Night Realm

by Darren G. Burton

  “Is there anything useful here?” he grumbled to himself.

  He flipped to the second page and his eyebrows raised. Tests performed on the semen found in Amanda’s vagina indicated the presence of a mystery virus. Below that there was a similar entry regarding swap tests taken from the two throat lesions. Once again the presence of the same mystery virus.

  “So what exactly is a mystery virus?” he wondered out loud.

  He picked up the phone and dialed the number at the top of the fax. When reception answered he introduced himself and asked to be put through to a Dr Jenkins, the pathologist who had performed the semen and swab tests.

  “Detective Marks,” Jenkins greeted him in a bright tone. “You’re calling about the results on the Amanda Simms case, I presume.”

  “You presume correctly,” Marks said and smiled. “You should become a detective.”

  “No thanks. Working all those ridiculous hours and the frustration of trying to catch the unsavoury characters of the world. Not really my thing. Anyway, back to business. What would you like to know?”

  “The mystery virus,” Marks said. “What is it?”

  “If we knew that it wouldn’t be a mystery,” said Jenkins pointedly. “It’s nothing we’ve ever come across before, so it’s either very new or extremely rare.”

  “What does it do to the carrier, those infected with it?”

  “That’s what we’re still working on. I’ve got some great minds analyzing it as we speak. You’ll be the first to hear our conclusions, Detective.”

  “Thank you, Doctor. Appreciate it.”

  Marks hung up the phone and sat there massaging his chin and thinking hard. This case was making less sense the more he delved into it.

  Seventeen

  The night was fine and clear, the ambient temperature pleasant and perfect for a party. The Community Centre was basically a large rectangle of a building set amidst parklands on three sides and a large car park out the front. Right across the road was the beach, where a full moon was hovering above the dark water, casting a silvery glow.

  Chelsea’s taxi pulled up outside the entrance door just before eight o’clock. She paid the driver and got out. Tonight she was dressed a little more conservatively in her best blue jeans, tight-fitting in all the right places, and a comfortable red top with short sleeves and a light sheen. She wore three inch heels made of a lustrous black leather. The tiny handbag she had slung over her right shoulder was shiny red to match her top. Chelsea didn’t hold back with the make up, however, and had the foundation, eyeliner, eye shadow and lipstick all plastered on rather generously.

  People were still arriving and others were milling about out front of the building. Chelsea spotted Emma’s mum and suddenly she felt nervous. She knew a lot of these people, and some of them were school friends. Was she going to get badgered all night long about why she’s quitting school? Talking about that was the last thing she wanted to do tonight.

  Coming from inside were the sounds of a band warming up and doing some last minute sound checks. Pink, red and blue balloons filled with helium decorated the doorway. Two burly security guards dressed all in black manned the door to keep those uninvited away.

  “Name?” one of the guards asked Chelsea. He looked to be of Maori descent and spoke with a New Zealand accent.

  “Chelsea Fox.”

  The guard had a clipboard with a list of invited guests on it and he marked her name off. The other guard then wrapped a green plastic band around her wrist.

  “That’s to show you’re meant to be here,” he explained. “Can’t be too careful these days.”

  The first guard asked, “Can I see your ID, miss?”

  Chelsea rummaged around inside her bag and handed him the driver’s licence she’d only recently obtained. He studied it, then gave it back.

  “Sorry. I can’t give you a bar stamp because you’re not eighteen, hey.”

  “That’s okay.” Chelsea put her licence away.

  Emma’s mother spotted Chelsea then and she came up to give her a warm hug. “I’m so glad you came,” she said beaming, her teeth large and white in her tanned face.

  “I wouldn’t miss my best friend’s eighteenth for anything,” Chelsea assured her. “Where is the birthday girl, by the way?”

  “She’s inside hanging out near the bar, I suspect. Go on in and find her. Have a good time tonight, Chelsea.”

  “I will,” Chelsea said and stepped inside the hall. One down and no mention of school. Good.

  So far there were about sixty guests inside, plus band members and catering staff. Chelsea said hello to some school friends, but didn’t linger. One asked where she’d been, but Chelsea brushed her with a vague answer and hurried off. She found Emma where her mum said she would be, at the bar. She was currently drinking a glass of champagne. A barmaid, dressed in black pants, black apron, white top and black bow tie, stood behind the makeshift bar handing out alcoholic drinks to those that had a stamp indicating they were of legal drinking age.

  “Happy birthday, Emma!” Chelsea gave her friend a tight hug.

  “Thanks. I can’t believe I’m finally eighteen.” She held up the champagne. “No more sneaking drinks.” She moved in close and whispered in Chelsea’s ear, “Just get yourself a Coke for now and I’ll sneak you a real drink a bit later.”

  Chelsea did so and stood beside her friend drinking it and surveying the scene.

  About the place there were some tables and chairs for those who wanted a seat. At the far end was a raised stage where the band would play. There was also a DJ to pump out the tunes when the band took a break. In front of the stage was plenty of open floor space for dancing.

  “Is Dean not coming?” Chelsea asked Emma.

  “Dean’s away in Canberra for the weekend.” Chelsea’s face must have dropped because Emma added, “Don’t look so sad about it. I told you, forget Dean in that way. Look around. There are heaps of cute guys here.”

  When Chelsea properly took in the growing crowd she realized her friend was right. There were heaps a guys there, and some nice looking ones at that. One guy in particular caught her eye. She’d never seen him before. He was standing with a school friend called John. The stranger was quite tall and very slender. He had short black hair and very dark eyes, from what Chelsea could see from a distance. The young man was dressed in black jeans and a black, long-sleeved shirt without buttons down the front. The skin of his handsome face was very pale, but looked as clear as a baby’s. Totally unblemished. His facial features were strong, with prominent cheekbones and square, masculine jaw. He looked to be a couple of years older than Chelsea was.

  “Who’s that guy?” Chelsea wanted to know, elbowing Emma in the side and nodding in the stranger’s direction.

  “Oh, that’s John’s new friend, Travis,” Emma explained lightly. “John asked if he could bring him along. Apparently Travis is quite new in town and doesn’t know many people.”

  “Does he go to our school?”

  “Well, it’s not your school any more. But no, he doesn’t go to school. I’m not sure what he does.” She turned to Chelsea and grinned. “Maybe you should go talk to him and ask him yourself.”

  “I might just do that soon.”

  The band fired up with a recent rock tune, which magically seemed to bring dozens of people over to the bar. Emma’s dad came up and wrapped his bear-like arms around his skinny daughter. Then he gave Chelsea a hug as well. He smelled of Hugo Boss.

  Trays of finger food started doing the rounds. Chelsea helped herself to a piece of battered calamari and several spring rolls which were way too hot to eat yet. She held them in the palm of her hand on a napkin while they cooled down.

  For the next half an hour the band played a mixture of recent songs, as well as some classics from the past few decades. After that they had a break to eat and drink and the DJ took over proceedings. He pumped out the latest dance tracks, filling the dance floor with teenagers. Chelsea and Emma went out for
a dance and were soon joined by their friend, Rachel

  Rachel was as skinny as Emma was and had long, mousy-brown hair that never quite looked like it had been brushed. She was considered a bit of a Plain Jane amongst her peers, but was best known for having a big heart and a kind word to say about everybody.

  “Hi, Chelsea,” Rachel greeted. “Haven’t seen you around school lately. Have you been sick?”

  Chelsea shook her head and replied in a loud voice, “I quit. I’ve got a fulltime job now.”

  Rachel looked surprised, but didn’t judge. “I hope it really works out for you. We miss you at school, though.”

  As they danced Chelsea noticed the new guy, Travis, standing by himself just to the edge of the dance floor area. He had no drink in his hand and just seemed content to watch everyone having fun. He saw Chelsea looking his way and he smiled. She felt her heart flutter. It was a beautiful smile and made him look all the more handsome.

  When the band began playing again Chelsea, Emma and Rachel went to the bar for drinks. Emma ordered another champagne, while both Chelsea and Rachel were forced to stick to soft drink. Coke was the beverage of choice. More trays of food were brought round and the girls helped themselves to mini pies, chicken nuggets and calamari rings. Travis was standing nearby with John now. Chelsea saw the tray of food being offered to them. John dug in but Travis refrained.

  Weird, Chelsea thought. Doesn’t the guy eat or drink?

  After finishing her food and Coke, Rachel went back out to dance. When Emma’s aunty came over to strike up a conversation with her niece, Chelsea decided it was time to go talk to the mystery man.

  She adjusted her hair, ironed out some imaginary wrinkles on her top with her hands, took a deep breath and nervously approached John and Travis. The new guy saw her coming and offered her a welcoming smile. Chelsea felt herself melt. John smiled as well, but it didn’t have nearly the same affect on her.

  “Hi, Chelsea,” John said.

  “Hi, John.” She gave him a quick hug. “Who’s your friend?”

  “Travis, this is Chelsea, a friend from school.”

  Travis didn’t extend a hand to her. Instead, he just nodded, smiled and stared at her with those beautiful dark eyes. There was certainly an air of mystery surrounding this guy and it was accentuated by those eyes that were so hard to read.

  “Hi,” he said, his voice deep and friendly.

  “Hi,” Chelsea said, then turned to John. “How do you two know each other?”

  “We met in town about a week ago. He’s a few years older than us, aren’t you, Travis.”

  When Chelsea shot Travis a questioning look, he said, “I’m nineteen.”

  “And you’re not drinking?” Chelsea raised an eyebrow. “God, I’d be at the bar chugging them down if I could.”

  He smiled yet again. “I don’t drink.”

  Chelsea looked at John, who concurred. “No, he doesn’t drink alcohol. Travis is a little unusual.” Instinct must have told John to leave the two alone for a bit so they could chat, because he suddenly excused himself and went out onto the dance floor.

  “I hear you’re new in town,” Chelsea said.

  He nodded. “We moved here a few weeks ago, maybe a month ago.”

  “From where?” Chelsea was curious.

  “Western Australia, just outside of Perth.”

  “Did you come here with your family? Why did you leave Perth?”

  “The answer’s yes to your first question. And the reason we moved?” He shrugged. “We were all just sick of it there. A bit bored, I think. It was time for a change.”

  “And do you like it here on the sunny Gold Coast?”

  “It’s beautiful. What’s not to like? We love it here so far.”

  “Whereabouts are you living?”

  “Out west a bit.”

  That’s a vague answer, she thought. “So, you’re too old for school. Do you have a job or something?”

  He nodded and briefly gazed into her eyes. Chelsea felt her heart skip again. “I work part-time, and I also study.”

  “What do you study?”

  “I’m studying genetic engineering and medicine.”

  Chelsea was stunned. “God, you must be like a genius or something to do both.”

  He grinned and shook his head. “Genius? No. I just have a huge interest in genetic engineering and pathology. I go to night school, but I’m on a break for a few months at the moment.”

  “Why?”

  “Why am I on a break?”

  “No. Why do you go to night school?”

  He shrugged nonchalantly. “I just prefer it.” Quickly he scanned her form with his eyes, where they came to rest on her neck. “That’s a cute mole you have there.”

  Chelsea suddenly felt embarrassed and covered the mole with her hand.

  “Don’t hide it, I like it,” he assured her.

  She slowly removed her hand. His gaze lingered on her throat a moment longer, then he looked into her eyes, his dark and dreamy. Chelsea felt glued to them, like she was powerless to break eye contact. She had the weird sensation then that her thoughts were being pulled from her brain one by one until it was nothing but an empty void. Then suddenly she snapped out of the trance, or whatever it was, and blinked a few times.

  “You’re very pretty,” he told her. “Stunning eyes.”

  “So have you,” she heard herself say. She then cleared her throat and asked, “Will you dance with me?”

  “Sure, but I must warn you I’m not very good.”

  “That’s okay. Neither am I.”

  They got out on the floor near Rachel, who shot Chelsea a look of approval. The DJ had taken over again and was playing some tracks that really had the place cranking. Travis started off a little awkwardly, but soon relaxed and got into a bit of rhythm. Chelsea felt compelled to stare into his eyes virtually the entire time. She tried to arrest herself and look away, but found it impossible to do. She was mesmerized by them, and by him. There was just something about him, something completely different to any other guy she’d ever met. She had no idea what it was, but it was definitely there.

  “You’re a pretty good dancer,” she told him and meant it. She enjoyed watching him move his slender frame about the floor. He appeared tall and gangly as if he should be a little uncoordinated. He was anything but.

  Travis just smiled and nodded, scanning her all over with his eyes again. Once more they seemed to hesitate on her neck for just a brief moment. Then he was looking into her blue eyes again, the smile never slipping from his face.

  Emma came onto the floor then and danced up beside Chelsea. She whispered in her friend’s ear, “You like him.”

  Chelsea gently nudged her away and nodded at the same time.

  “What?” Travis wanted to know, his eyes searching Chelsea’s, the smile still in place.

  Chelsea just grinned and felt herself redden in the face.

  “Nothing,” she said. “I’m going to go get a drink. You coming?”

  Travis followed her to the bar, where Chelsea got another Coke and one for Travis as well. Rather than actually drinking it, he seemed content to just hang onto it.

  Chelsea eyed him quizzically. “What? You don’t drink liquid of any kind?”

  Travis looked lost for words for a second, then he smiled again and said, “Of course I do.” He took the smallest of sips. “See.”

  “You’re unusual, Travis, but I quite like you. You’re different and that appeals to me.”

  Chelsea was surprised at how open she was being. Although she was very forward most of the time with most people - especially her brother - she was usually quite the opposite around a guy she fancied. It generally took her a while to open up and admit that she liked somebody. But here she was telling that to a guy she hardly knew and had only met less than an hour ago.

  Emma suddenly appeared beside her with her handbag slung over her shoulder. She grabbed Chelsea by the arm. “Come with me, girlfriend,” she whispered
. To Travis, she said, “I’ll bring her back in ten minutes, I promise.”

  Travis just nodded and smiled his charming smile.

  Emma led Chelsea down beside the stage, where they exited through a fire escape door and out into the night. From there Chelsea was literally dragged behind a small grove of trees. Emma rummaged around in her handbag and produced a small bottle filled with a clear liquid.

  “Give me your Coke,” she said and Chelsea obeyed. Emma then proceeded to pour a sizeable nip into the cup and handed it back.

  Chelsea sniffed the cup and asked, “What is it?”

  “Bacardi. Enjoy.” She grinned. “I feel half pissed already. Happy birthday to me. Happy birthday to me.”

  “Narcissist,” Chelsea said and smirked. She drank some of her drink and sighed with satisfaction. “Yummy. I was getting sick of plain old Coke.” She then lit a cigarette.

  “Give me a sip.” Emma took the cup from her and tilted it to her lips. She handed it back and said, “I think you like Travis.”

  “He seems nice.”

  “And he’s hot.”

  “In an unusual sort of a way. But I like that. You know me. The stranger the better.”

  “Weirdo.”

  “Am not.”

  For the next few minutes they chatted about guys while finishing off the Bacardi and Coke and sharing the smoke. When the cup was emptied they got stuck into the remainder of the bottle, drinking it neat. By the time they were done Chelsea was feeling a nice warm buzz seeping through her veins and entering her brain.

  “I feel good now,” she said and got up. She held out a hand and helped her friend to her feet. “We better get the birthday girl back to her own party.”

  “You just want to see Travis,” Emma said and smiled knowingly.

  “That too,” Chelsea freely admitted.

  The fire escape door worked on a one-way system and could only be opened from the inside, so the girls were forced to have to go back in through the main entrance at the front. As they walked around the corner of the building they saw car after car entering the car park.