In a Split Second

by Sophie McKenzie

  “I need the bathroom,” I said.

  “Sure.” Nat didn’t look up. “It’s just down the hallway on the left.”

  I scuttled out of the room, keeping the phone out of sight. It felt hot against my clammy palms as I ducked into the bathroom and locked the door. I looked at the phone. It was a basic model. I scrolled to messages; there was only one text here, received fifteen minutes or so ago. This was the message Nat had gotten at the memorial service.

  I opened it up and read.

  NAT

  I barely noticed Charlie leave the room. I was staring at Lucas, so still and pale on the hospital bed. I had been thinking about him all through the memorial service, imagining how he would have laughed at all the solemn faces and at the mayor’s pompous speech.

  Taylor’s text had been the final prompt to come here. And yet, now that I was actually at Lucas’s bedside, all I could think was how impossible it was that my brother, who had always been so strong and full of life, could be this shell of a person lying in front of me.

  I turned around and saw Charlie standing in the doorway. Her forehead was creased with a frown. Slowly, she held up her hand and, to my horror, I recognized the phone Taylor had given me resting on her palm. She had seen the text.

  Charlie walked around the hospital bed, then thrust the phone under my nose. The text Taylor had sent me at the service was on the screen:

  We salute a soldier.

  “The League of Iron sent this, didn’t they?” Charlie asked, her voice little more than a whisper. “Are you the soldier they mean?”

  “No.”

  “Then what? Who?”

  I didn’t know what to say. I turned to Lucas, then looked back at Charlie, watching as the realization dawned in her eyes.

  “Him?” she said.

  I nodded.

  “Your brother is the soldier?” Charlie gasped. “He did the bomb for the League of Iron?”

  I kept my gaze on Lucas, as everything I had held on to for the past six months seemed to collapse inside me. “No,” I said at last. “Lucas was trying to stop the bomb. He wasn’t in the League of Iron any more than I am.”

  “You’re not making sense,” Charlie said. “If you aren’t in the League, why were you on their forum the other day?”

  “I can’t tell you,” I said.

  “Then I’m going to the police.” Charlie turned away. “I’ll show them this text, see what they think.”

  I caught her hand. “No.”

  We stared at each other and I knew that I couldn’t stay silent any longer. The desire to confess what I knew was overwhelming. Charlie had half-guessed anyway.

  “Listen,” I said, “and I’ll tell you everything.”

  CHARLIE

  Nat’s voice was low and even as he told me about the text he saw on Lucas’s phone and how he had believed his brother was the League of Iron bomber for six months. I listened, too shocked to feel anything.

  At last Nat came to his meeting with Taylor the previous week. He explained how he had given up his laptop, how Taylor wanted to recruit him to a secret group that called themselves the English Freedom Army, how their aim was to stop the random violence of extremist groups like the League of Iron. How Lucas had been part of that group.

  His words settled like shards of ice in my brain. Nat seemed totally sincere, but could I really trust him?

  “And no one else knows?” I asked.

  “No one. I haven’t told anyone else.”

  “But . . .” I still wasn’t fully convinced. “When you knew there was going to be an explosion back in the market six months ago, why didn’t you just dial 999?”

  “I wish I had,” Nat said with a groan. “Everything was happening so fast. . . . I did tell one of the security guards, but it was too late. He died in the blast before he could say anything to anyone. . . . I guess I thought I could find Lucas before it happened. I can’t tell you how much I wish I’d done everything differently, but . . .”

  “What about afterward?” I said. “Why didn’t you tell anyone then?”

  Nat sagged against his chair. “Because my family was falling apart and I thought that if Mum and Dad and Jas knew Lucas had been responsible for the bomb as well, it would destroy them. You’ve seen my parents. . . . Dad’s barely coping as it is and Mum . . .” Nat’s voice cracked. He put his head in his hands.

  I stared down at him, a million emotions careering around my head.

  “What about this English Freedom Army?” I said. “How do you know that’s any better than the League of Iron? You should tell someone about them, the police, your parents.”

  “Weren’t you listening?” Nat said. “The guy I met, Taylor, from the EFA. He wants to stop the extremists from hurting innocent people. The police are useless, so someone needs to act. The English Freedom Army are heroes.”

  I shook my head. Everything Nat said might be true, but the way he described this army sounded like something out of a superhero comic. How could he be so sure they were the good guys?

  “There’s something else,” Nat went on, his voice barely above a whisper. He glanced at his brother again, lying motionless on the bed. “If I join the EFA I will get a chance to do something about the League of Iron.”

  “You mean get them back for Lucas? For my mum?” My heart leaped. Now, that sounded like an ambition I could totally go along with.

  Nat nodded. “But we have to keep it secret. Promise me you won’t tell, please?”

  NAT

  Charlie stared up at me. She was standing so close that I could have counted the eyelashes that framed her slanting eyes. Her expression was fierce. Fearless.

  At last she nodded.

  “So you definitely promise me you won’t say anything to anyone, not even Jas?” I said. “Because if Jas knows I’m joining some crime-fighting group or whatever, she’ll worry about me—in fact, she’ll probably end up telling our parents, so . . .” I glanced at the bed. If Mum was right, then it was possible that Lucas had just heard everything the two of us had said. But then Mum lived in a fantasyland where she talked to Lucas for hours on end in the firm belief he would soon wake up.

  “No, I won’t say anything.”

  I looked at Charlie. Did she mean that?

  “But there’s one condition.”

  “What’s that?” I asked.

  “I want to join the English Freedom Army too,” she said. “If you’re going to get revenge on the League of Iron, then so am I.”

  PART TWO

  INITIATION

  (n. formal admission or acceptance into an organization)

  CHARLIE

  Two weeks passed before Nat’s English Freedom Army contact called him again. Just as well, since it took me almost all that time—days of snatched, hushed conversations—to argue away Nat’s objections to me meeting him. Nat was adamant that the man, Taylor, had insisted on secrecy and that Nat himself had only been approached only because of his brother’s involvement with the EFA.

  “It was a one-off,” he said. “A special case. They won’t appreciate me involving someone else.”

  “I’m not ‘someone else,’ ” I argued back. “I’m a special case just like you are.”

  Nat was already at the park gates when I arrived. I was determined not to show it, but I couldn’t help feeling self-conscious as I walked over. Nat had this way of looking at me with those intense blue eyes of his, like I was the only thing he could see.

  “This is what they sent,” he said, shoving his phone at me. “I’m assuming it’s from Taylor, but the number’s withheld.”

  I peered down at the screen, shielding it from the bright sunlight with my hand.

  Building site. Featherstone Rd. Wait.

  “Do you know where that is?” I asked.

  Nat nodded. “Not exactly flowery language, is it?” he said with a sudden grin that transformed his face, making his eyes sparkle like chips of ice in the sunshine.

  “Let’s go,” I said, turni
ng away.

  We walked in silence. I was going over what I needed to say to Taylor to get him to accept me into the EFA. I knew I was going to have to tell him that I wanted to keep the streets safe. Trouble was, and I know it makes me sound like a really mean person, I didn’t much care about the streets. Not compared to how much I cared about getting revenge for Mum.

  Featherstone Road was dirty and rundown, with a large, high-walled estate running all the way down one side. The building site was opposite one end of the estate, a deserted, stone shell of a house surrounded by wasteland. The ground-floor windows were boarded up. The roof was mostly missing. Danger signs were dotted across the front, warning people not to trespass.

  Nat gave me a quick glance as we headed around the side of the house, where the brickwork was low and crumbling. We clambered over the wall then crept along the side passage, looking for a way in. The side door swung off its hinges. Nat pulled it open. It was dark in the house. Spooky. Pulse racing, I followed him inside.

  Before my eyes could adjust to the gloom, a gloved hand was slapped over my nose and mouth, and a damp cloth was shoved between my lips. I gasped in shock, taking in a breath of something sour and smelling of chemicals. And then everything went black, my legs buckled, and I fell to the floor.

  NAT

  I watched, horrified, as Taylor lay Charlie on the concrete floor then turned and stormed toward me. He gripped my neck with one strong hand, forcing me back against the wall. Before I could even register the coldness of the brick at my back, Taylor whipped a gun from inside his coat and pressed the barrel against my temple. The metal felt like ice against my skin.

  “What the hell is this?” He swore. “Who is she? Why did you bring her?”

  My heart drummed furiously in my chest. Why hadn’t I thought Taylor might carry a gun? He’d said he was part of an army, for goodness’ sake.

  “She’s a friend,” I stammered. She believes in the same—”

  “Do you think this is a game?” Taylor swore again. “Don’t lie to me, Nat.”

  “She is . . . She’s a friend of mine. She wants to help.”

  “This is not cool.” Taylor let out a grunt of frustration. In a single move, he twisted my arms behind my back and tied them with rope. Then he shoved me to the floor. I landed with a thud on my side. The rope bit into my wrists. Taylor was now binding my ankles. Everything was happening so fast. A moment later and my mouth was covered with tape.

  Taylor moved over to Charlie. I tried to speak as he bound her wrists and ankles, but the tape over my mouth was so tight that all that came out was a series of muffled grunts. Once Charlie was securely tied up, Taylor took out a flashlight and shone it long and hard in her face and then strode back to me. He ripped the tape off my mouth.

  “Who is she?” he demanded.

  “She’s a friend. Her mum was killed in that League of Iron bomb. We’re at the same school. She wants—”

  Taylor shoved the gun against my throat. I gasped. “Do you not remember what I told you about keeping your meeting with me secret?”

  “Yes,” I stammered. “I just . . .”

  “Yes, sir,” Taylor spat.

  “Yes, sir,” I repeated. “She followed me. She saw . . . saw stuff on my laptop before I gave it to you. She’s smart, she put it all together. She was going to the police if I didn’t bring her along today. But she’s cool. She wants to help. Especially if it’s a chance to get back at the League of Iron. They killed her mother and her dad’s already dead. She . . . she’s a friend . . .” I ran out of words.

  Taylor stared at me for several long, slow seconds, then he holstered his gun under his coat and tugged at the knot around my wrists. To my surprise, the rope released instantly.

  I gave my wrists a rub, then reached down and untied my ankles.

  Taylor cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, Nat, I overreacted. I didn’t mean to scare you, but secrecy is vital. You should have asked me before you brought her.” He stood up. “I need to speak to the Commander. Please stay here.”

  I indicated Charlie, still slumped on the floor. “What about her? Is she okay?”

  “She’s fine.” Taylor reached down and slid the ropes off Charlie’s wrists and ankles. “She’ll come around in a few minutes.” He stalked out of the room.

  The side door of the house banged shut. I crept closer to Charlie. Her eyes were closed. Had Taylor been telling the truth about her being okay? I bent down so my cheek rested just over her nose and mouth. Her breath warmed my face, slow, steady, and shallow. Relief flooded through me.

  I leaned back against the cold wall. As the shock of Taylor’s aggression wore off, I had to admit to myself that he had been impressive. I’d never seen anyone move with such speed and precision—or with such ruthlessness.

  No wonder Lucas had become more focused and serious after the EFA had trained him.

  I took a deep breath. Despite Taylor’s terrifying behavior before, I wanted to join the English Freedom Army more than ever. But what would the Commander decide? Suppose Charlie wasn’t allowed to join the EFA? Suppose, after bringing her here, that I wasn’t?

  A few moments later, Charlie’s eyes flickered open.

  “Are you all right?” I whispered.

  Charlie nodded. She blinked, rubbing her head.

  “What happened?” she said. Her eyes widened. “Was I drugged?”

  I was about to explain when Taylor marched back into the room. He squatted in front of Charlie, a serious expression on his face.

  “What’s your name?” he asked.

  “Charlie Stockwell,” she said, jutting out her chin. “How dare you drug me? Who do you think you are?”

  I glared at her. I understood that she’d just had a shock, but couldn’t she see how angry Taylor was that I’d brought her? For goodness’ sake, I’d told her it was a risk, that Taylor had emphasized the need for secrecy within the EFA.

  “Well?” Charlie demanded.

  I closed my eyes. This was it. Taylor was never going to recruit us now. We’d be lucky to get out of here in one piece.

  CHARLIE

  My head felt sore, but my mind was clear as I stared at Taylor. His gun was poking out from the inside of his jacket. I gritted my teeth. He might make out he was one of the good guys, but genuinely well-meaning people aren’t ready with guns and drugs to attack innocent teenagers just because they’ve walked into a meeting where they weren’t expected..

  I stared up into his eyes. For a moment he looked surprised, then his expression grew carefully blank.

  “You’re angry with me?” he said slowly. Then he sat back on his heels and laughed.

  “It’s not a joke,” I said, furious that Taylor was making fun of me. “How dare you attack me?”

  The smile fell from Taylor’s face. “You weren’t supposed to be here,” he said coldly. “Now tell me what Nat has told you about the English Freedom Army.”

  The last thing I wanted to do was obey, but I didn’t really have a choice. I explained, as quickly as I could, what Nat had said. “I came along because I thought joining you might be a way to get back at the League of Iron,” I finished. “If Nat’s going to get a chance to take revenge on those pigs who killed my mother, then I want a chance too.”

  Taylor hesitated a moment, then he stood up. “Wait.”

  “Hey, did you speak to the Commander? What did he say?” Nat asked.

  But Taylor was already out of the room. Nat turned on me. Even in the dim light I could see his face was pale and his eyes strained.

  “What are you doing?” he hissed. “He wasn’t expecting you and he is a soldier with a gun. This is not the way to get him to recruit us.”

  “Don’t tell me what to do.” I looked away, anger rising inside me again.

  Nat fell silent. A full minute ticked by. Neither of us said anything. At last Taylor came back, making no sound as he crossed the floor. He folded his arms, as Nat and I scrambled to our feet.

  “So you want to j
oin us, Charlie?” Taylor asked.

  I hesitated. After being attacked just now, I actually had severe reservations about joining the EFA, but there was no point saying that to Taylor. “I want to get revenge on the League of Iron,” I said. “If you can help me do that then I want to join.”

  “Right.” Taylor studied me carefully.

  “Nat says that the EFA tries to protect people from extremist groups,” I said. “To stop those groups.”

  Taylor shook his head. “Nat shouldn’t have told you anything about us.”

  “I—” Nat started.

  “Don’t blame him,” I cut in. “I followed him one day. Snooped on his computer. I didn’t give him a choice.”

  Taylor considered this, then he reached for his backpack and pulled out a laptop. I recognized it from Nat’s bedroom.

  “Here,” he said, handing Nat the laptop. “We’ve replaced the hard drive. No more forums, okay?”

  Nat nodded.

  I watched Taylor intently. Did this mean he was going to accept what I’d said? Let me into the EFA?

  Taylor turned to me. “Charlie?”

  I kept my gaze fixed on him.

  Taylor looked for a second as if he were suppressing a smile. “Why aren’t you scared?” he said.

  I shrugged.

  Taylor tilted his head to one side. Then he took a gun from inside his coat and pointed it across at Nat. “I could kill him,” he said. “Would that scare you?”

  Nat’s mouth fell open.

  My stomach gave a sick lurch. “No,” I said, careful not to let my horror at his words show. “But it should scare you.”

  Taylor lowered his gun.

  “Explain,” he barked.

  “Firstly it’s broad daylight and you’d have a body to deal with, which would be messy—and an army’s supposed to be efficient. Secondly, I’d be a witness so you’d have to kill me too, which would be two bodies. Doubly messy. And thirdly, Nat and I want to join you, to learn more, to help protect people. Sure I want to get back at the League of Iron, but it’s not just that.” I took a deep breath. “I’m . . . we want to end all the violence that’s going on in London and other places all the time. If you kill us, you prove that you are as stupid and as cruel as all those extreme groups you told Nat that you want to protect the public from.”