The Thirteenth

by G. L. Twynham

  “We need to go into the building,” Val shouted to Sarah.

  “Are you mad? It’s on fire if you hadn’t noticed, and why the hell aren’t you on fire!” Sarah screamed hysterically at Val.

  “Don’t ask questions, there isn’t time. Just do as I say. I know I can keep you safe.” Val climbed through the glassless window.

  “I can’t believe I’m doing this. When I get home my computer is going in the bin,” Sarah chuntered to herself, shaking her head in disbelief.

  They were walking into the belly of the fire. Val knew that she would be OK, but how was she going to keep Sarah safe?

  “Get down low, the air is cleaner there,” she ordered, pushing Sarah down. She needed to find a way out that wouldn’t strip Sarah not only of her clothes, but her flesh as well. On the other side of the office there was an exit. Val need to see what was on the other side of the door.

  “Stay here, I’ll be back in a second,” said Val.

  “I wasn’t going to do anything else,” Sarah replied coughing as she lay down.

  Val walked across the room oblivious to the heat coming from the walls. She placed her hand on a slightly melted handle and opened the door. In that instant, a ball of fire engulfed her entire body. Behind her, she heard Sarah’s screams of horror. After a few seconds, the power of the initial flames died down and Val was once again visible. Sarah now fell into complete silence. Val looked about her. She could see the stairs. She needed to get Sarah down there.

  “Sarah I need you to move quickly, can you do that?” There was no response. Val turned, worried that Sarah had been overtaken by fumes, but she was just beyond words. “Sarah! Come to me, now!” Val shouted, holding out her hand to Sarah.

  Although still in shock, Sarah crawled her way obediently to Val’s side. Val pulled her up.

  “Are you an angel?” Sarah asked, looking into Val’s eyes.

  “No, just lucky I suppose. Now let’s get out of here.” Val pulled her body around Sarah’s as much as humanly possible, shielding her through the flames. They just needed to make it down the three flights of stairs to freedom.

  Sarah cried out in pain. Her arms and legs were beginning to blister with the intense heat. Val could feel her body shaking, but she had no other plan and was sure that if they hadn’t come this way they certainly would have died.

  When they reached the final floor, Val heard banging from the other side of what looked like the main door. Sarah was passing out with the pain and Val was struggling to keep her upright. Then, with a final bang, the door burst open and there, just visible through the smoke, stood a fireman, fully hooded and with a large axe in hand. Val knew she had done what was needed. She laid Sarah down and held her hand. “Goodbye Sarah.” Within a second of the blue spark passing between them, the fireman found Sarah lying alone at the bottom of the stairs, babbling deliriously about how an angel had saved her.

  Val felt herself slipping towards her destination with a feeling of completion. She arrived on her knees in front of her TV, with quite a large thump. Her best friend was engrossed in a glossy magazine. Delta’s reaction was slightly different from her earlier one. There was no jumping with excitement and no hugs this time, but the look of relief in her eyes said it all.

  “You OK? Face looks a mess,” Delta said, trying for the casual effect, as she looked up from her magazine.

  “Yes thanks, explosions, burning buildings, large women. Yup, that just about explains it.” Val put her head down on the bed for support.

  “Everything OK up there, girls? I heard a bang.” called Susan.

  “Yes its fine thanks, Mum,” Val answered.

  Delta moved over and patted Val’s shoulder. “Any more of those strange people this time?”

  “Yes, she was a bad red-head. I’m sick of this, Delta. I swear that I’m going to find out what they want, and then I’m going to deal with these people,” Val said with a very determined look on her face. Rising up and starting to pull off her clothes, Val reached into a drawer and pulled out a pair of pyjamas. She explained all the details of her expedition as she changed and Delta listened attentively to her story. When Val had finished Delta stood up.

  “It’s late, I should leave. You’re being honest when you say everything’s OK?” Delta looked at Val with a schoolteacher’s expression.

  “Yes. I may not have a choice in this, but don’t forget there are only eight more symbols on my arm now.” Val lifted her pyjama sleeve to show Delta. “If this keeps up, I will have none in less than two weeks,” said Val.

  “That’s great news, I think. Now, put it away,” Delta replied.

  They walked down the stairs in silence. Val’s parents were still in the kitchen chatting. They often stayed up until the early hours putting the world to rights.

  “You leaving, Delta?” Susan called.

  “Yes, Mrs Saunders. Thank you for my dinner,” Delta replied from the hall.

  “You’re welcome, honey. Come over whenever you want,” Susan said.

  “OK Val, I’ll come and see you in the morning. Try to get some sleep and don’t pop off if you can avoid it.” Delta turned and trotted off to her mini.

  Val closed the door behind her and headed back upstairs before her mum had a chance to see the state of her cheek.

  As she walked back into her room she spotted the two empty ice cream bowls on the side and smiled to herself as she thought of Delta stuffing her face with Ben & Jerry’s. She opened her wardrobe to look in the mirror at her cheek. It wasn’t as bad as it felt and a medium sized plaster would cover the worst. She closed the door and fell into bed and a deep sleep.

  Val could feel her heart was beating fast as, once again, she found herself running through the forest towards her friends. She heard the familiar crackling noise that came before the ball of light, but then it stopped as suddenly as it had started, and so did everything else. A leaf that was falling in front of her seemed to be hanging in midair. Val looked up and a blackbird was suspended with both wings extended, held in the middle of a wing’s beat. So if everything had stopped, why hadn’t she? Val moved cautiously forward.

  That’s when she felt it. A slow breath, as cold as ice, blew down the left side of her neck. She froze to the spot as another icy breath followed. A white cloud of frozen air slowly appeared around the edge of Val’s face. Every hair on her body stood on end.

  What was this? She didn’t get time to find out. An icy hand came around her elbow and took hold of her arm. “Don’t turn around,” a deep male voice commanded, speaking directly into her ear. She shuddered as if someone had just walked over her grave.

  “You can’t win, chosen one. Time and space can separate us, but I will destroy you.” The breath seemed to be getting colder with every word, if that was possible.

  Val felt she had the right to respond although that was possibly not the cleverest option. “I think I can beat you fr… fr… freaks, so maybe we have a battle on our hands,” she said. Her lips were so cold that she was struggling to make the words come out.

  “You insolent child,” the creature bellowed. “You are much deeper than you should be and there is no way out. I will kill them all.” The hand released her arm and time started again. Val spun on the spot. He had gone, but she was most definitely still in her dream.

  She looked around for something to lean against and heard heavy breathing coming towards her. “Not more,” she muttered as a young woman dressed the same way as Val came running towards her with something in her hand. Val was intrigued until she realised that the girl wasn’t stopping. It all happened so fast that Val couldn’t do anything. The last thing she saw was the book from the shop, then the girl cannoned into her, knocking Val back into consciousness.

  Val’s eyes opened to daylight streaming in from the window. She’s forgotten to close the curtains the previous night. As she got out of bed, she knew exactly what she had to do. She picked up her mobile phone and started to send text messages. She got dressed and within min
utes she was ready to go. Making her way downstairs, she prepared to face the music about the state of her face but there was no one there. A note on the counter explained the silence:

  Val your dad has gone to work and I have an appointment first thing. Your packed lunch is in the fridge. Love Mum.

  PS. I will know if you haven’t eaten breakfast.

  Val let out a laugh. Val opened the fridge grabbed her lunch and made her way to work.

  As she drew nearer the shop, she saw Delta and Jason standing outside on the steps chatting.

  “Morning, thanks for coming over so early.” Val patted Delta on the arm to make room for her to open the door. “Last night I think I met the thing responsible for the crazy people that are making my life so exciting.” Val looked at Jason and Delta, seeing their interested eyes gleaming back.

  “What do you mean you met the thing? When I left you were going to bed. Where did you go?” asked Delta.

  “He came to me in a dream. It was very similar to the others I’ve had, but I know this was real. He actually stopped time.”

  “What did he look like? Did he hurt you? What did he say?” asked Jason.

  “Wow, slow down cowboy, one question at a time.” Val managed a smile in Jason’s direction. “I didn’t get to see him. He grabbed me from behind, and no, he didn’t hurt me, but he was extremely cold. I don’t know if this has any significance, but he told me he was, in so many words, coming to get me.” Val’s face became sombre. “He was serious and I think he can do it, although I don’t know what has stopped him up until now. I don’t know how long we will have before he comes, so let’s get moving.”

  Val stepped behind the counter, grabbed three pieces of paper and drew some squares as the others waited in silence.

  “There was also a girl in my dream. She was running towards me with the book in her hand.” Val hadn’t even finished when Delta threw her hand up into the air as if in school.

  “Oh, ask me, ask me. I know the answer to this one.” Delta grinned at Jason, who found himself wondering exactly what was wrong with these girls. “Was it the Zodiac book?” Delta stuck her tongue out at Jason as if he had lost the quiz.

  “Yes, it was and if we have to stay here all day and all night we are going to find it. Here is a rough map of the shop for you both. Mark off any shelves you look at and work down one side and back up the other. Understood?” Val handed Delta and Jason their sheets with a pen. “OK, let’s do it.” Val came around the counter and headed off down the first aisle, starting with the first book at the top of the first shelf. Delta and Jason followed suit and headed off down their allocated aisles.

  After about an hour, Delta’s head popped around Val’s aisle. “I need a chocolate fix. Am I allowed to escape for a few minutes?” she asked.

  “OK, but don’t be long,” Val said severely. She had been frightened by her dream. This thing meant business and she knew the book would have the answers.

  As Val started to scan yet another section of shelf, she heard the doorbell ring. Someone came into the shop and then she heard her name being called.

  “Val, Jason, come here, you need to see this,” shouted Delta who had returned from her shopping trip. Val marked off on her paper showing the point she was at, and made her way quickly to the front of the shop.

  “Everything OK? You sound excited.” Val asked.

  Delta stood by the counter with the largest bar of Cadbury’s Val had ever seen and a newspaper in the other hand. “Look at the front page, Val.” Delta placed the paper on the counter as they all gathered around.

  The headlines read: Doctor saved in car crash becomes hero himself. As Val read the article, it became clear that the man she and Delta had saved only a few days ago had the very next day saved a young girl from being hit by a car. Val was pleased; it was a bit like a knock-on effect.

  “So what do you think?” asked Delta, obviously a lot more excited by the news than Val.

  “Well, it’s great news.” Val shrugged, picking up her paper and pen and then turning to go back to looking for the book.

  “Don’t you notice any connection? You have saved a doctor, a nurse, a lifeguard and a Samaritan.” Delta was waving a large piece of chocolate at her as she spoke.

  “Wow, that’s true. Look at these people…they all seem to come from some sort of caring profession,” said Jason now getting involved.

  “Yeah, all this is happening so you can save people who then help others, it’s like a mission,” said Delta.

  “So, I’m on a mission now, am I?” Val smiled. “It’s good news, but it isn’t the answer to my problems, the book is.” Val turned to walk away as Delta grabbed her arm.

  “You could be the disappearing avenger.“ Delta broke off a large piece of chocolate with her free hand. “Whatever you are, you saved someone who then saved a little girl, so ease up on yourself a little, Val.” Delta shoved the chocolate into her mouth and handed Val a chunk as she let her arm go. Grabbing her bookshop map, she made her way back down her aisle. Jason nodded in agreement and headed back down his aisle. Val watched them disappear then looked back at the paper. Could Delta be right, was she helping people who were then meant to carry on helping others? Well whichever it was, for a fleeting moment it made her feel good inside. Val popped the chocolate Delta had given her into her mouth.

  “Ahh…” there was a scream from Delta’s aisle. Val dropped her paper and almost knocked Jason out as they both ran at speed in Delta’s direction.

  “Go Delta. Go Delta.” Val came to a halt in front of her friend who was doing corny circular movements with her arms whilst holding the book.

  “You found it! Cool,” said Jason.

  “Give it to me now!” Val snapped.

  Delta stopped in her tracks. “Manners cost nothing, Saunders,” Delta retaliated, stopping her dance and holding out the book for Val.

  “Sorry Delta, but this book holds all the answers.” Val held the book in her hands. “Look at the spine? It only has eight symbols on it, the same as my tattoo.” They all looked slightly more in awe of the book now. It was identical to Val’s arm, except for the missing symbol in the centre.

  “Well, open it,” Jason said seeming visibly nervous.

  “Yes, this is worse than watching the finals of American Idol.” Delta’s eyes were now bulging in Val’s direction.

  Val slowly caressed the cover. “I’m scared.” She looked at her friends and smiled. Slowly passing her finger over the lip, she started to lift the cover.

  “Should we stand back?” asked Delta.

  “Yes, maybe.” Val let the lip drop in agreement with Delta.

  “Get on with it before I die of old age.” Jason waved his hands at Val in a pushing gesture. Val flipped the top and as it lay open in her hand no one could speak for a few moments, they just stared at the book, not sure what to expect.

  “There is writing and pictures,” Val said stating the obvious nervously.

  “Wow Val, it’s a book. What did you expect, Einstein?” Delta retorted in a nervous yet sarcastic tone.

  “Well clever, the bad news is it isn’t in English.” Val started turning the pages, annoyed that it was in this strange language and forgetting the fact that only a moment earlier they had all thought that this could be a book from the pits of hell, bringing damnation to all mankind.

  “Do you know what it says?” Val handed the book to Jason.

  “Why didn’t you offer it to me first, I’ve known you the longest?” Delta walked away from them towards the counter. “I’m hurt. I need more chocolate.” She leaned on the counter and began to devour another half pound of Cadbury’s. Jason looked at the pages, but shook his head almost instantly.

  “I don’t have a clue, but I bet Sam could help us.”

  Val’s eyes seemed to double in size almost instantly. “Sam. Who’s Sam?”

  Jason knew instantly he had messed up and started stuttering and making his way towards Delta.

  “Jason, don’
t make me lose my temper.” Val was following Jason towards the shop front.

  “Please promise you won’t tell my dad what I just said. He will kill me, very slowly,” pleaded Jason.

  “Tell your dad what?” asked Delta who had been busy comfort eating.

  “Sam is the name of our secret friend, but don’t tell Shane we know, OK Delta?” Val said, Delta nodded. “OK. We can take it to him later, but for now we can look at the pictures.”

  Val placed the book on the counter and they started to flick through the pages. Then doorbell rang and to Val and Delta’s dismay, in walked Wendy.

  “Hello girls.” Wendy waved a flimsy hand and Delta waved a piece of chocolate back. “Well, who is your new friend?” Wendy made a beeline for Jason who was trying to move behind Delta.

  “She scares me, should I be scared?” Jason whispered into Delta’s ear. Delta nodded and Jason stood very still, hoping for the best.

  “How can I help you Wendy? Have you read all those books you took yesterday?”

  “No, but I can never have enough books.” Wendy smiled at Val, walking around her, eyeing her up and down. Then she stood still, both hands resting on the counter. Val realised that the book was lying open in front of her. She felt tense hoping Wendy wouldn’t notice it.

  “Wow, look at this book!” exclaimed Wendy.

  ‘Well, there goes the not noticing theory,’ Val thought. “Yes it’s mine.” Val hunched her shoulders looking at the others for support.

  “I didn’t know you could read Theban,” said Wendy.

  “Theban?” responded Val, falling over herself to get to Wendy’s side.

  “Yes, Theban, but you must already know that if this is your book?” Wendy turned, surprised to see Val in such close proximity to her.

  “Yes I did know, I was just surprised you did,” Val said smiling over Wendy’s shoulder as she picked up the book. Wendy seemed embarrassed that Val was so close.

  “I read a lot, sorry for interrupting your get-together.” Wendy turned. “I will go and get the book I forgot yesterday.” Wendy shuffled away and left the three of them closely huddled together around the book.