The Runaway by Claire Wong

Author:Claire Wong [Wong, Claire]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lion Hudson
Published: 2017-02-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter seven

Dyrys

Callum wakes up to find himself slumped under an oak tree, cold and in pain. Confused and disorientated, he tries to stand but cannot, and immediately remembers what happened to his foot last night. With that, all the other memories come racing back.

He needs to find out what has happened to Ifan. He cannot go back to the village yet, in case the reports are bad. He takes his phone out of his pocket – the battery icon shows ten per cent left. He cannot call Tom. Though probably his best friend, he is also a policeman, and likely taking sides against him right now. He scrolls through his contact list, looking for someone to call. Not his mam – she will be too emotional right now to be any help. He doesn’t need someone to cry down the phone to him; he needs information. Then he spots the number for the Evanses’ guest cottage. He helped with some of the renovation work on the building last summer. There was lots of coming and going, and he ended up with the landline number saved so that Ifan could call him while he was out buying hardware for the house. Maybe Adam or Grace will help him. It seems like his best chance, so he presses the button to call them.

“Hello?” Adam’s voice answers.

“It’s Callum. Any news about Ifan? Is he alive?”

If Adam is surprised to hear Callum, his voice does not give it away. “They aren’t back yet from the hospital. Grace is going to see Nia later this morning. We will know then. Would you like me to call you back when I have an answer?”

“No, that’s no good; my phone battery won’t last much longer.”

The line crackles, and Callum tries hobbling around to find a place where the reception is better. If he leans against a tree trunk, he does not have to support his weight on the foot that is in pain.

“Well, you could call them yourself now.”

“What? Call Nia? After what I did! Are you joking?”

“Not at all. I’m very serious about helping you come back home. Are you somewhere nearby? Can I come and meet you when I have news?”

Callum pauses. It could be a trick, to get him to give up his location. Maybe Adam will call the police immediately after this conversation.

“There’s a path that leads west of the village, into Dyrys Wood. Do you know it?”

“Yes, I do.”

“The first crossroads after that path enters the woods. I’ll meet you there, at midday. But don’t bring any police with you. I’ll be watching to make sure you don’t.”

“Understood. Midday then. I hope I’ll be bringing you good news.”

Callum hangs up. Now he will make his way to the crossroads and hide somewhere nearby to watch the path until Adam arrives. He limps forward. His foot might need medical attention, but he has no idea if that will be possible. He takes a few steps and then steadies himself against another tree trunk.

It

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