Never The End

Chapter 23 - Too Soon

My heart instantly slowed as I breathed a huge sigh of relief. The overwhelming sense of achievement and happiness flooded over me. Jason wrapped his arms round my waist and whispered, "I knew you could do it."

I smiled feebly, still feeling completely and utterly disgusted in myself. "Can we just go now please?"

"Yeah babe, come on." His hand tapped my pocket and felt for the CD to confirm that it was still in my pocket. He relaxed as it traced the outline of the case.

I felt like everyone was staring at us, like everyone knew what I'd just done.

A sudden whirring noise blasted out from just behind us. The alarms. All my instincts told me I had to get away but my feet stayed rooted to the floor. I couldn't move. My muscles all froze as footsteps drummed behind me. I managed to swivel round only to see the previously immobile security guard sprinting towards me, hand on his walkie talkie.

The moment of relaxation I'd felt passed immediately. My heart began racing as the guard quickly advanced towards me.

A hand grabbed me and before I knew what was even happening, I was being swung round to see Jason pulling me along the pavements. In my rush to get away I'd dropped the CD, leaving my fingerprints behind with it. My mind was in overload. I was trying to desperately work out what was happening whilst bumping into people left right and centre. People quickly caught on to what was happening.

Hands tried to grab at my clothes but I dodged the feeble attempts. Jason was stopped in his track a few meters ahead of me as a large man caught his arm. Frantically pulling away, he swung at the man. A loud cracking sound made me flinch as his hand connected with the man's nose. The man yelled in agony and doubled over. Jason drove on, shaking his gradually swelling hand.

I could feel someone getting closer behind me and knew very well who it was. Not only were we thieves but Jason could be charged with assault. I felt myself crying. Tears were flooding down my face. Putting my mind to it I was a fast runner... that was the problem... my mind wasn't with it. My brain was a mess. The thundering footsteps made me scream as I realised just how close they were.

I forced myself to continue running, not thinking about the consequences. Jason kept gazing back at me, his eyes wide with excitement. I could hear him laughing and screaming. He was insane! My feet were swollen and sore but I knew I had no choice but to keep going.

I could feel a panting breath on the back of my neck.

“Jason!” I screamed, knowing that security guard was only metres behind me.

My legs were in agony and I was very aware of the fact that I couldn’t continue running for ever. Suddenly, I felt a hand brush my back. It tried to grab my clothes but I flinched away from it. Jason looked back at me. He slowed down, “Keep going!”

I had no idea which direction to run in. There were people everywhere, the whole street was blocked. Jason slowed to a halt and tried to push the growing crowd out of the way.

The hand managed to gain a full grasp on my top. I made a yelping sound as it’s fingernails dug deeply into my skin. “You are under arrest for theft. You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence."

A second policeman pounded past me and took hold of Jason. I hadn’t even realised the police were following us.

I felt a sharp, cold object touching my bare skin. Handcuffs. The circular cuffs scratched my wrist as he tightened them. I didn’t make any attempt to resist. There was a sharp piece of metal sticking into my skin. I wriggled slightly to try and loosen it.

“You keep still now madam, you’re in enough trouble as it is.”

“Sorry.” I wasn’t really directing my “sorry” at him. I hung my head, wanting to avoid making eye contact with anybody. There was people I knew surrounding us, all staring and shaking their head. I felt so violated. I knew it was my fault but I wanted to blame someone else.

The walk back to the shop seemed to take forever. People gawped at us from all angles. The feeling of exposure overwhelmed me. I didn’t dare take my eyes off the muddy pavement in front of me.

There was a police car waiting stationary outside. I was marched briskly over to the slightly rusty vehicle. There was a horrifically strong scent of alcohol looming. My head was pushed gently down and I was guided into the back seat. Jason was placed into a car that pulled up behind us. He winked at me as his head disappeared from view.

The seat was hard and there were cigarettes scattered all over the floor. I allowed my head to flop back hopelessly as I felt a complete sense of despair.