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Authors: Katherine Roberts
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keep me here.”
She sat up and stared at the door, an idea taking root in her brain. If their powers weren’t real, it would do no harm to play along, would it? Then, when her kidnappers trusted her enough to give her back her clothes, she’d run. As fast and as far as she could.
Chapter 6
THE THRALLSTONE
Wednesday night, October 28
~~*~~
On Wednesday evening, at about the time Natalie was making her escape bid, Tim came to a decision. He locked himself in the bathroom and hunched before the mirror to examine his ear. The miniature Death Head skull grinned back at him. Nothing had gone right since he’d started to wear it, almost as if the skull contained the evil powers Gaz claimed it did. He clenched his teeth and slowly eased the earring out.
It came free in a spurt of yellow pus. He wiped it clean and dropped it into one of the many pockets in his birthday jacket. Then he hurried downstairs where his mother was just getting into her coat.
“I’m going round to Mrs Carter’s,” she said without looking at him. “There’s a pizza in the freezer for supper if you get hungry.”
He took a deep breath. “I have to tell you something. It’s about Nat.”
She froze, one arm half in the coat sleeve.
Tim rushed on. “I lied to that policewoman. I… uh… didn’t get back till early Sunday morning and I saw Nat go out. I thought it was weird, her going out in the dark and all that fog. I know I should’ve stopped her but I thought she’d be OK with Jo and the dog. I’m real sorry I let her go off like that. I’ve looked everywhere I can think of round town. Do you want me to help you search the woods or anything?”
“Oh Timothy.” Her hand touched his smooth scalp – the weirdest sensation, sending shivers through him. “I already know you lied.”
He blinked. “You know? Then… you’re not angry with me?”
His mother sighed. “I’m not pleased you lied to the police, no. That was stupid. But I was stupid, too. I heard the door go that morning and assumed it was you coming in. If I’d checked, I might have stopped Natalie myself.” Her voice broke and she sniffed before continuing. “Thanks for the offer of help, love, but the police have already got people searching the woods, and it’s been on the news. I’m sure they’ll find something soon.” She gave him a brave smile. “Be good for your father, now. You might take him something to eat if you remember.”
“But—” Tim scowled at the closing door. If he went into the garage he’d only get his head bitten off.
But his stepfather must have been listening. No sooner had his mother’s car pulled away, than Mr Marlins came into the kitchen. He gave Tim a speculative look. “So you want to make up for your stupidity, do you? That makes a change.”
Tim frowned at his stepfather. Something was different but it took him a moment to work out what.
Mr Marlins had shaved off his beard.
Tim fiddled with his jacket zips. “Julie says we’re to get our own supper,” he mumbled. “D’you want me to put a pizza on?”
“How about we go out for a takeaway?”
Tim stared at him in disbelief. “She’s taken the car.”
A comradely hand rested on his shoulder. “We’ll take my car. You haven’t had a ride in it yet, have you?”
“No...” He blinked a few times, trying to understand what had brought on this change. Not only had Mr Marlins shaved but, for the first time Tim could remember, his stepfather’s breath didn’t smell of beer.
“Come on then if you’re coming.”
Still bemused, Tim followed Mr Marlins into the garage. He’d never seen his stepfather’s car close-up. It looked sporty and he’d have liked more time to examine its sleek black curves. But Mr Marlins had already opened the garage door and was in the driver’s seat, turning on the ignition. Tim hurried round to the passenger side. The seats were real leather and creaked against his jacket. The engine spluttered, then roared into
She sat up and stared at the door, an idea taking root in her brain. If their powers weren’t real, it would do no harm to play along, would it? Then, when her kidnappers trusted her enough to give her back her clothes, she’d run. As fast and as far as she could.
Chapter 6
THE THRALLSTONE
Wednesday night, October 28
~~*~~
On Wednesday evening, at about the time Natalie was making her escape bid, Tim came to a decision. He locked himself in the bathroom and hunched before the mirror to examine his ear. The miniature Death Head skull grinned back at him. Nothing had gone right since he’d started to wear it, almost as if the skull contained the evil powers Gaz claimed it did. He clenched his teeth and slowly eased the earring out.
It came free in a spurt of yellow pus. He wiped it clean and dropped it into one of the many pockets in his birthday jacket. Then he hurried downstairs where his mother was just getting into her coat.
“I’m going round to Mrs Carter’s,” she said without looking at him. “There’s a pizza in the freezer for supper if you get hungry.”
He took a deep breath. “I have to tell you something. It’s about Nat.”
She froze, one arm half in the coat sleeve.
Tim rushed on. “I lied to that policewoman. I… uh… didn’t get back till early Sunday morning and I saw Nat go out. I thought it was weird, her going out in the dark and all that fog. I know I should’ve stopped her but I thought she’d be OK with Jo and the dog. I’m real sorry I let her go off like that. I’ve looked everywhere I can think of round town. Do you want me to help you search the woods or anything?”
“Oh Timothy.” Her hand touched his smooth scalp – the weirdest sensation, sending shivers through him. “I already know you lied.”
He blinked. “You know? Then… you’re not angry with me?”
His mother sighed. “I’m not pleased you lied to the police, no. That was stupid. But I was stupid, too. I heard the door go that morning and assumed it was you coming in. If I’d checked, I might have stopped Natalie myself.” Her voice broke and she sniffed before continuing. “Thanks for the offer of help, love, but the police have already got people searching the woods, and it’s been on the news. I’m sure they’ll find something soon.” She gave him a brave smile. “Be good for your father, now. You might take him something to eat if you remember.”
“But—” Tim scowled at the closing door. If he went into the garage he’d only get his head bitten off.
But his stepfather must have been listening. No sooner had his mother’s car pulled away, than Mr Marlins came into the kitchen. He gave Tim a speculative look. “So you want to make up for your stupidity, do you? That makes a change.”
Tim frowned at his stepfather. Something was different but it took him a moment to work out what.
Mr Marlins had shaved off his beard.
Tim fiddled with his jacket zips. “Julie says we’re to get our own supper,” he mumbled. “D’you want me to put a pizza on?”
“How about we go out for a takeaway?”
Tim stared at him in disbelief. “She’s taken the car.”
A comradely hand rested on his shoulder. “We’ll take my car. You haven’t had a ride in it yet, have you?”
“No...” He blinked a few times, trying to understand what had brought on this change. Not only had Mr Marlins shaved but, for the first time Tim could remember, his stepfather’s breath didn’t smell of beer.
“Come on then if you’re coming.”
Still bemused, Tim followed Mr Marlins into the garage. He’d never seen his stepfather’s car close-up. It looked sporty and he’d have liked more time to examine its sleek black curves. But Mr Marlins had already opened the garage door and was in the driver’s seat, turning on the ignition. Tim hurried round to the passenger side. The seats were real leather and creaked against his jacket. The engine spluttered, then roared into
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