Copyright E.I Jennings 2016
Burn Baby Burn…
I soon learned this strange, new world wasn’t that
much different to the one nudging against my memory. Men were still fighting
over land and honour but with much more disastrous consequences. War. I’d
missed two world wars and for the first time I was grateful I’d missed
something. Unfortunately, I wasn’t surviving that well. I’d managed to work my
way inland as if something was pulling me towards it. The devastation of war
was everywhere. Homes were nothing more than rubble but people seemed to knit
together and help each other. Somewhere along the way I’d been mistaken for
someone who’d lost everything in the final ‘bombing’. I wasn’t exactly sure
what that meant but I smiled and nodded at the men.
It always amazed me how people came together at times
of hardship. Although it wasn’t always a good thing. I was skin and bones and
hadn’t slept for weeks by the time I was found by these people, which I hadn’t
thought possible. It wasn’t a big house, but it was warm and I welcomed it.
“Help yourself to some food on the stove and there’s
some clean clothes over there. Mary will be down in a minute to look after
you.” I nodded, “Cat got your tongue? Never mind, I prefer women to be silent.”
Maybe coming here wasn’t the best idea after all.
I scooped out what looked like a simple soup into a
bowl and relished the heat and taste. I felt warmth spread across my body and
suddenly I didn’t feel the cold.
“So you’re the new one? You better grab some clean
clothes before Harry gets back and accuses me of not doin’ my job. Names Mary
and you are…” A plump woman with curly white hair and a stained apron scowled
at me,
“Meredith. I mean I think it’s Meredith.” I stuttered,
“Traumatised, that’s what you are. Never mind. Follow
me and I’ll show you to a room.” She threw a pile of clothes at me and I
followed her downstairs, “When was the last time you slept? You look exhausted.
We need to feed you up a bit and get some meat on your bones.”
I didn’t feel tired, nor hungry, but apparently my
appearance said it all.
“Here we are. You’re lucky we’ve a room. The last lot
left yesterday so there’s just me, you and Harry at the minute.”
“Thank you. I’m not sure how I can repay you for your
kindness.”
“Oh, you’ll repay us soon enough.” Mary smiled and
left but not without locking the door behind her.
It didn’t take me long to realise I was locked in the
cellar with no way of escaping. Apparently people hadn’t changed that much
after all. I quickly changed and sighed at the feel of shoes on my feet, a
little big but so much better than the cloth I’d wrapped around them. People
had definitely been living down here. Four beds sat in a row with a bucket in
the corner and a single candle flickering for light. What did they want with
me?
I sat on the bed with my knees to my chest wondering
how I was going to escape. Whatever they wanted couldn’t be good. I was such a fool.
Had I always been this trusting? I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The
next thing I knew I was standing in the kitchen with Harry and Mary. I panicked
and stumbled forwards. I should have fell into Harry but instead I fell through
him. This was crazy! I righted myself and waved my hand through Harry’s head. I
suddenly remembered my brother getting excited about his first astral
projection…my God I had a brother! I couldn’t remember his face or name but I
knew in my bones I had a brother.
“All we need is another three and I can sell them for
a pretty penny. The war was the best thing to happen to us, especially now all
those men are coming back from fighting needing a bit of lovin’!” Harry laughed
and the joy of remembering family soon ebbed,
“Which whore house you sellin’ em to this time?”
“I dunno. It depends. The one we got already will be a
bit of a looker once she’s had a wash and got some food in her belly. Maybe
I’ll sell them to that troll under London bridge for food. It’s a bit of a waste
but it pays.”
“Troll’s stink, and I thought we weren’t doin’ any of
that weird crap anymore. Ok, it brings in some money but things like that
aren’t supposed to exist. Not natural if you ask me!”
“He came to us remember. We only have his word he’s a
troll. Yeah he’s an ugly SOB and smells like a week old piss bucket but he’s
probably just delusional from the war.” Harry laughed and took a swig from his
glass,
“Delusional enough to eat people. How much did he pay
last time?”
“Enough to keep you in silk underwear for a year.” I
gagged at the thought and Mary laughed,
“To the troll it is then.”
I left them laughing over my fate and slammed back
into my body. I ran to the door and started banging when I heard footsteps,
“Will you shut up! Is this the way you repay our
hospitality? You’re safe down here so quit kicking the door.”
“I will not become troll food!” I yelled. There was
silence,
“Harry…” Mary yelled, “How many times do I have to
tell you to keep your voice down when talking about the merchandise?” I heard
Mary storm up the stairs and slam the top door shut. Even from the cellar I
heard pans crashing and glass breaking. Mary might look innocent but I was
guessing from the noise she had a temper. The banging went on for hours and I
settled myself on the bed. It wasn’t long until I felt my eyes become heavy and
I finally slept. I hadn’t slept since I’d woken in that cave. Not one blissful
minute and here I was, a prisoner, listening to Mary’s tantrum, finally knowing
sleep once more.
I’d always thought dreams were complicated things. The
only moment in life when you could do the things you always wanted, not being
held back by consequences. They didn’t always make sense but there was always
an underlying truth. I dreamt of people but their faces were out of focus and I
couldn’t quite bring myself to seeing who they were. I remembered a woman, her
voice, her golden hair but she had no face. I tried desperately to see but I
couldn’t. Her face was gone, replaced with screaming and crying. Heat, burning
heat, engulfed me until I could feel my skin boiling away. I felt anger and
then remorse. Sadness for the things I’d lost and would never have. Hate filled
my veins, not for me, but for another who shared my fate and then I was
choking. Coughing flames as the fire hit my lungs, coughing and coughing,
“We have a live one!” Someone yelled and I opened my
eyes, “We thought we’d lost you for a minute there.” I was lying on the wet
ground with a man covered in soot smiling at me,
“What…” I coughed,
“Don’t try to talk. There was a fire and you’re lucky
to be alive.”
“The others?”
“Mary and Harry? They deserved everything they got.
You’re lucky we’d been watching them.”
“I….”
“You’re going to hospital, although you look
remarkably well to say the fire started in the cellar. You can tell me all
about when you’re better.”
“Who….”
“…Am I?” He laughed, “We’ll get to that once you’re
able to tell me how you managed to start and escape a fire that managed to burn
everything else to a crisp.”
At that moment I knew that I was responsible. The fire
I’d felt in my dreams had manifested like it had done in the cave that first
day. I had killed two people and didn’t care. Not one little bit.
