Blood Ties Read Free

can’t do any—’
    ‘Do not raise your voice at me!’ Mum shrieked.
    We glared at each other. Then Mum took a wine glass out of the cupboard above her head and set it on the counter. ‘I’m getting a migraine,’ she said. ‘I can feel it.’
    ‘Right.’ I rolled my eyes. Mum was always getting migraines.
    Mum slammed her hand down on the counter next to the wine glass. ‘That’s enough, Theodore. There’s clearly only one punishment that you’re going to take seriously. From now on Roy comes into school with you and waits outside the classroom during every lesson.’
    ‘No,’ I gasped. No way could I handle Roy following me everywhere I went at school. I’d have even less freedom than I had now.
    ‘You can’t do that, Mum.’
    Mum’s lips narrowed into a line. ‘Watch me,’ she said. ‘I’m going to speak to school tomorrow morning and insist.’
    Fury surged up from the depths of my being. Less than an hour ago I’d climbed a huge tree, scaled a glass-strewn wall and risked a massive jump onto the ground. I’d been powerful. Unbeatable. Invincible.
    ‘No!’ I yelled. I strode right up to Mum so my face was centimetres from hers. ‘NO.’
    Mum started. And for a moment, for one tiny moment, I saw fear in her eyes.
    The feeling of power I’d had earlier on, climbing the tree, flooded back. ‘I don’t need Roy. I can look after myself,’ I yelled. ‘You’re just imagining there’s a threat.’
    ‘No,’ Mum gasped. ‘No, Theodore. I’m not.’
    I suddenly saw how badly she needed me to believe what she was saying. I drew myself up. I was powerful. I could do whatever I liked, whenever, wherever and however I wanted.
    I turned and strode out of the room. I ran up to my room, went straight to my desk and took out the fifty quid I’d saved up. I tore off my school jacket and tie and grabbed a jumper from a pile of clothes on the floor. I headed to the door as Mum appeared in the doorway.
    She put her arm out. ‘What are you doing?’
    ‘Leaving.’ I pushed the arm out of my way, then raced down the stairs, my heart pounding.
    ‘No. Theodore.’ I could hear the panic rising in Mum’s voice. Then she yelled out: ‘ROY.’
    He shot out into the hall so quickly that I knew he must have been listening. This made me even more furious. How dare he be here. How dare he interfere in my life.
    ‘Get out of my way,’ I yelled.
    Roy shook his head.
    I barged past him. He blocked me with his shoulder. I ducked, tried to dart round his other side.
    He grabbed my arm and pushed me back. ‘You sodding little brat.’
    Something snapped inside my head, like a firework exploding. Before I could even think, my hand was a fist and my fist was driving forward, hard, into Roy’s face.
    Contact. My hand stung. My whole arm jarred with the pain of it. Roy staggered backwards, clutching his jaw. His eyes widened. And then he grabbed me round my throat and pinned me against the wall.
    Blood pounded in my ears. All I could see was Roy’s furious face. All I could hear was my own voice, spitting out swearwords.
    And then, dimly, I became aware of Mum shouting beside us.
    ‘Stop it, stop it.’
    Roy let go of my throat. He stepped back, panting. Mum moved across and whispered furiously in his ear.
    I bent over, my breath all jagged. My hands were shaking. A door slammed. I looked up. Roy had disappeared back into his own room.
    Mum stared at me. Again, I could see the fear in her eyes.
    I took a step to the front door. The powerful feeling surged through me. Nothing could stop me leaving now. Not Mum. Not Roy.
    Nothing.
    I reached out for the door handle. Twisted it. Pulled open the door. I looked over my shoulder. ‘Bye, Mum.’
    ‘Please, Theodore.’ Her eyes filled with tears.
    When I was younger this would’ve really got to me. Back then all I wanted was to look after her. To do what my dad would’ve done if he’d been alive. But now . . . now I was sick of her trying to manipulate me.
    I turned