by G Mottram
‘The wonderful Fast Eddie was pleased with your performance today, yes?’ Mouse said.
‘At least he stayed to see if I was okay.’
‘We waited until the Skin wasn’t moving anymore and then left you to finish kicking him.’ Mouse said casually.
‘I didn’t kick him – I stopped.’
‘You are too kind, I think.’ Mouse said. He pulled his bag up from the floor. ‘We may not see a lot of you for a while – we have the examination study leave and you perhaps need some time to play with your new friends, yes?’
Mouse held Jason’s eye for a moment more. ‘Choose them carefully,’ he mumbled before shifting away along the seat and pulling out a book to read.
Willow stared at the back of Mouse’s head for a moment then turned to stare out of the opposite window. What was the use in arguing?
When Jason arrived home, the house was silent so he went to check the garden.
Dad and Ilena Russof were there, sitting at the garden table which overlooked the river and the woods beyond. The remains of what must have been a very long lunch and an empty bottle of Cava were laid out before them.
Ilena stood up the moment Jason stepped through the kitchen’s back door. She looked fantastic - today in fitted black trousers and a deep red blouse, her dark hair tied up with a few wispy strands blowing in the soft breeze from the river.
Dad took one look at Jason’s bruised face and dishevelled clothes and put his wine glass down. ‘You’ve been fighting.’
‘I should leave,’ Ilena cut in. ‘I will telephone you tomorrow, Richard.’ With a half-smile to Dad and a concerned glance over Jason, she walked out of sight around the side of the house.
Jason would rather face the music than lie to his father. He waited until Ilena had gone then moved over to the table.
‘Yes – I had a fight, Dad… with one of the skinhead gang like I told you.’
‘Why?’
‘Because he’s a prat and kept getting at me.’
‘And did you hurt him badly?’
‘He’ll live.’
‘That’s lucky,’ Dad said, throwing the remains of his wine out onto the lawn. ‘I told you - you’re coming into your Gifts - you can kill with one blow if you’re not in control, smash bones, permanently damage brains…’
‘Then teach me how to use it properly.’
‘I will…’ Dad said, ‘I’ve already said that I’ll teach you how to suppress your Gifts, keep the powers locked away. We’ll start this evening.’
‘I don’t want to suppress it. What happens when the next Brethren agent comes along to try to kill us?’
‘We’ve been through this… the best defence is anonymity - look at Ilena and her family...’
‘Louisa has been taught how to use her gifts - she pushed me over from ten feet away the first day I met her’
‘She was brought up in the Watch and besides, she’s only a first generation Gifted. If you learned your Gifts you would be able to “push” houses over – with the accompanying zephyr drawing in any agents for miles around.’
‘The agents always find us anyway – with mum and on Mawn…’
‘That won’t happen again.’
‘How do you know?’
Dad had no answer. Jason didn’t want to stop. ‘And what if I don’t want to hide? What if I want to join the Watch?’
Dad stared at him, then asked quietly ‘Why in God’s name would you want to do that?’
‘Oh, now let me think,’ Jason said, ‘maybe because the Brethren sent men to kill my mother and maybe because if the Watch lose there will be Brethren agents and Touched and demons everywhere. Even here. No one will be safe ever again.’
Dad brushed his fingers through his hair. ‘Listen Son, do you think your mother would have wanted you to risk your life time and again to avenge her or would she have wanted you to have as normal, happy and safe a life as you possibly could?’
Jason just stared at him.
Dad carried on, his voice soft. ‘And I told you the fight between the Brethren and the Watch always ebbs and flows, no side can ever really win. The Watch are just on a low at the moment - they’ll recover, they always do.’
‘So why are Louisa and Mouse going back to join them if there’s nothing to worry about? They’ve lost half their family there, both Mouse’s parents – they want to make the Brethren pay as well.’
‘Is that another reason you’re thinking of doing this - to follow Louisa Russof?’ Dad said quietly.
How did he know that? Jason’s anger flared. ‘No – I’m thinking of joining the Watch because I’m not a coward.’
Jason hated himself the moment he’d said it. Dad however, was completely calm.
‘Whatever you think of me, of my reasons for trying to leave that world behind, you need to understand… if you do join them, it will never stop. The things you will have to do will… change you forever. You don’t have to throw your life away, Son.’
‘Not much of a life to throw away is it?’ Jason said and stormed into the kitchen, slamming the door behind him.
***
Mouse did little more than grunt a greeting to him on the bus the following morning and Louisa wasn’t there again. It was probably a good thing or doubtless she’d have moaned at him about having the fight as well.
Once in Silent Hill however, it seemed everyone else appreciated his efforts in the Pit yesterday. The moment he walked into registration, most of his form started clapping and cheering. Obviously the two big Skin boys and the whip thin girl just scowled at him. Baldwin himself was nowhere to be seen.
Jason nodded to the class, half raising one hand but quickly found his place next to Violet as Mr Pastor started taking the register.
Violet had not clapped - she’d slapped on her stern face and Jason guessed the ‘voice of disapproval’ would come out of it any time now.
The moment the register and notices were called, Violet started.
‘When’s the next fight, then? With you being so friendly with Fast Eddie, I assume you’re joining the Brash… should I watch what I say now in case it goes straight back to my guardian?’
‘Do they report everything back to him?’ Jason asked.
‘Yes – obviously… duh, they’re called “the Brash” aren’t they?’
Jason shook his head. ‘I guess.’
Violet raised her eyes. ‘Anyway, don’t try to change the subject. Are you going to be a little Brashy boy then? Are you…’
‘Violet - shut up,’ Jason said, not unkindly. ‘The truth is I don’t know if I want to join them or not. My dad and sister are dead set against having anything to do with Alan Brash.’
‘They’re obviously a lot brighter than you, then.’ Violet mumbled.
‘I can’t see what you’ve got against him - a super-rich guardian living in some huge abbey.’
Violet clapped her hands in mock joy. ‘Lucky me.’
She pulled her invariably bulging bag onto the table and started rummaging through it for no apparent reason.
‘Look,’ Jason began, ‘I don’t know about the gang but if some idiot tries to push me around I’ll push them back. There’s nothing wrong with that is there?’
Violet slowed down her rummaging and faced him. She looked shy again, like when they’d first met. Her grey-blue eyes didn’t quite manage to meet his and she quickly angled her head so that long, mousey hair covered half her face.
‘I suppose not… it’s just… well I liked the fact that you were one of the few people around here who weren’t playing his games and… well, you might get really badly hurt in the Pit. They’ll keep putting you up against stronger and stronger Skins and then…it’ll go further’ Violet’s voice faded away without finishing for once.
‘Go further – how?’
‘Never mind,’ Violet said, ‘I just don’t want you dripping your blood all over my stuff, that’s all.’
At that moment, the prefects rang their hand-bells for lessons.
A
s he followed Violet to the door, the Skins tried to push in front of her. Instinctively, Jason shot his hand out to stop them. Amazingly, they stopped and even pulled back a step.
Violet flashed Jason an unreadable look and disappeared into the corridor. As he followed her out he heard a muttered ‘bloody hero!’ from one of the Skins but he ignored it. Prefects were everywhere and Mr Pastor was still in the room - there would be plenty of opportunity to follow it up later.
It was Friday, the end of Jason’s first week at Silent Hill. His first two lessons went well enough - French and Geography. Violet stopped preaching and prattled on about the forthcoming exams and some television talent show she was going to watch on Saturday night – she had her own suite of rooms at the abbey apparently, complete with a huge HD TV and surround sound.
It was good to have her inane chatter back. Almost too soon the bells were rung for break and it was time to face the rest of the school.
The corridors were buzzing louder than usual as he found his way from Geography into the packed yard. Everyone kept glancing at him as he made his way to one of the rocks and wondered if a Brash messenger would turn up with an invite to join them. He didn’t know what he’d say if they did, but hopefully it would be Erin Brock again – what a mix of gorgeous looks and hard fighter.
No Brash came for him, however. Jason was starting to become annoyed, feeling like he was some animal in a cage for everyone to gawp at, when Mouse came strolling towards him, a bag of crisps in hand.
Mouse just looked at him for a time, finishing his mouthful. They stank - cheese and onion flavour.
‘So what – you’re talking to me again, now are you?’ Jason asked.
‘Not with my mouth full – Ilena is very quick to correct bad manners.’ Mouse said.
‘I haven’t joined the Brash if that’s what you’ve come to find out. They haven’t asked me.’
‘Ah – but they are about to do so, I think,’ Mouse said, nodding backwards slightly. ‘This is what I came to warn you about.’
Jason looked behind Mouse. People were drifting around them – probably trying to eavesdrop for any news of the fight. He noticed a group of three girls in particular - all very good looking in short floaty skirts and pristine white blouses with several buttons open. Two were blonde, one with her hair long and wavy and the other with hers straight and cut above her shoulders. The third girl had Louisa’s look – tall, curvy figure and dark hair in a neat bob. All three girls caught him staring at them and the dark haired one smiled at him.
‘They’re very… tasty, yes?’ Mouse said, without looking around. ‘You see how nicely they’re dressed.’
Jason shrugged. ‘They look all right.’
‘It means that they are Brash girls,’ Mouse explained, slowly. ‘Large amounts of pain will happen for anyone who is not in the gang if they… try anything with them.’ Mouse smiled tightly. ‘Of course, it is also true that your good friend, Fast Eddie, likes to reward his favourite gladiators… as long as they keep winning.’
Jason glanced back at the threesome. ‘So you reckon Eddie sent those girls to tempt me into joining up?’
Mouse nodded.
‘Don’t you think it’s at all possible that they might actually fancy me?’ Jason asked.
Mouse looked him up and down. ‘No,’ he said and then walked away.
Jason watched him barge through the yard and into the shadows of the east passage.
A whiff of sweet perfume made him turn around and suddenly he was face to face with the three Brash girls.
‘Hello, Jason.’ said the long-haired blonde.
‘Hi,’ Jason said, his throat going instantly dry.
‘My name is Farah, and my friends here are Tanya and Beth.’ Farah’s voice was light and airy. She had big blue eyes and her cheeks sparkled with some sort of lightly glittered blusher.
‘Hi, uhh, I’m Jason.’ said Jason.
‘We know.’ said Tanya, the dark haired one. She smiled which made her eyes narrow and glint mischievously. She reminded him very much of Louisa… when she was in a good mood, that is. Jason felt his heart pounding up though his chest and into his throat.
On the other side of Farah, Beth brushed back one side of her glistening blonde hair and ran one finger down her cheek to play around the corner of her mouth. Her head was angled down slightly so she looked up at him from under prettily plucked eyebrows.
‘We saw you fight yesterday… we thought you were very good.’
Farah cut in. ‘I liked it best when your shirt ripped open a bit… Mmm.’
Jason’s cheeks caught fire.
‘Were you hurt very badly?’ Tanya asked and reached out slowly to gently touch his left ribs where Baldwin had kicked him. Jason winced slightly. All the girls were standing very close to him now.
‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ Tanya said, stepping back a little and covering her mouth in shock. With her lower face covered, her dark eyes look even bigger.
‘It’s fine… really,’ Jason stammered.
‘We think you need someone to… nurse you back to health,’ Farah said, holding his wide-eyed stare.
‘It must have been very frightening in the Pit.’ said Beth, her eyes still looking up at him coyly.
‘Uhh… that would be great but you’re… you’re Brash girls, aren’t you? Aren’t you supposed to only uhh… hang around with Brash boys?’
‘Oh, not all the time - especially when there is something a little more tasty on offer,’ Farah said.
Tanya raised her eyebrows. ‘We can… hang around with anyone we please, Jason - being in the Brash doesn’t mean anyone “owns” us.’
‘And besides,’ Farah said, flicking back her wavy hair, ‘Eddie is very pleased with you right now. He wouldn’t mind at all if we kept you company for a while.’
‘So… would you like…’ Beth began, clasping her hands in front of her and glancing up from under her trembling fringe, ‘would you like…?’
‘For heaven’s sake, Beth,’ Farah cut in. ‘What little miss innocent here is trying to say is would you like one of us to… show you around the village? We could have a lot of fun.’
Tanya smiled. ‘You’re new and having a bit of a tough time so we’d like to show you that not everyone in Silent Hill is horrible. That’s all.’
‘And outsiders aren’t allowed to wander around the village without someone who lives there, you see?’ added Beth, gaining some confidence, it seemed.
Jason’s mouth dropped open. No one had ever asked him out on a date before and now here were three gorgeous girls…
‘So choose,’ Farah said, smiling and smoothing down her blouse.
Jason ran his fingers back through his hair. This can’t be happening - not to me.
Suddenly the bells rang out from the three passages - the end of break. Farah raised an eyebrow - he had to choose, now. ‘Tanya… please,’ he stammered, ‘… but you’re all so…’
Farah shrugged. ‘We know. Maybe next time. Enjoy yourselves.’
She slung her arm around Beth who gave a little nod farewell before they disappeared into the crowds already draining away into the four passages.
That left just Tanya standing in front of him.
‘Good choice,’ she said.
‘Thanks… I mean…’
Tanya touched his arm. ‘We can’t talk here, the prefects will have us.’
Jason glanced around. The yard was almost empty already – how had that happened?
‘Listen,’ Tanya continued, ‘today, after school – let’s go for a walk and have a pizza or something. Fridays are always fun in the village.’
‘Yeah… yes. Great. That would be… great.’
Tanya smiled, her eyes glinting again. Smoothly, without any hint of rushing, she leant forward and kissed his cheek. ‘I’ll meet you by the gates, then,’ she said, turning on one shiny black heel and clipping away across the yard.
Speechless, Jason just watched her go then sprinted towards the south pas
sage before the prefects caught him.
Things were looking up.
Chapter 12
The rest of Friday seemed to take an age to get through. Jason got a few cat-calls in the yard and corridors mainly about the fight but some alluding to his new “girlfriend”.
Violet was unnaturally quiet in their last lesson. She seemed almost sad for some reason and didn’t even bother messing through her bag much.
After a couple of attempts at asking, Jason gave up on finding out what he’d done wrong this time and tried to concentrate on his work..
At last the waiting was over. The prefects’ bells actually made him jump at the end of the lesson. It was time for his date.
He was impervious to the stares and whispers as he strode through the corridors. He was finally getting a life after years of shying away from making friends, let alone girlfriends. And for the first time, he’d a clear future open to him if he wanted to take it – learn to use his Gift and join the Watch.
His confidence wavered just a little as he strode down the West tunnel towards the main school gates. What if this was all some big wind up and Tanya wasn’t there?
However, when he broke out into the sunshine, she was waiting for him. She was leaning against the wall close to the open gates in her short skirt and that fine white blouse which the bright light rendered virtually transparent. Farah and Beth were with her, chatting away, but Tanya spotted him immediately and smiled.
Jason forced himself to keep a steady pace towards her and smiled back. Tanya held his eyes briefly then said something to her friends. They turned around, Farah blew a kiss to him and then she and Beth walked off before he got there.
‘Hello.’ Tanya said as he reached her.
‘Hi,’ Jason said. His stomach was churning but he ignored it. He was supposed to be enjoying himself but it wasn’t easy when the whole school was watching them.
‘You alright?’ she asked.
‘Yes, fine… thanks. I’m just… glad school’s over.’
‘Me too – this afternoon seemed to take forever for some reason.’ She smiled again and held out one hand. ‘Shall we go?’
Taken by surprise Jason just stared at her beautifully manicured, light pink fingernails. Suddenly he realised what she wanted him to do and grabbed her hand. Tanya eased away from wall and stood next to him, her cool fingers curling around his hot ones.