Don't Let Him In

Don't Let Him In : Part 6

J found his thoughts kept circling round the idea that if they could identify what the victims of the menacing entity had in common, then this would lead them directly to the zombie-maker. Lulu becoming the latest victim seemed almost like a curve ball, but J was not giving up. He couldn't leave his sister and the other children as mindless shells, especially as they did not care to eat, they were likely to get ill soon. He and Alex went separate ways for morning lessons, but planned to get together at lunch and brainstorm some more. Gloom weighed heavy on J, he couldn't bear remembering how frightened and upset Lulu had been and he was worried that the trance she was in was irreversible.

He remembered that he'd seen Laurie going into the main school building and resolved to investigate what could have drawn him there, even while he was in his zombie state. Some strong need or obedience to an instruction was in operation and this was likely to be a vital clue. When the bell rang he scraped his books together quickly and hustled to the main building to nose around. One notice board featured a big display on the latest school play - photos of the cast, programmes and performance times. Further down towards the music rooms was information about a forthcoming talent show, the pupils who learned guitar and drums were getting bands together, there were 'celebrity' judges and that's when 2 of the puzzle pieces fell into place. Impersonating 'Sharon Osbourne' was Katie, and the lighting technician for the night was Lawrie - so these guys will have been rehearsing together! Boom! Although J came up blank as to how sister fitted into the pattern, but it was a start. He unpinned one of the fliers and hurried off to the canteen, where Alex was almost through eating.

"Brilliant!" Alex exclaimed, through a mouthful of chocolate chip cookie, waving the leaflet "this totally explains how Katie knows a nerd like Laurie!"

J made a 'Shhh' face at Alex, he liked Laurie and found the term nerd disrespectful. "What about Lulu though? How does she know these guys?"

"Babysitting?" Alex guessed, "has Katie ever come round to your house to babysit? No, scrub that, I think you'd have told me if a hottie like Katie came to yours while your parents were out!" J snorted with laughter and Alex took another big bite of his biscuit.

J finished his panini and drained the last of his drink.

"I still haven't given up on the Librarian being involved somehow. So I'm off now to have a nose around, with the excuse of returning this book." He held up the lace-making book with a wry grin, then he grabbed his tray and got up from the table.

J peered through the glass door into the Librarian's office, his hand raised to knock, but it seemed she wasn't there, he tried the handle but it was locked. He checked his watch, he'd hang around for about 5 minutes then he'd leave it. J kicked his heels waiting, while racking his brains who could have visited his house, Katie's and Laurie's, and for what dastardly purpose? When the Librarian didn't show J deposited the book and moved off to class, which was art, so a good opportunity to observe Katie and possibly put more clues together.

Katie looked worse today than last time he saw her, her hair hung in dull, greasy clumps, her complexion was chalky pale and her eye sockets were so shadowed that her eyes had a feverish glow to them. She moved at half speed, not interacting with any of her classmates, although she responded to the teacher in a robotic way. Watching her J felt overwhelmed with sadness and panic, that his little sister could be trapped in the same state if he couldn't solve the mystery and break the evil influence she was under.

The final bell of the day sounded, and chairs scraped and bags were stuffed with books as the pupils began to head home. Heading along the busy corridors most of the traffic was leaving the building, so it was easy to spot Danny heading in the opposite direction. The oddest moment occurred when he got near to Katie, it was as if they locked eyes and he held her in the mesmerizing beam of his gaze. Watching them J felt slightly dazzled himself, then Danny blinked and the moment passed. The older boy passed by and J kept walking, puzzling over what he'd seen. Alex had rugby practice after school so J set off up-hill, fishing the flyer about the talent show out of his pocket as he walked.

So Katie was playing Sharon O, and Simon Cowell was being played by ... wait for it! Danny Randall! Suddenly J was deafened by the puzzle pieces falling into place!

The common factor was Danny Randall - he was working on the talent show and he'd been the Clown at his sister's birthday party! Hell fire! J could hardly wait to give Alex this up-date. Now they could set about trying to return Lulu to normal.