Everything was fine then it wasn't. We were winning, then we weren't. It was when she appeared. Amidst the cry of battle was a mighty whirring sound, a portal opened and the infernal witch stepped out. Her black hair billowed, her purple eyes blazed and I knew when I saw the scroll open before her, it was all over. She read, it gleamed and I heard my name, that's when they came. I'll never forget what they looked like, lit on golden fire and immersed in light, the bottomless eyes seized my soul. The golden chains found their mark on my hands, and my feet and I could feel my power drain. The chains pulled me, dragged me, through dirt, I could feel myself sinking, and slipping, I knew this was it. But then a ring, a cold hard silver ring slipped on my finger and the nightmare ended. He saved me.
…
Suzy awoke, panting, gasping for breath. Her hand seized the cold ring she wore around her neck, twirling it on her fingers for comfort. It was just a dream.
Her breathing slowed as the ring soothed her, she tucked it under her shirt and then got up to get ready for the day ahead. It was a big one.
…
Benjamin's thoughts were buzzing around the book in his hands. He stared at the burnt-back journal. Its contents were very telling.
'Maybe I should just keep it' he said to himself.
What about Ophelia? She deserves to know. Benjamin was very puzzled. He wondered what his place was in the unfolding events. As far as he knew, the secrets this book held had nothing to do with him but, then again, affected those close to him. Why did he feel so involved? Should he just stay on the sidelines? Mind his own business?
A knock on the door brought him back to reality. It was his father.
'You have visitors' He said.
He quickly got dressed. Amber and Suzy were waiting.
When he came out, it was to see that Amber had taken a liking to Harold and his father had taken a liking to Suzy.
The first association pleased him, perhaps she was trying to get closer to him by befriending his brother. But the second disgusted him. This was why he tried to put a stop to all fraternizing and hurried the company along. They left as soon as possible but not before Benjamin's father had promised Suzy that she was always welcome in their home. A statement that infuriated Benjamin, causing him to slam the door in a very rude manner.
Suzy was the only one who knew where they were going. For the others, it was meant to be a surprise. Suzy led the way, right back to the stream that flowed alongside the path to Amber's house and across it. A little beyond was the woods. Neither Amber nor Benjamin ever came this way because there was nothing to see, the town basically ended there. The path was little used and became a place where teenagers would go to hold bravery contests. People had claimed to see all sorts of creatures in there but most of them just seemed conjured from overactive imaginations.
Now, however, in the early hours of the day, with the sun peeking behind the clouds, the arduous path looked nothing more than an unnecessary bother. What was the point of going through those overgrown nettles and vines, hoping not to get scratched? Amber almost turned right round but then remembered something, the note and her plan to ask Benjamin about it when he least expected. She stayed and waited for her chance.
The trek was daunting at first but eventually, walking became easier, the path began to clear until they got to a clearing with a single beautiful tree and a picnic spread out underneath it.
'Ta-da!' Suzy suddenly exclaimed.
'I told you it would be worth it'
There was her fiancée, a perfect gentleman, waiting for her underneath the tree, seated on one of the two picnic mats. She threw herself on him and Amber couldn't help thinking they made a picture-perfect couple. He had beautiful chestnut brown hair and eyes that looked like honey. Physically, at least, he was up to Suzy's standards.
Benjamin and Amber had no choice but to sit together on the other picnic mat, at first they endured the couple's chatter in unbearable silence then Benjamin tried to break the ice.
'How's Ophelia?' He asked.
This question was prompted by his recent discoveries in the journal he had read. He was now curious about her and wanted to know all there was to know about her. He needed this information to decide if he should engage her concerning the journal. He had thought severally of handing over the journal to her instead of the librarian but first, he had to make sure that was the best decision.
This question that seemed normal to him stunned Amber. She felt jealous. From Amber's perspective, Benjamin's concern for Ophelia could only stem from the fact that Pearl had gone, but Pearl was her sister. Shouldn't Benjamin be more worried about her?
'She's all right' she replied curtly, not about to lose Benjamin to Ophelia as well.
Benjamin continued trying to probe Amber on Ophelia but she was as tight-lipped as she could manage. Benjamin soon realized that any information he may find out about Ophelia would be first-hand.
Amber made no effort to continue the conversation or change the subject so Benjamin resigned to eat in silence. When sufficient time had gone by, Amber decided to make her move.
'Benjamin, there's something I want to ask you'
'Yes?' He replied unsuspectingly, happy to converse.
'I saw you yesterday go up to see Mrs. Harry. What did you go to see her about?'
'Oh, just some book I forgot to put away' He managed his half-truth flustered.
At this point, Amber leaned in, imitating the couple beside them who were now whispering in tones too low for their hearing.
'The journal with a burnt back. I saw you with it,' she whispered.
Benjamin could feel nothing but dread at the turn of this conversation. Although, normally he would be excited to have Amber so close to him, now, he felt a nervous chill go down his spine. He was anxious but in a different way, in the wrong way.
'What's inside, and why do you have it?'
He thought of his options, lie? Deny his possession of the book? No, that would be too suspicious. Tell the truth? What did he have to lose? But the truth, this truth wasn't his to tell. He didn't own the book and he wasn't in the position to give away its contents. He only happened to stumble upon them by accident and careless curiosity. Now that the book was with him, he would be held responsible for the outcome of telling Amber. There was no telling what her reaction or actions would be when she obtained the information he had discovered, and there was something more. Something he wanted to confirm. Something that could be incriminating in the book. He couldn't tell her the truth, it wasn't even an option.
A half-truth then?
'It's for someone close to you, but I can't give you, it's private'
Amber thought of the blue-backed journal and remembered the fight between her mother and the librarian. His alibi was a good one. Before she could reply, Suzy spoke.
'It's getting dark, it might rain soon'
The flimsy tree would do no good for shade in the rain, and going back into the woods seemed a bad idea to everyone. A cool wind blew and shook the tree, upturning a picnic basket.
'I know where we can find shade' it was Suzy's fiancée. Days before, while looking for the perfect spot for a picnic, he had scouted the area and discovered somewhere they could get a little shade not too far off.
He rolled up the mats as quickly as he could and walked briskly ahead of them until it started to drizzle, then he jogged until they got to an abandoned apartment.
It was a large building that had been abandoned for years, overgrown with weeds and ferns.
Thunder claps and a rapidly increasing downpour left them with no choice. They quickly went in, to weather the storm.
Suzy was the most disappointed.
'Unbelievable! Rain! Today of all days!' she sulked.
The beautiful weather turned dreary and Suzy's mood worsened with each passing hour. The rain poured in torrents and the house creaked in response to the unforgiving weather. The house leaked in odd places and the roof was incomplete. It was a large duplex that seemed to have barely survived a fire in the past, judging from the incomplete roof, and charred and blackened walls which lay covered beneath ferns and climbing vines.
Suzy stepped in a small puddle which formed due to the rain and her mood worsened. Her fiancée seemed desperate now. He felt awful. This entire outing had been his idea, Suzy was only left with the task of choosing the date, a day she would be free.
In a desperate attempt to cheer her up, he suggested that they all explore the house.
Suzy brightened up for the first time since the rain and it was decided. Amber, on the other hand, was frustrated trying to find a moment to speak to Benjamin. He had deftly avoided her, feigning important tasks like looking for dry wood to light a fire and other frivolous activities which kept them apart. She was at her wit's end when the suggestion for exploring the house came. Recognising her opportunity, she quickly agreed with the suggestion.
Of course, they would split up and naturally, Benjamin and she would be in the same group. Benjamin, who was usually thrilled at these sorts of events, was very gloomy and the only naysayer. However, it was decided three to one that they would explore the house.
Amber and Benjamin started with the ground floor while Suzy and her fiancée went upstairs.
Benjamin walked with speed. He obviously didn't want to talk to her so she decided to lay off the topic, at least for the moment.
When Benjamin realised that she wasn't going to pester him, he slowed down and enjoyed the tour. The house was quite large, and when they moved around the house, it took on a life of its own. The shabby shade that looked like a perfect spot for a test of courage became a nice family home. Amber could see in her mind's eye large feasts with a large family, the grandparents, and the eight grandchildren from their two children. She saw large dinners, children running around and angry aunties. Her imagination was still running wild when she stumbled upon a grand piano. Pressing the keys, she found that it was still fully functional but decrepit having been abandoned for so long.
'A piano' Benjamin came out from another part of the house, probably the kitchen.
'Yes' she played with the keys 'It still works'
'Do you play?' He asked her.
'No, you?'
'I dabble' he responded then proceeded to play. Amber sat opposite him, where she could see his face as he played. He played the most beautiful classical piece she had ever heard. She was about to ask him to play it again, being so entranced by the way his fingers moved over the instrument, his focus and the beautiful sounds when they heard screeches from above.
'George!' Suzy's voice full of unmistakable fear resounded then a deafening thud, inches from where they were. Right in front of the piano.
Amber's breath came shakily. She held a hand over her mouth and tried to turn her head slowly. She sat facing Benjamin so they had fallen directly behind her.
'Don't look!' Benjamin's voice was loud and authoritative.
Amber obeyed, she didn't want to look, she held her head in her hands and looked down, blood trickled from somewhere behind her, between her legs forming a small puddle. She shrieked.
'Come here' Benjamin came quickly around the piano to where she stood transfixed with fear. He held her to himself to prevent her from turning around, her head against his chest. In the process, he got a full view of the gory scene in front of him.
Amber sobbed into his chest, listening to his erratic heartbeat. He was sweating profusely, the alcoholic smell permeated her senses, but above and beyond his smell, was the sickening smell of blood. She felt him sway and he threw up behind her. In a moment, he had lost his balance and was leaning on her for support. Amber struggled with the last ounce of her strength to hold him up.
'Please don't fall,' she pleaded desperately in her heart. She knew what was behind her, she knew that if she fell backwards, she would be faced with something she might never forget her whole life. But she was too weak. They toppled over. Brain matter was on her hands and her clothes were stained with blood. The beautiful couple had fallen head first, instant death. From the arrangements of their mangled bodies, it seemed George had tried to save Suzy but failed, they both died from the fall.
Once again Benjamin was faced with his weakness, his incapacity. He was inept, unable even to protect Amber from this reality. Once again, he was made to face the brevity and frailty of human life. This feeling and being so close to death awakened things within him, emotions of frustration and fear he had buried long ago. He remembered that this wasn't his first time seeing this kind of scene. After all, this was what you saw in war.
Benjamin walked Amber home soon after that. The rain had reduced to a light drizzle, but even if it hadn't, they both couldn't stand to spend one more moment in that place. When they got to the stream, Amber stepped in and washed herself frantically while Benjamin watched, detached. It was at this point that he noticed his hands were also stained, he placed them underneath the slowly flowing stream and watched the current turn red. They didn't walk for long after that because Amber's house was close to the stream.
They got to Amber's home shortly after and exchanged forced goodbyes. Amber kept trying to hold back tears and Benjamin was tired of watching her breakdown. He waved her goodbye as soon as he could and wondered momentarily about her mental health.
There were other things on his mind, foremost of which was the bodies. He had to go back and bury them, hide the evidence.
Suzy and George were new to town. No one knew them, they wouldn't leave much of a trace. His mind wandered for a moment to the school where Suzy taught but he brushed off the thought. There was nothing he could do about that now.
Secondly, he had some questions to ask his father. He had remembered some things from the shock of seeing their dead bodies. Deep, buried memories that had surfaced. He couldn't question his father when Harold was around, he would have to ask when they were alone.
He went home to find his father waiting for him outside the house on a recliner with the burnt-back journal in his hands.
'This is yours' he handed it over as soon as Benjamin got back. 'So he's prepared' Benjamin reflected internally.
'What did you do?' Benjamin started his onslaught.
'Nothing, absolutely nothing wrong' His father replied defensively.
'That's a lie!' Benjamin spat. He was still very shaky and had started shouting without realizing it.
'And me, am I your child or did you also kidnap me?'
He was yelling at the top of his lungs.
'Calm down' his father finally realized something was wrong with Benjamin's psyche. He reached out to touch him but Benjamin pulled away.
'No, don't touch me!' He shouted.
'What did you do to me, to my mind?' He was in hysterics now.
'It will all be all right. Just come inside. You'll scare Harold' His father's tone was calm and even, almost soothing.
'No!' Benjamin shouted and with the book in his hands, ran back all the way to the library. He got to the front door, slumped against it and broke into tears. He was unable to ask his questions in a calm, reasonable fashion. The interrogation had failed woefully.
Shortly after that, the librarian opened the door. She saw him outside and invited him in.
'Benjamin, are you all right?' She asked once he stepped in, his face was tear-streaked and his eyes were bloodshot.
'I'm fine, I've just had a really rough day.' He managed gruffly, turning his face to hide the fact that he had been crying.
Mrs Harry could see there was something wrong and wondered if now would be the best time to broach the topic on her mind. Taking another glance at him, she could see that he was in no state of mind to accept what she was about to say.
'You can sleep here tonight. I'm not going to force you to open up but if you need someone to talk to, you can talk to me'
'Thank you' he replied and went up to the room where guests usually spend the night. He stared at the mirror and the bedside desk. Laying on the bed, he willed himself to sleep, but whenever he closed his eyes, all he could see was the mangled and bloodied bodies. In this restless state, amidst tears and pain, he finally fell asleep due to fatigue.
Amber sat in the dining room, staring at nothing in particular. She had been sitting there since she washed up. When she came back, she rushed to take off her clothes, scrub her body clean and lay down to sleep, hoping she would wake up and the nightmare would end. But it didn't. Instead, it intensified, the entire scene played out again and again in her head until she wanted to scream, so she came downstairs and waited. She waited for fatigue to take her while her mind wondered at all the possibilities, all the ways she could have missed the incidents of today. Why had she gone out with them? What was so important about a dumb book? Why hadn't she just stayed home? Why did Pearl have to leave?
At this thought, she broke down in tears. If only she had stayed, all this wouldn't have happened. Her sobbing got more intense, so intense that Ophelia heard it and rushed in.
'Amber, Amber! What's wrong?' Ophelia had her arms around Amber's head, while Amber sobbed into her chest.
'Why? Why?' She kept asking between sobs.
Ophelia didn't know what to do. She had no idea what was wrong. She just kept trying to calm Amber, soothingly patting her hair, and telling her everything would be alright.
'No it won't,' Amber thought. Suzy's gone. Dead. Pearl's gone too and she wouldn't come back for her. Amber felt trapped, locked. She couldn't tell Ophelia what was wrong, she couldn't tell anyone. The only person she had now was Benjamin. He was the only one she could talk to, the only one who had seen what she saw, who understood.
When Amber had cried until she couldn't cry anymore, Ophelia finally let her go.
'Amber, can you tell me what happened?' Ophelia tried when she was sure Amber was calm.
'Water' Amber responded.
Ophelia quickly stood up and got a glass of water for her, Amber took it gratefully and drank it.
'Today, you went out with Benjamin, didn't you? I saw him walk you back. Did he-?'
'No, no, not him' Amber vigorously shook her head. He did nothing wrong.
Ophelia racked her head to figure out why Amber could be in such a mood. Then she remembered Suzy. Pearl said she was bad news, maybe she did something to Amber.
'Amber, was it Suzy? What did she do to you?'
Amber grimaced at the name, leading Ophelia to suspect that Suzy was indeed responsible. A torrent of accusing questions followed until Amber finally exploded,
'Leave her out of this okay!'
'But Pearl said-' Ophelia checked herself, it had slipped out in the heat of the moment, fueling Amber's rage all the more.
'So it was Pearl! You can tell her I don't care about her or what she thinks about the people I spend my time with' she said, her sobs choking her words then left.
Ophelia bit her lip at the error. She should never have brought up Pearl.