Testing Vickie

Chapter Seventeen

“Hello? Honey?”

I wake to gentle rocking, aware that voices are filling my head again.

‘she’s awake…her dress is still wet…she was so peaceful when she slept…’

I open my eyes and am greeted by the woman who helped me last night and a steaming bowl of seafood. I’m really hungry, but, vegetarian. Should I make an exception? Can I make an exception? Would it be rude to refuse it?

“I’m, uh. Vegetarian.”

She looks at me. “That explains why you’re so skinny. PADD GET SOME OF YOUR FOOD! THE GIRL IS VEGETARIAN TOO!” The woman walks out, stomping up the stairs.

‘euagh I have to share my food…she must be weak then, perfect…she’s different from the rest’

“I, thank you.” The boy named Padd comes down with a grin on his face. He didn’t, doesn’t want to share his food. A steaming bowl of pasta is now set before me.

“Eat up.” He says, giving me a spoonful. I scoff down the hot food, grateful for the nutrients it brings. Then they come back, one after the other. I try to adjust my mind to it but it gets louder, like Padd was speaking to me in a roomful of more people speaking to me. “So, what’s your name?”

“I’m Victoria. You can call me Vickie.” He gives me a smile. I stare at him. He stares back, still smiling. It makes me sick on the inside and I look deep into his eyes as they travel along my body down, down, down. “What was that woman’s name?”

“Mum? Oh her name is Maureen.”

“Can, can you get her for me?” He looks hesitant to leave.

“MUM. CAN YOU COME DOWN HERE!?”

‘what does that boy want…why can’t I be there…when will she be gone…’

“She’ll be down in a tick.” Padd reassured me.

She comes storming down with another boy. He reminds me of Nick. He has his eyes.

“Padd why don’t you help dad up the top?”

‘I wanna stay with her…she’s mine…she looks scared for her life…’

I stare at Padd, then the Nick looking boy, then Maureen. Padd sighs as he heads up and the boy who looks like Nick takes his place.

“I’m Vickie.” I try to smile at him but I don’t think it works. He grins back.

“Look Honey did you want something?” She looks a bit annoyed at me.

“Just to say thank you, for your help.” She smiles at that and hands me a thick, woolly red jumper. “Here, this’ll keep you warm, and help with the prying eyes.” I stare at her, thankful for her kindness.

I slip it on and feel warmth and security. Maureen stomps back upstairs whilst the other boy stays.

“What’s your name?” I ask, desperate to know.

“Why don’t you finish your food first?” He says, kindness and a hint of mischief in his eyes. He spoons a bit for me and tries to feed me. “Open wide.”

I refuse, wanting his name first.

“If you open, I’ll give you a letter from my name.”

I consider it for a bit, staring into his eyes, so similar to Nicks. I slowly open my mouth, just a little bit.

“I” he says.

“Sorry?”

“That’s the one of the letters in my name.” I accept what he gave me and open my mouth wider to accept the food. “Ready for more?” I nod my head.

“Open wide because the next letter is:” I stare at him expectantly. He stares back, just as expectantly.

‘Why do we have to play games?’

We wouldn’t have to play games if he’d just tell me.

‘We wouldn’t have to play games if she’d just finish the food’

I open my mouth a bit as he says: “N” and take a bite. Two more and I could be so close. So, so close.

‘Two more to go…almost there’ I hear in my mind, confirming what I think I know to be true.

Suddenly, the tattoo burns up. I stare down at it and feel his eyes track mine.

“What’s wrong? Are you OK?”

“No.” I whisper, breathe even as the burning sensation takes over my arm and a cold white takes over my eyesight. “Michael” I breathe again, just as I feel myself slip away.

“VICKE!” who yelled?

“Victoria, wake up.” A male voice, deep.

“Vickie get up!” It’s female. It’s Ana!

I open my eyes. The boy is frozen, terror on his face. I start to laugh at it. His eyes are wide and his mouth open just a bit, his body tense. Ana and Michael are on either side of him and I notice it, the silence.

“Vickie? You ok?” Ana stares at me. There’s a lot of staring happening.

“I’ve been hearing things in my head. I think they’re people’s thoughts. It’s bizarre.”

“Well, it’s your TEST and I don’t know what to do.” Michael says. Except, he doesn’t look at me. He stares at Vickie.

“How are you two lovebirds going?”

“What are you talking about?” Ana looks surprised.

“Have you seen the way he looks at you?” She looks at him and he stares back, lovingly.

“Why are we here Vickie? How am I here?” She looks at me blankly, questioning me with genuinely friend-love.

“Well. I don’t know. I was being fed then I felt it. The flash, the tattoo. That boy there. It’s Nick isn’t it? I didn’t know how I met Nick. That’s what this TEST is.”

“Well, you did take an abnormal jump in time for your TEST so this would be filling in that gap. This is rare though. Keep going with what you’re doing and those voices, deal with it.” And with that, they were gone. Except I was still frozen, the boy was still frozen but I’d moved next to him. Yet I was still there, lying on the bed, asleep. Suddenly he moves.

“Vickie!” He shakes me but I don’t respond.

“NICK WHAT’S HAPPENING DOWN THERE?” His name is Nick. I knew it! I knew it! I stop thinking for a moment. Nope. Still hear the voices.

‘is she ok…what has that child done…when do we leave…’

“NICK CERA WHAT HAPPENED TO VICKIE?”