25
I’m Not Scared of the Dark
Edwin choked, and felt the breath sucked from his lips by the cloying darkness that enveloped him.
“Edwin!” Bill’s voice faded into the distance. Then Edwin heard another voice...
“There’s nothing to be afraid of, son. It’s only a power cut. I’ll nip downstairs and see what’s happened.”
Then there was a scream; a horrible scream that would stay with Edwin forever.
“You are alone,” hissed the Dark One. “Alone in the blackness, alone in the terrifying emptiness that is my domain. Your fear is mine to feed on. All mine…”
Edwin could hardly breathe now. It felt like a pair of icy hands was squeezing his throat. He was alone, just like before.
“Alone,” whispered the Dark One. “Alone in the darkness forever.”
“Edwin…” Bill’s voice sounded again, louder this time. “Don’t let him beat you. He’s only the dark. And the dark is nothing to be afraid of. It’s nothing.”
But Edwin knew that wasn’t true. There were things in the dark: evil, snake-like things with horrible scaly bodies that coiled and twisted around him. There were dark figures, grotesque faces, clawed hands that reached out to touch him.
“It’s nothing, Edwin! Nothing but shadow!” Again Bill’s voice sounded. Edwin tried to focus on the words, trying to ignore the hideous forms that filled the blackness around him.
Nothing but shadow. Edwin repeated the words to himself.
“You’re nothing but shadow. Nothing but shadow.”
“You’re not afraid of shadows,” shouted Bill. “Your father wasn’t. That’s why he went down into the cellar that night. He wasn’t afraid of shadows, and neither are you.”
Edwin knew that Bill was right. Dad, his real Dad, hadn’t been scared of the dark. Edwin had to be strong like him. He had to face his fears.
Only, he couldn’t.
“But I’m a wuss,” he whimpered. “I’m not brave like Dad.”
“You are brave,” insisted Bill. “You were brave just now when you tried to save your mother and me. You risked your life for us, Edwin.”
Yeah, Edwin told himself. Perhaps I’m not a wuss after all. Perhaps I can be brave like Dad.
“I’m not afraid of shadows,” said Edwin. “I’m not afraid of the dark.”
He repeated the words, and his voice grew stronger.
“I am not afraid of the dark. I am not afraid of shadows.”
And as his voice grew stronger, Edwin felt his fear subsiding.
Slowly, the twisting forms and threatening faces receded. The air around Edwin became lighter, warmer.
“I am not afraid of shadows. Not afraid of the dark.”
As he spoke, Edwin felt the air rushing back into his lungs.
“I am not afraid of the dark.”
“What?” asked the Dark One, his voice shrill with shock.
Edwin threw his head back and shouted. “I AM NOT AFRAID OF THE DARK! AND I’M NOT AFRAID OF YOU!”
A terrifying wailing noise rent the air. Suddenly the darkness retreated, and Edwin saw the members of the Shadow Clan holding their heads in their hands as they watched their leader dissolving.
Yes, dissolving. The Dark One imploded, his robes folding in on themselves as though sucked through a hole in the air. Then, incredibly, the Dark One’s disciples did likewise, shrieking and screaming as they followed their leader into oblivion.
The wart faced crone melted, exhaling a nerve-shredding scream as her body, warts and all, bubbled into nothingness.
In a heartbeat, the room was empty.
Except for Bill, who sat on the floor looking just as bewildered as Edwin.
“What happened?” asked Edwin. “Where did they go?”
“You beat them.” Bill got to his feet and clapped Edwin hard on the shoulder. “You beat the darkness.”
Edwin grinned, discreetly rubbing his shoulder as he basked in Bill’s praise. “I did. I beat the Dark One and the Shadow Clan.”
Bill gave him a hug, which hurt Edwin’s shoulder even more. “You saved the day.”
“You helped me,” admitted Edwin. “I never would have done it without you.”
A shrill scream rang out from somewhere distant.
“Bryony!” Bill started running towards the door.
“Mum!” Edwin followed Bill from the lounge.
“The kitchen!” Bill quickened his pace across the hallway floor as more screams sounded.
Edwin’s lungs almost burst as he struggled to keep up with Bill. It would normally have taken a few seconds, but in their shrunken state traversing the hallway was more like a cross-country jog.
Eventually they reached the kitchen, but there was no sign of Jane or Bryony.
Another scream, louder and more desperate now.
“They’re in the bathroom,” realised Edwin, pointing to the opened door at the end of the room.
Bill set off in a sprint again. Spurred by the sound of his mother’s terrified cries, Edwin followed close on his stepfather’s heels.
It seemed an age before they reached the bathroom. Charred black feathers lay scattered on the floor, but there was no sign of Dawes. Nor Bryony or Jane, but Edwin could hear their screams coming from the direction of the toilet.
And then they appeared, clinging to each other as they fell from behind the cistern and into the toilet bowl.
“Mum! Bryony!” Edwin’s cry was a hoarse croak. He turned imploringly to Bill. “We’ve got to get up there.”
Bill pointed to a long handled brush lying on the floor. “If I can prop this against the toilet, we’ll be able to climb up to them.”
Bill dragged the brush towards the toilet, but couldn’t quite manage to lift it up to the edge of the bowl.
“I’ll help,” offered Edwin, rushing to Bill’s aid.
Bill looked unsure, but then nodded. “Good lad. Now get a firm grip there. Ready?”
Amazed that Bill had actually let him help, Edwin grasped the giant handle and waited for the command.
“After three,” instructed Bill. “One. Two. Three. Lift!”
It was a bit of a struggle, but they managed to tip the brush so that the handle rested against the side of the toilet.
Edwin waited until Bill had clambered up the brush handle before following, his heart racing at what he might find when he got there.
Had Mum and Bryony survived the fall? Had they drowned in the filthy toilet water?
When he reached the rim of the toilet, Edwin was relieved to see that Jane and Bryony were fine, albeit in a rather uncomfortable situation.
Jane clung with one hand to the rim of the bowl; her other hand was clutching Bryony, who dangled beneath her.
“Quickly,” called Jane. “I can’t hold on for much longer. She’s too heavy for me.”
“Are you saying I’m fat?” snarled Bryony.
Bill hurried round the toilet rim and knelt, reaching down for Jane’s arm.
“Edwin,” he shouted, “I’ll need your help here.”
Edwin scuttled to Bill’s side, and grabbed hold of Jane’s arm. He caught sight of her wristwatch and noted the time. Eleven fifty seven. Just three minutes left before they could use the magic again.
But now they didn’t have to defeat the Shadow Clan. Now they were free to use Wychetts’ power for whatever they wanted.
Only Edwin wasn’t sure what he wanted anymore. It would have seemed unthinkable this morning, but now he was actually having doubts about returning to his previous life with Mum on their own. The day’s bizarre events had affected him, altered his view of life. Altered his view of Bill and Bryony.
Bill had helped him defeat the Dark One. And Bryony...
Bryony. Edwin gazed down at her and smiled. For some strange reason he felt glad to see her again. And even stranger still, she looked glad to see him.
If only for a second.
“Hurry up,” she grumbled. “My arm’s about to pop out of its socket.”
“After three again,” Bill told Edwin. “One. Two. Three. Lift!”
But struggle and strain as they might, Bill and Edwin couldn’t lift Jane and Bryony to safety.
“Get Bryony first,” gasped Jane. “Then you can lift me.”
“But we can’t reach her,” groaned Bill.
“I can,” ventured Edwin. “If you keep hold of me.”
“I won’t let go,” promised Bill, in response to a fearful wail from Jane. “Let’s do it, Edwin.”
Holding Edwin’s left arm, Bill lowered his stepson over the edge of the toilet.
Bryony reached up, but her grasping fingers fell agonisingly short of Edwin’s outstretched hand.
“Just a bit more,” urged Edwin.
Bill lowered Edwin as far as he dared, but it still wasn’t quite enough.
“It’s no use,” said Bill. “I’m going to lose my balance if you go any further. Edwin, I’m going to have to lift you back up.”
“No.” Edwin was convinced he could reach Bryony. “I’m going to give it another try.”
Straining every muscle, Edwin lunged at Bryony’s hand.
Their fingertips brushed, and for a moment Edwin thought he’d done it.
But the moment ended when Bill lost his balance, and went sprawling over the edge of the toilet.