The Eternal Child - Episode Two

1

Betty watched as life returned to Victor’s body.

“Who is it?” she asked.

“Guests, more guests” replied an excitable Victor. “My room hasn’t seen this much life since that cheerleading squad got stuck here a few years ago…. I think they’re on tables twelve and thirteen now.”

“I demand you tell me who it is.”

“Demand all you want Betsy Boo, I ain’t telling you.”

Suddenly the double doors flew open and two figures entered the room.

“Betty” cried Christopher as he ran over to her, picked her up and gave her an almighty squeeze.

“Chris it’s lovely to see you, but I can’t breathe.”

“Sorry Bets” Chris said putting her back down.

Barbara and Betty looked over to each other, it looked to Christopher like they were about to say something, they ought to say something. But they were silent. Betty just smiled and Barbara nodded back. Christopher couldn’t believe that was the extent of their reunion.

“Where’s Victor?” Barbara asked scanning the room. “Is he one of these?”

“Forget Victor, where’s Pete. Is he alright? Why aren’t you with him?”

“He can’t move.”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t worry he’s fine, they’ve just giving something to him, he’s paralysed is all.”

“Paralysed?”

“I don’t think it’s permanent, it was just to stop him getting away.”

“Why aren’t you paralysed as well then?”

“It seems they thought it would be more fun to lock me in a casket.”

“Tacky” added Barbara, “though not unexpected.”

“Those Bastards, why are they doing this?” Christopher didn’t try to hide how angry he was, he started to shout. “Where are you Victor, Show yourself. Or are you too scared now we’ve found you out.”

“I’m right here” Said a voice much closer to Christopher then he would have liked.

Both Christopher and Barbara turned their heads in unison and saw the child corpse sitting mere feet away. He was waving.

“Fuck me” was all Christopher could manage.

“Okay maybe I am a bit prudish.” said Barbara.

“Sorry but… Fuck… It’s a…”

“Talking corpse?” added Barbara. “Surely another corpse isn’t a surprise?”

“But it’s talking and… and… it’s all rotten and disgusting and… it stinks.”

“I can hear you, you know” reminded Victor.

“Good” Christopher shouted back, though he must admit he was looking for a stronger word. But his brain was about done for the day.

“Barbara” Betty tried to explain “This is Victor, he is…”

“Jacob’s brother who died years ago along with his father but miraculously somehow came back to life.” Barbara interrupted. “Ever since then, through guilt or fear they’ve been stealing countless bodies for countless years and preserving them down here to keep Victor happy, his play things I believe. Did I leave anything out?”

“No, well there is one more thing”

“I’m sure I’ll work it out.” Barbara was in deep thought again.

“Please take me to Peter, Betty.” Christopher quietly asked, maybe hoping Barbara couldn’t hear. “There’s so much we need to talk about.”

“Out of the question” the reply came from Barbara. “I must speak to Victor and we’ve only just got back together. We shouldn’t split up. Things always go wrong when we split up. Things always go wrong for everyone when they split up. From now on we stick together.”

“I’m sticking with you, cos I’m made out glue.” Betty sang.

“Not helping” Christopher said with a sideways glance. Then back to Barbara. “I’m going whether you like it or not. You talk to that rotten disgusting creature all you want I don’t care. All I care about is Peter, I’m getting him then I’m getting out.”

Barbara knew when she was beat. And not many people could actually do that. She felt quite proud of Christopher and she would miss him when all was over.

“Fine, you’ll only get under my feet.” Barbara conceded. “But I still don’t like the idea of us splitting up. Christopher what’s your mobile number, we can keep in contact and ring if there’s the slightest problem.”

Christopher seemed slow to catch on.

“Quick get your mobile out.”

Christopher reluctantly pulled his mobile out.

“Come on then, number?”

“Um… I don’t actually know it.”

“Chris, are you okay? Look I’ll give you mine, send me a text. No big deal.” Barbara suggested before she started to reel off her number. “Why aren’t you entering this?”

“To be honest.. I’m not sure how to?”

“Not so hot on modern technology” Barbara laughed. “Give it here, I’ll do it.”

And with that Barbara went for his phone. Christopher tried to object and move it out her line of fire, but he was not quick enough and she snatched it anyway.

“Why you being so silly, rude messages on there are they? Don’t worry I won’t look, just going to the phone book to en…” Barbara paused for a minute. “That’s funny. You’ve only got one number saved in your memory...”

Barbara accidently maybe on purpose switched to the message list of the solitary number. The last message sent said ‘Bathroom, back of house.’

“Christopher… Who have you been texting?”

A sense of dread began to fill up inside Barbara, could she have judged Christopher so wrongly?

“Um… I can explain Barbara, honestly.”

Barbara didn’t allow Christopher the opportunity, she pressed call.

Suddenly the song ‘Moonlight Shadow’ began to play from the other side of the hallway door.

“Come out, come out whoever you are” demanded Barbara.

The song started to get louder, than the door slowly creaked opened.

“Who the hell is it?” Betty said aloud what everyone was thinking.

Jacob slowly stepped out of the darkness.

“Jacob. Why are you texting Jacob?” Barbara shouted. He now knew that he had never seen Barbara angry before this moment. “Are you working against us, with them?”

Jacob raised his hands up in the air and stepped forward. A gun was aimed at his back, the owner of the phone, someone else hiding in the hallway.

Jacob took another few steps forward and the owner of the gun stepped into view.

“Harrison” Christopher said.

“Detective Harrison if you don’t mind” replied the detective.

“David?” Barbara couldn’t hide her surprise.

“Now is someone around here going to tell me what the hell is going on?” He demanded. “If I don’t get some answers soon I’m going to get a bit free with my trigger finger. And I can’t see why I shouldn’t shoot you first Barbara. I’m sure it will save me a lot of time and trouble in the future.”

“I can’t believe you went to the police” Barbara’s face had turned such a shade of red, Christopher thought if he stepped any closer he would be able to feel the heat it exuded. “I trusted you Christopher and you said you trusted me. And I believed you.”

“I didn’t go to them, believe me. He came to me.”

“The night at rose cottage” Barbara remembered.

“All of you shut up. I’m the one with the gun so I should be the one talking.” Harrison aimed the gun at all of them, swaying it left and right and shouting. “Now, will one of you please tell me why I’m surrounded by hundreds of fucking corpses?”

Barbara’s eyes widened, every one fell silent.

“What?” Harrison asked, then realised and sighed, “For goodness sake… sorry, Barbara.”

“You want to know the reason the bodies are here?” Jacob suddenly spoke up.

“Yes.”

“Isn’t it obvious, it’s because…”

“Because of me” laughed Victor.

Barbara had never seen Harrisons jaw drop quite so low before, and she had seen it drop many times.

“Fuck me” Harrison said and dropped his gun, then seconds later “Sorry Barbara.”

“So you think you can handle this detective, shall we leave you to it?” Barbara asked sarcastically.

Harrison managed to compose himself enough to pick his gun back up and aim it at the child corpse.

“I’ve got a squad of men standing on… stand-by. They’ll storm this place as soon as I give the signal.”

The ancient child laughed.

“No you haven’t, you snuck in the bathroom window. I’ve been following this drama with great enjoyment. You came on your own. No one knows you’re here, except us. No, you’re here for your own reasons… or someone else’s.”

“Worth a shot”

“They’ve got Peter held up somewhere, he’s still alive.” Christopher pleaded at the detective. “Let me go get him.”

“Of course Christopher, you’ve been of great help to me.” Then Harrison aimed his gun back at Barbara and Betty. “But you two stay here.”

“Only Betty knows where Peter is and I’ll need a second pair of hands to carry him back. He’s paralysed.”

“Very well Betty you go with Christopher. But Barbara stays with me.”

Betty looked to Barbara for an answer. Barbara smiled and nodded back.

“Here” Barbara said throwing Christopher his phone back. “Keep it on and keep it on loud speaker, in case anything should happen.”

“Thank you” said Christopher without looking Barbara in the eyes. He didn’t dare look again, he didn’t want to see them burn like they did as they studied him now. Was that hate he’d briefly seen in her eyes? He couldn’t bare it if it was hate.

The mobile phone rang almost immediately. Christopher selected loud speaker then clipped it to his belt. Then he left with Betty.

Barbara watched as Betty and Christopher rushed off out the door, then along that hideous corridor of flesh. She then turned back to Harrison.

“I think you’re aiming the gun at the wrong person David.” She said.

Harrison quickly changed position re-aiming at Victor, he then ushered Jacob to stand alongside his brother.

“Go on freak, stand where I can see you. That’s better.”

“You’re calling my brother the freak?” Victor laughed.

“Shut up, whatever the hell you are just shut up. I’ve got no qualms about shooting you between those mushy eyes of yours.”

“Have you done that before David” Victor asked. “Have you shot someone, killed them?”

“You don’t get to call me that. I’m Detective Harrison to you.”

“I don’t think you’ve shot anyone before, let alone killed them. I don’t think you’ve got it in you.”

“I’m warning you” Harrison was shouting every word now. He was starting to lose his cool. And that’s what Victor wanted.

“Can you do it David, can you shoot a child?”

“You’re no fucking child” David screamed. His gun hand was trembling, not through fear but anger. He was holding it too tightly. He felt his finger start to squeeze down on the trigger.

“David” Barbara said resting her hand on his shoulder. “He’s toying with you.”

It was as though Barbara’s voice had something to it, an influence of some kind. Harrison felt his hand relax almost immediately. The rage inside him seemed to dissipate and he managed to compose himself once more, even lowered his gun down to his side.

“I’m sorry Detective, my brother it seems, has no fear. He likes to play games.” said Jacob, as calm as ever. “He means well, really he does.”

“Means well? Look at all this.” Harrison turned to Barbara. “I’ve seen you mixed up in some strange things Barbara. But this, even for you, it’s a bit much.”

“You want me to explain it all, to you, now?” Barbara asked.

“Yes”

“Let me tell him” said Victor. “It’s all about me is it not?”

“It’s always been all about you” added Jacob.

***

Down one corridor, along the next, it wasn’t long before Betty and Christopher were back at the foot of the stairs.

“Where’s Peter” Christopher asked.

“Not long now… this way I think.” Betty replied turning on the spot before starting to run again.

They ran away from the stairs to a side door further down the hallway, then beyond that the final corridor to the basement.

Betty could hear Peter calling out. Poor sod had been waiting ages. He probably thought she was dead.

“Are you sure we’re not lost, where is Pete?”

“He’s calling out, follow the voice”

“I don’t hear him.”

They ran through a final door, then down a set of stone steps.

“Don’t worry Pete. We’re here, Christopher’s here” Betty shouted with joy.

Betty heard Peter laugh

“Finally” Peter said. “I thought I’d never hear your voice again.”

“Peter I’m here” cried Christopher

Betty was the first to the chair.

“I told you, you could trust me” She exclaimed as she spun the chair round.

“With my life” Peter replied and Christopher screamed.

Betty looked at Peter, he smiled back. His marble eyes twinkled, reflecting the light from the swinging bulb hanging from the ceiling. Betty collapsed to the floor, she didn’t understand. He couldn’t be dead.

“No” cried Christopher falling to his knees.

“I’ve done it again, haven’t I?” was all Betty could say.

To be continued