Before Another War

Chapter Twenty-Six

Raf rose his pounding head from the airbag. Disorientated, he tried to figure out where he was. The Mini... she wouldn't stop. Neither of them had realised in time, Matt was drunk and Raf was panicking. They should've stopped. But Matt had been so determined to get there in time that they didn't think about the speed limit. Then, he'd said something that had confused Raf, something about things not going to plan.

He looked over to see Matt's face firmly planted into another airbag that had erupted from the wheel. Blood ran down his ear.

'Matt?' Raf shook his gently. He didn't know what to do, but Alex was still in danger. 'Shit.' Raf hadn't seen the other driver. Yet, when he glanced up to the rear view mirror he could faintly make out her figure on the road, illuminated by Clive's headlights. 

Clive. Raf turned to look out at the road. He followed us.

Focusing, he pulled Matt backwards onto the seat. He didn't look right. Blood caked his face and his nose was probably broken. It didn't seem serious though and Raf couldn't find any severe injuries. Matt would survive. Luckily, they'd been in his mother's car. If they'd been in the other, both of them might have been in a similar state to the other driver.

Having decided that Matt would be okay, Raf pulled down the sun visor in front of him and stared in the mirror. Small cuts danced over his face and glass streaked his hair. He noticed the state of the car. The windscreen had smashed under the pressure and the front had crumpled as if it was made out of paper and not metal.

He closed his eyes, trying to get his thoughts together as his headache got worse. Finally, he remembered. Alex. She's in danger! They needed to go—no time to waste.

Raf shook Matt again, harder this time. 'Matt? I need you to wake up mate!' Still nothing, but Raf couldn't wait for him. He knew that he should go to the hospital, but they'd only get in trouble. Praying that the car would still work, he leaned over and took off Matt's seatbelt. Now for the hard part. As gently as he could, Raf began dragging Matt over to his side.

His head hung like a rag doll as he pulled him across. It wasn't working. Raf wasn't strong enough to switch places like this. Jumping out of the car to get a better angle, he spotted Clive coming towards him shaking a torch and shouting,

'Stop right there!'

Raf didn't. He ran round the other side and swung the driver's door open, and with surprising strength, he lifted Matt into the passenger's seat. Raf spotted a pool of blood on his right thigh as he moved him across, but there was no time to worry about that.

Clive was almost upon him. Raf leapt into the driver's seat, locked the door, and started the car. The engine spluttered, struggling. Raf knew it could catch fire, or break, or blow up, but he had to take the risk. Clive fought against the door, trying to pry it open.

'Stop, you idiot!' Clive cried, but Raf was too desperate, too scared. He shoved his foot down on the accelerator, and he was off, leaving Clive behind him. Raf's heart felt as if it was about to burst as he watched Clive's figure shrink in the mirror.

As he sped away, Raf's thoughts turned back to the moments before the accident. He'd met her eyes, just as they'd collided. He'd never forget her face. Fighting off the guilt, he pressed on. He needed to focus on Alex. After that, they could get Matt to hospital and face whatever punishment they deserved.

His head was fuzzy, fighting off the concussion. It was at this moment that Raf wished he was a drinker. It would have taken the edge off things, at least.

Finally, the shock began to wear off, making space for the terror to set in. Raf still didn't know what they'd encounter once they got to the house, but it wouldn't be good. For now, he focused on getting to the address. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he let Alex die due to his own cowardice.