“What?!” I gasped, not believing my eyes. My heart thumped and my body shook. “How did… why… what is…!” I stopped, unable to gather my words together. I stared at Mr. Shackleton. Why had he turned against Langstone? But there was no time to ask. Shackleton fell to the floor and all that was left of him was his cloak, axe, and the lantern.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
Kassidy
The wind roared through Doctor Langstone’s room, tossing up the curtains and blasting us with its icy grip. We stared at what was left of Langstone. The ash from his body vanished on a gush of wind.
Jude stepped forward and said, “Langstone might be gone but Vectis isn’t. It won’t be long before he finds himself another body. If you don’t fancy loaning him yours, I suggest we get moving.”
“But what happened?” asked Raven, crouching over Mr. Shackleton’s cloak. She poked at the crumpled clothing with a finger – too afraid to lift it up in her hands.
I turned and looked at Ben. He stood staring at Shackleton’s cloak and said, “Whatever made him turn on Langstone you can be sure that it had nothing to do with Vectis. That wasn’t his plan. Something else made Shackleton do it.” Ben peered around the room and whispered, “Something or someone.”
I stared at my friends, scrutinizing each and every one of them. I shifted nervously on my feet – that same old feeling of distrust reared its ugly head again. Thoughts of Doshia raced through my mind.
Coming forward, Robert, his green eyes worn, said, “We have to get going. Langstone was wrong about the coffins being held at Strangers Hill. They’ve been moved. While I’ve been on the run and in hiding, I’ve been back and forth to Strangers Hill. I’ve overheard Inspector Cropper on his radio and I know where those coffins are heading.” Robert turned, looked at Ben and Jude, and said, “I know it isn’t in your interest to have those coffins destroyed but in the interests of everyone else here, might I suggest that we destroy the ones that mean us harm?”
Jude looked at Ben and for once neither of them argued with each other. Nodding his head, Ben said, “I think your suggestion stands well with Jude and me. However, I speak for myself and not for Quint. When Quint comes back he might feel differently.”
“Where are the coffins heading?” asked Jude.
Robert tucked his hands inside his coat pockets and said, “There’s an island just off the east coast. The coffins will arrive at Broken Cove and await shipment over to the island. We need to get there before the coffins are loaded onto the boat.”
“How long have we got before the coffins arrive at Broken Cove?” I asked, staring at Robert’s dirty face.
Turning toward the door, Robert said, “They arrive tomorrow evening. We can make it if we leave now.”
“Wait,” said Max. “What about the Cleaners, how do we get through them?”
“How did you get through?” I asked Robert.
“I went in the way that Doctor Fletcher went,” answered Robert. “I was lucky, they seemed far too preoccupied to pay me any attention. But of course that might not be the case when we all try to get through.”
“Great,” moaned Raven. “I’m not sure I even want to try.”
“You have to,” glared Jude. “You don’t wanna stay here by yourself now, do you?”
“Of course I don’t,” snapped Raven. “But mingling with those demon things doesn’t appeal to me, either.”
“Let’s just get going, shall we?” Ben took my hand and headed for the door. I looked over my shoulder one last time at Langstone’s room. My eyes fell on the remains of Sylvia and I blinked back a tear. “Sorry, Sylvia,” I whispered. “I was too late to help you.” I turned away and left the room.
Outside, the morning hung low with clouds tormenting more rain. The wind gushed through the ruin and I wondered if there would ever be an end to this nightmare.
As we followed the gravel track through the trees, the voices that haunted my head spoke up. They hissed and spat their usual poison but I pushed them back. I couldn’t let them win. I knew I had more hurdles to get through, but for now, I had Ben and the prospect of destroying all those who meant us harm was all that mattered to me.
As we rounded the bend, the gate came into view. I took a deep breath and prepared myself for the Cleaners.
Deceived (The Kassidy Bell Series) Book 5
Coming soon!
Chasing Life (Book One)
Now Available!
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