Written for the Guest reviewer who wanted me to continue this story.
Mind Game
Chapter 9
Aaron had froze on seeing Chris, he could only look into the icy blue eyes staring back at him. He really was alive... and he looked just how he remembered him, tall, muscular, a power house of a man.
"You look a little pale Aaron, like you've seen a ghost!"
Chris was grinning at him, obviously amused at his reaction on seeing him. Aaron shook his head, he didn't want to believe his eyes. How was it possible? He stumbled backwards, his legs now trembling, his whole being shaking in horror.
"I .. I ..." Aaron tried to speak but his mouth was so dry the words were sticking in his throat. He could feel his heart racing, it was pounding in his chest like it was about to explode. Suddenly he was struggling to breathe, he couldn't take in any air and he was starting to feel dizzy. Terrified he would pass out and be at Chris' mercy he made for the kitchen. He wanted to get outside, into the open, where the air was cool. But he only made it as far as the table, there he had to stop and lean on it to steady himself, his legs were now threatening to give way beneath him. Remembering Paddy's instructions from the last time this had happened, he closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on his breathing. He knew he had to get it under control, if he didn't he would pass out and Chris... Aaron's head snapped up and he looked into the hallway, to where Chris had been standing. He couldn't see him! Where the hell was he?
As Aaron stared anxiously at the doorway a man appeared, but it wasn't Chris. This man was short, grey haired... who was he?
"Hello!"
The voice had a friendly ring to it, and seeing the stranger was carrying a package Aaron realised it was the delivery man he'd been expecting. He was beyond relieved to see someone, to know he wasn't alone with Chris. As Aaron staggered towards the front door another thought hit him, he now had a witness, this man could back him up about Chris being alive.
"Hi... parcel for a Mr J Walsh. I need a signature..."
"Yeah..." Aaron's gaze swept around the hallway, there was no sign of Chris now, had he gone upstairs, was he in the living room? He could be hiding anywhere in the house. Or had he left? Aaron sidled past the delivery man, hoping against hope to see the Boxster parked outside... but it wasn't!
Aaron spun around, "There was a man here, tall, really tall, did you see him?"
"No mate, now if you could just sign..."
"Did you see a car parked out there, a Boxster, a black Boxster?"
"No..."
"You must have seen it, please you..."
"Has something happened?" Bill had been a delivery man for nigh on twenty years, he'd experienced all sorts of stuff in his time, and he'd always been happy to help anyone in need. The young man before him was now giving him cause to worry. He didn't think the lad had looked well earlier, talking to him he realised he seemed more than a little shaken, something was definitely wrong, "Have you been burgled or something? Do you want me to call the police?"
"No. Nothing like that." Aaron didn't want the police involved, they'd just laugh at him, probably charge him for wasting police time."It's ok." Aaron took the parcel and then quickly scribbled his signature uncomfortably aware that the stranger was still eyeing him with concern.
"Are you ok? Is there someone I can call?"
"I'm fine. Just... just getting over the flu. Thanks though." Aaron hurriedly shut the door then made for the kitchen, he slumped down onto a chair desperately trying to make sense of what had happened.
Chris must have left the second he'd turned his back on him. He'd seen the state he was in and happy with that... for now at least he'd left. He can't have been here in the kitchen for long though, mere minutes, but it was obviously long enough for Chris to leave unseen.
Why had he fallen apart like that? Why? Well he had just seen a dead man! Who wouldn't have been shocked? It had left him feeling so scared, so confused. He still felt that way. He was in need of a drink but there was nothing alcoholic in the house.
Needing something to help calm him Aaron made a mug of hot sweet tea, he then sat back down by the table. He was still shaking, still unnerved by it all, he thought about phoning Jackson but decided not to. Truth was he didn't know what to do.
As he sipped on his tea he heard the front door open, he dropped the mug in his haste to get to his feet, knowing he hadn't locked the door he was terrified Chris had returned and let himself in.
"Aaron!"
Paddy's voice boomed from the hallway. "I'm in here." He didn't want Paddy seeing him in such a state and set about clearing the spilt tea, he was determined to get a grip on things before Paddy got wind of something being wrong.
Paddy strode into the kitchen, "Are you ok?"
"Yeah, knocked my tea over," Aaron busied himself mopping up the liquid mess, he could avoid meeting Paddy's gaze that way, for a little while anyway.
"I just... well, I don't think you are!" Paddy stepped in front of Aaron, snatching the cloth from his hand forcing him to look him in the eye.
"What?"
"I just had some stock delivered, the driver... nice man, well he asked me if I knew the lad who lived at Oak Cottage. He was worried about you..."
"Well I don't know why!" Aaron lied, how typical of his luck was this? The delivery man's next port of call had been the vets and he'd gone and opened his big fat gob to Paddy of all people!
"Does seeing a tall man and a Boxster ring any bells?" Paddy demanded, he was desperately worried about Aaron and knew he was trying to hide something from him now.
Unbelievable wasn't it? Chris continued to be the invisible man while everyone thought he was nuts. Well he now knew for certain that he wasn't imagining things, and he wasn't going to deny seeing Davies. "Chris was here, he knocked on that door. He's not dead Paddy, he's very much alive and..."
"No!" Paddy caught hold of Aaron's forearms determined Aaron would hear him out. "You had another flashback, I know how real it seems to you but it's all taking place in your mind. It's one of the ways PTSD manifests itself. You've got that appointment with the specialist later, I'll come with you..."
"No. I'm not going Paddy, I promise you I don't need to. What I do need is for you to believe me when I tell you Chris is alive." Aaron stared expectantly at Paddy, he'd never let him down before and he wouldn't now, not knowing how important this was to him.
"I'm sorry Aaron. I can't believe the impossible just because you want me to."
"Get out!" Aaron couldn't bare to look at Paddy a minute longer, how could he betray his trust in him?
"Aaron please..."
"I said out, now either you walk out yourself or I throw you out."
Paddy didn't doubt a now irate Aaron would indeed use physical force but he couldn't just walk away, he had to try and reason with him, "I'll phone Jackson, ask him to come home..."
"Yeah that would be right, you two siding against me! Well I don't give a flying fuck what you do, now piss off." Aaron shrugged off Paddy's hands and pushed him backwards, "I said out."
"Don't do this..."
"Get the fuck out!" Aaron raged, shoving Paddy even more violently.
"Ok." Paddy decided it was best he leave, "You know where I am though..."
" I said out!" Paddy had better get out of his face now or he really would lose it.
Paddy turned on his heels and made for the door, once outside he reached into his pocket for his phone to then speed dial Jackson. Aaron had caused him untold worry over the years but this... well he'd just taken things to another level.
TBC
