The One You Shouldn't Let In [6/9]
Jay can't control his dream walking, but he's determined to rescue the children who are like zombies
The previous, clue gathering, nail biting episode is here!
Alex was still at rugby practice, so Jay hurried past his house. Unlocking his front door, he went directly to Dad’s study. He needed to find out how Lulu was.
“No change unfortunately. She hasn’t eaten, and has slept most of the day, but she has no temperature. She’s seeing the doctor tomorrow.”
J had a sinking feeling a doctor couldn’t help. He needed to talk to Alex, to plot how to force Danny to break his sister’s hypnotic trance. He made a bacon sandwich and a cup of tea to take to his room. He sat at his desk to research hypnotism and meditation; maybe there was a ‘key’ to free the entranced children
.
He face-timed Alex, explaining what he’d pieced together. Playing music in the background he masked their topic of conversation.
“Who’d have thought? … Danny! All the plays I’ve seen him in…” Alex shook his head in wonder.
“That’s probably how he did it. Working with Katie, plenty of rehearsals: He’d have ample opportunity to gaze into her eyes, or use a pendulum, and hypnotise her,” J said.
“Your dream victims— they all said ‘they let him in’? That fits better with my vampire theory. Danny looks the same as us, but he could be a vampire.”
J had never given this theory serious consideration, he just hadn’t believed in the existence of vampires. Now he tapped at his keyboard, Google brought up plenty about vampires and the legends surrounding them. He skimmed the headings, then excitedly read one entry aloud.
“Vampire hypnotism is called glamouring; they use eye contact to make their victims relax and feel happy about having their blood sucked. Perhaps Danny has glamoured them all.”
“Check Lulu’s neck Dude! See if she has fang marks.”
“Aargh! Don’t say that!” J was horrified. “I can’t deal with the thought of that.”
As disgusting as it was, he had to admit it would make sense. Vampirism would certainly explain the pale and listless appearance of every victim. He planned to examine Lulu’s neck ASAP, but avoiding arousing his parents’ suspicions.
The opportunity presented itself quite innocently, Dad had made Lulu a snack of toast and a drink. J volunteered to take it up to her.
Lulu was cocooned in her duvet and facing the wall. He set down the plate and cup. Murmuring soothing things he stroked hair off his sister’s cheek and away from her neck, peering closely. He dreaded finding puncture wounds, but this side of her neck was unmarked, thank goodness. Her skin was clammy and cool, but also pristine.
“Lulu, do you want a drink? Or some Marmite soldiers?” J used a coaxing tone.
He pulled on her shoulder until she rolled over, but it didn’t rouse her from sleep. He was able to check the other side of her neck and… Phew! It was also intact. His relief at this discovery was intense, but looking at his sister’s vulnerable, sleeping form made him sad, and scared. What if this was irreversible?
Supper with his parents was silent and dismal. He used the excuse of pressing studies to return to his room. He needed to let Alex know he’d found no sinister marks on his sister’s neck.
“Another contradiction to the idea of Danny as a vampire, is that he walks about in the daylight. Vampires are burned or harmed by the sun.” Alex pointed out. “Danny isn’t.”
“That rule doesn’t apply in Twilight. Those vamps avoid the sun because it shows their skin is sparkly.” J countered.
“Seriously? Man that’s so weird! I’ll try to look more closely at him at school.” Alex was thoughtful before he said. “I’ve never noticed his skin glittering.” Then he added, “Hey, Twilight’s a chick film. When did you watch that?”
“Hard to avoid it!” J laughed. “The Twilight films are on Netflix, and my Mum’s a huge vampire fan.”
J predicted his mother would not be a fan if she thought a vamp had been anywhere near Lulu.
Lulu in the clutches of an undead blood-sucker— it was unthinkable, so finding no puncture wounds on her neck was very positive. J caught sight of the time and wound up his call with Alex. There was an English essay still to write before he went to bed.
Somehow, J was less startled to be jolted to wakefulness.
3 am — It was becoming a grim routine. He lay rigid, allowing himself to ‘feel’ the pressing darkness, hoping for a sense of whoever or whatever was out there. In his mind’s eye a view began to sharpen of a house he didn’t recognise. The streetlight spilled their amber glow into its front garden, where he saw a gate. It was not latched shut, and banged softly in the breeze.
There was a menace to the darkness. Was it possible that the entity—Danny was here? J moved soundlessly, and a sense of dread, through the gate, around to the back of the property. He could see in through the conservatory. There was an aquarium of tropical fish, lighting up the room with a violet glow.
He pressed his face to one pane, to study the interior. At first he thought nobody was there, but he spotted a young boy, wearing cartoon pyjamas. His blonde hair stuck up in all directions, as often happens with restless sleepers. There was an unhappy hunch to the boy’s body, and he was repeatedly banging his head against the wall. The muffled sound of his sobs twisted J’s heart. He tried the door handle, but it was locked. His attempt to gain entry didn’t distract the child, who continued his mournful crying.
Jay’s heart sank to have discoverd another young person who had succumbed to the evil influence.
Now he speculated that this boy had wanted an entertainer for his party; that Danny had visited the house and was “let in” by the boy’s unwitting parents. Danny was the root of it all, hiding in plain sight — he’d give no clue regarding his sinister intentions when he was hired to perform as a clown.
Personally, J had never trusted clowns, their garish make up and preposterous disguises gave him the heebie-jeebies!
As a young boy he’d found their painted on expressions highly suspect. He would swerve attending any party to which he got invited if it promised a clown. How ironic that there were grains of truth in his immature suspicions.
Looking at the distressed boy, to whom he couldn’t get close enough to offer comfort, J guessed that by morning he’d be pale and listless: In a trance-induced state, just like the others. But he fervently hoped he would be proved wrong.
Next morning was less of the usual helter-skelter rush to get ready for school. Mum and Dad were very worried, Lulu had, unfortunately shown no sign of improvement. Dad was calling the doctor for an earlier appointment as J slammed out of the door. Alex was ready and waiting on the path, and they set off at a brisk pace. As they walked, J described the pitiful young boy from his dream— the most recent victim of the hypnotic menace.
“Why are you dreaming about them?” Alex asked the pertinent question.
J shrugged. “No idea, I’ve been wondering that, especially as I don’t recognise this last one. I always wake at around 3 am too, the time is regular.”
“I’ll Google that, it might be significant. We need to watch Danny closely, get an idea of his movements and who he hangs around with. I have a free period before lunch, I’ll do some scouting then. Meet you in the canteen.” Alex shrugged his backpack further onto his shoulder, and hustled off to form.