Casters

CHAPTER EIGHT

The Visitor

The sound of glass smashing the next morning caused me to wake up. As soon as I heard it I jumped out of bed and ran down the stairs to find the window next to the door had been broken and the front door was wide open.  I knew someone was in the house the smashing had only happened moments ago. Adrenaline was coursing through my veins as I ran out of the house and onto the street. I didn’t know what else to do but I definitely wasn’t going back in there.

I was stood out in the freezing cold snow trying to catch my breath when I saw something in the lounge move towards the window. Before I knew it I was screaming at the top of my lungs. Whatever it was turned around and saw me, it was making its way over to the door. It was clear now the figure was tall and staring right at me, that’s all I could tell from where I was standing. I was still screaming when Robert came running out of his house. The intruder was still staring right at me like I was the one to blame but when they saw Robert standing with me they turned to run out of the back of the house. I couldn’t see any more than them opening the French doors at the back of the room and making a break for it.

“Carmen! What’s wrong? Tell me!” Robert was barking at me I didn’t even realise he was talking to me until he started shaking me in his tight grasp on my arms.

“Someone was in my house!” I cried, still pointing towards the lounge window. Almost instantly Robert was running through my door retracing the steps of the intruder without any instructions. He searched the entire backyard before jogging back out to me again.

“Who was it? Did you know them?” He asked as he wrapped his arms around me.

“No. I, I heard a noise, ran downstairs saw the door was open and the window was smashed and then ran out here.” I was struggling to speak, mumbling every word out like an insane person.

“Robert what’s going on? This shouldn’t be happening!” I asked, calming down again.

“I don’t know what to tell you,” He hesitated before answering. “Wait here, I’m going to check there’s no-one else in there.” He said, looking me dead in the eye to make sure I was listening before kissing my forehead and heading back inside.

I didn’t want him going back in there. Whoever it was obviously was up to no good. I just didn’t understand why it was all happening to me. I lived in Beethoven, nothing like that ever happened. But recently it was all was happening to me. I didn’t feel safe without Robert with me. What if he got hurt? He was in my house where anyone could be waiting for me. Time seemed to stand still as I stood impatiently waiting to see if he was okay, I was close to rushing inside in search of him but I knew he wouldn’t be happy about it.

“No-one’s in there.” He called back to me once he reappeared in the door frame.

“But, but I saw them in the window.” I was still mumbling but I really didn’t care.

“I believe you Carmen, it’s obvious someone broke in. There was a letter on your coffee table though.”  He looked unsure, contemplating giving it to me or not.

“Will you read it, please?” I asked him, I didn’t want him to see my shaking hand. He already thought I was weak. Heck, even I knew I was weak. It was pathetic really.

“Carmen are you sure?” He asked, giving me a questioning look.

“Robert please…” I begged, wanting to know what the hell was going on. I witnessed a frown appear on his face as his eyes traced the words and knew it wasn’t good whatever it said.

“Carmen, do you know anyone called Gybon?” Robert asked, his voice lacking emotion.

“No why?” I didn’t, I’d never even heard that name before but it seemed like Robert had. The worry on his face when he read the letter was obvious.