Ash

I just ran for my life. And I kept running till I was sure that I wasn’t being followed. I have no idea where the others are. One second I was running with Rabbit, the next I was on my own. I never even saw Joe. I got out of the car and just made a run for it. I didn’t even stop to let him out of the back of the car. Fuck. I hope he got out.

And now I’m here, crouching down behind a tree, catching my breath, wondering what the fuck I do next, praying that the others are safe. Cos when I was running I heard shots. I didn’t stop to see what was happening. I just kept running, trying to get as far away from there as I could. I seriously hope they didn’t hit Rabbit or Joe.

I close my eyes for a second and try and compose myself. There’s so much fucking adrenalin running through my body. I’m jumpy as hell. And I feel paranoid, like the blokes from the BMW could be anywhere right now. They could be right on me and I wouldn’t know.

I need to get out of the woods. And I need to find out what happened to Joe and Rabbit. I need to know they’re all right. I mean, I didn’t hear any screams or anything. And I would have done if they’d been hit, right? But maybe you don’t scream if you get hit by a bullet. Maybe you just fall over. And die. And that’s it. The end.

I get my phone out of my pocket and write a text: R u safe? Where r u? I send it to Joe and Rabbit. And as soon as I’ve sent it, I realise that I could’ve just made a big mistake. What if they’re hiding? What if the two blokes from the BMW hear Joe and Rabbit’s phones beep and find them?

I put my phone on silent straight away and I sit and wait for a reply. I look at the time on my phone. 20:01. And I make a promise to myself: if I don’t get a message by 20:05, I’m gonna try and get out of the woods on my own. And I’m gonna call the police.

The time ticks by slowly. All around me, up in the trees, I can hear the birds calling. Innocently flitting about, roosting, getting ready for bed. I look at the time again. 20:03. I stare at my phone, willing a message to come through, to bring me news that Joe and Rabbit are both OK. But nothing happens. The seconds continue to tick slowly past. And I start to get really scared. 20:04. It’s been three minutes. Why haven’t they replied? They must have been caught. Or worse . . .

I look out from behind the tree. The light’s starting to dim. It’ll be dark soon. I strain to hear anything, see anything. But it feels like I’m all alone. No one else is here. I get the urge to break the silence and solitude – to shout, to scream. I even open my mouth. But I don’t make a sound. I’m not stupid. I’m not suicidal.

I look at my watch. Ten seconds to go before I make the call. Where the fuck are they? And then my phone vibrates in my hand. It gives me a shock. I look at it and hurriedly open the message. It’s from Joe. I’m OK. They shot at me & missed. Think I’m near the Old House. Meet u there. U seen Rabbit?

I breathe a sigh of relief. Joe’s safe. I’d convinced myself he was lying in a pool of blood somewhere. And it would have been my fault. Right away my phone goes again. A message from Rabbit. I’m safe. Where shall I meet u? U with Joe?

I smile to myself. But in a second the smile is gone. I send messages back to Joe and Rabbit, let them know we’re all safe and tell them we’ll meet in the Old House.

I get to my feet and look around me once more. And then I start walking in the direction of the Old House, using the trees as cover. With every step, I look all around me, my ears tuned in to even the slightest of noises. If I hear anything, if I see anything, I’ll be down on the floor in a split second. I have to be careful.