AN- Well my mum has decided that a family outing would be a good way to spend half term... So I had to write this chapter out before we set off, so I apologise in advance for any mistakes.
StariChanx- Well, I can't certainly tell you that the pictures aren't fake!
HTFan- Your reviews never fail to make me smile! If other people took the time it takes for you to write that much, this website would be even better. To say thanks, I will keep the actual truth as hidden as possible! Though I do promise that there are hidden clues throughout.
Chapter 10
Flaky dreamed she was running, running down the dark tunnel again, while the accusing dark stranger with the blazing eyes pursued her. But this time she made it out the tunnel.
It ended abruptly. Suddenly her grey frame house loomed over her. Without understanding how she got there, she found herself on the porch. Then the door opened.
"Welcome."
Nurse Tra-la-la stood before her. She looked different from before. Her eyes were smudged, her cheeks too bright and her mouth a crimson slash across her face. "I'm so glad you're home Flaky dear. I have a surprise for you."
She held a jacket out toward Flaky. "Go on dear. Put it on. It was made for you."
Flaky looked at the jacket. There was something strange about it. Then she understood what was wrong. It was a straight-jacket. And then (but it was impossible!) she saw that Nurse Tra-la-la was wearing a straight-jacket too.
Flaky started to scream, or at least tried.
When she opened her mouth, no sound came out.
She was jerked from the dream and suddenly sat up in bed awake in the darkened room. Her heart was pounding, and her mouth was still open in the silent scream.
After a moment she was calm enough to glance at the glowing flurescent numbers on th clock glowing at her bedside. Three-thirty A.M. The same time she'd awakened for the past, oh, how many nights? She slumped back against the pillows.
One day had blended into the next. She'd been home nearly a week now, and after the flash of recogition she'd had looking at the carnival, she'd had no more memories. And the fear had persisted. Sometimes she was nearly able to forget it, but always it hovered at the edges of her mind. Sooner or later it returned with full force.
She'd spoken to Lammy about the bad dreams and the fear. Lammy had pooh-poohed her worries. In fact, that's exactly what she had said. "Oh, pooh-pooh, there's nothing for you to be afraid of. You feel scared because you can't remember who you are. As soon as you remember what a happy life you had here, and get back to it, the fear will go away. So will th bad dreams."
It sounded so sensible. But as hard as she tried to believe it, it didn't work. Fear was her constant companion by day, and followed her into her dreams.
Night after night began with variations of the same nightmare that started with her running from someone in a tunnel. The only dreams that didn't terrify her were the ones she had about playing football in some sort of tournament.
She'd asked Lammy about her dreams. Lammy had told her that there had been no such tournament in real life.
Flaky chuckled to herself in the dark. Playing sports didn't mesh with the Flaky she'd been told about. That girl would rather be doing a crossword puzzle.
But the things she did in her dream seemed exciting and fun, and so real. After a while, Flaky drifted back into a restless sleep, yearning for that game.
She awakened to the sound of Lammy's voice. Lammy wasn't in the same room with her, she was somewhere else in the house. And she wasn't talking to anyone who was here, that much was certain, because the only voice Flaky heard was Lammy's. She was talking on the telephone.
Funny, Flaky realised she hadn't heard the phone ring since she'd been here. I guess I was just too out of it to notice, she thought. She strained her ears to hear what Lammy was saying.
"Tired...No, I don't think so...too soon...Flaky can't...She's visiting...relatives."
The last statement went through Flaky like a shock. Why would Lammy tell someone she was visiting relatives? Maybe it was one of her friends!
She struggled to sit up. But before she could even get her feet on the floor,s he heard Lammy saying, "I'm sorry. I really can't talk any longer. I'm late for work."
There was a sound of the phone being put down, the sound of Lammy's quick steps, the sounds of the door opening and then shutting with a soft click.
Flaky dropped back against the pillows. She turned her head to look at the time, ten o'clock. No wonder Lammy didn't wake me up, she thought. She must be very late.
Lammy woke her up before seven every morning and made her a big breakfast. No matter how many times Lammy told her she loved to eat a big breakfast, she always dreaded the meal. I guess my appetite has lost its memory too, she'd said to Lammy one morning. Lammy hadn't laughed.
Flaky turned over in bed and noticed that the movement caused no twinge of pain in her ankle. It was getting better. She decided she was ready to do some more walking.
She'd been staying off it as much as possible since the first day she'd been home. When Lammy saw how swollen her ankle had become, she'd said she was sorry for insisting that Flaky walk upstairs to her room. she'd brought up all her meals and waited on her hand and foot.
At first Flaky had been so exhausted and in so much pain she was actually grateful. But as she started to feel better, Lammy's hovering became more and more annoying. Yesterday she'd gotten so restless she'd wanted to go downstairs, but Lammy talked her out of it.
Well, she won't talk me out of it today, flaky said to herself. But first she decided to take advantage of Lammy's absence and sleep late. She rolled over and was sound asleep in a second.
When Flaky woke up again, it was nearly three in the afternoon. She yawned and stretched happily.
Her ankle hardly hurt at all. When she examined it she could see that the swelling was almost gone.
Moments later, Flaky stood in front of the bathroom mirror. You're looking better now too, she told herself as she smiled at her reflection. Her eyes had lost the dark circles, and the exhausted drawn look was gone form her face.
As Flaky brushed her teeth, she pondered the phone conversation. Who was it? She wondered. And why did Lammy tell them I've gone to visit relatives?
Flaky washed her face and finished with several splashes of cold water. She knew the reason Lammy would give her. Lammy always did what she thought best for her sister. That's what she always said.
Back in her room, Flaky faced the discouraging task of finding something to wear. She shifted the hangers this way and that, her frown growing bigger by the minute as she looked at each item.
Finally she chose a grey t-shirt and some black trousers. There isn't even a pair of jeans in here, Flaky thought, I need to get some more practical clothes.
Lammy will just tell me a shopping trip is too stressful for me, she thought with impatience. Then she had an idea. Lammy was always saying 'sisters have to stick together'. I'll tell her we'll make it a 'sisters' event. Sisters shopping together. A smile spread over her face. Once Lammy saw she could handle shopping, maybe she'd stop mothering me so much. I certainly hope so, Flaky said to herself. Now where was that phone?
An hour later she was no closer to finding it. It doesn't make sense, she said to herself. If i didn't know better, I'd think we didn't have one.
Finally on her third examination of the living room, she found it. It was tucked under a stool in a corner with the wire wrapped around it.
I guess Lammy didn't want the ringing phone to bother me, flaky thought.
In moments she located the jack and plugged the phone in. It was nice to hear a dial tone again. She hadn't heard one in a long time.
Flaky held the receiver in her hand.
Now what?
She hadn't thought this far.
Who am I going to call?
She didn't know a single number...or name.
Refusing to let her enthusiasm be dampened, Flaky decided to order pizza. She'd been trying to talk Lammy into getting one for days, with no success.
Now, how to find the pizzeria? They passed one on the way here...what was the name? Pop's! Pop's Pizza Palace.
"Yes!" Flaky cried out to the empty house.
She had just started to dial when she heard Lammy's key in the door. Before she had a chance to speak, Lammy looked at her holding the telephone and her eyes widened.
"Flaky, what in the world are you doing?" Lammy took three giant steps and grabbed the phone from her hand.
Stunned, Flaky could only say, "I...I was just going to make a call."
In a single swift motion, Lammy pulled the telephone wire from he jack. Looking at Flaky, she said, in a tone one would use to discipline a small child, "Sorry. No phone calls."