Promise Me by Victoria Gemmell

Author:Victoria Gemmell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Victoria Gemmell
Published: 2021-10-22T00:00:00+00:00

Post Murder: Scene Two

Christian could hear the malicious whispers from neighbours hissing up the street; they crept under his door at night and crawled into his nightmares. He was suspect number one. It felt like he was already on trial thanks to the village rumour mill working overtime.

His bedroom had become his sanctuary, the internet a window into the world he was no longer welcome in. It was frightening how many times his name was being posted around various online platforms; strangers creating a distorted narrative of who he was and what happened the night of the party. He had to catch himself, thinking ‘that poor guy’, before realising the online Christian Henderson was him; that he was the poor victimised ‘loner boy’.

One forum in particular was dominated by some guy called Edgar who seemed to think he knew Christian intimately. Christian felt a rage of anger every time he read any of Edgar’s comments: He often sat alone at break time, scribbling in that sketchbook of his, staring at Louise. He gave me the creeps. He used to cycle past her house late at night, staring in the windows. What was this guy’s deal? Did he think the forum was some kind of online game? It was his life these internet weirdos were messing with.

Christian scrolled through links to news stories and videos others had posted. A flash of shame scorched his cheeks as his mum’s angry face filled the screen, her voice rising, silencing the chatter in the pub. The screen shook as the person filming adjusted their stance, capturing the audience of downcast faces, eyes refusing to make contact, the shaking of heads as his mum berated them. “

I know what you’re all saying about my boy. My wean, a sixteen-year-old child. And you grown adults making him out to be some monster. You lot are the monsters. Aye, that’s right you hang your head in shame, John Anderson. I heard your slanderous words on that news show. I bet it was your wee shite that threw the red paint over my car.”

Christian closed the link, unable to watch as John Anderson’s wife barrelled towards his mum, knowing what came next. The spilled beer, the tussle. He hated the thought of his mum ever finding this video, and the thought that everyone in the village had now probably seen it.

There was a soft knock on the door as it creaked open. Christian slammed his laptop shut. When his eyes met Daniel’s, he swallowed back tears. Daniel had such a fierce look of loyalty on his face – as if he believed the sheer force of that alone could blow away the doubters and the haters.

“What you up to, man?” Daniel observed the heaped ashtray and muted television in the corner. He threw open the curtains, a slither of sunshine casting a beam of dust towards Christian. Christian held out his hand, imagining the beam could transport him to a parallel life where things hadn’t gone so wrong.

Daniel lunged forward and grabbed his wrist.

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