Page 9 of Caught in the Middle

She noticed the basketball hoop was broken, and wondered when the last time anyone even played a sport in that pitch was.

Oliver un-clicked his seat belt, and began to get out of the car.

'Come on, quickly.'

But Lucy was rooted to the seat. If he wanted her to trust him, why on earth would he take her somewhere so scary?

A group of kids who couldn't have been older that eight ran past the car, cursing and spitting, making her flinch. This was definitely the sort of place that anything could happen to you, and nobody in this area would bat an eyelid.

When Oliver noticed her hesitancy, he crawled back in the car and twisted his body to face her.

'Hey,' he grabbed her by the chin to make her face him, 'it's okay. I know how this looks, but I promise you, this is a far better alternative than what was waiting for you after you finished your exam.'

Lucy took a deep breath, and tried to stop her hands from shaking. Eventually, she nodded.

'Come on,' he gestured at the scary looking figures in the basketball court, 'they don't bite. And if any of them do, I'll knock them out.' he grinned and winked at her.

She stood very close to her possible soon-to-be murderer as they crossed through the court, heading for one of the apartment blocks on the north side of the estate. When she passed the huddle of men, curiosity got the best of her and she couldn't help but glance up at them.

They were all facing her, but her heart leaped to her throat when she realised that she couldn't see any of their faces, as their hoodies were pulled tight over their heads. One even had a skeleton print bandanna covering his mouth.

Suddenly, she remembered something she had learned on a crappy late night murder show. They were saying that usually, if you are attacked by someone who is covering their face, they are likely to let you live, because you can't identify them. But, if you're attacked by someone who is happy to show you what they look like, they aren't worried about you being able to identify them, because they're planning on killing you.

She dropped one step behind Oliver.

Her fears did not subside when they reached the apartment block.

Coming from a nice little village, Lucy had only seen this type of accommodation on the news. It's the type of place that the government houses the poor, and very commonly, drug addicts or criminals who have just got out of prison.

The police avoid places like this, and the residents live by the rules that they make themselves.

Oliver fumbled around for a key for the main door, and then held it open for her.

'After you,' he gestured into the dark hallway.

She entered reluctantly - the smell of old urine hit her immediately.

'Yeah, hold your nose, it's like a toilet in here.' He led her up the concrete steps, where a new surprise awaited for her on every floor.

The first floor balcony was home to a screaming Turkish couple, having a physical domestic. Oliver shielded her from it, pulling her onto the next flight of stairs, but it left her completely shocked.

The second floor was no better, two druggies loitered on the stairs, needles in hand, eyes rolling to the back of their heads.

Lucy tried not to look at themas she clambered past, but her stomach was churning more than ever. However, it was the next floor that made her lose it.

A pregnant woman beating the crap out of another woman, dragging her to the floor by her hair.

'That's it,' Lucy said finally, 'I'm not doing this.' She turned on her heel to run down the stairs, but Oliver was quicker. He grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her into a little alcove just off of the staircase.

'Shhh,' he hissed, 'you don't want to arouse the neighbours, they aren't as nice they look.'

She stared into his sky blue eyes. Making jokes like that, she decided, must mean he's a psycho.

She shoved her body weight against him, trying to fight her way past. This was her last chance, she realised. Once she's in whatever apartment he's going to take her to, it'll be a lot harder to escape from. At least here she still has the chance to get out, avoid all the crazy people in this estate, and run to a nearby shop and hope someone helps her.

But Oliver was a lot stronger that her, and simply pushed her back against the alcove wall.

'Lucy, please,' he whispered, clearly beginning to get agitated, 'what do you want from me? What can I do to make you trust me?'

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