Blood Sisters(21)

Then he blew her another kiss!

Kitty caught it with her good hand and put it in her pocket to add to the collection. It made her so happy that she began to hum.

‘You’ve got such a lovely voice,’ said Johnny with tears in his eyes. ‘See you as soon as they let me get back.’

‘Why … are … you … holding … your … hand … over … your … pocket?’ asked Margaret later, when Kitty had managed to steer herself back into their shared room without anyone noticing.

It was no good. She was bursting to tell. ‘Because it’s got Johnny’s kisses inside it.’

‘What … are you … saying? I hope it’s … not going … to give you … nightmares again. Scream … and thrash … and mutter … all … night you … do.’ Margaret’s eyes narrowed. ‘It’s like … you’re trying … to say … something.’

That was strange. Kitty could never remember her dreams.

‘Maybe it’s got … something to do … with why you’re … here in the … first place.’ Margaret was looking sorry for her now.

‘Tell me, tell me,’ babbled Kitty.

‘It can’t be easy … We all feel … sorry for … you. That’s why I … try … to help. By … the … way, you … owe … me … one for … creating … that … diversion.’

‘There you are.’ Very Thin Carer came rushing in. ‘I’ve been looking for you, you naughty girl. You’re not meant to wheel yourself back to your room. It’s against health and safety. Now you’d better behave or else you won’t be allowed to play in the concert. Not long now. A little bird told me that you’ve got a special visitor coming to hear you. Now isn’t that exciting?’

Kitty’s heart began to beat. What if it was Flabby Face again?

He wanted something. She just knew it. But what? And why did she get the feeling it was something to do with an accident? If only she could fucking remember.





11


November 2016


Alison


I’m shaking so much that I can hardly hold two fingers against Barry’s neck. I don’t want to touch this child-killer’s rough mottled skin. But common decency means I have to check his pulse.

I took a first-aid course years ago in the Guides. It hadn’t helped my sister, though. Later, as part of a teaching requirement, I went on a refresher session.

Barry is still breathing and his bloody eye is staring glassily up at me. ‘Get help. Quick!’ My voice is hoarse.

Why are they just standing there, looking down at the ground, shifting awkwardly? One of these men has just tried to commit murder. Which one?

‘Go!’ I yell. Kurt tears off. I think back to the conversation we had earlier about Barry and whether he was still a threat. ‘The rest of us wouldn’t let no one hurt you.’ That’s what Kurt had said.

Have I just allowed a murderer to escape?

Barry’s slumped body is twitching as though an electric current is passing through. His blood-curdling screams begin again. Piercing my ears. Making me unable to think straight.

‘He’s bleeding out,’ whimpers one of the men. Desperately, I pull my handkerchief out of my pocket and try to stem the flow. The white linen with the daisy-chain border that was embroidered by my mother is soaked within seconds. There’s a smear of blood on my skin. His smell is overwhelming. It makes me want to vomit. Takes me back to –

Barry’s screams rise even higher. They remind me now not just of the day we lost my sister but of a farm that Mum took me to as a child. It was lovely. Until the most terrifying screams started – pigs were being slaughtered. My mother was cross with the farmer for allowing visitors at the same time. ‘It’s the real world, lady,’ he’d said.

He was wrong. This is the real world. A world where violence happens in the blink of an eye. A world where a man is haemorrhaging to death right in front of me.

And it’s all my fault.

‘Do something!’ I yell as his blood seeps into the carpet. ‘Quickly! Someone!’





12


December 2016


Kitty


It was the day of the concert. Through a stroke of luck and a bit of wheelchair barging, Kitty managed to get next to Johnny at breakfast.

‘I like being with you,’ Johnny said, mopping up her dribble with his big white handkerchief. ‘Nod if you like it too.’

Nodding was up and down, wasn’t it? But somehow it came out side to side. Johnny’s face fell.

‘Don’t … take … any … notice … of … that,’ said Margaret, who was sitting on the other side of Kitty. ‘She … nods … when she means … no and … shakes her … head when she means … yes.’

Johnny’s face cleared. ‘That’s good.’ His hand tightened on hers. ‘I say the wrong thing too sometimes.’

Really? It made Kitty feel that she wasn’t as stupid as everyone made out after all.

‘Why don’t you … come … to … our … room … again … tonight?’ asked Margaret loudly.