by Karen Binnie
Chapter 3
Kate lifted her head from the toilet bowl, man did she feel bad. The time was 11.30 pm and she had to catch up with Jol before her dad arrived. Lurching toward the bowl, she hueyed again, her head was thumping and she just wanted to die. Why had she drank too much too quickly? her mother had always warned her about that. Gregor hadn't been too impressed by her efforts, they were just about to lock lips for real when she had started to gag, the whole event had been a disaster. He had recoiled in disgust and stomped off mumbling what a stupid little girl she was. Kate just managed to reach the toilet bowl, her guts hurt bad and so did her pride, she could never look at him or go near him again for the embarrassment.
Life was crap but she knew it had been all her own stupid bloody fault especially when she had taken a drag on that cigarette, attempting to act cool even though it had tasted weird. She steadied herself against the sink trying to find some normality to her wobbly legs, she had to find Jol and fast. The music was thumping, her head was thumping to the beat, she stepped forward and the room began to spin.
At 11.30 pm John Serason grabbed his coat from the stand in the hall and pulled the door shut behind him. He made his way toward the car cursing under his breath at the beer bottles strewn around the garden yet again, the one curse of living too close to the domain favoured by the young and not yet the legal drinking age, especially on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. It was the start of the holidays now the exams had finished and that was worse, large groups would gather in the park opposite with nothing better to do, one wondered where they got all the money from and not just beer bottles either!
As he stooped to collect the bottle near the back of the car, something caught his eye in the light of a passing car, he bent further to see, “Alice is that you?”
No, no cat as he groaned pushing his body up from his knees, the part of old age that bothered him the most, not being as agile as he was in his youth.
“Hello John, have you lost something?” called Margaret the old lady from next door.
“Oh, hello there you’re up late?” he replied, “you haven’t seen that blasted cat of ours have you?”
“Bill’s watching the boxing, can’t abide it myself, just putting out the rubbish I’ll keep an eye out for him if you like.”
“Thanks.”
“What would you like for Sunday roast? I got some beef at a good rate in the butchers yesterday, do you fancy that?”
“You’re too good to us you know, you and Bill, yes beef will be fine and I’ll bring dessert, none of that nut roast for Julianne though, she’s off to the cinema tomorrow for her birthday with Kate.”
Pulling up outside the Mitchell residence he checked his watch, only 11.45 pm, damn, he had hoped to kill a bit of time stopping to buy petrol and cigarettes, he knew he had left too early 'ok Julianne you've 15 minutes' he told himself as he looked at his watch. He thought of Vyvien, the watch had been the very last thing she had given him on their anniversary before her death and he treasured it although he hadn't really liked it, too ostentatious for his liking. He wondered how she managed to afford such an expensive and unique item, Oh don’t worry, I’ve just closed on the best deal ever, was all she would say.
The gift had nagged at his conscience, time had brought with it silence, they hardly spoke a civil word and he wondered the true meaning behind the gift, now he would never know.
He felt incredibly weary and his eyelids grew heavy, it had been a long day and he was very tired. He felt his head nodding and he awoke in a panic from the slumber that had engulfed him, looking at his watch it was still only 11.46 pm, he thought he had been asleep for ages as his eyelids began to droop once more.
Inside, the room was still spinning for Kate as she tried to stand bracing herself against the wall, the door burst open making her jump in fright and lose balance again. A man entered the bathroom, closing the door quickly and holding it shut with his back, his eyes were closed. Kate stood with the opposite wall holding her up and tried to focus, what was he doing? did she dare speak, didn’t he realise she was there?
Stanton slowly opened his eyes as his hand fell against the key, he quickly turned it, locking them both in, he looked back at the frightened eyes of Kate, “It’s alright” he began “I’m not going to hurt you.”
He reached forward and caught Kate just in time before the wall released its hold on her, “here you best sit down on the floor for a bit, you ok?”
All Kate could do was nod at her saviour, her bum felt numb, the denim skirt barely able to assist against the cold bathroom tiles, words failed her so she looked at him waiting for some kind of explanation not much else to do as her body seemed to have failed her as well. She watched as the man returned to the door, as if listening for something, then he sat against it, holding his knees against his chest and looking deep into her eyes, he looked tired and drawn, the lines either side of his eyes etched deep with worry, she wondered how old he was and what he was doing at the party.
“My name is Stanton and I, well I don’t know where to begin, if you bear with me I’ll explain but something strange has happened here tonight and it looks like we’re the only ones still awake.”
The fog of words slowly cleared through the haze in her brain, “You’re American?” is all she could manage.
“Yes” he replied.
“Where from?” she managed to slur coherently.
Stanton sighed, “Vermont.” The girl just nodded, it was clear she had not understood his meaning.
Leaning his head back against the door he listened carefully, no sound, no music, no movement, he was beginning to wish he hadn’t started this investigation, curiosity in the occult had always got the better of him. Too late now, now he was locked in the bathroom with a drunken girl, someone else for him to worry about, how was he going to explain to her what was going on when he really didn’t know himself.
“What’s that?” she asked, wrinkling her nose at the sweet smell, her voice now becoming a lot clearer.
Stanton looked to where she was pointing, a purplish mist had begun to seep under the door and with it came whispers from the hall outside, and it didn’t sound good. “Quick, throw me the towel.”
Kate reached up to the sink beside her and thrust the towel in his direction, with as much force as her muscles could take, panic pushed the adrenaline through her veins as she stumbled over the words, “Is the house on fire? oh my god! we’re gonna die.”
Stanton held his hand out towards her and gently moved his palm up and down in a motion to calm the girl, “It’s not a fire” he mouthed quietly, then he put his finger to his lips to silence her, turning his ear back to the door.
Clarintor stood in the grand hallway of the house like a statue looking down the hall where Kroil advanced towards her, anger welled up inside, refusing to admit defeat although hope was fading with the unique pulse that had called to her, bringing her here on an ancient promise.
She already knew the news would be bad, the pulse was growing weaker. In a second Kroil had reached her, “Something is not right mistress, I sent the boy to keep watch from the garden, he attempted to signal but something blocked his attempt and he is no-where to be found, I knew he would weaken, a liability.”
Clarintor raised her sharp bony hand quickly, Kroil flinched as he anticipated pain, she took his face in her hands and brushed her thin lips gently against his as she whispered, “All is not lost, the pulse is weak but still here, we will check the garden, the boy must have seen something.”
As they left, their movements so swift and graceful as if floating on the mist which surrounded them, Clarintor paused down the hall, her hand reached for the handle of the door she was drawn to when Kroil shouted, “Quickly, there’s something down by the lake.”
A pair of frightened eyes shone in the forest through the evening light, it was a strange light that glowed iridescently from the many orange hues that it possessed. The eyes caught that glow and gli
nted in the evening sun, pale sage green eyes that watched silently the scene before them.
In the forest clearing, the tall pines cast deep shadows across the purple carpet of dense heather. On the far side a shadowy figure, tall and commanding stood high upon a great slab of dense rock, imposing against the sky as a fine mist began to rise and linger above the heather and on the breeze a soft angelic voice echoed across the landscape. Almost like music the words enchanting as she moved in unison with her body. The pale eyes un-flinched from the scene, the boy confused as to what had happened to him, unable to take his eyes from the figure, a blue light flashed through the mist, lighting up the dusk and temporarily blinding him. As the light radiated out across the clearing the figure he had followed approached the woman, with a cloak of earthen colours it moved towards the other and bowed in recognition.
The man spoke, “Tell Eldeen the task is complete, I shall let him explain what I have done.”
“What is wrong Al’ice? you are troubled, you are trembling.”
“Tell him the task met with an unforeseen complication, my strength has been weakened but I will return by daybreak, please be here cousin, I may need assistance.”
The only sound, their hurried breathing as Stanton held Kate close in the dark of the bathroom, he had pulled her into a tight embrace in the hope this would calm her as he turned off the light.
They both watched as the doorknob of the locked door began to glow, the faint sweet smell of death on the other side. Her young body trembled beside him, he only hoped she could manage to be quiet, although he had started all of this, the reality, he did not want to know what was on the other side of that door.
Kate hugged the man tightly as fear gripped her body at the sight of the glowing doorknob, she did not understand what was happening but this was not the time to ask questions, somehow she knew she could die, the only comfort, she was not alone. Burying her head in his chest she drank in the smell of his musky odour a mixture of aftershave and manly sweat as her mind raced, holding the image of his face behind her eyes. His gorgeous hazel gaze beneath chestnut curls, the square set of his jaw, the perfect nose and perfect teeth, truly an American, this could be her very last memory.
Stanton held the young girl close and knew he had to save them both but he had left the answers in his haste to chase after Julianne, the answers or what he had hoped were the answers lay in the book he had studied, the book which now lay on the table back in the dining room. If what was on the other side of that door found the book it would know he was on to it and he didn’t even want to think of the consequences of that. He would have to calm the girl down before he explained the situation but was unsure about the best way to go about it, hopefully she could help, if only they could manage to get out of this bathroom alive.
He had just turned 20 and shared a dorm at Wellington University with Sam Mitchell’s brother Tim, when Tim had mentioned going home for yet another party weekend, Stanton had asked if he could go. Tim got on his nerves most of the time, he was very immature for his age and liked to brag about his parents wealth, he had a legion of female hangers on but Stanton was pretty sure it wasn't Tim’s personality they were in love with. Stanton had an ulterior motive for coming here this weekend, he had been here only once before when they had first become roommates, from his first visit he had been astounded by the vast library at the east side of the two storey house, books were his life and he drank in the knowledge as he read, Tim hardly noticed when Stanton disappeared for he was far too busy entertaining his harem, usually beside the pool. He did think his roommate was a little odd though preferring books to women and had never invited him back except this time when Stanton had appeared more keen than ever, something to do with an amazing discovery from one of his dads old books.
The story had engulfed Stanton and had seemed almost real that he had begun researching the facts in every spare moment once he had returned to Uni, fascinated with the macabre and mysterious. Now it seemed as if what he had been investigating had begun to enfold before his very eyes.
The rest of the house had fallen eerily silent, he flicked the light back on and observed the young girl before him, “Are you alright?” she nodded silently as her deep brown eyes bore into his.
Holding her at arm’s length he began to explain, “This may seem a little odd just now but we need to find my book, not just any book, this will hold the answers to what has happened here tonight.”
Kate stared at him lost in the confusion of it all when the reality set in, she had to find Jol, before her dad turned up, what time is it? Glancing at her watch it was 11.46, Crap! Jol’s dad would be here very soon, all feelings of sickness had already drained away, Kate was feeling a lot close to normal as the panic set in, “Listen we had better hurry up, I’ve got to find my friend, her dad’s coming to collect us at midnight and if we’re not…….” she had started to breathe in short fast bursts.
Stanton stood before her, his hands resting on her shoulders, it was clear she had not grasped the severity of the situation and now she was hyperventilating.
“Slow, deep, breaths, that’s it. Look, you come with me to get my book and I’ll help you look for your friend, after what just happened we should stick together don’t you think?” he cocked his head towards her, “I don’t even know your name?”
“Kate and thanks Stan.”
“Stanton!” he replied looking at her with those gorgeous eyes of his, what colour were they? She realised he wasn’t as old as she first thought, just a lack of fashion sense.
Kate grabbed for the doorknob in her haste, “Come on then, there isn’t much time.”
Stanton held her wrist tightly, “From scared stiff one minute to sheer bravado the next!” he shook his head at her in disbelief, “have you forgotten already what just happened?”
Kate let him pull her hand back as she stared at the alien doorknob as he spoke. Letting go of her wrist, he lightly touched the knob with the end of his jacket, nothing happened, then he tried his finger tip, still nothing happened. He put his whole hand around it and began to turn slowly, Kate waited, wondering if a rush of smoke would engulf them.
Stanton turned to her, put his hand to his lips once more and mouthed silently “follow me” holding out his hand. Kate gladly took it and followed him out into the darkened hall, there were no lights just the light of the full moon through the windows, she allowed him to lead her forward expectantly, her heart racing with fear and excitement all at once.
Down the hall they crept and Kate wondered why it was so quiet, had everyone else been hiding too? Stanton stopped at a door and taking in a deep breath he opened it.
Kate put her hand to her mouth to stifle the gasp, before them a huge table with eight kids slumped around it, he let go of her hand and stepped forward putting his fingers against the nearest boy’s wrist to feel for a pulse. Gently he placed the boys arm back on the table and turning to Kate he whispered, “Still alive.”
“What happened?” Kate whispered back.
He was now crawling around on the floor under the table, his head appeared between two lifeless bodies.
“Not sure” he replied, “it's like they’re…..” startled in his tracks as he bumped the chair beside him dislodging the girl’s arm which swung down, her hand slapping him in the face. Kate saw the funny side and tried not to laugh as he quickly scrambled to his feet, pushing his curls back on his head, “like I said, it’s like they’re all asleep, like in a coma or something.”
“What were you looking for?” asked Kate as she studied the red mark he was rubbing on his cheek, caused by the abrupt slap.
“My book, it’s not here.”
“Well where did you leave it?” Kate was growing impatient.
“Right here” came his disgruntled reply.
Kate thought for a moment, “Oh!……….well let’s find my friend, we can look for your book at the same time.”
Stanton looked down at Kate, she had a be
autiful dark blemish free face, pretty brown eyes and stood at least a foot shorter than him, “So I help you find your friend and then what, you both leave me to sort out this mess?”
“Oh!……………..well, you could always come with us, they will wake up right?”
“I’m counting on it chick, I don’t think your friends dad is going to like me tagging along somehow though. Look let’s just find your friend and I’ll think of something, what she look like?”
“Oh crap! well she’s kind of just a bit taller than me, mousy shoulder length hair, um.., jeans, uh.. black rimmed glasses, oh and a top like mine but in a kind of jade green.”
Stanton stared at her, his face devoid of all colour.
“What’s wrong?” asked Kate, “you look ill.”
“Is your friend’s name Julianne?”
Jez could feel his heart beating, stronger than ever before, the blood pulsing through his veins, yet he still could not move his body.
His mind was racing, racing with his body across a vast lawn, he wasn't sure where he was going but his instincts drove him forward towards a strange building, he realised it was the summerhouse at the Mitchells place. He had been there before with some girl, his shoulder felt heavy and the girl slumped across it never moved or uttered a word.
This girl was different and he knew that this was a different situation, his mind raced searching for answers that didn’t come, this was such a vague memory and he began to wonder what the hell he had done. Fear of what he was about to witness stopped him, he laid the girl gently on the bench inside the summerhouse as he caught his breath, staring down at her limp body he saw a young girl, couldn't be any more than 16, she was petit with shoulder length hair, there were red marks either side of her nose.
He scanned the ground outside, she must have been wearing glasses but he couldn't see them anywhere. As he turned back, her eyes were open, she didn't scream or move but just stared at him.