Don't Turn Around by Caroline Mitchell Read Free Book Online Page B

out, cursing under his breath as his feet hit the hard wooden floor.
    ‘I’m trying to sleep, I’ve got school tomorrow.’ Frank opened the door to see his mother spread on the bed, a pillow covering her waist as she rested an ashtray on it. ‘For God’s sake Viv, cover yourself up will you?’
    ‘Why? It’s only tits. You’ve seen them plenty of times before.’
    Frank rubbed his eyes, wishing he could erase the vision from his memory. His mother had changed after his father left. ‘Reverted back to self’ was what his grandmother said. Not that they saw much of her these days. One thing was for sure, mothers weren’t meant to go around flashing their tits like that. It was disgusting.
    ‘What do you want?’ Frank said, in a voice older than his years.
    ‘Go downstairs and get me my bottle of gin. It’s at the back of the bread bin.’
    ‘Go and get it yourself, you lazy bitch. I’m going back to bed.’
    Viv picked up the ashtray and threw it at him. It whizzed past his ear, clanged against the door and scattered its contents on the floor. ‘After everything I do for you. Go and get me that bloody gin before I tan your arse.’
    Frank stared at his mother in defiance as he imagined shutting her up once and for all. It was not the first time such a thought had entered his mind, and they were becoming more frequent.
    ‘Don’t you give me the evil eye, that shit doesn’t work on me anymore,’ she said, unrepentant.
    ‘I can’t wait to leave this place, and when I do, I’m never coming back.’ Frank spat the words festering in his mouth.
    Viv pulled on her dressing gown and swung her legs from the bed. ‘Oh yeah? Where are you gonna stay?’
    ‘I’m moving in with Glo. I heard her say so. She must have her place ready by now.’
    Viv whispered under her breath, pushing her feet into her slippers. ‘You stupid boy.’
    ‘I know where it is, over the bingo hall in Lexton. I’ll pack my stuff and go there tomorrow.’
    ‘You can’t.’
    ‘I can. You just watch me.’
    ‘You can’t – because she’s dead.’
    Frank stepped backwards, failing to mask the horror on his face. ‘You’re lying.’
    Viv shuffled towards him with as much sympathy as she could muster. ‘She died of a drug overdose last week. I wasn’t going to tell you.’
    Tears welled in Frank’s eyes. ‘No. I don’t believe you.’
    Viv put her hand on his shoulder. ‘Son, why would I lie?’ She patted him twice on the shoulder and walked through the door, her words following behind her. ‘You should know by now. You can’t rely on anyone. Life is shit and people are shit. Sooner you know that, the better.’
    Frank’s voice broke into a sob as he followed his mother out to the landing. ‘I thought she was off the gear.’
    ‘She was. But you best let it drop now,’ Viv turned, pointed her finger in a warning, ‘I don’t want to hear of you talking about this to anyone else. Not if you know what’s good for you.’
    Frank wiped his tears as he felt a dark monster grow fresh hatred within him. Osborne. He was responsible for Gloria’s death. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, and when he opened them, he knew what he had to do. His days of crying were over.

6 Chapter Six
    J ohnny paced the confines of his narrow bedsit, rubbing his clammy hands on the back of his sweat-stained jeans. A raging temperature coursed through his body, and he ripped off his t-shirt and threw it on the bed. His sudden fever was the least of his worries as he listened for signs of the men who had threatened to take his life. As much he hated his neighbours, he preferred their company to being the only person left in the block of flats. Pulling back the net curtain, he peered out the grime-streaked window. Apart from some kids leaning on their bikes, it was all clear. He patted the reassuring outline of his phone in his jeans pocket, trying to work out how long he had to call the filth should the door be forced open. Not long