Raven

by Heather Atkinson

  She’d spent the first two or three days in her new home in a constant state of heightened awareness, which had been exhausting but she’d found it difficult to relinquish after living rough for four years. She’d also continually expected her bedroom door to creak open or for One Eye to touch her inappropriately, like her stepfather, but he never had. The only time he’d entered her room was to bring her meals - fresh, nutritious food to build her up, the likes of which she’d never eaten before. Her mother had never bothered to cook, so she’d survived eating junk food and takeaways.

  Gradually she’d begun to relax and as she’d recovered from her injuries she’d left the sanctuary of her room and ventured downstairs where she was allowed to watch whatever she wanted on television and to read the many books One Eye possessed. As Damon was at school then and One Eye enjoyed tinkering with his projects downstairs in the basement, during the day she’d had the run of the house and how she’d loved it, making the most of the luxury before she was inevitably turfed out. She’d fully expected to be evicted once she’d recovered but that had never happened either.

  Once her injuries had healed One Eye had never said anything, they’d just continued as they were until one day he’d sat her down and finally explained why he’d taken her in.

  He began by leading her down to the basement, Raven fully expecting to be attacked at the bottom of the stairs but her curiosity of what he got up to down there had overridden the possibility of danger. Once again he didn’t lay a finger on her and instead he’d shown her all his inventions - and weapons. He’d said he’d seen a vision of the ravens leading him to someone who would help him put his inventions to good use and assist him in his work. As it turned out, his ‘visions’ were actually induced by mescaline - an hallucinogen. Her first instinct had been to label him as crazy, until she’d recalled the two ravens who had circled her. She shook the thought off. He was obviously nuts. This was only confirmed when he went on to explain that he had very specialist skills, honed after his time in the army that he used to fulfil contracts, removing ‘inconvenient people’ in exchange for money. Naturally Raven hadn’t believed him but he’d been so good to her and she liked living in his beautiful house, so she’d just let him ramble on. He’d explained that he could no longer do the job himself as he’d been diagnosed with essential tremor and he wanted to train her to take his place. He had initially hoped he could last until his son was old enough but his condition had advanced faster than expected.

  Raven had readily agreed to do what he wanted because it meant she kept a roof over her head. She’d been in no doubt that to turn him down would have meant losing her new home.

  Her training had begun immediately in the large, secluded back garden of One Eye’s home. He’d taught her unarmed combat, how to use a knife and when Damon was in school he’d taken her out to the moor to practice shooting, something she’d found she had a natural gift for. At the same time she’d fallen in love with the Yorkshire Moors. He’d also coached her to drop her strong Yorkshire accent, as he and Damon had theirs, negating it until it was impossible to tell where she was from. Her work would take her all over the country and her accent would giveaway where she was from.

  Six months later he’d pronounced her ready to start work. Two days after her eighteenth birthday, celebrated in style with Damon and One Eye at a fancy restaurant, she’d made her first kill with a sniper rifle, taking out a drug dealer on behalf of his rival. Raven hadn’t been at all troubled by what she’d done. A job had needed doing, she’d done it well and got paid more money than she’d ever seen in her life. End of. That day the girl she had once been died. And Raven was born.

  Raven roused herself from her reverie as she stared at the spot under the bridge that had been her home. Why was she even here? Nettie was dead and the rest of their little group were too old to be her rival. They were all probably dead too. Besides, they’d borne her no ill will, they’d always got along. Maybe this wasn’t anything to do with her time on the streets at all? What if it was to do with her stepfather? But why would it be? She hadn’t seen him since he’d attacked her, she hadn’t dobbed him in to the police and he hadn’t tried to find her. He’d probably been relieved when she’d run away, it had meant he was free to do as he pleased. Her mother was dead and had no other family and she’d lost track of her childhood friends years ago. But her rival was linked to her past, on that point he’d been very clear, so she was obviously missing something. The only other thing she could think of was that he had a connection to one of her previous hits, but surely whoever had ordered the hit would be his target, not the person who’d carried it out?

  As there were no signs of any homeless here she could ask questions, she headed back to her car, looking up when she heard a craw overhead. Two ravens shot across the sky and she watched until they’d disappeared behind the roof of a house.

  Raven got back in her car and locked the doors, wondering where she should try next. Perhaps she should look up her stepfather? She started the engine, decided on this course of action. What choice did she have? There was no one else.

  CHAPTER 10

  Raven had cultivated plenty of contacts over the years who could access useful information and her contact in the Council had her stepfather’s address in minutes. It hadn’t been difficult, he was renting a house just two streets away from the one he’d shared with her and her mother.

  Things had gone downhill during the time she’d been away. Although the area she grew up in couldn’t have been classed as affluent it had still been respectable. In the intervening years it had decayed, the detritus of the residents revealed in the dilapidated vehicles, litter and general shabbiness of the houses, which had once been nicely kept.

  She bypassed her childhood home without giving it a second glance - she’d never been one for sentiment - and went straight to her stepfather’s house, which was a terraced house in the middle of the block. Small and non-descript, a bit like Neil himself.

  Raven banged on the door, which was opened by a squat, white-haired figure who frowned up at her. She’d got a lot taller since she was fourteen.

  “What?” said the man when she just stared at him. His eyes widened. “It’s you.”

  When he tried to close the door she barged her way inside, slamming the door shut behind her.

  “That’s not a nice welcome after eighteen years,” she said, bolting the door.

  “What do you want Jenny?”

  “The name’s not Jenny anymore. It’s Raven.”

  “Raven?” he snorted. “What the fuck’s that about?”

  “You wouldn’t understand.” She’d never understood what her mum had seen in this creep, she’d been quite beautiful, until her illness had taken hold. She was certain she hadn’t felt that much for him but back then he’d had a few quid and had kept down a regular job, which was a lot more than her previous boyfriends had ever managed. After a procession of losers and scroungers, she guessed her mum had just wanted a bit of stability. Raven might not get to see her husband very often but at least she hadn’t settled. Her relationship with Aidan was wild and passionate and she wouldn’t swap it for anything less.

  “Why are you here now?” he said. “After all this time?”

  She ignored the question. “Why did you never come back for me when I was in hospital?”

  He shrugged. “I was better off without a kid dragging me down. What happened to you anyway?”

  “You really want to know?”

  “Suppose.”

  “I was taken in by someone who trained me to be an assassin and now I kill people for money.”

  He snorted. “Yeah, right. Always did live in a dream world, didn’t you?”

  “It’s true.”

  “Too embarrassed to tell me what you really do? I bet your real work involves asking people if they want fries with that,” he said before guffawing.

  He was silenced by her slamming his head against the wall. With a cry he slumped to the floor, dabbi
ng at his nose, shocked to see blood on his fingertips.

  “What are you doing you mad cow?”

  “I want to ask you some questions,” she replied, standing over him. “And I don’t have time for your shit. Who did you send after me?”

  “Eh?”

  She sighed. “Who did you send after me?”

  “Send after you? I haven’t sent anyone after you. Why would I bother?”

  “That’s what I was wondering.” She knelt before him and pulled a switchblade from her pocket, Neil’s eyes widening at the sight of the knife. “Did you track me down?”

  “What are you on about for Christ’s sake? I’ve not sent anyone after you, I haven’t thought about you since you did one from the hospital. I’m telling the truth,” he shrieked when her eyes narrowed.

  “It wouldn’t be wise to lie to me.”

  “I’m not.” He hauled himself upright and tilted back his head. “Now get out of my house.”

  “I’ll go when I’m certain you haven’t sent anyone after me.”

  “And I’m telling you I’ve no idea what you’re on about. You meant nothing to me when I was married to your mum and you mean even less now. You’re paranoid, just like she was. If you’re not careful you’ll end up in a loony bin too.”

  As he went on, Raven rolled her eyes at his pathetic attempt to rile her. He’d never been able to understand why she didn’t get angry at people’s petty insults. They’d always run off her like water off a duck’s back. When she was a child he’d used to throw every insult he could think of at her and she’d just stared back at him, wondering how much stupidity could be contained in such a short person. Eventually she’d realised what a useful weapon this quirk of hers was because people would get furious with her while she remained perfectly calm. They’d make silly mistakes while she wouldn’t. Just like Neil was doing now.

  She grabbed him by the throat and banged his head off the wall again, stunning him into silence.

  “Finished?”

  “You’re freakishly strong,” he said, a tremble in his voice, finally recognising his stepdaughter was a long way from the girl he remembered.

  “You have no idea. I can see this is a waste of my precious time, you’re nothing to do with my little problem. Still, it’s been pleasant seeing you’re still living in this toilet. I’m leaving now. With any luck we won’t see each other again.”

  “Oh yeah,” he called after her as she left. “I bet your gaff isn’t much better.”

  Raven just smiled to herself. He hadn’t a clue.

  She got back in her car and drove into the city centre. She had no idea where to look next for her rival but she needed some supplies. Then she was going home and shutting herself away from the whole stupid world.

  Idly she roamed the supermarket, her mind only half on the goods, turning over the problem of her rival. She was becoming more convinced that he’d made up knowing her to put her off the scent. While she was chasing her tail at railway bridges and her stepfather’s house, she was moving further away from the real culprit.

  “Sorry,” she said, stepping back from the cereal she’d been stood in front of for a full two minutes.

  “That’s okay,” replied the man, reaching past her for a box of bran flakes.

  Their gazes caught and both their eyes widened. He might not have been in disguise but she recognised him immediately. He looked a few years younger than herself, cute even with spiky light brown hair and large blue eyes. His face was round and a little chubby but his body looked honed and strong. Clearly he hadn’t been following her because he looked as surprised as she was.

  “Bowel problems?” she said, indicating the bran flakes.

  “Career problems?” retorted her rival.

  The anger she’d used to feel while defending her territory when living on the streets returned and she swung her basket at his stomach.

  He leapt backwards to avoid it, dropping his own basket in the process. He grabbed her arm and attempted to twist it, hoping to get her in an armlock but she kicked him backwards. Looking up and down the aisle she saw no one else was around, so she launched herself at him but he lashed out with his fists, forcing her to keep her distance.

  “Who are you?” she said as they circled each other, being careful not to trip over the items he’d dropped.

  “Not worked it out yet?” he said, derision in his voice.

  “You’re insane.”

  He shrugged. “I know you Raven, I know you inside and out. In fact I even know your real name.”

  “You’re lying.”

  “Really, Jenny?”

  “How the fuck do you know that?”

  “That’s for you to figure out.”

  “I’ve had enough of this shit.”

  When Raven drew back her fist, he moved to block the blow, but that had just been a distraction and she drove her other fist into his ribs instead, sending him to his knees. She wrenched the metal bracelet she’d put on Nino out of her coat pocket, grabbed his arm, twisted it and snapped it on.

  “What the f….”

  His body jumped and twitched when she pressed the button, her lips curling into a malicious smile. She relinquished the button and he crumpled to the floor, dazed.

  “Now you’re going to tell me who the fuck you are and what you want.”

  “Oh my God,” cried a voice.

  Raven rolled her eyes when an elderly lady turned into the aisle and saw a man lying on the floor, his purchases scattered about him.

  “What happened?” demanded the old lady, rushing up to him as fast as her creaky knees would allow.

  “I don’t know,” said Raven, trying not to look annoyed by the interruption. “He mentioned something about feeling dizzy then he collapsed.”

  The old woman bent over him. “You alright son?”

  “Oh for God’s sake,” muttered Raven when a member of staff and two more customers charged down the aisle, all of them rushing to her rival’s side, who was looking up at them with dazed eyes, giving truth to her claims about him fainting.

  The member of staff - a man in his mid thirties with a highly officious air whose name badge announced he was the supermarket manager - took control of the situation. “Do you need us to call an ambulance?” he said in a loud voice, as though he were deaf.

  “Err, no thanks,” he replied, dragging himself to his feet, glancing at Raven. “I’m fine thanks, just a bit light-headed.”

  “Did you have some lunch?” said the old woman. “Because if I skip a meal I get dizzy and bad-tempered, oh the stories I could tell you about the times I skipped a meal. Got myself into some right scrapes I did.”

  “We’ve got a room you can sit in until you feel better,” the manager told her rival.

  He glanced at Raven, eyes sliding to the device she held in her hand. “That would be great, thanks.”

  He followed the manager, the old woman launching into an explanation of her medical ailments with the two unsuspecting members of the public who had just been after cereal, leaving Raven to watch her rival limp away, constantly looking back over his shoulder at her. She made no move to follow. Why bother when the bracelet contained a tracking device. She wished she could see him attempt to take it off and get more shocks for his trouble.

  Casually she finished her shopping and paid for her purchases. Food shopping sometimes depressed her as she was always buying for one. She liked it when Aidan came home and she could buy for two again. The pleasure of getting one over the bastard who’d effectively pulled apart her career was dulled by the thought of her husband. Why hadn’t he come home yet?

  CHAPTER 11

  Raven waited in her car for her rival to emerge from the supermarket. There was no way she could cover all the exits, so she waited in the main car park. Besides, the tracking device would tell her everything she needed to know and she could watch his movements on her phone.

  While she waited for him to emerge, she once again pondered their connection. That was t
he key to this whole mystery. There were only three possibilities - he was either something to do with her mother, her time on the streets…or Aidan.

  Aidan, like herself, was an orphan. His mother had died when he was a baby and his father had been killed while on tour of duty in Iraq and he had no siblings. It was one of the things that had connected them. Now there was a distinct possibility. Her errant husband had fingers in a lot of pies and he’d pissed off many dangerous individuals over the years. Mercenaries for hire didn’t tend to spread love and light wherever they went. She also knew for a fact that he’d been involved in some trouble in Spain but she couldn’t see why that would land on her doorstep. Besides, if this was some crazy war criminal or mercenary come for revenge on Aidan, they’d be much more likely to attack her outright. Pulling apart her career didn’t make sense. No, this was someone with a direct grudge against her, she could feel it.

  Her phone beeped, diverting her from her thoughts. Her rival was on the move.

  She watched him emerge from the front of the supermarket, striding towards a light red Ford Focus parked towards the back of the car park. He continually looked right and left as he walked, obviously looking for her but there were so many cars around there was no way he could pick her out.

  When he got in his car and exited the car park, she stayed put. He’d only be on the lookout for her. Besides, she knew exactly where he was going.

  On her phone she watched her rival drive off. When it became apparent he was driving away from the city centre she started her engine to follow, trailing him through the city towards the suburb of Horsforth, six miles away. It was a nice place, a sought after location to live with lovely stone buildings and green spaces. She hadn’t expected this, she’d assumed he’d come from a shitty part of the city, hiding away in a scummy bedsit. It annoyed her even more when she drove past the large, detached sandstone house sitting in its own grounds, the small red car she’d seen at the supermarket sitting on the drive.