THE PAWN
Disclaimer: Some of the dialogue and action in the next few chapters is taken directly from the episode "Snow Day". (Yes - I really did sit there with a remote control, a pencil and a piece of paper...) Hope you like what I've done with it.
Chapter Seven
"Danny!" cried Adam hoarsely. "Danny, look out!"
The detective spun round, gun in hand, but already it was too late. Ever so quietly, Jackie had been creeping up behind him, and now was the perfect moment to attack. Adam winced in remembered pain as the rifle butt slammed down hard against Danny's head. The man was unconscious before he hit the floor. Pleased with his handiwork, Jackie gave a muffled laugh. "Pat! Come and help me," he shouted. "Looks like we have another guest for our party."
Together, they dragged him to the trailer. As Danny began to come round, Adam heard him groan. It made his heart ache. "Don't hurt him," he begged. "You promised. That man, Lee... he promised."
Jackie leant his head on one side and pretended to consider. "Funny thing," he said. "I remember Lee saying we wouldn't hurt the girl. But I don't see any girl here - do you, Pat?" The second man shook his head, as they boosted Danny into the truck and jumped up after him. "Looks like all bets are off. Sorry, geek."
Then it was all for nothing, Adam realised, filled with despair. I didn't save anyone. And now we're lost...
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The room was spinning. Adam's rug was a raft, and his bedroom floor was the ocean. Lying on his back, he clenched his fingers and tried to hold on. There was pain in his head, and an empty hole in his stomach. "Lost at sea," he thought dreamily. "I'm lost at sea, with no food or water, and nobody's coming to save me..."
Bells were ringing somewhere outside his dream and, for a moment, he was confused. Then, as the memories clawed their way reluctantly back into his mind, he remembered exactly where he was.
In his room.
On the floor.
Grounded.
With a sickening lurch, he sat up straight and clutched his knees for support.
"Hello, Mrs Ross," said a voice from far away.
"Oh... hello, Julie, dear." His mother sounded nervous, and tightly controlled, as though she knew that someone else was listening closely.
"Is Adam at home? I wondered if he was sick. I haven't seen him for a couple of days."
"No... I mean yes, that's right. He's sick. I expect he'll be back at school tomorrow, though. Or maybe the next day."
"Can I see him?"
"No, dear. I'm sorry. He's sleeping. But I'm sure he'll be glad you called.
Adam heard the door close, firmly but politely. "Glad," he echoed. His voice was husky from lack of use, and every word hurt. "Julie? Julie, I'm scared..."
"Was that the next-door girl again?" said a low voice on the stairs. "Little slut. Guess we know what she wants."
"She's just a friend," his mother ventured, trying to smooth things over. "It's nice that she wants to see if he's alright."
The next sound struck at Adam with a blow that hurt far worse than any physical abuse. His mother screamed, a tiny little sound, and then went quiet.
"You hear that, boy?" his father shouted through the bedroom door. "I told you to stay away from nosy neighbours. This is what happens when you talk to people..."
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Why did I talk to them? Why did I let them know that someone was coming?
Desperate to touch his friend and reassure himself that Danny was not hurt badly, Adam reached out. But Jackie was there, and so was his weapon, jabbing into Adam's side and pushing him away.
"Get back against the wall!"
Adam held up his trembling hands in surrender. "'Okay... okay," he breathed. Beside him, Danny moaned and tried to lift himself off the floor. The two men wandered away from them, satisfied.
"Keep an eye on these geeks," Jackie muttered. "They shouldn't be a problem."
The shaking began to spread through Adam's whole body. He watched in fear as Danny reached into his pocket, sliding his mobile phone out onto the floor and hiding it beneath him as his fingers stabbed at the keys. Neither man noticed when Jackie and Pat turned around.
"Oi!"
Lunging forwards, Jackie slammed his boot into Danny's side, sending him crashing back down to the floor in agony. Then, in an act of gleeful vengeance, the rifle butt came down on Danny's hand. This time, he screamed. Adam had never heard a more terrifying sound.
"No more dumb moves. Are we clear?"
They shoved him into a sitting position, up against the wall. Danny cradled his broken hand and glared at Jackie with poison in his eyes.
"What the hell do you want?" he spat, between clenched teeth. Adam could hear the pain in his voice, and his own hand throbbed in sympathy. "The drugs are gone."
Jackie never bothered to reply. Instead, he raised his boot one last time and brought it down on Danny's phone, smashing it to pieces.
Their last hope, destroyed.
