He managed to stand. His ribs were still aching from where Ricky had punched him, but the pain was fading.
Ashley stood up too. She patted herself over, clearing away leaves and moss clinging to her clothes. She was clearly pissed off and was just about to say something when Ricky Dalca bellowed from the top of the slope, “You stupid fucking losers! Next time I see you, you’re dead.”
“I’ll cut you properly next time, bitch,” Lily shouted.
Jude peered up at his tormentors, wondering whether they would make the perilous journey down after him. When he saw them turn away and leave, he let out a relieved sigh. Lily shouted a few more threats, but her voice faded into the distance.
Jude looked around, seeing nothing but trees, weeds, and mud. It was like they had fallen through time and landed in a prehistoric basin. He wouldn’t be surprised if a caveman leapt out at them.
Ashley grabbed him and made him flinch. “You could’ve killed us, you nutter.”
“Lily could’ve killed you. What were you thinking, trying to fight her? She had a knife.”
“She needs to be taught a lesson. She cut my fucking face.” Ashley fingered the still bleeding wound on her cheek and grumbled when she saw her own blood. Kicking at the ground, she let out a furious yell. Then she swore repeatedly, using words only beginning with F, S, and C.
Jude put a hand on her arm. “Calm down!”
Ashley whirled on him. “Calm down? Lily’s a fucking maniac. We should call the police. She and Ricky need to be stopped. Those idiot twins as well.”
“Don’t talk stupid, Ash. Do you remember what happened to Mikey Tanner when he called the police on Ricky last year? Ricky beat his ass so often afterwards that Mikey had to move schools. We don’t have it so bad. We just need to avoid them.”
“Avoid them? How close to our house do we need to stay just to avoid getting messed with? That crazy bitch cut my face, Jude. I ain’t just gunna let that go. Argh!”
Jude took a step forward and examined his friend’s face. The cut was long but not deep. “It’s not that bad. Just wipe it. It’s got dirt in it.”
Ashley wiped her face, grunting again when she saw more blood on her hands. After a few moments, the cut stopped bleeding.
“How are your ribs?” she asked.
The mention of his ribs made them ache, but the pain was fleeting. “I’ll live.”
“Good.” She calmed down a little, but when she pulled out her mobile phone, she grew angry all over again. “My fucking screen’s cracked. My dad is gunna kill me. Fuck it. Fuck, fuck, fuck it!” She went to toss her phone at the ground but stopped herself, holding on to it and instead kicking the trunk of a nearby tree. Leaves shook loose and rained down around her. There was no controlling her when she was like this.
Jude pulled out his own mobile phone to check it for damage. He didn’t have an expensive iPhone like Ashley, so it would be no great tragedy if it broke, but he was still glad to find it intact. He considered calling his mum but didn’t see how it could help. Even if he explained where they were, she would never find it. She would probably call the police.
And Ricky would kill us for sure.
Ashley continued to rage, so Jude explored a little. He and Ashley had never entered Devil’s Ditch before – everyone said the place was haunted – and if Jude were honest, he’d always been too freaked out to come down here. His mind would run away with him and conjure images of werewolves and monsters dwelling in the ditch.
“Hey, Ashley.” He looked at her and frowned. “What’s that you’ve got on you?”
She pulled a face. “Huh?”
He reached out behind her ear to grab something. When he pulled back his hand, Ashley was concerned. “It’s okay, I got it.”
“Got what?”
He opened his palm to reveal the pretend gold coin. “You’re a real treasure, Ashley.”
She groaned. “God, is that your latest trick? It would work better if you said you always knew I was made of money.”
He tutted. “Damn, you’re right. I’m going to use that.”
“Just not on me, okay? That trick was lame.”
Jude blushed, but before he could get too embarrassed, Ashley pointed back up the slope. “How are we going to get back up there? It’s almost vertical.”
“I dunno, but we need to wait awhile first. Ricky and Lily could still be up there, hiding. Let’s take a walk and see if we can come out somewhere else.”
He took a short stroll, glancing back and forth in wonder. While he’d always been too afraid to enter the ditch, now that he was here, the prospect of exploring it excited him.
“Let’s head over here,” he said, pointing. “I think there’s a way through.”
Ashley flapped her arms and sighed. While she clearly didn’t want to, she followed him, but she complained the whole time. “This sucks. I’m covered in mud. I’ve got scratches all over my arms. I’m stuck in a ditch. My T-shirt is ruined.”
“Just come on, will you? You can take a bath when you get home.”
“If I ever get home. We’re probably going to die out here.”
“That’s a tad dramatic.”
“Maybe.”
“Well, even if we do, thanks for telling everyone I had a big dick.”
“Don’t mention it. I’m sure you do have. Just keep it away from me.”
They shared a giggle and then slid through a gap between two thick trees that were wrapped together like embracing lovers. Overhead, the branches were so thick that the sun barely made it to the ground. Devil’s Ditch was dark and shadowy, but with Ashley by his side, Jude didn’t get too freaked out. Her constant complaining broke the ominous spell and reminded him that life was
