Seeker....Chapter 2

Hello guys...
Below is the second chapter of my 'Seeker' book (the one about Lauren, not Rachel). I hope you like it.

beasle95

Chapter 2

I barely slept at all that night, I just couldn’t switch off. My mind kept whirling in circles over what had happened, and what I had to do.

As soon as it was a reasonable time to get up I ran downstairs and ate my breakfast at top speed, and then upstairs to get ready. I jumped in the shower, needing to be quick, but the hot water soothed out all the knots in my back and helped me relax.

Unfortunately it ran out quickly and when I got out I was rushing again. I pulled on a t-shirt and combats and ran into my room again. I towelled my hair, but couldn’t be bothered to dry it properly so I dragged it back into a ponytail. Shoving my purse and keys and my phone into my backpack I ran down the stairs, two at a time. As I was pulling on my shoes, my mum walked into the room, still bleary eyed with sleep.

“What’s the hurry?” she asked, yawning. I cursed inwardly. I didn’t have time and had no idea how to explain. What could I say? That some crazy and potentially dangerous boy had called me last night and wanted me to pick some fairy tale book?

“Erm, I need to pop round to Emma’s to pick up some text books. She texted me this morning about some homework I didn’t know we had.” It wasn’t very convincing but it was all I could think of.

“But why are you going so early? It’s just gone eight,” Mum asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

“Well, it’s a big history essay, and may take a while and I want to get it done before this afternoon.” Mum sighed and waved her arm dismissively.

“Fine,” she said as she turned round. “But don’t be long.” I didn’t intend to be.
I ran out of the house down to the bus stop just as a bus pulled in. I waved, and sighed, relieved when he door opened. I handed the driver my fare and asked if he could call my stop. He nodded, bored.

I sank down into one of the seats and rested my head against the window. What was I going to do when I found the journal? What if there was no journal and this was some kind of sick joke? But I knew deep down that it wasn’t a joke. The boy had been serious. I thought again how he’d said his dad had given him my mobile number to call in an emergency. If he thought he was going to die. I shuddered. Why would anyone want to kill a teenage boy? He said that if he told me this ‘secret’ then they would want to kill me too.

I was broken out of my thoughts when the bus driver called me for my stop. I got off the bus in a daze, and tried to work out where I was going. I mustn’t get lost, I told myself. I was hopeless with directions and was well known for going in the wrong way. I glanced up the road and saw that it led into the town centre. I supposed this was my best hope, and after a few minutes, saw to my relief the coffee shop the boy had told me about. Keeping my head down I walked up the road. I didn’t need to hide my face, but I had a bad feeling that something was going to happen, and didn’t want to recognised later.

I opened the door of the shop and sat in a booth in the far corner to wait. I didn’t have to wait long.

“Lauren Hayden?” a soft voice murmured my name. I jumped and looked up at the source. A teenage boy stood before me, about sixteen. His hair framed his face, falling down around his eyes. His olive skin was clear and the lines on his face were strong. He had a hood pulled up over his head and scruffy trainers and jeans on. He didn’t meet my eyes.

“Yeah, are you...Ben?” I asked, feeling stupid.

He chuckled once under his breath. “Yes,” he said and sat down opposite me.
“I’m sorry for what happened last night – and I’m sorry for what I’m about to drag you into.” He glanced down at his hands, still not meeting my gaze. He rubbed his arm slightly and winced.

“What’s wrong?” I said. I now noticed that he had a pale parlour to his skin and was obviously in pain. “Was it what happened last night?”

“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “It’ll all be over soon.” I started, confused at the certainty in his statement. It left me worried. Did he really think he was going to die soon?

“Anyway,” he said, slipping a backpack off his shoulder. “I wanted to give you these.” He pulled out a leather bound journal and small leather pouch, pulling a necklace from it.

“This,” he said “is an amulet. It explains about them in the journal, but I’ll tell you a bit about them. Inside is a powerful force. You can get it out when you are in trouble and it will help protect you. You must wear it so it can help you out.” I sighed, frustrated. Why wouldn’t he tell me exactly what these things did and give me a straight answer for anything? “And this is the journal you will find your answers in,” he said, handing me the journal. I tried to open it, but he placed his hand on mine, forcing me to close the book.

“Don’t you trust me?” I asked. He glanced up and stared me straight in the eye. Time froze for a few seconds. His eyes were so deep and mysterious, I got lost in them. They had seen much more than a normal teenage boy would have done. So many emotions flickered through them; amusement, anger but mostly fear. Fear was so intense that I gasped silently. I never knew such terror could be in a boy’s face – in any face. The determined eyes stared back then softened.

“I do trust you,” he murmured, his voice low and intense. “I trust you with everything I have. That’s why I’m giving it to you. But there are people around who I don’t trust and I can’t risk overhearing.” I looked away, embarrassed. “I can’t let anyone else hear in case they report back to the organisation that wants to get rid of me. I can’t risk that happen Lauren, please trust me.”

“I do,” I said, and I meant it. Even though I’d only spoken over the phone with him for a few minutes and this was the first time I’d met him, I trusted him completely. It should be wrong, but it felt so right.

“Keep them safe. There are not many people out there you can trust, Lauren. There are people who may seem to be your friends, but not everyone is as they seem. They can hide behind secrets and lies and try to betray you. But you have to stay strong, and keep what I tell you safe.” He paused and looked me in the eye again. “Come on, we need to get out of here.” I dropped the journal into my bag and tied the amulet around my neck and followed him out the shop. We started to walk down the road when suddenly two men jumped out and dragged him into an ally.

“Gotcha!” one muttered triumphantly and grabbed the boy from behind. Ben lashed out at him but the man dodged and held him tight. Ben kicked him in the groin and the man fell to the ground, cursing. His friend ran and lashed out at Ben, his fist connecting with the boy’s jaw. Ben grunted and dropped to the ground, dazed. The men jumped on him in a second, pinning him down. One pulled out a radio and spoke quickly into it.

“Sir, we’ve got the boy cornered. Should we kill him now or bring him to you?” I was terrified; I couldn’t just stand there and let him be killed.

“No!” I screamed and threw myself on top of one of the men. “If you do, you have to get through me first!” I punched the man in the jaw, and he grunted, surprised. He lashed out and tried to hit me, but I ducked and kicked him in the shin. He shoved his arm out and hit me in the chest; throwing me against the back wall. I sat up, dazed. A crackled response came through the radio and the man brought out a gun. I stood up, about to throw myself at the man again.

“No!” Ben yelled. “No, Lauren! Get away! Get away and keep it safe! Don’t let them get to you!” I stared at him wildly, tears springing into my eyes. I was helpless. I couldn’t let him be killed, but I had to get away so the men wouldn’t get the journal or the amulet. I went to pull it out from around my neck, but Ben yelled at me.

“No! Lauren run! Get away from here!” he screamed at me and stared deep into my eyes again. Hot, angry tears rolled down my cheeks and a silent understanding passed between us. Thank you, GO! He mouthed, so I turned and backed slowly out of the alley and ran. I ran as fast as I could, away from the alley, away from the men. Away from Ben.

A single shot rang out from behind me but the silence that followed seemed so much louder.