Other People's Bodies

by Amy Cross

  "Edward's the same," he continues.

  "No," I reply, shaking my head. "Edward's not like Luke".

  "He is," Cole replies. "I swear to God, he is. I know that might be hard to believe, but a week ago you wouldn't have believed what I said about Luke, would you?" He pauses for a moment. "Edward's anger comes out in a different way. He's more controlled and reserved".

  "He barely fought back when Luke hit him," I point out.

  "That's not how Edward does things," Cole tells me, "but I promise you, he's going to get back at him eventually. It might take him a while, but he'll come up with a plan. Luke uses his fists, but Edward uses his mind. Sure, Edward's the one who's got all the bruises and cuts right now, but in the long run, it's Luke who's going to suffer. Edward's capable of some truly twisted things".

  "Edward's a good man," I reply.

  "Don't make the same mistake twice," he says. "You trusted Luke, and look how that worked out. Don't fall for Edward's charms as well".

  Wiping the last of my tears away, I realize that I'm starting to calm down, at least a little.

  "I hate seeing you like this," Cole continues. "It's not right".

  "I'm fine," I say quietly. "I don't need anything".

  "Not right now," he replies, "but maybe eventually..." He pauses for a moment, staring at me. "You know you can always count on me, don't you?" he asks. "You know I've got your back".

  I nod.

  "I'll always be here," he adds. "If you need me, I'll be right here waiting for you. You'll never come looking for me and have trouble finding me, okay? I'll be right here. Always".

  "Thanks," I say. I know it's probably a little irrational, but I'm genuinely grateful to Cole for his kindness. As I take a series of deep breaths and feel my tears start to recede, I find myself wanting to stay right here with Cole and never see Luke again. Finally, not knowing what else to do, I reach out and hug Cole, holding him tight.

  "I won't let them hurt you," he whispers.

  "Thank you," I reply, even though I know that no-one else can help me. I have to make a decision about my future, and then I have to be strong enough to follow through.

  Laura

  Today

  "Hey!"

  Stopping in the middle of the corridor, I turn and see that Anastasia, Victor's nurse, is hurrying after me. Since I'm in the middle of a mountain of paperwork, the last thing I need right now is to be dragged into anyone else's mess.

  "He wants to talk to you," she says.

  "Who?" I ask.

  "Who do you think? Come on. It's important". Grabbing my arm, she pulls me along with her, but I resist and stand my ground.

  "I'm in the middle of something," I say firmly. "It'll have to wait".

  "You don't understand," she continues. "When Victor wants to talk to you, it's not a request. You have to come now. He's waiting".

  "I'm busy," I say again.

  "It's about Elizabeth Bannister," she says suddenly, fixing me with a determined stare that makes it clear she knows she's got my attention. "He wants to talk to you about Elizabeth".

  "I..." Pausing, I realize that she might be right. "Where is he?" I ask eventually.

  "Come," she says, taking hold of my arm again and leading me along the corridor. "This meeting is private, you understand?" she continues. "Edward doesn't know about it. Luke doesn't know. It's just between you and him. It's a very sensitive subject. You know how things are when Elizabeth's name is brought up. Everyone becomes tense and frightened".

  "Sure," I reply, feeling a little uneasy. After all, so far Victor Bannister hasn't seemed particularly friendly, and I've never seen him as being the talkative type. It's hard to understand why I've suddenly attracted his attention, and I don't much like being frog-marched along the corridor by his nurse. Since I arrived, I've seen Victor as nothing more than a quiet old man who likes to sit in his wheelchair and observe the daily life of the Heights. It's kind of a shock to find that he actually wants to talk to me about something.

  "In here," she says eventually, stopping outside a door. "I'll leave you alone". With that, she turns and walks away. Figuring I've got nothing to lose, I step through the door and find myself in a small office, with Victor parked in his wheelchair over by the window.

  "Close the door," he says gruffly, not even looking at me. It's the first time I've heard his voice, and he sounds slightly slurred, as if he's had a stroke at some point in the past.

  Once I've pushed the door shut, I make my way across the room.

  "Is something wrong?" I ask. "If it's -"

  "Unless you're a fool," he says, interrupting me, "you need to leave this place immediately, do you understand?"

  I take a deep breath. While I'd kind of expected that Victor would bristle at all the changes I've instigated at the Heights, as well as the extensive renovation projects I've instigated, I never thought he'd be so aggressive and hostile to my face.

  "I know what you're thinking," he continues. "You're thinking that I'm wrong. You're thinking that I'm just a stupid old man who doesn't know what's going on, but I know far more than you can possibly imagine. I know my sons, for one thing, and I know what they're like. I'm afraid you're getting caught in the middle of their games again, and it's only going to end in misery". He pauses for a moment, taking a series of careful, deep breaths. "I gave up trying to stop them a long time ago. All I can do is try to keep other people out of their way, and that's why I need you to promise me that you'll leave. Mistakes have been made in the past, and I'm the consequences are still being felt today. There's a cycle of pain, and it has to end".

  I stare at him. While he seems far more lucid than I'd ever imagined, I'm not certain that I can take him at his word. Besides, there's no way I can just walk out of this place. I'm at the start of one of the biggest projects I've ever undertaken, and for the first time in my life I feel as if I'm progressing. Sure, the Heights is a strange place, but I can't just abandon everything and run. Not yet, anyway.

  "You don't believe me," he says after a moment. "The last time someone ignored my advice, do you know what happened?" He waits for me to reply. "She ended up jumping off a cliff. I remember the day young Rachel Carter first came to work here. She seemed so happy and fully of energy, and do you know what Edward did to her? He broke her down, and then he filled her with his poison. It was guilt that made her kill herself, you know. Pure, crippling guilt. The same guilt that sent Luke off to war. The same guilt that courses through Edward's veins. The three of them, they deserve to burn in hell for what they did".

  "Your nurse told me this was about Elizabeth," I reply, keen to get to the point.

  "Everything at the Heights is about Elizabeth," he says. "Every damn thing comes back to that woman eventually".

  "Do you know what happened to her?"

  He pauses. "I'm afraid that's not quite the right question".

  "Is she still alive?"

  Wheeling himself over to the desk, he opens one of the drawers and takes out a small framed photo, which he passes to me. The picture shows Elizabeth, and she's wearing the same dress that Rachel gave to me the other night.

  "Is she dead?" I ask.

  "I don't know," he replies, fixing me with a determined stare. "In some ways, maybe. What they did to that poor woman... She should never have been caught up in their stupidity".

  "If you know something," I reply, "you should go to the -"

  "Don't be foolish," he says. "This isn't a matter for the police". He pauses. "I blame myself, of course. I should have found a way to save her, but I never truly believed that they'd go so far. As their father, I always believed that deep down, they had an element of compassion, and that sooner or later one or both of them would decide that enough was enough. Instead, they took things to a whole new level, and the result was..." He pauses again. "I can't tell you whether she's alive or dead," he continues eventually, "because I don't know the answer. Only one person knows".

  "Edward?"

  "No," he repl
ies. "Not Edward".

  I stare at him.

  "If you know what those boys did to her," he says, "you'd never look at the world in the same way again. I can't deny that my sons are evil, Ms. Kingston, and unfortunately they had both the time and the money to pursue their intentions to the logical conclusion. I shoulder a great deal of responsibility for what happened. Elizabeth didn't stand a chance. From the moment she stepped across the threshold and entered this place, she was doomed. Perhaps I could have saved her, but I didn't truly comprehend the nature of my sons' obsessions. They tore that woman apart, and when they tried to put her back together again, they created a monster. It was too much for Luke, but Edward has always had a particularly cruel glint in his eye. He sees other people's bodies as his playthings, and he feels no guilt, no remorse. He terrifies me".

  "I'm sure it's not as bad as you think," I tell him.

  "Edward thinks she's alive," he continues, "and Luke, as I understand it, thinks she's dead. Neither of them can be said to be in the best position to judge. They each have their own beliefs, and no good can come of any attempt to dissuade them. What matters, more than anything, is what you believe, Ms. Kingston. This ghost can't be allowed to haunt the Heights forever. You can renovate and improve the place all you want, you can even build that damnable summerhouse, but if the question of Elizabeth's disappearance is still lingering, all your efforts will be in vain".

  Placing the photo on Victor's desk, I try to stay calm. These wild claims are starting to sound unbelievable, and I can't help wondering whether he's got some kind of emotional problem that's clouding his perspective.

  "You don't believe me," he mutters, wheeling himself back around to the other side of the desk. "It's okay. You will, one day. I can only hope that it's not too late. I've taken a great risk by talking to you. If either of my sons were to find out, they'd most certainly bring their anger down upon me". Unable to hide the frustration in his voice, he sighs before turning to me. "I've done what I can. You must make your own decision now. I only hope that you see sense before it's too late. This isn't the first time I've warned you about them, but it'll probably be the last. You can go now".

  "I'm sure it'll be fine," I say quickly, before turning and hurrying out of the room. Once I'm in the corridor, I pause to take a deep breath and regather my thoughts. Victor Bannister doesn't say much, but when he finally opens his mouth, he certainly comes out with some pretty strong stuff. I've no idea what he meant when he was talking about Elizabeth, and his maddeningly vague comments have only left me with more questions. More than anything, I need to find Cole, and I need to find out what really happened to Elizabeth Bannister all those years ago. Then again, if she was murdered, I guess the truth's going to come out anyway. After all, in a few days' time, the diggers will move in and start ripping the ground apart beneath our feet. If there are any bodies buried at the Heights, they'll soon be revealed.

  Elizabeth

  Five years ago

  Slipping the key into the lock, I pause for a moment and listen out for any sign of movement from inside the room. All I need is a little time alone, away from the constant attention I receive from everyone in this damn place, but there's a problem: I haven't seen Luke for a few hours, and I'm convinced that he's going to appear at any moment. With my head still swimming, I don't know what I'd say to my husband right now, and I want to just take some time out and be by myself.

  Taking a deep breath, I push the door open and find, to my immense relief, that there's no-one inside.

  I quickly lock the door before heading over to the bed and sitting down. I'm almost shaking with fear, and I know I have to pull myself together by dinnertime, since I'm scheduled to work with Cole in the bar. After all the fuss I made about getting that job, the last thing I can do is let him down, even if I feel as if there's no way I can work effectively. I guess this is the downside to forcing myself to take a job here: even when it feels as if everything's going wrong, I have to find some way of papering over the cracks.

  Looking at myself in the mirror, I realize that I look almost like a different person. I swear, it's as if I've aged a couple of years in just twenty-four hours. This strange, unpredictable new life with Luke is driving me insane, and I'm worried that sooner or later I'm going to crack. I feel as if I'm adrift in a world I don't understand, and at this rate I'm on course for some kind of emotional breakdown. I always thought I was a strong person, but I can't possibly handle all this drama from Luke. I wish I could get past the fact that he beat his brother up, but it's a side of my husband that I don't think I can handle.

  The silence is suddenly pierced by the sound of my phone ringing. Reaching into my pocket, I pull it out and find that Luke's trying to get hold of me. I take a deep breath, trying to decide whether or not to answer, and finally I put the phone down and wait until the ringing stops. I know I'll have to talk to him eventually, but right now I might say something I'll regret. A few seconds after the ringing stops, the phone beeps to indicate that I've received a voicemail message, and almost on autopilot I pick it up and dial the number.

  "Hey," Luke's voice says after a moment, "I don't know if you're not picking up because you're busy, or because you're mad at me, or... If you're mad at me, I understand. I'm sorry. It's just that Edward always knows how to wind me up. The guy's an asshole sometimes. You don't know him. I know I shouldn't have hurt him, but I swear to God, he pushed all my buttons at once". He pauses. "Anyway, I've spoken to him and everything's okay between us. It's not the first time we've got on each other's nerves, but we won't be letting it turn into a fight again. That's all in the past, okay? I just need to talk to you and make sure that there aren't any problems between us. Can you call me when you get this message". Another pause. "Okay. Call me".

  The line goes dead.

  Damn it, he sounds so reasonable sometimes. The guy who left that message sounds very much like the guy I fell in love with, but at the same time I feel absolutely certain that he's capable of keeping his darker side hidden when necessary. Ultimately, I guess I have to decide whether there's any point sticking with Luke when he so clearly has this violence in his soul. I remember the way my mother stuck by my father for so many years, despite the fact that he used his fists to settle every argument. Every time I think about trying to stay with Luke and make a go of things, I can't help wondering if I'm being an idiot.

  Pausing for a moment, I make a decision. The only decision I can make.

  I'm going to stay, and I'm going to see if I can help Luke, but I'm not going to take his crap forever. At some point, I have to put my foot down and say that enough is enough, and I figure I might as well set some boundaries. If he ever hits me, I'll leave immediately. I won't be like my mother, forever making excuses for a violent bully. Equally, if he gets into another fight with Edward, I'll leave. I'll also leave if, after three months, he doesn't seem to be changing. I feel as if Luke is a project that requires a lot of work, so I might as well spend three months seeing what I can do before deciding whether or not to talk away. I value my marriage, and my vows mean a lot to me, but if Luke Bannister isn't the man I thought he was, I have to make a stand. There has to be a cut-off point, and I have to know that there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

  It's settled, then. Three months to change my marriage.

  Laura

  Today

  "Is that the last of them?" I ask, standing by the desk in reception.

  "Yep," Polly says, shutting down her computer. "I guess I'm now officially unemployed for three months. Thanks for that, by the way". She glances at me, and it's clear from the look on her face that she blames me for the fact that the hotel is going to be closed for a while. I guess I can see her point.

  "Have you seen Cole?" I ask, looking over toward the bar. "He hasn't been around all day".

  "Maybe he quit," Polly mutters, already packing her things. "You can't expect people to just sit around and wait to be told when to work and when to fuck off. If you ask me, Cole
got a better offer and he figured there was no point sitting around here waiting for permission to leave. Not everyone's a professional, you know". She pauses. "So there'll still be a job for me when you re-open, right? I don't mind working in a shop for a while, but I'd like to come back when the place is open again".

  "Of course," I reply, even though I'm not sure it's true. Edward has already intimated that he wants to get rid of some of the dead wood around the place, and I've got a sneaking suspicion that he might put Polly in that category. It's not that she's a bad receptionist, but she certainly doesn't have the sparkle and appeal of someone like Rachel.

  "My cousin says I could have a case for unfair dismissal," she replies. "I told him I'm not going to pursue anything like that, because the people at the Heights are loyal. He told me I'm being naive, but I swore to him that I wouldn't be screwed over". She stares at me for a moment. "I hope I don't have to change my mind and take his advice".

  "Of course not," I say, trying to calm her down. "We'll see you in a few months, Polly. Everything's going to be just fine".

  Spotting Edward emerging from his office, I take a moment to compose myself. I feel as if I'm on the verge of a huge project that could make or break my career, and I can't deny that I'm feeling terrified. As Edward walks across the room, he seems to be strangely satisfied. I was half expecting him to have some kind of panic attack and decide that the hotel has to stay open, but he actually appears to be taking the new project in his stride.

  "Now this is a perfect hotel," he says as he reaches the desk. "No guests. If we could run like this all the time, I think I'd be much happier".

  "No guests, and no staff," Polly mutters, carrying her backpack over to the main door. "Seeya in three months. If I don't get head-hunted by someone else, of course".

  "She's a little bitter," I say, watching as Polly heads out into the car park.

  "There aren't many employers in this part of the world," Edward replies. "Not at a decent level, anyway. Don't worry, we'll have our pick of people when we re-open. It's not as if people like Polly are going to get any better offers. This is just her way of letting off some steam".