First Soul
Page 30
“You heard what I said!” his father stormed.
He knew that people often said things in anger, he knew that his father had too much alcohol in his system.
“You are lying. You’ve had too much to drink.”
His father laughed. “I’m not lying. I’ve wanted to say that to you for years. You’re an embarrassment!” His father spat on the floor.
This man wasn’t his father? The man who’d beat him until he passed out after throwing up on himself wasn’t his father? He looked at the man and noticed for the first time the difference between the two of them. His father’s hair, brown dusted with flecks of grey, was completely different to his wild blonde hair. He’d assumed he’d got his hair colour from his mother.
He could hear his heart beating in his ears, could hear the panting as he came to terms with his father’s revelation. His hands shook uncontrollably.
“Who is my father?”
“How would I know, she could have been with anyone in that village.”
Red streaks flashed in his vision, he wouldn’t blame his mother for straying, especially with a husband like this. He was losing control of his temper. “You will not speak ill of my mother,” he hissed.
He sucked in calming, deep breaths and looked at the man he thought had been his father.
“Did you ever love me?”
The question had popped out of his mouth before he’d thought to hold it in. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer. Actually he knew that the answer would crush the little hope he had left that this man had some kind of heart. He didn’t believe one human being could be so evil, so cold hearted.
Tom’s head bobbed on his shoulders reminding Stephen of that dog with its head on a spring. “I loved your mother. I even loved her despite her wondering eye and for a time I was happy, then she got pregnant with you and you were the number one priority in her life. She loved you so much. I blame you for our marriage breaking down!”
His father lurched towards him, in the same second, Phillip flew from the side of their group and tackled his father to the floor. With that sprint and leap, Phillip should consider joining the rugby team.
Phillip stood, pulled back his foot and sent it crashing against Tom’s ribs. “You don’t deserve a son like him!”
Stephen nodded his head in thanks as Phillip resumed his place beside Deyna. Stephen stood over the man.
“I feel a lot of things towards you. Anger, disgust, resentment being some of many but most of all, I pity you. If you can be jealous of a young boy who has the love of his own mother then you are... there are no words for that. I can tell you this though, I feel nothing for you. You’ve made my life miserable and from this day on, I plan on living it to the fullest, without you. You are not my father.”
He turned and felt the floor dip and roll beneath his feet. The shock of things was crashing over him. His legs crumbled beneath him, his body was going to hit the floor but he felt strong arms hold him before he hit the floor with a heavy thud.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and opened them to find Lester’s concerned face close to his.
“Lad, you need to breathe. Just take deep breaths.”
Lester’s hand rubbed up and down his back. The coolness of his touch actually helped him to focus on his breathing.
“Always was a wimp, you get that from your mother!”
“Don’t!”
“Why not? She’s dead anyway. I can’t believe I continued to pay for you all these years. What a waste of money!”
Before Stephen knew what he was doing, he was on his feet and was charging at his father, rage pushed back the shock as a scream so full of hate rushed out of his lungs.
He jumped, throwing his entire body at his father and slammed his fist into the side of his face. His father may have been mostly paralysed by alcohol but that didn’t stop him from throwing a great right hook. Stephen saw stars but held on and kicked for all he was worth. With each kick he thought of his mother and Marie Andrews.
The two women who had fallen victim to this man.
His father dropped to his knees coughing. Stephen was helped to his feet by his friends.
“You want to know something, Lester?” His father smiled, the blood smeared along his front teeth.
“What, Tom?”
“Marie, before she died-”
“No. No, Lester, don‘t listen to him.”
Stephen pulled Lester away because he knew how malicious his father could be, this kind man didn’t deserve that.
“Tom Evans, you are charged with the murder of Lee Turner and Marie Andrews. Do you have anything to say in your defence?” Death said as he stepped towards his father.
Stephen had forgotten about Death who’d been standing on the sidelines enjoying the show. His father looked at the skeleton.
“Go to hell!” his father slurred.
Death smiled. “You’re already in it.”
His father threw up again. Death looked at Stephen, the fire in his eyes burning so brightly it was hard to look directly at them.
“You chose correctly, Stephen. You may keep your first soul.”
Death stalked towards his father, his pointed teeth snapping in delight. Stephen had seen this snapping previously and it had sent the hairs on his neck upright. He watched as his father started scrambling away from the hooded figure that loomed towards him.
“You don’t want to see this, lad,” Lester spoke and made him turn around.
He wasn’t sure if he wanted to see it or not but he trusted Lester’s judgement. Lester had no doubt seen this side of Death before.
Phillip put his arm around his shoulders as Deyna held his hand. He took a deep breath and walked away from Death with the screams from the man he believed to be his father ringing in his ears. The sound turned from screams to gurgles as if his life was leaking out of him. Then silence followed.
He didn’t turn to see what Death had done to his father instead, he turned to look at the house. The dull glow from the lights cast a luminous gleam, the once white paint was now death black. He searched the windows looking for the souls but found nothing. He tried to send a silent promise to the two souls that remained there. He promised they would get them out of there as soon as they could, or they would die trying. He looked at the bracelet, a sign of his promise.
“Lester, which other souls are in there?”
Lester was shaking his head before he’d finished asking the question. “I cannot say because I never met them.”
They walked in silence, the glow from Lester guiding them, once again it surprised him that Lester walked like a man but he glowed and shimmered like a ghost.
“So, how do we get out of here?” Deyna asked them.
He shrugged his shoulders. His reserves of energy were completely spent.
“I know,” Lester admitted. “I know the way for you to leave this place but you must trust me.”
“You’ve known all along, haven’t you?” Stephen asked.
A small quirk pulled at Lester’s lips. “I have.”
“But you couldn’t show us the way out until we saved your soul I get that, so what happens to you now?”
Lester’s ghostly shoulders shrugged. “I don’t know. I need to leave this place, I know that much. Please close your eyes.”
Deyna and Phillip closed theirs instantly, he looked at Lester who nodded and then he closed his eyes.
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CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT