by R. J. Adams
“Did you like it?” he asks.
“Yes, I mean, is this a trick question?”
“I thought I meant more to you.”
“I thought I meant more to you,” I repeat back to him.
“Maybe you’re right, maybe people are right. I’m nowhere near you now and I guess I should move on and let you move on,” he sobs, “I love you and I always will but I guess I have to say goodbye.” And with those words he is gone, I try ringing him back but the call does not connect.
Holding back tears I read Toby’s message.
Hi just me, I have picked up food for tonight, hope you’re hungry, can’t wait to see you xoxo
Maybe Jack is right, maybe I should move on. Wait, am I really saying this? I love Jack but my god he has made me so angry, yes I kissed a guy but we were not and are not together. What has he done that I don’t know about?
I forget about the both of them and get on the bus to go and see Sophia.
As I arrive to Sophia’s room, I am scared as to how she will react. The guard tells me he is waiting right outside, well he promised that last time!
Sophia is sat as she was before, staring out of the window rocking back and forth.
“Sophia,” I call out to her as I pull up a chair, “are you alright? Are they okay with you in here?” But she says nothing. “Listen I need to talk to you about Joe.”
Her head turns slowly and her eyes widen, “you know nothing about Joe,” she growls, “he will pay for what he has done.”
“Well, he is in prison for what he has done, isn’t he?”
She gives a slight laugh, as if to mock me, “you think you know, you know nothing little girl.”
“Well that’s why I came to see you; I went to see him today. He told me some things, some things about you.”
Slowly, Sophia stands to her feet, mumbling something to herself which I cannot quite make out or hear, then she flies at me and pins me down, I try to scream but her hand is over my mouth.
My god she is strong, she looks into my eyes and suddenly I feel light, my eyes look around and for what I can see, we are levitating, is this real?
“Joe will rot in that tiny prison until the day comes for him to die. You will rot with the guilt of having lost Jack who never belonged to you and soon you will die too.”
The flies open banging against the wall as we both come crashing the floor. They pull Sophia off me and begins once again to act insane. I saw something in her eyes I haven’t seen in a while, maybe because I haven’t taken the time to look.
I saw Sophia, her normal self and she knew exactly what she was doing and what she was saying to me. As the doctors sedate her, she stares at me with a creepy grin from ear to ear until finally she passes out.
“Are you alright?” the nurse asks concerned helping me to my feet.
I nod and just run out of there, I want to get out of this hospital and as far away as I can. Why did she mention Jack? He has nothing to do with this. Yes they used to be friends and I can remember little things , them playing together but Jack and I became close. What does he have to do with all this.
I head back home trying to forget the events of today, it seems to unbelievable to think she and I levitated from the floor, or she had sex with Joe, or the fact that she even murdered her own mother.
Looking through the web on my phone I try and find some answers, the bus journey seems longer than usual giving me time to look.
I look at supernatural, devil worship and anything I can that may relate to what Joe has said. I find a woman who teaches in a school not far from the city, I quickly take a note of her name and school just as the bus pulls up to my stop.
I walk towards the house quickly changing my face as to not make Toby want to ask me questions. There is no way I want to discuss any of this until I have spoken to that woman, who claims to be a professional in all of this.
Toby opens the door before I even reach it holding a glass of wine in his hand. He smiles at me and tilts his head as if to say ‘come in.’
I head inside where he hands me a small glass of wine and continues over the oven preparing something that smells amazing.
“How was your day?” He asks me casually.
“Yeah was good, got a lot of things done, nothing really exciting, you?”
“First day off in a while, you know, hard when you’re part of a something and a person always needs you, so just spent the day here relaxing, went to the store to pick up some food and that’s about it really,” he shrugs carrying on with his cooking.
We dive into conversation about anything and everything once again, me avoiding what really happened today and checking my phone constantly to see if there are any messages from Jack, but there’s nothing. I do believe I will never hear from him again.
Settling down for the evening I feel the need to ‘veg out’ wearing nothing by my comfortable pyjamas. I go and get changed admiring the award plaques nicely framed on the wall.
As I walk through the house, I hear Toby clearing the dishes and fussing away in the kitchen. I walk down to the end of the hallway and enter what appears to be a study. More awards over the walls and on the shelves.
It must be an amazing achievement to achieve something so young. He certainly looks younger than he actually is.
To Toby Klein
For outstanding effort and achievement
It seems like an old award because I cannot make out what the achievement is for. They look like they are printed from a computer; I run my fingers over it and hear him call me.
Wearing my fluffy pyjamas, slippers and clutching my glass of wine, I head to the couch where he is sat comfortably playing with the remote for the TV.
“Shall we watch a movie?” He asks fiddling through a movie selection reel on his top of the range TV.
“Yeah, why not,” I shrug sitting next to him, “what do you feel like watching?”
“Oh how about this?” he pauses on a movie about a man who loves a woman but she rejects him and he chases her, “this one looks good,” he smirks.
“Umm yeah sure, I don’t mind, is it a horror?”
“I’m not sure, haven’t seen it, the picture and description look good though.”
“Ok,” I smile, “lets watch that then, if this is scary, I’m sleeping with the lights on,” I joke.
Getting cosy as the film is playing, I begin to feel a little light headed. I have had a few glasses of wine, my first ever few glasses and it’s gone right to my head.
The room begins to swirl around me like a merry-go-round and suddenly in the midst of the swirling, I see the black figure.
Toby begins to kiss me but my mind is focused on the black figure that is once again watching me.
“Toby no,” I push him away from me and run into the bedroom.
The black figure is there, standing next to my bed.
Chapter 13
Waking up the next morning I feel a veil of regret hanging over me, not to mention the largest headache anyone could ever suffer with.
I can only assume I was drunk last night which is the reason for me feeling like utter shit this morning. I dare get out of bed or even step foot outside this room. Toby must be mad or upset with me after I shut him down and ran away.
Diverting my attention, I pick up my phone and look up the school. It’s Sunday so schools are closed but I’m hoping I can get hold of the woman.
Good news is she is giving a speech on her new book in a library this evening. As I read the article, it states about her abilities to see beyond what we normally see, her gift in the supernatural and her brilliant teacher skills.
I have to see this woman, but I cannot hide in here all day until I do. I get up and go to have a shower.
I hear whistling from the bathroom window. Toby must be outside in the garden, if he is whistling then hopefully he isn’t mad at me.
Dripping wet and with only a towel wrapped round me, I peek out of the window to see what he is doing. He is toples
s, doing some gardening, digging and things, no idea really but at least he is occupied.
I pick up my phone and to my surprise there is a text from Jack:
I’m so sorry about what I said. I was hurt and mad at the thought some other guy’s lips touching yours, I don’t blame you though. I’m coming back into the city today, I need to see you, let me know. J.xx
Holy shit! Now he decides to come back after all this? Is he going to go home first? That’s where I need to go, I’m going to go visit his parents and hide out there for the day until the book meeting tonight.
I hurry to get dressed and run out of the house before Toby sees me. Yes, that’s me being a sissy but I simply don’t have the courage to face him today.
I text Jack back:
So now you head back? Why? I’m going to see your parents, had to get out of Toby’s house and then I’m going to a book thing.
I stare out of the window on the bus thinking of everything that has happened and wondering if this woman is going to be able to help me. Just then my phone bleeps:
Toby? Is that his name? I’m heading back because I’ve had time to sort my head out and I know you need me. I will be home this evening. J. xx
I put my phone away and decide not to respond back, I do need him but I’m not going to admit that to him once again to have it possibly thrown back at me, or worse, used against me.
As I arrive at his parent’s house I feel a warm sense of home. His mother sees me coming up the drive and immediately opens the door, arms wide open and inviting.
“My darling I missed you,” the squeezes me, “come in.”
“I’m so sorry to just turn up like this, I didn’t know where else to go.”
“Don’t be so silly, you are always welcome here. Is everything okay at home?”
That dreaded question, I know I can trust her, she is like my second mother, “no not really.”
Immediately she is ushering me to her expensive curved leather sofa and sitting me down, “tell me honey.”
Well, here goes nothing, “well, my mother was murdered, Sophia is in a psychiatric hospital, Jack has left me and I keep having vi....nightmares.”
She grabs me and hugs me so tight I can barely breathe, “My poor dear, why didn’t you come here? I would have helped you, I cannot imagine what you are going through. Have they arrested anyone?”
“Not that I’ve heard, I’m sure Toby would have told me if they did,” a strange thought comes to my head how he never speaks about the case, he is a policeman surely he would know, “and plus Jack had just left and I thought it would be you know, awkward.”
Her face saddens, “yes, it’s my fault. I should have told him when he was a small boy but as time went on it became so much harder.”
“How did he even find out something like that, did you tell him?” I ask wanting answers I know Jack won’t give up easily.
“Well, I was having a clear out, our loft is full of old furniture and I was donating it to a charity for the homeless, I didn’t realise I had his original birth certificate up there. Anyway he found it and it had no father’s name registered, he asked me about it and I couldn’t lie anymore,” she sobs, “you must think I am awful.”
“No of course not,” I comfort her, “I understand you were just trying to protect him, I’m sure he understands that too. Besides, we all make mistakes,” I smile, “even the sweet ones.”
The day goes by quickly. I feel at ease and at home here, I realise I do have people that care about me, even though I feel alone.
“I have to go,” I interrupt her conversation, “I’m sorry, it’s been lovely but I have some things I need to do.”
“No worries dear, if you need me you are always welcome here,” she smiles kindly.
I give her a hug and leave. Heading to the bookstore I wonder what things I am going to hear. I suddenly get a message, I pick it up assuming it’s from Jack but it’s not, it’s from Toby.
Hey, didn’t see you leave this morning, hope you’re okay, I miss you xoxox
He misses me? Did something else happen that I don’t remember? Does he not understand I don’t want him in that way? I ignore the message just as I arrive at the bookstore.
It’s packed with crowds of people wanting a glimpse of the woman who claims to see what is not of this world; she is talking away as if the things she sees are normal. If that was me I wouldn’t be bragging about it I’d be in hiding, if what I have seen so far is anything to go by, I wouldn’t want to see that every day.
I stand at the back out of the way listening to her talk about her new book.
“Ghosts shall we call them, are not always what they seem. Some are friendly, some simply need help or may even want to help you, but there are worlds out there different to our own. In those worlds hide evil and manipulative spirits that can harm us live and dwell and if they come into our world, well, there could be trouble for the person who invites them.”
Everyone’s eyes are glued to her as she speaks. They are so intrigued by the information of other worlds, ghosts and evil. Is it possible the black figure is a ghost and not just my imagination?
As she is speaking and looking around at everyone, her eyes suddenly stop and fix upon mine. She gives a slight smile and a nod as if to acknowledge me and then continues talking.
“This book gives a guide to those who wish to learn about ‘the others,’” she giggles, the crowd giggle with her, “we all have spirits with us at some point, but I pray none of you suffer the presence of something more, well, sinister.”
The crowd give a round of applause and start picking up copies of her book as she shakes people’s hands.
She has been talking for an hour and I missed most of it; my legs are numb from standing so long. I gently push my way through the crowds of people and make my way to the front. I pick up a copy of her book and then I feel a slight tap on my shoulder.
I turn to see her standing there, she looks at me and then behind me, “there’s something following you,” she mutters quietly.
I freeze on the spot, to scared to turn around in-case I see something I don’t want to see, “am I in danger?” I whisper terrified.
She looks behind me again and smiles, “no, she is there to look after you, a black figure, it wants to help you.”
I still dare not turn around, “help me? Help me with what?”
“It won’t say, but just know you are not alone. You see it don’t you. You have a very special gift Rayne, don’t ignore it and remember, some things are smoke and mirrors, they are not as real as they appear.”
I look at her stunned, “how....how did you know my name?”
She smiles at me, her face is kind and warming, “I know because whatever is following you told me, although it is guarded about who it is. Something is coming, make sure you trust your instinct and listen to what’s around you, only the truth will set them free,” she places a friendly hand on my shoulder and then leaves, hoards of people following behind her wanting her to sign their book.
So I’m not going crazy, there is something there. But how can I only now see this, why was I never able to do this before?
It’s late, I know Toby will be wondering where I am and I will probably face a thousand questions, something strikes me as strange about him, at first he seemed the kindest man but now, I don’t know, I cannot quite put my finger on it.
Am I now just being paranoid about those around me? I honestly don’t know.
Chapter 14
Ahh Monday is here and back to school I go to face everyone after the shitty weekend. My mother’s murder has been splashed all over the papers, reporters hanging around outside my house all weekend, no sign of anyone being arrested, the gossips in school will be having a field day.
Toby was trying to be all sweet and kind to me last night, it felt like he believed I was his girl, or at least he was treating me that way.
I haven’t heard from Jack since he said he was coming home, I thought he would ha
ve at least texted me. A part of me feels he pulled out and hasn’t bothered returning which is why he hasn’t texted me.
Toby decides to take me to school so I don’t have to get the bus, but the car journey is silent. Weirdly he isn’t wearing his uniform today, says he is in work but he is dressed normally.
As we pull up outside and I get out of the car, people’s heads turn and stare at me, then the whispers begin. I walk into the school with my head down trying not to make eye contact with anyone.
“My god there you are,” I hear in a posh English accent, it’s Rosie, the only girl who has stuck by me through all this madness without hesitation, “I have been calling and calling you all weekend but you have been a bloody nightmare to get hold of, are you alright?”
Rosie is a sweet girl. She transferred from England three years ago and has never lost her accent. I had lots of other friends, but in the last year they seem to have drifted away, I have some now, but Rosie was the only one who never seemed to judge me and has never drifted.
“Sorry,” I sniff, “it’s been kind of a crazy weekend and I just needed to keep away,” I look around at the passing students all looking at me, “look at them, whispering about me, staring like nothing has ever gone wrong in their lives, thinking I’m a total freak, or worse....cursed.”
Rosie looks at them at tut’s, “who cares what they think, you have suffered so much, don’t let little idiotic people with small minds get you down.”
Her comment makes me laugh; she always has a way of saying things to cheer me up, even when I am at my worse. Just then behind me I hear the tapping of cheap heals on the floor. Please no, not Lucy, I don’t have the strength for her bullshit today.