by Lois Kay
Fiona was the first one to react. She jumped up, knocking over her chair. “Do something,” she yelled at nobody in particular.
Jody, who was still sitting close to Alice, carefully wrapped an arm around the trembling body, immediately feeling the tense muscles and clammy skin. Without turning, she knew Sam had also jumped up and was standing right behind her. “Honey, could you please get a quilt or blanket?” she asked in a tense voice, immediately feeling Sam’s warmth disappear from her back. Running footsteps indicated that Sam was already on her way to the bedroom.
“What’s happening, Trish?” Fiona almost cried.
“She’s in shock,” Yarra answered, pushing back her chair and quickly walking toward Alice where she knelt beside her chair. Her fingers felt the irregular pulse in Alice’s wrist. “If possible, we should get her to the couch and put her feet up.”
Trishia was already on her feet and quickly scooped Alice into her arms, cradling the girl close to her chest like she was a baby. With long strides, she walked into the living room, carefully lowering Alice on the couch. She took the blanket from Sam and covered the still trembling body. Yarra had collected a few pillows and was busy stuffing them underneath Alice’s legs so they would be elevated.
“I’ll call Lisa,” Trishia said, pulling her cell phone from her pocket and walking back to the kitchen.
“Who is Lisa?” Joan asked with a shaky voice.
“A psychiatrist,” Lucy answered in a subdued voice. “She’s also Trishia’s ex.”
*
After a brief conversation on her cell phone, Trishia walked back into the living room and motioned Jody to follow her. She stood up from her kneeling position next to Alice and sent Sam a questioning look, wordlessly asking her partner to keep an eye on the distressed teenager. Sam nodded and lovingly caressed Jody’s cheek when she walked past her, toward the kitchen.
Trishia was standing in front of the door, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her shorts and she was staring at the peaceful scene the property provided. The quiet beauty helped her to somewhat organize her thoughts. When she heard a sound behind her, she turned around and smiled when she saw Jody sit down in one of the kitchen chairs.
“There’s a psychiatrist on the way,” Trishia explained. “It’s not somebody who is associated with the police station, but—.” she paused and shrugged in a silent apology. “Lisa is good at what she does, and she has a lot of experience with kids, especially abused ones. Um…we…Lisa and I, we …um…we have a long history together.”
Jody nodded in understanding. Trishia looked tired and pale, with dark circles underneath her eyes. Her face reflected the responsibility she carried, and Jody could almost feel the anxiety roll off her in waves. “Come, sit down, Trish,” she invited, gesturing to a chair. “You look dead on your feet.”
Trishia sat down and gratefully accepted another cup of coffee that Jody poured into her cup.
“What’s going to happen now, Trish? They’re not going to take Alice to some psych ward at the hospital, are they?”
“I don’t know, Jody,” Trishia sighed. “This is way over my head. I have dealt with traumatized kids before, but not like this. Alice just scared the crap out of me.” Trishia rubbed her tired eyes and for a moment allowed herself to feel the fatigue. Her body felt heavy, and the muscles in her legs still ached from climbing the hill. A headache had started, and the dull, continuous throbbing behind her eyes prevented her from thinking clearly. “Lisa is on her way up here,” Trishia continued. “She’ll assess the situation and give us some advice. Or just tell us what to do,” she added wryly. “Like I said, she has a lot of experience in this area, and I know she’s not keen on sending people to the hospital. But you need to understand that Alice is in a dark place right now. The mentioning of Sydney or Perth must have triggered some kind of memory.”
“It looks like it,” Jody softly admitted.
“Before Lisa arrives here, I need to know what happened yesterday, Jody. You and Alice talked after she had that nightmare. The information could be valuable for the case, and it’s vital for Alice’s wellbeing.”
“I know,” Jody answered with a sigh. “Alright, this is what she told me—.”
In her characteristically soft-spoken way, Jody related the events of the previous evening. She clearly remembered every detail and made sure to tell Trishia each one of them. Trishia listened intently and now and then she jotted down some notes. She never once interrupted Jody, but let her continue her story.
The part of Alice’s nightmare where the hands had tried to choke her and when the girl afterward had realized that somebody actually had tried to kill her, were difficult and a few times Jody had to pause to clear her throat or swallow away a lump in her throat that made talking difficult.
Trishia’s eyes were gentle and full of sympathy. She knew from experience that listening to the traumatic events of others could have a huge impact. Especially if it was someone you cared about. “Do I understand correctly that, in her dreams anyway, there is a fire?” Trishia asked after Jody had finished her story and had wiped away a tear that had slowly slid down her cheek.
“Yes. Alice told me she could feel the heat of the flames and smell the smoke,” Jody answered. She bit her lip, and a deep frown creased her forehead. “Trish, do you…think it’s possible that,” Jody swallowed hard. “This…if these images are no imagination, but real memories…do you think that—?”
“Alice knows the murderer of those girls on the beach?” Trishia finished Jody’s sentence with a grim expression on her face. “And he might be after her because she can identify him?”
Trishia’s gaze locked with Jody’s and she could clearly see the silent answer.
“Oh, my God, Trish, poor Alice,” Jody whispered.
*
Hardly twenty minutes had passed since Trishia had called the psychiatrist, when a light blue Toyota Highlander appeared on the driveway, kicking up dust and gravel when it came to sudden stop.
“She’s always been a lousy driver,” Trishia explained with a hint of amusement. She opened the door and stepped out on the veranda to greet the psychiatrist.
Lucy, who had walked into the kitchen when she had heard the car pull up, looked out the window with a growing feeling of trepidation. Trishia had always been honest with her, and her past relationship with the psychiatrist had not been a secret. They had known each other for the better part of their lives. Their friendship as teenagers had developed into a romantic relationship and for more than six years they had lived together. Their break-up had been consensual, and they had remained friends, much like Jody and Megan, although Trishia and Lisa didn’t see each other often. In fact, this would be the first time Lucy would meet Lisa. She knew that Trishia loved her and that their relationship was very important to her, but now a significant part of Trishia’s past was about to exit her car and walk into their lives and that knowledge filled Lucy with insecurity. Watching a petite, auburn-haired woman get out of the car and warmly hug her girlfriend, didn’t ease her mind. The nasty tentacles of jealousy suddenly touched her heart and Lucy had to swallow hard when she witnessed the obvious affection Trishia and her ex-girlfriend still shared.
Jody sensed her sister’s distress and gave Lucy a quick, one-armed hug. “You should see the way Trish looks at you, when she thinks nobody is watching, Luce. She worships the ground you walk on,” Jody said.
“She’d better,” Lucy grumbled, which made Jody smile.
“Believe me, Freckles, she does,” Jody assured her before she opened the door to let in their guest.
Trishia and Lisa stepped inside, and when Jody extended her hand to introduce herself, it was caught in a firm grip. A pair of intelligent gray eyes looked at her with genuine warmth and kindness, and Jody could not help smiling.
“Lisa Bailey,” the psychiatrist introduced herself.
“Jody McDonnell,” Jody answered. “It’s nice to meet you, Lisa and thank you for coming over so quickl
y.”
A dimpled smile was her answer, and Lisa’s gaze traveled to Lucy, who was standing a few steps behind Jody, quietly observing the scene in front of her. “You must be Lucy,” Lisa said, stepping closer and extending her hand. “Trishia has told me so much about you, and I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. I just wish the circumstances had been different.”
Chapter 9
The room was small, nothing more than a large closet, really. An enclosure of sturdy walls that were steadily closing in after each breath she took. And it was dark. The inky blackness was draped around her like a suffocating haze, as the absolute silence relentlessly pounded in her ears. Each heartbeat was emphasized in the eerie stillness. An intense fear had settled in her chest, like a cold hand, gradually squeezing the life out of her. The air became stale and thick, and she had to work hard to bring oxygen into her deprived lungs. Her eyes were wide with fear, and she could feel perspiration coat her clammy skin.
She wanted to lift her arms and use the stiff fingers of her hands to feel around for something, anything that could help her to escape the entrapment, but she couldn’t move. The fear had paralyzed her body, leaving her limp and helpless. She was vulnerable to the predators that were already lurking beneath the surface; their sharp nails of terror painfully clawing at her heart. Little by little, she could feel their dark presence come closer, and she wanted to scream out in pain and horror, but when she opened her mouth, not a single sound escaped. The only thing that remained was the silence, which only allowed the sound of her rapidly beating heart.
It had felt like a lost battle from the start, and thoughts of closing her eyes for the last time came into mind. It was so tempting. The end of the pain would be welcome. It would bring peace and tranquility. Shredded emotions and fragmented memories would be forgotten. Horrendous images would no longer flash in her mind like the lightning of an electrical storm.
Her eyes widened when a soft glowing light split the darkness and drifted into her line of sight. It was yellow, surrounded by bright, blue sparks. They reminded her of shards of ice. The light quickly grew, until her whole prison was illuminated. After spending so much time in the dark, the light was blinding, and she had to shield her eyes. A dark spot appeared in the light’s center. It grew bigger, and with increasing trepidation, she saw the outline of a person. When her eyes had adjusted to the brightness, she noticed a smaller form, partly hidden by the shape of a woman. It looked like a child, and it was holding the woman’s hand. Her fear dissipated. She couldn’t see their faces, but they felt familiar.
“Don’t give up.” The voice was warm, and it silenced the drumming in her ears. “You are much needed and loved.”
She opened her mouth, and her lips moved, but she couldn’t produce a sound. Still, she could hear her own voice echo in her ears. “Mom?”
“Yes, it’s me, baby. My precious and courageous daughter. Go back, my love. Please, go back.”
Tears were rolling down her cheeks when she tried to reach out and touch the vision in front her. But she still couldn’t move. “Mom!” she cried out again, her voice breaking. “Mom, take me with you! Please, take me with you.”
“No, my darling. You need to go back. You are much needed and loved.”
Pressure built in her chest. It increased with every breath she took as if something was trying to push its way out. When she let out a sob, her body shook with silent crying. “I miss you so much,” she cried, while her lips still refused to move. “I feel so lost.”
“I will always be with you. Go back, my love… and live.”
Gradually, the light faded and again she tried to reach out, this time to stop the brightness from leaving her confined space. But she was powerless and could do nothing to stop the darkness from emerging again.
“Mom!” she desperately cried out again. “Mom! Don’t leave me, please, don’t leave me.”
“Be strong,” the faint echo of a voice resonated in her ears. “Have courage and live. Never forget who you are, Victoria Alice —.” The last words were no more than a fading whisper.
“Nooooo!!” she cried out when the last rays of light disappeared, leaving her behind with an ache, so profound, that even breathing was painful.
Frantically, her eyes searched her immediate surrounding and tantalizingly slow, the dark confinement disappeared. Light had returned, but it was a different kind of light. It was golden and soft. It didn’t hurt her eyes. With a look of wonder, she noticed a ray of sunlight peeking through a window that hadn’t been there before. Gradually, she became aware of where she was, and slowly she turned into the direction of something that sounded like sniffling.
Blinking against the light, Alice’s gaze was caught by a pair of dark eyes that were wet with unshed tears. The look of sheer happiness in them when their gazes met touched Alice deeply. “My name is Victoria Alice Wilson,” she whispered, blindly reaching out until her hand touched warm skin and her fingers wrapped around a strong hand.
With her free hand, Yarra wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and cast a look at the two women who had just entered the room.
Jody and Lisa had heard Alice’s desperate cry and had come running, finding Yarra close to Alice’s side, softly whispering words of comfort. Then Alice had regained consciousness, and when her dazed blue eyes had gradually become more focused, Jody had to wipe away her own tears.
“My name is Victoria Alice Wilson,” Alice repeated with a look of quiet wonder, extending her free hand to Jody. “I remember, Jody, I remember my name.”
“Oh, honey.” Jody grabbed the hand and knelt next to Yarra on the floor.
The tears of Jody, whom she had rapidly come to love, did Alice in. She let out a shaky breath, and finally, the restrictive band around her emotions shattered. Her body shuddered, and the almost animalistic howl of pain she let out tore through the hearts of everybody who was present in the house. For the first time in years, Victoria Alice Wilson allowed herself to feel the grief she had pushed away for too long.
She could feel a pair of strong arms gather her close, and without being afraid of what other people might think, she buried her face against Jody’s shoulder and cried, while her hand was still clutching Yarra’s for dear life. The older girl didn’t dare to let go and had no desire to even do so. She just sat there in an uncomfortable position, sending a silent thank you to the power that had created the universe, for not giving up on her new friend.
Lisa sank down in a chair and with a professional, clinical distance, but with keen interest, observed the scene in front of her. She had been worried when Trishia had called her, not really knowing what she would expect upon arrival. But the sight of Alice, who had been strong enough to climb out of the pit a sudden, shocking memory had thrown her into, filled her with the hope of possibilities.
It took a long time for Alice to finally stop crying and when she did, her eyes were red and puffy, her nose was completely stuffed, and her throat felt raw and tender. But she had not felt so light in years. The grief was still present. She could feel it. It was a dull, throbbing ache behind her sternum, but the anxiety and tension that had held her in their clutches for such a long time felt less heavy. When she raised her head to look at Jody, she squinted against the light and quickly closed her eyes.
“Do you have a headache?” Jody asked gently, still rubbing the teenagers back.
Alice nodded, but before she could even utter a word, a voice sounded from behind her.
“I’ll get some aspirin and a glass of water.”
“Thanks, Fi,” Jody responded, seeing the expression on Alice’s face change to embarrassment.
Nervously she cast down her eyes. A faint blush colored her still pale features. “Oh, God, I completely lost it,” she breathed, only audible to Jody, Lisa and Yarra.
“Seems like you were long overdue,” Jody replied warmly. “Don’t worry about it—.” And with a smile, she added: “Victoria Alice Wilson.”
“We were so worried abo
ut you, Alice,” Yarra explained, pleasantly surprised that Alice was still holding on to her hand. “I’m glad you woke up from that.”
“Me too,” Alice whispered, shooting Yarra a shy glance. From the corner of her eye, she noticed a third person in the room and with a mixture between a scowl and a frown, Alice cast Jody a questioning look.
“That is Lisa Bailey,” Jody introduced the psychiatrist, who took her cue and gracefully rose from the chair. “She’s here to talk to you.”
“A shrink…what we discussed last night?” Alice asked, remembering the promise she had made Trishia to at least have one talk with a counselor. “Is…is she a doctor?”
“As a matter of fact, I am, Alice,” Lisa answered with a pleasant smile. “But I’m not all that hung up on titles, so I’d like you to call me Lisa.”
“I am Alice Wilson,” the teenager replied with a hint of pride in her voice.
“It’s nice to meet you, Alice,” Lisa answered, sitting down on the arm of the couch, furthest away from Alice. “The circumstances aren’t all that wonderful, but I’m here to talk to you about that.”
“Trishia said I only have to do that once,” Alice murmured in a weak but defiant tone.
“I guess that’s fair enough,” Lisa responded. “We’ll have a talk, and when you decide you don’t want to see me anymore, I’ll accept that. Can you live with that arrangement?”
“I guess,” Alice said, with a shrug.
“Take your aspirin and water,” Lisa encouraged when she saw Fiona enter the room. “I’ll have a cup of coffee in the kitchen, and when you’re ready, we’ll sit down somewhere and have that talk. Alright?”
“Okay,” Alice reluctantly agreed, gratefully accepting a tall glass of cold water and two white tablets from a worried looking Fiona.
“We’ll be in the kitchen, Alice,” Jody said, pushing a strand of damp hair behind Alice’s ear. “Take your time, okay? There’s no need to hurry.”
