Talisman of El

CHAPTER THREE



Where There’s A Will There’s Danger



‘COME ON, JUST ONE jewel,’ Alex pleaded. She and Charlie were sitting on a two-tier bench inside the gym. It had been almost three weeks since he had found the stash of jewels, and ever since he had told her about it, she hadn’t stopped accusing Jacob of being a jewel thief. ‘We’d be doing the community a great service. It’s not as if he’s going to miss one jewel.’

‘No.’ Charlie’s voice was firm. ‘Just forget I ever mentioned it.’

‘I could try. I mean, it’s going to be hard, and I can’t guarantee the information won’t accidentally slip out, what with my mouth.’ She leaned closer to him. ‘As a loyal friend, though, I’ll forget everything you’ve said. But, I’m going to need something in return.’

Charlie looked at her, stunned. ‘Are you seriously blackmailing –?’

A whistle blew. ‘Blake. Dench.’ It was Coach Finley, standing in the middle of the room with his arms crossed, surrounded by students. ‘Shall I make you two a cup of tea while I wait?’

Some of the students sniggered.

Charlie and Alex got up and joined the group.

P.E. had become a daunting lesson for Charlie. Playing a contact sport was the only time Josh could torture him and get away with it. Today, they were playing a game of dodge ball. It didn’t help, either, that muscle-bound Coach Finley thought getting a good bashing taught kids to be strong. Charlie figured his body-hugging t-shirt, red jack-ups and black headband was cutting off the circulation to his brain, clearly.

Coach Finley split the class into two teams. Charlie and Alex were on the same team, Josh and Damzel on the rival team. Just as Charlie had expected, several balls headed for him at the same time, and had it not been for his quick steps and the help from his teammates, he would have had bruises tattooed all over his body.

It came down to six players, three on each team. Charlie, Alex, and Josh were still in the game. Charlie and Josh went for each other, and their balls collided with a bang. Josh lost a player, and Charlie lost Alex. When Josh regained a ball, Charlie expected to be his main target, but to his surprise, Josh threw the ball at Alex. It hit her hard in the stomach, and she collapsed onto her knees.

‘Stop the game,’ demanded Coach Finley.

Charlie hurried over to Alex. ‘Are you okay?’

Alex nodded, unable to speak. Josh had knocked the air out of her.

‘You’ll be all right, Dench,’ Coach Finley said. ‘Walk it off.’

‘Yes, Coach,’ Alex managed to choke out, as her teammates helped her over to the bench.

Seeing the triumphant expression on Josh’s face, Charlie marched over to him. ‘You did that on purpose.’

‘What if I did?’ Josh said. ‘What’cha gonna do about it?’

‘Hartley, you either play fair or you’re outta the game,’ said Coach Finley.

Josh shrugged. ‘I didn’t know she was out, Coach.’

It was now two against two, and Charlie had one goal in mind: ‘I’ll take Hartley,’ he whispered to his teammate. Charlie and Josh dodged each other’s balls, but they lost their teammates.

Alex cheered. ‘Come on, Charlie.’

Charlie’s eyes fixed on Josh’s hands. He waited for him to make his move, and as though he was commanding him, Josh took the first shot. He placed the ball in front of his chest, and Josh’s ball rammed into his. As soon as it bounced away, he threw his ball hard at Josh.

Bullseye!

Josh went down, clutching his stomach. Charlie’s teammates cheered, and Alex was the first to run over and throw her arms around him.

Charlie leaned against the wall outside the girls’ changing room where he had been standing for the last few minutes. The door opened, and three girls walked out. As they approached him, one of the girls greeted him.

‘Hey,’ he replied. He wasn’t sure of their names, but he recognised their faces.

‘You wanna walk with us?’ the girl who had called to him asked.

‘Thanks, but I’m waiting for someone.’

They smiled and walked off. A minute later, Alex came out of the changing room.

‘I was just about to send out a search party,’ Charlie joked.

Alex made a face at him. Linking her arm in his, they headed down the hall. ‘I’m starving. I bet the food’s all gone by now.’

‘And whose fault is that?’

‘What can I say? Girls are more particular about personal hygiene.’

They stopped by their lockers.

‘So was Josh still sulking?’ Alex asked.

Charlie was standing four lockers away from her. ‘You should have heard him. He swears he didn’t throw the ball. He said it just flew out of his hands.’

‘He’s such a sore loser. He probably hates us more than anyone else now – well, you, anyway.’

Charlie closed his locker door and strolled towards her. ‘He doesn’t scare me.’ He crossed his arms and leaned his shoulder against the locker next to hers.

‘So, it’s Carla’s party next weekend,’ Alex said after a short pause. She didn’t look at him when she spoke. ‘Bet it’s going to be fun, fun, fun.’

Charlie smiled. ‘That’s a lot of fun. Pity I won’t be there.’

Alex’s eyes flashed to his face. ‘You won’t?’ Although her expression was casual, it was evident from her high-pitched tone that she was happy about the news. ‘Why not?’

‘If you’re not going, I don’t see the point. I mean, who else am I going to make fun of ?’

Alex smiled and elbowed him playfully.

‘Hey, Romeo,’ a familiar voice yelled behind them. Charlie rolled his eyes, but he didn’t turn round.

Alex closed her locker. ‘Come on,’ she said, pulling Charlie by the arm.

As soon as they headed off, Charlie felt a thump on his back that made him stumble forward, but he kept his balance. He spun around. ‘What is your problem?’ he snapped.

Josh edged closer to him. ‘I’m looking at it. You think you’re a big shot standing up to me in the bus, eh. No one embarrasses me and gets away with it.’

‘Oh please,’ Alex said. ‘This isn’t about what happened in the bus – not that anything did. Besides, that was ages ago. Admit it. This is about dodge ball. You’re upset he beat you.’

Josh fixed her with a hostile glare.

If looks could kill, Charlie thought. ‘You tripped me up in front of the entire school. I’d say we’re about even.’

Josh shifted his attention back to him. ‘I decide when we’re even.’

Hearing the shuffling of feet, Charlie’s gaze darted to the students who were gathering around them. Looking back at Josh, he said, ‘Just leave me alone.’ He turned to walk away, but Josh grabbed his shoulder and swung him back around so they were once again face-to-face. ‘Get off.’ Charlie swung his arm in an attempt to break free and clocked Josh upside the head by mistake.

Josh looked at him with a mixture of shock and rage. Then his fist rose and –

Charlie felt himself falling backwards, and he hit the ground with a hard thud. A sharp pain shot through his right temple and cheek, and he groaned.

‘What’d you do that for?’ Alex retorted.

‘What,’ Josh said. ‘He threw the first punch.’

Alex helped Charlie up. ‘That wasn’t deliberate, you moron.’

‘Just leave it,’ Charlie said to her. He turned round and pushed his way through the crowd.

A short while after, Alex caught up with him. ‘Are you all right?’ she asked.

‘I’m fine.’

She grabbed his arm, and he stopped. Lifting a hand to his face, she stroked his cheek. Charlie’s body tensed. Her fingers felt cool against his skin.

‘You’re hot,’ said Alex. Their eyes met, and she dropped her hand. ‘I mean your body temperature.’

After a moment of awkward silence, they continued down the hall.

‘You need to go see the nurse,’ Alex insisted. ‘He hit you pretty hard. You have to report him.’

‘No, I just want to forget it happened.’ Charlie stopped in front of the boys’ toilet and turned to her. ‘You won’t report it, will you?’

‘He should be expelled.’

Charlie glanced left and right down the hall and then inched closer to her, lowering his voice. ‘If my social worker finds out, she’ll freak. She already thinks I’m prone to trouble.’

Alex crossed her arms, pouting. ‘Fine. I won’t say anything.’

‘And you won’t do anything?’

Alex’s eyes shifted to the side. ‘I might have to check my locker door. Make sure it’s not faulty.’ She sounded amused. Her gaze locked on Charlie, and he noticed the twinkle of mischief in her eyes. Pressing his lips into a tight line in an effort to keep a straight face, he raised his eyebrows at her. ‘Okay,’ she said. ‘I won’t do anything. Promise.’ Her expression turned to concern. ‘How’s your face?’

Charlie massaged his right cheek, feeling a slight sting. ‘It doesn’t hurt much. I don’t know how it looks’ – he lowered his hand and turned his face to the side – ‘but it can’t be that bad. What do you think? You’d date me, right?’

Alex pushed him away, grinning. ‘You’re an idiot.’

Charlie smiled, which was short lived as he spotted Josh at the other end of the hall. He looked back at Alex. ‘Um, I need to’ – he pointed at the toilet door behind him – ‘I’ll meet you in the canteen.’ Before she could respond, he darted through the door, letting it swing shut behind him.

He headed over to the sink and looked at his pale reflection in the mirror. He splashed cold water on his flustered face, walked over to the window, which overlooked the sports field at the rear of the building, and opened it. When he saw the droplets of white flakes falling from the sky, he smiled.

It was an unusual beginning to March. He all but forgot his distress until he heard the click of the door and turned round. He started to panic, wondering if Josh had come to finish off what he’d started. When he saw Alex, he rolled his eyes. ‘Does any rule apply to you?’

‘What, it’s not as if you’re naked,’ she replied. ‘I just wanted to make sure you hadn’t passed out, in which case I’d have to give you mouth-to-mouth.’

‘It’s good I’m still breathing, then,’ Charlie said, the sarcasm in his voice not devoid of anxiety. He crouched down and sat on the cold ceramic floor.

Alex gasped. ‘It’s snowing!’ She dashed across the room and climbed onto the windowsill. ‘This is amazing. I hope it lasts long, that way we can have a snowball fight. I’d so beat you.’

Charlie glanced up at her. ‘I’m the dodge ball champion, remember. You’d be a snowman by the time I finished with you.’

Alex laughed and nudged him with her foot. ‘Arrogant much?’

Charlie held her leg and gently pulled her off the windowsill. ‘Go before someone comes in.’

She flopped down beside him. ‘I locked the door.’

Charlie regarded her in shock. ‘Oh great, so I get punched in the face and now I’m going to get detention.’ He sighed and leaned his head back against the wall. ‘You know they’ll think we’re doing something.’

‘Like what?’

‘I don’t know … stuff.’

‘At least they’ll stop talking about your face.’

‘Yeah, because now they’ll be talking about me locking girls in the boys’ toilets.’

Alex laughed, and Charlie narrowed his eyes at her. ‘Who cares what they say? We’re just friends, right?’

Charlie hesitated and then said, ‘Yeah … Friends.’

After a few seconds of silence, Alex asked, ‘That means a lot to you, doesn’t it?’

Following her gaze, Charlie looked down at his necklace, his hand clasped around the rings. He hadn’t even realised he’d been holding them. ‘They’re my parents’ wedding rings.’ He slipped the chain inside his shirt. ‘It’s the only thing I have that belonged to them.’

‘It’s not the only thing. You belonged to them.’

They held each other’s gaze for a long moment, until Charlie felt a heat rising inside him and looked away, pulling on his shirt collar.

‘So, about those jewels –’ Alex began.

‘Forget it. I’m not stealing it.’

‘We’re borrowing, not stealing. Something’s obviously going on otherwise he wouldn’t need to hide them. Who knows what else he’s hiding.’ She leaned into him and whispered, ‘I know you want to.’

Her warm breath tickled his ear, and he shivered from the electric tingles that shot through his body. He sighed. ‘I’m so gonna regret this.’

Charlie knew he was making a mistake, but the moment he opened the door to the hallway cupboard, his curiosity got the better of him. Turning the light on, he knelt down and slid the secret door open.

He froze.

It was empty.

Alarm bells started ringing inside his head, and that niggling feeling he got whenever he sensed something wrong churned in his stomach. He closed the secret door and turned the light off. When he stepped out of the cupboard, his heart stopped.

The front door was wide open, Jacob standing just outside the threshold, a light dusting of snow on the shoulders of his brown trench coat and felt hat. He stared at Charlie with an unreadable expression. After what seemed a long pause, he stepped inside the house, the exposed beams of the low ceiling just inches from his head. ‘You do love that cupboard, don’t you?’ His tone was calm. ‘What’s this, the third time now? Let me guess. You lost something again.’

‘Er –’ Charlie began.

‘I should warn you,’ Jacob interjected. ‘I hate it when people lie to me.’

Just tell the truth. ‘I heard a noise.’

Jacob slammed the door shut, and Charlie jumped. ‘Try again.’ His voice was low but as cold as steel.

Charlie swallowed the lump in his throat. ‘It’s the truth.’

‘I’ve tried to be nice. I’ve given you everything you want, and this is how you repay me. Go to your room.’

Charlie didn’t move. A crippling feeling of guilt mingled with something that was almost, but not quite, fear, came over him. Jacob moved closer to him, and he stepped back.

‘I said go to your room.’

‘But I –’ Charlie started to say.

‘But doesn’t exist in this house. Do as I say, do I make myself clear?’

‘But I –’

Charlie felt a powerful force crash into his face, and he stumbled and fell flat on his back on the cold floor. For a moment, confusion circled his mind, and then he felt a burning sensation on the left side of his face that stung his eyes. Ashamed of his tears, he blinked rapidly to prevent them from escaping.

‘Do as I say, do I make myself clear?’ Jacob repeated.

Charlie nodded, rubbing his burning cheek. He got to his feet and scurried up to his bedroom. Sitting on his bed, his body trembling with rage, he tried to make sense of what had just happened, but he couldn’t. Nothing made sense.

He got up and started pacing between the door and the window. The only thing he was certain of at that moment was that one side of his face felt numb while the other side felt as if it was on fire.

He sat down on the bed again, the sound of his heart drumming in his ears. Feeling a bead of sweat trickle down the back of his neck, he got up, walked over to the window, and opened it, cringing as the cold air stung his face. Staring up at the grey afternoon sky, he took deep breaths as he waited for his heart to slow.

Thirty minutes later, he sneaked into Jacob’s bedroom. He didn’t turn the light on. Jacob was in the living room watching TV, and he figured it was a good time to use his get-out-ofjail-free card and make a call. He picked up the phone on the bedside table, and before he even finished dialling the number, he heard an automated female voice: ‘The phone you are using does not allow outgoing calls.’ Charlie sighed. He had discovered the truth about hell: there was no escaping once you entered.

Charlie was asleep in bed when a loud bang woke him, and he jumped up. Seeing a tall figure standing in the doorway, he shrieked, remembering the shadow on the garden shed. When the lights came on and he saw Jacob, his body tensed.

‘Get dressed and meet me downstairs,’ Jacob demanded.

Charlie said nothing. He put on a grey tracksuit and went downstairs. Jacob was in the hallway holding a black sack. He looked up at Charlie and said, ‘We’re going for a drive. Get in the car.’

The two-door, black Morris Minor drove at a steady 30 mph along a quiet road. Charlie glanced at the clock on the dashboard that flickeredwith a green hue. It was 11:30 p.m. He looked back at the windscreen but couldn’t see much through the falling snow. Jacob hadn’t spoken a word to him since they left the house. The only place he could think of where Jacob would take him was Alpha Children’s Home.

There were sixty-five miles between Brentford and Capeton, and the journey was more than an hour and a half, but, at the rate they were driving, it would probably take them three hours to get to their destination. What Charlie couldn’t understand was why Jacob chose to leave the house so late. And what about his belongings?

A low crackling noise interrupted Charlie’s thoughts, and he looked out the window. When no vehicle went by, he realised the noise was coming from inside the car. His eyes rested on Jacob, whose hands gripped the steering wheel with such force his knuckles had turned white. He twisted the leather wheel as if strangling it, his jaw clenched and his nostrils flared. Charlie looked away; he did not wish to see the look in his eyes.

Just when Charlie’s mind started to wander again, the car jolted, and he lurched forward, his body held in the grips of his seatbelt. He grabbed onto his seat, fearing they had hit something. The car started bouncing up and down, as if springs had replaced the tires. Squinting, he peered through the windshield and saw trees ahead.

They were in the woods.

Charlie’s hand went to his chain, his fist clasped around the rings as his mind conjured up the possible scenarios that could be in store for him. He couldn’t help but wonder if he was about to meet the same fate as his parents.

The car came to a stop, and the headlights faded. A second light lit up the inside of the car, and Charlie glanced at Jacob, who was holding a torch. Jacob switched the engine off and got out of the car. He walked around the front to the passenger side, opened the door, and grabbed Charlie by the arm, pulling him out of the car.

Charlie followed him as he led the way through the forest. They walked for ten minutes before Charlie, paying no attention at all, walked head on into something rock solid and flew back onto the snow-covered ground. He thought he’d walked into a tree until he looked up at the blinding torchlight. Shielding his eyes with his hands, he managed to make out a large silhouette behind the light.

‘Would you be quiet,’ Jacob hissed, and then he walked off. Charlie heaved himself off the ground, dusted the snow off his clothes, and trailed behind. They walked for another two minutes until they came to a clearing where they spotted a two-storey stone house.

‘Listen,’ Jacob whispered. ‘You and I are going inside to get a few things.’

Charlie puckered his brow. ‘Isn’t it a little late …’ His weary voice broke off. He looked at the house, then at Jacob and the black sack in his hand. He looked at the house again, then at Jacob and the sack. He looked at the house again, then –

This went on for a bit, but when he finally connected it all, he gasped. Without thinking, he blurted out, ‘You’re a thief!’

Jacob clamped a hand over his mouth. ‘Be quiet,’ he said in a low yet stern voice. Shoving Charlie, he took a few steps towards the house but stopped when he realised Charlie wasn’t following him. ‘We haven’t got all day.’

Charlie blinked, dazed. He was certain he was dreaming. ‘You can’t be serious.’

Jacob grabbed him by the arm and pulled him towards the house. ‘Do you see me laughing?’

‘But –’ Charlie stopped talking. He had broken the forbidden rule. When Jacob didn’t retort, he said, ‘What about the owners?’

‘No one’s inside, you daft child. I’ve been watching the place.’

So that’s where he’s been sneaking off to, Charlie realised with shock.

‘Unless Edna’s ghost is guarding the place,’ Jacob went on, ‘I think we’re safe.’

‘Edna?’ Edna was the elderly woman Jacob had held a wake for a few weeks ago. ‘She was your friend.’

‘Now isn’t the time to be sentimental.’

‘But you’re stealing from a dead person,’ Charlie protested, dragging his weight as much as he could against the pull of his guardian. When they reached the front door, Jacob released him and crouched down. Charlie watched as he picked the lock. This man was just full of surprises. ‘This is wrong.’

Jacob stood up and grabbed him by the collar. ‘If you don’t shut up, you’ll be joining the old bag.’ Charlie’s face contorted with disgust from his reeking coffee breath.

‘I can’t do this.’ Charlie’s low voice was almost inaudible.

‘I don’t remember giving you an alternative, boy.’

He no longer had a name. It was now just ‘boy’.

Charlie stared into his guardian’s face, searching for something familiar. He didn’t find it. Jacob was more of a stranger to him now than when they had met five months ago.

Jacob started dragging him into the house, but Charlie kicked him in the shin and took off into the dark woods.

‘Get back here!’ Jacob yelled.

The snow crunched beneath Charlie’s feet as he scuttled through the woods, not knowing where he was going. Whichever way he looked, darkness was creeping up on him. He had to squint to see through the falling snow. Hearing Jacob’s voice some way behind him, he stopped and hid behind a tree.

The night was cold and misty. A gentle wind blew, making the hairs on the back of his neck prick, and he shivered. Apart from the slight crackling of twigs and the rustling of wildlife hidden in the darkness, it was quiet. Peering out from behind the tree, he saw the hazy light of the torch, which was moving away from him.

A snapping sound behind him made him jump, and he spun around. He gasped when he saw a figure moving towards him. It stopped close enough that he could see it wasn’t Jacob – for it was too thin – but not close enough to allow him to make out a face.

‘Be not afraid,’ a soft voice said.

Panic rose inside Charlie, and he turned to run, but his feet slipped from under him, and he fell onto his back. Glancing behind him, he saw that the figure had disappeared. Then he heard a noise like the flutter of wings and looked ahead, his eyes widening with fear.

The figure, wearing a long cloak, was standing a few feet away from him, a hood covering its head.

‘My name is Candra,’ the figure said.

‘How did you …? You were just ...’ Charlie staggered to his feet.

‘I do not wish to harm you, Charlie,’ Candra said.

Charlie paused. That voice … It sounded so familiar. He caught his breath in his throat. It can’t be. ‘How do you know my name?’ he asked in a shaky voice.

‘I have known you your whole life. I am here to protect you. I’m aware you are unnerved right now, but try to remain calm. The last thing we need is an earthquake.’

Charlie thought back to the tremor he had felt inside the canteen on his first day of school, and his breathing accelerated. His legs trembled as he took slow steps away from the woman.

‘Listen carefully,’ Candra said. ‘The talisman you saw. You need it. You must restore it –’ She broke off, and an urgent edge crept into her voice. ‘You are not listening. Focus.’

Charlie clenched his eyes shut. She’s not real. Wake up. He opened his eyes, and she was still there. His heart kicked into overdrive when Candra disappeared and reappeared in front of him, leaving only inches between them. Seeing her intense green eyes, her face slashed with scars, he screamed.

No sooner had he tried to run than a violent windstorm assailed him. The snow and dead leaves on the ground rose with the wind, attacking him. He fell once, twice, three times but got back up again.

As the wind grew stronger, it picked him up and threw him backwards. He hit the ground hard.

Lying on his back, he heard faint footsteps. Soon, a blurry figure was standing over him.

Then darkness swallowed him.