The Advocate by Beegan Ashley

Author:Beegan, Ashley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2022-05-31T00:00:00+00:00

Astrid

I ran until my legs were so heavy I could barely lift them, and then I ran all the way home. I pushed through the pain with every step, fighting for breath and thinking of nothing other than my aching chest. The fear Arracht didn’t leave me, it was a constant shadow on my back.

It was mid-morning by the time I reached home, and my mind was calmer. I was capable of straight thought again, and that was all I needed. If I could think my way out of this, then the Moralia would leave me alone, as long as I could stay calm. I stopped in my front garden, bent over and gasping for breath. Sweat dripped from every pore, but the cool breeze felt amazing against my skin. I wasn’t ready to enter the warmth of the house, so I pulled out my phone to text Harry. The voicemail icon flashed up.

‘Hi, it’s Swanson. Kai got a note, too. It had your address. Call me.’

I tutted loudly at his message. It was as short and sweet as ever. When it came to information, Swanson was a taker and not a giver. Which was the opposite of how he was in the bedroom.

So Kai said he got a note too… that didn’t mean anything. What if he was lying? The only thing that made me think it might be true was that I couldn’t imagine Kai writing poems to threaten me. I didn’t know him well these days, but if he was anything like either of his parents, there is no way he would act that way. His mum has no brains at all, and as much as I loved Ben, poetry and threats were not his style. He was brutally honest. It was one reason I loved him so much. I’d always hated confrontation as a teen, though I had changed a lot since then.

If Kai was telling the truth, then the person writing these threats knew both Kai’s address and mine, and also knew how Kai and I were connected. I needed to know what his note said.

I dialled Alex’s number. He didn’t answer. I fiddled with the phone holder, grabbed the key to unlock my front door, and shoved it inside the lock.

Yet the key wouldn’t turn.

I pushed down the handle, and my new calmness disappeared. The door opened easily.

I hadn’t locked it. I’d been too preoccupied with getting out for a run.

I edged the door open.

‘Hello?’ I called out and took one step inside. Silence. I took another step inside, frantically opening up the camera app on my phone to see if anything had happened.

‘Close the fucking door, Sophie. Or I’ll scream about you murdering my dad so loudly the entire street will hear.’ Said a deep voice.

My phone dropped to the floor.

Kai appeared from behind the living room door. Shit. He stood still. I swallowed my fear. I could run, but couldn’t risk this street thinking I was a murderer. If they called the police, they could take Harry from me.

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