Hey, new fic! Whilst still writing Reflections, I wanted to try writing another The Bill fic, but tackling a different issue which I hope I can do justice. Please read and review because reviews make me smile and help me make these stories more enjoyable and accurate thank you! P.S. I don't own The Bill or any characters etc.
Chapter 1 – Tell Me A Story
4am. Silence occupied the city, except the dull wail of sirens in the distance, or the occasional car driving past.
Number 17 Wellbank Road. The house drenched in darkness, a family asleep upstairs, unsuspecting; unaware.
A door is unlocked, the person slipping seemingly undetected into the house, silently closing the door. They wait. No sound. The person takes a few cautious steps forward, once again stopping to ensure no one is awake. When there is nothing but silence, the person moves on.
The little bedroom. Behind a strong, white oak door lies Rose, cuddled up tight in her warm cosy bed. The walls surrounding her displayed a menagerie of animals all shapes and sizes. From dolphins to kittens, from polar bears to horses, the little girl's room was like her own personal zoo. As Rose lay sleeping - the vibrant pink of her walls casting a warm glow over her room thanks to a moon-shaped nightlight - something stirred from downstairs. Footsteps. But Rose didn't hear. She lay in innocent sleep, imagining herself saving the world from nasty closet monsters. If only she knew that soon, the monsters would win, and then someone would have to ask: who would save little Rose?
Jasmine. Her red and black room was filled with items that betrayed who this conflicted teenager was. A pair of black skinny jeans thrown over an empty silver chair, green trainers sat in the corner, almost forlorn. Posters of different bands crowded around her, with names like Metallica and Flyleaf emblazoned across them. A make-up table strewn with mascaras and a variety of different coloured eyeliners, along with alternative jewellery such as a necklace with a razor-blade charm. Underneath her bed lay piles of rock magazines that Jasmine dutifully purchased every month. A small bookcase filled with CDs of bands also sporting obscure names such as Cradle of Filth and Kill Hannah, and DVDs of many genres ranging from Twilight to Shaun of the Dead. All in all, a room that screamed angst and rebellion, dowsed in appropriate darkness from the still night outside. As the wind howled through the crack in the windowframe, Jasmine snuggled further under her covers, troubled by a dream of major humiliation; a dream that would soon pale into significance.
Black and white. The duvet covers draped across a mother-of-two as she lay sound asleep, dreaming of a wedding day so far far away. A white satin dress hugged a perfect hourglass figure, the smooth honey complexion of a young woman's skin making her look radiant. Her long brown hair curled perfectly around and down past her shoulders, every curl completed with precision and care. In the background plays a soft, sweet tune as the band warm up waiting on the bride-to-be, as she receives the finishing touches to her make-up. Ready, she begins the nerve-wracking walk down the aisle, and as she looks side to side she sees her mother and father holding hands and smiling up at her. After what seems like forever, she reaches the altar, and turns around to smile at her soon-to-be husband, and watches as he smiles back, all the love he has for her reflected in is eyes. Denise smiled in her sleep, remembering this perfect day when her love for Nigel was stronger than it ever could have been. Little was Denise to know that those vows she made on that perfect day were to become nothing more than part of the fairytale, whilst she was left with the aftermath of a dream, for better or for worse.
1 day previous:
"Jasmine! Hurry up, you'll be late for school!" Denise Halpern shouted, grimacing as she glanced at her watch for the fifth time that morning. It was 7.30am, and Denise had to leave in 10 minutes. She hated it when things were running late, and she just wished that her family could understand that. She turned around to check on her younger daughter Rose, who sat at the kitchen table wolfing down her eggy bread in a typically childish, greedy manner.
"Rose, slow down. You'll choke on that bread." Just at that, her little girl looked up at her with wide eyes.
"Sorry mummy." She then sat the bread down on her plate and began munching slower on what was in her mouth, smiling at her mum as she did so. Despite her harassed mood, Denise returned the smile, a warm feeling of affection in her stomach. No matter what was happening in their life, Denise couldn't help but find happiness in that little girl. Suddenly, the fifteen year old Jasmine came thundering down the stairs, her dyed black hair bouncing on her head, a little pink bow perched on the side. As per usual, Jasmine sported skinny black jeans and black Converse trainers, with a white shirt, school tie and pink zebra print hoodie as her version of uniform. Her thick black eye make-up and tatty black nails were the finishing touches to her look, a look which her mother had long given up trying to change. "Look at all those other pretty girls in your class Jasmine" she would say, less than subtly. "Why must you insist on being so 'different'?" she would ask, bemoaning her daughter's decision to dress like an "emo". Entering the kitchen, Jasmine grabbed an apple and shoved it in her bag before grabbing a can of Cola from the fridge.
"Ready. Happy now?" she asked in a sarcastic manner, and rolled her eyes for effect. Denise sighed.
"Jasmine, must you be so...brash?" At that, Jasmine scoffed.
"Do you ALWAYS have to criticise me? I'm sorry I can't be a cute six-year-old like Rose, it must seem so selfish of me(!)" Jasmine folded her arms. "This is me. Deal with it!" That was it. Denise turned to her daughter, fire in her eyes.
"Jasmine Halpern, who the hell do you think you are? Do you think you can talk to me any way you want?" She paused, almost as if she wanted an answer, but then continued. "I am sick and tired of your moody attitude! I have been ironing my work clothes whilst trying to get your little sister sorted for school and make her lunch. I had to take the bins out AGAIN this morning because you were obviously
too busy to do it last night WHEN I ASKED YOU TO! I give you money for school, I give you money for going out with our friends, and I am TRYING to keep this house running whilst your dad is away on business! Now, I want you to go outside and get in the car, sit and wait until Rose is ready, and IF you can manage it, keep your mouth shut for the journey. Understood?" Jasmine laughed at this.
"That's just it mum. You're TRYING to keep this family going, but without dad you're just crap! I bet you don't even know what's happening today at school with me? Despite me telling you last night! Go on, guess!" Denise sighed.
"I will NOT play your ridiculous games Jas..." however, her daughter cut her off.
"It's the awards ceremony mum! Did you even remember that I was getting an award? Did you?" Denise faltered, but only for a second. "Of course I did!" But Jasmine just laughed. "No you didn't! I told you about it, and the only thing you said was 'oh well I can't make it Jasmine. Work.' and that was it. I wasn't even asking you to be there! I just wanted you to rememeber, but that was obviously too much to ask of the world's greatest mother!" It was the final straw. Denise grabbed her daughter by the shoulders and shouted,
"you cheeky little bitch! How dare you! I am so sick and tired of your 'poor me' attitude! You walk around like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders when you're only 15 years old! Do you think you are THAT important
Jasmine? Hmm? If your dad was here he'd say the same. You're so selfish Jasmine, and I never brought you up to be like this! I don't know where you learnt it, but it stops now! Do you hear me? Because I am NOT having a waste of space for a daughter! So give me a goddamn break!"
She finally let go of a now terrified Jasmine, who just stood shaking for a few seconds. Without speaking, Jasmine grabbed the car keys from the hall table and left, slamming the door behind her, determined not to let her mum see the tears that threatened to coarse down her face.
Denise stood for a few seconds, in awe of her own behaviour. Had she really just done that? She could still taste the bitterness of what she said, imagining the words burning a hole in her daughter. Sighing, Denise turned to see Rose sitting, eyes glittering with tears as she witnessed the blazing row. "Oh Rose, I'm sorry honey." But Rose got up off her seat, before turning to look at her mum and yelled,
"You said no more shouting mummy! You promised!"
With those words hanging in the air, Rose ran out of the room and up the stairs, crying her little heart out, terrified of that person she called 'mummy'. She ran into her bedroom before closing the door and sitting behind it, still sobbing.
Downstairs, Denise stood in the kitchen, unsure what to do. Should she still go to work, or stay home? However, after about 5 minutes of failing to coax Rose out of her room, the decision was made for her. She headed out to the car and chapped on the window of her daughter's side. "Rose won't come out of her room, so I need you to stay home. I'll vouch for you, say you're sick or something." Immediately, her daughter's enraged face turned to her and snarled
"You never listen do you? I'm getting an award today! I can't skip school! Besides, this is your fault. You deal with it."
And with that, Jasmine stepped out of the car and slammed the door, before heading down the drive.
"Jasmine!" Her mum shouted.
Without turning around, her daughter yelled,
"I'll walk!" and with that, she tossed the car keys back to her mum and left, anger welling up inside.
"Hello, and welcome to the 6 o'clock news. Top story tonight: news has broken that a young girl from Sun Hill, Canley in London has been snatched from her bedroom as she slept. The incident is said to have taken place in the early hours of the morning. Our local newscaster Harry Pembroke is there. Harry, what can you tell us?"
"Thank you Janine. Well, so far I can tell you that the victim is a 6 year old girl named Rose Halpern, who lives in the family home with her mother, father and older sister. As you said, she was snatched in the early hours of this morning, with early reports suggesting she went missing anywhere between the hours of 11pm and 6am, whilst the rest of the family were in bed. Our sources tell us that the father - Mr. Nigel Halpern - has been away on business for the past 2 days and will return later this afternoon to be with his distraught family. Police have cordoned off the area and are currently interviewing locals to try and establish just what happened. I've also been told that an appeal has been arranged to take place later this afternoon once Mr. Halpern has returned, meaning this search will already be nationwide."
"Ok thanks Harry. We'll hear back from you later. In other news..."