Beware of People you meet on the Internet – Three Hours Previously

Samantha was sixteen and that was old enough to stay out all night if she wanted to. Her stupid parents wouldn’t agree, but all they ever wanted was for her to stay home like a little kid while everyone else was going out and enjoying themselves. Everyone she’d spoken to in the chat room had told her the same thing; her parents still wanted to keep her as a baby who liked dressing up and playing with dolls. That was how they still saw her and it just wasn’t fair. Miles said she owed it to herself to get a life and Miles knew everything. She’d been spending two or three hours a night on-line, supposedly doing a school project, over the last three weeks and when Miles said he’d take her to an all-nighter at the weekend, she’d said ok straight off. Mum and Dad were so pathetic; she’d told them she was spending the weekend with her friend Melanie in North Wales and all they’d said was don’t forget to take plenty of warm clothes.

Miles was eighteen. He had his own car and was just so good-looking. She’d wanted to tell Melanie about him but Miles had said it would be best not to tell anyone in case they accidentally mentioned it to someone else and her folks got to hear what she was really going to be doing. Samantha tensed as a rakish sports car drew alongside. The side window hissed down. ‘Are you Samantha?’

‘Yes,’ she said, a little uncertain.

‘Miles asked me to collect you. I’m his brother, Jason. Do you want to sling that bag in the back?’ He pressed a button on the dashboard and the hood slid back and disappeared into the boot.

Samantha hopped awkwardly from one foot to the other. ‘Where’s Miles?’

Jason grinned. ‘Back at the house. The lazy bugger’s running late as usual, so he asked me to take his motor and pick you up.’

‘Is this his car?’

Jason looked surprised. ‘Yes. Why?’

‘It’s gorgeous.’

‘It’s ok, I suppose. He’s had good cars since he was old enough to drive. We both have. Look, are you getting in or not? Miles will think I’ve upset you if I don’t get you back soon and I know he’s desperate to meet you at last.’

‘Really?’

‘Sure. Oh, I know, you’re probably thinking who’s this guy asking me to get in a car with him? Is that right? Well, how if I tell you your favourite band is Coldplay and you like to eat Salsa wraps and burgers? Would anyone who’d not been sent by Miles know that?’

Samantha grinned and reached out to slide her bag onto the back seat. She stepped carefully over the sill, revealing rather a lot of thigh in the process.

‘Buckle up and we’ll be on our way. You’ve got lovely hair, Samantha. Or is it Sam?’

‘I prefer Samantha.’

‘Samantha it is, then. I must say, I never expected you to be so pretty. What are you, nineteen? Twenty?’

Samantha thought about nodding, but settled for, ‘Eighteen.’

‘Really? You look so confident I thought you must be older. Is that too tight?’ Jason reached over and clipped the belt into its slot. It was tight. Very tight.

‘It hurts a bit. Can you slacken it off?’ Samantha struggled, but couldn’t seem to slacken the belt at all. Jason ignored her, pressed the button that raised the hood and prepared to drive away.

‘Keep your trap shut, you little scrubber, or you’ll wish you’d never been born.’ He showed her the gleam of a razor, its pearl handle winking in the sunlight. ‘Behave yourself. If not, I’ll cut you. Fancy a nice new face, do you? Just one scream, one move and I’ll slice you up and drop you in the gutter where you belong. Got it?’