know what’s going on. It’s driving me crazy!”
It was her turn to nod. “I can imagine. But I guess all you can do is wait until they do; I mean, it’s not like you have a choice.”
I idly spun my phone between my fingers. “Would you trust them?”
Gabriella sighed. “That’s a tough one. It’s all very surreal. All I could say is that from what you’ve told me it seems these people are trying to help you. If they’d wanted to hurt you, they could have done it when they took you. But here you are, better than ever. So I would at least give them the benefit of the doubt.”
It made sense. Gabriella’s objective way of looking at the situation somehow made me feel better.
“Maybe I’ll give them a chance once they drop the smoke and mirror act,” I grinned.
Gabriella laughed and swept a strand of stray hair over her ear. All it took was that simple movement and I became very aware that I was a teenager sitting on my bed in an empty house with a beautiful girl. In an instant, I became old Alex again. Clasping my hands together, I tried to look anywhere other than in her eyes. I could sense her looking at me, the faint lift of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Those soft, perfect lips, which you could lose hours kissing. The waves of electricity started to buzz underneath my skin.
“Are you okay”? Gabriella asked, clearly sensing the shift in atmosphere.
“I um…yeah I’m cool,” I croaked. I need to change the subject. “Listen since you’re here, do you want to watch a film downstairs or something?” Her face brightened. “Do you have popcorn?” “I think so” She leapt off the bed like an excited child, curtseyed and extended a hand. “Then I accept your invitation.”
We were watching a comedy on satellite, when my family came back. In truth Gabriella was watching the film, I was secretly watching her. The way her eyes crinkled at the corners and tiny dimples appeared on her cheeks when she laughed; it made it hard to breathe. After a while she leaned her head against my shoulder. It made the charges spike, but I wouldn’t have moved for the world.
The jingling of the keys in the door followed by the familiar sound of three shoes on the hardwood signalled the return of the family. Gabriella’s head flicked up, much to my disappointment.
The lounge light flicked on and three sets of surprised eyes looked at us from the doorway.
Mum composed herself first. “Hello there! Now you must be Gabriella,” she gushed, setting a new time record for mortally embarrassing me. But Gabriella didn’t seem fazed by the fact that I’d obviously been talking about her. “That’s me,” she replied sweetly, standing up. “You must be Elaine. It’s really nice to meet you.” Mum beamed. “Well it’s a pleasure to meet you too. This is John and Alex’s brother Michael.” “Half-brother,” I muttered under my breath.
They greeted each other. John’s eyebrows were lost in his hairline throughout the greeting. Mikey tried to give me a sly wink, which Gabriella noticed and smiled. Then to my complete mortification, they all sat down.
What could easily have been a social train wreck ended up not being too bad. As I prayed for the ground to swallow me up, they only asked Gabriella a few questions about herself — which she answered, I noticed, without actually giving much away. My guest certainly knew how to hold a crowd, cracking jokes and making everyone laugh. She also complimented me, explaining how I was the friendliest person she’d met at the sixth form and how I’d been looking after her. I went very red in response.
Finally Gabriella announced that she had to leave, and I jumped at the offer to see her out. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my family nodding their approval. “Sorry about them,” I apologised once we were outside. “Don’t be silly, they’re lovely.” “So where are you parked?” I asked, scanning the road for a likely match. “There,” she pointed. I had to stop my jaw from unhinging.
She was gesturing towards a sleek, black motorbike resting at an angle behind a car. An equally black helmet hung on the handlebars, the throttle poking through the open visor. “That’s your bike?” She laughed. “Well I’m pretty sure I didn’t steal it!” I shook my head. “You are a very interesting person Ella.” “Right back at you Superman,” she smiled, patting my chest.
We walked over to the bike and she picked up the helmet, resting it against her hip like a basketball. She started the engine and the pulse of it filled the quiet night. “Just remember I’m here for you whenever you need me.” She leaned in and kissed me on the cheek, causing it to catch fire. “Thanks.” “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She slid the helmet down over her head and jumped onto the bike. I watched as she raced down the road and disappeared around the bend.
I shook my head. Wow.
Running. I was running for my life. Tearing through the blinding fog, an indescribable terror clawing at my chest.
I turned down endless identical streets, trying to find somewhere to hide. Grand houses stood protected behind towering metal gates, denying me solace. Behind me, I could sense something approaching. My back prickled as if death’s cold hands were inches away. I didn’t dare turn my head. I kept going, pressing forward in the desperate hope that I would find a place to hide.
A wooden fence solidified out of the spiralling mist. With a glimmer of hope, I clambered over the top and fell into an overgrown front garden. A house stood ahead, one that once would have outmatched the beauty of those around it, but had long since fallen into disrepair. The numerous windows were boarded up and several ceiling tiles had fallen away, exposing yawning holes. The whole house seemed to sag in on itself, as if it were dying from loneliness. I noticed a crumbling family crest etched into the stone above the front door. It depicted a crescent moon with a pyramid of 3 stars in the centre.
Trembling, I turned back to the fence and pressed an eye to a hole in one of its panels. The fog blanketed the area, swallowing the horizon in all directions. Streetlamps lined the road, their glow turning everything an eerie orange. The long grass where I crouched was wet. The damp spread through my jeans, numbing my knee. I didn’t move. I knew that doing so would be suicide. So I kept myself hunched down…waiting and watching, not daring to breathe.
From somewhere in the distance I heard a sound which froze the blood in my veins. Some unfathomable baying from a creature which had no place in this world. It was followed by a thunderous pounding on the pavement. The vibrations swept along the ground, shooting up my body like waves of electricity. The noise was deafening. It sounded like an army of ten thousand approaching; charging in perfect unison. The rough wood scraped my face as I pressed it closer to the fence. I was shaking uncontrollably, but I needed to see.
The armour clad creature appeared through the fog like an apparition from hell. This time it was riding atop the most deformed and horrific beast I had ever seen. It resembled a horse, but was at least twice the size and misshaped. A large twisted horn protruded from its forehead, contorting downwards at an angle. Its eyes were two shining red orbs. Pulsing welts covered its decaying black skin and long fleshy tendrils protruded from deep wounds. They flailed around wildly, whipping the air with sharp slashes. Its tangled mane was coated in congealed green slime. Thick chains wrapped around the beast’s muzzle, cutting into its flesh in raw grooves.
As I stared, a sharp pain in my chest reminded me I wasn’t breathing. I had no choice but to take a gulp of air. As I did, a sickly sweet smell — like honey coated decay, invaded my nose. It was too much. I twisted and vomited by my feet.
Please God don’t let it have heard me.
My body was a shuddering wreck as I peered back through the gap.
Mercifully the creature galloped past my hiding place, the rider never even turning its head in my direction. It was focused on something in the distance, body leaning forward, the rusting metal reins clutched tight in its gauntlets. Rider and steed were enveloped by the fog and vanished from sight as fast as they had appeared.
I stayed as still as a rock, listening as the sound of the beast’s booming hooves faded. I breathed a sigh of relief and slumped with my back against the fence. It was only then that I felt the dampness on my cheeks and discovered I was crying. I wiped my hands across my face and screamed.
They were covered in blood.
I woke up. My breath ripped through my lungs in harsh bursts. I detangled myself from the sheets and half fell to the floor. The fading remnants of the dream clung to my mind like cobwebs. Images of blood and fear flashed in the darkness. I clawed for the light switch in the gloom, squinting as the room flared up. When my eyes had adjusted, I turned to face the mirror and a second scream caught in my throat.
My eyes were bleeding.
