Nine

Rick, Frank, Jessie, Josh, Elektra and Faith all walked home together after school. They were walking up the drive to the front door when a silver car pulled up the drive. They stopped and watched to see who it was. Claire stepped out of the car and Jessie and Josh automatically moved closer together. She walked over to them both and glared at them. "Inside the pair of you, I need a word," Claire said angrily. Jessie and Josh glanced at each other and shrugged their shoulders. They had no idea what it was about. All six of them walked into the house but Jessie and Josh trailed into the office. Mike and Gina were already in there. They stood in front of Gina's desk and smiled. Claire shook her head. She threw onto the desk some flat CD's. Jessie pulled a face at them. She went to pick one up but Claire put her hand down on top of them to stop her. Jessie pulled her hand back.

"Do either of you have any idea what these are?" Claire asked. Jessie shook her head as Josh looked at them before shrugging and shaking his head. "really?" she asked. They both nodded. There was a long pause.

Jessie sighed. "well are you going to tell us or not? Because you see I've got lots of homework I could be doing," Jessie said irritated. Mike indicated they should sit down. Josh sat on the chair and Jessie sat on his lap. They switched the computer on and slipped the first CD into it. They turned the computer screen round to face them. Jessie and Josh saw it was their living room on the screen. Jessie looked confused but Josh's face fell. He'd guessed what was going to happen next. The moment he thought this, a crash could be heard from the kitchen followed by a squeak of nervousness. The living room door opened and Jessie backed into the living room, their mum facing her holding a knife at Josh's neck. She slipped the knife into Josh's hand, then grabbed Jessie and the rope from behind the TV. She sat Jessie down on the chair and tied her to it.

Jessie's face fell at this. Now even she knew what was going on. Their mum had been clever. She'd filmed it all, but had never physically hurt Jessie herself in front of the camera. She'd got Josh to do that. But she'd also never threatened Josh in the living room; that always happened elsewhere in the house.

They kept watching. Their mum had moved away and whispered something in Josh's ear. His hand was shaking as he moved towards Jessie, their mum hovering behind him. She pulled Jessie's ginger hair out of her eyes and Jessie looked up at her brother, tears in her eyes. He shook his head. "I'm sorry Jessie," they heard the video Josh say. He placed the knife point at her hairline. It was over in a blink, a slip of a hand and there was blood pouring down Jessie's face. On the video Jessie screamed in pain and burst into tears.

Josh was watching this stony faced. When Jessie screamed in the video his stomach flipped. He hated that noise. He'd had nightmares about it. He'd hurt his sister. He was worried what was going to happen next.

Their mum took the knife from Josh's hand, walked out the room. They heard the click of the lock and saw Josh untie Jessie from the chair. He pulled off his t-shirt and ripped it to get thin strips of material. He pressed it against Jessie's head as he got her to lie on the floor with her head higher. Jessie was still crying but by now so was Josh. "I'm so sorry Jessie," he said. She sighed.

"I know, it's ok. At least it's me she's hurting and not you," Jessie stated. The video flickered and it ended.

Claire, Mike and Gina turned and looked at the pair of siblings. Claire held up the other disks. "They all show you hurting Jessie, Josh. Not your mum, you. You burnt her neck with your mum's help. You sellotaped the matchstick to her neck and then your mum lit it." Claire sighed. Mike turned to Josh.

"There is no evidence of your mum hurting Jessie apart from that last time. It's all you Josh. We need an explanation," Mike said.

Outside the door Rick and Elektra, who had become good friends with Jessie, were listening to what was being said. Both exchanged a glance with each other. 'They can't think he did it, can they?' Elektra mouthed. Rick nodded. 'I think they already do,' he mouthed back. The doorbell rang, both kids moved away from the door and hid behind the sofa as Gina came out. She answered the door and invited the people in.

"Just wait here yeah," she said. Rick and Elektra peered over the top of the sofa and saw two policemen stood outside the office door. Elektra and Rick exchanged worried glances.

Meanwhile, in the office, Jessie and Josh heard the doorbell go. Gina got up and left. Josh turned to Mike. "She threatened me," he stated. "but she was clever," he said in despair. "if she installed them do you really think she would hurt Jessie or threaten me in front of them when she knows it would be evidence against her. She always threatened me when we were in our room. She beat Jessie up in our bedroom, the kitchen. She threw Jessie against the metal of the sink, hence the bruising. You know the extent of Jessie's injuries. She's covered in bruises. Where in the videos do I bruise my sister? I don't. That's mum, doing it elsewhere in the house." Gina walked back in. "She threatened me and told me if I didn't do it she'd kill me. Jessie always got upset at that. She used to be protective of me. She used to tell me to do what mum said to protect me. I hated doing it. If I could go back, I would have phoned social services sooner. But I can't," Josh growled. Mike nodded.

"Josh you realise this has given us an issue," Mike told him. The office door opened again and two policemen walked in. "I'm so sorry Josh." The policemen walked over to the chair. Gina prised Jessie off of Josh.

"Joshua Moon Thomas we are arresting you on a charge of GBH and child abuse," one of the policemen said. At this Jessie screamed out loud. The policeman carried on over her screaming as the other one handcuffed Josh's hands behind his back. "You do not have to say anything but anything you do say may be used as evidence in court," the policeman said loudly over Jessie's screams.

"Josh... No!" Jessie shouted. "You can't do this. Josh! Josh!" she shouted, struggling against Gina as the policemen led Josh out the office. Jessie finally managed to break free and ran after them but Josh was already in the car and the policemen were starting to drive away. "No! Josh!" she screamed as the car left. Mike and Gina came out and put their hands on Jessie's shoulders, who was kneeling on the floor crying.

A/N: Bet you didn't expect that. Did you like the twist or not? Please let me know what you thought and what might happen. Indigo :)