20 Years Later by Emma Newman Read Free Book Online Page B

… because of the … the blood,” Zane replied, unable to think of anything else to say that wasn’t the truth, and he didn’t feel that here, right now, was the time to tell them about his strange experience.
    â€œBollocks!” Jay exclaimed. “You an’ Miri stitch us up all the time–you see blood nearly every day!” He took a step closer. “I’d ’ate to think you were lyin’ to me, Zane. I can’t stand a liar.”
    Zane struggled to draw a breath; it felt like his chest had seized up. Jay stared at him and the circle of Boys closed in a step. Zane could feel a tremor in his knees.
    â€œSee, Zane, I got a problem ’ere,” Jay continued when the boy said nothing. “Cos I like ya, and I think ya mum’s ace. And that’s good for you, cos if that weren’t true, you’d be pasted on the side of that buildin’ over there.” Mark picked that moment to crack his knuckles. “But the thing is, you looked like you were goin’ soft on that Gardner. And that worries me, Zane, it worries me.”
    â€œI … I don’t want you to worry, Jay,” Zane replied, his voice wavering.
    â€œThat’s good, Zane, that’s good,” Jay said, planting ahand on his shoulder and gripping it firmly. “None of us want that. But I know what I saw, and so I want proof you’re not gonna start goin’ soft on them Gardners when they start on us again.”
    Zane’s throat felt like it was closing. “Proof?”
    â€œGo get one of their ties for Jay!” said Grame, sparking a round of jeering agreement from the circle.
    â€œDon’t be daft,” Jay dismissed. “He’s too soft to stab a live one.” As the Boys laughed, Jay pointed at the barricade. “But he could practise on the one they left behind.”
    Zane’s throat burned as bile rose up from his twisting stomach. He’d never been near a dead body before; his mother had made sure of that. But he had read about it in the medical books at home. He thought of the Gardner Jay had tossed over the other side the day before, how the body would be cold and stiff by now.
    Zane swallowed hard as Jay continued, a chilling smile spreading across his face like a dark cloud on a spring day. “I’ll letchya borra me knife, can’t say fairer than that.” Jay drew one of the pair, tilted the blade to capture the last of the evening sunlight. “Go over and stab the body, Zane.”
    â€œYeah! Stab it!” Boys yelled around him, building themselves up into a chant. “Stab it! Stab it!”
    Jay leaned in close to him, holding up a hand to quiet the gang. “You bring the blade back clean, I’ll know you’re soft on ’em. We’ll all know.”
    The Boys looked from Jay to Zane again, the tension twisting its thick strands tightly between them all. Zane looked at Jay’s belt, thinking of all the men who must have been hurt or killed for Jay to have that many ties. He thought of his mother and what he’d promised her. He saw her face when Callum brought him back, how worried she’d been. What if there were Gardners on the other side of the barrier, hiding, waiting for a Boy to climb down and get rid of the body?
    â€œHe can’t hurt ya!” Mark yelled, frustrated by Zane’s hesitation. “He’s dead already!”
    The Boys laughed and the shoving resumed. Jay turned the knife to present the handle to Zane.
    â€œDo it, Zane!” Grame yelled and the Boys echoed him. “Do it! Do it!”
    Jay’s face twisted into a cruel sneer. “Why don’t you just say that you’re too scared?”
    Zane took a deep breath, mindful of the Boys closing in around him. Jay needed his mum too much to hurt him, but he also knew that if he didn’t do this, they would make his life miserable. Swallowing down another surge of nausea, he reached for the