Accused

Chapter Two

-2-

-20 Months Ago-

I walked up the steep hill, already out of breath.

I really need to do more exercise.

The ground below was soggy from all the rain we had had the past few weeks. The wind was whipping around me, causing my cheeks to burn with the cold.

I could see the old tree from here, but no figure standing by it like I was expecting. The tree reached high into the sky, towering over everything. I remembered from when I was a child we used to try and climb it but never got very far; its branches twirled too much and circled too high into the sky.

The branches had been stripped by the wind and the nearing winter weather. They were tangled up together, giving the impression of entwined lover’s hands.

I looked more closely to see if there was a figure standing there but I had no sort of luck. I looked at my watch, 4:58. I was dead on time.

Where was he?

Reaching the tree I tried to catch my breath. I was shaded from the tower above me so in seconds I was hopping from one foot to another, trying to keep myself warm. My toes had already gone numb and felt my hands going the same way.

 The wind was ruffling may hair, suddenly self-conscious of how I looked I reached into my pocket and pulled out a mirror; I had plastered myself in make-up, trying to make myself as beautiful as I could.

I sat down and leaned up against the tree. Looking down at my watch it read 5:05. Why was he late?

The sun was setting, waving its goodbyes to the sky and waiting for the moon to make it appearance. I noticed that the stars were already twinkling in the sky, watching and looking over me; winter really was on its way if the stars were already out at just gone 5.

At 5:30 I started to get restless. It was a joke, all of it, a joke. I was so annoyed at myself. I was about to leave when I looked over at the warehouse. I stopped and thought for a second. Maybe he was in there? Maybe he was early and got cold so decided to take cover and waited for me there. It seemed like a plausible idea. If I was smart enough I would have taken cover there as well.

I started walking towards it, a newly found bounce in my step. He would never be that mean to make it a joke, Lee is lovely and sweet.

Never being that close to the warehouse before I realised it was a lot bigger than I thought it was. The paint was peeling off the front showing a rusty underneath. There was a small door at the side; I strode up to it, pushing it open. It let out a low groan making me cringe at how loud it was.

I stepped inside. It was dimly lit but I could make out my surroundings just about. I was in a small office; there was a desk at one end and a big window that looked into the warehouse. I guessed that was for if there were workers in there, the manager could watch them work.

Nothing was in there though, just another table inside and a chair in the centre. Lee was nowhere to be seen. I was fuming.

What a dick!

I should never have thought he would have wanted to meet up with me. It was just some sick joke to get to me. I was going to kill him, I was so annoyed!

I turned on my heels and was about to storm out of the door when I heard shouts. I turned to look out the window; three men had walked into the warehouse through a large door down at the back.

Two of the men had their hands clasped around the middle one who was struggling against them. The middle man had a black material bag over his head and his hands were tapped together. He was shouting and squirming in the grip of the two men.