The Angry Ghost and Other Stories
Page 23
He checked through several pockets before pulling out a folded piece of paper.
“Let me see that,” Ash said reaching out his hand.
With exceptional care and obvious reluctance, Moon passed the note over.
Willow and Juniper moved closer to get a better view. Ash began to read it:
It will happen on the night of Wednesday 9th September. Both the bitches – Ash looked up a moment at his sisters and returned to the note – will be tired from their unholy hunts so I’ll quietly enter their bedrooms and slip a blade into their black hearts. Ash paused again, I must meet you at midnight and once the deed is done, you can take me with you to the clan. I deserve this after these past long years surrounded by monsters.
Ash spoke; “Clearly it was meant for someone connected with the old clan and I suppose Johnne is the most likely recipient but it seems he didn’t turn up. I guess he’s been searching the rubbish bags for secret messages when we are not around.”
“Well,” continued Moon, “as soon as I read it I knew I had to stop Stefan – it was the night mentioned in the note and so I ran as fast as I could through the forest to confront him. As I approached the barn I saw Stefan enter it. I waited a few minutes before I, too, entered. What I saw was Stefan slumped on his side. His eyes were open and there was blood, a lot of blood around the back of his head. I looked around but saw no one. But then as I listened intently I thought I heard the very faint sound of breathing, but it was odd and I was reminded of the panting of a large dog.”
Moon briefly looked at Willow.
“I then looked closer and saw how he had been killed. There were deep marks at the base of his skull. It looked as if someone had attacked him with a three-pronged pitchfork.” He looked again at Willow: “Or maybe a large claw.”
Ash thought of the marks he now possessed on his shoulder and also turned to Willow.
Moon continued. “I found a hammer on the wall and repeatedly brought it down on the back of Stefan’s skull to obliterate the wounds.” Moon looked up at Willow. “I didn’t know if it was because you learnt that he was responsible for your parents’ death or because he hated you seeing me – but I understand.”
“That’s just as much a motive for you to be the murderer!” spoke up Juniper looking at Moon.
“I then ran,” Moon finished.
Scene 2: A Pack Creature
After a short period of silence Ash spoke. “Aunt Magda told me that a few weeks back there had been a visit from Uncle Johnne. She overheard him say to Uncle Stefan that we needed to be killed, and Stefan was the one to do it having apparently failed before. Johnne is someone we are going to have to deal with – probably by the three of us if Forrester’s advice on Johnne’s expertise with the knife is accurate – speaking of which; that scar…” he said looking at Forrester.
“Yes, Johnne gave me this.” Forrester motioned towards the right side of his face. “But it’s nothing; he… raped my wife and I confronted him. I fought him and got this,” he said again gesturing towards his face. “He is evil… and a devil with his knife.”
After an awkward pause, Willow said somewhat dismissively, “I think we need to concentrate on Uncle Stefan’s murder… or execution… now and worry about Johnne later. You did say that one of us knows who did it,” she continued.
“Indeed, and I think we can bring that to a close now,” said Forrester.
All looked at him and then each other.
“There are two issues here,” Forrester began: “the murder of Stefan and more interestingly… the choice of blame. Juniper, would you like to enlighten us?”
Juniper looked up startled and Ash and Willow looked at one another. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Juniper started. Moon was also looking puzzled.
Gently and quietly Forrester spoke. “Nothing you have done is malicious, evil or disloyal and I will certainly not judge you. As my son has stated, Stefan was already dead when he arrived. I trust him when he says there were marks of a wild animal on the base of Stefan’s skull. Willow was indeed nowhere near the barn when Stefan was killed; and Ash was just arriving and on the lookout for Johnne.
Stefan was there to meet Johnne who, for reasons I still don’t understand, did not turn up.
Juniper was already in the barn and I would imagine in her ‘aspect’ to despatch Stefan quickly and effectively.
I’m guessing that she was about to leave when Moon entered. Knowing that Stefan had never liked his relationship with Willow, Moon thought that Willow had committed the deed, especially as it appeared to be the work of a clawed creature and with no sign of Ash there and the probability that a ‘sensitive’ fourteen-year-old was responsible may seem absurd.
Secondly, the blame – and this is so very important. Willow had no reason to blame her boyfriend and Ash didn’t even know him, and Juniper – someone who has always been so benevolent, suddenly seemed very keen on blaming Moon – why was this?”
Forrester looked with surprising sympathy at Juniper. “If you were entirely human I would have said you were deflecting the blame, on anyone, so as not to be presumed guilty.
But because of what you are, you purposely put the blame on Moon and the reason is quite different and I repeat, not because you are bad but because you are what you are.
You are a pack creature and being part of the pack is so vitally important and necessary to your kind. This is why Ash has always felt alone in London; why Willow is sad that Ash does not want to run under Isis with her, and why you wanted Moon to be arrested for the murder.”
Forrester looked again at Juniper and not for the first time his voice was filled with compassion and empathy. “First you lost your mother and father; then Ash moved away and you could see that if Willow’s relationship with Moon continued, then maybe she too would leave – and you would be alone – and that’s a very bad way for your kind to be.
It’s reasonable to assume that it was you in Willow’s room that evening when both you and your aunt heard Johnne and Stefan discuss the murder of your parents and the planned future demise of yourselves – yes, Ash, your aunt told me about that.”
Ash looked at Juniper. “What happened, Juniper?” he said quietly.
Juniper was silent for several seconds and then looked up defiantly. “Uncle Stefan had to die,” she said, removing a handkerchief from her pocket and dabbing her eyes.
“Yes, I did it; I’m sure you would have done the same. I’m sorry, Willow; I never wanted you to be blamed but I was so worried that Moon would take you from me – everyone I have ever loved… leaves me. I was in your room to see if I could find any indication that you would… soon be gone… I’m so sorry…
When I heard the conversation, I knew Uncle Stefan had to die.”
“What about the code?” Ash asked.
Juniper stared through her tears, “Fuck the code! He was instrumental in Mother and Father’s death!”
Willow moved closer to Juniper and put her arm around her shoulders and through his surprise, Ash couldn’t deny himself a certain amount of pride in Juniper and her newly acquired fire.
“Despite what is sometimes assumed, wolves are not solitary creatures and need a pack to thrive,” Forrester said quietly, though it seemed directed at his son.
“Willow?” Ash looked up suddenly. “Why was it that when I mentioned about the law punishing the murderer of Uncle Stefan, you said something about biting the top off his head – slowly? Why was that when you already knew he intended to kill us?”
Willow thought for a moment. “Several reasons,” she said. “But mostly because I was curious to see how you would react as I suspected you of the killing. On top of that I was annoyed that someone had got to him before me.”
“Oh well,” Forrester said sighing. “Despite initial speculation, it looks as though Willow has turned out to have been the most honest of the th
ree of you. Ash was in Mortown when he said he wasn’t and Juniper killed Stefan.”
“Erh… I haven’t actually been completely honest…” started Willow awkwardly.
Juniper and Ash looked at her
“Well… I know why Uncle Johnne has been… absent… in recent weeks… it’s best I show you…” and suddenly Willow was a snarling beast running out of the cabin door and across the compound amid shrieks and screams.
Ash smiled as he looked over at Juniper noticing how incongruously out of place her handkerchief now looked held in a claw, before she raced after Willow.
Ash looked at Forrester a little confused.
“Best you go with them,” he whispered.
Ash sighed and in moments he was chasing after Juniper.
Forrester sat back in his chair, a look of great concern on his face, and then he looked down thoughtfully and smiled. “Blessed be, I think Besnik and Violca would be proud if they could see how their whelps have grown.”
“But what of this ‘Johnne’?” Moon said clearly worried.
“I believe that your girlfriend has quite possibly taken care of that matter,” Forrester answered matter-of-factly – still smiling.
Chapter 10: Johnne
Scene 1: Johnne
Willow led despite her slight incapacity, but Juniper was close behind and Ash trailed in his still unfamiliar guise. Willow, Juniper and Ash ran until they thought their hearts would explode; their powerful muscles rippled along their bodies as they sped through the woods, muscled limbs propelling them at speed with lightning changes of direction – or at least that was how Willow and Juniper progressed.
Despite his excitement, Ash felt some mild frustration with how difficult it was to synchronise his legs as the front ones moved differently to the rear ones. He was so glad Willow was too far ahead to see his clumsy attempt at running as a wolf.
However, Ash felt he would get the hang of it. He felt as if all the chains of civilised incarceration had broken and he rejoiced in the control that he had always been worried about losing. Despite running under Isis, he still maintained that control.
The anticipation in Juniper and Ash was immense, though Willow seemed still to maintain an air of feral focus.
In their inhuman minds, Ash and Juniper were already looking forward to ‘discussing’ with Uncle Johnne about his unsuccessful plan to murder them; for the hurt he had caused, and the lives he had taken.
Then Willow stopped suddenly and changed. Ash and Juniper walked up to her looking around warily and sniffed the air; then they too changed.
“Is this wise, Willow?” Ash asked looking around again and shaking slightly from the still unfamiliar metamorphosis and aware of their nakedness. “Is Johnne close?”
“Oh yes, he’s very close.” Willow looked over towards the exposed roots of a large tree.
Ash and Juniper crept cautiously forward and noticed among the roots part of a ribcage and a few white sticks of bone. Then Juniper reached down and picked up an eight-inch blade to which a decomposing hand and arm still grasped.
She dropped it suddenly.
“I can’t believe you are squeamish,” Ash said, smiling.
“I’m not squeamish; I just didn’t expect something to still be… holding it; besides, this could be useful,” she said picking up the knife again and – looking deliberately at Ash – she slowly began breaking the fleshless fingers from it.
Ash sighed, “It doesn’t look like the animals have left much behind,” he observed.
Willow walked over and moved her right hand up to her side, just below her left breast where a five-inch wound was healing. “His blade glanced off my ribs – I was lucky,” she said, “but I didn’t give him a second chance.”
“What happened?” Juniper asked.
“I was returning from a hunt,” Willow started, “when I saw Johnne walking quickly towards the house. His manner was furtive and so I followed and listened at the open window…”
“… While Juniper was listening at your bedroom door,” Ash interjected, “and Aunt Magda was at the kitchen door – Johnne really should never have opened his mouth that evening,” Ash added with a smile.
“Afterwards, I followed Johnne into the woods,” Willow continued, “and when we were far enough from the house, I attacked. I thought it would be easy but he must have known I was there, for he spun faster than I would have thought possible and I felt his knife.
I backed off.
Johnne smiled and told me what evil vermin we were and how Mother and Father were better dead, all the while waving that knife of his in front of me.”
Willow stopped for several moments and then looked directly at Ash. “He also said how he had fooled a boy into going into the woods many years ago while you were hunting. Johnne knew how sensitive you were and how it would affect you… you left us… he knew the pack would be weaker with your absence,” she finished.
Ash briefly revisited the remorse and pain of the killing that had haunted him for so many years, his anger rising. “What happened to Johnne? And leave nothing out; I’m going to savour this.”
Willow paused a moment, surprise in her eyes at the sudden ferocity in those of her brother, and continued, “I moved closer and he continued to move his knife in his outstretched arm. I leaped, this time feigning an attack on his knife arm while I moved beyond to bite deep into his shoulder. Although the knife caught my arm, a moment later his arm, still holding the knife, was lying on the ground.”
Ash listened spellbound; he had experienced the speed of Willow’s attack.
Willow smiled. “You know, the funny thing was the look of surprise on his face as he first looked at his arm jerking on the ground and then the blood spouting from the hole in his shoulder.
I let him savour the moment for quite a while before biting the top off his head – slowly.”
“How sweet; I never knew you had a sensitive side,” Ash said smiling and starting to laugh.
“Me neither; I guess he brought it out in me,” Willow said joining in.
“Well, one thing’s for sure,” Ash said seriously, “I’m not going to be the last one back to the farm.”
And with that he fell forward onto all fours and disappeared – a little awkwardly – into the darkness.
“Well, neither am I!” Juniper said smiling at Willow and suddenly growing a fiery copper mane that continued down her back.
Willow looked proudly at Juniper’s rapidly disappearing tail though winced at Ash’s rather clumsy gait. She knew she was a lot faster than either of them even with her mild disability but maybe she should let them both win on this occasion.
She thought some more – maybe not.
Her platinum hair suddenly started spreading down her back and torso and within a few more seconds she was howling after her brother and sister.
Together, they ran under Isis.
Chapter 11: Epilogue
Excerpt from the Mortown Journal:
Recent evidence, in the shape of a dagger, has been recovered from the murder scene giving the police clues as to the likely killer of Mr Stefan Kowalski.
A known miscreant named as Johnne Giaz seen several times in the area appears – according to witnesses – to have been the owner of the aforementioned item and Constable Dwyer has promised that he will be found and admitted to custody very soon.
From an examination of Mr Kowalski’s head wound, it would appear that Mr Giaz tried to cover the evidence of the knife attack by the use of a club hammer.
No one else is currently being sought in their enquiries.
Superheroes
I had been walking a while now and felt a little jaded.
I had no recollection of last night which, I felt, gave a pretty good idea of just how much alcohol I had consumed and a fair indication of the level of fun I had undoubtedly as
pired to.
Despite the apparent memory loss, I had a reasonable idea of how the evening had gone. First, we would have met up at The Anchor – the others were old enough to enter an alcohol-serving establishment, but I was still a couple of years away from being legally qualified to enter – although, of course, that didn’t stop me.
Mikey would have arrived first as his mum and dad lived only a stone’s throw away. He would have been wearing his usual black leather jacket with its cool tassels. Then siblings Jamie and Rosie would have arrived and then finally myself.
Rosie had the most beautiful auburn hair in contrast to that of Jamie whose hair was blonde and was held in a ponytail.
As Jamie was the biggest and strongest, it was he who carried the several cans of beer in a rucksack over his shoulder for our later consumption.
I had the longest walk but that didn’t bother me as I found I could throw my rather active imagination into overdrive.
I loved comics and had recently been reading some featuring superheroes with special powers and I thought how cool it would be to be invisible or – better still – able to fly.
And so, I imagined myself flying across the field, looking down at the cows in the fields that looked like tiny insects, to the little village and my friends.
I thought some more about them and smiled – they were so funny and there was never an evening where we would not be creased up and crying with laughter.
My friends.
Mikey had a thing for Rosie but unfortunately for him Jamie was always keeping an eye on him. I remember Mikey turning bright red when Jamie had caught him staring at his sister’s legs – strangely Rosie didn’t seem to mind – but it was so funny.
I was the youngest and I had to admit to myself I wasn’t the life and soul of the party and sometimes wondered why they had befriended me in the first place; I tended to listen much but say little as there seemed little that I could bring to the discussions.