Fighting Back (Battle Ground YA UK Dystopia Series Book 4)

by Rachel Churcher

  I have to fight to stay calm. I drop my hands to my sides and clench my fists.

  David is watching, Ketty. The cameras are running. Walk away.

  It takes me a moment to recover. A moment while the woman across the table watches my face and studies my reaction.

  Eventually she nods. “I thought so.”

  I take a deep breath, and force myself to calm down. To bury the flashbacks she’s pulled to the front of my mind.

  Careful, Elizabeth. Probably best not to provoke me.

  I give her a cold stare, and keep my voice even.

  “I see your bruises have healed, Elizabeth.” I point to my face. “That black eye is almost completely gone.” I smile. “It probably doesn’t even show up on the TV screen.”

  She sits back, waiting for me to continue.

  “Remind me how that happened? Slipped in the shower, didn’t you?” I shake my head. “The carers in prison aren’t as good as the staff at your care home, are they?”

  I lean forward, resting my arms on the table. She meets my gaze.

  “I’d watch out, Elizabeth. You never know when they might slip again. I’d hate to put you on PIN with another black eye. What would Bex think?”

  She smiles at me again, but she’s lost some of the fight in her eyes.

  “I think Bex would know what happened, Corporal. I think she’d know exactly who to blame.”

  She sits back in her chair and watches as I gather my papers and leave the room.

  I have a prison guard to talk to.

  Contact

  BEX

  They’re finally letting us talk to Jake. He’s in a Police station in Edinburgh. We’re taken there in the same cars that brought us from the airport, and we have an escort of Liaison Officers and armed guards. I’m sitting with Gail in the back seat, watching the traffic and buildings as we drive.

  It’s our first trip out from the OIE, and I should be enjoying myself. I should be happy to be outside the compound. But all I can think about is Jake, and what will happen if they send him to London.

  “We’ve tried to speak to him, but he won’t talk to us.” Jake’s Liaison turns to us from the front seat. “We’re hoping he’ll talk to you. We’ll wait outside – give you a chance to get through to him.”

  I slump back in my seat and stare at the ceiling.

  “He’s not going to talk to me. He might talk to Amy or Dan, but I don’t think I can help him.”

  Gail puts her hand on my arm. “He’s really scared, Bex. He’s facing deportation, and I think he knows how much he needs you fighting for him.” She smiles. “Give him a chance. See what he says.”

  I shrug. “I’ll try.”

  I’ll do everything I can to stop them sending him home, but I can’t force him to listen.

  The building is a low concrete box next to a main road. The cars pull up outside, and we’re hurried in, through the public area, and into a room with a metal table and five chairs.

  It looks like the interrogation rooms we’ve seen on PIN.

  I push that thought away and walk in. Jake is sitting at the table, handcuffed. He hangs his head, and his hair falls over his face. There’s a guard standing inside the cell, and I’m fighting panic as he closes the door behind us.

  “Jake!” Amy rushes to the table.

  “Stand back, please”, says the guard. He points at the chairs across the table. “You can stand, away from the table, or you can sit there.”

  Amy stops, and stares at the guard, then pulls out the chair opposite Jake. She reaches across the table, but Jake pulls his hands away.

  “No contact with the prisoner!” Amy pulls her hand back. The guards looks round at all of us. “You can sit at the table, and you can talk. But you are not to touch the prisoner, and you are not to pass anything to him, or take anything from him.” He gives us all a hard stare. “I see anything I don’t like, and you’re all out. Understand?” We nod, and the guard stands, blocking the door, watching us.

  More rules. More expectations. And more punishments if we don’t toe the line.

  “Jake …” Amy leans forward, her arms on the edge of the table.

  He doesn’t look at her. She turns to me, a look of despair on her face.

  I step forward. “Jake. We’re here to help.”

  He turns to the guard. “I don’t want her in here. I’m not talking to her.” The guard looks at me and raises his eyebrows. I shrug. It hurts, when he says that, but it’s what I was expecting. I bite back a comment and stay where I am.

  “We’re all staying, Jake.” Dan pulls out the chair next to Amy. He sits down and crosses his arms. “Bex wants to help, as much as I do.” He leans forward. “You’re in trouble here, but we’re not going to leave you behind. Not me, not Amy, and not Bex.”

  Jake laughs once, and stares down at the table.

  I don’t know what I’m doing here.

  Charlie puts her hand on my shoulder and points to the other chairs, and we sit down. There’s a long moment when nobody speaks, and then Amy tries again, her voice a whisper.

  “Jake – why did you do it?”

  He looks up at her, and his face is pale. He shakes his head.

  “I’m sick of being told what to do.” He shrugs. “I’m sick of being stuck in someone else’s plan.”

  I shake my head. I can’t believe I’m sitting here, listening to this.

  Amy waves her hand at the rest of us. “We’re all stuck, Jake. We’re all being told what to do.” He shakes his head, but she carries on. “And it’s for our safety.” Her voice is louder now. “There are people risking their own safety to look after us, and you …” She closes her eyes, and there’s frustration in her voice. “You had to do something stupid.”

  He looks down again, and I notice his hands are shaking.

  I’m not the only one who’s afraid.

  “They want to deport you.” Dan leans forward again. “They are talking about sending you home. Do you know what that means?” Jake nods, his hair hiding his face, but Dan doesn’t stop. “They want to send you back. You know what will happen. The next time we see you will be on PIN.” Jake shakes his head again, and Dan raises his voice. “They will put you in a cell like this, in a jumpsuit, and they will tell everyone that you’re a terrorist and a bomber and an enemy of the state.”

  It’s brutal, but it’s true. They’d do that to all of us if they could.

  I put my hand on Dan’s arm, but he shrugs me off.

  “They will kill you, Jake. They will put you on TV, and they will execute you. Just for being one of us.”

  Jake closes his eyes, and a sob shakes his shoulders.

  “So you do know!” Amy is shouting. “You know what happens next, and you won’t talk to the Liaisons? You won’t talk to the OIE?”

  He’s crying, now. He raises his cuffed hands to his face, but he can’t hide his tears.

  I start to speak, but Charlie touches my elbow and shakes her head.

  I can’t help. There’s nothing I can do here.

  “You’ve got to talk to them.” Dan says, gently. “They’re the only ones who can help you.”

  “Stop pushing everyone away.” Amy is close to tears. “There are so many people who want to help you, and you’re being pig-headed and stupid and you’re going to get yourself killed.”

  Jake is hunched over the table, his face in his shaking hands, sobs rocking his body.

  He’s not listening.

  Charlie speaks up. “This isn’t the end, Jake. You haven’t blown it yet.” She starts to reach out her hand, and stops herself. “I know it feels as if you have, but there’s a lifeline. Your friends here,” she points at us, “they’ve convinced the OIE to fight for you. You think you don’t deserve it. You think you’re headed back to London, and Ketty, and PIN.” Jake leans forward until his head is resting on the table, his shoulders heaving. Charlie slams her hand onto the table, and we all look round in surprise. “They’re fighting for you, Jake! They’re fig
hting to keep you safe!” She lowers her voice. “They think you’re worth it.” She looks at him, curled over, shaking. “They think you’re worth fighting for, even if you don’t believe it.”

  She sits back in her chair.

  Dan nods. Amy looks shocked. I give Charlie a grateful smile, and she flashes a sad smile back.

  But it’s as if she hasn’t spoken. Jake doesn’t move. He’s caught up in his own misery, and we might as well be back at the OIE for all the difference we’re making here. I can feel my frustration at him boiling into anger. I want him to listen. I want him to stop playing the victim. I want him to stop blaming me.

  I’m standing up and kicking my chair back before I can stop myself. The guard steps forward, but Dan waves him away, and he steps back, watching me.

  “Do you know what, Jake? I’ve had it with you. I’ve had it with your attitude. I’ve had it with your stupid decisions.” I’m shouting, and I can’t stop. I bring my fist down on the table, and Jake lifts his head. He looks up at me, and there’s shock and hate on his tear-stained face.

  I should stop. I should let the others speak, but there’s a fire in my chest. Everything he’s said about me, everything he’s used against me, is burning. I need him to listen.

  “Yes, we left you behind. We screwed up, and our plan didn’t work, and we left you at Camp Bishop. And I’m sorry.” I take a calming breath. My heart is hammering, and it’s all I can do not to reach across the table and grab Jake by the shoulders. “But do you know what else we did? We dragged you off a coach of recruits, right under the noses of the RTS. We walked onto a coach, guarded by people with guns.” I can’t help laughing. “Guarded by Jackson and Ketty! Guarded by the people who tormented you. Dan and I risked our lives to get you off that coach, and Dan probably killed someone to do it. That wasn’t part of Will’s plan, Jake. Dan and me? We got into so much trouble for saving you and Amy. Will was furious. But we did it anyway.”

  Jakes stares at me, then shakes his head. His voice is a whisper, but his question feels like a bullet.

  “Why?”

  “Why? Because you’re our friend, Jake!” He shakes his head, still watching me. “We went through training together. We ran that stupid assault course – how many times? We were paraded round Leominster in our armour every morning on our run. We were humiliated and bullied and bruised and tortured. But we stuck together.”

  I close my eyes and take a breath. I can feel the bruises from Jackson’s fists. The cold water of the assault course. The exhaustion of the morning run.

  “No one wanted to be there, Jake. No one! But we survived. And when we got out, and we left you behind, we came back for you. We came back against our orders, and we took risks to save you.”

  There are tears in my eyes when I think about the coach. About facing the barrel of Ketty’s gun. Jake’s anger as we drove him to safety.

  “And when they came for us at the bunker? We worked together and we got ourselves out.” I brush away tears, willing myself to stay calm. “You saved people, Jake. You shot Ketty. You shot the soldier. You got people safely to the lake. We,” I point at Dan and Charlie, “tried to rescue Margie and Dr Richards. You’re not the only person we left behind.” Amy closes her eyes and clenches her fists.

  I think about Saunders. His excitement about his first shift as a guard. The bullet in his chest when we found him.

  And I’m shouting as loudly as I can. I need Jake to hear me.

  “We left Saunders on the gatehouse floor. There was nothing we could do for him. We let Bracken take our friend and our teacher away, because there was no way for us to stop him.” I take another deep breath. “You’re right, Jake. I’ve left people behind. Every time I’ve tried to save someone, there’s been a price. But you know what? We came back for you. For you, and Amy. No one else.” I step closer to the table, forcing myself to speak quietly. To make him listen.

  “Stop acting the victim. Stop pretending you’re the only person we’ve lost. Stop wallowing and pitying yourself. Stop demanding special treatment. And stop doing stupid, self-destructive things.”

  My fingernails dig into my palms. My throat is raw from shouting.

  I run my hand over my face, waiting for an answer. Waiting for someone else to speak.

  But they’re all watching me. Waiting to hear what I have to say.

  I take a step towards the table.

  “I’ve done everything I can, here. I’ve argued with the OIE for you. I’ve let you insult me in public. I’ve let you accuse me of horrible things. I’ve stood back while you moaned and complained and shut me out.” I’m shouting again, my anger barely under control. I need him to hear. I need him to believe me.

  “But I’m still fighting for you, Jake. I’m trying to save you. You’ve done this to yourself, but here I am, trying to sort out your mess. Me, Dan, Amy, and Charlie, defending your stupid behaviour and your stupid decisions.”

  I put my hands on the table and bow my head. I’m suddenly exhausted. I make myself take a calming breath. “We’re not going to let them take you away, Jake. We’re not going to let them send you to London. But we can’t stop them by ourselves. We’ll support you, but you need to change your attitude.” I look him in the eyes. “You’re not a victim. You’re a fighter. You’re on our team, and we need you.” He’s staring at me, tears flowing down his face, and I can feel my own tears starting to fall. “We’ll get through this if we work together.”

  We look at each other across the table, and it’s not hate in his eyes. It’s fear.

  He’s listening.

  “I know you’re afraid, Jake. We’re all afraid. Ketty’s got my Mum, and my friend, and I’m frightened every day that I’ll see them get hurt. I’m afraid the government will find some way to get to us. I’m afraid we’ll all end up in London, facing a firing squad.” I stand up straight, still meeting his gaze.

  “I couldn’t forgive myself, for the longest time. I woke you all up with my nightmares.” Dan reaches out and takes my hand, his grip strong and comforting. I give him a smile, and turn back to Jake. “We’re all afraid. But we can’t let fear destroy us. We need to stick together, and we need to help ourselves.”

  I brush tears from my face. “No more self-destruction, Jake. No more attention-seeking. You’re hurting yourself, and you’re hurting the rest of us.” Amy sobs, once, and I rest my hand on her shoulder. “We are here for you. We are fighting for you, but there’s nothing more we can do. You’ve got to help yourself. You’ve got to let the OIE help you. You’ve got to believe we’re on your side.”

  I squeeze Dan’s hand, and let go. I hold my hands up in surrender. “Your choice, Jake. I’ve done what I can.”

  No one speaks. No one moves.

  I can’t stay here. I can’t breathe, locked in this tiny room.

  I can’t listen to any more excuses.

  I turn and walk to the door. The guard steps aside and opens it for me. I step out into the corridor, and when I glance back I see everyone watching as I walk away.

  I’ve done everything I can. My hands are shaking as a Police Officer opens the door for me, and lets me through to where Gail and the other Liaisons are waiting.

  Injury

  KETTY

  The call I’m waiting for from Belmarsh comes in. Elizabeth is in the prison infirmary, with injuries sustained in her cell. They promise me that she’ll be back in the interrogation suite by lunchtime, so I book the room for early afternoon.

  Conrad gives me a smug smile as I walk into his office.

  “Round Two?” I ask, ignoring his expression.

  He laughs. “If you mean ‘please come and use your considerable technical skills to film me being mocked by a prisoner again’, then yes. I’m up for Round Two.”

  Of course you are.

  I smile. “I think today might be different.”

  “Oh? She’s going to make you punch her, on camera?”

  “I don’t think I’ll need to.”

  He s
its up in his chair. “You mean …? You didn’t arrange for her to have an unfortunate accident, did you, Ketty?”

  Underestimating me again, David? Don’t do that.

  I say nothing, but I let my smile spread.

  He runs his hand through his hair, and swears. “Ketty. You are one crazy Corporal.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “I mean – I’ve seen some interrogations. I’ve seen Lee take prisoners apart with his questions. I’ve seen people incriminate themselves because they didn’t see his questions coming. And all without breaking a sweat. But you?” He shakes his head. “You’re something else. You’re like an ice queen in that room. You’re …” he searches for the right word. “You’re terrifying.”

  I shrug, still smiling. I’m enjoying this.

  “And now? When she got to you yesterday, I thought I was going to have to come in there and break up a fight. I’ve never seen that happen. You let it get personal, and I thought you were going to … I don’t know. Do something stupid.” He looks at me. “But you didn’t. You went ice queen, and you turned it around. You made a pretty clear threat.” He runs his hand through his hair again. “And now you’re saying you’ve followed through on the threat. Already.”

  Am I scaring you, David? Good. Get used to it.

  I roll my eyes. “Are you coming, or not? There’s a car waiting.”

  *****

  Elizabeth is waiting when we arrive, and it’s better than I hoped. I watch her through the glass as Conrad sets up the recording equipment.

  The side of her face is one long bruise. She’s hit her head – on the floor? On the bed? – and her arm is in a cast.

  The guards have done exactly what I needed. Everything I can see will show up on TV. There’s no way Bex can miss this.

  Conrad gives me a look as I walk out of the observation room. “Careful, Ketty.” He shakes his head. “Just – be careful.”

  I’m smiling as the door closes behind me.

  This is what I do, David. Watch, and learn.

  I take my seat at the table, facing Bex’s mother.