The Boy in the Dark

by June Wilson

  “Thought I wanted to get to know you better, didn’t I?” Molly said, jutting her chin out. “An’ now I do. You ‘aint what I thought.”

  She turned on her heel and stomped away, leaving Josh to stare after her. He felt an unexpected twist of disappointment. Had he just been dumped? And what did she mean, she knew him? She didn’t know him at all.

  “Hey!” he shouted, running after her. “I’m sorry if I was rude, okay? And I shouldn’t have lied to you. It’s just that I’m not used to women - I mean girls. I’ve never, well, what I mean is…” He broke off and shrugged. “Look, I’m sorry. That’s all I’ve got.”

  Molly sniffed. “You know Alice. She’s a girl.”

  “Yes – but that’s different. She’s with Toby – not that I’m interested in her like that – I’m not. She’s my mate. That’s an Australian term, by the way - I doubt if you – oh, shit.” Josh clapped his hand over his mouth. What an idiot. He’d done what Alice had expressly told him not to do – ruined their cover story.

  Molly didn’t seem to notice. She gave him a lopsided smile and linked his arm. “Lucky for you, I don’t hold grudges. Not for long, anyways. You can walk me home – an’ I’ll have another piece of that toffee too.”

  “Right, sure. Have the whole bag – give them to your brother if he likes them,” he said, thrusting the caramels at her.

  “Ta,” Molly said, taking a toffee for herself and stowing the rest. They walked in silence for a while, which was a relief as far as Josh was concerned. If they could just get home without her asking any awkward questions, he’d give up Martha’s pies for a week. Well, maybe a day.

  Luckily Molly seemed happy to keep quiet, though he couldn’t help noticing that she squeezed his arm a little tighter every time they passed someone she knew. And when they finally reached the end of her street, she burst out laughing.

  “What? What are you laughing at?” Josh turned full circle, mystified. Had he trodden in something? Made some other weird, nineteenth century mistake he had no idea about?

  “Their faces!” Molly gave a shout of glee. “They never expected me to get a sweetheart, see. I’m not pretty, like that Sally Meecham. An’ I don’t turn tricks, like Florrie Naylor.”

  Josh wasn’t sure what turning tricks meant but he had a good idea. “I think you’re pretty,” he said and was surprised to find he meant it. Molly wasn’t like Orla (totally stunning and brilliant and the best girl he’d ever met in his life), but he liked the way she stuck up for herself.

  Molly blushed a furious red. “Thanks,” she mumbled. “An’ thanks for walking me home. But I gotta’ go now. Mary’s been looking after Will, but she lets him get away with murder. Bet he’s not even in bed yet.” She hesitated a second then pecked him on the cheek. “You’re nice, you are,” she said and ran off, disappearing down one of the narrow alleyways that ran between the houses.

  Josh stared after her, absent-mindedly rubbing his cheek. Her lips had been soft, like feathers. He’d never kissed a girl before and certainly never been kissed. He was just contemplating whether he should try and see Molly again when he heard a scream, loud enough to wake the dead. It came from the direction Molly had taken and Josh raced towards the alley, heart thumping. What if she’d been attacked? What if he found her lying in a pool of blood? He knew he should have taken her right to the door – the street was in total darkness and anyone could be lurking in the shadows.

  Suddenly someone grabbed him by the arm and he almost screamed himself. He balled his fists, ready to fight, then realized it was Molly.

  “He’s gone,” she wailed. “That Mary, she fell asleep, didn’t she? And now Will’s scarpered.”

  “Are you sure?” he said.

  “Course I’m sure! I keep tellin’ you - I’m not stupid.”

  “He’s not just hiding, to try and scare you or something?” He wouldn’t put it past Will. He’d been quiet the last day or so but he was in the habit of playing practical jokes on the other boys.

  Molly chewed at a nail. “No,” she said. “Will wouldn’t do that. He’s cheeky, but he knows I worry about him. And right when I told my ma’ I was looking after him!” She put her face in her hands and started to cry again.

  “Don’t cry Molly,” Josh said, putting his arm round her. “I’m sure he’ll be fine.” He wasn’t sure at all, but he had to calm her down somehow. “Why don’t you wait at home and I’ll go look for him. He can’t have gone far.”

  Molly sniffed. “Really? You’d do that?” she said, stabbing at her tears with a dirty handkerchief.

  “Of course! And I’ll get Toby to help too. We’ll have him back in no time.”

  *

  The means by which Jessica Westwood accessed Martha’s kitchen would probably have sent most people running. First a pale face at the window, then a long arm slivering through the cracks, followed by a head and torso, until finally a girl in full Victorian regalia stood in the centre of the room.

  “Jess! I’m so glad to see you!” Alice said, flinging her arms round her.

  “Likewise – but I’m not actually corporeal you know,” Jess said as Alice’s arms went straight through her. “But I appreciate the sentiment.”

  “Good to see you Jess,” Toby grinned. “Assuming that is you – and not some demon or other.”

  “Of course it’s me, you idiot. Speaking of idiots – where’s that girl you were with before? The one that looks like Iris on a bad day?”

  “Who – Molly?” It had never occurred to Alice that her new friend was anything like Iris. But now that Jess mentioned it, she could she what she meant - Molly had white blond hair and brown eyes. “We left her with Josh at the fair.”

  “Oh, the fat boy, right? Shame our paths never crossed before – I don’t think.”

  “Being a ghost’s not improved your temper then,” Toby said. “Leave off Josh – he’s one of us.”

  “Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Jess wafted to the table and helped herself to a biscuit. “These look good. Contrary to popular belief, we spirits need sustenance occasionally. And you know what the good thing is?”

  “Let me guess - you never put any weight on.” Alice couldn’t help smiling. Toby was right - Jess hadn’t changed at all. They could probably carry on like this for hours, but Jess had a lot of explaining to do.

  “Jess – I meant what I said before - I’m really happy to see you. But how come you’re here? And why are you with that awful woman?”

  “Who? Madame Varia?” Jess wrinkled her nose. “You’re right, she’s not so great. But she is kind of important. I suppose I’d better start from the beginning.”

  “That would be useful,” Toby said, folding his arms. “The short version, if possible.”

  Jess ignored the dig and took another biscuit. She chewed thoughtfully for a moment then launched into her story.

  “So…I was dead, you buried me under the hawthorn bush, blah, blah, let’s not dwell on that. Oh and yes, I know it was Mathilde that killed – no murdered -me and not Gawain. I was trying to tell you she was the traitor, but you really don’t listen sometimes, do you know that?

  “Anyway…when you die, you go to this dreary place, some Valley or other, full of fog and mist, you can hardly see a thing – which is good in a way, because some dead people, I mean, yuk, they’re so old and ugly…”

  “Jess,” Toby warned. “Remember what I said?”

  “Oh yeah right – so there I was, feeling a bit sorry for myself, trying to avoid the oldies, when I saw this woman coming towards me. She wasn’t like any of the others. I mean she was young for starters and just beautiful. She was wearing a green dress - or was it turquoise? I can’t quite remember now, but it was the best dress I’d seen for ages. At first I thought she was going to walk right past me, but then she stopped and took my hand. And I swear she was warm to touch – like she was still alive! She stared at me for ages and then she said: You. I have seen you in my dreams. I had daughters, but I have them no more. Come with me and
be my child, for that will make my heart soar.

  “I’m not kidding, that’s what she said! Just like one of those old-fashioned poems.” Jess shrugged. “Like I even hesitated. I went with her pretty quick smart. So happy to be away from there.”

  Alice felt the breath constrict in her chest. She felt as if she’d heard of this woman before, but she had no idea how. “Did she say who she was?”

  “Sure she did. She said her name was Helaine and that she’d been suffering in that Valley place for ages and ages.”

  “The Vale of Tears,” Alice said for emphasis. She could see Toby was thinking the same thing she was. The breach was connected to this woman Helaine. Perhaps she was the one who created it, as a means of escape.

  “Yeah – whatever,” Jess said, clearly not interested in the particulars of Middengard geography. “Anyway Helaine said I could help her - she’s looking for someone, see. A boy. She didn’t say who exactly, but – what? Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “She didn’t say why she wanted the boy did she? Or what she would do when she found him?” Toby asked.

  Jess shook her head. “Nope. Like I told you, she talks kind of funny – I can’t make sense of what she says half the time. She says finding him is all her heart desires. That and some kind of revenge on the scumbags who sent him away in the first place.”

  “And has she found him?” Alice’s heart was hammering in her chest. Will’s story was suddenly becoming far more credible.

  “Uh – no! Why do you think we’re here? Madam Varia told her he was hidden in the human world. What’s more, she can’t find him without me. I guess that’s why she’s kind of adopted me.”

  “But how come you’re so important?” Toby cut in. “It’s not like you know much about England, is it?”

  Jess sighed theatrically. “Oh Toby – don’t you ever listen to anything I tell you? When Geraint duped me that time, he brought me here – to Yorkshire remember – so I could, you know, give up my human life. Apparently it gave me a blood connection with the place. That’s what Madame Varia said, anyway. And I mean – who cares? I’m here and it turns out you’re here too and I’m pretty happy about that.” Jess stopped and narrowed her eyes. “Hey, now we’re on the topic – why are you guys here? I was just as surprised as Alice in that séance you know. Talk about stroke of luck.”

  Alice hesitated. She trusted Jess but she certainly didn’t trust Madame Varia. “Dad asked me to look into something,” she said. “Some sort of Middengard research he needs. We thought it would be fun to go back in time, didn’t we Toby?”

  “Yeah. It’s just the same old, same old back in Melbourne.”

  Jess sniffed. “All right for some. I wouldn’t mind seeing Melbourne again.”

  Toby’s face fell. “Sorry Jess, I didn’t mean…”

  “I’m teasing, stupid. I know what I am. There’s no going home for me.”

  “Well, at least we’re back together now,” Alice said quickly. It sounded lame, but it was the best she could come up with. If there was a way to fix things for Jess, she would. But they had to deal with the matter in hand first and she had a feeling the medium was the one with the information.

  “So what about Madame Varia? I thought she was human, but now I’m not so sure. I mean, how come she knew my name?”

  “I don’t know – I certainly didn't tell her,” Jess said. “I told you, I had no idea you were going to turn up at that séance.”

  “But is she human? She was so creepy.” Alice shivered as she remembered the medium’s hooded eyes.

  “She’s human alright – she told me. And she’s like, really old. She’s got some special lineage or something. She says she hears the Gods – the Aetheling or whatever they’re called. Sends her a bit crazy sometimes, but she always gets over it.”

  Alice stiffened. She sounded like a Guardian, the same as Martha. But not a well-intentioned one – not if she had a Nifl demon with her.

  “And what about the Nifl demon – how come he – I mean it – is here too?”

  “Oh, never mind him,” Jess said dismissively. “He’s just a bodyguard. I think Helaine’s quite important. Madame Varia says we might need him, just in case.”

  “Just in case what?” Toby asked.

  Jess rolled her eyes. “Has going back in time altered your brain cells? The boy Helaine wants has been hidden. Which means whoever did the hiding doesn’t want him found. Which means he’s probably got his own bodyguards. Get it?”

  Alice could tell Toby was thinking exactly what she was. This was definitely to do with Will and his imaginary friend - except he was no longer so imaginary. And Madame Varia had somehow located Molly, which meant she would be on to Will in no time. She was about to say they had to go back to the fair and find Molly when the front door banged open and a red-faced Josh staggered into the kitchen. He was so distraught he didn’t seem to notice Jess.

  “I’ve run all the way from Molly’s,” he said, panting. “She’s really upset. Left her there, waiting. Said I’d get you to help.”

  Alice felt her blood run cold. “Why? What’s happened?”

  “It’s Will - he’s gone. There’s no sign of him anywhere.”

  ENGLAND – 1856

  Chapter 19

  Alice busied herself making tea while Toby attempted to get more details from Josh. Jess hovered by her side, keeping out of the way.

  “He can’t see me you know,” she whispered. “The fat boy.”

  “Jess, I’ve told you,” Alice warned, then realized what her friend had said. “Why not? We can.”

  “Yeah – but you knew me before that witch poisoned me. He’s never met me, has he? So all he’ll be able to see is a bit of a ghostly outline – so to speak.”

  “Can he hear you?”

  Jess shrugged and cast a look in Josh’s direction. “Don’t know. Doubt it. Shall I try?”

  “No – not right now.” Josh had recovered from his exertions but seemed to be having a serious conversation with Toby. Maybe he was filling him in about Will’s secret. But whether he was telling him the whole story, including Jess’s presence, she wasn’t sure.

  She didn’t have to wonder for long. Josh cast a look in their direction and said, “What? I can’t see a thing! That’s so unfair. I didn’t think ghosts were possible and now I haven’t got any evidence.”

  “Oh right – is this enough evidence for you?” Jess snatched up a teacup and, before Alice could stop her, threw it at Josh. He dodged just in time.

  “Wow! Was that her?” Far from being angry, Josh had a big grin on his face. “That is so cool.”

  “Jess,” Alice said.

  “Josh,” Toby said. But neither of them got to finish, because just then Martha came home. She was carrying a bunch of flowers and humming under her breath. They all fell silent as she stood in the doorway, a look of enquiry on her face.

  “Well, there’s trouble here, I’ll be bound.” She deposited the flowers in the sink and eyed Jess thoughtfully. “You’ll be one of the spirits then. I was expecting you.”

  “Oh come on,” Josh said. “Her too? How come I’m the only one who can’t see her?”

  Alice didn’t have time to placate Josh. Based on the teacup, she figured Jess would make her presence known regardless. And the Guardian deserved a full explanation.

  “Martha, this is our friend, Jessica Westwood. She died a few months ago, but now she’s come from you-know-where. She’s with some others. We think one of them is a Guardian, like you.”

  “Died? I was murdered, thank you,” Jess said, but no one took any notice. Martha had folded her arms and she’d stopped smiling. “Go on,” she said.

  “It seems they’re looking for a boy – a boy that someone else doesn’t want anyone to find. And this boy,” Alice hesitated, then went on, “well, we think he’s somehow connected to Will Watson. And now Will’s gone missing.”

  “So – do you know anything about it?” Toby cut in.

  “It�
�s not that we think you’ve been keeping things from us,” Alice added hurriedly. What was Toby thinking? He sounded as if he was accusing Martha of something.

  Even as she said it, she knew that there could be something to Toby’s suspicions. Martha had told her about her sister Charlotte, but only when Alice had pressed her. And the sister had been the one to inherit their mother’s knowledge. Could Madame Varia be Martha’s sister? In which case, Martha could have been in league with her all along. No, that couldn’t be right. Martha couldn’t be working against them.

  “And what is it I should know, young man? About this poor soul here?” She waved in Jess’s direction, who looked outraged at the term poor soul, but thankfully kept quiet, “or about this other Guardian? Because I’m telling you now, I’m the only one of my kind hereabouts. I had a sister – as I told Alice here – but she made a bad marriage and my family suffered because of it. She’s long gone. As for Will Watson, he’s the most mischievous boy I’ve ever met, but a good lad at heart. So if he’s run off, I’ll help you find him. And if that’s not good enough for you, I’ll stay here and get on with my baking. I’ve orders to fill by morning.”

  For a long minute there was silence and then everyone began to talk at once.

  “I’m sorry Martha, we didn’t mean to imply…” Alice said.

  “Oh, right. Your sister…I didn’t know,” Toby said.

  “Who is this exactly?” Jess said.

  “There’s way too much going on for me,” Josh said, at which point Martha banged her fist on the table and shouted, “Enough! I’m not offended – it’s better you’re cautious than otherwise. But if I know Molly, she’ll be worrying herself sick. So you,” she pointed at Josh, “go and keep her company. And you two, come with me. I’ve a good idea where Will likes to play.”

  “Hey – what about me?” Jess said.

  “I expect you can go wherever you want missy,” Martha looked Jess up and down and it was clear she meant back to the unidentified Guardian as well as the other two options. “So take your pick.”