Lost Souls

25

When Mr. Rusk returned with Alex and Amber a short while later, he found everyone chatting merrily about the village of Auchdermuir, and the surrounding countryside. He was both surprised and worried to see another person sitting amongst the group, and with a jerky nod of his head, he caught his wife's attention, before he flicked a look at the young man, as if saying, "Who the heck is he?"

​"Hi honey," Mrs. Rusk began. "Glad you're back because Innes is trying to make us fat. We've eaten so many biscuits already."

​MacBlaine smiled warmly at Grace.

​"This is Christopher, Michael. He lives in the village. Apparently, Katie's already met him outside the library," Mrs. Rusk added, cheekily.

​"Nice to meet you Christopher," Mr. Rusk said, as he stuck out his hand for Christopher to shake. "What brings you up here today?"

​Christopher felt awkward. He couldn't tell the truth in front of Katie and her family. He knew it would sound stupid if he just blurted out that another teenager had merely said something to him so strange, that it had shaken him to the core, and that he had no idea why he felt that way.  He was aware Katie had met Jimmy, and he knew the vicar had on several occasions, but he doubted any of them knew just how weird Jimmy could be sometimes. "Oh, I just popped up to see the vicar really. I help out at Sunday School with the youngsters sometimes," he fibbed guiltily.

​"That's very nice of you Christopher," Mrs. Rusk pointed out, making him feel even more uneasy at his lies.

​"Anyway people. We must be getting on. I'm sure Christopher can come back some other time and visit the vicar, can't you?" Mr. Rusk hinted strongly.

​MacBlaine got to his feet. "I wondered if perhaps we could use some more younger muscle up at the house Michael? Christopher has helped me with many projects over the past couple of years, and I'm sure he'd be most useful on our current venture."

​"Can we go somewhere else to talk about this vicar?" Mr. Rusk suggested angrily.

​"Of course. Come through to my study. We can talk there."

​Katie and her mother exchanged glances as the men left the room.

​"What's going on?" Christopher asked worriedly.

​"Got me," Katie replied, shrugging her shoulders.

​"What exactly are you all doing at Dovecot?" Christopher wanted to know, as his curiosity rose.

​"Just spring cleaning," Mrs. Rusk lied.

​"Is that all?" Christopher sighed disappointedly, as he bent forward to pick up a biscuit.

​In the study, the two men stood facing one another. "What are you trying to do?" Mr. Rusk demand.

​"He's a good boy Michael. He wouldn't tell anyone anything we didn't want him to."

​"Mr Rusk shook his head. "We can't just let people come and help vicar. This could be dangerous. It's not just finding the children's bodies, it's the other supernatural stuff we have to watch out for. How would you feel if something happened to the lad?"

​" He knows about the house. I told him what happened to me." The vicar responded positively.

​"Knowing about it and seeing it, are two totally different things. He might get hurt, or cause someone else to get injured."

​"If you don't want to bring him along, then we won't. I was only trying to help. We've got potentially dozens of rooms to search through."

​Mr. Rusk felt his shoulders drop and he sighed heavily. He couldn't deny that another pair of hands would be useful in their search. "Okay, you win."

​MacBlaine clasped his shoulders. "It's a wise decision."

​"Let's hope I don't regret it," Mr. Rusk commented, as he moved from the vicars grasp and headed back through to the others.
​
Outside the weather had turned colder, and the wind blew strongly around their legs. The crops in the surrounding fields were leaning at right angles, and branches of trees screeched as they buckled under the onslaught.

​"Let's load this up quickly," Mr. Rusk shouted against the elements as he struggled to pick up a large sifting tray.

​"Look daddy," Amber shouted. "I can fly."
​Everyone laughed as the little girl held her hands over her head, and jumped into the wind, only to land several feet further back.

​"You be careful poppet, or you'll end up in China," Mrs. Rusk teased.

​"Weeeeeeeeeee," Amber screamed again as she flapped her arms furiously trying to gain more height.

​"Kids eh?" Katie said, smiling at Christopher, who was trying to jam three rakes further into the rear of the boot.

​"Yeah. Think we were like that once," he said, puffing heavily.

​"Maybe you should ease off a bit. You're out of breath already."

​"I'm fine. I've got asthma and it always makes me seem more out of breathe than I really am," Christopher told her.

​"Not very good boyfriend material, is he Katie?" Alex teased, as he passed carrying a spade and a handful of plastic refuse sacks.

​Katie stuck out a foot, causing him to stumble.

​"Hey you dork. I could've broke my neck," Alex shouted angrily.

​"No such luck," Katie smiled, as she blew him a kiss.

​"You're gross," Alex said as he stormed away.

​"I love him really," Katie told Christopher, as he accidentally brushed against her. 

​"I can tell," he replied, and then stood closely beside her.

​"What?" Katie asked, feeling her face turning into a giant tomato.

​"You're really pretty. When we finish digging up your house, let's go out and do something together."

​Katie grinned widely. "We'll be digging for days. The place is huge."

​"Then we'll be ready for a date by then eh?" Christopher said mischievously.

​"We will," Katie found herself saying, despite her shyness.

​"Settled then," Christopher whispered, as he lent in closer so she could hear him.

​Christopher's warm breath tickled Katie's ear, and sent a warm sensation washing over her body. Briefly her legs buckled under her, and she thought she might faint. He heart raced, her mouth went dry, and she felt a strange fluttering deep inside her stomach. Was this what love felt like she wondered.

​Her thoughts were rudely interrupted by her father's voice. "What's settled?" he enquired as he put the last pieces of equipment into the boot and slammed it shut.

​"Nothing really dad," Katie said. "We were just thinking about maybe going out somewhere after we've finished at the house."

​Katie's father looked from Katie to Christopher and back again. He could see why his oldest daughter would be attracted to the handsome teenager standing awkwardly beside her. Maybe it would be good for Katie to get out and make friends with him after they'd finished searching all the underground rooms. "That's great. I think everyone could do with a trip after we've finished. You two can do your own thing if you want," he said, giving them both a smile as he went to climb into the drivers seat and take them all home, leaving Katie standing with her mouth gaping, and her heart thumping even faster.