Page 13 of Redemption

“Of course. Take as long as you need. Maybe we’ll come spend the day with you all.”

“Sounds like a great idea. Thanks, man. I’ll call you so we can arrange something.”

We say our goodbyes, and then I shoot a message to Ryder to let him know what’s going on. His reply is short, sweet and far from the grumpy arse he was before he met Cam.

Blue:Have fun, enjoy the sweet scent of manure, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. ;)

I drop the phone on my bedside table with a shake of my head and a smile. I brush my teeth and take a quick piss before climbing into bed.

Despite my body and mind being emotional and raw, I struggle to sleep. When I finally do, my dreams are filled with pain, terror and death.

Eight

Rick

“Who are you? Why are you here?” he asks me again. When I don’t answer, the chair I’m sitting on is tipped backward before I feel the cold sting of a wet cloth as it’s thrown over my face, and my already burning lungs begin to scream in protest at what’s coming.

It feels like my skin is on fire as the icy water hits. Burning my nasal passage as it swishes up my nose and down my throat, forcing me to take a breath I know is going to fill my lungs with water instead of the air they need. I hold on for as long as possible, but as my mouth fills with water and my lungs cry out for air, I have no choice but to open my mouth. As soon as I do, I suck in a breath that mixes with my water filled mouth causing me to choke. The air never reaches its intended target as I begin to gurgle and sputter. Water spurts from my mouth as I try desperately to expel it and take a breath, only for another gush of freezing water to hit me.

Eventually, I lose consciousness.

Next time I come around, I’m no longer strapped to a chair. Instead, my arms are stretched out to their full reach and chained to the wall behind me, feet barely touching the ground…

“Tell me who you are working for?”

Shouting echoes through my foggy mind before a scream rips through the air that snaps my eyes open.

Kuffs is chained up opposite me, head thrown back as a man cuts a path down his left side with the tip of a bowie knife. Blood immediately seeps from the slice in Kuffs’ skin. It’s not deep enough to kill him, but I know it hurts like a bitch.

When the man reaches Kuffs’ hip bone, he lifts the knife away and watches as a drop of blood glides all the way down the blade to the handle. A cruel, yet satisfied smirk curls his lips before he begins his questions again…

The soundof knocking reaches me, startling me awake. The duvet sticks to my sweat soaked chest as I sit up, and my clammy hands are balled into tight fists, knuckles white, as they grip the sheet.

As the last vestiges of my dream begin to fade, I realise the knocking sounds like someone, a small someone, dragging a suitcase down the stairs and clonking as it hits each step.

The clonking stops as he must reach the last step, and I hear him calling out for my mum as the sound of fast little feet thud down the hall.

I loosen my grip on the sheet, throwing the duvet to the side and sitting on the edge of the bed. A shiver runs through me, and I’m not sure if it’s the cool air of the room on my heated skin or from the dream; one I haven’t had for nigh on two years. Whatever it is, it has me on edge.

Pushing to my feet, I try to shake the unsettled feeling away as I take a shower and pack the last few things for our trip.

We arriveat the campsite around lunch time having stopped at my own house and the supermarket to stock up on the way. We pull into our spot, and it’s the same one we used the last time we were here, which was almost two years ago now. The view from here is one of the best on the site and looks out across open fields with the nature reserve off to the right, along with a small copse of woods that backs onto Kings Dyke Cabins.

Despite the chill in the air, there are plenty of people out enjoying the crisp, clean air either with their dog, or kids, or exercising. There are only a handful of other motorhomes and caravans here as it’s not quite half-term yet, but I’m sure come the weekend this place will be packed.

We used to come here when I was a kid, and it’s one of the reasons why Sam and I decided to move here, away from the rat-race. After leaving the army and losing Sam, I was glad of the peace and quiet and being closer to my parents who have a house not far from me.

As soon as the engine is switched off, Max has his seatbelt undone and is desperate to get out of the car.

“Dad, Dad, can we go to the park. They have a zip-wire. Can you push me, Dad?”

His excitement and smiling face, brings a smile to my own. “Sure, we can, just as soon as we’re done setting up.” His face drops a little at having to wait. “But we do need to go and see if Hetty is available.”

Max frowns, tilting his head to the side as he attempts to work out who Hetty is. “Who’s Hetty?”

“Hetty is going to give us something nice for breakfast every morning. She’s at the farm just over there,” I say, pointing to the left of where we are parked. Max still looks a little confused, and I let out a laugh. “Come on, I’ll show you.”

We climb from the car just as my parents do the same. Max runs round to my side of the car before running to my mum.

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