The Skin Thief

Chapter 3

The deep thumps and sound of screeching metal are so loud that I almost have to cover my ears. The smell of smoke, soot and burning is so thick, that I struggle to breathe.

As we walk through the Elliot & Co. factory, the workers in their blackened overalls avoid all eye contact with me and Mother. Despite the booming noises of machinery, the men themselves are eerily quiet as we pass and walk up the rusting steps to Mother's office. I don't miss how they cower and gulp nervously as they try and move away from our presence.

Mother opens her dirty office door and storms inside. Uncle Reggie leans back on the chair, his legs on Mother's desk whilst he smokes a cigarette.

"Get off my fuckin' desk," Mother snaps, her whole voice changing now she's working.

"You're late," Uncle Reggie says, his voice deep, and horribly gruff. He snuffs his cigarette in the browning ashtray and swings his legs off the desk.

"I had important business at home," Mother says, pushing him away. That's when his bright blue eyes find mine.

"Row Row," he says and walks toward me. I laugh as he scoops me up into a tight hug and kisses me on the forehead. The hair of his thick ginger moustache is prickly against my skin and he reeks of booze and cigarettes. I push him away jokingly.

"I'm too old for that now, Reggie," I say, smiling.

"Nonsense," he says, then laughs. It sounds more like a croak than an actual laugh. "So, you got your results yet? Are you allowed to stay with us?"

My smile falls off my face, and my stomach drops.

"Enough, Reggie," Mother snaps before I can answer.

I gulp and put on a tight smile. "I leave in two days," I say, my voice small.

And then I'm never coming back.

I shudder and try to push that thought from my mind.

"Oh fuck," Reggie says, gesturing out at the windows. "He's here."

I groan as I watch Uncle Harry walk up the stairs and open the door.

He pauses as soon as he sees me and his cold blue eyes shoot me a harsh, hateful glare.

"What's she doin' here?" he asks, pulling off his suede blazer and flat cap, revealing his bright ginger hair which has been cut to near bald at the sides and back with the top slicked over neatly.

"She's as much a Redbird as you, Harry," Mother says, not bothering to look up from her paperwork. He scoffs, and tightens his dark blue tie, then adjusts the scratchy grey waistcoat.

"Fuck off, Harry," Reggie snaps and lights a match for the fresh cigarette in his mouth.

"She ain't coming on today's job," Harry says.

"That's not your decision," Mother replies, as she starts clicking away at her typewriter.

Harry's sharp jaw clenches and he takes a seat. Uncle Reggie grins at me, revealing his two gold-capped teeth.

"Where are Anthony and Benedict?"

"They're already downstairs," Harry says.

"Excellent," Mother says, standing. "Let's go."

We follow her out of her office and through the factory. Reggie laughs at the workers as they cower. He even jokingly jumps for them, making the poor men flinch and tremble.

"Aren't you going to miss this, Rowan?" he shouts over all the noise.

"A little," I reply, my chest aching deeply at the thought of leaving.