“Lucy, do you believe in the steps you will need to climb up into my heart? Why are you investing your time to find out where I am? You crashed. Ouch. Why is everyone freaking out? Lucy, where are you?”
“The mechanics and fears that are in your mind are the reasons why you can’t move forward.”“The power of moving forward isn’t that hard. Why does that keep you from finding the focus you will need to let me be your dominator? Avoid me? No, Lucy, you know that we both have the answers. Seriously, it’s a great idea. It’s holiday time, a good time to visit your family at the farm house. What could be better? We’ll be out of town together. Nice all round, really!”
“Pack up your little things, Lucy. We’re leaving within the hour.”“Mum, do you remember how to get there?”
“Yes, love. If we want to reach the town by noon we’ll have to get moving pretty soon.”
“Are we taking the Volkswagen this time? We may as well as we’re only going for the weekend.”
Mum doesn’t know that there’s someone else going in our car. I tried to tell her but she didn’t believe me.
We drove down the freeway and turned left, through the valley, and up over the hill. The farm—our holiday home—was as we left it last time.
The seasons had changed, though, since we were here last. The town festival was booked for this weekend, so the town will be buzzing.
We unpacked and were hungry. Mum had gone out back to pick some rocket for our salad. She was breathing heavily when she returned.
“Lucy, look out the window. Do you see anyone near the shed?”“No. But can you hear someone calling my name?” “No, Lucy, you’re imagining it. It’s just windy and it’s the whistling through the trees that you can hear.”
His hunger was intensifying and his energy was pulling me outside. I could feel it throughout my body as I walked out onto the veranda and looked towards the shed.
On the right hand side of the shed was the shadow of a man. My arms were covered in goose pimples.Why is this happening to me? Why is this parasite following me? It’s inevitable we go off track; his reasons and habits follow me, trying to influence my thoughts.
Is this finally the end? When will this voice disappear?
Mum peeked out.
“Lucy, what’s wrong with you? You told me no one was there. Why do you carry on like this? It’s the wind from that direction, that’s all. I hear nothing and see nothing. Come back in for lunch.”
As I sat at the kitchen table I saw him peering at me through the kitchen window.“Mum, look! There he is. He’s hungry. Can we feed him?” “Feed who? There’s no one there.”
“Mum, his stomach area is enormous.”
“Lucy, you’ve got to stop having these thoughts. This fantasy isn’t healthy for you or our family. You’re so passionate for this friend of yours to be real. The description of your fantasy friend isn’t normal. Young girls talk nice to their make believe best friends. Lucy, I’m at my wit’s end. What am I going to do with you? You drain me, and its taking its toll. It’s been 24 hours now. It’s time to stop. The doctor told you to live in the present.”
No one believes me.I went out. The wind picked up suddenly. Leaves crunched under my feet. “Help,” I called out. “Help.” No one came. Is this really going to be the end of my life? I wondered.
I felt something under my foot.“Are those bones? Why are there bones around here? Man, whose bones are these? What have you done? Man this isn’t good. Not good at all. Can you hear me?” Lucy whimpered.
“Where are you, girl?”“I’m over here. What do you want? What have you done? Whose bones are these?”
“Girl, these are the skeletons of death. You need not worry your pretty head. At the end you’ll find out, it’s only your minds deadly valley of despair.”
Ends