Sorry if there are people that have been waiting for more of this – I've been stupidly busy of late!
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'Do you mind if I go home, before I drop you off? It's just that I'm starving now, we could order a take out or something.'
'That's fine with me.' They had been sitting in silence for the last ten minutes, and Alison was glad for the break. 'Where do you live?' She asked. 'Just here.' Olivia replied as she indicated left. Alison was awestruck. The house was huge! It was a large Victorian style with bay and stained glass windows and a large oak door. There were three expensive looking cars parked out on the drive. 'Craig loved his cars' Olivia commented as she saw Alison looking over at them. Olivia turned off the engine and got out of the car. Alison followed her. Olivia was stood by the cars, admiring them. Alison was still in shock, she knew Olivia's house was big, but didn't expect it to be this big. 'Craig loved the cars. This one was his pride and joy. His Jaguar. It was a present from his mum and dad, before they moved to Spain.' Olivia smiled, remembering his face when he had first seen it, parked outside of their old flat. 'Shall we go inside?'
'Ok' Alison replied. She followed Olivia as she unlocked the front door and stepped inside. Alison went in after. The hall was large and airy, with its own fireplace. There were pictures all over the walls. Holidays, weddings, even cars! All with the same two smiling faces. Olivia had been so happy. It seemed even more cruel now, realising the sort of life that she may have had, had Craig never been diagnosed with cancer. 'I'll go and get the menu's. Make yourself at home.' Olivia took Alison's coat and went down the hall. Alison went into the living room and sat down on the comfy leather sofa, in front of the fire rather than the large television in the corner. Alison closed her eyes and could feel the spirits calling out to her. When she opened them she saw the girl in the yellow dress. 'Is this your home?' Alison asked, but the girl vanished, as Olivia entered the room. 'So what do you fancy? Chinese, Indian, Pizza, fish and chips?' Olivia asked. 'Fish and Chips sounds nice'
'Fish and chips it is then.' Olivia jumped up and walked to the phone. Alison looked around again. 'So many spirits' she whispered. Living here could drive her mad. Olivia put the phone down and walked back over to the sofa. She bounced down on the sofa beside her. 'I'm sorry about before. I don't know what happened. It was strange. I was fine, never better in fact, then as we got closer to the house I felt scared, and sick. I've never felt like that before. Then there was a voice in my head repeating over and over, 'Olivia, if you go in you'll never come out'. I was terrified! I nearly drove past, but I told myself, 'do it for Alison'' She looked over at Alison, and then continued. 'When we got into the house, I felt dizzy, I couldn't breathe, it was like drowning. Then Brian came down the stairs, deep down I thought he looked like the sort of person that would dress up as Santa in a shopping centre, but I felt so scared. I don't know why.' She shivered. 'Thinking about him scares me! I had to get out. The other thing that I don't understand is…. I knew where the bathroom was. I've never been in the house before and I knew where the toilet was!' Olivia shook her head, 'What happened to me Alison?' She started to cry. 'Alison hugged her. 'I don't know. Unless, it was a spirit.' Olivia backed away. 'What do you mean spirit?'
'Maybe it was a spirit, making you feel how they felt before they passed away. A warning maybe.'
'Like Brian killed someone, and…'
'Why would Brian kill someone, you said so yourself he looked harmless'
'Looks can be deceiving, and like you said, a warning. Hey Julia said that their son drowned, maybe..'
'Stop it.' Alison stood up. The doorbell rang. 'I'll get it' Olivia said. Alison sat down. Olivia was being stupid, wasn't she?
Olivia came back with the bags of chips and handed a portion to Alison. She was about to say something when Olivia interrupted. 'Forget about it, I'm being silly, he wouldn't kill his own son.'
'I'm going to go back tomorrow, to see Julia.'
'I'm coming too'
'Are you sure?'
'Yes. Someone there needs help, but can we go when Brian won't be there. I still don't trust him.'
Olivia looked at the alarm clock. 4 am. She had taken Alison home at 11 and went straight to bed, but she couldn't sleep. Deep down she was scared, not surprising, especially after hearing the voice in her head. She rolled over, realising just how empty a double bed could be, and looked at the photos on her bedside table. Smiling pictures of Craig, and a last photo of Robert. She had taken it the last time that she had seen him, a week before he had died. She began to cry. 'What do I do Robert? What do I do Craig? I need you. I need you both' she whispered. She knew she would never get an answer, but it gave her comfort. They were too young to die. She rolled over again and cried herself into an uneasy sleep.
Alison sat on her bed. It was 4 o'clock in the morning. She couldn't sleep. She was staring at the corner. The girl in the yellow dress was there, just looking at her. Alison longed to know who she was, but the girl just wouldn't talk. She just stood there, playing with the bow in her hair. Never taking her eyes off the girl, Alison crawled into bed and slowly fell to sleep.
Olivia stood in front of the students giving her presentation on spiritual mediums. A personal favourite of hers. The class sat busily taking notes, Barb sat at the back with a notepad in hand. She was taking notes, this made her more nervous than anything. She had great respect for her, but she wished that she would talk to her. Ever since Robert had died, she had been quiet, choosing to spend time alone in her office with Jude, Robert's 'wife' than talk to anyone else. She finished the show. 'Any questions?' she asked, knowing that no one would answer. They were bright, but they never asked questions. 'Right, in that case for next time, read the Bridge notes that I gave you, see you next week.' Barb had looked up at this point and gave her a wry smile. She got up and walked to the front of the class. 'Where did you get the notes from?'
'Alison gave them to me'
'You're seeing her?' Barb looked outraged. 'Yes I am. Robert wanted me to. Do you have a problem with that?' Olivia looked at her. She had hit a nerve. 'Robert told you to?'
'Yes. Yes he did'
'Why? He hardly knew you!'
'I think I knew him slightly better than you' Once again it was obvious she had hit a nerve, 'I've seen a side to Robert that you never did' Barb looked like thunder. She stormed out of the room. Olivia turned to pack her things when she heard Matt behind her. 'That Barb's a bitch'
'What?' Olivia turned to face him. 'I hate her.' He scowled.
'Don't say that'
'Why not, it's true.'
'She's just lost her friend.'
'So have you. You told her'
'Well I was wrong. I should never have said those things.' She turned away from him. 'Do you want to go for a drink?'
'Matt! You're a student, you can't say things like that!' She quickly picked up her bag, but he grabbed her arm. 'Let go of me!'
'Not 'til you say yes!' He looked sinister. She struggled to get away. 'Is there a problem?' Matt let go. Olivia looked over to the door. John Walker was stood in the door; he was a Physics lecturer who had an office down the hall from Olivia. 'Everything's fine. Matt was just leaving.' Matt grinned at her as he left the room. 'Are you alright, Olivia?'
'Yeah I'm fine.' She looked a John, and for the first time realised how handsome he was. He was tall about 35. He had short black hair and eyes almost as blue as Alison's. 'Let me carry that for you' He took her bags off her. 'Are you going to your car?'
'Please!' she said. He smiled at her. They walked in silence to her car, but somehow it wasn't awkward. As they reached the car John spoke. 'So what are you doing tonight then?'
'I'm meeting a friend'
'That sounds nice.' He handed her back the bags and she got in the car. 'See you tomorrow then?'
'Off course!' She smiled and waved. As she drove off she looked at the bags and saw a note. 'Call me' with a smiley face and a number. She smiled as she drove to Alison's and began to fill with dread and fear at the thought of possibly facing Brian, but was slightly comforted by the thought of calling John later.
