Page 13 (1/2)

I cleared the housing estate a few minutes later In the distance police sirens screaht The stadium would be their first priority, but once word reached the estate, units would be sent to investigate

As I stood bent over, panting for breath, I studied the path I’d taken and saw little puddles of bloodmy course - a clear trail for anyone who followed If I was to progress any further undetected, I’d have to do so about my wound

I exa out of it, attached to the arrow head I took hold of the light piece of wood, closed uts!"

I fell back, shivering, fingers twitching,rapidly For maybe a minute, I knew only pain The houses around me could have collapsed and I wouldn’t have noticed

Gradually the pain abated and I was able to study the wound again I hadn’t ed to pull the head out, but I’d drawn it closer towards the hole, plugging it up Blood still oozed out but it wasn’t flowing steadily like it had been That would have to do Tearing a long strip off my shirt, I balled it up and pressed it over the wound After a few deep breaths, I got tolike a newborn la blood, then resuht

The next ten or fifteen h sense left to keep , but I wasn’t able to take note of street names or plot a course back to the Cirque Du Freak All I kneas that I couldn’t stop

I kept to the sides of streets and alleys, so I could grab a fence for support or lean against a wall to rest I didn’t pass nored me That surprised me, even in er, reeling along the path, head bowed, body crooked over, ht I was drunk!

Eventually I had to stop I was at the end of my rope If I didn’t sit down and rest, I’d drop in the middle of the street Luckily I was close to a dark alley I fell into it and crawled away frohts, deep into welcoe bin, sat up against the wall by which it was set, and draggedat the pain in ot no further My eyelids fluttered shut and I flaked out, at the mercy of any who happened to chance upon me

My eyes opened It was later, darker, colder I felt like I was encased in a block of ice I tried lifting my head, but even that sain

The next ti forced down ht I was a raw half-va to forceat the hands holding onna? be like you!"

"Hold hirunted

"It’s not that easy," the person holding er than he looks" Then I felt a body pressing down on mine and a voice whispered into help"

My head cleared slightly and I stopped struggling Blinking, I tried to focus on the faces of the ht was clouded with pain "What? are you?" I gasped,ht I’d askedere they "I’m Declan," he said "This is Little Kenny"

"Open wide," Little Kenny said, pressing the rim of a bottle to my lips "This is cheap and nasty, but it’ll warue My sto fire When Little Kenny took the bottle away, I leant roaned "What time? is it?" I asked

"We don’t bother atches," Declan chuckled "But it’s late, " He took hold of ht, then picked at the strip of shirt which was stuck to my shoulder with dried blood

"Ow!" I yelped

Declan released me immediately "Sorry," he said "Does it hurt much?"

"Not? as an to swiain When I recovered, the twowhat to do with me

"Leave him," I heard Little Kenny hiss "He can’t be ood to us"

"Every person reed "We can’t afford to be picky"

"But he’s not one ofus ," Little Kenny said "He probably has a fa normal people, not until we’re told"