by Aj Estelliam
‘So, if that’s the case, where is the creator bit coming from? I don’t understand it.’
‘Neither do I. That’s one thing I think you’re going to have to decipher by yourself.’
‘Yeah,’ I murmured, biting into my sandwich at last.
The Captain took that as his cue to start eating himself and we both fell into a quiet few moments while we ate. I switched on the television for some background noise in the quiet house and the news came on as we sat there.
I turned as the newsreader began to speak and it was of interest.
‘Gareth Turner has been missing for over forty-eight hours now. In the past hour, a coat has been discovered which belonged to the missing man. With blood on the sleeve identified as being that of Gareth Turner’s, a full-scale search is now on for the missing, local man…’
I turned to Captain Withers and his frown mirrored mine.
‘That doesn’t sound good,’ he commented.
‘No. I might phone in and check Jess is alright. I may be able to help.’
‘How?’
‘Locating him…’
‘Can you see something then?’ he asked.
‘Well, no…but I want to and sometimes when I want to help bad enough, it seems to happen.’
He nodded. ‘Well, don’t let me stop you going.’
‘Will you be alright though on your own? You can barely get up and down to the bathroom!’
‘It’s okay-Fee just text me to say she’s on her way here. She can help me.’
‘Oh good! I’ll wait until she arrives and then head back to the station to help.’
He nodded. ‘I like your commitment.’
I met his eyes and felt determined. ‘There is a reason,’ I informed him.
‘What is it?’
‘I don’t think he’s dead yet,’ I revealed, my voice low and flat. ‘If I can find him, maybe he doesn’t have to…’
Captain Withers held my gaze with his steely expression. ‘How do you know that?’
I thought about his question for a moment and then looked back at him. ‘I can’t really explain it to be completely honest…I just…know.’
‘Then you know what you need to do.’
I nodded. ‘Save him.’
Captain Withers met my eyes and they said everything. He believed in me and I had done it before. I rose to my feet to got ready to leave.
Five minutes after Fee arrived at the house, I made my excuses and left quickly. I had ordered them to make themselves at home and help themselves to food, drink and everything around them. I left feeling happy that they were staying with us and knowing that they were okay.
I drove swiftly to the station, parked the car and went inside. In the station’s main room there was a hive of activity. As I walked down the corridor I could see Jess in the distance with her back to me and she was ushering Gareth Turner’s parents into one of the interview rooms. Once she disappeared, I noticed another face I knew. Jack.
I walked straight to him and he looked up startled.
‘Hey Jack.’
‘Oh…hey, uh…’
‘Alex. Alex Hope. We talked before,’ I reminded him.
‘I know, I was just…’
‘Yeah, I know. I make everyone uncomfortable so get used to it. Listen, I need your help…have you got anything personal to Gareth on you? Something I could hold and try and help find him with?’
‘What do you mean ‘find him with?’
‘Well, sometimes if I hold something which belongs to someone missing, I can picture where they are.’
‘Oh. I, uh…I have his hat! It’s the only thing I’m wearing which belongs to him I think.’
‘May I hold it?’ I asked.
He pulled it off his head and passed it to me. It still felt warm from the heat of his body. I held it in my hands and felt what I had expected. I released the breath I was holding noisily.
‘What?’ he asked, looking alarmed.
‘No, don’t panic,’ I said, resting a hand on his knee. ‘I think he’s still alive.’
Jack’s eyes widened. ‘Really?’
I nodded. ‘Yes…but we need to find him and fast. Our killer has plans for him and they don’t involve remaining in one piece.’
I sat in the chair thinking and mulling over where on earth Gareth might be. As I waited, a small white feather literally dropped from the air above me and drifted down to float onto the hat which I held in my lap.
‘Do you see that?’ I gasped, poking Jack by my side.
‘What? The hat?’
‘No! The feather!’ I exclaimed.
‘What feather?’ he questioned.
‘The one in my lap!’
He frowned down at the hat and looked back up at me. His face said crazy lady, and I wasn’t too sure he was that wrong!
‘Come on, Jack! You need to help me!’
‘Where are we going?’ he asked.
‘To find Gareth.’
‘But…what? I’m supposed to stay here! I’m about to be questioned again!’ he objected.
‘Do you want to find you boyfriend or not?’ I demanded.
‘Of course, I do!’
‘Then come on! I could do with your help.’
I stood as the feather floated off down the hall. I hurried off after it with Jack in tow. It took us down the lift and out to the car park where I got the vehicle I had been using and started driving down the road following the feather. I was aware it was only I who could see the feather now, but I was okay with that. It was clearly my sign; my way of knowing where to go.
The feather led us out to more and more rural lanes. We were about fifteen minutes away from the station when the feather’s direction changed and it took us off the beaten track and down a little, snowy lane. Thick, wooded trees arched over the road and made it appear mysterious. I felt my stomach twist with nerves as we got to the place where I felt ‘closer’ to Gareth’s presence.
‘Where are we?’ a small voice came from beside me.
I glanced over, having almost forgotten I had brought Jack along for the ride.
‘I don’t know…it’s creepy, huh?’
‘It looks like no-one lives down here. How do you know which way to go?’ he asked.
‘I’m following a small, white feather,’ I informed him.
‘A what?’
I shrugged and sighed. ‘I don’t know, Jack…it’s leading me here so I’m trusting the feather.’
‘I…I don’t even know what that means.’
‘Me neither. Let’s just see if I’m right.’
He turned away from me again.
I slowed as the feather did and watched as it then fluttered off to the left. I turned down an even smaller dirt-track road and the car bounced along the bumps and bends on its way to our destination.
I slowed as we reached the end. I stared in astonishment as a clearing came and we were greeted with an old, dilapidated cabin. It was a dark, wooden construction which looked empty and unused. I knew for a fact it was not. I rushed out of the car and ran for the building.
Chapter 9
When I reached the cabin door, I found it bolted. The feather danced in front of me, teasing me. I rattled the door and heaved my full weight against it. This did nothing so I ran down the veranda in search of another way in. The windows were all boarded up so I kept moving, looking for a point of entry. I didn’t know what to do and where to look and just as I felt my panic rising, I stopped. The feather fluttered down the back of the building and then stopped and floated to the ground where a large drain lay. Suddenly an image assaulted my senses and I lost sense of all time and place.
‘I am the creator, and you are my work of art,’ he said softly, even though his words could not be heard. His satisfaction was mounting as he drove down the snowy roads with his destination in mind.
The cabin came into view and he stopped the car. Heaving the body over his shoulder, he marched to the back of the old home. He dumped him then. A h
eavy, dead weight-dumped on the snowy ground. Reaching down he removed the drain cover-which led to a secret basement.
Down they went heavily, and then on the table he was lain. Smiling with satisfaction, plans were made and actions taken.
Screams filled the air in the deep, damp basement.
I jumped in surprise as I came out of the horrifying vision. I turned swiftly to the drain which lay before me and bent to my knees. Heaving, I pulled up the iron weight and before me were wooden stairs leading downwards. I stared at them for a split second before stepping forwards. I didn’t stop to think in that moment, I just acted. My own safety had left my consciousness and all I could think about was getting Gareth out of this hell hole before his killer came back to cut him up.
It was dark as I went down and I could hear Jack following quickly behind me. As I reached the bottom step, I reached in my pocket for my phone and pulled it out to create light in the darkness.
As light filled the room, I saw him. He was bound to a table; both legs were fastened tightly to each table leg. His body was forced forward and bent over it. his torso was taped with masking tape to hold him in place. In his mouth was a gag which prevented his screams but his eyes were wide and alert. Wider still when they saw us.
‘We’re here,’ I told him, rushing over to start to release him.
‘Gareth!’ came a strangled moan Jack, who hurried over to help me.
As I released his legs from their tight hold, I couldn’t help but notice the damage his assailant had done. He bled from his rectum and his bottom and thighs were heavily bruised. He had clearly been repeatedly raped and would require medical attention as soon as possible.
We freed him but he was weak so we all but carried him up the stairs as he moaned and lolled about in our arms.
When we reached the car, we managed to get him inside and while Jack got him covered in any spare clothes and blankets we had, I phoned Jess.
‘Alex? Where the fuck are you?’ she asked.
‘Jess! I need your help! I’ve found Gareth!’
‘You’ve what?’ she exclaimed, her voice rising.
‘I had a vision and I followed it…I’m with him now. I’ve got him-I need help!’
‘Oh my God, Alex…you’re going to be the death of me! Where the fuck are you? I’ll come immediately.’
‘I uh…oh crap-actually I don’t know where I am. It’s an old cabin…in the middle of nowhere.’
‘How did you get there?’ she asked, not sounding phased like I was.
‘I took the car you let me use.’
‘Well, that’s fine then. There’s a tracking device in it so I can find where you are. Stay put and stay safe. I’m on my way.’
‘Thanks Jess. See you soon.’
‘I won’t be long,’ she promised.
I hung up and headed to the back of the car where Jack was talking to Gareth in soft tones.
‘Are you okay?’ I asked Gareth gently.
He nodded, shaking terribly against the cold.
‘Did you see who did this to you?’
He shook his head and tried to speak. ‘He…wore…’ his voice broke, ‘a…mask…’
I nodded, understanding. ‘Is there anyone you know who might want to hurt you in this way?’
He shook his head emphatically. ‘N…no.’
‘Okay. Well, help is on its way. We’ll get you to hospital and get medical treatment for you. Don’t you worry.’
He held my eyes and everything he was thinking and feeling was there in those few moments. I saw through his mind what he had gone through and how close he knew he had come to dying. I took it all in and then laid my hand on his arm.
‘You’re safe, Gareth. You’re not going to die. We’re taking care of you now.’
His eyes filled with tears and Jack took over, holding him close and hugging him to his body. I took this as my cue to leave and stepped away to give the two men privacy. I walked a few steps away from the car and waited.
I could feel Jess near within the next five minutes. Her thoughts were running wild and I already knew I was in trouble. She was angry with me for putting myself in danger and going off without back-up…without her. She didn’t understand why I had done it myself rather than waiting for her to come. I knew I would need to explain myself before she calmed down.
Sure enough, moments later a police car whirled around the bend, quickly followed by an ambulance. They came to a halt near me and I headed over to greet a none-too-happy Jess.
‘Hey,’ I said.
‘Don’t hey me!’ she growled. ‘What the hell did you think you were doing? You could have got yourself killed! What if he’d been here? What if the killer was watching and ready to pounce? You fancy being chopped up into little bits, skinned and then left to find like trash?’ she ranted.
‘You done?’ I asked.
‘No!’ she argued.
‘Well tell me off in a minute…what’s important now is helping Gareth. He’s hurt pretty badly. He’s been repeatedly sexually assaulted and seems very weak. I think he needs to go to hospital as soon as possible.’
She nodded, distracted by the job she needed to do. She left me and headed over to where Gareth lay in the back of the car. She gestured for the paramedics to help and they began helping him onto the stretcher immediately.
Only once Gareth was taken safely away, with Jack in tow, did she talk to me again.
‘Alex?’
I turned to face her.
‘What the fuck?’ she exclaimed, spreading her hands wide in question.
‘I’m sorry, Jess. The feather appeared and I just had to follow it…you were busy with the parents at the time.’
‘Still-you could have called me to follow! I would have dropped everything.’
‘Well, I wasn’t thinking, Jess. You know how these things get me-the vision comes and I just react, I’m not thinking at the time.’
She frowned at me, feeling angry.
‘I’m sorry…but look! We’ve found him!’
‘No, you’ve found him. I did nothing. Police work isn’t cutting it lately. Nothing I do has any impact. You’re the one solving all the crimes. I’m just your sidekick it seems.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ I murmured.
‘Well, it’s true! You seem to be able to solve these cases before I’ve got the first clue as to what’s happening.’
‘I didn’t ask for this,’ I told her in a quiet voice, ‘and I thought you liked the fact that I’m helping…’
She hung her head heavily. ‘I do,’ she replied sounding defeated. ‘I just…’
‘I know, Jess. You don’t want to be the one in charge right now.’
She looked up and met my eyes. ‘I wish he’d just come back.’
I nodded slowly. ‘I have managed to get him to move in,’ I told her.
She brightened. ‘Really?’
‘Yeah. I brought him home from the hospital this afternoon. Fee’s coming too.’
‘Oh great! I’m so glad you got him to accept our offer.’
‘Well, I told him we needed his help on our case and also that I had already seen him moving in with us so he might as well get on and do it.’
‘Had you seen that vision?’
‘No,’ I laughed. ‘But it got him moved in!’
She smiled at me slowly. ‘I’m sorry I got angry with you, Alex.’
‘No worries…believe it or not, I’m only trying to help.’
She nodded. ‘I know. I just don’t want you getting into any trouble! I couldn’t bear it if something bad happened to you! You’re everything to me and I don’t want to lose you.’
‘No, I know. I was foolish. I’ll be more careful next time and make sure that I always have you with me.’
‘Good. Now come on-let’s go and look for any evidence he might have left behind.’
I nodded, feeling a tightening in my stomach. ‘Boy, he’s going to be angry…’ I murmured, looking out to the trees beyond.
‘Well, I’ve stolen his creation…he had plans for that lad…plans that I’ve scuppered.’
She frowned. ‘Can you feel his anger then?’
‘Not yet,’ I told her, ‘but somehow, I know this is going to rattle his cage something awful…I think he will be very, very angry.’
Jess gave me a look of concern and then turned to look towards the cabin. ‘Shall we go and see if he left any clues behind?’
I nodded, swallowing as I walked to the cabin where horrors had taken place. ‘We can, yeah…although I don’t think he had left any. He’s clever, Jess. I feel like we’re working against a very bright, intelligent mind.’
‘You’re getting feelings about the killer?’
I shrugged. ‘I…sort of…glimpses…ideas, I guess. I know he thinks of himself as a ‘creator.’ He sees himself as some kind of artist of the flesh-which sounds utterly grim but those are his thoughts, not mine.’
‘His thoughts? So, you have heard him?’
‘I’ve had moments in visions when I’ve heard his thoughts, yes.’
‘Well, that’s good. Maybe we’re getting closer then?’
‘Maybe,’ I murmured, but I wasn’t convinced. This man was highly intelligent, I knew, and he wouldn’t be easy to bring down.
After a lengthy search of the entire cabin and basement, we found nothing. There was not one shred of evidence and I knew also that Gareth’s body, although sexually abused, would not hold any evidence either. The killer was clever and had meticulously planned everything. What he hadn’t planned was me interfering and freeing his victim so I wondered how that would change his process.
Jess and I packed up and headed back to the station. When we got there, we revealed the good news to Gareth’s parents who quickly headed off to the hospital to be reunited with their son. Once they were gone, we stood in Captain Withers office pondering our case.
‘I literally don’t know where we go next with this, Alex,’ Jess said, staring at the whiteboard which she had filled with notes.
