by Pia Philip
“Forgot I was sitting in front of you,” she muttered as he laughed at her, “I’ll call but I’ll put it on speaker in case I chicken out and need help, which I won’t!”
She counted to ten before finally summoning up enough courage to press the call button. Almost instantly she started to pace her room. She felt a wave of embarrassment at how cluttered it had got. She shot Sam a nervous glance; his eyes were fixated firmly on her, silently urging her on. When she finally managed to get through she signaled for Sam to come over because there was no way she was going to be able to speak to a psychic without any support from him even though she had said she didn’t need his help. There was a huge difference in the terms need and want.
“Hello? This is Psychic Martha speaking?” came a chirpy voice from through the phone line.
“Hello? This is Alexis Sondey speaking,” she stammered as she ran her tongue over her bottom lip nervously.
“Did you need help with anything, there’s no need to worry, you can tell me anything, this is completely confidential,” she replied.
“We’ll, the thing is, I keep seeing a kid with red eyes, I know it sounds stupid but they weren’t contacts, his whole eye was red, bright blood red,” she said in a rush, she somehow desperately wanted for her to believe her but all she got was silence that was becoming increasingly unbearable. “Hello? Are u still there?”
“Was the kid a boy of about 13 or 12?” she asked her voice so low, it was almost a whisper “was his features unrecognizable?”
Alex was slightly taken aback that she knew how he looked; she cast a glance at Sam who held out his hand in wonder.
“Yes, how did you know?” she asked in genuine wonder before it hit her in the face like a bus; she was probably able to read minds. After all Martha was a psychic.
“I need to speak to you in person then; do you think you could come over to my house sometime soon?” Martha asked, worry laced in her now-not-so-cheerful voice, “I stay in Paddington.”
“Erm yeah, that’s just like a 45 minute journey from where we stay,” Alex said letting out a breath of relief, “We could come on Saturday.”
“Good, because we have a lot to talk about,” She said her voice low to the point it was almost a growl, “You are in far more danger than you could have imagined Alexis dear.”
“What do you mean, I’m in far more danger than I can imagine?” Fear shot through Alex’s body at the thought that she might be kidnapped, “Is the kid dangerous?”
“Talk about a stupid question, of course he is dangerous if you feel the need to run every time you see him.” Martha snapped, “Children these days. Anyway, you’d better ask your parents to stay the night; you will need at least two days to get ready.”
“Get ready for what?” Alex asked, she was getting more and more confused the longer the conversation lasted.
“I’ll tell you when you arrive, but for now make sure your never alone and don’t be an idiot and lock the door when you’re alone, you’ll just be trapping yourself, bye,” she said before hanging. Alex was left feeling much more worried and anxious than when she first started.
“Well that was very helpful, not,” she muttered as she collapsed on her bed, “I’m so much more confused right now, OHHH!”
She covered her face with her hand in anguish. Then she saw them again. Her eyes snapped open and she sat up straight.
“You saw them again, didn’t you?” Sam said. It was a rhetorical question. He felt an overwhelming sense of pity for her and also a douse of protectiveness that took him by surprise.
“You believe me then?” she asked hopefully as she looked at him.
“Yeah, I know you’re not one to make up lies for the sake of attention.” He reassured her, “Plus, you didn’t tell us anything about your dreams or anything, which actually makes more sense as to why you wake up at the exact same time every day, “
She gave him a small smile and crossed her legs before unleashing a tidal wave of questions. “So when should we tell Emma? And how are we supposed to go on Saturday? Straight after the football tournament?
“Yeah, I don’t think we should tell Emma, unless she specifically begs us to, because she doesn’t believe in all that sort of stuff, and I was thinking that you could pack your bag and bring it to the game with a change of clothes obviously and we could change in my place before we take the bus.” Sam said. He had clearly planned ahead. She bit her lip, although they had been friends for 7 years now, she’d only been in his house a handful of times for the simple reason that his house was a Victorian gothic house and it always gave her the impression of being haunted. And seeing the position she was in right now, she wasn’t about to chance it.
“Actually, how about we take the train, it’ll be faster and we can change in the toilets, because I don’t think we’ll be able to get away from the tournament until like three which is pretty late,” she offered instead, she didn’t want to appear ungrateful and everything she was saying was pretty much true.
“Yeah, I think you’ve got a good point there,” he laughed, “anyway, I’ll be allowed to go with you I’m sure, and so all you have to do is ask.”
That was problem number two.
“I don’t think I’ll be allowed to but my mums working night shift again, so I’ll just leave a note saying I went to Paddington with you,” she bit her lip as she contemplating weather her plan would work or if it would just make her mum phone her and demand her home that instant. She never was good at lying, “It’s not a lie, but it’s not the full truth.”
“I think we’ve got a plan.” He smiled.
Chapter 2
After Sam went home; Alex unlocked all the doors, and made sure that there was an easy escape route out of the house just in case anything happened during the night. Not that she was planning to sleep. She made herself a strong coffee, not that she could drink it all. She managed a fifth of it before, pouring the rest down the sink and giving in. She was going to have to sleep eventually and this time her mum would be in the house with her. This thought alone reassured her and the eyes did not appear in her dream again, but she could feel them. She was being watched and it was almost just as terrifying, she was grateful when she woke up and sunlight was blasting through the window. She sent up a silent prayer that her reality would be similar to her dream. Demonless.
It did. Up until the fourth period, that was Physical Education with Mr. Dunlop, which was, her favorite subject and she was looking forward to it because it was their football block. Mr. Dunlop had tried to get her onto the girl’s football team, but after taking one glance at the team, she had decided that they were probably the worst team she’d ever seen due to the fact that half the girls only did it for the attention they receive from the boys. No instead she had tried out for the official school football team and because there weren’t a no girls allowed rule, they couldn’t rebuke her. And the fact that she was better than half the boys that trialed. She smiled to herself as she remembered Sam’s trial; he had completely messed up and literally had to beg for another chance, only getting on as a substitute before finally proving himself.
“What are you smiling about? Emma asked as she pulled her Favorite panther leggings on, “Oh wait- you actually like physical torture.”
“Whatever, I was just remembering when Sam tried out for the football years ago; He was such a scrawny kid back then,”
Emma laughed as the memory came onto her mind, “Anyway, where were you yesterday? I waited for ages for you”
“Sorry, Sam said to leave you to have some time with Max,” she replied as she pulled on her crop topped hooded jumper before going out to the field where Mr. Dunlop was waiting for them. They started in little drills before going into games, but somehow she felt an unease that spoiled the enjoyment of the game. She could feel someone watching her, not that that was something new. She knew that she was always being watched; especially in P.E. she was constantly the subject of scrutiny because she was the only girl on th
e Boys football team. Some girls still thought she did it just for the attention but once they see her actual love for the sport, they always shut up. That was not the same for the boys. There were several boys in fourth year who were really pissed off at a girl on the team.
Alex was so lost in thought that she almost missed the pass that Julie had given her. She was the only other half decent girl there was at football. She turned and passed it on to their striker, before running into space. For a moment she lost sight of the ball and scanned the area for the ball but instead she caught sight of Max. He was staring intently at Emma. Talk about love-struck Alex thought in disgust. But he just turned and started walking up the ash pit used for baseball. Unconsciously her eyes zoomed forward to where he was heading and she saw a little figure at the top, facing towards the pitch, she did not even need to see the eyes. She knew they were there and she knew they were staring straight at her. Her body began to shake uncontrollably, and her breath turned shallow. She heard her name being called and she made the mistake of looking around. She saw the ball coming for her and she just managed to duck out of the way, but then anxiety took over. She couldn’t find the figure anywhere. She knew he was close, her mind was going on over drive, she could almost feel it, and it made every hair on her body stick on end. She looked everywhere frantic but all she saw was Max looking in their direction.
“ALEXIS” She heard. It was low and harsh and it was terrifying. She could feel the blood drain from her face and her heart dropped to her feet. Everything blurred like a veil of fog before her knees gave way and everything went dark.
She had lost all sense of feeling and sight but not her sense of hearing. Unfortunately she could hear several things, but there was one sound that was more over powering than all the others and it was slowly driving her crazy. It was the cry’s and screams of people she didn’t know but she was sure she heard before. They all seemed to be kids, she did not hear even one adult cry and that alone was depressing but it gave her a clue. The demon or whatever that kid was. It was after kids, to be more precise, her.
“ALEXIS…ALISON…ALEXIS!”
The voice was gradually growing louder. It felt like it was within touching distance and although she could not see anything she was almost certain that if her sight did return to her, that she would be staring straight into those deranged eyes. She tried to put as much distance between them as possible but she was still paralyzed. She could feel him move closer. The scream that was stuck in her throat finally managed to break through the suppressing silence. It was like a whip. It was so sharp and high pitched she was almost sure only dogs could hear her but she wouldn’t stop screaming. Her whole body started thrashing around like a seal being captured as she tried to break free of her invisible bindings.
“ALEXIS!” she heard someone cry. They were close to her. On her right side, “Wake up! Please.”
She felt her eyes flutter after a few seconds, and then light blinded her. She sat up on her elbows and turned to her right.
“Hello? Who’s there?” she asked as she looked up through her lashes waiting for the haze to disappear.
“It’s okay, it’s only me,” Sam’s familiar voice replied. It filled her with warmth as her sight finally returned.
The first thing she saw was the worry in Sam’s eyes. He had heard her screaming and had rushed to her side as the nurse ran out the door to get god knows what. Sam suspected it had something to do with the kid following her.
“You saw them again didn’t you,” he said. It wasn’t even a question it was just a fact, but she nodded anyway.
“It was at the baseball field, at first I didn’t notice it, but I could feel its presence, watching me, like a Vulcan watches its prey before it pounces, ready to kill-”
“You’re not going to die, he’s not going to get you,” Sam interrupted, he hated how defeated she sounded, it was so not like her. “Remember we’re going to Martha’s place Saturday, so please just hold on for two more days, ok?”
“I’ll try, but I think we have to tell Emma,” she said, “I don’t like keeping things from her and anyway, I have to have someone around me twenty-four seven, and seeing as you can’t do it.”
“Erm, yeah, about that…” Sam said as he put his hand behind his neck, He looked a bit awkward, he felt a rush of guilt. “I already told her, but I don’t think she took it the right way.”
“What do you mean?” she asked as suspicion took over, “What did you say, Sam?”
“I just told her that you keep seeing this red eyed kid, who we think is trying to get you, and that we need her help, because we have been told to never leave you out of our sights,” Sam answered as he tried to explain, “And she went off in a rage because she doesn’t believe in the supernatural and said that you were probably making it all up, because before you- eh fainted, she saw you staring at Max and… we’ll yeah, she took off in a huff.”
Alex closed her eyes and said some select words after her breath
“Anyway, what does she mean, you were staring at Max?” Sam asked as he turned to face her, he didn’t know why but he felt the need of an explanation.
“I wasn’t staring,” she replied as she rolled my eyes, “I just thought for a moment that he could see the demon because you know he was walking straight to it.”
“Wait what?” Sam asked in disbelief, “Max can see that damn demon and didn’t freeze up, run or faint, but walk towards it?”
“Yeah, I know, I guess it was just a figment of my imagination because I don’t think it’s possible to look at them without any sense of fear,” her whole body shuddered, “Especially when it speaks to you, in that hoarse-“
She was cut off as the nurse came back in; she gave Sam a disapproving look because he was sprawled on the floor in a very lazy manner. The way you are when you’re at home alone watching TV on the big couch and you decide to go to sleep. Alex had to muffle her giggles as Sam hurried to straighten himself.
“Anyway, Alex dear, would you mind explaining to me what happened? Because it seems to me that although the ball missed you, you still fell.” The nurse said as she took out her notebook and looked at her patiently. Alex, unlike Sam was not one that was able to make up a lie on the spot, in Fact she hated telling lies, and her friends called her the book truths.
“We’ll I don’t think the ball completely missed me, I thing it grazed my jaw as I moved my head to the side, because my legs went all weird and couldn’t hold me for much longer.” she lied. It was probably the best lie she’d ever come across and she was proud of it, although there were several holes in it.
“But what I don’t get is how you went unconscious, I’ve seen you fall in much harder, difficult situation when you’re playing with the ruffians out front,” The nurse persisted. It was obvious the nurse didn’t fully believe her story but she had to stick to it, and make a better lie to strengthen it because she knew the nurse was trying to work out if she was fit enough to play in the tournament. She didn’t like the idea that there was a delicate girl playing with the boys, or Ruffians as she put it.
“No, I think it was just that I wasn’t expecting to fall and it took me by surprise so the impact made more damage, when I play with the guys, I know when I’m about to get tackled so I do my best to avoid it,” the lie slipped from her mouth easily. “But I’m perfectly fine now.”
She got up and started hoping up around the room to show that she was perfectly fit before tripping over her own feet and hitting the ground with a loud thud.
“Yep you’re ready to go,” the nurse said sourly as she helped pick her off the floor. She shot the nurse a grateful smile before walking out the door with Sam at her heels.
“That was a close one,” he said as he checked the time to see which period they were in, “That was a really good bluff.”
“Really?” she asked her face still pale, “I felt like I was going to get caught, there were so many holes in them, my heart was racing so fast, seriously, if that kid, doesn�
�t get me, I’ll get myself if I have to tell another lie like that.”
Sam laughed at her. He loved how innocent she was, “Yep, you really do suit bluntly truthful.” she gave him a playful punch before going into the girls changing room and getting changed. When she came back out, he was on his phone.
“How long where you with me in the office for? She asked as the bell went for what period she had no idea, “What period is it?”
“Eh, its lunch,” Sam said as he started walking towards the pitch. Alex was a bag of nerves in case the kid was there but she followed anyway. By the time they got there, most people were already there, getting into teams. They ran up to where the guys were.
“Hey,” she said as she shifted her bag on her shoulder, she searched the area for the demon but there was no sign of him. That was not very reassuring, she didn’t like the fact that he was able to watch her and figure out a strategy to get her while she stayed clueless. She visibly tensed at the thought and did another quick scan but came up empty.
“Are you okay?” Josh asked, “Got told you fainted at football.”
Alex could feel everyone staring at her, worry in some eyes, others scoffing.
“Yeah, I lost concentration and a stray ball grazed my jaws and I lost balanced, don’t know why I blanked out though.” she said as she put her weight on her back foot, it suddenly gave out and she fell on her butt and back. The worst part was that there was a big crack sound. She pulled out her new phone which was now almost unrecognizable. It had several if not hundreds of cracks down its front. It was not repairable. She gave a little squeal as she tried to make it turn on before banging it on the floor, because that’s what she always did when her things wouldn’t turn on.
“You really are an idiot, you’re destroying it all on your own, it’s just a cracked screen, not a broken hardware,” Kieran said as he grabbed the phone off her, “Though I’m not sure about that anymore.”