Possessed

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Javan didn't show for weeks. I was so lonely. He was not at school but I didn't know about at home. I knew he was officially missing when the police came to school. 

"Hello, I am Constable Stevens and I am looking for some information about Javan Harrad."  

The tutor group started murmuring and giggling and saying stuff like what has he done now. I wanted to slap them all. He hadn't done anything. And I knew that. 

When the policemen asked who was his friend, my hand shot up proudly. The rest of the class smirked but I didn't care.  

"I was with him last before he disappeared," I said confidently. All the tutor oohed and sniggered. Miss Amble tried to calm them as the police took me out for questioning. 

I felt very special. But I didn't know I was going to get more interviews from publishers and writers for the local newspaper, medics for general information and detective after detective for my story. A story I'd told truthfully in the exact same words at least five hundred times. It was Mrs Borns - the behavior manager - who blurted out about the police not being able to get in touch with his parents. What had happened now? 

I didn't feel special anymore. I felt nervous. Day after day, the butterflies grew. I couldn't help thinking that there was something to do with the graveyard that linked with his disappearance. I didn't want to think about it, although it was hard not to with all the sleepless nights I'd had. 

Everyday, on the way to school, I flinched when I passed the graveyard. I was haunted by the lingering souls who stole Javan - I thought. Once it bothered me so much I tried to find a different way to school but it took at least an extra half hour to get there. I couldn't get up too early, even though I barely slept anymore. 

My life just seemed to roll by like waves in the enormous ocean. Rolling and rolling with no purpose or meaning. Just to keep on rolling and rolling, even when you're too sea sick to stop. 

I didn't learn anything in school. I stopped eating. Stopped talking. I had the inability to think about anything else. I just wanted Javan. 

One day, I was too damaged to be afraid so I went back to the graveyard. 

I tried to retrace our steps, feeling like Javan was just a memory or a dream that I'd had and had been forgotten by the rest of the world. He was now just a memory with no proof of existence.  

I trailed along for a while until I found the grave where he slept. I knew he wouldn't be there but I looked at the grave itself. The name on it was 'Edward Jonah Harrad'. Harrad! That was Javan's last name! 

This could be huge. A massive mystery I could solve! Who better? I was the one last seen with Javan! I'd do anything just to know the truth. His parents would be so thankful! 

His parents. I needed to find his house to find out more about Edward Harrad. So I went back home to find the Phone Book instead of going to school. I wouldn't class it as skiving. It's not doing me any good, it's just giving me grief, I'm definitely not learning anything so I'm doing better just going to Javan's. 

So I stumbled home, trying to run but I had my PE kit, trainers, school bag and scruffy, baggy clothes for art bashing on my legs and arms. But I finally got there. Mum was asleep on the sofa, as usual. She got a bit depressed when Dad went away but I got used to it. 

I snook past her and jumped when she snored. I got to the shelves and found Joanna Harrad at...... 21 Shepherd's Street. That was a few miles away, I could get there in an hour at a speed walk. 

This time I remembered my wellies. Because Shepherd's Street's a while away I grabbed my iPod in the draw by the front door. It was my Christmas present last year and was - still is - my most prized possession. A few years ago, not many people in my school had one so I got a lot of friends. It's actually sad that they judge people by their wealth which is stupid no matter how cheesy that sounds. 

One long hour later, I reached the house. I knocked once and then a split-second later, a woman answered, hope in her eyes. When she caught sight of me, her face drained of that hope. Well done, Annie. Javan's Mum already hates you and you haven't even spoken a word yet. 

"You're not Javan," the women said, close to tears. 

"Err, no. I'm Annie. Javan's... Friend." I held my hand out to her. But she turned away and walked back into the living room, flicking her black, un-brushed hair as she did... Should I follow?  

I did. "So you must be Javan's Mother?" I dared ask. 

She flinched at his name. "Yes," she muttered, not looking me in the eye. I didn't blame her. I thought I'd just met someone who felt just as horrible as I did.  

After a long, painful silence I said, "Edward Jonah Harrad." She looked at me suddenly, almost making me jump. "Do you have any idea who he is?" 

I saw her lip tremble slightly and then she collapsed in a heap on the sofa and wept her eyes out. It made me want to join in.  

But just then, as I reassuringly patted her back, I realized the real reason why she hadn't really welcomed me so enthusiastically - she blamed me for what happened to Javan. And I was starting to blame myself too. 

After a while, she grabbed a tissue and cleaned herself up a little. "Yes," she sniffed. It took me a while to realize she was answering my question. "Edward was my Father, Javan's Grandfather." 

"Was?" I asked insensitively and started her off crying again. Oh God. 

"He was murdered. We don't know how or who by but it happened right here," she gestured towards the floor beneath her feet. "I just came home and found him there, it was horrible..." I didn't hear much after that, just tears. "And, I wouldn't think much of this but-" she lifted up a flap in the carpet and revealed a sort-of crescent moon shape carved into the wood - "I found it a while later when we had the carpets changed. In the exact place where he died. It was probably just a child who drew it before we moved here but- I don't know." 

"Thank you, Mrs Harrad. I know it must be hard to talk about," I said sympathetically. 

"It's alright Annie," she said, kindly. "I'm sorry we had to meet each other in this state. I hope I helped you." 

"With what?" 

"Finding out what's happened to Javan. I thought that's why you were here." 

"Well, I guess I could try Mrs Harrad." 

"Call me Joanna, please," she said walking me out. 

"Goodbye," I waved. 

"Goodbye."