Don't Bother Running

Chapter 17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

'Why are we-'

'They're not good people. I could hear what they were saying and trust me- their not exactly the friendliest bunch'

'What were they talking about?'

'It was just bull-' Malik stopped himself from swearing. He'd decided to keep a clean mouth in front of Ayda though it was hard to remember she was only eight years old. 

'Erm...I'd...I'd rather not say.'

They passed houses, parks and an abandoned petrol station and carried on walking down the road, away from the nearing voices.

Malik quickly lead Ayda to the front garden of one of the little cottages. They bobbed down and, using his hidden sleeve blade, he cut a small hole in the wood for himself to see through.

It had been a good few minutes before the group came marching past, all carrying lethal weapons. Some even had dogs with them.

No.

That wasn't good. Malik signalled for Ayda to keep still but one of the pit-bulls had already sniffed them out and was eagerly clawing at the fence.

'Well, well, well,' sneered a cold, harsh voice. 'What do we have here?'

As the boy leant over the gate he felt a stinging burn on his neck. His throat had been slit and blood came poring out of the wound. The others had noticed now and were cautiously creeping over.

'Ayda, I need you to go and don't-'

'Go where,' she whispered, eyes wide with fear.

'Anywhere- Just stay in the area. I'll deal with there b******s and then come and find you'

So much for precision of language...

She did as she was told and tip-toed along the inside of the fence, keeping low. The next thing she knew, she was being pulled backwards into the hedge by a rather heavy arm. She scrambled to free herself from the iron grip but it was no use.

'Ayda. Ayda, stop!'

'Wha-?', she rasped.

'It's me... Lewis.'