by L. J. Fox
She was aware of the presence of two people in a car beyond the farm gate, parked among some trees to the left. She could tell it was a foreign car by the engine sound and the split-second glimpse she had managed over recent months, but not exactly what type of foreign car. She had not been around many Mercedes Benz, BMW’s or other cars from international sources in her life. She knew it contained two men by the faint sound of their voices though the men were not always the same men. She knew their thoughts were trained on the farmhouse, and especially on her, but not what they wanted.
These people or others from the same mould had been following and watching her for over twelve months now. She knew. She had seen them and heard them, although they were not aware of this. She had determined that if they wished to harm her then it would have already happened. There had been plenty of opportunities where she had been alone, or nearly alone. If they were serious about harming her, why had they not already tried.
She had turned this into a bit of a game. Wherever she went in town, she would hesitate and concentrate to detect if the car was nearby with people watching her. The game got easier each time she tried. She could almost feel their presence now without looking for them. They were always there.
She had not told her grandparents of this development over the past twelve months. She didn’t want to alarm them, and she knew it would definitely alarm them. She could just imagine the absolute panic that this admission would have caused. Her grandparents were incredibly protective of her, to the point almost of suffocation. Lovely as it was, it was another reason she needed to get away.
She could not detect that there was any danger with the strangers who followed her, and she knew it would jeopardise her chance of going to university if her grandparents knew of their existence. These strangers thought they were so clever at hiding and stalking her, but she was always aware of where they were. She pursed her lips, wondering again what it was that they were after. Many times, she had thought of confronting them, catching them unaware and demanding to know why they were watching her. Why follow her? Why stalk her? Why?
Something held her back. It wasn’t fear. She didn’t feel fearful of what these people wanted, it was more a dread, a knowing that once that bridge was crossed, there would be no going back. Once known, it cannot be unknown. In some ways she felt like an ostrich, putting her head in the sand and the problem would go away. It still could go away, she reasoned. Why not?
“Layne. Time to go” Her grandfather called up to her from downstairs. She could hear how he was trying to sound jolly, but he was failing miserably. That normal calm, settling voice she knew so well was playing a role. A role of a caring grandfather sending his granddaughter off to university, but she knew it was a distressed grandfather, terrified for some strange reason. Why were her grandparents so afraid of her going? Surely, thousands of young people had left for university in the past? Did all their parents and grandparents act this way? What was going on? Why was she so afraid to ask them?
She heard a quiet sob from her grandmother.
Gently she closed the window against the familiar smells of the farm, picked up her overcrowded suitcase and made her way down the staircase.
Chapter 4
It was Layne’s turn for tears as she said goodbye to her grandparents. She hugged each one tightly as if she would never let them go. They felt warm and soft, and they smelled the same familiar odours she had known almost all her life, warm, soapy and faintly of dog and grass hay. She chided herself afterwards that she was acting more like a child than a grown-up, but it had been more difficult than she had imagined. Maybe she was not as grown-up as she thought. Maybe she was the silly child that held on to the apron strings forever.
Memories of saying goodbye to her parents sixteen years earlier popped into her mind.
Her grandparents were also upset about leaving her. Her grandfather had held her, and she knew there was something he wanted to say but was holding back. She could feel the clench of his hands as he held her and the rapidness of his breathing. Her grandmother held a tissue to her face to blot the tears.
“Pop, I’ll see you in two weeks. That is not long. It will be fine.” She had assured him smiling through her tears.
Finally, he had gently shaken her. “Be safe. Layne. Be safe.”
Then he had turned away abruptly and put his arms around her grandmother as he led the weeping woman away. They looked old and frail at that moment as she watched the back of them. She had never thought of them as aging, but she could see it now, as the tears fell down her cheeks. Layne watched the retreating figures until they turned the corner and were out of sight. Wiping her wet cheeks and with one last glance in the direction they had taken, she headed back indoors.
Inspecting her single room, she noted it was a touch smaller than a horse stable with a window to the right of the bed. It didn’t matter to her at all how big the room was, as long as she had a wardrobe, bed and desk, then she was happy. The floor was an industrial type of carpet. She would look to purchase a small rug. Once she put on her own colourful bed linen and scattered her own things around the room, it would be fine. She placed the photos of her parents and grandparents on the bedside table, and then she felt more at home. Most students chose to stay off-campus in boarding houses or apartments scattered around town. Layne had decided she wanted to room on-campus in the small student accommodation rooms. Her decision was based on feeling more secure in a single location, where she didn’t need to know the shops, the roads, the public transport or how to live on her own. It was a lack of confidence she knew but still a big step forward for a country girl.
The bathroom was next door and shared with another girl from the other side. Further down the hallway was a community kitchen and a common room with television and lounge chairs. Excited students were wandering around everywhere. There was a buzz of expectation in the air, of meeting new friends, learning new subjects and reaching out to the future. She welcomed this new time in her life.
The name of the girl on the other side of the bathroom was Amity Charm. Although she had not yet met Amity, she had a good feeling about her, based on her name, and the messiness of the bathroom. Amity had quite obviously moved in well before Layne. The mess in the bathroom was almost organised and structured with a lot of purple towels, rows of nail polish, soaps and lotions. The room smelled of perfume, soap, deodorant, nail polish remover, toothpaste and shampoos. Layne couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of it. It made her own toiletries seem pretty sparse and boring. Amity had been kind enough to leave one drawer free and a small amount of space under the vanity. Layne unpacked her items and folded her boring blue towels, sitting them next to the fluffy purple ones.
Back in her room, Layne slid open the window and breathed in the scent of the university campus. She had always found that the best way to get to know a place, was to immerse herself in the scents. She could establish the situation within a 200 metre radius by what odours she could detect. So many unfamiliar smells and some very different from the smells of the farm. Some new smells to familiarise herself with. What better way to get a feel for daily life and what the future may bring? She smelled the late summer flowers including Belladonna lilies, the occasional roses spot flowering and newly growing Nerines, old trees such as Pin Oaks and Elms, the leather of brief cases and bags, the cheap colognes, perfumes and aftershave lotions from countless students, even the deodorant, sun cream and moisturiser from most of them, not to mention the smell of a couple having sex nearby. She didn’t want to know exactly where though she could smell pine bark mingled with the aroma. She blushed as she tried to turn her mind away from the scene.
A faint aroma of sausage being barbequed reached her and the smell of onions cooking. That was a familiar smell. The local Bunnings store had a sausage sizzle most weekends and her grandfather was partial to his sausage sandwich every Saturday morning. The university was putting on the barbeque for the new students who were staying on-campus. There was not rea
lly time to go shopping for food or learn where the shops were yet. It would be great to have a sausage sandwich for tonight’s meal and worry about the rest tomorrow. The thought of her sausage sandwich made her mouth water.
Layne heard footsteps in the hallway and could smell a clinging perfume as someone approached. She knew it was Amity before the loud knock at the door and voice called out.
“Hello. Anyone in there?”
Layne jumped up from the bed and opened the door. An attractive, slim girl with short dark hair bounced into the room. Before Layne could say a word or compose herself, the girl wrapped her arms around Layne, embracing her in a bear hug. It was the first time a stranger had ever done that to her, and she almost jumped back in shock.
“I’m Amity. We are bath roomies. How cool is that?”
Her voice was high-pitched and spoken in a childish rush. Layne had to concentrate to understand what she was saying. Amity pulled back and looked at Layne. She had a big genuine grin on her face and Layne found her enthusiasm infectious. She looked very much like Alice in the Twilight series Layne decided.
“Tell me about you? Do you like purple, and what’s your favourite music?” Amity asked as she sat on the end of Layne’s bed and curled her legs up under her, positioning herself for a marathon chat.
In the few seconds that the hug had lasted, Layne knew that Amity had showered that morning, washed her dark brown hair, was wearing Chanel No.5 and deodorant, had newly painted fingernails and toenails, had newly washed clothes and was taking a birth control pill. She used Colgate Sensitive for toothpaste, and had hairspray keeping her hair in place. She had a slightly accelerated heartbeat from excitement and had lightly started perspiring.
Amity leaned back and viewed Layne up and down for the first time.
“You are so gorgeous. I am so glad you are my bath roomie. The guys are going to flock to you, and I will be around to pick up the seconds.”
She laughed and Layne laughed as well. Her rapid speech was so innocent and genuine, and almost childlike. Layne liked her immediately, although she imagined that being around the spirited Amity for too long could be exhausting. What a relief to have a breath of fresh air like Amity next door and not someone inhibited.
“Well … I like a mix of music, including Coldplay, Foo Fighters and The Veronicas, and I LOVE purple. Nice to meet you. I hardly think you would ever be second to anyone.” She responded smiling genuinely at Amity.
The compliment was well-received, and the two girls wandered off to collect their sausage sandwich, before chatting for an hour, cosy in Layne’s room, both sitting on the bed, knees curled up. Later, they checked out Amity’s room with almost every possible variation of purple items scattered around, then off to tour the campus following a map they had received in the mail. Classes were to start the next morning at 9am so it was important the girls knew where to go and the general layout of the grounds. Layne was pleased she had someone to explore with. Everything was more comfortable and fun when accompanied with someone else.
All the students they came across were excited to be starting a new year at the university, including students from previous years, so it was easy to meet people and chat about what the future held. Layne and Amity had a few classes in common so it was pleasing to know she would at least know someone in those classes.
Layne lay in her new single bed that night, looking up at the ceiling. She was exhausted from a big day of travel and excitement. She thought about her grandparents back at the farm and pictured them warm in their beds. Then, as she always did, she thought of her parents. Going off to university was a big adventure for her, just as her father had done it before her. Did he lie in a bed like this on his first night? When did he meet her mother? She had never been able to ask many questions of her grandparents as they would get emotional and she hated upsetting them. Her father had not attended this university but the University of Melbourne in the CBD. She pictured him walking along Latrobe Street in the city and walking up the steps of the State Library. Was he nervous on his first night as she was? Did he feel he would fit in? She hoped that she would fit in as a normal student and not be ostracised for her gifts if anyone were to find out about them. Her grandparents had taught her well, and she knew how to appear normal. It still took some effort and she hoped everything would be fine and no one would find out.
Chapter 5
Ross and Nina had completed the morning routine of feeding the animals and milking the cows. It had been a cold winter, but the past few days had been a little warmer. They both trudged toward the house in their gum boots as the paddocks were knee deep in mud as they were every winter.
As they walked back toward the farmhouse, they could hear the contented sounds of animals that were enjoying their breakfast. Nina had a bucket with a few dozen eggs from the free-range hens and Ross carried a bucket of fresh milk.
The border collie, Riley, was the first to alert them that something was about to happen. She gave a small whine and sat staring at the front gate. Ross and Nina knew that Riley was not one to react for no reason and that she was letting them know something was coming. They both placed their buckets on the ground and looked toward the gate, waiting for a car to appear. It took a few minutes before they heard it, the sound of a car driving fast along the road and through their gate. They recognised their son, Brad’s red Commodore. It was unusual to see him driving so fast and they had not been expecting his visit. They looked at each other, concerned, then picked up their buckets and hurried to the house, milk sloshing from the bucket as Ross walked.
By the time Ross and Nina reached the farmhouse, the red Commodore was parked out the front of the house on the gravel circular driveway. Their son, Brad and his wife, Beverley were standing on the passenger side of the car with Layne, their granddaughter between them. Beverley had a red puffy face and tears were streaming down her cheeks and Brad was trying to keep everyone calm. Little Layne just looked terrified and clearly had no idea what was going on. Mr Blue was miaowing from his carry cage on the ground next to Layne. There was also a brown suitcase placed on the ground next to her.
Brad turned as his parents reached him and they were shocked to see the upset look on his face.
“What’s going on Brad?” Ross asked urgently. His eyes were scanning from one to another, trying to determine the source of the emotion. “Is everyone alright?”
Brad smiled briefly at his father.
“Hi Dad, Mum, can Layne stay with you for a few days? We have a few things we need to sort out.”
He looked tentatively at his parents. He knew they would always agree to have Layne, but he hated to see the worried looks on their faces, and to not be able to tell them everything.
“Of course, she can.” replied Nina and she walked over to kiss Brad on the cheek, then make her way over to kiss Beverley. She bent down and picked Layne up, straddling her on her hip. Nina could see something serious was underway, but she didn’t want to alarm Layne. The best attitude to take was a normal one.
“Good morning Miss Layne.” She put on a cheery voice trying to distract the little girl from the emotions of the adults.
“Is this the famous Mr Blue I have heard so much about?”
Layne looked back down at the cat carrier on the ground.
“Yes. He is going to be a farm cat.” She announced.
Mr Blue miaowed on cue as Riley circled the cat carrier uncertain of the strange creature within. Every time she got too close, growling and hissing drove her back.
Layne raised her small face to the air sniffing for a minute or so. Beverley saw this movement and stepped forward, put her hand out and touched Layne, shaking her head to indicate not to do that.
Layne looked from her mother to her grandmother.
“Nana, you have finished milking the cows and feeding the animals this morning.”
It was a statement not a question.
“Yes. Your pop and I have fed the animals this morning, but you can help me feed th
em tonight.” She offered as compensation.
As they were discussing the animals, Ross took Brad by the arm and they moved away toward the barn. They had reached about twenty metres from the others when Ross asked.
“Brad. Tell me. What is going on? Are you and Beverley having marital troubles?” He turned to look at his son.
Brad put his finger up to his lips to indicate to keep quiet. Seeing the puzzled look on his father’s face, Brad whispered.
“Layne will hear.”
Ross looked back at where the others were standing next to the red Commodore a great distance away and out of hearing range. He frowned and led Brad into the small office at the entrance to the barn. This was the office he spent an hour in each day, meeting trucks picking up produce, paying invoices and keeping his paperwork in order. He sat in his old comfortable desk chair and indicated Brad to sit on the extra chair, then picking up a notepad and pen, he wrote:
WHAT IS GOING ON?
Ross slid the notepad across. Brad took the notepad and pen and placed it on the desk. He wrote:
No marital problems. We need to sort something out.
WHAT?
Brad read the question and paused. He stared at the desk for a few minutes then looked at his father contemplating. Ross waited, feeling more alarmed by the minute. Finally, Brad reached for the pen and paper.
You know that Beverley has some special abilities?
Brad turned to look at his father’s face. Ross read the question, then looked at Brad and nodded.
She comes from people with these special abilities. They are not allowed to marry normal people.
Brad paused again to look at his father’s reaction. His father was frowning and looking down at the note. He looked up at Brad and his eyebrows rose questioning.
Normal people dilute the blood. They don’t want me around. I don’t think they want Layne around either. We are in danger.