Chapter 5
Alex sat on the leather couch, sighing heavily. He had changed into a casual outfit; his favourite blue V-Neck shirt, and his old, torn jeans. A tall, thin, balding man sat opposite him.
Alex looked up, his eyes red. Either side of him sat Ryan and Drew, both still in their uniforms.
The man smiled gravely. "Your Gran left this house to you" he told Alex, in a bored, flat voice.
Alex nodded, as he knew this already. Chrissie had always told him that he would earn the House if anything happened to him.
"Everything she ever owned goes to you," he continued, in the same toneless voice.
Alex nodded but his friends knew he just wanted the earth to swallow the Man.
"I'll show you out," Ryan said, getting to his feet and guiding the aged solicitor to the door.
Alex felt another wave, of tiredness this time. He put his head on Drew's shoulder. She put her arm around his shoulders and rested her head against him.
Ryan returned, looking at the two. Both their eyes reflected the flames from the fire, and they were perfect together.
"A' hem," Ryan announced his presence. Drew and Alex parted instantly.
"I think I'll be going," Drew said, gathering her belongings. Alex heard the slam of the door moments later. He sighed, and drank the last dregs of his tea.
"Why? Why Gran?" he sobbed. His Gran's lifeless body kept flitting in-and-out of his mind.
"The Book!" he gasped, leaping to his feet. Surely there'd be something in it.
He ran up the stairs, his footsteps echoing through the empty hallway. He knew this idea was mad, but anything at all, that could console him would be a easier way to sweep this under the rug.
He
wished for the pain to go away. At the top of the stairs, he stopped,
and looking in a mirror.
"Who are you?" he asked himself.
His
skin was white, deathly pale. His hair, dark locks framing his green
eyes. Several freckles, reminders of his teenage years spread across
his nose. His lips were blood red.
"Who are you?" he repeated.