“I’m seeing if I can see what’s making that noise. I’m sure someone is out there.” I slowly unlocked the door to take a look outside, but just as I pushed it open the noise, which had begun to fade, suddenly sounded like someone beating a drum. I banged the door shut and locked it.
“You still think it’s him, don’t you?” asked Kelly. ‘Him’ being a guy called Mark Bernshaw who we haven’t met yet. He moved in across from us into flat 133A about three weeks ago and since then the murders have gotten worse. Myself and Brian, a guy who lives in the flat below, have also seen him going out late at night looking suspicious. Brian found out Mark’s name by accidentally falling over his mail and had once tried to speak to him but Mark just ignored him.
“Yeah I do; it seems strange. Can you hear a sort of tapping noise? It keeps getting louder like a drum; it sounds like someone is in the basement trying to escape or something.”
“Don’t say things like that, Jack,” said Kelly looking worried.
I edged towards the door again and Kelly followed; she grabbed my hand and squeezed it harder and harder as we got closer. We reached it and I was pondering what to do when there was a loud bang on the door. We both jumped. I wondered whether Mark had realized we were on to him and had come to silence us. We stood very quietly and I was hoping that Mark would go away when another bang on the door put paid to that notion. Kelly was trembling. I was about to go and get some kind of weapon when a familiar voice shouted, “Come on, you two, let me in. What you doing? It’s me, Brian.”
Relief flowed through me as Kelly opened the door and hissed back, “Brian, my heart nearly stopped.”
“Thanks, Kel, I didn’t know you liked me that much. What’s the matter with you two? You look like you’ve seen a ghost or something.” I looked at Brian in disbelief, I don’t know what I expected to come through our door but it was no ghost.
“We heard banging, and well, we thought…” Kelly uttered.
“You’re not still going on about that new lad are you? I just bumped into him in the hallway; he was moaning that he couldn’t have a shower as his plumbing has been playing up. The pipes were tapping and banging away all night apparently. I felt sorry for him so I took the liberty of inviting him for drinks later, hope you don’t mind?” Kelly and I looked at each other and nodded apprehensively. “Good. What time are Stella and Megan coming, and what film are we watching?”
Still in shock at the idea of Mark coming over to my flat I replied, “Err, any film you want, and not sure about the girls. So what did he say then, Brian?”
“Who?”
I stared at him with anger and curiosity; Kelly had gone to change. “Mark about coming around for drinks?”
“Oh, sorry, apart from him moaning about the plumbing he didn’t say much. He was dressed in black with a hood on and just said ‘no thanks’ as he pushed past me.” I was now convinced he must be up to something, where would you be going in this fog and dressed all in black?
I sat down with Brian and grabbed a couple of beers. “Don’t you think this Mark is being a bit strange?”
“In what way?”
“Well, since he’s been here there have been the noises, he keeps going out late, he always avoids us and then there are the disappearances and murders of people in the town.”
Brian looked at me oddly then laughed a little. “Wait a minute, you don’t think he’s the murderer do you? Just because he doesn’t want to come and have a few drinks?” Brian laughed and I was lost for words. I just smiled and shrugged my shoulders. “You know your trouble, Jack, don’t you?”
“Please enlighten me.”
“You’ve been watching too much scary stuff on TV, mate.”
“You’re probably right.”
“I know I am. I’ll tell you what; shall we watch the new Saw film?” Before I could reply Kelly walked in. “How do you put up with him, Kelly? He thinks that new lad Mark is a killer or something.”
Kelly was looking subdued but I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She looked amazing from head to toe of her beautiful petite frame. She had on the tightest pair of jeans I have ever seen coupled with a low-cut blouse which just covered her amazing breasts. Her brunette hair was fastened up in a tidy bob; a pink shade of lipstick coated her lips, lips that you just wanted to kiss. Her skin looked smooth to the touch and her blue eyes glistened like the finest diamond.
“Well, I’ve got to say, Brian, I agree with Jack. Mark is behaving quite oddly, especially when you consider all the strange goings on that have been happening around here lately.”
“I don’t know, I think you two need a holiday or something. It’s never the ones you suspect, trust me on that,” Brian remarked. I was wondering what he meant by that comment when our conversation was interrupted by the doorbell. Stella and Megan, who lived in the building’s basement flat, had arrived. I watched Brian lick his lips; he couldn’t take his eyes off Stella as she walked into the room flicking her long, flowing, blonde hair over her shoulder. She smiled at Brian, leading him on as usual.
“Right, who wants what?”
“I’ll have a glass of rosé, Kelly, please.”
“Okay, Stella, what do you want, Megan?”
“Same, Kelly love, ta.”
“Right oh. Jack, sort you and Brian out and sort the film out please.”
I sorted the drinks, popped the DVD in and sat down. My friends started chatting and enjoying their evening but I found that my mind was focused on other matters. Why was Mark going out dressed all in black, what was he up to? What had those strange noises been? I was convinced that they weren’t down to the plumbing. And how exactly do you expose a vampire? I sat trying to answer all these questions and couldn’t concentrate on my friends’ mindless gossip.
*
Morning came and I jumped up to the sound of my alarm. I didn’t know which was worse: the ringing of the alarm or the ringing in my head. I must have drunk a bit too much last night. When I staggered out of my room Kelly was in the kitchen making breakfast. “Morning, Jack, ha you look rough.”
“Morning, yeah I feel it, what were we drinking?”
“Anything and everything would be a good description; it was a good night though wasn’t it?”
“Err, what I can remember of it. I don’t even remember saying bye to Bri, Stella and Megs.”
“Yeah, you had zonked, they left about one. I couldn’t believe you last night though.” I sat down on our very old, hand-me-down, two-seater sofa. The TV was blaring and I had a strong mug of coffee in hand as I tried to figure out what I could have said or done. The way Kelly was grinning and shaking her head told me that she knew I was struggling to remember. “You were filling all of our heads with theories of Mark being a vampire killer thingy. I thought it was good but a bit too much for the others, especially Brian, very weird really.”
I was intrigued. “Weird in what way?”
“Well, he was just grinning and disagreeing with you, saying Mark isn’t a killer. It wasn’t Brian how we know him but then he did drink a lot. Anyway, come on, Jack, we’re going to be late for uni.” I jumped up, just grabbing my half mug of coffee before it fell. I put my mug along with my half eaten breakfast plate in the sink and grabbed my satchel and books. Kelly too picked up her books and phone while quickly finishing her drink. I was just about to follow Kelly out of the door when I remembered my wallet. I doubled back, grabbed it, locked up and left to catch our bus.
*
About an hour in to our lecture, in which I had gotten closer to being sober, the class was disturbed by lecturers running up and down corridors and police who were patrolling everywhere. I looked at Kelly and we both turned to where Brian should be sitting — just an empty chair. He normally caught the bus to university with us but after a couple of hard, unanswered knocks on his door we had to leave him and run for our bus.
I will never forget the look on people’s faces that day when the news started to filter through. Mrs Jones, a lecturer who had be
en missing a couple of days (even though the word was she had gone away), had been murdered. Her white, twisted corpse with the neck ripped open had been found in an old warehouse around the corner. I watched Kelly glaring at Brian’s empty chair with tears streaming down her face.
*
The town was in chaos as the news spread and it got much worse by the time we arrived home as two more decapitated corpses were discovered.
Kelly was shaking. I went to comfort her and she threw her arms around me. The embrace turned into a kiss which was long and warm. I held her so tightly, it was beautiful. After what seemed like an age we stopped and looked into each other’s eyes. I stroked her face; she smiled and then hugged me hard. I felt so happy; I had wanted this for so long. Kelly looked happy too but there was a bit of awkwardness between us. She let go of me and slumped down in a chair. Returning to the matter in hand she said, “Oh, Jack, what the hell is going on and where was Brian today?”
“What are you saying? You don’t think that Brian had something to do with these killings?”
“I don’t know what to think. He wasn’t there today, he’s been acting weird and now I’m worried about Stella and Megan. Then there’s this Mark and the police haven’t a clue what’s going on.”
I knew it was no man, it had to be a vampire or a wolf creature or something. Kelly was right about Brian, he had been acting strange, but my suspect was still Mark. “We must do something, come on.”
“What can we do, Jack? We have to leave.”
“No, we will go and see Brian.” I grabbed a carving knife and went to the door. I looked back at Kelly and she reluctantly followed me.
Once outside Brian’s door I took a deep breath and with Kelly just about breaking my hand with squeezing it so hard I took an even deeper one. After I knocked it felt like an eternity waiting for a response. I could feel the sweat dripping off the knife handle as I clasped it tight. Finally, the door creaked open. “Jack, Kel, sorry I wasn’t there this morning. My head, I have the worst hangover, come in.”
I left the knife outside the door and followed an uneasy Kelly. “Brian, you look like crap.”
“That’s good because I feel like crap, Jack, I’ve been in bed all day. What the hell did we drink last night?”
“It was more how much you drank,” said Kelly with a smirk, she was obviously feeling better.
“Never mind that, Brian, haven’t you heard?” I watched Brian very closely.
“Heard what? I have been in bed all day, mate…Jesus, where did I put them tablets?”
“Mrs Jones, the lecturer, they found her body in a warehouse on Beck Street.”
Brian slumped in his chair and looked genuinely shocked. “You’re joking.”
“No, and that’s not all, they’ve found two more bodies, and Stella and Megan have gone missing as well, haven’t they, Jack?” Kelly added. I nodded.
Brian stood up, shaking his head. “What do you mean Stella and Megan have gone missing?”
“They weren’t at uni and Kelly checked earlier, with the spare key, their beds haven’t been slept in.”
Brian paced around. “I can’t get me head around this; they can’t have gone far surely? Who’re the others that have been found?”
“Not sure, two blokes I think, but they have all been found in the same circumstances: white, drained, necks ripped out; I think it’s a vampire or a wolf thingy.”
Brian laughed. “For God’s sake, Jack, they’re a myth. Have a word with him, Kelly.”
“Well, to be fair, something is going on, I’m not sure about Jack’s theories but these creatures have been reported before.”
Brian looked uneasy. “I think you two have gone mad, it’ll be some nutter running about.”
I rubbed my head and stood up. “Like that Mark?”
Brian looked at me. “Why do you think that, Jack? Tell me.”
Kelly stood up. “I agreed with you before Brian when you said that it wasn’t Mark. Now I’m not sure, it could be anyone. Jesus, Brian, I was even suspecting you.” I was in awe of Kelly’s honesty.
“Well thanks, Kel, sorry to disappoint you but I’ve been asleep all day.”
“The murders happened a few days ago, Brian.”
“Cheers, Jack, who needs enemies?”
It was getting to the point where I didn’t know what to believe. “I’m sorry, my mind is everywhere. I, however, am convinced that Mark has got something to do with it.”
Brian took some more tablets, looked at Kelly then glared at me. “Okay, Jack, what do you propose to do?”
“I’m going to follow him tonight; I will go alone if necessary.”
Kelly put her hand on my shoulder. “I’ll come with you.” I smiled back at her.
“I don’t know, you’re both raving mad. I’ll come, but I’m going back to bed for an hour first. Have you also tried ringing Stella and Meg’s mates or anything?”
“No. Me and Jack will try while you go and get yourself sorted.”
“Okay. Shall I bring a stake and some garlic, Jack?” Brian laughed.
“Very funny. Get ready to go and I’ll see you later.”
A couple of hours later, all wrapped up like ninjas, we peeked out of Brian’s window. You could just about make out Mark leaving the building surrounded by the fog. We followed him very closely, he kept stopping and looking around and the fog was so murky and thick that Kelly wouldn’t let go of my hand.
As we got to the river Mark’s pace quickened and Brian was looking really anxious. We hid behind a wall as Mark stopped and looked around once more. Then, in the distance, we heard what sounded like a scream.
Kelly had tears in her eyes and was really hurting me with her grip. “Let’s go back, Jack, please?”
“What’s up?”
“I agree with Kelly, Jack.”
“No, we must follow him, come on.” We carried on our pursuit, the noises filling the murky air, and I realized that we were very close to the warehouses where the body of Mrs Jones had been found.
“Where is he, Jack? I can’t see him.”
“God knows, Brian.”
“Jack, for Pete’s sake, let’s go back.”
I looked at Kelly trembling. “God damn it, where has he gone?” I was angry that we had lost him but I could see how scared Kelly was, and Brian wasn’t doing much better, so reluctantly we headed back home.
Later, we were all sat in our flat with a hot cup of coffee, Kelly had just come back into the room after trying to trace Stella and Megan. “Anything, Kel?” asked Brian.
“No, the family and friends I did manage to get in touch with haven’t heard from them.”
I slumped down in my battered old armchair and flicked on the television, a local news report came on. Kelly dropped her cup of coffee, spilling it everywhere, and me and Brian stared open-mouthed at the screen as the reporter said that another body had been found in a warehouse by the river about an hour ago.
“What is going on, Jack? I think we should go to the police,” said Brian.
“With what, my vampire theory? They’ll throw away the key. No, we have to prove it. That’s why tomorrow I’m going to go into his room early in the morning because vampires don’t like daylight.” Brian stood looking at me in disbelief.
*
It was 5.30 a.m. Kelly was in bed; I was in the kitchen. I had shaved a stick into the shape of a stake and my heart pounded as I slowly crept downstairs with it in my hand. I knocked on Brian’s door still in awe of how he had agreed to help me. Now he dealt me a double shock as he opened the door — Brian was up and dressed.
As I went into his flat I could smell something really bad, something dead and rotting. “Jesus what’s that smell?”
“Don’t look at me, Jack; I know it’s horrible. What you got there?” he asked pointing towards the stake.
“A stake to kill that bloodsucking vampire Mark with.”
“Jesus wept, Jack, you’re convinced about that crap, you’ll get yourself
locked up carrying that around.”
“So what the hell is that great carving knife doing in your belt, Bri?” I had to grin to myself.
“Protection. Have you seen the size of him? And where’s Kelly?”
“I left her in bed asleep, all this vampire talk is taking its toll on her.”
“Not just her. Well, come on, if we’re going to go through with this madness.”
I looked at Brian sheepishly because despite my great plan there was one little detail I had overlooked. “Well, we have got a problem to be honest.”
“And what would that be? Dear me, it just gets better.”
“How are we going to get into Mark’s place?”
Brian looked at me, I wasn’t sure if he was going to laugh or cry. “And you’re supposed to be the clever one. It’s a good job I know where he leaves a key.”
The key was under a plant pot in the hall near Mark’s door. We uncovered it and before I knew it we were slowly entering Mark’s flat. I immediately noticed the horrible rotting smell, my heart was thumping like a train with fear and by the look of Brian he was faring no better. We got outside his bedroom and we both gulped, giving each other a not so reassuring nod of our heads. We busted into Mark’s room. Brian, as planned, flicked on the light and flung open the curtains, letting the daylight pour in.
“Aaarrrggghh, what the —” Mark yelled as he threw his bed covers over his head. I got my stake out, expecting to see Mark bubble up and explode or something, and Brian was fumbling around trying to get his carving knife from out of his belt. Then Mark jumped out of his bed and, not bubbling at all (well, unless you count him seething at us), came towards us, his massive frame shaking the flat as he hit the floor. “What the hell are you two doing?” Mark raged. I was just about to offer some sort of explanation when his clenched fist flew towards me.
*
Twenty minutes later we were back in my flat. I was on my chair with an icepack and tissue trying to stop my nose bleeding from where Mark had smacked me in it. Kelly was making drinks, shaking her head. “I can’t believe what you’ve just done, you idiots. What did he say?” I couldn’t answer; I felt like a prat but I was still convinced that Mark had something to do with it.
Champagne & Lemonade Page 15
