Part 2
Cheryl wasn’t aware she had passed out until she woke up, but it must only have been for a minute at the most. All she could hear was screaming, and what sounded like a distant rumbling sound. She sat up, her head spinning, trying to see but the room was thick with smoke and dust. Panic hit her immediately.
‘Nicola!’ she screamed, staggering to her feet. ‘Sarah!’
Somebody ran into her and she fell backwards against the bar. Using it to get a sense of direction she started to make her way along the bar, calling the girls’ names as loud as she could. ‘Cheryl!’ she heard suddenly, and she turned to see Sarah right behind her and hugged her in relief.
‘What the fcuk Cheryl,’ she gasped. ‘Where’s Nicola?’
‘I don’t know, I can’t find her, I don’t know what to do…’ Cheryl moaned.
‘She was right next to us she can’t be far… NICOLA!’ Sarah hollered.
‘Sarah, Cheryl, I’m here!’ Nicola appeared in front of them and the three girls clutched each other, crying in relief. ‘Let’s get the hell out of here.’ Sarah said shakily.
Somehow they found their way to the exit and stumbled out into the street. Then they just stood there, looking around in astonishment.
Every building in sight seemed to be on fire. Cars were overturned, people were running in every direction, windows were smashed; doors had been blown clean off their hinges. For a long time, like many around them, they just stood in shock. Then something else registered in Cheryl’s numb brain and she grabbed at Sarah’s arm, making the tall blonde turn to look at her.
‘Nadine and Kimberley.’
Sarah immediately flung her bag onto the floor and dropped to her knees, rummaging through it frantically. She extracted her phone and Cheryl watched as she dialled Nadine’s number, then Kimberley’s, both unsuccessfully.
‘There ringing out but neither of them are answering…’ Sarah groaned after a couple more tries, burying her face in her hands. Nicola crouched down beside her and hugged her shoulders. ‘Think about it. They only left literally about two minutes before… whatever that was… happened. They can’t have gone far.’ Nicola pointed up the street. ‘They’d have either gone left or right at the end there.’
Cheryl started marching off down the street.
‘Cheryl what are you doing?’
‘I’m going left.’ Cheryl shouted, turning around briefly. ‘You two go right, go to the end then meet us back here. I’ve got my phone.’
Cheryl didn’t give them time to protest. She was walking as fast as she could without running; her left leg was killing, she could feel the wet blood under her dress so knew she’d probably fell on some glass or something, but right now she didn’t care. All she could think about was Kimberley and Nadine. Just as she turned left, Cheryl heard running footsteps behind her. She glanced over her shoulder.
Cheryl wasn’t aware of what had happened until the man had her pinned against the wall by the throat. Straight away she was choking. She grabbed his arm with both of her own but he wouldn’t budge. With his free hand he grabbed her bag and tipped it upside down.
‘Where’s your fcuking money *Female Dog*!’ he growled in her face. Cheryl couldn’t breathe. She felt his hand slip under the bottom of her dress and start going up. ‘You must have some money somewhere… keep it in here do you, whore…’
He didn’t get any further. Something flew out of nowhere and hit them both, sending Cheryl to the floor. She heard a scream of rage and a sickening crack. Cheryl covered her head with her arms and closed her eyes.
‘Cheryl! Cheryl, get up, you’re alright.’
Nothing but the sound of that voice could have made Cheryl sit bolt upright in surprise. ‘Kimberley!’
Cheryl threw her arms around her friend and burst into tears. She couldn’t hug her tight enough for it to be enough just then. Kimberley eventually managed to pull her away, and Cheryl noticed the blood on her face, in her hair. She wanted to say so much. But Kimberley was there, in front of her, alive. Something else was more important.
‘Where’s Nadine, Kimba?’
