Page 55 of The Serial Killer's Sister
‘Sorry. I’m so tired of watching him torment you like this, is all. It does my head in. Why should he get away with being a bully?’
Anna frowns, suddenly aware her friend isn’t herself. ‘You seem a bit off, if you don’t mind me saying. Is there something you’re not telling me?’
Kirsty tucks her hair behind her ear. ‘No. I’m fine. It’snothing.’ She wraps her arms around her belly and looks up at the night sky, then around at the trees. ‘It’s creepy here, I don’t like it. And I bet he’s in there, somewhere in the shadows, watching us.’
As if that was his cue, Henry crashes through the trees, laughing. ‘You’rethe pussies,’ he jeers. ‘Look at you, two dumb scaredy cats.’
‘Oh, shut up, Henry,’ Kirsty snaps. ‘You’re such a loser.’
‘Whatever. I heard you, though. All creeped out by the rustling and the dark.’ He shines a torch in her face, then swings it towards Anna, blinding her. She puts her hands to her eyes to shield them.
‘I did what you wanted, Henry. I followed The Hunt, solved your stupid clue, there isn’t even anything here – we’re done.’ With her chin tilted, she goes to walk past him.
‘You’re done when I say you’re done.’ He slaps his palm in the centre of Anna’s chest and pushes her. She stumbles back a few steps. He lurches towards her again, pushes her again. The backs of her legs whack against the stone of the well.
‘Enough,’ Anna says, her voice breathy with fear. ‘Please stop.’
‘Leave her alone, you bully,’ Kirsty says, striding up to them. ‘I know you get off on hurting her, but give her a break, eh?’
‘I could hurt you too, if you like. Change it up a bit.’
‘You did that already, didn’t you?’ Anna shouts, and her words seem to hit a nerve, because Henry backs off.
‘Because you didn’t play the game,’ he says, giving Anna a warning glance.
‘Can you hear yourself?’ Kirsty says. ‘How childish that sounds? I do feel sorry for you. You didn’t have the beststart but neither did we. You aren’t the only one to suffer, you know.’
‘Kirst, leave it,’ Anna says, putting her hand out to her friend.
‘He’s pathetic, Anna.’
Henry’s eyes blaze. Anna’s seen that look in her brother’s eyes before – the one where he feels backed into a corner, where memories of how he was made to feel worthless, emasculated, flash through his mind – and Kirsty’s crossing a line, triggering him. She can sense the tension; it’s palpable. But Kirsty doesn’t stop.
‘Look at him. Weak little boy who needs to hurt girls to feel all big and powerful.’ Her rage-filled words spill from her, and Anna realises this isn’t actually about Henry. Not specifically. Her anger is for someone else.
‘Kirsty, please. Stop.’
Anna gets in between Kirsty and Henry. ‘This has to end. All of it.’ She turns to Henry. ‘The Hunt finishes here, tonight. Forever.’ Then she looks at Kirsty. ‘And you need to see someone about what happened,’ she says, softly. Kirsty lays a hand on her stomach, and Anna catches the expression in Kirsty’s eyes as she does. Her own stomach drops with sudden understanding. Oh, God. Why hadn’t she realised? Why hadn’t Kirsty confided in her? Anna gasps and takes a step back, leaving Kirsty and Henry facing each other.
‘You don’t mean anything to my sister, Kirsty Briggs,’ Henry says, pushing her up against the stone. Then he turns to Anna. ‘And you pretend to care about your so-called friend, but really you don’t give a shit. Your friend was raped and you were too wrapped up in yourself to have even realised.’
Time stands still – truth and pain, lies and betrayal all mix together, and everything is laid bare. In this moment, they are all seen. Anna’s mouth gapes open and her eyes sting with tears.
‘It’s your fault, Henry.’ She speaks quietly, then with more power. ‘It’s all your fault I didn’t realise. I’m always so preoccupied by you! You suck the life from me, I’ve nothing left for anyone else.’ And without warning, something inside her fractures. A lifetime of hurt swells in her brain, pressure building so fast she knows it needs to be released or her head will explode. With a scream as if she’s a soldier going into battle, Anna propels herself at her brother as he stands smugly beside the well. Her body slams into his and his feet leave the ground as he is pushed onto the stone wall. They thrash about on the edge, Anna on top of Henry, her fists slamming into his chest. Kirsty is yelling ‘No!’ but Anna doesn’t hear it. There’s tugging and pulling. Henry regains his balance and manages to stand up, pushing Anna off him. She stumbles back, falling to the ground.
Kirsty takes a step towards Anna just as Henry lets out a belly laugh.
‘On the floor, where you belong.’
‘Enough, Henry,’ Kirsty says. ‘Come on, this has gone far enough.’ She stretches out a hand to help Anna up, but Anna smacks it away.
‘I’m fine.’ She gets up and she and Henry stare each other out.
‘Look at me, Anna,’ Henry taunts, sitting on the edge of the well again, his body leaning back. ‘You haven’t got theguts.’
And with another burst of energy, Anna runs at him,her hands out ready to push him. Kirsty thrusts herself between them and when Anna’s body makes contact all three of them fall back. The struggle – all arms and legs, grunting and groaning – lasts no more than a minute. There’s a scream, a desperate, blood-curdling cry that rips the night apart.
Then silence.
