Held

Stepping through the doorway after the door had opened with an audible hiss, I was stunned to find Kate running towards me, screaming "Noooooooo!"

As she ran past me, I realised she hadn't been heading for me at all, but was trying to reach the door ... which had now closed with a soft and final-sounding clunk.

The reason became clear very quickly: there was no handle on this side.

Instead, there was an electronic keypad, which appeared to be the only way of opening the door.

Kate thumped the door with the heel of her palm, her shoulders dropping. Without turning to face me, she said, "you stupid ... I mean, what were you...?" before she continued in an overly-calm, keep-a-lid-on-it voice: "did you not think at all? Did you not realise there might just be a reason I couldn't get out? Hmm?"

She finally turned to look at me. In addition to the obvious frustration and annoyance in her expression, I thought I could see an element of relief at seeing a friendly face again.

"Look," I said, "I'm really sorry. I've been through an awful lot lately, and, well - I just wasn't really thinking, OK?"

"You've been through a lot?" she spat back. "Hah! Actually, yeah - fair enough, you probably have been through a lot. But it's not been a picnic for me, either."

I nodded. I could see she'd been crying, and she looked as if she hadn't slept much - if at all.

"Have you seen Jen, Kate?" I asked.

She shook her head. "No, but I was sure they'd use her to get to you. They've got her here, have they? Mr Smith said..." her voice tailed off, and she ran her hands over her face, a gesture like washing, as if she was trying to wipe away a memory.

I didn't know what to say - though when she caught my eye again and shook her head sadly, there was nothing I needed to say. The hows and whys would wait for another time and place. Mr Smith was no more, it seemed.

"Kate," I said. "I need you to come here and hold me."

She looked at me in surprise, raising her eyebrows and barely suppressing a giggle. "Why Mr Mackie," she said. "This is so sudden!"

"Stop pissing about, and get over here," I replied. She just stood there, puzzled.

"Sorry," I said, walking to her, my arms spread wide. I put my arms around her; she was rigid and unyielding for a moment, and then hugged me back. Hoping I wasn't just going to look stupid, I closed my eyes and willed us away from that place with every ounce of energy in my body.



Story begins here.