The Guardian's Protector: The Chamber of Souls

by Debbie Kowalczyk

  ‘I’ve come to say sorry,’ Kate offered.

  Amy stood to guard Tom and Winston took position beside her. Ethan stood glaring by Kate’s side, his wicked eyes falling on everyone and everything in the room like they were beneath him, his vicious intent felt by each customer.

  ‘How are you, Ethan?’ Winston asked in a sarcastic tone.

  ‘How do you think?’ Ethan snarled. ‘You should give me respect!’ As he spoke, his horrid, malevolent voice caused an eruption of voices around the café.

  ‘No chance!’ Winston countered.

  ‘I’ll have to earn it then!’ he shouted, shooting a look to the table by his side, which flew into the counter and crashed.

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ Kate said, bending down to pick up the pieces of smashed salt and pepper grinders. Customers jumped to their feet in panic, some shouting at Kate to get Ethan out.

  ‘Don’t come here again,’ Winston threatened with an unimpressed roll of his eyes.

  Ethan filled with rage. ‘If I can’t come here,’ he seethed, his pupils dilating and beginning to liquefy, ‘then neither can you!’ He ran into the play area.

  Amy heard screams from the mothers and children in the play area, then ran through to see flames erupting all around the place. Amy and Winston exchanged dark glances as Ethan ran into the back kitchen. Panic took over. Within ten seconds mothers had scooped up their children, Winston had ripped the fire extinguisher from the wall and began to spray and Amy had run, dodging the flames, to open the fire doors.

  When the old ladies in the café area screamed with fear, she left Winston in the play area to carry on putting out the flames and help everyone leave through the fire door and raced to Tom. As she did, an explosion from the kitchen threw her to the far end of the opposite counter.

  She stood and, with pots and pans crashing and wood cracking and groaning around her, looked for Tom but black, billowing smoke filled the entire café like someone had turned out the lights. As the smoke filled her lungs it reminded her of the sand-filled mist of the Dark Army’s pendants.

  As Ethan and Kate escaped through the front door, part of the smoke disintegrated and Amy could see Ethan outside revelling in the blaze of destruction he’d left behind. Amy turned to see Tom trying to help an injured old lady out of her seat in the far corner. Amongst the flames surrounding him, he looked tiny.

  Knowing there was no way Tom and the old lady could get through the flames without the fire extinguisher next to the kitchen, Amy sidestepped into the flames. The fire tore through her entire right side as she grabbed it and, screaming in pain, she yanked the extinguisher from the wall and sprayed her way through the gap in the counter.

  Before she made it through, the windows exploded and she fell to the ground. Amy pushed her hands into the broken glass to stand and, through the raging fire, battled to clear a path but, as more smoke filled her throat, a wave of exhaustion overwhelmed her and she dropped to her knees.

  Just as her eyes grew heavy, the talisman, ice cold around her neck, made a protective bubble around her. The smoke cleared from her lungs, she took a breath of clean air and pushed herself up. She ran through the flames, unharmed, to Tom and the old lady. As she reached them, they sank into the bubble of light and the three of them supported each other to the exit.

  Once they hit the pavement, the bubble retracted back into her talisman and, after a young man caught the old lady, Amy collapsed on the floor with Tom in her arms. Amy felt like she’d been in there forever, but it was only a matter of minutes.

  As many people turned to the old lady who was now hysterically chanting ‘miracle,’ Tom’s hands lit. Amy winced as he pressed down on her the right side of her abdomen but as soon as the light penetrated, a soothing, tingling sensation travelled up and down her body and the ice cold light healed all her burns.

  Having helped all the people escape at his end, Winston ran round to the front entrance and, with smoke still wafting from his afro, watched in awe as her burns faded before his eyes. As Tom let go, he smiled proudly at her and, after giving him an awkward smile back, she inspected herself.

  ‘Thank you,’ she whispered in amazement.

  ‘You’re welcome,’ he said. ‘Thank you for saving me and Mrs Brooks.’

  ‘It was this that saved us,’ she stated, holding up her talisman, not knowing if it was Tom’s or her own power that made it work. Amy hugged him tight and shuffled backward out of the way of the smashing windows.

  All they could do was watch as the ferocious flames, unmerciful to the place she loved the most, viciously tore down everything they had worked so hard to build. As a dark, palpable mist shot its way through the window, people ducked. It lingered in front of Amy and Tom for a moment and, after taking the form of a bestial, inquisitive face, flew into the air, letting out a spine-chilling hiss.

  Passers-by gathered round to stand and watch the café being eaten away as the sound of fire engines and police cars approached in the near distance.

  ‘Oh, Winston!’ Amy cried as she saw his dismay.

  ‘We’re all safe, man!’ he said, helping her up and hugging her and Tom into his side. ‘That’s all that matters!’

  CHAPTER 14

  THE VISIT

  With everything in the café and the flat above destroyed, Winston and Jack had to move in with Mark. All they had to their names were Jack’s weapons and the clothes they were wearing at the time—in Jack’s case, his martial arts uniform. Tom was upset by what happened but he told Amy that good always comes out of bad. Amy couldn’t believe he’d used Adaizi’s phrase, but she hoped he was right.

  ‘I can tell something exciting is going to happen,’ Tom said as they crossed the main road that led to Mark’s. Amy wondered how anything could be exciting for Jack and Winston. It was bad enough that she was out of work, but at least she still had her home and everything in it.

  As she turned down the side of the skate park, Tom stood under the archway on the wavy, meadow-type land with his mouth open in a wide smile. ‘I told you it was great, didn’t I?’ Amy said.

  ‘It’s like a beautiful, unknown place to escape to,’ he answered, his eyes filling with tears as he scanned the patches of flowers, ornaments and water-featured ponds. ‘I love this place, Mum!’ he announced giddily and ran down the hill into the garden. ‘It feels wonderful.’ After taking delight in almost every landscaped patch, Tom skipped up the steps to the home and peered through the letterbox of the double entrance doors. ‘Mark, Winston, Jack,’ he shouted.

  As Amy approached, the letterbox opened from the inside and out peered two boggling, unfocussed eyes.

  ‘What yer doin’?’ Mad-Doris screamed. ‘Yer don’ wanna come in ‘ere ‘cause I’m mad!’

  ‘Are you?’ Tom asked politely without fear.

  ‘That’s riiight,’ she growled. ‘I’m maaad!’ she shouted, trying her best to scare him.

  Tom waited for her to finish and thought for a moment. ‘I’m Tooom,’ he said. ‘Is Maaark there?’

  ‘Tom,’ Amy shouted, now at the doorstep with him. ‘Don’t take the Mick.’

  ‘I’m not taking anyone, Mum.’

  ‘Not taking a Mick as in take a person. It means don’t mimic someone.’

  ‘What are yer sayin’ to the lad?’ Mad-Doris hissed.

  ‘Oh nothing, Mad-Doris.’ Amy cringed, wishing she didn’t have to call her that in front of Tom.

  ‘Your name is Mad-Doris as well as you being mad?’ Tom mused. ‘What a coincidence.’

  Mad-Doris opened the door. ‘Yer look like a nice enough little shit boy. I’ll let you in bu’ yer mums no’ allowed ‘cause she’s a right money grabbin’…’

  ‘Mad-Doris!’ Mark interrupted from behind. She scowled at him for not letting her finish but moved aside anyway. ‘Come in,’ he smiled.

  ‘Who are yer, laddie?’ Mad-Doris asked Tom, squinting her massive eyes and pointing her chin whiskers upward. It looked like she was trying to control her shoulders from twitchin
g as if attempting to look orderly.

  ‘I’m Tom Croft,’ he announced as he walked through.

  Mad-Doris set her fists against her hips. ‘Hmm, no one tol’ me we’d be ‘avin’ a Tom Croft.’ She scowled, bent down and seemed to take in every detail of his face. She placed her hand on his head and turned him around to inspect him thoroughly.

  Tom giggled and spun obediently until she made him face her again. Amy watched her every move.

  ‘As lon’ as yer know that I’m mad…and you’re veeery wary of me…yer can stay,’ she said.

  ‘Thank you,’ Tom replied, unperturbed.

  ‘Mad-Doris,’ Mark said, smiling but shaking his head, ‘it would be nice if you could say hello to a guest now and again, you know.’

  ‘Mad people don’t say ‘ello though, do they?’ she asked.

  Amy watched Tom’s beautiful eyes widen as he took in the magnificent hall. They scanned the large area then seemed to linger on the doors behind the stairs, as if interested to know what was behind them. The kitchen to Amy’s left was a smaller room than the opposite living area; she could tell the door under the balcony on the left must have a large rectangular room that went right across, and the door next to it must have been smaller, maybe a square room, because the living room went all the way to the back.

  As Mark led them through to the kitchen, Amy took in the homeliness of the room. The windows framed the picturesque garden around the red oak table, which had sixteen chairs and plenty of space around it.

  The bottom half of the room was split into two parts. To the right were slate worktops, a cooker, pots and pans hanging from a pan rack on the ceiling. The left side was closed off by a door. Amy presumed it was a washroom or a downstairs toilet.

  ‘Something smells nice,’ Amy said to a woman who stood by the cooker, stirring something in a pan.

  ‘Oh, yes,’ Mark said. ‘Mary makes a nice soup. Mary, this is Amy and Tom.’

  ‘Hello,’ she mumbled but she didn’t turn her head fully.

  ‘Hello,’ Amy and Tom replied together.

  ‘Have a seat,’ Mark offered, pointing to the table. ‘It’s good to see you. Have you come to see Jack and Winston?’

  ‘And you,’ Tom added. ‘I like this house, it feels nice.’ Tom held his hands in the air as if appreciating the sensation.

  ‘Thank you, Tom.’ Mark smiled like his behaviour was normal; another reason Amy loved him.

  ‘Are the lads not around?’ Amy asked.

  ‘They’ll be back soon. They’re at the café with a fire investigator. Apparently there’s a query with the insurance company about how the fire started. They need the insurance to pay out, otherwise they won’t get the money to be able to do it back up.’

  ‘How long do you think it will take if they do get their money?’ she asked, not wanting to sound as if getting her job back was all she cared about.

  ‘Having seen the damage, I’d say four to six months, if not longer.’ Mark smiled sympathetically. ‘Cup of tea?’

  ‘If you don’t mind,’ Amy said.

  ‘Not at all. Hot milk?’ he asked Tom.

  ‘If you don’t mind,’ he said, copying Amy’s polite manner.

  ‘Not at all,’ he repeated, giving him a wink.

  ‘I’ll help you, Mark,’ Tom offered. Amy’s heart thumped as Tom ran to him.

  ‘It’s nice to meet you, Mary,’ Tom said, offering a handshake.

  She turned and smiled at him but she didn’t shake his hand. ‘And what do we owe the pleasure of a visit from a fine young man like yourself?’ she asked.

  Tom dropped his hand and watched in amazement as she felt the worktop in front of her until she reached the end. She then walked slowly, felt for a chair at the end of the table and carefully sat, looking from side to side for Tom’s answer.

  ‘I’ve come to see Jack and Winston,’ he said, his voice pale as he tried to work out what was happening.

  ‘Oh, you’re a friend of theirs, are you?’ The lady was smiling and looking where his voice had come from.

  ‘You can’t see me, can you?’ Tom queried, sitting in the chair opposite.

  ‘No, dear, I can’t,’ she said, smiling.

  ‘Why not?’ he asked. Amy exhaled; she’d given up trying to stop him asking inappropriate questions but, considering she was still smiling, Mary didn’t seem offended.

  ‘I’m blind.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Well, because God decided I should be and what he decides goes,’ she said, her eyebrows raised in amusement.

  ‘Who’s God?’ he asked. ‘I’ll have a word with him if you like?’ Mark and Mary laughed but Amy felt embarrassed. ‘Let me see if I can make you see me,’ he offered, gently placing his hands over her eyelids.

  ‘Tom!’ Amy chastised, taking his hands. Amy covered them with hers so Mark couldn’t see the light. Tom looked worried he’d done something wrong.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ Mary said. ‘I don’t have to see you to know you. I can see things without my sight.’

  ‘Like what?’

  ‘I can see that you’re beautiful.’

  ‘Wow!’ Tom smiled in amazement.

  The doorbell rang and, as Mad-Doris seemed to have disappeared, Mark opened the door. It was Winston, Jack and Adaizi.

  Tom ran over and gave Jack and Winston big hugs and then he stood back in awe and said, ‘Hello Adaizi, it’s nice to see you.’

  ‘Thank you, handsome,’ she returned, holding his face lovingly. Adaizi then kissed Mark as lovingly as she would Winston. The action stirred something in Amy she couldn’t put her finger on.

  ‘Yeah please,’ she said to him.

  ‘See,’ Mark said to Tom, ‘I didn’t even have to ask.’

  ‘Ask what?’ Tom asked.

  ‘Whether she wanted a cup of tea.’

  ‘Wow,’ Tom said. ‘I can do that sometimes.’

  ‘Oh, can you?’ she laughed. Amy was on edge each time Tom spoke, wondering what people may think but Mark, just like Winston and Jack, humoured him when he said odd things. Amy realised, with Mark taking Tom to the soup kitchen on his own sometimes on Sundays, there must have been lots of things he could have heard.

  ‘How are you?’ Amy asked, hugging Jack as he entered the kitchen.

  ‘Fine, thanks. I’m really sorry I left you, though.’

  ‘We’re fine. How did it go with the insurance people?’

  ‘They still can’t determine the cause. Saying a mad four-year-old ran round the place burning it down won’t get us a pay-out apparently!’

  Amy shot a look to Adaizi and wondered what information she’d allowed him.

  Adaizi shot a look back of her own—a powerful look that held many things. A tinge of disapproval. A hint of desperation. Even though her eyes still held kindness and understanding, she’d come to the end of her patience.

  ‘Hey dude,’ Winston cut in, rubbing Tom’s hair. ‘And how you doin’?’ he added, kissing Amy on the side of her cheek.

  ‘I’m alright, how are you?’ She sighed in sympathy for his loss.

  ‘Not bad at all. Aunt Adaizi said we should get a pay-out if they can’t determine anything at all so I’m not worried now.’

  ‘I thought you had to determine the cause before you got a pay-out?’

  ‘So did we,’ Jack said, ‘but apparently if they can’t come up with anything it’s better than saying the fire was deliberate.’

  Tom reached into his pocket and took out a card he’d made for Jack and Winston. He then handed it to Jack, who opened it and read aloud.

  ‘Good always comes out of bad, so please don’t ever be sad. Your life’s not the same, but a loss makes a gain, so just know in the end you’ll be glad. Wow,’ Jack said, ‘that’s unbelievable. Did you make this up, Tom?’

  ‘Yes,’ he answered, and then he looked confused. ‘Well, I think so. It came from out of my head anyway.’

  ‘Thanks, man.’

  ‘You’re welcome, man,’ Tom said, giving him
the high-five that was offered. Adaizi and Mark exchanged a smile as Amy gave Tom a proud squeeze.

  After their drinks, they began to talk about the café’s plans and what they were going to do with the money.

  ‘Listen guys, I’ve been thinking,’ Amy began. ‘Sadly, I don’t think I’m going to be able to wait four or five months for the café to reopen. I’ll have to look for another job.’ Winston and Jack looked at each other and gave a strange smile.

  ‘Well,’ Winston said, ‘maybe we could do plan B after all, then.’

  ‘Plan B?’ Amy asked.

  ‘It’s only a thought…and I still feel a bit funny about it all,’ Jack put in.

  ‘Nonsense!’ Adaizi interjected. ‘You’ll be fantastic. I have every faith in you. It’s like it was meant to be.’

  ‘Maybe Tom’s poem is right,’ Winston offered.

  ‘I don’t doubt that,’ Adaizi said, turning to Tom with a loving smile. Tom sat at the table, gaping at Adaizi. Even when the others were talking, he was still staring at her.

  ‘What?’ Amy asked loudly, trying to get Tom to turn his head and join in.

  ‘We’re thinking of opening a martial arts club,’ Winston said. ‘With this guy passing his teaching course and being a black belt in everything as well as all his weapons, I think it could take off.’

  ‘It would be a split partnership, being that Winston has the money from the café and Jack has the talent,’ Adaizi said, business-like, ‘and we think we’ve found the best spot. There are no martial arts gyms this side of town so if we could get that old building just outside the gate facing the skate park, it would be great.’

  ‘Get your weapons out,’ Winston ordered, patting Jack on the back. ‘You can show Aunt Adaizi what you can do.’ Jack looked embarrassed and unsure.

  ‘I wouldn’t mind seeing it again,’ Mark encouraged.

  ‘Seeing what?’ Tom asked, who’d just realised he was missing out on something.

  ‘Jack’s weapons display,’ Winston said. ‘Do you want to see?’

  ‘Yes please!’

  Needing no more persuasion, Jack jumped up out of his seat and entered the hall. He opened the cupboard at the side of the entrance doors where all his weapons were stored and took out his staff. Mad-Doris was just walking down the main stairs, followed by Lucy.