by Daiko, SC
“Yeah,” I mutter under my breath. I’ll never go away to college, though… never leave Mam unprotected, never separate myself from Beth. I’ll be stuck at Grandad’s for the rest of my fucking life.
Josh adjusts the straps on his backpack. “Why did you choose Southampton?”
“It’s on the coast and I miss the sea.” No need for more info. “How about you? Had any offers yet?”
“Still waiting to hear,” he frowns. “Design courses take a bit longer.”
We lapse into silence, concentrating on keeping up the pace. It’s no big deal for us; we’re both super fit... unlike some of our classmates who are huffing, puffing, and demanding frequent breaks.
“How long till we reach the top?” Catrin wails from behind.
“Only an hour,” I hear Beth reply.
“Are there any toilets up there?” Eleri asks.
I chuckle and turn my head. “You’ll have to go behind a bush. Did you remember to bring loo paper and a trowel in case you have to bury your poop?”
“That’s disgusting,” she shudders.
Eventually, we arrive at the southern slope of Corn Du, the crag southwest of our immediate destination. There’s a saddle of land between it and Pen y Lan, southern Britain’s highest peak, and we continue along the footpath to make the last push.
I spot a mound of rough stones crowning the summit. “What’s that meant to be?”
“It’s a cairn… a Bronze Age burial chamber,” Mr Davis answers, easing off his backpack and taking out a water bottle. “It was excavated back in the nineteen nineties.”
“Did they find any bodies?” Josh asks, wide-eyed.
“I think so,” Mr Davis takes a drink and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “They definitely found flint tools. Incredible to think people came all the way up here to bury their dead so many thousands of years ago.”
We clamber onto the stone slabs and take selfies. The view is stunning, and Mr Davis points out the town of Brecon to the north. “Over there is the summit of Cadair Idris,” he says, indicating towards a rocky crag on the skyline. “That’s where we’ll be heading for our next expedition.”
Eleri groans. “I hope that’ll be the final one.”
“Look over there.” Beth is shading her eyes and staring at a conical-shaped hill in the east. “That’s the Sugar Loaf near Abergavenny.”
We snap pictures.
“And there’s the Bristol Channel to the south,” Mr Davis points towards the sea shimmering in the distance.
We snap more pictures, and then retrace our steps to the saddle between Pen y Fan and Corn Du, from where we make our way up the pitched footpath to the summit plateau. Mid Wales swirls below us in a carpet of green, and there’s another Bronze Age burial chamber at the top. “Creeps me out,” Catrin shudders.
After eating the snacks we brought with us, and drinking from our water bottles, we leave Corn Du from the northern end and climb down the steep section to reach the path below. There’s another strange-looking granite monument on the ridge line.
“That’s the Tommy Jones obelisk,” Mr Davis says, “a memorial to a five-year-old boy who died after getting lost in 1900.”
“Now I’m getting even more creeped out,” Cat shivers. “Do we really have to spend the night up here?”
“All part of your expedition training,” Mr Davis is firm.
He leads us past the monument towards a small lake. “We’ll pitch our tents here before it gets dark, then heat up some food.”
An hour later, I’m sitting with my classmates, and Beth is with Mr Davis. It’s like there’s an abyss between us, and it pisses me off. We’re eating pot noodles, having boiled the water we got from the lake on our portable stoves. I’d give anything to be with Beth. What are she and Mr Davis talking about their heads bent so close together? I wanna muscle my way between them and tell him she’s mine.
I watch her possessively. She catches my eye and plays with the necklace I gave her. She’s pulled it out so that it’s hanging outside her jacket. I love how she wears it every day, how she touches it when she’s teaching my Spanish class, how it’s become a token of our love. She sucks a noodle between her lips, her gaze fixed on mine, and I wanna jump across the divide between us and kiss her sexy mouth, bury my hands in her luxuriant dark-brown hair and grind my body against hers.
She springs to her feet. “Time for something sweet,” she says, rummaging in her backpack. She pulls out a Dairy Milk bar for each of us, and hands them around. “That’ll keep you all from waking up hungry in the night.”
“Thanks, Miss, you’re the best,” I smile as her fingers brush mine.
We all sit in a circle around the campfire, munching our chocolate and getting as close as we can to the warmth. The night has turned fucking cold, and, before too long, we decide to retreat to our tents and climb into our sleeping bags.
“Fuck, man,” Josh says, wriggling into his bag. “You were practically eating Miss Matthews with your eyes. You gotta be more careful. What if Mr Davis noticed?”
“Nah, he was too busy eying her up himself, the fucker. If he weren’t my teacher I’d have said something.”
“Just looking out for you, douchebag,” he says.
“Thanks, dickhead.”
I’m just about to drop off to sleep, when the flap of my tent is suddenly pulled open. I nearly jump out of my skin as Ryan squirms his way in. “Josh is snoring so loud, I couldn’t sleep,” he says. “Would you mind if I stayed here with you? I brought my sleeping bag.”
“Oh, my God, you gave me a fright,” I whisper sharply. “I thought you were a wild animal.”
“I wish,” he says, and I hear the smirk in his voice.
“Don’t joke, Ryan. I was being serious.”
“I’m sorry,” he says, bending and smoothing the hair back from my face. “Please, can I stay?”
I catch my lip between my teeth. “What if someone notices?”
“I’ll set the alarm on my phone and wake up before anyone else. And I promise I won’t fuck you, much as I’d like to. We don’t have a double sleeping bag for a start.”
“I’m not sure it’s a good idea,” I say in a worried tone.
“It’ll be fine,” he soothes. “The first time we spend the night together. Come on, princesa. I’ll be lonely without you.”
“Oh, alright, I suppose. But no sex, okay?”
“You have my word,” he promises. He gets into his sleeping bag and wriggles until his body is spooned against mine, his warmth spreading through me.
“I was gonna ask Mam if you could spend the night at home sometime,” he whispers in my ear.
“I think that would be pushing it. I mean, with your grandad and Sara.”
“Mam really likes you.”
“I know, and I really like her.” I’ve been spending a lot of time with Carys this past month. We do stuff together, go for walks after work most days, and sometimes take in a movie at Cribbs Causeway. “She’s become my friend.”
I close my eyes and listen to Ryan breathing. Soon, I feel the tension leave his body and realise he’s fallen asleep. Dreams are chasing me too, and I give in to them, letting myself drift into the night.
I wake at daybreak, alone in my tent. Ryan must have crept out when I was still in a deep sleep… I didn’t hear a thing. The smell of coffee brewing and bacon frying makes my mouth water. I squirm out of my sleeping bag, pull off my clothes, and, teeth chattering, use the wet wipes I brought with me. I put on clean underwear and socks before dressing in the jeans and sweater I wore yesterday. Then I clamber out of my tent and go to find a hidden spot for my morning bodily functions, taking toilet paper and a lightweight plastic trowel with me. Easier said than done… there are no trees or bushes anywhere. Eventually, I hide behind a large boulder, and get on with it. Wild camping is an experience I have no wish to repeat. Ever.
Aled has made bacon sandwiches for everyone, and I dive into mine hungrily, washing it down with a pipi
ng hot cup of coffee. “Thanks,” I say.
“You’re most welcome, Beth.” He gives me a searching look, seems about to say something, then shakes his head and turns to the kids. “Time to break camp, guys. Don’t forget to pick up all your rubbish and take it with you.”
I nearly poke my eye out with my tent pole when I pack all my things away in my backpack. After helping Aled check we’ve left everything as we found it, we set off with the group. We cross a stream and head upward, following the path through a field filled with heather.
There’s a sudden scream from Catrin. Shit! Aled, Josh and I run up to her. She’s rolling around in apparent agony. “I think I’ve twisted my ankle,” she wails.
I pull the first aid kit from my bag, and give the instant ice-pack a thwack against my thigh. “Hold this against her ankle,” I say to Josh.
He does as I ask, but Catrin’s face goes from pale to completely white.
“I’ll raise your legs,” Aled says to her, slipping his backpack under her feet. He examines her ankle. “It’s just a sprain, I think.”
Slowly, the colour returns to her face. Her classmates stand around, asking what they can do to help.
“If you’d take Josh and Catrin’s backpacks,” Aled says to Ryan, “then Josh can give Catrin a piggyback down the hill.”
We set off again, following the path descending to the car park where we left the mini-bus.
Josh gently eases Catrin into a seat at the back, turning her sideways so that her foot is on his lap. I climb into the front next to Aled; Ryan is directly behind me, and I feel his hot eyes burning into the back of my head.
An hour later, we’re at the Wyemouth High School gates, Catrin’s mother already waiting for us after a phone call from Aled. “I think you should take her to the hospital for an x-ray,” he suggests, “just to be sure.”
“Come with me, Josh,” Catrin says. “Please, I’m scared.”
“What about Eleri?”
“I’d rather have you,” she smiles.
The group of kids disperses, all except for Ryan. He stands to one side, like he’s waiting for me to join him.
“Haven’t you got a home to go to?” Aled barks.
Ryan balls his hands into fists, and his expression darkens.
“You’d better go,” I plead, “or your mam will be worried.”
“Yes, Miss,” he grunts before stalking off.
Aled’s gaze locks with mine. “Is there something going on between you and that lad?”
My mouth flaps open, and my heart misses a beat. “What do you mean?”
“I won’t spell it out. I don’t want to put you on the spot. But, whatever it is, it must stop straight away. Do you understand?”
“That’s a serious allegation, Aled,” I say between gritted teeth. Without waiting for his response, I turn on my heel and, with determined steps, march towards my flat. Oh, fuck!
23
“How did the expedition go?” Megan asks at lunchtime on Monday as we eat our sandwiches in the staffroom.
I explain about Catrin’s accident yesterday and how, thank God, x-rays have confirmed that it was only a sprain.
“Nothing to worry about then,” she says before taking a sip from her cup of tea.
“Everything’s fine,” I lie. “I’m just a bit tired, that’s all.”
Last night, I hardly slept for worrying if Aled would take things further and report his suspicions to the head. I debated texting Ryan and sharing my worries with him, but I didn’t want him to feel guilty for showing his feelings. He’s young and hot-headed… it was bound to happen sooner or later.
I take my leave of Megan and go up to my room to prepare for the afternoon’s lessons. Ryan will be in my next class, and I want to pretend all is well. I’ve decided to share my concerns with Carys, and run my ideas by her before talking to him. He needs to back down; we need to cool things off temporarily. He’s reminded me several times it will soon be summer; if he really loves me, he’ll agree to wait.
I call up my lesson plan on the computer, and open the PowerPoint presentation I prepared earlier on the different uses of the subjunctive. A grammar explanation with some tricky exercises to follow should keep me occupied with the group enough not to think worrying thoughts.
After school, I set off with Carys across the park, taking the path that leads towards the river. Afternoon sunshine dapples the bushes by the side of the track; crocuses and snowdrops herald that spring is on the way.
Without warning, I feel a prickling sensation between my shoulder blades, as if someone is staring at me from behind. I turn around, but there’s no one there. How strange!
“So, my lovely,” Carys’ voice lilts, “cat got your tongue? You’ve been ever so quiet.”
“Let’s find somewhere to sit,” I say, glancing around. “I really want to talk to you.”
I lead her across the bridge to the place where Ryan played his trick on me about the wild boar. We find a dry spot under a tree, then lower ourselves and lean back against the trunk.
I rest my foot on a jagged rock the size of a rugby ball. “I need your help, Carys.”
“Of course, what can I do?” she smiles.
I explain about Aled’s suspicions, and my hope she’ll back me up when I tell Ryan my plan. “It’s to protect both of us, and you as well since you know about our relationship.” I pause and look her in the eye. “Do you think he’ll go for it?”
“He’d bloody better. Stupid boy for showing you up in front of a colleague,” she says sharply. “He’s got to learn patience and to take responsibility for his actions.”
“I’ll resign from my job if he doesn’t,” my voice trembles, and I wipe away a tear that’s broken through my determination. “If you can talk to him first and prepare the ground, it will make it easier I hope. I mean, easier for him to accept.”
“Leave it with me,” she says, pushing herself to her feet. “Well, I think we’d better be getting back. It’ll be dark soon and I have some cooking to do.”
I’m about to respond when I’m distracted by the sound of footsteps coming up the path. Oh, my God! Two men have appeared, and one of whom looks familiar. Jesus, it’s the man in the dark overcoat who was staring at Carys and me at the rugby game on Boxing Day!
Carys’ eyes snap to where my gaze has landed. Her face turns white, and she grabs my hand. “We’ve got to get out of here!”
The second man, wearing a lighter overcoat than the first, runs up and reaches for her, pinning her hands behind her back. “You thought you could escape me, didn’t you?” he growls in Spanish. “Well, I’ve found you now and you’re coming with me.”
Shit, it’s the stalker! My blood turns to ice. Do something! With both hands, I pick up the rock on the ground by my feet and lift it, bringing it down on the man’s head. He lets go of Carys, and falls back against the tree truck, out cold.
“Run,” she shouts. “Run for your life”. And she takes off down the pathway.
I turn to follow her, but dark-overcoat-man grabs me. “Not so fast,” he mutters.
I struggle, except he’s stronger than I am. “Let me go,” I scream.
Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I spot a stocky animal with long tusks come charging out of the bushes. Dark-overcoat-man flings me away from him. I fly through the air, hurtling towards the rock I threw at Carys’ stalker. I land on my head with a grunt. Pain slices through me. My eyes flutter shut. Then something pulls me backwards though a long tunnel into nothingness.
I’m on my way home from rugby when my phone buzzes in my pocket. It’s an incoming text. ¡Joder! Manuel in Ibiza. My heart almost beats out of my chest.
Señor Diego has left the island.
I run like the hounds of hell are chasing me, all the way home. I push open the front door, and shout out for Mam. No reply. “Where is she, Grandad?”
“She went for a walk with her teacher friend.” He glances at his watch. “She should be home any minute.”
I grab the knife from my bedroom, stash it in the inside pocket of my jacket, and charge out the door, down the road towards the park. There’s Mam! Running in my direction! But where the fuck is Beth?
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“I’m fine,” Mam gasps. “We’ve got to call the police. Diego has brought an accomplice and they’ve got Beth.”
“You call them,” I yell, heart thudding. “I’m gonna go get her.”
“Wait, Ryan! You can’t do this alone. Those men are dangerous.”
Wait? No way!
“Beth needs me,” my breath stutters. “Where did you last see her?”
Mam explains quickly, and I run. My lungs burn and my legs turn to jelly, but I keep running full-tilt until I cross the river. Then, I slow down so as not to draw attention to myself, take the knife from my jacket, and sneak up to the clearing in the woods.
Oh, fucking fuck! Beth is lying with her head smashed on a rock, blood oozing down the back of her neck onto the forest leaves. Diego is propped up against a tree, apparently unconscious, his forehead bleeding. And a second man in a dark overcoat looks like he’s been gored by a bull. He’s clutching his thigh to stem the blood loss, cursing and wailing like a banshee.
I drop my knife, crouch by Beth and place my hand to her neck, feeling for a pulse. It’s there, but faint... so very faint. And her breathing is shallow.
“I’m here, princesa,” I say. “You can wake up now.”
No movement. She’s lying so still, so fucking still.
“Hang in there, sweetheart, please,” I beg.
She can’t die.
She can’t leave me behind.
She fucking can’t.
I reach into my pocket for my phone and dial the emergency services, giving as much information as I can about Beth’s and the men’s injuries. When I tell them the location, they say they’ll send an air ambulance.