The Lost Soul Read online

  It must have only lasted a few moments, before the stranger looked away from the terrified girl and back to the boy that was slumped on the ground.

  Samantha watched as the man picked David up and, as though he weighed nothing, slung him over his shoulder.

  This was bad; very, very bad. Samantha rummaged through her bag, then swore when she realised she’d left her mobile at home.

  She felt a spot of rain and gazed up at the dark, threatening clouds. She should tell someone, find a phone and alert the police. If they could get here in time.

  Samantha swore again and set off down the ginnel, she had to follow them and try and help David.

  The heavens opened and the cold rain pelted down as Samantha started to jog along the narrow way. It opened up again on St Jude’s Way, one of the more dilapidated parts of town. Samantha was pretty sure all but one of the houses were closed up and condemned. The one exception housed the local crazy lady. An old woman that refused to move out. Everyone around here knew of her. The kids all ran past her door, half-convinced she was the wicked witch about to curse them.

  Samantha caught the lumpy movement of the stranger still carrying David, barging through the door of that very house. Of course.

  She swore out loud, before running across the deserted street. She felt fear well up, but somehow it seemed disconnected from her. By the time she reached the old woman’s door, the rain had soaked through her heavy coat and her cold and clammy clothes clung to her. Samantha hesitated in the small porch, hardly shielded from the torrents. The door was ajar, almost inviting her to enter. Her nerves were on fire as she inched into the dark hallway. To her left a staircase led up to a shadowy first floor; and to her right, a closed door. What was she doing? This was madness! This was definitely trespassing.

  She heard an almighty crash from deep within the house, which threw all logic aside. Samantha opened the door and rushed through a cramped living room. Past that was the dining room and kitchen. In the kitchen, the old woman had collapsed, saucepans and broken dishes lying about her, but Samantha paid no heed to this, for beyond her, where the back door should have been, there was a whirling, smoky complex of a purple and black abyss.

  “Excuse me!” Came the sharp, wiry voice, and suddenly Samantha was aware of the old woman sprawled on the floor.

  Samantha helped her up and towards a nearby stool. “What- what’s…?” Stuttered Samantha, unable to take her eyes off the… the thing.

  “That is a portal and I am its keeper.” The old woman snapped, looking at Samantha with stern grey eyes. The old woman beckoned for a walking stick that had fallen nearby, which Samantha dutifully retrieved.

  “Come away, child. That thing makes my very bones ache.” The old woman said, standing up stiffly and walking slowly back to the living room, leaning heavily on her stick.

  Samantha hesitated, unable to draw her eyes away from the dense, coloured smoke. For some reason she felt almost at ease, comforted by the natural swirling patterns. Samantha snapped herself out of its hypnotic grip, reminding herself that this was the real world, portals did not exist.

  She was suddenly filled with questions, and there was one, rather daunting, person that might be able to give answers. Samantha turned and moved towards the living room, with many a backward glance at the portal.

  “Now, sit yourself down.” The old woman invited as Samantha entered the room, her tones softer than before. The old woman had lowered herself onto an overstuffed armchair, propping her walking stick beside it.

  Samantha shuffled past a low coffee table and perched nervously on a tea-stained settee.

  “Tea?” The old woman asked, but didn’t show any effort to get back up.

  “Um, no. Thank you.” Samantha stumbled over her words. Sitting and chatting with strangers wasn’t one of her fortes, especially when that stranger had been the root of scary stories for years. Looking at her, Samantha could see why the old woman could scare children; her grey eyes still wickedly sharp, her face held no kindly edge and her voice was cutting. The old woman coughed slightly and Samantha realised she was staring and looked quickly away.

  “It’s strange to have company of one so young. What’s your name, girl?”

  “Samantha. Samantha Garrett.” She shifted uncomfortably, before adding politely. “Miss.”

  “Well Samantha, you just call me Gran for now.” Replied the old woman.

  There was an uncomfortable silence in which the only sound was the beating of rain on the grimy window.

  “I suppose you want to know all about the portal now you’ve seen it.” Stated Gran, her voice sharp once more.

  “A portal? Portals are fantastical doors to other places.” Samantha spurted out, already guessing what story the old woman would try to fool her with.

  Gran just bobbed her head, keeping her grey eyes fixed on the young girl, harshly aware of how the young were only interested in what was, and whether they had it, and never what could be anymore.

  Samantha let out a nervous laugh. “But that aint real, is it? It has to be a trick.”

  “Be quiet you ignorant child.” Gran snapped, suddenly fierce. “It is as real as you or I. Do you think all those fantasy stories you read are completely made up? They all stem from one truth or another.”

  “I… I’m sorry…” Samantha stuttered, shocked by how quickly the old woman’s temper rose.

  Gran sat thin-lipped for a moment before speaking again with more composure. “Other lands, magical journeys and such, exist. You have always known it, though perhaps never accepted it. Now, if you wish to hear what I have to say, you will not question this reality.”

  Samantha nodded silently. As wary and sceptical as she was, her curiosity was aroused now and she wanted to hear the truth. At least, whatever version of the truth the old woman may give.

  When she was happy her message had gotten through, Gran continued. “Well, I have no idea how you fit into this, but if they have a purpose for that boy in Enchena-“

  “Enchena?”

  “It is the land connected by the portal. But as I was saying, if they have some intent, leave them be. It is a cruel place. I have lived here all my life, and before I became keeper, my mother was before me, as was her mother and so on. Of course, after me the line is broken and there shall be no ancient guard.” Gran frowned as she spoke, her expression betraying an inner pain. “Yet we have camped at this very spot as grounded gypsies to guard the portal from discovery when it opens, and to protect the people from it. I’ll tell you now that I have never heard any positive tale from Enchena.”

  “But… I should go after David, to bring him back…” Samantha stopped herself, still not believing this was happening. Surely David had not been dragged to another world.

  “Haven’t you been listening, Samantha? Enchena is a dangerous place. It would take grown men trained in war, to go and make it back with the boy.” Gran insisted. “Your heart’s in the right place, but be honest, you’re not the right person for the task.”

  “So you’re saying… it’s hopeless?”

  Gran sighed. “You youngsters are always so dramatic. Is he your friend? Boyfriend?”

  “No, he-“ Samantha broke off and blushed at the term boyfriend. “I hardly know him, we go to the same school.”

  “Then he means nothing to you. Leave the boy in Enchena, it is best to sacrifice one life, than lose two.”

  Samantha looked away from Gran’s fierce gaze. Surely he was worth it, any life was worth it. Samantha looked up, and was surprised to see a hint of sympathy soften Gran’s features.

  Samantha stood up and walked over to the doorway to the dining room, she could see through to the kitchen where the portal still existed.

  “So this is for real?” Samantha muttered.

  “Yes, I’m afraid so.” Gran replied, with surprising softness. “And I’m very sorry that you’ll have to live with such knowledge. I’ll let you stay until the rain calms down, then you should go home and try to forget about this.”

  There was a sharp knock at the front door. Samantha turned round as Gran stood up, grasping her stick.

  “If it’s that bleedin’ Avon rep again, I will beat that silly little…” Gran started muttering to herself.

  *****

  Gran returned from the door a few minutes later to find the living room empty. As she had predicted, Samantha had gone.

  “Good luck child, you shall need it.”

  Three

  David groggily became aware of voices, every sound threatening to split his pounding head in two. He took a few careful breaths, the smell of mud and grass lingering in his nostrils. Damn, had he been knocked out on the rugby pitch again? There was something he felt he should remember, but every time he tried for a coherent thought, it skittered away, out of reach.

  David cracked his eyes open and winced at the bright light. He rolled onto his back and allowed his eyes to get used to the sunlight that pierced the thick green canopy overhead.

  He heard a familiar man’s voice bark an order, and suddenly two hands grabbed his arms and dragged him to his feet. David winced, the back of his head felt like someone had tried to bash it in; but from what he could tell, the rest of his body was without injury. That had to be good news.

  David tried to focus on what he was seeing, but it didn’t make any sense. There wasn’t a forest anywhere near, yet tree trunks and overgrown bushes stretched as far as the eye could see. They were in what appeared to be a clearing, although a few clear metres was a closer fit.

  David lingered on the fact that ‘they’ were there. Aside from the two men that held him upright, there must have been a dozen others. They all wore matching black uniforms with a wide red stripe from the left shoulder to the right hip. David had never seen such a uniform before, and he was pretty sure they weren’t legitimate peacekeepers. He grit his teeth, wondering what dangerous nonsense he’d gotten himself into.

  David caught movement out of the corner of his eye, and saw the same man that had cornered him on the way home. He remembered now, the alley he’d gone down, a shortcut home before the rain; then the stranger approaching him… Had the man even said anything?

  David’s memory felt patchy, but he could see the man blocking his path, his movements agile and hunter-like. Ignoring David’s questions, his impossibly dark eyes had moved over the young man with a detached assessment. He’d only looked away as something further up the ginnel had caught his attention. David hadn’t dared look what it was, only used the moment of distraction to duck away from the stranger.

  Everything else was blank.

  As David looked at the man now, he had a feeling that he was in charge of this motley crew.

  “Where am I? And who the hell are you?” David demanded.

  The man’s dark eyes moved over him with disinterest, before looking to one of his men.

  Before David could react, a fist swung into his jaw, making his head snap back.

  “You do not address his majesty without permission.” His punisher stood inches away from him, his hard brown eyes daring David to step out of line again.

  David slowly rolled his head forwards, his tongue tenderly running across the right side of his mouth. He was sure his teeth had cut his gum; he just wished one of the goons on his arms would give him his hand back.

  After a brief struggle to test their grip, David relaxed and looked between the boss man and the mouthpiece.

  “I think I earned permission when his majesty knocked me out and dragged me to this… this… shit, this has gotta be a long way from home.”

  A flicker of a smile crossed the man’s lips, and he followed it with a swift punch to the gut that made David double over in pain.

  “Lieutenant Revill.” The man in charge raised a hand to pause any further punishment. He spoke quietly, but his words were articulate. “You might think yourself brave back home, but here, your insolence will get you killed. What is your name, boy?”

  David bit his lip, instinctively disobeying the man, when he felt one of the guards twist the flesh of his arm painfully. “David.” He gasped, shooting a dirty look to the guard. “David Jones.”

  Why were these guys all so keen on beating a sixteen year old? And why had the boss man, kidnapped him, when he didn’t even know David’s name?

  While the boss looked over his prisoner assessingly, David did the same. The man looked to be in his forties, even though there was no grey in his rich black hair that hung to his shoulders. His eyes were impossibly dark, but they looked tired and bloodshot.

  Whereas the man had been so strong when they met, David thought he saw his balance waver now.

  There was the sound of hooves as a horse was brought forward. A horse? David’s eyes widened. He’d only ever seen the animals around Elland Road on match day, and thought now what he had back then, that they were bloody huge.

  “Your majesty.” One man bobbed down to help the boss to mount the brown beast.

  Steadier, now that he was off his own feet and sitting astride a horse, he gathered his reins and looked down at his prisoner. “David, while you are in Enchena, I recommend that you follow orders and obey me. Cooperation will be rewarded with riches, land, titles… whatever you desire. Cross me, and you will wonder how many times you can die before-“

  He broke off, looking away into the clearing. David heard a thump on the forest floor behind him, and followed everybody’s gaze. His heartbeat faltered as he saw a vaguely familiar figure fall to her knees. She was wearing a rather wet school uniform, with their school insignia on the jumper. He wracked his rather shook brain for a name, before realising it was the girl he’d bumped into at Tesco.

  David cringed as the girl started to retch, throwing up on the grass.

  “Pick her up.” The boss ordered, his lip curling with disgust.

  Two guards stepped carefully around the mess and grabbed the girl’s arms.

  David stared at her dishevelled appearance and pale face. Where the hell had she come from? David was sure she’d not been in the clearing a moment ago.

  The girl’s unfocused green eyes bugged at the sight of the guards and the forest. She twisted in the hold of her captors, desperate to see behind her.

  “No.” She groaned, obviously unhappy with the view of more trees.

  “Do not worry, child. The gateway is still there. It is simply more obscure on this side.”

  David looked up at the man as he spoke, his words not making any sense.

  “What do they call you, girl?”

  “S-Samantha Garrett.” She answered, so quietly that David hardly heard her. “Who are you?”

  Remembering their earlier intolerance for questions, David strained against his captors’ hold; he couldn’t let them hit this innocent girl too.

  “I am Hrafn, King of Enchena.”

  David looked up at the man, feeling suddenly cold. He had already guessed that he was royalty, but it was another thing entirely to have it confirmed.

  “Why did you take David?” Samantha demanded, her voice growing stronger.

  The King raised a questioning brow. “I am sure you will both have your uses.”

  David’s heart thudded in his chest; he wasn’t sure what uses the King had in mind, but he doubted that it would be anything good.

  “Take them back to the palace.” The King ordered, briefly focusing on his men. “I will ride ahead.”

  More riders came forward to join the King; the ground trembling as their horses milled around him, ready to be off.

  The King turned his weary eyes to David and Samantha one last time, then spurred his horse into action.

  As the dust settled from the dozen or so mounted guards, David wondered how they were expected to get to ‘the palace’. He got his answer when their captors gave them both a hearty shove.

  “Get moving.” Lieutenant Revill barked.

  Hating the man more by the minute, David staggered forwards, his head still pounding, and his joints feeling oddly loose. It was all he could do to walk straight.

  Samantha walked next to him, and the guards moved to flank them. David quickly counted ten uniforms, and noted their spacing – he imagined that any attempt to break away now would lead to another beating. So walking it was. He only hoped he would stay sharp enough to spot an opportunity to escape later.

  He looked over to Samantha, who seemed as rattled as he was. Her bright green eyes locked onto his face.

  “Did they do that?” She asked breathlessly.

  David grimaced, he had no idea how he looked, but from Samantha’s expression, he guessed it was pretty dramatic.

  “Yeah.” He grunted, darting a look at the guards about them. They didn’t seem bothered by the two kids chatting, their gaze was stony and locked straight ahead, as they followed the King’s orders to the letter. Lieutenant Revill, with the arrogant air of someone left in charge, was looking busy and important fifty yards ahead; out of earshot for now.

  “Look, this might be a weird question…” David started, wondering how to phrase it without sounding insane. “But you didn’t happen to note how we got here? Wherever here is.”

  Samantha bit her lip, looking worried before sharing. “There was a portal, it led from Gran’s kitchen to this forest. When she told me about Enchena… I didn’t believe her, until I came falling out this side.”

  David frowned. The girl definitely had a right to be worried – she sounded crazy. “OK, let’s pretend that I believe that. How do you fit into all of this?”

  Samantha shrugged, an embarrassed blush darkening her cheeks with unattractive red blotches. “I don’t. I was walking home when I saw that guy, King Hrafn, knock you out and carry you away. I followed him to St Jude’s Way – y’know, that condemned road – and then into that house. Before I knew it, there was this portal, and that old woman rambling on about other worlds…”

  “And you didn’t think of – oh, I don’t know, telling the police?” David asked, suddenly pissed off that his rescue party consisted solely of this half-wit. “Or anyone that has an ounce of use?”