Page 143 - Mobile Magic

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She was diverted by more shouts from behind her and looked back towards the hall. There was a fight going on. She ran to see what was happening. Swaying on the edge of the top step, two figures were locked in combat. The smaller of the two was Chuckie! Even in the dark she would know her brother anywhere. They lost their footing as they struggled, collapsed, and went rolling down the steps together.
Charles was on top now, crouching over the struggling, twisting youth, trying to hold him down till help arrived. Saffron raced towards them. She had seen something that those at the top of the steps could not - the glint of a long, shiny blade in the dark-haired boy’s hand.
Not pausing to think, Saffron drove the toe of her solid, leather, riding boot into the strange boy’s arm. He gave a scream of pain and rolled into a tight ball of agony - all struggles subsiding - clutching his injured limb. Saffron kicked the blade to one side, where it lay glittering on the grass in the dim light.
Charles slowly and stiffly raised himself and glanced over at the weapon. ‘Gee, thanks, I owe you one, siss,’ he mumbled. Sirens were wailing in the distance, coming closer all the time. Someone must have called the police on their mobile-phone, thought Saffron.
‘You’ll just stay right there if you know what’s good for you!’ growled Charles to the figure at his feet. The stocky, young man was struggling to his knees.
Saffron could see now why he had looked so strange, even in