Her opponent was completely unaware of her presence; stupidly, naively thinking the area was clear of threat, he had passed along the wall, whistling, until the crushing moment he heard the shriek and turned to see her outline blocking the sun – impending doom in full flight. With air flung from his lungs and stars dancing in his eyes, Sean tried to push his assailant off him, but had no strength. Leaning her elbow painfully onto his chest, Benvy smiled before plunging down on him again, squirting whatever breath was in him out into the cold air with a gasp and groan of pain.‘I’m bored, Sheridan,’ the large girl, with rough, sandy hair tied back in thick waves, announced. ‘I’m bored out of my brain. What’ll we do?’ Sean had been planning on taking his book to his favourite spot on the edge of the woods, but he couldn’t say anything now: only wince and pray for some air to come back into his lungs. His glasses had fogged up and his cheeks had turned apple red.
