Breakdown

A wave of light and noise. Something says, 'Mon dieu.'

Searing pain. Something is punching me. It hurts. I open my mouth. I spew out. Choking. Spitting. Something yanks me from that dim green hollow where I'm settling. My stomach hurts. I'm being punched. My stomach. My chest. Something is punching my chest.

Hot lips are pressed on mine.

Hard lips.

They hurt me.

They punch me.

A hand drags me upright.

'Is she going to be OK?'

A blow lands on my back.

Hot hard lips pump into me.

'Quinny? Is she?'

A child's voice. I try to see, but the pale green bower has turned black.

I splutter. Jerk forward. Gasp. My whole front heaves. I'm choking. I'm gasping and it hurts. It hurts so much. I can't breathe. I swallow air. I swallow water. I can't breathe. I start to slip back down again towards that green haven. Nan is there, waiting . . .

'I don't know.'

I hear another voice.

'Please let her be OK,' says the child.

I don't know who he's asking. He's asking me. There's such an ache in his voice. It holds me. I see Nan's face fading.

I feel a small hand in mine. 'Be OK, girl, please be OK.'

He won't let me go. Against everything, I open my mouth and cough and retch and let the darkness in. 'Please.'

He's calling me.

It's so painful, I cry out.

'She's alive.'

I hear the ring in his voice. It holds me there.

'Don't let Careem get her, Quinny.'

I cough and gasp.

'Breathe,' says the voice. Another thump lands on my back.

And I breathe. I open my chest and despite the cold and the pain I breathe and cough and breathe.

'Good. Now, listen.' A hand drags me into a sitting position. 'You don't have long.'

I sit there coughing water and spitting it out. My throat raw. I open my eyes and try to focus.

It's a boy - tall, broad shouldered, kind eyes, handsome. I stare at him. He's from the east. I can tell by his matted look and the weapons. I can tell by the tattoo across his forearm. Hastily he rolls his sleeves back down. But I've seen it. Bone Cross Bone. I must have been swept sheer past the Tower. I've fallen into the hands of a ganger.