Chapter 8
Eight
Morgan
I dart past Mum and run into the house. My footsteps echo as I run up the stairs.
I take two steps at a time, wanting to get into the apartment as soon as possible, away from all the freaky people on this street.
I hate them and I hate this place. Hate – it’s that word again.
I wish we’d never left Bristol for this dump.
As I run through the apartment door and slam it closed, the lights flicker as a heavy gust followed by sleet slaps the window.
I can’t get that man out of my head. He accused us of sending those letters and everyone stared at me.
Then the lady who gave us flowers joined in.
It doesn’t feel safe in this dump of an apartment so I run back to the door and slide the chain across just in case the noise I heard earlier was one of them, creeping around the house.
Someone tries the door handle but I locked it.
My pulse thrums through my head. Why did I come back to this apartment, alone?
I should have stayed downstairs. I step back from the door in the hope that they’ll go away.
Then it’s opened but the chain stops them from barging in.
‘Go away.’ I think of my parents. Maybe there is some big row going on down there and they won’t be able to hear me if I get attacked.
I can’t even make my legs start walking to the window to have a look.
Maybe this is a place a person comes to, but can never leave, like in a horror film.
‘Morgan, take the chain off and let me in.’
It’s Mum. I let out a long breath, dart to the door and slide the lock off. ‘Sorry, Mum. I got scared.’
‘That’s okay. Come here.’ She wraps her arms around me like when I was a little girl.
I’m safe in Mum’s arms and I don’t want to move.
I choke back my tears, totally overwhelmed by what happened down there.
I’ve never been confronted like that by anyone.
Mum leads me to the settee and we sit. ‘Just breathe, Squidge.’
I inhale and exhale until I have my breath back. ‘I’m okay.’ I’m not but Mum is worried enough already.
‘What those people said to you wasn’t on. Your dad and I are going to sort this, okay? It’s just a misunderstanding and we’re going to clear it up.’
‘You heard what was in that note, Mum. This is personal.’
‘It seems like it was personal for the other woman too. People can be cruel. What I don’t want is for this to scare you. We will never let anyone hurt you, okay?’ She lifts my chin and fake smiles.
‘Mum?’
‘What?’
‘I was talking to the boy I mentioned earlier.’ I won’t tell her I’ve been in the woods. ‘He mentioned a girl going missing years ago. Is that why you didn’t want me to go into the woods?’ I know this isn’t the time or place but I can’t get those pink ribbons out of my mind.
She stares for a second or two. ‘No, I don’t know anything about a missing girl.’
I can see she’s as worried as me but she makes out that everything is okay and it’s not.
This place is not okay. We’re not okay and I’m not okay.
We haven’t been here long and someone hates us so much they’ve sent nasty letters to the neighbours and it kind of looks like we did it because my parents argued with that man over parking when we moved in.
And it’s other things. I got the serious chills when I left the apartment and heard those noises in the house.
‘I’m going to see what’s happening down there, all right?’ I don’t answer so she continues. ‘I can stay here if you need me. I’ll have to pop down and get Cora. Do you want to wait here?’
Too right I want to wait here. What makes her think I ever want to leave this apartment again? They promised they were going to do this house up and that we would sell it and leave. I’m counting the days down. I nod again. ‘I might have a lie-down.’
‘I’ve got my key to the apartment so you can lock yourself in. Just don’t put the chain on and fall asleep, okay?’
‘I won’t.’
Mum turns as we both hear shouting coming from outside. She runs to the window. ‘Wait there.’
She darts out of the apartment, leaving me alone, and I quickly lock myself in.
My heart starts to bang as I think of Cora.
I glance out of the window and I can’t see Dad or Mum, but I can just about see Harry through a window in the roof of his house.
He waves at me and holds up a large piece of paper with something written in thick black letters on it.
See you later!
I hear lots of people shouting outside and I can’t handle it, so I sit on the kitchen floor with my hands over my ears, willing it all to stop.