PROBLEM - Anthony Lockwood

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

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xiii

this is not going the way that i planned it to

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"I DIDN'T KNOW!" Alice snapped.

That was a lie.

She sat on the table as they all stood in the kitchen, debating the situation. Lucy stood beside her, but George and Lockwood were opposite.

The ring was in a silverglass box.

"It's like we can feel what she feels, what she wants," Lucy explained.

"You weren't even there," George argued.

"I dreamt of her," Lucy revealed, "I could hear her death loop through Alice."

"That's not possible," Lockwood disagreed. "Even if it's a phycic connection."

"I literally cannot believe you stole a source from a crime scene," George sighed, "DEPRAC will bury us."

"Excuse me," Lucy interrupted, "Alice isn't the only one round here who steals sources - what about that ridiculous skull you're always experimenting on."

"Annbel was stuck behind a wall for 40 years, with nobody knowing and DEPRAC doing fuck all," Alice hissed. When she spoke next, her voice was low and kind, "She needs our help."

"And what does she expect you to do, exactly, after all this time?" George questioned, shaking his head.

"Solve this," Lucy replied.

"Get justice," Alice added.

"She's dead," Lockwood shook his head, he stared at her with a caring look in his eyes, "We can't help a ghost, we need to destroy the source and move on. Let go, Ally."

Lucy snapped her head towards Alice, a grin on her face and her eyes wide. She cocked her head, as if to tease her and question 'Ally?'

Alice groaned, "Shut up."

Lucy laughed lightly, "One point to me."

George and Lockwood exchanged a look.

"What are you two talking about?" George asked, confused.

Alice coughed, shaking her head, "Focus."

"Come on George," Lucy begged, "You love a new experiment, why throw away a chance to check out a new phenomenon?"

"Nice try, but psychic connections are weak science," George countered. "You felt sorry for her and heard her death loop. End of story."

Lucy crossed her arms, "So prove it. Before your destroy the ring let us try to connect with her one last time. Let us prove to you that this is real."

Lockwood shook his head, "No way, too dangerous."

Alice cocked her head, staring at George and pleading him with her eyes for him to agree with them. To anyone on the outside it looked an innocent enough gesture, but she poured magic into her gaze, twisting into his mind and breaking his resolve.

George gave in.

He sighed, turning to Lockwood, "It's almost dawn, her ghost will be much weaker."

"No, we've only just escaped with our lives. Twice," Lockwood hissed. He shot Alice a pointed look, "Three times for some of us."

"Because you were unprepared," George countered, he moved to stand on the side of Lucy and Alice, "This time we'll do it properly."

Alice met Lockwood's gaze, "We need to do this."

...

"You could try channelling her," George suggested.

Alice rose an eyebrow, "Isn't that a witch thing?"

"It'll work on talented people too," George assured.

Alice already knew that.

They gathered the candles from her room, making a large circle in the middle of the drawing room.

"We should light them clockwise," George advised.

Alice rolled her eyes, "Counterclockwise. Or it won't work."

George furrowed his brows, "How do you know that?"

Alice's breath stopped in her throat. "I read," she lied. "I like learning about the Problem."

George nodded slowly, "Hmm." He watched as she lit the candles, "Will it be you or Lucy?"

"You do it," Lucy declared, "I'll try and listen from outside - see what I can pick up from a different area."

Lockwood set up some flares and weapons on some tables beyond the door.

Alice sat in the centre of the circle. Lockwood made his way over to her, eyes filled with worry as he handed her the ring. "If she takes any liberties, we're right here, okay?" He was wearing a grey, zip up hoodie over his tshirt now and his face looked gaunt with nervousness.

Alice nodded, in understanding. She watched as Lockwood moved back to stand against the door frame. She slipped the ring onto her right index finger - the one that Annabel was wearing it on and closed her eyes, tapping into her magic.

For the first time in a long time, Alice felt alive.

This wasn't like the tiny spells she could get by with without anyone noticing, no - this was a proper spell, something with thrilled her and let her actually work.

Ice spread across her finger, but dissipated a moment later.

"It's okay Annabel, you're safe," Alice whispered.

Orchestra music sounded, but she couldn't tell where from. Annabell was in her white dress and pumps, smiling as she began to sing. They were in the room from Sheen Road - the office, which was a bedroom in Annabel's memory.

"There's a song playing in the room," she declared. Alice chuckled, smiling.

'Dance with me,' Annabel implored.

'I'm not in the mood,' came a man's voice.

"She loves it," Alice revealed.

Lockwood watched as Alice stood up, eyes still closed, but smiling.

'It's our song,' Annabel insisted.

"It's their song," Lucy revealed, eyes closed as she listened in.

"Can you hear?" George inquired.

Lucy nodded.

"Whose they? Annabel and-" George continued.

"Shh," Lucy hissed.

Annabel's laughter began to echo through the room.

'Go on, I'll watch,' he stated.

"She's so happy," Alice smiled, "She loves him."

Lockwood watched, leaning against the door as Alice began to twirl and dance in the circle. He could feel his throat going dry as he watched her dark hair fan around her and the contrast between her olive skin and the deep red dress. Remembering George's earlier comment about looking up, he tried his best to keep his eyes off her legs.

"She's dancing to the song," Lucy revealed, "He's watching her."

'Are you honest?' the man questioned. There was a shift there. In the way the memories felt. A dangerous one.

The candles all burned more, roaring with flame, burning a foot high.

Lockwood gasped, reaching forward but George grabbed him, pulling him back.

Lucy's eyes shot open, "I can't hear. She's thrown me out."

The candles all extinguished.