by Rachel
Her mouth drops open but I can see she is still a little weary.
Lucy shows me something else; a card falls from above onto hers and mine hands as she clutches me tight.
“This is a card she made for you on mother’s day in school, she said when she brought it home your cried, when she thought you was upset you hugged her and said she was your shining star sent from the heaven’s so you could be her mummy…” I see belief on her face but Lucy isn’t done.
“She tells me she’s never had a daddy and that daddy went before she was born but you promised her that your love was enough for two and you told her this every night before she went to sleep and the necklace she has around her neck, her father bought it before she was born, it has a picture of the both of you inside.”
“I did, how do you know that” she looks into my eyes shocked.
“Because she’s here, she wants you to know the bad man has been caught and he can never hurt anyone else and that she’s ok, she’s found peace and she wants you to find peace too.”
Even my eyes are filling up now, this woman’s love and the love I can see from Lucy is overwhelming, nothing is stronger than that of a bond between mother and child. Lucy comes by my side and kisses her mums cheek; I smile softly as she is saying goodbye. It gives Lucy’s mum shivers, as if she can feel her daughter’s lips touch her cheek.
“Lucy” she whispers as she touches her cheek.
She looks back at me and wraps her arms around me embracing me with a hug and sobbing as she feels a sense of relief. I look behind me and Levi is smiling, his eyes are a little red where he is trying to hold back his own tears. I look at Lucy, her appearance changes to that like Amy’s was when Amy found peace, she gives me a smile and disappears as a gust of wind passes by us.
Lucy’s mum looks at me “she’s gone isn’t she?”
I nod in agreement; finally they are both at peace and with the evil in this world and in the afterlife its nice knowing that I have helped these two people. My heart aches with sorrow and happiness all at the same time.
We say our goodbyes and as we leave I look back to see Lucy’s mum smiling holding what I believe to be one of Lucy’s tops, she can move on now. We see the police are still at that house and we are not sure if that fucker has actually been arrested but knowing they are there and they know who is, he will never be able to hurt another child and those three girls will be safe back with their parents.
“Well done” Levi says as he smiles proudly at me.
“That was intense” I breathe deeply.
“I know, but you gave a mother peace that even though her child is gone, and might I add horrifically, she is happy and safe in the after-life” he puts his arm around me.
“I know, if only it was always like that,”
He looks at me knowing what I mean, there are some evil spirits out there and one of them is after me and Jack. Levi clutches my hand tightly as if to say ‘I’m with you all the way’ and I feel my heart skip a beat.
I’m sore, I’m tired, it’s been a long ass day and very eventful I might say, I just want to go home, curl up with my man and feel bright eyed ready to see my beautiful boy tomorrow, in this moment, right now, I feel peaceful, fuck Ivan, I have what he wants and I am not going to let him take it from me.
CHAPTER 21
I open my eyes, my sight is blurred, not quite awake yet but my god I’m hot and in a bit of pain, I look and Levi is cuddled into me, wrapped around me like wrapping paper, his body is on my ribs and it hurts.
Today I get to see Jack after all that palaver and I’m so happy, the sun shines through the window so brightly, I must have forgotten to shut the curtains, Levi is dribbling as he’s asleep, he looks so peaceful and I don’t want to wake him. I sneak out of bed and head to the bathroom, bless him, he’s been through so much, me being hospital and my big secret oh and not to mention the paedophiles house we broke into. I don’t want to think about him and I’m hoping the police caught him, I’m not going to check up on it, Lucy is at peace now and so is her mother, that’s the main thing.
Looking in the mirror I notice that my hair is dull and bags under my eyes, wow, the stress this is causing is now starting to show. Why can’t I be normal? Why was I chosen to have this gift? I don’t know, fate I guess, maybe God bestowed it on me thinking I was the best one to help, is there a God? I don’t know! Mind is racing with a million things, like how I’m meant to stop Ivan. I mean, Jack is growing up; surely he would want a baby not a five nearly six year old boy. If you were going to start your life and be reborn wouldn’t you want the use of a baby?
Why Jack? He has nothing special to offer, yes he has the same gift as me but does that mean some monster has to try and take him from me? And does Jack have something I don’t know about?
Wow, thinking of all this can make a person go crazy, I know I have to find a way to stop him and I know that one day he won’t just be attacking me, he will want to take it further, but how do I do that? He wants my soul but how does he take something not even I know how to give or for that fact, stop him from taking it.
“Babe?”
I hear Levi’s voice on the other side of the bathroom door, I open the door to see this love of my life stood there, bed hair, boxers on and a naked body, he is mighty fine.
“Hey babe, you ok?” he asks me.
I smile at him “I’m fine, just using the bathroom, what time can we go get Jack?”
“Well we’ll have breakfast and a shower then we’ll go straight to him.”
I can’t hide my smile, I have missed my little boy so much and inside I’m so worried about him, it’s a nice sunny day. Levi kisses me and I can hear my phone vibrating on the bedside table, it’s from Pete.
*I’d like to see my son please… can I have him this coming weekend? Oh and what’s wrong with you*
Look at him trying to act like he cares when really I know he’s being nosey, so I reply;
*Yeah not a problem, you can have him this coming weekend and nothing is wrong with me I’m fine now….*
Quickly he texts back;
*You can tell me, I just want to make sure you’re ok, I care about you….”
I tut and get all huffy and Levi notices my reaction.
“Who is it babe?” he asks.
“No-one, just Pete trying to pretend he cares….” I show him the message.
I don’t hide things from Levi, he is welcome to see my phone, messages, pictures, anything because I want no secrets, ok yes I did have that one big secret but that wasn’t because I was being sneaky, that was something that could possibly harm him, ya know?
“What the fuck? He’s texting you that knowing you’re with me?” his face goes red, angry.
“I know, but he does things like this, tries to show he cares because he thinks I will give up and you and then I will go back to him because he believes in his twisted mind that, that is what I want”
Levi frowns angrily; I know this isn’t sitting well with him.
“I’m going to speak to him….”
Without hesitation I hand Levi the phone, he is texting furiously, he won’t ring him as there is not point, Pete will hang up as soon as he hears it’s Levi and Levi won’t be able to get his words across.
I read the message he has sent;
*Hi Pete it’s Levi, I have just read the message you have sent Robyn and read others and I am not happy about it, she is with me now, my girlfriend and not yours, we are happy to allow you seeing your son as let’s face it, you are his father, but Robyn does not need your concern, she has me now so stop texting her bullshit or you will have me to deal with*
Well it’s actually calmer and politer than what I was expecting to read.
“I’m not going to call him names, what’s the point? Besides I have you in my arms and that’s all that matters and Jack is mine as he is part of you” he smiles softly and kisses me.
I smile at him “I am yours baby, all yours and I’ll never be anyone else�
��s.”
My phone buzzes again, no surprise it’s a response from Pete.
*This has nothing to do with you Levi, I speak to Robyn about OUR son which also has nothing to do with, you maybe the current guy she is sleeping with but I DO care for her and I DO love her so I will always make sure she is ok, don’t threaten me with your little school boy words, Robyn won’t let you hurt me*
What a deluded fucker, Levi is practically on fire with the amount of anger cursing through his body right now; I can practically see the steam coming out from ears.
“Babe he doing it to get a rise out of you, he thinks he can push you away” my voice is low.
“Well I’m not going anywhere” he snaps.
“Wow, ok, look I will text him….”
I lift my phone, Levi behind me so he can see what I am typing.
*Pete, it’s Robyn, I don’t give a flying fuck that you care or love me because I do not have the same feelings for you, believe me, as for Levi, yes he is the man I am sleeping with but he is also the man I love and the man I plan on spending the rest of my life loving, get it into your thick skull that I will NEVER EVER come back to you, that I will NEVER want you again and my life is with Levi, I will not stop you seeing Jack but if you continue to cause issues then the only way you will be seeing him will be through a solicitor. You can pick him up on Friday as agreed, now kindly fuck off and stop trying to butt in on my life, oh and I can't stop Levi hurting you and quite frankly I don't care if he does*
I press send, now I’m a little furious, we wait a while but there is no reply, maybe the dickhead finally got the message. I mean what woman of sound mind would give up someone amazing for a two-timing asshole? No-one I hope.
Levi and I shower together; it’s heavenly, the water running between our bodies as we are up against each-other, kissing under the fine sprinkles of the warm water, lovely.
We get dressed, have our breakfast and head over to Levi’s mums. My stomach is swirling with excitement, I can’t wait to see and hold my little boy.
The drive isn’t that far away and we will be there shortly, a worrying feeling comes over me, for some reason some voice in my head tells me something is wrong with Jack.
Mother intuition maybe? I don’t know but I know that when I walk through that door I will run over to him and check him all over.
CHAPTER 22
We arrive outside the house and I see Jack’s little head pop up in the window with a huge smile and a wave. I unclip my seatbelt and head to the front door.
His mum opens the door and Jack comes running towards me. He leaps into my arms and the pain hurts as his body bashes against my ribs, but I don’t care, he’s worth feeling this pain just to hold him tightly.
“Mummy I missed you” he says sweetly.
“Aww mummy missed you too sweetheart” I say happily smothering him in kisses.
I put him down and give Levi’s mum a kiss on the cheek and say thank you. She offers us to stay for dinner and I can’t say no, I feel that would be being rude, I offer to help but she insists she does it, she’s such a sweet woman, now I know where Levi gets his kindness from, I smile at the thought.
“Where’s Jack?” I prompt looking for him.
“Oh he’s probably playing upstairs, sweet boy has a wonderful imagination and loves to tell stories when playing with his toys” Levi’s mother states happily.
This is true, Jack does have an imagination, wait, hang on, I’m confused “What stories?”
“Oh you know of the man who comes to visit to play with him and promises to take him to a magical land….” She laughs “I think he’s creating someone from Disney.”
My stomach flips, she doesn’t know it but I know it, some ghost has been talking to my son, sounds weird but I just know. I go upstairs to find Jack when I hear him talking, I feel the cold air and the hair rises on back of my neck, I know he’s not alone, for fuck sake now they found him here? I don’t go in the room, I just listen, I can hear both of them speaking.
“No, mummy doesn’t like me going with strangers.”
“I’m no stranger little one, come with me and I will show you magical things”
“Can we take mummy and Levi too?”
My heart sinks a little that wherever this thing wants to take him Jack is thinking of Levi, I’m glad they have bonded.
“We can take your mummy but this Levi person will have to stay”
“Ok, I will go get mummy first and then….” Jack stops.
I open the door quickly to see him sat there and a black hooded figure sat at the edge of the bed.
“Who are you…?” I ask scared.
“I am he who collects what is needed” this voice is deep, manly almost.
“Well he who collects what is needed, why are you bothering my son?” I’m annoyed.
“I am he who collects what is needed….”
I cut him off “Yes, yes I know you just told me that….”
“And what I need is him” and he points at Jack.
My mouth goes dry; this black hooded figure I swear from memory I have seen before. He makes his way towards me and I walk backwards until I hit the wall and am unable to move any further.
“I always get what I come for” his voice callous.
“Look, I don’t know who you are and quite frankly I don’t care, but you will never ever lay your hands on my son do you hear me!” I tried to hide the fear in my voice.
This black hooded figure doesn’t move, he just leans in on me, he’s so close I can smell sewerage or something just as vile. He looks up and I can see his face, it makes me scream, it’s ghostly with maggots and flies all over him, blood everywhere, I feel very sick.
“Babe?”
I hear Levi calling me, this thing takes a look at me, he sort of gives a crooked smile and then he disappears.
Levi bursts into the room “you ok?” he seems worried.
“Uhhh-uhh-, y-yeah, yeah sorry I’m fine” but my voice is shaky and giving away the fact that I am scared.
I can see the worried expression on Levi’s face; I place my hand on his cheek tenderly.
“I’m ok babe, I just need to speak to Jack a second ok, go help your mum, I’ll be fine” I smile softly.
He kisses the palm of my hand and leaves, hesitantly.
“Sweetie, can mummy talk to you a sec” I ask as I sit beside him.
“Yeah mummy” he replies so nicely.
“Who was that man you were talking to?”
“My friend mummy, well, he is a stranger but he is my friend” he babbles.
“A stranger cannot be your friend, that’s why we call them strangers, because we don’t know them” I advise my voice stern.
“Ok mummy,”
“Where was he going to take you?”
“To magical place where he says I will grow big and strong” he smiles childish at me.
“Where too?”
“I don’t know” he shrugs.
My heart is beating fast, those fuckers have stepped up their game, but what I don’t understand is why Ivan the fucker has sent someone else after my boy and not come after him himself? He can surely attack me he’s had no issues doing that so why not attack Jack? I don’t want him to of course I don’t but I don’t understand.
“Dinners ready” Levi’s mum calls from the bottom of the stairs.
“Uhh yeah coming” I look at Jack “Sweetheart we need to keep this our secret ok, mummy will find the man and ask him ok, now be good at the dinner table.”
“Ok mummy” he kisses me and heads downstairs.
At the table everyone is entering in polite nice conversation, smiling and laughing with each-other, Jack is being such a good boy and using his manners well, proud mummy moment there. But in my head all I can think about is that bloody ghost and what game they are playing. The question keeps repeating in my mind ‘Who is he’ and the words he used ‘I am he who collects what is needed.’
What? He needs Jack? I know wh
at Ivan needs Jack for I have already been told this but to get that they need mine too so why send someone else. Ahhh for god’s sake I wish I had the answers right here. I need help, more help, my head is screaming out for someone to help me but who? Do I go and see another psychic or spiritualist or what? What do I do?
“Are you ok my dear,” Levi’s mum asks concerned.
“Yes thank you” I smile back.
“You seem a million miles away” she tilts her head smiling.
“Sorry, just listening to you all” I lie.
Levi can sense there is something wrong with me and he knows it’s something to do with me and Jack, he can guess what it is, I see it on his face how he is trying to work it out but deep down he knows it wasn’t a normal ghost and he knows that my mind is trying to put pieces together and figure this out.
We have been at Levi’s mums all day and Jack is starting to get tired, so we get Jack wrapped up, give his mum a kiss, say thank you and our goodbyes and head on home. In the car I can see Levi has something on his mind, it’s written all over his face, he has that look when he's thinking something and his brow crinkles.
“You ok” I ask him softly.
“Yeah just…..I don’t know” he sighs.
“Tell me” I push.
“This thing, this thing with you, I know it was happening in my mums and the thing with Pete, just a lot babe you know and I’m trying to keep my cool but it’s hard,” he runs his hand through his hair.
I swallow a lump in my throat, “I know and if it’s too much I understand if you want to leave” my head lowers.
“No, no, no I don’t want to leave baby, it’s me and you, it’s just trying to wrap my head round it” he places his hand on my knee.
“I know it is babe but I don’t think I could find the strength without you….” I smile softly.
We hold hands on the way home; I can feel how much he loves me just by holding my hand or the way he looks at me. When we arrive home its gone eight o’clock and Jack is fast asleep, we get him out of the car and quietly make our way inside and out him to bed.
