Darkness had fallen once Alex had finished his homework and revision in the school library. He slammed his books shut and shoved them in his bag. He had a date with a psychopath. He was a little afraid of meeting them in the dark; they could do anything to him.
He trudged out of the school, down the dark alleyways, listening to the cold wind and the sounds of fighting animals, probably cats. He tried to forget his burning guilt at Phil's distraught face. He began to hear cans being thrown against the ground and drunken yells. And they heard his footsteps.
"Alex mate!" That was Casper talking. Alex took a deep breath and turned round the corner to see them all staring at him in anticipation. Casper sat on a wall, stroking the gun in his hand, Koby whimpering below him. Sara and Tasha, smaller girls were taking drugs, is what it looked like and two boys he hadn't seen before, Mikeal and Pete were drinking, and from the smashed bottles and crushed cans that lay scattered around they'd been doing more than enough of that.
There weren't any more words before Casper hopped down and pinned Alex against a wall as easily as he'd pin a feather. Alex knew there wasn't any point in struggling as the gun was lying against his chin. He felt a little frozen, afraid to move, even to talk.
"So, did you do it?" asked Casper eagerly, his dark eyes lighting up. Alex nodded sadly. "Yeah. I did it. Happy now?" he answered glumly.
Casper pushed the gun harder against his chin. "Don't sass me!" he hissed angrily, causing Tasha to laugh loudly. Or maybe it was because of the white powder in her hands and on her face. He wasn't sure. Alex mumbled an apology. He hated these people. Hated their guts for blackmailing him. But they said if he didn't do exactly what they said, or told anyone what they were doing he or Phil would be killed.
"Right" Casper grinned, lowering the gun. "O-okay so…if I just g-go" Honestly Alex was growing more nervous by the second and just wanted to get out. "Wait just a minute" Casper said teasingly, his voice like a snake. With one hand he held Alex in place and with the other grasped his gun, letting it trace the side of Alex's face, taunting him, playing with fear.
"I have something else you need to do, baby" the rest of them laughed at the last word. Alex felt humiliated and scared and he hated it. What did Casper want him to do now? "Tell Phil to meet you in the hall at school, the abandoned huge one" he ordered. Alex listened, biting his lip and looking away from Caspers eyes. "But don't show up, we'll deal with him in there" he continued, his eyes filling with ambition.
Alex felt weak. "You won't kill him will you!? I did everything you said!" he exclaimed desperately. Casper smiled a cruel smile. "There's a fine line between his actions and what he's said" Koby put in, and then ducking his head with a death glare from Casper.
"So you do that right?" Casper confirmed. "Yes" he whispered. He was terrified of what they'd do to him. He was Phil. His Phil. "You better, cuz I'll know if you don't, all right baby" Alex nodded as he was pressed harder against the wall. He wasn't about to question him.
"Tell him tonight, or I'll shoot him tomorrow" he threatened. Alex nodded and Casper carefully released him. They laughed as he pelted away down the dark streets, still filled with fear until he got to his house.
He breathed a sigh of relief. His parents weren't in. He didn't want to do this. But he had to. To protect the boy he loved. He pulled out his phone and typed in –
Phil, please let us talk, in the abandoned hall after school, plz be there…