Echoes in the Woods by Georgina Scott (ebook reader web txt) 📕

The bell rang at precisely 3:15 pm, Ella went straight home and Jake went to his locker, changed his clothing to his tracksuit and placed his school clothing in his rucksack then left the building by the back door.

He ran at a steady pace across the playing field. “There he is, get him,” said the six. Jake got to the perimeter fence and hauled himself over it, looking back through the fence seeing the six running towards him, catching his breath, he smiled and chuckled to himself. Waiting for them to get closer before he headed into the woods, so they knew where he is heading and can follow.

“I think that’s close enough,” he said to himself and started running again, keeping a comfortable distance. Running into the woods, he climbed the tree he had already chosen, lots of foliage and cover, enough not to be seen. He put on his gloves and balaclava, leaving his rucksack on a branch up the tree. There were four dirt paths he could see going in different directions. He could hear the group fast approaching. Once entering the woods, they stopped to catch their breaths. “He could be anywhere,” said Heather.

“Right, let’s split, four paths, choose one. When you catch him, shout,” said Kevin.

Kevin and Wilf chose to go alone whilst the rest paired off, Justin and Heather together and Natasha and George together. Jake made a mental note of who went where. He decided to take out Justin and Heather first as they were the weakest link out of the gang.

Climbing down from the tree he took the direction of Justin and Heather; it wasn’t long until he stumbled across them as they were sitting on a fallen tree looking bored. Jake saw a branch on the floor and walked forward so it snapped and made a cracking noise. Both Justin and Heather looked up and in the direction of the noise and they saw Jake; they jumped down from the tree and chased him.

Jake ran in the direction of his markers and past them. Heather was faster than Justin, and it wasn’t long until they were separated. Heather left Justin behind but was close enough for Justin to see which direction they were heading in. Jake lured Heather in the direction of her tree. He stopped and hid behind the nearest tree and saw her run past him.

He picked up a stone then whistled; she stopped and turned, looking around, but didn’t see anything. Jake whistled again and let himself be seen by Heather. Stepping quickly towards her, his arm reaching back, he threw the stone hitting her on the side of her head which unbalanced her, throwing her to the ground. Jake quickly grabbed her and dragged her by her hair into the bushes, covering her mouth. He could hear Justin heavily breathing, calling out for Heather.

Heather drowsy, dizzy and disorientated, felt all her strength and energy was being drained from her body. She felt blood running down her temple. Jake still had his hand covering her mouth. He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and gagged her. She started crying, “Oh ‘boohoo’ you fucking bitch. Now move, through there,” said Jake. Doing as he said, she moved. They walked one hundred and fifty metres through undergrowth.

They reached her tree; he pushed her up against the trunk and punched her in the stomach, doubling her up. She tried to cry out. Jake quickly dug up his tools, taping her hands around her back and then taping her ankles together. Jake then tied Heather to the tree with the rope and tied a binding knot. Jake then picked up the bungee, swinging it and struck her with the hooked end. Her screams were muffled. Jake smiled knowing she was in pain and it pleased him.

The more he struck her with the bungee, the more powerful he felt. He could hear her muffled pleas but he wasn’t ready to show any mercy, not for any of them. He discarded the bungee and picked up the knife. He thrust the knife into her ribs and twisted, puncturing her lung. He could hear the air escaping from the hole. Watching her gasp for air, with tears running down her cheeks, he could see her starting to lose consciousness.

***

Justin was lost. He felt like he was going round in circles and Heather was nowhere to be seen. He called her constantly but there was no reply. The woods scared him, every noise made him jump. Jake was watching him from five meters away and couldn’t help himself from treading on branches that cracked under his weight, just to see Justin jump out of his skin.

As light as he could, trying not to make a sound, Jake took a run towards Justin. As he approached the back of him, Jake lifted the stick and smashed it around his head. Justin fell to the ground sideways, screaming, just like a baby wailing. To shut him up he pulled out his large handkerchief, the same one he had used on Heather, and stuffed it into Justin’s mouth, muffling his cries. Jake then tied Justin’s hands behind his back and told him to get on his feet, walking through the undergrowth towards the tree Jake had picked for Justin.

Jake pushed Justin up against the tree. Justin pleaded with Jake to let him go and he wouldn’t tell anyone. Jake punched Justin in his balls. In a matter of seconds, Justin was overcome by a crippling nausea; his knees met his chest with tears streaming down his face. Jake tied Justin to the tree, taping his ankles together, preventing Justin from kicking out.

Justin was unable to breathe with the handkerchief still stuffed in his mouth and with the punch in the bollocks, he sucked the handkerchief deeper down into his throat. He started to shake uncontrollably, his body thrashed about with sudden jerks like