Maggie hit the floor with a thud, Sheila falling over her as she was thrown backwards too. Squinting in the darkness of the hall, Maggie struggled to see who was there and what had happened. Glancing around, she could see the eerie moonlight flooding the hall, illuminating everything. Reaching over to Sheila, she gently shook her, but Sheila didn't move. Worried for her friend, Maggie slowly got to her feet, getting back her bearings, and put her fingers on Sheila's neck. The pulse was very weak. The hairs on the back of Maggie's necked pricked up, and as she spun round, the shadow had loomed once again over the hall rug. A voice rung out, sounding not to far apart from where Maggie was standing, making her jump slightly.
"Ah, my pals back!" it sneered, "Come for another nose into my business?"
Maggie starred into the darkness between her and the voice, "No, I came to find Sheila about HER business!" she retorted.
"Oh, and what business would that be? Noticed some bruises again?" sarcasm dripped of the voice, as its owner stepped closer.
"No. Just the fact that her daughter has been taken to ED and is now critical!" Maggie shook her head, "But no, you couldn't care less, could you? Sure there isn't football on that you might be missing?" Maggie replied, she knew she had heard the voice before, now it had clicked.
"Oh, so you think all I care about is football? You don't even think I care for my own family?" Martin stepped out of the shadows, wielding a knife.
"Well, judging by what I've seen, I don't think you do, no!" Maggie averted her eyes from his hand, starring him dead in the eye.
Martin stepped even closer, "Oh, you don't know anything! I live for my wife and kid, always have!"
"God, I'd hate to see you uncaring." Maggie hadn't a clue where this was going, but she wasn't giving in without a fight. She hoped she looked slightly more confident than she did on the inside.
Martin was losing his temper, fast, "WHAT DID YOU SAY!" he yelled, his voice and hands shaking.
"You heard. Sheila doted on you, and all you ever did was fling it back in her face. You didn't deserve her!"
Maggie's last statement brought the realisation home for Martin. She was right, he didn't want her to be, but she was. He didn't deserve Sheila, the way he'd treated her. Martins distraction of his thoughts gave Maggie just enough time to think and plan what she was going to do. Could she talk him down? Could she make a run for it? Nothing seemed possible, the only thing keeping her upright was the adrenalin pumping through her body.
"You… YOU! YOU DON'T KNOW NOTHING! NOTHING OF WHAT GOES ON! YOUR JUST A KNOW IT ALL DOCTOR LIKE THE REST OF THEM! I CAN'T BELIVE HOW YOU'VE JUST CAME IN LIKE THIS AND STARTED TURNING SHEILA AGAINST ME!" Martin spat, closing in on Maggie, knife shaking in his hand.
"Turned Sheila against you? You didn't exactly keep her with you!" Maggie retorted, hiding the fear she felt soaring inside.
Martin starred at her for what seemed like a lifetime, watching her expression go from calm to nervous and back again. "I can't…. take...this!" he yelled, making Maggie flinch, but not breaking eye contact with him.
