Page 5 of Between the Lies

The woman dabbed some lipstick on her lips, then walked out the door, leaving Nina in absolute echoing silence.

She didn’t waste time. Nina lunged towards the wall next to the exit and pressed her back to it. And just in time, becausebam!The door burst open. A leather-clad back with shoulders wide enough to be a man’s stepped through, and then the door’s hydraulics gently clicked it shut, caging Nina inside the loo with Shah.

She clenched her newly sharpened tweezers tighter as Shah stalked over to the first cubicle. She bit her lip, waiting for him to peek into the stall – then struck.

Her single step slapped like heavy metal against tiles.

Shah swivelled, but Nina raised her fist – the tweezers flashing – and stabbed. The tweezers sank in, as easily as a knife through a potato. She heard a slick noise as they embedded in Shah’s arm.

He howled, and Nina’s backpack slipped from his grip and smacked on the floor.

Nina didn’t waste a beat: she pulled her tweezers out of his arms, heard the tearing of flesh – or imagined that bit – then buried her wee weapon into his shoulder.

Despite the pain, Shah still fought. He grabbed her arm and tugged, his grip strong enough to send Nina skittering across the floor.

She pulled her backpack with her. It was now or never. If he overpowered her now, that would be the end of her freedom. Possibly her life. She had lost her tweezers in his flesh. And he lay between her and the door.

Nina fumbled to sit up as Shah pushed off the floor, even as blood spilled from his wounds.

Gritting her teeth, Nina swung her backpack towards his head.

Not a good move.

Shah smacked it so hard, the momentum caused Nina to lose her balance. He lunged for her; she kicked, but Shah caught her leg again and pulled her back to the floor.

She was losing. Any moment now, Pratt would come in. And then it would be game over for her.

Nina twisted round, gripped the counters and pulled herself up. Shah still clung to her legs, but she used all her upper body strength. Then Nina patted the counter for her packs. She’d left them open to one side. She… There! She gripped the kit as Shah swiped her legs from under her again. Nina’s elbows collided with the floor, just as the pouchthunkedby her head.

Pain smarted up her shoulders, but still she grappled with the scissors from her kit. Seeing what she was doing, Shah dived towards her.

But Nina swung her arm, pain forgotten, and lodged the scissors straight into Shah’s thigh.

‘Aaarghhhh!’ He cried so loud, the sound rang in the confined space. Funny how no one had entered to check what the hullabaloo was about, though silence didn’t mean security wasn’t on their way.

She had to get a move on! As Shah writhed on the floor, various parts of him oozing blood, Nina scrambled up. She stomped a foot on the man’s pelvis, straight between his legs.

As he howled in agony, she collected her packs then slung her backpack over her shoulder and sprinted outside. She caught sight of the black-and-yellow sign overhead, but aside from departure gates, it didn’t give her much information.

Think, Nina! You’ve flown out of here a few times before!

With a breath, Nina tightened her grip and followed a stream of people, eyes searching for an exit.

If she loitered here, she would be easy pickings for Shah or Pratt.

Nina looked around to see if she could find the stairs. Surely they would lead her to an exit?

She found a door that looked promising and tried to push it open – locked. Shit! She made a dash towards the escalators and then realised they didn’t lead to the airport exit.

‘Hey!’ a shout rang out behind her, drawing a few lazy eyes. Pratt was running towards Nina, his long legs ensuring he was catching up fast, bulging belly or not.

Oh hell! Nina swept her gaze over the scene of people, bags, food cans, bins and?—

A lift tinged open. A woman with a pram stepped out, then reached back for the first of three carry-on suitcases.

Nina could either get on that lift but risk Pratt jumping in with her or?—

‘Stop!’ Shah emerged from the toilet roaring, bleeding and pointing straight at her.

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