The search for paradise

Chapter 5

I woke to the sound of birds, singing their morning song. My feet find the cold floor and I patter slowly to the window, rubbing my eyes. A police car is parked and a huddle of police are inspecting the police car we stole.
"Scade," I hiss, throwing on my jacket and shaking him. I was glad I had slept fully clothed.
"Mmph."
"Are you awake?"
"I am now."
"Good. We need to go."
"Why?" he murmurs, rolling face first into his pillow.
"The police are inspecting the car."
"Great. That's cool, just gimme five more minutes."
I scowl at his back, pick up my own pillow and smack him over the head with it.
"Ow!"
"Come on!"
"I'm tired. Shut up and leave me alone."
I stomp into the bathroom and grab a jug of cold water. Without hesitation, I upturn it on his head, leaving him wet and angry. His teeth start chattering.
"What the heck was that?!"
"Get up!"
"Why?"
"Because the police are inspecting the flippin' car!"
"What the-" he jumps up in shock and stares out of the window. "Bloomin' heck they are as well!"
He grabs his gun and literally drags me out of the hotel room.
"Hello, how can I help you?" the receptionist smiles, her white teeth dazzling me.
"We're here to pay the bill," Scade says.
"Oh, okay. What's your name?"
"John and Sarah Smith."
"Okay, I'll be with you in a second." She walks off, her high heels clapping on the floor. We wait in silence as she types something into the computer and returns.
"That'll be forty  five pounds please."
"Sure. Can I just have a moment please?"
While Scade roots around in his pockets for some cash , I look around the lobby. Unlike our room, it was beautifully decorate, big plant pots, and spotless windows. My eye catches sight of something else as well, and it fills me with dread.
A man, no older that thirty is reading a newspaper...and my face is printed on the front cover. The words 'KIDNAPPED DAUGHTER-BELLATRIX GREENGRASS' are printed across it.
"Scade," I whisper.
"Yeah?"
"Look at the paper."
Scade takes his hand out of his pocket and looks around until his eyes rest on the paper.
"Oh turnips."
I don't bother to question his strange way of cursing. The police have spotted me and are running towards the door.
"Sorry, need to dash. Maybe I'll come back next week?" Scade says to the receptionist and without paying, pulls me with him back upstairs.
"Quick, out of the window," he hisses, giving me a leg up. I clamber outside and onto the roof over-looking London. I see the London eye, towering over buildings and I see the matchbox houses and the ant-like people.
"Now what?" I ask.
"Now we have to climb down. I'm thinking down that drainpipe-"
"What?! Are you crazy? You're kidding me right?"
"No. I'm serious. Look, completely straight face." He attempts at hiding his smile but I just catch a glimpse of it.
"Seriously. Now what?"
"I'm serious Bella."
"Flipping heck Scade! That's a death-drop!"
"Well, it's either this or jail."
"Yeah, jail for you. Not me. Maybe I'll visit you."
In a matter of seconds his gun is trained on my temple and my heart nearly stops.
"I'm not going to jail." His eyes are full of danger.
"Go on then."
"What?"
"Shoot."
"Okay."
He won't do it. I know he won't.
"You won't do it."
"How do you know?"
"I just do."
"I can't let you escape Bella, you have to help me."
"How can I help you if I'm dead? Just go kidnap another rich girl, I don't mean that much to you. Just another victim."
"Stop it!" Scade says angrily. "Maybe you're right."
"Shoot," I say, my eyes twinkling. "I dare you."
"But-"
"Go on. Or are you a chicken?"
His hand shaking, his finger right on the trigger. And then he fires.