The Forum by Marie Reyes (short books for teens .txt) 📕

into the fresh air to join the rest of the crowd that had spilled out onto the street. Everyone was talking over each other as Aadesh scanned the sea of bobbing heads. Steve emerged from the crowd and walked towards him.

"Mate, that was fucked up."

Mike started talking in a raised voice, informing everyone that there had been a bomb threat called in, and that they should go home. There was no way that the evening would carry on as normal. After he had addressed the crowd, he called the police, pacing the street.

"Steve, have you seen Nadia?"

"I don't know. I wasn't keeping an eye out for her. Let's go have a look. It's a shame you didn't get to do your thing."

"It's for the best, I think. My performance didn't start well. I knew I was going to bomb; I could just tell."

Steve cracked up, doubling over with laughter.

"What's so funny?" Aadesh tried to convey his annoyance and bemusement in a carefully orchestrated glare.

"You were going to bomb."

"Oh shit. Did I say that? I didn't even think." Then he saw her. "Nadia," he called, his voice cutting through the air. She ran in his direction.

"Babe. You okay? That was scary."

"I know. Most bomb threats are hoaxes though, so it's probably okay."

"These days you never know. You can never be too careful." She put her arms around him and gave him a squeeze tight enough to leave him breathless. He waited for Mike to finish his telephone conversation. "What did they say?"

"They are going to check the place out."

"Do you know who called in the threat?"

"No idea. Probably just a stupid prank. I feel bad for the owner. He's going to be down a lot of money."

"Do you want us to wait with you?"

"'Sup to you mate. I'm fine."

"Then that's settled. Addy, we're going home." Nadia linked arms with him, pulling him in the direction of the taxi-rank. He didn't want to leave Mike to deal with all of it on his own, but he didn't have the energy to convince Nadia to stay.

"We going back to yours then?" Steve asked.

"Sure. It's going to be hell getting a taxi with everyone leaving at the same time."

Nadia pulled her phone out. "I'll call my sister. She will give us a lift, considering the circumstances."

~~~

Nadia's head rested on Aadesh's lap as she slept and he scrolled through his phone while Steve tucked into a kebab, getting mayonnaise down his chin and carrying on eating, regardless. The odor of garlic and chilli sauce permeated every inch of the room, working its way into the fabric of the sofa and the carpet.

"You know it is possible to close your mouth while eating."

"Get over it. We're all just animals."

"Some more than others."

"Ooooo," he mocked in a high-pitched tone. “Is it your time of the month?”

"Sorry, it's just been... a lot."

"A bit of excitement."

Aadesh ignored him and continued scrolling through his phone and ending up on the forum. A new message was there waiting for him. He straightened up, almost waking Nadia up as he saw who posted the update.

Not.all.heroes.wear.capes: Hope you had a good show tonight Shortstacks. Sorry, I mean, Aadesh.

The blood felt as if it had frozen right in his veins as a chill ran through his very core. "Crap. Oh crap." He couldn't control the words from bursting out of him. This was bad, very bad.

"What's up?" Steve asked in-between fries.

"This is bad."

"What?"

"I have to phone Mike." He picked up his phone from between the sofa cushions and unlocked it with trembling fingers. He found Mike in his contacts and pressed dial, but was met with the drone of the engaged tone. "Shit."

"Seriously. What's going on?" Steve had put down his take-away carton, his curiosity piqued.

"The bomb threat. I know who it was."

"What? Who?"

"That person we've been following. You know, that killer that posted the video." He felt dizzy, like he’d had a lot more to drink than just his vodka and coke.

"No. Don't be stupid. You're just paranoid. How do you know?"

"He messaged the board for the group that I'm in, to try to find him. He knows my name. He asked how my gig went. I never gave anyone my name."

Steve's demeanor changed in a split second, and he leaned back in the armchair. "Come on. He could have found out that stuff easily. Besides, he only asked how your gig went. Did he actually say anything about a bomb? Besides, didn't you say this guy lived in America, it's probably just a troll trying to freak you out," he said dismissively.

"It's him. I know it. I just do."

"What's going on?" Nadia stirred and looked up at him with her make-up smeared face.

"Aadesh thinks he's being stalked by that internet killer." Steve laughed.

"Shut up," Aadesh snapped.

Nadia sat upright, with that serious, you're in deep shit look on her face, which was probably even scarier than being stalked by a murderer. "You said you weren't going to go on that site again. I can't believe you lied to me. Again!" Her face screwed up.

"Let me explain."

"Don't bother. I told you it was dangerous, but you didn't care. I was at the club, because of you, and I could have died because of you."

"Don't be so dramatic." Steve laughed again and threw a chip at her.

"You know what? Screw you. Screw you both. I'm getting out of here." She stood up and marched to the door.

"Wait, you can't just leave. At least let me order you a taxi. We can talk about this when you've calmed down."

"Calmed down." She snorted. Telling someone to calm down. He knew that was the last thing to say, yet the words came out anyway.