Rest In Peace (sequel to After They Died)

5- Ellie

You're probably scared for me right now.

You probably think I made a massive mistake getting on this train with him.

But it's all good, I know what I'm doing. I'm prepared for any scenario. I've taken self defence classes since we discovered that Rachel was kidnapped. If he tries anything, I can hold up a good fight. And if he's stronger than he looks, well that's what the pepper spray is for! See, I really have thought of everything.

I'm not an idiot. I was prepared for this- he was obviously going to ask me to follow him onto a train if he asked to meet at a train station!

Forests pass by in a green blur as our train rushes us to our destination in an absolute hurry like time is running out.

We sit in silence before arriving at Kings Cross Station, he ushers for me to follow and of course I do.

We stride through the station and down a road. Turning left then right then left again - or was it right? I'm losing track of where I am now, which I admit was careless of me considering that he's a potential kidnapper. I'm becoming more and more convinced that it was him by the second. He seems kinda shifty, uneasy. I don't really know how else to describe his behaviour, but I don't trust him.

He stops abruptly outside a house and roughly grabs my arm, pulling me inside.

A faint aroma of dust and dampness tickles under my nose as I walk through the door.

Mice dart around my ankles and spiders crawl up the damp walls. I hug my arms around my shoulders, desperate to shield myself from this dump. The floorboards creak under my feet, barely able to hold my weight. This place is a death trap! Moths fly around the bare bulb hanging from the ceiling and spider webs cluster in corners.

All I can picture is my best friend being dragged through the house violently. Terror in her eyes, pleading for mercy. She'd try and fight them, but Rachel knew deep down that she was weak, she couldn't fight them.

I remember when Rachel got beaten up by Jeanette. Her face looked like it had been chewed up and spat back out again. Blood was flowing freely and clumps of damaged skin coated her face. She was patterned with bruises from head to toe. She was too weak to beat Jeanette; she couldn't stand a chance here.

Still, Robert Clide strides confidently through the dingy house like he is oblivious to all of the clear dangers inside. Was Rachel staying in this dump? I shudder at the thought of her being kept here against her will in these atrocious conditions. It's also freezing cold in here and I can imagine my lips fading to a soft blue with a tinge of purple around the outside.

How can this man be so at ease?

He sits down in a tattered armchair and looks up at me.

"What do you know?" He asks me and I simply smile innocently in response and he glowers back at me. I'm enjoying this.