Read Online Dead Angels by Tim O'Rourke - Free Book Online Page A

pleasure at tormenting Melody. 
    “‘Hurry up!” the boy keeping watch said again, looking back over his shoulder to make sure that they were still alone.
    Then, as if finding the winning lottery ticket, the boy pulled something from the huge pocket on Melody’s apron and yelped, “What do we ‘ave here then?”
    I peered through a gap in the bins and saw what looked like some kind of chain hanging from the boy’s fist. He taunted Melody with it by swinging it back and forth in front of her face. It was long and black and seemed to be made of beads. Attached to it was a cross.
    “What’s this then?” the boy sneered, and for the first time, I could see that his forehead and cheeks were covered in sore-looking pimples.
    “Oh, isn’t it pretty!” the girl mocked, releasing Melody’s hands so she could take a better look.
    “It’s a necklace,” the kid with the buckteeth sniggered, spraying a stream of spit from his lips.
    Holding it in front of Melody’s face, the kid with the zits snapped, “Is it worth anything?”
    Melody remained silent, never taking her eyes off her tormentors. Her face was paper white and however much she tried to hide it, I could see she was scared and I could smell her fear. I’d put up with my own fair amount of shit from bullies in the past because they thought I was thick, but I had learnt not be scared of them.
    “It’s one of those religious thingies!” the girl chirped up. “I think it’s some sorta good luck charm or something.”
    “Oooh!” the boy with the spots smirked. “Magic, is it?” and he swung the rosary beads like a pendulum in front of Melody’s face.
    Melody just stared back at him.
    “Do you want it back?” he asked.
    Melody nodded.
    “Go on, take them,” he taunted.
    I watched Melody look at the chain as it was waved before her.
    “Go on, take it!” the girl urged with excitement.
    Melody slowly raised her hand and reached for the chain, but spotty snatched them away. This sent the girl and the kid with the teeth rolling about in a fit of hysterics.
    “You weren’t quick enough, holy-girl,” spotty teased. Then, bringing the chain within Melody’s reach again, he said, “Go on, take it.”
    At first Melody didn’t react and stood staring at the boy. Without warning, Melody suddenly clawed for her chain again. But, the boy was too quick and had snatched them out of her reach. Again the girl and the idiot-looking kid fell about laughing. It was then I realised that not only did he look like a donkey with his buckteeth, but he also sounded like one as he sprayed laughter down the alley.
    “You’ve got to be quicker than that!” spotty sneered, his eyes looking wild and excited.
    I wanted to spring from my hiding place and tell them to leave the girl alone, but I’d only been above ground an hour or so. What did I really know about these humans? I didn’t want to draw any unwanted attention to myself.
    Melody grabbed for the chain and again spotty pulled them out of her reach.
    “Give it ‘ere,” donkey-boy said, reaching for the chain. “Let me put it on!”
    “Get the fuck outta here!” spotty snapped. “What’s wrong with you, Barry? Are you some sorta fag?”
    So donkey-boy’s name was Barry, huh?
    But it was too late, Barry had taken hold of the rosary just as the other boy pulled away. The alleyway came alive with the sound of clinking as the chain broke and the tiny beads scattered all over the ground.
    “Oh, I’m so sorry,” spotty smiled, looking back at Melody, who stood and watched the beads bounce and roll away down the alleyway. Her face looked ashen. Melody made a gulping sound in the back of her throat and I wasn’t sure if this was an attempt to hold back tears or to try and mask her anger. 
    “Look what’s happened to the pretty necklace,” the girl scoffed and again Barry began to bellow like a donkey.
    Gripping hold of Melody’s hand, spotty stuffed what was left of the broken necklace into it.