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“I learnt that Gregg was actually raised by someone he calls ‘The Count’.”

As soon as I say the name, both Miles’ and Jake’s expressions become matching. Their eyes grow wide as their brows shoot into their hairline. Jake’s mouth flops open, while Miles’ lips pull into a tight line. There’s fear in their eyes, and it doesn’t take a genius to work out that they know who I’m referring to.

“From what I understand, he raised Gregg with the intention of him joining the police, so he’d have an inside source in his pocket. Growing up, he taught Gregg lots of less than legal skills, in exchange for treating him like a son.

“Gregg sees The Count as his father, and he follows his every command. I heard bits of their conversations, and it was starting to make me uncomfortable.

“From what I gathered, The Count takes children and raises them to suit his own purposes. Some, like Gregg, he trains and keeps, investing in them long-term, while others, he uses and disposes of them when he has no further need for them. I think some were even sold on.

“I didn’t want to believe any of it at first. I thought I was hearing bits of a story, and my mind was putting the pieces together wrong, creating a worse version of events than reality. So, one night, when Gregg was leaving to do a job for The Count, I decided to follow him?—”

“Noooo,” Jake cries, his eyes wide and frantic as he stares at me. He doesn’t need to know how the story goes to be scared for me, and mad that I put my life at risk.

I close my eyes, unable to look at the beautiful boys who are holding my hands, giving me the strength I need as I let in the memories that I’ve only revisited in my nightmares.

I can remember it like it was just yesterday. They say trauma can imprint in your mind, immortalising every part of the event, and that’s exactly what happened to me. No matter how much I might want to, I can never forget that awful night just over nine years ago.

I finish packingthe last of my things into a bag.No matter what happens tonight, if I survive without getting caught, I’ll need to run, so I’m prepared. My backpack is full of clothes, toiletries, and any personal items I can fit in there. I have some money I’ve been secretly saving too, but that’s all.

I have to survive the night first…

I follow Gregg to an abandoned car park, feeling grateful that he allowed me to keep my own car—he hated the idea of me driving his prized Audi. I park far out of sight and walk towards where he’s stopped, keeping to the shadows.

Gregg is meeting with a man and three young boys, who look to be between the ages of around eight and thirteen. The boys look terrified, and are clinging to each other as the man speaks to Gregg.

I get the impression they don’t speak English, as when I get close enough, I hear them muttering to each other in a language I don’t understand. Maybe Eastern European?

The man with them speaks English, but it’s broken with a heavy accent. They’re in the middle of a conversation, but I catch enough to work out what’s going on. The man is demanding Gregg hands over the money before he hands over the boys.

He’s buying the three boys from this man!

Gregg has his usually cocky air about him, and he’s looking at the man with venom in his eyes when the stranger says, “It was hard work smuggling in three of them. I should ask for more money.”

Gregg’s face twists in anger, not appreciating the man’s threatening tone. Then, as if a switch has been flipped, his face becomes neutral once more, and the man rightly takes a hesitant step backwards.

Gregg doesn’t hesitate. He pulls out his gun and shoots the man in the head as he says, “Greed will earn you nothing.”

The screams of the three boys fill the air, but they don’t run. They are frozen to the spot, watching as the man’s body falls to the floor with a thud, blood seeping out from the wound between his eyes.

When they pull themselves together, the eldest of the three boys starts to turn, looking as if he’s going to run, dragging the other two with him. But before he gets the chance, Gregg lifts his gun and aims it at the boys, forcing them to freeze.

“If you run, I’ll shoot,” he says, sounding much calmer than he has any right to in this situation. “Do any of you speak English?”

The oldest nods slowly. “A little,” he mumbles.

Gregg takes a step towards them, and the youngest lets out a little squeak, his eyes wide with fear. Gregg doesn’t even register him, he just continues as though they’re not looking at him like the monster he is.

He addresses the eldest. “This is a great opportunity for you boys. If you do as you’re told, and learn quickly, you will live a life that’s better than anything you could have dreamt of back home.”

The boy opens his mouth before quickly closing it again, waiting for a moment, like he’s trying to find the right words. “We… W-we don’t want any t-trouble. We’d like t-to go home.”

Gregg scowls at the boys, who shrink back when they realise they’ve upset him. Then a sound from the opposite side of the car park grabs all of our attention. A man steps out of the shadows and walks towards Gregg, clapping him on the back.

Although it’s dark, there’s enough light to just about make out this man’s details. He looks to be in his early fifties, with brown hair that’s greying on the sides. The lines around his eyes and across his forehead are the only indicators that this man is older, as he’s otherwise in very good shape.

He looks to be well-built, muscular, an imposing figure, which contradicts the smile on his face. Until you get to his eyes, and the coldness in them lets you know exactly who this man is.

He turns to the boys, looking at them reassuringly as he says, “Unfortunately, that’s not an option. You either work for me, or you die. Your choice.”