Beyond Good and Evil

Chapter 15: Ferris Wheels

Pressure pressed down on Alicia's chest as the Boeing took off into the air, pulling in its wheels. Outside the window, Stockholm was growing further and further away, until all she could see was different shades of green, and cars the size of ants moving along the highway.

Instinctively, she grasped Robert's hand, squeezing tight. He didn't complain. Instead he stroked his thumb reassuringly over her knuckles, leaning his head back against the headrest.

"Pst, Alicia," a voice spoke from behind her.

Bemused, she glanced over her shoulder. Poking his head through the gap between hers and Robert's seats, was Tomi. His hair was down this time, spilling in a luscious, glistening chestnut river over his shoulders.

"Tomi!" She smiled. "Is it just you on this flight with us?"

He shook his head, his brown eyes moving to his left. "Andreas and Elsa are here with me. Nicky, Jonas and his girlfriend are behind us."

"The whole gang's here!" Andreas called out, earning a few hushed shhhs from around him.

Alicia giggled, but quickly sobered. "Is Elsa okay? I haven't seen her since the incident."

"I'm fine, Al," the voice of her best friend whispered. Moments later, her head popped through the gap, beside Tomi's. "Look, I want to apologise for what happened. It's my fault Robert got hurt by Dandy. It's my fault you were in the situation in the first place."

She looked better than the last time Alicia had seen her. Faint bruises marked her cheek and jaw, but other than that she seemed fine - white blonde hair falling perfectly straight over her shoulders, big, blue eyes gazing curiously from her to Robert.

"I don't blame you, Elsa," she smiled half-heartedly, extending her hand to her best friend. "I would have done the same thing, if that was me."

Elsa hesitantly took her hand, leaning her forehead against Alicia's. They had done this as children, whenever they had sleepovers at Elsa's house. Back then it had been a distractive strategy to take their minds off the flashing lightning outside, and booming thunder. Since then it had progressed into an affectionate, friendly gesture.

"Is Robert okay?"

Alicia took a brief glance at him, smiling warmly to herself. His eyelids were peacefully closed, his long lashes brushing the hollows of his eyes as they twitched in the early stages of sleep. She was relieved, to say the least. He had been wide awake for the past twenty hours or so.

"He's alright," she smiled at Elsa. "He's sleeping."

She turned around in her seat, resting her own head against her headrest, and closed her eyes.

The sky was an infinite dark grey mass. Lightning flashed behind the cover of clouds, illuminating however briefly Alicia's surroundings. She ran and ran, begging her legs to carry her faster. Behind her, her pursuer was gaining speed, his footsteps hitting the grime-covered concrete hard. The sound encircled Alicia like disturbed spirits, haunting her until she was shaking her head, covering her ears with both hands.

"Go away Dandy!" She yelled over her shoulder, rounding the upcoming corner.

She collided front-on with something, staggering back into the brick wall. Though it was dark, with little illumination, she could make out the fine details of a feminine face. Brown hair fell over a narrow, petite set of shoulders.

"Run, Alicia," she whispered. "He'll get you too."

Alicia gasped, covering her mouth with both hands in sheer horror. The woman before her had a necklace of blood circling her neck, but seemed not to notice the droplets dripping down onto the ground between them, which had turned into a pool of crimson liquid.