CHAPTER NINETEEN - FOLLOWED
“B, B are you all right?” Brian asked frantically as he safely shut both of them into the car after half carrying, half dragging B back up the hill.
B’s eyes were slightly glazed and Brian gripped his face and turned him to stare at him. “B! Answer me!”
He had been scared that the boy would pass out on him as they struggled up the path towards the car. He had been so shaken after the attack and coughing so much that it was difficult for him to walk without creasing up. Brian had been nervous about their slow progress, knowing that the Gerai was only stunned. It wouldn’t be long before he returned and Brian knew that he wouldn’t let B go without a fight. Also their short walk had distracted a lot of unwanted attention as the one or two people that were out and about in the streets stopped to stare at them in concern, watching Brian with the pale, sickly boy.
B blinked slightly and Brian could feel him trembling as he reassuringly rubbed his back through the thick coat. The boy slowly closed his eyes. “He was a Gerai wasn’t he?” he whispered. “He was the same one I saw in my time I remember the face.”
Brian slowly nodded. “I think he was, but it’s all right now. We’re safe.” He patted B’s shoulder, but at the same time he discreetly glanced out of the window and into the wing mirror, checking to see that no one was creeping up on them.
“Who was the one who saved us?” B asked faintly.
“I’m not sure,” Brian replied trying not to allow his mind to wander to that person. Every time he tried to grasp what was familiar about them he found the grains of truth slipping through cracks in his head as if his mind were refusing to allow him to see what was before him. He knew that person. He knew he did…
“It wasn’t Sammy was it?” His green eyes had widened and they stared at Brian pleadingly from the pale face, burning with anxiety.
Brian slowly hung his head, knowing what his son wanted to hear and knowing that he couldn’t give him that answer. “I don’t think so.”
B lowered his face in despair and Brian’s heart almost broke as he saw the tears spill out onto the cheeks. B had already cried too much in his life. “Why isn’t Sammy here. What if something has happened to him…?”
“Hey, don’t get yourself upset!” Brian soothed softly as he took B in his arms. “Sammy’s fine, I’m sure he’s fine. Shush now.” He cradled him close like he would do a small child, gently wrapping him in reassuring arms that would protect and soothe him. B leaned against his
“Then why isn’t he here?”
Brian held him tightly. “Maybe Sammy sent somebody else after you. Maybe he couldn’t come because of little Sammy. You know what will happen if they’re both in the same time?” he said, trying to reason through B’s fear.
B nodded. “They’ll get sick.” He pulled away from Brian to wipe his eyes on the back of his sleeve. “I hope he’s all right. Maybe… maybe he decided to stay in our time.” He thought for a moment and then took a deep breath as though he was telling Brian a forbidden secret of some kind. “When I left somebody very close to us was in the medical centre… maybe he’s looking after him…”
“There you go then. He probably knows that I’m looking after you and that you’re safe.”
“I hope so.”
Brian felt the flickering vibrations of his phone and he pulled his arm away from B’s shoulders to grasp the cell phone from his belt. He smiled at B. “Message.”
He stared at the screen and tried not to let any emotion show in his face as he saw that the message was from his mysterious ‘friend’. He bit his lip unconsciously as the words danced across the screen.
GET OUT OF HERE NOW. B DANGER. HURRY HOME. GERAI COMING.
“Who is it?” B asked as he pulled his seat belt glumly over his shoulder.
Brian barely heard the voice. All he was aware of was the warning on his screen. The Gerai was coming after them… Why couldn’t he have a normal life and a normal family? Was it such a big thing to ask for? He had thought that he could enjoy B’s stay, but it looked as if everything was about to whirl out of his control.
“Nick,” he said, trying not to allow his voice to come out as a faint croak or a frightened whisper. He smiled up at him. “I think we better get home now, hey?”
B nodded and sighed. “That Gerai… He’s ruined today. He’s spoiled everything. How can I feel safe here when I know he’s after me?”
“It’ll be okay,” Brian said as he fumbled with the ignition, hoping his agitation and nervousness did not show in his movements.
He backed them out of the tiny car lot, watching sadly as he saw B leaning forward and tried to glimpse the sea once more. He probably would never see it again and now he knew that he would be confined to Brian’s house. He was just as much a prisoner in this time as he was in his own.
B’s eyes wistfully scanned the empty streets as they drove by.
The sun had been hidden behind a thick cluster of ugly grey clouds all day but now they all seemed to grow darker with malicious intent and Brian’s eyes flickered to the sky nervously, wondering if there would be a storm.
B placed a hand to his head and wiped at his forehead and Brian noticed the slight sheen of dampness that had gathered there. He sneezed slightly and rummaged in his pocket until he found a tissue.
“Are you all right?” Brian asked. He had hoped that he would feel better after he calmed down a little but still the illness seemed to plague him. At least he didn’t look quite as bad as he done in the alley.
B turned towards him, his eyes appearing slightly unfocused. “Yeah… yeah I’m fine…” His eyes closed slightly and he kept his hand pressed against his head. He wasn’t fine at all…
“Headache?”
B nodded.
He should have known that this would happen. It was too early in B’s recovery to start bringing him to the windy seafront. “I shouldn’t have brought you out,” Brian murmured, his hands gripping the wheel tightly. “This is all my fault. I should have known!”
“Dad, don’t blame myself. I lied to you. I wasn’t well this morning, but I really wanted to come out today.”
Brian said nothing for a moment and refused to look at B’s pale face. It was all his fault. He had known that B was still sick, but he had so much wanted to spend some quality time with him. What kind of parent was he?
“I was fine until the gun hit me,” B whispered.
“He shot you?” Brian asked turning to face him for a brief second before remembering that he was driving and turning back to the road.
“I tried to run away and it hit me in the back. I fell over and I really don’t think it’s done me any good.”
“Maybe I should consider taking you to a doctor…”
“No, I’ll be fine. It was only a stun gun. They hurt, but they don’t damage you. It was probably just the shock of seeing a Gerai.”
“When we get back you can cuddle up on the couch with a hot water bottle,” Brian said. “That will make you feel better won’t it?”
B smiled faintly, but Brian could see it was forced. He knew what was going through the kid’s mind, he knew because he would be thinking the exact same thing in his shoes. Today Brian had been in danger because of him.
He would have to keep a close eye on him. Every time B felt guilty or thought that someone was hurting because of him, he ran away. He had run from his own time because he felt that the others were in danger and he would do the same if he thought there was a risk to Brian. He would have to watch him closer from now on… in case he did decide to run again…
* * * * * * * * * *
The sky rapidly darkened as the clouds grew heavier and heavier with rain. Brian was right when he had guessed that there was a storm coming and it wasn’t long before the first fat drops began to hammer against the windshield.
Brian relentlessly drove them onwards towards the storm, wanting nothing more than to be safe at home. There he could make a safe fortress for B until someone came to pick him up. He had a strange, shuddering feeling that the mysterious stranger might disclose their identity soon but something inside of Brian was desperate for him not to let B go with him.
Why? Why did he hate this unknown person so much? He had never even seen their face and neither did he know anything about them but the hatred was there. That person made Brian feel sick inside every time they were close to him. It was unnatural.
B was very quiet in the passenger seat as he idly gazed out of the window. He had calmed down considerably during the drive home and he looked a little healthier, but Brian was still restless to get him home and wrap the boy up in a warm blanket where he could be safe from illness and also from the malicious Gerai. He had to protect him. His life in the future was already a living, cold nightmare and Brian would not let his time here become the same thing. B and Brian could still have even if they stayed indoors and Brian was going to make sure B enjoyed his time here. It would help to give him a break from the dreadful life he knew so well.
“How you feeling B?” Brian asked.
“Tired,” B replied, his eyes drooping sleepily. “Head sill hurts a little.”
“I’ll give you some aspirin when we get back,” Brian murmured. “It’s not far now.”
“Why did the Gerai have to spoil everything? I was having fun until he arrived,” B said dejectedly.
B had begun to fidget slightly and his head rubbed against the seat searching for a comfortable spot to place his head and sleep. “Dad?” he murmured as he nuzzled against the comfy headrest.
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for taking me out today. I don’t get to go out much.”
“You’re welcome. I’m just sorry it wasn’t perfect.”
B smiled faintly. “It was until the Gerai showed up. It was perfect.”
Brian turned to him, but his eyes had already closed as he tried to sleep off his headache and the rest of his illness.
‘You’re such a sweet kid really.’
Sure, Brian knew B wouldn’t be considered an angel by anybody else, but he was to Brian. He was one of the best things that had ever happened to him. Him and Sammy were easily the most important parts of his life, even though technically B wasn’t a part of his life…
He smiled at him even though he wouldn’t see the expression with his closed eyes. At least he was recovering after the shock of the attack, but the face was still pale. The boy definitely wasn’t well. Brian frowned slightly, surely a cold would have begun to disappear by now?
He shuddered slightly, not wanting to venture down that dark, shadowy road of thought. He glanced across at B again in concern, not wanting to believe that he could be seriously ill but finding his mind dwelling on that disturbing thought anyway.
The road was now almost black ahead and the only light came from the headlights of the cars on the freeway as they sped on like lightening towards their destinations. So many people… and yet the world in B’s time was mostly empty because of the dreadful war, the war that had not yet raised its ugly head over Brian’s time.
He prepared to turn as he saw the sign coming up. If he stayed on this road he would run into the thick, congested traffic of rush hour, but luckily Brian knew a shorter route through some older, quieter roads.
These were almost pitch black as he turned onto the lonely roads. Trees overhung them and blotted out the dark cloudy sky above and the few frosty stars that had managed to sneak out in gaps in the clouds to shine down upon their world. Even in the thick splatters of rain he could still them faintly. That was unusual…. Almost as if they were determined to break through the storm.
The only illumination came from the headlights of his car as they fought to penetrate the winter darkness that had cursed the land.
He glanced briefly at B again, noting that he seemed to be asleep. However he was contradicted when he yawned and opened his eyes. “Cars are so uncomfortable to sleep in,” he complained.
“Didn’t stop you taking a nap on the way here though did it?” Brian said teasingly.
“I guess, but it was just too early this morning to be awake! It really does take ages to get anywhere around here doesn’t it?”
“It’s not so bad. I just don’t live near the sea really. I normally use planes.”
“What, one of those things that fly through the air? Aren’t you scared it might drop out of the air?” B asked, looking horrified at the very thought of air travel.
“Thanks B… I expect I will remember those words next time I’m on a plane! Actually I don’t like heights, but for the band I need to travel by plane.”
“Rather you then me,” B replied. I don’t like heights either.” He leaned against the window and gazed out into the dark beyond as he yawned. “Oh, stars! Cool!”
Brian tilted his head curiously. “Don’t they have stars in your time?” he joked.
“Well dummy, I live underground don’t I? You realty think Darren’s gonna let me go running round at night?” he turned back to the window. “I used to like watching them as a kid. Mom told me that they look after people.”
“I guess I take them for granted,” Brian said. When was the last time he looked up into the night and was awed by the beauty? He had seen them almost every day of his life and yet he never actually took the time to look.
“You shouldn’t,” B said. “They’re pretty. Sammy sometimes used to sneak out with me and sit with me on the grass to look. It’s a pity it’s raining so hard, I can’t see them very well.”
“When it isn’t raining we can get out onto the roof of the house to have a look if you like,” Brian suggested, thinking that it might be a nice treat for B seeing as going out to places was strictly off limits now.
“We can go on the roof? Wow, that would be good.”
Brian smiled, glad to see his spirits returning after the attack on the street. B really was irrepressible.
“Where are we anyway?” B asked.
“It’s quicker this way. The freeway will be jammed at this time of the day,” Brian replied as he turned onto another road which seemed to lead into the middle of nowhere. It was easy to become lost on these roads, but Brian knew where he was going.
“Okay,” B replied. He turned back to the window and stared up at his beloved stars in the small crack in the clouds. They were half concealed in mist but B’s eyes were glued to them. He sighed as he watched the thick clouds cover and dispel them from sight. He suddenly turned and stared out of the back window and frowned.
“What’s up?” Brian asked.
B shook his head. Nothing.” But he still frowned uncomfortably.
Brian glanced in the mirror and at first he saw nothing, and then his eyes suddenly picked out the shadowy car following them. There were no comforting lights there, almost as if they were hiding. He took a left turn off of the dark road and the car followed them carefully. Brian’s eyes flickered over to B and he saw that he had begun to fidget nervously with his hands. He had to keep him calm somehow. “Do dark, windy roads scare you?” he asked playfully, pretending not to have noticed the car.
“Noooo,” B said. “Just cars that have been following us all the way along that freeway and now here as well.” He was laughing but Brian could see that he was nervous and that he was only trying to conceal his shameful paranoia.
Keeping up the game of laughter, Brian smiled as he spoke. “We better leave them far behind then.”
He was finally grateful for Nick convincing him to buy such an expensive, but more importantly a very speedy vehicle. Accelerating away from mysterious cars could do wonders to reassure B and he knew the road well enough not to put them in any danger.
He watched in the mirror as the gpa between the two cars widened as he pushed against the accelerator, but then the follower began to speed up as well to catch them again.
“Dad…” B said, his voice becoming worried.
“I know,” Brian said. “Hang on.”
He began to accelerate to a more dangerous speed, but still the second car followed them relentlessly. He placed a hand against the phone on his belt. Surely their ‘friend’ would message them if it was him? He seemed to care about B and he wouldn’t want to scare him…
Brian gritted his teeth slightly. In truth he wanted to believe that the stranger was a villain, but in his heart he knew he wasn’t. It was merely someone else who cared deeply for B and for some reason Brian saw him as a threat.
“It’s the Gerai isn’t it?” B whispered.
“Stay calm,” Brian said. “He won’t try anything on a public road.”
“But he attacked us on the street!”
Damn it, it was the Gerai. Brian had been warned that they were after him still. He should have stuck to the crowded road. There was nobody here and they were an easy prey.
“B, keep an eye in your mirror and tell me if they lean out the window with a gun or anything. We can’t afford to get caught out here,” Brian said. “Don’t worry, I’ll get us out of here.”
He sped up even more, watching the speedometer warily, knowing that it was very dangerous to go to fast on these roads. He smiled as they began to pull away, his engine clearly more powerful than the Gerai’s car – probably only a cheap rental.
“Dad!” B cried. “He’s leaning out the window!”
“Okay, I got an idea,” Brian said as they passed a turning. “B, is your seatbelt on?”
B nodded.
“Good.”
Brian checked the mirrors carefully before he pulled over to the left hand side of the road, praying that no other cars would come the other way and smash them. He watched as the Gerai aimed the gun, speeding up to be closer to them for a good shot, which would be difficult with Brian in the opposite lane. There was another bend coming up as well and Brian knew that neither of them could take it at this speed.
Brian slammed on the brakes hard, thankful that they took effect almost immediately, although B had a shock when they stopped so suddenly and he slammed against his seatbelt. The Gerai carried on speeding by in the opposite lane, Brian having braked too spontaneously for him to predict their actions.
He wasted no time in turning around and heading back towards the turn. He stared into the mirror and watched the Gerai approaching the turn… only he was going too fast and their brakes were not as reliable as Brian’s. There was a squeal of brakes and then a thud. Brian looked up briefly to see that the car had skidded into the verge where several trees were clustered.
He slowed down to make sure they took their turn at a safe speed and then looked across at B to see that his face had paled slightly. “Are you all right, B?” he asked urgently.
B nodded. “I didn’t expect you to brake like that.”
“Sorry, it was the best I could come up with without us crashing into that verge as well.”
“It was cool.” He breathed a sigh of relief. “That was close. Do you think he’s still alive?”
“Probably. It wasn’t a bad crash against the small trees and bushes, but it will make him think twice before coming near us again. I’m a lot more familiar with this world then he is. I know how to use every day objects like cars to my advantage!”
“Totally,” B agreed. “If I wasn’t so freaked, I’d think it was cool.”
“Don’t worry, we’re almost home now and we’re not being followed anymore. You can go home and sleep safely. He won’t find us.”