. So, in an attempt

to rid herself of herself, she grabbed a long piece of twisted

rope and tied each end to the horses bridle. She then pushed

the stiff door open with shaking hands, grabbed her make-

shifted reins and with one final effort, pushed her feet off the

ground and landed on the horses back.