Desolate

Inviting the whispers to your home

It has been weeks since Tracy has been at school. Jamie was unable to go to Tracy,s house to check up on her, "she has called numerous times, and the phone just rang. It is Friday afternoon, and Jamie is walking back from school when she notices this couple walking alongside the lake. She usually takes her daily router to her house. This couple looked a lot like the couple she saw in her dream Lilah,s parents, "Jamie has many unanswered questions regarding her dream.

She now stops by the isolated house, as she turns to go into the house, coming close to the door she turns around as she hears a whisper saying come in, she now ushes open the door slowly, looking around the house, It is quiet," every detail in her dream is exactly as she saw it here in the house, she now walks over to the kitchen where Lilah's dad was killed as she touches the drawer she feels the rough edges as she notices the stained red mark on the corner of the kitchen drawer, walking over to the lounge she bends down and sees a silver hairclip the same one Lilah was  wearing when she was killed, She now goes to the window and she sees the Russians by the door, " It is as if she is reliving the moment, she can clearly how Lilah,s dad got shot, Raphael laying lifelessly on the floor, and his dad laying a few meters away in the kitchen and the mom, this family was murdered, Jamie walks to the dusty old cabinet and she sees a newspaper on the floor, it dates back into the 1940s, she now shakes the dust off the newspaper and see the front page, Family of four murdered brutally at there home, there was no motive to the murder, and suspects at large. MR.Charles Brighton and MRS. Rebecca Brighton and their two kids Lilah and Raphael, age fourteen, were viciously murdered, with no witnesses.  Avery is safe. Fortunately, she was not at home at the time relatives were looking after her. This is Glasgow's most brutal murder and tragic incident ever to take place.

Anyone with information, please come forward. This is exactly what Jamie had dreamt. Jamie now walks up the staircase, entering the room where Liliah was murdered, she walks over to the cupboard where Lilah was hiding, and as she slowly opens it, looking down, she notices the rope hanging out the cupboard. This is exactly how the killers caught Lilah. She now bends down and touches the rope feeling a cold breeze from the corner of the room. As the shadow immerses her, Jamie crosses her arms as she rubs her arms to warm up. She walks towards the mirror and looks into it, so you saw it all. Hey, Jamie nods her head. So you dead, no we are not dead. We are within you," what do you mean when you keep saying that? We are within in Jamie, says Raphael. Jamie looks over to Raphael; what happen to you was awful, and I felt everything you were feeling. See what I mean we are within you. Jamie shakes her head, holding the newspaper in her hand, "Why do you have that in your hand? Says Raphael. It is the newspaper about what happened here. I have never seen it. That is because we do not go downstairs, says Raphael. Did this really all happen in 1940 on January 12? Yes, that was about a week ago, a week ago says Jamie, We are in in the year 2021, You a funny person says Lilah, I am not joking says Jamie it was eighty years ago Lilah, No says Lilah as she paces back and forth Jamie takes out her phone do you know what this is? No, what is that? this is a cellphone. What is a cellphone? This is a transmitter that I can use to get hold of someone not around me; Lilah is walking frantically back and forth.

But why are you worried, Lilah? You are me, and I am you, right? Yes, Lilah looks up at the mirror. Jamie notices the darkness in her eyes. Where is Avery? Suddenly there is a scream in the corner of the room as a women float across the floor Jamie panics and move back, Mom relaxes this is Jamie, I know who you are, where did you take my baby, MRS. Rebecca Brighton? Jamie shows Mrs. Rebecca the newspaper. She is alive, and I am your Mom says Rebecca, I am within you. Those voices always guiding you. That is me.

Jamie grins. I always felt your presence, Mom, but I do not like dad. He is touching me inappropriately. I know, honey, and you are now safe in the drawer. There is a little capsule. All you have to do for mommy is put the capsule in his tea, and he will be much nicer to you. He will change, and you will see your future is so much brighter; Jamie grins, thank you, Mommy, as she shadows now fades, to the corner of the room, Lilah is looking at Jamie you heard what Mom said we must do. We cannot disobey what she said I heard Lilah, and We must go says Lilah, Jamie, Raphael comes, I am right beside you Jamie, arriving at home Jamie greets her mother and heads upstairs sitting on the bed, She now phones Christopher, hey it has been a while how you have been doing? You never heard? I heard what, I got injured in soccer practice. I have been home for weeks, I never knew, I have been trying, to get hold of Tracy for a while, she is not answering my calls, that is strange because Tracy is fully recovered she moved to another school, why? Says Jamie. She never said much, only that she does not want to be at that school. She is in an all-girls school.

Ok, I hope you have a speedy recovery Christopher, Tell him his sister is a coward for not telling you, No I can't she, maybe she is just scared, maybe who is just scared? s**t, he heard. Jamie hangs up the phone. You should have told him Tracy is a coward; you should have killed her, says Raphael. What are you guys saying? She is my best friend, A best friend who did not decently tell you she is leaving the school; luckily you have Raphael and me; yes I am lucky to have you, says Jamie, we will protect you, yes your brother. We will protect you, the voice whispers, do not forget that capsule, honey. It is o that your dad can treat you and your siblings better.

Jamie, do you have someone in there, honey? Seriously who is this woman? That is my Mom Raphael, Jamie now turns to the mirror, and there is Lilah. Why does your mother allow your Dad to touch you? She does not know, and I have not told her, she chose her happiness over yours what mother does that Jamie, Jamie who is in there with you, No one just me, her mother now opens the door, are you talking to yourself honey, no mom I am talking to Lilah and Raphael, MRS. Diah looks puzzled. OK honey, tidy up your room before Scott gets home. She is such an annoying person, excuse me? What mom? You just called me annoying. No, mom, that was not me. Lilah keeps quiet. Are you ok? Yes, mom,  

Jamie's mother now leaves the room and goes downstairs, and I am sorry for my mom not greeting you. She usually does not greet my friends; It is ok. I am not surprised at her reaction. She never regarded you as her own I mean, she made us work while our friends were out there having fun. My Mom is a good woman who fell in love and traveled the world for this guy.

And she disregarded how you feel about moving across the world. That Tracy, I still can,t believe after everything we have been through, she just moved to another school without telling us, and she does not even call us. That is all in the past. Jamie,s phone is ringing, speaking of the backstabber. It is Tracy. What does she want? I do not know. Let me answer and hear what she wants.

Jamie: Hey.

Tracy: Hi, how are you, Jamie?

Jamie: Good, thanks. How are you doing?

Tracy: Ok, thanks. I was going to tell you I changed school,

Lilah, sure you were going to tell me, I had to find out from your brother,

Tracy: I was going to tell you, Jamie.

Jamie: Sorry, that was not me talking. It was Lilah, 

Tracy: Glad you found new friends,

Jamie: Yes, you should meet them,

Lilah: You a liar. You were selfish and just cared about your own wellbeing. Wait till I get my and on you.

Jamie: Lilah, what the hell?

Tracy: I am not in the mood for your games Jamie, when you are ready to have a serious conversation, call me!

Lilah: I have been trying to get hold of you the whole week, and your cowardly just left me on my own.

Tracy: I was in a new school, Jamie. Sorry for not telling you, but after what happened, I almost killed myself.

Lilah: You better off dead, you backstabber.

Jamie: That was not me, Lilah stop, please, 

Tracy: Take care. I do think it is best you do not call me again.

Jamie: Tracy, wait, that was not me,

Tracy: Hangs up the phone.

Why did you just do that? Lilah, she won't ever speak to me again after this. Good with cowards like that, you do not need enemies?

Jamie, come downstairs to eat. Are you guys hungry do you want to join us? No, just remember what Mom told you about the capsule, yes I will remember, Jamie walks downstairs, today still Queen says Scott sarcastically, I am coming says Jamie, let us say grace says Scott, his such a hypocrite, look at his face hs desiring you while he is praying, now is a good time to drop the capsule in his tea. At the same time, his eyes are closed, give it to me I will put it in, It is I the tea whispers Lilah, Mom will be so proud of us, I will wait for you upstairs.

Jamie is acting strange. When I told her about the other school I moved to, she kept saying rude things and claimed it to be her friend's. Jamie does not have friends, says Christopher. I know that is what freaks me out; it is as if her one changed. I heard a guy whispering to her.

A guy? whoever he is he was in the room with her, maybe it is Nick, why would you think it is Nick because he recently asked her out to lunch, she said yes, that clears up a lot because in the past few days she has been absent. Whenever I wanted to talk to her, she was too busy. At least now I know why she was busy. Maybe I could be wrong, Christopher, but I know what I heard is a guy's voice; then she made that comment and said it is her friend's. We do not need her, says Tracy.

Tracy and Christopher now stand up, and they sit outside by the swing. I can feel something happened to you, but I do not know what it is, Tracy, Just your imagination,

Tracy knows she cannot say anything. It will destroy her family. But she needs to talk to Jamie because what if this guy comes back or hurts someone else.

Hey Kids, what have you been u been up to, kids, nothing much, dad, are you and Mom home tonight? Yes, I was thinking of a movie night, says MR. Rowling, that will be great says, Tracy. And pizza, Honey, are you sure you ok you seem very pale on your face. I am a fine dad. How is Jamie doing? She is fine, thanks, Dad, MRS. Rowlin now looks at MR. Rowlin, there is something wrong they sense between Jamie and Tracy, Christopher and you? What about me? How have you been? OK. Jamie has a boyfriend, and she met someone? Yes, we called her earlier, and she was acting.

He's not waking up. Who is not waking up? Scott ate and said he is not well. I went to shower came back, and he is not breathing. Did you all the ambulance, Yes Christina, they on there way, what is happening? I thought you said the pill would make him a better person; it will. He probably has an allergic reaction, will he e ok? I hope Raphael because if he is not ok, you killed him. I never killed him. Mom said to put the capsule in his tea. Who is mom? Mom is long gone, says Lilah. How could mom have told you? The ambulance arrives, and the paramedics rush inside. There is no pulse, Mam; tell us what happened? He said he was not well after dinner and he had to lay down, and I went to shower and found him like this, his pulse is dropping says the one paramedic to the other we got to get him to the hospital. Mam, what did you eat, rice and steak, was there anything else? Did he take any medication? No, he did not, 

The paramedics now put him into the ambulance as Diah cries,  Honey, will you be ok alone at home? I must go to the hospital, OK, Mom, I will be fine you go, please let me know if he will be ok, I will honey, I am sure he is just sick, Jamie feels her heart is racing, What if they find the pill she put I his water, What am I going to do? Nothing says Raphael, and you got rid of him just like you wanted to.

That is a lie, and I did not want to kill him. Mom said I must put the capsule in. They were going to pin this on you. You need to leave this house at once, and the police are probably on their way here. Jamie is now panicking. What do I do? We must get out here, Jamie. Do we need to go far from here, maybe to where no one will expect to find you? Scott has a safe with loads of cash in it. If we can get hold of that safe, we can take care of each other. Where is the safe?

 It is in the main room. The key is under the pillow, says Lilah, Raphael, and Lilah now walks to the room with her as she searches for the key under the pillow. It is not here. Try in the pillowcase, says Lillah. Jamie now puts her hand inside the pillowcase and feels for the key. Finally, she finds the key, where is the safe, behind that portrait that Jamie now removes the portrait and opens the safe with the key, she has never seen this amount of money her whole life, you need to hurry up Jamie they on there way, Wait says Jamie I am just getting my clothes Jame take warm Jackets and pants, for tonight go our house then tomorrow we can go to the other side of town, do you still have your passport, yes I do, well you cannot use it back to your own country they will be expecting you head there, you right Jamie now take the cash and the red backpack with two other plastic bags of clothes as leaves the house. 

I am scared, Jamie. It is dark, and it is late. I am tired, she says. You are safe. We are almost by our house, Jamie now enters the house, and it being nighttime, the house is very dark. Lock the door, where are the keys, in that Jar Raphael points.

Jamie now stands on her toes to try and reach the Jar as lets the Jar fall off, and it breaks the key is in there, and an extra key, for what is this key says Jamie, It is the key to the hidden cabinet it is a secret room no one knows about. Jamie locks the door as she attempts to switch on the light. There is no electricity. Use your cell torch. You mean the cellphone torch says Jamie to Lilah. There is a gas stove if you need to make anything to eat. Raphael and Lilah walk around the house with Jamie as they look around, "I remember this spot. It was our favorite playing spot, says Raphael, ye,s and mom and dad love playing hide and seek with us over here, and Avery sat there. 

Lilah,s and Raphaels' eyes darken Jamie is too busy unpacking to notice, where am I going to sleep? In my room says Lilah, where is your room? My room is the one you met me in. Oh yes, I could have guessed that.

Jamie heads to the room and throws a blanket down on the floor by the mirror. So what are we doing tomorrow? Says Raphael. Lilah now answers we are going to leave this place. I need to text my mom says Jamie, and you cannot do that because your Mom who disowned you will tell the police where you are, and they will charge you for murder. Jamie is lying next to the mirror with a grey hoody top on and long tracksuit pants. She is lying under a thick grey blanket and wearing a beanie. I am scared; what will I do, where will I go? You are not alone. We are within you. Hearing those words brought comfort to Jamie; she had two best friends who had her back. Jamie felt very unsettled as she tossed and turned to find the right sleeping position on the wooden floor. She would sleep on the bed, covered with dust.

Raphael, are you not tired? No, he says, I love being awake; it keeps my mind alert; he lies next to Jamie and Lilah. You guys are my best friend. I am glad I met you. You brought us to life says, Lilah. We would not be here if it were not for you. Jamie looks up as the reflection in the mirror is dark. She can not see Lilah without the mirror, and she can see Raphael. The air in here is cold; lets us both hold you so you can warm up. Jamie smiles. That is very kind of you as she feels warmed over her body. The blanket is suddenly folded double as she clings to the blanket, wrapping it around her. Do not forget to switch off the cell ops that might trace you. Thank you for reminding me.

Jamie now closes her eyes as she drifts off to sleep. Jamie, you are hereby placed under arrest for the murder of MR. Scott, you have the right to remain silent you say can and will be used against the court of law, you welcome to hire an attorney should you wish to proceed with a state lawyer you are entitled one,

But I never killed him. Jamies Mom grabs her by the neck, choking her as she tries to break loose, but her grip is too strong, and Raphael is just standing there watching. Why are you not helping?

They now point in her direction as she looks back and suddenly sees this speeding train coming in her direction; as she blocks the light from shining in her face, she finds herself in the same room as Scott he is undressing as she looks down at herself she finds herself, half-n***d, what is happening she is confused, Keep silent he says you made a promise to make it our little secret. No, she screams waking up, you had one of those bad dreams again says, Lilah "yes, I had one of those dreams says Lilah as she looks up and notices the tiny window with a burglar bar on it. The sun is up. How long have I been asleep."What are you going to do Jamie" you got to get away from here far as possible, Jamie you a murder, as the sun reflects on the cupboard, there is a little girl about eight 18 years, her eyes are blue, and she has light blonde hair she is wearing ballerina shoes? A white dress, who are you say, Jamie, I am Avery, who are you talking to says Lilah, can you not see anyone. It is Avery they cannot see me says, Avery, and I am trapped in this house only visible when there is light. 

Jamie keeps quiet and looks over to Lilah, Avery, what happened to you, the dark shadow from the corner now emerges; it is MRS. Brighton, where is Avery she demands, Avery what happened to you? says Jamie. Well, I stayed with my grandparents till I was eighteen, MRS. Brighton and Lilah can now hear Avery; that is my baby says MRS. Brighton Avery continues I was on my way back from practice, and a blue car pulled beside me and offered me a lift. I rejected the lift because four guys in the car were smoking w**d and drinking. The one guy then stepped out as I attempted to run they grabbed me and did horrible things to me, the same thing that happened to you and Tracy after they were done they, she pauses, they tide my feet took me to a park and fastened me to the back of the car and drove with me across the concrete my skin was bruised, Jamies eyes now start to tear, that is the most vicious thing that could happen to anyone after they were done they started to panic. They thought the best way to get rid of me is by chopping up my body and putting it in the pipe of this house.

Mrs. Brighton's eyes darken as a coldness fills the room. Did they ever find your body? NO, but I forgave those guys the same way you should learn to forgive others, do not listen to her, says Lilah; she wants you to get into trouble, they will lock you up. Do not listen to them says every you should go back. Everything you think is happening right now is not real; your stepdad was never mean to you he did not touch you this here and what you think has happened with your stepdad is all in your head Avery, the shock of, Avery goes silent as she fades, set me free from this house a voice whispers to her, how do I do that?

Have my decade's body removed from those pipes; Lilah now whispers she is not real. You need to leave this house before cops come looking for your here.

Avery now looks to the dark corner, and she sees Raphael. Lilah is right. That is not Avery, but how do you know she was a  baby the last time you saw her? Yes, says MRS. Brighton, that is not Avery. That is not my daughter. Do not listen to her; we need to leave this house. Ok, Mom, when it gets darker, we will leave this place and never return. Jamie hears whispers it is coming from Avery, do not leave, your Mom needs you Scott is fine you will be fine, Jamie has not eaten all day, as she starts feeling tired, you cannot leave who is going to feed you? You're only a kid. Live your life do. Jamie feels in her gut instinct Avery is telling the truth, set me free says Avery the voices of Lilah, Raphael, and Rebecca is all in your head. Jamie now screams stop, as she holds her head, whispers all around her, she hears a car, and she hears screaming and gunshots. If they are all in my head, what happened to those guys? What did this to Tracy and me? There is a light shining beneath the cabinet. It is silver as Jamie walks over and picks it up. It is a knife. Jamie, you did nothing says, Lilah. That knife does not belong to you, and this is the first time I see this knife says Jamie, 

Avery now disappears as Jamie keeps thinking about what Avery said. What if Scott is OK, and her mother needs her? She walks down the staircase as she walks around the house, it is silent, and the wood is creaking with every step she is taking. Jamie walks to the kitchen and notices something sticking out beneath the cabinet. She bends down and sees it is a photo in black and white. It was a picture of the Brighton family. Avery was in a cradle, and the family stood around her. 

Jamie got this sharp pain in her head as she held her head. I need to go home to get painkillers, Jami. You got your medication in the backpack said Lilah to her. Jamie now reached into her backpack, taking out her medication. Sleep says MRS. Brighton, you will feel better when you wake up. Jamie now doses off to sleep. She hears sirens all around her, and she see Scotts Body in a bag as they bag him close and load him into the ambulance, suddenly she sees her mother calling her as she runs up to the mother. Still, the closer she is getting to her other, the further her mother is moving, she now sees herself standing by a tombstone," in memory of the Brighton family, Avery is standing beside her and holding her hand as a voice echoes you are not alone, Suddenly Jamie see herself opening the door, and the Russians open fire on her as she falls into a hole that is big enough for a coffin, She is screaming for help but no one can her MRS. Diah is the one with the spade throwing sand over her as she is crying, Mom I am alive; do not bury me she screams, but she is completely paralyzed as she tries to scream, her body becomes weaker, and she feels as if she is drowning unable to breath with the sand on top of her, wakeup she hears a whisper, you are dreaming. Jamie wakes up, and the face she sees is her mother's face as she throws her arms around her mother's neck. Her mother has a glass of water with a Cariprazine pill; drink this honey. Jamie takes the pill as she now walks downstairs. I told you not to take that pill. Your mother is trying to poison you. I did not take it; she thinks I took i. Jamie takes the pill out of her mouth, right here. 

Good, says Rebecca. I told you that is not your birth mother. Your mother died in the car crash when you were little, now who is she? Jamie whispers. Your dad hired her to kill you because he did not want to put up with you and now doing exactly what they want you to do? What about Scott, What about Scott honey says Diah, he is here, hey honey, there you are how are you feeling today, Jamie smiles I am much better now, Scott glances at Diah, passing her a glass of water, Jamie looks up at the glass that is the glass I put the pill in, I think he saw the pill he is trying to poison me. He is not trying to poison you. He never saw any pill in the water. You can drink the water. Shut up! Excuse me, says Diah. Have you taken the pill I gave you? Yes, Mom, you saw me with the glass of water, and I swallowed it. Scott looks over to Diah, see how they are looking at each other they are waiting in anticipation for you to drink the water.

I know! You know what, honey? Nothing, mom, I was just thinking out loud, Ok, how was school today? It was great Mom, myself, and Tracy hung out with the seniors, and they were so nice to us; then they invited us for a birthday party, and we dance and had so much fun. Scott looks over to Diah, frowning, that is great, honey. I am glad you are making new friends. Yes, mom, I think you mean you are glad that Tracy and I are making new friends. Oh, Mom and our new Maths teacher said we are his best students.

Scott picks up his phone and texts Diah, " are you sure she took the pill? Why does she not remember what happened to Tracy? They are bored of seeing how they were looking at each other they wish you could keep quiet already. Jamie honey, eat up your food now before it gets cold, do not drink the water says Lilah that water has tablets in and you will fall off to sleep, and they will kill you, honey you never drank your water, why do you not first drink it Mom, Jamie! do not talk like that to your mother, it is fine I will drink it, honey, Diah drinks from the water, see she switched the water, I saw that you saw what Jamie, Jamie grins nothing Mom Tracy is waiting for me, I have to go now, she walks upstairs.