Chapter 1 – A Jolt in the Journey
On a cold January evening, a sudden bump on the otherwise smooth course of a train’s journey jolted one of the passengers out of her sleepy daze. One might think that this wouldn’t be a problem, that this was just a random happenstance that millions experienced every day without realising it, come, gone and forgotten in the blink of an eye, but they would be wrong. Said passenger was a woman named Danni, and she was best known for one thing.
Anxiety.
Trains, somehow, only seemed to worsen an already shaky disposition. It had been bad enough when she had first stepped onboard, at three that morning. But the tightness in her gut that followed her whenever she had to travel further than the end of the road where her home lay was now a giant sitting atop her shoulders. All from a single conversation. Not even a conversation, an email. Sent in reply to one that she, herself, had sent.
Until she had slipped into a state between sleep and wakefulness, Danni had been plagued by constant worries, thoughts that flashed before her eyes and through her mind with the impact of a tsunami making land. She was burdened with thoughts of a sudden shift in the earth’s tectonic plates causing a cataclysmic earthquake that would split the ground beneath them, derailing the train and sending everyone to their deaths in a nightmarish melody of screeching metal, the howls of injured women and the death throes of mutilated men. Images chased her of a random fluke in the earth’s rotation pulling a meteor out of its intended course through the starry heavens, and, like God’s divine justice, it would hit the Earth and like a cricket ball through an ornery neighbour’s window, it would wipe out all life as they knew it.
She cursed herself for falling asleep. Had she missed her stop?
Checking the display above her seat did nothing for her until she realised that her glasses had slipped down her nose and she pushed them back in place. A hasty glance around her showed that none of her fellow passengers had even noticed and she returned her gaze upwards towards the dots racing across the sign. Unfortunately, the only thing she could see was the last few stops on the route, and she sighed. She hadn’t had much time to search up where she was, but she vaguely remembered seeing her destination at the end of the long list of stops. In her lap, there lay a well loved, often read and reread copy of Bram Stoker’s Dracula and she carefully tucked it back inside the black and white shoulder bag that she had sitting on the seat beside her. She had been trying to read it in an attempt to distract herself from the nervousness that had been boring into her head like a drill. But instead, it had lulled her into a daze, much like the titular count’s words and wicked ways had sung to an unwary Lucy Westenra, pulling her into its grip. She supposed she should be grateful for the bump that had pulled her back to consciousness.
She missed the display when it showed the time, so she reached into her bag and pulled out her phone, pressing her thumb to the side to unlock it. The screen shone and momentarily blinded her tired eyes, but when she had blinked away the spots, she registered the time as 6:30PM. That made sense, almost painfully so. She had been on this train for almost 16 hours, and only now was her exhaustion starting to show. Looking up to the wide window, she saw the sky was already dark in the way only early January could, the deep abyss of black chasing after the shades of twilight that might have made an artist’s fingers twitch with the need to capture such an image and display it upon a canvas. All it did for Danni was make her yawn wide enough to show her back teeth and settle further into her seat.
When she had accepted this request from Tawney, her best friend, she had expected some change. She had, at one point, admitted that she was open to it, needing a shakeup since her graduation earlier that year; but her enthusiasm had died when she learned just how long this damnable journey would take her. She was locked into this decision, though, and Tawney had all but begged on her knees for Danni to do this for her. She had even paid for her travel ticket and made arrangements for Danni to be taken up to… That was where Danni’s memory puttered out. Perhaps it was the lack of sleep or the stress of the day, but Danni was still wrestling to comprehend what exactly Tawney had said. So far as she knew, Tawney had, somehow, come into possession of a grand house, newly made up and renovated and just in time for Tawney to be completely unavailable to live there. Tawney’s impossible, unknowable luck (read: had a father with more money than God) paid trip to Africa of all places, so she needed someone to watch the house. Make sure that the rooms were cleaned, that the appliances all worked, that no one tried squatting inside whilst she was away.
Danni had tried to press Tawney on what her plans for the place were, but she had been painfully vague on the subject. More than vague, she had been actively avoiding answering Danni’s questions aside from telling her that she would turn it into a B&B. So, completely unprepared, Danni had found herself being roped into this weird chore.
The train came to a crawling stop outside a station bearing the name Newingham, and Danni sighed, rubbing her temples, hoping to curb the headache that had been building progressively through the day. Already, she had made liberal use of the snack cart that would pass by every so often, having gone through three cups of very bad tea and all the misadventures that ensued.
Even now, her hand burned from the feeling.
“Damnation!” She swore, the searing hot liquid searing into her skin like a brand that only seemed to spread. Next to it, a cardboard cup lay overturned, brown liquid dripping onto her lap, soaking into the material of her favourite pair of jeans. They were her favourite shade of deep blue and lined with impeccably warm fleece. Over that, she had layered up with a black long-sleeved turtleneck underneath a thick slate grey sleeveless t-shirt, and over all of that, there was a brown corduroy jacket that she pulled closer around her every time she thought about the bone deep chill that was surely awaiting her.
Her head turned from left to right in rapid succession, looking around frantically for aid as her free, unburned hand dug through her bag in the hopes of finding the pack of tissues she was sure she had stuffed inside of it. She remembered having put them there that morning, but it looked like they had gotten lost amongst the detritus covering the bottom.
Putting the cup upright again, lest more drip out and cause even more mess for her to deal with, Danni rose from her seat in a flurry of movement and gingerly headed towards the toilets. If her tissues were missing, then she would just have to get some paper from the bathroom.
The red on the lock almost seemed to taunt her.
“That’s… not fair.” She whined, clutching her hand.
Shuffling back to her seat in disgrace, she sat down and fought back the urge to cry. The smell of the tea had once been enticing, but now it stung her nose with the sheer unfairness of it all! Now she didn’t even want to think about tea. It all seemed… tainted now.
Sucking a deep breath, she looked through her bag again, reaching into corner to try and find the elusive package. It was the one thing she had been determined to take with her and… there! What was more, there was a face cloth wrapped around them, just the smallest corner peeking out. Grabbing them both, she soaked up the tea with the tissues and covered her hand with the face cloth, the softness working wonders on the stinging flesh. It would heal, she always did, but still… She mourned the loss of her tea and the waste of the tissues.
With travelling so early in the year, she knew that she was going to get sick sometime and tissues would be invaluable…
Heaving a great sigh, she settled herself to cleaning up her mess and disposing of the spoiled tissues. It would be a long time before she could enjoy another cup of tea without wanting to wince.
Since then, the strain behind her eyes had steadily risen to a boiling point, and even when she tried to distract herself with her book or her phone, her mind would wander.
Really, what had she been thinking, taking this job?
Of course, she knew the answer. Her parents, lost in their delusions that time had remained static since their own days of university, had insisted that she try to find a job as soon as the diploma had been in her hands. Even worse, they had demanded she move out. Something she wasn’t even close to doing. She didn’t want to spend the rest of her life at home, definitely not, but she had other things, other opportunities that she wanted to explore before she did something as concrete as move out. She wanted to travel for one, explore her options, even make a few mistakes. But her parents had been hearing none of it. They had given her a deadline of a year to move out, and that had only forced her into the hasty decision of taking Tawney up on her offer.
It would get her out from under her parents. That was the biggest positive that she could find.
Otherwise, she was cursing herself.
How she wished that she could have taken it back.
How she wished that she could be like Maya and Jas, the other two lucky devils who had shared their hall in university. The four of them had lived in relative harmony whilst they had been studying together. Danni even thought that they had gotten on with Tawney better than she had. She had always been the outlying introvert of the foursome. When Danni had asked Tawney about why she hadn’t approached them, Tawney had dropped the bomb that they would be accompanying her to Africa.
Why they got to go but Danni was the one chosen for house sitting duty, Danni was certain she would never know for sure. When it came to Tawney, you could turn around and her hair would be purple by the time you were facing her again.
‘It’ll be great,” she says. You won’t want for anything! she says,’ Danni thought, swearing that she could hear the twang of Tawney’s accent reverberating around in her head, and the want to give her a hard shake grew, close to outgrowing the pain in her head. ‘“You’ll be well cared for!” she says! “I’ll have deliveries sent up when you get there, and everything will be sent ahead of you! You won’t even have to worry about your books!” she says. Tawney, the next time I see you, I’m going to… to… do something bad!’ Danni released a long sigh through clenched teeth. In truth, she didn’t think that she would be able to do anything if she and Tawney crossed paths again. All she would be able to do was smile and offer them some tea. That was just her damn luck. She cursed her own lack of a spine. She loved her friends, they had helped her a lot during their time together at school, but it was a pain in the ass that she couldn’t say no to any of them!
One look at their beaming, expectant faces and her resolve crumbled like a sandcastle in the face of a wave. That was just the reality of having grown up with parents like hers. Any objections or alterations she might have were shot down like like clay pigeons.
The next two stops flashed by as Danni opened her book again and tried to read. Unfortunately, she couldn’t concentrate whilst she was still having to watch out for the station. The sun continued to creep down towards the horizon, turning the tall trees that grew on either side of the tracks into looming monsters, throwing around shadows that appeared and disappeared in a moment. All the while, Danni was thinking that she should concentrate on getting dinner on the go as soon as she reached the house. She didn’t give a damn about what state it was in as long as it had four standing walls, a roof and a horizontal surface that she could sleep on. She didn’t even care if this ‘house’ Tawney had promised her was just a straw hut. Actually, that was just the kind of stunt that she would pull.
“Attention all passengers! This train is arriving at Newingham. Repeat, the next stop is Newingham! This train will terminate here.” Called the automated voice from the speakers that could be seen dotted around the carriage. With a yawn and a stretch, Danni stood up from her seat, collected her bag and the small suitcase that carried her clothes from the luggage rack, and headed for the doors as they slid open. In a sharp contrast to the clean, if sterile smelling, train car, outside smelled of pine trees, fresh air, and much to her disgust, a faint underlying scent of car exhaust. Well, it was good to know that this place wasn’t entirely devoid of people. Hopefully that meant she would get a solid internet connection here. Tawney had promised her that there would be. Looking down at her phone, she was surprised to see that she had full bars. Even her mobile data was working. That meant there had to be a tower somewhere around here. She hadn’t seen one on the way, but then again, it wasn’t as if she had been looking.
With her rucksack on her back and dragging her suitcase behind her, she stepped out through the gates onto the street and looked around. Tawney’s message had said something about a café being close to the station and Danni, in her haste to get on the train in time, had neglected to eat anything. All nothing but tea swishing in her stomach, she was desperate for a sandwich or something substantial to tide her over until she got to the house or, at least, until the person supposed to take her up to the house found her.
True to Tawney’s words, the café was across the street from station, a small white building with frilly pink curtains draped on either side of a bay window where she could see a couple sharing a slice of cake. There was a heart shaped window in the door, and a bell tinkled prettily over her head when she pushed it open. The smell of baked goods and coffee was thick in the air, tickling her nose with the bitter yet enticing smell of caffeine that she knew so well from her father’s habit of downing mugs all the time.
Taking a seat in a corner spot that could still be seen from the window, Danni shucked off her rucksack and parked her suitcase underneath the vacant seat, finally feeling as if she were able to take a breath that might not choke her with anxiety. She had gotten the longest, hardest leg of her journey over and done with, she was able to take some comfort in that, but there was a fresh nervousness bubbling in her stomach. Tawney hadn’t bothered to give her the number of the person meant to take her up to the house, nor tell her what he even looked like. Did he know what she looked like? How long would he be? What if… he didn’t appear? Was there a hotel or something she could get a room for and if so, how far could that set her back?
A laminated menu was placed down in front of her by a beaming waitress with chestnut brown hair, smiling blue eyes and piercings in each ear. “Welcome traveller!” She declared. Danni could have sworn that she saw sparkles dancing around her. “What can I get you?”
Suddenly feeling overwhelmed by the close proximity, Danni only had a moment to take a glance at the menu. Much to her displeasure, there weren’t any sandwiches or snack-type things. Instead, most of the menu was taken up by pictures of desserts, everything from cheesecake to towering sundaes. Disappointed, she scanned the drinks, thinking she would eat when she reached the house. Tea didn’t appeal to her after what had happened earlier and she hated coffee. But there were soft drinks and juices… The pictures on the menu made them look delectable!
“I’ll take… a coke please.”
“Of course.” The waitress clicked her pen and began to scribble on the notepad she seemed to pull from nowhere. Danni was sure her hands had been empty when she had surprised her with the menu. “So that’ll be one coke and a newcomer special!”
“A… what?” Danni stammered, scanning the menu again in search of this surprise.
“It’s a special treat we have for all newcomers. You’ll see! Do you have any allergies?” She asked, tucking her notepad back inside her apron.
Danni shook her head, pushing her glasses up from where they had fallen down her nose. “No, I’m fine.”
“Then I know just what to get you.” With that, she flounced off with a click of her heels.
Without any way to try and stop her, Danni sank back into her seat and pulled out a different book. Dracula no longer appealed to her and the tension would do nothing to soothe her anxieties in this most unfamiliar of places. Thankfully, it had managed to remain unscathed from her incident with the tea, and she found her place once again.
It was a strange thing, what waking up to the sight of the same ceiling can do for one’s opinion on it. In the beginning, She had gone from dislike to pure loathing to grudging acceptance to a strange kind of familial affection. Lying on the threadbare mat that had become as familiar to her as her own feet, She looked up towards the window embedded deep in the wall above her head. Blinking herself into waking, She stretched her arms up over her head, feeling her back click in a way that did little to ease the real stiffness in her spine, and settled herself against the wall that threatened to crack her skull open whenever She would stretch too far. Window, ceiling, three walls, door, mat and a screw She had worked out of the door hinge. By now, She could count the scars in the wall She had made in the sharp edge of the screw, each representing a moment, a day just like this.
Each was another attempt to reach the Window. Once upon a time, She had known what the outside world looked like. She had felt fresh air against her face, Sheltered herself from the rain, consumed warm meals and rested on soft beds. But all of that had disappeared the moment She had woken up in this horrible prison, where three walls and a metal door had become her entire world. Where food would be slid through a single thin slot in the door twice a day, just enough to keep life and strength in her body.
On occasion, She would press her ear to the wall and hear the faint drumming of rain or maybe hail against the stones, would cup her hands against the wall in the hopes of feeling the cool rain that might trickle down from the Window. What had the world become outside this place? Did anyone remember her? What did She even look like after being here for so long? It had been so very long since She had seen her own face, She had forgotten her own face aside from what her mind could conjure as She ran her hands over her features, tracing the shape of her eyes, the line of her nose, around her mouth, memorising everything She could touch.
A clatter signalled the arrival of the first meal of the day, and it was unsurprisingly poor. A handful of wilted vegetables, a single slice of dry meat that She had to work between her teeth like leather and foul-tasting water that threatened to make her gag. There was no sweet nor sour, no flavour in anyway that might make this appealing to the tongue. What She wouldn’t have given for a sip of sweet tea, like the kind her mother would have made, or to sink her teeth into some real meat loaded with its own juice. Even the idea of tasting a ripe, red apple, the thought of her teeth breaking the crisp, smooth skin was enough to make her mouth water and would haunt her dreams for days.
That was far as she got before the waitress came sidling up to her again, armed with her order balanced on a tray.
“1 coke and 1 newcomer special. For you, it’s a slice of our special chocolate, honey and praline cheesecake, just what the doctor ordered after a long trip.” She declared, gesturing towards the dessert with a grin that spoke of knowing more than Danni did.
“But… I don’t understand. I mean… Why would you give me something like this?” Danni asked, coiling a lock of her hair around her finger for want of something to do with her hands.
“It’s a special treat that our owner cooked up. Whenever a new face arrives in town and there’s no question that’s what you are, we offer them a free dessert. Something to help ease you in whether you’re here for a long time or just for the day.” She explained, sliding her pen behind her ear.
“I don’t… this sounds like a really bad business model if you’re always offering free desserts.” Even as she said this, Danni was picking up the provided fork to cut off a slice of the decadent confection.
“That’s alright. You wouldn’t be the first to say that. But we trust in the quality of our products and their ability to draw people back in for more. Give it a shot, you’ll see.” The waitress assured her but before Danni could voice any other objections, the bell over the door sounded. Instead of just one person, a troop of hoodie wearing boys, the oldest of whom couldn’t be older than 19, came in. Danni froze in her seat. She knew this scene. She had seen it outside of her school, at the end of the street, huddled together under a streetlight. Eyes following her as she walked past, never moving but there was always a chance. There was a possibility that there would come the wrong day. The day when she would move the wrong way, do the wrong thing, insult them with some innocuous movement.
First, they’d follow. Keeping just a pace behind her. Stalking her. Lions following an injured gazelle that had strayed from the herd. Never letting her get too far, their longer legs bringing them closer.
She would feel them before she saw them. The eyes…unseen but she knew they had to be fixated on the back of her head. If she dared to sneak a glance over her shoulder, the starting gun would sound. She would see them and start to walk faster, faster, faster! Her walk would turn to a run, a sprint! She’d clutch her things closer to her, torn between flinging her bag at them in the hopes of slowing them down, her shoes tripping her up. Already, there was the creeping sensation of a cold sweat beading on her neck, her breathing coming in strained repetitious inhales and exhales as she fought to keep herself in the here and now.
They were a hairsbreadth from her now. She would flee around the nearest corner, hoping to evade them, but instead came face to face with a towering brick wall. Spinning on her heel, she felt herself slip on something wet underfoot and she would come down in a heap, gravity only aided by the weight of the belongings that she had tried so hard to keep safe. Now, there she was, trapped, little more than a tasty rat in the eyes of a pack of ravenous cats. She could feel their breath upon her skin as they closed in. The lowlight had turned their hunched forms into those of monstrous, hulking figures that bore down upon her.
Just as they were now.
Standing between her and the door, were two monsters.