Chasing Shadows

Chasing Shadows

Chasing Shadows

Rylan D. Marie

Copyright © 2016 Rylan Marie

Published by Rylan Marie at Smashwords

First edition 2016

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without permission from the copyright holder.

The Author has made every effort to trace and acknowledge sources/resources/individuals. In the event that any images/information have been incorrectly attributed or credited, the Author will be pleased to rectify these omissions at the earliest opportunity.

Published by Author using Reach Publishers’ services,

P O Box 1384, Wandsbeck, South Africa, 3631

Printed and bound by Novus Print Solutions

Edited by Vanessa Finaughty for Reach Publishers

Cover designed by Reach Publishers

Website: www.reachpublishers.co.za

E-mail: reach@webstorm.co.za

For my family; like them, my greatest aspiration is to be an inspiration to others.

Images flash in and out of my dream; a dark shadow approaching me, a hand covering my mouth, a mirror in front of me, but my reflection not mimicking my action. The figure in front of me has a life of its own and I turn to run, my feet sliding on the floor as I move and my head colliding with the ground. Everything is silent.

I wake up from my dream and feel the sweat forming on my brow and dripping down my face. I open my eyes slowly to see the moonlight peeking through the boarded windows, a torn curtain fluttering ghost-like in the icy breeze that kisses my skin. I rub my eyes, trying to wake up from what I think is a dream. I pivot myself and sit up on the bed, which creaks with every movement I make, and then I look around the room. The ceiling boards are dilapidated, almost falling off the ceiling. The floors are discoloured and mouldy with a hint of wood rot, and the wallpaper is coming off the walls, revealing grey concrete that is poorly plastered. There are stains on the floor, like dried blood that has been there for ages, and the furniture in the room is smashed, as though someone had an anger fit. There’s a cabinet standing alone in the corner of the room. I get out of bed and approach it, looking at picture frames with dust gathering on them. I reach out and pick up one, then rub off the dust and see a picture of a lady with two boys, one sitting on her lap and the other peering from behind; they seem to be dressed identically. The floorboards creak on the landing and I put down the frame and make my way to the door.

Hello, is there someone there? I call out as I walk cautiously to the door.

Nothing but silence greets me; the room door is slightly ajar and I approach it, with the moonlight guiding my every step.

Hello, please help me; is anyone there? I call out again, my head throbbing with every sound.

I make my way out of the room and down the stairs. I look around and see a huge crack in the kitchen wall and I get a prickly feeling in my scalp as though someone is watching me as the floorboards continue to creak. It’s as though I have been here before. It must have rained during the night, because I can hear water droplets falling overhead and in the distance. The floor is slippery and mouldy. The wind blows through the house, carrying a stench of wood rot, and the trees dancing in the wind outside cast new shadows around me. Everything is dark and gloomy. I walk into what I think was once an old lounge area and notice the couches have been ripped and the ceiling boards are hanging dangerously.

You must be in a very old house, I think, nodding and swallowing heavily. I feel the presence of someone else in the room. I turn my head slowly to look behind me.

Hello, Ezra, I see you’re finally awake, says a strange voice.

Then I see a spade being swung straight towards my temple. My face hits the floor and the darkness swallows me up.

Chapter 1

Ezra! Wake up, Ezra! I hear Emma shouting at me and shaking my body furiously.

What? What do you want? I ask.

It’s your brother; he climbed up onto the roof and slipped. He is hanging off it and he is going to fall off! she screams and runs out of the room. Hurry!

I jump out of bed and run down the stairs, missing a few, and then I’m out of the front door and I see Charlie’s legs dangling from the roof.

Help me, Ezra! Help me! he screams desperately.

I’m coming, Charlie! Hang on a little longer, okay, I say as I frantically run into the street and see that there is no one in sight to help me, so I run into my granny’s shed, pull out her ladder and prop it against the side of the house. I climb up it as fast as I can, all the while hearing Charlie’s screams for help. The sound of his desperation spurs me to move faster, and then there is silence and Emma screams. I reach the place where he was hanging and then my body goes cold; Charlie isn’t hanging from the gutter any more. I move closer and see my brother’s body lying on the ground beneath me and Emma sprawled over him, trying to give him CPR by the look of things.

Emma, is he okay? I scream, with a lump in my throat.

I fall back onto my butt and my face crashes into my hand. No, no, no. This is not happening, I say to myself, and then I hear the sounds of laughter, getting more and more hysterical. I look down from the roof and Charlie and Emma are looking at me and laughing with tears in their eyes.

Ha-ha, we totally fooled you, Ezra! Happy Halloween! Charlie shouts and runs into the house.

I stand there in silence, feeling disorientated by what just happened. My little brother almost just pranked me to death and my girlfriend was in on it. I look at Emma and she is in stitches laughing at me. Only then does it occur to me that I ran out of the house dressed only in my underwear, and I’m standing on the roof for everyone to see. Luckily, there is no one in sight.

I am going to get you two back for this! I shout from the top of the roof.

Emma stops laughing and runs into the house.

Yeah, you two better run, I say.

I climb down and run into the house, searching for the two scoundrels.

Marco! I call out, but no answer.

I hear giggling and know it can only be Charlie. As I approach the place the giggling is coming from I hear Emma softly trying to get him to stay quiet. The giggling softens and then it’s almost silent. I decide to surprise them with a loud scream, then pull the sofa forward to reveal them crouched like babies in a corner.

Polo! I call out, and then I rush to them, assaulting them with tickles.

Emma and Charlie try in vain to get me to stop, but I am relentless. Charlie is soon rolling on the floor screaming at me while Emma has managed to get away from my grip.

Get off me, Ezra! Stop! he squeals. Stop!

I let him go and we lie on the floor laughing.

Ezra?

Yes, Charlie?

When is Mum coming back?

His question silences our laughs and the mood changes. I look at him and see that he is like a lost child searching for an answer. Charlie, your mother is gone with your granny to visit some family. They said that they might be a while, so until then Emma and I will look after you.

I get up off the floor and pick him up, and we both move the sofa back into its place.

Okay? I say to him.

Yes, he answers, looking down at his hands.

I leave him behind in the lounge, knowing that neither his mother nor granny will never be coming back to see him. I go back into my room, sit on the bed and try to pull myself back together.

What’s the matter with you? Emma asks, wiping her hair as she comes out of the bathroom.

Nothing, I say with a smile. Now come here; you thought you escaped me before, hey.

Ezra, no, no! she shouts, letting out giggles, and we both melt into each other.

The doorbell rings and Emma shouts that she is going to get it. I finish brushing my teeth and rinse my face with warm water that kisses my skin. I hear muffled voices through the towel and then Emma racing up the stairs.

Ezra! she says hurriedly as she enters the room.

Who was it, Em?

It’s for you!

Emma, who is it? I ask her again.

Ezra, they wanted it to be a surprise, so get dressed and come downstairs! Emma shouts as she leaves the room and heads back downstairs.

I dress hurriedly and make my way downstairs, my mind running through the possibilities as to who would have come to visit us here.

Emma passes me and heads into the lounge carrying a tray with three cups and some biscuits. She smiles at me and then disappears into the lounge. I hear Emma offer the guest some tea, but I don’t hear the response. I finally muster up the courage to go into the lounge and, when I enter, I am greeted by a shocking sight. My hearts skips beats and my body goes cold.

Hello, Ezra, Detective Steeling says in her calm, cold voice, with her eyes burning through me.

Hel-hello, Detect-Detective, I stammer, my eyes growing larger.

Emma sits on the sofa opposite Detective Steeling, just staring at my reaction.

Emma, where is Charlie? I ask.

Oh, he is outside playing in the backyard, she responds.

Go get Charlie, I say to Emma, not taking my gaze off Detective Steeling, who sips her tea with no worry in the world.

There’s no need for that, Emma, Detective Steeling says. Could you leave my nephew and me alone for a minute? She smiles.

Uhm, okay, Emma says as she gets up to leave. Are you going to be okay, babe? she asks me as she passes.

Yes. Now go; leave us, I order her.

She pulls a funny face and leaves the lounge. I hear her drop her cup into the kitchen sink and then the back door slams shut.

Okay, what the hell do you want here, Detective? I ask as I rush over and sit on the couch opposite her.

Oh, relax, I came to see how my little boy is doing, she says smoothly as she lifts her cup to take another sip of her tea.

I notice her hand that I stabbed with the pencil is covered with a bandage and cute silver brooch pins keep it together so it doesn’t fall off.

Admiring your handiwork there, boy? she asks.

I don’t know what you’re implying, Detective, but no, I was just wondering how you managed to put a scar on those beautiful hands, I say with a wicked smile, and notice Detective Steeling’s face tense.

Boy, I’m not here for the ping pong game; I managed to track you down and I want to talk business–

How did you track us down?

I didn’t become the best in my field just through my good looks; I have my ways, she says, winking at me.

Okay, so what do you want to talk about? I ask her.

Well, I really wanted to give you this message in person. You see, the judge has ordered that we drop all charges against you and I decided not to take up assault charges against you for this, she says, holding her hand up almost in a defeated tone, but her eyes never leave my face.

What? I stammer.

You heard me. I will not repeat myself. The funny thing is that the reason for this is so weird; the evidence doesn’t tie up and your confession tape was lost in a mysterious fire in my office last night, she says.

Wow, that’s great news. Finally, someone who can see the truth that I have been telling you all along, Detective, I say sarcastically, letting out a sigh of relief.

How did you do it? Detective Steeling asks softly.

Do what, Detective? I’m not sure what you are speaking about. I say to her.