Accused

Chapter Five

-5-                                                          

-20 Months Ago

 -Olivia-               

I stepped off the train at about 2 am. I was exhausted and needed to sleep but I knew I mustn’t stop. I purchased a tube ticket on the district line going towards Upminster.

The train was virtually empty which was creepy; the only sound was the clatter of the carriages. The gentle rocking of the train swayed my head back and worth. Lolling me into sleep. I forced my eyes to stay open. Not wanting fall asleep for even a second, fearing that I would have another fitful nightmare.

Fifteen stops I thought to myself. About half an hour. That’s how long I need to last, just half an hour.

The tube slowed to a stop. I pushed my bike and I from the tube and walked to the surface. I got out and looked around. I was in West Ham and according to the Google maps I needed to walk to a bus stop 2 minutes away.

I got on my bike and slowly started to peddle myself along to the bus stop. Willing myself to stay alert and focused. I reached bus stop P and looked around, there were no buses insight.

Fuck, why did I ever think buses ran this late?

I cursed myself over and over. I looked around, there was a scaffolding just behind the stop what was covered wooden boards. I could just take shelter there for a couple of hours before the first bus came.

I strolled over and slumped to the floor. Just as my bum hit the floor I felt the urge of sleep wash over me and my head droop to the side. I tried to force my eyes open but they wouldn’t do what I wanted them to do. They were closed and I was asleep, the place where I felt most vulnerable.

Images flashed before my eyes. Men dressed in black taunting me, circling me over and over. Jacks last cry of pain echoed through my ears and haunted me. I could hear Sarah’s crying when she knew Jack was dead. The feeling of emptiness filled me and encased me in a torment of regret and sorrow.

Jack was in the warehouse, acting tough but inside hoping and praying they did nothing to Sarah. He was scared, but didn't want to show it to The Eagles. The hard drive, the things on it were horrific. Deaths recorded just like Jack’s own, brutal murders that were blamed on other people or deemed as suicides. A guy dressed in black was now charging towards me, clutching at his gun, firing it at me repeatedly until I fell to the floor, dead.

I woke up, just like the night before. The street around me was now packed and full of people. I pulled myself up to standing and looked at my watch, 7:05am. I had slept a lot longer than I had planned to.

Every moment I wasted was a moment The Eagles or the cops would be catching up with me.

I saw the 267 arrive at the bus stop. Loads of people made their way onto the bus. I waited patiently behind them, not wanting to draw attention to myself. I had left my bike behind now. Even though you can’t be traced by using a bike, I didn't want to be seen riding it then be known on it.

The bus was packed. I was squished against people, grossing myself as I realised I must really smell and look awful. Looking down at myself this thought was confirmed when I saw I really looked like a mess. Even though I didn't know anyone I was self-conscious.

I got off at Stratford about half an hour later and looked around. It was a busy town. People were streaming past me. The problem I had was this was the furthest I had got with my search.