Beaten By Love

Chapter 4

 I felt a wave of anxiety sweep over me as I slammed the door shut to Taylor's car. I barely listened to anything she was babbling on about as we made our way to school, as I could only think about the events of last night. Someone was in the apartment. Someone was there, whilst Oscar and I were asleep, oblivious. We could've both been killed.

I wasn't just worried about what had happened – I was worried about what was going to happen. When I approached him. When I spoke. If he would even listen. It probably had nothing to do with him, but then I have no idea how I had gotten involved in some psychotic game of cat and mouse.

I had decided I would find Jace before the first class, else I'd never be able to focus on the work.

But before I knew it, the bell rang for class, and I hadn't seen Jace anywhere.

I couldn't find him during break. Or lunch.

And his car wasn't in its usual parking spot at the end of the day. He hadn't even come in.

After the exhausting day of worrying, I looked forward to working this evening, hoping the stacking of shelves would give me something to focus on. First though, I had to go pick Oscar up from school and drop him to Ms. Thatcher's, an older lady living on her own. She often takes care of Oscar when I work evening shifts, if dad isn't around.

As I was approaching his school, I noticed a male figure, with his hood up, turning away from the front gates and towards me along the path, past other parents going to collect their children. As he passed me, he shoved into my shoulder, causing me to stumble to the side, as I noticed something fell from his pocket.

"Excuse me!' I bent down to pick it up. "You dropped..."

He was gone. I didn't understand. How could he have just disappeared? The road was broad and not too busy so I should've been able to spot him but he was nowhere to be seen.

I looked down at the item he'd dropped – a small envelope. I turned it over and my mouth dropped open in silence. The name 'Shay' was written on. What was going on...I slowly took the piece of paper out of the envelope and read 'Cute little boy, shame if something happened to him...' in messy black ink.

Gulping, I turned back towards the school, shoving the envelope into my coat pocket. Just up ahead, between the legs of other parents and heads of other children, I spotted the blond boy stood waiting just inside the school gate, looking around until he saw me, and his face lit up.

He ran forwards and jumped into my arms, giving the biggest bear hug, which I really needed at that moment.

"Hello, monkey! How was school today?"

We started off towards our building, Oscar holding my hand as we walked.

"It was alright"

"Just alright? What lessons did you have?

He thought for a moment before answering. "Um we had maths, art, science and...P.E!"

"Ooh what did you do in P.E? Some football? Or...running? Did you race against each other?"

He laughed at my enthusiasm. "No! We don't do any of that! We played with the big rainbow parachute in the gym! It was so much fun! You would've love it, Shay"

"I'm sure I would have but I had boring classes today" I pulled a funny face at him before heading up into our building and up the flights of stairs. The elevator had been broken for months. I knocked on the door, which was two down from ours.

The door opened to reveal Ms. Thatcher, dressed in her usual floral dress (which I always thought was a tad too tight), pink slippers and blue cardigan. Usually her dress was the only thing I noticed a change in.

"Shay! Oscar! I wondered when you'd get here. I've just put a fresh batch of brownies in the oven." She winked clearly down at Oscar. His eyes gleamed with excitement.

"Thanks for having him again, Ms. Thatcher. I finish work late again but I'll come in to take him to bed. Right, give me a big hug, monkey! I'll see you when I finish work, be good remember."

Ms. Thatcher closed the door, and I turned away, heading back down the stairs, and out of the building, walking towards the shop. Tonight should be a quiet night.

Boy, was I wrong.