Erin sat at the edge of the campfire with a notable scowl on her face. James had noticed the scowl that was acquainted with past incidents as he braved to walk over to her, coming away from the others who were sat together. Having an idea of why she was being so….. 'Erin like' as she angrily snapped tiny bits off a small branch and threw them into the fire with merciless hate.
It was now the last night of the camping trip. The young campers occupied themselves as best as they could. They would all be heading back to Derry in the morning, but there were matters that were still unresolved. The last few nights had gone by without any further incident of theft. The lack of events had frustrated Erin that she had been unable to unmask who the culprit was. So much, she began to conjure up wild theories as to who was responsible for stealing the camper's things but had no proof to back up her theories. No one seemed to be behaving in an unusual manner. But the brawl that erupted between Ciara Rafferty and Tina O'Connell during a game of Hurling brought everyone's frustrations to the boiling point.
Tina O'Connell had been outspoken throughout the trip regarding the stolen items. Even going so far as to spread rumours amongst the campers that Ciara Rafferty, another girl in her year, was the thief. The brunette teen had not reacted straight away to Tina's accusations. Instead, she waited for the right moment to act; remembering that Big Mandy was Tina's sister wouldn't have done her any favours to retaliate rapidly. There were now 10 girls who had reported something missing. There was a snake in the grass, but no one knew who it was.
Items ranging from chokers, a CD Walkman, hats, a bubble bag, strangely, even a pair of platform trainers, watches, and jewellery. Some of the girls even reported money going missing. Erin had made a list of the 'missing' items and tried to figure out what the connection was. She had made enquiries but had gotten nowhere in identifying the culprit. She could only conclude that the perpetrator had to be the same person, since Coco Pops had reacted the same way when sniffing each victim's rucksack. Even Sister Michael was beginning to feel frustrated, knowing how much of a ballache it would be to have to inform the parents of the victims when they got back.
The suspicion and tension was undeniable during the group outdoor excursions. They had ventured to nearby places such as the mystical Beaghmore Stone Circles, which bore chiselled markings of the oldest known Celtic language. Next, they had gone cycling along the Davagh Forest Trail, which was almost uneventful until Michelle almost collided with a tree, all the while insisting she was capable of riding even though she was recovering from her secret drinking sessions with Laurie when everyone was asleep.
Even visiting the beautiful Tullaghoge Fort had a close call. The gang found it somewhat symbolic as they stood around the inauguration stone where the historic O'Neill clan would inaugurate their chief by hanging a single shoe over his head. Orla had taken the liberty of taking her boot off and walked around and hung it over each of the gangs' heads, and then herself. In her own unique way, she saw it as a way of anointing everyone as part of a 'Clan'. Then Coco Pops took the liberty of lifting his hind leg to mark his territory on the inauguration stone, but they managed to get him away before he committed the deed.
But all the while, there was an undeniable tension hanging over everyone, as the thief had not been caught. Father Peter had suggested to Sister Michael about splitting the groups up again with some camp site activities as a means of easing the tension. Little did the Priest know that his idea would only create more problems instead of solving them.
The little green monster emerged from within Erin when Michelle had decided to teach First Aid to the camping group along with James and Aisling. Michelle started by showing the RICE method -Rest. Ice. Compress. Elevate- for the treatment of sprains and suspected broken bones while taking pleasure in using James as the dummy. But then Michelle attempted to break the tension by thrusting Aisling into an extremely awkward situation by getting her to demonstrate CPR on James. A notion that made Aisling's face turn red, while James winced in embarrassment while the younger members laughed at them both. Aisling noticed the suggestive digs coming from Tina O'Connell and her friends as she nervously lowered herself down to demonstrate the manoeuvre but was quickly stopped by Michelle before Erin could get her hands on her in a fit of rage.
"Looks like English wants to trade up!" Tina laughed, stirring the pot.
Jenny was finding herself out of her depth when she was paired with Orla and Marco, who were teaching survival techniques and cooking skills. Jenny was baffled to see Orla in her element as she flawlessly showed how to use a survival knife as a fire starter, igniting the pile of kindling the girls had gathered. The group stood back as they noticed Orla's intensity while welding a chopper to cut up the larger pieces of firewood. Marco taught them about food preparation and the different makeshift meals they could make, like wrapping baked potatoes in tinfoil and placing them in the fire. Not failing to notice the snide comments made towards Orla.
"Christ! He must be a right weirdo to like her!" Tina commented. Her friends sniggering with her.
Laurie and Clare had been the ones who suggested a game of Hurling when Laurie spoke about teaching the values of teamwork and co-operation. Unsurprisingly, the outcome was the complete opposite to the intended lesson when Tina's snide comments finally made Ciara Rafferty launch into a wild response, taking Tina down before both came up again, welding their Hurling sticks at each other like battle-axes before being separated by the girls. Father Peter opted not to get involved for fear that a stray Hurling Stick might cause irreversible damage to his appearance. The conflict then caused a ripple effect where the young campers began hurling accusations towards each other for being the thief. Bringing the trip to a disastrous conclusion. Erin observed the heated glances from one group of girls to the other. Tensions were running high, and time was running out.
"You alright, Erin?" James asked cautiously, breaking her concentration. She was just about to answer.
"RIGHT! EVERYONE TOGETHER NOW!" Sister Michael yelled at everyone as she joined the fray. Erin and James snapped their heads round upon hearing her voice. The camping party came together and encircled the nun who was flanked by Father Peter.
"First of all, I want to say how disappointed I am with what happened earlier in the Hurling game. But to the person responsible for these thefts…. If you are here… You have had every opportunity to come forward. But since you don't want to fess up…. I have decided that the Police will be involved when we get back to Derry. Dwell on that, if you will!" Sister Michael stormed away. Leaving everyone staring at each other with an aura of suspicion.
Later that night….
SNAP… CRACK… CRACK….. CLAP… SNAP
Coco pops jumped as the strange sounds returned. The wee dog yelped slightly as the strange sounds drew nearer and became more frequent. The wee dog winced as his head darted left and right from inside the tent which ruffled from the gentle breeze.
CRACK!
Erin was still sound asleep as Coco Pops growled. Meanwhile, James was stirred awake inside his own tent as he heard the sounds again.
"Marco….. Marco!" He whispered, shoving him on the shoulder to stir him, but trying not to wake Father Peter. Marco suddenly awoke.
"Huh…. What is it?" He mumbled quietly.
"Can you hear that?" James whispered.
SNAP! CRACK!
While they listened intently. Father Peter shot awake.
"Jesus Christ!" He asked, making the boys jump.
James shushed them. He hurried to grab his camera and flashlight again. Marco and Father Peter quickly followed him out of the tent. They startled James as they stood together. They shone their flashlights everywhere. The noises seemed to be shifting all around them from within the woods.
"What's going on, lads?" They jumped again to find Orla now standing with them. Her own flashlight was shining below her chin.
CRACK!
"Ohhhhhh, aye. I can hear that now." Orla gasped.
Suddenly, mass screaming was heard from inside Jenny's tent. The girls flew out of the tent in a panic along with the head prefect. Running around hysterically.
"OH MY GOD! WHAT IS IT?!" Clare screamed as she shot out of her tent.
"WHAT IS IT, JENNY?!" Father Peter shouted.
"THERE'S SOMEONE IN OUR TENT!" Jenny screamed.
Coco Pops darted out of the tent with Erin, growling menacingly. The whole camping party was now alert. They gathered together near Father Peter, who tried to calm them down. But just then, their collective screams amplified when a dark figure darted out from the back of Jenny's tent and ran off towards the woods.
"Fuck a doodle doo! There goes the wee fucker!" Michelle cried, pointing her flashlight, they caught sight of the figure that ran into the woods, donned in all black. Coco Pops sprinted into action after the figure, barking loudly as he also disappeared into the woods.
"THAT'S IT, COCO POPS! GO AFTER HIM BOY!" Orla cried. "COME ON… WE GOTTA GO AFTER HIM!" She said to the others. Sprinting after the wee dog without fear.
"ORLA!" Erin cried. But Orla was too far away.
"Oh my God! What do we do?!" Clare panicked.
"You heard her! Come on!" Michelle shouted. Marco followed, nudging James as he bounded after his girlfriend.
Erin, James and Michelle followed quickly as they chased after Orla who was already far ahead of them. The light from their flashlights darted everywhere as they entered the woods, following the sound of Coco Pops barking. Clare and Laurie stayed behind to calm the others. The gang shot past branches and foliage at full speed, plunging deeper into the woodland. They breathed heavily as they came to a stop. Now, everything was silent. They stood huddled together. They couldn't even hear the wee dog barking anymore, nor could they see Orla.
"ORLA?!... COCO POPS?!" Marco yelled.
"ORLA?!" Michelle and James shouted as they trenched slowly past a large cedar tree trunk.
"ORLA McCOOL…. YE BETTER GET YER ARSE BACK HERE!" Erin shouted.
"HIYA ERIN!" Orla cried as she darted out from behind the tree trunk. Making Erin scream and the others scramble from fright.
"Jesus, Orla!" Michelle complained.
Marco shone his flashlight at Orla. "Are you wearing camouflage paint?" He asked. Seeing two large smears under Orla's eyes.
"Aye. Course I am." Orla answered impassively. "I don't want that fella seeing me." Marco and James looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders, somehow seeing the logic in her madness.
"Guys, I really don't wanna add to this. But we're out here right now in the woods on our own, and we have no idea who that was, or what they're like." Erin stressed. Looking everywhere with the flashlight shaking in her hands.
"Aye, no shit, Sherlock!" Michelle shot. The stillness of the dark woods had only an eerie wind whistling through the trees.
"GIRLS….GIRLS, ARE YE THERE?!"
They jumped with fright. The shout came from Marco's walkie talkie. Michelle grabbed it.
"Thanks a fucking bunch, Clare! I might never have the hiccups again!" She growled.
"Did ye find Coco Pops?" Clare's voice asked.
"No, is he back with you?" James asked, grabbing the walkie talkie.
"No but listen girls…. The caretaker just came round and said he saw someone acting suspicious around Drum Manor…..And I th…" The walkie talkie then started to crackle. Clare's voice disappeared into a static sound; the signal was lost.
"Clare….. CLARE!" Michelle screamed. "Ach, Piece of English shite!" She shoved it into James' chest.
"Drum Manor….. Maybe that's where Coco Pops has gone?" Erin suggested.
"Well, how do we get there from here?" Marco asked.
"We wanna walk about quarter of a mile southeast and we should come out of the woods and come across the walk path that leads us round to the Manor over here." Orla said, holding her map and compass up.
"Good enough for me" Michelle shrugged. They walked in the direction through the pitch-black woodland.
CRAKKK… They stopped and turned, pointing their flashlights everywhere.
"What was that?" James startled. His voice shook as he felt his eyes bulging wide. Somehow, holding his camera up.
CRAKKK…. It came again.
"Are ye seriously filming this right now?" Erin shivered as she glanced at James.
"Couldn't think of anything better to do." He answered.
"Let's just keep moving, yeah?" Marco suggested, a hint of panic in his own voice.
They agreed and fastened their pace. But the more they walked. The strange noise seemed to move with them, getting closer each time. Snaps, and cracking noises may have been snapping twigs. But this was far too much of a coincidence.
"What the fuck is that?!" Michelle shrieked.
"I'm not sure….. Marco, have a look!" James panicked.
"On your fucking bike!" Marco answered.
"Alright, what do we do?" James cried.
"RUN!" Erin ordered.
"What'd ye say, Erin?" Orla asked casually.
"I SAID RUUUNNNNN!" Erin screamed.
They roared as they found themselves sprinting again through the woods. Shouting with fright, they brushed past tree trunks and hanging branches before bursting through a shrub, they came upon the concrete walk path and legged it, passing a solitary light every few hundred yards that illuminated the way towards Drum Manor. They didn't stop until they finally caught sight of the Manor. They leant against the wall and caught their breath, relieved that whatever was making the noises, it hadn't caught them.
"Did any of yous see what that was, making those noises?" Erin asked. No one answered.
"No… But You know what….. I reckon…. that could make a wicked idea for a horror film." James remarked, still catching his breath.
"What? a bunch of people in the woods running away from something they can't see? Catch yourself on, James!" Michelle shrugged.
"That does sound like a class film, James. We should check it out….. What's it called?" Orla asked. James shot a bewildered shot at Orla. Just then, they heard a barking noise coming from inside the Manor.
"Oh my god! It's Coco Pops!" Orla cried. She ran into the ruin without thinking, calling out for the wee dog.
"Orla, come back!" Erin shouted.
But before she knew it, she was soon left by herself when the others darted in after her. She scoffed and followed with only her flashlight to shine the way. But James, Marco and Michelle were now out of sight, all she could hear was Coco Pops barking and the ruffling of branches. Erin trenched carefully inside the Manor ruin; the darkness appeared more intimidating as she looked around desperately for the others. As she slowly approached a stone corner. Erin shook with fear.
"James…. Michelle….. Marco… Or-la!" She called anxiously. She breathed and gasped heavily and loudly "Is there anyone there?" She cried.
"Yes. There is."
Erin screamed and spun round. Flashing the flashlight, she caught a glimpse of a figure. But was so petrified, she shut her eyes. Slowly opening them again. She breathed out with relief.
"Ach. It's yourself Sister Michael." Erin gasped with tremendous relief. "If ye don't me asking. Why would ye creep up on me like that?" She moaned.
"Easy. I find humour in the misfortune of others. Where are the rest of you?" She asked. Erin pulled a face but didn't have time to answer.
"ERIN?!" Clare suddenly appeared. Erin screamed again. "Oh Thank God!" Clare threw her arms around her friend.
"Jesus, Clare! What are ye doing here?" Erin asked.
"Never mind what we're doing here. What are you doing here? Where are the others?" Clare stressed.
"MOTHERFUCKERS!" Michelle jumped out from a shrub. Making them all jump.
"Michelle….. What in God's name processed you to do such a thing!" Sister Michael asked.
"Easy, it's funny." Michelle answered. "Ye wanna come through here… see what we found." Michelle lead the way towards the large cedar tree where Orla, James and Marco had been joined by Laurie. Orla pulled out a large black leather bag from an opening at the roots of the tree. Unzipping it open, the girls shone their flashlights on to it, showing a stash of items inside.
"Sweet merciful Jesus! Oh, sorry Sister… It's all the stolen gear." Clare exclaimed.
"Yeah, and a whole bunch of other stolen gear too, from the looks of it." James added.
"What's this?" Orla pulled out a piece of folded, scrunched paper which looked like a letter.
"Here, let me see that." Sister Michael took the paper and folded it out. Indeed, there was typing on it. The nun darted her eyes briefly but then her eyes widened with shock. Erin peered over the Nun's shoulder and saw the name typed upon it. Erin quickly snatched the letter out of Sister Michael's hand.
"Aha!" Erin cried.
"Do you wish to explain yourself?!" The nun asked.
"Ohhh I think I can explain myself, Sister!" Erin exclaimed excitedly. Flashing the paper in her hand.
"What is she doing?" Sister Michael asked with a puzzled look on her face.
"I think Erin's about to do a Murder She Wrote!" Orla answered. "Ye have to see this. These are class!" She said excitedly. Sister Michael shot a concerned look at Orla before turning to look at Erin.
"The perpetrator, the one responsible for all this….. if ye will, has always been closer than we think! And I'll tell ye how I know." Erin proclaimed proudly.
"What's going on?" Laurie asked.
"Erin thinks she's that old bag from Murder, she wrote. I should have known getting that autograph would go to her head!" Michelle slammed her fist into James' arm.
"In order to help ye understand what happened and why, we need to address the very first act that was committed. That being Jenny's guitar getting smashed." Erin said.
"Did Jessica Fletcher do it?" Orla piped up, putting up her hand.
"What? No Orla! Where have ye seen Jessica fletcher round this campsite?" Erin argued.
"Can we just let Erin get to the point here?" James suggested.
"Yes, please do." Sister Michael sighed with an uninterested tone.
"Thank you, James… So….. Whoever was responsible for that heinous act, although we may agree, justifiable…." Erin paused. "We all know that the obvious suspect in Jenny's eyes was none other than our own Michelle Mallon!" Erin stated, pointing her hand towards Michelle. Orla raised her hands up and made a dramatic thunder crashing sound effect.
"What are ye doin', Orla?" Erin stopped to stare at her.
"There's always thunder durin' these moments! It's class!" She beamed. She made the noise again.
"Stop it!" Erin demanded.
"Stall the ball, we all know Michelle didn't do it because she told us she passed out in her tent on the first night while sharing that vodka with me." Laurie accidentally revealed, Clare clapped her hands to her mouth with fright.
"Did she now?" Sister Michael asked, turning to narrow her eyes at Michelle. "Ach thanks, Laurie!" Michelle scoffed.
"Anyway!..." Erin interjected. "After eliminating Michelle as a suspect, it lead me to think it was the only other suspect in the party, which was none other than, Tina O'Connell!" Erin proclaimed. Orla mimicked the same thunderous noise again.
"Seriously, Orla. Will ye stop that? Ye proper melting my head here." Michelle moaned.
"But….. Tina was too obvious. At first, I thought her wee snide comments throughout the trip were an attempt to throw us off the trail. However, knowing how much of a mouth she is, and with no past issues, unlike her sister, Big Mandy….." Erin paused.
"Sweet suffering Jesus! the suspense is really getting to me!" Clare shook.
"Really? THIS is getting to you?" Marco asked her sarcastically.
"Tina's mouth, surprisingly, eliminated her as a suspect." Erin said, walking around the assembled circle as she explained. "Which brings me to the wild card… someone who we know has an inkling to assert themselves physically if need be…..and I'm sorry to say this….. but at one point I suspected none other than…. Marco Galluci!" Erin pointed dramatically.
Real thunder suddenly crashed from above them.
"That was actually a good one, Orla!" Michelle joked.
"That wasn't me!" Orla said "...Bear?!... How could ye do such a thing?!" Orla exclaimed sadly, shaking her head with disappointment.
"Am I hearing this right?" Marco asked, dumbfounded yet impassively with his face scrunched. James sported the same confused look.
"Marco had a motive to smash that guitar up after having to drive all the way here while Jenny plucked away on that fecking thing! Drove him mad, so it did!" Erin explained.
Marco spotted the curious stare Orla was now casting towards him. "…What?" He asked.
"I'm just curious….. Is Marco even yer real name!?" She asked questionably. Marco rolled his eyes.
"Stall the ball, Erin! Just cos ye have a motive doesn't mean yer guilty!" Clare interjected.
"I'm getting there, Clare….. but when I saw this letter addressed to Marco….. something about his inheritance, this…. THIS….. eliminated Marco as a suspect." Erin said.
"What? Let me see that?" Marco grabbed the paper to read it.
"How does that eliminate him?" James asked.
"Because Granda is Marco's trustee, and he has all the paperwork at home. Plus, only an eejit would leave something so incriminating lying about. And let's face it, Marco's not a eejit." Erin explained.
Michelle was now sitting with her head resting in her hand. "Can ye not hurry the fuck up, Erin?" She groaned.
"Yes, I must agree! My attention is waning somewhat. Coronation Street is starting to look very appealing right now." Sister Michael sighed.
"Don't rush me, Michelle. I'm getting there!" Erin argued.
"Well get there quicker!" Clare shrieked.
"I must admit, there was even a moment where I suspected Sister….. Never mind." Erin stopped as soon as Sister Michael gave her infamous stare. "So, it wasn't Michelle, it wasn't Tina O'Connell, it wasn't Marco, and it certainly wasn't…. anyone else assembled here." Erin concluded.
Orla cuddled Marco's arm. "Ach, I never doubted ye for a second, Marco. Well, I mean, ye know… except from when I did." Orla corrected herself.
"Yeah, thanks babe." Marco huffed.
"In conclusion, the perpetrator is someone who knows us…. Someone who hates Jenny Joyce so much…. That they had a motive to want to hurt her, and also had a motive for stealing the said items… for some unknown reason." Erin informed them, going nowhere with the information.
"Wow! That's grand detective work there, Erin. That really narrows it down! Problem solved!" Michelle mockingly wiped her hands.
"Aye, it really does." Orla agreed.
"So WHO did it?!" Clare shrieked.
"I did!" Came a voice. Thunder crashed again from above, louder this time. The group and Sister Michael snapped around to see who spoke. The perpetrator stepped forward from the darkness, clutching onto something firmly in their hands, covered by a cloth. Draped in all black, the culprit stood, smirking with arrogance.
"Sweet merciful Jesus!" Clare cried with terror.
"Fuck a doodle do!" Michelle stated.
"Oh shit!" James cried.
"Ohhhhhhh!" Orla shook.
"…. Who the fuck is that?" Marco and Laurie asked together, tilting their heads to see the culprit.
"Yooooou?" Erin gasped with surprise.
"Mae Cheung!" Sister Michael shot with repulse.
"It's been a while. Hasn't it, Sister? Girls? How bout ye, Clare?" Mae asked, smirking. Flashing her eyebrows at the wee lesbian.
"Seriously, who is she?" Laurie asked angrily. Spotting the intriguing glance being made towards her partner.
"She's the one who pulled a Carrie on Jenny at the prom!" Clare whispered. "And she's completely unhinged! Like a complete and utter psychopath!" She whispered hysterically.
"Fuck me! She poured pigs blood on Jenny!?" Laurie cried.
"No, actually. It was Just tomato juice." James corrected her.
"Aye! The bitch ruined my fuckin' dress, so she did! I couldn't return the fuckin' thing!" Michelle snapped. "My ma went mental when she found out!"
"Why don't ye shut yer bake Mallon?!" Mae shot. "Christ Erin, I knew ye liked to talk a lot of shit, but I didn't think ye'd go on that long, fucking dose! Ye never thought ye'd see me again, did ya now?! Ye know, I still laugh about how ye got all jealous over me and Clare." Mae growled. "Made me wonder if there was something between yous two." She chuckled.
"There is no such thing!" Clare hissed, offended at the insinuation.
"I'd tread really careful if I was you, bitch!" Laurie shot.
"And for your information….. I happen to be in a veeeery loving relationship as it goes." Erin hissed at Mae.
"Fuck me! Is he blind, deaf or both?" Mae shot.
"It's with me!" James stated, standing next to Erin.
"What?! Ye mean…. You and the gay English fella over here?" Mae laughed. Erin and James scrunched their faces.
"It's true and they're a cracker couple, so they are!" Orla shouted, defending her cousin and friend.
"Fucking right they are!" Michelle echoed. "But enough about us, how about ye tell us why the fuck ye did all this?" She asked.
"Why?" Mae tilted her head arrogantly "Well, since ye asked, I'll tell ye…. After I got kicked out of school for dumping that juice over that wee bitch, Jenny…. No school would touch me with a fecking barge pole thanks to you, Sister Michael! But then…. I had a saviour come to my rescue. Bet ye can guess who that was, aye Sister?" She smirked.
"Don't tell me, Patrick O'Driscoll!" The Nun hummed, rolling her eyes.
"Aye, that's right. Gave me a chance to redeem myself, so he did. And when I heard he got you kicked out of school, I had a right wee laugh about that, so I did… But when I heard what you lot did to him… well, consider this payback time! I thought it only right to return the favour on behalf of Mr O'Driscoll….."
"What do ye mean?" Erin asked.
"What I mean is…. I'm gonna finish what he started….. All those things there in that bag, yer gonna hand them over to me, and I'm gonna sell them to help towards Mr O'Driscoll's cause." She said arrogantly.
"But why smash up Jenny's guitar?" James asked.
"Well, ye know what they say, every job has its perks. But don't worry, I'll be back for more….. If ye catch my drift?" She looked towards Marco. "Now, give me the bag!" Mae sneered.
"Catch yourself on!" Erin shot back.
"Yer gonna give me that bag….. or else!" Mae shot with wild eyes.
"Or else what?" Clare shook.
"Why would ye ask that, Clare?" Michelle shot.
"I'm glad ye asked." They stared as Mae pulled out a Swiss pocketknife and pulled the cloth away from the bundle she was carrying. They all cried with anger.
"Coco Pops!" Marco shouted desperately. The gang went to move forward but Mae held the knife near their wee dog who was held tight. They all froze.
"Whoa, careful now." Mae said mockingly.
"LET 'IM GOOOOOOO!" Orla shouted angrily, stepping closer to Mae, but she gasped as Sister Michael grabbed her arm before she could go further.
"Take one more step, ye wee dick and I'll do it!" Mae snarled. "I could have easily done the same to yer Granda, but I'll do him, I swear!" Mae motioned towards Coco Pops
"…..It was you!" Marco suddenly said, glancing down at the letter. "You're the one who broke into Jim's house!"
"Aye! That's right! Interesting letter ye have there… Marco!" Mae sneered.
"Mate, calm down!" James called. Seeing Marco seethe with anger
"Ach, sound advice for yer boyfriend there, James!" Mae said mockingly. "Don't ye getting any ideas of starting anything…. Just give me the bag and I'll let the dog go." Mae threatened.
"You make me laugh." Sister Michael said coolly.
"Say what?…." Mae asked.
"Pulling out a knife on a wee dog doesn't make you hard, Mae…. yer a coward, nothing more than brainless wee girl trying to impress a Prick of a man who couldn't give a shit about yous." Sister Michael goaded her.
"Oh, aye? Ye wanna start something with me?!" Mae shouted. The gang watched in awe as a smirk appeared on the Nun's face. "Don't worry girls, She won't do it. She just faffin' about. She doesn't have the balls to do it." She mocked. Slowly approaching Mae.
"Also, you have nowhere to go anyway…. The Police are on their way, and soon enough, you'll be in for the high jump, just like Mr O'Driscoll." The Nun said.
"Oh aye? I bet he'll buzz when he finds out I got one over on you!... Nah, there's no cops coming here!" Mae feigned a laugh. "Stay back or the dog gets it!" Coco Pops winced as she held him.
"Sweet merciful Jesus!" Clare couldn't bear to look.
"Go ahead…. Make my day!" The Nun smirked; Sister Michael was now inches away from her. Mae was bewildered that the Nun was unwavering as she stared her down.
"You best let that wee dog go…..before something bad happens to you." She warned with sincerity. Suddenly, there was a snap of a twig behind Mae.
"…. Too late." Sister Michael crooked a smile.
Mae suddenly felt someone grab her wrist, breaking her focus. Before she knew it, she was spun round and was hurling over someone, dropping the pocketknife, she screamed helplessly as she flew. Mae Cheung crashed down to the ground with a tremendous thud, causing her to release Coco Pops. Sister Michael grabbed him and walked calmly back towards the gang, placing him into Marco's arms. As the clan crowded round the wee dog, they looked in awe to see Mae pinned to the ground, who looked up and gawked in astonishment as she saw Orla holding her firmly in a judo style clutch. Shaking with adrenaline, breathing sharply, Orla reached round.
"Oi, Mae?... Ye call that a knife? That's not a knife….. THIS is a knife!" Orla stared through her with wild eyes leering manically. Mae shot a look of sheer panic and froze as she caught sight of the much bigger blade. Her body tense with anger. Orla's strength pinned Mae where she lay.
"Fuck a doodle do!" Michelle exclaimed. "Ye just got taken down like a motherfucker!"
"Miss Mallon…." Sister Michael snapped. "Well done, Orla. But put that thing away. We'll let the Police handle this, properly." She advised her. At that point, a blue flashing light illuminated the treetops. Orla slid her hunting knife back in its holster before Chief Byers and Constable Jenkins came through into the ruined foyer.
"Chief Byers, we were expecting you." Sister Michael regarded him.
"Thank you sister. Well, Miss Cheung. So nice to finally meet you. No doubt your parents will be relieved to know that we've found you. Though I can't answer for what they'll say once they know what you've been doing. Take her to the car, Jenkins." Byers ordered. Jenkins reached down and took Mae from Orla's grip. She sported a look of panic as Jenkins cuffed her and lead her away.
"Is everyone alright?..." Byers asked the group, they answered affirmatively. "Are ye alright, young lady?" Byers asked, turning to Orla who appeared to be shaking.
"Jesus wept!" Erin whimpered; she walked over to Orla along with Marco. Orla draped an arm over them both, breathing through the spinning sensation that was in her head as Erin and Marco took her to join the others.
"My head's really spinning again." Orla said, sounding dazed.
"I think your Grandad was wrong, I think you should be the one on Gladiators!" Marco sighed as he held her.
"Yeah Orla, you are an absolute legend!" James smiled.
"Thanks lads!... Woah!" Orla huffed as she shook. "Is Coco Pops ok?" She asked slowly. Seeing Clare and Laurie cradling him.
"Aye, he's grand." Erin assured her. "Jesus Christ, Orla! Are ye truly mental or something?" Her voice cracked as she snuggled her cousin.
As the gang exited the ruin of Drum Manor; they observed the Police car which backed up with Mae kicking and swearing from inside. Catching her eye, Michelle threw up the middle finger towards the culprit as the Police car departed. Erin then looked to see Orla now sitting in the front passenger seat of the other Police car with Chief Byers crouched in front of her. Seeing her still shaking, Byers took Orla hand and stroked it.
"It's just adrenaline, Orla. You'll be fine." Byers assured her. Orla gave a half smile
"Mr Byers…. what's this?" She asked.
Spying the item that caught her eye. Byers picked it up. "That's called a Breathalyzer. We use it to check if someone's been drinking and driving." Byers explained.
"Wouldn't put it near Michelle then!" James quipped, which earnt him a stiff elbow to the ribs.
"How does it work?" Orla asked with her interest heightened.
Byers smiled. He inserted a tube into the unit. "Ye blow into this wee tube here until the light comes on. Give it a wee go." Blowing into the tube, the buzzer went off.
"There ye go, it's done. Ach, You're lucky, ye haven't been drinking." He joked.
"What happens if it said I had been drinking?"
"Oh my god, she's gonna be here all night!" Erin stressed.
"Well, then you would have to supply us with a DNA sample." He pulled out what looked like a giant cotton wool bud.
"Now, with this wee thing, we have to swab it inside yer mouth, and then it goes onto the National DNA database. Everyone who gets stopped or questioned must provide a DNA sample, so if ye were to ever commit a serious crime and leave your DNA at a crime scene, we'd know it was you, cos we can match it up on our wee computer. It helps us detect criminals faster." Byers explained.
"I wouldn't be too optimistic." Sister Michael shot. "Come along girls. Let's get these things back. She walked on ahead with the others following, while Erin stayed behind to wait for Orla.
"Woah, mind blown!" Orla gasped. "Can I do it?" She asked with excitement. Byers chuckled as he swabbed the inside of her mouth.
"There we go. Done." He said.
"What happens now?" Orla asked.
"You'll get a letter from us saying you're now on the database."
"Ach, OK. Thanks Chief Byers, I feel a lot better now." She smiled as we walked off with Erin.
"Yer welcome." Byers smiled.
Once back at the camp; the gang gathered the younger campers around, who were more than happy to see their stuff returned. It was a sight to behold to see Jenny Joyce looking paler than she already was when they revealed who the culprit had been all along. The gang scrunched and rolled their eyes while Michelle, as always, told a much more elaborate story about Orla and Mae's entanglement, making it sound more like a fight scene from the film Mortal Kombat. Despite knowing it wasn't true, Orla was as entranced by the story as the rest of the party, asking Michelle what she did next before it was time to call it a night.
The following morning, the task came for the campers to disassemble their tents. Thankfully, the thunder from the previous night had not brought any rain. But it might just as well have done when the party made their way towards the minibuses to load up. Aisling almost performed the splits when walking across the green, she was thankfully saved by James, who managed to grab her before she fell. Erin couldn't help but feel the little green monster stir inside her again as she saw James and Aisling laughing at the awkward incident.
"Christ but isn't she desperate to get on that English prick! Mind you, it's a shite sight better than that psycho blonde he's with." Tina deliberately remarked to her friends as she walked past Erin and boarded the minibus. Her forehead furrowed as her mouth twitched into a stern scowl as she recalled why she had been so angry the night before.
James could see that something was ailing Erin as he glanced at her in the rear-view mirror as he drove the minibus back to Derry. Meanwhile, on the other bus, Jenny finally extended her apologizes to Michelle, only under the gaze of Sister Michael did the feisty Mallon accept the apology, while obviously preferring to take a page out of Tina O'Connell's book and not accept it. But she felt no need to carry on the animosity given that Mae had ironically done what everyone else had been thinking.
The parents for the young campers had all gathered in the car park as the two minibuses pulled back outside Our Lady Immaculate College around midday. Sister Michael was the first to dismiss herself, knowing that everyone was present. She rolled her eyes and exhaled with relief as she sat in her DeLorean. She hastily reached for the glove compartment and pulled out a silver hip flask and took a long swig.
Clare and Laurie said their goodbyes to the others and made their way home together. Michelle smirked as they drove past and happened to notice that the couple were sat in Laurie's car, their lips clinched together after having to stem from any intimate contact. She then couldn't help but notice Erin's stern frown.
"Oi, What have ye done now, ye daft English prick?" Michelle snapped at James.
"What?" James asked as he turned round from his seat.
"Why is she raging?" Michelle asked, pointing at Erin.
"Just leave it, Michelle." Erin snapped.
"Alright, fine. If you two are gonna have a fucking row, then drop me off home first." Michelle replied.
Marco did as he was told and dropped Michelle off. She huffed as she gt out of the car. After agreeing they'd meet later. Taking herself indoors; Michelle called out for her Ma and Da. When there was no reply, along came the assumption they were still at work. She threw down her rucksack in the hallway and climbed the stairs to her room, failing to see the note left for both her and James on the hallway table. As the car neared the Quinn house. Orla's head had begun to throb again from the apparent impending agreement that was about to erupt between James and Erin who were silent the whole way home, the radio barely breaking the silence.
Pulling up outside. Orla quickly made an exit and ran up to her front door. Marco couldn't call out to her quick enough as she darted inside and slammed the door shut. Unable to deny the presence of the intense atmosphere. Marco addressed his two friends.
"Right, I'm gonna go and check on Orla. You two…" Unsure of how to finish, Marco walked up the path with Coco Pops and went inside Orla's house. Leaving James and Erin alone.
"Uh….. is everything ok?" James asked. Sighting the glare that Erin was shooting at him.
"….." Erin went to speak, but now she furrowed a sad look. She turned towards her front door, but James hurried after her.
"Erin!" James called before she got her hand on the doorknob. "Please….." He asked.
"Ye didn't do anything wrong!" She answered, looking at the floor. "It's me…. I got jealous when ye were holding on to Aisling….. and when ye were doing that CPR thingamagig" She confessed. James ogled with astonishment.
"Oh my… Is that what this is all about?" He breathed out. "Honestly…. Erin….."
"What? Are ye gonna say I'm stupid? I'm an absolute dose for thinking such a thing? That I sound like a fecking psycho cos that's wat everyone else seems to think of me!" Erin stressed; tears were building inside her eyes.
James stepped forward and gently kissed her forehead. "Well, I don't!" James stated, looking down at her, she shot him a sad furrowed look. "I'm sorry." James said gently. "Do you wanna go inside and talk?" He asked.
Erin closed her eyes and pressed her face into James' chest. He felt her nodding in agreement. She went to open the door, but it was locked. Erin shook the door, turning the doorknob but it wouldn't budge.
"Stall the ball…. What's going on?" She asked. James tried to open the door as well with no luck.
"I think the key's under the mat, Erin." Orla said. They turned to see Orla and Marco standing in Orla's doorway with Coco Pops. Erin looked, and sure enough, there was the front door key.
"Well….. where's…" Erin started.
"Ach, everyone's gone out to Brunch, so they have. Marco said he sorted it for them before we went camping." Orla said, holding up a note.
Erin and James shot looked curiously at Orla and Marco. Erin looked away and back at them. "….Do they know what time we were coming back?" Erin asked, slowly and curiously.
"Yeah, I think I might have accidently told them we weren't gonna be back until….. sometime this afternoon?" Marco said suggestively. Erin and James' eyes widened with disbelief. "Oh well, we're gonna go take Coco Pops for a walk. See you two later." Marco shrugged.
"Aye, I am absolutely desperate for some pic n mix, so I am. Bye Erin, Bye James." Orla smiled as they walked down the path with Coco Pops. Erin and James stood dumbfounded as Marco looked and flashed a smile at them before walking off with Orla and Coco Pops.
Erin and James then slowly turned to look at each other. Forgetting their quarrel; they gazed at each other wondering who was going to suggest they go indoors. Erin nervously bit down on her lower lip while James shuffled nervously. He then turned and walked towards her. The door was just behind Erin. She lifted her hand and placed it gently on his chest. The two of them felt their own hearts pounding hard at the reality of the situation; they were alone, finally alone together. Erin turned and slowly unlocked the front door. she shuddered as she felt James' fingertips touch hers. The hairs on her arms stood on end as they held hands. Erin shook with anticipation and a slight apprehension, letting out a sharp gasp; She lead her wee English fella into the empty house.
James shut the door and walked slowly towards Erin, who stood in the hallway with her back to him. She slowly turned and their eyes met. After having to abstain for a whole week. They slowly brought themselves together, opening their mouths, they kissed. Deeply, slowly. Erin slid her hands around James' waist as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. The kiss began to build and became more intense. Erin mirrored James, both holding the back of the others' head as they kissed with a reckless abandonment. Erin lunged and pinned James against the wall. Now wrapping her arms around his neck, James hoisted her up, causing her to wrap her legs around his waist. Eventually coming out of their lip lock. They paused to catch their breath.
"Are ye sure the door's locked?" Erin asked anxiously, her voice was barely a whisper.
"….. I'll double check." James suggested.
"Aye. I'll check the backdoor as well." Erin agreed.
They parted to make sure the area was secure. As they walked to meet each other again in the hallway. Both rushed to each other and resumed their passionate snog. James took the lead and guided Erin towards the stairs.
"Wait!" Erin paused.
"I'm sorry." James apologised.
"No… it's not that….. It's just…. Do ye have any….." Erin tried to hint by twitching her head to the side. A regrettable gaze was now cast upon James' face. Erin closed her eyes and groaned with upset. In all the excitement, the importance of protection had been overlooked. James slumped against the wall while Erin slumped onto the bottom stair in defeat. Before they could say anything. The phone rang. James walked over to answer it.
"Hello?" he moaned. "Marco….. where are you calling from?" James asked.
"I'm just down the road at the phonebox. I forgot to tell you… There's a pack of them in the side pocket of your rucksack. Talk to you later." The line went dead.
James stood stunned. Slamming the phone down with wide eyes, James darted towards the rucksack, unzipping the pocket, he pulled out a small blue box with the word DUREX on it.
"What is it?" She asked.
He stood and turned to look at Erin. Her own eyes were just as wide as his as she spied what was in his hand. They both huffed out traits of laughter and anticipation before Erin finally moved forward towards her wee English fella. Taking him by the hand, she smiled with astonishment as she then took the lead and led the way upstairs to her bedroom.