Broken (The Siren Series #1)

by L. A. Griffiths

  Crawling into bed felt like heaven. As I lay there, I thought about watching a movie from my collection but I was too tired to get up and look for one. Finally switching off the lamp, I got into a comfy position and I tried to block off my mind and after a few minutes sleep came to me.

  My eyes opened to complete darkness. I groggily checked my digital clock to see that it was four in the morning.

  “Crap.” I mumbled.

  I wanted to sleep through till morning, but I was glad that I didn’t have those dreams. I tried to go back to sleep but the room felt too stuffy. Something wasn’t right, I felt uneasy. I got up from my comfy bed and opened the window to air the room out. The wind outside filled my bedroom with its sharp cold air and slowly blew my curtains with ease. I then dragged myself back to my bed.

  I opened my eyes again for the second time to find my room filled with sunlight. Finally I had slept through till morning and without the nasty dreams. I again cheeked my clock; it showed that it was nearly ten o clock. My eyes lit up with surprise and I started to panic.

  “Why didn’t Dad wake me for school?” I said with panic.

  Until it dawned on me that I had no school. I didn’t want to go back to sleep so I stretched my aching muscles slowly and threw back the covers. I slipped on some clean pajamas bottoms, and went downstairs to the kitchen to get something to eat. Dad was in the kitchen leaning on the counter, drinking (from what I could only guess) tea.

  “Morning Dad,” I said while yawning.

  “Morning,” he replied. “Ellie I have to go into town today for a few things, do you want to come?”

  “Um, no thanks I just want to stay home today and just do nothing.” I placed some bread into the toaster.

  “That’s fine, I won’t be long.” He said.

  “So what time did you go to bed then?” I asked.

  “Hm, let me see it was after nine I think, just a while after you had your bath.” he replied.

  “So not that late then.”

  I grabbed the honey jar from the kitchen cupboard. The lid was sticky with its sweetness and I licked the golden goodness of my fingers.

  “So what do you need to go into town for?” I asked.

  He didn’t answer straight away and I felt maybe it was the wrong question to ask.

  “It’s for Kate.” he slowly said.

  I remained quiet and regretted asking.

  “Sorry.” I said.

  “It’s ok.”

  “Instead I’ll like to come.” I said. I wanted to support him through this.

  “No, no, stay here, I’ll be fine.” he insisted.

  “Are you sure?” I asked.

  “Yes, I’ll be fine Ellie, but thanks for offering.”

  Remembering about my toast, I quickly pressed the button and out popped the golden brown toast, this time I was thankful that it wasn’t burnt like last time. I lifted up the butter dish and started to spread the butter and the honey on slices of toast. In the cupboard, I took one of the small plates and carried my breakfast into the living room (after asking my Dad if it was ok first). We both went into the living room together. I sat down to watch morning TV, while he got ready upstairs. Flicking through the many channels, I found a morning talk show and decided to watch it while I ate. It showed the top story’s of the day so far, while interviewing people on different subjects. I hated the news, it always depressed me and I tried to stay away from it.

  “Right, I’m off now.” Dad called from the hall.

  “See you after, bye.” I called back to him while waving a toast free hand.

  I heard the door close shut. I turned up the volume of the TV just a tiny bit, just for background noise. I finished my toast and went upstairs to get my phone. I opened my clutch purse to see my phone sitting at the bottom with the notes I used as a lure. I put it at the back of my mind for now. I walked back down the stairs while checking if I had any messages. (Nothing). While still walking down the stairs I could hear what sounded like floorboards creaking. I slowly turned and walked back up the stairs. Had Dad come back in the house and I didn’t notice?

  “Dad?” I called out.

  There was no reply. I stood on the top of the stairs waiting for the sound. After a few minutes the sound never reappeared and I walked back down the stairs ignoring it. With my phone in my hand, I wanted to talk to the girls, but they would be in class and they would get in trouble if their phones started beeping. I decided to watch the TV since the news part was over, now they were interviewing a woman, (I wasn’t really paying attention). The interview dragged on asking the woman weird questions about her life. I think she was some sort of celebrity, but I didn’t recognize her at all but I continued to watch just for the sake of it.

  While still watching the TV I heard another noise, but this time it sounded like something was tapping on glass and it was coming from the kitchen. I muted the TV and tried to listen closely to the weird noise. It was getting louder and coming from the kitchen. Dropping the remote on the sofa, I decided to check it out. I opened the kitchen door and looked around for the weird noise. Everything seemed to be okay, nothing was out of place. What was that knocking noise? I stood in the middle of the kitchen waiting for the noise again. It never repeated itself. I gave up and got back into the living room in frustration. I unmuted the TV and decided to ignore the stupid noises.

  After deciding to stay put my phone beeped. I swiped at the screen to read it. The message was from Lilly. She must have sent it while in class, and she’s never text during class. She must be worried about me. Knowing she was thinking of me made me smile and I read the text.

  Hi Ellie how are you? Speak to you tonight X.

  I typed in the message I wanted to send, but thought against it since she would still be in class.

  I’ll text her when they’re on break. I thought to myself.

  I placed my phone down, to hear for the third time the weird tapping noise from the kitchen, but this time it was louder and it seemed to come from different directions.

  “What the hell’s going on!” I demanded.

  I got up from the sofa and marched into the kitchen, when I stopped dead. My whole body froze. In the kitchen was the faceless monster that I had been dreaming of.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The back door stood ajar and a perfect circle cut into the glass. The monster faced in my direction, but how could it see? This thing was standing in front of me clear as day. He wore the same rags that were covered in dark red stains. He was bald apart from a few deep scars that covered his head and face. The only thing that made it remotely human was its mouth. It started to lick its thin black decaying lips. Inside the creature’s mouth were a set of sharp pointed teeth that were stained in what looked like blood. The smell it gave off hit me like a brick wall. Its foul stinking odor lingered around me and I could hardly breathe. Was I dreaming? Did I fall asleep in front of the TV? No this was real.

  I wanted to move, to get the hell away from it, but my body was rooted to the spot.

  Move Ellie, move! I screamed inside my head.

  My body finally cooperated with my brain. I backed up from the foul smelling creature and ran through back through the living room. I wanted to head outside and run away from the house, the home that always protected me. But before I could get to the front door, another one of those monsters blocked my escape. Where were they coming from? Abandoning the exit, I spun around and headed up the stairs, only to see that the monster from the kitchen followed me into the living room, it slunk slowly towards me with its foul odor. I had to escape somewhere, anywhere. With my eyes still pinned on him, I ran up the stairs.

  Within a few steps I felt something strike my face hard. I lost my balance and fell backwards crashing to the floor, wincing in pain as my body screamed with agony. Once my vision had stopped spinning I saw the creature standing on the stairs with a twisted smile. My lip felt twice its size and stung like hell. Blood filled my mouth and I swallowed the red metallic substance. I t
ried to get to my feet, but my legs felt like jelly and couldn’t stand. All three of the faceless monsters stalked towards me. I was surrounded.

  Crap, I don’t want this! I screamed inside my head while clutching at my sides.

  Again I tried to get up as quickly as I could but it was no use. I buried my head onto the floor and waited for them to take me away. That’s when I heard a whizzing noise travel above me and ended with a crash. I looked over to see the monster had been sent flying across the room and crashing into the wall, though he didn’t stay down too long.

  Lifting my head up, I could see Rhea standing over me. She held out her hand which I gladly took. He eyes latched onto my bleeding lip and her eyes turned a deep shade of red. Around us the air felt charged, like electricity. The hairs on my arm and neck began to prickle. The static around us hummed like buzzing bees, in a flash, Rhea’s eyes turned deadly.

  “Behind me, now!” she spoke.

  I agreed to her demand and ran behind her for cover. Rhea brought her hands out in front of her and a luminous white light gathered around her palms. She shot the trail of white light at one of the creatures making the same whizzing noise. The light exploded on impact, turning the creature into black ash.

  I was shocked to see him turn to ash, but a bit relived that Rhea was here. Two of the creatures were left and they charged towards us. One of the monsters who had stuck me, charged straight for us, its talon claws reaching out, ready to strike. Rhea backhanded the monster, sending him spinning through the air and crashing against the TV.

  “Oh crap, not the TV.” I shouted.

  The second one, rushed towards us. He did not care about his companion. Rhea again held out her hand and conjured another bright light that sparked. It escaped from her hand and shot a hole through the foul creature’s heart. The stalking creature rushing towards Rhea stopped dead, and exploded into a cloud of ash leaving only one. The faceless monster got to his feet after being sent flying into the TV. He stood his ground and screamed a horrifying wail that brought me to my knees. The pain was too much, I tried to block out the horrifying shrill, by covering both my ears but the pain felt like it was piecing through my brain.

  It was pure agony and I screamed. I looked up at Rhea who didn’t seem to be affected by it. While she looked down on me I could see that my pain made her even angrier. Within a few seconds the scream was gone. I looked at the creature who was now crumbling ash. Rhea bent down and pulled my hands from my ears.

  “Ellie it’s over now.” she said kneeling on the floor.

  “Thank you.” I said weakly.

  I looked at my hands to find specks of blood on each palm. The agonizing scream had made my ears bleed. I felt light headed and sick at the same time.

  “Are you ok?” Rhea asked.

  Without thinking I hugged Rhea and pulled her close. She felt like stone but I continued to hug her tightly.

  “You saved me.” I said

  Rhea pulled away from me and looked at me.

  “I wished I’d got here sooner.” she said while looking at my puffy lip.

  “How did you know they were here?” I asked.

  “When any supernatural being enters your house I can sense it. A few months ago I placed a spell to alert me of anything supernatural. And I was right to do so.” she answered.

  “What are they? What do they want from me?” I asked. All these questions filled my mind and I wanted answers.

  Rhea stood up and held out a helping hand and I gladly took it. Her skin felt so soft, like velvet. Rhea pulled me up to my feet with ease. She walked into the living room where the pile of ashes lay scattered on the floor.

  “These things,” she said with a spiteful tone. “Are like rats, the lowest of the low. They live in the sewers. This is the first time I’ve seen them work together, normally they fight amongst themselves, but this time they were organized.” said Rhea.

  “Well they’re not human, are they like me?” I asked.

  “They are far from what you are. They are called leaches, disgusting creatures. Ellie you are pure but these things are nothing like you. Yes they belong in the supernatural world, our world, but these things are foul,” She replied. “But to attack you like this is something else.”

  I looked around the living room to see scorch marks stained the walls and broken belongings thrown onto the floor. The TV lay shattered in the corner with some of its pieces mixed among the monsters ashes.

  “Oh crap my Dad will be here soon and what’s he going to think with this mess?” I quickly said.

  “Don’t worry I can handle It.” Rhea raised her hand into the air and a wind began to whip around us. The room started to move along with the wind. The piles of black ashes disappeared and the TV returned back to normal, without a single scratch. It was like we went back in time. The scorch marks on the walls had vanished. The house was back to normal. Pity she couldn’t do that to my rug.

  “Did we just go back in time?” I asked.

  Rhea laughed. “No my dear girl, not even I can do that.”

  The gentle wind around Rhea quickly died down. She walked towards me and gently touched my lip with her finger. My lip began to tingle, and the sharp pain was gone. The cut had completely healed.

  “Wow, thank you Rhea.” Rhea then, looked uncomfortable.

  “Ellie, I have to tell you something,” she paused. “You are not safe here anymore, you need to come with me.”

  “What?” I asked. “I don’t think my Dad would be too happy to be told he needs to go with a complete stranger.”

  “No, Ellie. Just you, he cannot come with us.”

  “What!” I yelled.

  Was what Rhea saying true? I could not just leave my Dad alone. Not after what has happened to us. He would think I’d deserted him, and I could not do that to him, not now.

  “No Rhea. Thank you for what you have done, but I cannot just leave him,” I said. “He’s my Dad and with everything that’s happened, I just can’t leave.”

  “Ellie I understand you want to be with him, but it’s not safe for you anymore. You saw what these things nearly did to you.” Rhea said.

  “I will not abandon him, he’s all the family I’ve got left.” I could feel myself getting angry.

  “Ellie they will come back for you, and they will take you away. You cannot stay. I can protect you if you come with me.” Rhea said.

  “Then we will wait for my Dad so we can all go together.”

  “It does not work like that Ellie, only you can come, now pack a bag.” Rhea was getting agitated.

  “Why cannot he come? He’ll be safe with us.” I wanted answers.

  “You’re one of a kind Ellie, but he’s human. He’s not like us, they’re not allowed in our world. There are rules.”

  “Screw the rules, I want to stay with him.” I shouted.

  “That’s enough!” As Rhea shouted the house trembled with a powerful force.

  I took a step back from her.

  “Ellie,” said Rhea in a now calming tone. “There are things far powerful at work here and they are coming for you. I won’t stand by and watch them harm you and your Father. Now go up stairs and pack a bag.” Rhea had said enough on the matter and was staring forcefully at me.

  “Fine.” I didn’t want to argue anymore.

  I tried to hold back the tears as I turned to go up the stairs, dragging my feet with every step. Inside my bedroom I took an old backpack from my wardrobe. I packed some jeans, t-shirts and a few jumpers just to be sure. I also grabbed some thick socks and a few pairs of underwear. I zipped up the old bag and took one last look at my bedroom. Maybe I’ll get to come back but deep down even I knew that would be anytime soon. I closed the door to my bedroom, hoping to see it again.

  Dad’s room was just on the right and I peeked inside. His room was quite messy, his bed unmade and his clothes discarded on the floor. I entered his room and I could smell his favorite musky cologne lingering in the air. On his bedside table was a photo frame
with Kate, my Dad, and myself. The picture was taken about eleven years ago, I was about five years old and the three of us were smiling in what looks like a woodland area, sitting on a red and white picnic blanket. I thought of taking the photo but something in my mind thought that he was going to need it more than I. Next to the photo frame was Dad’s bottle of cologne, I pulled the cap off and inhaled deeply. The manly scent wafted straight up my nose and I could picture him straight away as the musk played with my memoires. Smiling from memory, I placed down the bottle and left my Dad’s room to meet up with Rhea downstairs.

  “Ready?” she asked.

  I placed on my tatty shoes and then I was ready. I took a deep breath and nodded. This was it.

  Rhea gently took my hand. “Where are we going?” I asked.

  “Where I know it to be safe.” she replied.

  “Where?” I asked again.

  Rhea smiled. “My home of course.” she replied.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “But what about my Dad? Will he be safe?”

  “I’ll make sure that he’s protected, but once you leave this house you cannot come back so easily.” she replied “Now shall we go?”

  With her hand still tightly gripped into mine, Rhea closed her eyes. Confused, I stood there staring at her perfect formed face. I was about to say something when the room began to shake and contort into strange shapes. The walls around us began to crumble away and the floor exploded from our feet leaving nothing but emptiness. My home was gone, leaving Rhea and I suspended in air. The world started to spin around us, shooting colors and shapes into my view. I felt as if I was riding in a rollercoaster, riding up to the top and then shooting straight to the ground with powerful g-force. The world snapped back to normality as I slipped from Rhea’s grip. I rolled on what felt like soft ground. As soon as my vision cleared, I threw up the contents of my stomach. I wiped my mouth and sat up looking around.