Lost Souls

21

Everybody scattered in different directions. Amber grabbed her mum and dad's hands and pulled them away from the wall, while Alex bolted from the room, and Katie dived under the kitchen table. The only person who remained rock solid was the vicar, MacBlaine, who seemed to be unable to move at all.

​"Vicar, get away from the wall," Grace Rusk shouted hysterically at him.

​Katie, risked holding out a hand from the safety of her hiding place, "Come on Mr. MacBlaine, please get out of the way."

​MacBlaine turned his head to face the remaining Rusk family members and a knowing look passed over his face. "You have seen and heard things?" he said, so calmly that Katie thought he'd gone mad.

​Mr. Rusk rushed over and physically lifted the old man off the floor. Easily he transported him to the other side of the kitchen. Behind him the wall stopped moving, and the screaming died down to a mere whisper of noise.

​"What the heck were you doing, just standing there? Did you want to die?" Mrs. Rusk demanded to know.

​MacBlaine looked at her with a far away expression. "Do you believe in ghosts and angels?" he asked her.

​Taken by surprise, Mrs. Rusk stuttered, "Angels, maybe. Ghosts...definitely."

​The old man took her hand gently. "I believe this house is haunted, and that we have to pray for God's angels to come and save us."

​Amber pulled on her father's hand. "Is he daft?" she asked quietly out of MacBlaines hearing.

​Mr. Rusk knelt down beside his youngest and kissed her forehead. "No he's not darling. He's just had a terrible shock like the rest of us, that's all."

​Amber nodded her head. "Good, cos I thought he was silly," she whispered.

​Katie crawled out from under the table and came to stand beside her mother. "What happened mum?"

​"I don't know Katie. I really don't. I do know however, that your dad won't be knocking out any bricks anytime soon after that little episode, I can tell you that."

​Katie glanced at her father, who was now staring at the wall intently. He hadn't heard his wife's remarks. She smiled at him, and realised for the first time in ages, just how lucky she was to have parents like her mum and dad. She was about to tell them just how much she loved them, when MacBlaine said loudly,

​"Look at the wall. It's moving again."

​Everyone turned to face the sight that would remain with them for the rest of their lives.

MacBlaine didn't think that would be for very long.

​The wall was moving in a totally different way than at any time previous. It was shimmering, almost like water on a breezy day. The movement was hypnotic and Katie found herself being drawn towards it.

​"Katie!" her mother yelled. "Katie! What are you doing?"

​"It's okay mum. I think they just want to communicate with us."

​MacBlaine sank to his knees and started to recite the Lords Prayer hysterically, while crossing himself over and over.

​"He is daft dad!" Amber stated confidently.

​Her father wasn't listening to her, instead he was staring at the back of Katie's head, trying to somehow transmit his willpower on her to turn around and come back to a safer distance. He desperately wanted to run and grab her, but he'd have to let Amber go to do it, and the little girl was practically drawing blood from his hand as she dug her nails in so tightly. He knew that despite her outwardly calm act, she was utterly petrified. He couldn't leave her now, and he silently prayed alongside the old village vicar, that his eldest daughter was right, and that whatever was behind the wall, was indeed friendly and just wanted to talk.