Game Of Fate

Two

The next morning, I wake up at 8am. In the first few moments I don't really process it, but then I actually look properly at the clock and realise what the numbers mean.
"SHIT!"
In one frantic, awkward movement, I stumble out of bed and crash into my bedroom door. Why the hell would Bobby and Clara go to school without waking me up?! They probably forgot that they have an older brother. Or maybe they left me sleeping on purpose, the fucking bast-
But then, my mind cools down a little and I remember something. Quickly, and excitedly, I rush over to the window to confirm my suspicions. And there it is. Everything is white.
The back garden is coated with an unbelievably large amount of snow - it's literally a miracle. There's no way school will be open today.
My phone buzzes, and I see that I've been bombarded with messages from Fred.
IT SNOWED.
STANLEY
ARE YOU AWAKE
WAKE UP
COME ON
STANLEY
STANLEY
STANLEY
STANLEY
STANLEY
STANLEY
FOR FUCK'S SAKE WAKE UP
When I open the messages I see that he's currently typing. No doubt sending me another text in all caps.
I'm awake. Meet you at the hill in 30 I send.
He sends me a thumbs up emoji back.

Downstairs, my siblings are shovelling cereal into their mouths at the speed of light. I'm guessing they want to get out in it too.
"Don't take my sled." I say sternly, but there's no hiding the cheeriness that's emanating from me right now. There's a bounce in my every step this morning.
As I stroll into the kitchen I notice the absence of my mother.
"Where's mum?" I ask.
"Shopping." Bobby says, between mouthfuls. "She said not to go out until she gets back."
Well, I think I'm gonna have to disregard that rule. I did promise 30 minutes, after all.

Once I'm ready, I head out into the back garden to get my sled. My footsteps come with a satisfying crunch that makes my heart flutter with anticipation. I call Fred.
"I might be like 5 minutes late. Just getting my sled out now."
Fred groans, but I can tell even without seeing him that he's smiling.
"Alright. But don't make me wait too long, okay?" He says.
"I won't."
"See you, then."
"See you."
I grin, slipping my phone back into my coat pocket, then reach for the handle of the shed door. And just before I'm about to open it, I hear something from inside.
Rustling.
It's probably nothing. But given that yesterday hearing weird noises meant that I took a random guy into my house - a guy who is possibly connected to some men-in-black-esque dudes in suits and sunglasses - I don't really feel like ignoring it.
Do I go and get some kind of weapon? Go in anyway? Stand outside the door until whatever it is magically disappears?
For the first few minutes, the latter option seems like the plan, then I realise I'm wasting time and I just need to calm down and get on with it.
So, again, I go for the door handle, softly pulling it back, when-
Again, there's a sound. But this time it sounds like a gasp.

I casually walk through the utility room to the kitchen. Nothing out of the ordinary here, I am just going to get a drink. Not that the glasses are anywhere near the knife block, but oh well. Which one looks most threatening? This one?
"Are you going out?" Someone asks from behind me.
I turn around, trying not to look like I'm about to threaten someone with a kitchen knife.
"And if I am?"
"You're not allowed." Clara says.
Great. Now there's another thing to get past. Fred will literally kill me.
"Actually, that rule only applies to you two."
She narrows her eyes.
"Actually, no it doesn't. She said that none of us were allowed out. If I see you leave, I'm telling Mum."
"Well, if that's the case, you don't have to worry. I'll wait." I try to sound authentic, and add a smile on the end.
Clara rolls her eyes.
"I know you'll try something. And I will see it when you do."
"Believe whatever you want. I'm a good boy." I say, before strolling back into the utility room. "And because I am such a good boy, I am going to get everyone's sleds out for them."

Unfortunately, due to Clara camping in the kitchen, I leave the house without a knife, and instead am armed with a bottle of Impulse I swiped from the utility room. Body spray. Not exactly the intimidating weapon I was hoping for. Once again, I find myself standing on the other side of the shed door, staring at the wood in front of me.
"How can you call yourself a man, Stanley?" I mutter to myself. "Are you sixth form? Or are you Year 6? Huh?"
Well, this is awesome. Standing outside my shed talking to myself, when I was supposed to be meeting Fred at the hill 10 minutes ago.
I'm just going to do it.
So I reach out for the door handle, throw it open with the force of a mighty god, and whip out my killer body spray to counter any enemy attack.
And it turns out, there's nothing there.
Well. Now I just look stupid.
Sighing, I take out Bobby and Clara's sleds, leaning them against the wall, and then my own. I have a slightly better sled, because mine broke a couple years ago and I pitched in some of my own money to get it. I mean, I regret the purchase, seeing as it basically never snows in the UK, and I spent £15 on it, but it does mean I'm always the coolest kid on the slope.
I'm about to close the shed when I notice something on the floor. A droplet of something red. Paint? I guess it could be paint. Not unusual for a shed. But then I notice another drop. And another drop. And then in the corner, a fairly large puddle of the mysterious red liquid. It looks like it's coming from behind one of the boxes. 
I ready myself with the Impulse.
And pull the box asi-
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWHATHTHEFUCKCK-"
A cold hand slaps itself over my mouth.
"Shh!"
It's the guy. The guy from yesterday. Fuck that.
Stumbling backwards, I press down on the Impulse, only to realise that I never twisted the cap.
Tristen - that was his name, wasn't it? - knocks the impulse across the room and tackles me. I squirm as much as I possibly can, but I can't escape his grip.
"Stanley, let me e-"
He stops suddenly.
In the silence, I hear the sound of distant helicopter blades. Slowly, it gets louder. 
He doesn't loosen his grip, but his hands tense up, and when I look up at his face, it's white as a sheet. Holy shit. Is this guy a criminal? Is that helicopter looking for him? Is that why he was hurt yesterday? Mum is gonna kill me.
If this guy doesn't get to me first, that is.
"You're in trouble, aren't you." I say, my voice small.
Tristen looks down at me, a hint of fear in his impossibly green eyes, and exhales, finally letting me go as the sound of the helicopter fades away.
"I can explain."

A/N: (Do people still do these? No?) Sorry it's so short and bad. I just wanted to get it done. Anyway, stay tuned for more awkward shed content. 
Maybe I will improve this part in the future.
Also I didn't proofread because proofreading is for losers so it probably sounds Awful