Ruby hoped T2 was right because at this point she wasn’t full of confidence. She thought of a TV show her dad used to watch, Get Smart. That agent had a number as well, although she couldn’t remember it. T1 and T2 would be easy to remember. She needed to call her dad. They hadn’t spoken much since he retired a few months back, as they both had been busy.
“Both right to go then? All electrical goods off?” T1 asked.
They nodded.
“Good. Let me go check our exit and make sure all is good,” T1 said.
The text message came not long after. “Okay, we’re right to go, girls.” T2 ushered them out the door. “You got your keys, Ruby?”
“Yes.” She deadlocked the door.
They walked down the steps. The kids in unit two were fighting again. She hoped they weren’t affected by the crazy visitor but yelling was normal for that unit.
T2 opened the main entrance to the units, stepped outside, and pointed to a sedan parked down the street. It must have rained as Ruby could smell the moisture in the air, and the street lights reflected in small puddles on the road. They walked past a lady inspecting her well-lit and rain-soaked garden. She said hello as they passed. Ruby always admired the lady’s lawn on the front nature strip. One night, Ruby and Zoe had rolled and rumbled on the grass as they were too fearful to even walk on it during the day. They considered it a conquest. Ruby believed the lady’s smile had widened since that event, almost as if she witnessed their playful mischief.
T1 opened the vehicle’s doors.
The drive was a quiet one. T1 constantly looked in the rear-view mirror to ensure they weren’t being tailed. He also exited and entered the freeway a number of times. Ruby felt safe.
They eventually turned into a narrow street. It was quiet, with most residents tucked away into the comforts of home.
They were given a quick guided tour. The house had a cosy feel about it. Ruby had a rough idea where she was, near the river and closer to the city. The house backed on to the river so offered privacy in that regard.
“It’s a quiet neighbourhood. We’ll be here for a few days. And if we feel there’s still a risk in a few days we will move to another safe house,” T2 said.
“We will be staying with you but you will have all the privacy you need. The house is designed for dual living,” T1 added.
Ruby’s phone rang. She noticed T1 and T2 stare at each other.
“Should I turn it off?”
“I’m sure whoever it is that is interested in you wouldn’t ring you on your mobile, but it still may be a good idea to turn it off,” T2 said.
<°)))><
Jill Winter was feeling zapped again. It was as though she was carrying a load but she didn’t know what the load was. She didn’t even feel like a visit to her magic mirror. She stared at the glass of water in front of her and wondered what the strange particles were floating in the water. Things picked up through the pipes as the water made its way to the glass. Harmless things.
Her partner had returned from his trip. She wasn’t normally concerned about his trips but she had been of late. It was as though she was floating back to earth. As though she’d been away. Where had she been? The anxiety and fear had returned with a feeling of heaviness. The issue with the magistrate had gone on for too long and had drained her. She felt like a puppet. But who was pulling the strings, and why was she even thinking like this? Concerns were creeping in.
Particles floated in her glass.
She had lost her way.
Her partner was a violent man. Rather, he used to be a violent man. She felt something was changing in him—like they were on a see-saw: she was down, he was up. But what was he up to?
Toby Watts was his name. At least, that was who he said he was. Was that really his name? It was all getting a bit crazy. She got up and went into her room, and sat in front of the mirror. Footsteps came up behind her. Toby—she saw him in the mirror—but his face was different. His hands rested on her shoulders and he started to massage her tight muscles. Nice, but he was quite firm. His hands moved to her neck. Things were not right. She tried to speak but no words came. She closed her eyes and let out a soft gasp. The fight was gone and she didn’t care. She heard words but they were meaningless. Everything was meaningless.
“Sorry, love. I have to do this. You’re becoming a problem and I don’t want to go back to prison. They’re tracking us down because of your lack of judgement.”
Jill Winter felt the darkness coming. She had no energy and felt strangely peaceful about what was happening.
She was drugged!
A surge of energy came. The particles weren’t harmless. Panic. She tried to scream. The grip on her throat was tighter. She was gasping, grasping, struggling for air.
“Not sure what you believe about death. You Wiccans believe many things about the afterlife. Take your pick, because you’re going there now.”
They were the last words she heard and the last thing she saw was a reptilian being coming towards her. She wanted to scream, yet couldn’t. Couldn’t scream, couldn’t talk, couldn’t breathe.
What do you want? Who are you?
The reptilian thoughts invaded her closing mind.
Welcome. You’re now one of us. Your soul has left the earthly plane.
Part Four – The Wizard
39 – Sharing and not sharing
JACK HAD ENJOYED THE RECENT DRIVE with Catherine to visit the ‘unexpected’ vacant block of land—the hills, the greenery, the sparkling bay waters. Now he wanted to share these things with Erica, so he’d decided to take her for a drive over the weekend. Saturday morning was the only time available. Sunday had become a busy day for her.
From the corner of his eye he saw Erica’s eyes widen and smiled as she raised her phone to take a picture.
“It is nice, Jack.”
They crested a hill and the blue of the bay filled their vision. Jack pulled the car over and encouraged Erica out to admire the view. They leaned on the bonnet and looked over the bay. Jack felt the warmth of the sun on the bonnet.
“Beautiful view, love.” Jack said spreading his arms over the picturesque sight and then pointing. “Look at those pelicans coming in to land. They’re massive.”
“They’re enormous. Amazing. One of God’s many creatures.”
Jack looked at Erica. Smiled. The reference to God confused him but he let the thought pass. “Did you know planes and flying boats used to land in the bay?”
“Flying boats?”
“Yep. I’ve been to the local hotel here for lunch. The walls have large framed pictures of the flying boats that used to land here. They were commercial flights. I believe a stopover on the way to London.”
“Amazing. That would have been an impressive sight, seeing planes land on the water.” She nudged closer to him.
“It would’ve been.” Jack placed an arm over her shoulder and picked up the scent of her perfume. He gave her a gentle squeeze. “It was from the early fifties to early seventies. The plane landed at around eleven at night and woke up all the islanders.” Jack smiled. “Passengers on the flights used to take advantage of the hospitality offered by the hotel. Maybe we should do the same.”
“That’ll be nice.” Erica continued to scan the view “It’s beautiful, Jack. I wonder what it’s like living here? Could be a bit isolated.” She pointed down, towards a small group of houses that occupied a flat stretch of land.
A quick positive blotted out by a negative. Was his decision to take this drive planting seeds for a move to the bay? Maybe his subconscious was at work.
“Funny, that. The main shopping centre is five minutes away.” Jack said.
“Convenience rules, love.”
