Acheron — Chapter 5
The Challenge
The thought of anyone laying hands on Áine, doing violence to her, wasn’t just unbearable to me, it was inconceivable. A monstrosity that could not, must not exist in this universe.
Roddy Grady’s girlfriend was Aurora Morgan, a tall, voluptuous girl with proud Maori features and long black tresses.
Quite apart from the fact that she was Roddy’s girlfriend, I had always found Aurora and her pouty, preening sidekicks terrifying, and tried to keep out of their way. Fortunately I doubt they even noticed the runty, blushing Greek boy.
Now, however, we had a problem.
Aurora had taken a dislike to Áine. I don’t know whether it was anything to do with Roddy; more likely it was a simple personality clash. Áine had a low tolerance for conceited behaviour and as she put it: ‘That big Kiwi chick is so far up herself she’s practically feckin’ inside out.’
Her distain had not gone unnoticed — and now a challenge had been issued. Aurora was going to bash Áine. At lunchtime the very next day, on the school oval.
My girlfriend didn’t seem to realise the gravity of the situation. She had been home-schooled for most of her life, and had a poor understanding of peer dynamics. She stood up to attempts at intimidation fearlessly — simply because she had…
