No Choice But Murder

9

I got out the shower, changed and brushed my teeth with one of the seven manky old toothbrushes inhabiting a plastic holder. I got out and glanced immediately at the clock. 7:14

Carter and James were awake, and Farah was grabbing up some clothes from the pile. She darted past me into the bathroom, slamming the door. I went towards the boys who were staring blankly around them.

'Guys?'

They both darted their heads to face me. James looked scared, but Carter looked cool, as if he was confident about inhabiting this place.

'Nice outfit, Keira. Chic.' He said, coolly, as he carried on staring at the dining table and its contents. He cocked his head to one side and narrowed his eyes and he stayed like that for what seemed like forever. James looked at me as a victim would to his killer. 'How?' he whispered.

'How what?' I said, settling myself on the sofa. I smoothed down my wet hair as best I could, to look presentable for the three witches, and sat carefully with my legs curved.

'How have you settled? Do you want to live here?' Tears sprung from his eyes. I looked away. 'Didn't Farah say?'

'That she was going to stay here too? Yes, yes she did.' James' said. Just then, Farah rushed out the bathroom. 'Six minutes only.' She placed herself next to me and smoothed down the creases in her skirt. 'I can hear them.'

Carter lay on the sofa opposite, one leg crossed, the other dangling on the side of the sofa. He seemed absolutely zen, as if he was in his bedroom. I shook my head and straightened my back. the sound of sandals slapping stairs at an alarming rate, became louder and louder.