“You don’t play fair,” he whispered shaking nervously.
“I know,” Ian said.
I could almost hear the smile in his reply. Billy quivered and quaked but eventually held out his arm. I looked at him apologetically but he took no notice as Ian’s knife crept closer and closer to Billy’s skin.
“Don’t do it hard,” Simon said shakily.
Gently Ian carved out Billy Black’s name on his arm. Where Ian had indented the name there was now deep red blood. The blood spelled out Billy Black.
Billy was brave in the duration of this although his chapped lips quivered constantly.
“I’m still telling! They’ll get you all of you! Especially you!” he pointed at Ian with an accusing finger.
“You might want to wash the blood off though, wouldn’t want your mum to get all worried now would we?” Ian smirked.
“I don’t care,” Billy said pushing past us walking towards the stone bridge that hung over the river.
The river was glistening in the dark light, a rippling reflection of the moon cast in the centre. It looked a decent enough colour, obviously the water wasn’t contaminated.
We managed to catch up to Billy quickly; he stood at the bank of the river looking down into the water. He was shaking badly. The worst was over so what was he worried about now? That his clothes would get wet and he would catch a cold?
“Go on wash it off, what are you afraid of?” Simon sneered jabbing his finger into his back.
He lost his balance but found a way to straighten himself up.
“I can’t swim, I’ll drown,” he cried.
“You’re nothing more than a baby! You won’t drown!” Ian laughed.
Ian tapped my shoulder pulling me back from where Billy stood. I was cornered.
“Push him in Charles, you have to,” Ian muttered still bearing the knife.
I gulped, if I didn’t do this I would be hurt to. How many others would Ian hurt to prove his point?
“I…can’t. I’ve…hurt him already. I should have helped him,” I stuttered.
Ian held the knife up to my neck; I shook nervously shutting my eyes tightly. I opened my eyes sighing; Ian was now holding the knife to my arm. It was better that it wasn’t my neck. I felt a sharp pain tearing across the lower part of my arm. It wasn’t a big cut; there were only a few drops of blood. It looked small enough to have been a scratch.
“Ok I’ll do it,” I stuttered walking forward holding my wrist tightly to my waist.
I began sobbing unable to contain myself.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered in Billy Black’s ear before he plunged into the waters surface.
It was a couple of seconds before he resurfaced; he was choking and coughing scrambling at the waters surface unable to find something he could hold onto. I looked at the little boy struggling in the water feeling horrible; there was an unpleasant pain in my stomach. This pain wasn’t because I was hungry.
“I’m drowning,” choked Billy, his head dipping under the water again.
I looked at him again and breathed deeply, I had to help him.
“Don’t Charles! You’ll get yourself killed!” Ian shouted walking towards me but it was already too late.
The water was freezing but warmer than the air; I resurfaced squinting to find Billy. My body felt heavy, I didn’t think about how my clothes would affect. It was pulling me down but I restrained myself panting.
“Billy!” I screamed clawing at the water.
Suddenly I was pulled underwater, a huge current ripped over my head dragging me down the river. This was it, the end. I couldn’t see anything; the water was completely pitch black.
I scrambled to the surface choking, my eye sight was appalling. All I could see where three figures running along the grassy slope. Ian, Simon and Katy.
I couldn’t hear either; only the rush of water could be heard.
“Charlie!” cried Billy before he was dragged under.
I could see him vaguely; the water had pulled me closer to him. I reached out for his hand and found it. I yanked his arm pulling him out of the water. He coughed and spat out water before closing his eyes.
There was something else I hadn’t thought about either. The fact that the end of the river was abrupt and that was a huge metal gate that stopped the water from escaping. The water was still deep, no chances of it getting shallow. My heart beat accelerated rapidly, as if it were to burst out of my chest. I also noticed stinging nettles peeking out from the gaps in the metal fence.
I closed my eyes and hung onto Billy as we raced towards the gate. I turned around; Billy was already in enough pain to endure a big slam from the gate.
It was me who felt the huge impact; I heard the huge metallic bang and felt my skin vibrate. The stinging nettles clung to my hair yet I didn’t feel them. I was too unconscious to feel any pain. I just felt numb.
I was in the darkness. That was it, it was all over now. I tried to open my eyes but they wouldn’t respond. I tried an amount of things: twitching my toes, turning my wrist, opening my mouth to breathe but I couldn’t. I was choking myself to death. At least Billy would be safe, even though he had been tortured in the process. I felt something hot and wet slither down from the top of my face, I should have tried to brush it off but I couldn’t.
If this was it how could I be in so much pain – my limbs ached and my throat felt as if flames were charring the inside of it.
I felt my body being pushed and pulled unsure exactly where I was. I could hear several people mumbling and one crying. My eyelids tingled as I opened them, they felt as heavy as lead but I refused, I needed to know what was going on. I felt dizzy and slightly nauseated, I could just about make out three shadowy figures looking down from above me. I opened my mouth and took a deep breathe before I started spitting and coughing trying to get rid of the horrible taste in my mouth.
“Can you hear me? Charles?” someone mumbled.
I took another few breaths before trying to get up, my body felt slack so these movements were very hard. I felt two hot hands grab my arms and lift me up. I was on my feet eventually but was supported by someone who I thought was Katy.
“Where’s…Billy?” I choked breathing in again.
I looked to the floor where I could make out a limp lifeless body. A small child’s with blonde curls matted thickly with livid red blood.
All that for nothing, I was useless. It was as if he was staring at me, his face curled into a scowl. Droplets of blood dripped from his nose and his forehead.
I looked away; I couldn’t bear to look at him now. He was already gone, he had only been thirteen.
“We need to get his body away from here, we need to burry him in the forest,” Ian said finally.
“What about Charles? We need to get her to hospital…” Simon mumbled.
He was the one that had been crying.
“We will. First we need to do this. Katy, you wait here with her. Lie her down. Me and Simon will take the body and dig a pit. We’ll make it inconspicuous,” Ian grunted.
Simon and Ian walked off back into the darkness of the forest. Katy helped lower my body down so I could rest. I looked at my arm studying my purple bruises and gasped, Charlie Greene was scratched on my arm. Ian had done it to me too…but why?
I looked up to Katy how was staring ahead waiting for Ian and Simon to reappear out of the darkness. She had a short sleeved white top on and a few golden bangles on her wrists. She also bore another decoration on her arm, her name.
‘Katy Henwood’ the tiny droplets of blood sang. Why was Ian scratching everyone’s names out on their arms? Why?
That’s what I remembered. Ian told Billy he couldn’t tell anyone…so we were all bound to this secrecy by having our names on our arms. It was like we were playing some stupid game and he was winning.
All this thinking was making my head spin making me feel sicker. I decided it would be best if I could get some shut eye so I wouldn’t have to worry what I would tell mum or even the hospital for that matter.
I dreamt of my father, the time he had first taken me to a zoo. All of these strange looking animals were staring at me from inside glass panels. They were all different shapes, sizes and colours. That’s what made it so interesting. I also remembered that I wanted to touch these animals, to see if they were as soft as they looked but the warden specifically said no one was to get inside their cages.
I broke out into a tantrum screaming that the wardens could go into their cages any time they like and I couldn’t. Dad tried to calm me down but it didn’t work, I woke up when I remembered I had said I hated him.
I opened my eyes trying to squint to see where I was but they stung. I ignored the stinging continuing to search for a clue as to where I was.
Above me was a blinding white light, I squinted but it was impossible to see in this light. Also I could hear murmuring; I could familiarize a couple of people’s voices. My mother – what should I tell her? Ian, Simon and Katy – what lie had they told my mum? Whether she believed it or not was another matter completely.
Another sound – my heartbeat. So they were monitoring my heartbeat. This was the answer to the question of where I was. I was not in the safe confines of my home but in a hospital. Did they know about my bruises and were they observant enough to notice the ogling scar of my full name across my arm. I hope not.
I looked down across my body; I was wearing my home clothes but not the same ones as yesterday. My mum must have brought a new pair for me. That was kind of her. She would have dressed me though, she was particularly observant. What would she accuse me of this time? I might as well get ready for the punishments. No TV – not that I watched any. No computer – not that I played on it. Being kept in the house was a punishment enough for me because in my eyes it was absolute torment.
“Charles? Can you hear me?” my mother croaked.
I gazed up at her wide eyes, visually she was terrible. Her complexion was extremely pale and she had big purple lines under her eyes. She had been so worried about me that she hadn’t slept.
“Mum, you shouldn’t have,” I whispered.
I frowned at the soreness of my throat, as if a flame was licking up the inside of it.
“Shouldn’t have done what sweetie?” she whispered hoarsely.
“Not slept, I’m in hospital. They’d have been doing everything they could to keep me alive…” I trailed off looking away guiltily.
“Even though they were trying to keep you alive I wouldn’t have slept a wink. I was so frightened. You didn’t come home at midnight, a call from the hospital…” she moaned fighting back the tears.
“What happened to me,” I asked dazed.
It was too vague for me to remember though it was probably because of the pain killers. Tomorrow I would know all the details.
“They said that you were biking in the woods, you were using Katy’s bike, love. You fell off and winded yourself in the middle of a patch of stinging nettles. What were you doing biking around at the time anyway? I thought you said you were just going to hang around the campfire?” she asked.
I had to admit that the guys had come up with something good; if it was down to me I would have come up with something incredulous.
“It’s all such a blur, one minute I was fine…the next I was totally unconscious. I tried moving my hands, opening my eyes but they wouldn’t respond,” I mumbled.
“Well they did the right thing bringing you here, just while we have some privacy…” my mum trailed off.
Oh no, I knew where this was heading. What would I say to her, that a cat accidentally scratched my whole name on my arm?
“I washed your hoodie and your jeans. You’ve got your t-shirt on you had on last night, there was need to wash it. It’s absolutely spotless, no signs of blood,” she said smiling sweetly sweeping the hair out of my eyes.
That was a relief…and suspicious. I erased the thought; ‘If something’s clean keep it on’ was my mother’s motto. I didn’t agree with her on that. It was a bit ironic, no blood. As if I had just hit my back against a fluffy pillow? I sniffed; the cuts I had received yesterday had been bleeding. I took note of that to check my arms later.
“Can I go home now? I feel fine,” I lied, a day spent lying on the sofa watching TV was far more interesting than lying on a hospital bed watching nurses walking by with syringes.
“Absolutely. The doctor said that when you came around you could go. It wasn’t as serious as it had sounded. You were just winded, that’s all. No cuts, no blood, no bruises. Nothing that could scar you permanently,” mum said pleasantly.
Another thing to check when I got home, I dreaded seeing where the skin had bashed against the cold hard metal gate.
I stretched before getting up, it was surprisingly easy. I thought it would have been much harder considering I had been lying down for nine hours. Although I could walk my limbs ached, I tried my best to ignore the pain and it worked.
As soon as we were home I went straight to the bathroom pulling off my hoodie. I locked the door making sure my mother wouldn’t come upstairs and check on me.
I looked down at my purple and yellow bruises on my arms. I looked like something out of a horror movie, like Frankenstein himself. The cuts on my arms had all dried up surprisingly but I didn’t understand how the deeper bigger cuts had stopped bleeding. It was as if someone had dug a whole in my arm. It was sick.
I rolled up my top now and turned around slowly holding my breath. Good thing my mother was in the garden because my reaction was far worse than I had expected it to be.
I stopped screaming after a while catching my tears as they fell down my face. It was horrible, something that couldn’t be hidden forever. One day my mother would find out and I would tell her happily. I had killed Billy Black.
This was the only exception that I couldn’t erase from my mind.
AIRBOURNE
I WOKE UP TO A BRIGHT BLUE CLOUDLESS SKY. ANOTHER HOT DAY
was under preparation. Sam would finally be able to go in the open air swimming pool I had promised, but the promise was broken – I wouldn’t be taking him.
I looked up at the ceiling wondering what Aunty Alyson would be like. By the way her and mum nattered on for hours it was obvious that she was quite the chatterbox. I would know tomorrow.
My flight would leave at two. I didn’t know exactly how long it would take but I had an estimation. I would arrive in New York in the early evening, around six or seven.
I would have the same problem of making friends all over again. This time it would be that much harder because I wouldn’t be making friends in school, unless you counted making friends with the cab driver.
There was a loud knock on my door before my mother came in. She was already dressed and had taken the time to straighten her hair. I would be alone in just a couple of hours; she wanted the last hours here to be special and above all normal. No taking Sam to the park, it would be girl time.
“I’ve just taken Sam to Sarah’s so I decided we should go shopping. You need some decent summer clothes seeing as all yours are for winter,” she said smiling.
I groaned giving in, “Fine – you win!”
I got changed quickly throwing on some grey sweat pants and a long black t-shirt. I pulled my hair up into my black cotton hat and put my skull earrings on. I ran mascara and eye liner over my eyes before making my way down the stairs. When I reached the bottom she was already waiting.
“I wish you would wear appropriate clothes, ones that make you actually look like feminine,” she sighed.
“And I wish you would wear appropriate clothes, ones that make you look your age!” I laughed.
Even mum burst out laughing. It was like that the whole car journey – making stupid remarks and laughing at them together. I had to admit this was the first time she had acted like herself since dad had left her. She had been this way yesterday; she could even be on the mend.
Mum used to be a very humorous woman. She had crazy ideas and liked trying new things. She had begged dad to go sky diving with her, we had even gone snorkelling.
When we reached the shopping centre I wondered if this was another crazy scheme to get me wearing girl’s clothes. She was trying so hard, it was horrible to disappoint her. I made a decision that I would try, I didn’t want to upset her on my last day.
It was absolutely massive with shops in every direction. It was ten storeys of accessories, electronics, clothes and similar items.
“Why don’t we go in there?” mum suggested pointing to the huge TopShop.
“Where is all this money coming from, if I may be so bold to ask?” I asked courteously.
“I told my boss that you were going off for the summer and might have mentioned I needed to buy you some summer clothes seeing as you own none. He made me a bargain, he would pay me early this month, he isn’t a cruel man,” she said, smiles all round.
“Ok,” I agreed.
I knew that with my mother close by I wouldn’t get away. She took my hand and we walked through the entrance. It was absolutely huge with all sorts of items. From black to bright red, from sparkles to silver.
I looked around searching for a while until mum spotted what she had been trying to find.
“Charlotte! Come try this on, it’s simply darling! I know you don’t like skirts but it will be ever so hot,” she called over the music.
I sighed, she would get her way. I walked towards her eyeing the devil clamped in her hands. It was a ruffled denim skirt which actually looked quite nice. She had got me.
“Ok. I’ll try it on but first I need a selection of clothes to try,” I agreed taking the skirt.
We continued round the store before I tried on each of the clothes. Most of them fit perfectly to my horror. I was hoping that the four skirts my mother had found were all too small but in reality they fitted snugly.
I looked back at the figure in the mirror. She didn’t look like me at all; the only exception was the black cotton hat.
I was wearing the shortest and tiniest denim shorts I had ever seen in my life along with a light brown halter neck. Around my wrist were a few silver bangles; around my neck was a silver choker with purple stones hanging from it.
I turned round looking at myself from every angle. I was amazed that I had agreed to this but I was more shocked that I liked it. The only thing I didn’t like was the yellow bruises and my name cut on my arm. If it hadn’t been for that day I would have happily worn mini-skirts and short sleeved tops all the time, except for the occasional lazy jean day.
I shrugged the clothes off changing back into my original clothes and walking out of the changing rooms with heaps of clothes and accessories in my arms.
“Here, let me get those,” mum said taking the clothes and jewellery up to the counter.
There were two more horrors to bare, one slightly better than the other. Shoes – the worst nightmare. I had never worn heals in my life but they looked so elegant and beautiful, perfect if Aunty Alyson took me out to a party.
I headed over to the shoes section looking at all the possible items but quickly found the ones that caught my eye – some knee high brown high heeled boots, silver high heels, purple glittery flip flops and a designer pair of converses. In the end I bought them all.
“Mum, there’s one more thing I’m looking for,” I told her grasping her hand.
“What’s that?” she asked.
I didn’t reply, I just led her to the other horror that would be needed. This horror was the one I was looking forward to most surprisingly. I had refused to wear a dress ever since I was old enough to dress myself. Today would be different. She gasped as she saw what I intended to get.
I looked around and found a few that caught my eye. One was a black number that come down to the knees, it was a halter neck and had silver beads sewn onto it. The other one was a light blue colour that nearly come down to my ankles, something that my mum had suggested. The final one was the brightest; it was a crimson red that came down to the knees. It was decorated with black spots and from the bottom of the skirt erupted black meshing.
I left the shop with four bags, I hadn’t realised I had bought so much. In the end mum helped me carry the bags that I adopted as we went on. We went to an expensive jeweller, an electronic store and finally HMV to stock up on my CD collection before I left.
We went to a café before we left and ate some lunch before getting back to the car. It was twelve thirty. Once in the car mum got out a couple of wrapped presents, something I had not expected. I looked down wondering what they could be.
“You shouldn’t have,” I gasped.
“It’s just a few necessities,” she replied blushing.
In the end I had a tiny Canon camera, camera case and a device you could put on the camera that was waterproof. The one that surprised me the most was the mobile phone. My mum had never been able to afford me a mobile and when she could she had got me a hugely expensive one, how I was to repay when she spoiled me rotten was a mystery.
“Thank you so much!” I repeated for the tenth time.
We were now on the way to the Newcastle airport.
“I’ve already put the contacts in on your Iphone,” she mentioned as I got to grips with my phone.
It was very modern and was quite hard to use, it would take quite a while to familiarize myself. I had never expected to get anything big on my birthdays and never dreamt of getting a phone or a camera. Mum was getting well paid in her job and it had only been the first month.
I scrolled down the contacts list smiling. Aunty Alyson, Kai, Mum and finally the one I nearly choked on – Dad.
“What is it sweetie?” she asked taking in my surprised expression.
“Dad,” I choked, I hadn’t spoke to him on the phone since he had left.
Why would he want to speak to me now, I hadn’t spoke to him in so long.
“I just thought you might like to tell him you’re plans,” she replied keeping her eyes focused on the road in front.
I would barely be able to speak one sentence to him, he hadn’t bothered ringing since he left so that meant he was particularly busy or just very lazy and didn’t want to talk to his nearly adolescent daughter.
“I’m sure you’ll love it there, I’ve always wanted to go! You’ll make lots of friends to and I’m sure Aunty Alyson will be hospitable,” mum gushed as she slid the car into a parking space.
It took a while packing my second suitcase with the clothes I had bought today and it certainly took a couple of tries to get the lid to stay shut. It only shut itself when my mother and I had sat on it.
There was a big queue to the check in; they had a number of security checks from x-raying your luggage to the metal detectors. I only knew that it would be much harder on the other side. Once I had been checked in my mother went off to look round the shops, no doubt she would come back with a treat for herself. I walked wearily over to the café and slumped in a seat putting the backpack with my phone and camera on the table. A grumpy moaning waitress come over and cleared up my dirty table that had been left like that by the previous people.
“Would you like anything to eat?” she said in a monotone. She clearly didn’t want to be here and neither did I.
“Hmm…could I have an extra large hot chocolate with marshmallows, whipped cream and a chocolate flake? I forgot, please could I have a huge piece of chocolate cake,” I grinned; this would make it much harder.
My mum still hadn’t reappeared when I got my mini-feast. It was one; my mum hadn’t promised me a time. Time usually got the better of her when she was having fun, which to be honest wasn’t that often. She was just incredibly lazy at home.
I looked around trying to spot her but it was useless although I did spot someone else. A gangly fifteen year old boy, I recognized him immediately and began calling his name, “Kai! Kai! Over here!”
He stumbled over blushing madly; the crowd had stopped to ogle at us.
“Charles! I can’t believe I’ve found you, I’ve been here an hour and…” Kai muttered so fast that I couldn’t catch a word.
He sat down opposite me carrying on as if he was performing a speech in a play, I just stared open mouthed at him. After a while he stopped looking puzzled.
“I can’t believe you’re here!” I gasped.
“Well believe it!” he grinned.
“Why did you come here?”
“Why do you think? To get a plane to Antarctica? I’m here to see you off silly!” he joked.
“Thanks for coming Kai; hey you can’t go to Antarctica. I need someone to write to. You’re my first choice,” I replied mirroring his smile.
“Hey did something happen to Ian? He looked pretty peeved, he was down at the usual but he looked funny. Whenever I asked a question he yelled at me but then Katy would ask him something and he would reply nicely,” he mumbled, confusion flashing across his face.
“I caught him two days ago down at the park, I told him if he were to hurt you or even lay one finger on you then I would kill him,” I sighed.
“That sounds about right, he was muttering ‘Of course it’s not a promise. She breaks every promise she ever makes’,”
I sighed again, Ian was such a joker.
“Wait a minute, why did you tell him not to hurt me? I can take care of myself you know…and are you going to eat that?” he muttered looking down at the gooey chocolate cake.
“Well you would be hungry wouldn’t you?” I sighed rolling my eyes animatedly.
He laughed and pulled the hot chocolate and cake nearer to himself and began his feast. By the end he was completely mucky – the sides of his mouth were sprinkled with chocolate crumbs. His shirt was stained with chocolate smears and hot chocolate stains as half of the drink had gone down his front.
We sat there laughing our heads off unaware of the unfriendly stares we were given by passers by.
“Oh, there’s my mum,” I said still giggling.
She was rushing down towards us with five big bags and one small one. It was as if she hadn’t been shopping in years, but it was partially true.
“Hi Kai, I didn’t know you were going to be here to see her off but then again I had my suspicions,” she spoke unsteadily.
Ever since Kai and I had first become friends she was pestering me with questions like ‘What would the neighbours think if they found out you’re boyfriend is two years younger than you?’ even though I repeatedly told her that Kai and I were just friends.
“Um…well I just wanted to say goodbye,” he said grinning up at her, he was counted on at being friendly to almost ninety percent of the people he met.
“Oh…um…” she mumbled looking in the other direction, I blushed ferociously.
“Mum, Kai’s just a friend,” I wailed trying not to meet his gaze.
She looked back at us obviously embarrassed.
“Yeah I’m just a friend,” he laughed hysterically throwing his head back.
When he had stopped laughing he began with the kissing sounds.
“I think we’re the height of amusement,” I said flatly flashing eyes at the people walking by who were staring at us as if we were completely and utterly ludicrous.
Kai was busy being his flamboyant harebrained self making silly noises and laughing. It was so hard not to feel happy with him; he was such a happy person. Everyone within a three chair radius of him immediately felt better.
‘Final call for the 311 flight to New York please board the plane now’ rang like bells from the speakers.
I sighed, this was it. I felt slightly sick but then again so excited. This was my first time in ‘The Big Apple’ but not in America. Before my dad had left my mum he had insisted on going on holiday to certain places: Chicago, San Francisco and several others. At the time Aunty Alyson was living there but then decided she wanted to pursue her dream of being a journalist for a glossy chic magazine. My father now resided in a place that had almost an identical weather pattern to Britain.
“Well that’s it,” I said.
“Oh Charlotte! I’ve had a wonderful day, thank you,” she gushed, tears streaming from her eyes.
My mother hugged me tightly; I buried my head in her shoulder peeking my eyes through my hair to look at Kai who stood awkwardly, his arms folded over his chest.
“Mum, I’ve got to go,” I assured her pulling away from her hug.
She smiled and wiped her tears with a handkerchief.
“Bye Kai, I’m going to miss you,” I sighed but that wasn’t good enough for a goodbye. He hugged me tightly again and then let me go.
“Don’t go anywhere Kai, I need a writing and texting buddy,” I laughed.
“Don’t forget the emailing,” he said.
I pulled my backpack over my shoulder and picked up the one suitcase I was allowed to take on the plane, the other I would meet on the other side. I smiled again; I had detected a hint of sorrow when Kai had spoke. He was going to miss me and I was going to miss him, there was no doubt about it.
Another call announced from the speakers, ‘An announcement for a Miss Charlotte Greene, final call to board the plane.’ I bit my lip wondering if I would be able to run with this much luggage, I couldn’t count on it but I could certainly try.
In the end I jogged, the bags were too heavy to run flat out. Even then I wouldn’t have made it there that quickly – I wasn’t particularly well balanced or good at any sport.
I was red and out of breath as I reached the plane gate. I felt relieved as I felt the cold wind rush against my face. I flushed again feeling terribly embarrassed but the air hostess calmed me with a comforting smile.
I lumbered through the plane precariously blushing a deeper and darker red. The passengers were all staring me as I made my way to my seat.
When I reached my seat I nearly had a heart attack, two boys were going to be sitting next to me. One looked around fourteen who was sitting nearest the window; he was quite tanned and had bright blonde hair. The other was olive skinned with black glossy hair that brushed his shoulders.
I reached up on my tip toes and stuffed the suitcase in the tiny compact compartment before sitting down on my seat and buckling myself in. I put my backpack by my feet taking out my Iphone. That was it; I had become friends with the boys instantly. Boys and their toys.
“Hey I’m Carl, this is Nate,” the blonde haired boy said excitedly.
“Hi I’m Charles or Charlie. Whatever you want to call me except from Charlotte,” I replied smiling warmly.
Carl tapped Nate’s shoulder whispering something obviously of high importance whilst I turned on my Iphone and went onto text.
“Carl was wondering if that was an Iphone,” Nate said, his voice sounding musical but also soft.
He was the most attractive of the two. Stupid of me to notice which one’s more attractive, they’re still kids I thought to myself.
“Don’t tell me you can’t read!” I muttered pointing to the bright white letters on the phone.
“Who are you texting then, a friend…maybe a boyfriend?” he said making stupid kissing sounds.
Not again, I already had had my fair share of embarrassment. Here it was all over again. The passengers eyed our seats prominently, not bothering to look at us inconspicuously.
“No, just a friend. Besides I don’t have a boyfriend,” I muttered.
Carl leaned in and whispered something into Nate’s ear again whilst I quickly scanned over my text.
Where r u? I’m bored out of my mind waiting for the stupid plane to go. Hurry up and u can make the flight 2. L CHARLES X
I hit the send button before turning it off and replacing it in my backpack.
“So where are you from in America?” I asked picking up on their accent.
“We both live in Washington. Me and Nate are neighbours,” he grinned.
“I feel sorry for your poor moms,” I laughed trying to imitate an American accent.
They looked at me as if I was the most obtuse person on the planet before bursting into fits of laughter.
“So where are you headed?” asked Nate politely.
“Duh! Why am I on this flight?” I joked.
“Cool, we’re in New York to. We’ll have to meet up some time. We’ve just finished our holiday in Britain. We’ll be heading back to home when school starts,” Carl exclaimed.
My backpack started buzzing ferociously, a number of musical notes pouring out of it to. I pulled my Iphone out of my bag and pressed it to my ear.
“Hello, who’s calling?” I asked conscious of the two boys giggling.
“Who do you think? I got your text!” Kai exclaimed.
“So you got my SOS I’m bored message?” I asked.
“Yup and I’m here to cheer you up,”
I could almost picture his face smiling; I imagined that he would be lying down on his bed with his Samsung phone pressed securely to his ear.
“Hang on, I’ve getting the evil knevils from old miss airhostess,” I murmured flicking my eyes over to her.
No cell phones she mouthed.
“I’m on airplane mode, it won’t affect a thing,” I assured in the most promising voice.
“It won’t affect a thing, oh la la. Look who’s turning polite on us now,” Kai joked.
“Hey! She’s looking at me as if I’ll crash the plane,” I laughed.
She gave me a stern look as I mentioned the plane shaking her head slowly. Nate gave me a nudge.
“I swear she’ll come over here and bite your head off in a minute,” he warned.
I started poking him back but it only made him poke harder.
“Who’s with you?” Kai said.
“Oh just some guys I met,” I replied.
They burst out laughing.
“Just some guys! P-lease. We are not ‘just some guys.’ Looks like this guy really likes our new friend hey Nate?” Carl nattered nudging Nate in the stomach.
“No they’re not girls, where did you get that idea from? Yes they talk a lot like girls. They are so immature,” I sighed.
“He did not just call us girls,” Nate said.
“Anyway I better go; miss airhostess is getting her panties in a twist. The old bat is so bossy and unfair,” I moaned.
“Remember lots and lots of emails, texts and all that. Please please remember that not all of us are lucky to be sent on a plane by our mums,” he replied.
“Yup, don’t worry. Bye,” I said and hit the off button.
“Shouldn’t you have said the ‘L word’ to him to reassure him that you’ll do whatever it is you’re talking about?” Carl muttered.
“Hey what are you going on about man?” Nate asked embarrassed.
“He likes your accent, he thinks you’re cute,” Carl laughed trying to peak round Nate to see what my reaction would be.
“We’ll see if he thinks I’m cute by the end of the flight,” I smiled.
Nate was staring at me from under his dark long hair, he looked up and smiled.
I pulled off my hoodie forgetting both time and place, an instant reaction and then remembered.
I was wearing a grey strappy top and black skinny jeans. My hair was held up in my black cotton hat.
I had the absolute delight of watching the two boy’s faces gape at my scars and bruises. I regretted taking my hoodie off, it was acts like this that could get me caught.
I was aware of my neighbours across the isle nudging one another and tilting their heads in my direction gazing at my scars and bruises.
“How did you get all those bruises?” stammered Carl.
“It’s kind of a long story,” I mumbled.
Nate leaned forward and turned my arm around to stare at my name engraved in my arm.
“Charlie Greene, hey my dad’s best friends with yours. We only live ten minutes or so away from his place,” he said.
“So I know you?” I asked curiously.
“You wouldn’t know me but you would know my older brother and sister. Tyler and Lily. When you came up on your holiday you were six, my dad and your dad have been family friends for ages,” he carried on.
“How are they – Tyler and Lily?” I asked.
“They’re good; Lily’s gone to visit her Spanish boyfriend’s family. Tyler is still living around my dad. He’s in a band – he wants to be a rock and roller,” he laughed.
“Tyler must be eighteen and Lily…”
“Lily’s nineteen, twenty this October,”
“Wow,” I breathed.
I eventually got some shut eye. That’s when the nightmare began.
Kai seemed to be walking hand in hand with me, he seemed much taller and more mature. We were just walking across a meadow till a black figure pounced in front of us hissing. Its eyes were blood shot and its lip was curled back revealing perfect glittering white teeth.
“No!” Kai screamed pushing me back and leaping into the air.
“Kai, what’s happening?” I screamed but I couldn’t hear for the rumble of thunder above us.
The rain hammered down on my head, I looked trying to find where Kai was but it was impossible. The wind blew furiously around me sending cold shivers down my spine. My hands felt numb and they shook violently.
Suddenly a blue flash erupted from Kai’s hands shooting out towards the vampire crouched. He hissed viciously and leapt out of the way, the blue flash continued to whirl past him till it hit the ground sending a line of blue flames along the grass.
I could almost see Kai now; he was looking hardly into the rain. I was staring into the eyes of a vicious predator; he wasn’t the same harebrained fifteen year old boy. Now he was the hunter. His eyes were as black as the night curled around us.
He leaped up into the air again and put his hand out firmly, an invisible force flew out of his hands and hit the vampire with such force that he whirled back a few feet.
“Stop Kai!” I shrieked, tears spilling from my eyes.
Kai turned and looked at me confused, he walked forward quickly but I darted around him and ran to the vampire’s sides.
“NO!” Kai boomed, his voice echoing across the valley.
I leaned down and examined the vampire’s face, his black hood had fell off and rested by his head limply.
His complexion was pale and he looked magnificent in the moonlight. I felt a strange compassion for him; he looked up at me and smiled.
He had dark raven coloured hair with flecks of dark metallic blue in and topaz coloured eyes rimmed with faint purple lines underneath. He looked around me and gasped. I looked up hearing Kai’s scream getting fainter and fainter. He disappeared into the ground and then with a mighty thud there stood a magnificent chocolate covered wolf. The wolf cocked his head to one side and a growl emit from his snout. He bared his teeth and snarled again walking towards us slowly – paw by paw.
I looked back and fourth from the stranger lying on the ground and the huge wolf. The fur rippled along his back as he walked, suddenly he stopped whining. His brown milky coloured eyes were huge and innocent; he wanted me to get out of the way.
“No,” I whispered.
My hand slipped inside the stranger’s as I pulled him up, he smiled warily and then he let go of his hand. It stung, as if I had been stung by hundreds of wasps. That was when the wolf lunged at him.
I woke up breathing heavily, it had just been a dream I had told myself. It had no significance whatsoever.
“Hey, are you alright? You look a little freaked,” Carl said smiling friendly.
“I’m OK, I just had a weird dream,” I replied looking at the floor blushing.
“We’re really near now; you can almost see the cars. They look like ants!” he exclaimed again pointing to the window.
The scene below us was infinite; it reached right into the horizon.
“Hey, do you guys have mobiles? It would be cool if we could meet up again, you might be the only friends I’ll have here,” I said kindly.
“Yeah,” said Nate pulling out his and handing it to me.
I turned it on and went to contacts and entered my name and number. I handed it back to him when I was done surprised to find another mobile on my lap.
“It’s just fair that I should get your number as well,” Carl smiled as Nate nudged him.
I laughed and did the same operation all over again, this time quicker.
“Well it’s been nice bonding with you, I’ll give you a call sometime and we could meet up,” I replied.
The plane started its decent towards the ground, my stomach doing little flips as we got closer and closer. Would Aunty Alyson be nice? Would she be hospitable like my mother had promised?
We were on the ground in no time, it was surprisingly sunny and warm when I stepped off the plane and into the gate. I followed where all the other passengers went keeping an eye out for Aunty Alyson. The only problem was I had no idea what she looked like; I hoped she would find me in a crowd this big.
Finally we walked into a huge main hall; it was completely crammed with passengers and people here to greet them. My eyes flickered across every face but no one resembled any familiarity to the Aunty Alyson I had seen in a picture taken when she was only twenty.
“Charlotte! Oh my gosh, it’s really you! You’ve grown so much!” she exclaimed clamping me with her arms.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you, I’ve heard all about you from my mother,” I replied smiling politely.
My first glance told me a lot about Aunty Alyson. She was very much the hip young Aunty. Her blonde curly hair wound down her back in ringlets. She had lovely green eyes that were illuminated by silver sparkly eye shadow. She was wearing a purple lipstick and a pearl choker around her neck. She had long fingernails that were coated with salmon pick nail polish. She wore a white halter neck and denim shorts, on her feet were magnificent sugar-pink stilettos.
I wondered what she saw as she studied everything I wore, I had put my hoodie back on as I did not want to upset her. I could tell from her eyes that she saw a teenage girl that had never moved on from her dad’s removal.
“I hope you have some um…more comfortable clothes with you,” she said eyeing my hoodie and sweat pants.
“Sure, I just didn’t know what to expect. That’s all,” I said.
“Oh sure, so winter hats are all the range in Britain?” she asked staring at my black cotton hat.
“Not at all, it’s just having my hair in my eyes is such a nuisance. It gets in the way a lot,” I replied making sure not to offend her.
She looked back and smiled running a hand through her sleek hair and then said as if in a hurry, “Let’s go collect your luggage at the carousel.”
My suitcase took ages to come; it was one of the last off the plane. Still Aunty Alyson was patient and didn’t show any signs that she was annoyed. I picked up my bag and followed her out of the airport and into the darkness.
NEW SKIES
THE ROAD WAS BUSY AND EXTREMELY NOISY. BRIGHT COLOURED lights glittered from every direction that I turned to look at it. It really did live up to its name – ‘The city that never slept.’
I put my entire luggage in the boot and in the backseat before I climbed in the passenger seat.
“It’s OK to feel a little bewildered, its all a bit of a daze when you’ve been on a plane so long. The city seems vast the first time but after a while you get used to it,” she said turning out of the car park.
I nodded and yawned.
“Um, could we listen to some music or something to keep me awake? I don’t want to miss any of the spectacular sights,” I said suppressing another yawn.
She turned on the CD player and I was amazed that she was into this type of music.
“Didn’t think your Aunty would listen to silly little whiny rock songs did you? Thought I was like the rest of them, Debussy this!” she laughed singing along to the words.
I pulled the window down taking in all the sights, sounds and noises that were all new to me. The grey clouded sky was luminous above the flashing neon signs.
I didn’t know at which point I fell asleep but I did, the time difference finally kicking in. I dreamt of the city, I imagined myself walking down its colossal streets. The complete stranger, no one was with me and neither did anyone try to talk to me. Then I was running trying to find my way back home screaming desperately, with each step I took I got myself deeper than just lost.
When I woke up I was in an unfamiliar room, I was in white bedroom lying on a huge comfortable double bed. I was lying facing the huge glass wall that was in fact a window. Below was the noisy but beautiful city. Completely picturesque. There was a dark wooden door opposite the bed that was just enough to let in the warm smell of somebody cooking.
I yawned and stretched, my back throbbed and ached being in the tight compact plane. It was a relief to finally be able to see the sky over my head, and I was pleased. There was a huge skylight that shone brightly, the rays of light shone down to the edge of my bed. All that worrying, all that moaning for nothing. It was higher than my expectations.
There was a knock on my door before it opened; Aunty Alyson appeared wearing a white cooking apron.
“Wake up sleepy head, if you like you can eat your breakfast in bed,” she said smiling.
“No, I really must get up otherwise I will go back to sleep,” I laughed throwing the duvet off me and sitting on the edge of the bed.
Aunty Alyson closed the door once again leaving me in peace to get ready. First I brushed my hair and put it in a scruffy bun before moving to the suitcase of clothes. I opened the lid surprised to find it empty; Aunty Alyson had already unpacked everything and put them into the dark wooden dresser and wardrobe. I dug out some old denim shorts and a black long sleeved t-shirt. I looked through my draws again and again to find the black cotton hat but eventually found it, for a second I had thought Aunty Alyson had hidden it. I pulled the hair tie out of my hair letting it fall loosely to my waist before pushing it up into the hat.
I opened the door and was greeted by a pleasant aroma. I blinked taking in the room around me, it looked exactly like the apartment I had seen in my dream except for a few major details. It was a kitchen/living room and it was open plan. The kitchen was painted a deep purple colour that contrasted with the other white walls. There was a cream white sofa that faced the huge flat screen TV that hung on the wall.
“Get yourself comfortable,” she called as I sat down on the sofa laying the blanket that was on the floor over myself.
She walked over to the sofa with a tray, on the tray was a plate of five pancakes stacked on top one another. Maple syrup ran down the sides of the stack and onto the piece of crispy bacon that was next to the pancakes. It smelled delectable.
“Thank you, how did you know I loved pancakes?” I asked staring up at her.
She was three years older than my mum but she definitely didn’t look her age.
“Pancakes are my speciality,” she replied grinning handing me the tray.
I sat up picking the shiny cutlery up digging them into the pancakes. I decided they were still too hot as I swallowed them burning my mouth. When I was finished I washed it all down with a glass of orange juice.
“So what do we have planned for today?” I asked politely as she came to sit down next to me.
“Whatever you like really. Oh I must warn you, I love entertaining so I have a few dinner parties planned. I’ve also been invited to a few and you’re welcome to come,” she replied warmly.
“That’s fine; I was hoping to make some friends. I also met a family friend on the plane; he’s the son of one of my dad’s best friend’s. I told him we would meet up as he’s staying around New York too,” I forewarned her.
“That’s fine. A lot of my friends have sons and daughters you’re age. I’m sure you’ll be very popular,” she exclaimed.
At home I had never been popular; I was always the odd one out. I was judged by my sense of style and my negativity all the way since junior school.
“I was wondering if I could go wander around outside, I won’t go far and I have my phone with me,” I told her.
“Yeah that’s fine; I’ll be here if you need anything. You might also want some money for lunch,” she said handing me a few notes.
I stared at the amount she had given me, I had already been told that America had pretty cheap clothes and food and all sorts of stuff but I hadn’t believed them. Lunch would be one of my first bargains.
I jogged down the many flights of stairs down to the first floor, there was a huge double door that led onto the street. I pushed the doors open and took in the lively scene around me, the traffic was very heavy and it was extremely gridlocked. The sky was a pale cloudless blue and it was extremely warm.
I walked down the endless avenues passing men in black suits carrying work cases, mothers with toddlers and the occasional stray dog. I didn’t know exactly where I was heading but it gave me time to think over certain things.
Aunty Alyson obviously expected me to make a lot of friends but little did she no that I found it hard to make friends. Then there was the strange yet terrifying dream I had had on the plane. That’s when I released my mind had conjured up the exact dream I had had when Simon had told us the scary tale before going to find Billy Black. The only thing that had changed about the dream was that Kai was in it. I didn’t know why I had dreamt of Kai; after all it had been Simon who had told the almost unreal tale. Was this a clue of what was to come? Or something that my mind had fantasized for pure terror.
I noticed that I was gathering many cold and unfriendly stares, I didn’t look like the usual person to come out for a stroll or even a tourist for that matter. I stopped and then looked back the way I had just walked wondering what I was doing out anyway. I had heard the tales of kids being taken off the streets before but never thought once about them.
“Um, hey. Are you lost?” a man with a hot dog cart called over the traffic walking up to me.
This was certainly something you did not see everyday. The smell of hot dogs swirled past my noise, they smelt mouth watering but they certainly didn’t look it.
“No I’m just figuring out what I’m doing here,” I replied seeing his mouth turning up at the edges into a smile.
He was extremely tall and fat with curly hair the colour of ketchup falling down the sides of his face. His eyebrows were extremely thick and curly framing his dark eyes.
“You better be careful with yourself, weren’t you told by your mom that you shouldn’t talk to strangers?” he asked grinning.
“Well yes but I didn’t want to be rude,” I said.
It must look a sight, me – a complete midget standing next to this abnormally tall stranger.
“What’re you doing here – I mean you’re not from around here are you,” he stated the obvious.
“I’m being held captive here until the end of the summer,” I sighed.
“I wish my parents were that caring, all I get is a mouth full of trash saying I’ve wasted my whole life eating and selling hot dogs,” he laughed.
“Parent,” I emphasised looking away.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” he replied apologetically.
“It’s OK, I should have really got over it by now but I can’t. My dad left when I was seven to move over here to the States and I’ve had to be a nanny for the past four years to my brother,” I explained looking up to his face.
His expression was divided – curiosity and apologetic.
“I should be counting my lucky stars I guess, I just have to make do with a mouthful,” he said turning it all into a joke.
I laughed, “I say we’re on fairly even grounds. I’m Charlotte by the way but every one calls me Charlie. You could call me Charles if you want.”
“I’m currently known as Pete, the hot dog guy – known for my infamous large dosage of ketchup and mustard,” he laughed.
“Well I better get going, nice to meet you,” I replied walking off back to the apartment and my Aunty who was waiting for me.
“Nice to meet you to!” he shouted in the distance.
I clambered up the stairs slowly knowing if I went to fast I was bound to fall down. I was never good at sport and endangered my team mates frequently. In my junior school we had been learning to play football – the first torture they had lined up for us. In the first half of the game I had already had a bruise the size of a fist on my leg and an extremely nauseating head ache – received when the coach had yelled at me to try a header. I was never asked to do one again.
When I had reached the level the apartment was on I could hear at least three women talking and muted laughter. Aunty Alyson said she liked entertaining; maybe she had invited some friends round. I knocked on the door twice before it finally opened and Aunty Alyson emerged looking flushed.
“Hello Charlie, don’t mind us,” she said beckoning me through the door.
I trudged behind Aunty Alyson peeking at the two ladies who sat on the cream sofa; Aunty Alyson had pulled up the beige comfy seat to sit on.
One of the ladies looked very worn and wrinkled; she clutched a cup in her hand but was unaware that she was shaking violently. She had black hair that was now mostly grey and had a wilted face. Her eyes were the youngest feature of her face.
The other woman looked about the same age as my Aunt and was also sipping frequently from a china cup. She had dark hair; the colour was not so easy to distinguish. She wore pale make up and ruby red lipstick.
“This is Charlotte, my brother’s daughter,” Aunty Alyson said emphasizing each word.
“Brother? She looks more like a young lady to me,” the frail woman said.
I blushed deep scarlet very embarrassed, she was definitely deaf.
“She said that this is Charlotte, her brother’s daughter,” the woman beside her said raising her voice.
“Oh, excuse me my dear,” she said apologetically, her mouth creasing into a smile.
“This is Heidi,” Aunty Alyson said gesturing to the younger woman, “And this is Margery.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I said smiling.
I just wanted to go back to my bedroom and wake up from this nightmare. Aunty Alyson noticed my inattentiveness and whispered, “It’s OK, you can go to your room.”
I turned my back and headed towards the door, I grasped the door handle looking back when I heard my name being called.
“Nice to meet you to,” both women said in unison.
I sighed shutting the door behind me and lay back onto the soft duvet. I could hear their laughter, each could be distinguished. Aunty Alyson chuckled, Heidi chortled and deer old Margery choked.
I could hear my name slide into the conversation a couple of times making me wonder what exactly she was telling them. I had no intention of finding out. When I had woken up I noticed particular things about this room but had missed one crucial detail; there was a door on the right hand side of the bed. I lifted myself off the bed and wondered whether or not to open it; Aunty Alyson hadn’t said that I couldn’t open it. I turned the door knob and found myself in a sophisticated en suite. It was painted a garish orange colour and had mosaic tiles placed on two of the walls and on the floor. There was a huge bath that looked more like a hot tub than anything else in the left hand corner of the room. There was a walk in shower opposite, the tiles being used as a wet room. There was a small partition so that you couldn’t see the shower. There was a huge golden framed mirror and a deep wooden cupboard beneath it with a sink on top.
I decided to take a shower, I quickly stumbled about in the bedroom taking my toiletries bag into the en suite and had the items placed around the room appropriately. I shrugged out of my clothes and welcomed the searing warm water. It was surprisingly refreshing so I just stood motionless for a long time. Next I slathered my hair in shampoo before washing it off and then applying the conditioner. My hair was particularly long so it was quite a tedious job. The hot water felt like it was burning my bruises and scars on my arms so I decided to endure five minutes of bitter cold water. My body started to feel numb as the minutes flew by; I scowled and turned off the water completely. Wasn’t there anything I could do that wouldn’t hurt? I wrapped a towel around myself and a smaller one around my hair and made my way into my bedroom to figure out what I should wear.
I went through my draws at least seven times before I gave up so I decided to turn to the wardrobe. My various items took up at least three quarters of the whole rail.
There was a knock on my door before Aunty Alyson came in.
“Oh sorry dear, Margery and Heidi have just left,” she explained walking towards me.
“Um, I was just wondering what we were doing in this evening so that I ur…could dress appropriately,” I said chuckling at the last word, Aunty Alyson scowled.
“Well I’ve just had a call from a very good friend of mine, she’s told me she’s having a party tonight and we’re invited. She’s got quite a nice house and has a very affable family. They were the first friends I made when I arrived here. They have a swimming pool so you’ll need to bring a swimming costume,” she gushed as if she were my best friend.
I was glad she hadn’t been paying much attention to my scars or bruises but what was I to tell her about the swimming?
“Are there going to be any people my age there?” I asked in a small voice.
“Of course, the family have got one daughter and two sons. They’re inviting a lot of friends as are the adults. They’ll be enough company,” she reassured me.
It was when she looked down that she caught her first glimpse of the horrors on my arms. That was when my heart stopped beating. I coughed and then gulped, she was still staring.
“Charlotte, how did you get these,” she said sternly.
“I was biking down in the woods when I was thirteen and I fell off and landed in a bush of stinging nettles winding myself,” I explained guiltily.
I wondered why everyone believed me, it seemed very far-fetched to me. I couldn’t help but thinking that it probably was something that I could do by accident, I was like a magnetic force attracting bad luck.
She looked at me in disbelief and then a wave of muse ran over her face.
“This is why you where such wintry clothes isn’t it?” she asked, suddenly apologetic.
“I don’t like attracting the wrong sort of attention, I want to fit in but the harder I try I just can’t seem to do it,” I trailed off as Aunty Alyson motioned for me to sit on the bed.
She pulled the heavily ornate chair opposite me, I felt like I was twelve again and talking to my mother. Whenever I was worried about something I would come to her, only in the first few years of my double digits, and told her what was bothering me.
“I find it…hard to make friends with people my age,” I finished.
“You’re completely individual, your own being entirely. You are a wonderful girl, how could anyone not like you?” I thought she was joking.
“I’ve become known for being antisocial and my bad behaviour. I know you’re probably don’t believe any of this but it is entirely true, it’s been hard for my mother,” I tried to explain finding hard to find words in the end.
Aunty Alyson saw in my eyes that I wanted that to be the end of the discussion and pulled the chair away hastily making a horrible screeching noise across the wooden floor.
“Come on, we’ve to get changed if we want to look at least decent,” she exclaimed shutting the door probably going to get herself ready. It wouldn’t be worth the try in the end, I knew Aunty Alyson would succeed in looking more than just decent.
I walked across the room to the wardrobe once again and filed through the dresses and t-shirts on hangers. I finally came across a black long sleeved V neck dress. I flung it on and examined myself in the mirror that was built into the wardrobe draw. It came down to my ankles and looked fairly acceptable. I took a black ankle bracelet with brown beads strung around it and fastened it around my ankle.
My next task was finding a pair of shoes that would suit my attire. I eventually settled for some black jewelled flip flops with quite a big heel. I didn’t know how I was going to walk around in them without tripping over and getting hurt. I brushed my long hair back into my black cotton hat, slipped my silver hoop earrings on and fastened the clasp to my pearl choker. I called it a day soon after I ran black eye liner and mascara on my eyelashes and then sprinkled silver glittery eye shadow on my eyes.
I walked out and into the sitting room surprised to find my Aunty already dressed. I had guessed right, she looked extremely elegant wearing a deep crimson dress that trailed down to her knees. She wore red stilettos and was wearing the same shade of lipstick as her dress. Her blonde curly hair hung in ringlets around her face and came down to her waist. She had dark black mascara on her eyes, body shimmer on her arms and diamante earrings that sparkled in the light. I knew she would look much prettier than me and maybe even younger than me. It made me resentful.
I hated it that I had to cover up so much, why couldn’t the many bruises and scars just disappear. I didn’t want people to stare but I wanted to look appealing – a thought I couldn’t bear to consider at home.
“You look good Charlotte!” she said smiling, I knew she was hoping for a complement.
“Charlie…and you look…pretty,” I replied shyly. Well that was understatement of the century.
She looked at me as if she was hoping for a bit more and then adding, “You don’t have to go swimming if you don’t want to.”
She was implying that she didn’t want all her family friends staring. Nice.
“I don’t feel entirely in the mood for swimming, maybe some other time,” I replied curtly.
“Well, are you ready?” she asked.
I took a deep breath. Bring on the staring strangers, bring on the tourist. I followed her down the flights of stairs now lit up by strange florescent yellow lights that hummed in the darkness.
The car journey hadn’t taken as long as I though it would but it still took quite a long time. We pulled up to an enormous pair of turquoise green gates. It looked more like a mansion than just a diminutive house like my own.
“Well, this is it!” Her voice was thick with excitement.
HOURS OF DARKNESS
THE ELETRIC GATES OPENED CREAKING NOISLY, THE LIGHT ON TOP OF it flashing the colour of Aunty Alyson’s dress in the darkness sending showers of red over the car. The car vibrated as we drove over the stones in the dark. From the limited light of the moonlight I could tell that my aunt was exuberant, she loved hosting parties but probably not nearly as much as attending them. This was her chance to really show off. She had never married and loved travelling; she travelled the world before residing in New York after it took her fancy.
There were small lanterns that looked Chinese; they were hung all up the driveway to the house making sure no one drove into the pool by accident. The house had titanic proportions, the dark wooden doorway just visible underneath a canopy of leaves that spiralled up a wrought iron construction that clung above the door to the second floor. Ivy weaved up the front side of the house making it look particularly like one of those multi-million pound houses you found in a property buying magazine. To the right side of the house was a huge garage that looked big enough to store a collections worth of expensive cars.
I was surprised that a house like this was built in the suburban part of New York; we had to drive a considerable amount to get out of the main part of New York and into the suburbs.
There was a huge roundabout, or what looked like one anyway, with a huge tree that was unfamiliar to me in the centre. There were a couple of glossy cars parked beside the driveway; others were parked abnormally on the grass next to the driveway. There were more than ten cars; the house looked big enough to have at least fifty people in…maybe more.
All the cars looked very lavish; I managed to only remember some of the cars names that I saw. Eventually we parked outside the garage next to a fancy yellow sports car that even Lewis Hamilton would have not owned.
I got out the car and slammed the door shut following my aunt in the darkness. It was quite cold and it whipped around my face. I got to the magnificent stone stairs that belonged more to a French castle than a ‘family home’ before I felt slightly dizzy. My forehead felt slightly hot and my stomach felt uneasy. I was very nervous, not knowing what to expect. Were they nice, would there be anybody there who would at least take a shot at talking to me? I sighed; all was to be revealed shortly.
Aunty Alyson knocked on the door prudently anxious to get inside.
“Hello Alyson, this must be Charlotte,” she said hugging my aunt.
I looked down at the floor blushing madly, why couldn’t my Aunt just have told them Charlie or Charles. Then I remembered that these friends of hers were probably extremely rich – there house was a gesture of prosperous fortunes.
“Charlie,” I blurted before I could stop myself.
Aunty Alyson peered through the doorway ready to go meet the noisy guests we could hear from the doorstep.
“Do come in,” the woman greeted us smiling warmly.
The woman was wearing a dark blue sleeveless dress. Her brown curly hair was tied in a bun revealing her made-up face. She was wearing bright red lipstick and silver eye shadow. Her blue high heels glinted in the soft moonlight. She smiled at me as I followed through the house wondering what she thought of me. A girl who was afraid to show her hair and who was afraid to wear anything flattering, it was clear I would not be accepted here. I made that thought vanish completely; the woman had been as pleasant to me as to my aunt. Maybe looks didn’t matter.
Suddenly we were in a huge living room; it was if we had stepped back to Jane Austin’s time. It had a number of sofas and chairs facing the window that had views of the beautiful garden, the vivid turquoise pool. There were at least more than a hundred guests, some of them adult, some of them my age and even some kids.
I held my breath as I made my way into the loud bustling crowd. I could have never hypothesized something as beautiful and magnificent as this, it was relieving I had had no expectations – there was nothing to live up to.
My mother had always wanted to be a millionaire, to move to France, to buy a chateau, to live the life of luxury. By day we could have been conventional behaving as if we were living in something just ordinary, by night we could be party hosts or even, if we had made friends, party guests.
I stopped watching my aunt talk to some of her friends. I didn’t want to interrupt her but I didn’t want to get lost either. Somebody tapped me lightly on the shoulder so I spun around wondering who would recognize me.
“We meet again,” I mumbled meeting his gaze.
Nate was standing next to Carl; it was clear now that Nate was a lot taller than his erratic harebrained friend. He stood towering down staring at me as if he had just seen a ghost; I looked to Carl who had the same expression.
“You look very…pretty!” he said blushing, taking ages to decide the right word.
“Well that’s an understatement,” Carl said putting on a silly voice.
“So how are you?” I asked, not knowing what to say.
“I’m same as usual, well same as you last saw me anyway,” he muttered.
The conversation stopped abruptly as a stranger entered the room. All three of us turned to watch his unexpected arrival. This was my first glance of an angle.
He was dressed enticingly with a dark blue sweater with his collar showing, he was wearing dark blue jeans. He had dark black hair with a hint of blue in that complemented his face. His eyes were as pitch black as the night. That was strangely peculiar. He was looking for someone in the crowd, searching with his eyes not bothering to go and find them. He leaned against the wall his eyes still anxious to find the person he was seeking.
He caught my glimpse and stared for a second, his face pulling into a mask of disgust and hatred. He then looked at the floor and didn’t look at me again. It was obvious he hadn’t found what he was looking for; there was no need for that strange exercise.
He looked as still as a statue, as if he was carved of marble. He stood against the wall looking god-like and magnificent; it put any man who had taken his time to dress up to shame.
“Who’s that?” hissed Carl in Nate’s ear; it was loud enough for me to hear.
“I don’t exactly know, I certainly didn’t invite him,” Nate muttered.
“You live here? But I thought you lived near my father?” I asked suddenly confused to why he had been lying to me.
“We have a house near your father’s as well, it’s on the coast but it’s just of ordinary size. We usually spend summer and Christmas in this house,” he replied.
“Are either of them here – Tyler and Lily?” I asked.
I had come on holiday to where my dad was now living; I had become great friends with Tyler and Lily and spent most afternoons down at the beach with them.
“Tyler’s up in his room playing his guitar – what a dork – and Lily’s still in Spain,” he explained.
“Do you think Tyler would mind if I went and said hello?” I asked in a tiny voice.
“No I’m sure he’ll be glad to see you,” Carl laughed.
“Would you just shut up,” hissed Nate between his teeth throwing an anxious smile at me.
I wormed my way through the crowd and to the door getting another angry scowl from the stranger leaning against the wall.
What had I ever done, how could he have hated me so quickly? When I walked through the door I could have sworn I had heard him hissing but knowing my mind it was probably me conjuring up what I wouldn’t want to hear from him.
I continued walking and then stopped in the hallway; both the floor and stairs were a cool white marble. I looked around anxiously before beginning my ascend. When I reached the landing I wandered round aimlessly till I heard a muffled guitar and someone singing. I took a deep breath before wrapping my white knuckles against the door.
“Come in,” a hushed voice called.
I opened the door and peered through, his room was unusually tidy with a bed next to the left hand wall. Next to the door were a chest of draws and a desk that held a miniature white laptop.
“Um, I’m Charlie Greene, I spent my holiday at the beach with you and your sister when we were six,” I stuttered walking into the room wobbling on my heels.
“Oh, I heard you were staying here. Yeah I remember you,” he replied.
He had dark brown eyes and hair that came down to his shoulders if he hadn’t had it in a pony tail. He was just a bit older than Nate so that made him nearly sixteen.
“By the way you like very beautiful,” he said blushing.
“Thanks, you look good yourself. I heard you want to be in a band,” I alleged looking at the shiny guitar in his hands.
“Yeah, I do. Well I’ve already got a band but we’re not famous…yet,” he chuckled.
I mirrored his grin beginning to flit my eyes round the room once more taking anything in that I had missed in my first glimpse.
“Cool, um…anyway I better go downstairs again. They’ll be wondering where I am,” I said.
Tyler was someone who I could make friends with easily, Nate just the same. I was not so sure about Carl – he was a bit too scatterbrained for my liking. I would also have the trouble of putting up with his stupid immature jokes.
“Bye, oh and come back again. Maybe you could hear my band play,” he said hopefully.
“I’d like that,” I said smiling to myself as I shut the door and walked down the stairs.
Nate and Carl were sitting on the bottom of the marble steps talking wittily.
“Hey dumb and dumber,” I greeted grinning widely sitting next to Nate.
“Hey Miss we’re-not-good-friends-for-you,” replied Carl.
Nate nudged him in the stomach.
“Hey!” Carl squealed in response to the nudge that from my point of view looked not at all painful.
“Nearly everyone’s gone outside to the garden,” Nate explained.
“Well let’s go then,” I sighed standing up.
I followed Carl and Nate back into the huge ballroom through two huge glass doors and out into the darkness. We were standing on a huge patio that was enormous; at the end of the patio were iron rails that sectioned the hill below us from the house. In the left hand corner of the patio was a pool that looked 7m by 12m. There was a reflection of the moon rippling gracefully on the waters surface. There were two huge wooden tables that had been pulled together so instead of fitting ten people it could fit twelve. Most of the adults were standing up chatting drinking champagne from crystal glassware. I looked around searching for the one person I wanted to see the most but he wasn’t there.
Carl and Nate both decided to go back and get changed to their swimmers, they said that midnight was when the pool was at its lowest temperature.
I sat down with my back against the uncomfortable iron rails and looked out to all the party guests who seemed to be enjoying themselves. I could hear Aunty Alyson before I could see her, she was chatting to the woman who had greeted us inside and a tall olive skinned man who appeared to be her husband.
“Hey, watch out!” somebody in the pool shouted sending a shower of water across to where I was sitting.
Why did this happen to me? Oh yes, that’s because I’m magnetized to danger. My bad luck never changed, even though I was in an entirely different country making me much more vulnerable.
The cold iron pushed in my back forcing me, eventually, to stand up. I walked closer to the pool peering in the darkness trying to work out if I had seen these people before.
Carl and Nate were at the other with the other teenagers playing a splash-you splash-me fight. I leaned down and looked at my reflection on the waters rippled surface, I sighed. I knew I had looked devastatingly normal standing next to my aunt who probably looked younger than I was – that was something to put into consideration.
I felt somebody tap on my shoulder and I realised if I leaned any further at looking at the water I would plunge into its great depth. I turned around and stood up to face Tyler again, he was dressed as he was in the bedroom. He had no intention of going swimming.
“Hey again,” I said politely.
“I noticed you were on your own…and you were about to fall in so I’m here to…entertain you,” he explained.
“Well I hope you can balance on your head and juggle then,” I giggled.
“Come on, I want to show you the rest of our garden,” he said with eagerness taking my hand.
His hands were very warm and big – the extreme opposite of mine. He led me down a small flight of stone stairs and into a forest of trees.
“How is this your Garden?” I asked puzzled, it looked an abandoned jungle to me.
“Oh, you’ll see,”
Abruptly the forest stopped; there was a metal rail that separated whatever lay beyond from their patio-garden. We walked towards a huge metal gate that had a huge padlock on and masses of huge silver chains.
“I hoped you might have worn some decent shoes,” he scoffed as I carefully put my heals on the first iron bar of the gate.
“You’re going to have a bit of trouble with me – I was never good at ‘the rope’ at middle school,” I pointed out grabbing hold of one of his hands.
He was already on the other side; I hadn’t even seen him jump over. He pulled me over and then set me steadily on my feet.
I looked around the huge meadow, in a far corner there were a small gathering of pine trees otherwise it looked pretty desolate. In the middle of the huge meadow was a stone structure of some kind, it was completely round and was just a bit shorter than myself. It was then that I realised that I had seen this in a dream – the first time Simon had told the story of his grandfather and on the plane.
The sky was dark, lightening in the very distance to a purple yellowy colour – very much like the bruises on my arm. There were small tiny dots in the sky that were stars, tonight wasn’t as cloudy as last night.
Tyler led me through the meadow safely avoiding some big stones and stinging nestles finally stopping in front of the huge circular structure that turned out to be a sundial. The Roman numerals were marked out neatly; there wasn’t any hint that the scriber had lost control.
“My grandfather built this after he first came back from England; it was a present for my grandmother: a wedding gift. A gift proving his love to her, I think it’s extremely soppy and old fashioned but he obviously knew what he was doing. My grandmother loved it very much; she showed it off to all her friends telling them they could never find an exact replica of it because it was ‘designer’,” he snorted.
“I think it’s fairly romantic,” I noted.
“So what do you want? A friendship ring?” he snorted.
“No, I don’t like people wasting money on me,” I moaned.
I had learnt ever since my dad had left that I wouldn’t get many birthday presents. I hated people spending money on me but everyone who did would be heartbroken if they found out I wouldn’t accept priceless gifts.
“Oh well,” he sighed.
The carving of the sundial was very delicate; I reached out to touch it with my hands finding it was unexpectedly smooth. The small iron dial indicated it was five to twelve.
I turned around to find Tyler’s back to me; he was squinting through the dark shady forest that we had to endure. Then we heard laughter – boy’s laughter. It was loud and sounded very aggressive in the calm sanctuary like conditions.
First Carl bounded over the gate not even touching it, it was like he flew. Next came Nate who seemed to fly like Carl did except higher. They suddenly came to a stop as they spotted us, I could hear Tyler snarling and speaking unintelligent words under his breath.
Carl and Nate walked up slowly, a tension building move. I watched their feet almost glide across the grass, as if they were the most famous boy band in the world ever. I found myself anticipating them to stop but they didn’t, they only stood immobile when they were a few inches away from our faces. Carl was opposite Tyler scowling, Nate was opposite me trying to put on a serious face but failing miserably.
I stared at Nate who looked taught and uncomfortable – his arms were folded across his chest. He was wearing a blue shirt and tan knee length trousers.
Without prior notice they were a few steps back, both with their eyes closed. When they opened them it was if a fire was burning in their sockets, a thin film of red and orange closed over the eyes – almost as if they were closing curtains. They then blinked again, their eyes as pitch black as the night. A distant laugh rumbled in the back of their throats approaching us once again. I glimpsed at Tyler, I didn’t need the light to see that his eyes were pitch black too.
“Stand back,” Tyler growled with an unfamiliar unfriendliness. I obeyed him shifting to the side whilst replying, “What’s going on Tyler? You aren’t going to get into some stupid brawl…”
I drifted off as Nate carved his hands round the empty air and threw it at him. Nate was knocked off his feet but was up before I could blink, Nate and Carl continued throwing unfamiliar forces into Tyler but he was quick on his feet avoiding every blow with a tiny shift to the side.
I wondered what they were doing to each other; I could see and sense the forces that were constantly being blown at Tyler. They looked like plastic and when they rammed themselves into the target the impact was loud – as if it was a storm.
Suddenly Tyler was up in the air, his fists clenched. As soon as they straightened out a blue coloured force knocked into the two gangly teenage boys that now looked completely uncoordinated next to Tyler.
I gazed open mouthed continuing to watch the brawl, it was as if I was watching an extremely odd episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and in a way that was true.
Suddenly Tyler was standing next to me touching my arm; Carl and Nate were standing next to him.
“Look at her face? It’s as if she’s seen a ghost!” Carl laughed but he was cut short as Nate elbowed him hard in the ribs.
“I…what…why…the…you…” I muttered staring in horror at the famous three.
“Look, before you make some stupid assumptions that probably won’t even cover it can I explain?” Tyler asked looking guiltily.
“Um, OK,” I agreed shrugging.
“So Charles, do you like history lessons?” Nate asked looking up, a huge smile on his face.
FAMILY HISTORY
I STARED AT THE THREE BOYS FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE I NODDED
and accepted the invitation. Carl had already set up a mini campfire with logs around and sticks for the fire. The only difference was that the flames were blue – the same colour as the…magic that had come out of Tyler’s hands. I sat down next to Tyler and opposite Carl and Nate. I looked into the strange ice blue fire that looked more cold than warm; oddly enough it gave off heat.
“I hope you know what you’ve got yourself into Tyler, the Covenant won’t like this,” murmured Nate.
“Like the fire?” he asked smirking.
“Please Charlie; try to begin with an open mind,” Tyler pleaded.
“Wait a minute-” I choked regretting that I had ever spoken.
They stared at me waiting for an answer, I gulped and then began, “I…I’ve heard of something like this before. I have some friends back at home: Ian, Katy, Simon and Kai. Simon told us a story about his grandfather…he came across something in a meadow. A vampire. His grandfather’s friend stood up and his eyes became as pitch black as the night and he started battling the vampire with these strange forces…powers.”
They watched me intently as I finished the story, a mix of horror and resentment on their faces. Horror – because I knew about this story, resentment – because they had hoped I knew nothing about a world that once seemed so humane.
“So you know about us, what you won’t know is that Simon’s grandfather’s friend was my grandfather. You see back when they were witch hunting they burned innocent people, to protect our powers everyone who had them formed a Covenant. The Covenant had several rules – one of them was to never tell a human girl. That one is broken now,” Tyler murmured.
“What’s funny was Simon, Katy and Ian were all American. They all moved to England, why would they do that?” I asked shakily.
“The Covenant believes that we are being magnetized, well drawn is a better word to a more powerful soul. That’s what they believe anyway,” Nate explained.
“My father has already got in touch with your friends; we’re going to meet with them soon. They’ll be coming here before Summer ends,” Tyler notified.
I stared among the circle, each of them there had some unknown power, they had now broken the most important rule – to not tell someone of the normal world. All this time I had never known anything about this other world within the normal world.
“Our powers have been in our families for years. We don’t know how we got our powers or when but they date back quite a bit. You can’t tell anyone about this, no one wants the Covenant getting involved,” Carl said looking at me as if he thought I would run away screaming. I knew I was better than that.
“Well the Covenant’s rule has already been broken once, I don’t think they’ll mind a second time,” I replied.
“But that was before Simon descended and got his powers. Ian and Katy have theirs too, they never showed you though,” Tyler said.
“Some friends,” I snorted.
“You understand why they didn’t tell you – you could be killed if the Covenant found out,” Tyler explained.
“Did…did Ian ever mention Kai. I mean does Kai have powers?” I asked praying the answer would be no. That would mean I would have no normal friends, which did have its good sides. They wouldn’t have to be afraid of me telling anyone that way. Keep up the good work Charles, you can even make friends with aliens if you like I thought.
“Ian never mentioned anything so probably not,” Carl said.
That was good; at least I had one normal friend. I looked into the electric blue flames before watching the dark purple sky fringed with white dots that were stars. It was strangely beautiful in a normal human way.
“You missed out the best part – we not only have powers, we’re also shape shifters. We can change into any animal depending on our mood,” Carl said excitedly standing up.
“NO! If you change you could hurt her!” Tyler shrieked stepping in the fire putting it out. How did he do that? Only some of us dreamed.
“Come on Carl, let’s just get back to the party,” Nate said standing up.
They disappeared into the darkness again as I blinked, why did I always miss the action?
“Come on, they’ll be wondering where you are,” Tyler said taking my hand,
My mind was in shock and I couldn’t think straight, I felt nauseated and dizzy. My head throbbed and my breathing was uneven.
“Don’t worry, it’s OK. It was worse for us – our fathers never explained anything to us before we got our powers or before we shape shifted for the first time. I always felt I was missing something – like my parents were keeping secrets from me. They never told us about our grandparents or showed us pictures of their friends or their wedding photos for that matter before we changed. You can imagine one could go mad with the power. These powers come with a risk – if they play too much a greater part in your life then these powers can make you deteriorate physically. They can also make you forget everything, even forget your own wife,” he said whilst we were talking.
We were on the edge of the trees, as we came into the view of the house we saw that the party of guests were now all saying goodbye to each other.
Tyler guided me up the steps before he stood to face me.
“You’re welcome here whenever you want, I’ll see you around,” he said before he hugged me.
“Bye,” I squealed, his hug was fairly powerful and knocked me out of breath.
I looked around for my Aunt and found her; she was standing against a wall looking for me. I looked around to say one final thing to Tyler but he was already gone.
“There you are Charles, come on we need to get home!” she said clenching me in her iron grasp hug.
“I was just hanging out with Tyler and his brother. They told me about their family history…it was interesting!”
Interesting didn’t even begin to cover it. My mind was still with Tyler in the meadow. I could barely speak let alone breathe; did it mean that I could possess these unknown mystical powers? Any minute now I could turn into a russet wolf with long fluffy ears and a pink lolling tongue.
“Are you sure you’re OK? You look like you’re going to pass out!” exclaimed Aunty Alyson as she opened the driver’s seat and sat down.
“I’m OK…I just feel slightly dizzy…and sick for that matter,” I snapped sitting down on the passenger seat and slamming the door.
My stomach felt uneasy and queasy, all this magic nonsense was giving me a headache. So there was a five in ten chance that I had some mystical powers that could make me deteriorate if I got addicted and there was a possibility that my best friend Kai had these powers to.
I fell asleep quickly, I was so tired that I hardly dreamt and when I did I was running in the darkness. I was in unreserved obscurity, part of me wanted to scream but I couldn’t. I was running to nowhere and anywhere without any sense of direction. My throat burned and my head throbbed but I kept on going in the hope of finding something, anything. I stopped abruptly watching my hands shake vigorously. With a yowl I disappeared into the ground and from where I vanished a huge white wolf was sitting.
I woke up to find myself in the bedroom; I was lying above the duvet in the clothes I had worn last night. It was still dark so I guessed that it was early in the morning. The sky was grey and cloudy and rain was falling imperceptibly onto the streets of New York. I turned over and my hands scrambled on the bedside table for the clock. Five thirty. I felt much better than I had last night so I decided I might as well get up. No need for anymore stupid nightmares.
I got up and walked into the living room which was fairly cold. One light was on by the kitchen but otherwise the room was in complete darkness. I went round the room noticing things I hadn’t before, for example next to the sofa was a small coffee table with a few pictures of Aunty Alyson with a few friends. I opened the draw on the coffee table to find a phone, a couple of pictures and some postcards. I picked up the pictures that lay picture side down and turned them over. The first picture was Aunty Alyson with a purple dress on standing with six men and four women. I turned it over and read the date – 31st August 1977.
I flicked through the pictures and put them back in the draw before lying down on the sofa. The windows revealed the restless reckless city below; the bright lights could be seen from miles.
I was interrupted by the ringing of my phone in my bedroom. I ran to the bedside table and picked it up and answered, “Hello, who’s calling?”
“It’s me Kai, something’s up with Ian and that lot. They’re completely ignoring me!” he exclaimed at the other end.
“Maybe it’s for the best, you don’t want to get involved with the occasional murder or the threat of being killed,” I scoffed.
“They’re hiding something. They’re not talking to me at all; they’re even blanking me in the streets. Something’s up.,” Kai said. He sounded very tired and croaky.
“Anyway what are you doing up this time?” I asked.
As much as I wanted to hear his voice he shouldn’t be up at this time, I didn’t want to hear him if he was losing his sleep.
“Couldn’t sleep, I was having weird dreams but anyway better be going. Bye,” he said abruptly hanging up.
What was that all about? I went back into the sitting room with a sick feeling in my stomach. There was something that Katy, Simon and Ian knew. Something they wouldn’t tell Kai. Something they wouldn’t tell me. Maybe something to do with they’re strange ‘gift.’ After all they didn’t want to break the law of the Covenant.
I pulled a wooden chair up to the windows that displayed the city. I looked monotonously out the window watching the delicate rain drops from the sky. I could hear Aunty Alyson’s heavy breathing from the other room; I could also hear her tossing and turning. Maybe she was having nightmares although her idea of nightmares was probably a different concept to mine.
I had never thought much of myths and legends. To me they were stupid made up stories to make kids frightened and to do what they were told. Now I knew they had some exceptions maybe it was true. I would never know.
Suddenly the room got cold; I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I sneaked a look behind my back but no one was there although my bedroom door was open. I had been so sure that I had closed it. I looked into the windows watching the strange patterns that the rain made on the window.
I looked to the floor and looked up again to see an outline of a worn face that looked battered. The face was scarred and bruised, its mouth in an open ‘O’ shape. It was screaming – it filled my head making me feel dizzy and sick. I fell backwards on my seat then looking up to see Aunty Alyson standing next to me.
“You’re up early, did I scare you? You look like you’ve just had a heart attack!” exclaimed Aunty Alyson pulling me up.
The face I had seen in the window had been Billy Black – older and looking as if he had been in battle. Maybe it was my mind playing tricks on me. Maybe I was crazy.
“I’m fine,” I mumbled.
I needed to get out of the house. I needed another walk. I needed to clear my mind.
“Um, is it OK if I go and have a walk around at this time? I’ll have my phone on me,” I said heading towards the door.
“You be careful, there’s been a few teenagers disappearing off the streets before you came. Watch yourself,” she warned.
I closed the door behind me and jogged down the stairs to the huge glass doors. Beyond me was the city, beautiful and dangerous. The cold wind rushed against my face brushing my hair back. I had forgotten to bring my hat – a federal crime in my case. I put up my hood preventing the small droplets of rain from clinging to my face.
Across the road was a green luscious park, it was either that or the chance of bumping into hot dog guy again. I walked across the strangely quiet road, much to peaceful for New York. A couple of yellow cabs zipped around the corner and splashed me.
The park was desolate. There were no play areas, just canopies of trees and grass that looked big enough to be a football field. Where the park ended there were two eye boggling skyscrapers that had neon flashing lights saying ‘Holiday Europe.’
I sat down by the nearest tree trying to shelter from the cold and wet and leaned my head back against the tree. Something was happening back at home that was serious, serious enough that Ian would keep it a secret. Something that didn’t involve Kai. Then there was the fact that I had seen Billy Black’s face at my window. How my mind conjured up such an image was impossible. I hadn’t seen him since his death. His face looked old and weathered. He did have some light purple bruises on his neck and his forehead. His eyes had been blood and red and he had scratches on the right side of his face. His blonde curly hair had been shaved off.
That was when I noticed a black figure leaning against the tree on the other side of the park. The figure looked tall and wore all black. I bit my lip trying to see if he was watching me but I couldn’t see his face. He was immobile, completely motionless, for a while before he moved from leaning against the tree and started walking very slowly towards me. He looked strangely familiar which sent a pang of relief through my system. He wouldn’t try to hurt me if he knew me.
“Hello?” I called.
The figure kept on walking, maybe he was deaf. He was now quite near me, he stopped just in front of me and kneeled down. My heart rate accelerated, if it was a stranger what did they want from me? I had no reason to be afraid. I was wrong.
The figure took off his black hood letting it fall down his back. His face still looked young, in the peak of youthfulness. His eyes were blood red and his complexion was pale, his curly blonde hair spilled over his head as he looked at me. It was Billy Black’s face. I screamed closing my eyes shut tightly, my mind was in cruel mode today. I opened them again to see that no one was crouching down next to me, no one was there. It was almost as if he had actually been there. I had seen him twice now, better not make it a third. Maybe it was my mind distinguishing between Billy Black being killed and him living. A truth – his face being worn and scarred, a lie – Billy looking very much alive.
The sun was high up in the sky when I finally left, the now barren streets were filled with workmen and tourists. I took a longer different root home taking in all the pleasant sights, smells and scenery. I walked along the cemented path noticing a multi-storey car park – I would have to walk through it to get to the street the apartment was on. My stomach did nervous flips as I walked nonchalantly towards the ominous car-park.
Unexpectedly a black four wheel drive swerved around the corner making a huge screeching noise that echoed through the storeys sending pigeons flying. The car came closer and closer to me in no seconds at all. The car stopped and I took a good look in. In the front seats looked two familiar faces that I recognized straight away. Ian and Simon – both their eyes were pitch black. I stifled a scream walking away on the spur of the moment. The car growled behind me, the engine revving up. I wasn’t scared because they were going to run me over; it was the relish in their eyes. The excitement to kill. That was something I wasn’t used to see in Simon. Ian brought out the worst in all of us.
I ran towards the daylight on the other side of the car-park. The car’s growling had stopped, I looked around and it had vanished. Another figment of my imagination that was getting much more creative by the day.
I quickened my pace so I was at the apartment in just a few minutes; I opened the door to find Aunty Alyson lying flat on the sofa. She had a black eye and multiple bruises speckling her arms. I gulped and searched round the room for a phone, finally pulling the draw out of the cabinet beside the sofa. There was a yellow sticky note that had a number on and a name – a doctor. I picked up the phone that lay on the kitchen surface and dialled the number. No one answered. I tried again and decided to leave a message.
“Um, hello. My Aunt has had an accident. Aunty Alyson. I believe she knows you. Please come round as soon as possible.”
After leaving a message and went to my cabinet and dug out some grey sweats, a t-shirt and a black hoodie. I pulled my hair up into my hat and went back to the front room waiting for a knock on the door. I sat on the floor, my eye on my unconscious Aunt.
Had someone broken in and had she put up a fight? The only thing that stopped me from thinking someone broke in was that they hadn’t stolen anything. Maybe she had just fallen and hit her head. That seemed more likely.
It was at the minute that I heard the knock on the door, he was quick. I picked myself up from the ground and opened the door. The Doctor looked very young, about twenty. He had blonde hair and golden topaz coloured eyes. He looked much more like a model than a doctor.
“Hi, I’m Dr. Henré Howeford,” he said politely.
“Um, hi. I’m Charlie Greene. My Aunt–”
“Don’t worry, I know your Aunt, anyway could I take a look at her?” he asked.
“Certainly,” I said leading him to the sofa before sitting down on the wooden floor.
He began checking her heart, her eyes and arms. He opened his brief case and got out some cream and rubbed it on her bruises. She had nothing compared to me.
“Do you have any frozen peas?” he asked.
“Sure,” I said running to the freezer and grabbing a packet. It felt hard in my hands numbing the burning sensation I felt on my hands and arms.
I gave the packet to him and he wrapped it in a white sheet before pressing it to her head. That was when she came round.
“Ugh, my head. Dr Howeford,” she moaned looking up at him.
“I told you – call me Henré. I know first aid and what not but I’m a forensic scientist,”
I noticed how my aunt’s face had discoloured since his arrival and she never looked at him directly in the eye.
“You haven’t been round in a while Ally. I’m sure Iris would leave to see you, as will all the family. Yvette would love a shopping partner,” he exclaimed. The last part was to me.
“Yes we must, Charlotte is itching for friends,” she smiled weakly.
“Charlie.” I blushed tomato red.
“Come round whenever you want, you’re always welcome,” he said snapping the suitcase together and walking towards the door. He turned around one last time, “Rest in bed Ally, and apply the cream twice everyday.”
The door clicked shut, Alyson’s eyes snapped open. She lifted herself up so she was just sitting allowing me to sit next to her. I sat down and my eyes flickered along her purple bruises that edges had now turned pale yellow. She lifted up a sleeve on my hoodie to reveal my scars and bruises.
“That makes a pair of us now,” she said hugging her knees tightly.
“Who did this to you?” I choked.
She stared at me with an expression on her face like Now you’ve caught me. It took a while before she replied but she did, “I-I just fell over on the kitchen floor.” Like I believed that. I didn’t ask her anymore on that subject.
“So you know him,” I said nodding towards the door making conversation.
“Yes, they are a simply delightful family,” she said in a monotone matter-of-fact voice.
“What are the family like? Do they have anyone my age?” I asked.
“Well you met Henré – the father. Iris is his wife; they also have six children in total. They’re all adopted. Damion, Caelan and Yvette are all siblings. Elizabeth, Miranda and Hugh are siblings as well,” she explained.
“Wow, they’re nice for taking in all of those kids,” I replied.
“Extremely, they’re all about helping that family are. Their kids are all about your age so you’ll make some friends,” she murmured.
I got up from the sofa and stretched, “So what are we going to do today?”
“What about we go to the mall?” she asked hopefully.
I sighed and gave in. It was drizzling lightly from a grey cloudy sky. We made our way out of the apartment and into the car parked next to the pavement.
It was a five minute drive to get to the mall. It was absolutely huge with clothes shops, furniture shops and cafés. Aunty Alyson parked the car and we entered the huge multi storey mall. Loud music blared from the scattered speakers; people were walking round singing to the lyrics with hundreds of bags on each arm. We passed a clothes shop that was a personal favourite of my Aunt’s and I agreed that we would meet back there in thirty minutes.
I walked around aimlessly, the visitor in an unknown country. An outsider. The girls that passed were either the tall skinny blonde types or the short skinny ones with the pigtails and ribbons. I was laughed at a lot by the passers. I was bumped into a few times by some busybody blondes.
I turned round and walked back to the shop I was to meet my Aunty outside of, I had twenty minutes left so I placed my Ipod ear buds in my ear and got out my Iphone. Linkin Park was screaming ‘The End’ in my ears when they passed. It was the first time I had laid eyes on them. There were three of them.
The first was a tall curly haired bleached blonde whose hair came down to the middle of her back. She had smooth golden coloured eyes framed with pink sparkly eye shadow. She wore a tiny pink skirt with a maroon coloured halter neck. Next to her was a short girl with blue short spiky hair, her height made her look like she was ten. She was wearing a silver glittery top with electric blue skinny jeans that matched the colour of her hair. She had full lips and the same colour eyes as her sister. On the other side of the small girl was a tall boy with dark black hair. He was wearing a grey v-neck with dark jeans. He also had golden coloured eyes with splints of dark green in them framed by pitch black eye lashes that brushed his skin when he blinked. His clothes complemented his face, enough to entice.
The beautiful boy stopped walking whilst his accompanists walked on. He stared at me and he frowned. I heard something that sounded like he was hissing. I blinked and he was next to his sisters walking round the corner. All of them were beautiful, they were so different from each other and also so much the same. They all had the same colour eyes and all looked like they belonged on a catwalk rather than in a mall.
Suddenly Aunty Alyson was by my side with two bags on her arms.
“Those three are some of Dr Howeford’s children. Caelan was the boy. Yvette’s the one with the short blue spiky hair and Elizabeth is the tall blonde. Fancy seeing them here! So what did you do to annoy Caelan? He was staring at you as if you had just bitten him!” she exclaimed.
“I don’t know, I take out the worst in people. I don’t exactly look like I belong here,” I replied making it clear I was obviously not wanted.
“Well, we’ve got nothing else to do today. I’ll invite them round so you’ll have some company. And please please wear something nice – they’re very glamorous and have a lot of money. Best to make a good impression,” she smiled.
I took it that Aunty Alyson had been sucking up – obviously to the doctor. He looked young enough to be her son.
We had a look round a couple more shops before we drew a line under shopping and went home. The rain had cleared up but the clouds hadn’t, so much for summer weather. Aunty Alyson drove home very quickly, very eager to entertain her guests. She parked and then almost ran up the stairs, I was following behind at the pace of a snail.
When I reached the apartment she was already on the phone chattering away to what sounded like the mother. I walked through the door to find she was sitting on the sofa with the phone on her lap, the call was made. There was no getting out of this now.
By the look in Caelan’s eyes I was clearly not wanted. I wondered he would act so impolitely in the front of my aunt – something uncalled for. My Aunt was very hospitable despite the fact that she was passionate on looking youthful and young forever. Maybe he was glaring at an enemy that was standing near me. The only problem with that theory was that no one was standing next to me apart from my Aunt who I hadn’t even noticed was there. Maybe he didn’t like my Aunt – that would include the hate-mask for me to. Great. The best looking boy I ever see has taken an instant dislike to me.
“Dr Howeford, his wife and Caelan are coming. The rest are on a camping trip for a couple of days,” Aunty Alyson said disappointedly. She was hoping that she could cater for more then four.
She stood up and walked calmly to the fridge and checking the contents. I wondered what inedible food would be on the agenda tonight. Aunty Alyson was not the best cook in the world – her food was either very dry or very soggy. I hadn’t told her that I could cook yet, maybe I would later before our guests would arrive. Wouldn’t want to make a bad impression.
“OK,” I whispered turning on the TV and falling back onto the sofa.
My eyes were glued to the screen when the doorbell rang. I could hear the murmur of voices at the door that sounding rather like singing. I was absorbed by Buffy the Vampire Slayer too much that I was oblivious of my guests standing just beside me. That was quick.
I stood up and welcomed them, “Hi, I’m Charlie Greene. I’m the prisoner of my Aunty till the end of the summer.”
“Nice to meet you finally! I’m Iris, this is Caelan. I recall that you’ve already met my husband,” she said softly. Her voice was as soft and sweet as a bird calling.
“Do take a seat,” I said standing up, my eyes were on Caelan who was slumped on the seat.
He was looking at the floor avoiding eye contact. Fine! If that’s how he wanted to be than so be it. Two can play at that game.
“Alyson!” I called.
She insisted that I just call her Alyson, she had told me ‘Aunty’ made her sound much older than she wanted to put on show.
“Yes!” she replied.
“Is it OK if I make our guests something to eat! I never told you of my cooking expertise!” I shouted.
“Sure,” she said smiling, she had been experimenting with making cakes.
She was still wearing her cooking apron and there was flour in her hair. She had been nagging about me making an impression, I felt embarrassed.
I almost ran over to the kitchen eager to get away from the staring eyes following me. I didn’t hear the sound of any voices as I began getting the ingredients out for making a cake. I occasionally looked back and to my surprise I saw their lips moving, their voices were so low I couldn’t make neither head nor tail of it.
Once the mixture was soft enough I poured it into a cake tin and set the oven up. I set the lemon timer to forty five minutes and decided to grin and bear it and go and sit down next to Caelan. I held my breath as I sat down next to him. To my surprise he leaned away from me hoping I wasn’t watching, all the while his eyes were on the ground and I couldn’t hear the sound of his breathing. A pang of sadness ran through me, why didn’t he like me? I knew I was destined to never find anyone that I could properly love, no exceptions. The world was cruel at times.
My eyes flickered back to the TV now where Buffy was battling a vampire. From the corner of my eyes I could see Caelan sigh and roll his eyes. Maybe he didn’t like the show. After forty five of long boring nothing I got up and laid my cake out to cool. It had risen nicely, now I just hoped that they had a weakness for cake. I let it cool for a couple of minutes and then iced it with white icing and dug out and white chocolate buttons. I cut slices into the cake, brought it over in the cake tin and laid it out in front of my guests. Let’s see which person gives in first.
“How lovely Charlie, you made us cake,” Aunty Alyson cooed picking up a slice and scoffing her face.
By the time she was finished her face was decorated with crumbs.
“Maybe later, we’ve just eaten,” Iris said looking at her husband and her son – both which looked like they were about to fall asleep.
I sighed and turned the TV off replacing it with a CD. As the music came on Caelan’s head shot up and he eyed me as if I were hiding something. For the briefest of seconds we had held eye contact. Just as quick as he looked up he was back to staring at the ground. Iris and Henré were still talking to Aunty Alyson, they seemed quite content. I crossed my arms and flung myself onto the sofa. Caelan looked up again and glared a stare so hard it could knock the life out of you. The phrase ‘If looks could kill’ came into mind.
“Anyway it was nice catching up with you but we have to be off. We need to pick up the others from the camping trip. They love spending their night on the dance floor,” Henré said drawing a line on their visit.
“It was a pleasure having you,” Aunty Alyson said.
“Bye!” I called.
They made their way to the doorway fluently, as if they were gliding rather than walking. Just before Caelan left he turned his head to look at me, a glimpse of recognition on his face. He smiled and then turned and walked out. I would probably never see him again. It scared me.
APPARITIONS
WHEN HE LEFT I FELT LIKE MOPING, IT FELT SO STRANGE AND NEW TO me. Why did I care that I would never see this boy again, it was not like he liked me. I did feel guilty for thinking he didn’t like me, at the end when he turned and smiled at me I felt a tiny bit of relief. It had been a misunderstanding; this behaviour was not due to me.
They said they were picking up their other kids because they liked spending their nights at the nightclub. I wanted to see him again and I would do anything to.
“Um, Alyson. Do you know which nightclub the Howeford children go to?” I asked casually.
“You like Caelan don’t you?” she guessed.
I was caught. She was more observant than I gave her credit.
“Um, I just wanted to meet all of them,” I said.
“They go to Pres Knight; it’s just a ten minute walk down the street. I don’t want you to go out late. I’ve heard bad things about it,” she said worriedly.
“Um, maybe not. I might just go and see Nate and Tyler again. I’ll take the bus,” I lied nonchalantly.
I was never the best liar.
“That’s better. Take your mobile with you though,” she said as I opened my bedroom door.
I took a quick shower and freshened up before beginning the hunt – what to wear? To begin with I took my cap off and brushed my brown curly hair. I had refused when my mum had said I should cut it. I had grown my hair ever since the day my dad left; it now reached the bottom of my back.
I pulled myself up from the bed and wobbled over to the wardrobe and began searching through the mountain of clothes. I finally settled with the light blue dress that came down to my ankles – the one I had bought when I had gone shopping with my mum. To define it I put on my blue sneakers, a white cardigan.
It was six forty-five by the time I was finished. It wasn’t guaranteed that they would be there; they could be in any nightclub in New York. I also didn’t know if I would be able to find them under the luminous lights and ear splitting music.
‘Pyres Knight’ was on the end of the street; it was a large old building with many storeys. The red neon light bore its name and from the darkened windows I could just about make out the blue and white flashing lights. I turned the handle and found myself on a huge linoleum dance floor that changed colour according to the mood of song. Right now we were listening to a male band screeching their heads off whilst the linoleum floor continued to make up its mind between red and yellow.
It was very crowded with people dancing and talking, every one was having a good time. The music was so loud I could hardly hear the lyrics and the lights made me feel sick. I looked around feeling disorientated, I couldn’t see for all the flashing lights. I turned around to find him staring at me. He wore a dark blue v neck this time with dark jeans, just behind him I could make out the short girl with the blue hair.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, it sounded more of a telling off than a question.
“Um…” I replied before I was pulled off into the corner, his hands restrained me from escaping.
His hands felt ice cold and numbed the scabs and bruises on my arms.
“Look this club is for invited guests only, if you were so privileged as to have an invitation then you would have chosen something more conspicuous! This isn’t fancy dress” he growled, his eyes were dark black under the light. I gulped.
“For your information I invited myself and it isn’t up to you what I wear, what are you my mum?” I hissed.
The flashing lights made his hair glow luminously; the lights now making the metallic blue parts of his hair sparkle. He looked so good, how could it possibly be fair? He obviously wasn’t interested, what with his sisters being so breathtaking that you could forget to breathe.
“Who brought the snack?” asked a huge man that suddenly appeared next to us.
He had luminous green, a black moustache and looked like he was a body builder. Next to him were four girls who were all staring at me, what had I done this time?
“That would be me,” he turned around holding out cans of beer and handing them over to the body builder. He grunted and put them on the floor kicking them away so they rolled onto the dance floor. Guess no one gives him Christmas presents if he behaves like that! I thought to myself chuckling.
“Do you have a problem?” growled the body builder who now reminded me of a leashed rotweiller – a menace when set free from his leash.
Caelan looked back at the man and the girls before tugging my arm and heading towards the exit.
“Hey! Let go. I wasn’t finished in there,” I wailed but it was useless, I was now standing outside in the rain again.
“Yes you were finished! Go home now and don’t ever come back here. It’s not safe!” he replied, almost sounding bored.
“Safe?” I yelled, my blood boiling.
Of all the most ridiculous explanations this was the one he chose to deceive me with.
“I was just fine before you turned up then bam – I’m stuck squished by a wall and nearly get flattened by a man who looks more like a giant!” I screeched, my voice altering a few pitches higher.
“Maybe if you were more careful then you would have known to stay away from me,” he said, his eyes smouldering in the lamplight.
“Fine!” I yelled into the darkness.
I crossed my hands over my chest and stomped off. This behaviour was uncalled for and extremely embarrassing, I had turned into a rather tall ten year old.
The streets were dead and peaceful, the blaring music now fading into the distance. It had been a stupid idea to go there in the first place – one I should have considered much more carefully. Caelan hadn’t looked so pleased when his iron hands had restrained me in the corner of the room. ‘It’s not safe!’ was a complete understatement. In fact it wasn’t until he had turned up that the situation turned.
It felt so stupid to have a ten year old rampage over something so small and insignificant – I was seventeen, not seven!
My head ached and felt as heavy as lead as I walked up the stairs of the apartment and into bed. I stumbled into the room and flopped incoherently onto the bed.
The next few days the phrase ‘out of sight out of mind’ didn’t work. When I was asleep I dreamt of him and when I was awake my thoughts pondered on what he had been doing there – Just dancing stupid! It was good that Aunty Katherine had lined up various sights, at least my thoughts could be rested. The bad thing about these day trips was that when I came home to the apartment I was then interrogated by my mother – what did you like about this? When was this built? Like I really cared. On top of that I wasn’t contacted once by Kai to my surprise so on Monday I decided to write him an email:
To Kai,
Haven’t heard much from you lately so I’m guessing you’re either annoyed with me or nothing has happened over the past few days. Recently I’ve been bombarded with sight seeing – that was on the agenda since my mother asked me behind my back to come to stay with Aunty Katherine.
That reminds me – Aunty Katherine. She is totally weird for Aunt. I’m supposed to call her by her name not ‘Aunty Katherine’ – she complains it makes her sound centuries old which she is supposed to be!! She looks extremely young considering her age and wears elaborate items that even my mum would think indecent and that is really saying something. She loves hosting parties which also reminds me that we went to one recently.
We were randomly invited to one of Katherine’s friend’s suburban house. You know the people I sat next to on the plane – the two noisy boys? Well they lived there – what a coincidence. I think fate is trying to tell us something there. Hint hint. I know the older brother Tyler from when I come up in the holidays, I also knew his sister but at the moment she is travelling the world with her Spanish boyfriend [My definition of holiday!] Tyler also has a brother – Nate so I met him to.
I won’t bore you anymore so please please send me a reply. I am having a couple of days ‘rest’ before the next set of sight seeing is forced on me so I am extremely bored.
Missing you
From C [V. Bored]
Then I pressed the SEND button. My email sounded whiney and impatient but that way I knew I would get a faster response. The phrase ‘his loss is my gain’ could be applied to this situation.
My eyes had become adjusted to the city and I was now familiarized with the streets. This was an advantage – at least I wouldn’t get lost as often as I used to and I wouldn’t have to embarrass myself by asking the direction to a particular road.
I wandered aimlessly around busy streets with no intention of getting anywhere. The weather had taken a turn for the better and had become hot over the last couple of days. As the temperatures soared the busier it got, recently it had become over populated by tourists ready to endure a blistering summer.
As I turned around my eyes caught the back of a familiar figure, dressed in a blue shirt and black skinny jeans. His head swivelled to face me and smile a crooked smile. Ian. Ian was here in New York? Simon approached him from behind and whispered something in his ear, all around life carried on as normal. Everyone was oblivious and acted as if they were invisible – all except me. They both nodded reaching out their hands and suddenly they were in front of me.
“No!” I screamed.
All the heads turned to face me wondering what it was that I had shouted at. No one was in front of me; no one was trying to hurt me. They stared at me like a child would stare at an animal in the zoo, as if I was the number one attraction. Once they had had enough of eye boggling their returned to their maps that they held up to their faces, their mp3 players or their mobiles.
Heat coursed through my veins, my heart beat altered erratically and I continued to stare at the place they had been staring. After a while my eyes became sore and weary so I had to blink but I was still slightly dazzled. That’s it. I had really lost it this time. What if no one was with me next time – what if they tried to strangle me? Could these figments of my imagination kill me or could they just frighten me to death. The second sounded a lot better than the first. It was at this moment that I felt glad that I could keep myself busy so I wouldn’t go insane, I would just act normal. So that’s what I did. I helped with the cooking; I tidied the house and stayed up late watching show re-runs.
That’s where I found myself in the morning – lying sprawled out on the sofa with the TV still on (although muted.) Low grey cotton candy clouds emitted hammering rain down onto the city, a fog had also settled on the streets. It seemed highly unlikely that in the middle of a scorching month there would be heavy downpours. Maybe I had just dreamt that Ian and Simon had tried to kill me, that way it would make me just that smallest bit sane.
Maybe they were trying to tell me something – maybe something had happened to Kai. That would explain the big no communication deal that I had get so wound on.
I reminded myself never to promise Kai anything ever again and then gave up on the idea. Kai was my best and only friend; he didn’t deserve to be enemy number two (Ian had already claimed the position of first.)
Initially I found it a threat but the more I thought about the more I thought that they were trying to tell me something, whether it had any importance over me being in New York I wouldn’t find out if I didn’t see them again. I had to see them again and find out what was happening.
I didn’t know what I was getting into. Deep down I knew that this was wrong but that part of me kept quiet, maybe I had known all along. If it wasn’t for my love of danger and my attraction to anything dangerous then I wouldn’t have been in this situation. Some would classify searching for them again as the biggest mistake of my life.
Chapter 8 TARGET
I drank my orange juice in one and finished my breakfast as fast as I could eat without throwing up. No need to tell Katherine where I was going, she had mentioned a couple of nights ago that she now had her full trust in me and that I could wander wherever I wanted. There was one boundary – I would have to bring a friend if it was far away. I rushed down the streets and cautiously stepped onto the streets barely seeing where I was going. I heard the traffic and felt people as they moved past me but could physically not see a thing. All I could tell was that the traffic was gridlocked because of an accident with a black truck.
I held my hands in front of myself as I wandered through the street blind and dazzled by the confusion and combustion around me. I stepped out thinking I was still on the pavement but I wasn’t. A loud taxi horn honked as I crossed in a rush. How was I supposed to know where the pavement ended and the road began? It wasn’t as if I spent any attention in Geography class.
The pavement I was currently on was less crowded so I found it easier to feel my way along the railings to the end of the street and into an alleyway. This alleyway was misted by fog but was much clearer than on the roads. Behind me a vehicle roared to life sending bright white lights forward like hands that reached for me. I turned around walking backwards slowly but the vehicle never reversed. I was a target.
At this point I became aware of another vehicle behind me; I was being herded like a lost lamb. I turned my attention to the truck coming up from behind me – a glossy red one with a driver in the front who looked identical to… no. Kai would never try to hurt me, would he? It wasn’t Kai; it was another side to him.
Suddenly both trucks lurched forward towards me; they were going to squash me. I ducked my head and squeezed my eyes shut ready for the agony but nothing happened. I peeped a look up to find Caelan standing next to me; the cars were no where in sight.
“What happened?” I asked puzzled.
“Are you hurt?” he asked.
“No,” I replied.
I hadn’t seen him come until I looked up; it was as if he appeared from thin air.
“I don’t understand”, I exclaimed “The cars were about to crush me.”
I swear when I said that he winced, maybe he did care if I got killed by my imagination.
“There were no cars, now please go home before something else comes out of your imagination and thinks it wants to kill you,” he pleaded starting to walk off.
“Wait just one second!” I yelled grabbing his hand and then releasing it.
His skin felt as cold as ice and as hard as marble. It was as if he left his hand in the freezer.
“Can you please explain what I just saw, didn’t you see it to! I thought it was just me,” I explained, nothing made sense anymore.
“I can’t explain something that you imagined for yourself!” he said turning his back.
“If I imagined it inside my head how did you see it?” I challenged.
He turned abruptly on his heels; his jaw was set into a hard line. He looked more like a god than a human being, he was so perfect. This perfection annoyed me.
“Look it doesn’t matter, it wasn’t real. Don’t go running off and tell anyone your imagination is creating illusions that are trying to kill you because they won’t believe you. Bye Charlie,” he said before walking away down the alleyway onto the main street.
“How do you know my name?” I screamed as I ran onto the main stream trying to spot him in the crowd, no use – it was like trying to find a needle in a hay stack.
That’s when I felt someone tap my shoulder – it was him.
“Don’t come looking for me anymore – it’s better if we’re not friends,” he whispered.
As soon as he came he was gone again leaving me in the streets feeling dazed and confused. What did he mean ‘It’s better if we’re no friends?’ I had no explanation for what happened today, how someone could have seen what I had thought up in my head. There was no logical explanation at all.
I hurried home with no intention of going to find him, however he had rescued me he had given me a lot to think about. I was in no hurry to see him again. Another question bubbled up to the tips of my lips – how did he find me and how did he know I was in danger? I hadn’t screamed.
Then Kai was walking hand in hand with me, his shirt was wrapped around his waist displaying his huge muscles and his tattoos. We were walking across a meadow in the moonlight till a black figure pounced in front of us hissing. Its eyes were blood shot and its lip was curled back over its teeth revealing perfect glittering white teeth.
“No!” Kai screamed pushing me back and leaping into the air.
“Kai, what’s happening?” I screamed but I couldn’t hear for the rumble of thunder above us.
The rain lashed down onto my exposed face. I tried to find the silhouette Kai was but it was impossible. The wind blew furiously around me sending cold shivers down my spine. My hands felt numb and they shook violently in the cold wind.
Suddenly a blue flash erupted from Kai’s hands shooting out towards the vampire crouched. He hissed viciously and leapt out of the way, the blue flash continued to whirl past him till they hit the ground sending a line of blue flames along the grass. The blue flames were strangely beautiful; they glimmered for a second and then turned to blue dust.
I could see Kai now; he was staring viciously down at the crouching creature. I was staring into the eyes of a vicious predator; he wasn’t the same scatterbrained fifteen year old boy. Now he was the hunter. His eyes were as black as the night curled around us.
He leapt up into the air again and hovered there. He put his hand out firmly and with a whooshing sound an invisible force flew out of his hands and hit the vampire with such force that he whirled back a few feet.
“Stop Kai!” I shrieked, tears spilling from my eyes.
Kai turned and looked at me confused, he walked forward quickly but I darted around him and ran to the vampire’s sides.
“NO!” Kai boomed, his voice echoing across the valley.
I leaned down and examined the vampire’s face, his black hood had fell off his head and rested by his head limply. His skin looked luminous beneath the moonlight. It was as if he had been carved by the gods to perfection.
His hair was dark and floppy half covering his topaz coloured eyes that were rimmed with faint purple lines. He looked around me and gasped. I looked up hearing Kai’s scream getting fainter. He disappeared into the ground and then with a mighty thud there stood a magnificent chocolate covered wolf. The wolf cocked his head to one side and a growl emit from his snout. He bared his teeth and snarled again walking towards us slowly – his paws thumping the ground with every step.
I looked back and fourth from the stranger lying on the ground and the huge wolf. He stopped abruptly and stared at me with his brown milky coloured eyes.
Get out the way whispered the trees.
“No,” I whispered.
My hand slipped inside the stranger’s as I pulled him up, he smiled warily and then he let go of his hand. A sharp pain pulsed through my hand when he had let go. His skin had been ice cold and firm. That was when the wolf lunged at him.
I screamed through my sobs, the wolf and the stranger were now invisible which was good because I didn’t want to see their brawl. It was hard knowing I would never see one of them again – but which one? Which one would I give up?
I squeezed my eyes shut and my jaw hardened into a straight line. My teeth chattered and my hands shook vigorously, I didn’t want to see which of them had got hurt. I started humming my favourite tune and thinking of the first snow of January swirling from Ashington’s skies and laying onto the ground. I could see the children now cheering – they couldn’t go to school – and throwing snow balls at each other.
In the distance a church bell rang – was it my imagination or was it real? I wouldn’t find out. I was lost in my fantasy world watching mothers laden with shopping bags push little children in their buggies with rosy red cheeks and huge fluffy hats. Dogs of two sizes were jumping around trying to catch the delicate flakes in their mouths. Ornately decorated snowmen stood in front of every house and one snow angel was imprinted into the crispy ground. The warm smell of Christmas dinner filled my nostrils and I could almost taste the delicious vegetables as I inhaled.
I wasn’t in snowy Ashington; I was standing in an abandoned meadow trying to loose myself in a fantasy.
I sighed and opened my eyes warily. Another grey sky littered with clouds. Finally a day without rain.
My head felt heavy and sore. The reason for this was that I had slept for almost fifteen hours, I obviously wasn’t used the time difference yet.
The streets of New York were unusually quiet at 6:00 – there was nobody on the streets. Everyone who was going to work at this ridiculous time was either taking a taxi or a car but even then there weren’t many. I walked past a dark alleyway and then stopped as I noticed a figure in the darkness.
I didn’t know what to do – what if this person hurt me? What if this person was designed from my imagination and wasn’t real at all. I had to think very carefully what was real and what was not. I gulped and walked forward hiding my bag from sight.
“Oh, it’s you,” I said when I finally realised it was Caelan.
I realised my tight grasp on my bag and let it drape over my shoulder.
“What if I was a stranger and I wanted to hurt you? What would you have done?” he asked.
“I would have used my amazing combat skills and then run,” I joked knowing he already knew I had no fighting skills whatsoever.
“That would have been funny to watch,” he laughed amusingly.
I glared at him before I said, “What if I had been hurt, or worse…killed?”
The amused expression on his face disappeared and his jaw set into a hard line.
“I would have saved you,” he explained.
“Why?”
He glared at me so I completely dropped that question, “Were you looking for me?”
“Next question,” he sighed.
“What happened to the ‘It’s better if we’re not friends?” I asked.
His mouth turned up at the edges, “I’ve had enough of ignoring you, anyway you’re everyday dramas are too hilarious to be missed!”
“What did you mean then saying ‘It’s better if we’re not friends?’”
“I meant exactly what I said, now can we stop with the hundred and one questions,” he snapped.
“Ok then,” I snapped and turned on my heels.
In a flash he was standing opposite me blocking the exit from the alleyway.
“I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings,” he said apologetically.
“Well you did,” I snapped and he burst out laughing.
This was not funny.
“What?” I asked grumpily.
“I thought you were more mature than this,” he said in between laughs.
“And I thought you were more mature than to act like a jerk,”
He smiled and stopped laughing.
“So what do you want to do apart from irritating me to death?” I asked.
Again I noticed that he winced on the word death. Maybe it was just a sensitive subject for him and the way he was going I probably wouldn’t get it out of him.
“Surely you must be hungry?” he asked.
“Wow, you can read minds too!” I exclaimed.
He cocked his head to one side like a door and looked at me in a confused manor.
“Come on, you asked me if I’m hungry and I am so can we eat now?” I asked.
“Sure,” he replied snapping out of his mask of confusion.
We didn’t talk much while we walked to the café but his eyes were on me all the time so I blushed whenever I tried to sneak a peek at him.
A waitress with bleached blonde hair and brown roots came bouncing up to us, “Hello!”
“Table for two please,” Caelan said, his voice sounding as smooth as velvet.
The waitress’s eyes darted back and forth between myself and Caelan – the perfect was noticeable. That’s when I realised I looked completely hideous next to him.
“Ok,” she said smiling sweetly and fluttering her eyelashes.
I looked at Caelan who still had his eyes realising that he wasn’t paying attention to the waitress who was being just a bit too friendly.
We followed the waitress inside of the café to a table right next to the counter – probably so she could sneak glances at us while we eat. She was trying just a little too hard to impress.
“Could we have a table somewhere outside and possibly more private,” he smiled sweetly.
“Um, sure. Follow me this way,” she said in a daze.
We followed her out the backdoor and into a completely empty garden.
“This is perfect thanks,” he said flashing his white teeth at her.
“Here are the menus,” she said blushing madly and running back inside so fast that she tripped over a couple of times.
No doubt she was telling all of her colleagues about how charming and beautiful Caelan was. It made it just a bit better that he had been completely oblivious to her.
We didn’t speak until the next waitress came, he just stared at me and I stared at the table in embarrassment.
“Hello, I’m Tasha,” the waitress said specifically to Caelan.
She had short ginger hair and emerald green eyes. She wore a blouse that was just a tad to tight and the shortest miniskirt in history.
“What would you like?” she carried on,
“I’ll have a coke and spaghetti bolognaise please,” I replied.
“Anything for you sir?”
“No thanks,” he flashed her another smile.
It was so unfair; it was like he was encouraging her. She was breathless for a second and then ran back inside – more gossip for the staff.
“Not hungry?” I asked suspiciously.
“Nope,”
“So what were you really doing in that alleyway, I mean what if I hadn’t decided to come out that early,” I interrogated.
“I would have just gone home and thought ‘She’s better off without me’,” he replied.
“Well even if you hadn’t come looking for me I would have come looking for you. I mean you still haven’t explained how you rescued me from my imagination!”
The whole concept of him ‘rescuing me from my imagination’ sounded completely absurd.
Tasha came out the backdoor with the plate of spaghetti and the coke smiling sweetly and blushing. Maybe the staff had teased her.
“Here you go,” she said putting the plate of food and coke down in front of me.
“Are you sure you don’t want anything?” I asked doing the job of the waitress, Tasha looked grumpily at me.
“I’m fine,” he replied.
When she was gone we carried on the hundred and twenty questions.
“So tell me about your family,” he asked abruptly smiling to himself – it just made me want to be able to have the power to read minds.
“Well my father divorced my mother when I was ten and he moved here to the States somewhere in the Olympic Peninsula. My mother became depressed so she became an alcoholic and really didn’t care about me one bit. She didn’t date for a couple of months but then she met a guy. We spent many summers up in Ashington before we moved there and she had my now four year old brother Sam. Then Sam’s father took off and we left practically bankrupt living in a council flat. I don’t think my mother has ever got over her first divorce and it just got worse after the next one left. I’ve had to look after Sam because my mum cannot really be bothered, she just stays in her pyjamas all the time and watches show reruns. It got better a little bit recently – before I left she got a job and she treated me to a phone and various other items I’ve never been given before. Ever since dad left we never celebrated Birthdays or Christmas – I mean we say ‘Happy Christmas’ and all that but we never got gifts – my mum couldn’t pay for it. It’s good that Sam’s finally going to have a normal childhood – a childhood I never had,”
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered as I took a sip of my coke.
“Don’t be,” I replied finishing off the spaghetti.
I didn’t realise I was leaning across the table till the waitress came and took the plates.
She returned to the kitchen quickly nearly tripping over a couple of times. She certainly wouldn’t be getting a tip.
Caelan put the money on the silver tray and picked up the napkin the waitress had left. His eyes scanned over it and he smirked.
“Let’s go,”
He dumped the napkin in the bin on the way out and we made our way onto the bustling streets of New York.
“If you could have anything in the world what would it be?” he asked abruptly.
I stopped myself in my tracks as I was about to say ‘you’. That was too much of a close call.
“I don’t know if it’s appropriate to what you’re trying to ask but I’d love to be able to fly,” I replied.
“No, that’s an appropriate answer. Now why would you want to fly?” he asked, he looked very intrigued by what I was saying.
He was so enthralling and charismatic; he was literally hanging onto my every word. He was the nicest and most interesting person I had ever met.
“I would love to see the world from the sky and also I love feeling the wind in my face. What about you, I mean what would you have?”
“I don’t know,” he replied.
“Oh come on, I told you now you have to tell me. Please,” I pleaded.
I didn’t know where we were heading; I was just so completely absorbed in the conversation to know my location.
“I’d like to spend the rest of eternity with someone intriguing and interesting, kind of like you in some ways. People are so interesting – so individual and their minds-”
“Eternity, that’s a long time. You’ve got to like her if you want to spend the rest of eternity with her,” I added.
“Eternity wouldn’t seem so long with someone you really liked and years go quickly so would centuries,” he carried on.
I didn’t know where he was going with this rant but just to be with him and hearing what he would like to do excited me even more.
“I suppose,”
“This is where you are residing at the moment is it not?” he laughed at my shocked face.
“How do you know I’m staying here? You haven’t been stalking me have you?” I grilled.
“Nope, I just guessed,” he grinned.
The day had gone so quick, I didn’t realise it was now three in the afternoon.
I stared at him for a couple of seconds in a complete day dream. He was somebody I would spend the rest of eternity with even if he couldn’t stand my ludicrous rants.
“Don’t ignore me again please, promise,”
“I promise,” His voice said it all.
“See you around,” I waved.
I ran up the stairs feeling oddly hyper and danced into the apartment.
“What are you so happy about?” Aunty Katherine asked looking particularly puzzled.
“I’ve just had a very good day!” I replied animatedly.
That was the first night I dreamt of him and he didn’t run away. Before this night I would dream that I was lost in a forest following him but I couldn’t catch up to him. No matter how loud I yelled his name, how fast I ran he didn’t respond.
In my dream we were looking down at New York from inside a tall building watching the bustling city below us. Neither of us said anything but the dream just felt so different then last time. The dream wasn’t as intimidating as the ones where he didn’t speak to me at all.
Chapter 9 CITY LIGHTS
Sun poured down through the windows and onto the bed blinding my vision. It seemed strangely pleasant, like I had woken up to a new self. I ran a hairbrush through my messy hair and pulled on some clothes before racing down the apartment stairs. I was running so fast I nearly knocking into a blind woman with a walking stick so I stopped and apologized before running down the remaining stairs. I wandered aimlessly around the streets for a couple of hours knowing he would be in the crowd somewhere but he wasn’t.
Eventually I gave up and went to sit down on an empty park bench. By now the streets of New York were bustling with tourists and business men so it was hard finding a bench but eventually I found one. There was only one other person on the bench engrossed in his newspaper. He wore a black hoodie (with the hood up) and dark denim jeans.
I sat down and fidgeted uncomfortably; although it was sunny it was freezing. The stranger never looked up at me which pleased me, he seemed a rather suspicious character. I also noticed he never turned the page – he wasn’t reading at all. If he was planning on doing anything irrational then he would have needed a distraction – the newspaper – although he didn’t know I was very observant.
“Do you believe in giving people second chances?”
His voice was dark and impolite, I would have to be more prudent.
“Um, yes I do. Why, who do you need to give a second chance?” I asked.
The sun poured into my eyes for a minute and then was covered by the clouds, looks like the sunny day was now replaced with a grey one.
I turned my head to the stranger but he had vanished. Well that was odd. That person had definitely been real, hadn’t he?
My mind wandered back to my dreams trying to remember if the stranger had occurred in any of them but he hadn’t. My imagination got more creative by the day.
I sighed and heaved myself off the bench and onto the squashy green ground. The smell of newly mown grass overwhelmed me and I drifted off to sleep.
I dreamt about when I was little; how my father would take me to go fishing in the summers. On the end of every trip we ended up completely drenched as the consequence of falling in the lake.
I woke up dazzled and disorientated. It had grown dark and gloomy and the once sunny sky had faded into the miserable grey mask. I picked myself up from the ground and started to walk home as the rain lightly drizzled onto my bare arms. In the distance thunder rumbled and a flash of lightning darted across the sky. When I had been little my father had told me there was only a storm when I was angry and I had believed him. It was completely false otherwise the skies would have still been sunny – I was the complete opposite of angry although I did feel the tiniest bit of remorse that I had made that promise with him. I should have known he wouldn’t kept it, I should of known he was uninterested and-.
There he was, leaning in a perfect stance against the glass entrance to the apartment. His hair looked bedraggled and soaked; he must’ve been waiting for me for a long time. The one place I least expected him to be and he was here waiting for me.
“You look cold,” he commented shrugging off his jacket and handing it to me.
“And you look wet. Thanks,” I replied mirroring his smile and throwing on his jacket.
The jacket was extremely cold and I shivered as I put it on. He arched his eyebrows and looked down at me in a confused but courteous manner. It was just a little too big for me but it would be good to keep the rain off my skin. I inhaled and then noticed the fragrance, like perfume, radiating off the jacket.
“Thanks for not letting me die of hyperthermia,” I added with a shaky laugh.
“You’re welcome,” he replied in a gravel tone.
His skin glowed an odd colour in the diffused light, half of his face hidden in the shadows and the skin that was revealed glowed light orange. His eyes twinkled in the subtle light and shone brilliantly like a thousand diamonds in the sun.
“Are you needed,” he said tilting his head back to the apartment.
“No, why?” I asked dubiously.
“Because I would like to show you something,” he sighed, his mouth smelt minty fresh.
I followed him across the shadow crossed road to a shiny black Ford with tinted windows.
“Hop in,”
I clicked the door shut, careful not to be to rough with his car. Boys were all about their cars.
The engine roared to life as he turned the wheel off of the pavement and onto the red. I slammed into the back of my seat as we reached the traffic lights and looked at him but didn’t say anything. This was probably how he drove normally. It was a wonder how he had never got caught.
“You want to listen to something?” he asked casually taking his eyes off the road and staring at me.
“Watch out! Keep your eyes off the road, not on me!” I screeched as he slammed the brakes on in time before we drove off on a red light.
“Relax; I’ve never got caught,”
“Yes, I would like some music,” I mumbled shakily.
The CD flashed to life and, to my surprise, erupted from the speakers was a soft gentle tone. I had been anticipating the hard heavy metal but I had guessed wrong. I hummed along to the familiar tune whilst watching the city fly by.
“You know this?”
“Very much. My mother used to listen to this all the time when I was young,” I replied keeping my eyes glued to the windows and not to him, although he must have been used to turning heads by now.
“So tell me about your family, what are they like I mean,” I enquired curiously.
He hadn’t talked to me once whilst he had been with me. His family couldn’t be that bad.
“There’s nothing much to tell,” he said gripping so hard on the wheel that his hands grew even paler.
“Dr Howeford is your adoptive father,” I commented.
“Yes,”
“What about your real father and mother, do you remember them?” I asked carefully not to hurt his feelings.
“Of course I do” he whispered viciously – whether it was in response to my question or to how he could have been treated to make him hate them that bad–, “They left me when I was very young.”
“I’m sorry,” I replied than prising my eyes to the ground.
“It’s in the past, it’s not like I never miss them but-”
“I understand,” I did.
The car came to a halt outside what may have been the tallest skyscraper I had seen in my life. The many windows glittered in the moonlight sending slavers light dancing onto the trees.
“Follow me,” he commanded.
I noticed his bare hands and fantasized what it would be like to hold them – would his hand still be cold?
We began our ascent on the hundreds of flights of stairs that was gateway to the top, the only way to get up was to go up. I started counting the stairs but quickly lost count as he kept on staring at me. I flushed and kept my eyes locked to the ground and concentrated; this would take my whole effort to not trip over.
“So were are you taking me,” I was intrigued.
“It’s a surprise,” he beamed.
“I hate surprises,” I snapped.
“Why?”
“Because I just do. There, is that a good enough reason?” I asked sarcastically.
“Not everything has to have a logical explanation,” Look who was getting all scientific.
We finished our ascent on the stairs and headed out the door that held a flashing green light over the door reading ‘Exit’.
The wind whipped hit my face with a hard impact, as if someone was slapping me. It was so cold and stormy out here in the open, quite stupid to be so exposed in weather like this. I quickly forgot that thought as we approached the edge of the skyscraper sectioned off by a mini-wall.
We looked out onto the huge dazzling city that glowed as brightly as the moon in the sky. You could see each individual speck of light and by the speed it travelled it –or if it didn’t travel at all– you could tell what it was: a car, a bus or maybe even a plane.
“It’s beautiful,” Beautiful didn’t even seem to cover it, I was breathless.
“Isn’t it,” he whispered.
He looked out to the far horizon and then back at me as if he was trying to guess what was going through my head.
“You know you said that you wanted to fly, why is that?”
“I’d love to feel the wind on face, in my hair. To be able to see from such extraordinary heights would be an experience,” I laughed for a moment.
“What are you thinking about right now?”
“That this is truly heaven and that I’m dead,” I joked.
“Oh,” he gasped.
“I didn’t mean it, I meant this is my ideal heaven,” I replied.
He looked behind himself a couple of times as if we were being watched, if we were than I couldn’t see anyone. Maybe I wasn’t the only one with the runaway imagination.
“You always seem so careful, like we’re being watched or something,”
“Come on,” he said grabbing my wrist.
Where his skin touched mine it become numb. He noticed my stiff position and yanked his hands out of man and placed them back in his pockets.
“But I’m not done yet,”
“It’s not safe,” he pleaded.
“It’s never safe, not in your book anyway! What is it Caelan? What are you hiding? What are you?” I finally yelled out.
“What?” his voice echoed from near the exit door.
I began sobbing.
“What are you?” I asked through sobs.
“Someone who shouldn’t be left alone with you – that’s who,” he said coldly as he slid through the exit door.
It closed with a thud and I was alone. I didn’t know how to get home, how thoughtless and inconsiderate of him. This once nice person was now case as the most selfish and insensitive in the whole world.
I didn’t even begin to contemplate that the reason he left was because I had asked him what he was.
I sobbed relentlessly but finally my eyes felt to dry to cry anymore so I stuck on a brave face and dashed to the door. My fingers struggled to grasp hold of my phone but they eventually did. I dialled the number and propped myself up against the hard cold wall.
“Hello, I’m busy right now but please leave a message after the tone,” came Aunty Katherine’s familiar calm voice.
“Hi Aunty Katherine, I’m going to be staying the night at a friend’s that I made today so I’ll be home in the morning as soon as I can,” I said in the best voice that didn’t sound as upset as I felt right now.
I slid myself down the wall till I was sitting on the ground with my hands tightly round my knees. It was not the most comfortable bed but eventually I cried myself to sleep – until I was too tired to be upset.
In the night the cold wind bit round my neck and my face, my lips felt dry and blistered from the lack of water and my stomach rumbled in complaint of no food. My body felt limp and lifeless and it was a struggle just to turn over into a more comfortable position.
I woke up in the morning to sun streaming through the windows. I looked down to see a small white fluffy blanket that was stained in the corners with something red that reminded me of…
I lifted myself of the ground and stretched until I finally felt better. My body still felt weak as I jogged down the stairs that held no familiar presence – I wasn’t going to think about him anymore.
Who had put the blanket there and why? Couldn’t they have just let me die of hyperthermia, I shivered at that thought.
“Hello, is anyone here?” I hissed; my throat barely able to make a sound.
Above me came a clanging sound followed by a whistling that jostled my heartbeat.
“Hello, I know someone is here,” I persisted but at the same time speeded up my jogging, I wanted to get out of here as fast as I could.
I pushed myself against the entrance door and stepped out onto a car park and a clear blue sky. My eyes darted over to where his vehicle would have been if he had been here – a black Ford was nowhere to be seen.
I jogged down the road in the direction we had come yesterday remembering somewhere along this road was a taxi pick up. Everyone on the street was oblivious to the fact that I was in a hurry so I had to keep stopping and then starting.
I stopped to catch my breath and then ran flat out to the taxi pick up where two stationary yellow cabs were perched against the kerb. They looked rather like big yellow bugs and sounded like them to- the faint sound of their whirring engines could be heard from right around the corner.
I dashed to the closest one and peered in through the window, the kind driver wound down the window and I told him my destination.
The engine roared to life and then choked and splattered out smoke. This wasn’t a good day. Although the condition of the car was bad we made it to the apartment without to many problems – the car had only complained at the lights letting out an odd popping noise and thick brown smoke emerged from the rear end of the car.
I paid the taxi driver and then hopped out of the car and began my ascent. I had not thought once how Aunty Katherine would react to my absence but she seemed to take it well, my voice certainly hadn’t sounded that convincing on the phone.
“That was nice spending some time with new friends; you can go for sleepovers and see your friends whenever you want as long as you tell me before hand,” she had said.
She was lounging on the coffee wearing her pyjamas and holding a steaming mug of hot chocolate in one hands and I could tell that she must have been situated there for most of the afternoon. I couldn’t tell whether she just wanted a relaxing day or if something was wrong but she was acting strangely – not nearly as exuberant as she had been for the last three weeks.
That’s when it hit me – I had already spent three weeks here. Only just another four weeks left in total paradise without the constant eyes of my mother burning into the back of my head.
“Are you feeling well?” I asked her turning the knob to my bedroom slowly.
“I just feel a bit under the weather although it’s nothing to worry about,” she assured me with a smile.
Something had happened and she wasn’t going to tell me what it was, everyone I knew was so secretive.
I entered my bedroom quietly and closed the door behind me; Aunty Katherine didn’t need me pestering her when she needed to recover.
I sat on the edge of the crème caramel covered bed and looked out blankly through the windows; I could not put my mind at ease no matter how I tried. My life had been far much better off without any of the complications – like the fact that I was friends with people who had witch-like powers.
Over the next couple of days I was ill and spent most of my time sleeping in bed feeling extremely sorry for myself. I was tired of doing nothing so I stretched and got up out of bed and made my way hastily to the computer. I typed in my password, drinking coca cola whilst patiently waiting for the computer to load.
I checked my inbox and to my surprise I had a few:
Dear Sir/Madame,
How would you like the chance to become the owner of a new estate? Fancy trying your luck at the national Lotto? All you need to do is message back and we will send you a random selection of numbers.
I deleted that email and moved on to the next:
To Charlie,
The reason I have not been writing to you is...
They’re coming back, I have to go.
From Kai
Who were coming back? What on earth was he on about?
The last one was the most recent and was also from Kai:
To Charlie,
I’m kind of breaking the rules sending you a message right now but they can go to hell anyway. Things don’t seem the same without you anymore and the others – Ian, Simon and Katy are acting really weird.
Other than that nothing has changed, oh! You’re mom’s quit her job just to let you know, everything was going so well until…
Sorry, but I have to go.
Kai [Extremely freaked out guy]
My head started spinning after I read about mom losing her job, so we were bankrupt all over again. I knew nothing good would last. Whenever things started to look up then something bad would happen and it would all come crashing down again. My heart swelled for my poor little brother who would have to deal with a depressed and stressed mother.
I opened a new email and my fingers started clicking over the keyboard:
To mum,
I’m so sorry to hear about your job – I know that it wasn’t your fault and I wish I could come home right now. Don’t do anything rash while I’m still in N.Y.C and please please take care of Sam, right now he needs you – he’s still too young.
Please reply,
Love Charlie.
I hit the send button and then turned the monitor off and went back to the soft bed and some uneasy sleep.
I woke up to a grey drizzly sky which I had grown accustomed to – it was exactly like being back home in England. I still felt slightly sick but decided I needed some fresh air – being stuck in the apartment all day meant that my already high temperature would just get even higher.
I got dressed quickly and rushed to the glass entrance door, today was not a particularly busy day. In fact N.Y.C looked sleepier than usual – I noticed all the curtains were closed shut as I made my way down the street. I stopped for a second squinting at a Ford car that was parked on the yellow line – must be waiting for someone. The car’s engine was still purring softly and every so often the car quivered.
I walked forward slowly not knowing who was in the car – the windows were tinted and none of them were open. I decided I would look rude and suspicious just staring at this car so I carried on my walk.
I spent most of my day in the park just lying down and watching the ominous grey sky above me, no children were in the park today due to the weather so I found myself the only inhabitant – partially due to the fact I was so familiar to this weather. I feel asleep surprisingly easy; the grass was soft and moist and made it comfy to lie on.
I woke up not knowing what time it was – it was dark and I could see tiny white specks appearing in the sky above. My stomach rumbled and complained of the no-food for the last couple of days but I did my best to ignore it.
I stood up slowly resisting the urge to just fall asleep again and walked towards the Iron Gate. I took a different route – a longer one – through an alleyway and past a pub with neon flashing lights glued to every part of it.
Along the street were two familiar men and one woman – Katy, Ian and Simon. They sure looked familiar but if they were real or not I just didn’t know. They stood under a company of tall dark trees that loomed above them. Even though they were covered by the darkness of the shadows their faces were visible – in fact they glowed an illuminating white. This white light that shone from their faces gave away their pallid black eyes.
In synchronization they all smiled menacingly, evil painted in their eyes.
In a blink of an eye Ian stood by me and whispered in my ear, “Why be afraid of things that aren’t real?”
My lip quivered so I bit on it to stop the shaking, I could taste drops of blood forming where I was biting down.
“I’m not afraid,” I replied trying to remember that none of this was real, it was all a dream.
Suddenly I was punched in the stomach; I fell back to the concrete ground winded. I felt my head pulsating and the drops of blood trickling slowly down my face.
“Does that feel real?” echoed in the darkness as I lay groaning and gasping for breath.
Time seems to pass slowly when you are unconscious, especially if you don’t know where you are. I could feel my heart beat fluttering erratically still trying to calm itself down from the attack.
Ian was here in New York, as well as Katy and Simon. They were definitely here for real…and they were different.
I woke up because of the noise – I could faintly hear the noise of a growling creature. At least it would be painless if I was attacked; I was already in a bad state. My eyes opened slowly revealing a dark picture; I was inside a dark car in the passenger’s seat. To my surprise in the drivers seat was Caelan.
Was he still angry with me or were we neutral now? Why did he come and rescue me and the most important question – How did he find me? Where were we going?
His dark metallic blue locks of his hair shone prominently in the moonlight. His face was also illuminated, his golden eyes glowed brightly.
“Where…are we going?” I stuttered, my head throbbed and I could still hear my pulse indistinctly in my ears.
“Are you alright?” he replied, so he was still Mr Mysterious guy.
“Yes,” I croaked – a lie.
There was a fraction of silence before either of us spoke again.
“I’m-” I began before I was interrupted.
“I’m sorry I left you, I didn’t know you had no way of getting home and…”
“How did you know I didn’t go home?” I asked guessing for myself.
“Look, it was stupid of me and I just wanted to say sorry, now you,” he replied keeping his eyes cemented to the road in front of us that was lit by two yellow shafts of light.
“Ian, Kai and Simon…my old friends…are here and…they want to kill me,” I managed to spit out.
His face grew angrier before retreating to neutral; I also noticed his eyes were on me. Not on the road.
“Well if you want me to think you aren’t trying to kill me keep your eyes on the road,” I pleaded.
“Fine,” he snapped.
“Ian punched me, it was definitely real – I felt it. They are different…and their eyes…”
“What about their eyes?” he interrupted me cocking his head to one side.
“They were different that’s all,” I managed to say keeping the dark secret safe with me.
He chuckled before saying, “Have you figured out what I am yet?”
“I have my suspicions,” I replied.
“Tell me,” he insisted, his persistence lingering longer.
What would I tell him? That I had been told about such monsters? Monsters that were bloodthirsty, monsters who took away the souls of others…?
“You’ll laugh,”
“Why would I laugh?”
OK, he had me. Should I tell him…or not? HELP ME! I screamed into my blank mind.
“Well I had this idea, seeing as you have saved me several times that maybe you’re superman. You’re the one who’s saving anonymous people and generally keeping the world a safer place – but mysterious. No one really knows you are helping,” I lied.
Suddenly his composed face broke, “What if I’m the opposite?”
“What – the bad guy? You couldn’t-”
“What if I am the bad guy, the one that no one really knows is evil but has suspicions about him. What if I’m so evil that I shouldn’t have really left myself with you?”
There was a long silence, maybe he knew that I knew…or maybe he didn’t. I couldn’t be quite share.
“Um…where exactly are we heading?” I asked trying to find a sign that would tell me where he was taking me.
“Well, until you became conscious I was just going in circles but now…I’m taking you home,”
My eyelids dropped over, I wanted to carry on talking to him but resisting was no use. I didn’t dream at all – which was a good thing – because I would dream of monsters.
Caelan wasn’t a monster – at least I didn’t think he was. He didn’t go prey on the innocents; maybe he was just playing games. What would it take for me to make friends with some normal people?
I woke up startled and unaware as to where I was; finally realising I was tucked up in the golden coloured bed. How I had got here I didn’t know, Caelan must have taken me up the stairs. I felt grateful.
The sky was a murky grey colour and I could barely see the city below because of the fog. I could see the little traffic lights sending coloured beams light floating up. The whine of an ambulance could be heard above the traffic, as did the bark of a dog.
I stretched before getting up, my muscles feeling relaxed. My limbs no longer ached from yesterdays attack. My reflection didn’t spare the same thing – my face was grazed and knitted with blood on the left hand side. My lips were cracked and bleeding and there was a small scar on my neck.
My neck! I WAS BITTEN…WHAT THE- I thought, at that moment Alyson came into my room, all smiles evaporated. She bore a hard expression on her face, one of anger and sorrow.
“Where were you last night?” she asked suspiciously eyeing my grazes on my face.
“I was out for a walk…then I tripped over. The next thing I know I’m in this room,” I convinced her.
“I didn’t let you in last night – I was asleep. Did you let yourself in?”
I remembered faintly that Caelan walked me to the door but then disappeared when I got inside the house; he obviously still disliked my Aunty.
“I let myself in,” I replied.
“Alright,” she sighed and walked out again.
My stomach rumbled loudly so I decided to make myself a cooked breakfast containing pancakes, bacon and sausages. Alyson was delighted to have an edible meal at last and praised me for doing so.
“So what are you doing today?” she asked between mouthfuls.
“I think I might go see some friends,” I replied drinking my hot chocolate, complete with marshmallows, down in one.
I dressed quickly, something had happened to me last night. Apart from the whole Ian trying to kill me thing an animal had bit me…on my neck. I knew that people who attained these extra powers could shape shift but what had I ever done to them. And Kai definitely hadn’t done it; he just wanted to punch my guts.
Chapter 10 BLOOD DRINKER
I almost tripped on the stairs I was running so fast, it was times like this when you wished you had at least some athletic ability. The only thing that carried me from the stairs and into the bustling street was knowing that I needed to find him.
I was out of breathe and decided to take a breather against the wall. How hard was it to find one guy in New York City? I had already answered this question as soon as I asked it – extremely hard. I ran down the street once more bumping into several passers by who glared at me as I went past. Where was he?
“Caelan,” I shouted, my voice echoed around the monster sized buildings.
I carried on shouting and shouting but it was useless, he obviously wasn’t here. My heart started beating on over-drive, adrenaline pumping in my aching muscles.
I decided to give up, it was totally futile. He did have a life besides the whole trying to save me thing. Coming to think of it he had never really told me much about himself, he had just interrogated me instead.
Walking down the street back to the apartment felt like surrender although what else could you do if you couldn’t find someone you were looking for. He had probably decided to go somewhere for the weekend, after all we were in New York City. I had only seen a fraction of the huge vast city. What could he be doing now?
I stopped myself before I could answer that question knowing it was stupid to daydream over someone for a whole entire day. He didn’t even show much interest, it would be nice to save myself from even more heartbreak.
To my surprise the apartment was empty – Alyson had left a sticky yellow post it on the fridge saying she’d be out shopping until Sunday. She had put some ingredients out so I could make supper and she had also mentioned that I could go out wherever I wanted, on one condition – I had to bring a friend. That was reasonable I suppose – I was bound to loose my way if I had no one to go with.
I dialled Nate’s number after I had finished my plain cupcake that Alyson had made; it was surprisingly edible – unlike most of her cooking. The phone vibrated in my hands letting me know he had picked up.
“Hi Nate, it’s me Charlie,” I said sweetly.
“Hi Charlie, just wait a sec. Ger’ off me Carl!” he replied.
In the background was a distant chuckling and the sound of the playful, but stupid, brawl. I could tell that Nate had won.
“I’m back,” he panted into the phone sounding rather like a dog.
“I heard, anyway I just wondered if you and Tyler could come round this afternoon. My Aunt’s gone out on an all weekend shopping trip so I’m kind of bored. I was wondering if you could show me around the city – the bit where I’m in anyway. I could give you lunch and dinner if you want,” I explained hoping his answer would be yes – it was.
“Great, feel free to come round whenever you’re ready,” I said before I hung up.
I pressed the red button on the phone to end the call and bounced up and down on the spot, for once I was going to go and do something besides spending my whole down in the dull apartment. Sure it was nice but I didn’t know if I could take it much longer…
It was 11:00 by the time I started making the feast of lunch, the delicious treat on today’s menu would be burger and salad followed by warm chocolate brownies – Alyson’s American famous recipe.
I constantly dawdled back and forth – preparing the salad one moment and tending to the burgers the next. Of course I knew that an extra mouth would be coming to, and by that I meant the bigger and louder one – Carl.
There came a knock on the door at 12:00 sharp, I knew it was them – the faint murmurs and occasional ‘Shut up Carl!’
I almost ran to the door, throwing it open so hard that it banged against the wall. There they were – all three of them. Tyler looked particularly burly; his dark brown – almost black hair – was hung loosely over his shoulders. His chocolate coloured eyes looked like they had reached melting point not long ago.
Nate looked particularly grown up, his black hair flaring out at the corners and his dark green eyes buzzed with excitement.
Carl looked particularly laid back and casual, for once. When he wasn’t being a nuisance he could be an alright kid. His bright blonde hair curled at the edges and his eyes glowed dark luminously…
I don’t want any trouble I thought.
And neither do I! came a familiar voice from inside my head.
“What the hell? How, why, what-” I stuttered staring at the boys who looked just surprised as I did.
“I guess we didn’t tell you about the mind reading thing,” confessed Nate.
“You think?!”
“Well anyone who has the kind of…gifts we do can communicate with others (who have the gift) in our minds. I don’t know how you’re picking up our thoughts then because I know you aren’t the same as we are,” Carl said bluntly, in a matter-of-fact tone.
WELL OBVIOUSLY, I’M A GIRL AND YOU’RE A GUY AND…I shouted inside my head.
You don’t have to state the obvious!
And you don’t have to brag about it! I replied conjuring up an image of a face with a tongue sticking out in my mind. I smiled when I realised Carl was glaring at me for that very reason.
“Well you deserved,” I laughed.
I am so gonna-
CARL!
Ugh. Fine.
“Anyway, how about you come in or are you comfortable standing there all day?” I asked swiping loose bits of my hair away from my eyes.
They stepped in, not making it very fair, before they stopped in their tracks. Their eyes were cemented on the lunch that was arranged neatly on the oak table.
“Did you seriously make this?” Tyler asked.
“This is all me!”
“That’s depressing – I can’t cook a thing!” he laughed taking the head seat, opposite to where I was sitting.
Carl picked up his burger slowly lowering to his mouth, then he halted in his tracks. I sighed and shook my head to the thought.
What? asked Nate.
Don’t you tune into ‘Thoughts Broadcasted’? Carl asked me if I poisoned the food I spoke in my head.
Why would you even bother anyway, it’s no good to waste poison on Carl! he teased.
Lunch turned out to be a huge success – all the food was eaten and all the drinks drank. I had also achieved in bowling over the boys with my cooking – Carl was so hungry he asked to finish my salad.
No wonder he’s so hungry, he’s got such a big mouth! I murmured to myself forgetting my every thought was being broadcasted to everyone at the table.
“Hey! I heard that!” he yelled angrily before succumbing to laughter.
After lunch we all stationed ourselves on the huge sofa resting for our big lunch. It was finally nice to have some company.
The first 10 minutes spent on the sofa were spent watching the boys having their mind conversation, although I couldn’t hear it because they weren’t talking to me I knew that they were.
“The three of us thought of the best place to take you. We can’t tell you where but the attire is the ‘all goth’ look,” Nate said smiling widely, whatever they had planned they looked sure that I was bound to enjoy it.
Don’t get your hopes to high! I muttered.
“If you don’t like it then at least pretend to enjoy yourself!” Carl stated.
“Anyway we’ll have to leave at 8:00, it only takes 10 minutes to get to anyway,” Tyler filled in.
Even more silent conversation took over before I was told that Tyler would be driving his Pink Cadillac in. Wow – their parents sure did have a lot of money. Letting Tyler drive around in a Pink Cadillac was definitely a big deal for me as I had only just got my first car – and let me tell you it wasn’t nearly as posh or expensive as Tyler’s.
The rest of the afternoon was spent watching talking and watching TV, although at 6:00 we stopped to start to get ready.
“We better get home and leave you to get ready, 7:50 sound OK?” Tyler asked twirling his car keys around his finger.
“7:50 sounds fine, bye!” I waved as they started down the stairs to the exit.
I shut the door and ran into my bedroom wondering what I would wear; I knew the attire was to be Goth but why I didn’t know.
I took a hot shower shampooing and conditioning my hair; I then wrapped a towel around myself and went racking through my wardrobe. My wet hair clung limply to my face dripping water onto my dry face; taking another towel I dried the remains.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I certainly looked complete different. I was wearing a short black miniskirt that came up a few inches above my knee and a red lace t-shirt. I also had some red and black stripy tights on, big black biker’s boots and big black loop earrings. My hair was extraordinarily curly and hung around my shoulders loosely; the black and red ribbons I put on were still visible as were my red beads. My fingernails were painted black with the tips red.
My makeup was extravagant – my lips were blood red and I had dark eyeliner and mascara on. I also decided to put on some heavy sparkly black eye shadow. I was good to go.
They arrived on time again; they were so very punctual unlike my other friends. When Katy and I went to school together she always made us late, one way or another. Whether it was shouldn’t find something to match her top or she hadn’t eaten breakfast there was always something stopping us from being on time. It was also harder when she spotted a guy; she liked eye candy on her way to school.
I opened the door slowly preparing for a reaction – although I didn’t know which I would get. Carl was in the middle of saying ‘Oh she’ll be wearing the usual…and oh hello there!’ Their faces dropped as they studied me with amazed eyes, tracking down my outfit.
“Wow,” breathed Tyler.
“Well then, are you just going to stand here and stare at me all day?”
“Oh no, um…let’s go!” ushered Nate.
Nate and Carl went down the stairs just ahead of us – Tyler and I deciding to walk slower. The dim electrical buzz of the lights was in the air, I could also hear a faint dripping noise. Whether it was from inside an apartment I wouldn’t know.
We stepped out into the cool evening; it was such a contrast to the heat of the apartment. Right in front of us was a gleaming baby pink Cadillac.
“I was wondering…why did you buy a PINK Cadillac?” I asked.
“It was my cousin’s – she didn’t want anymore. She gave it to us for a reasonable price,” he replied politely opening the front door for me whilst Carl and Nate hopped into the back.
So his cousin was rich too, wow. What would it be like to drive this thing?
The engine whirred as he got into gear, its tires spun round and we were on the road heading out into complete darkness. Everyone was completely quiet focusing on the beautiful sight out of the window – the midnight blue sky turning light purple at the corners where it reached the horizon. A few stars were speckled in the sky shining brightly in the moonlight. There were a few flashing neon lights that sent sparks of colour fly onto other buildings. It was a beautiful, but peaceful, sight.
Carl and Nate didn’t make much conversation on the way there, they were probably scared that Tyler would get made if they told me where we heading. I had no clue what to expect, especially dressed like this.
“You are going to love this,” murmured Tyler, his eyes focusing on the road in front of us.
He was quiet a good driver I had to admit but I was definitely better than him on his best day.
The road was extremely gridlocked – wherever we were heading was very popular with the other N.Y.C citizens. The neon yellow taxis glittered in the darkness making them look like bugs you would find an a jungle, they also sounded like them to – their engines hummed into the dark night above them.
“We nearly there?” I muttered, remembering to polite.
I was so eager to find out what mysterious location we were going to.
“Yes,” Carl said.
The car turned left into a huge semi-full car park, it was about the size of a football field. There were some very fancy cars parked in the spaces and to the left of the car park were a huge line of motorbikes. It took ten minutes to get the boy’s eyes away from the stupid things!
“Remember, no peeking!” exclaimed Tyler who held me hand as I walked blindly through the darkness.
In the distance was the sound of low loud music and I could hear the faint whisper of lips on the breeze. The cold night air bit around my bare neck and face.
I suddenly felt a blast of hot air as we stepped inside a building, I couldn’t see it still. Tyler would tell me when to open my eyes. The music was haunting and had no particular rhythm to it, the other noise I could hear were the low shouts and murmurs of the people.
“OK you can open them!” he whispered in my ears excitedly.
I lifted my hands off my eyes, just like a child playing hide and seek would, and my jaw fell open. We were on a huge dance floor that looked like it stretched out for miles. The ceiling was a glass dome and hanging from it was a huge golden glass chandelier. The walls were purple and the curtains were black and stretched down to the floor. In the far corner was a dark wooden bar with various drinks on and around the bar were more then ten high purple stools.
“Wow,” I breathed.
“Isn’t this awesome! Come on!” Carl shrieked as he grabbed my hand and pulled me further onto the dance floor.
Carl and Nate found two girls to dance with whereas Tyler mingled with the men. Most of the men here were tall and had black capes on making them look like young boys you would see on Halloween.
I found myself twirling strangely to the music, I wasn’t much of a dancer but the music found me and pulled me round. It had an irregular beat and was such a haunting tune, I found myself dreaming of dancing with Caelan round and round and round…
I made my way over to the bar to get a drink; I was parched with all the dancing. The tune had now changed to a more upbeat one with a boy of about 16 with long dark purple shaggy hair screeching into the microphone. I sat next to a man with huge muscles bearing various tattoos and a bald head, his eyes were a faint silver red colour…
“What would you like then,” the bartender, a small blonde haired skinny man wiping a towel inside a beer glass, said politely.
“The best drink on the house please,” I replied.
The bartender then went to the far right to grab a cup and began pouring a bright red liquid from a huge glass into my cup. I was surprised I didn’t have to show any ID.
“Here you go,” he said placing it in front of me.
It didn’t look particularly appetising nor did it taste it – in fact I spat it out. It tasted rather like blood. I pushed the glass further away from me.
“You drinking that?” asked the heavy built man.
“Um…you can have it,” I replied.
I passed it to him and I watched him chuckle before he drank it down in one, it was disgusting. Was this some stupid sick joke they were pulling on me because I didn’t belong here?
Out of the corner of my eye I spotted three huge leather sofas, most were occupied except for one which had a man sitting with a girl on his lap. I walked over quickly and plonked myself down.
The man with the girl over his lap had dark black hair and his eyes were tightly shut, it looked as if he were kissing the girl’s neck.
GET A ROOM!
The girl had bright orange coloured hair and dark emerald green eyes; she wore a pink tutu and a sparkly pink short sleeved top.
Just then the man’s head darted up and…it was Caelan. His mouth was dripping with red; it dribbled down his chin. He looked at me with thirst in his eyes and growled.
I jumped off the sofa slowly backing away screeching, “What the Caelan, why…how?”
A circle formed around us eager to know what I was shouting about, it was then that I noticed two faint dots on the girl’s neck dribbled with red blood…
Chapter 11 TRUTH
“You’re all freaks!” I yelled running from the dance floor to the door sobbing frantically.
What was Caelan doing drinking blood? I thought as I ran outside into the cool night and around the back of the building till I sunk to the floor on the cold wet ground.
My breathing was heavy and my cheeks were tear stained.
In the distance I could hear my name being called but I didn’t answer out loud.
LEAVE ME ALONE! I yelled into my mind. The shouting stopped, I knew they had got my message.
I noticed a dark black shapeless figure moving towards me from the other end of the back of the building. My heart rate increased realising I was alone and defenceless, I had told the others to leave me alone.
I CHANGED MY MIND! HELP ME!
The figure walked forward slowly till a shaft of white light shone through the window he was next to revealing his identity.
“Get away from me!” I yelled at him trying to pick myself up from the ground, he was the last person I wanted to see.
“Look Charlie-”
“DIDN’T YOU HEAR ME – LEAVE ME ALONE! AND JUST SO YOU KNOW – YOU’RE SICK LITTLE STUNT WORKED” I screamed sprinting to the Pink Cadillac, fresh tears appearing in the corner of my eyes.
I slammed the car door shut wiping away all traces of my tears. The boys were already in the car.
“Hey where were you Charles. You ran out and, are you crying?” Carl spoke so fast I hardly heard anything.
I didn’t want to see Caelan again, he was anything but normal. He was a freak – they all were. Drinking blood. It was some sick joke.
“No,” I snapped, not caring if it was offensive or not.
The rest of the car journey was silent apart from the low murmur of music coming from Nate’s Ipod. I ignored it for most of the way until I finally shouted, “Please can you turn it down!”
Nate looked hurt and shocked and then turned to Carl, probably having a gossip about me inside the confines of their minds.
Tyler didn’t attempt any conversation, I didn’t feel like talking to anyone. It just didn’t make sense anymore. He walked me inside and then left – not even speaking to me there. He knew something was up, just his luck I wasn’t going to tell him.
Tonight in my dreams Caelan was not the innocent person who I would randomly have conversations with in the park. He had turned into the monster, the devil himself. He chased after me with the corpse of the girl who was sitting on her lap, her neck was running with blood and tassels of her hair were splattered with ruby red. His eyes had grown bright red and his lips were still wet with blood.
He slumped the body on the ground and it fell limply, my back against the wall breathing heavily I closed my eyes…
I woke up screaming, the dream had felt so real I had actually thought he was chasing me. I was safe, for now anyway. I still had another day to myself with nothing to do; Alyson had called late last night staying she’d be coming home at 7:00.
I decided to take time cooking breakfast and then eating it lazily in front of the TV before getting a shower and getting dressed. The streets below looked heavily gridlocked once again and the sky was a light grey colour. Looks like Alyson wouldn’t be back for a while yet.
At 11:00 precisely there was a knock on the door, when I was little I was told not to answer the door to strangers but what if it was a friend? I turned the knob slowly and pushed open the door, my eyes meeting him I jumped back from the door.
“What are you doing here?” I spat.
Today his eyes were a bright golden metallic colour and he looked much more innocent than he had last night.
“Look, I want to explain-” he began before I interrupted him, “Explain what? Why you were drinking blood from that poor girl’s neck! What the hell were you doing?”
“You have a right to shout but this, this is ridiculous!” anger emitting from his eyes as he pointed to me.
“Get used to it!” I retorted.
“Couldn’t you just let me in…” he said sympathetically, his anger lowering.
“Let me think about that…NO!” I yelled slamming the door in his face.
I bent down and lowered my eye to the keyhole; he was still there looking patient as ever. I sighed as I opened the door once again.
“Thank you,” he said brusquely and walked in.
Once he was inside he started examining the whole open plan room before sitting down on the sofa and making himself comfortable.
“So what do you want to explain? That you would rather drain my blood than hers?”
His eyes turned to slits and he hissed, “Look sit down and I will begin! I’m not going to do anything to hurt you,”
“Yeah right, nice try!”
“If I’d have killed you I would have done it long ago,”
“Oh,” I replied feeling dazed and confused.
He looked up at me, sorrow in his eyes, and began, “Look whether you like it or not the world is full of lies. I am one for the record. If we all had our way then we’d have been dead and buried centuries ago, but then who says that fate plays fair?”
“I don’t understand!” I complained, though in my mind I had already drawn my own conclusion. Whether it was true or not I didn’t know.
“We all know monsters exit – your kind of monsters anyway…like murderers. In a way they’re monsters. But…have you ever considered me as a monster?”
“No!” I gasped.
I had been right. His secret was mine now.
“I am a monster – I thirst for human blood…but not if I can help it,” he replied.
“Vampire,” I whispered under my breath.
“Correct,” he replied, I seemed pretty sure he wouldn’t have been able to hear it.
He looked at me anxiously before carrying on, “I was a monster that night – too thirsty for my own good. I can’t ever let you go near me when I loose control like that! You see when our kind are thirsty we loose our self control,”
“Do you drink human blood – I mean aren’t there any alternatives?” I asked, my question probably sounded very obtuse.
“My family and I do drink human blood but under any circumstances we never murder innocents. That girl you saw there was a donator – she donates her blood to ravenous vampires and we don’t kill her. See donators usually know about vampires in the first place – The Covenant set up a rule advising to keep those who educated of us alive as long as we drank their blood,”
There was that name again – The Covenant. Obviously the same Covenant that Tyler, Nate and Carl had been talking about.
“There is a certain role determining how much blood we drank – we must not drain them, we must merely take a taste,”
“Doesn’t that mean that you turned that girl into a vampire?” I asked.
“I didn’t drink enough of her blood to turn her. The Covenant is very strict on the rules of vampires,”
“So I’ve heard,” I replied nodding.
“You’ve heard of The Covenant?” he asked bewilderedly.
“Afraid so, my friends well they…have extraordinary gifts,”
Suddenly he leaned closer to my neck, startled I jumped off the sofa. That’s when I realised he was examining the mark on my neck, I returned to my place.
“When did you first realise you had that?” he hissed indicating the mark.
“Just yesterday – I woke up after you rescued me from Ian. Ian isn’t a vampire, that’s the odd thing,” I replied hoping to find an answer.
“Looks like they took a taste but then decided to drain all the venom out of your system, you’re lucky,” he breathed.
“Otherwise…” He nodded in response.
“Hungry?” I teased.
His eyes grew a dark golden colour, “Not funny!” he muttered.
He got up walking around the room once examining the pictures on the walls, picture frames and many other things.
“I have a few questions”
He stopped and nodded.
“Well do you sleep in coffins?”
“No,”
“What about the sunlight, doesn’t it burn you?”
“It affects us in the way that the smell of blood is much much stronger,”
I shuddered, “So you’re not nocturnal then?”
“Some vampires prefer to live that way but myself and my family decided to live as normally as we could,”
He stood tall, his bright eyes glowing luminously. His hair was particularly messy today. His eyes met mine before he continued on his walk; I lowered my eyes down to the ground.
“What’s with the eyes – I mean some days your eyes are bright honey coloured and then they turn dark and dull,”
“When we’re hungry our eyes dim and our eye sights grow weak,” he replied propping himself up against the wall.
I watched him curiously, he looked normal enough. Enough to fool someone into getting to drink their blood.
“Am I going to be a problem – I mean, well…?” I stuttered not finding the words I wanted to say.
“I shouldn’t have let you in on this; I should have just ignored your scent but…”
“My scent!?” I yelled.
I swore at that moment my heart stopped beating. He had just been hanging around with me just because he couldn’t bear my scent.
In a flash he was off the wall and standing next to me. He had his hand over my mouth – to stop me from complaining. His skin sweet, almost like it had a vanilla scent to it.
“It’s very powerful – almost like perfume. And I didn’t just hang around with you because of your smell, you’re a very interesting and understanding person,” he reassured me.
NOT WORKING! I thought quietly.
“Understanding! Is that why you decided to dump your secret on me?” I snapped.
“Listen – I wouldn’t have even told you if you had gone to that club!” he yelled, anger boiling in his veins.
“But that isn’t it, you could of killed me. Why not?” I asked shakily.
“I don’t think I could hurt you even if I tried Charlie. Even if you feel the slightest bit unsafe you can tell me and I’ll never talk to you again, and if you’re one of those ‘not talking about you feelings type’ then if it gets too much I will never see you again and you can forget,” he replied.
I couldn’t bare the thought of never seeing him again, and yes if he had killed me he would of done it by now.
Yes! He’s been trying to tell you that all along no-brains. I thought.
“Ok, I understand,” I replied walking over to the window and staring out at the vast grey city below lit with luminous coloured lights and signs.
Rain dripped down the sides of the windows making the vision unclear and extremely blurry; I could just see a couple of huge thunder clouds forming in the sky: a storm was brewing.
Suddenly he was there beside me, his head pressed against the glass – his face turned to face me. He stared at me in wonder, his honey coloured eyes blazing as if they were a burning flame.
“What?” I asked confused as to why he was looking at me funny.
“You…understand. Really?” he asked, his eyes glowing brighter.
“Yes,” I replied turning my face to face the glass.
“And you’re not afraid?”
It was a while before I whispered, “No, I’m not afraid.”
There was silence while he contemplated my reply before his lips turned at the corners to a small smile. The bright white lights danced in his blue black hair.
“I want to show you something, are you doing anything tonight?” he asked, my heart started hammering in my chest.
He smiled and chuckled to himself, almost as if he could hear my heart accelerating.
“What’s so amusing?”
He contained himself before answering in a humorous voice, “Oh nothing.”
“Well I don’t know what I’m doing tonight,” I laughed encouraging him to start laughing as well.
“9:00?”
“Perfect,” I replied elongating the word.
“Don’t worry about anything – I’ll take care of you,” he said and with that he was at the door.
He turned around swiftly in one fluent move and waved. The door clicked shut and I sank to the wooden floor.
I couldn’t believe it – he had just told me a great big secret, too big for my head to get round – and he was taking me to a place tonight. He had promised to keep me safe and I did trust him. Was it too much trusting my whole life with him? Just the idea of being with him sent a shiver down my spine – how excited to be going out with him this evening.
Where would we be going this evening and what would we be doing? In weather like this it was impossible that we would be going somewhere outside, although where would we go? To his house? He had never said a word about his family but it was obvious his family were all vamps.
The only noise I could hear was the faint ticking of the clock in the background. It was unusually quiet today, most of the time the upstairs neighbours were partying so loud music could be heard pumping the corridors. It wasn’t just quiet, it was deadly quiet.
I went around doing the usual – as if I had never been told about Caelan’s secret or that he would be taking me somewhere to night. I took a long hot shower, shampooing and conditioning my hair till it smelt of Honey and Oatmeal. I got out a blue halterneck and miniskirt, yes the first miniskirt I had worn since…
I didn’t think much about the weather while I was choosing my costume; I thought my outfit could make even a dead heart race.
There was a knock on the door at seven – my Aunty. She looked particularly tired and worn out – not up for a nights gossiping down the phone. Her hair was badly shaken and matted with raindrops and her waterproof anorak was no longer watertight. Her face displayed a cold expression.
She came in without saying a word to me and went straight to her room slamming the door. Now I know I was a one for tantrums but I could get away with it, a fully grown women couldn’t. Maybe it was just that – she didn’t think of herself as old. She was the youngest old person I had ever met.
There was no point even mentioning who I was going this evening or where. She had obviously missed some sleep to do some essential night shopping but it was ridiculous. She looked dead enough to be head vamp. She even looked more dead, if it was possible, than Caelan. His heart wouldn’t have beat for at least a hundred to a hundred and fifty years. That was question I would have to ask him – when did he die? And how? I knew those questions wouldn’t be given away as easily as others.
The evening hours prolonged, it seemed like eternity till the clock struck 9:00 announcing he would be here soon. My Aunty was still in her room and had no intention of coming out, I was free to do as I wanted tonight.
I remembered to take my long black trench coat, the weather had still not improved, and pulled my hair into a grey woolly hat. I looked like I had a date in Antarctica, not New York. I clicked the front door shut behind me and walked door the eerily silent corridor. The only sound was the click of my high heels on the wooden floor. The main lights had been turned off for obvious reasons and the small lights on the walls replaced them. They glowed a golden orange colour, the colour of a burning flame, and made a whistling noise close enough to insect every time you walked past one. I perched myself on the end step and waited for him to arrive. Sitting in the dark all alone on the stairs was not something I enjoyed doing but considering I didn’t want Alyson worrying it would be easier if I was to wait for him outside the flat.
Out of the corner of my eye a tall featureless shadow danced round the wall. I felt a chill on my neck and looked up. He was standing a step up above me looking down on me, his pale face glowing like the faucets of a diamond. The strange orange light played in his hair sending shadows across the walls.
I stood up not knowing what to say and kept my eyes to myself, unlike him whose eyes were wandering over both what I was wearing and my face.
“Um…hi,” I smiled.
“Hello to you to,” he chuckled; his chuckle was dark and humorous whilst holding the door open for me.
“Thank you,”
The cold wind whipped around my neck and I regretted not wearing a scarf. He was fully kitted out for outside weather – wearing dark jeans and a grey hoodie.
“I thought I would take you somewhere special to me, well not just special to me. Special to my whole family…although they can’t make it tonight,” he explained in his husky tone.
“Don’t I get any clues or…”
“Nope,” he grinned opening the car door for me.
I clambered into the front seat and rubbed my hands together, the cold was excruciating. It was like the car was some kind of freezer.
“I’m sorry, I’m not used to having guests who are warm blooded,” he said so matter-of-factly.
“So, technically you’re cold blooded…or something?”
“Or something, yes,” he implied, the engine roaring to life and reversing without so much of a glance at the road behind us.
“You know it would make me feel better if you tried looking at the road,” I pleaded.
He chuckled and glanced at the road behind and drove us off into the vast night.
Chapter 12 ILLUSIONAL
“Now it’s my turn to ask you the questions,” he stated.
I groaned and replied, “What do you want to know?”
“What’s your favourite colour?”
“Don’t have one,” I replied grumpily.
“But everyone has to have-”
“I don’t,” I cut him off.
There was silence until the interrogations continued, ‘what’s your favourite day of the week’ and ‘what’s your favourite food…’
“I was just wondering – would it kill you to eat human food?”
“Har-har. No. It’s just extremely unpleasant. Imagine something that makes you feel like you want to be sick. That’s what human food is like for us,” he explained.
“Brussels sprouts,” I shivered sending him into a chuckle.
Lights shimmered from the tall glass skyscrapers sending looming shadows across the uneven streets below. Loud club music could be found pumping its way along the alleyways and into the buildings.
“Do you live here?” I suddenly asked.
“No,”
“What brought you here then?” I questioned.
“It’s nothing you need to worry about,” and he didn’t bring up that subject again.
We parked in a small car park opposite a number of huge skyscrapers and clambered out of the car onto the frostbitten streets.
“Follow me,” he said hastily grabbing onto my hand and guiding me into the darkness.
Once again the smallest of his touches made me shiver, whether it was the cold or if it was excitement I wouldn’t find out.
“Where are we going?” I asked nervously, he could be leading me anywhere.
He had an advantage – the night. It was particularly dark although in the horizon were streaks of orange and pink. Sunset.
“Don’t worry, trust me,” he whispered and I did.
I trusted him with my whole heart, even my soul. He guided me inside a huge double glass door into a skyscraper and then let go of my hand. The lobby of the hotel was lit extravagantly with a huge chandelier. A grumpy looking woman sat on the other side of a huge wooden desk that was infested with potted plants.
“Hello, how can I help,” she grunted.
“I was just wondering if there was access to the roof gardens tonight?” he asked casually beaming a pearly white smile.
She seemed to perk up; his smile melted even the coldest of hearts. She smiled sweetly and replied, “We’re not supposed to let anyone in a night but for you an exception can be made.”
“Thanks,” he sighed leaving her just about melting into a puddle.
Caelan walked over to an elevator and pressed Floor 25. We didn’t have to wait for long till the elevator arrived and the cold metal doors clicked open.
“After you,” he said.
I stepped inside and sat down on the green carpeted floor leaning my head against the wall. Caelan stepped inside just before the doors shut and sank to the floor to, beside me.
“How do you do that? You’re-”
“Inhumanly fast?” he guessed my words.
I glared at him for a while before he looked uncomfortable and complained, “What did I do wrong now?”
“You can just about get away with anything. All you need is a pearly white smile and bam; you could be the president of the United States,” I said in a grave tone.
“You’re over exaggerating. Yes I pull on the old charm but it only works for humans,”
I felt myself blushing knowing I was no exception.
“And because I’ve had years of practise I can pretty much as you said ‘get away with anything.’” he replied his lips turning up on the corners.
Maybe he had found out why I had even brought up the subjects. Jealousy dug into my heart like a knife, I felt myself turning green.
“Well if you like the old nag bag kind then there’s no reason to stop you,” I couldn’t help myself from laughing after I said that.
Floor 15…Floor 16. It seemed to go on forever, all of the while we didn’t speak. We just stared at each other like a child would in a zoo. Well, if the zoo was filled with aliens of course.
Floor 25. The doors opened and we were in a small corridor. At the end of the corridor was an old rusty door with a broken sign stating ‘Roof Garden.’ I followed closely behind as we made our way to the door and out into the cool night winds.
I found myself on a huge grey concrete floor, a roof of stars above me. A small rail sectioned us off from the edge. In every corner was an exotic plant that I couldn’t remember the name of but had been told about by my parents when I was younger. An icy moon hung over us casting a light grey shadow onto the ground.
Caelan was by the railings and looking over to the sunset, his eyes were closed and he looked deep in thought. I tiptoed over to him and looked out trying to work out what he could be thinking about.
His eyes snapped open allowing the light of the sunset to pour into them making them look even more honey coloured. He turned his head and smiled to me before saying softly, “I wish you could understand what this means to me.”
“The sunset?” I guessed.
He nodded and closed his eyes. The light of the sunset danced over him. That’s when I thought about something he had told me. Hadn’t he said it was harder to ignore the scent of a human in sunlight?
“I thought you couldn’t ignore the scent of human in sunlight?” I gulped.
“Only in the day, sunset is the safest time of the evening. And the most beautiful!”
“What makes it the most beautiful?” I asked looking out to the sky once more finding where the colours bled into one another.
“This is going to sound strange but…vampires get this feeling when they watch a sunset. It’s not the same feeling humans get. It’s like you can hear singing – in the back of your mind. You also get a sense of relief and excitement,” his words whispered on the breeze.
I wondered what it would be like to hear this singing. Where would it come from? I watched him smiling contentedly knowing to well that he enjoyed this particular time of the day. The sun was slowly crawling behind the clouds, soon it would be night.
“Thank you,” I smiled.
His eyes opened again as he replied, “For what?”
“For showing me what it would be like to be you,” I replied.
Like a grand finale we watched as the sun sank into the clouds and gave way into the night. The roaring of the traffic interrupted this perfect moment but it was New York. And New York was never quiet.
“So beautiful,” he murmured playing with a loose strand of my hair before tucking it behind my ear.
I didn’t know what he meant by that but a warm blush spread over my cheeks. I didn’t know why I felt embarrassed, I just felt happy. He watched me, obviously trying to work out what I was thinking about.
“Anyway, I better get you home,” he finally said holding his hand out for me again; I took it and replied, “Otherwise Alyson will put a restraining order on you.”
He guided me into the building, not letting go of my hand this time. It took much less time than it had coming up to my disappointment, I didn’t want this night to end. It had been perfect. I wonder if Caelan liked me as much as I liked him. Guys were slow on hints, I remembered. Then again, he was vampire. Vampires had faster reflexes than humans did.
We were out in the cold, once again, in no time. Caelan didn’t let go of my hand till he reached the car. Even then he held the passenger seat door open for me and closed it.
“I was wondering if you wanted to meet my family,”
“When?” I gulped.
“Don’t be so scared, they’d never hurt a friend,” he reassured me.
“Where is your house?” I asked.
“Well we have one on the outskirts of New York although this is the last time we’ll be staying in it. We’re selling it soon. We also have another but not near here,” he replied.
“I don’t think they’ll like me much,” I quivered, just the idea of being in a house full of vamps sent my heart racing.
“Of course they’ll like you. I’ve already told them lots about you. Yvette especially,”
Was he out of his mind? Even if I was his friend what if one of his family members wanted a snack. I would be first on the fast food list. Then there was the trouble of Alyson, she didn’t like Caelan’s family much. Would she mind me spending a day with them? This also brought another question into mind. Why did Alyson hate them so much?
“How about I pick you up at 12? Then you’ll be able to spend the afternoon with us,” he asked.
“OK,” I sighed.
“I promise, I’ll kill them if they just so much as lay a hand on you,”
Caelan was so sweet. His brilliant gold eyes shone like a beacon of light, he wasn’t looking at the road again. His face looked icy blue in the moonlight magnifying his metallic hair.
I wish I could tell what he was thinking. Did he feel the same way about me? The anticipation of it all was driving me crazy. I knew he liked me, it was obvious. The way he looked at me, it was like he was the winner of some lucky prize. He didn’t know that it was the other way round. He was completely flawless. I didn’t understand what he saw in me? A sad depressed teenager who had never moved on after her father left her? What was my father doing now? Had he ever moved on – was he dating? That question bugged me the most. My mum had said if things got worse she was to send me out here – was she really going to do that? To ship me off to my father? What if he had become something horrible. What if he had another family? I felt sick at the thought.
Then there was Kai, if I left he would be vulnerable. Ian was treating him weirdly; it wouldn’t be long until he did something drastic. Kai was a very good friend and there were times when I could see he wanted more. I sighed. He would never give up. After all he’s only human. That thought was complete and utter irony.
I turned to look at Caelan, I could see by the look on his face he was calculating what I was thinking. Whenever I was near him I felt like he knew everything about me in just one look. Sometimes it was like he knew what I was thinking.
He pulled in, I was at the apartment. It felt like no time had passed since we were on the roof top, it was all so quick. I got out clicking the door shut and walked onto the pavement. Caelan was leaning against the wall, when he saw me the corners of his mouth turned up into a smile.
“Well thank you, for taking me…tonight,” I said stumbling for words, my heart beating frantically.
I turned and walked to the glass doors breathing slowly. I would probably end up falling over and looking completely stupid in front of him.
Suddenly he was by the door to; he turned me around to face him. His face looked beautiful in the moonlight. His face was inches from mine; I could smell his vanilla like breath.
“Sweet dreams,” he whispered into my ear and then I was alone.
The car had already driven off; I was still glued to the spot. My heartbeat hadn’t become regular yet, I was still content. After about five minutes I turned around swinging the glass door open and stepping into the light. Even though it was almost 10 they still had the lights on, I expected they never turned them off. It was eerie, walking up the stairs on my own. The only sound that could be heard was the thrumming of the lights and the distant dripping of a tap.
I felt like I was being watched so I quickly looked left and right. No one was following. I hadn’t known it was so far up; I always raced down the stairs. Suddenly from my right came a clanking metal sound, no sooner had it started it finished. The hairs on the back of my neck rose and a tingling sensation swept the back of my neck to my toes. Further up a door slammed shut, it sounded like it was on my floor. Above me I could see a figure slowly, almost marching, down the stairs. She kept her face hidden but I could tell it was Mrs. Rice by her mousy curly hair. She wore a long black skirt with a baby pink jacket. She was one floor above me.
“Hello Mrs. Rice,” I smiled sweetly.
She didn’t reply, she looked up. Her face was painted with face paint like a crown. Tiny little creatures were crawling in her hair and a spider crawled out of her nose. She walked past me, just like she would on any other day. Inside I felt like screaming, I felt sick and could vaguely feel my forehead growing colder.
I finally spotted the door and yanked it open. I was safe. I closed the door quietly, Alyson was watching the news. Something was up. Something had happened.
“Oh, so you finally show up,” she grunted, her eyes not bothering to leave the telly.
I walked over to her and replied, “I was just out with a friend.”
“It’s dangerous! You shouldn’t be out on the streets at night,” she murmured, she looked like a young school girl.
Her hands gripped her legs, her hair was done up in a pony tail. On her nose were her fat framed glasses and she wore stripy pyjamas.
“Who did you go with?” she asked in a small voice.
“Caelan,” I gulped.
“You know I don’t mind you going out with friends but that family-”
“That family what? What did they do wrong? Caelan is one of the nicest people I know!” I exclaimed.
“Where did you go?” she sighed.
“We went to the Roof Forest Hotel,” I replied weakly.
Her eyes flashed nervously to the TV and then back to me. My eyes flickered over the shock on her face and onto the TV. The TV was tuned onto CNN, a news presenter in a bright blue suit and tie sat behind an oak desk. At the bottom of the screen was a banner that said ‘Roof Forest Hotel up in flames’ in bright red print. On the right hand corner of the screen was a live picture from the scene, there was barely a brick on the building that wasn’t on fire. Even from the TV’s small sound system you could hear the ambulances, hear the screaming of the people trapped in the building.
“What time did you leave?” she asked shakily.
“9:45,” I replied.
“It was found on fire 10 minutes later,” she stood up and pressed the red button on the TV remote and the flat screen went black.
“Do you have any idea how worried I was? You didn’t even tell me you were going!” she yelled.
“You seemed tired; you went into your room. I figured it would make you more…stressful,” I mumbled, my eyes lowering to the floor.
“Stressful? Believe me I was far more stressful not knowing where you were. You could have gotten yourself hurt! You should have told me you were going out with Caelan!” she screamed, I wasn’t surprised if the every apartment in the building could hear.
“If I had told you you would have said no!” I yelled back.
Anger flashed through her eyes, “And why is that then? Don’t you have any idea who I am?”
I thought for a second, I only knew that she moved around a lot. Apart from that she was a stranger to me, a member of a large knit circle of family. She could have been an axe murder for all I knew.
“I’m sorry,” I gritted through my teeth, practically forcing myself to say the word.
“Sorry for what? Practically walking into a death trap!” her anger rising again.
“What do you want me to say then?” I replied using the same tone as her.
“Do you like him then? Caelan. I suppose he’s good looking. You don’t know what he really is though, there’s a lot more to him than meets the eye,” she sneered.
“Why should you care who I like and who I don’t? You know what, I don’t care what you think!” and with that I stomped into my bedroom making a point by slamming the door.
I slumped onto the bed, tears streaming down my face. I didn’t know how I could get up in the morning tomorrow knowing she would be there. Why did she care if I liked Caelan? What was up with her? She knew something, it was obvious. Something was not right.
My red rimmed eyes finally closed and I felt the cold night wrap over me like a blanket. I didn’t dream at all, which was partially good because I would be haunted by the look I had been given by Alyson. The hatred in her eyes I had never known had existed. I thought about the words she had said before ‘There’s a lot more to him than meets the eye.’ What did she know? She hated the family, she had probably only met him once. I didn’t understand what she had against the family. That brought up another subject: meeting the rest of his vamp family tomorrow. Some part of me was nervous but another part of me thrilled to it. I just wished he would notice how I felt about him.
When I finally awoke, after a very deep sleep, it was very bright. The traffic was reasonably OK; some parts looked a bit congested. I stretched and leaned my legs over the bed. My reflection in the mirror told me I had been right; I looked hideous. My eyes were bloodshot and red rimmed with dark lines under my eyes. I could have passed for a vampire. My hair looked like it had been backcombed and was knotted.
Oh well, a bit of make up can fix anything I thought as I pulled my make up bag out and applied various pieces to my face. When I was done I looked perfect. My eyes looked bold and mysterious, my hair out of the big knots.
I then went to my wardrobe and wondered what I should wear. I ended up with a blue denim miniskirt, a pink halterneck and white knee length boots. My hair hung loosely from my shoulders and fell near the end of my back. I took a deep breath and walked out into the living room, to my surprise Alyson wasn’t up. Maybe that was a good thing; maybe it was a bad thing. It was 10:30. I still had a few hours left before he arrived. There was only one place I wanted to be right now.
“I’m just going for a walk on the streets,” I yelled before walking towards the door and snapping it shut.
I walked out onto the wooden floored landing and started walking down the steps. Loud disco music could be heard from a few floors up, its beat methodical and the melody rhythmical. I quickened my pace as I gradually got nearer the glass door and I walked out into the cool fresh air. I was pushed by the crowd who all looked extremely annoyed; it was so congested out here.
I started to walk off towards the park when I noticed a small child at the end of the road. She looked like a mini red riding hood although her face was hidden. Her mousy brown plaits hung out the edges of her cape. In her small hand was the string of balloon. The balloon was heart shape and looked metallic red. There was something creepy about her but I couldn’t think what. I entered the park gates and walked towards the green bench. Out of the corner of my eyes I could see mini-miss-red riding-hood, the cape making her look like she was gliding towards me. She stopped a few feet near me, cocked her head to one side and stared at me. I could feel her eyes burning into me. Anger boiled up deep inside me, but why? I wasn’t angry with anyone. Then she undid her cloak.
I froze to my seat in her terror, it was horrible. She had a pure white face, almost as if it been painted with face paint. She had evil red eyes and her body was an ever moving black mass. She glided towards me hissing revealing her lizard forked tongue. I shut my eyes wishing her away and when I opened them she was gone.
What was happening to me? They had been real, hadn’t they? My imagination was not that creative. I could have never come up with something as hideous as that had been. It reminded me of seeing Mrs. Rice last night. I shuddered and decided to shut them out and started thinking about where I would be going in the afternoon. Even though he had promised to talk to his family I was still a bit nervous but I didn’t doubt him.
In the distance an ambulance wailed nosily followed by two others. Eventually a fire truck and a police car passed. Something bad had happened but at that precise moment in time I just wanted tranquillity. Someone walked out from behind the tall green trees, someone familiar.
I could recognise that face anywhere. It was Kai, but what was he doing way out in New York? Maybe it had got so bad with the others he needed to see me in person. He walked over, casual enough, and sat down next to me on the bench. He acted as if he had seen me yesterday, no big ‘hellos’ or ‘you didn’t send me a text.’ He just sat down staring into the distance.
“Are you going to carry on ignoring me considering that I haven’t seen you in ages?” I asked rudely.
He didn’t reply, he just turned his head and nodded. Then I noticed the redness by his hair. Suddenly red liquid, blood, pouring down his face and he fell to the floor. I screamed and ran out of the park. What the hell? That had been Kai. I sobbed relentlessly not even contemplating what everyone else on the street thought of me. I ran as fast as I could not looking back, if I had looked back I would have seen something terrible. A face and it was mine.
I didn’t stop running till I had reached the door of the apartment. I slammed the door open and ran to my room not bothering to say anything to Alyson. I slumped myself on my bed and squeezed my eyes tightly shut. What was happening to me? Why were these demonic images haunting me? What had I done wrong to deserve this? I dried my eyes erasing any trails of tears, walked to the door and stepped out into the sitting room. Alyson was sitting on the sofa with a mug of tea in her hands and engrossed in a magazine.
“I didn’t hear you come in,” she murmured not bothering to take her eyes off the magazine.
“I just went to the park, I felt like I needed some fresh air. There’s something I want to ask you, at twelve I’ve got a date with Nate so…can I go?”
I hated lying to her but if I had mentioned Caelan she would’ve nearly fainted. She thinks that it was all Caelan’s fault – just because the building had set on fire ten minutes after we had gone.
“Sure,” she replied looking up.
I screamed, her face was disfigured – in some way broken. A massive scar ran from her eyebrow to her neck. I fell to the floor cracking it hard against the stone surface and fell into a blank nothingness.
Chapter 13 MEET THE FAMILY
I woke up feeling disoriented, I was on the sofa and Alyson was peering down on me so close I could smell her oatmeal shampoo. My right hand instantly went up to my forehead were a large purple lump was building. That was going to look bad in the morning.
“Are you alright?” she asked.
“I, I think so. My head hurts,” I groaned.
“What happened, one minute you were fine and the next you were screaming on the floor?” she interrogated.
I didn’t know how to tell her I was seeing weird things, things that nobody else but me saw. I knew she wouldn’t understand, she would just tell me to go and see a psychiatrist. I wanted the images to stop so at least there were some people among my friends and family who thought I was sane. The only problem was if Alyson wanted to know something she wouldn’t rest until she had the answer. I had to tell her.
“Have you ever seen something strange before, like…something that wasn’t there?” I asked.
“I’ve seen many a strange things, go on,” she replied.
“Well it’s been going on for quite some now. I screamed because when you looked up your face looked disfigured and it had a massive scar down it. In the park today I thought I saw my best friend but then blood poured from his head and he collapsed. He had never been there,” I explained, my teeth chattering.
“And you want to get rid of these…things?” she answered slowly, not knowing what to say obviously.
“Yes, I do. They’re really starting to frighten me, especially with my friend…” I trailed off.
“The best thing to do is if you see anything don’t look at it again, just ignore it. Pretend that nothing’s there,” she replied before walking into her bedroom.
Twelve come quick and fast; I was standing outside the big glass front doors. Once again the sky had greyed although it still felt quite hot. Leaves were being carried on the breeze and I could hear bird’s song in the tree I was standing next to. I concentrated on the road, waiting for Caelan so show up, instead of focusing on the crowd. If I had looked in the crowd I might’ve spotted something quite disturbing.
I was also worrying about my bruise on my forehead. Was it that obvious? No doubt Caelan would notice it; he noticed the smallest of scars.
The Ford pulled up and Caelan stepped out. He looked very handsome today; he wore light blue jeans and a white shirt with black stripes. His hair was ruffled slightly and his golden eyes shone magnificently.
“Hey,” I waved.
I walked forward to the car and stood in front of him. His face looked pale in the limited light pouring through the clouds, something about him seemed magical.
“You ready?” he asked.
“Ready to go or ready to face your family?” I asked nervously.
“For both,” he said, his lips curving up into a small smile.
I walked to the passenger’s side and climbed in. He was already at the wheel watching me intently. I wasn’t ready to face his family, not yet. I had seen some of them before. I had watched the blonde curly haired girl walked past giving me the evils as if to say ‘I rule this place.’
The roar of the engine interrupted my thinking and the car lurched off the pavement and onto the road. He looked at my forehead, his eyes zooming onto my purple bruise.
“What happened?” he sighed.
“I fell and cracked my hand on the kitchen floor,” I replied.
“Can’t trust you with yourself can I?” he stated, matter-of-factly.
“I wouldn’t have done it if-” I bit my lip, did I really want him thinking me as crazy?
He waited in silence, expecting me to reply. My eyes flickered out of the window looking at the streets flying by. He cleared his throat and said, “You can tell me, you know.”
“It’s kind of difficult,” I replied turning my head to face his, a sympathetic look on my face.
Yeah, a sympathetic look. He turned his head back to the road focusing on the traffic and not getting us killed. Maybe he just did it for my sake, he had told me he had never crashed before or got caught for that matter.
“So am I going to meet all of your family?” I asked.
“Yes although there’s one tiny problem, Hugh won’t be there for a bit. He’s a little…thirsty today,” he said.
I gulped; I didn’t want to bump into Hugh today. I wondered what I would look like to him. A blood burger. I snickered; they must have better terms than I had made up. Ones that were less cringey perhaps.
Well you met Henré – the father. Iris is his wife; they also have six children in total. They’re all adopted. Damion, Caelan and Yvette are all siblings. Elizabeth, Miranda and Hugh are siblings as well,