Secrets of the Past

by Wendy Backshall

  I left hurriedly.

  “I just need to go to the bathroom”

  I shouted as I left the room, I glanced back, but John’s news had taken them by surprise, that they must have been waiting for it for some time.

  I was now, ignored.

  CHAPTER SIX

  As I got outside the door, I felt the locket in my hand and opened it quickly, returning to my time.

  I was now standing outside my door, so I entered to make sure I was alone, which thankfully I was. The room was mine again.

  I wondered how I knew that Anastasia had gone to buy fish, but brushed it aside in my mind, who knows, I said to myself. In addition, why did I call him father, he was not my dad, but it had come out so naturally.

  Also a brother, this story is coming to life a bit too fast for me now, I must never go back again, and I knew that, it was not my time.

  I decided however it was time for lunch, feeling a hunger pang in my stomach, low fat sandwich I think, been trying recently to get my figure as it was a couple of years back, trying to get rid of this extra roll that had appeared around my hip area.

  As I sat the phone rang it was Mel, she told me she would not be round for a while as she was going to stay at her sisters in Hastings, we chatted for a while, then said our goodbyes, she did not know how long she was going for, but invited me down to stay at anytime.

  I sat back relaxed and switched on the TV, it was the lunchtime local news and in front of my eyes was a picture of Zoë filling the screen, and I leaned forward, to hear. Her body was discovered, in a lane in Strood. Which is near Rochester, where I live?

  They were looking for a man seen in the area, they then gave a description, then a photo fit picture, which resembled the man Geoff, I became very worried, and I realized I could be next, so thought I will give it to him if I see him again.

  Poor girl, I wondered if I may have helped her if I had gone to the police, I now know I should have gone with my instincts, however it was too late now.

  The rest of the day went quickly and I retired early all this knowledge had made me tired and sleepy.

  I must have fallen asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. I was so tired of all this.

  Suddenly a ringing awakened me and banging, I looked up and it was still dark, so I switched on the bedside lamp and fumbled for my dressing gown.

  I ran along the hall and down the stairs and opened the door without thinking, just about the din of the ringing. How my neighbours would feel.

  As the door opened with such force, I fell, flying backwards, hitting my head on the step I assume.

  I awoke with a pain in the back of my head; there was a cold chill on my face when I opened my eyes. Immediately in front of me was a large old wooden door, with large hinges, and a huge lock.

  It was like a door you would see in an old castle.

  I then realized how cold my bottom was, and I was sitting on a cold concrete floor. I quickly jumped up, pulling my dressing gown up around my neck, as I was cold and shivery.

  I looked around and it looked like a dungeon or prison cell, nothing at all anywhere, just the window with thick bars, and the door.

  I was feeling very panicky by this time, my head hurt and I was so cold. I went towards the window, where the bars were and tried to look out, but they were high, and could only see another concrete wall beyond.

  I started thinking back, what could have happened? How did I get here?

  I remembered opening the door, then no more.

  I pushed my hair from my face, felt something wet, it was blood, tangled in my hair, and it must have been when I bumped my head I thought.

  On my forehead, the blood trickling down my face.

  Suddenly I thought about Geoff, was it he that brought me here. Who else could it be?

  I ran to the door tried to open it but was unable. I started to become hysterical, but after a time I thought, no calm down Amy, think about it.

  I sat on a bit of a step in the corner, shivering, what can I do I thought?

  I thought I saw something move out the corner of my eye, then again, it came closer. I jumped up and squealed it was a rat. It went away again. I sat cringing at the thought of more.

  Then I heard a noise so backed from the door and the din of the key opening, made me flinch with terror.

  It opened and there he was, him, Geoff looking worse than ever, like a tramp, dirty, filthy clothes, his breathing wheezy, I was on the brink of rushing at him, but my legs were so weak.

  He then spoke.

  “I warned you”.

  He shouted, coughing and wheezing.

  He started towards me, I was now backing to the cold grey wall behind me, and he stopped a foot or so in front of me.

  I could not scream, or speak, paralyzed with fear.

  “I warned you, didn’t I?”

  Now you’re going to pay just like the others”,

  He said, breathing heavily.

  By this time, I was frozen, could not speak or mutter a noise even if I wanted to.

  He then added,

  “Now are you going to tell me where the locket is or am I going to kill you this time?”

  He came close to my face. His breath hot, he smelt so bad, I had to hold my breath to stop the disgusting smell.

  He then shouted,

  “Well, are you going to tell me?”

  I pushed him back.

  “I haven’t got it anymore, someone took it, and don’t you think I would give it to you if I had it”. I said.

  Thinking of Zoë and Lynne, who had already died by this man’s hands, should I just give it to him?

  I then screamed at him.

  “Get off, let me go.”

  However, he swung his hand and hit me in the face, which stung as his hand left my cheek, he then grabbed my arm started dragging me to the door.

  I tasted blood on my lips.

  He grabbed me again by the throat, his nails sinking in to my flesh but then let go, pushing me to the floor, then grabbed my hair, pulling at the roots, he then dropped me and headed for the door.

  I shouted after him.

  “Please let me go, I really don’t have the locket.”

  He then appeared again throwing a carrier bag; raising my hands to stop it from it hitting me in the face.

  He then spoke again.

  “I will be back soon, and you want to pray you are telling the truth.”

  I stood against the wall for a moment, then glanced at the bag and slowly opened it to see mums jumper the fleecy one I had kept in my wardrobe, it had a tiny picture of Bambi on it.

  I was thrilled he had chosen this one rather than any other. I had it for years.

  I remember when mum bought it at a market when we holidayed in Hastings, she bought the Bambi one, and I had a penguin on mine, they were soft, especially as the holiday weather had turned breezy, they kept us warm, and I had kept it all this time. We used to cuddle up together, and then fall to sleep.

  There was also a pair of tracksuit bottoms and trainers. Blimey, I thought this person had a half a brain after all. I was starting to feel a little warmer now; top was a little small now though, but did not matter.

  I was overcome with emotion and starting sobbing,

  Please help me Mum; I sat there alone crying for some time. My eyes so tired. I just wanted to go.

  Mums jumper felt gorgeous it smelt like a sweet shop, you know all the sweetie odors’ you get when you walk into a sweet shop.

  In the bag, I found a packet of crisps and carton orange, and I was a bit hungry, so I tried to eat, but I choked and just could not manage to swallow. Therefore, I sipped the drink.

  Mum would always give me strength; I needed her right now, and felt she was sitting there with me.

  In the distance, I could hear car engines; I could just see the sky through a little gap in the bars if I strained my neck a bit. I was still a little cold.

  I started worrying about Geoff, was he really going to kill m
e, no surely not, he was not the killer of Zoë, no my imagination is running away from me again.

  Suddenly I heard a noise it was he, he was back, the door opened and he shouted,

  “Right get out here, I am going to let you go and if you say anything to the police or anyone, I will kill you, do you understand me?”

  I grabbed the bag before he changed his mind, decided keeping my mouth shut this time.

  I then said, “Yes thank you so much”.

  As I got outside the door, he said.

  “Right put this over your head and you be quiet or you’re dead.”

  I slipped it over my head as quickly as possible.

  It was a hat, a woolly one, he pulled it down over my eyes, scratching my face and then grabbed my hand, dragging me up some steps.

  I stumbled, catching my fingers on the wall.

  “For god’s sake do you want to stay here or go home?” He screeched.

  I followed him best I could, tripping on every step, he held my arm tightly, and it was hurting.

  We walked a few yards, I was then, pushed to the floor of a car. Then I heard a slam and the engine start.

  He then said,

  “Don’t you dare move a muscle or your dead”?

  “You will get me the locket, or you’ll end up like them other girls, is that what you want?”

  Therefore, I lay there terrified of what was coming next. My hand was painful as I leaned on it.

  A few minutes later, I was dragged out, told to sit, he said,

  “Don’t remove that hat till you cannot hear the motor no more, and I’ll be watching, I will come back and throw you in the river, like the other girl.

  I sat frozen, heard the car drive off it was in the distance now, so I slowly pulled off the hat, my eyes were blurry and realized I was sitting opposite the river below Rochester castle in seating in an alcove. It was dark. I chucked the hat on the ground.

  I just sat there could not see anyone, finally I rose to my feet and began running towards my flat, my legs were weak, I was soon in the high street.

  I did not see anyone, there were people, but I was running so fast, just images at the side of my face, I just ran, I ignored them, I must have looked awful, such a mess.

  I could taste blood as I ran, but ignored it, just had to get home, off this street.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  I reached my home and arrived at the door to see it partly open; I quietly went in, listened at the bottom of the stairs, the door still locked behind me, so I was relieved. He must have come here again.

  I went directly to the bathroom to look in the mirror, I was horrified, was not me, could not be, blood down my face. My cheek, to one side was bright pink and my eye slightly different to the other, blood dripping down the side of my lips, and my hair, I look like a cave girl.

  I immediately ran the bath water, and walked to my kitchen area, where I made myself a hot drink, and returned for my long awaited bath. I sobbed, but there was no one here to help me.

  I must have been in there for some time, eventually dragging myself out. My eye looked a little better now, and no blood to be seen, but my head hurt a little.

  My hand was hurting, but I think just badly bruised.

  I sat on the sofa, curled up and fell asleep, I was exhausted, this day had to be forgotten, forever, I didn’t want to die like Zoë and the other girl in the river, I don’t want the locket, they can have it I thought, I didn’t want it in the first place.

  Why did, I not just give it to Geoff, then he would leave me alone. Why could I not give it to him?

  It was Zoë’s mum, what she had told me; it had stayed in my mind.

  I awoke and glanced at the clock, it was 11 am, must have slept for hours. I looked around and thought how my books had all ended on the floor and everything from my computer desk everywhere.

  It must have been him, Geoff , what a pig I thought, what had I ever done to him, did not even know him, idiot, I thought to myself.

  It was starting to irritate me having to keep putting my belongings back to their place.

  I tidied up and started to think why Geoff kept asking where the locket was, he must have found it, it had been on the mantelpiece. James had put it there.

  Then I glanced around and thought maybe, umm I wonder could it have slipped down the hole by the side of the tile in the fireplace.

  I could not quiet get my fingers in the hole so went into the kitchen and fetched a small hammer, and hit it just slightly, and a little cracked away, and there it lie.

  The locket was still mine.

  The rest of the day flew by and before retiring, I checked all the doors put a cupboard against my bedroom door, and put the hammer under the pillow, and eventually went to sleep.

  Awoke at seven with the alarm blasting out the radio, it was the record ‘Call of the search’ by Katie Melua I lay thinking for a while. Then started humming the song, so up I jumped and got off to work, with a little extra makeup covering the marks on my face, thank god, I had not got a black eye. However, I did have a scratch, so tried my best to cover it.

  I arrived at work, but James was nowhere, and did not appear all day, with no messages to say why, so I rearranged his appointments for the day. A little unusual for him I thought.

  As teatime came around, I thought I would shut the office and call around James apartment along the esplanade, it was only ten minutes away and I was a little worried as it was not like him.

  I arrived at his home.

  As I did, I could hear voices; one said,

  “She must not, ever hear of this meeting, she must never know about us, Ok.”

  It was James.

  Then I heard him Geoff again, I knew his voice.

  “The little bitch wouldn’t tell me, I tried everything, she’s going to be a hard one to crack. I will call you; go see her again see if she still has it.”

  Then he added.

  “She only showed you the other day, bloody hell mate, why did you give it back, you idiot.”

  Then the door started to open so I jumped behind the side of the building. I then peeped around the wall. To my amazement, it was Geoff.

  How could this be I thought James did not know him surely, he would not be acquainted with such an awful person, then it dawned on me, the locket, James new about it, that is what they are talking about, and me they are talking about me, I was suddenly heartbroken, betrayed by the man I thought loved me.

  He left so I turned when it was clear.

  Slowly I walked away from his apartment he had betrayed me just like all men, there are not worth having none of them. Geoff had driven off, so I was not worried about him, I cut through the side road by the castle into the high street.

  As soon as I arrived home, I telephoned my brother Tom asking if I could come for a few days, he was so pleased, Id would be safe with him, my big brother, and he would take care of me.

  On the way to the station, I dropped my resignation into James’s office.

  I needed a break; I did not want to go up to London, to live. Nevertheless, can I stay here?

  I arrived at Toms and my boys greeted me with open arms, shouting Aunty Amy have you got our presents before I had even got in the door.

  They were obviously talking about their late birthday gifts.

  Tom ushered them out the way and hugged me, then Lisa bear hugged me, but I did not mind, these are my family who would never let me down.

  Tom then said.

  “Right Amy, what’s going on, what are the marks on your face, look at you.”

  I had to think quickly, forgot completely about the marks, should I tell him it all.

  “Oh, nothing, I fell up the stairs to the flat, so stupid, caught my face on the carpet.” I said.

  Tom seem to examine my face, holding my head to one side slightly, then muttered

  “Oh Amy, you must be more careful, you’ve always been Miss Butterfingers haven’t you.”

  I gave Bobby and Charlie their gi
fts, I had bought them a game boy each, with a couple of games, they were so excited when they saw them and without a thought said “Great and cool thanks” and ran off.

  Tom took my bag then carried it up to my room. They had a super home, everything cream and white, so clean, Lisa must work her socks off keeping it this good. It was stunning.

  I loved Lisa she was like a sister to me, the one I never had, but always wanted, I loved her from the day we met. Tom was so happy with her and the boys.

  Tom had to go to work for a while so Lisa and I chilled out a bit, catching up on gossip, Lisa still begging me to come live in London, and how Tom worried about me. However, I assured her I was fine.

  My thoughts at this time’ Blimey I have almost been killed in the last day’ but if I told Tom that he would never let me go home ever, and he would get the police involved. My life then taken over.

  No, I thought best to keep quiet and get on, enjoy my time here, get back to reality and look for a new job.

  I enjoyed my visit, and ended up staying five days, shopping, visiting the theatre, restaurant, my timetable full the whole time as it always is when I visit with them.

  Seeing the twins pleased me, they were growing so fast. I had to get back home though, get on with my life and put all recent events in the past.

  My train pulled in the station at one pm on a Saturday, the sun was shining, another beautiful day.

  I heaved my large bag off the train and made my way out the station, not looking ahead, I bumped into someone, it was James, and he was as surprised as I was.

  He immediately spoke. “Amy where have you been, I have been calling your mobile, phoning your place, where have you been, you have been gone for days?

  I replied.

  “Why what do you want, am I not allowed to go anywhere, after all we are not dating or anything.”

  He looked surprised at my reply.

  “Why what’s wrong, have I done something to upset you, if I have please tell me”.

  “Yes James you have, you betrayed me, now get lost, how come you never told me you knew Geoff, I never want to see you again.”

  James replied.