"Let's go Thomas," the woman said.

He was surprised at the use of his name, instead of 'boy' or 'kid', but he kept it to himself. She probably knew anyway. Calling him by his name implied a connection between them or a softening of her. He doubted either existed. It was a ploy that he refused to fall for. He just nodded and waited for further instructions. She'd materialised in the room. He'd have to use the door.

"Gonna be a big show, today. I'm rooting for you, ya know? Lots of people are."

"Why? I thought you just wanted me dead."

He was walking a fine line between civility and loathing, and knew the wrong word or time would mean punishment, but what was worse than death? Instead of striking out, the woman just laughed.

"Well, yeah, of course, but we might drag it out a little. Give them something to get their teeth into."

"Why?" Thomas asked again.

Why taunt him like that? Why not just get him out there and kill him? They'd still get their viewing figures. They'd still get hm dead.

"I really wish you knew. It'd make talking to you so much more fun."

"knew what? Why is it going to be a big show? 'Cos I'm ten?"

"No one gives a fuck about your age, kid. It's not about how old you are. It's about who you are."

"Who I am? Who am I?"

"You're your father's..."

"Lloyd!"

The woman stopped abruptly and stood to attention. Her cheeks turned crimson and she was visibly shaking. Thomas stopped at the same time, jumping at the unexpected voice.

David stepped out from the open door to the mess room. He looked furious, but his voice remained calm and controlled as he spoke.

"Let's not discuss things that have nothing to do with the matters at hand. Agreed?"

He was eating a large bacon bun, the sight and smell of which made Thomas's stomach grumble, and had a steaming mug in his hand. He walked casually, as if nothing was wrong and he was simply chatting with a friend.

Bite, chew, swallow. Long, noisy slurp of the drink.

Belch.

"Well, pardon me. A good breakfast butty always gets my wind up. Can't beat it, eh, Thomas?"

Thomas didn't answer, but the licking of his lips and the hungry expression answered the question. David tossed it in the boy's direction. It was caught with a frantic grab that only caused a small piece of bacon to drop to the floor.

"Lloyd, have you had breakfast yet?" David asked. His initial sharpness seemed to have been forgotten. He was being close to friendly now.

"No, sir. Business first, you know me."

"I do. I do indeed. Well, it looks like Thomas here would like to share his with you, isn't that right laddie?"

Thomas's disappointment was obvious. He was wolfing the bun down quickly, and the prospect of giving some away didn't appear to be a pleasant one. Then he saw where David was looking and the woman he'd called Lloyd was purposefully not doing.

"I... I'm fine, thank you, sir. I'll have something later."

"Oh, go on. You wouldn't want to turn away the boy's offering on his last day, would you?"

"But... sir..."

"Now, Lloyd. Now."

Lloyd didn't say anything else. Her face was passive. Relaxed. Outwardly, there was no display of the turmoil she must have been feeling. Apart from her awkward words to her superior and the task she had to carry out, Thomas would have thought she was as at ease as David seemed to be.

She knelt down on one knee and picked up the scrap of bacon. Thomas could see some grit attached to the bottom. Lloyd must have seen it too, but made no indication. She put the bacon in her mouth and swallowed it without chewing, then stood back up, back at attention.

"Isn't that better?" David asked.

"Yes sir. Much."

"Well, don't you have something to say to the boy?"

Lloyd turned to Thomas and smiled. It was a cold and emotionless gesture, but he returned it nonetheless. She deserved that, he felt., regardless of her intentions towards him.

"Thank you Thomas," she said.

"You're welcome," he replied. The butty was still in his hand. It had a couple more bites left before it would be gone. He was eager to finish it, but thought it would be inappropriate.

"I'm pleased to see you have some decent manners there, laddie."

"My dad said manners cost nothing. My mum said they were priceless."

"And which do you believe?"

Thomas thought for a moment. Both phrases opposed each other, and he didn't want to favour either of his parents – his father was still his father. He had his own version.

"I think manners are cheap."

"Cheap?" David laughed. "How so?"

"It's not about the manners," Thomas said. "It's about how you use them."

"In what way?"

"Anyone can say 'thank you' or 'sorry'. If you don't mean it, then it's worthless."

"Did you hear that, Lloyd? It's a pity we can't keep him around for the entertainment value."

"I'm not a joke," Thomas said angrily.

"Oh, finish your breakfast, laddie. I'm just messing with you. I happen to agree with you."

Thomas nodded, a brief incline of his head that said ok, but he didn't believe it. He finished the sandwich and, deliberately, belched as David had, though not so loud. It was enough to make the man laugh again, and even Lloyd managed part of a smile.

"He's all yours, Lloyd."

"What are you going to do with me?"

"Laddie, we're going to make you a star."

"I just want to go home."

"You don't have one anymore."

"What? Why?"

David turned and started to walk away, ignoring the question. Thomas started to go after him, but Lloyd put her hand on his shoulder, Her grip was firm without squeezing. It held him in place.

"What's happened to my home? Where's my dad?"

"Get him dressed and ship him out," David said, then he was back in the mess room, closing the door behind him. Thomas tried to run to him. To find out what had happened to his father, but Lloyd held him fast. With only the slightest pressure, she led him away.

The room she ushered him into was small and square. There was a single seat in the centre, facing a closed door. On a tripod between seat and door was a large camera, the sort they used on television shows.

"Sit," she said. The instruction didn't need to be voiced and Thomas had no choice but to acquiesce. Lloyd had guided him to the chair and pushed down. "I'm going to leave. In a minute, words will come on the front of that camera. You're going to say them."

"What if I don't want to?"

"Trust me, boy. You want to."

Thomas didn't doubt there'd be consequences to his disobedience. He'd do as she told him. He was going to be hunted anyway, so there was no point being hurt or injured while doing so. He nodded.

"Then what?"

"Then that door opens, and you go out to your adoring public."

"But, then what?"

Lloyd waited until she was at the door and had it partially shut before answering. She wanted her next statement to have the finality of the closed door to fuel it.

"Then, you run."

Thomas blinked to keep the tears from falling. This was it. This was the moment. There was no way he could survive out there. They'd have him in only a few paces and he had nothing with which to fight them.

"Face the camera, laddie. Speak like you can't wait to get out there and show everyone what you've got."

He couldn't see where David's voice came from, but decided to give it his best shot. His fortitude was his only weapon.

He faced the camera, which whirred into life. Words did, indeed, begin to scroll up a transparent screen placed in front of the lens.

He started to speak and the words moved in time with his voice.

"Hey everyone. Welcome to another edition of The Spot. I'm today's contestant and my name is Tommy."

He almost stopped speaking there. Only his mother had ever called him Tommy, and then only when he was very young. He had grown to loath anyone else, including his father, using the name. He didn't even like other people being called it. The name was precious to him and should be able to remain locked away and guarded by Time and his memories.

He continued, however.

"You'll notice I haven't gone insane yet. Also, I'm actually ten years old. Yes, that's right,TEN! So, it's a little different today. My powers don't need to be battled, though there's still a slim chance I might lose my mind and then get them. <Laugh> We can hope, eh? <Pause for viewers to comment or talk between themselves>So, you've got a special show today. As I've got nothing to defend myself with,I'm going to get a head start. Two hours. <Pause> Yes, that's right. I'm going to have two hours to get as far away as I can before theS potters try to find me. Get dialling, everyone! There's a ton of cash waiting for anyone who helps them find me. <Pause> I'll try not to make it too easy, though."