‘Liss, please.’
‘If I stay here and my parents die, I’ll never forgive myself.’
A sniff in the darkness. ‘Well then I’m coming with you.’
‘No . . . you stay and . . .’
‘I’m coming, Liss.’
But they were saved further debate about whether to stay or go, for at that moment the wooden board to the hatch was removed and a beam of light found their frightened faces. Liss’s shoulders drooped.
Grey’s soldiers had discovered them, and there would be no rescuing anybody.
‘We can get out the other way!’ Annabelle cried. ‘Come on, Liss!’ she tugged at her friend’s arm.
‘The other exit has been blocked.’ A monotone voice filtered into the tunnel.
Annabelle let go of Liss’s arm and sank to the ground.
‘Come on, Anna,’ Liss said, pulling her upright again. ‘It’s no good. We’re caught.’
The two girls trudged up the steps and back out into the hostile night, a phalanx of robed soldiers awaiting them. The men formed a tight circle around the girls and herded them back across the field toward the farmhouse. Lights, once cosy and welcoming, now flickered threatening and harsh. Their home had been violated.
As they crossed the yard and approached the back door, Liss saw dark, robed shapes moving about the kitchen through the lamp-lighted window. But there was no sign of her parents within. Her footsteps faltered. What would she find inside? Would her mum and dad be there? Please God let them be okay. Tied up, injured. Anything was better than dead. A prod in the back got her moving again. She lowered her eyes and clenched her fists, steeling herself against what she would discover inside.
‘Good evening, sister.’
FJ.
‘You,’ she spat as she stumbled through the door and entered the kitchen.
‘I’m glad to find you unharmed, Deborah.’
‘That’s not my name. My name is Melissa. What have you done to mum and dad? Where are they?’
‘Your parents are fine. They’ve been taken to one of our vehicles for their own comfort.’
‘They’re our parents, not just mine. Your mother. Your father. Have you no memory of our childhood? Of their love and care for us? They adored you, FJ. But you throw it back in their faces like the spoilt brat you always were. And you talk about their comfort? What’s your definition of comfort? A bullet in the back? Kidnap? Murder?’
‘Careful, sister. If you want to keep your little playmate safe, you’d better watch your tone.’
‘And now we see your true Godly self,’ Liss said. ‘Bullying threats.’ Liss knew her pleas and accusations were falling on deaf ears. She had to try to reach him. To make him remember his younger self. ‘They’re our parents, FJ!’ Liss cried. ‘And I’m your sister! Your blood! Does that mean nothing?’
FJ nodded to his soldiers.
Liss struggled against the flowing black shapes which came to her with rope to bind her and cloth to silence her, but it was like trying to fight steel with paper. Within seconds, she and Annabelle were trussed like sheep, as they had been all those years ago. Would she never be free of Grey and his minions? The girls locked eyes, but there was no point in the sorrowful looks they cast each other, so Liss closed her eyes and turned away.
They were carried outside, back the way they had come. Liss in the arms of a huge, robed warrior. Annabelle next to her in the arms of another. Carried easily, as though they were no heavier than freshly-shorn wool. Her captor’s breath came even and steady as he made his way through the yard, across the field, down into the tunnel and finally up to the outside. This was the way FJ must have entered the farm. Of course. FJ knew about their secret entrance-way. Stupid of them. They should have blocked it up ages ago. Too late now.
Bundled into the back seat of a waiting vehicle, Liss cast her eyes about wildly, but even in the darkness she could tell her parents were not here. Two figures slid into the front – not FJ though. Car doors slammed. The engine started up and they moved off into the night.
Liss and Annabelle were delivered back to Salisbury, to the Cathedral Close. The place they had hoped never to see again. Carried down to the stinking cells, they were untied and locked up. FJ hadn’t shown his face again and the guards said nothing to tell them why they were here or what was to happen to them. But there was one consolation – a few hours later, two new prisoners were led into the cell – Liss’s mum and dad.
Liss fell into her father’s arms, sobbing. Grim-faced, he held her. She would’ve hugged her mum too, only she saw that she had a bandage taped across her shoulder and carried herself awkwardly like she was in great pain.
‘What happened, Mum? Thank God you’re okay. I thought they’d killed you.’
‘I’m fine, Lissy,’ she said with a trembling voice. ‘It’s just my shoulder. Thank God you two are okay. I wish you’d got away though. What happened?’ Ashen, she looked like she was about to keel over. Annabelle helped her down to sit on the cold, wet floor.
‘It’s disgusting in here,’ her dad said. ‘Not fit for beasts. What sort of a boy has our Freddie Junior become?’
‘Are you okay, Dad? Does your head still hurt?’
‘I’m alright. Bit of a headache, that’s all. It’s your mum I’m worried about.’
‘They bandaged her up though . . .’
‘Yeah. Kind of ‘em wasn’t it,’ her dad growled. ‘They obviously don’t want us dead yet.’
‘Why couldn’t they have just left us alone?’ Liss cried. ‘We weren’t doing them any harm.’
‘Some people can’t leave things alone. They pick and pick, until the world turns from a thing of beauty into a festering scab. I’m afraid our FJ has become one of those people.’
Liss shivered. ‘They caught us in the tunnel. It was how they got into the farm. FJ showed them the way.’
‘We’ve got to get you out of here,’ her dad said. ‘We’ll work out a plan.’
‘But no one knows where we are,’ Liss said. ‘And this place . . . We’ll never get out.’
‘Don’t worry, girl,’ her dad said. ‘I’ll get you out. Whatever it takes. You’re not going to end up rotting in this hellhole. You’re going to have a beautiful life, somewhere good.’
‘We all will, dad,’ Liss said, resting her head on his shoulder.
But several weeks later, still locked up in the rancid underground cell, their defiance had vanished, their hope dwindling to a pinprick of nothing. The guards gave them just enough food that they didn’t starve and just enough blankets that they didn’t freeze. And that was it.
Annabelle had used one of the blankets to mop up the slimy floor and try to make it a little more comfortable, but after a few weeks, they had given up on trying to improve their surroundings, and reluctantly succumbed to the filth. Liss tried not to torture herself with thoughts of warm baths and clean sheets, but some days she would give in to the seductive images, letting herself wallow in the unobtainable fantasy.
She, Annabelle and her dad were holding up better than her mum, whose shoulder didn’t seem to be healing. A doctor had visited her on a couple of occasions, but he was cold and unapproachable, treating her wound roughly, with no thought of the additional pain he might be causing. Liss’s dad had to be restrained by a guard during these visits, threatening to break the doctor’s neck if he didn’t treat his wife with more care.
As the days rolled on, Liss was convinced they’d been forgotten. That they’d eventually die in their cell. A slow uncomfortable death. The lack of natural light meant they had no idea whether it was day or night and so found themselves dozing on and off, rather than enjoying a full night’s sleep. It was disorienting and Liss felt as though trapped in a dream, unable to distinguish between waking and sleeping nightmares.
The day things changed was not a good day. Liss’s mum had fallen into delirium, moaning and muttering in her sleep. Her wound had become infected and her skin burned with fever. They had been calling and yelli
ng for hours, for someone to come and help. Banging on the door to their cell. But no one came. So Liss cried into her father’s chest and decided she’d better prepare for the worst. At least her mother was asleep, unable to witness their distress. Pretty soon, they all fell into their own versions of sleep. Light slumber and tortured dreams. Shallow breaths and fractured nightmares.
Liss awoke to brightness. A lantern flooding their cell with yellow light. She blinked and squinted, shielding her eyes against the glare. A hooded figure pointed at her and beckoned with a long pale finger. She stood shakily and turned back to see the frightened faces of Annabelle and her dad. Her mum still slept, head resting on her husband’s lap. Liss knew she had no choice in the matter. She would have to go with this figure to wherever it was he wanted her to go. Back to her old life at The Close? She didn’t think so. To her death, more like.
It was worse.
He took her to FJ.
‘Sister, I hope you appreciate the weeks of silent reflection you’ve been given.’
Liss had never felt such burning anger as she did then, faced with this smug creature who shared the same blood as her. How could someone so radiantly perfect on the outside have such an ugly soul? And this room – so obscenely opulent, alien in its beauty. Its warmth and fresh clean scent. The rich furnishings, lush paintings and soft carpet. She hated this room more than her prison cell. It signified all that was wrong with this place.
Before bringing her to him, they had disposed of her filthy clothing, bathed her and dressed her in a simple skirt and blouse. Newly fragrant and presentable, she wanted to spit in his face and claw at his eyes. Instead she stood and stared at him, trembling with rage, unable to speak for fear she would lose control altogether. Willing him to shrivel and die on the spot. But of course he did no such thing.
‘Nothing to say?’ he prompted.
She looked him in the eye, still unable to voice the torrent of hatred she felt toward him.
‘Good,’ he said. ‘I need you to listen to what I’m about to say. Lives depend on it.’
She almost laughed at that. Lives? What did he care for lives? Unless they were vital to his precious plans.
‘I am letting you go free, sister. You and your little friend.’
Liss heard the words, but she didn’t quite believe it.
‘But I need you to do something for me.’
Of course he did. For when had he ever done anything out of the goodness of his heart? There was no goodness in his heart – he may have the face of an angel, but his heart was a pustule-ridden sack of evil.
‘I need you to go south of here, to The Talbot Woods Perimeter. I need you to locate Riley Culpepper and her family, and win their trust.’
Liss was beginning to understand where this one-sided conversation was heading.
‘You must find out where they are holding Our Father hostage,’ said FJ.
‘You want me to get James Grey for you?’ she said.
‘I want you to locate him. Find out where he’s being held. My warriors will march on the perimeter and we will crush them, but before we burn it to the ground, we must save Our Father and we must punish the girl who started this.’
‘Who? You mean Riley?’
‘Who else.’
‘You want me to find Grey for you?’ Liss said quietly. ‘And you want me to betray my friend?’
‘Friend? This shows me how lacking in judgment you are. This girl is the essence of evil and she must be punished. You will hand her over to me and she will bleed for her sins.’
Liss shook her head. ‘No.’
FJ smiled. ‘Very well. Say goodbye to mum and dad.’ He clicked his fingers and looked beyond her, to the doorway. Three guards entered the room, her parents between them – two to support her mother, and one to restrain her father. Her mum and dad were still dressed in the same clothes, hair wild and disheveled, faces pale and gaunt, their mouths stuffed with rags. Their appearance was all the more shocking against the backdrop of this luxurious room.
‘Shall we shoot them?’ FJ asked her. ‘Or should they hang?’
‘Alright!’ Liss cried. ‘Alright, you’ve made your point. I’ll do it.’
‘What’s that?’ FJ cupped a hand around his ear.
‘I said I’ll do it. Whatever you want. I’ll do it. But you have to treat them better. Mum’s really ill. She needs a proper doctor and clean clothes, a good meal. I’ll only do it if you . . .’
‘You do not bargain with me,’ he drawled. ‘They will return to their cell and they will remain there until you do what you’re supposed to do. Heretics and evil-doers do not receive privileges. It is the will of God.’
‘The will of FJ more like,’ Liss said under her breath, despair clutching at her like a drowning man. ‘How do I even know you’ll keep your word?’
‘I am a man of God. I always keep my word.’
Liss had no choice. She would have to do it.
Chapter Eighteen
Riley
Liss’s porridge had gone cold. We stared at her, appalled by her terrible story. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing: Her parents captured. FJ’s army coming to destroy the perimeter. And FJ had singled me out. He wanted me dead or worse. Liss had been put in an impossible position. No wonder she was so distraught.
‘He said he’d kill mum and dad unless we did what he told us. And he will do it too. They’re still down there in those horrible cells. I’m so sorry I lied. I really didn’t know what else to do.’
‘Okay,’ Pa said. ‘It’s okay, Liss. I understand. You’re in a terrible position. You did the right thing telling us the truth. Thank you. We’ll sort this out.’
Liss raised her eyes to look at him and relaxed her shoulders when she realised he wasn’t angry with her. ‘I didn’t want to lie, but he’ll kill mum and dad if I don’t do what he wants. If only Our Father – I mean Grey – was still alive, it wouldn’t have been so bad. I could have just rescued him somehow and taken him to appease FJ. I could’ve left Riley here. What am I going to do about mum and dad?’
‘We’ll do everything we can,’ Pa said. ‘Why does he only want Riley? Surely he would want Luc and Denzil too if this was all about revenge.’
‘I . . . I don’t exactly know,’ Liss replied. ‘But he seems to hate her.’
‘We didn’t exactly get along when we last met,’ I said. ‘I think I pissed him off.’
‘More likely he wants to use you as leverage,’ Pa said. He turned back to Liss. ‘When’s he coming? And where are you supposed to meet him? I need you to tell me exactly what the plan is. How were you supposed to get Grey and Riley to FJ?’
Liss turned away from Pa and looked at Annabelle, shaking her head. ‘I can’t tell them . . . it’s too awful.’ She turned to me and met my eyes. ‘I would never have betrayed you, Riley. You helped save my life. FJ is a terrible person.’
‘It’s okay, Liss,’ I replied. ‘You’re not responsible for his actions. You can tell us and we won’t judge you. I promise.’
Liss continued shaking her head and so Annabelle spoke up. ‘We were supposed to find a way of getting Riley outside the fence. And then . . . bring her to FJ in exchange for Fred and Jessie. He was planning on using Riley as a bargaining chip to get Grey back. He was going to torture her until you did what he asked.’
Ma’s eyes widened, brightening with tears, while Pa’s face turned a deep shade of red, his whole body tensing up. But I . . . I couldn’t feel anything. It was a scary thing to hear, but for now I was numbed to scary things. Or perhaps I was too shocked to react.
‘When’s all this supposed to take place?’ I asked, my voice calm.
‘Wait a minute, Riley,’ Pa said, his voice deathly quiet. ‘I’m trying to take this in.’ He got to his feet, his face dark, his eyes glittering with rage. He spoke almost to himself. ‘That psychotic little shit was planning on harming my daughter to get what he wanted. I’ll kill him. I’m going out now and I’m going to hunt him down and I’m goi
ng to kill him.’
‘Pa, wait,’ I cried. ‘There are better ways to do this. If you go out there, you’ll be killed yourself. You can’t go up against an army on your own.’
‘Watch me.’
‘Pa, please!’
‘Johnny!’ Ma said, sternly. ‘Sit down. What you’re doing is not going to help anyone. Least of all Riley. She’s here. She’s safe. You need to work out a plan, not go storming off half-cocked.’
Pa’s shoulders sagged.
I had to hand it to her – Ma had talked him around. I took her hand across the table and squeezed it.
‘When are you supposed to make the trade?’ I asked. ‘And where?’
‘He said he would meet us two miles due north of here at 5 am on Christmas Eve.’
‘Christmas Eve?’ I said. ‘But that’s only a couple of days away.’
‘Is he coming alone?’ Pa asked. ‘Or is he bringing his army?’
‘Once he has Grey, he’s planning on taking the perimeter by force. He wants to destroy it,’ Annabelle said. ‘So, yes, he’ll be with his army.’
‘But what should we do now that Grey’s dead?’ Liss said. ‘What about my mum and dad? When I don’t show up, he’ll kill them.’
‘Not if I kill him first,’ Pa said through gritted teeth.
‘It’ll be okay,’ Ma said to the girls. ‘Johnny will sort it out.’
‘Right, we need to get organised,’ Pa said. ‘And, Riley, we’ll need to get you away from the perimeter.’
‘I’m not going anywhere.’
‘I don’t want you here when FJ and his lot arrive. You can go and stay with your grandparents in Uley.’
‘No,’ I replied. ‘You need me here.’
‘It won’t be safe for you here. Too much can go wrong. You can go with your mother.’
‘No,’ I said.
‘It’s a good idea,’ Ma said. ‘A trip away will do us both good.’
‘I’m not going,’ I said. ‘Anyway, you may need to use me as bait.’
‘Like that’s going to happen,’ Pa replied. ‘We’ll talk about it later. Right now we need to lock this place down tight and I’ve got a few ideas.’
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