Darkmoor

by Victoria Barry

  DARKMOOR

  The Darkness Discovered

  Victoria Barry

  Copyright © 2012 Victoria Barry

  The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study,

  or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents

  Act 1988, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in

  any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the

  publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with

  the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. Enquiries

  concerning reproduction outside those terms should be sent to the publishers.

  Matador

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  British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data.

  A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

  Matador is an imprint of Troubador Publishing Ltd

  For Nathan, Connor, Eve and Isobel. Enjoy.

  And for my husband, thank you for being you

  Chapter One

  The Victorian Vicarage

  Catherine sat gazing across the road her eyes transfixed on number 21, the Old Vicarage, which had stood empty for years. There was no escaping it as her front yard overlooked the decrepit ancient building. Perching herself a little higher on the old rickety wooden bench, the vicarage sent shivers down her spine. Somehow, Catherine was intrigued by its mystical charm.

  ‘It’s so beautiful,’ Catherine thought to herself as the sunlight smiled upon it.

  The history of that old Victorian vicarage was still a mystery to this day. Screams and painful wailings were often reported to erupt out of its sash windows and echo throughout the village, leaving the people of Filius fearful and suspicious about the Vicarage’s dark past.

  Buried underneath a carpet of ivy, the old ruin stood all alone on the west side of Acerbus Road. A row of terraced houses occupied the east side and swept around like a fort protecting its castle.

  Although it had been left lifeless by all humanity it did, however, have one inhabitant, Clever Crow.

  As Catherine’s dad always quoted, “If men had wings and bore black features few of them would be clever enough to be crows.”

  The crow had occupied number 21 for over ten years, and had somehow become tolerant of its ghostly surrounding’s. Clever Crow would trick innocent animals to come and play with him, but then would cruelly have them for his dinner. He seemed to feast on the fear of the other animals and when their bodies started to decay the crow would still go on devouring their skeletal remains.

  Catherine would watch the crow for hours and she was convinced that he was watching her too. He positioned himself high upon the chimney stack just like one of the Queen’s guards, guarding his own castle. His pure silky black coat shone majestically in the evening sun leaving Catherine completely bedazzled.

  Unfortunately for Clever Crow, he was about to have his fortress invaded. The Old Vicarage, which had been left derelict and lifeless for over a decade, was about to be resurrected back to life.

  As the sun died down from view, Clever Crow stretched out his mighty wings and flew gracefully out of sight. Crow was gone.

  “Cathy! Cathy! Come on darling, your supper’s on the table,” Catherine’s mum called.

  “Yeah, Mum, I’m coming,” Catherine vacantly replied.

  The smell of fish and chips greeted her as she headed through the lounge and into the kitchen. Friday night was chippy night which Catherine relished.

  “Where’s Dad?” Catherine asked whilst setting the table.

  “He has to work late darling, but never mind, his loss,” her mum replied softly.

  Sitting down to eat supper together Catherine’s mum asked, “What were you doing outside? Watching that flipping crow I bet?”

  Catherine turned towards her mum and smiled.

  “Mother, why ask if you already know?” Catherine remarked sarcastically.

  “Because, my darling daughter, you’re becoming increasingly obsessed with that bird. Anyway, you do know the new neighbours are moving in tomorrow?”

  “Yes of course I do. Everyone in Filius and beyond is talking about it. You never know they might have a house warming, so then we could.” Before Catherine could finish, her mum abruptly interrupted, “No Catherine. You’re never to visit that house, never. Do you understand, Catherine?”

  “But Mum,” Catherine pleaded.

  “No, Catherine. Have you not seen the latest poster?” Mum asked placing the glossy paper on the table which read,

  MISSING!!

  HAVE YOU SEEN THEM?

  Underneath the bold writing were two pictures then underneath them...

  Isabella Collins (aged 5) and Thomas Collins (aged 7) went missing on the 16th April at around 5.30pm.

  They were last seen playing together on Acerbus Road, Filius.

  If you have any information regarding the disappearance of the two children, please contact the local police on 01276 21 34 65.

  Reading it sent a shiver through Catherine. The words started to blur as Catherine stared hard at the printed text.

  “I don’t know if that place has anything to do with the missing children, but I don’t want you over there. And besides, all those horrible sounds that use to come out of there,” Mum lowered her voice, “it’s not a nice place please promise me, Catherine?”

  With both their hazel eyes locked together, Catherine sensed the unexplainable fear which her mum had towards the vicarage. Taking a deep breath, Catherine conceded.

  “Ok, ok I promise I won’t go anywhere near the Old Vicarage, or speak of it again.”

  After finishing dinner, Catherine left her mum watching the television and went to her bedroom. Catherine listened to some music on her mp3 player hoping it would take her mind of the vicarage.

  “Don’t step foot in there, Catherine,” she squeaked mimicking her mum.

  “As if it was haunted or something, it’s just a house.”

  Besides, Catherine was too inquisitive. She would have to find out who was moving in to such a ‘strange’ house. And of course, it was her duty she had to make sure the clever crow was still there, if nothing else.

  From underneath her pillow Catherine pulled out her diary and sat down on the edge of her bed. She had written in it every day since her eighth birthday, and it was her most treasured possession.

  30th April

  Dear Diary,

  Have had a good day today, I’ve been to school and we played netball at dinner time. I also had Art which was brilliant because we got to use a potter’s wheel. Although somehow, I ended up getting some of the clay into my hair! Yuk, it was horrible trying to get it out. Emma couldn’t keep her clay on the wheel, lol!

  Glad it’s Friday, bank holiday weekend too, brilliant!

  Dad worked late again. Been doing that a lot recently, oh well, must just have lots of work to do, Mum doesn’t seem bothered.

  I am well excited to get new neighbours moving into the vicarage tomorrow, can’t wait! Wonder who it’s going to be? Must be a family, the place is to big for one person.

  Mum went ballistic when I mentioned about going over to meet them, said I had to promise her not to go in. She forgets I am 10! Been waiting for ages to have a nosey round.

  I love the Old Vicarage and that funny
old crow. I feel happy, but sad. Happy someone is moving in, but sad because I always thought one day I would live there, somehow.

  Anyway going to go now and get some sleep, big day tomorrow and I want to look my best.

  Good night.

  Catherine closed her diary and placed it back beneath her pillow. The pink leather bound book was starting to age, but Catherine didn’t mind. It was the one place she could be herself and truly express her feelings, it was her best friend.

  Once she was ready for bed she switched off her light. The moon was still aglow in her bedroom, allowing her to have one final peep at the old Victorian vicarage.

  Although her mum had overreacted earlier she was right about one thing. Catherine was obsessed with that unexplainable building. It had a grip over her that she could not break free of, and it pained her to think that after tomorrow it might never look the same again.

  With that thought her eyes began to fill with tears. Catherine always thought that it would be her that would one day inject zest back into the old building.

  * * *

  Catherine awoke to the sound of her mum’s voice bellowing throughout the house. She quickly jumped out of bed and lay quietly on the floor. Pressing her ear into the carpet, she just about made out what her parents were saying.

  “What do you mean you have to go into work? For goodness sake, Pete it’s Saturday, you never work Saturdays,” her mum’s voice was not the usual soft tone Catherine was used to, but more stern.

  “I know,” her dad’s voice began, “But it’s just a one off, if I get my work done today, then I can be off tomorrow and Monday with you and Cathy, don’t be mad love,” Catherine’s dad said calmly trying to restore peace.

  “Don’t be mad,” her mum said having none of it. “Don’t be mad he says, oh I’m not mad dear, I’m flaming fuming!” Catherine’s heart sunk in her chest and her stomach began to churn.

  Peeling herself up from the floor, Catherine had heard enough and headed off downstairs.

  Noticing Catherine stood in the doorway they both stopped talking and almost in sequence smiled at her.

  “Morning love, did you sleep well?” her dad asked sitting himself down at the table.

  Amazed at the fact they were both acting like nothing had happened, Catherine answered, “Yeah fine thanks, you?”

  “Yeah I did once I finally got home,” he said accompanied by a nervous chuckle.

  His cheeky comment had only made Catherine’s mum even angrier.

  “Yes and your Father has got to go back into work again today! Don’t you dear? Anyone would think with all this extra work on you were having an affair!”

  “What?” Catherine gasped.

  “What?” Dad repeated in astonishment at the accusation.

  Catherine looked at her mum sharply, trying to digest her words. A lump formed in Catherine’s throat as she just about managed to ask, “Are you?”

  He too was now enraged as he rose to his feet, “No I’m flaming not! How could you think that, Julie?” her dad’s voice filled the air around them as Catherine’s mum turned her back on him. With no explanation to offer him, an awkward silence descended around the three of them.

  Only the sound of breathing could be heard for what seemed like an eternity, and Catherine didn’t know what to say. She stood frozen to her spot longing for something to break the silence, but nothing until,

  “Beep, beep, beep!!”

  Catherine’s parents sat themselves back down at the table with only the sound of munching to be heard.

  Hearing the beeping once more, Catherine turned to look out of the window and asked, “Who’s being noisy?”

  “It will probably be the new folk moving into number 21,” her dad answered chomping on his cornflakes.

  “Of course, it’s today,” Catherine remarked. “I can’t believe I forgot,” she shouted with excitement.

  Darting back through the kitchen, then the lounge and finally up the stairs to her bedroom.

  “What about your breakfast?” her mum shouted after her.

  “Breakfast can wait!” Catherine called back as the excitement spilled out of her.

  Catherine had one thing and one thing only on her mind.

  “Who are the people moving into MY house?”

  Chapter Two

  Moving in day

  “And here we are,” Matthew’s dad said welcoming Matthew into their new home. Matthew’s dad forced open their new front door. The combined smell of dirt, damp, dust and rot encompassed them. Matthew grimaced, “Lovely.”

  With one deep breath, Matthew unwillingly stepped foot into his new house. It was even worse than he’d first thought. From the outside the old building looked picturesque, with ivy hugging the crumbling walls.

  The inside did mirror the tired look of its exterior. Bare walls with patches of different types of wallpaper revealed several years and tastes of previous occupant’s. Woodworms had feasted on the window panes creating holes everywhere. Green mould indulged itself on the hallway carpet and had started to creep into the other rooms.

  There was one redeeming feature however, the spiralling stone staircase. It stretched the depth of the building, strong in character, the back bone of the old vicarage.

  “So, what do you think?” his dad asked pacing up and down the hallway with excitement, “gorgeous isn’t she?”

  ‘Was he looking at the same house?’ Matthew thought.

  Not wanting to dampen his dad’s enthusiasm Matthew agreed, “Yeah she’s really something alright.”

  “I know it needs a lot of work,” his dad said optimistically. Matthew whispered under his breath, “It doesn’t need any work, Dad it needs a flipping bulldozer.”

  “But I think,” Matthew’s dad continued, “we can definitely put our own ‘Khan-McKendry’ stamp on the place.”

  “Yeah, Dad anyway, come on we better start unpacking before it gets dark,” Matthew said heading off outside.

  Brushing past the withered Willow trees, Matthew meandered along the front path, which took him back towards the driveway.

  Approaching the driveway Matthew was startled by a rustling sound from a row of hedges.

  “What the?” Matthew said hearing the noise again.

  Slowly bending down, Matthew listened more intently. Moving closer and closer he could just about see an outline. There appeared to be an animal hidden within the bushes.

  “Oh hello,” Matthew spoke gently, not wanting to scare the creature, “You made me jump.”

  Taking a closer look Matthew could see what had surprised him.

  “Oh, hello Mr Crow!”

  The crow hopped out from his resting place and joined Matthew on the driveway. The crow looked Matthew up and down, in a curious manner to who was passing by.

  Matthew felt nervous as the crow moved closer. Not wanting to alarm the bird he said slowly, “I have just moved in here, well I say moved in we’re actually moving in today, me and my dad that is,” Matthew stopped himself suddenly realising he was in fact talking to a bird.

  Laughing out loud he looked down. “What am I doing talking to a crow? Like you’d know what I’m saying.”

  Unsettled with Matthew’s remark, the crow cawed towards Matthew. He wasn’t just ‘a crow’. He was Clever Crow who had been resident at number 21 for over ten years!

  Taken back by the crow’s response, Matthew asked, “Did you just caw at me?”

  Once again the crow echoed his call.

  “Ok now I am losing the plot,” Matthew smiled walking towards the removal van. The crow hopped along behind him.

  Turning back Matthew asked, “Are you following me now?” Then tilting his head Matthew continued, “can’t believe I’m asking this, but what do you want?”

  Clever Crow lowered his beak close to the ground. Matthew watched closely and then suddenly he noticed that the bird’s foot was bleeding.

  “Ah that’s what you want,
” Matthew said, “you want me to help you.” Matthew crouched down so he could see what was causing the crow to bleed.

  Clever Crow wasn’t nervous or scared of Matthew, and trustingly hopped closer towards him.

  “Well you are a clever crow, now let me just have a look,” Matthew reached down to grab the injured foot, “oh there it is, a tiny splinter of wood, have you been playing too close to some...” And with that Matthew quickly removed the splinter from the crow’s bleeding foot.

  Clever Crow thanked Matthew in his own way and cawed gratefully for his act of kindness.

  Stretching out his silky black wings, the crow hopped up into the sky. Freely soaring high above the vicarage, he then disappeared off into the distance.

  “Come on, Matthew, those boxes won’t move themselves!” his dad shouted as he raced past Matthew towards the back of the van.

  Looking back at Matthew he asked inquisitively, “What have you been doing out here anyway?”

  As Matthew started to help his dad unload, he began to tell him of his encounter with a very clever crow.

  After unloading all of their belongings, Matthew began to wander around his new surroundings.

  On either side of the hallway were two good sized sitting rooms. Across the back of the house was a farmhouse style kitchen. Cold slabs lay unevenly on the kitchen floor, and piles of dust appeared on every work top. A stable door was hanging crooked on its rotten rusted hinges.

  “It just gets better,” Matthew commented sarcastically running his fingers along the worktops, creating a plume of dust.

  “Let’s hope upstairs is better than down here,” Matthew said in a rather unconfident tone as he headed upstairs.

  “Your room, Matthew,” his dad called, “is at the front of the house, just past the bathroom.”

  “Ok Dad,” Matthew gently replied.

  Matthew climbed the spiralling staircase and walked along the landing towards his bedroom door.

  Gently pushing the door open, Matthew was greeted by the dazzling sunlight which flooded through the doorway.