His thick nails clipped to stubs, scraped the surface in an attempt to tear through. He bashed his fists against it with all his strength, but only created slow ripples that radiated to the edge of the supple surface that sealed seamlessly with the bath. Finally the pressure forced him to gulp. Water flooded his mouth and he willed himself not to swallow, but the vacuum in his chest overpowered him. He gulped again and the first mouthful of water forced itself painfully into his lungs like a balled fist. The instinct to draw breath grew. He choked and gulped more down, then another choke and another intake, each mouthful like gobstoppers in his lungs. His fists bounded on the pliable but unforgiving surface, his feet slid frantically on the bottom of the bath, his whole body thrashed in the watery grave. His body stilled as his mouth opened wide in one final swallowing gesture. His wide eyes stared through the surface. One of his legs gave a last twitch. His face pressed gently against the translucent skin as he floated naked and lifeless.
It watched from above, hovering just above the surface. It changed the surface back to normal. Answers acquired, It drifted away.
Chapter Fifteen
Craig let Kelly in. She was back in uniform but she hadn’t tied her hair up, it was a good look. Uniformed and sultry. He fantasised that that was her intended look, then panicked that it was. No, now that was wishful thinking. Besides, it would be some time before he found women in Police uniforms sexy after the previous nights grilling. Heading past the lounge on the way to the kitchen he saw that Rachel had stirred from her sleep on the sofa.
“You’re back.” Rachel roughly pulled a brush through her flattened hair.
“We were back hours ago – just didn’t want to wake you. We both went to bed and agreed to meet up for a cuppa before Kelly had to go to work.”
“Tea sounds bliss.”
Craig thought coffee would probably be better for Rachel. He had found Rachel asleep on the sofa, a pile of empty miniature bottles of alcohol nestled in the top of her large bag. The bottle of vodka he kept on his book case was still in place but the level had dropped considerably. He didn’t judge her on it. If it hadn’t been for the pain killers he would have considered a vodka induced blackout to block out the fear that crouched in his mind as he struggled to get to sleep.
Craig switched the kettle on in the kitchen and the two women sat at the small battered table butted up to the blank wall.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“A little worse for falling asleep on the couch. Can’t say I slept peacefully though. I had nightmares like I have never had before – and believe me with the visitations I receive I have had some pretty awful nightmares in my time.”
“Same here. Wasn’t just nightmares – sleeping was like wrestling with a crocodile or something. I feel shattered.” He knew he looked it too, but then none of them had had much sleep.
Rachel popped open a compact mirror. “I look a mess.”
“I don’t know, I think pillow hair is underrated.”
Rachel began to cleanse her face with some round waifer-like pads. “Thank you.”
“It works for you, Craig after all.”
“Thank you Kelly, I thought so,” he replied sarcastically.
“Did you put the blanket around me?”
Craig nodded to Rachel as he prepared their drinks and she freshened up her make-up.
“Thanks, I didn’t even hear you come in. She nodded to his sling. “Is your arm okay now?”
“It doesn’t feel too bad. I’m gonna keep the sling on for a bit though. I never want to see my arm in that position again.” Craig gave a mock shudder. “Very unnerving. Oh, and I have a nice mottled yellow-purple-and-black-bruise thing going on which is, y’ know; colourful at the least.” He spooned the tea bags into the bin.
Rachel nodded her head to Kelly’s uniform. “You haven’t got work? Not after last night.”
“Tell me about it! I have to go in though. Craig invited me in for a bit before my shift so the three of us could talk.”
Craig delivered the teas to the table. “Breakfast isn’t up to much – bread is green and only enough milk for tea.” He roughly deposited the bags onto the table from his shopping trip with Kelly the night before. “So – chocolate anyone?”
The two women laughed at him and delved into the bag.
Kelly pulled a Galaxy bar out of the bag. “Not my breakfast of choice but I need the comfort of chocolate.”
“The energy rush would be helpful too.” Craig sat his bar of Dairy Milk before him.
“Are you both alright after your interviews with the police?” Kelly looked uncomfortable and a little guilty, as if the grilling was somehow her fault.
“Well he didn’t get his truncheon out, so I’m quite glad of that.” Craig battled to unwrap a chocolate bar with one hand.
Without word Rachel took it away from him opened it and broke it into chunks and slid it back to him. “It made me feel so guilty. As if we had done… Well, as if we had played some part in Amy’s disappearance.” Rachel shook her head grimly as she took the wrapper from a Kit-Kat.
“I don’t think they can really suspect any of us. They only have to look at our alibi’s for the other disappearances, and I guess even the tapes from last night go a little way to show that we didn’t enter the flat at the time of the disappearance.”
Rachel bowed her head. “Poor David’s equipment. The university will be so cross with him.”
“They won’t keep hold of it for too long. We might get more interviews, but that’s just normal procedure. They will be just as baffled as anyone, though they won’t admit it. They will search the building and local area but it’s a time consuming exercise,” Kelly explained.
Craig swallowed a melted mouthful of chocolate. “An exercise that didn’t turn up anything before with Emily. I can go along with the baffled feeling – have either of you got any idea what happened to Amy?”
Silence descended and Rachel shifted, suddenly looking uncomfortable in her seat. “I have never experienced anything like this before.” She broke off a piece of chocolate for herself and held it poised before her lips, her eyes were evasive. “I saw just as much as you did on that monitor,” she popped the chocolate into her mouth and brought her contribution to a momentary close, creating a quiet to be filled; fielding the theorizing out.
Craig quickly took his tea up and allowed the baton of explanations to pass to Kelly, who realised this with a physical jolt. She stammered and started; “Amy was on the screen, she heard or saw something, then there was a terrible noise, a flash and the next moment she was gone.”
Now that Kelly had stated what he, and probably Rachel, had assumed Kelly wouldn’t acknowledge he stepped in. “So to clarify – we are saying that she… Amy, was snatched into thin air. The flat door was locked from the inside when I went down there and tried my heroics. The monitor’s feed showed she was alone. If the windows had been unlocked I would have been reasonably happy to entertain someone entering and leaving that way, despite it involving Spiderman abilities.”
Rachel took her turn again. Craig imagined that now he and Kelly had shown they were willing to stand at the edge of scepticism and reason, Rachel was more willing to commit her ideas. “The only experience I have that’s remotely like this is with poltergeist activities; if that’s what that was last night. On occasion I am convinced they can result in some minor scratches and bruises, but never abductions. I leave all ideas like that to Hollywood and fiction.”
Craig was disappointed that she couldn’t explain it further and frustrated that she wasn’t more willing to hypothesize more from her own unique perspective and corner of knowledge, but settled himself by thinking that of all the strange stories and occurrences that he knew none of the famous disappearances, ghost and monster stories he knew of came close to what they had experienced. He blew on his tea, although there was no need, the ritual was just strangely comforting. “But where does that leave us?” Craig’s motive for involvement was in
wanting a story. That’s what had pulled him into this; but he had a sense that things had gone beyond that now. The story he had been chasing had turned on him and it had evolved into something no one would believe within a newspaper. Even though for Craig the story was chillingly real and threatening, and demanded to be resolved.
“More importantly where does that leave Amy?” Kelly asked, helpless despair riding and distorting her voice.
Rachel leaned forward decisively. “We don’t have the answers, I agree. But, we saw that whatever was responsible for what happened to Amy, and most likely Emily too, is beyond the realms of natural explanation. Accepting that fact makes us a damn sight closer to facing up to this than the police or anyone else that is puzzling this out.”
Rachel’s conclusion bulldozed purposefully through any thought of denial that Craig or Kelly could dare to challenge her with. He knew she was right, they had to accept what had happened if they hoped to understand it. Craig could see the same vulnerability in Kelly’s eyes that he had seen at her flat when she had related her worries about what was happening on their doorsteps. He wasn’t naïve, he knew the Police had their limitations in the community, but he had always been reassured by seeing a uniformed copper or a police car, felt safe knowing they were about. He was surprised at how seeing someone in uniform look so lost impotent and so human could be so unnerving for him. For Kelly, he could imagine the discomfort was far worse. How much security and comfort did she get from her uniform and her job now?
As if his thoughts had connected him to Kelly, she looked up into his face, silently questioning if he was willing to commit to the uncomfortable direction that Rachel was corralling them into accepting. He gave her a strong confident smile and shrugged. He looked to Rachel. “I guess you’re right. Now we have that out the way - what next?”
Kelly interrupted Rachel before she could begin. “It isn’t just Amy and Emily…” she admitted to Rachel before explaining about the other disappearances. “Sorry, Rachel. I didn’t tell you before. It was a police thing. I couldn’t let it out,” she paused awkwardly. “I only confided in Craig as I needed someone to talk to. You understand don’t you?”
Rachel flagged her apology down and nodded. “Of course, dear. So this is not an isolated case. There could possibly be more to come.”
His skin crawled at the possibility of being defenceless against an unseen force that could evidently strike anywhere and at anytime.
“While we are revealing withheld truths, I have to make a confession myself. When Claire called on me, I thought it was a cry for help. Desperation. If there were to be any activity I would have thought it more brought on by their troubles at losing Emily, not the cause of losing Emily. Emotional turmoil, especially with children, seems to be the basis of poltergeist events, whether they are psychological episodes or paranormal events.” Rachel’s stared into her empty mug. “Claire suspected there was something paranormal behind Emily’s disappearance, but I didn’t believe her until it was too late, and now Amy is gone too.”
“There is no blame to be taken Rachel. You can’t take any responsibility. What could we have done to make any difference?” Kelly hastily reasoned.
Rachel thanked her for the pardon too quickly to believe it.
“If it’s something paranormal what do we do about something we don’t even understand? If it is a ghost, then how do we fight against a ghost?” Craig urged.
“Yes. And how do we get those children back? Where have they gone? What does ‘it’, if it is an ‘it’, want with them?” Kelly hugged herself.
“It seems that at the moment, all we have are questions,” Craig summarised.
Craig’s landline phone rang. Craig was relieved to be grounded by the mundane until dread crept upon him. The police calling him back? Irrational misplaced guilt and fear embraced him in a crushing hold. His relief returned at hearing Vicki’s cheerfully abusive voice. She explained she had a job for him. They made plans to meet and said their goodbyes. He returned to the table but didn’t sit.
“So what do you think we should do? – What can we do?” Kelly entreated.
Rachel slumped back in her chair looking drained by the plea; Craig saw the burden of having her insight, although in this situation it offered little help. She returned to the table, seemingly marshalled, and spoke firmly and as decisively. “Usually with a haunting, there is history. David and I might be able to go to the library and do some research, his girlfriend Kim is a librarian so she will most likely help us too. Of course, that’s if David is still speaking to me after last night. Maybe we can uncover any previous disturbances if there have been any. I can have a walk through the flats and see if I can sense anything unusual anywhere else.”
Kelly looked inspired by Rachel’s decisiveness. “I can keep my ears open for any other strange occurrences… So I guess that’s my contribution.” With the reminder of her job she glanced at her watch before downing her remaining tea. “I had better run, get myself out there for work.” She stood up. “Let me know what you find out will you?”
Kelly arranged to call him later and said her goodbyes. Looking surprised at the hug that Rachel gave her.
“Not being rude,” Craig started with a wince, “Just got a job come up… And I need to take it so I can buy bread that isn’t green and furry.” It felt strange that their normal lives were filtering back in, he was sure that by the afternoon the events of last night would seem like a dream or a delusion.
Rachel stood sharply. “Don’t worry, I should get home and freshen up and do a bit of research; try and find out what’s happening here. I will call you later”
Craig stood aside as she headed in to his lounge to retrieve her bag. “Yeah, sure. Call me this afternoon, I probably won’t be out long on this job but I am gonna try and get some sleep afterwards, I’m shattered. You should do the same.” Although the thought of sleep and the bad dreams that waited there, was far from comforting.
Chapter Sixteen
Jason stirred from sleep, slowly becoming aware of his surroundings. The mattress felt firm and level, as if his mum’s weight had gone from the bed. He snapped his eyes open and found he was alone. He sprung into a sitting position, the monster from Amy’s drawing rushing into his imagination. The terror switched instantly into embarrassment at the sight of his mum leaning against the frame of the open door sipping a cup of tea and watching him.
“Bad dream?”
He nodded.
“Is that what made you come into my bed last night? You haven’t done that for years.”
Jason hesitated, unsure of how to explain what he had seen and sensed. “I – saw something…”
She rolled her eyes at him and she gestured for him to get up. She made the bed behind him as he clambered out. “Nightmares. Probably all those computer games you keep playing,” she breezed before her face became serious. “It has been difficult lately. Don’t worry, we all need comfort and reassurance from time to time.”
In a moment the look had passed and she strolled from the room, leaving him wanting more from the moment of openness, although he knew her understanding would only go so far. He couldn’t explain what had disturbed the darkness in the lounge, and even if he could his mother wouldn’t believe him. No one would. He was alone with his fear. Suddenly he realised that he was actually alone. Jason rushed after his mother and the security of being in company. Somehow he was sure that monsters would only come if he was alone. Maybe that was how monsters kept their existence secret – the monsters could hide within the conspiracy of disbelief that adults and parents relied upon to reassure children. He understood Amy’s silence. How could she talk about the things she had seen? Or explain about the things that frightened her? He decided that when he saw her again he would reassure her that she wasn’t alone.
Jason entered the lounge and kitchen area and the chatter of the morning radio show greeted him. The morning was bright and the smell of toast and sugary cereal stirred his appetite. He paused by
the window and shared the view with pigeons perched on the ledge beyond the glass. Traffic filtered through the streets below, people came and went – but monsters existed! and the world carried on. He wanted to shout out to the neighbourhood, warn them, say it out loud to prove it again to himself. The Foundations started singing from the radio ‘Why do you build me up’.
“It’s the start of your summer break – you have the whole day ahead of you. What are you going to do with yourself?”
He didn’t know. What do you do when you have a realisation that changes the world? He had imagined a summer of X-box to numb the memories of his primary school anxieties and his more recent worries about secondary school. He couldn’t imagine his X-box providing much distraction from what he had seen in the night. He shrugged in reply and sat down to the breakfast his mum had prepared for him at the small kitchen table. The phone rang, heading off his mum’s predictable ineffectual warning about how she didn’t want him playing on the X-box all day.
He was hungry and taking in the food felt good. Even his body carried on its demands as normal despite his experiences, despite the danger he felt he was still in. He became aware of his mum on the phone, her sentences starting and breaking around whatever was said in her ear, stammering, her hand raised to her mouth, her eyes looking anywhere but at Jason. A diamond sparkling tear clung to one of her eye lids before falling onto her cheek. She snapped the radio off and suddenly the world seemed serious.
“Brian… Okay – I will come up straight away. Just try and calm her down… I’m so sorry, Brian. I’m coming now…” His mum absently slid the handset back and forth across the phone until it hooked back in place.
Jason slipped from the table before he could swallow his mouthful of toast and ask what was wrong. His mum dropped to her haunches before him and held his arms to his side, holding him in place like she had before when she had told him something he would find difficult to hear. Her lips pulled tight around her words as she struggled to talk through her tears. “I have to go and see Claire. Something has happened. Amy has… Gone.” Jason couldn’t blink, couldn’t swallow the pulped toast in his mouth, all he could do was try and process what he had been told.
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