Show No Mercy

by Bethany Walkers

  When my sky turns gray, and the thunder starts to roll, and it seems as if tomorrow will never come, I turn to you. The look in your eyes, the touch of your hands, the sound of your voice--it's all I need to brighten my day and blow the rainy clouds away. You are my angel from above, sent to me. Why? I do not know, but what I do know is that I don't deserve it. When I look into your eyes and feel your gentle touch, it sends chills up my spine, sending me into an ecstasy beyond explanation.

  Babe, you drive me wild! Just the way you look in my eyes sends my head spinning and the stars start to shine. The sound of your voice starts my heart pumping so, Babe, you can only imagine what it's like when you wrap your arms around me and I feel your warm breath on my cheek. You make my body shiver in bliss, my breath is taken away, I see the stars, Babe, and it's all because of you. It's amazing how you knock me off my feet; every time you come around me, I get weak.

  Dream maker, make my dreams come true tonight! If I close my eyes, will you hold me tight all night? Will you be here by my side when my nights are cold and lonely? Will you give me your love that I crave so deeply? I cannot imagine my life without you now. You are everything inside me that I wish I could be and so much more. I look at my life before I knew your love, and I don't know how I ever survived.

  This part of the letter was just a fraction of the long and beautiful letter that she wrote. Now that she was done, she folded the paper up and put it into her handbag, and then gave Adam a call.

  “Hey Mitchell,” she grinned, as she spoke into the phone.

  “Hi,” Adam said at the other end.

  “Is your mum better?” Sophie asked, concerned.

  “Yes, thanks to your money. I can’t tell you how thankful I am.” Adam still felt guilty because he hadn’t gone to see his mother.

  “Hey, no problem. We’ll get the embassy cars some time or another,” Sophie reassured.

  “At least my mum’s well now.” Adam felt uncomfortable and wanted to change the subject.

  “I’m so happy for you. Have you told her about me?” Sophie was smiling.

  “Yeah, she’s so delighted.” Adam was grinning.

  “Cool.” This word was the only one that Sophie could manage.

  “So, what did you want to talk about?” Adam asked, quickly trying to start a new conversation.

  “Just this and that,” Sophie said vaguely. “I’m on the train to London, because that’s where you’ll be arriving, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah. And then maybe we could celebrate our reunion?” Adam grinned.

  “You’re so soppy!” Sophie laughed.

  “Hey, who’re you calling soppy? You’re the soppy one.” Adam laughed too.

  “OK, OK, you can shut up now.”

  “Sorry. Am I wasting your time?”

  “Nah, I’m thankful. This train journey’s a proper nightmare, being alone with nothing to do. I’ve still got a good stinking four hours left.” Sophie sighed.

  “Man, I feel bad for you. So, what’re you gonna do when you get there? I’m only just about to get on the plane.”

  “Probably go down town with Besside. Or go and have a girly chinwag with Sandalwood.”

  “Right. Well, I have to go now, or I’ll get done for talking on my mobile phone.” Adam paused. “Even though I’m the boss. Goddamit, them guys never stop ranting at me.”

  “Ha ha! OK, bye, Mitchell. Love you!”

  “And you!”

  Sophie laughed as she dialled off. Then she could hear sudden crying. Underneath one of the seats, a little girl was sobbing as quietly as she could.

  “Hey, what’s wrong?” asked Sophie, concerned.

  The girl didn’t reply.

  “Come on, come out, I won’t hurt you!” Sophie said softly.

  The girl stayed where she was.

  “Come on. I promise I won’t do you any harm. You can tell me what’s the matter.”

  Slowly, the girl came out of her hiding place.

  Sophie hugged her.

  “Now, tell me, what’s your name?”

  “Chloe,” the girl whispered.

  “That’s a beautiful name! Well, Chloe, what’s wrong?”

  “Everything,” she wept. “There are some men on the train, trying to look for me, and they’re planning to kill me!”

  “Oh, I won’t let anything whatsoever happen to you, even if I have to die instead. I’ll keep you safe, I promise.”

  Chapter Forty Two

  Saving Chloe from the bandits

  The train stopped. The time whizzed as Sophie had told Chloe over and over again not to worry.

  Sophie didn’t care if she couldn’t get off the train. She had a girl’s life to save here. Seeing Adam would have to wait.

  Sophie led Chloe to the ladies’ toilets. She told the girl over and over that it would be all right.

  She locked the door.

  Outside, the hijackers had arrived on the train. Only one man was left on the train, waiting for the return journey back to the city where Sophie had took the journey from. The man was ageing and was very old. He had wisps of white hair and very dark, wrinkled skin.

  “Oi, grandpa,” the hijacker chortled, “have you seen a little girl on the train, with green pigtail ribbons in her hair?” He tried his best to describe her.

  “Ten quid and I’ll tell you.” The man was old but he wasn’t going to give away information without getting something back.

  They sighed imperiously, but one of the hijackers quickly handed over the cash.

  The old man pointed to the ladies toilets. The hijackers smirked and walked over there.

  There was a hole cut through the door. One of them peeked through it, and saw Sophie and Chloe sitting together in each others arms.

  “Leave,” Sophie said determinedly.

  “No,” the hijackers remarked, their voices firm. For some strange reason, they always said everything simultaneously.

  “Don’t worry,” Sophie whispered to Chloe.

  Sophie took off her expensive gold chain, which Mr. Sandalwood had given her as a present the day he’d employed her for the advertisement production company. It shone from every edge, and it was one of the finest of golds; it was twenty four carats with a small diamond hooked on its surface. Sophie didn’t want to accept it from Mr. Sandalwood at the time, and was planning on giving it to Bessie, but now, Sophie needed it, and it was the only thing that sprung to her mind that if she gave it, they would go away because it was so valuable. Sophie wrapped it in tissue and slid it under the door.

  “It’s real gold, man!” said one of the hijackers, his voice high and raised. “We’ll leave them alone.”

  But they were acting; they weren’t really going to go. They hid under the train seats in the wait of Chloe and Sophie to come out of the ladies room. The old man stared at them, smirking.

  Sophie was sure that they weren’t there anymore, so she unlocked the door and lead both herself and Chloe, out.

  As soon as they reached the middle of the train in walking, the hijackers revealed themselves from their hiding places. Chloe shivered with fear.

  One of the hijackers took hold of Chloe. Choe screamed, unable to control her sobs. Sophie didn’t try and save her this way. Sophie slowly walked away from them, walking backwards instead of forwards. She reached a door, with a winder. She unwound it and some policeman were at the other end.

  The plotters let go of Chloe immediately. Chloe ran to Sophie, as the policemen grabbed hold of the hijackers and arrested them.

  “All in a day’s work!” Sophie grinned. She gave Chloe a hi-five.

  “Thank you so much,” Chloe grinned, “for saving my life.”

  “No problem,” Sophie smiled.

  They took the train back to the city (where Sophie had boarded it originally). It was too late to get off at London now, and anyways, Sophie was concerned for Chloe’s safety.

  Sophie grabbed Chloe’s hand lightly.

  “Come on, let’s take you home.”

>   Chapter Forty Three

  Returning her to the orphanage

  On the way back with Chloe, Sophie decided to inform Adam about what happened.

  “Erm, Michell, there’s a problem. I can’t go down to London because I have to send this girl down to the orphanage. The thing is, she nearly got killed. And now I have to take her back.”

  “Oh right. Are you all right?” Adam’s voice was panicky.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Those bloody bastards tried murdering her.”

  “Well, I guess I’ll just have to take a cab to where you are then.” Adam paused, and then started grinning. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Okay. Would you rather I looked like Leonardo di Caprio or Justin Timberlake?” Adam asked, knowing that this was totally irrelevant for the time right now.

  “Ryan Gosling,” Sophie smiled.

  She answered a little too fast for Adam’s comfort. “What the hell, Sophie? You’re supposed to say Mitchell! You’re supposed to say you want me to look like me!”

  “But you weren't one of the options,” Sophie smirked.

  “Neither was Ryan Gosling!” Adam exclaimed.

  “Yeah, we’ll have plenty of time to discuss this when I see you. I’ve got to go.”

  She dialled off, and turned back to Chloe.

  “Well, Chloe, I’m going to have to send you to the orphanage. Do you know where your real parents are?”

  “No. but I guess I’ll have to go, because I can’t just live on the streets homeless!”

  “Point proven.”

  The train stopped and Sophie got off with Chloe. She called a taxi and the driver drove them down to the orphanage.

  Sophie went down to the reception to give Chloe’s details.

  “Thanks for bringing her here,” grinned the receptionist. The receptionist had long copper-coloured hair, and her make up was worn so that her lips looked gold. “I really am very grateful. You don’t know what could have happened to poor Chloe.”

  “Trust me, I’ve seen this kind of thing happen before.”

  “Thanks again.”

  “No problem.”

  Sophie gave Chloe a hug, and then left.

  Part Four - Present

  People speak of fate

  and meetings of chance.

  Finding of soul mates

  and love at first glance.

  Alignment of planets

  Shooting stars up above.

  Fullness of the moon

  and pairs of white doves.

  I've never taken stock

  in these symbols and signs.

  But having met you

  proved I'd been blind.

  Poets write of hearts

  eternal devotion.

  Flames of desire

  and new found emotion.

  Love ever lasting

  a lifetime of bliss.

  Heaven here on Earth

  the passion of a kiss.

  I've never found valid

  these words foolishly penned.

  Then you graced my presence

  and proved me wrong again.

  Singers sing of heartache

  and the one that got away.

  Internal emptiness

  pain that still remains.

  Missed opportunities

  the hollowness of night.

  Paths that never cross

  timing that wasn't right.

  I never dreamed those songs

  could ever ring so true.

  Until I thought of life

  without ever knowing you.

  Chapter Forty Four

  Time to rest

  The rest of the pages in the diary were blank. Jazz tried and tried again to see if any more writing could be found, but she was unsuccessful.

  “All the rest of the pages are blank!” she cursed. “And I was really enjoying reading all this.”

  “How about we research more on the topic tomorrow? It’s about time we had a rest,” Gina suggested.

  “You’re right.” Jazz said reluctantly.

  Jazz placed the diaries back in her bag, and went to sleep.

  Chapter Fourty Five

  Seeking revenge, but failing

  Jazz woke up in the middle of the night, yawning. The window of the block of flats were open, blowing cold wind inside the apartment. She walked up to close it and to her sheer horror Adam jumped up and grabbed hold of her neck.

  “AARRGH!” she screamed in both pain and terror (mostly in terror), but managed to release herself. She ran out of her apartment and into the lift outside.

  “BLOODY CHEAT!” Adam yelled after her. Jazz got into the lift, and as soon as she got out, she immediately started yelling for help, tears streaming down her face. “Somebody help me, please!” she sobbed. She’d never been so scared in her life. “Somebody help me, please! Please, somebody help me!” She repeated the same words over and over again, shivering. Her voice went more and more muffled as she cried. If she heard the smallest sound, she’d jump. “Oh God,” she prayed, “if this is the last day of my life because he’s going to kill me, please forgive me of all my sins!”

  Adam Attenborough got into the lift and Jazz jammed the lift by pressing the EMERGENCY STOP button. It was the only thing she could think of doing.

  Adam cursed furiously.

  “I FLIPPING HATE YOU!” he screamed into nothingness. “YOU’VE RUINED MY LIFE! YOU CHEATED ME JUST TO GET MY INFORMATION AND HANDED ME OVER TO MY WORST ENEMY! AARGH!” Adam’s face looked vicious and terrifying, as if he was an escaped mass murderer on the loose.

  The police had arrived by now. They hauled Adam out of the lift. He jumped about as they took hold of his arms, screaming and moaning and yelling about Jazz.

  Jazz and everyone amongst her were watching, scared out of their wits as Adam continued to thrash about in the policeman’s arms.

  Adam threw Jazz a dirty and betrayed look.

  Jazz folded her arms, guilty. She hadn’t meant to get Adam in custody for the day. Adam’s sentence in prison was only a week long, but she still felt very guilty. She had used Adam all this time just to impress John Smith, by handing in a good project for her college coursework. She felt even more guilty for telling Joshua about it, even though she didn’t know why Adam wanted to kill Joshua.

  All she could do was watch, as Adam was being led out.

  Chapter Fourty Six

  Finding out what happened

  It was the next day after yesterday’s events. Jazz, Gina and Amber went to Sophie’s old work studio.

  “Can you tell us about Sophie Steele? She used to work here. What happened to her?” Jazz asked, shaking hands with Mr. Sandalwood.

  “Well, she was here one time with her boyfriend Adam Attenborough, but then at one point she never came back.” Mr. Sandalwood didn’t really seem to have much information.

  “Hmmm,” Jazz nodded, her voice vague.

  “Why, what brings you here?” Mr. Sandalwood asked.

  “Just a project,” Jazz explained, “that I’m doing with my mates, Gina and Amber.” Her tone of voice was casual and informal.

  “Well, I can’t help you with anything here. I don’t know what happened to Sophie. Thanks for coming by anyway.” Mr. Sandalwood shrugged.

  “Been a pleasure.” Jazz smiled, and the three best friends left the studio.

  Since Mr. Sandalwood couldn’t help them, they decided to see Chloe the orphan.

  “Hi, receptionist. Can we see Chloe please?” Jazz asked.

  “Come right this way,” she smiled, leading them to Chloe.

  Chloe was playing and skipping with her friends, singing girly songs like I’m a Barbie Girl.

  “I'm a Barbie girl, in the Barbie world

  Life in plastic, it's fantastic!

  You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere

  Imagination, life is your creation

  Come on Barbie, let's go party!

  I'm a Barbie girl, in the
Barbie world

  Life in plastic, it's fantastic!

  You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere

  Imagination, life is your creation

  I'm a blond bimbo girl, in a fantasy world

  Dress me up, make it tight, I'm your dolly

  You're my doll, rock'n'roll, feel the glamour in pink,

  Kiss me here, touch me there, hanky panky…”

  She stopped singing abruptly when she saw adults walk over to her. She blushed deeply in an awkward embarrassment.

  “Erm, can we talk to you for a few minutes, in private?” Gina asked.

  “Of course, ma’am.” Chloe immediately put on her formal voice.

  Jazz led them to a bench, nearby the fields of the orphanage.

  “Can you talk to me about Sophie Steele?”