Chapter One
I found him in the garage on a Sunday afternoon. I had decided to start exploring, I had never been to France before, not even on holiday, and now I had come to live here. I was worried because I couldn't speak French; I never attended my French classes at Merton Junior. No, I'm not a person who skives off school, well, maybe I do, but only that lesson, and only that term. I miss that old school, all my friends, even the teachers I suppose. But now, no, I've got bigger fish to fry, well, it really depends on how big the first ones were.
When we first got here, to this cul-de-sac, it was really quiet, but as it went into school terms, it began to get busy with all these kids going to and from where I was to go, once my French language course with the black magic witch was over. The black magic witch, we had met Miss, or should I say, Madame Leverend last week, the day after we moved in. She has long, black hair, pale skin and an eerie essence of evilness around her. I wonder if any of the monkeys swinging all the way to Genera School and back had Miss Leverend for a while. I wonder if he did. Him. In the garage. I wonder if he's still there. I wonder what he's doing there. I wonder…
I remember stepping cautiously over the red tape at the garage door, it was like police tape, I felt guilty for being in what seemed a crime area. I remember the dusty French books, ancient novels and classics, I remember opening a few, reading some writing that puzzled me, closing them and shoving them back on the shelf. I remember pushing things around, moving things, coughing and sneezing. Then, I remember him, sitting in the corner, pale and small, his eyes looked like shadows, his mouth dry. A spider scuttled over a small box at his side, a lunch box and a drink flask.
"Who goes there?" he mumbled, he sounded like a normal person, but sounded all crackly, like an iced over stream being broken up. He had a French accent but spoke flawless English.
"Uh" I was stuck for words. Who was he, what was he doing there? "Hi, I'm Caty, I've just moved in."
"Oh, well, this is my house, go away"
"My new garage is your house?"
"No, my house is not here, I do not want to be in my house. Your so-called garage will be my house, mommy will not miss me. Only me and teddy live here, you go away now please."
He hugged a small ragged threadbare teddy at his side, then it hit me, he was only a child. I pitied him. Kneeling down beside him I asked
"Little boy, what's your name?"
"Why should I tell you?" he snapped.
'Jeez this kid is stubborn' I thought.
"Well, I told you my name so you can tell me yours."
"Hmmph" he turned away, folding his arms in a sulk.
"Well?" I insisted "What is your name and how old are you?"
"If I have to tell you, I am Pierre, I am 7, teddy is 7 too."
"Well, why don't you tell me where you live? Then I can tell your mommy and she can come and get you and look after you." I suggested this, hoping he would agree and get out, stubborn brat, I didn't want him there infected what was to become my den.
"No, I don't need you, I don't need mommy, teddy will look after me" he extended his arm, reaching out to me and giving me a hard shove. I toppled over and fell onto my back. Standing up briskly I dusted myself down and glared at him.
"Now go away, and don't come back. How can I run away if people know where I am?" He turned around, facing the corner. I decided it was no good and left...