‘Pick up the pace!’ Sounded the shrill whisper of a woman.
‘I’m trying. You try going backwards!’
‘I asked you which end you prefered!’
‘Doesn’t mean I have to be the one to walk backwards.’
‘Fine – we’ll swap.’ With a deep sigh, the two women began to rotate, the heavy load balanced between them swaying slightly.
‘Stop!’ Called the first woman again. She had a deeper, more mature voice compared to her companion. ‘It’s not going to work, we’ll just have to keep going.’
‘You did this on purpose, so you’d have an easier job.’
‘An easier job? Jesus Christ, Christie, none of this is easy!’ There was silence for a moment. ‘Christie, darling, I’m sorry for snapping. I know this is hard for you. I’m sorry I dragged you into this.’ The two stopped walking, the darkness around them shrouding the panic on their faces.
‘Come on,’ Christie replied, ‘before everyone wakes up.’
Birds chirped outside and the first signs of morning cracked through the windows.
‘How far to go?’
‘Not far. The car’s parked right out front. Once we’re in it we’re in the home stretch.’
‘I just want this over with.’
‘Me too, darling.’
The two arrived at the front door, a large, silver chain bolting it tight.
‘Here, christie, you open the door.’ Slowly, Christie put her half down and tiptoed over the wooden floor, a slight creaking rising from underfoot. ‘Quick!’
‘Erm, mum, where’s the car?’
The little colour left in her face drained completely as she stood by the staircase, her arms lodged tightly in the underarms of the man she suffocated an hour previous.
‘Jesus Christ!’
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