Split Second Read Online Free PDF Page B

in.’ She stood, anxiously, watching me.
    ‘It’s fine,’ I said.
    Gail coughed nervously. ‘Look, why don’t you take a moment up here to settle in, unpack some of your things. You need to let us know if you’d like some money for clothes or a
new phone. I was thinking that if you decide to stay you’d probably want a new laptop too, for your schoolwork?’
    Wow, my own computer. I knew I should feel excited – and grateful. I forced a smile onto my face. ‘Thank you,’ I said awkwardly.
    ‘I’ll get Bri to bring up your other bag. We’ll have supper in a couple of hours, but come down whenever you like. I could help you unpack . . .’
    ‘I’ll be fine.’
    ‘Okay, well we need to talk about school too. I think you’ll fit into Rosa’s uniform for the first few days, then, if you’re happy to stay, we can get you your
own.’
    I nodded again. Part of me wanted to ask about the school, but a painful lump had lodged itself in my throat. Gail waited a second, then backed away, closing the door behind her. As I heard her
footsteps on the stairs, I took one of my photos of Mum out of my bag, set it beside the bed, then lay back on the soft white duvet. Sometimes it was still impossible to believe she was gone.
    Bitterness crept through my veins. It wasn’t fair that she had been taken away from me, that my life had been turned upside down, that I had been left so alone, not belonging anywhere . .
. to anyone . . .
    I wished I had someone specific to blame. There was the League of Iron, of course, but that was a faceless organisation. I wanted a name. A person. My guts twisted. Tears rose up again: hot,
furious tears. I let them trickle down my face. I would stay here. I would go to the new school. I would get on with my life. The League of Iron wouldn’t beat me.
    And, one day, I’d find a way to get my revenge for Mum’s death.

Nat
    As I trudged up the stairs to double Maths I couldn’t stop thinking about the League of Iron meeting. When would it happen? Who would be there?
    Would they talk about the Canal Street market bomb?
    Probably not in an open meeting, but Lucas’s contacts were sure to be there. I was hoping that if I made it clear I was his brother they might speak to me privately about his
involvement.
    I’d spent the entire time since I received my invitation thinking about what I should do and say at the meeting. I’d been checking the League forum several times an hour, but no new
details had appeared among either the general posts or as a private message to me. In the end, I’d been so preoccupied with it all that I was late for register twice, which meant another
break-time detention.
    I didn’t care. All I could think about was the meeting – and what I might find out there.
    ‘Hey, Nat, you missed house registration.’
    I turned to see who was speaking. Rosa Stockwell was hurrying up the steps behind me. Considering she was in my house I didn’t know Rosa that well. If I was honest, I didn’t
particularly want to. Rosa was okay, but she had an irritating giggle and a coy, teasing manner, like she was always thinking about the effect she was having on you. Some of my friends liked her
but, to me, she came across as a bit of an airhead.
    ‘Yup, I missed it,’ I said, turning to check my phone again. ‘I was late.’
    Rosa giggled. I had no idea why. Still, maybe Rosa didn’t need a reason. I much preferred girls who chatted like normal people, instead of getting all weird when they were around boys.
    ‘Nat, you’re so funny.’ Rosa nudged my arm as we walked up the rest of the stairs. ‘Hey, d’you want to hear my big news?’
    ‘What is it?’ I was barely listening. I’d just spotted a private message from Saxon66. It read:
    London MEETING next Tuesday, 7pm. Stand by for details.
    Iron Right
    Iron Might
    Iron Will
    ‘. . . and she’s in our house too,’ Rosa finished with a flourish, as we reached the top of the stairs.
    I glanced at her blankly. I’d