The Amulets (An 'Amulets of Andarrin' tale)

by Michael Alexander Card-Mina

  Jack reached the top of the stairs “come on” he shouted, turning around Claire had gone, looking over the staircase he couldn’t see her “Claire” there was no response.

  A rail of clothes fell through the massive hole behind him…. then a car.

  A car? “Whoa” he shouted.

  He had to move but there was no exit, there was nothing there apart from sky above him. Standing at the top of the stairs, everything was shaking and people were screaming, Jack was scared, wondering how it had happened.

  He turned around and everything had collapsed around him, all he could see was the floor far below now reduced to rubble and still shaking. Around him the walls had formed into a massive well the size of a house and the stairs were collapsing where his feet were.

  “Grab the wall” he heard someone shout.

  The voice sounded familiar but he couldn’t put his finger on it. There was no time; Jack grabbed a piece hanging out of the wall in front of him as the stairs fell to the bottom. Holding on for his life he looked up and saw the shape of a man’s head blocking out the dark clouds from the sky. Jack felt his arm being grabbed and moments later was lifted up and out of the hole.

  Lying next to the hole he was just pulled from, he began coughing from all the dust he had inhaled “Are you ok? Hey! Are you alright?”

  That voice. Jack sat up coughing and wiping his eyes. “Who are you?” he asked as clouds of dust blurred his vision.

  “It’s me you idiot” the voice said.

  “Huh” Jack said coughing...

  “Your brother…James” the voice said.

  At this Jack looked up and saw his brother standing over him. James was a tall handsome man and was older and more confident than Jack. From the expression and tone of his voice his brother did not seem happy with him.

  Jack stood up and gazed between James and the huge hole next to him.

  “What have I done? It was my fault James I set the washing machine off and it…did it? I don’t know…It…”

  James had a disappointing look on his face. “I know it’s always your fault. Why can’t you just listen to people? You got people killed this time Jack.”

  Tears began slowly falling from Jack’s eyes “but I…Lily oh no, was she in there? Oh God, please.”

  Jack fell back to his knees and tears poured from his eyes holding his fist to them he knelt there rocking on both knees.

  “Yeah Jack she was. I hope you can live with yourself because I don’t want to know, you’re weak and stupid” at this James walked off.

  Jack didn’t try and stop him as he was still on his knees crying into his fists saying “I’ve killed them,” was this really happening he thought to himself.

  After a few minutes Jack stood up, tears still in his eyes looking down at the sink hole. As his eyes cleared he began scanning the area. What he saw was confusing. There was no one in sight and it looked as though he was in an old English town square, surrounded by old buildings. He looked back at the hole but then heard footsteps behind him. Crossing the street was what looked like a woman wearing a hooded top, long dark hair hanging out from the sides hiding her face.

  “Hey! Excuse me, hey!” the woman didn’t respond but carried on walking. “Hey!” still no reply. Jack couldn’t understand it. She carried on walking and continued down a side passage between two buildings.

  Jack ran after her. “Please, stop” but the woman continued walking down the side street.

  As Jack got to the entrance of the side street the robed woman had reached the end but stopped. Still at the entrance Jack tried speaking to her again

  “Thank you. Please, I need your help, I don’t…” the woman turned and looked at him.

  Her face was beautiful. She didn’t look older than thirty but her eyes, as bright as they were looked as though she was much older. Her voice was sweet and calming “Is it always this tragic?” she asked calmly.

  Jack didn’t understand “Is what always this tragic?” he replied with a puzzled expression.

  The woman smiled which angered Jack. After all that’s happened she was smiling, did she not know? “What’s funny? Their dead and its…it’s my fault…”

  At this she moved toward Jack and as she reached him she put a firm hand on the side of his face. “Your dreams…are they always this tragic?”

  Jack filled with anger “How can you say I’m dreaming after what‘s just happened? This…can’t be”.

  The womans hand still on his cheek she spoke in that soft, calm voice “Look around you…these buildings aren’t from the twentieth century”.

  A glimmer of hope washed over Jack’s face “Who are you?”

  At this question the woman removed her hand from Jack’s cheek, the comforting smile now fading into a more serious look. “You’re dreaming now but it’s nearly time…” she said.

  Confused and still upset Jack didn’t know what to think “Nearly time for what? Who are you? He asked hoping for an answer.

  “It’s too soon…things will change…but you need to…” but before she could continue Jack interrupted her

  “Who are you?” As he spoke the woman turned away and started walking off. “Don’t be afraid, Jack”.

  Jack reached to grab her arm “No wait!” as he did so he heard another voice coming from behind him “Hey…hey!” Jack couldn’t see anyone else, turning back around to the woman, his arm still outstretched to grasp hers but she was gone.

  The other voice was heard again “Hey…are you listening? She’ll go”

  chapter three

  New Beginnings

  Jack woke up to his sister, Catherine, as usual in his room “she’s going”.

  Slowly waking up, Jack could remember the dream but only up until the point where he was pulled out of the hole.

  “Cat?” he said as he rubbed open his eyes and saw his sister there. “That was such a mad dream. What time is it?”

  Cat, as was her nickname, gave Jack a sharp look “Its half seven, aren’t you supposed to be working at eight?”.

  He shot up and looked at his clock “ah bugger!” he shouted jumping out of bed.

  Jack put his clothes on as fast as he could, went in the bathroom and had a wash. Running down the stairs his mother was already in the car waiting. Not stopping for a second he went straight out of the door and got in the car.

  He took more abuse that morning on the trip to work than normal but he knew his mother was right so he just apologised and told her he would buy an alarm clock. He managed to get on good terms with his mother before going into work. What Jack didn’t know was his day was about to get a lot worse.

  Jack went into work, signed in, hung his coat in the cloakroom and went into the staff room. There were only two people in there; Debbie who he didn’t much care for as she was never very talkative and serious about everything.

  “Morning” he said and moved over to sit down.

  Lily was the second person in there, looking her usual self apart from her hair was plaited. After looking at her, his face went from grimace to smile

  “Alright Lily? How we doing?”

  Lily looked at Jack and smiled “Good, what about you?”

  Jack’s smile grew “Yeah I’m ok. Hair’s looking good today, loving the…” he signaled to her hair “the braiding, looks nice on you,” he finished and headed for a seat.

  “Ah thanks.” she said gratefully “What time are you working?”

  At this question Jack looked at the clock which said five past eight, about to sit down he quickly unbent his knees, and got up “oh err, eight.” he said with a smile.

  Lily shook her head slightly and smiled “What are you like?”

  “See you on the shop floor” he said heading out of the door with a cheeky grin.

  It was early afternoon and Jack was moving clothes from a rail onto his department when a voice on the tannoy sounded.

  “This is a staff announcement can Jack report to the manager’s office” Jack stopped what
he was doing and tried to think what he’d done. He couldn’t think of anything apart from being in late and so headed for the manager’s office.

  Jack met one of the other employees on the stairs on his way to the office, a young man with brown hair which stuck up at the top, he was wearing the same black pants as Jack but had a more formal black shirt on to the one Jack had, his was pinstriped. His face was young, thin eyebrows, brown eyes, long thin nose and a wide mouth.

  “Alright Sam? What’s this all about?” Jack asked as he approached Sam.

  Sam stopped and looked to the top of the stairs and back at Jack. “Don’t know mate, but they’ve been calling a few in there today. I wouldn’t keep them waiting mate” Sam walked off downstairs and Jack went to the office.

  Jack knocked three times before hearing a shout for him to enter “come in” a woman’s voice shouted.

  He walked in to see Claire sitting in a chair and another short haired man sitting in the chair next to her. His face looked tanned, not natural but more like too much time spent on sun-beds. Other than his orange face his eyebrows were so light that it almost looked as if he didn’t have any. His lips were full and smothered in lip balm which could be seen at the bottom of his nose as if he’d been driving whilst putting it on and smudged it. Looking at his nose Jack thought he could have done with some kind of surgery on it to make it more fitting for his face, thinking that it was too fat. All this observation was cut short when Claire spoke.

  “Have a seat Jack” Jack didn’t speak but sat down looking at the other manager’s disapproving face and back to Claire, this couldn’t be good.

  “We have asked you in here today because the company has decided to make some cuts due to the fact that were not making enough money to keep people” Claire said.

  Jack knew what was coming and wanted to say something but couldn’t bring himself to. He knew he wasn’t a dedicated worker and knew sooner or later he would be let go or fired so he let her continue without interruption.

  “Unfortunately your lack of work has forced us to make you one of the few who we will have to let go.”

  Jack felt disappointed and rubbed his eyes with his fingers.

  Claire continued “I’m sorry Jack but you’ve been seen on other departments talking on various occasions, not to mention all the times you have come in late”

  She looked to the other man sitting next to her who gave a nod and she continued “It would be unfair to others who wish to progress in the company if we were to let them go and not you. It’s only fair you have your say so is there anything you wish to say?”

  Jack looked at the man and back to Claire with a defeated grimace “No…no the decision has already been made and I’d just like to say…thanks for the opportunity I guess, it’s been a pleasure to work for you” Jack said standing up. “Is this effective as of now?” he asked.

  Claire looked from the other man and back to Jack “You can work to the end of the week and then finish”

  Jack left the office and returned to work, the only thought in his mind “What now?”

  After his shift Jack walked home because his mum was working late and, although it was raining, he didn’t want to wait at work after the news. Thinking about everything that had happened and what he was going to do now he laughed to himself about his dream the night before, thinking that the situation with the washing machine could have been a sign of the oncoming redundancy. The rain made him feel worse than he did but he felt that it was appropriate for his scenario until he thought about what he was going to tell his mum. “So much for making her proud” he said to himself.

  When Jack got home he was soaking wet and his mother was in the kitchen cooking and noticed him coming through the door. “Why didn’t you wait?” she said suddenly noticing him soaking wet she continued “Look at you?”

  Jack took his shoes off but looked angry, he hated his mum talking to him like he was a child which she always did. “I’m going upstairs for a shower” he said.

  His mother shook her head, “alright I’m cooking tea so don’t be long. It will be ready in thirty minutes” she said continuing to stir something in a pan.

  “Yeah” Jack replied as if uninterested.

  This was it, Jack was at the table eating his tea and he knew he should tell her. His sister was sitting next to their mum and he was sat at the top of the table so they made an L shape. Gammon was on the menu tonight which Jack enjoyed, though tonight was different. He began playing with his food.

  “So mum, how was your day?” Jack asked as he cut into his Gammon.

  “Ok” she replied pleasantly.

  “Is that it? Nothing exciting happen?”

  “Not really just had some problems with a case but nothing I couldn’t fix” Jack’s mum was a solicitor and didn’t really talk about her work so there was nothing knew about her response. “What about you?” she asked.

  Jack thought about telling her but looking up and seeing her smiling he thought better of it. When she’s smiling it’s best to leave her smiling. But instead he said something that made no sense to him considering his current situation.

  “Same old boring day but I’ve been thinking about getting a flat and moving out”

  Jack’s mum laughed which felt demeaning to Jack as if he didn’t have it in him “oh yeah when’s this then?”

  Jack looked angry and his sister noticed “I don’t think he liked that” she said smiling at Jack with a goading look.

  Jack made a sigh “hopefully soon, anyway can I have this later I’m not feeling to good” he asked.

  “Suit yourself” his mother said as she began chewing on a slice of gammon.

  Jack stood up “thanks, I’ll leave it in the oven for now” he said as he left to go upstairs.

  Jack thought about not being able to see Lily at work but then she went to the same university so he’d be able to see her there he thought. Then he had an idea. He would move in with James.

  Jack decided to ring him and, when James said the offer was still on the table, he took it. Jack told his mother who was less than happy about it but couldn’t really stop him and over the next week he began moving in.

  Once he’d moved all his stuff out, his mother had told him that he could always come back if he needed to. This made Jack happy because sometimes he didn’t really see eye to eye with his brother but then things might be different if they lived together.

  James told Jack he would get him insured on his car so he could travel to University and back and as the weeks passed everything was getting back to normal.

  James worked as a driver so he never really used his car so Jack was able to drive it to University and back. Not to mention he was spending time with Lily there. Jack was studying science in University and because he only did it two and a half days a week Lily had told him to try business as a second course.

  He had jumped at the idea and enrolled himself. However it wasn’t what he had expected. Sure he got to spend more time with Lily but the course itself was boring and Jack had little taste for it. All this he had told to his best friend Aaron in Science who knew a friend of Lily’s, Frankie. Aaron had said he would try and set up a trip to the highlands for a walk sometime soon. However Jack urged him to keep it on hold for the time being whilst he looked for a bit of part time work and settled in with his brother.

  Chapter four

  The Pendant

  The weeks passed and University was going reasonably well for Jack. His grades were picking up in science and he was beginning to enjoy himself again.

  Although he still hadn’t found a part time job he was getting by on his student loan and an added bonus was his brother wasn’t charging him rent. He’d settled in magnificently. His relationship with his brother was stronger than it had ever been. He imagined it would spiral downwards with them being around each other all the time but instead it seemed to be improving; they’d sit up and watch funny films, laugh and make fun of people on the television in rubbish movies,
it was great for Jack.

  Earlier that day Aaron had rung Jack about going away; walking for the weekend, whilst the weather was nice. Lily and Frankie would both be there and Jack had decided he couldn’t say no.

  He’d invited his brother, but walking wasn’t really in his brother’s vocabulary and so Jack was kind of relieved as he knew his brother had better looks than himself and, given his ability to easily talk to women, he didn’t want Lily to end up liking him.

  That night Jack had an uneventful night’s sleep and, at five o’clock, woke up feeling fresh and ready for the weekend ahead. After a quick shower and some cereal he put his small bag of clothes and toiletries in the car before heading to the University and picking up the other three.

  As he rounded the corner to the University he saw Aaron, Lily and Frankie waiting. Frankie was an inch or two taller than Lily and her hair was jet black. She was slim with a bright face. She and Lily both wore jeans. Lily wore a small black leather coat whilst Frankie donned a dark blue hoody. Aaron was wearing a green pair of cargo shorts and a white top. His dark hair in the same mess as it usually was.

  “Alright guys” Jack said getting out of the car and opening the boot for them to put in their walking gear and overnight bags. “You look great” he said to Lily as she approached with Frankie. Noticing Frankie looking, he quickly turned his gaze to her, “oh how do, so do you” he said happily.

  “Ah thanks…you don’t look too bad yourself” Frankie said returning the smile.

  “Yeh you could do with a shave though” Lily said smiling as well. Jack had a small amount of stubble around his face only noticeable from close up.

  “Yeh I’ll have one later when we get to the hotel. Leave it on whilst we walk in case it’s windy” Jack laughed.

  “Yeh like that baby stubble’s gonna keep you warm” Aaron laughed.