PROBLEM - Anthony Lockwood

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

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xiv

at least i look pretty when i'm possessed

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"THAT'S NOT GOOD," George frowned, letting go of Lockwood's arm.

Alice stepped out of the circle of extinguished candles. Her eyes were still closed as she walked forward, towards Lockwood.

'Have you told him where to go?' the man questioned, voice laced with jealousy, with anger.

'No... I said I'd give....'

"He wants her, but its...." Alice trailed off.

"What is it?" Lockwood whispered, she was so close to him now that he could literally count her eyelashes.

'I did nothing!' Annabel cried.

'You're lying to me!' the man yelled.

"He's angry," Alice gasped. Her eyes were open now, but they were glassed over, not right in a way. Like she wasn't actually looking at him. "Jealous."

'I'm not!'

'You're lying!'

He grabbed her and Annabel protested, 'Let go of me.'

"She's scared, no, terrified," Alice murmured, "Again-"

The fight continued in Alice's head, an insane chuckle bubbled from her lips. She laughed slightly. Coming closer.

Lockwood gasped slightly as she moved closer to him, her movements sloppy and tired, like she was drugged or exaushted. She rested her hand against his jawline, but he grabbed her wrist with his hand.

Annabel's voice echoed through Alice's head, the fight getting louder. "It's alright, he loves me," Alice reassured, slurring her words out. Lockwood tried to push her hand back, attempting to shake her into sanity. He stared down at her with wide, terrified eyes.

"You love me don't you? You gave me the ring," Alice lolled her head slightly as she spoke, almost tripping as she stood. "He'd never hurt me. He'd never..."

Lockwood blinked, letting out a shaky breath, "We need to stop this. Now."

"Let's just see what happens," George suggested, watching as Alice kept lolling around in Lockwood's grasp.

Lucy shook her head, "I can't hear anything. It's like a barrier, she's thrown me - oh god!"

Lockwood opened his mouth to ask what Lucy could hear, but suddenly Alice staggered. He grabbed her waist to support her and keep her upright. "Ally!"

Alice began to fight his grip, but then grabbed his arms.

'Please...'

"No, stop, stop. Get off of me," Alice cried, "Ow. You're h-hurting me." She threw her arms around his shoulders, leaning in to his body as she hyperventilated but also struggled, as if she were battling with herself. "No, Lock- Lo..." Suddenly, Alice pulled back. She began to stagger and pull away from Lockwood. "No, stop! Please! Let me go!"

Alice's head snapped back, she began to grab and claw at her throat.

Onyx meowed loudly, trying to dart into the room. "No you don't," George hissed, grabbing the cat and picking her up, causing her to hiss and spit at him.

Alice gave a choked scream, her lips going blue, "No - I can't - Let me breathe!"

"He's choking her!" Lucy shouted, eyes opening.

Lockwood grabbed her, one hand on her shoulder, one on her waist. Holding her firmly and trying to get her out of it as she struggled and staggered and flailed. "Ally, stop it. Ally!"

"Let go of me!" Alice wheezed.

Lucy dove forwards, running to the curtains.

"Annabel!" Lockwood screamed.

Lucy wrenched open the curtains, spilling daylight into the room.

The candles all magically floated into the air and threw themselves at Alice. Lockwood pulled her down, moving both of them out of their way. He cradled her body to his chest, holding her tightly as the candles slammed into the salt bombs and set them off.

Onyx made a swipe at George's eyes and he was forced to drop her. She tore over to Alice and nudged her.

Lockwood moved up slightly. There were bruises on Alice's throat. He looked down at her in a mixture of sheer terror and bewilderment as she blinked, adjusting into reality.

 Alice breathed heavily, distinctly aware of Lockwood's hand still on her waist. "He choked her to death," she whispered in acrid realisation.

...

"The ring stays in the basement until we can take it to the furnaces," Lockwood declared, placing the ring in a locket and then back into the silverglass box.

"What? Why would we stop when we're just getting somewhere?" Lucy argued. She turned to Alice, "No offence."

"None taken, love," Alice repied, smiling weakly. She held a pack of frozen peas, which was wrapped in kitchen towel, to her throat. Somehow she'd managed to channel Annabel too well, and ended up with actual bruising.

Lockwood looked at Alice, "Because you've almost died 4 times now, and there's no time for pet projects. Not when there's bills to pay."

George looked up at Lockwood, confused, "Uh, what bills?"

Lockwood reached into his pocket and pulled out a peice of paper, handing it to George before crossing his arms and leaning against the countertop.

"£60,000? In two weeks, what the hell?" George gasped.

"What?!"

"Hain?!"

George turned to Alice, "You're Pakistani?"

"Half," Alice looked up at Lockwood, her eyes wide. "I'm so sorry. Why didn't you say anything?"

Lockwood sighed, "Because it's my name on the door. It's my responsibility - I'll find a way."

"How?" George demanded, "We harldy break even when things are going well."

"What about a loan?" Lucy inquired, looking away from the notice, "This place must be worth a bucketload."

"'This place' is all that's left of my parents," Lockwood declared, clenching his jaw.

So his parents were dead too.

"Sorry, I didn't realise," Lucy looked down, setting the notice on the table.

"He's already borrowed against it to set up the business," George revealed. "Jesus, Lockwood, we're screwed!"

Alice considered it for a moment, "Do you want me to get into drugs?"

"What, no!" Lockwood hissed. "Why would you even consider that?"

Alice pursed her lips and leaned back in her chair, placing the 'ice pack' on her throat again. "Weed makes a surprisingly good amount of money."

"I'm not ready for this level of 'Alice-Lore'," George sighed.

"Guys," Lockwood interrupted. "Look, all it will take is a few big cases."

Suddenly the phone rang.

"That must be one now!"