Mind Games

Chapter 29 - Ryan

Ryan paused in front of the door. He willed himself to be calm.

"Can't tell them about Amy." He thought. "They won't believe me. Just need to call for an ambulance. Just need to tell them Cassie's grand dad needs help. That's all that's needed right now."

He took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.

There was silence within.

He waited impatiently, wondering if he should try the house further down the street.

"They must be sleeping." He told himself reasonably.

He was about to ring the bell again, when the door opened.

Ryan jumped. He hadn't heard a sound from within. He squinted in the dim light of the hallway.

"Why hello, young man. What's wrong?"

Ryan blinked as his eyes adjusted to the old lady in front of him.

She looked at him with a kind smile as she pulled her coat closer around her. Her white hair was pulled back into a neat bun.

He felt a surge of relief. "I need to call an ambulance please." He said desperately.

The old woman gasped. "It's Mr. Marsh, isn't it? The poor man! I shall call an ambulance right away."

Ryan forced a smile. "Thank you. I have to go now."

"What nonsense!" The old woman said. "You are trembling, my boy. Come in and sit."

Ryan shook his head. "I have to go... my friends..."

Before he could continue, the lights on the street died out and the night plunged into darkness.

"Hush, boy. How will you go back now? Come in. Your friends will be all right."

Ryan looked back uncertainly at the pitch black street. He rued he didn't have his phone with him - if only for the flashlight app.

"Well I'm going to call for an ambulance. Come on in, now." The woman said.

Ryan stepped in and she smiled at him indulgently.

She lead him into the hall which was also dimly lit with the light of one lamp.

"Make yourself comfortable while I make that call."

He nodded and she left the room with a motherly smile.

Ryan walked over to the window, wishing he could let his friends know help would be here soon. He rested his head on the lattice, feeling the warm breeze caress his skin.

Something nagged at his mind, but he felt too exhausted to think.

He turned away restlessly and his gaze fell upon a photograph next to the lamp.

The old woman was beaming next to a young man. Ryan could only guess it was her son.

They were both pictured outside a log cabin. Snow covered the landscape and peppered their hair. Ryan noticed she was wearing the same coat that she was now.

He smiled a little sadly. He wished his mom cared about him like this old lady seemed to care about her son.

He turned his gaze back to the doorway, wondering what was taking her so long.

Suddenly he wondered if she had hurt herself in the dark. He walked to the hallway uncertainly, glancing up at the security cameras.

The house was silent.

A sense of foreboding started knawing at him.

Against his better judgement, he started walking to the stairs. What if she was hurt? Like Mr. Marsh.

His heart suddenly lurched as he touched the bannister.

How did she know about Mr. Marsh?

Ryan didn't know her. She couldn't know he was Cassie's friend. Even if she did, something could have easily happened to Mrs. Marsh. How did she know it was Mr. Marsh who needed help?

A sheen of sweat beaded his forehead. He reached out to wipe it and paused. The coat. Why would she wear it in this heat?

As adrenaline surged through his body, his ears caught another sound. Creaking.

He turned slowly. Trying to see in the dim light that spilled from the hallway.

A shadow moved to his right. To and fro. To and fro.

He took an uncertain step towards it. His mind screamed at him to get the hell out of this house. But a deeper part of him wanted to know.

He moved slowly to the sound. This part of the house was dark now.

He took a step... another step... then he bumped into something.

He jumped back, stifling a cry.

The thing he bumped into swung back into him and he realised what it was.

A body. A dead body. Hanging from the ceiling.

He screamed before he could stop himself, scrambling backwards in the darkness.

He turned to the hallway and ran to the main door.

"Where are you going, young man?"

This time her voice cackled like an evil witch in a bad fairy tale.

The woman stood between him and the door, her eyes glinting with madness.

Anger flared in him despite the fear.

"Amy," he hissed. "You can't stop me."

He ran right through her to the door.

It was locked.

He jiggled the knob frantically.

He heard a mocking laugh behind him. "Such effective security systems these days."

He turned slowly and met her soulless eyes.

She gave him a vicious grin. "No one can enter. No one can leave."

A/N: For once, I've managed to update on time :D
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