Free Split Second by Sophie McKenzie

another man blocked my way. For a second I thought they were going to hit me but then Saxon66 called out:
    ‘Let him go, he’s just a kid.’
    Sarcastic shouts rose up behind me as I stumbled out of the storeroom. I bolted for the shop exit, abuse echoing after me. Out on the pavement I raced along the dimly-lit street, desperate to
get away.
    Bound up in my own, dark thoughts, I was so intent on getting home that I barely noticed the rain which had just began to fall. Once or twice I thought I glimpsed someone following me –
just the merest hint of shadowy movement. But when I turned around, no-one was there.

Charlie
    The next few days were hell. I didn’t know what to do. Nat was obviously involved with the League of Iron and, though his angry post stopped short of actually saying so,
it was clear to me that he’d helped set off the Canal Street market bomb: as AngelOfFire, he supported the League’s views and the League had claimed responsibility for the bombing. On
top of which, he had actually been there during the explosion.
    It was sickening, especially considering what had happened to his own brother. But before I could go to the police I needed proper proof that Nat was AngelOfFire. Simply explaining what
I’d seen on his computer wasn’t enough.
    I would have liked to talk to Jas, but telling her I was sure that one of her brothers was a murderer who had left the other in a coma was impossible. So I kept my mouth shut, though finding
some way to expose Nat was all I could think about.
    I woke early on Saturday morning. Gail and Brian were talking in low, serious tones as I walked into the kitchen.
    ‘Hi,’ I said, drifting over to the kettle, my angry thoughts still all on Nat.
    ‘Morning, Charlie,’ Brian said.
    Gail gave a nervous cough. ‘I’m glad you’re up,’ she said. ‘We want to talk to you.’
    I turned, focusing on them properly at last. ‘What is it?’
    Gail wouldn’t meet my eyes. Suddenly filled with foreboding I looked at Brian.
    ‘We need to talk about the future,’ he said. ‘It’s almost two weeks since you came here and we’d like to know how you feel . . . how you’re thinking . . .
about moving in permanently.’
    ‘Oh.’ I looked at them both. I’d been so caught up thinking about Nat and what to do that I had forgotten our two-week deadline.
    ‘Do you like being here, Charlie?’ Gail asked nervously.
    ‘Er, yes,’ I said.
    ‘It’s just we’ve noticed you spend a lot of time on your own in your room,’ she went on. ‘I mean Rosa does too, it’s the age you’re both at, but . .
.’ She tailed off.
    ‘Do you need more time to work things through?’ Brian asked. ‘We don’t want to put you under any pressure. The school says you’ve settled in well, no problems with
any of the lessons or staff.’
    I nodded. The three of us stood in an awkward silence.
    ‘It’s just we were wondering if you wanted to do anything to your room?’ Gail went on. ‘It’s a bit bleak at the moment because we’ve had it as a spare, but it
might help you feel more at home if you decorated.’
    ‘I like it bare,’ I said, truthfully.
    ‘Is there anything you’d like from your Aunt Karen’s?’ Brian asked. ‘Or anything from your mum’s old flat? We’ve got the space here for furniture or
whatever.’
    I thought it over. The only possessions I had that were truly important to me, apart from a few photos, were all those kids’ books that Mum had bought me.
    ‘I’d like to put up some bookshelves,’ I said. ‘Get my old books from my aunt’s.’
    Gail nodded eagerly. ‘Sure, we’ll send Karen the money so she can pack them up and send them to us.’
    ‘Thanks.’ Gail and Brian were being so nice. This place would never be home, but I appreciated them trying so hard to make me feel welcome.
    ‘There’s just one thing, Charlie,’ Gail said, twisting her fingers together.
    I stared at her. ‘What’s that?’
    ‘It’s Rosa.’ Brian and Gail