Chapter 16: WITNESS TESTIMONY

Noah drags Rune’s sleeve towards the bathroom. He takes off his hoodie, and his T-shirt, exposing a bandaged torso with multiple scars decorating the skin. They’re Riley’s battles. The stranger that stole his body will bear Noah’s. 

The fine line in the neck is much more visible now. Noah runs a hand across the bumpy texture. The first time he saw Riley in his reflection, he knew he had fought with everything he had. The tellings of the attack had disappeared a long time ago. It seemed when Noah took over, he assumed Riley’s fights. It’s the least he could do for a second chance that took away the boy’s life.

He tears his gaze from the mirror. He’s sick of seeing his wrecked figure getting more and more messed up. 

Outside the bathroom, the screams are muffled, as if they’re on a different time and space, as if they exist on a parallel plane, alien to the world and its pain. He wishes they could stay like that, but he remembers they’re on a tight schedule, in this place, with a purpose. Rose is the only one that knows about the stolen records. A needle in his chest. Everyone’s hurting because of him. He’s keeping secrets from Riley’s friends, putting them in danger for his own selfish motives. 

He’s not sure he wants to keep going with this.

When Sam finds out, he’s gonna flip.

And Noah will enjoy it very much.

But, what if he involves Rose again? Or Rune?

The excitement that has carried him through the night is dissolving with every doubt. His dizziness is giving way to a migraine, his energy is abandoning him. But it’s too late to back down. With a sigh, he puts on his hoodie.

“Lend me your knife, please.” Noah asks with trembling voice, outstretching a hand behind his back. His maniacal smile is gone, as well as his confidence.

What was he thinking?

Noah lifts up his gaze, realizing Rune is looking at him. They exchange glances, his piercing eyes demanding and searching, and burning him, and threatening to see everything. His expression is cold, and Noah suddenly feels chills in his arms, despite the warmth that comes from outside. His chest is heavy.

Noah stares at the sink, feeling the usual shame after a high. He’s tired of it. 

Finally, something cold presses against his palm. He nods, to himself or as a thank you to Rune. He tears the T-shirt in two big pieces, and then wets them with tap water. This will work as a rudimentary filter. In fires, smoke is much more dangerous than the burning flame itself. Smoke is highly toxic, and victims will usually collapse from it before getting to safety. 

“Stay low,” he whispers.

Rune doesn’t respond.

Noah covers his mouth and nose with the rag. With his free hand, he wraps the hoodie on the doorknob, and twists it.

The outside is almost empty, except for some lost customers.

They move quickly.

Noah leads the way to the office.

Once inside, Noah searches every inch with the desperation of a dying person. He throws the insides of the drawers to the floor, scattering suspicious little bags with pills, powder, … along with pens, ledgers with luxurious covers, keychains… He runs a hand across the inside of the desk, looking for taped documents. 

Nothing.

He trashes the small self behind the desk. There, on the wall where the furniture was leaning, is a taped folder Noah recognizes. He rips the package with an anxious and demanding yank.

Rune follows his path as Noah exits the office, his eyes taking a sudden interest in the floor. He hides the documents inside his hoodie, and they mix with the remaining crowd to get out of the club. 

Two headlights blind them, and Noah squeezes his eyes. He recognizes the license plate of the van, so he takes hold of Rune’s jacket sleeve and drags him away using the crowd as hiding. The slide past the people and run towards a taxi stop without looking back.

Noah doesn’t want to be here when Sam comes back after seeing the chaos inside the club. Much less waiting to be discovered.

Blaring sirens sound in the distance.

They won’t be here when the firefighters arrive.

Noah calls for a taxi, realizing with surprise that he’s still holding on to Rune’s jacket like dear life. Rune’s also looking downwards at where they are connected. His jaw twitches.

Noah releases him with a gasp, as if the synthetic fabric of the bomber burned him, “I’m sorry,” he says, breathless.

His clenches his trembling hands into fists. 

In the vehicle, they use the damp T-shirt rags to clean any leftover soot. Noah wipes a dark area in Rune’s jaw, the boy’s breath caresses his ear as he leans, looking for more spots that he missed. 

It’s crucial they arrive to Roger’s Garage before Sam comes back, with Noah is sure he will. Once he sees what’s missing, he’ll know. He’ll just know as Noah knew. Riley’s friends don’t know Sam and Noah have a secret battle of wits going on between them. That someone powerful is toying with them.

Maybe he should tell them.

But again, Riley didn’t mention this.

And now he suspects Riley was trying to protect them.

If Noah involves them, he’ll be putting them in even more danger. 

He should honor Riley’s earlier life as much as he can.

He can’t fail again.

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The driver drops them off at the near taxi stop, and they walk back the half a mile. The ambiance is as lively as when they left. 

Eve and Duncan are waiting for them near the Toyota, their faces in an identical mask of suspicion. Eve narrows her eyes when Noah approaches.

“What did you do?” She asks in a raspy whisper.

Noah shrugs.

Duncan steps forward, “The bastard just left. He seemed furious.”

Noah nods, confirming his suspicions.

“Do we have to expect trouble?” Duncan asks.

Noah nods again, “Possibly, yes.”

Eve shakes her head, sighing. “Are you going to pay us to be your babysitters, eh?”

Noah doesn’t respond to the mocking remark. “Don’t do anything. When he comes, don’t intervene.”

They begin to argue, but maybe something in Noah’s face discourages them. Is it that fatigue is showing in his face, darkening his features? Is it something about the way he avoids their eyes with a slouch posture that makes them hesitate?

Noah swallows, his mouth is dry. “It’s going to be okay,” he says trying to calm them down. However, his voice doesn’t sound convincing. 

A wave of cheers announces the arrival of Sam’s crew. Then, silence falls like a bucket of cold water. The music plays, but nobody dances. Their excitement is substituted by uncertain whispers when they see Sam coming out of the van. 

The group’s view is obstructed by the multiple heads.

Everyone is trying to see what the matter is about. They lean on their toes, bumping into each other.

Sam shoves the crowd aside, and the people open a path that leads straight to Noah. 

They lock their eyes.

Noah braces for impact as he sees Sam accelerate his steps, gaining momentum before he punches Noah in the chest. The air comes out of his lungs with a loud gasp, and he falls to the ground, clutching his chest.

“What are you doing?” Noah asks with a  strangled tone.

“You know what you did to deserve that,” Sam’s eyes are wide with rage, his nostrils flaring, his jaw rocking. “You haven’t learnt your lesson yet?”

“What are you talking about?” Noah coughs.

“Don’t pretend. You know, I know. Do they know?” He adds pointing to Riley’s friends. Then, he turns to Duncan, spitting his next words, “Your boy burnt my club.”

Noah closes his eyes, his supporting hand scrapes against the pavement. 

“What? When?” Eve interjects.

“Fucking now, dumbass.” Sam shouts. 

“No, he didn’t,” Duncan says. “He was here the whole time. Didn’t you see the Corvette and the Toyota? They’ve been parked here for hours.”

At that, a few people nod.

Sam leans towards Noah. “Your gonna pay for this,” he whispers, “they’ll have your ass in a platter. And I will be the one to serve you to them.”

“Okay,” Noah responds, the air finally returning. He is panting, adrenaline rushing blood in his ears, his heart thrumming in his chest. “I’ll be waiting.”

Silas walks up to Noah, yanking him off the ground, dragging him by the neck of the hoodie towards the van. 

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Eve shouts at his back.

“Eve, don’t.” He shouts back, an edge of fear in his voice. “Remember.”

Silas allows him enough range of movement to cast a quick glance to the group. Eve is scared, he’s never seen such a disfiguration in her expression since he woke up from the hospital. Duncan is barely containing his anger, his lips forming a tight line, they exchange glance, and Noah knows Duncan won’t intervene. Sam’s a force, he’s dangerous, and Duncan must look after the others. Noah understands, and he nods. He hopes Duncan will understand the many things he wants to say with the gesture.

When he sees Rune, he starts trembling, and he almost collapses to the ground.

The cold mask is off, and his eyes are pleading, his jaw is set.

He’s terrified, Noah realizes with a drop in his stomach.

He follows Rune’s eyes back to Sam.

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