Love, loathe, betrayal - a gang story

Chapter 15

Walking sneakily through enemy grounds reminds me of when me and my brother used to play hide and seek in the woods not far from where we live but this feels more, sinister "you good?" Clay says from in front of me and I nod, Lucas is leading the way and after a short walk we reach a large window lit with orange light coming from inside, Lucas strategically positioned himself one side of the window and me and Clayton take position on the other side. "Remember listen out for any plans, Leveridge, tactics et cetera" clay whispers in my ear which sends a small shiver down my spine, we are unbelievably close and I'm trying to focus on the mission. I nod and adjust my earpiece so I can hear Wills voice. "Are are you in position?" Will ask through the mic "yeah, I see people entering the room now. This is so exciting" I whisper "don't get too excited or mistakes could be made, focus" he reply's seriously "yeah sorry of course, Lucas is putting the recording device on the window ledge now" I say as Lucas does just that.

Clay is straddled behind me breathing on my neck, after a few minutes of dealing with it I decided to say something "hey can you stop that?" I say a little frustrated "stop what?" Clay defends putting his arms up "urm that." "What?" He says again "breathing on me!" Lucas puts his finger to his lips to shush us. "Where am I meant to breath then?" Clay asks with a silent giggle. "I don't know just not there" I reply awkwardly adjusting my jacket collar "well I am sorry Florence," "can you guys keep it down over there!" Lucas hisses and me and clay look at each other and smile "sorry mate." Clay chimes and Lucas shoots him a look.

After a few minutes of silent listening to the Luxes members get into the more nitty-gritty stuff about attacks and future plans. We take careful note of what they're saying butter a fly distract me, buzzing around my head like an annoying headache that won't go away. I waft my arms around attempt to bat it away "what are you doing?" Clay asks "there's a," I start wafting my hands some more "a fly." I fall back off my knees into clays lap he just gazes down at me amused "I'm so sorry" I stutter scrambling to my feet embarrassed forgetting I meant to be quiet and on my knees. "Florence get down!" Lucas says violently, still embarrassed I fall back onto the ledge and bang my back "ow!" I yelp and Lucas groans "are you okay?" Clay asks more serious than his usual bubbly self "yeah I just knocked-" I start but clay interrupts "oh no" I turn around to see a member of The Luxes peering at us through the window. "Shit! Evac, E90 is necessary and S90 is a possibility meet you back at the truck." I Can't believe I've missed this up too. The gang member slams open the window and shouts for back up I'm frozen in my spot for a moment too long as the member lunges at me and Clayton jumps in the way and pushes us both to the ground. He scrambles up and helped me to my feet, he grabbed my hand and we run for the exit, I can't spot Lucas he must be back of the truck. We are running so fast I start to lose my footing and trip over, the gang member soon catches up with us and grabs my ankle, I yell for clay. "This will teach you bastards to spy!" The man yells pulling me further down the dirt track and pulls a small hammer out of his back pocket, I gasp as it comes towards me "let her go!" Clayton yells spit flying from his mouth in anger. He lunges for the man but the hammer connects with my leg and I scream out with immense pain and clutch my excruciatingly painful shin! I hear a ringing in my heads and I roll around in the muddy floor. I see Clay and the man battling it out and I try to get to my feet as best as I can with a no doubtingly a shattered shin bone, ignoring the waterfall coming from my eyes. "Clay!" I call out but my mouth is dry. I suddenly feel a strong pair of arms lift me up bridal style I try to kick but I hear the reassuring voice of Lucas "it's okay I'm getting you out of here." I stop struggling and relax into his grip as he carries me back to the truck. I cry more as I remember everything that happened in this compound. I hear the truck door open and I'm carefully placed on the back seats sprawled over the seats. I clutch my left leg as it's still in agony, I realise the truck is now moving but only one person is in the front seat. "Clayton?" I say in my weary state barely audible but nobody replies "where is he?" I say more aggressively than intended "he saved you" Lucas reply's "where is he?" I repeat "he told me to get you back and go back for him" he explains and I'm shocked "you can't leave him there, no telling what they might do!" I state through staggered breaths. "He's A strong man Florence, you were our main priority" he replied sadly. I can't believe he would sacrifice himself to potentially one of the most dangerous gangs, to save me.

We get back to the compound and will is already waiting by the door, he rushes up to the truck and opens the door he picks me up a rest me on the ground with my good leg. "I'm so sorry, I failed I understand if you want to exile me!" I blurt out knowing full well I was never 100% part of the gang. Will gives Lucas a dignified look as he speeds back out of the compound. I am guided inside not putting any weight on my left leg. I am put on the bed that was originally labelled as 'mine' when I first got there, I straighten my leg as much as possible. I pull the leg of the jeans I'm wearing up to reveal a black and purple bruise on my shin right round to my calve. I cringe looking at it, it's throbbing so much. "I'm sorry" I repeat to Will as he tucks me in bed "I'll let mum know your not going home and we'll get our doctor out to look at your leg in the morning get some rest" Will explains without making eye contact. He switches the light off after leaving some paracetamol and a glass of water on the bedside table and leaves the room without another word. I cry myself to sleep from a mixture of pain, guilt, worry every bad feeling in the world raining on me. I hope Clayton is okay and the mission wasn't completely scuff. I lost my earpiece presumably when I was rolling around on the floor but I hope they got the recoding device.