The Hollows: A Midnight Gunn Novel

by C. L. Monaghan

  I’d have been better off unconscious. Least I wouldn’t know I was dying…oh stop it!

  “Yearghh! Come on Gunn! Where are you?” His shouts reverberated off the walls, mocking him, emphasizing his solitude. It was at that moment he stepped back and knocked something metal. A sloshing wet sound mingled with the metallic and he noticed the dripping had stopped. Bending, his fingers found the object. It was a bucket. A bucket that had been filled with water and was now laid empty on its side, its contents spilled.

  Fuck!

  There was nothing to be done except put it back and wait. Arthur sat heavily down on the wooden stairs, his thirst ever more pressing, wondering just how long it would take for the slow dripping to provide him with a drink.

  The clink of the bell was an unpleasant sound. It summoned him from a place he did not want to leave; lost in his thoughts and the failure, thus far, to find his friend. Midnight knew Arthur did not have much time left, he might even be dead already. They had searched; him, Rowe, the men from Southwark and the Metropolitan Police, they’d scoured the Rainbow rooms and the club. They’d visited all the opium dens, the Rookeries and the brothels to no avail. The worst of it was, Midnight had not been able to use his powers on Chinese Mary again because she was gone. The first place they had looked was the Rainbow. Gunn had not been keen to revisit knowing what he’d left behind- Kim’s corpse- but the body had gone and so had Mary and all her staff. They had vanished and left behind no records or documents that appeared useful. The Rainbow was a ghost ship, one unwilling to give up her secrets.

  The next place they had gone was Wong’s tea shop. Wong, of course denied all knowledge of Mary and the Rainbow but Midnight already knew he was lying, he hadn’t needed to use his senses for that. He felt no guilt in telling Wong of his previous encounter with his money-runner- the father of five who collected the takings from all of Wong’s undeclared businesses. Wong would no doubt fire the poor man if not worse, but finding Arthur was paramount and Midnight could not afford to let any sympathies for the clerk and his family get in the way of this investigation, not now. If indeed the clerk had been telling the truth, Midnight eased his conscience by promising himself to properly compensate the man for losing his job once Arthur was found...dead or alive. Rowe had asked Wong if he knew where Mary was or of any acquaintances in the city she might run to and he’d answered no. His answer had been truthful to a point, but Midnight could sense something seemed a little off; Wong was hiding something, he just couldn’t put his finger on it.

  For two days, they had searched and come up with nothing but a half-truth and a box of old papers and junk that Rowe told him, held nothing of value. Midnight had asked if he might go through them himself, just in case and this is what he now sat in his cellar room doing. The bell clinked again, this time a little more demanding. He sighed and made his way out of the room and up the steps to answer the summons. Giles met him in the library, “Apologies Sir but Mrs. Phillips is having a fit and has insisted I come and bring you.”

  “Are they here then?”

  “They are. I am to escort you to the front door to greet our new guests at the request of...”

  “Mrs. Phillips. I know,” he sighed. “Come along then, best not keep everybody waiting. Is everything in order?” They chatted as they walked together.

  “It is Sir. Their rooms are in the same wing as Miss Polly’s and the nurses room too.”

  “And she will arrive when exactly?”

  “On the morrow. Miss Annabelle Carstairs. She came highly recommended and seems like a very pleasant and capable woman.”

  “Excellent Giles, I’m sure she will do nicely. I can trust you and Mrs. Phillips to have good judgement in such matters.”

  “Thank you, Sir.”

  They came into the entrance hall to find Mrs. Phillips flapping and fussing like a mother hen as two men in the staff uniforms of the All Souls Asylum escorted Billy Bromley and Miss Sally into the house.

  “Giles, would you mind?” Midnight gestured toward Mr. Bromley, who was getting on in years and was struggling negotiating the front door steps. Giles held up Mr. Bromley from the right as the asylum employee held him up from the left.

  “That’s right Billy, lift your foot now, step up.” Midnight noticed that Billy automatically did as the employee instructed but there was no emotional response, he merely stared blankly into the distance. It struck him once again how strangely empty these victims appeared. It was as if they’d had the life sucked from them and...

  “That’s it!” Midnight declared, much to the surprise of those around him.

  “Sir?”

  “Giles! I know what’s wrong with them! Well, at least I have a theory. Come let’s get them settled then I can see if I’m correct.” One of the uniformed men handed him some papers to sign, which Midnight did hurriedly- eager to test his theory.

  “All yours now Mr. Gunn. There’s no luggage, they didn’t have none.”

  “Thank you,” Midnight handed one copy of the papers back to the man. “Please inform Mr. Hawksmith his cheque will be delivered in due course.” The man took the papers, nodded and left. Midnight turned to Mrs. Phillips and Giles who now held onto Miss Sally and Billy respectively.

  “I shall escort Mr. Bromley, Giles if you’d be so kind as to help Mrs. P with the young lady?”

  When they had settled both patients into their rooms Midnight drew Mrs. Phillips aside.

  “I have a theory and I think I can prove it but I will need Miss Polly’s help. Do you think her well enough?”

  “Depends what you have in mind I suppose Sir? What is it you require her to do exactly?”

  “Just visit our new guests and look at them, that’s all.”

  “Look at ‘em?”

  “That’s all, I promise. Is she well enough to walk? I will carry her if not.”

  Mrs. Phillips chuckled.

  “Happen she’ll be glad of the chance to get out of bed and have a little wander, she’s been begging to for the last two days.”

  Midnight grinned and followed his housekeeper to Polly’s room.

  The girl was, as Mrs. Phillips predicted, more than happy to oblige. Polly scrambled eagerly from her bed and into her slippers and dressing gown. Midnight waited at the door, checking she had the Labrodite bracelet on before he stepped inside. She greeted him with a beaming smile and he could not help but return it. She surprised him more when he felt her right hand slip into his as they walked the corridor together. He heard a sniffle behind him and turned his head to catch Mrs. Phillips dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. He thought on how oddly satisfying it felt to have a child in his household after so many years of isolation. Now he had two other guests in his home that he was responsible for. Opening his house to strangers was something he would’ve never considered a few months ago, he’d worked dozens of cases alongside Gredge yet none had affected him like this. Glancing at Polly, skipping beside him, he realized it was because of her; she had changed his heart. He wasn’t quite ready to enter society; his secret must remain a secret for all time but Midnight was beginning to see the benefits of having a young soul such as Miss Polly in his life.

  They stopped outside Sally’s room and Midnight faced Polly.

  “Are you ready child?”

  “Mm-hmm,” she nodded.

  “I will need you to remove your bracelet Polly.” The girl’s expression changed to one of fear and he quickly reassured her. “Only for a moment and you must not look at me. Do you understand? Look only at the woman in this room and tell me what you see. Mrs. Phillips will hand you back your bracelet before you come out.”

  “Alright Mista Midnight.”

  “Mrs. Phillips, if you would?”

  “Yes Sir. Come now Polly. We shall enter together and say hello to our guest.” They went through the door together and then the housekeeper returned alone with Polly’s bracelet. Midnight called through the heavy oak door, “Don’t be afraid Polly. Miss Sally is sick just like you
were and we need to help her. I need you to tell me what you see when you look at Miss Sally.” There was a moment of silence and then,

  “Nuffink. I don’t see nuffink.”

  “Are you looking right at Miss Sally, Polly?”

  “Yeah course, like you told me to but...she ain’t shiny like you or Missus P and Mista Morgan is.”

  Midnight’s fears were confirmed.

  “Do you see any colours at all Polly? Grey or black even?”

  “Nah nuffink.”

  “Good girl, Mrs. Phillips will bring your bracelet. Put it on before we visit Mr. Bromley.”

  Clementine returned to Polly and a thought occurred to him.

  “Polly, do you have it on?”

  “Yes Mista.”

  “Just look at her again. Do you see anything now?” An agonizing silence prevailed as he waited for some response, “Polly? Do you see anything?”

  “Um...sort of. She still ain’t shiny but there’s not nuffink anymore.”

  “Can you describe it to me?”

  “Um...well, it’s a kind of a nuffink but one I can see.”

  “Any colour?”

  “Nah, it’s strange Mista’ Midnight. It’s sort of like a Miss Sally-shaped hole I suppose, only I can see it...bit like looking through a window. Yeah that’s it, a window!”

  “You’ve done well child. You can come out now.”

  Polly exited the door with a sad smile.

  “Is that what I looked like?”

  Midnight kneeled and tugged one of her dark curls,

  “Absolutely not, you were like Brier-Rose, only very much prettier.”

  “Who’s she?”

  “A sleeping princess. I’ll read you her story one day.”

  “Ain’t nobody ever read me a story before. Will I like it?”

  “I shall read you many stories and you will love them all I’m sure,” he smiled. “Are you ready to visit Mr. Bromley?”

  Polly nodded and the three of them headed down the corridor to Billy’s room. Mrs. Phillips knocked and went in first then Polly followed.

  “Same again please Polly, look both with and without the bracelet. What do you see?”

  “He’s the same as the other lady, Mista’ Midnight.”<

  “Thank you, child.”

  “Did I do good?” Polly asked when she stood in front of him again.

  “You were perfect. You should go back to your room and rest now. Mrs. Phillips will bring you refreshments.”

  “Will you read me that story, about the princess?” she asked, a hopeful glint in her eyes.

  “Later perhaps, at bedtime. I must talk with Mr. Morgan now and then I must continue my efforts to find my friend.”

  “Oh...alright then.” Her face fell in disappointment. “You promise?”

  “I promise. Now go with Mrs. Phillips.”

  Polly turned to the housekeeper and asked, “What time is bedtime?”

  “Supper is at half past six Miss, then bedtime at seven.”

  “I’ll see you at seven then Mista’,” she declared and Midnight chuckled.

  “Seven o’clock sharp!” he replied, winking at a smiling Mrs. Phillips as she took the girl back to her room.

  Midnight went to find Giles and asked him to send word to Constable Rowe that he had discovered what ailed the remaining Spring-Heeled Jack victims and to come visit as soon as he could.

  “Might I ask what it is you’ve discovered Sir? It may help in the care of our two patients when nurse Carstairs arrives tomorrow.”

  “I will tell you Giles but it will not aid us in caring for these two poor unfortunates, not in any way.”

  “It is that bad Sir?”

  “It is. Let us say that Jack has done them no favours in leaving his victims alive. At this stage, they would have been better off dead.”

  Giles looked shocked, “But...Miss Polly?”

  “Polly was fortunate enough not to have suffered the same fate. She merely blocked her mind from whatever it was that happened to her that night. I must conclude that her attacker somehow got disturbed and did not get what he came for.”

  “And what was that?”

  “Her soul, Giles. Spring-Heeled jack is harvesting souls.”

  Midnight waited impatiently in his library for Constable Rowe. He’d brought the box of papers from the Rainbow with him and riffled though it piece by piece looking for anything that might indicate where Mary had gone. There were receipts for alcohol, furniture and other such domestic items but nothing to tie her to Wong or any suggestion of another premises anywhere in London. He banged his fist on the desk and swore. If only he hadn’t killed Kim, he could’ve perhaps discovered the truth of Arthur’s disappearance from his mind. In his frustration, Midnight pushed the box away from him and it toppled over onto the floor.

  “Bathsheba’s backside!” He cursed and stomped around the desk to gather the fallen papers. A giggle and a flash of white caught his eye. “Aren’t you supposed to be in bed little Miss Peeper? It’s impolite to spy on people you know.”

  Polly stepped out boldly and stood defiant in her white cotton nightdress and slippers.

  “I ain’t spying! I was just having a wander is all. You promised me a story.”

  Midnight sat back on his heels and looked at the grandfather clock in the corner.

  “Is it seven o’clock yet Miss Peeps?”

  “I dunno...I can’t tell time can I.” She shrugged and Midnight struggled to suppress a smile.

  “It’s barely six young lady, which means you’ve yet to have supper. Mrs. Phillips will have a fit if she finds you missing from your room. As for not being able to tell time...well, we shall have to remedy that. We shall find you a governess once you are up to it.”

  “You don’t half speak funny Mista’.” Polly observed.

  “And you are far too brazen for your own good,” he quipped back.

  “What’s that mean then?”

  “It means that if you want a bedtime story then you had better hop over here and help me pick up this mess.”

  “That’s not what it means!”

  “Indeed, it is not but you won’t find out the truth unless you help me.”

  Polly stood with her hands behind her back swinging her shoulders from side to side, observing him through narrowed eyes. He raised his eyebrows questioningly at her.

  “I can tell you’re only joking you know.”

  “Oh, you can? How can you be so sure Miss Peeps?”

  “It’s your colours, they’re all swirly. I seen it on Missus. P and Mista’ Morgan too. When they’re happy their shines go all swirly.”

  Midnight panicked a little.

  “Polly, are you wearing your bracelet?”

  She dangled her right arm in front of her to display the jewel.

  “Course I am. It makes ‘em brighter. It’s nicer too ‘cause then I can’t see the other bits.”

  “What other bits?”

  “The dark,” she stated, “and your face don’t look dead anymore.”

  He was stunned by her second statement. He’d expected she could see his dark side, that’s why she’d screamed in fear of him before, but he was baffled by what she said about his face.

  “How did my face look dead? You mean it looked dark?”

  “Nah, you looked proper dead...only half of it mind you.” She screwed up her face in thought, struggling to articulate her meaning. “It was like you had two faces, one was you and the other was bones...I thought you was death come to get me.”

  “Oh child, I am sorry to have frightened you so.” He understood her initial fear of him fully now; she had first thought Clementine and Giles to be angels, they were ‘shiny’, and he must have looked monstrous in comparison. He’d had no idea his darkness had a face! That was certainly a revelation. “And you do not fear me now?”

  Polly shook her head making her curls bounce.

  “Mm-mm. Mista’ Morgan said you was special, a kind of angel that scares away bad
people. I ‘spect you would scare ‘em if they seen that mush too. No offence mind.”

  “None taken.” Midnight could not help but marvel at the bravery and fortitude of the little urchin that, by all intents and purposes, was his child now. He gestured for her to come to him. “Miss Polly Peeps, you see more than anyone realizes and I think that will see you in good stead as you grow.” He tugged playfully on her curls again. “Mr. Morgan is very kind to explain things to you, one day soon I will tell you all about me and then you will never have to be afraid ever again.” And then Polly did the most extraordinary thing he had ever encountered; she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. It took him a few seconds to respond, he was so taken aback by the gesture. Her face was tucked into the crook of his neck, buried beneath her arms that held him so tightly. The lights in the library flared suddenly, filling the room with a glorious glow. Midnight had never seen his light powers flourish thus. His dark side had always dominated and he realized the surge was fuelled by an increasing regard for the child. He responded and wrapped her up in a gentle embrace.

  “Does this mean you’ll help me tidy up this mess then?”

  She giggled and her head popped up to meet his gaze.

  “Only if you read me the princess story like you promised.”

  “You are a wily one, aren’t you? It’s a deal Miss Peeps.”

  Polly let him go and held out her left arm, its hand missing.

  “Bump stumps on it?”

  He was shocked how she could be so blasé about her debility and it must have shown on his face because Polly burst into a fit of giggles, “Ha ha! I got you good!” She thumped him on the chest with her arm, “Don’t worry Mista’, I get everyone wiv that one.” Her ceaseless giggling was contagious and soon he found himself chuckling alongside her.