IN BAD FAITH | peaky blinders | T.S

SEVENTEEN

SMALL HEATH, BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND

MARTHA

17.

Martha woke with the smell of mint and cigarette smoke across her face. She opened her eyes to the smooth white fabric of a clean shirt, unbuttoned at the collar; an arm stretched out under her neck, skin against skin. Tommy lay still and silently, his eyelashes curling against his high cheek bones as he slept. He breathed softly, his lips puckered, his guard down.

She soaked it in, how safe she felt with his body stretched out beside her. Light spilled in from the window, thin and white like a veil across their faces.

Bang.

Bang.

Bang.

Martha stopped breathing, bolted up from the bed to make sure she heard it right.

Bang.

Bang.

The sound of a fist against wood, violent and angry.

Bang.

She forgot about Tommy and the way his skin felt against hers, clambering over him. She stumbled, her hands scratching against the cold wooden floor as they caught her, stopping her from falling. She stood upright in the middle of the room, arms out in front of her, frozen to the spot.

Tommy blinked quickly, pushing himself from the bed. He rubbed his eyes until little shapes flew in front of him, wiping away the remnants of sleep - deep and warm and nightmare-less for the first time since he could remember.

"What are you doing?" he said, staring at Martha in confusion.

She didn't move a muscle, her eyes fixated on the door. That's when he heard it, the banging of wood.

"Martha?" he questioned, stepping to stand in front of her, but still she did not look at him. Her breath was rapid now, squeezing from her throat in bursts of warm breath, hyperventilating. Her entire body shook with panic as she stared, her mind in another place all together.

"Martha look at me," he said, putting his hand to her face, shaking her. "It's me. It's Tommy. Come back to me."

"They're here. They're back. They've found me."

He looked between her eyes, exasperated. What did she mean? The banging of the front door continued, growing louder but he couldn't focus on anything but the girl in front of him.

"They've come back. They've come back to kill me."

The words were falling from Martha's mouth before she could stop them, before she realised what was happening, quick and urgent. She must've sounded insane, but it was Sabini, she was sure of it. The sound of the pounding against wood made her heart lurch in her chest. It was angry and violent and identical to the night that Sabini had stormed their bedroom and kidnapped her sister. They were here now, ready to kill her just as they had Josephine.

"Tommy," someone shouted from outside, their voice muffled by the distance. "Hurry the fuck up." There was a pause before they called his name again.

Martha's eyes widened and Tommy sighed a breath of relief.

"It's John," he said, bringing his hand to the sides of her face. "Look at me, Martha. It's fine. You're fine. It's just John."

She let out a deep breath, her knees bending slightly beneath her. She lent into the palms of his hands as they cupped her face.