Vanessa sat on the length of a fallen tree, gazing out over a bank that had to be close to 30 metres high. If it had been a year earlier, she would have considered leaping off the bank and ending it all, but she was stronger than that now, or at least she believed she was.
She had been crying for close to ten minutes now and wished like crazy she could just rewind time, but that was impossible. What was done was done. What was said was said and there was no going back.
‘Here she is. I told you we’d find her, Pyles, you moron!’
She spun around in surprise, not expecting anyone to have tracked her down so soon.
Surly stepped up to her, with a panting Tucker, stumbling along at the rear. These were the last two boys she wanted to see. In fact, she just wanted to be left alone right now, to wallow in her own self pity.
‘Rack off you two,’ she said, not in the mood for niceties.
‘That’s not nice, not nice at all.’ Surly sneered. ‘We’re here to make you feel better, aren’t we Tucker?’
‘Err… yeah.’ Tucker didn’t seem too sure and panted profusely from the steep walk up the bank.
‘I don’t need you two around to make me feel better.’
Surly stood straight. ‘Well we’re here now, so there’s not a lot you can do, is there?’
‘Just rack off!’
‘No, I will not rack off.’ He reached into his jacket and pullet out a flick knife and it sprang open.
Vanessa gasped and stared at the blade in horror.
She wasn’t the only one to become paralysed with fear. Tucker too, stared wide-eyed. ‘Luke, what the hell do you want that for?’
‘Just shut up Pyles! You done your bit, now it’s my turn.’
Vanessa tried to rise to her feet, but Surly shoved her back down with his one free hand. He then grabbed her by the arm and pointed the blade at her throat. ‘You’ll sit right where you are and don’t move, you got that?’
Vanessa froze as the sharp knife glinted in the sunlight. She felt weak and felt terror like she had never felt in her entire life.
‘Now that’s more like it. You know, Tucks? It’s always impossible to shut a girl up, but one of these seems to do a good job.’
‘Wh… what do you want?’ Vanessa stammered.
‘Now damn, she started talking again. I just want you to shut up for now, ok? One word out of you and I’ll cut up that pretty little face of yours. Now that would be a real shame, because it’s so darn gorgeous. But just try me!’
Vanessa stared petrified at the blade and remained silent.
Tucker shuddered. ‘Luke, I don’t like this. You never said anything about anything like this.’
‘Just shut up, Pyles! This is all part of the plan.’
‘It’s not part of my plan!’
‘I said shut up!’ He delivered Tucker a homicidal glare.
Tucker quickly zipped his lips, standing there on wobbly feet, holding a bag in each hand.
Surly let go of her arm and pulled out something else from his jacket. This time, it was a cell phone. ‘Tucker. Go get Cassidy and bring him here.’
Somehow, the thought of Rex being called in brought some relief to Vanessa, but then the fear of what Surly had in mind brought it back again.
‘Why?’ Tucker asked.
Surly laughed evilly. ‘It’s better that you don’t know. Now go find him and hurry up. Tell him he has to come up here alone if he knows what’s good for Vanessa.’
‘You’re not gonna hurt her, are you?’
‘As long as she doesn’t try to run away, I won’t.’
‘You promise?’
‘Just get moving!’
Tucker was about to move away, but Surly called out one last instruction. ‘Leave my bag here, you idiot!’
‘Oh… ok.’ Tucker placed it gently on the ground then hurried back down the side of the bank.
With an evil gleam in his eye, Surly pushed in some numbers into his phone and waited, making sure his eyes were on Vanessa the entire time. ‘Yeah? The cops? Cool… Ah yeah, there’s trouble. There’s this bunch of school kids, see? They’re on the beach here at Pone Road and they’re holding a party but you see they have alcohol there. They’ve got it hidden in bags, but they put it in their drinks when they think nobody is watching… They’re only sixteen most of them. They’re pretty rowdy too, making trouble and harassing other people on the beach. You’d better send some guys… I’d rather not give my name. I don’t want any backlash from these guys as they can be pretty vindictive… No worries. Bye.’
Surly hung up the phone and an evil smile appeared on his lips. ‘They’ll be here in fifteen minutes. This has worked out perfectly. It couldn’t have been more perfect.’
Vanessa continued to stare with horror at the knife in Surly’s hand. She had to speak, but it was with difficulty. ‘Why do you want Rex?’
‘I’m gonna teach him a lesson.’
‘You’re… you’re not going to use that knife on him, are you?’
‘What if I am? What’s it to you anyway? I would have thought you’d want to make him suffer for what he’s put you through.’
‘None of it’s his fault. Please don’t hurt him. I… I…’
‘What?’
‘I love him…’
There was silence for a few seconds before Surly burst out laughing. ‘Ahhhhhh, ain’t that sweet. She loves him. Well honey, you’re gonna have to get ready to say goodbye to him for good, because when he gets up here, its gonna be the last time you see him alive…’