In The Back Streets Of France, Chapter 9: Andrew

Chapter 9: Andrew

Finally, Andrew peers around the wall and sees a lone figure bent over. They can see it is a guy about their own age, and when they put two and two together and realize that the only person that they haven’t seen leave the alley is Alex...

At this realization, they collectively suck in their breaths. Alex hears them and look up. He is covered in blood and his eyes are haunted. He and Shawn make eye contact and Shawn knows exactly what has happened. Alex looks away first and says to the wall, “Guys could you leave?”

They only venture further into the alleyway and stand in front of Alex, looking down at him.

“How much do they know?” he asks Shawn.

“Only some,” Shawn says.

Alex sighs, “Well, since you’re here, could you help me?”

They try to untie the wire rope, but quickly find that they can’t. Andrew has a pocket knife on him and they cut the rope with that.

Alex brings his arms around to his front, still kneeling on the hard ground. Stiffly, he flexes every muscle in his fingers and arms. It takes three of them to lift Alex into a position where Shawn can grab him under his arm and along with Andrew, under his other arm, they hobble out of the alley and back to the kitchen.