Lost Game Notes (Novel)

Chapter 2: I'll Keep It

Alex didn't have to look back over his shoulder to know who was following him. Jude Connell, of course. And no doubt he wanted something. A repayment. A shock of white hair bobbed in the distance, moving towards the bus stop. He could jog up to Sky and ruin Jude's plan of torment, but his pride, having been so recently knocked down, was already healing and declared otherwise. 

Hands gripped Alex's shoulders and he was wheeled around. Pain flared in his spine as his back hit the wall with a thud. The bastard. Alex drew back a fist, but Jude caught it mid-flight. He forced Alex's fists down to his sides. Jude kept the true harshness of his personality tight-lidded in class, but Alex—and every other student in Juniper High—knew better.

Either his father's IQ was hitting low, (which was unlikely for a mayor), or Jude acted like an angel around him. Whatever was the case, his father would simply deny any complaint made against his son. It seemed he thought Jude, the leader of a well-known and feared gang, was an angel who did no wrong.

Right.

Jude dragged his hawkish gaze from one of Alex's eyes to the other, and Alex fidgeted. He was an expert at hiding his feelings, but now another familiar one surfaced. He felt trapped, claustrophobic, endangered.

"Did you forget something?" Jude taunted, feeding on the faintest fear he saw with delight.

"If I forgot my homework, I'd let you know," Alex snapped, anger searing his mind like a hot pan.

Jude chucked, the grip on Alex's wrist tightening. He leaned close enough so Alex could smell the lingering trace of weed, feel the warm breath against the side of his face. "I saved your skin in class. If I told Mrs. Blyton you were at Cosmos last night, you'd be as dead as your mother."

The mention of his mother wrenched the knife in Alex's heart he had tried, and succeeded, to forget was there. He hadn't thought of her for a long time, and now it wracked shivers down his spine.

Jude cocked an eyebrow, noting his discomfort. "Don't you think I deserve to be payed back?"

Alex grunted and shifted, but the wall offered no extra comfort to his bruised back. He matched Jude's low tone and huffed, "I'll send flowers to your grave."

Jude cackled, but his eyes were cold and mirthless. "Don't worry, darling. I'm not going to beat you up. I'm letting you off at a low price."

Alex would have slapped Jude in the face if his wrist was free. But it wasn't, and Jude's calm tone made Alex wary, reminding him of the night before. Lawrence had seemed so calm... "What price?"

"Not a price." Jude scoffed. He pinned Alex against the wall by one arm against his neck, yanked the backpack of his back with the other, and attempted to wrestle the zip open.

Alex laughed dryly. "Use both hands. I'm not going to run away."

"If you had any brains in there you wouldn't." Jude eyed him suspiciously before releasing him. Then he stooped to find what he was looking for.

For a fleeting moment Alex did consider running. It might even work. But as quick as the thought came, it left. Running would be cowardly, with a capital C.

Jude straightened and shoved a small, unlabeled jar into Alex's hands.

"My father would die if he found this," he said, and Alex almost questioned the sarcasm in his voice. "Better to save the funeral costs. I'll come and pick it up on Sunday."

"Is this meth?" Alex voice pitched and Jude growled for him to shut up.

"You'll be the one dead if someone else finds out," he said.

"Have you thought about what will happen if my father finds out? Have you forgotten he's a lawyer, nuthead?" Alex grilled.

"And my dad's the mayor. So we're fair." Jude tilted his chin up and glared at Alex. "You'd be a coward not to keep it."

Alex hesitated. As much as he hated Lawrence, it wouldn't do for him to find him in possession of meth that didn't even belong to him. But what if he didn't find out? He could certainly hide it someplace safe until Jude wanted it back, and avoid getting into a brawl. The latter certainly did seem more appealing.

Alex sighed. "Alright. But what do I get in return?"

"Nothing!" Jude seemed surprised he would ask suck a thing. "You're lucky I haven't left you dead. Maybe if you're good and keep this hush-hush, I will reward you..."

Jude let his words hang, backing away. "Remember, Sunday." He wheeled around then paused, looking over his shoulder. "And Alex?"

Alex rubbed his numb wrists. He didn't want to her anymore of what Jude had to say. But he was too tired to say anything else but, "What?"

Jude flashed a sinister grin. "Watch your shadow."

Alex was about to ask what the heck that was supposed to mean, but Jude was already heading towards his Hyundai motorbike in long strides. A person stepped out of a corner, face shrouded in a hoodie. They sat behind Jude, face angled at the ground. As the motorbike roared off into the distance, a strand of wispy white hair escaped the hood and danced in the rushing wind. It was all Alex needed to know who it was.