The Girl with Cat's Eyes

C H A P T E R 31

The note

Is curled up

In your fist

White paper

Smudged

Just words

But they mean so much       

C H A P T E R    31

Meet me at St. Helena’s auditorium at 1o’clock or you will never see your friends again.

I knew where he meant- it was a big arena place with loads of seats and a massive stage- orchestras hired it out and bands, when they came here, which wasn’t often, would use it too.

But he couldn’t have them.

 Sam and Lilly were in that cabin in the woods, Sam had won the holiday… Oh, of course, my father’s doing. James and Emma. They were meant to be on a date. He could easily have bribed or threatened the owners of the restaurant.  Josh would be out looking for Daniel. As usual. They could be anywhere. He might not have them, but then again, he might. Would I really take the risk? He had already gotten to Daniel. Maybe he had him there as well. And even before that last thought, I knew the answer- I would never take that chance. Because there was always the possibility. And my father knew that.

I was just glad he didn’t have Jesse. He was upstairs, safe in bed. Happy. He didn’t need to know anything. I wouldn’t drag him into this as well.

And so I crept out of bed, changed into jeans and as t-shirt, and crept out the house, as quietly as I could, until I got past the front door, when I broke into a run.

My father was finally back…

I reached the auditorium less than half an hour later, and my feet slowed to a halt. My breathing came out in short pants and I put my hands on my knees, tired, but soon stopped, because I knew I was meant to be being quick. I had to come, when my father asked, I had to, because I wouldn’t let my friends die because of me, like everyone else, like Levi, like Mum.  My father knew this.

I touched the gate, testing whether or not it was open. It creaked slightly, then opened. Of course it did, He would have everything planned to the finest detail. I pushed it open a little wider then edged through. I ran to the door and pulled it open, rushing into the auditorium.

 I had thought it was a side entrance but it brought me straight to the stage. I looked around confused. It was dark, and I could barely see a few steps in front of me, and then suddenly the lights flickered on. Daniel! He was standing on the stage, barely meters from me.

‘Daniel, oh, God, are you okay? Where are the others? Come on, we have to get out of here.’ I tugged on his sleeve, but he didn’t move. I looked up at him, and a strange unsettling, eerie feeling came over me. ‘Daniel? Daniel, what’s wrong?’

‘I’m sorry.’ He said, almost conversationally.

‘What? No… What are you sorry for Daniel? You haven’t done anything, come on!’

‘Yes, I have, love. But I’m not really that sorry…’

Love? Why’d he call me that?

‘So you really weren’t lying? You don’t remember you’re past? At all?’

‘I remember Levi.’

‘Levi. It was always Levi. Never me. I’m sorry, Rosie. I really am. I love you, Rose.’

Rose? Why was he calling me Rose…

Oh God. Oh God, no. It couldn’t be him.

But as I looked up into those eyes, I knew I was wrong. It could be. It was.