Afterlife (Afterlife Saga)

by Stephanie Hudson

  “Not too bad but I only have myself to blame.” The words slipped out before I could think but thankfully he didn’t reply, instead he just gripped the steering wheel tighter in his hands and twisted them as though releasing some anger from a past memory. He was like me in that way. He didn’t like to show his emotions. Instead he had a punching bag in the basement that he used to get all his aggression out on. Not that he was an aggressive guy, it's just that everyone needs their release mechanisms. I had yet to find mine. He relaxed a bit as we made small talk but I seemed to get more tense the closer we got to the club and we weren’t far away now.

  It was a clear night but still cold and crisp. I pulled my long jacket collar closer up to my face keeping my neck warm. At least it would be warm inside. I was about twenty minutes too early but I’m sure that wouldn’t matter. I knew tonight would be mainly showing me around but that part excited me. It was just such an amazing place. I could imagine some lord or lady owning the town and this was where they resided. But not this town, it looked more as if it belonged somewhere in Europe rather than the States, because of its age and architecture. And from the sounds of things, a lord did live there and did own this town, one I was going to work for. Now this thought got my pulse racing! I shook off the feeling as quickly as it entered my head, there was no need to start panicking for no reason. I got a hold of myself and made my feet move forward. The same doormen greeted me as I approached the door, which made my nerves calm slightly.

  The place wasn’t as busy as it had been the night before but it was earlier, so that might explain why. The room now looked even bigger now it was nearly empty. I could see more detail that had previously been lost in the mass of bodies concealing it. The bar area was made from a glass front with metal entwined through it. The metal was made to look like a thorny vine that was piercing the glass and at each point that did, it was surrounded in a blood red tint. It looked like a piece of art. The rest of the bar followed on with the theme, housing big glass shelves with vine metal supports, holding a variety of different bottles of liquor upon them. Some of which I recognised and some that looked imported from God only knows where.

  “Hey you’re early, that’s good!” Jerry was coming towards me not looking quite as flustered as last time. He was tall and very thin and he reminded me a bit of Nosferatu, as he was bald and had the palest skin I have ever seen, paler than mine. He held a constant fear in his eyes and moved nervously from side to side. He didn’t strike me as a club Manager, and I couldn't see the kindness in his eyes that I had last night.

  “I hope that’s ok,” I whispered, not knowing what else to say. He nodded as though distracted by something, his eyes seemed locked and he stared behind me in a frightening gaze. I was just about to turn and look but he blinked twice and turned back to me abruptly.

  “Ok then, let’s get you started.” I turned to follow him but not before looking in the direction he had fixated on. He had been staring at the VIP level but whatever he had been staring at was now gone and you could only make out faint shadows that didn’t seem to be moving.

  “Now there’s only one thing to warn you about, we only have one rule…but it’s very important, you see,” he was whispering but then he stopped and looked around as though he was about to tell me a deadly secret. He leaned in close and I could smell a sour tinge to his breath, which made me gag slightly.

  “Nobody goes upstairs…EVER!” He said, shouting this last part louder than the rest and I don’t know why but this sent a chill down my spine. This place didn’t seem real, like this guy was an actor and I was on some weird ‘caught on camera’ show. The ones where they trick some poor unsuspecting fool that it was real and they get a big kick out of their reactions.

  “O......k......” I said drawing out each letter.

  “Yes... I mean no, no one goes up there unless instructed. They have their own staff and the VIP area never closes while the Draven family and guests are here…I mean there, up there!” It was like deciphering an ancient code talking to this man!

  “No problem got it.” I said a little too over enthusiastically, otherwise I don’t think he would ever stop babbling. Thankfully he took the hint and stopped.

  “This is Mike and over there is Hannah. Mike will be showing you the ropes but don’t worry we will just have you collecting glasses tonight until you get…umm…a feel for the place.” It was odd the way he said this last part, as if there was something amiss. He scratched his head with a violent rub that made me jump slightly. I was sure I saw him twitch before he did this. Then abruptly he turned and almost hovered away. He was odd to say the least. I would have to ask Frank about him later when he picked me up, that was if I was brave enough to find out.

  “Hi, sorry what did he say your name was?” A voice talking to me brought me back to earth. “I don’t think he did, but its Keira or Kaz for short.”

  “Don’t worry about him, he’s a bit of a weirdo but you will get used to it, of course it worse now the Dravens are here, he won’t relax until they’re gone again.” He stood with his arms folded and very defensive which made me think that he has had a few problems with him that he'd like to share. “His brother Jerry is the more relaxed one.” Ah! That explained a lot. It wasn’t even the right guy.

  “Twins?” Although it was obvious, I said it anyway.

  “Yeah that was Gary but they are like chalk and cheese, that one’s a bit… how can I say…a bit special.” Oh, Ok that explains it, I thought feeling a bit guilty.

  Mike stayed with me all night and he turned out to be a fun guy. He reminded me of Frank’s younger brother Justin.

  Justin was about my age and I had met him once at the wedding. He was a lot like Frank, easy going and sweet natured but his looks were the opposite. They were both very handsome but in different ways. Frank was more like a cute cuddly bear, big and burly. Justin was a baby face beauty, angelic face with a heart to match. I will be the first to admit that when I first saw him I had a bit of a crush. And if he hadn't brought a girlfriend with him to Libby's very English church wedding then I would have moved in for the kill.

  Back then of course there were two differences, one being that I had the confidence to be able to approach the opposite sex and the other was that it was before my catatonic state of mind, which is now irreversibly beyond repair.

  The bar started to get busier as the time got later, I didn't even realise that a band had started to play until it was finally time for me to collect some empties as Mike begrudgingly left my side to go and help serve at the bar. I weaved in and out of all sorts of people who looked like they were trying to belong to something greater in life. Wasn't that what we were all doing in some way, trying to belong to something better than ourselves, trying to evolve our thoughts and expand our minds to different, exciting new possibilities. Isn't that what escapism is all about?

  Sometimes reality just doesn't seem enough. In my mind I held so much faith in fantasy. It was safer for me that way, because in my fantasies, the things that happened to me in my real life, those were the dreams. No, not dreams more like.... Nightmares. It was as if they hadn’t happened and that's how I coped, I decided that the hurt could be numbed, that I could lose myself in a perfect state of ignorance. After all “Ignorance is bliss.” However this didn't make the cloud disappear completely but it helped me get from one day to the next without bringing anyone else down with me. It was my curse, no one else's.

  So as I walked or more like ducked, squeezed and pushed my way through all these troubled looking souls it was a bit comforting to, well... “Fit in”.

  The night went very quickly and I hadn't realised that my two hour trial night had turned into my six hour trial, until I was outside taking out the trash. The black sky had given it away. It was a good thing that Frank had suggested calling the house first before he came to get me, he must have had an idea I'd be there for longer.

  Mike had offered to help but I told him I'm sure that I could manage. Now I was kind of
regretting that as out here in the black of night it was almost frightening. Mike had shown me where the bins were and the number to get back through the security doors that had a four-digit code. He told me to just remember a square. 1452. His fingers touched the keys in the order and it made a square. Right, “got it” I said not wanting to give blondes a bad name. But now I stood here alone behind a closed door, not getting that fuzzy lift that the club’s music and atmosphere gave off.

  Now I was alone. Of course the fact that this side of the building was completely surrounded by the looming forest didn't help with my jellified backbone. I automatically started to look around but when my eyes scanned the side wall they found a black abyss that didn't seem to end. How big was this freakin place? I shook off the feeling that someone was watching me and started to walk to the place Mike had shown me where the bins were hidden. Great.... hidden, of course they were!

  I walked down the steps and nearly slipped as the temperature had dropped significantly and covered the earth's surface in an icy blanket. My gloved hand caught the metal supports and I steadied myself letting out a nervous giggle. I picked up the sack I had dropped and walked slowly round the corner to where I had been directed. My feet crunched the icy gravel making my heart quicken. It was so stupid to be scared, God I needed to get a backbone! I could see the dumpsters as Mike had called them. I wondered if I shouldn't go back and ask for his help, they were so big I didn't know if I could even lift the lid.

  I paused and turned back to the door where a faint glow of the security light could be seen round the corner of the imposing stone block wall. It cast shadows across the ground making my mind wild with images that weren't there. The light caught the icy gravel making it look like glass or mirrors, sparkling in millions of directions. I tried to focus on the job at hand, the quicker I got this done the sooner I could be inside safe and warm. I pushed the lid and it opened only to come crashing back down again missing my fingers by mere centimetres.

  Ok it was going to play hard ball... then bring it on, stupid plastic top! I bent my knees down, planning to launch myself upwards, hopefully giving it enough momentum to keep going until it was back on itself. OK here goes. I flung my body upwards and jumped pushing the lid's lip as hard as my little frame could manage. But it wasn't enough and my hands were gripped on the inside where the lid had been, where the lid was now crashing back down angrily. I didn't have time to move, just time to wait for the pain.

  But the pain didn't come. Instead the wind did. A gust that was so strong and powerful, it pushed the lid back with an almighty thunderous crash. The plastic bounced back and forth until it cracked under the strain. It made me jump backwards landing on my backside with a thud of my own. That was going to bruise but hell it was better than eight broken fingers. I got up and wiped down my jeans and rubbed my sore bottom. I picked up the stupid black sack and threw it with shaky hands into the dark pit.

  “What was that?” My voice shook like my hands in response to the noise that had just cut through the dark silence. Ok, time to leave. But why was it so dark? I hadn't noticed, where did the light go? There was no longer any glistening floor or shapeless shadows. Oh God, the security light had gone out!

  There had been a noise, I was sure of it. The sounds of trees rustling, then a branch snapping had me frozen with pure dread. It must just be an animal, but what if it wasn’t? Ok, breathe. Just breathe. I stared into the surrounding tress but there was nothing to see. Just tall black shapes that entwined themselves closer to me, like a cage I couldn’t escape from. I could feel my chest getting tighter as it was getting harder to breathe. I tried to tell myself not to panic and to get back to the door but my feet were rooted to the spot. Fear had me trapped in time and I felt my scars almost burn their way through the material that concealed them. My blood froze and my eyes filled with tears.

  Memories came back at me hitting me hard like a bloody sledgehammer, repressed memories that were now flooding my brain. It had been a night like this, cold and beautiful. Only then I had never been afraid, I had seen its beauty and not the darkness it brings. The evil lurking amongst its perfect setting. I had stood waiting unaware of the danger that was waiting for me. Then I heard a noise I would never forget but wished more than anything in the world that I would...That I could. Had it been a warning? It was the last noise I ever heard before hell had found me. Before I changed. Before it had all changed me.

  A single tear escaped my eye and ran down my cheek towards my quivering lips. But something happened before it got there, it stopped...no it didn't just stop... it froze. I could move. It pulled my focus out of its mental cage and I raised my hand to my cheek. There my fingers found a solid frozen tear drop. Then my eyes focused on a familiar sight. For there in front of me was an image getting closer, flying through the trees, so gracefully as if there wasn't any forest in its path. It glided through the night air, tilting its wings as if to catch the cool breeze.

  The bird from my dream had come back...

  But where was its master?

  Chapter 9 – Friend or Foe

  As I fumbled my way towards the door my hands slid off the wet stone as the rain came and made everything slick. The moon had come out from behind the trees and was leading the way. I didn't know whether or not the creature was still there, I had not waited long enough to find out as now I didn't have the safety of glass from my window to protect me. I could feel something watching but it didn't make me feel as scared as I had been before. It made me feel...warm, safe. I couldn't explain it but whatever it was, it was comforting. Still it didn't change my need to leave.

  “If only I had more light.” I hadn't realised that I said the words out loud instead of just thinking them until, to my great surprise, the security light flicked twice before illuminating fully. It lit up my pathway to the door, which wasn't as far as I had thought it had been. But wait, oh damn! I had forgotten the bloody password! Oh God what was it?

  I fumbled with the keys pressing them too fast to even register. Oh come on think. Think damn it. A square that was it! 3256. No that wasn't it, 1254 again no.

  “Oh come on, please work!” But then a calm feeling took hold of my body, travelling its way down from my neck to my hand like something smooth I couldn't see, touching it, making it move without the feeling it was being forced. Almost like a lover coming up behind me and placing a soothing hand over my own.

  My mouth dropped open but there were no words, I just gasped taking in more cold air. The hairs on the back of my head stood on end as if someone was getting even closer to my trembling frame, breathing down my body and freezing it without pain. My finger moved over the digits in perfect order as though they weren't my own. 1...4...5...2. The door clicked and my hand gripped the cold metal handle pulling it down. The door opened easily letting the warm air and light seep through the gap. My hand was released and was now my own again. I spun round quickly trying to capture a glimpse of I don't know what. My eyes came up empty just as my mind did. I could not explain any of it. Only that...

  It was magical.

  “So how was it?” Libby sat in her huge couch that looked as if it was going to eat her alive. A blanket wrapped around her legs with her fluffy slippers peeking out. She looked warm and also very hacked off.

  “It was good. I actually enjoyed it would you believe?” She raised her eyebrows and then frowned. OK, evidently she couldn't believe it.

  “Really... umm.” She responded now looking bored.

  “Baby... honey...” Frank had joined her now giving her the first stern look I had ever seen him give. I suppressed a smile, not wanting to seem smug and make matters worse. After all she was just worried about me. I could see it in her eyes, the guilt I felt was like having a hole in my heart. She had lost me once, she was just scared of losing me again. It had taken a long time for me to even reach the mere shell of what I once was.

  These thoughts weren't good. I think some pills were in order tonight otherwise I would never sleep. I rubbe
d my hand thinking of the warm sensation that took over my blood. My hand hadn't been my own earlier and the feeling hadn't completely left me yet. No it had stayed with me in a more delicate form but it sure felt good. It made all the fear go away and was replaced by a warming bliss so intense it had me struggling to keep my secret smile hidden. In the end I failed letting a small smirk escape before I got up and kissed my sister's forehead while ruffling her hair.

  “Good night, I love you Lib's,” I said with warmth in my heart. I didn't give her time to reply as I ran up the stairs taking two at a time. The emotions I carried were like a heavy sack of spuds and I didn't want her to see the weight of my guilt. It was a strange sensation to be so mixed by emotions I seemed unable to control. One minute I felt as if I was floating with the comfort of my magical encounter and the next I'm drowning in a guilt that keeps pulling me under the tide of memories.

  The rest of the week came and went without any more incidents. I had worked three more nights at the club and was getting the hang of it. I was now at the stage where I could serve behind the bar. Mike had become my little protector for the week. Bailing me out when I got the complicated fancy card machine wrong, sticking up for me when customers were rude and most importantly taking out the trash. This I was most grateful for.

  I tried to ask about the Dravens, as my curiosity got too much for me one night, but everyone was always so vague. No one would reveal any useful information about them. It was always the same story as though rehearsed.

  There were two brothers and a sister. The head of the family was the older brother Dominic Draven. I wasn't sure if I had seen the other brother. When they first arrived there were only men, so I knew I hadn't yet seen the sister. Dominic, I had seen once in the flesh and twice in my dreams. But that had been enough to start my obsession! My thoughts always seemed to be about him. I didn’t really understand why, it was as if he had a power over me that just wouldn’t fade. There were the obvious reasons of course. Like he was the most amazing human being I had ever seen. He was beautiful like a transcendental godlike creature being completely heavenly. But he looked intensely strong, almost invincible as if he could have been a Spartan or Trojan in a past life.