Chapter 1 #2
‘I—’ Maybe I was wrong? Maybe the mist and rain were playing tricks on me. ‘I must be mistaken… sorry,’ I hesitated. ‘I’ll… I’ll be going now.’
‘You sure you’re okay, Miss?’ he asked again.
‘Yes, fine, sorry. I’m just tired, that's all. It was a long journey,’ I rambled. I attempted a weak smile, and the fishermen nodded and turned to go, leaving me completely alone with just the ocean spray coating my hair and seafoam licking at my boots.
The letter had told me that when I arrived on the island, I would be collected from the docks, but I couldn’t see anyone else around.
It was pitch black. The only light came from a few weak flames flickering inside street lamps, and the only noise was the lapping waves and roaring wind.
Looking around for a sheltered space to wait, I saw a rickety old shack.
It looked like a small fishing hut with the door slightly ajar.
It wouldn’t provide too much shelter – but some was better than none.
As I approached, dragging my heavy suitcase behind me, I saw some markings on the front of the door. Squinting my eyes through the darkness, I could see that carved into the wood with harsh strikes of a knife were the same words I saw on the ferry.
Aqua mortuorum.
Only this time, it was accompanied by another phrase:
Mors venit.
Feeling a strange sense of anxiety bloom in my stomach, I decided not to wait in the creepy shack, and instead perched upon a small, crumbling stone wall opposite. While I waited, I adjusted my hair ribbon and pulled my scarf up over my nose.
It was so cold here. The heat and sunshine of my hometown might be the only things I would ever miss about that place.
I shook my head, pushing the thought away. There was no reason for me to feel homesick. There was nothing waiting for me back there.
No friends, no family.
My mother had died giving birth to me. I never even knew her. It was my father who raised me – and it was just the two of us for as long as I could remember. He taught me everything I know. He was the most gentle and loving father a little girl could ask for. I had a beautiful childhood.
Until he died, too.
I was moved to an orphanage.
From the age of eleven, I was property of Miss Cartwright's Home For Youths.
I still remember the day I arrived. The way the other children stared at me.
Despite the fear and worry and sadness eating away at me over losing my father, it only took me minutes to realise it wasn’t the place I’d hoped for.
Only minutes to spot the markings on the other children's arms and the tired expressions and red rimmed eyes.
Ten years later, and I will never forget.
That’s why the decision to leave was not a hard one. I had nothing to leave behind. This letter was a saving grace. A fresh start. An escape. A way to erase my past…
I hope.
The sound of a car and the glare of headlights saved me from my thoughts. I looked up to see a sleek black car pulling up next to the pier. A moment later, the driver's side door opened and a figure stepped out.
‘Iris Blackthorne?’ he called out.
Grabbing my suitcase, I crossed the road. ‘That’s me!’ I replied.
‘My name's Mr Williams, ma’am. I’m here to take you up to the school.’
He was a tall man – easily six foot. Through the darkness, I could just about make out his face. He was an older man – maybe sixty or so – and he had kind eyes and a few wrinkles. He wore a nice suit and had dark hair. He popped the boot open and reached for my bags.
‘Thank you,’ I said gratefully, and passed them into his waiting arms. Williams opened the passenger door for me, and I climbed into the back seat, relieved to get out of the rain and into the soft leather seats of the car.
The interior was warm, and I rubbed my hands together in an attempt to warm up faster.
Williams opened his own door and started the engine.
‘Do you work at the University?’ I asked. ‘Are you a teacher?’
‘I work there,’ he explained, ‘but no – I am assistant to Headmaster Draven.’
I nodded, and that was all that was said for the next ten minutes as we drove along in comfortable silence.
The rain was getting heavier, and the dirt road grew narrower.
Tall trees sprouted up on either side, and the path was getting steeper and steeper.
The windscreen wipers were working double time, and the headlights were struggling to see more than a couple of metres ahead because of the heavy mist.
‘How long until we arrive?’ I asked quietly, breaking the silence. The ominous weather outside was making me feel anxious.
‘Not far now. We’ll arrive within—’
He was abruptly cut off when a figure dashed from the mist, pale and impossibly fast, sweeping across the dirt road with a flash of white.
I screamed, and it made Williams wrench the wheel so hard that the car lurched sideways, tires screaming against the wet road.
The world spun for what felt like forever before the car finally screeched to a stop.
Heart hammering, I turned to Williams, breath catching in my throat.
‘Are you okay? What happened? Why did you scream?’ Williams shouted, his skin drained of colour. ‘Why did you scream?’ he asked again, louder, when I didn’t respond.
‘Did you see that?’ I whispered. But the road behind us was empty, only the fog drifting like smoke. ‘There was a person…’ I stopped. Had it been a person? An animal? ‘There was…’ I let my voice fade to nothing.
‘I didn’t see anything. You just screamed, and it made me jump out of my skin. I’m sorry for swerving. Are you okay?’ he breathed heavily, his concerned eyes meeting mine. ‘God, we’re lucky we didn’t crash into anything.’
‘You really didn’t see that?’ I asked, clenching my fists to keep from shaking.
‘No, I didn’t see anything. What was it?’
‘I don’t know…’ I said. ‘I don’t know.’
I tried to calm my breathing, but I couldn’t.
Because that flash of white, and the flash of white on the boat earlier… The shapes that were seemingly human… but not?
It wasn’t the first time I'd seen them.