22. Joel and Scott

Joel and Scott



“Take that!” Scott yelled and waved his stick-sword around.

“That’s only a scratch,” Joel said and picked up the stick-sword that he’d dropped.

“It might be only a scratch now but I put the most poisonous kind of poison on my sword and it’s slowly poisoning you.”

“Ah-ha! I thought you might do that so I made myself immune to that poison.”

“How?”

Joel and Scott were circling each other as they talked. Every now and then they’d hit out and fight with their stick-swords. It was a game they often played.

“I rubbed myself with salt and then stood under the Great Waterfall,” Joel said.

“You swine!”

“Ah-ha, ha, ha!” Joel tried to laugh evilly.

“But you’ll never succeed in you’re evil plan,” Scott cried.

Joel laughed and ‘stabbed’ Scott. Then he ran over and climbed the tree that took up one corner of Scott’s backyard.

“You’ll never catch my now, Prince Fundagum!” he laughed.

“This wound won’t kill me,” Scott said, holding his side where Joel had ‘stabbed’ him.

“Maybe not but now I’m locked in my fortress. You’ll never stop my plan now.”

“We’ll see about that!”

Scott ran to the tree but before he got there he fell over backwards. Joel laughed as Scott landed on his back on the ground.

“You’re a fool, Fundagum! I protect my fortress with a force field that no man can break through.”

“You’re the fool, Doctor Manacle,” Scott said as he stood up. “I’m not a man!”

Joel laughed, “What are you? A girl?”

“No, fool, I’m a cyborg.”

Joel stopped laughing as Scott fought his way through the ‘force field’.

“No! It can’t be! If you’re a cyborg then what happened to the real Prince?”

“I killed him!” Scott cried as he launched himself into the tree.

The two boys tumbled out of the tree and started stick-sword fighting again. After about five minutes Scott forced Joel up against the back fence.

“Time to die, Doctor,” he cried.

“But my work!” Joel said throwing down his stick-sword.

“I will finish your work and make it my own,” Scott said, “Then I will be the richest being in the universe.”

With that he ‘stabbed’ Joel and Joel collapsed against the fence.

“No… No!” he cried as he ‘died’.

“Yes… Yes!” Scott laughed and did a little dance.

“Joel!” Scott’s mother, Audrey called. “Joel, your mother’s here to pick you up.”

Joel stood up and brushed some of the grass off his clothes.

“I’ll see you tomorrow at football,” he said to Scott.

“Yeah. See ya.”

With that Joel ran around the front where Melanie was waiting for him.

Scott watched his friend leave then sighed as he picked up the stick-swords and put them under the tree where they’d be able to find them again. He looked at the darkening sky then went inside to see what they were having for dinner.




[AUTHOR'S NOTE: This one is for Yasmin.]

21. According to Plan

According to Plan



Rob sat contemplating the rising sun. He was tired but happy. The night had been well spent and his plan was moving along nicely.

The sun lit up the waves as it pushed itself out of the ocean. The speed with which it rose into the sky surprised Rob. It always seemed to him that the sun moved faster when it was rising or setting than when it was travelling across the sky. Of course that was just an illusion created by the horizon but it still seemed that way to him.

It only took a few minutes for the sun to fully appear. Satisfied the new day had begun Rob stood up and walked back to the caravan where Rachael was sleeping. She’d had a long night and didn’t wake when he climbed into bed beside her.

When Rob had decided that the two of them should visit Atlantis he had no idea what the place was actually like. He didn’t usually care much about nature or see the beauty of a place; but he could see the beauty of Atlantis.

He thought it was odd that he come to the town to do something ugly and all he could see was its beauty. Not that he’d ever admit feeling that way to anyone. He was a guy and, as he saw it, guys just didn’t say things like that.

Rachael’s connections in Atlantis made it the perfect place to do what he’d wanted to do for a long time. She could find out things that no one else could and she knew what to do with the information she acquired.

Rob liked Rachael. He liked her a lot. More than he’d liked any other girl. He hadn’t told her that; guys just didn’t say things like that. No matter how much he liked her he wouldn’t hesitate to throw her away if she became inconvenient to him. He didn’t see that as a bad thing at all. As he saw it the most important thing was for him to survive.

Rob wasn’t stupid. Quite the opposite actually. He’d come up with a brilliant plan that could see him financially secure for the rest of his life. He was even happy to share the money with Rachael in exchange for her help.

She thought she knew the whole plan. He hadn’t actually said to her that she knew the whole plan but he’d let her assume she did. That way she would be much more cooperative. Besides the part of the plan she didn’t know mightn’t even be needed. He’d only put it in place in case he got caught.

If he got caught he’d made sure that there was no chance of them proving that he’d been involved in the planning or any of the illegal activities. Any major sings pointed at Rachael and various people she knew in Atlantis. Rob was pleased with the way he’d set things up.

Part of him wanted the plan to fail just so he could see how well he’d managed to protect himself. He was almost certain that no one would be able to connect him to the crimes in Atlantis. That meant he didn’t have to spend all his time looking over his shoulder.

When Rob first told Rachael the his plan for getting money out of rich Atlantians she’d been surprised that he’d been able to come up with such a complex plan. She had—and most people did—underestimated his intelligence.

“You came up with all that?” she’d said.

“Well, I didn’t read it on the back of a cereal packet, did I?” he’d replied.

“You came up with that from just what I told you about Atlantis?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow.”

He’d been pleased with the way she’d reacted to his plan. He wanted her respect. As far as he was concerned he deserved the respect of everyone. People had been looking down on him his whole life, but Rachael was different.

Rachael wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed but once she understood something she was almost unstoppable. Rob liked that about her. He didn’t mind explaining things to her because once she knew what he wanted her to do she’d just do it. She trusted him and believed that he wouldn’t let anything happen to her.

Not that she was innocent. Far from it. In fact, he thought, if guilt and innocence was judged on how a person felt about what they were doing she was guiltier than he was. She was actually enjoying cheating people. She wanted to hurt people. She wanted to see them suffer.

As petty as that was he didn’t mind her feeling that way. She was happy doing what she was doing and that meant that she wasn’t questioning him or his plan. If she’d looked at the plan too closely she might have seen the inconsistencies that he’d planted just in case things went bad.

So far things had been going wonderfully. Rachael had started the town gossiping by merely being there. Rob was glad the she had such a huge reputation about town and that it was enough to distract everyone from him.

If things kept going the way they were going the two of them would be rich before the end of August.

20. Thursday Morning Madness

Thursday Morning Madness



“Don’t forget you’re stuff for soccer, Joel,” Melanie called to her son.

“Football, mum!” Joel and Sam both called back.

Melanie smiled and shook her head, “Football then.”

Melanie was in the middle of eating her breakfast, getting ready for work and making lunches for the children and herself. Mornings were always so hectic.

Sam rushed into the kitchen to fill up her water bottle.

“Mum, I got a note you need to sign,” she said.

“Give it to me,” Melanie said through a mouthful of toast.

Sam handed her a note from the school asking how Sam planned to get home after school. Sam had already filled it in; all Melanie needed to do was sign it.

“You’re getting a life with Sally?” Melanie asked her daughter.

Sam nodded, “She’s got the night shift so she’s picking up me, Jess and Amanda.”

“Jess, Amanda and I,” Melanie corrected as she signed the note.

“It’s a bit freaky that the school has to know everything about what we’re doing,” Sam said.

“It’s just so they can make sure you’re all safe.”

“The whole thing’s a bit freaky.”

“I know,” Melanie said, handing Sam her lunch, “Hopefully they’ll catch whoever’s done this soon.”

“Yeah. And that Jenna and Tommy are still alive.”

Melanie glanced at her daughter. Sam didn’t seem to be too worried about everything that was going on. Melanie figured that because no one close to her had been taken things hadn’t really sunk in yet. Melanie was scared that her children would be taken next. She couldn’t wait till Craig got home on Saturday.

“It’ll be okay, Sweety,” she told Sam.

“Yeah,” Sam said and went to put the note and her lunch in her school bag.

“Mum!” Joel yelled as he ran into the kitchen. “I can’t find my socks!”

“They’re hanging in the laundry,” Melanie told him and handed him his lunch.

“Thanks,” he ran to get his socks.

Melanie was glad that none of the children who’d disappeared had been from the primary school. She was pretty sure Sam could take care of herself and would understand danger better than Joel would. Joel still didn’t understand exactly what everyone was so worried about.

She finished her toast, picked up her lunch and threw it into her bag. She could afford to buy lunch but she liked to make it herself.

“Come on guys!” she called to her children.

“Coming!” Sam and Joel both called.

The three of them met in the front hall and went out to the car. Melanie didn’t usually drive the kids to school but it was raining and she didn’t want either of them to get wet. She pulled out of the driveway and drove off down the road that led to the rest of the day.


[AUTHOR'S NOTE: My brother asked me to make sure that the kids called it football. I figure that their father's English so it works that they would anyway.

I'm a little stuck as to where things are going in these stories at the moment. If any of you have any ideas or any thoughts on what you'd like to see happen please let me know. I'm totally losing control over the stories and it's a bit freaky.

Thanks for reading my work.]

19.Nineteen

Nineteen



He sat.

He sat alone.

He sat alone, in silence. Waiting.

He was pleased by the way things were going. It had been much easier to take the second than the first. He guessed that the third would be even easier. That pleased him. The easier it was the more time he would have to make sure the fools didn’t suspect him.

What he was doing was right in the context of the eternal moment. He knew, however, that the fools who lived on time rather that in it would see what he was doing as a crime. A few years ago he would have seen it as wrong and evil. Now he knew the truth. He had touched the eternal moment.

He sat in the darkness with the light of the television playing on his face. He wasn’t watching but the light and noise helped him remember the physical world that he was still part of. The stupidity of the programme helped him remember why he didn’t want to be a part of that world.

The task he’d began just over a month ago was nowhere near complete. He’d taken two. Two good ones. He needed seventeen more. One for each year he lived in the foolish physical world with no understanding of the eternal moment.

Once he had the nineteen he could use them as a stepping stone to escape the physical world. He knew it would work. He’d been told.

Even with this knowledge he still felt fear with he knew he must take one. He hadn’t wanted to take another after the first because of the way the first had reacted to him. He doubted his mission but something—the eternal moment or maybe part of his own mind—told him that he needed to finish his work.

After the ease with which he took the second one he didn’t think he’d have a problem in the future. He wouldn’t wait as long between takings either. His patience couldn’t take it. He needed to be one with the eternal moment.

It had taken him years to get to the point where he was ready to start taking them. He’d spent hundreds of hours building the room to hold them. The building had been easy compared to the designing. He’d finally finished in March but he didn’t try to take one till May. It took him a long time to gain the courage it took to take that first step.

Now he had two of them. Soon he planned to make it three. Already he was deciding how to take the next one. He knew it was dangerous to have to take so many. If he got caught he would never be able to become one with the eternal moment.

So far no one suspected him. He had to plan everything perfectly so that things remained as they were in the community. He wanted them afraid and confused because that way they were less likely to suspect him.

As he sat, contemplating his next move, the light of the television continued to flicker across his face. In some moments it made him look as ugly as true evil in others he looked as beautiful as freedom. Watching him, no one would have suspected what he had done or what he was panning.

He drifted towards sleep with a small smile on his face. He looked innocent and wonderful. He believed he was innocent and wonderful. In a way he was.

18. School of Shocks

School of Shocks



Sam, Jess and Amanda walked into the school hall giggling. Jess’ brother had told her a dirty joke the night before and she’d just told her friends.

“That is so wrong!” Sam said wiping the tears from her eyes.

“Well, Bobby is quite wrong, so I guess that’s to be expected,” Jess said.

Amanda had been looking around the hall, “What’s going on?” she asked her friends.

The other two looked around and saw what Amanda was looking at. All the teachers were huddled in a group at the front of the hall. It wasn’t just some of the teachers or most of them. It was all of them. Even the principal and deputy principal were there. None of the teachers were smiling.

“I dunno,” Jess said.

The three of them sat down with the rest of the year nine students. Most of the people they could see were looking around, trying to work out what was going on. The room was quieter than it usually was during assemblies. The students knew something was going on.

“Hey,” Amanda’s boyfriend, Jamie said as she sat down next to him.

“Hey,” she said.

“Hi,” Jess said. “Do you know what’s going on?”

Jamie shook his head.

“I think another student’s missing,” a boy sitting in front of them said, turning around.

“Why d’ you think that, Simon?” Amanda asked.

“My dad had the news on this morning and they were saying something about a missing kid,” Simon said.

“Crikey,” Sam said quietly.

“Where’s Mr Anderson?” Jess asked suddenly.

The other four looked towards the group of teachers. Every teacher was there except Mr Anderson.

“Dunno,” Jamie said.

“That’s weird,” Simon said.

“Yeah,” Sam agreed.

“I guess we’re about to find out what’s going on,” Amanda said as the principle stepped forward to address the students.

“Good morning,” he said as the students stopped talking and looked towards him. “Yesterday evening a student in year twelve was abducted while walking home from school.”

A murmur ran through the assembled students. The senior students looked around to work out who was missing from their ranks. Every person there realised how serious the situation was.

“Who was it?” someone called out.

The principle raised his hand to silence the students. “Tommy Sutherland,” he said and waited for that piece on information to sink in.

“Tommy was walking home after his maths class yesterday evening,” the principle went on. “He was last seen at the front of the school by another student from that class. At this point it is unclear who abducted him and why.

“I’m sure I don’t need to point out that this is the second student to be abducted from this school in just over a month. There’s no proof that these abductions are connected but I don’t want any of you to take any chances. We’ve decided to introduce some new safety rules.

“No student is to walk home alone. Students who walk home are to find a walking buddy. Any student who has a class that finishes after 4:30 is to be picked up by their parents or other arrangements are to be made by the parents.

“I know this sounds extreme but it’s better to be safe than sorry. I’ll be sending a note home with each of you for your parents to read.

“If anyone wants to talk about what’s happened please see the councillor or talk to any of your teachers. Please leave in an orderly manor.”

The principle stepped back, indicating the assembly was over and the students should move off to their classes. The students filed out quietly. They were all shocked by what they’d heard. Tommy Sutherland was a prefect and known by all the students.

“He didn’t say anything about Mr Anderson not being there,” Jess said.

“Maybe he’s sick or something,” Sam said.

“That’s a bit of a coincidence don’t you think,” Jamie said.

“What else could it be?” Jess asked.

“Maybe he’s the one who’s taken the kids,” Jamie joked.

“That’s not even funny, Jamie,” Amanda said.

“It’s probably nothing,” Sam said.

The four of them walked into their English classroom. Despite everything that had happened they still had to analyse Romeo and Juliet.

17. Only the Darkness

Only the Darkness



He lay there with his eyes closed. He felt sick and his mind wasn’t working properly. He felt week and his head hurt. He didn’t know where he was or why he was where he was. He was afraid. He was scared.

He was lying on something hard and cold. It was rough and lumpy in places. It reminded him of concrete. The cold was seeping into him from the floor but he didn’t try to move. He didn’t think about staying still but his mind held him there while it checked to see that he was alright.

He listened and heard only his pulse and his own breathing. His ears adjusted to the quiet and he started to hear smaller sounds. Someone else was breathing. The sound was almost masked by his own breathing, but it was there.

There was another person here with him. The fear started to grow in him and he fought it. He knew that if he lost control his chance of survival would be slim to none. He listened to the breathing for a while, trying to work out where the other person was and what they were doing.

He frowned as he listened. It sounded like the other person was just as scared as he was. Maybe the other person in the room wasn’t the one who’d taken him. But he didn’t know who else would be in the room.

His head felt a little clearer. He didn’t know how long he’d been lying on the floor but he guessed it had been a few hours. He was thirsty and he needed to go to the toilet. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes.

Blackness pressed in on him. His eyes couldn’t detect any light in the dark room. It was beyond any darkness he’d ever experienced before. His breath caught in his throat and he sat up, swinging his head from side to side, trying to find a speck of light.

As his eyes scanned the room for any sign of light his ears caught the sound of scraping off to one side of him. His head stopped moving and he tried to focus his eyes at the spot where he’d heard the sound. It was useless; there was no light to see by.

He knew there was someone in the room with him and from the sound of it they were more scared then he was. He got the feeling that they were scared of him more than anything else. He decided he’d try and talk to them.

“Hello?” his voice sounded raspy.

There was no answer but he thought he heard a whimper.

“Hello? Do you know where I am? The last thing I remember is being grabbed by some guy. Please answer me. I’m scared.”

“I’m scared too,” a girl’s voice said from across the room.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Jenna,” she said. “What’s yours?”

“Tommy,” he said.

He thought he heard her move a little closer to him. Her name was Jenna. That name rang a bell in his head but he couldn’t work out why it mattered to him. Then he remembered.

“You’re not Jenna Reigh?” he held his breath while he waited for her to reply.

“Yes,” she seemed about to say something else but instead she started sobbing.

The weight of the situation fell down onto Tommy in that moment. He knew what had happened. He knew who this girl was. She’d been missing for over a month and here she was in a dark room somewhere. She must’ve been taken just like he’d been. She’d been here a month.

He got onto his hands and knees and crawled over to her. He reached out and touched her shoulder. She flinched away and then let him hug her. He didn’t know how she was feeling. He didn’t know if she’d been in this room alone for a month or not but he was afraid that he wouldn’t be able to survive a month in the darkness.

After a while Jenna stopped crying.

“Have you been here alone for all this time?” Tommy asked her.

“Yes. He comes in sometimes. To look at me I think. But mostly he just pushes food in through the door.”

“You’ve been in the darkness like this for a month?”

“Has it been a month? I didn’t know how long I’d been here. It’s not always this dark. Sometimes I can actually see my hands.”

“Do you know who he is?” Tommy asked.

“No, I’ve never seen his face.”

“Has he ever—I mean did he ever—rape you?”

“I though he was going to but he never did. He just watches me. He stands by the door and watches me. I almost wish he would rape me. At least then I’d know what he wanted.”

Tommy got the idea that Jenna needed to talk. She’d been alone for so long. He didn’t mind if she talked. It’d take his mind off the fear he was feeling. He let her talk.

16. Again!

Again!



The bright lights of the television crews mingled with the strobing pulse of the police lights. It made Ben feel unreal and part of something that did exist. Something that wasn’t happening.

He stood with the group of confused locals and out of town media. The locals were subdued muttering to each other and looking shocked. They couldn’t believe it had happened again.

In direct contrast, the members of the media who had rushed to the scene were jabbering non-stop. The TV crews were all trying to get exciting images to show on the late news. A couple of live reports had already gone out. They were all sure that Atlantis had a serial killer.

Ben stood quietly between these two groups. He was as shocked as the other locals and he thought he probably understood what it meant for the town more than they did. He wasn’t standing quietly because he couldn’t think properly or because he was showing respect for the situation but because he knew he could learn a lot if he just listened.

The police had been called just after 9pm by Jenny Sutherland. She reported that her son, Tommy, hadn’t come home after school. At first she hadn’t worried, thinking he’d gone over to one of his friends’ places. She tried calling him but he didn’t answer his phone. She called his friends and one of them had told her that Tommy was walking straight home after his maths class. That was when she called the police.

Usually the police wouldn’t have jumped on Tommy’s disappearance so quickly but they remembered what had happened to Jenna Reigh. Two high school students going missing within a month of each other was bad. Especially when you realised that before Jenna no children had ever been reported missing in Atlantis.

The first thing the police had done was follow the path Tommy used to walk home from school. They hadn’t gone very far when they found Tommy’s phone lying on the ground. A closer look at the ground showed signs of a struggle. They knew Tommy had been taken by the some person who’d taken Jenna. When she’d been taken her phone had been left lying in the ground near the place of her abduction.

Ben listened to the murmurs of conversation coming from the locals.

“…Tommy Sutherland, you know, Stan and Jenny’s eldest…”

“… I knew after Jenna. Nowhere’s safe from…”

“… Maybe it’s terrorists. You never knew what they’ll…”

“… I wonder how Jenny’s…”

“… No, I don’t think so. More likely a tourist…”

“… has to be a local. Who else would know how to…”

“… Who knew where he was? I…”

“… the maths teacher, whatshisname. You know…”

“… It couldn’t be an Anderson…”

“… I think it has to be a teacher…”

“… Jenna and Tommy, both students…”

“… Greg Anderson. I never did…”

“… Not Greg! I was only…”

“… He’s not really like the rest of the family…”

“… Mummy, what’s going on?”

To Ben it sounded like people were thinking it was Greg Anderson the maths teacher who’d taken Tommy. Ben was pretty sure Greg hadn’t taken Tommy or Jenna. He’d done a piece on Greg a few months before. Greg didn’t seem like the type. But, how did you tell if someone was the type or not?

All Ben could say for sure after listening to the locals was that they were shocked that it had happened again.

15. It Is Time

It Is Time



He stood waiting. Waiting and watching. He wasn’t hidden exactly but he was hiding. He didn’t want to be seen; he wanted to do the seeing. It was time and he knew what he had to do.

If he had been a character in a movie he would be smoking. Smoking was sinister in this day and age. In a movie he would be smoking a dropping the butts on the ground where he was standing. The police would find the butts and that would lead to his arrest.

But it wasn’t a movie. It was his life. He didn’t smoke and he never had. He believed that smoking interfered with the eternal moment and his ability to become part of it. Besides it smelt bad and he couldn’t stand bad smells.

It was early afternoon and the sun filtered through the trees where he stood waiting. Where the sunlight touched him he felt a deep warmth but most of his body was in the cold embrace of the shadows. The cold seeped into him as he stood perfectly still waiting.

Waiting.

Waiting…

Sometime later—it could have been a minute or an hour—a bell rand not so far away. His body tensed slightly but he didn’t move. This was the first thing he had been waiting for. A sign of things to come. The beginning of today’s work.

He heard them before he saw them. Babbling and squawking like a flock of budgies. Twittering and calling out to each other. Sometimes he could catch their words but he didn’t try. He just let the sound wash over him and focused on what he was seeing.

Dozens upon dozens of students burst out of Atlantis High School heading home for the day. They travelled in ones, twos and a few larger groups radiating out from the school. They had a relaxed air about them, a happy freedom and a belief that life was theirs—until tomorrow morning at least.

From behind his shield of trees he watched them. They were the key to the lock that kept him from the eternal moment. They would help him unlock the door and step through. They were the ones.

A few minutes after it started the river of students began to slow. A few students trickled out and ran to catch up with their friends. Ten minutes after the bell the river dried up. That was usual; students didn’t hang around school more than they had to.

Still he didn’t move. He knew there were still students in the school. It was Tuesday. There was an after school class for senior students who were struggling with maths. And he knew that one of them would pass by him after they’d finished.

So he waited.

The sun no longer fell on his body as it slunk towards the horizon. While he waited it slipped behind the mountains and vanished. The light left in its wake faded quickly until only a memory of the day was left.

Just as night was claiming the town a pair of students walked out of the school. They stopped and talked together for a moment then they turned and walked in opposite directions.

Behind the trees he watched as a boy walked towards him. The darkness made what he had to do next so much easier. Last time it had been light and he’d panicked. But tonight things would be easy.

The boy passed close by his hiding place without knowing what was waiting there. The watcher slipped out of the trees behind the boy. He didn’t make a sound. The boy didn’t know.

The watcher lunged at the boy. He slapped his hand across the boy’s mouth before he could think to cry out. The boy struggled hard but the watcher held him in such a way that he couldn’t get any leverage.

Still with his hand around the boy’s mouth the watcher slipped a knife out of his belt and held it up in front of the boy’s face.

“Do you see it?” he whispered to the boy.

The boy stopped struggling as soon as he saw the knife. He saw it and he knew what it could do.

“Good,” the watcher whispered. “Now don’t make a sound, or you know what I can do to you. I want you to lie face down on the ground. Make one sound and you’ll never make another one.”

The boy nodded to show that he understood. The watcher smiled. This was too easy.

The watcher helped the boy to the ground and held the knife at the back of his neck. Once the boy was on the ground the watcher pulled off his school bag and put it aside. From his own bag the watcher pulled some rope, which he used to tie the boy’s hands and feet. He also used a bit of cloth to gag the boy. Finally he shoved a pillowcase over the boy’s head as a blindfold.

Once the boy was unable to see, speak or move the watcher stood back to admire his work. It was a nice job. Much better than last time he’d tried.

After glancing around to check that the two of them were still alone the watcher put on the boy’s backpack and slung his own bag over one shoulder. Then he picked up the boy and threw him over the other shoulder.

Within minutes the watcher had the boy hidden in the back of his car and was driving away from the school. It had all gone according to plan. He was one step closer to the eternal moment.

14. Overheard Voices

Overheard Voices



VOICE 1: It’s time.

...

VOICE 2: I don’t want to. Not again.

...

VOICE 1: It’s time.

VOICE 2: I don’t want to.

VOICE 1: It’s time!

VOICE 2: Please don’t make me.

VOICE 1: It’s time!

VOICE 2: Don’t make me do it!

VOICE 1: It’s time…

...

VOICE 2: No… please…

VOICE 1: itistimeitistimeitistimeitistimeitistime…

VOICE 2: nonononononononononononononono…

VOICE 1: itistimeitistimeitistimeitistimeitistime…

VOICE 2: nonononononononononononononono…

VOICE 1: itistimeitistimeitistimeitistimeitistime…

...

...

VOICE 2: Please, please… don’t make me do it. I DON’T WANT TO DO IT!!!

VOICE 1: It. Is. Time.

...

VOICE 2: Must I?

VOICE 1: IT! IS! TIME!

VOICE 2: Okay… okay…

13. "So We're Going To Do A Play"

“So We’re Gonna Do A Play”



“Good morning. Did we all have a good weekend?” Mr James said as he walked into the classroom.

“Sure did, sir,” Jess said.

“Well, that’s excellent then, isn’t it?”

The class giggled. Mr James was one of the most popular teachers at Atlantis High. He’d been the drama teacher there for six years and he still had a lot of fun.

“Now, who remembers what we were going to do today?”

The class shifted as people looked around. No one spoke up. Not one of them could remember if Mr James had told them what was happening today or if they should have done something to get ready.

“Ah, sir, you never told us anything,” Danny said from the back of the room.

“Thank you, Danny! That’s exactly right! I never told you anything. I must be a great teacher if you guys can learn without me telling you anything. I deserve a medal or something.”

The class groaned and some of the girls rolled their eyes.

Mr James grinned at them, “Yes, yes, I know I’m just so funny. It’s not right. It should be illegal.”

Mr James looked around at his class and waited for them to settle down. They realised that they were about to get down to business and they all stopped fidgeting and looked at their teacher.

“I know some of you are sick of doing little thing just in class and you want to do something that your parents can come and see. And I know that quite a few of your parents’ want to see what you can do. So we’re going to do a play.”

“Oh cool,” Amanda whispered to Sam and Jess.

“Totally,” Sam agreed.

“And to make things even more exciting,” Mr James went on, “A friend of mine is going to write the play based on things you guys come up with.”

“Sweet!” Jess said loud enough for everyone to hear.

The class laughed and Mr James said, “I think Jess has the right idea. So what we’re going to do today is come up with things that are going to be in the play. Let’s start with what kind of play we want to do.”

“Comedy!” Danny called out.

“Yeah!” most of the class agreed.

“That was easy. Is there anyone who doesn’t want to do a comedy?” Mr James asked.

Sam put her hand up.

“Yes, Sam?”

“Can it have, like, some kind of dramatic twist?” she asked.

Mr James nodded, “Okay, so is everyone happy with a comedy with a dramatic twist.”

There was a chorus of “yep”, “yeah” and “yes” from the class.

The rest of the time in class was spent deciding on characters, themes and even some lines. Mr James wrote it all down to give to his writer friend. He knew she’d have a lot of fun trying to figure out how to cram all of the things into the one play.



[AUTHOR'S NOTE: Mr James is named after Mr Nick James who seems to like these stories. He's an excellent actor and he does have a friend who writes silly little plays. And I know for a fact she'd have fun writing the play for the kids. In fact I'm sure she will have fun writing that play ;) Probably anyway.]

12. Tuesday Troubles

Tuesday Troubles



Callie’s alarm went off at 6:30 on Tuesday morning. She turned it off and sat up. As much as she liked having a long weekend, it just made it harder to get back into her working routine. She hated getting up early, and yet she’d chosen a job that required just that.

She jumped up and ran to the bathroom, trying to beat the morning chill. It didn’t work. She stood in the bathroom, shifting her weight from one foot to the other, waiting for the shower to warm up. Finally it was warm enough to climb under.

It didn’t take Callie long to get ready for work. It wasn’t like she had to worry about her appearance or anything like that. In fact the customers probably wouldn’t like it if she looked too well groomed, they wouldn’t trust her.

Callie had a hard time getting people to trust that she was good at her job. It wasn’t so bad with the younger customers. Most of them didn’t care who did the work, as long as it was done. The older ones were more opinionated. They needed things done in a specific way. Callie didn’t blame them for that; she just wished people would let her do her job.

The best thing about not having to get nicely dressed in the mornings was the extra time it gave her to eat breakfast. Callie loved her breakfast. She could skip lunch or dinner but if she skipped breakfast it was all over.

It took Callie ten minutes to drive to work but she always left at 7:15, just to give herself a bit more time. She hated being late. Not because she got in trouble, her boss didn’t really care, but because she hated doing anything late.

Callie pulled into Anderson’s Garage and saw that Will was already there. That was unusual, normally he didn’t start till 7:30, and here he was dealing with the first early customers. Callie parked her car and went into the office to dump her stuff.

“Hey, Cal,” Will said as he walked in behind her.

“Hey, Will. Where’s Mike?”

“Dad decided he’d have today off,” Will sat down to enter something into the computer.

“Fair enough,” Callie said. “So you get to be the boss today then?”

Will grinned, “Yep, you’ve gotta do what ever I say.”

Callie snorted, “Fat chance, I don’t even do what Mike says.”

“Maybe that’s why you’re not in charge today and I am.”

Callie laughed, “You’re in charge today because this is Anderson’s Garage and you’re the only Anderson working.”

“This could be why.”

“Anyway I’m gonna get to work,” Callie turned to leave the office.

“Cliff and Sarah just dropped off their car. Can you check it out? Cliff needs it by lunch time.”

“Sure, what‘s wrong?”

Will handed her a piece of paper outlining what Cliff had said when he’d dropped the car in.

“No worries,” Callie said and went out to work on the car.

Callie was lucky that she was friends with Will. She would’ve hated work if she wasn’t. She was the only member of staff who wasn’t also a member of the family. Mike liked to have three people working for him but Callie and Will were it for the moment.

Callie finished on Cliff and Sarah’s car and parked it out of the way, ready for them to pick it up. Four more cars had arrived in the half an hour she’d been working. She grabbed the keys for one and was about to drive it into the garage when a car pulled in.

“Boo,” Greg said as he climbed out of his car.

“Hi,” Callie said.

“What’s happening?”

“I’m working.”

“Really? I would’ve said you were talking to me.”

“I can see why the kids like you.”

“It’s ‘cause I’m so cool.”

“Oh, I bet.”

Greg grinned at her, “Is Dad around?”

“Nah, he’s having the day off,” Callie told him.

“What about Will?”

“Yeah, you can just see his feet,” Callie pointed out Will’s legs sticking out from under a very dusty car.

“Thanks,” Greg said and started over to where Will was working. “You know, Will, you should buy that thing a beer before you get under it like that.”

“Ha, ha, Greg. No wonder the kids like you.”

“That’s exactly what Callie just said to me.”

Callie watched the two brothers talking for a minute then she drove the car into the garage and started working on it. She knew it was going to be a busy day. The garage had been closed for two days and there was always more work after the weekend.

At 8:30 Susana arrived to open the shop part of the garage. Normally the shop, which sold petrol among other things, opened at 7:30 but Susana had decided that she could sleep an extra hour that morning seeing as her father wasn’t going to be at work.

It was a really busy day. All the things that usually happened on Monday were happening. Will dealt with problems as they came up but that meant that most of the mechanical work was up to Callie. She didn’t mind. She was quite happy to deal with the engines while Will dealt with the Tuesday troubles.

11. Sweet Silence

Sweet Silence



The sweet night embraced the house. It caressed the door and windows, probing for entry, kept at bay only by the few lights lit inside. It surrounded the house with mystery and the unknown. It waited to bring dream to those asleep inside.

Night is patient. It will wait a thousand years to touch one soul and a thousand more to release them. It doesn’t want your fear. It doesn’t need your fear. It is above everyone and everything. Inevitable, like the day.

So it caressed the house where children slept and their mother soon would. Waiting. Waiting for that last light to be turned out and the darkness to be as totally as possible in a world of humans.

Callie looked out the window at the still night and sighed.

“I should probably be going,” she said to her sister.

Melanie nodded, “Probably.”

Neither of them moved. They sat there, in the lounge room, listening to the house as it slept. Each lost and wandering in their own thoughts.

“Do you want me to look after the kids over the weekend?” Callie asked.

“That’d be wonderful, Cal,” Melanie said.

“It’ll give you and Craig a chance to—“

“Yes, it will.”

The two of them chuckled quietly. They kept their voices low almost without thinking about it. Neither of them wanted to wake the children.

“What about you, Cal?”

“What about me?”

“Got your eye on anyone?”

“Yes, I routinely pull my eye ball out of my head and stick it to people.”

“Ha, ha,” Melanie rolled her eyes at her sister.

“It tends to gross them out but I just can’t help myself.”

“You know what I meant.”

“Of course I know what you meant. I’m not stupid.”

“So…?”

“So what?”

“Callie!”

Callie grinned at her sister, “Not especially. Besides, relationships just seem to complicate things. A friend of mine got gutted a few months ago.”

“Who?”

“Ben. He writes for the paper.”

“What happened?”

“It turned out the girl he was seeing was going to the city once a week to sleep with guys she met on the net.”

“That’s awful!”

Callie nodded, “Yeah, and Ben was just getting ready to ask her to marry him.”

“Oh, the poor guy.”

“Yeah, he’s only just started to get over her. Unfortunately she’s just come back to town.”

“Bitch,” Melanie spat.

“Yeah.”

“What’s her name?”

“You know her. Rachael.”

“Not Rachael who used to live with you?”

“Yep.”

“Bitch!”

Callie shook her head and smiled at her sister, “You just want to swear ‘cause you can’t in front of your kids.”

Melanie looked at her sister with a perfectly straight face, “Yes, every night when they’re in bed I go into my room and whisper profanities into my pillow.”

“Yeah, that’s a really great story, Mel.”

“Thank you. I pride myself on my storytelling ability.”

They laughed and Callie looked at her watch.

“Crikey, I’d better go. I’ve gotta be up at 6:30.”

“Rather you than me.”

“Gee, thanks, Mel,” Callie said as she stood up.

“No probs, Cal.”

The sisters hugged and Melanie walked Callie to the door.

“Catch you later.”

“Bye, Cal.”

Callie slipped out into the cold night. She shivered as she walked to her car. Winter was not one of her favourite seasons. Her fingers were numb as she turned the key and the car roared to life.

The headlights of her car cut through the darkness that surrounded Melanie’s house. But night heals quickly. With in moments of Callie’s leaving night had once again enveloped the house. It slowly made its way inside as one by one the lights inside went out and the house was claimed by the night.


[AUTHOR'S NOTE: If there are any characters you want to hear more about please let me know. But don't ask me to write about that creepy guy who's watching everyone cos I don't know what I'm gonna do with him yet.]

10. Wandering Wondering Wanting

Wandering Wondering Wanting



“Michael, I need you to go to the supermarket for me,” Audrey Jones called to her son.

Michael emerged from his room with a look that clearly broadcast his frustration. He’d been chatting to one of his mates on the net and he hated to be interrupted.

“Here’s the list,” Audrey said when she saw Michael.

“Fine,” Michael said.

He never argued with his mother when she was in a mood like this. He’d learnt years ago that it was better to just do what she asked and go back to what he was doing than argue and get punished.

Audrey handed him some money, “And take Scott with you.”

“Okay, Mum,” Michael agreed.

“Hey, Scotty!”

Scott poked his head around the door and looked his mother and older brother. He’d been playing with his Lego in his room. He was trying to build a tower that was taller than he was.

“Come on,” Michael said, “We’re going down the street.”

“Okay,” Scott said after looking at his mother’s face. He really wanted to keep playing with his Lego but he knew that look. He knew what it meant.

Michael and Scott put on their shoes and headed towards town. It wasn’t far from where they lived. Michael usually cut across the park on the corner to save time. He could get to town and back again in just over half an hour.

“Why does mum do that?” Scott asked his brother as the two of them turned into the park.

“I dunno, Scotty,” Michael said.

Scott frowned, “I think it’s ‘cause she’s sad about dad.”

“Yeah probably,” Michael didn’t want to be having this conversation with his nine-year-old brother.

The two of them walked in silence for a while. It was just getting dark and the shadows of the day lay over everything. It felt unreal to Michael. Like the doorway between real and imagined had been opened and things had just begun to slip through. Of course he’d never admit that feeling to any of his friends but it was there none the less.

“I’m never gonna drink when I’ve got kids,” Scott said suddenly.

Michael looked down at his brother. “Good,” was all he could think to say.

Michael and Scott’s father had disappeared almost two years ago. No one knew where he’d gone or why he’d left. He’d just vanished. The police thought he’d run off with another woman.

Wherever he’d gone he’d left Audrey with two boys to raise on her own. Unfortunately she wasn’t really the best mother. She’d been okay with Walt there, but with him gone she couldn’t really cope.

Michael thought she’d had a drinking problem before his dad had left but he wasn’t sure. He’d never really paid attention then. He’d been so wrapped up in his own world.

Now Michael spent a lot of time looking after Scott. He wished he didn’t have to but he wanted Scott to have a good childhood. He loved both his parents but he also hated them for what they’d done to the family.

The two of the reached Main Street and wandered up to the supermarket. Michael knew they were lucky that their mother had enough money to keep them fed and clothed. She’d inherited some three years ago when her parents had been killed in a car crash. Michael didn’t know exactly how much she’d got but he knew it was enough to keep them going for a long time.

Scott picked up a basket when they went into the supermarket and held it out for Michael to take.

“Thanks, bro. I get to carry it do I?”

“Yep.”

Scott liked to get the things off the shelf. Michael didn’t mind. He figured there was no point arguing about stupid things. He didn’t like confrontation at all.

They were just getting started with the shopping when they bumped into Melanie, Scott’s friend Joel’s mother.

“Hi, Scott. Hi, Michael,” She said when she saw them.

“Hi, Melanie!” Scott said.

“Hi,” Michael said, he didn’t know her that well.

“How’s it going boys?”

“Good,” Scott said, “We’re doing the shopping.”

Melanie smiled, “Aren’t you good. If I send my kids shopping they always come back with chips and soft drink and never any veggies.”

“That’s silly,” Scott said, “You should give them a list so they know what to get.”

“You know that’s a great idea. I’ll have to try it.” Melanie smiled at them, “Well, I’d better be off. Bye boys.”

“Bye,” they both said.

Melanie walked off and Scott pulled a bottle of milk out of the fridge. He put it in Michael’s basket and looked at his brother to see what was next.

“Cheese,” Michael said.

It didn’t take the boys long to do the shopping. They paid for it and left the shop carrying the bags. Michael had two and Scott had one.

It was totally dark outside and quite cold. Main Street was almost deserted, which wasn’t unusual for Sunday evening. Music floated down the street from somewhere as the boys headed home.

They were going to walk back across the park but Michael changed his mind at the last minute.

“Let’s go around,” he said.

Scott didn’t argue, instead he looked relieved, “Okay,” he said.

Michael didn’t know what had made him want to avoid the park. He’d walked through it in the dark hundreds of times. He thought he’d see a flash in amongst the trees but it’d been so quick he wasn’t sure. He figured it was better to be safe. A girl from his school had gone missing a month ago and everyone at school had been given a safety talk after that.

The two brothers arrived home a few minutes later. They were laughing at a joke Scott had heard from one of his friends when they put the shopping down in the kitchen. The feeling of unease they’d both had when they passed the park was forgotten. They were just boys again.

9. Sharing Secrets

Sharing Secrets


“We’re going for a walk, Mum!” Jess called as her and her two best friends, Sam and Amanda, walked out the back door.

“Okay, don’t forget Amanda has to be home by six.”

“Yep.”

The three girls linked arms as they walked towards the beach. They loved to sit on the headland and watch the water. It was the best place to tell secrets. That’s what they wanted to do today.

“So, do you think Mr. Anderson is cute?” Jess asked.

“Yeah, totally,” Amanda agreed.

Sam rolled her eyes, “He’s a bit old don’t you think?”

“Well, yeah, but so’s Johnny Depp and he’s still cute,” Jess said.

“This is true.”

There were quite a few people on the beach, enjoying their Sunday afternoon. A couple of surfers were braving the cold but other than that the water was free of humans.

A cool breeze was coming off the water. The three girls shivered as they sat down on the edge of the headland. There was no one else on the headland at that moment, which was surprising given the number of people on the beach.

“You know Mr. Anderson has a brother,” Sam said.

“Really?” Jess asked.

Sam nodded, “Yeah, he works at the service station on Main Street.”

“Really?” Amanda asked.

“Yeah.”

“Doesn’t your aunt work there?”

“Yep, that’s how I know he has a brother.”

“Is his brother as cute as him?” Jess asked.

Sam laughed at her friend, “That’s all you ever think about, isn’t it?”

“Well, dah,” Jess said.

“So,” Amanda asked, “Is he?”

“I guess.”

The three of them started to giggle.

They were still alone on the headland. Not one of them felt uncomfortable. Not one of them felt like they were being watched. They knew the area. They knew the people. They felt safe.

The watcher sat perfectly still staring through the trees. The girls had their backs to him but he caught flashes of their profiles as they turned to look at each other. He smiled slightly as he held up his camera and took another picture.

“Have you and Jamie done anything yet?” Jess asked Amanda.

Amanda smiled and bit her lip, “Like what?”

“You know!” Sam said, punching her friend lightly on the shoulder.

“You want to know if we’ve had sex yet,” Amanda grinned at her friends.

Jess and Sam looked at each other then burst out laughing.

“Yep, that’s what we want to know,” Jess said after she got herself under control.

“Not yet,” Amanda said calmly.

“Really? But you’ve been going out for like two months,” Sam said.

“Yeah, well, we almost did but then his dad got home.”

“Oh my God! That must’ve been so embarrassing,” Jess said.

Amanda shook her head, “Luckily he didn’t come into Jamie’s room.”

“I think I’d die if I nearly got caught by my dad,” Sam said.

Jess looked at Sam and shook her head, “Nah, your dad’s cool, Sam. Imagine getting caught by my mum!”

That sent the three of them in to gales of laughter.

“So Jess has a crush on Mr. Anderson and I’ve got a boyfriend but what about you, Sam?”

Sam blushed as her two best friends looked at her.

“You do like someone!” Jess accused.

Sam bit her lip, “Sort of.”

“Who is it?” Amanda asked.

“Yeah, tell us!”

Sam looked around to make sure that there wasn’t anyone around to overhear what she was about to say. The headland was still deserted. She couldn’t see the watcher.

“Simon.”

“Simon?” Jess almost shouted.

“Yeah, quiet,” Sam glanced around again.

“Simon? Really?” Amanda said. “That’s not what I was expecting.”

“Why? Who’d you think I liked?”

“I was thinking someone like Danny or Michael.”

“No way, Michael’s Joel’s friend’s brother!”

“So?” Jess asked.

“So that’s just wrong!”

“Why? I think my brother’s friends are hot!” Jess said.

Sam rolled her eyes, “Your brother’s sixteen and mine’s nine. It’s so completely different.”

“Whatever.”

Amanda looked at her phone, “Hey, we should probably go back. It’s 4:30.”

The three of them stood up and brushed the grass off their clothes. They linked arms again and headed back to Jess’ house. They didn’t know it but they pass close by the watcher. He snapped another picture of them as they passed. He was still smiling.



[AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thanks to Sean for helping me name Mr. Anderson. Some other possible names for him were Mr Moogfretard, Mr Fredrick, Mr Torrance, Mr Wood, Mr Woodlot and Mr Bugger. You can see why I went with Mr Anderson. Also Mr Anderson's name keeps with the naming-people-after-characters-and-actors-in-Stargate thing that I've got going on in this story. Mr Greg Anderson is friends with Miss Callie O'Neill.]

8. Through His Eyes

Through His Eyes


There was a black brightness as the sun shone through the closed eyelids. The warmth of it sunk into the skin. It wormed its way into the centre of his body, more intimate that any form of human contact could be.

Lying in the sun, with his eyes closed, he could imagine anything. Anything was possible. Anything was possible and everything was real. The ties of the physical world became transparent in the suns rays and some of them snapped like rubber bands too often used.

Time became non-linear and then ceased to exist at all. The past, present and future became one with the eternal moment of existence. History ran parallel with the distant future and together they danced in the morning light to the music of their laughter. The present, the child of their love, filled the air between them with a soft presence that comforted and killed all thoughts of linear movement.

Lost in this eternal moment the buzzing of the insects and the soft caress of the breeze become the most important things to exist. To have ever existed. They are the last links with the physical existence that traps him on earth. They ear the things he must defeat in order to rise above it all and truly be part of the eternal moment.

A twig snaps and his eyes instantly open. He is once more totally in the physical world with its impure minions and dangerous temptations. He sits up and looks around, trying to find the source of the noise.

The crack comes again and his head snaps round. A kangaroo looks up at him through the railing of his veranda. It looks at him with a knowledge that he finds disturbing. He stands up suddenly and the kangaroo bounds off, back into the bush, leaving him alone again.

He leans on the railing and watches the bush for any sign of the animal. Bees collect nectar from the passion flowers that grow on the vine that grows around the railing. Their simple noise does not disturb him. Rather it sooths him with its monotony.

Abruptly he turns and goes into the house, his morning ritual over for the day. He understands that it is too tempting to spend the day in contemplation of the eternal moment. Soon, when everything is just right, and the eternal moment becomes The Eternal Moment, he will exist forever in its glory. But the time for that has not yet come.

His house is warm, open and inviting. A subconscious refection of his understanding of the eternal moment. All his furniture is wooden, beautifully made, with a simple shine from polish. Not a thing is out of place and yet the house still feels like a home.

A wood fire sits in the corner of the living room. It stands in almost the exact centre of the house. Its warmth radiates outwards heating even the coldest rooms. Without it the house would feel cold and unfriendly. With it the house becomes open and inviting.

He goes over to the fire and puts another log on it. He squats there and watches the fire lick at its new food, exploring it with red hot tongues of flame. After licking it all over, too make sure it is what it appears to be, the fire bites into the wood, consuming it with a need and a hunger that never ends.

After watching the fire accept his sacrifice he stands and walks away from the beating heart of his home. He puts a hand up to his face and feels the heat left there by the fire. It reminds him of the sun and the eternal moment. He smiles at that thought and in that instant his face is beautiful.

7. On The Phone

On The Phone


[The following is a phone conversation that took place on Saturday 10th June, 2006 between CALLIE O’NEILL and BEN FITZPATRICK.]

(phone rings)

BEN: Hello?

CALLIE: Hey, Ben, it’s Callie.

BEN: Hi.

CALLIE: Are you okay?

BEN: Why do you ask?

CALLIE: Rachael’s back.

(pause)

BEN: I know.

CALLIE: That’s why I’m asking.

BEN: I’m fine.

CALLIE: Sure…

BEN: I am.

(pause)

CALLIE: Did she come to see you?

BEN: Yeah.

CALLIE: What did you say?

BEN: Nothing. I wasn’t home.

CALLIE: How do you know she was there then?

BEN: She left a note.

CALLIE: What did it say?

BEN: Does it matter?

CALLIE: I suppose not… but I’m just curious.

BEN: Just that she want’s to see me.

CALLIE: Are you gonna see her?

BEN: No… Yes… Maybe… I don’t know.

CALLIE: I don’t think you should.

BEN: Why not?

CALLIE: After what she did? Of course you shouldn’t see her. She’s a bitch and she doesn’t deserve to know you.

BEN: You never did like her did you?

CALLIE: Not really.

BEN: I wish you could’ve told me how things were gonna turn out.

CALLIE: Me too. Sorry.

BEN: Yeah.

(pause)

BEN: Look, I gotta go.

CALLIE: If you need to talk –

BEN: Thanks.

CALLIE: Bye.

BEN: See ya, Cal.

6. Rachael Returns

Rachael Returns


Rachael stopped outside the old house and looked up at it. She’d lived in it for two years before deciding to try her luck in the city. They’d been good years, full of fun and games and partying.

When she’d left she burnt most of the bridges that linked her to Atlantis. She hadn’t really thought about how what she was doing affected anyone else. It had just been something she needed to do. She was the most important person in her life after all.

She got out of her car and walked up the steps to the front door. The pot plants had changed since the last time she’d been her. These ones weren’t dead. The plants had always been a joke. No one had looked after them and they kept dying and being replaced. These plants looked well cared for. Things had obviously changed here.

Rachael knocked on the door and waited. She couldn’t hear anyone moving inside so she knocked again. Still nothing. Thinking it’d be just her luck if everyone she tried to visit today wasn’t home. She tried the door but found it was locked.

“Hello!” she called and knocked again.

There was moan from somewhere inside, followed by a loud thump. There was a bit of mumbled conversation then Rachael heard someone walking to the door.

A moment later the front door opened and Callie stood there looking at Rachael as if she’d never seen her before.

“Callie!” Rachael said and hugged her.

It took Callie a second to respond. She hugged Rachael back unenthusiastically. Rachael was the last person she wanted to deal with at the moment. Actually Rachael was the last person she wanted to deal with at any moment.

“Hi, Rach,” Callie said as they broke apart. “What’re you doing here?”

“I’m just back in town for a bit and I though I’d better come by and say ‘hi’.”

There was an awkward silence at Callie realised that she should probably invite Rachael in.

“Do you wanna come in?”

“Sure,” Rachael could tell that Callie wasn’t overjoyed to see her but she hadn’t come here to see Callie.

The two of them went into the kitchen and Callie put the kettle on.

“So, what’re you doing back?”

“Oh, you know, just catching up.”

“I didn’t know you had many friends left here.”

“Yes, well…”

Callie made coffee and handed Rachael a cup. They sat at the bench for a minute drinking and not saying anything.

Back when she’d lived in this house the kitchen had been Rachael’s favourite place. She’d sit in here for hours, reading or listening to music or just thinking. Someone would always come into the kitchen and they’d chat for a while about what ever the current hot topic was.

Now Rachael couldn’t believe how out of place she felt here. It was like this had never been her home. She felt uncomfortable here. She felt lost.

“Um, I actually came to see Beth,” she said, breaking the silence.

Callie relaxed slightly, “Oh, she’s not here. She’s in Sydney visiting her mum.”

“Do you know when she’ll be back?”

“Wednesday, I think, but I’m not really sure.”

Rachael finished her coffee and stood up, “I’ll be in town for another week or so. Tell Beth I’ll come round and see her on Thursday or Friday.”

“Okay. Sure, no problem.”

Callie walked with Rachael to the front door.

“It’s good to see you again, Callie,” Rachael said and meant it.

“You too,” Callie replied automatically.

Rachael smiled sadly and walked back to her car. As she drove down the driveway she saw Callie standing in the doorway watching her leave.

It only took Rachael ten minutes to drive back to the caravan park where she was staying. She was upset at Callie’s reaction to seeing her again, but she wasn’t really surprised. Callie was too close to other people that she’d hurt.

That was the worst thing about Atlantis. If you had a fight with someone, or did something wrong, everyone knew about it and everyone had an opinion. That was one of the main reason’s Rachael had left.

When Rachael parked her car outside that caravan she was staying in she shook off the hurt she was feeling and went inside.

Rob was lying on the bed playing with his phone. He looked up as Rachael came in.

“How’d it go?”

“Crappy.”

“Told you this was a waste of time.”

“We’ll just have to wait till Beth gets back from Sydney.”

“She’s not even here?”

“Nah.”

“It would’ve been good if we’d known that before we came.”

“Yeah, well, if I’d called first our whole plan wouldn’t work.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know.”

Rachael sat down next to Rob, “There is one good thing about this morning.”

“What’s that?”

“I didn’t have to see Ben.”

“Why not?”

“He wasn’t home.”

Rob frowned, “You needed to see him.”

“Don’t worry; I left him a note so he’ll know I was there. That should do just fine.”

Rob thought about it for a moment, “It might even work out better.”

“Let’s hope so.”

5. The Note

[found, by Ben, outside his front door at 1:57pm on Saturday 10th June, 2006]

4. Bread, Milk and a Bit of News

Bread, Milk and a Bit of News



There wasn’t much that scared Ben. He wasn’t afraid of insects or spiders, reptiles or rodents, inclosed spaces or heights. But when he woke up at 11:45 and saw that he’d forgotten to post his mother’s birthday present yesterday he freaked out. Ben was terribly afraid of forgetting things.

It was something that had come on him as he got older and started to understand the world a bit better. Until he turned seventeen he hadn’t really understood what his mother meant when she explained that Grandma didn’t recognise him because she had Alzheimer’s. The disease ran in both his mother’s and his father’s family and he had a huge chance of getting it himself. The thought of forgetting everyone he knew scared him badly.

Ben had spent a lot of his time, in the ten years since he’d began to understand Alzheimer’s, trying to improve his memory. As a result he had amazing visual recall and could put names to faces 99% of the time.

Given that he had a reputation for having a fantastic memory he couldn’t believe that he’d forgotten to post his mother’s present. Her birthday was on Wednesday and he’d wanted the present to arrive the day before so she could open it first thing in the morning. Now he’d have to send it by express post if he wanted her to get it in time.

It wasn’t a big deal. Or it wouldn’t have been to most people. But Ben was so afraid of losing his mind that forgetting anything terrified him. He couldn’t just brush it off and get on with the day. His thoughts just kept coming back to the fact that he’d forgotten something.

Ben stood looking at the package for almost ten minutes before he picked it up and put it on the floor in the front hall. He knew he’d have to see it there when he left for work on Monday and so he couldn’t forget to post it.

His stomach was telling him it was time to eat something and no matter how upset he was Ben was never one to ignore his stomach. It was almost lunch time so he thought he’d make himself a nice sandwich.

Before he’d taken even one step towards the kitchen he remembered that he didn’t have any bread. He hadn’t bothered to buy any on his way home yesterday. He’d been in such a hurry to get home, get changed and go out again that he thought he could do without bread.

As it turned out he’d have been better off to get the bread and forget the party. There hadn’t been anyone interesting at the party at all. He gone with a couple of his mates and they’d both hooked up with a pair of French backpackers. He hadn’t really been in the mood for a party anyway and he’d left around midnight.

Ben went into the kitchen and made himself a coffee while he decided whether or not to go out and buy some bread or just to eat something else. He munched on some corn chips while he looked in the fridge for something more substantial. He really wanted a ham and salad sandwich but he didn’t really want to drive to the shops.

He pulled the milk out of the fridge and poured the last of it into his coffee. That settled it. He could do without bread but he loved his coffee and he liked milk with it. He got dressed, finished his coffee, grabbed his keys and went out to get milk and bread.

It wasn’t far to the shops from his house. It was about a five minute drive. He liked to walk into town on the weekend but today he couldn’t be bothered. He was lucky to get a park straight away when he got there. Sometimes it was impossible to get a car park on the weekends. People came to town from everywhere because of its beautiful beaches.

Ben was just getting out of his car when his friend Josh grabbed him from behind.

“Benny!”

Ben turned and grinned at Josh, “Hey, man. What’s happening?”

Josh and Ben walked into the supermarket together as Josh started telling Ben about a woman he’d almost picked up the night before.

“And you should’ve seen her. Man, she was like amazing.”

“You didn’t even talk to her did you?”

“Of course not!”

The two of them burst out laughing. It was a joke they had. Josh had heard a couple of their friends comparing who’d seen the hottest woman and realised that they were describing movie stars. Ever since then him and Ben would joke about it every chance they got.

“Did you end up going to that party last night?” Josh asked.

“Yeah.”

“Any good?”

“Nah, it was such a waste of time.”

“Should’ve gone clubbing with me.”

“I should’ve stayed home.”

“Stayed home?” Josh said with mock shock. “You’re getting old, man.”

Ben smiled and shook his head, “Don’t I know it.”

Ben grabbed a loaf of bread and a litre of milk and headed for the checkout.

“I’ll catch you later, Josh.”

“Sure,” Josh said and was about to go about his own shopping when he remembered something.

“Hey, Ben!”

Ben was about halfway down the aisle when Josh called him back.

“What?”

“Look, I don’t know if this is true, but…”

“But…?”

Josh looked uncomfortable, “I heard Rachael was back in town.”

Any good humour that had been on Ben’s face vanished. Any thoughts of forgetting his mother’s present vanished. Any thoughts of his hunger vanished. All he could think of was Rachael and what she’d done to him.

“Sorry, man, but I thought you should know,” Josh said.

“Yeah. Thanks. I’ll see you later.”

Ben went to the checkout. This time Josh didn’t call him back. Josh knew that Ben would want to be alone with the news of Rachael. He’d never really got over what she’d done.

“Benny, Benny, Benny…” Josh mumbled as he got back to his own shopping.