by Amy Cross
“What if I killed him?” she asked, as tears welled in her eyes.
“No-one believes that.”
“I'm starting to.”
“Then wouldn't you rather know? After ten years of not knowing, wouldn't you rather get to the bottom of it?”
Swallowing hard, she shook her head.
“So what's the alternative?” he asked. “Are you going to just be like this for the rest of your life, living in fear and running from the memories that are locked up somewhere in your mind?”
“What else can I do?”
“You can face them,” he told her. “Right now, we can find a quiet room and start the session immediately. You need to see if you can remember what happened to you on that night ten years ago, the night you were found in such a terrible state at your family's home. Maybe nothing will come of it, maybe the memories will be unreliable, but I think this is the only option that's available to us right now. Personally, I think it's the only option that might actually help you.”
She paused, staring at him with fear in her eyes. “Okay,” she said finally, her voice trembling with tension. “Fine. You're right, I can't live like this anymore. Let's do it.”
“Great. We -”
“Before I change my mind,” she added, close to tears. “Please. I need to know what's happening to me.”
Chapter Twenty
1941
“I do love it when I get to wrap everything up with a nice, neat little bow,” Hannah continued, as she made a few more notes in her diary. “Sometimes life is so ragged and untidy, but sometimes it comes together perfectly. Don't you think so?”
Sitting next to her, with her back against the wall, Wendy was staring at the night sky and shivering. Her eyes were still wide and if the sun had been up, the lack of color in her features would have been more apparent. All she could think about was the dead pilot, and the way he'd clawed at her while he was desperately trying to drag himself out of the crack. His bony fingers had dug into her flesh, ripping through her bandages and burns, but the pain seemed unimportant and distant right now. In her mind's eye, she could still see the skeletal face roaring at her.
“Of course,” Hannah added, “I still don't quite understand why he was so desperate to stay in this world and why he was willing to hurt you. The man was a true hero when he was alive, something about that part doesn't seem to fit, but I suppose I shouldn't obsess. The job's done.”
She held her right hand out and inspected it for a moment.
“I broke a nail,” she muttered with a frown. “Damn it.”
Turning her hand around, she examined it more closely.
“I should reward myself somehow,” she said suddenly, closing her diary and leaning back with a smile on her face. “Do you know how long it's been since I had a day off? We're talking years, maybe... Do you know, I don't think I actually have had a day off, not ever! I've been working non-stop ever since... Well, ever since I can remember.” She frowned. “Maybe I'm not allowed a day off. Maybe the most I can give myself is a nice lunch. No, that can't be right. Still, there's a lot to be said for a nice lunch.” She turned and looked down at Wendy. “You're being awfully quiet.”
Slowly, Wendy turned and looked up at her.
“Do you always look like that?” Hannah asked. “Sort of doughy and terrified...”
“I want to go home,” Wendy stammered.
“So you keep saying.”
“I want to find my mother.”
“She's dead.”
Wendy shook her head.
“She is,” Hannah continued. “You can deny it all you like, but you can't change the truth. She's as dead as can be. I mean, she was in a house that got crushed when a burning plane landed on it, I really don't think it's possible to get any more dead than that. Do you want me to go into graphic detail about her injuries? I could, you know.” She waited for a reply. “Don't worry, though, there's a lot more to life than just running home to Mummy when things get tough. In a way, the universe has done you a favor. Now you're an orphan, you're not going to be dragged down by family commitments. No birthdays to worry about, no big Christmas parties, no-one to visit when they end up in a nursing home.” She nudged Wendy's arm. “You're free! Isn't that great?”
“I want to go home,” Wendy said again.
“Well, you can't.”
Sniffing back tears, Wendy took a deep breath as she tried to stay at least somewhat calm.
“I suppose it's not all fun, though,” Hannah added. “I imagine there's just a little bit of you that's scared now you're an orphan, huh?”
“I don't know where to go.”
“How old are you, again?”
“Nine.”
“That's not very old.”
“I don't want to go back to the nuns.”
“Nuns?” Hannah frowned. “Well, no, I don't suppose you do, that doesn't sound good at all. You really are stuck, aren't you?”
Wendy nodded.
“Well...” Pausing for a moment, Hannah finally tucked her diary and pen away before getting to her feet. “Well, I'm sure you'll figure something out. You seem very resourceful.”
“Are you leaving?”
“I've got things to do, kid. I deal with dead people, not live ones, so my work here is done. Thanks for the help on this one, it would have taken me slightly longer to track down that pilot without you.” She reached down to shake Wendy's hand. “I usually work alone, but you were far less annoying than most people, so I didn't mind having you along this time. Not too much, anyway.”
Cautiously, Wendy reached out and shook Hannah's hand.
“I think it's going to rain soon,” Hannah told her. “Best get undercover before then. There are some arches under one of the train bridges down by the river, just half a mile away or so, and the hobos in that part of town seem less murderous than average. If I were you, I'd head down there and take few hours to come up with a plan. You seem smart and tough, I'm sure you'll be fine.” She paused for a moment, as if she was waiting for Wendy to say something. “Well, good luck,” she added finally, and with that she turned and began to walk away.
“Wait!” Wendy called after her, scrambling to her feet.
Hannah turned.
“I...” Wendy swallowed hard. “Can I come with you?”
“Where to?”
“Wherever you're going.”
“You don't know where I'm going.”
“But you're going somewhere,” Wendy pointed out, as the first spots of rain began to fall. “That's better than...” Her voice trailed off for a moment. “It's better than nowhere.”
“I told you,” Hannah replied, “I work alone.”
“I know, but -”
“And I travel alone, and I try not to pick up strays along the way. Trust me, my way of life wouldn't suit you, you wouldn't be able to keep up.”
“Why not?”
“You just wouldn't, kid. Trust me.”
“But what do you do?” Wendy asked. “Where do you live?”
“You've seen what I do. Part of it, anyway. And I live... wherever. I'm very good at blagging my way into people's homes when I need a nice bed for the night, but mostly I just walk. I don't need much sleep.”
Wendy frowned. “Are you an orphan too?”
At this, Hannah paused. “It's complicated.”
“But can't I come and stay with you? At least for a little while?”
Sighing, Hannah crouched in front of her, looking deep into her eyes. “You're a tough nut,” she continued. “You're obviously smarter than the average bear, and that's good, but we're talking night and day differences here. What you saw just now, with Squadron Leader Dickie Cathcart, was just the tip of the iceberg. It was a breeze, compared to the kind of thing I do most days. It was literally the easiest assignment I've had in years.” She paused. “Have you ever seen a real old London cemetery?”
Wendy nodded.
“And have you ever noticed how the gravestones aren't neat i
n a line? How they're all higgeldy-piggledy and crooked, with bits knocked out of them?”
Wendy nodded again.
“And have you seen how the ground itself is usually all dented and uneven?”
Another nod.
“Well that's not how they're supposed to be,” Hannah continued. “It's just that sometimes, people like me, we have to get tough with certain ghosts and demons, and we end up causing a lot of damage. That's why London cemeteries often look like a battle has taken place in them.” A faint smile crossed her lips. “Because often, a battle has taken place in them, just out of sight of anyone who might notice.”
“But -”
“I could wipe your memory,” she added. “I'd rather not. I like you, and I like the idea of you being out there, remembering me, but... If it's going to be too difficult, I can wipe your memory of the past few hours. You won't remember hanging out with me at all. Would you like me to do that?”
Wendy thought about it for a moment, before shaking her head.
“Are you sure?” Hannah asked. “It might be easier for you. Wouldn't want you cracking up, would we?”
“I don't want to forget,” Wendy replied.
“Well you'd better not tell anyone about me,” Hannah said, getting to her feet and patting the top of the little girl's head, “because that's grounds for having your memory wiped too. I could come back, you know, and get you while you're sleeping.”
“But if I came with you -”
“Not going to happen,” Hannah replied, taking a step back. “Good luck, kid. You're going to need it, but I also think you'll be fine. You're tougher than you look, which is good 'cause you don't look tough at all. Take care.”
Wendy watched as Hannah walked away, disappearing into the shadows.
“Wait!” she called out finally, running to catch up but finding that Hannah was already gone. Looking all around, she waited for some hint of movement, but there was nothing. It was as if Hannah had vanished into thin air, leaving Wendy all alone on the dark street, with rain falling more steadily now and several hours still to go before dawn.
Chapter Twenty-One
Today
“Tell me what you see,” Doctor Carrington said calmly, as he sat next to Alice in the darkened room, with just a sliver of light showing from under the blinds. “Describe where you are.”
“I'm at home,” she replied, sitting on a nearby chair with her head tilted back and her eyes closed. Her whole body was limp now that she was under hypnosis, although her hands were in her lap and her fingers were moving slightly, running nervously against one another.
“And where is home?”
“Where I live.”
“With your parents?”
She paused, as if she was struggling with the memories. “They've gone away for a few days. They've left me in charge. It's the first time they've done that.”
“And how do you feel about that?”
“I don't mind.”
“Are you going to have a party while they're away?”
She shook her head.
“Why not?”
“I don't...” She paused. “I just don't do that kind of thing. I don't have enough friends for a party.”
“How old are you, Alice?”
Another pause. “I'm sixteen.”
“And would you describe yourself as quite a solitary person?”
“I don't mind my own company.”
“Have you always felt a little separate from other people?”
She paused again. “Maybe. Like... I can't describe it, I just feel like even when I'm by myself, I'm not alone. There's always this... presence.”
He made a note on one of the forms. “That's good. So why don't you start by telling me what you're doing all by yourself at home?”
“It's late,” she replied, her voice dipping a little, become quieter. “I was doing some extra reading for school. I feel like I need to study more if I'm going to have any chance of getting into law school.”
“Law school? Is that what you want to do with your life?”
“It's all I've ever wanted to do. Mr. Wilson at school says I should get in easily, but I don't want to leave anything to chance. I just want to do something with my life. I'm scared of becoming one of those people who just drifts along.”
“Huh,” he muttered, making some more notes.
“I'm going to bed soon,” Alice continued, “but I want to double-check all the doors first. I thought I heard something earlier.”
“What did you hear?”
“It's probably nothing.”
“Tell me, Alice.”
She paused for a moment. “I thought I heard someone on the stairs, that's all. Does that sound crazy?”
“You heard footsteps?”
“There shouldn't be anyone here,” she continued. “I was really careful, I locked all the doors and windows before it got dark but now I need to check them again. I've never looked after the house by myself before, I'm probably just letting my imagination run away with it all, but I'm worried that -”
She stopped suddenly.
“What are you worried about?” he asked.
Silence.
“Stay with me, Alice,” he continued. “Tell me what's happening.”
“There's definitely someone here,” she said after a few seconds, with fear in her voice. “Oh God, there's someone out there on the landing! I'm not imagining it, he's really there!”
“Have you seen his face?” He waited, but she seemed too scared to answer. “Alice, this is important, have you seen the intruder's face?”
“He's right outside the door,” she continued. “It's like he knows which room I'm in! I don't have anything I can use to defend myself with, I don't even have my phone, it's downstairs.” She paused again. “I can hear him breathing. He knows I'm in here, he -”
She stopped.
Doctor Carrington waited for a moment. “What's happening now, Alice?” he asked finally.
She opened her mouth, but no words came out, just a faint clicking sound from the back of her throat.
“Alice,” he continued firmly, “focus on my voice. Tell me what's happening to you now.”
“He's got me,” she whimpered. “Why's he doing this to me? Why does he want to hurt me? He's acting like he hates me!”
“What's he doing to you?” He waited for an answer. “Alice, can you see the person who broke into your house? Can you describe him to me?”
“He's a...” She paused. “He's... There's an echo.”
“An echo?”
“His voice echoes,” she continued. “His face is kind of blank and pale, but his voice echoes, and his whole body... His whole body echoes too, like there are two of him in one space. It doesn't make sense, it looks...” Her voice trailed off for a moment. “He says he's missed me, and that he needs to hide from -”
Suddenly she screamed, lurching forward in her chair and doubling over as if in pain.
“Alice!”
Before he could get to her, the door swung open and two security guards stepped through, having watched proceedings so far from the corridor.
“Stay back,” Doctor Carrington told them as he approached Alice, who was still bent double, sobbing now and trembling with increasing force, as if her whole body was being rocked by some hidden force. “Alice, I need you to focus. Can you hear me?”
She replied with a whisper so low that it couldn't be heard.
“Tell me about the man with the echo” he continued. “Alice, listen to me. I want you to focus on the man you were telling me about a moment ago. Who is he? What's he doing to you?”
“He says it's the only way for him to survive,” she whispered, with her head still bowed. “He says she'll find him if he's outside for too long and she'll send him back. He says he's not done with me yet, he says...” She paused. “The wire. He's sewing me shut from the inside. Please don't hurt me...”
“Do you want us to call someone?” one of the security gua
rds asked.
“Don't disturb her,” Doctor Carrington replied, keeping his eyes fixed on Alice. “She needs to experience this again.”
“He says our souls are twisted together,” Alice continued, as her breathing became increasingly heavy and strained. “He says he's been hiding in me since before.”
“Since before what?”
“He says he wants to go on hiding in me forever.”
“Listen to me,” Doctor Carrington said firmly. “Alice, can you hear me?”
He waited.
“Alice, I need you to let me know that you can still hear me.”
Slowly, he reached out and put a hand on her shoulder, hoping that it would be enough to rouse her. Instead, he simply felt her body trembling, while her clothes were starting to become damp with sweat. After a moment, leaning closer, he realized she was sobbing quietly, as if she was reliving her ordeal.
“We need to get help for her,” one of the guards said.
“Not yet,” the doctor said firmly.
“She looks like -”
“Not yet,” he said again. “I know what I'm doing.” He paused for a moment. “Alice, tell me what the man with the echoing voice is doing to you.”
“Run,” Alice whispered finally.
“Run?” Doctor Carrington paused. “Are you trying to run, Alice? Is that what happened? You tried to run, but he wouldn't let you?”
Slowly, she lifted her face to look at him. Her eyes were closed, and her whole body was trembling so much that she seemed in danger of falling off the chair.
“Alice -”
“Run,” she said again. “He killed the policeman last time he was out. He'll kill you next.”
“The man with the echoing voice? Alice -”
“Run!” she shouted, her voice ringing out with a strong echo as she lunged at him, wrapping her hands around his throat.