Split Second (12 page)

‘What about this English Freedom Army?’ I said. ‘How do you know that’s any better than the League of Iron? You should tell someone about them, the police, your
parents.’

‘Weren’t you listening?’ Nat said. ‘The guy I met, Taylor, from the EFA. He wants to stop the extremists from hurting innocent people. The police are useless, so someone
needs to act. The English Freedom Army are heroes.’

I shook my head. Everything Nat said might be true, but the way he described this Army sounded like something out of a superhero comic. How could he be so sure they were the good guys?

‘There’s something else,’ Nat went on, his voice barely above a whisper. He glanced at his brother again, lying motionless on the bed. ‘If I join the EFA I will get a
chance to do something about the League of Iron.’

‘You mean get them back for Lucas? For my mum?’ Now that sounded like an ambition I could totally go along with.

Nat nodded. ‘But we have to keep it secret. Promise me you won’t tell, please?’

Charlie stared up at me. She was standing so close that I could have counted the eyelashes that framed her slanting eyes. Her expression was determined. Fearless.

At last she nodded.

‘So you definitely promise me you won’t say anything to anyone, not even Jas?’ I said. ‘Because if Jas knows I’m joining some crime-fighting group or whatever,
she’ll worry about me – in fact, she’ll probably end up telling our parents, so . . .’ I glanced at the bed. If Mum was right, then it was possible that Lucas had just heard
everything the two of us had said. But then Mum lived in a fantasy land where she talked to Lucas for hours on end in the firm belief he would soon wake up.

‘No, I won’t say anything.’

I looked at Charlie. Did she mean that?

‘But there’s one condition.’

‘What’s that?’ I asked.

‘I want to join the English Freedom Army too,’ she said. ‘If you’re going to get revenge on the League of Iron, then so am I.’

(n. formal admission or acceptance into an organisation)

Two weeks passed before Nat’s English Freedom Army contact called him again. Just as well, since it took me almost all that time – days of snatched, hushed
conversations – to argue away Nat’s objections to me meeting him. Nat was adamant that the man, Taylor, had insisted on secrecy and that Nat himself had only been approached because of
his brother’s involvement with the EFA.

‘It was a one-off,’ he said. ‘A special case. They won’t appreciate me involving someone else.’

‘I’m not “someone else”,’ I argued back. ‘I’m a special case just like you are.’

Nat was already at the park gates when I arrived. I was determined not to show it, but I couldn’t help but feel self-conscious as I walked over. Nat had this way of looking at me with
those intense, blue eyes of his, like I was the only thing he could see.

‘This is what they sent,’ he said, shoving his phone at me. ‘I’m assuming it’s from Taylor but the number’s withheld.’

I peered down at the screen, shielding it from the bright sunlight with my hand.

Building site. Featherstone Rd. Wait.

‘Do you know where that is?’ I asked.

Nat nodded. ‘Not exactly flowery language, is it?’ he said with a sudden grin that transformed his face, making his eyes sparkle like chips of ice in the sunshine.

‘Let’s go,’ I said, turning away.

We walked in silence. I was going over what I needed to say to Taylor to get him to accept me into the EFA. I knew I was going to have to make out that I wanted to keep the streets safe. Trouble
was, and I know it makes me sound like a really mean person, I didn’t much care about the streets. Not compared to how much I cared about getting revenge for Mum.

Featherstone Road was dirty and rundown, with a large, high-walled estate running all the way along one side. The building site was opposite one end of the estate, a deserted, stone shell of a
house surrounded by wasteland. The ground-floor windows were boarded up. The roof was partly missing. Danger signs were dotted across the front, warning people not to trespass.

Nat gave me a quick glance as we headed around the side of the house, where the brickwork was low and crumbling. We clambered over the wall then crept along the side passage, looking for a way
in. The side door swung off its hinges. Nat pulled it open. It was dark in the house. Spooky. Pulse racing, I followed him inside.

Before my eyes could adjust to the gloom a gloved hand was slapped over my nose and mouth, then a damp cloth was shoved between my lips. I gasped in shock, taking in a breath of something sour
and smelling of chemicals. And then everything went black, my legs buckled and I fell to the floor.

I watched, horrified, as Taylor lay Charlie on the concrete floor then turned and stormed towards me. He gripped my neck with one strong hand, forcing me back against the wall.
Before I could even register the coldness of the brick at my back, Taylor whipped a gun from inside his coat and pressed the barrel against my temple. The metal felt like ice against my skin.

‘What the hell is this?’ He swore. ‘Who is she? Why did you bring her?’

My heart drummed furiously in my chest. Why hadn’t I thought Taylor might carry a gun? He’d said he was part of an army for goodness sake.

‘She’s a friend,’ I stammered. She believes in the same—’

‘Do you think this is a
game
?’ Taylor swore again. ‘Don’t lie to me, Nat.’

‘She
is . . .
she’s a mate of mine. She wants to help.’ ‘This is not cool.’ Taylor let out a grunt of frustration. In a single move he twisted my arms
behind my back and tied them with rope. Then he shoved me to the floor. I landed with a thud on my side. The rope bit into my wrists. Taylor was now binding my ankles. Everything was happening so
fast. A moment later and my mouth was covered with tape.

Taylor moved over to Charlie. I tried to speak as he bound her wrists and ankles, but the tape over my mouth was so tight that all that came out was a series of muffled grunts. Once Charlie was
securely tied up, Taylor took out a torch and shone it long and hard in her face then strode back to me. He ripped the tape off my mouth.

‘Who is she?’ he demanded.

‘She’s a friend. Her mum was killed in that League of Iron bomb. We’re at the same school. She wants—’

Taylor shoved the gun against my throat. I gasped. ‘Do you not remember what I told you about keeping your meeting with me secret?’

‘Yes,’ I stammered. ‘I just . . .’

‘Yes,
sir
,’ Taylor spat.

‘Yes, sir,’ I repeated. ‘She followed me. She saw . . . saw stuff on my laptop before I gave it to you. She’s smart, she put it all together. She was going to the police
if I didn’t bring her along today. But she’s cool. She wants to help. Especially if it’s a chance to get back at the League of Iron. They killed her mother and her dad’s
already dead. She . . . she’s a friend . . .’ I ran out of words.

Taylor stared at me for several long, slow seconds, then he holstered his gun under his coat and tugged at the knot around my wrists. To my surprise the rope released instantly.

I gave my wrists a rub, then reached down and untied my ankles.

Taylor cleared his throat. ‘I’m sorry, Nat, I overreacted. I didn’t mean to scare you, but secrecy is vital. You should have asked me before you brought her.’ He stood
up. ‘I need to speak to the Commander. Please stay here.’

I indicated Charlie, still slumped on the floor. ‘What about her? Is she okay?’

‘She’s fine.’ Taylor reached down and slid the ropes off Charlie’s wrists and ankles. ‘She’ll come round in a few minutes.’ He stalked out of the
room.

The side door of the house banged shut. I crept closer to Charlie. Her eyes were closed. Had Taylor been telling the truth about her being okay? I bent down so my cheek rested just over her nose
and mouth. Her breath warmed my face, slow, steady and shallow. Relief flooded through me.

I leaned back against the cold wall. As the shock of Taylor’s aggression wore off, I had to admit to myself that he had been impressive. I’d never seen anyone move with such speed
and precision – or with such ruthlessness.

No wonder Lucas had become more focused and serious after the EFA had trained him.

I took a deep breath. Despite Taylor’s terrifying behaviour before, I wanted to join the English Freedom Army more than ever. But what would the Commander decide? Suppose Charlie
wasn’t allowed to join the EFA? Suppose, after bringing her here, that
I
wasn’t?

A few moments later, Charlie’s eyes flickered open.

‘Are you all right?’ I whispered.

Charlie nodded. She blinked, rubbing her head.

‘What happened?’ she said. Her eyes widened. ‘Was I
drugged
?’

I was about to explain when Taylor marched back into the room. He squatted in front of Charlie, a serious expression on his face.

‘What’s your name?’ he asked.

‘Charlie Stockwell,’ she said, jutting out her chin. ‘How dare you drug me? Who do you think you are?’

I glared at her. I understood that she’d just had a shock, but couldn’t she see how angry Taylor was that I’d brought her? For goodness sake, I’d
told
her it was
a risk, that Taylor had emphasised the need for secrecy within the EFA.

‘Well?’ Charlie demanded.

I closed my eyes. This was it. Taylor was never going to recruit us now. We’d be lucky to get out of here in one piece.

My head felt sore, but my mind was clear as I stared at Taylor. His gun was poking out from the inside of his jacket. I gritted my teeth. He might make out he was one of the
good guys, but genuinely well-meaning people aren’t ready with guns and drugs to attack innocent teenagers just because they’ve walked into a meeting where you weren’t expecting
them.

I stared up into his eyes. For a moment he looked surprised, then his expression grew carefully blank.

‘
You’re
angry with
me
?’ he said slowly. Then he sat back on his heels and laughed.

‘It’s not a joke,’ I said, furious that Taylor was making fun of me. ‘How dare you attack me?’

The smile fell from Taylor’s face. ‘You weren’t supposed to be here,’ he said coldly. ‘Now tell me what Nat has told you about the English Freedom Army.’

The last thing I wanted to do was obey, but I didn’t really have a choice. I explained, as quickly as I could, what Nat had said. ‘I came along because I thought joining you might be
a way to get back at the League of Iron,’ I finished. ‘If Nat’s going to get a chance to take revenge on those pigs who killed my mother, then I want a chance too.’

Taylor hesitated a moment, then he stood up. ‘Wait.’

‘Hey, did you speak to the Commander? What did he say?’ Nat asked.

But Taylor was already out of the room. Nat turned on me. Even in the dim light I could see his face was pale and his eyes strained.

‘What are you
doing
?’ he hissed. ‘He wasn’t expecting you and he is a soldier with a
gun.
This is
not
the way to get him to recruit
us.’

‘Don’t tell me what to do.’ I looked away, anger rising inside me again.

Nat fell silent. A full minute ticked by. Neither of us said anything. At last Taylor came back, making no sound as he crossed the floor. He folded his arms, as Nat and I scrambled to our
feet.

‘So you want to join us, Charlie?’ Taylor asked.

I hesitated. After being attacked just now, I actually had severe reservations about joining the EFA, but there was no point saying that to Taylor. ‘I want to get revenge on the League of
Iron,’ I said. ‘If you can help me do that then I want to join.’

‘Right.’ Taylor studied me carefully.

‘Nat says that the EFA tries to protect people from extremist groups,’ I said. ‘To
stop
those groups.’

Taylor shook his head. ‘Nat shouldn’t have told you anything about us.’

‘I—’ Nat started.

‘Don’t blame him,’ I cut in. ‘I followed him one day. Snooped on his computer. I didn’t give him a choice.’

Taylor considered this, then he reached for his backpack and pulled out a laptop. I recognised it from Nat’s bedroom.’

‘Here,’ he said, handing Nat the laptop. ‘We’ve replaced the hard drive. No more forums, okay?’

Nat nodded.

I watched Taylor intently. Did this mean he was going to accept what I’d said? Let me into the EFA?

Taylor turned to me. ‘Charlie?’

I kept my gaze fixed on him.

Taylor looked for a second as if he were suppressing a smile. ‘Why aren’t you scared?’ he said.

I shrugged.

Taylor tilted his head to one side. Then he took a gun from inside his coat and pointed it across at Nat. ‘I could kill him,’ he said. ‘Would that scare you?’

Nat’s mouth fell open.

My stomach gave a sick lurch. ‘No,’ I said, careful not to let my horror at his words show. ‘But it should scare
you.
’

Taylor lowered his gun.

‘Explain,’ he barked.

‘Firstly it’s broad daylight and you’d have a body to deal with, which would be messy – and an army’s supposed to be efficient. Secondly, I’d be a witness so
you’d have to kill me too, which would be
two
bodies. Doubly messy. And thirdly, Nat and I want to join you, to learn more, to help protect people. Sure I want to get back at the
League of Iron but it’s not just that.’ I took a deep breath. ‘I’m . . . we want to end all the violence that’s going on in London and other places all the time. If
you kill us, you prove that you are as stupid and as cruel as all those extreme groups you told Nat that you want to protect the public from.’

Taylor studied me for a long moment. I stared back, my throat dry and tight. Then, without speaking, he put his gun away. My eyes had adjusted to the light now. The bare room we were in had
peeling paint on the walls and piles of rubble dotted across the concrete. Nat’s clothes were filthy and there was a grimy smear across his face. I took a proper look at Taylor. Stubble
darkened the chin of his narrow face, he wore an expensive cashmere overcoat and those fierce eyes of his were green.