Watchers Chapter Four

Watchers

Chapter Four

“Good morning!” Rhianne called cheerily, and opened Ciana’s curtains. “Time to wake up.”

From beneath the covers and pillow Ciana murmured, “Go. Away!”

“Come on Cici, it's a beautiful day out there. RJ has already gone out to investigate. Why don't you go join him?”

Ciana sat up “What did you say?”

Rhianne laughed, and looked at her strangely, “RJ has gone out to investigate.”

Flashes of the nightmare started to ripple through Ciana’s mind. “I had the strangest dream, well it was a nightmare and you said nearly the same thing.”

“Well then, it's fate. Come on, I let you lay in but it's nearly 10.”

Dragging herself out of bed she said, “Yes. I'm up, I'm up.”

“Only a few more days until school starts, and you need to get into a routine now.”

“Yeah,” Ciana stretched out. “Wait what?”

“School starts on Tuesday, and it is Saturday.”

“What the...really? How come?”

Rhianne placed more boxes in her room. “We have been packing all summer, so it’s gone really fast. Anyway did you get I tough with everyone last night?

Ciana hadn’t realised how fast the time had gone. “No. There's no signal or Internet!”

“Ah. I must admit I didn’t notice any cell towers. Well, while we wait to get connected in the house, maybe you can see if the library in town has Internet?”

“Yeah maybe.” Ciana grimaced when she noticed the box that she had packed up had been moved back in. “Where's dad?

“He's gone into the factory to meet everyone. He should be home about 3. Just in time for dinner.”

Inside Ciana cringed. It was no secret her mum couldn't cook, yet still she tried and every night the three had to force feed themselves whatever had been made. And, they had to pretend to like it.

“I'm doing a sausage and cabbage casserole.”

“Oh,” Ciana smiled with a bleary eyed look. “That actually sounds really nice.”

“I know!” Rhianne grinned back. “I just have to pop into town to see if they have any sausages, otherwise it’ll be a surprise.”

Ciana gagged, “I hope they have sausages then!”

###

Five streets all leading off this main road, and all filled with the same style house. Still Ciana could see no other signs of life. There wasn’t even any sign of Creepy Malcolm after yesterday’s welcoming party. She moseyed on out of the estate and down the main road. Though it was classed as a main road, there was no traffic and nothing but flat fields lying either side of it. Ciana carried on walking until she came to what looked like some small cobblestone building. Slowly she walked into it, thinking that maybe it was the remains of something else. On the far wall there was a list, and on closer inspection she realised it was a bus timetable.

“A little posher than the plastic covered bus stops back,” she stopped herself, and took a breath, “in my old home.”

Ciana took a closer look at the bus times, but the closer she looked the less sense the chicken scratches, that were supposed to be the times, made. She stepped out, and looked the building over again. Now she knew what it was the old remains now looked like a pretty little hut. No weeds were growing around the frame and the brick building hadn’t been touched by a can of spray paint.

“Nice,” she muttered.

A car zoomed past. It travelled down the road so fast that it nearly took the corner on two wheels. Ciana thought if there were other people living in this place she may as well see who they are, as they seem to be the only neighbours. She hurried along the road and turned off, following where the car had gone. She stopped. She was on the main high-street of LittleBridge.

For a town centre it was pretty empty, but then, there were hundreds of empty homes so Ciana wasn't that surprised. She wondered along looking at the shops. There once was a butchers, the windows now smeared with dust and grime. At the end of the street was a waterfall and beyond that a large house that had long since fallen into disrepair.

Ciana peered through the dirt smeared window and could see most of the outside had begun growing inside, and around all the counters that still remained. Next was a bakery, a pharmacy and many more little shops. All of which had gone the same way. The shops had been closed a long time, in some cases years more than others. There was one frozen food shop that was still open, a post office which too was still in operation and then a funny little shop. The car Ciana had followed was parked outside, and a lady dressed in bright colours dashed from her car back into the shop. Her skirt was a bright purple, and over it she wore a long green waistcoat. 

“This weird little town just got stranger,” Ciana whispered. She watched the lady running back and forth from her car, carrying things into the shop. She was quite happy hugging the wall and not being noticed yet. She didn’t want to become the new sideshow in town. 

"Cici?"

Ciana cringed, her cover had been blown and the oddly dressed lady heard Rhianne call. It wasn't hard, there was no one else around. With a smile at Ciana the lady locked her car and rushed into her shop. The little bell rang as the door closed.

“Cici?” Rhianne called again. Ciana turned and watched her mum run towards her across the road. “You have come out to look around! Met anyone?”

“No, mum, I've only just got here.” She followed her mum to their car which was parked the other side of the strange little shop. “I found a bus stop, but there seems to be no signs of the buses stopping here.”

“Well, they better,” Rhianne laughed. “That's where you'll be getting the bus to school.”

“Fingers crossed they won't stop then.”

In the window of the little shops were dark curtains, but many coloured trinkets and hanging things sat in view. The colours all turning and glistening in the window had really caught Ciana’s eye

“I got a real feast in for tonight.”

“Right,” Ciana wasn't really listening.

“I'm think of still doing the casserole but maybe something else in it. It’s so cute here, the lady who runs the grocery store also runs the Postoffice, she has a little door from one shop to the next.” Rhianne chuckled to herself, “Though I don’t think she’s too busy. But, you never know, maybe as more people move in I could get a job here?”

“Yup.” There was one thing in the window Ciana couldn’t stop looking at. It looked like a spider web in a circle with feathers and beads.

“Right, so I'll see you back at home?”

Ciana brought herself too, “Yeah sure, that sounds good. I'll see you back there.”

“Okay. Oh did you find your brother?”

“No. I'll look for him on the way home.”

“That’s fine, I think he went to check out the old ruins.”

“Yeah yeah, that’s fine.” Ciana had already drifted towards the shop. She opened the door and the little bell rang alerting everyone to her presence. She stepped in and over a white line that ran along the door frame where she was instantly confronted by a curtain of beads.

There was a smell in the air, it was a dusty smell. Ciana fought her way through the beads and found herself in a very dark little shop. Shelf upon shelf held more items that sparkled and glistened in the little bit of light that came in. She spotted more of the things she had seen in the window. She wondered towards them, browsing the shelves as she passed. Hanging on the wall was a purple web that had pink and purple feathers coming off it. She smiled as she looked at it, she had no idea why she smiled she just did.

She outstretched her hand to touch it when someone spoke.

“Pretty isn't it?”

Ciana snatched her arm back and smiled, “Yes. What is it?”

“It's a dream catcher.” The wildly dressed lady stood next to her and explained, “Some believe it catches all your dreams, and then only letting the good ones through.”

“I could do with that,” Ciana laughed. “Had a weird one last night.”

The lady smiled. “Are you visiting?”

“No,” Ciana couldn't hide the regret in her voice. “No, we've moved into Third Avenue.”

“Oh,” the lady shifted a little. “I hadn't realised they were moving people into those houses...just yet. Anyway, I'm Lucy and this is my shop.”

“It’s a very pretty shop, and filled with the most…strangest things. I'm Ciana.”

As soon as Ciana said her name Lucy seemed to choke a little. “That's a pretty name,” Lucy tried to cover her shock. “When did you move in?”

“Yesterday,” There was an awkwardness between them now.

“You haven't ventured out too much then?”

“Nope, here is the first place. I was actually looking for my brother. Knowing him he's probably down at those ruins we saw on the way in. Ciana grimaced, “I should probably go and get him...”

“No!” Lucy shouted. “Sorry, it's just that erm I doubt he'd be there. Lydia, the lady who lives there, doesn't like children playing around the ruins. They're dangerous. So I doubt he's there, well I hope he's not. She can be...aggressive.”

“The lady?”

Lucy nodded. “I would stay away from there. You’re new and I don’t want you getting into trouble on your first day.”

“Okay...well I should get going,” Ciana started to back out of the store.

“Wait!” Lucy rushed to follow her. “Please take this,” She thrust a dream catcher into her hands.

“I can't,” Ciana chuckled and tried to hand it back. “I haven’t got any money.”

Lucy refused to take it back. “It's a gift from me. Think of it as a welcome to the town, plus after last night’s dream this should help.”

“Thanks...”

“Please, Ciana, come back I'm always here and always happy for a chat. There's not many people here so a friendly face is always nice to see.”

“Sure. Thanks again.” She backed out of the shop and hurried away.

Lucy stood by the door and shouted, “Hang it directly over your bed, over your head!”

Ciana turned slightly and waved with a little smile. Through gritted teeth she muttered, “Seriously I have to live here?”

She stopped next to the old butchers and looked at the dream catcher. It was pretty and much bigger than the others she'd looked at. This one had three little dream catchers hanging from the larger one. She went to head home when she heard something. She edged towards the side of the butchers and she could see someone standing in the alley. It sounded like a girl as she talked to someone else, but there was no one there just the shadows.

"I heard," the girl said and no one replied. She turned suddenly and stared at Ciana.

“Erm...Hi?” Ciana smiled.

The girl looked back at the shadow then stormed towards the street, barging into Ciana as she went.

“Sorry,” Ciana said. “I wasn't...”

“Just don't,” the girl hissed and carried on walking until she got to Lucy's shop where she went in.

The girl had dark black hair. It was shaved one side except for a bit by her ear that matched the remaining length. Her makeup was dark, thick black rings lined her eyes and her lips matched too. Even her clothing was dark and tight fitting.

“Wow,” Ciana sighed. “With people a friendly as this, no wonder the town is dead!”

It was still warm, and it wasn't much past lunchtime. With any hope as soon as she got home her dad would be there. If this house was as cheap as they said, then maybe they could send her home to stay with a friend. Who needed holidays?

The town was flat, and you could see far across the fields where there were no trees, but there were more trees in this town than houses and definitely more trees than people. If she turned right at the main road then she would head home, but left was the ruins. Where RJ would most likely be causing mischief.

Ciana turned left. All she knew was that there was a strong chance she would be confronted by some crazy old woman who wielded a frying pan or broom at kids. Either way, there was a strong possibility RJ would be antagonizing the poor thing.

The ruins were just about visible from the road, most of the hedges had grown tall enough to cover it, but there was one patch that was empty, showing off the old brick. Ciana peered through the gap and could see the cemetery and some of the building. In the distance was the little house she had been warned about.

“How are you supposed to get in?” She wondered. There was a large ditch either side of the hedge and there was no way she would be able to get through that way. She walked on a little further and found a large metal gate. The same kind that keeps animals in the field. The track beyond was really overgrown with brambles, stinging nettles and hedges that were wildly out of control. she couldn't see any forms of life.

“She really doesn’t want visitors, that’s pretty clear. RJ?,” She called quietly.

Lucy was adamant that she did not go in, and she wasn't going to. She just hovered around the old metal gates trying to see down the lane.

“RJ?” She growled again.

The wind whipped up around her, blowing dust down the lane towards her. She turned away so as not to get it in her eyes and saw an old man standing across the road. He was just staring at her, with his hands on his old-fashioned bike. Ciana didn’t want him to think she was going to break in, so she lifted her hand and waved slowly. The man waved back. Suddenly from down the lane came a scream. Ciana spun around.

“RJ?” She panicked and tried to push the gate open. It was caught on the thick branches of the hedges. She turned to ask the man for help, but he'd gone. “Argh! RJ you pain in the...” she throttled the gate back and forth trying to release it, but it wouldn't budge. She knew she had no choice and climbed over, the wind picking up even stronger. She landed both feet on the ground and slowly tried to fight her way through the undergrowth. Her jumper snagged on everything and she kept having to turn and pull it free. The lane turned around a bend and the hedges closed up, leaving very little sign of her being able to get through.

“RJ you little...” she ducked to avoid a wildly swinging stinging nettle. “Get out here now!”

There were no sounds echoing back, it was like the scream she had heard earlier hadn't even happened. She spun around, shouting his name. Panic was starting to set in.

Nothing.

The growth was so thick that she wasn't sure which way she was heading anymore. Her jumper snagged on something, and she pulled at it while she tried to work out which way she had come from, but everything looked the same. She turned to unhook it but she wasn't looking at the thorns of an overgrown weed, she was staring at the off white razor-like teeth that belonged to a huge dog. It had her jumper and was snarling wildly at her.

She couldn't scream, only a little yelp escaped her lips as she tried to pull herself free. The dog growled, and snarled. It was salivating. Ciana clumsily pulled at the knot around her waist, trying to free herself.

The dog shook its head with the jumper in its mouth, ripping it to shreds. She began to back up when she heard more rustling from in front of her. Two more large beasts joined in the hunt, and they were ready to kill her.

She should have listened. Lucy warned her it was dangerous to go down here. But what if RJ was down there? Was he lying hurt somewhere?

“RJ?” She screamed, but there was still no reply.

The dogs started to advance, closing in on her. They let the thorns and spikes brush their coats and faces without a flinch, but Ciana’s arms were getting caught and ripped to shreds.

“Nice dogs! She whispered with a shaky voice. She tried kicking sticks in an attempt to distract them but nothing worked. She still had no idea if she was going the right way.

She stumbled over a branch, falling backwards. The dream catcher fell beside her, but she was so scared she hadn't noticed. The dogs growled at each other as if they were talking, then one dog snapped at her foot. Ciana scooted backwards as fast as she could until she was completely snagged on the brambles.

Someone stepped out into the lane with her, he appeared from in the hedges and he stood with his back to Ciana, guarding her from the dogs.

“Close your eyes!” He ordered over his shoulder.

“What...why?” She screamed, still pulling her feet out of their reach.

“Just do it!”

The wind picked up again, so much dirt blew in her eyes that she had to close them tight, and turn her head away from the sudden gale.

There was a loud noise, and the wind rushed past her, the dogs were squealing and yelping, the boy made no noise. She couldn't tell if they were hurting him or if he was hurting them.

“What’s going on?” She tried to call out, but the noise was too loud. Then as suddenly as it started it stopped.

“What the hell are you doing down here?” Ben growled very uncaringly.

“I heard a scream! My brother, I came to check he wasn't playing in the ruins.” She wiped her eyes, and managed to open them to see the boy kneeling down in front of her. He looked angry. “I'm sorry,” she stuttered. “I didn't mean to come in, but I was worried about my brother.” She became affronted, “Anyway, there should be signs saying there are mental guard dogs on patrol!”

Ben snorted, and held out his hand to help her up. “Are you okay?”

Refusing to take his hand she picked herself up and looked over the cuts in her arms and clothes. “Yeah I'm fine.” She wiped herself down. “I really do need to check my brother is okay.”

“He's not here,” Ben said.

“How do you know?”

“Because I live here, and he didn't come down.”

“Hang on I was told an old lady lived here, and where did you come from?”

“That's my...aunt. I was working in the field when I heard you scream.”

Ciana couldn't stop staring at Ben’s blue eyes. They were such a bright and vivid blue. Then again the town was so dull anything colourful stood out. She suddenly realised they were walking and she was back by the gate.

“What did you do to the dogs?”

“I just scared them away that's all.” Ben started to pull the gate. It opened with ease. “Next time, don't trespass. It's dangerous around here and you might get hurt.” Ben had backed her out back onto the road, and was closing the gate.

“Yeah sure,” she replied confused. “Sorry. And, thanks for helping.”

Ben half smiled at her and waved her off.

“Ciana!” RJ called.

She turned to see RJ riding towards her. “Oh,” she looked back for Ben but he'd gone. “Where the heck have you been? I nearly got mauled to death looking for you!” She growled.

“Huh?” RJ was confused. “I found this in our garage along with a car! So I've been out riding all day.”

“A car?” She asked

RJ nodded. “Who were you talking to?”

“I, err, no one.” She glanced at the lane and there was no one there, no dogs and no boy that had just saved her.

“Found a new boyfriend?” he laughed.

“Hardly!” She snapped and hit his arm. “I thought I heard you in there. It was so weird, someone screamed and I went to help, but there were these massive dogs. They were trying to kill me!”

“Mum and dad won’t move back, no matter what you tell them.”

“Give over you plum, I’m not lying! Look at my arms.” Ciana walked at the side of RJ as he slowly cycled along. “Have you seen any other kids around?”

“No, but I have found some really cool stuff. Seriously, the stuff that comes with the house is amazing. It's like a dream come true!”

“Dreams!” She looked down and realised it had gone. The dream catcher she was given by Lucy must have fallen somewhere back there. No doubt those dogs would have eaten it out of spite.

“Lost something?”

Ciana nodded, “A gift someone gave me in town.”

“There are other people living here?” He snarled, “Oh man! I thought I’d be the king of this place!”

“I don’t think so,” She laughed.