Be Still My Banshee Heart

Chapter 3

Samuel had been attempting to scrape the wallpaper off the walls most of the day, he had managed maybe half a wall.

Every time he picked his tools up something else would happen. First there was a strange clanking noise out back which turned out to be his Ma's old gardening tools somehow falling of the hooks on the garden shed wall. Then upon returning Samuel had no idea where he had left the wallpaper scraper he had been using.

Having found the scraper in the bread bin, he was sure he hadn't even been in the bread bin, he tried to continue with the walls.

He had only then been working about five minutes or so when he heard water running in the bathroom so off he went again to see what had caused this latest disturbance, on return from turning off the water he found the scraper was missing again.

This time he found it in the fridge, the rest of the day had continued in much the same way, strange things happening, tools falling from shelves, wardrobe doors banging, knocks at the front door yet no one was there, then on return his tools would be missing and each time he swore he could hear his Pa laughing.

Completely fed up Samuel glanced at the old cuckoo clock, 8.50pm, lord he had spent eight hours scraping half a wall and hunting down tools.

Jess whined, Samuel knew exactly how she felt, Jess whined again making her way to the door.

"Just out front Jess," he said opening the door, having had enough of the day but as he opened the front door Jess it seemed had other ideas and she shot off into the night towards the river.

"Shite," Samuel moaned having a good idea where he would find Jess and once again set off in to the night in search of his Ma's dog.

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She didn't feel as helpless this night , oh the pain was still there the hurt the anger still fresh, tears still run freely down her face. But something was different she felt as if maybe she was coming to the end of her wretched existence.

She could feel her baby coming closer knew it was now only a matter of time.

She stood waiting knowing he would come, he was what she had waited all this time for, knew that he would help her.

She knew this Just like she knew she wasn't the only one to walk these lands this night, she had always felt the presence when others like her were near but what she now felt was nothing like her. Yes she was hurt, tormented, angry.

This presence was much darker its darkness tainting everything in its path.

Turning her head to the sound of rustling leaves she watched as the brown dog lumbered out of the darkness, hesitated for only a moment this time before bounding its way towards her.
She could hear the male in the distant calling Jess, whom she presumed was the dog that was now happily dancing round her feet.

"Jess," she whispered reaching down to gently touch the dogs head, she nearly fell to the ground with the force of her feelings, she could feel, she felt the dogs soft brown fur, after all this time she could feel.

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"Jess, Jess," Samuel called he was getting awfully damn tired of chasing this dog round in the dark. He rounded the bend which led to the river and just as he had known she would be, there was Jess only she wasn't alone nor was she stood still, staring, nope she was happily dancing round her feet.

"Oh lord," Samuel whispered as he realized what he was seeing, realized what he had seen last night was real.

Samuel stood quietly watching she hadn't noticed him she was completely absorbed with Jess, gently smoothing the dogs fur and whispering soft words only Jess could hear.