Run, Zan, Run Read online

  ‘I’m goin’ to get you, hear me? No’ now. No’ today. No’ here. But I’ll get you.’ She stood straight, still sneering. ‘A’ right, Katie?’

  She laughed as she was leaving her. So did Michelle and Lindy. Katie felt the cold beads of sweat form on her brow. She had no doubt Ivy meant what she said. She would get her.

  Now what was she going to do?

  ‘Aren’t you hungry?’ Her mother lifted the untouched plate from the table.

  Katie shrugged.

  ‘Is something bothering you, Katie?’ Her mother sat across from her. She was very pretty, with large dark eyes and a head of rich dark curls. She looked much younger than her forty-four years. She was a little bit of a snob, but she had a kind heart and at least once a day did something completely silly.

  Katie longed to tell her. But she knew what would happen if she did. Exactly what had happened before. Her mother would insist she be taken out of that ‘rough school’. Her father would insist with equal fervour that she remain where she was and face up to the bullies. ‘That’s the only way to beat them.’

  They would have an awful row about her, and the last thing she wanted was for them to fight.

  Her mother, however, guessed at the problem. ‘Is it that girl? Is she still giving you bother?’

  Katie tried to protest, but too weakly.

  ‘She is! I knew it! Douglas!’ She pulled her husband’s paper from his fingers with a flourish. ‘I want her out of that school immediately!’

  Her father looked from one hand to the other, wondering where his paper had gone to. Then his eyes moved to his wife, standing over him.

  ‘Katherine! I was reading the news.’

  ‘We have something much more important to discuss. Our daughter. I want her out of that school.’

  Her father sighed. ‘Now will you give Katie credit for standing on her own two feet. She’s not going to give in to any bullies, are you honey?’

  Slowly, Katie shook her head.

  ‘You see?’

  ‘You’d be much happier in another school, wouldn’t you dear?’

  Again, Katie nodded.

  ‘There!’

  ‘She’s only saying that to agree with you.’

  ‘And she’s only staying in that school so she won’t hurt your feelings.’

  ‘And all you want to do is get her into Riverside Academy.’

  ‘It’s a fine school. It was my school too. If my mother knew I’d let her granddaughter go to that rough school … why, she’d turn in her grave.’

  ‘Katherine! You know fine and well your mother is alive and fighting fit and living in Aberdeen.’

  ‘Well,’ Katie’s mother said, refusing as usual to be beaten, ‘if she was dead she’d be birling in her grave.’

  Katie stood up. ‘Honestly, Mum, I’m fine, I really am.’ She looked from one to the other, trying to convince them. ‘In fact, I think she’s going to leave me alone from now on.’

  It seemed almost as if that might be true. Ivy and her cohorts ignored her in the corridors at school, swishing past her as if she didn’t exist. No longer did they wait for her outside the school gates either.

  So why did she feel they were only biding their time?

  Katie still walked over the dump, almost without fear – there was never any sign of Ivy.

  There was never any sign of Zan, either – she couldn’t help but call her that – every cardboard box she knocked on was empty. Yet Katie longed to see her again, and tell her it was all over, thanks to her.

  At least, she thought it was all over.

  Hallowe’en came along, and there was a disco at the school. Many of the pupils were dressing up for it, but not Katie. She decided she’d feel silly walking up to school alone, dressed up. And she would be alone. Her so-called friends were still too afraid of Ivy to risk calling for her.

  Her parents were having a fancy dress party of their own, and the house was decorated with masks and sticky buns hanging from string and apples bobbing in buckets of water for the fun and games they intended for their friends.

  ‘I’ll run you up to school,’ her mother offered. She was half dressed as Cleopatra, with her make-up completed and wearing her wig, but otherwise incongruously attired in a jogging suit.

  ‘No, Mum, honestly, I’m meeting some of the girls.’ She lied because her mother would have insisted if she hadn’t. And it would be so embarrassing to be driven up to school with her dressed like that!

  Her father, a convincing Count Dracula, would be an even more embarrassing chauffeur, and there were people in school who already thought her parents rather strange.

  ‘Now, are you sure?’ her mother asked again.

  ‘Honest, I’m meeting them round the corner.’

  It was already dark when she left, but the road was brightly lit and busy, especially tonight, Hallowe’en, and it was fun being out in the street. Guisers of all shapes and sizes passed her, in all sorts of colourful and imaginative costumes.

  She wished now she had taken the trouble to dress up.

  Only at the old bridge spanning the disused railway track did the road become quiet. No guisers here, no children. Only an eerie quiet.

  Ominous.

  Katie began to hurry, the clipping of her shoes the only echoing sound as she almost ran across the bridge. She was nearly there. A car passed along the high road, its lights bright and welcoming. Safety.

  Out of nowhere Ivy sprang. She had been hiding behind the wall. Behind her Michelle, then Lindy, till all three stood threateningly in front of her.

  Katie glanced around. The street was empty.

  Fight back, a voice inside told her. Kick, shout. scream. Do anything, but get away.

  ‘I don’t want any trouble.’ She knew her voice was trembling.

  Ivy sniggered. ‘You’re no’ goin’ to give us any.’ She nodded to Lindy and Michelle. ‘Get her!’

  Before she could move, a hand was clamped over Katie’s mouth, her shoulders firmly gripped. Lindy and Michelle lifted her off the ground, and half carried, half dragged her after Ivy. Round the wall of the bridge, through open fencing and bushes. She felt nettles sting her face as they pulled her roughly along beside the wall, with the sheer rock drop under them on to the tracks below.

  Ivy turned on her. ‘I told you I’d get you. Didn’t I? Well,’ her next words sent shivers through Katie, ‘tonight’s the night.’ She nodded to the other two. ‘Get her up there.’

  ‘Up there’ was a brick wall built to break a fall on to the rocks and tracks below.

  Katie screamed, and knew it was useless. Who would hear her? Who’d take notice of a scream on Hallowe’en?

  Katie was pushed on to the wall. Standing there, looking down – she couldn’t stop herself – she had never been so afraid in her life. She began to sway and tried to step back. Ivy’s hand gripped her calves. ‘No way, hen,’ she said. ‘You take a good look. ’Cause that’s where you’re goin’.’

  Katie gasped. She couldn’t be serious. Even Ivy Toner couldn’t be that bad.

  Ivy began to shake her legs.

  ‘Ivy, don’t!’ This was Lindy. Even she didn’t think Ivy’d go that far. ‘We could get into trouble for this.’

  No worry about Katie’s safety, only their own.

  ‘Aye, let her go,’ Michelle pleaded. But Ivy’s grip remained firm.

  Katie was afraid to breathe, afraid even the slightest movement would send her tumbling on to the rocks below.

  ‘Are ye ready?’ Katie could feel the pressure on her legs. One more push, no matter how gentle, and she’d be over.

  She was going to die. At that moment, she had no doubt of that. She was about to die.

  ‘Aiee!’ The sudden shriek was from Lindy, standing on Ivy’s right. Katie was too afraid to glance round. She could only concentrate on keeping her balance – on not falling.

  ‘Hey, Lindy. Where ur you?’

  There was no answer to Ivy’s question, but her grip remained as firm
as ever.

  ‘Aiee!’ Now it was Michelle’s scream that made Ivy jump. Startling her so much that Katie almost fell. What was happening? She didn’t dare look back to see.

  ‘Michelle?’ Ivy sounded scared. ‘Lindy!’

  But there was no answer. Lindy and Michelle had vanished.

  ‘Who’s there?’ As Ivy turned to confront whoever it was she let go of Katie. Katie didn’t waste a second. She jumped back off the wall, on to safe ground, just glad to be alive, glad to be staying alive. She fell badly. Her ankle exploded with pain and she grasped it and rolled further away from Ivy, out of sight. From the shadows she watched Ivy. She was jumping around, looking left, looking right, her eyes wide and afraid.

  ‘Lindy! Michelle!’

  ‘They can’t help you now.’

  The girl stepped from the darkness. Zan. Her face dirty and her hair matted, but her eyes bright and challenging.

  ‘You again …’ Ivy’s voice trembled. She was afraid. Ivy Toner was afraid! ‘Where are my mates?’

  Zan only smiled. That seemed to scare Ivy even more.

  ‘Let me go.’

  ‘Who’s stopping you?’

  Ivy darted to the left and the right, her nervous eyes never leaving Zan. Suddenly she rushed at her, trying to take her by surprise. Zan sidestepped her neatly, put out her foot, and tripped her over. Ivy crashed to the rocky ground, falling heavily, and Katie heard her howl with pain.

  Zan placed a foot on Ivy’s back.

  ‘Let me up!’ Ivy screamed.

  ‘I’ll let you up … but only if you promise never to touch, go near, or threaten my wee friend again.’

  ‘Let me up!’ Ivy screamed.

  Zan pushed Ivy’s face closer to the ground. ‘What are you not going to do?’ she insisted.

  Katie gasped as she saw Ivy reach out her hand to grab Zan’s ankle. If she did she could topple her. But Zan was too quick. Suddenly, she was sitting astride Ivy’s back, both her wrists clamped in one dirty, strong little hand. With the other she pressed Ivy’s face into the dirt. ‘What are you not going to do?’ she repeated.

  There were almost tears in Ivy’s voice as she answered. ‘I’m … not … goin’ to … touch her … again—’

  ‘Her?’

  ‘Your … friend … Katie—’

  ‘And what else?’

  ‘Or go near her … or threaten her … or anythin’ else. Just let me up!’

  With one bound Zan was on her feet, pulling Ivy up after her. ‘Get goin’, and just remember this. If you don’t keep that promise, I’ll come after you. And you don’t know when I might pop up. So watch it!’

  She threw Ivy away from her.

  Ivy ran, stumbling, falling more than once, pulling herself up the embankment to the road once more. Then she disappeared into the night.

  Katie stood up and winced as she put weight on her ankle.

  Zan turned at the sound. She smiled. ‘You’ll never learn, will you? Letting people like that get the better of you. Ankle sore?’

  ‘Who are you?’ was all Katie could ask.

  Zan shrugged. ‘Nobody. I don’t know. Does it matter?’

  ‘You told her I was your friend.’

  ‘I suppose you are. Never had one before?’

  Katie tried to step towards her and winced again.

  ‘Here, lean on me,’ Zan said, slipping an arm around Katie’s waist and holding the hand that Katie draped around her shoulders.

  ‘I thought I was going to die. I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you.’

  ‘You don’t have to … but do me a favour.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Learn some self-defence, judo or something. Learn to take care of yourself.’

  ‘Where did you learn to fight?’

  Zan laughed. ‘It was either fight back, or don’t survive. I fought back.’

  ‘How did you find me here?’

  ‘You found me. I moved house. Under the bridge. Thought it would be quieter.’

  They climbed back on to the road. There was no sign of Ivy.

  ‘You know, you’ve got to stand up to people like that. Bullies thrive on fear.’

  ‘I don’t suppose you’ve ever been afraid of anyone in your life.’

  She felt Zan tense beside her. ‘I’ve been afraid …’ she said softly.

  When they reached Katie’s house Zan released her. ‘There. You can go in yourself.’

  ‘Aren’t you coming with me? My mum and dad will want to thank you.’

  Zan held back, looking at the house. How inviting it must seem to her, Katie thought. The warm glow of the lamps lighting the windows, the hall lit up and the red carpeted stairs rising to the floor above. There were sounds too, music and laughter. Her parents’ party in full progress. Katie wanted her to come in so much.

  She clasped her hand. ‘Come with me. Stay with me, the night at least. Sleep in a warm bed. You’d love my mum and dad.’

  The light, the smile vanished from her eyes. ‘Never!’ She snapped the words out. ‘I’m safer where I am!’

  And suddenly she was running down the street, away from Katie, away from warmth and security. Running back to her cardboard box.

  Chapter Three

  ‘What do you mean? A girl in a cardboard box?’ Her father had taken out his false fangs, but still managed to look slightly ridiculous with his slicked-back black hair and white face. Katie was finding it very difficult not to giggle. There was a sea of made-up faces listening to her story, and a penguin examining her ankle.

  ‘Honestly, Dad. She does. She lives in a cardboard box. She helped me, the other day … and again tonight.’

  ‘It’s only a bad sprain, I think. Better have it X-rayed anyway to be on the safe side,’ the penguin said seriously.

  ‘Lucky you were at the party, Dr Robb,’ her father said.

  Katie giggled.

  ‘Are you joking about this, Katie?’ her mother warned her. She looked around the room. ‘Girls living in cardboard boxes, here, in this town? I can hardly believe it.’

  ‘It’s true,’ Katie protested.

  ‘You’re always hearing about homeless children,’ her father went on, ‘but you think of them in London, in New York, not in your own home town.’

  A woman dressed as Adolf Hitler patted her head and said gently, ‘The poor little mite, she’s come through such a lot tonight.’

  Katie giggled again, and she could tell by her mother’s narrowed eyes that she was doing her credibility no good at all.

  ‘If you’re lying Katie …’

  ‘Honest, Mum …’

  ‘It’s nerves making her giggle, Katherine,’ the penguin said. ‘She’s had a shock …’

  ‘Maybe we should get the police. Girls doing a thing like that, they deserve to be charged.’

  Katie protested immediately. ‘No, please, Mum. Ivy Toner has had a big enough fright for one night. I don’t think she’ll give me any more trouble.’

  The memory still pleased her. Ivy beaten, Ivy afraid, running.

  ‘What was this girl’s name?’

  Katie almost said Zan – but stopped as she realized how stupid it sounded.

  Her hesitation made her mother even more suspicious.

  ‘I … I don’t know.’

  Her mother bent down beside her. Lovely as usual, especially now, looking exactly like Cleopatra. She blinked startled black eyes at her. ‘You mean this girl helped you, helped you twice and you didn’t even ask her name?’

  ‘She wouldn’t tell me …’ She looked around at all the questioning, wondering faces. ‘She’s been living like that for months, and she’s only my age.’ There was a shocked, communal gasp.

  ‘I’m going to have to do something about this,’ her father said, and Katie knew when she heard that kind of determination in his voice nothing would stop him. He was a well-respected local councillor, who had a reputation for helping the people who most needed help.

  ‘Well, you can do what you want for the home
less, Douglas. But right now, I’m taking my daughter to hospital.’

  ‘I’ll be all right, Mum. I don’t want to spoil your party.’

  Cleopatra kissed her cheek. ‘You could never do that, never. You’re the priority here.’

  Poor Zan, Katie thought, as her mother slid an arm round her tenderly and helped her from the couch. Never to be anyone’s priority. Never to know the security of sleeping safe and warm.

  ‘Are you coming?’ Her mother already had the car keys in her hand.

  ‘Looking like this?’ Her father held out his scarlet-lined cloak and looked even more like Dracula.

  ‘It’s Hallowe’en,’ her mother said, sensibly. ‘You won’t look the least bit unusual.’

  ‘And they took you to hospital dressed up?’

  Her friends, those friends who only last week had refused to speak to her, were now gathered round listening to her story, eager for every detail. News of Ivy’s humiliation had raced round the school, just as news of an under-age girl living rough on the dump had raced round the town. Ivy wasn’t at school. Lindy and Michelle were, but they were only cyphers without their leader.

  ‘Yes …’ Katie giggled at the memory. Her parents had caused quite a stir in casualty, especially as her mother remained in her regal character throughout the visit and almost had the doctors curtseying in front of her. As for her father, he had to suffer the wisecracks from the drunks who were also being treated in casualty.

  ‘In for a wee transfusion, are ye, Drac?’

  ‘Have you come for a takeaway meal, Count?’ Then the drunk indicated his neck. ‘Here, Count, have a drink on me.’

  ‘No, thank you,’ her father had retorted. ‘I think I’d rather have my fangs drilled … without anaesthetic.’

  She loved her parents. They were so funny.

  ‘And is it true, Katie? Did this girl beat Ivy?’

  ‘Yes, this one girl.’ She looked round at them all. At some time each of them had been Ivy’s victim. ‘She says we shouldn’t be afraid of her. Ivy was frightened. Really frightened. I saw her run off, scared stiff. Bullies thrive on the fear we show them. That’s what Zan says.’

  ‘Zan?’

  ‘That’s what I call her.’

  ‘She’s really mysterious, isn’t she?’