“So do you think you can help?”
“The mind is a powerful thing and is capable of some amazing stuff. Hypnotism is all about suggestion, and what I can do is place a suggestion in his subconscious which will switch off the sleep talking.”
“Would you be able to stop the RMD?”
“Let’s take things one step at a time.”
Campbell nodded.
Campbell was pleased because at last things were moving forward and there was a glimmer of hope that Christopher’s bizarre night time chanting could be a thing of the past.
“But the boy’s not even three, is it possible to hypnotise a child?” asked Campbell.
“I’ve hypnotised children as young as four. Sometimes children are easier to work with than adults.”
After the files had finished copying Judd closed the laptop, removed the USB drive and handed the computer to Campbell.
Judd gave him a price list and Campbell gulped when he saw the hourly rate. He shook Judd’s hand and said he’d call to book a session.
Judd saw Campbell to the door and wished him goodnight.
When Campbell had gone Judd loaded the videos onto his desk top and watched in amazement as Christopher pleaded and begged to be set free and was shaken when he heard the infant swear like an adult.
He had no idea what was happening to the little boy and wasn’t convinced that hypnosis was the answer.
“What the hell am I getting myself into? this kid’s possessed by the devil,” he said under his breath. He played the clips until he had seen enough.
Chapter seventy nine
University of the Arts
London
9.47pm
Thursday 10th May
Carla Price had achieved great ‘A’ level results at sixth form in Darlington. She had an unconditional offer from her first choice university in London.
She’d started the BA in Graphic Design last September and had immersed herself in her studies and loved university life. She shared a room with a student called Natasha at Manna Ash House. Manna Ash was close to central London and was a short tube ride from the campus.
She missed her father terribly, although things had never been quite the same since he’d found the sketch she’d made of Markland Garraway nearly two years earlier. They spoke regularly on the phone. She’d tried Skyping him, but he was struggling with the technology, so they had resorted to phone-only conversations. She had last seen him during the Easter vacation and was looking forward to the thirteen week summer break starting next month, after her exams were over.
Tomorrow was an important day as she had a written examination. She was with Natasha, who was facing the same exam at nine thirty the following morning, and they were going over some eleventh hour revision.
Natasha stretched and looked at the clock.
“I’m done in Carla, I don’t know about you, but my brain cannot take in any more information.”
Carla agreed. Her brain was like a saturated sponge and she was delirious with fatigue.
“I’m so tired I could cry,” said Carla.
“Come on girlfriend, we’ve got a busy day tomorrow, let’s get those lights out.”
Carla neatly placed her revision in a pile on her bedside cabinet and climbed into bed.
Natasha switched out the light and felt her way across the dark room to her bed which was about ten feet from Carla’s.
Carla’s brain was spinning as revision notes circled her mind. Even though she was beyond tiredness she couldn’t sleep. Natasha was gently snoring and Carla was jealous.
Why is she sleeping while I’m wide awake? she thought.
The room was pitch black other than the faint red glow of her bedside alarm clock. She lay in silence and tried to clear her mind.
Eventually she drifted off and was dreaming.
Back in Bristol the hill was reaching out to her and infiltrating her dreams.
In her dream Carla found herself in a court room. It was the same Crown Court that Daniel Boyd had dreamt of earlier that week. The dream was as realistic as Boyd’s had been. She too could smell the muskiness of the wood clad court room and felt the discomfort of the seats.
She looked around and saw that everyone in the court room were children, with the exception of two figures. Alongside her to the left was an adult. His face was obscured as he was wearing a black hoodie, and in the seat behind her was a tall man wearing a suit and tie.
The children were muttering and giggling and the judge, who was also a child, called for silence in court.
Silence fell. Carla could hear the creaking of a wooden pew as a small girl wearing a silk gown with a flap collar and long closed sleeves stood up and spoke. The young girl called the main witness. Carla couldn’t make out the name of the witness.
Then, just as in Boyd’s dream, a court usher pushed a white Silverline pram to the front of the court. She couldn’t see the baby in the pram as it was obscured by the pram’s hood, but she could see the same floppy legged grey cuddly toy cat waving in the baby’s hand that Boyd had seen in his dream.
The witness in the pram was sworn in and Carla heard the booming voice of an adult come from the pram.
“I promise before Almighty God that the evidence which I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”
She looked at the adult to her left who slowly turned to face her. He pulled down the hoody which was covering his face. It was Daniel Boyd, with his pale spotty skin and his dark greasy hair. With a menacing smile he spoke to her.
“Hello Carla, remember me?”
“You’re Daniel Boyd,” she replied.
“No, I think you must be mistaken. My name’s Stanley, Stanley Jarrett and we’re going to prison for a very long time.”
Carla covered her mouth to stifle a scream. She turned her head to look away and saw the other adult in court. He was behind her and was staring directly at her with a stern look. She recognised him as the man from her dream almost two years ago. The same man who she’d made the sketch of. It was Markland Garraway.
Garraway leant forward and whispered in her ear.
“If you do as I say, there’ll be no prison for you Carla.”
His Scottish accent was as clear as a bell. She turned back to Boyd who was smiling his evil grin.
“Prison Carla, you and me, we’re going to prison.”
He held his head back and laughed, which had a rippling effect on the children in the court who giggled along with Boyd.
“Silence in court, silence in court,” called the judge, but Boyd and the children continued to laugh and giggle.
Carla awoke and sat up. She was shaking and her forehead was soaked in sweat. She got out of bed and made her way to the bathroom.
Natasha was woken by the sound of Carla crying. She ran in to be with her.
Carla lifted her head and looked at Natasha.
“My God Carla, you look awful, what’s the matter with you?”
Carla stood up and made her way back to her bed as Natasha held her arm around her to support her.
“You’re shaking.”
Natasha sat her on the bed and went back to the bathroom to get her a glass of water.
“Whatever it is, I don’t reckon you’ll be sitting the exam tomorrow.”
Carla took a sip and climbed back into her bed.
The dream had scared her because it was so real. Natasha turned out the light, got into bed and fell straight back to sleep.
Carla lay awake thinking about the dream for almost an hour before drifting off.
The hill had spoken to her.
Chapter eighty
Thomas Judd’s Hypnotherapy Practice
10.50am
Saturday 12th May
Maria, Campbell and Christopher walked up the garden path which led to Tom Judd’s practice. Judd ran the practice from his home and had converted the basement of his three story house into a consulting room, which led into the place he liked t
o refer to as the ‘Quiet Area’.
“What are we doing mummy?”
“We’re going to talk to a nice man who will help you sleep better at night,” said Maria, as she glanced at Campbell.
“I’m a good sleeper aren’t I mummy. I never wake up.”
Maria squeezed his hand.
“I know darling, but sometimes when you are asleep you are a bit noisy and you keep me and daddy awake.”
“I don’t,” said Christopher looking up at Maria with his angelic smile.
“If you’re a good boy when we see this man we will treat you to something special afterwards.”
“Toy, toy, toy, toy,” said the excited little boy as he jumped up and down.
Campbell apprehensively pressed the buzzer on the silver intercom.
“Hello,” said the voice as it crackled over the speaker.
“Hi Tom, its Campbell for our eleven o’clock.”
“OK, the door’s open, come on down.”
He pushed the door and let Maria and Christopher go ahead of him. The heavy wooden door swung closed behind him.
Maria looked at the row of framed certificates that hung in the hallway. Campbell led the way down to the basement to a half glazed door which opened to the consulting room.
The room was pleasantly decorated and smelt of fresh coffee.
Tom Judd propped his glasses onto his head, stood up from behind his desk and walked over to Maria and Campbell.
“Nice to see you again Campbell,” said Judd shaking his hand.
“And you must be Maria, pleased to meet you.”
Maria took his hand and shook it whilst trying to portray an air of confidence.
Judd crouched down to Christopher’s level and ruffled his hair.
“And who are you?”
“My name is Christopher and my mummy and my daddy they say I sleep funny, but I don’t, don’t I?”
Judd smiled and whispered in his ear.
“I think you probably sleep very well, but we need to do something today which will prove that you sleep really, really well. Would you like to help me with it?”
Christopher nodded.
“Good, I just need to talk to your mummy and daddy.”
Judd stood up. He couldn’t understand how this polite and happy little boy was the same one in the video. The same boy who cursed and pleaded for help.
Judd went to his desk and opened a drawer.
“Before I start I need you to sign some forms.”
Campbell skim read the paperwork which was basically a list of disclaimers covering Judd if anything went wrong, or if the hypnotherapy didn’t work. Maria took the sheet of A4 paper from him and read it.
“Let’s just sign it,” she whispered.
They handed the signed form back to Judd who made a copy for them and filed the original back in the drawer.
Judd turned to Maria.
“I’ve watched the videos and I am aware of what Christopher does in his sleep,” he said quietly under his breath.
Christopher was oblivious to the fact they were talking about him and was busy spinning on Judd’s office chair.
“I’ve already explained to Campbell what I intend to do, but I will go through it again for you.”
Maria listened intently and was clearly nervous about the whole thing.
“The first thing I want to do is reassure you that hypnotherapy is completely safe. What I intend to do, and I may not get this right first time, but my intention is to flick a switch in his mind and turn off the sleep talking.”
“Is it as simple as that?” asked Maria.
“Perhaps I’ve over simplified it, but basically that’s what I will do by using the power of suggestion.”
“Will it be scary for him when you put him under?”
Judd smiled.
“There’s nothing scary about it, children love the experience. Kids have brilliant imaginations and once Christopher works out how to combine relaxation with his imagination, I can then begin to switch off the sleep talking.”
Outwardly Judd was oozing confidence, which helped Maria relax, but inside he had no idea how the session would go and was apprehensive.
A few years ago he’d dabbled in regressive hypnosis when a client was convinced he’d been Winston Churchill in a previous life. Judd didn’t believe in reincarnation, but there was something about Christopher which made him nervous. He put the thought out of his mind and stood up.
“Shall we,” he said gesturing towards the door which led to the Quiet Area’.
Maria took Christopher by his hand and walked him to the other room behind Campbell and Judd.
The room was small and the walls had been painted in plain magnolia. The carpet was thick, which muffled their footsteps as they entered the room.
In the middle of the room were two chairs. One faced the wall and the other faced the side of the first chair. Against the back wall was a small settee.
Maria and Campbell nervously perched on the edge of the settee and held hands.
Judd picked Christopher up and placed him in the chair which faced the wall.
“Christopher, tell me what is your most favourite thing?”
“Meee,” replied Christopher.
“Your favourite thing is you?”
“No, silly, Mee, my toy.”
Judd looked confused and glanced at Maria.
“He’s talking about his toy fluffy cat, he takes it everywhere.”
Judd nodded and smiled.
“And do you have Mee with you today?”
Christopher shook his head.
“Sorry, we’ve left him at home,” whispered Campbell.
Judd turned to Christopher and in a gentle voice asked him what else was his most favourite thing.
Christopher put his finger in his mouth and looked to the ceiling.
“Um, umm, umm……trains!”
“You like trains, I love trains,” replied Judd.
“I think I’ve got just the thing.”
He walked over to a small cupboard and pulled out a framed picture.
“Do you like that?” he said, showing Christopher a picture of Thomas the Tank Engine.
Christopher nodded enthusiastically.
Judd hung the picture from a hook on the wall directly opposite Christopher.
“What I would like you to do is to look at the picture of Thomas, can you that do for me?”
The little boy nodded happily.
“Good. When you’re looking at Thomas I’m going to talk to you and I would like you to listen to what I say……can you do that for me too?”
Christopher nodded again.
Judd sat alongside Christopher and spoke in a quiet and confident voice.
“Now, do you remember what it feels like to go to sleep?”
Christopher nodded.
“Yes, that's right. And it can feel very good to drift off to sleep, can't it? And your body really likes to go to sleep because it feels so good.”
He nodded again.
“So, let’s think about your toes. Your toes can go to sleep. Your toes know how to go to sleep. Let them go to sleep now and tell me when your toes have gone to sleep.”
“My toes are sleepy,” said Christopher.
“Good, now your feet…let me know when your feet have gone to sleep.”
“My feet are sleeping.”
“You’re doing very well Christopher. Now let your legs below your knees go to sleep and let me know when they’re asleep.”
Christopher nodded. “Legs asleep.”
“Now let your legs above your knees go to sleep. Sleepy, sleepy legs. Let me know when the top parts of your legs are asleep.”
“Legs asleep.”
“Now your whole legs are asleep. Very sleepy legs. Nice and heavy………just sink into the chair now.”
“Now let your bottom go to sleep. Sleepy, sleepy bottom. Let me know when your bottom has gone to sleep.”
Christopher sleepily giggled
and squirmed. “Sleepy bottom.”
“And your tummy…sleepy, sleepy tummy.”
Judd didn’t need to carry on, Christopher was under hypnosis. Judd stood up and smiled at Maria and Campbell.
“He’s under,” whispered Judd, as Christopher slumped comfortably in the chair gently rolling his head from side to side.
Chapter eighty one
The Awareness
Ben was awake and felt different. He didn’t have quite the same urge to be heard and his pent up anger had gone. He almost felt relaxed.
He was recalling a childhood memory of when he was holidaying with his family. He was splashing with his brother on a Dorset beach and was enjoying the memory until something interrupted his train of thought.
His visual memories were distorted by a dim light. The light became intense and soon bleached the images from his memory. The light was swirling as if it was illuminating a churning mist. He could hear his brother’s voice and the crashing of the waves, but he couldn’t see anything.
And then Ben heard a different voice. It was a voice that he did not recognise.
Chapter eighty two
Thomas Judd’s Hypnotherapy Practice
11.27am
Thomas Judd sat alongside Christopher, who was slumped in the chair with his eyes closed and gently rolling his head from side to side.
“Hello Christopher, can you hear me? If you can I would like you to say ‘yes’.”
Christopher stopped rolling his head. He opened his eyes and starred directly at Judd.
Chapter eighty three
The Awareness
“Hello Christopher, can you hear me? If you can I would like you to say ‘yes’.”
Ben was confused. This was not one of his memories. He hadn’t just thought those words. He’d actually heard them. He felt the resonance and boom of a man’s voice.
The white light had reached a peak and the intensity of the glare was almost painful. Then he heard the words again.
“Christopher, can you hear me? If you can I would like you to say ‘yes’.”
The Hill - Carla’s Story (Book Two): A Paranormal Murder Mystery Thriller. (Book Two) Page 3
