Cast The Die

Chapter Twenty-Four

I cry out because the pain is excruciating. I opened my eyes to see the man walking down the steps, gun in hand. He swung his leg again, this time hitting Cole in the side of the head making him fall down another flight of stairs. The sound of his body hitting each step echoed through the air. I try to shout something, but it hurts, it hurts to breathe, and I can barely move. The man steps over my limp body and heads straight for Cole. He reaches down and grabs the scruff of his neck, he pulled him up and swung his fist at his face. He did this three times, each blow seemed to get harder and louder. When Cole's body became lifeless, he released his grip. I tried to move but I couldn't.

"Fucking bitch" the man looked up at me.

"Please" I cried. "Please don't" I cried even louder. As he walked up the steps towards me, I could see the light reflecting off his bald head. He was a lot older than Cole, forties maybe fifties. He had an evil grin; his eyes were also full of darkness. Is Cole dead? Is he going to kill me?

"You're fucking pathetic" he towered over me. "You both are. Did you really think you'd get away?" he struck me in the ribs with his boot, winding me. I try to scream but another blow to the ribs knocks the air out of me completely. I can feel myself being lifted by the hood on Cole's jacket, he throws me against the wall and wraps his hands around my neck. I try to wrestle his hands off me but he's too strong, my feet are leaving the ground and I can't breathe. I can't breathe. I start to see stars when suddenly, I hit the ground. Cole's alive. The two of them are wrestling each other at the bottom of the steps, Cole manages to get on top of him and strikes the side of his face with his fist repeatedly. I reach for the gun at the top of the steps and throw it down to wear he is pummeling his fists into this man's head.

"Cole!" I shouted. I watched as he pulled the trigger and the bullet was embedded into the man's forehead. My instinct was to scream or cry, but I just collapsed onto the step where I was almost strangled to death.

"Are you okay?" Cole shouted up to me.

Yes, I nod. I wanted to respond sarcastically but didn't have the strength.

"Come on, we need to go" he put my arm over his shoulder and helped me down the rest of the stairs. He pushed the fire door open with his foot and the fresh air hit me like a hurricane. It was nighttime, the only light outside was the solar powered lights on the side of the building. The door led to a small alley way. "The car is just around this corner" he moaned. He's hurt, badly.

He opened the door and helped me climb inside, I didn't get a good look at the car, but it has that "new car" smell. The leather seat was cold on my bare legs, I forgot my dress was short. I pulled down the sleeves to cover my hands and folded them across my chest. He drove off slowly, checking the road around us, making sure no one is following us. The time on the clock says 3.34am. We had to go around the industrial estate to get to the main road, after a few turns we reached the end of the road, he put his foot on the gas and we flew down the main road.

We sat in silence for the first ten minutes, I had nothing to say.

"Are you hurt?" he asked.

"Are you?" I replied, looking at the blood on his jacket. It's dark so I can't see his face, but I know there's blood there too.

"I'm fine. We can't go to a hospital, but I know someone that can help if you're hurt" he said, his eyes were fixed on the road, his voice is harsh and unsettling.

"I'm fine" I said, but a bump in the road forced me to cry out. My ribs are broken, and I can't go to a hospital.

"I'll tell him to meet us at the Motel" he took his phone out and made a call. Folkestone? I don't know where that is. I'm starting to feel tired. Stay awake, Macey. Keep your eyes open.