by Adele Abbott
As she turned the key, there was what sounded like a small explosion followed by the sound of a wall collapsing.
“Charlie! Are you okay?” Susan could barely see because of all the dust that had been generated by the collapsed wall. She could just about make out the huge figure of some kind of animal, squeezing through the hole. As it made its escape, Susan caught a glimpse of the wolf-like figure. A wolf-like figure with Charlie’s face.
“Susan, I can explain.” Dorothy touched her arm, but Susan pulled away.
“Get away from me!”
“It’s not what you think.”
But Susan was already heading out of the unit, as fast as her legs would carry her. Still covered in dust, she hurried back home.
The apartment was empty. Confused and scared, Susan headed straight for her bedroom. Her heart was pounding, and her whole body was shaking. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she replayed the scenes she’d just witnessed. It didn’t make any sense—maybe, it had all been a dream—a nightmare, and any moment now, she’d wake up.
But she didn’t, and eventually, she was forced to accept that this was no nightmare.
Dorothy had said that she and Tilly were starting a sandwich delivery business, but there had been no sign of any sandwiches. What there had been was blood, and lots of it. That’s when the penny dropped. The name on the flyer that Greg had shown her was T & D Supplies: Tilly and Dorothy. That could mean only one thing: Dorothy must be a—no, it was too crazy. And yet, she knew it was true: Dorothy, and most likely Tilly too, were vampires.
When Susan had interviewed the two couples who’d reported sightings of wolf-like creatures, the Masons had described how the creature had escaped by breaking down a wall. It had sounded almost too farfetched, but now she’d witnessed it for herself. The voice she’d heard inside that room had definitely been Charlie’s; the creature’s face had been Charlie’s too. And then she remembered something that caused a shiver to run down her spine: there was a full moon tonight.
Chapter 21
Neil was feeling extremely pleased with life. His act was now sufficiently polished that he was much more confident about the gig tomorrow. And then there was Kim. If someone had told him that he would end up falling for a grim reaper, he would have laughed in their face, but he had, hook, line and sinker.
Good as his word, Liam had come through with the info Neil needed to reverse the spell Amelia had cast on Pretty. If it worked, Charlie would be thrilled to bits when he came home in the morning.
“Pretty!” Neil shouted when he walked into the apartment. “Your saviour is here!”
Susan was still sitting on her bed. When she heard Neil’s voice she walked over to the door. Why was he calling the cat? Had he found Pretty? She looked through the crack in the door. There was no sign of the cat, just Neil walking towards Charlie’s bedroom. What should she do? Should she tell him what she’d just discovered? Did he already know? Surely, he couldn’t possibly know or he would have run a mile. Maybe he was one of them? Whatever one of them meant. He couldn’t be a werewolf or the full moon would have affected him too. A vampire, maybe? She’d never seen him drinking that weird stuff that Dorothy had always insisted was a supplement, but which Susan now realised must be blood. Maybe he was a human, stuck in the middle of this nightmare like she was.
“Not long now, Pretty.” Neil picked up the frozen cat. “We’ll soon have you back to your old self.”
Susan was about to step out of her bedroom when she saw Neil come out of Charlie’s room with the cat under his arm. Where had that come from? Had Pretty been in Charlie’s bedroom all along? That didn’t make any sense because he’d been so upset that she was missing.
It was only when Neil put the cat on the coffee table that Susan realised there was something weird going on. As if things weren’t already weird enough. The cat wasn’t moving. At all. Not even a twitch of its whiskers. When the truth hit her, Susan recoiled in horror. There was no mistaking that it was Pretty, but she wasn’t the living, breathing cat that Susan had seen before. Pretty had been stuffed. What was going on? Had Charlie done it? No, he would never have done anything like that. What about Neil? Susan wouldn’t have thought him capable of something so terrible. Dorothy? That was a different matter.
“Here goes nothing.” Neil took out the sheet of paper that Liam had given him. It was one of the most complicated spells he’d ever seen.
Susan, meanwhile, was still trying to figure out what Neil was up to. After putting the cat on the coffee table, he’d taken a long sheet of paper from his pocket and was studying it intently.
To reverse the spell, Neil would have to run the images through his mind, but in reverse order from that in which they appeared on the sheet of paper. On his first attempt, nothing happened. Had he made an error or had Liam been wrong? Was this even the right spell? He tried again, this time slower and much more deliberately.
“Meow!” The cat jumped down off the coffee table.
Neil was just about to congratulate himself when Susan tumbled out of the bedroom. She’d been standing right next to the door when the shock of what she’d witnessed had caused her to stumble forward. In an effort to grab hold of the door, she’d inadvertently pushed it open and fallen out.
“Susan?” Neil stared at her in horror.
Her expression dispelled any hope he might have had that she hadn’t seen what he’d done. He had no choice; he would have to cast the ‘forget’ spell on her.
Before he could, there was a knock at the door.
“Susan?” Greg stepped into the apartment. As he did, Pretty shot out of the door. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She climbed to her feet and hurried over to him. “Change of plan. We’ll eat out.”
Before Greg could ask any questions, she had grabbed him by the hand and dragged him down the stairs.
“What have I done?” Neil slumped onto the sofa.
***
Thirty minutes later, Neil was still on the sofa, trying to figure out what he was going to tell Dorothy and Charlie. There was no doubt in his mind that Susan had seen what he’d done to Pretty. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, she’d left with Greg. She would no doubt be telling him what she’d seen right now.
Charlie would no doubt be understanding over what had occurred. After all, Neil had been trying to save Pretty. But Dorothy? She didn’t have an understanding bone in her body. And when she heard that this was all because of Pretty, she’d go ballistic. Maybe Neil should just kill himself now and save her the bother.
“Neil! We’re in big trouble!” Dorothy came charging through the door.
“How do you know? Have you seen Susan?”
“Yes, and she saw everything.”
“I didn’t know she was in the bedroom, honestly.”
“What are you talking about?” Dorothy sounded exasperated.
“I’d just finished reversing—never mind that, what are you talking about?”
“Susan came to the unit and saw all the bottles of blood.”
“What? When?”
“About an hour ago. And that’s not all. Charlie was hiding in our spare room because he arrived back from his day trip too late to go to Candlefield.”
“Don’t tell me Susan saw him turn?”
“More or less. The stupid human insisted on going into the room where he was hiding.”
“What happened?”
“He broke out through the back wall, but I’m pretty sure she saw him.”
Despite how terrified he was feeling, Neil managed a smile.
“What on earth are you smiling at?” Dorothy snapped.
“Sorry. I was just thinking I don’t feel quite so bad about what I have to tell you now.”
Dorothy listened as Neil told her that Susan had seen him reverse the spell on Pretty.
“I would have cast the ‘forget’ spell on her, but Greg walked in before I had the chance.”
“It wouldn’t have made much difference anyway
. Not after what she’d seen at the unit.”
“What are we going to do?”
“There’s nothing we can do except wait to see what happens, but I reckon there’s a good chance that the three of us will be back in Candlefield by this time tomorrow.”
“I can’t possibly live there. There’s nothing to do; there isn’t even any internet.”
“I’m not exactly thrilled at the prospect either. I was beginning to think that things were looking up for me, what with the new business and Donny.”
“At least you’ll still be able to see Donny in Candlefield, which is more than Charlie and I will be able to do with our girlfriends.”
“Kim is your girlfriend, then?”
“Not for long, apparently.”
“Can’t grim reapers travel to Candlefield?”
“I’m not sure, but I don’t think so. Anyway, to be honest, right now, I’m more concerned about Charlie. Where do you think he’s gone?”
“I’ve no idea. I didn’t even see which way he was headed.”
“I hope he doesn’t hurt anyone. You know what he’s like, he’d never forgive himself.”
***
Greg had driven around for almost thirty minutes, during which time, Susan hadn’t said a word. Eventually, he pulled into a layby on the main road from Washbridge to West Chipping.
“Do you want to tell me what’s going on, Susan?”
“Not really.”
“Why were you lying on the floor?”
“I’d just tripped.”
“You’re obviously upset about something.”
“Neil and I had an argument.”
“About what?”
“It was nothing. Do you mind if we don’t talk about it?”
“If that’s what you want?”
“It is. And, to be honest, I don’t really feel up to going out for dinner.”
“Why don’t we go back to my place? I could knock up something simple.”
“Okay, thanks.”
While Greg was busy making dinner, Susan was trying to figure out what she should do next. She had no doubts about what she’d seen or what it meant: The three people she’d been sharing a flat with were paranormal creatures. Should she go to the authorities? And say what? My flatmates are a vampire, a werewolf and a wizard? If she did that, the best she could hope for was that they’d laugh at her. Chances were, they’d have her committed. She could tell Greg, though, so why hadn’t she? He’d been the one who had insisted all along that there were paranormal creatures living among us. He was sure to believe her.
“Dinner’s ready, Susan. I thought we’d eat in the kitchen, if that’s okay?”
“Sure.”
“I hope this is alright for you. It’s about the limit of my culinary skills.”
“It’s fine.” She smiled. “I love an all-day breakfast. I’m really sorry I spoiled what has been a lovely day.”
“Don’t be silly; you haven’t. I’ve had a great time. I just hope I don’t give you food poisoning.”
“This is delicious.” Susan was surprised to find that she was ravenous.
“Will you be okay to go back to your apartment?”
“Of course. Like I said, it was just a silly argument. I shouldn’t have got so wound up about it. If it’s okay with you, though, I wouldn’t mind staying here tonight. Just to allow time for things to blow over. I’ll sleep on the sofa, obviously.”
“Of course you can stay, but on one condition.”
“Yes?”
“You let me take the sofa.”
“Okay, thanks.”
***
All evening, Dorothy and Neil had taken it in turns to make coffee. It was Neil’s turn.
“Make me a cup of tea this time, will you?” Dorothy shouted from the sofa. “I’m already buzzing like a top.”
“Good idea. I’ll have tea, too.”
“Do you reckon Susan will come back tonight?”
“I think she’d have been here by now if she was going to.”
“Where do you reckon she is?”
“With Greg, I assume. She’s probably gone back to his place, so they can plan their next move.”
“Do you think she’ll have told him?”
“Of course she will have.” Neil handed the tea to Dorothy. “That guy has got the hots for the paranormal.”
“What do you think will happen?”
“That’s the thing, I really don’t know. Despite what Susan saw, they can’t take it to the police. They’d laugh them out of the station.”
“Susan could write an article.”
“That’s what I was thinking. If she does, and if she names us, then the rogue retrievers will be at our door before the newsprint has dried.”
“I suppose we ought to start packing.”
“I’m not doing anything tonight. I just wish I knew what had happened to Charlie.”
Neither of them felt like going to bed, so they talked late into the night, until eventually they both fell asleep on the sofa.
Chapter 22
“Neil, wake up.” Charlie shook him gently. “It’s morning.”
“Charlie?” Neil opened one eye.
Hearing Neil say Charlie’s name woke Dorothy. “Are you okay, Charlie?”
“Yeah, just about.”
When Dorothy sat up, she discovered her left arm had been trapped underneath her, and had fallen asleep. “Where did you go?”
“I was lucky. The unit four doors down from yours is empty. I forced the door and then barricaded myself inside. Where’s Susan?”
“We don’t know.” Neil stretched. “She didn’t come home last night.”
“She saw me turn,” Charlie said. “I’m sure she did.”
“She’s seen all of us.” Dorothy was trying to shake her arm back to life.
“What do you mean?” Charlie took a seat in the armchair opposite them.
“Just before Susan saw you in the unit, she saw the bottles of blood I was putting into the fridge.”
“And then she saw me reverse the spell on Pretty,” Neil said. “I didn’t realise she was in her bedroom.”
“Did it work? Is Pretty okay?”
“She’s fine. She took off when Greg came.”
“Greg? What was he doing here?”
“He and Susan had been out for the day,” Dorothy said. “By the time I got back here, the two of them had left again.”
“And you haven’t heard from her since?”
“Nope.” Neil stood up. “I need a coffee. Anyone want one?”
“I’ll have one.” Dorothy had finally got her arm working again.
“Me too, please.” Charlie was visibly shaken by the news his flatmates had just delivered. “What are we going to do?”
“Sit here and wait for the executioner to arrive,” Dorothy said.
“There must be something else we can do.”
“Like what?”
“We could always pack our bags, and make a run for it,” Neil suggested.
“It wouldn’t do any good. Once they have you on their list, the rogue retrievers can track you down anywhere in the human world. It happened to an old school friend of mine a few months back. She made a run for it to London because she figured they’d never find her there—it took them all of twenty-four hours.”
“When do you reckon Susan will come back?” Charlie said.
“Who says she will come back?” Neil passed the coffee to his flatmates. “Would you if you were in her shoes? She probably thinks we’ll kill her.”
“She knows we’d never harm her.” Charlie took a sip of his coffee.
“Speak for yourself,” Dorothy said.
“You know you wouldn’t. Not really. Would you?”
“It’s irrelevant because she’s not going to come back.” Dorothy pulled a sour face after tasting the coffee. “How much sugar did you put in here?”
“Two. I thought you might need it this morning.”
“It wouldn’t s
urprise me if Susan has been up all night, writing her article,” Dorothy said. “It could be published as early as today.”
“Would The Bugle run an article like that?”
“Other papers might not, but you know what The Bugle is like. They’ll publish just about anything.”
“I ought to let Jade know,” Charlie said.
“Let her know what?”
“That I might be disappearing. For good.”
“And what will you say when she asks you why?”
“I—err—I don’t know. I’ll have to come up with something. Anything is better than vanishing without—”
Charlie stopped mid-sentence because the door to the apartment opened, and in walked Susan.
“Where’s Greg?” Dorothy said.
“I’m here by myself.”
“Look, about yesterday. Things got a bit weird, so we thought we should explain.”
“Don’t waste your breath, Dorothy. I know what’s going on.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know precisely what I mean.”
“What are you going to do?” Charlie said.
“Have you published anything yet?” Dorothy spoke over him.
“No, I haven’t.”
“Where have you been all night?”
“I spent the night at Greg’s place; he slept on the sofa.”
“Have you told him anything?”
“I haven’t told anyone anything.”
Dorothy glanced at the other two. If what Susan had said was true, they might still be able to save themselves, but she wasn’t sure either Charlie or Neil would be prepared to do what was necessary.
Charlie repeated his question. “What are you going to do, Susan?”
“I just want to talk to the three of you.”
“Why?” Dorothy snapped. “So you can get a better story? You can forget it. I’ve got nothing to say to you.”
“There isn’t going to be a story. I don’t want to harm any of you, but I would like to talk about this. For the sake of my own sanity, I need to understand what’s going on. Are you willing to do that?”
Charlie and Neil readily agreed, but Dorothy said nothing.