need something to get you through this.”
The voices of old made themselves known one by one.
Bile etched its way up his gullet and sat in the back of his throat, burning, boiling, gnawing.
After an eternity, Ray jumped off his bed toward the parcel which screamed at him to pick it up and enjoy what it had to offer.
he slid across the floor in his socks, Ben having removed his shoes, belt, and anything else they deemed he could possibly use to self-harm.
Kneeling, he picked up the bag of drugs and utensils. His hand shook violently as he peeled open the bag, dipped his head and inhaled.
Lullu and Mina’s faces danced across his conscience.
Clutching the baggie in his fist he leaned back, then with all his might, threw it at the opposite wall. The pipe shattered and the packet dropped onto the bed where Cyril usually slept until Ben had moved him out.
“I will not give in!” Ray screamed, hoping Ben was listening.
Ray summarily dropped to the floor and began doing push-ups, then sit-ups, then shadow boxing … Anything and everything he could to rid his mind and body of the evil threatening to take hold.
The sun was setting outside, throwing the room in dark shadows which moved and bobbed. Ray paced the width of the small cabin.
The cabin was hot, the burglar-proofed window open, but no breeze drifted in. There’d been no lunch, and there was no water. He’d banged against his door, demanding he be fed and given something to drink. Ben had answered, smacked him, grabbed the smashed baggy, and walked back out.
Shit. His only hope was Mina. But even she’d not come down, and judging by the low-hanging sun, it was well after seven and dinnertime. What the fuck was going on?
Ray slumped against the wall, and began to sob. This was it—his last chance blown to smithereens. He was done for—Ben would make sure of it.
“I’ll take care of the of the idiot down here and wait on the strand.” A voice Ray recognised as his ex-roomie’s drifted through the window. “What you lot getting up to, huh?”
“Piet’s watching that bitch and her brat. We’ll be ready for pick-up at midnight. We need to grab the remaining abalone tonight,” a female voice ordered.
“I’ll have a skiff ready,” Cyril replied.
“Make sure there are no eyewitnesses. What about the guards and other inmates?” Was that Becky’s voice?
“Leave it to me. You just do your job, and I’ll do mine.”
Becky was involved, and something was very wrong up at the farmhouse. Adrenaline surged through his limbs and Ray’s mind shifted in to get-out-and-save-my-family mode.
Ray ran to his door and pounded on it again. “Hey, asshole. Want another piece of me?” he yelled, hoping Ben might open up and give him a chance to break out. He wouldn’t be able to explain as the fucking oaf was either involved or too full of shit to listen. Either way, it was up to Ray to get out and get up to the house, now!
“Goddammit!” Ray yelled.
It’d been more than half an hour and his shoulders throbbed from all the thumping he’d been giving them against the door. Was Ben truly going to ignore him?
He banged again, and the door unlocked.
Ray stepped back and readied himself to tackle whoever stood in his way.
About to rage like a bull, Ray froze when Thomas slipped inside and closed the door behind him.
“What the fuck Thomas? There’s big shi—”
Thomas held up his hand, silencing Ray. “I know. I managed to get out. The idiots think I’m in town. But they’ve got Mina and Lullu.” Thomas put a hand over Ray’s mouth when he began to protest. “Shh, dammit. For now, they’re unharmed. You, me, and Ben need to get up there, pronto.”
“Where’s Rochelle?”
“She managed to get away with my phone to call for backup.” Thomas said.
“Can’t you call the police?”
“Someone in authority is involved. I’m not sure if it’s the local police or conservation, so until Rochelle can make the call to my people, we’re fucked.” Thomas walked over to the door. “We don’t have time to waste. Come on.”
“Why not use Ben’s office phone?”
“All phone lines are cut and they’re using jammers, so no cell phones either.”
Ray followed Thomas and they made their way to Ben’s office.
“Hey, can we trust that asshole?” Ray whispered harshly.
Thomas nodded as they came up to the door.
“How do you know? The fucker planted drugs in my room.” Ray pointed to the door angrily.
“I don’t think he did. I