|
NEW AUTHORS SHOWCASE
|
|
20-03-07 6M p3 |
|
Dead, Past and Present By Cheryl Rees-Price |
|
Synopsis Life was idyllic for Alice Harper, a good career, handsome successful husband and an apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. But her life is suddenly thrown into turmoil when she begins to experience terrifying nightmares of a young soldier. These dreams set in motion a chain of events that irrevocably change her life forever. The nightmares precede the sudden death of Alice’s beloved father and when her husband fails to comfort her she finds solace in the arms of his brother. As the nightmares intensify and merge with reality Alice begins to sustain emotional and physical trauma. She now sees the ghostly figure of the soldier in her waking hours. Fearing for her sanity Alice must find the identity of the soldier and the link that draws them together. Her search takes her from New York to a sleepy village in Wales. Here she meets a cantankerous old man who holds the key to unlocking a sixty year old tragedy which will save Alice from a similar fate.
Chapter One Alice stood shivering in her nightdress, her cold hands rubbing her bare arms did little to eradicate the chill that run through her body. Spinning around, she scanned her surroundings; she stood in a dimly lit corridor which stretched out endlessly in both directions. Large windows blackened by the night sky ran along one side of the corridor, the only light came from the dusty wall lamps which emitted a low buzzing as they struggled to illuminate the walls. She had no recollection of how she came to be standing here, bare foot and alone. Wrapping her arms protectively around her body, she began to move tentatively forward, feeling the dusty grime from the worn floor gathering on the soles of her feet. As she walked old picture frames housing anonymous portraits glared eerily at her. She averted her eyes from their gaze and quickened her pace. She needed to find a door, some way out. The lights began to flicker threateningly, causing her to stop. Panic coursed through her veins as the light faded away and oppressive darkness closed in. Alice grasped helplessly around in the darkness, the sound of her own fear ringing in her ears, as each quivering breath, and rapid heart beat was magnified in the silence. Her fingers made contact with the cold damp wall, causing her to flinch. She reached out her arm again and placed the palm of her hand against the wall, then walked blindly on, using the wall as a guide. Outside the moon escaped its captive clouds allowing silver light to seep through the windows, bedecking the floor with patches of light like stepping stones. Alice quickly stepped into the moonlight taking comfort from the pale glow, arid then moved swiftly on to the next window, pausing briefly before continuing to move in and out of the light. She kept her focus ahead willing the moon to lend its light long enough for her to find her way. A glimpse of a shadow creeping across the moonlit floor made her freeze. She stayed in the shadows, watching until she could just make out the silent figure moving along the corridor. Alice exhaled slowly with relief; maybe this was someone who could help. She began to move towards the figure that was rapidly disappearing in the distance. Breaking in to run, her bare feet stung as they pounded the floor. As she drew nearer her legs began to feel unnaturally heavy, she slowed down, her chest heaving as she dragged herself forward. She was now close enough to see that the figure was a tall man dressed in uniform; he took long strides seemingly oblivious to Alice running to keep up. Doubt began to fill her mind, what was she doing running after a stranger? What if he didn’t want to help her? He could be some crazed lunatic for all she knew. Then again if she let him get away she would be all alone. He slowed down allowing Alice to gain on him, she was almost close enough to reach out and touch him when suddenly he stopped. Alice bought herself to an abrupt halt to stop her self colliding with him. He stood motionless before her, the seconds slipped away while Alice so close was unable to speak or move her hands to touch him. Her legs began to shake uncontrollably, threatening to crumple beneath her, as he turned and fixed his piecing stare upon her face. She forced herself to look into the face of the handsome young soldier, who towered over her petite frame. His uniform was buttoned up neatly to the collar and his cap tilted to one side, showing a crop of dark waves of hair. Alice saw no malice in his eyes, only sadness. He continued to stare, his expression softening as recognition reflected in his midnight blue eyes. His gold cap badge glistened in the moon light, catching Alice’s attention. She stared at it trying to make out the letters. She had a sense that it was of some importance but she couldn’t remember why. As the moon light began to fade, the young soldier turned and walked away. Alice stood watching him walk further down the corridor, wishing she had had the courage to say something. ‘Wait,’ she suddenly shouted, but her voice sounded strangely muffled in the empty corridor. ‘Please don’t go,’ she called, but only an incoherent mumble escaped her mouth. She started after him, not wanting to be left alone. Up ahead she saw him open a door and disappear from sight. She reached the door just as it closed, hesitating briefly, she turned the handle. The door creaked on its worn hinges, as it swung open to reveal a staircase. Alice quickly descended the staircase, at the bottom a heavy oak door stood, bolted closed. She looked around, there were no other doors and yet if the soldier had gone out through the door, how could it be bolted from the inside? She gripped the bolt, struggling to slide it back; pulling with all her body weight the bolt finally gave way causing her to stumble backwards as the door swung open. As she stepped outside the cold night air seeped through her nightdress, biting at her skin. Her long red hair whipped around her face. She pushed her hair from her eyes and briefly caught sight of his silhouette in the darkness before it disappeared. Some broken concrete steps led down to an over grown lawn. She picked her way through the brambles that snaked their way up the steps, and then stepped on to the cold wet grass. Wading through, she came across a gate on the other side. Glancing back she saw the building had faded from sight in the darkness. She hesitated. If she went any further she would be lost. But she didn’t want to go back to the building either. Her only choice was to go on and hope she found some help. Pushing the gate open she continued to walk through the grass, her feet stinging from the cold. Distant whispers carried on the breeze surrounded her. She strained her ears to see which direction the sound came from, then began running towards it. The voices died away leaving Alice in the darkness with no direction. She ran aimlessly now, her ribs aching as she gasped in the cold night air. The texture of the grass changed becoming rough, she slowed down as it began to spike her feet. She stopped to catch her breath, and then began to pick her way across the uneven ground. Her feet hit sand and she let out a gasp as she began to slide, she put out her hand to steady herself but kept sliding, sand slipped through her fingers as she grasped helplessly to stop herself from falling. She fell onto her side and then began to roll over and over until she landed with a heavy thud against something solid. Lying face down Alice could hear waves breaking the shore in the distance; taste the salt in the air. She felt dizzy from the fall and confused, she didn’t live anywhere near the sea. She reached out her hand to feel what it was, that she had landed against, and then recoiled in horror as her fingers touched a hand. She lifted her head and saw the soldier was lying motionless face down in the sand. She crawled towards him, took a firm grip on his jacket and pulled until he rolled over. His eyes were wide open, glazed and lifeless, his mouth gaped open his lips covered with sand. He was dead. Alice opened her mouth to scream but no sound came. She kept on screaming silently until a high pitched sound erupted from her throat. |
