Lost Souls

43

While Mrs. Rusk made hot drinks, Katie told them what had happened to her in her bedroom, and more recently, the bathroom.

    “Seems the kids like you,” Jimmy offered, as he shook his head to an offer of a refill.

    “Like me! They’ve tried to scare me to death,” Katie replied doubtfully.

    “I don’t think that’s it at all. I believe they showed themselves to you because they feel closer to you than anyone else here.”

    “Amber has seen them,” Katie pointed out, trying to back up her side of the discussion.

    Jimmy nodded. “Yeah, but she’s not seen anything major had she? I mean no heads rolling, no worms, and certainly not much to help us with what’s going on.”

    “Jimmy has a point my child,” MacBlaine said quietly, as he blew on his coffee. “Perhaps the children want to communicate more through you as the oldest child here.”

    “I’m not a child vicar,” Katie answered, clearly angered by the remark.

    The old vicar held his hands up in mock surrender. “I’m sorry. I meant you are the most mature of the Rusk children, that’s all.”

    Katie remained silent. Internally she wished she was the youngest, and living on the other side of the World. She’d been excited by everything until it became clear that she was going to have to face things her mind really didn’t want to deal with.

    “We’ll search the garden tomorrow morning. I want us to take our time, and make sure if the kids have given a hint to Katie, that she hasn’t gone through all she did upstairs for nothing.”

    Katie looked at her dad’s face. It was set in stone and he looked so determined, she had no doubt they’d find the children’s graves when the sun came up.

    “Right then. Shall we all retire. Everyone knows where they’re sleeping, and I think I’ve left enough pillows and blankets to keep you all warm,” Mrs. Rusk hinted, as she drained her mug and placed it in the sink.

    MacBlaine stretched, his old bones creaking and groaning as he did so. “Sounds like a delightful idea my dear Grace,” he said, smiling tiredly at her.

    “I’ve finished reading the diary. There’s nothing in it really to help, other than the writer clearly wasn’t happy here. Most of the pages are ruined anyway,” Jimmy commented, as he threw the small book into the middle of the table. “Be my guest if anyone else wants to take a look at it.”

    Katie reached across and picked it up, immediately dropping it as if she’d been burnt. She slumped back in her chair and groaned loudly.

    “Katie! Katie. What’s wrong?” her father asked as he rushed to her side.

    Katie rubbed her hand roughly over her face and stared across the table at Jimmy. “He…I thought…no that can’t be right. Can it?” she mumbled, her eyes never leaving Jimmy’s.

    “What are you talking about honey?” Mr. Rusk asked soothingly, clearly believing his daughter had had more than enough bad experiences for one night.

    “The diary. I saw the person writing in it.”

    “Who was it honey?” Mrs. Rusk asked as she stood eagerly behind Katie.

    “It was Jimmy!” Katie whispered, unsure even as the words left her mouth.

    Across the table, Jimmy laughed loudly. “I’m looking good for a man in his fifties. It must be all the moisturizer I use.”

    “Oh honey. You’ve had a terrible shock. Jimmy couldn’t have written the diary. It must be because he was the last person to read it, and you’ve picked up on that?” Mrs. Rusk offered hopefully.

    Katie glanced up at her mother, and then back across the table, where Jimmy was still smirking broadly. “Could be,” she said, unsure of anything anymore.

    “Of course that’s it Katie. Now come on. Let’s all grab some kip before we go outside in a few hours,” Jimmy announced cheerily, as he jumped to his feet, came towards Katie, and planted a hard kiss on her forehead.

    “You can stay with me tonight,” Christopher said quietly. “That is if you want to, and your mum and dad are okay with it.”

    Mr. and Mrs. Rusk exchanged glances. “Might be a good idea Katie to have some company, and the log fire will stay warm till morning now anyway,” Mr. Rusk said, as he stroked Katie’s forearm.

    “I’m not an invalid you know!” Katie replied sternly.

    “No one is suggesting you are. You’ve had a terrible time, and maybe it would be a good idea to have someone else with you in case anything else happens,” her dad pointed out reassuringly.

    Katie nodded. Suddenly, all of her remaining energy and fight drained from her body faster than the water in a bucket full of holes. Her shoulders slumped, and her head dropped forward slightly, as if her neck muscles were no longer strong enough to support her. “Whatever. I just need to sleep.”

    Christopher helped Mr. Rusk ease Katie from her chair, and together they half walked, half carried her through to the study, and laid her on the couch. Mr. Rusk pulled some covers up around her neck and made sure she was tucked in.

    “If anything happens, and I mean anything. You scream as if your life depended on it. Clear?” Mr. Rusk asked Christopher forcefully.

    Christopher looked at Katie, who was already asleep, her mouth was slightly open, and her eyelids twitching slightly. He felt responsible for her, and knew he was falling heavily for the sleeping beauty before him. “I won’t let anything happen to her Mr. Rusk. You have my word.”

    Mr. Rusk smiled, and tapped Christopher twice on the shoulder before he left the room, and headed upstairs.

    Alone, Christopher pulled over some covers and a pillow, and arranged them on the floor beside where Katie was sleeping. Once he was settled he lifted the covers from Katie just enough so that he could slide his hand under, and take Katie’s into his own. He intended to hold onto her all night if he had to. Nothing was going to separate them until first light, the new day, and the search ahead.