Dwell

by Lynda O'Rourke

  “I want to hear you plead, Kassidy. Beg. Beg me to let you go.” Ben’s lips brushed over mine. His black eyes stared into me. He pulled on my hair – a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. “Beg me, Kassidy – it turns me on.”

  I pulled my left hand down into my pocket. My fingers searched out the rosary beads that I had taken from Father Williams’s corpse. I found them – my hand curled around the beads and I snatched them out. I held up the rosary beads in front of Ben. “Leave – me - alone,” I shouted. “I won’t beg for you.”

  A low, guttural laugh came from deep inside of Ben. He yanked on my hair, lifting me half off the seat. “Rosary beads won’t help you against me – I’m too strong.”

  I grabbed at his hands, the pain was too much. My eyes began to brim with tears of agony and the helplessness I felt at not being strong enough to fight him off. I wasn’t going to beg this demon but I could plead for Ben – plead for him to fight this demon and come back.

  “Ben, help me. Please, Ben, I need you. I can’t do this by myself.” My scalp felt like it was on fire – a searing heat eating through my head. I let go of Ben’s hands and took hold of his face. Staring into his black eyes, I willed for that glimmer of blue to appear.

  “Ben likes you but I like you more.” The grip on my hair loosened. The evil black stare of his eyes seemed to weaken – fade. A look of sorrow filled his pupils as a ripple of blue flashed through them.

  “Ben? Can you hear me? Please, I need you to let go of me,” I whispered. “You need to wake up – don’t let it take you.”

  “Kassidy?” Ben peered up at his hands. “Shit, what was I doing?” He let go of my hair and shook his head. “You need to get out.” He took hold of the door handle and yanked it down. It was still locked. “Move back,” he ordered, smashing his elbow against the window. The glass fell away in tiny pieces. “Climb out.”

  I snatched up the satchel and climbed over Ben’s lap. “What about you? What are you going to do?” I asked as he lifted me through the window.

  “It doesn’t matter about me – don’t concern yourself,” he snapped. “Just get away from Holly Tree and keep moving. One of your friends – isn’t a …” He stopped mid-sentence and screwed his eyes shut.

  “Isn’t a what?” I asked, slipping through the window, my bare feet touching the ground.

  “Next time I catch up with you, Kassidy, you will beg for me.” Ben had gone again. I took a step back from the van – unsure of his comment. Was the demon really letting me go? He sat and starred at me, tapping his fingers slowly on the side of the van. His nails had gone black and were twisted out of shape. A thick plume of swirly smoke belted out from the exhaust mixing with the fog. I took another step back, like I was a chess piece moving away from the rook – waiting for his next move. I could feel myself tremble.

  Run, Kassidy! that voice inside screamed at me. But I didn’t want to turn my back on him – leave myself vulnerable. I shifted further away – my eyes never leaving Ben. Just a few more steps back and then I would feel safe in turning and running. As the fog swallowed up the van and I lost sight of Ben, I turned. I could still hear the tap-tap-tap of Ben’s fingernails cutting through the fog. I had no idea of my bearings. I knew I was on the outskirts of Holly Tree but I didn’t care. I ran.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Fear made me run – made me forget the physical pain I felt with each movement of my body – each stride I took on my bad ankle. Fear pushed me further on. The tap-tap-tap of Ben’s claws seemed to echo down the narrow winding streets of Holly Tree. I ran blindly through the fog – disorientated – scared that my escape would be stolen away from me. I was free but it didn’t feel like that. Cruor Pharma’s icy grip would never let go for too long. With each stride I took, I could feel the cold flutter of fingers snatching at my shoulders. Was it Ben? Was it the cleaners? Or was I just being paranoid? Who would blame me for feeling like that after everything I had been through? I was too scared to turn and look. The old buildings that lined the cobbled streets seemed to tower over me like they wanted to smother my escape – like they were a part of Cruor Pharma’s trap. I pushed on. The place was empty. The streetlamps burned a gloomy orange through the fog making them appear to be glowing eyes watching me. I had to stop. I needed to catch my breath and work out where I was. I had no idea how far into the town I had got and how near I was to The Fallen Star. Would it be a mistake to stop? Would it be my downfall? If you keep running into the unknown then you’ll be in trouble, that inner voice whispered to me. I felt myself slowing. My brain had got through the fright and was now trying to gather its strength and think straight. I ducked into a nearby doorway which offered me a little cover from anyone who might be wandering the streets looking for me. I bent over, my breathing heavy. The beat of my heart pounded away inside my head. I needed to calm myself down. My eyes were met with the sight of black veins running down the inside of my right leg. The toenails had become discoloured and my skin had taken on a greyish tint. I leant back against the wall. I had no time to stress about my veins, I could do that later, after I escaped from this place. I peered around the edge of the doorway. I needed to see some kind of a landmark that I would recognise, then I could work out which way I needed to go. My eyes slowly adjusted to my foggy surroundings and I could just make out a shop on the other side of the street. It was Doughy the Bakers. I had been buying cinnamon buns from there since I was little. Trying to picture the layout of the street without the fog, I knew I was on Catchers Lane. If I followed it up to the end and turned into Trap Street, I would come across a narrow cycling path that would run alongside Stumble Brook. From there I would come out onto Corner Lane and The Fallen Star would be at the end of it. I could probably make it in ten minutes – quicker, maybe, if I ran. I glanced left then right down Catchers Lane. Was I alone out here? Was it safe for me to go? I couldn’t really see very far through the fog, just dark shadowy shapes of buildings and the glowing eyes of the streetlamps. I listened. All seemed still. The residents of Holly Tree would be stirring soon and I didn’t want to be wandering the streets when that happened. I needed to go now.

  Slipping out from the doorway, I cautiously made my way down the lane keeping close to the shop fronts and under the canopies. I wanted to stay as hidden as possible. Although the fog was making it hard to see where I was going and worried the hell out of me as I couldn’t see if anyone was about, it also worked in my favour too. I would be harder to be spotted by any prowling eyes that happened to look out of their windows. Ben’s warning about not trusting the people of Holly Tree played on my mind. I turned onto Trap Street and remembered that the cycling path was just past Glugs’ – the off-licence – a place I knew too well, thanks to my dad. As I went past the window full of bottles of wine and whisky, I caught sight of my reflection. What a mess. I really did look like I’d been to hell and back or spent the night in Glugs, emptying the entire stock down my throat. As I entered the narrow path, I could hear the gentle sound of sloshing water running over the stones in Stumble Brook. It was darker down here with no streetlamps and only a little light coming from one of the cottages. I looked up at the window. The curtains were still shut. I carried on down the path. Not too much further to go. I felt nervous. I was so near to my way of escape that all sorts of bad ideas started to flood my mind. What would I do if Jude, Max, and Raven had already gone? How would I know if they had left without me – I didn’t even know what car Jude had? What would I do if the police were waiting there for me? What if Ben was awaiting my arrival? He knew I was heading for The Fallen Star. Stop stressing, Kassidy – you won’t know until you get there. I tried to push all the negative thoughts away. I had to stay focused. I stopped. I had reached the end of the path and was now looking onto Corner Lane. There were a couple of shops on the other side that were still shut. As I peered through the fog to my left, my eyes flicked back to the upstairs windows above the shops. Was that a curtain twitching at the window? Was someone watching me? Had the town been i
nformed that there were escaped volunteers on the run – murdering volunteers on the loose? I looked over my shoulder, back down the path the way I had come. Apart from the fog it was clear – no dark shadows. I stared back at the window, waiting for the curtain to twitch again. Nothing. I let out a sigh of relief and turned right onto Corner Lane. I had only gone a few steps when a car pulled in at the top of the lane, its headlights shone through the patchy fog. I felt my heart flutter as the car slowed down, almost to a crawl as it passed me. I tried not to stare – tried to act like I was just any-old person taking a walk through Holly Tree. At least it wasn’t a van from Cruor Pharma, just a small white car. Could it be an unmarked police vehicle? I had no idea. I carried on walking. I wanted to break out into a run but that would just make me look suspicious. The urge to look back over my shoulder was too much. Had the car stopped or had it continued on down the lane? My heart stopped fluttering when I spotted the car turning off into another street. I carried on walking, a little faster this time. I could see the hanging sign for The Fallen Star just up ahead but no sight of Jude, Max, or Raven. My eyes started searching the cars parked along the lane. There were five in all. Which one was Jude’s? Did it even matter? Without Jude the car would be useless to me. I stood by the arched doorway to The Fallen Star. What should I do – wait? But for how long – they may never turn up and I didn’t have time to spare. I wanted to be off these streets as soon as possible – away from the people of Holly Tree. If I didn’t wait what were my other options? I thought of my friend, Hannah. The original plan was to get Jude’s car and drive to the next town, The Mumbles, where Hannah lived. I couldn’t walk there, it was way too far. I could catch a bus – but that was an option I didn’t really want to take. It would mean waiting at the bus station and people seeing me. The train was out of the question – I would have to walk right past Holly Tree Police Station to catch one. It seemed that my only choice really, was the bus, but did I have enough money for a ticket? I only had a few coins which I had found in Father William’s satchel. As I stood and thought through my options, a car turned in at the top of Corner Lane. I crouched down. The light on the top of the vehicle cut into the fog in waves of flashing blue. Shit. I crawled across the cobbled pavement toward one of the parked cars outside the bar, hoping that it would shield me from view of the police.

  “Please go past, please don’t stop,” I whispered. I peered up at the car I was hiding behind and reached for the door handle. Locked. I could crawl along to the next car without being seen. I might just get lucky and find a car that hadn’t been locked. On my hands and knees, I slowly moved along the path until I had reached the next car. I knew the police had stopped. The blue light continued to light up the lane. I heard a door open and two voices filled the silence. One was male, the other female.

  “Inspector Cropper wants us to carry on our search in town. He thinks we’re wasting our time up on Strangers Hill. He wants us to check all dark vans for that girl who was seen getting into one.”

  “Okay, Sarge,” A female voice spoke. “Has Unit Two had any more sightings of the other three?”

  “They were last seen running past the library about ten minutes ago. Unit Two lost sight of them. They could be anywhere in town but we’ve got the train station covered and Unit Three is heading over to the bus station. They won’t be able to leave town so easy.”

  My heart picked up. I suddenly felt hopeful that perhaps our plan to get Jude’s car would still work. If my friends had last been seen outside the library about ten minutes ago, then they couldn’t be too far from The Fallen Star. Maybe they were here already – waiting for the police to move on. I looked to my right. I was only two cars away from the top of Corner Lane. If I crawled on my hands and knees I could probably get round the corner and wait there, out of sight from the police. I started to move. It was hard work as I had to hold the satchel up so it wouldn’t drag on the ground and make a noise. Trying to crawl low on only one hand was difficult. I only hoped that no one would look out of their window and spot me sneaking away from the police.

  “We may as well move on, Sarge. There doesn’t seem to be anyone around here,” I heard the female officer say.

  “Thank you,” I breathed, but as I said it, I started to wobble. Not wanting the satchel to drop to the ground, I tumbled over to my left, knocking into a car parked along the side of the road. An alarm rang out – the car lights started to flash. Shit. I had set the car alarm off. I didn’t have a moment to think. I jumped up. Knowing that I only had a few seconds head start before the police officers were on me, I ran.

  “Oi.” Their voices rang out behind me – their footsteps closing in on me. I reached the top of Corner Lane and in my blind panic to flee, I ran straight out into an oncoming car. The sound of brakes squealing cut through the cold, foggy morning. The car grinded to a halt just inches from me. Believing it to be another police car, I went to flee, but then I heard someone call my name.

  “Kassidy, get in!” I stared at the driver’s window. I couldn’t believe it. Jude was sitting behind the wheel. The back passenger door flew open – Raven peered out – her eyes wide with fright.

  “Stop right there – don’t move,” the female officer yelled. She was just feet away from the car – her sergeant, calling for back-up on his radio, stood a little way behind. Her eyes wandered down my legs and she took a step back – a look of revulsion stretched across her face – or was it fear?

  There was no way I had any intention of handing myself over. I ran to the car and flung myself in. The wheels screeched as Jude slammed his foot down on the accelerator. Thick plumes of exhaust smoke swirled frantically in the morning gloom. Pulling my legs in, I reached for the door and pulled it shut. The car span around, almost knocking the police officer from off her feet. With the roar of the engine filling the car, we headed down Dodge Street, and away from the town of Holly Tree.

  CHAPTER SIX

  “Shouldn’t we be heading down some of the quieter roads?” I yelled over Jude’s shoulder. “The police are bound to have some kind of roadblock set up along here, it’s the main street out of Holly Tree.” I checked over my shoulder to see if we were being followed.

  “Don’t worry, I’ve got it covered. The police are too busy hanging out at the bus station.” Jude grinned at me through the mirror. “They’ve got a unit over at the train station as well.”

  “Hey, Kassidy, it’s good to see you made it down Strangers Hill.” Max turned in his seat so he could see me. His green eyes looked worn but they still held that happy glimmer in them.

  “It’s so good to see you all too. I didn’t know whether you had got away and if I should still go to The Fallen Star. I lost sight of you both back at Cruor Pharma by the fence. I thought I was gonna get crushed when the fence came down,” I said, leaning back in the seat. I turned to look at Raven. She sat slumped with her legs curled up on the seat. Her greasy black hair hung over her eyes.

  “Are we still going to your friend’s house?” she muttered. “I want to change these clothes and wash off all the evil that’s tainted them.”

  “Yes, I think we should. I know Hannah will help us. But we can’t stay there for too long,” I said, remembering what Ben had told me. “I’ve got some stuff that I need to tell you all and it’s not good.”

  “Fire away, Kassidy,” Jude smiled, “I could listen to you all day long.” He shifted the gear-stick down to third and turned the car onto a remote country lane. A large sign on a bent post read “Please come back and visit Holly Tree.” I shuddered at the thought. I would never be able to go back to Holly Tree, and a part of me was glad to see the back of it, but I couldn’t help but feel a little sad. All my childhood memories were there and even though most of them were full of sadness and loneliness, they were a part of me. My dad’s grave was there. Would I ever be able to go back and talk to him? Maybe one day I could. Perhaps if I could get some answers about my dad then I’d be able to understand him – try and fix the emptiness that f
illed me – understand why he chose a bottle whisky over me every time. My fingers gently slipped over the photo that I had found of him at Cruor Pharma. It was the only picture I had of him now.

  “Well, come on,” hissed Raven. “What do you need to tell us? That taking part in drug trials can kill you?” She glared at me.

  “I think we’ve already discovered that one, Raven,” I muttered. “What I need to tell you is probably gonna sound crazy but hey, we’ve all seen plenty of crazy shit since yesterday, so here goes.” I took a deep breath and told them everything that Ben had said and how he had gone from being Doctor Ben Fletcher to some psycho demon.

  Max let out a deep sigh and ran his fingers through his hair. “So we’ve been injected with something called black matter from six different demons? And this is because Doctor Middleton wants human bodies to house his cleaners?”

  “Yes. And they’re not gonna stop hunting us until they catch us,” I said. “I know it sounds mad but…”

  “Too right it sounds mad,” snapped Jude. “Demons? What the fuck is Doctor Fletcher taking? He’s nothing but a fucked-up, crazy schizophrenic. What a load of…”

  “It’s true, Jude. I was there in the van with him. I didn’t imagine blood pouring down the windscreen and I didn’t imagine his eyes turning black and his nails twisting into long dark claws!” I shouted. “I know what I saw and you know what you saw at Cruor Pharma. You saw the cleaners. You can’t sit there and tell me you think that they’re human.”

  Jude sat and shook his head. “I think what happened at Cruor Pharma was a dodgy test that should never have been allowed and it went wrong. The doctors are bent and the police are bent and they cover up for each other. They don’t want us back for demon purposes, they want us back because they don’t want us exposing what they’ve been up to. Every one of those doctors is human – I don’t believe in all this paranormal shit.”