Betrayal

Betrayal Part 5

The next few days were a blur, seemingly speeding by and passing maddeningly slowly at the same time.

Lucy had settled uncomfortably into Kipps' surprisingly nice apartment, wondering idly if all his comments about how poor the Fittes' pension was had been entirely true.

One of the things she came to appreciate about her friend during that time was that he didn't hover or badger her with questions.

While he was home he generally let her be, coming into the spare bedroom only occasionally to deliver a meal she wouldn't eat or a cup of tea she would let go cold.

She could tell he was worried about her, but he didn't know what to do. Frankly, neither did she.

She had walked out of Portland Row, but it was like she had left part of her, the part that made Lucy Carlyle who she was, behind. She felt like an empty, hollowed out husk.

She left the bedroom only to use the bathroom, waiting until she knew Kipps had gone out. She had put the skull on the bedside table, but apart from the occasional chill that let her know he was around, the ghostly youth had kept his distance.

She had allowed herself a grim, humourless smile at that. She was so miserable that even a ghost who delighted in pain didn't want to be around her.

Once or twice she had heard familiar voices coming from the living room, but nobody had tried to come and see her. She was grateful for that. She loved her friends, but she didn't have the energy to try to reassure them that she was okay. She didn't have the energy to lie.

Finally after a fortnight the bedroom door opened and Holly entered.

"Hi Luce,'' she said carefully, sitting on the edge of the bed. Lucy, curled up under the covers, acknowledged her with a small nod.

Holly sighed. "Look, I know you don't want to talk to me. Or anyone, really. I get it. As much as we're all worried about you, we were prepared to let you work things out in your own time. But we need you, Luce. Lockwood needs you.''

At the mention of his name, Lucy flinched. Holly forged on, pretending not to notice.

"You know more than any of us that Lockwood wasn't acting like himself. Well, it's got worse. He's been out drinking and partying every night, bringing girls home, not turning up to jobs. I was almost ready to quit. But as usual, George figured it out.''

Lucy sat up slowly. "Figured what out?''

"You've heard of spiritual possession, right? A powerful source attaches itself to a person and the spirit takes them over?''

Lucy nodded. She'd experienced something similar herself, before Holly had joined the agency. But possessions were extremely rare.

"What does that have to do with Lockwood?''

"Remember that awful Tommy Lister case? At the old club?''

Understanding dawned on Lucy. "Yeah, but Lockwood destroyed his source, Hol.''

Holly looked grim. "Well, what if he didn't? Lockwood went down to the basement on his own. What if he came into contact with the real source first, and Lister's spirit possessed him? It could have pretended to have found the source and destroyed it, while keeping the real source safe. It would explain Lockwood's behaviour - apparently Lister was a real prick. A womanizing alcoholic.''

Lucy sat in silence as she considered the implications of what Holly was saying. On the one hand, if she was right, Lockwood had not betrayed Lucy at all. He'd had no control over his actions.

But on the other hand, possessions were incredibly difficult to end. Either the spirit had to willingly give up the body and leave, or the person possessed had to find the strength to break free. The latter could literally tear the person apart if they failed.

The thought made Lucy shrink back against the pillows in horror.

"What can I do?'' She whispered.

"Go and have a shower and get changed,'' Holly ordered, her old bossiness coming to the fore. "George, Kipps and I will be out in the living room when you're done, and then we'll come up with a plan.''

Lucy showered and changed in record time. She still felt like death warmed up, but it felt good to have a purpose again. She wouldn't allow herself to hope yet, she couldn't. But at least she had something to do that wasn't sitting in bed staring at the grey walls of Kipps' spare room.

When she emerged into the living room, she found Holly, George and Kipps sitting around the coffee table.

They kindly didn't comment on the bags under her eyes, or the way her clothes hung off her frame.

George shuffled over on the sofa so she could sit down.

"Hey Luce,'' he smiled tentatively at her.

She threw him a small smile back, all she could muster.

"Right,'' Kipps leaned forward over the table. "We need to work out how we're going to get this asshole away from Lockwood.''

"There's no way Lister is going to leave of his own volition, he's having way too much fun,'' George said.

Lucy swallowed convulsively, trying not to think about what 'too much fun' involved.

Holly glanced at her and then directed a frown at George.

"We're going to have to help Lockwood fight his way out,'' she said. "And I think it's obvious the best person to do that is Lucy.''

Three sets of eyes fixed on Lucy's face.

"What can I do?'' She asked. "It's pretty clear I didn't make any difference.''

"Lucy, Lockwood cares about you,'' Holly argued. "It's been obvious to anyone with eyes forever. And I think you have actually made a difference already. You know the necklace he gave you? The one you left behind at the house?"

Lucy nodded, feeling sick at the memory.

"Well if it was up to Lister, I'm sure he would have left it on the floor, or chucked it,'' she said. "But I snuck in Lockwood's room when he went out the other night. He'd wrapped it in an old scarf you left behind and put it in his bedside drawer. If Lockwood was completely lost, there's no way he would've done that. Somehow, a part of him was still trying to hold on to you.''

Lucy flushed, but a tiny seed of hope began to sprout in her chest. Could it really be true? Could her Lockwood really still be in there somewhere, trying to get back to her? It was enough to strengthen her resolve.

"Right. Let's say Lockwood is still in there. How do we get rid of this other prick?''

The others exchanged glances, and Kipps grinned.

"That's the most you've sounded like Lucy Carlyle in weeks.''

Lucy acknowledged the compliment with a small smile.

"Firstly we need to trap him somewhere,'' George said, pushing his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. "I think the basement is probably our best shot. It's secure, but it's also familiar to Lockwood. That might help.''

"Okay, lure him to the basement, should be easy enough,'' Kipps shrugged. "Then what?''

George fidgeted with the zipper on his jacket. "I've searched the archives, but there's not a lot of detail. Basically they just say you have to draw them out by reminding them who they are, make them feel strong emotions.''

The four of them sat in silence for a long beat.

"So what, we sit around in a circle sharing happy memories while Lockwood just sits there? That doesn't sound likely,'' Kipps snorted.

"We'll obviously have to have him secured somehow,'' Holly said thoughtfully. "And then it's going to be up to us to figure out the magic words to help Lockwood break free.''