Dangerous Games

Chapter 12 part 1

As good as her word, Claire was round my place just after seven. I answered the door with a can of beer in my hand. I could sense her disapproval the moment she caught sight of it.

"Hey, don't judge me," I countered. "It's Dutch courage. If you had the demons running around in your head that I have in mine, you might well drink too."

I was aware that that made me sound like a psycho, but then I have heard that some women like a man who's a bit dangerous. Besides, if I tried to take it back or apologise for what I said it would just make things sound worse. Let it stand or fall by itself – that seems to be the best advice.

"Oh, well in that case, I'll join you in a beer if I may."

"Help yourself. Cans are in the fridge." I'd got away with it.

Claire sat down on the easy chair and kicked her shoes off. She clearly felt at home here – a good sign. "So, tell me about these nightmares then."

"Well, Doctor," I flopped down on the sofa next to her, "I'm always in a lift, but it varies from dream to dream."

"What sort of thing?"

Well, to cut a long story short, I proceeded to describe a few of the nightmares I'd been having recently – the sort of thing I've described to you here. My powers of story telling must be greater than I thought because by the end of it, she was noticeably rattled.

"Erm," she gathered her composure. "Clearly this Elevator Game has been invading your head recently. You've got to the point where you're just about to see the demon woman's face – just teetering on the edge – and then you wake. It must be that you can't bear to see her face. It's just too frightening."

"Yeah, that's it all right. Up to now, I've usually managed to avoid lifts. Stood in front of them, looked into them when I must, and seen pictures of them, but I rarely have to go into one. Once in a blue moon, I'll have no choice but to travel in one, and whenever that happens I'm guaranteed a terrible night following it."

"No wonder you're so panic-stricken about doing this Elevator Game. If just going into a lift gives you the screaming ab-dabs, I can't imagine what getting into a lift and taking a magical journey to another realm is going to you."

"No, you can't imagine."

"I mean, it's like going into space. You're taking a trip somewhere where no-one – well, very few people – have gone before."

"Thanks. Look, do you mind not talking about it?" The mere thought was making me feel nauseous.

"I'm sorry. There's no getting round it, I'm afraid. Somehow you're going to have to conquer this fear in the next few days, just at least enough to be able to say to Sugden that you've given it a go."

"You wouldn't like to do it for me?" I asked, more in hope than in expectation.

"I can't. Lord God Almighty Sugden has ordered that you have to do it. Besides, think of this as a golden opportunity to at least try to do something about your problem. You've been ducking it for I don't know how many years. Face up to it. At least try."

"That's easy for you to say." I could feel my hands starting to shake,

"I know what. Now hear me out before you shoot this down, but I think we should try making a few lift journeys tonight. Just one or two floors." She could see me starting to object. "No, seriously, it's the only way I can think of that you even stand a chance of going through with this."

"I can't. I'm sorry, I just can't."

Claire moved in a little bit. "In that case, let me up the stakes a little. You go through this with me tonight, and manage to take a lift journey to the top of a building and back down again, and I'll sleep with you tonight."