Scream, You Die (3 page)

Grazyna Sabalis awoke to the sound of music. Pop music. Muted. Distant. She could recognise the tune but didn’t know the words. For a few seconds she lay there, staring up at the ceiling, letting the song wash around inside her head, then roamed her eyes around the room taking in her new surroundings; she’d been too tired last night. In fact, spotting her battered nylon suitcase propped against a wardrobe she realised that such had been her lethargy that she hadn’t even had the energy to unpack. She mentally pictured the few possessions that were inside the case and hoped that new clothes came with the new job.

Grazyna continued surveying the bedroom. The limp curtains were translucent, allowing through a great deal of light, letting her see most of the room. There wasn’t much in it: the single bed she lay in, a battered bedside cabinet, dressing table and wardrobe, a yellowing landscape print on the wall opposite, but at least the carpet was fitted, and it was much warmer than the room she shared with her two sisters and three brothers back home. The thought of her family instigated a slideshow of memories to run inside her head, provoking a sudden tinge of sadness. Nevertheless, she couldn’t help but allow herself a little smile; if this was the luxury she was to experience, things already looked positive and it jolted her into reminding herself the reason why she was here, in England: not only to make a good life for herself but to be in a position to provide for her loving family back in her village.

For that she was grateful to Andrius. She wouldn’t be here had it not been for a chance encounter with him and Henrikas.

****

Two months ago, she and her friend Kofryna had bumped into the two good-looking young men from the next village while out shopping in Alytus, the main town in Dzukija region of Lituania. Andrius and Henrikas had quickly made an impression and followed them around for the best part of an hour, charming them into going for coffee. It had not been difficult saying yes, especially when they had offered to pay, and she and Kofryna had spent two hours in their company being captivated by their stories of travel through Europe, especially of how they had found work in London, England, and made themselves a small fortune. They had been so enthralled by the pair that they had missed the last bus home, throwing them into a panic. Andrius had been so kind and offered to give them a lift home in his Mercedes. She had returned to her remote farming village feeling like a princess. It had been such a special moment, and before he had driven away he had given her his mobile number and told her to give him a ring. That night, as she lay in her shared bed, listening to the soft snores of her brothers and sisters beside her, she toyed with the piece of paper Andrius had written his phone number on and replayed the stories that he and his friend Henrikas had regaled them with. She had been unable to shake his vision from her head and became overwhelmed by a sensation she had never felt before. Her stomach had turned-turtle so many times that night and she ached to see him again. Not only was he handsome, but far more wealthy than any other person she knew, and his lifestyle had sounded so idyllic in comparison to the future she had before her. After a restless night she met up with Kofryna and while toiling in the fields talked of nothing else but their meeting with Andrius and Henrikas. She hadn’t been alone in her feelings. Kofryna was also smitten with Henrikas, and so after finishing work that day she made the call and arranged to meet up with them again.

****

The following Saturday, Grazyna took her time getting ready, bathing herself for longer and sneaking away a little of her mother’s “special” perfume before donning her best cotton dress. She was embarrassed about her scuffed shoes but she couldn’t do anything about them – they were the only “best” pair she had. She rubbed them against the back of her calves, trying to put a shine onto the toes, hoping that Andrius wouldn’t notice them.

She met Kofryna on the edge of the village, looked her up and down and told her how good she looked, especially how much she liked her cardigan. Kofryna repaid the compliment about her dress, and with big smiles the pair linked arms and excitedly skipped their way along the dirt track the half mile to the metalled road where the bus stopped.

As usual it was late and overcrowded, and they had to squash themselves into the aisle and remain standing throughout the three-quarters-of-an-hour journey into Alytus.

Despite being stiff, hot and flustered, as Grazyna alighted from the ageing ramshackle bus in the main terminus of Alytus she told herself it was all worth it as she caught sight of the bustle of people all heading towards the stores.

She and Kofryna joined the throng of shoppers and found their way to the coffee shop they had previously visited. They peeked inside but there was no sign of Andrius or Henrikas so they hung around, eyeing the shoppers and chatting together. It was good ten minutes before their young men turned up.

As Andrius and Henrikas ambled towards them, hands in pockets, Grazyna couldn’t help but notice how Andrius appeared even more handsome than before. He was wearing a polo shirt and jeans and his short dark curly hair glistened. He was unshaven but the couple of day’s stubble made him look sexy. Her stomach fluttered as if a thousand butterflies were taking flight inside.

He greeted her with a big smile, displaying a mouthful of pearly white teeth, and pulled her towards him and kissed her on the mouth. Her first kiss. It wasn’t a lingering kiss, but it was longer than a peck and it felt as if a charge of electricity was running through her.

She watched as Henrikas did the same with Kofryna and as they parted she caught her friend’s gaze. Her grey eyes were sparkling and a huge grin stretched across her face. Grazyna knew from that look she was experiencing similar feelings.

“Coffee, ladies?” Andrius said, opening the café door for them.

They took up a table towards the back of the shop and Andrius ordered four coffees and two pieces of cake. In between mouthfuls they chatted and laughed; Andrius was especially funny. Grazyna couldn’t believe her luck. She had to pinch herself as she stared into his warm brown eyes.

As they finished their coffees Andrius said, “What do you fancy doing now? Doing some shopping?”

Grazyna looked across at her friend. Kofryna displayed an uncertain look.

As if picking up on her trepidation Andrius added, “Our treat.”

With that Andrius paid the bill and led them outside. Hooking an arm across Grazyna’s shoulders he hugged her close and kissed her cheek. “Let’s shop till we drop,” he said softly into her ear.

They visited several department stores, many of which she and Kofryna had only ever browsed in. But now, thanks to the young men’s generosity, they were here as shoppers.

In the ladies department they separated as couples, and Grazyna, with encouragement from Andrius, scoured the dress rails. For the best part of twenty minutes she looked at a number of different styles and then finally Andrius selected a short black figure-hugging dress with an expensive label. She was unsure at first when she saw the price, but he shrugged his shoulders and told her to try it on.

It fitted perfectly. She looked at herself in the mirror from various angles before finding the courage to leave the changing room and show Andrius.

She was so glad when she saw his face light up.

Crooking his arm he formed an “O” with his finger and thumb. “You look beautiful,” he said.“ It makes you look like a young woman.”

Hearing those words made her feel as if she was walking on air – only her parents had told her that before.

As Andrius paid for the dress Grazyna couldn’t help but notice the large bundle of money he had pulled out of his jeans pocket. She had never seen anyone with so much money.

The shopping didn’t end there. He also bought her lipstick, eye shadow and eyeliner – her first make-up. And he made her blush when he suggested she needed some new shoes. But the embarrassment hadn’t lasted long as she tried on half a dozen pairs before finally settling on a pair of black court shoes.

An hour later she and Andrius met back up with her friend and Henrikas, and laden with carrier bags they made their way back to the coffee shop, where they drank and chatted some more before Andrius and Henrikas walked them back to the bus station. Here, once again Grazyna received a gentle kiss from Andrius as they said their goodbyes.

That evening, as Grazyna and Kofryna travelled home together on the bus, showing each other glimpses of their gifts, they found themselves competing for airspace as they exalted about their new-found boyfriends.

Grazyna and Kofryna spent many more shopping days with Andrius and Henrikas.

With each meeting Grazyna’s kissing with Andrius had become longer and more tender, but she hadn’t gone all the way with him. She had told him she was a virgin and he hadn’t pushed her. He had been a proper gentleman.

Three weeks ago Andrius had dropped the bombshell. He told her he had work to return to in England and didn’t know when he would be able to come back home. She had tried hard not to cry but found herself unable to hold back the tears. For the best of five minutes she had sobbed while Andrius held her gently in his arms. After she had stopped shaking Andrius had dried away her tears, and then taken her by surprise by asking if she would like to travel with him to England and work there herself. He told her that he had contacts and finding work wouldn’t be a problem. She had never even contemplated leaving her village, never mind Lithuania . She told him of her trepidation and he put her mind at ease by telling her he would speak with her parents. If they agreed then he would make all their travel plans. When she had broken her exciting news to Kofryna, she learned that Henrikas had made the same proposition to her. Within days Andrius and Henrikas had approached and spoken with their respective parents and been granted permission to escort their daughters to England on the understanding that the two girls would have regular phone contact.

Since then, talk of their new life had dominated every waking moment together and it had been the talk of the village. They had found it so difficult to concentrate on their labouring of the fields, and each day she and Kofryna had ticked it off as another last day of drudgery.

Two weeks ago she and Kofryna had spent the best part of a day travelling to and from Vilnius to arrange their passports and book their flights to England. It was her first visit to the capital and although exhausting it had been so exciting. It was a place she had only ever previously seen on TV, and she had trawled the streets looking in wonder at the architecture and how much traffic occupied the streets and how many people there were. Andrius had told her that this was nothing – London was even busier. As she jostled her way through the crowds she couldn’t imagine anything being busier than this.

She had glanced sideways at her best friend Kofryna, arm in arm with Henrikas, and meeting her gaze exchanged a happy smile.

And then yesterday the day she and Kofryna had waited so long for had finally come. They had set off mid-morning to drive the few hours to Vilnius, breaking their journey on the outskirts of the city, where they stopped off at a large old house and were introduced to Andrius’s cousin Morta. She had cooked them cepelinai, and served up the potato dumplings with pork and mushrooms, and as they ate hungrily she shared with them that she had worked many years in England, earning the money to buy the house she now lived in. During the meal Grazyna swapped looks so many times with Kofryna, seeing in her glistening eyes that she was as excited as herself about the future.

Then it had been on to the airport, and despite a two-hour delay, her time with Andrius had been magical. They had talked endlessly about what she could expect life to be like in England and he had treated her and Kofryna to their first alcoholic drink – a glass of wine each. Grazyna had boarded the plane in high spirits.

The only dampener to this wonderful experience had occurred upon their arrival at Heathrow Airport. Andrius had told her he had to make a phone call and following a short conversation ushered them through to a coffee lounge where he introduced them to a shaven-headed man called Skender, telling them he was his Albanian contact for work. He had arranged for Skender to put up her and Kofryna in his home for a short time while a job was sorted out. Andrius said that he and Henrikas had to go straight on to the hotel where they both worked to begin their shift and that they would see them again in two days. He had kissed Grazyna gently on the cheek, given her a reassuring hug and whispered in her ear not to worry – everything would be fine.

Being left with Skender was not what she had expected.

Under normal circumstances the shaven head, striking blue eyes and strong jaw with dimpled chin – handsome characteristics – should have made her feel at ease, but his muscular build and the disfiguring scar that travelled across the bridge of his nose onto his right cheek gave him a menacing appearance and made her nervous and uncomfortable.

Nevertheless, she had tried to come to terms with it as she and Kofryna had loaded their bags into the boot of his four-by-four and journeyed to the house where they were now staying.

Where that was, Grazyna had no idea. She only knew that it was somewhere outside of London, because she had followed the signs.

****

As Grazyna pushed herself further up the bed she spied the chair she had jammed beneath the handle of the door, provoking thoughts from last night.

They had pulled up outside this large two-storey house shortly after ten p.m. – she had noted the time on the dash of Skender’s four-by-four. Getting out of the car, she had noticed the lights were on in most of the rooms facing her, and once inside, in the brief spell she stood in the hallway, she heard lots of different voices and noises around the house. In one of the rooms above she had heard shouting and it made her nervous to the point of being scared. She had moved closer to Kofryna for support.

Skender had said nothing. With their bags in his hands he had nodded for them to follow him up the flight of stairs. Stopping on the landing of the first floor he had handed over Kofryna’s suitcase and directed her into a room, where, as soon as she had gone inside, he had closed the door behind her, preventing them from bidding one another goodnight. Then she had been guided up a further flight of stairs to the top floor of the house and been shown into this room.

Before he closed her door she had nervously told Skender she needed the bathroom. With a grumpy sigh he had shown her along to the end of the corridor. There she had swiftly locked the door, used the toilet and then cleansed and refreshed herself by washing her hands and face. When she had come out Skender was waiting for her. Not just waiting, but standing in the middle of the landing, partially blocking her way back to the room. She had approached him cautiously but he did not budge and she had been forced to brush past him. She had felt his hot breath on her neck as she squeezed by and it caused her heart to race and her stomach to churn. Upon the bedroom door being fastened she had spotted the dressing table chair and secured it beneath the door handle.

Undressing in the dark, she had climbed into bed knowing she didn’t want to stay here more than a minute longer than she had to. As soon as she saw Andrius again she would tell him she wanted to leave.

As she contemplated what the day ahead held she caught the sound of distant footfall. Someone was coming up the stairs. She hoped it wasn’t Skender.