10 the scars of the weasel
When I opened my eyes, I was in dad’s beach house in the guest room.
Confused, I leapt out of bed and searched the place.
No body, not a drop of blood in sight. I tore open the patio door and ran onto the terrace.
No Angel, no blood splatter. What the fuck?
Had I dreamt all of this? I went back inside and checked my phone.
I had loads of birthday messages on social media and I checked my bank.
The five million was still there. Flummoxed, I rang my dad and jumped when I heard his phone ringing shrilly from his bedroom.
If his phone was here, then where was he?
Next, I rang my mom, but it just kept going to voicemail.
You passed out so Bess and I brought you back here and cleaned up. The weasel said. Hearing him in my head made me jump.
“Where are the bodies?!” I asked.
I flung ‘em over the wall into the ocean. They’re fish food by now.
“And my mom? Did we really blow up the mansion?”
Yes… Sh it! I can hear a cop car. Let me take over and do the talking.
Sure enough, about five minutes later, I heard the siren blaring through the air.
Damn the weasel and his supersonic hearing.
I wriggled into the safety of my inner mind and let the weasel drive my meat husk.
Two officers plodded up the wooden stairs and rapped sharply on the door. The weasel opened it.
“Good afternoon. I’m Officer Hicks and this is Officer West. Is your father at home?”
Officer Hicks was visibly sweating after his climb up the stairs the fat cunt, a thin layer of perspiration collecting on his top lip. Officer West, young and shy, a newbie I was guessing, bowed his mousey head and looked at his shoes.
“No Officer. He has gone on vacation with his girlfriend. I am looking after the house and catching a tan before the senior prom,” the weasel replied, charming as ever.
“Can we come inside? There’s something unfortunate that we have to discuss with you.”
“Come in, come in!” the weasel encouraged, “would you like something to drink?”
“No that’s OK. Caspian, I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but your mother and most of the staff at your house are dead.”
“Dead?!” the weasel exclaimed incredulously, “how?!”
“A fire. We think it was done deliberately. Also, someone was found drowned in the pool tied up in a tennis net. At the moment, forensics are combing the place for clues,” Officer Hicks said solemnly, “the security system was also destroyed and the memory wiped, so we have no footage of what actually occurred, so the investigation will take some time.”
The sneaky, fucking weasel! I felt suddenly warm and fuzzy inside.
Both the weasel and Bess had protected me and had my back more than anyone else in my life.
I felt special and like I belonged. I didn’t want our ragtag little team to end.
With them by my side, I wouldn’t need anyone and could achieve everything in life I wanted to, without fear, knowing I would never be alone.
The weasel dramatically sunk into a chair, the tears coming.
“Can I stay here then, since I’m now homeless?” he sniffled.
“Yes. Here’s my card. Once you get in touch with your father, get him to call me, as I’m sure there will be a lot of legal things that will need attended to regarding the property and your mother’s affairs as well as trying to find the person who did this.
” Officer Hicks stood up and made his way out followed by Officer West, who still hadn’t spoken a fucking word and who looked like he was going to throw up.
Once the weasel closed the door, he let me be myself again and I breathed a sigh of relief.
“Have they gone now?” Bess said, coming out of the bedroom, rubbing her eyes.
“Yes,” I said, looking in the freezer, “oh look! Rocky road!” Bess giggled and we sat on the rug in the lounge eating ice cream and enjoying being in each other’s company.
* * *
A couple of days later, I’d had several phone calls from Officer Hicks asking if I’d managed to get in touch with my dad, but I told him that he must have switched his phone off since he was on vacation, a lie which, for the moment, he accepted.
Bess and I sat on the terrace watching the sunset.
“I don’t want to go away Caspian,” she whispered, “I don’t want to go back to where I was before I was with you.”
I felt a lump forming in my throat and knew that most people would think I had completely lost my fucking mind, but I didn’t give a fuck. The relationship I had with Bess was stronger than anything I’d ever had with anyone living.
All of a sudden, I felt an unusual pulling sensation, similar to a magnet.
“It’s her!” Bess shrieked, “she’s calling us to her. I’m afraid!”
“It’s OK,” I soothed, “I’m with you.”
We got into my car and drove back to Lull Lane.
I put the radio on to try and lighten the mood, but the news was on.
The newscaster gravely described several gruesome murders that had occurred over the last several weeks, with police thinking it may be a serial killer.
I knew it wasn’t though. I knew it was the dolls.
The force led me to the creepy house at the end of Lull Lane, and the rusty old gates were now wide open.
I got out of my Land Rover, cradling Bess, and made my way into the overgrown front garden.
The house rose up in front of us like a living, breathing being, its aura deadly and mysterious.
I noticed several other members of my class, each clutching their dolls, and Briar was stood near the front door.
But try as I might to interact with them, it was like I was rooted to the spot and surrounded by some kind of forcefield that prevented me from doing anything.
Suddenly, the door opened.
“That’s her!” Bess said, and I gasped….
To find out what happens next, you will have to read the next book in the Nightmares on Lull Lane shared word…