Chapter 7

Memories and Regrets

The next morning Craig and Embry went Christmas shopping. They were up to something, I could practically smell it.

After breakfast mum went to work. It was just Jo and I.

'So why?'

'Why what?'

'Why did you leave?'

'I had to. You know what I did. I had to get away.'

'Chase the dream.'

'Never the magic.' I grinned at her. She looked sad.

'When you go back…'

'Our doors are always open to you.'

'Good, I don't know how much more of mum I can stand. She's trying to mold me into… well you know…'

'Iggy?'

'Yes.'

'Oh no.'

'I might visit some time soon then.'

'I'll keep a bed ready.'

I took Link for a walk. We went to Lochardil woods. Tiny as it is it was a like being in my own world. It was so peaceful.

Then it happened.

Memory after memory bombarded me at once. Everything I had blocked from my mind the past year flooded back. Children's laughter filled my head, conversations and, loudest of all, a song. Sung in a million different ways by three distinct voices.

I looked up at the tree tops. I saw the singing girls sitting in them. I watched them skip through the bushes. Then they came right form me on their bikes. I screamed.

They passed right through me.

Link was whining at me. I had forgotten him. One of the girls walked right up to me and sang.

'Let me tell you that I love you and I think about you all the time.' I collapsed and Link howled. He had felt something too. The pain was overwhelming.

'Cat?' somebody yelled. I knew the voice.

'Phone an Ambulance and get her a blanket.' I opened my eyes. It was Helen, Aids mum.

'Don't. I'm fine.'

'Hun we want you looked at. You'll have caught a death out here.' and sure enough as I sat up I saw the ground was covered in snow.

'Link got us. He was trained well.'

'That was why we bought him.' Aid returned with a blanket. He picked me up.

'It's ok, there's an Ambulance on the way.' that did it.

'NO.' I screamed, thrashing at him, Link thought he was hurting me so he bit Aid's leg.

'I'M NOT GOING TO HOSPITAL. DON'T MAKE ME GO BACK THERE.' I was shaking uncontrollably. I was going to phase, crap.

'CATHY!' oh thank the lord, my guardian angel was back. Embry took me from Aid, grabbed Link and ran.

We got to a dark part of the woods to calm me down. I tried to tell Embry what had happened but he didn't get it.

'Are you trying to tell me you were harassed by ghosts?' he thought I was mad. I hated that.

'Please, just trust me. Don't tell anyone. They weren't ghosts they were memories.' I begged him.

'Will you explain fully when you are ready?' His eyes were full of worry.

'Yes, every time I've acted weird there has been a connection. It's not lots of little problems it's one big one.'

'I think this holiday was one big mistake.'

'No, it wasn't. I need closure.' I said clearly, stopping the shaking for a moment. It was the first time I had admitted it to myself.

'I can live with that.'

'Good. Because I don't think I can.'