by Peppi Hilton
“I’ll help you with those ladders,” Kelly insisted.
Francine was already holding them upright. “They’re not that heavy to be honest. It’s just a matter of getting the balance right. I’ve got them now so I’ll just move them over.”
“I still have misgivings about all this. And look at the time. You’ll never get up for work in the morning and neither will I.”
Ignoring Kelly’s concerns, Francine propped the ladders up to the opening.
“I need you to hold them steady while I climb up. They’re not that secure. I’ll take the torch and you hold them as steady as you can. Just the torch though, I can’t manage the mallet. It’s a damn nuisance the lights going out like that.”
Kelly passed her the torch and held onto the ladders as firmly as she could while Francine mounted them carefully. Once she reached the top, she shone the torch into the loft and stuck her head inside. But within seconds the torch went out.
“Drat! I don’t believe it.”
“What’s wrong?” asked an anxious Kelly.
“The flaming torch has gone out now.”
“I’m not even sure I’ve got spare bulbs or batteries to be honest. It was working okay,” Kelly called back puzzled.
“Well it sure isn’t working now.” Her frustration showing, Francine tried to switch the torch on and off a few times, but nothing happened. She put it down on the loft floor and climbed inside on her hands and knees.
“What are you doing? Don’t you think you should come back down? You’re not going to see anything in the dark and you may even have difficulty getting back on to the ladders. You really need to be careful.”
Kelly was feeling worried. She hadn’t anticipated Francine actually climbing into the loft. The ladders were precariously propped against the opening and wouldn’t be easy to step back onto.
“I’m just giving my eyes time to get accustomed to the dark. I can’t see much yet.” Francine’s voice sounded hollowly from the loft as she could be heard dragging herself up onto her feet.
Kelly was still clinging onto the ladders, but she was beginning to feel a little exasperated at the entire situation. Her impatience was getting the better of her, especially as she could hear Francine moving around up there.
“Fran, what are you doing?”
But it had gone quiet.
Kelly waited and waited, until she was overcome by concern.
“Fran, can you hear me?”
When Kelly didn’t get a reply, she decided to climb up herself to find out what was happening. But with no-one to steady the ladders, they wobbled with each step that she took. She stopped part way up and called again.
Suddenly she heard a muffled scream and a loud bump.
Francine had crashed to the floor, as she felt something grab her ankle and yank it from beneath her.
“Fran, what’s happening?” Kelly called again, but much louder this time.
She held her breath and waited in horror, but when she still didn’t get an answer she decided to climb further up. The ladders swayed and rattled as she tried to move up a step at a time, but no matter how hard she tried to steady them, they began to slide sideways until finally they slipped from her grasp and she was hurled to the floor. Although shaken and bruised, she doggedly got back onto them and began to climb them again.
“Fran, what’s happening – are you okay? Say something!” she yelled, as she got closer to the opening.
But Francine was vigorously trying to shake off whatever had a firm hold on her ankle. She could see nothing in the dark. But there was no doubt in her mind - it was a hand.
“There’s something up here. It’s gripping my ankle. It won’t let go!” she called out frantically, her body trembling in fear.
Kelly wasted no more time in mounting the ladders. This time she was so swift that they hardly had time to wobble at all. Increasingly alarmed, she stuck her head through the opening and at that precise moment the lights came on.
Francine looked around feverishly. Whatever had been hanging onto her ankle had released its grip.
“What happened?” asked an ashen-faced Kelly.
“There was something hanging on to my ankle.” Francine scrambled to her feet and dusted herself down. She looked around again, but there was definitely no-one there.
Kelly could see inside the loft quite well now that the lights were all on, and there was nowhere for anyone to hide; so at least she too was confident that no-one was in there.
“Did you turn the lights on in here Fran?”
“I never touched them they just came on.”
“The electrics have obviously gone haywire. Are you okay? You sounded to take one hell of a tumble.”
“I think I must be losing my mind. I could swear I felt a hand grab me.”
“But there’s no sign of anyone here.”
“It’s pretty obvious there’s no-one here, I can see that now. I’ve no idea what it was. I must have been imagining things. It was so dark I couldn’t see a thing.” Francine looked around. “I probably tripped over one of these boxes. They look to have been disturbed and there are papers all over the place - but none of them look to have been damaged.” But she knew a hand had grabbed her ankle, she had felt the tight grip of its fingers as it had held on firmly.
Kelly could see that Francine was shaking and she looked shocked. They were both tired and the whole episode had been very trying, but at least they now knew for certain that there was no-one in the loft. She was still balancing unsteadily on the ladders and she reckoned it was time for both of them to pack it in for the night – what was left of it.
But Francine carried on looking around, and her voice had disappeared into the distance. “There are quite a lot of boxes with files in them, nothing damaged by the look of it, but it looks as if someone has been rummaging around for something. There’s a box here which has been labelled family history and it looks to have been searched through. If mice are the culprits they must be determined little beggars. I’m just tidying it up and putting the lid back on. Has anyone else been up here?”
“No, like I said before, all that stuff of my parents has been there since I moved in. There’s no reason for anyone to go up there.”
“What about workmen?”
“Not that I can recall.”
“Mice are very destructive. You need to get the vermin people up here. I can’t see much wrong with the roof, so that would rule out birds. But that doesn’t mean I’m right of course.”
Francine’s voice was becoming more muffled as she gave a running commentary while she rummaged. She finally appeared back at the opening. There was nothing more to report and so she steadied the ladders while Kelly climbed back down, and then Kelly did the same for Francine. Together they secured the hatch and moved the ladders away.
“I’ll get the loft ladders sorted out to-morrow, when I report the electrics. They may not have been secured properly in the beginning. I’ve never had to use them so of course I wouldn’t have known.”
“I sure hope you don’t have any more disturbances Kelly, but I don’t think you will. The mice – or whatever they were, have gone now, disturbed by me no doubt. So you shouldn’t have any more problems. Once the vermin people call, that should put an end to it.”
“I’ll feel better when the electrics are sorted. The lights always go off in the dark.”
“I guess that’s because we only use them when it’s dark.”
“Yes, you’re right, I never thought of that.” Kelly laughed.
“Your family-tree records are important Kelly. I’m sure your parents wouldn’t have liked to see them chewed up by mice. But please don’t think I’m interfering, I understand how hard it is. But why not put them into plastic storage boxes, so that if there is a risk of mice they can’t get into them.”
“I will try, honestly. It’s just that a lot of it relates to my parents’ research into their Swedish roots and if t
hey hadn’t gone there to explore their background, they would still be here to-day.”
“I do understand Kelly, really I do. But we can’t change the hand of time. What happened to them is destiny. The cards have already been dealt and our life is already mapped out for us. What will be - will be.”
“I don’t want to know about my Swedish ancestors, I despise them now. So I really don’t care what happens to the papers.”
Francine had more sense than to continue the conversation, especially so late at night. She knew it was time they both hit the sack, and so it was time for her to go.
They hugged at the door and Francine left Kelly in much better spirits. Although it had been a very late and stressful night, at least Francine could relax in the knowledge that she had made sure there was no-one up in the loft, and that was bound to make Kelly feel much safer. As for her own encounter whilst she was up there, well, she didn’t know what to make of it. She was absolutely convinced that a hand had grabbed her ankle, but it was plain to see that there was no-one there, leaving her feeling pretty silly. She didn’t have an explanation, so she could only conclude that she was wrong and her own imagination and fear had got the better of her. But although it had been pretty realistic at the time, she was far too tired to dwell on it and therefore she didn’t give it any more thought.
As for Kelly she soon got settled down again, but she made sure she kept her bedside lamp on - and the mallet under her bed.
10
IThe following weeks passed quickly for Kelly, as she prepared for her trip to the States. Whilst a set date had not yet been agreed by her boss, due to work commitments and having to arrange for someone to take Kelly’s place for three months, an estimated date had been pencilled into the diary and everyone was working towards making it happen for her. They were all as excited about it as Kelly, and that helped to unburden the guilt she was feeling at taking so much time off; even Fee seemed to take an unexpected delight in the knowledge that she was going abroad.
She was working extra hours in order to leave everything organised for when she was away – but it was all worth it as far as she was concerned. Having got used to the idea of joining Matthew in America there was nothing that could possibly change her mind. The two of them enjoyed regular conversations by Skype and he was over the moon at her willingness to be there with him. It seemed to Kelly that her happiness was set in stone and nothing was going to spoil it.
Fran too had a busy schedule and the two of them had hardly met since the night of the loft incident; although she had enquired if everything had settled down and if the electrician had sorted out the fault with the power. As it happened there had been no further incidents, Kelly was pleased to say, and the power seemed to be working fine. With everything going so well and the change of seasons with the lighter nights, plus the weather being very pleasant and warm, Kelly had been on a few shopping sprees to treat herself to a whole new wardrobe in readiness for her forthcoming trip.
One evening Fran called in to see Kelly at her apartment, to discuss if there was any chance of them all getting together for a night out to celebrate before she went.
“That’s a good idea Fran - after all I wouldn’t like to just disappear without seeing you first. I’ll have a better idea of when I’m free once the date is definite. It’s little bit up in the air at the moment, but I should know something by next week. Do you have time for coffee?”
“Sure, shall I help?”
“Yes if you like, you know where the coffee is.” Kelly prepared the machine whilst Fran went to the cupboard for a bag of their favourite Colombian.
As Fran reached for the coffee she couldn’t help but notice the bottle of antidepressants on the shelf, and as she hesitated she was able to read the date they were issued. She was concerned, especially as things were going so well for Kelly. She just couldn’t understand why she had felt the need to go back on medication - it didn’t make sense, as it was quite some time since the incident at The Grange. She didn’t know how to approach the subject, so she decided to keep quiet – at least for now.
Fran’s visit was only brief as they were both busy with hectic work schedules, so after she had finished her coffee, and Kelly had promised to let her know when the date had been set and her flight arranged, she went back to her own apartment. She was certain the right opportunity would present itself whereby she could ask Kelly about the medication. But it troubled her deeply. She knew that in the past her friend had been relieved to come off the drugs, which had taken time as she had to be weaned off them, and her determination not to have to depend on them again had been strong. Fran dwelt on her troubled thoughts, wondering what could have possibly happened to make Kelly feel dependant on them again, but she had no right to challenge her, or dictate to her what she should, or should not, be doing. When the time was right, she would make all efforts to find out.
Kelly’s flight was booked and all arrangements were made. Very soon a new chapter in her life would begin. She was floating on cloud nine and everything seemed just too good to be true.
And then the dreams began.
Her sleep was being invaded by images of a black coach and horses, travelling at great speed across the Yorkshire moors. Her in-depth knowledge of history, even in her dreams, told her it was from the Victorian era, but other than that she could remember nothing else. Casting it aside as just a dream, she thought no more about it, until it kept recurring night after night. It was vivid and very real and she had no idea what it meant, or what it related to, and there was nothing from her past which could explain it; so she could only presume that it was a flashback from her memory of a book she’d once read. That was a good enough explanation as far as she was concerned. But the dream kept on coming back and was beginning to leave an impression on her mind. For some unexplained reason, she felt a sense of despair each time she awoke, as if the image had some connection to her past, something unpleasant. Like many other things of late, it just didn’t make sense. She tried to brush it off and close her mind to it, and then the dreams changed. The girl who she had seen in the forest, and who she had also witnessed as she lay dead inside the chamber at The Grange, was now appearing in her dreams - although the coach and horses were not. At first the girl was beckoning her to follow. She wore the same white dress, except it was unstained and flowing, and light in texture just like muslin. She was smiling and cooing and seemed eager for Kelly to go with her, but at that same moment every night, she awoke. The same dream continued for a while, but then the girl’s demeanour changed. She reappeared as a terrified, whimpering wreck, and it was clear that she was trying to warn Kelly of something – but she had no idea what it was. When she awoke each morning she felt troubled and strained, she didn’t feel rested and her sleep pattern was becoming irregular. It was beginning to affect her work and she was becoming restless, anxious and agitated. She finally went to see her psychiatrist, who put it down to her having a low tolerance of the drug which he had prescribed, and so he changed her medication.
The following nights were free of dreams, but then they came back unexpectedly. She saw images of the man from The Grange, but she wasn’t afraid of him. He looked different, unlike the way he looked during her previous hallucinations; he was younger, burlier, and his outfit was clean, smart, and tailored. And somehow she was becoming attached to him, as her emotions towards him were changing. In her dreams she enjoyed immense pleasure at seeing him, and her feelings were building up into a slow burning passion. When she awoke each morning she found it increasingly more difficult to shake off the feeling of attraction for him, which she knew could only be the aftermath of her dream. In some ways she felt it was a good thing because she saw it as a sign that her demons had finally gone. She had been a prisoner of her own mind - and had now been released. She could thank the medication for that.
But one night during her sleep, he appeared in a dream beckoning her to go with him. She tried to tell him that she was in love with Matthe
w and her plans were already made. Everything was free of sound, as if thought processes were taking place without it. She felt guilty at rejecting him, as she sensed the intense pain and loneliness oozing from the silent and solitary figure that he had become in her eyes. But then she awoke suddenly - and there he was in front of her, standing at the foot of the bed. At first she was scared and tried to scream, but he disappeared before she was able to utter a sound. She sat upright in bed, staring at where she thought she had seen him. He had seemed so real. But gathering her wits together, she knew the images had been due to her not being fully awake. She glanced at the time it was three o’clock and she now felt unsettled. Unable to go back to sleep she got out of bed, slipped on her dressing gown and slippers, and went into the kitchen to make herself a drink. But instead of making herself a warm mug of cocoa as she normally would, she opened a half bottle of red wine.
A few days later Francine telephoned Kelly to let her know that she had got her a few plastic storage boxes with lids. She asked if she could pop in and put them into the loft, with the intention of sorting out all the files for her at a later date. Kelly agreed, grateful that her friend was being so helpful.
When Francine arrived with the boxes, Kelly helped her in with them.
“I forgot to check if you’d had those ladders sorted,” said Francine.
“Yes I have. I wouldn’t agree to you going up there otherwise; not after that last episode.”
Together they opened the hatch and pulled down the ladder. Kelly held them steady whilst Francine took the boxes up one at a time.
“The light switch is on the left hand side,” Kelly called to her.
“Found it,” was Francine’s reply. She looked around the room carefully and could see that nothing had been disturbed since she was last up there. She put the boxes into a neat pile in readiness for when she had time to sort everything out for Kelly, which she was hoping to do in the next day or two. She climbed back down and they both closed the hatch, with the ladders firmly in place.
