“My poor baby hasn’t spoken two words aside from, ‘can I see him now?’ What were you thinking, scaring my little boy like that? He’s a good boy Jordon; I won’t let you turn him against me.”
“I bumped my head, I dunno what happened. All I can remember from last night is… is just going to bed.”
“Going to bed? And what time would have that been? I was up till 2.00 AM and you never came home from school.” I paused as I tried to remember, my face scrunched but my thoughts were fuzzy. They were blending in with the weird dream I had, where my arms were claws … or something… It felt hard to separate what was real and what wasn’t.
“You had school activities last night remember? The tennis team and student council-” Mark said. Oh yeah… that’s right. I left school late last night….
Ange wiped her hands down her dress. “Fooling around no less, you’re just as bad as your brother. This reminds me; he also didn’t come home last night. I swear if some girl turns up pregnant I’m not giving you boys a single cent.”
“Well, I think I should leave you two to talk privately for a bit” Mark stretched his arms out and left.
Ange stepped forward and inspected the chart at the end of my bed, “Hmm, head trauma. Well teaches you to not mess around-”
“Is everything alright?” I propped myself up higher on the bed. Ange wasn’t always this nasty, sure she had her up and down moments, but something must be really bugging her. I had gotten use to the fact her eyes were always wide and glistened with tears. She always seemed two seconds away from breaking.
“You mean apart from you two delinquent boys?”
“I didn’t mean to worry you-” My hand moved up to my forehead, pressed against my temple to rub out the headache that was burning up, “You said something about Evan before?”
“He’s the one who found you, drunk and all muddy from the rain. You know how hard I had to scrub to clean the bathroom from the filth you carried in?”
“I wasn’t drunk.”
“Drugs then.”
I sighed and sat back into the cushion. It’s impossible to talk to her when she’s in this mood. “I’m fine now anyway, I’ll come home once the hospital discharges me”
“Make sure you do, I have enough to worry about let alone chasing you around. You’re nearly eighteen years old. Start acting like an adult for once.” She left with a huff two seconds before Mark snuck back into the room, his face stretched with laughter.
“She’s crazy. I’m always on edge when she’s around.”
“She suffers from depression you know-”
“I know but still, sometimes I’m glad I’m not in your shoes.”
Ange signed me out of the hospital but I didn’t return home. Right now that was the last place I wanted to go to. But I didn’t go back to class either. Maybe it’s true that I had become more of a rebellious teenager? Back when I was younger I hadn’t ever dreamt of skipping out of a class. First one there, last one to leave. I volunteered for every outside club activity that’ll have me. Guess that’s how I become so well known throughout the school. If I scraped my knee during practise in one club, the other clubs would hear about it.
But this afternoon I spent down near the lake with Mark, who was also avoiding home as his grandfather was there. I made sure to return though once it hit 4.00 pm so I could thank my peers for the nice card and chocolates.
“And to see Anita, right?” Mark suggestively winked at me before waving goodbye as he made his way home, shirt that had been untucked during the entire day now tucked in and his blazer put on. Anita was packing her bag when I interrupted her in the hallway.
“Jordon? I’m so glad to see you’re okay.” She hugged me firmly. I couldn’t help but notice her hair smelt like fresh soap.
“Hey, yeah I just wanted to drop by and say thanks to everyone, but it seems I’m a bit late.”
“Are you feeling better? What happened?”
“It’s embarrassing, I think I fell and knocked myself out. Thanks to my little bro for finding me.”
“Is that so?” She tucked one loose strand of blonde hair behind her ear as she bent down and scooped up her bag. “Talking about Evan, he was here looking for you earlier.”
“Here? At school?”
“Yeah, he was with your step mum though so he didn’t stay long.”
“They’re probably at home by now anyway…” Which is where I’m supposed to be…
Anita bit into her smile and lowered her chin. There was an awkward moment where it felt like she was anticipating her words and there were as heavy as lead in her mouth.
“Are you feeling alright?” I leant forward and could sense her shuffle away.
“Yes, sorry I’m just thinking….”
“Is it Luke?” His name must’ve carried some heat with it as Anita almost flung herself across the room.
“What do you mean?”
“You guys broke up yeah? That’s what I heard?”
“Did Luke tell you that? Gees I wasn’t going to say anything but now- did he bump into you last night?”
“No, I didn’t see him. I can’t remember where I heard it from, must be because of the knock on the head. My memory is a bit hazy.”
“He was so angry, he ran out and I was certain…” She glanced back at me, but shook her head. “It doesn’t matter, want to walk home together?”
“Yeah, that’ll be great.”
I waved goodbye to Anita outside the old Robs and Juniors’ Pizza Store and made my way home.
***
I continued to rub my forehead trying to push some sense forward. I had spent about an hour or so talking to Anita on the corner of the street. She explained about the fight she had with Luke, and how he bolted out of the parlour swearing on revenge. I laughed and reassured her that I hadn’t seen him last night, but I couldn’t stop the strange dream from resurfacing. When I got home, Ange and dad were at the table eating dinner. The t.v was on, both of them engaged with their sitcom.
After I ate my meal I had felt so exhausted that I went straight to bed. I had passed Evan’s room but he was already asleep. In the morning my right eye was tingling. I looked into the mirror and found I had rubbed it raw.
That afternoon we got some visitors from my dad’s side. It was my Uncle George and Aunty Dianne, my relatives I hadn’t seen ever since we had moved out to Whitehaven. In the middle of them, clutching onto her mother’s hand was their only child. A young daughter, probably around Evan’s age too.
It was early Sunday afternoon when they rounded the corner from the train station and made their way to our house. I had been sitting with Evan on the couch, completely engulfed in my book. Evan had been doing his homework, maths I think, as he started to flick the pencil scraps off the table and onto the floor.
“Hey Jordon, do you think you can teach me another song?” Evan piped up as I wearily glanced over at him.
“Another one? Are you sure you’ve mastered the song I just taught you?”
“Yes, I’ve practised really hard and I know it really well. I even bought a recording of it on a c.d so I can listen to it at night” His exciting mumbling caused me to smile, but I barely had the energy to lift my legs off the ground.
“Well, we’ll see alright-” I replied before returning to my book. He was always so eager to learn new things and it always caught me by surprise just how fast he can pick up on new piano pieces. If I wasn’t careful he’ll surpass me very soon and I’ll be asking him for piano lessons.
Quick rapid taps knocked on the door as Ange rushed to greet them. She wore her summery dress, like she always did when we had visitors she wanted to impress. Evan was quick to steal a peek out the window before he turned on his heel and left.
Before he got too far out of the room, I called out to him “Hey, where are you going?” when mum’s voice echoed through the hallway. I got up and greeted my Uncle with a firm handshake and gave my Aunty a soft hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“
My god, don’t tell me this is Jordon?” Uncle George rubbed at his eyes in comic humour to my grown body.
“Hey Uncle George.”
“I haven’t seen you in, nearly twelve years”
“It has been a while-”
“And who is this young lady?” Ange leant forward so she could see the young girl hiding between her parents.
“This is our daughter Rachael. Rachael, this is your Aunty Ange and your cousin Jordon.” Rachel had her hand to her mouth, nervously biting her nails as she glanced up at me with big blue eyes. Her blonde hair was swept to the side and tied with a ribbon.
“Hello.” She spoke in a small voice.
“I’ll just go get the others; Jordon wasn’t Evan just here a moment ago?”
“Yeah, but I’m pretty sure he’s gone hiding to old Mrs Flitch’s house. Sorry, he’s just a bit shy.”
Uncle George gave me a warm shrug, “That’s alright, I’m sure the lad will warm up to us eventually.”
***
Evan didn’t come back home till long after they were gone. He crept back into the house, trying to be quiet but I was up waiting for him by the back door.
“Hey, you missed meeting your Uncle and Aunty, why did you run off?”
“They’re not really my Uncle and Aunty, they’re yours.” He spat back in a tone more aggressive than I had expected.
“Why are you so angry?”
“I’m not… I just… They are not my family.”
“That’s ridiculous, now what makes you think that?” I slumped down in my chair as I could feel my eyebrows pinch.
“As if you haven’t noticed, every time dad has to introduce us to people, he never tells them I’m his son. He always says, ‘this is Evan, he’s Ange’s boy’ like he doesn’t even want me here.”
“What? No he doesn’t.” Yet the more I thought about it, even though I never really picked up on it because it was just thrown in so casually, that’s exactly how dad introduced Evan. To nearly everybody. Our teachers, our family friends, our neighbours… He was Ange’s boy and that was all.
“Okay, well… we’ll go speak to him and tell me to introduce you properly.”
“No, don’t say anything.” Evan quickly shouted, “I’m just going to go to bed.”
***
I noticed Luke wasn’t in school again come. By lunch time Mark, Anita and I were eating at the back of the oval. It was the best here, away from the chaos of the football field but still close enough to the woods to enjoy their natural pine smell. When the bell sounded off I caught sight of a darken silhouette who had been watching from the gate entrance.
“Okay, now that’s weird. That guy has been standing there the entire lunch break watching us.”
Anita and Mark both craned their neck over, “I can barely see him.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing.” Mark dismissed yet the next day, same time and same place we were back at the hem of the oval, the person was watching from the gates of the school. He was in dark clothing and concealed behind a hood. It was a grim day at best; the grey from the sky soaked into all the buildings and all across the fields nearly concealed the stalker completely.
“He’s there again.” I pointed out.
“Who?” It was only Mark with me this time as he unwrapped his lunch.
“That guy from yesterday! He’s watching us again.”
“What guy from yesterday?” The boy just stood there, facing them without any sense to turn his body away. It was really creepy and started to get on my nerves.
“Remember? He was standing right there, like now. Don’t you see him?”
Mark glanced over, “I see him, but I don’t remember him being there yesterday. You’re probably just seeing things.” The following day we ate somewhere else at my persistence. Yet by the time the bell had gone off, the same stranger had tracked us down and waited behind the shed wall spying on us.
“Seriously? Again?” I growled.
Mark looked up from his sausage roll, “Again what?”
“That same guy is watching us, who the hell is that?”
Anita and Mark exchanged doubtful looks, “What is he talking about?”
“Are you serious? He’s been watching us for the past three days. I had this discussion with you yesterday!” I turned to Mark but he merely blinked back at me dumbly.
“I don’t remember that.” Mark took another bite into his meal. Anita also shrugged unfazed.
“Am I the only one who thinks this is weird?” I stood up and started to wave the stranger down. “Hey, who’s there?” Before I could get too close he bolted.
Chapter Three:
That night I had a terrible nightmare. I couldn’t remember much past a smudge of black and a sense of suffocating. Like a scared child I sprung upwards clutching at my chest. The shadows in the room hadn’t looked this hostile since I was ten years old. Unable to sleep I got up earlier than usual and went down to have breakfast. Surprisingly Evan was already up. Obviously shocked to see me, Evan tensed around his cereal bowl and kept his eyes down casted.
“Hey.”
“Mmm…” He murmured before scooping a final spoonful into his mouth and taking off. Before I could shout out to him he had barged through the front door.
***
I had been asked to stay back after school when I would usually walk Anita home. She didn’t seem to mind; she just nodded her head in her carefree way and gave a half wave behind her shoulder as she left. It wasn’t anything important; the teacher needed some assistance in packing up the gym from one of the exams that happened earlier. We were done in about 40 minutes, taking away all the single desks to the back shed and restacking the chairs against the wall.
“Thanks for helping me. How have you been feeling anyway Jordon, since your bump?” Mr Ringwood asked. He was my math teacher and was hitting his late fifties, he wasn’t in the same condition as he was last year for such manual labour. He had just done his shoulder not two months ago on a hiking trip up the mountains.
“I’m fine thanks; it really wasn’t as bad as it sounds”
“Good, good” Mr Ringwood mumbled before he paused as if figuring something out, “Have you heard from Luke?”
“Luke?”
“Hmm, I heard that you two had seen each other last, just before your accident actually.”
“Nope sorry, who told you that?” I asked as I scooped up my bag.
“Oh, that young lady you hang around with… Anita.”
Anita? “Sorry, Mr Ringwood, I haven’t seen him.” Why would Anita say that? Unless she knows something that I don’t.
***
The sun was well set by the time I left school. It was a chilly night as the clouds above my head grew fat and heavy. Not wanting to dawdle, I heaved my bag up onto my shoulder and started to trot through the dense park. The route was covered mostly by shadow and over lapping trees but took half the time if I followed the bend through the suburban streets.
And as I moved my foot onto the dirt path and into the body of the forest, I started to get this feeling. A sinking feeling. It tightened the muscles in my stomach, my arms felt stiff in the cold that my bones ached. I had walked this track a million times during my schooling days, and not once had I felt the icy touch of the wind move under my clothes. I had almost contemplated going back to the lit streets but my pride wouldn’t let me alter. There’s no way I’m getting afraid of the dark, I’m nearly a full grown man with a track record to put all others to shame. So I continued on.
I nearly laughed at myself when I felt my spine straighten. Every whisper turned my head and every twig snap had my heart pounding. “Gees get a hold of yourself.”
The sunken shadows that pressed into the ground started to get longer and more defined. Like a collection of moving silhouettes reaching across the dirt. They moved with just enough speed that I doubted myself. I was so focused on the shadows that a touch of warm breath flicked my neck and caused me to cringe. I spun around with an outstretc
hed swing ready to strike... but there was nothing.
The dry taste in my mouth made every inhale sound stained. Shallow and quick, was I panicking? Impossible. It’s just my imagination. I’ve gotten the idea stuck in my head and now I can’t seem to look past the possibility of make believe monsters. I rubbed my eyes and felt the tingle in my right eye start to burn. I pulled my sleeve up to wipe it clean when I saw a bulky mass shift to my left. It moved from behind one tree trunk to the other.
I power walked forward feeling ridiculous when a low groan forced me to a stop. That was not imagined. It was not a groan from a dog, or a man or a wild boar. It carried with it a distinct cracking noise, like the crack of electricity.
I glanced over my shoulder not sure what to expect. The forest was getting darker; the hand print of night had covered almost every touch of surface and smothered out the moonlight. Everything went quiet, unnaturally quiet that all I could hear was each breath whistle through my nose. I strained my eyes into the depths when the beast appeared.
Something huge stepped out from the bulk of the trees just down the path from me. I couldn’t see much detail, just a slim canine head hovering a good two feet higher than my height, its eyes of silver shimmering with an unnatural glow.
It was panting heavily, its body coated in black scales that melted with the rest of the dim bush. The panic hadn’t set in yet but I could feel the fear flooding behind my eyes. The creature then slowly started to step forward on all fours and I could hear the heavy crunch of its padded feet press into the dirt. It lowered its head so its shoulder blades arched upwards like pointed thorns. A touch of light crossed its face and caught the white shine of fangs. Its lips were curled back, letting another series of cracking hisses through. As it opened his jaws, a harsh smoky, silver glow seemed to be emulating from the core of its body, seeping out of its eyes and mouth like escaping smoke. It was dangerously foul, a creature that clearly did not belong to this world, let alone Whitehaven. I stepped backwards just as the beast jumped into a sprint straight towards me. It was fast. Really, really fast. I bolted as soon as it moved.
My Demonic Ghost Book two (The Reapers 2) Page 3