Beyond Death (11 page)

As Claire drifted away her wedding fantasy appeared and she smiled. This time Tash was no longer a bridesmaid and had been replaced by Mel. Although Claire had forgiven her, she didn’t want to be reminded of her friend’s deceit on her wedding day. Her half-sister was a vague version of what she imagined her to be, but plumper than the real Mel as Claire remembered immodestly how good she had looked at age fifteen and didn’t want her young sister to upstage her on her special day. The ceremony continued until Claire was too exhausted to think any longer.

Chapter 7

The night before the course was due to start both Val and Marion were happier than they’d been since the accident. A purpose had returned to their lives and they were like twenty somethings at the beginning of a weekend. Marion looked around the room they were sharing.

‘London’s not exactly cheap is it? Wonder how much this hotel costs the charity?’ She had expected more frugal accommodation. They each had a queen size bed and a separate wardrobe. There was one desk and chair and at the other side of the room, and a sofa was positioned against the far wall facing a TV screen. The bathroom contained both a bath and separate shower with toilet and b-day.

Val explained that a rich benefactor had left the hotel to the charity, and that they made money out of it by running it as a going concern.

‘Having the courses outside of the summer tourist season and carrying out the training in the conference facility saves them from paying out money. That’s why we’re with this lot, because they don’t waste much money on administration and stuff.’

‘Fair point,’ Marion was impressed that Val had done her homework. ‘Shall we eat?’ They made their way to the hotel’s restaurant and enjoyed a delicious dinner while discussing the course programme.

They felt refreshed and were raring to go the following morning as they met the other students over coffee in the conference anteroom. In total there were five women and six men who hoped to work for the charity. Most were in their twenties and thirties with the exception of Val and Marion and a married couple who had retired, had travelled large parts of the world, and were now looking for a new adventure and wanted to give something back to society.

A short thirty-something lady hurried into the room. She got their attention without asking.

‘Hi everyone, I’m Gail and I’ll be taking you through the programme this week. Ready to make a start?’

She was one of those people who made everyone feel special and when Marion looked around the room, they were all smiling at Gail. Marion liked her instantly and joined the others as they followed her into the conference room. She couldn’t sit next to Val as the old married couple had already seated themselves either side of her. She gave Val a look and sat directly opposite.

‘Happy where you are?’ asked Gail after looking around and picking up on the body language. Everyone nodded, content, or at least pretending to be.

Gail stood up and put both hands on the table in front of her.

‘As I said, my name’s Gail and I’ll run through the course programme first.’ She explained that the five days would include information on volunteering, their charity, suitability assessments and the final two days when the groups would be split into their own project areas and learn about their particular area or country. They’d re-join for two hours on the Friday afternoon for a post course discussion and review.

‘But first,’ she said. ‘I’m going to tell you a bit about me. I come from a broken home and had a difficult childhood. I’m happy and sorted now but it’s taken a while for me to get to where I am today.’ She sat down and surveyed her class. ‘That’s still hard for me to do but I’ll make it easier for you guys.’ They smiled nervously and Marion figured that they were all in the same boat. ‘I’m going to split you into three threes and one two. Tell the other people or person in your group about yourselves and when you’ve finished your discussions, I want you to tell the whole class about the other people in your group.’

Val was grouped with Mr and Mrs Fox and they kept interrupting each other. They loved to talk and she was quite happy not having to tell her life story, especially the events of the last year. The plan had been for Val and Marion to be together but as they were discovering, events very rarely went to plan.

Marion tried to gain Val’s attention but it didn’t work. At first Marion was happy that Dylan and Joanne, the other two within her group, were getting on so well. It became tedious after a while and Marion totally switched off, but not before she had discovered enough about the youngsters to answer any number of questions. When it came to their group Joanne was able to relay Dylan’s life so far to the rest of the class. Marion did a good job of telling the group all about Joanne but, as she expected, Dylan had a problem telling them anything other than the basics about her. Gail let him squirm for a minute or so then to save him further embarrassment, asked Marion to tell them all about herself. She kept it as brief as possible. As she’d discussed with Val the previous evening, and not wanting pity or sympathy, Marion left out the detail about Claire and her own divorce. Val did the same about Ron and sensed that Gail knew she was holding back. Gail had been a trainer for five years and had met all sorts of people. She knew that not everyone was comfortable sharing the most intimate details of their lives and didn’t push it. All of them had volunteered for the particular projects and would be paid expenses and the food and accommodation provided for them. They were willing to give up their time and as long as they were decent and law abiding people, Gail wasn’t bothered if there were any skeletons in their closets.

The course progressed and the students became closer and enjoyed the usual banter that occurs when a number of people share the same classroom for more than one day. They were split into their project groups on the Thursday. Most lived in the city so they agreed to get together on the Friday for post course discussions and drinks. Val had invited Marion to stay for the weekend and she’d agreed enthusiastically.

Marion already had a buyer for their house in Yorkshire and wanted to find a flat in London. The mortgage payments had been too much and Graham didn’t want to live there or buy her out – according to her solicitor – so she really hadn’t had much choice. She had a few close friends in Yorkshire but no family and really felt the need for a fresh start. She’d told the twins and they were happy she was moving to the city, though sad that the home where they’d grown up with their sister was being sold. She didn’t expect to see much of her sons as she’d already decided that if she enjoyed the volunteer work abroad, she would try to stay in the charity sector and get a paid job.

In the hotel bar they all agreed that it had been an enjoyable and worthwhile course. The Foxes were the only ones going to Zambia with Marion and Val and they all talked enthusiastically about the new project. The remaining seven were off to Vietnam so the groups had plenty to discuss and Gail also joined them for a few drinks before leaving for home.

‘You’ve been a great course,’ she smiled. ‘Have you all enjoyed it?’

‘Bet you say that to everyone.’ Gail gave Dylan a knowing smile and tapped the side of her nose. She said goodbye and after they thanked her there was a lull in the conversation.

‘Anyone fancy painting the town red?’ asked Joanne and the Foxes and Marion declined. Val put her hands out, palms up and shrugged at Marion.

‘Sorry, Val but I think I’m coming down with something and I’ve got stuff to do this weekend too.’

‘Like?’

Everyone waited for the answer but Marion wanted to speak to her sons before sharing the news with Val. Used to keeping her private life to herself she didn’t want her course companions to know her circumstances so was suitably evasive.

‘I’ll let you know later, or maybe tomorrow would be better.’

Val nodded. They would leave the hotel the following morning and travel to her house. Val wondered if she should stay and keep Marion company and she pulled her to one side.

‘Do you want me to stay and we’ll buy some wine and take it to the room?’

Marion knew she was asking purely out of politeness. ‘No really, Val, you go out. I don’t feel like drinking tonight anyway. I’m hoping that if I have an early night I’ll feel better in the morning and this,’ she sniffed, ‘won’t develop into anything worse.’

‘Oh, okay. I hope you feel better soon and I’ll try not to make too much noise when I return.’

Marion said her goodbyes to Val and the youngsters. The Foxes said goodnight and Marion went to her room shortly after.

By the time they were finishing their drinks in the third bar Val knew that trying to keep up with the youngsters had been a mistake. She thought that Carl and Libby drank too much but they were lightweights compared to this lot. She excused herself and told the others she was off back to the hotel. The youngsters said goodnight a little quickly, and Val’s tipsy feeling left her as soon as the shock of the cold night air hit.

She didn’t know this area of London particularly well and soon realized that she was lost.

‘Damn!’ she said out loud.

‘You gotta problem?’ Answered a male voice and Val felt the hairs stand up on the back of her neck.
Shit
she thought, but this time didn’t say anything. She turned around slowly and looked at the three hooded youths. She was in trouble. The street wasn’t well lit and they were the only ones on it. It was a pedestrian only area and Val looked around and knew that the chances of many people walking down this street were few and far between.

*****

Ron assumed that Claire was still resting. He hadn’t seen her for a while and hadn’t heard anything to the contrary from Gabriella. He’d watched the progress of Val’s course on and off during the week and although he was pleased that she seemed a lot happier, was still against her going away to Africa. If he had his way Ron would have enveloped Val in a cocoon of cotton wool, making her safe and comfortable so that nothing would ever hurt her again. He knew that this was impractical and unrealistic but couldn’t help himself. He’d checked on the kids from time to time and was happy with their progress. Although gutted that they’d lost their father they were young and healthy and had found it easier to cope and move on. Carl and Libby also had each other and a good support network of friends that they could rely on. Their mother was looking out for them but Ron noticed that she still seemed to be carrying around some guilt over his death and he couldn’t understand why. This convinced him that she wasn’t ready for the major challenge of working in a foreign country.

With these thoughts in mind Ron hovered just above the pavement and took in the scene of three youths taunting his wife and a fourth, watching and laughing. Ron felt his anger rising and he started shaking. One of the youths brandished a knife and Val started to back off until another moved quickly behind her and the third to the side so that she had no escape route without making contact with one of them. Had Ron looked harder he would have noticed that the fourth youth appeared to be dressed as if from a different era, but he was too intent on the situation with his wife.

‘Hand over your bag and I might not hurt you.’

Val’s eyes moved from side to side, looking at the youths and trying to figure out an escape route. She knew she had no chance and was terrified. She also realized that she was absolutely furious. Sensing that the boys would attack whether or not she complied, Val carefully lifted her bag strap over her head. Her pulse was racing as if her heart would explode from her body at any second, and she acted as if she was going to hand the bag over. Val’s world went into slow motion as she swung her bag back behind her and then forward, hitting the knifed youth on the arm that held the weapon, and knocking it out of his hand. It took a moment for the gang to react - they hadn’t expected this from the scared looking middle-aged woman. Val took advantage and took off as if being chased by all hell’s demons.

The fourth youth had watched the scene unfold and as Val ran off he threw a dustbin lid directly into her path. Ron was amazed that even in her panicked state, Val hadn’t seen him do this. She tripped and fell heavily into the gutter and Ron summoned all his strength and approached the youth, hoping that he had the power to move or throw an object to frighten or even hurt him. He didn’t expect to be seen and was taken aback when the youth turned and gave him a wicked smile, before running at him full pelt. The momentum of the impact threw Ron to the ground and he felt himself being punched and kicked as if he had a proper human form, and feeling pain from each strike. The youth had the advantage of surprise and Ron’s pathetic attempts to return the teenager’s punches received derisive laughter and taunts. He tried his utmost to stand and push him away so he could see what was happening to Val, but became weaker with every blow. Although he struggled to the last Ron eventually passed out, the boy still taunting him until he could hear no more.

Val’s thoughts came flooding in as she tried to make sense of what was happening. Even in her frightened and disturbed state she knew that the dustbin lid had flown through the air unaided, without the assistance of a gust of wind or anything else for that matter. Seeing the hooded youths walking purposely toward her, Val attempted to get up. She winced when she tried to put weight on her foot and knew that put paid to any further attempt at escape. She closed her eyes for a second, trying to prepare herself for the inevitable pain that was to follow.

Val tried her hardest not to shake and act cowardly. She didn’t want the violent bullies to win even though she was terrified. Pressing her hands onto the pavement to support her, she slowly stood up and relieved the pressure on her ankle by standing fully on one leg, only the toes of the other foot contacting the pavement. Although her tormentors were amazed at the dustbin lid that had caused Val’s fall, the only thing they cared about was that their victim hadn’t escaped. The youth with the knife looked at her foot and then at his accomplices to ensure that they were watching. Sadistically and violently he kicked without warning and she screamed in agony and fell to the pavement again trying to relieve the pressure on her foot to alleviate the pain. All the time she had held onto her bag, but not for much longer. She felt the knife cut the strap and the blade contacted her waist and the side of her forearm that was trying to protect her possessions. One of the other youths was given the bag and he emptied the contents out onto the street, taking her purse and mobile phone and leaving the other items scattered along the pavement.