Crashing Down to Earth

  “Why did you bring me here?” Hayley asked. A cold blast of water hit her in the face and she flailed about trying to get away from the torrent. But with water in her eyes it was impossible to see where she was going and Hayley slipped and fell on her backside. The water suddenly stopped. Hayley rubbed her eyes, this time flicking trails of water from her soaked sleeves rather than vomit. Lori and Diane stood behind the hose laughing.

  “Fuck you.” Hayley staggered to her feet.

  “Oh come on, Evelyn, we were just messing around!” Lori shouted.

  Hayley smirked and ran at her, flicking a sodden sleeve. Lori squealed and ran laughing. “See how you like it!” She turned and went after Diane. The older waitress dropped the hose and bolted.

  “Stop! Stop it!” she laughed. “I’m serving Kiki later!”

  “I don’t care!” Hayley laughed, still chasing her.

  The merriment came to an abrupt end when the head chef, Nico, popped his head through the back door. The three women stopped what they were doing when he shouted at them. He looked the three of them up and down with blazing eyes. “Madam Kiki wants to see you right now, Evelyn!” he snapped, looking down at her disapprovingly.

  Before Hayley had a chance to ask why, he was gone, the door slamming behind him.

  “That isn’t fair. What happened wasn’t your fault,” Lori whispered.

  Diane shook her head. “You know she’s been finding any excuse to have a go at anyone about anything lately.” She turned to Hayley. “Don’t let her talk down to you, whatever she says. I know this is her hotel but we still deserve to be treated with respect.”

  “I’ll be fine,” Hayley assured her.

  “Are you sure? You could always get changed first. It will give you a chance to prepare for her shouting.”

  “No, it will be ok. I’d rather just get it over and done with,” she said. Hayley felt like her heart was in her mouth, despite trying to be brave.

  With a few more reassuring words and a pat on the shoulder from Diane, Hayley went on her way.

  ******

  Madam Kiki sat at the far side of a long mahogany desk, brooding. She stared at Hayley, her expression an unreadable mask. The Glaswegian had been sitting in her office for five minutes, but Madam Kiki was yet to utter a word. The office was deathly silent, the inner workings of the busy hotel muffled by thick walls draped with tapestries of every colour and design. The floor was just as garish, covered in richly embroidered rugs that were made from the finest wools.

  Finally Hayley plucked up the courage to speak. “You wanted to see me, Madam Kiki?”

  “Yes I did,” she said, her tone frosty. “And you will not speak until you are spoken to.”

  “Well, I am dripping on your rug, so if you’re happy for that to go on…”

  “What happened in the dining room tonight?” Madam Kiki cut her off.

  “Someone threw up on me. We cleaned it up and the last I heard he, or she, it, was being offered a refund and a fresh meal.”

  “No, that’s not what I meant.”

  Hayley shook her head. “I’m sorry I don’t think I understand what you mean.”

  Madam Kiki sighed and flicked back her long hair. “The demons you were talking to. No-one ever speaks to that particular sort anymore than they need to. In fact I have seen the serving staff drawing straws to decide who will take their order, such is their terrible manners and aggressive behaviour. They’ve killed my waiters before just for looking at them the wrong way.” She leant across the desk. “Yet I heard you went straight up to their table as soon as they were seated to take their order. Then you asked that one if he was ok before he was sick.”

  Hayley blinked “I thought that was what we were supposed to do, take care of the guests?”

  “No, yet again, you misunderstand me entirely, Evelyn. You spoke to one of the worst guests we ever get here. There are seven hundred people in this building and they all cower if they have to tend to that sort of demon. But apparently you were talking to them like they were just like any other guests.”

  Hayley considered her words carefully. “Jo told me that the staff should treat all of the guests with the same respect.”

  Madam Kiki inclined her head. “They should but they don’t. Which makes me wonder, did you work with demons before you came into my service?”

  Hayley shook her head. “I’ve never worked anywhere else. I…I, if I did, I can’t remember.”

  Madam Kiki slammed a fist against the desk and Hayley jumped. “Don’t play me as a fool, Evelyn! You know exactly where we are.” Regaining her former placid demeanour, she gently folded her hands. “The truth now. Where are you from?”

  Hayley sighed. “Glasgow. I’m from Glasgow.”

  “And how did you die?”

  “I was hit by a car,” she said, her heart pounding loudly in her ears. She feared Madam Kiki would see through that lie too. I can’t tell her about Alex, no matter how terrible I am at lying.

  “I am sorry to hear that,” she replied. There was a sad look in her eyes for a moment and then it was gone.

  Hayley felt a great weight lift from her then, but she kept her expression blank.

  “And when you were alive, did you ever have any encounters with beings from other worlds?”

  “No.”

  “Really?”

  “I’m pretty sure I’d remember if a pig-man had ever walked into the coffee shop where I used to work.”

  A thin smile crossed Madam Kiki’s face. “You know it is strange. As soon as the staff here realise where they are they tend to leave fairly quickly. Yet you seem to have no inclination to go anywhere.”

  “Maybe I’m just scared about where I’ll end up.”

  “You are worried that you will end up in hell?”

  “Pretty much,” she replied honestly. There was nothing to be gained from lying about such a thing.

  Madame Kiki stood, the folds in her long black dress shifting with her movements. “That would be a shame, considering you work so hard. The fact that you have managed to keep your mouth shut to the others about the truth of this place is also commendable.” She swept round the table, so that she was standing at Hayley’s side. “I will tell you something though. I do feel that your talents are wasted in the washrooms. So I was wondering if you would be interested in a higher position?”

  “Ok,” Hayley said, looking up at her curiously.

  “I have been looking for a new aide, someone to run errands between here and Longtown.”

  “What sort of errands?”

  “Messages mostly, my last raven failed to return. It is strange. I used to have six half a year ago.” She shrugged. “Anyway once I have a few more birds trained your job will be a matter of taking important items between here and Longtown, bringing back supplies, that sort of thing. Sometimes I might send you in the other direction to the other town, Hades, as well. But I really need someone with their wits about them. Can I count on you?”

  “Sounds like fun,” Hayley said, forcing a smile. Do I have a choice?

  Madam Kiki smiled. “Good. Have you got any questions?”

  Hayley thought about it for a moment. “Nope,” she finally said.

  Madam Kiki raised one of her thin, black eyebrows. “You’re not worried about the monsters in the woods?”

  “We both know that there are no monsters in the woods. The only ones out there are the ones people bring with them.” But I’m sure there are plenty of monsters in Hades.

  Madam Kiki smiled. “Good. Get some rest, I will have need of you first thing in the morning,” she said as she swept back behind her desk.

  On her way out something caught Hayley’s eye and she stopped.

  “Is something wrong?” Madam Kiki asked, as she resumed her seat.

  Hayley nodded towards the glass cabinet near the door. She had not noticed it when she had arrived. “I’m sorry, I was just wondering about that sword.”

  “Oh that old thing?” Madam Kiki said, com
ing to stand beside her. She stared at it, watching the flickering torchlight dance across its flawless silver blade. “One of the gardeners found it a long time ago, not far from here.”

  “In the woods?”

  “Yes. It’s strange, it was not buried or anything. It was not like she tripped over it or found it by accident. It was just lying there on the grass she said, wrapped in cloth, like someone had just left it there.”

  “Who would leave a sword in the woods?” Hayley asked, thinking out loud. It was such a strange notion.

  “That I do not know, my dear. But believe it or not that is an angel’s blade. The ones they carry all look the same.”

  “Really?” Hayley said, feigning ignorance. “Has no-one ever come looking for it?”

  “None of the angels have. We do get them as guests sometimes, though very rarely. I have asked a few of them if they knew who it belonged to but none of them did.”

  “That is weird.”

  “Indeed. Anyway, if you’ll please excuse me.”

  “Yes, of course.” With that Hayley departed, not with just a new job but with a powerful sense of déjà vu.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Stacy Hughes wished she had never answered the door. Constable Gordon Sloan stood on her doorstep, soaked by the relentless downpour.

  “I’m sorry to disturb you again, Mrs Hughes.”

  “What do you want with him now?” she demanded, folding her arms.

  “I’m sorry, I really am. But I need to ask your son a few more questions.”

  “You have already questioned him twice. What more could he possibly tell you?” she asked suspiciously.

  “John isn’t in any trouble. I promise you that.” A trickle of cold water ran down the bridge of his nose and he wiped it away. “I know this must be very frustrating for you but our forensics officers have found something I must speak to your son about.”

  “What?”

  The pitter-patter of raindrops filled the silence as the drenched police officer considered his next words carefully. “Would it be ok if we could discuss this inside?”

  “No. I’ve had enough of this. Dozens of people are dead, hundreds are homeless and the power is still off but you’re more concerned about questioning my son again over something he knows nothing about? Why?”

  The corners of his mouth tightened. “She was murdered,” he said flatly. He was beginning to grow impatient with all this.

  “Yes, constable and seventy seven people died today. I know that sounds terrible but she died years ago. You said so yourself. So why aren’t you more concerned about what happened today?”

  His gaze grew hard. “You wouldn’t believe me.”

  “What do you mean?”

  The middle-aged policeman fidgeted uncomfortably and looked down. If he was searching for his courage he did not find it gazing at his soaked feet. Finally, he sighed and looked her straight in the eye. “The body moved.”

  “Moved?”

  “Look, I know it sounds crazy but it came alive in the mortuary!” he blurted, fearing she would slam the door in his face for sounding like a madman. “The coroner saw it too. It muttered something about your son’s friend, Alexander Bridges!”

  “What did it say? You must tell me!”

  The constable blinked, surprised by her reaction. “It just kept saying his name over and over again. It then fell on the floor.”

  She gained a thoughtful look. “Did it move again?”

  “What? No of course not! I called an ambulance but the paramedics told me she was dead when they arrived.”

  “Have you told anyone else about this?” Stacy Hughes asked desperately, stepping out into the rain in only her navy cardigan. The rain drenched her in seconds but she did not seem to notice.

  The constable looked down at her. “No, not unless I wanted them to think that I had gone off my trolley.” He gave her a suspicious look. “What do you know about this?”

  Her eyes widened like an owl’s. “Who said I knew anything?”

  “Oh, come off it, Mrs Hughes. Anyone else would have slammed the door in my face but you’re asking questions. So what do you know?”

  “I don’t know anything about it!” she spat defensively, folding her arms. “But I do know Alexander.”

  “That’s why I wanted to speak to your son. I need to speak to his friend. Do you know where he is?” He shook his head. “He seems to be impossible to find.”

  “He lives in the West End with Hayley.”

  “I’m sorry to tell you this but their flat was…”

  “I know, I know. Hayley is in hospital.”

  “And Mr Bridges?” He saw the fear in her eyes.

  “I imagine he would be there as well. But if I was you, I would not bother to go looking for him.”

  “Why not?”

  “Listen, you are better off just forgetting about what you saw. Bury the body and get on with helping those who were hurt today. Please,” she said, retreating back into the house.

  “Why? Is he dangerous?”

  She closed her eyes and clasped her hands together. “Please, I beg you, let this go.”

  “I’m not going anywhere until you give me some answers. I tried ringing their flat yesterday but got no answer. I phoned his work and they said that they had never heard of him and neither had his landlords.” He took a step closer to the door. “According to them Hayley Foster is the only one who has lived in that flat for the last four years. He isn’t even on any of these social media sites that the kids are into nowadays. He is impossible to find.”

  She held a hand out to him. “I am warning you, leave Alexander alone.” She shook her head, her eyes brimming with tears.

  “Why? Who is he?” The last thing he saw was her terrified face as she slammed the door on him. Sloan pounded it several times. He even resorted to shouting at her through the letterbox, pleading for her to speak to him. But she never answered. Finally after several minutes and a sore fist he gave up. Constable Sloan trudged to the end of the garden, water squelching against the inside of his soggy shoes with every step. He turned as he reached the garden gate and cast one last look at the house. Seeing no one at the windows or at the door he departed, no closer to any of the answers he so desperately sought.

  Chapter Twenty

  Black and white flashes streaked her vision, painting the world monochrome one moment then plunging it into darkness the next. Even then she could still see the edges of the world: a lingering white afterglow that traced the outline of every shape. There was a tree. There was a garden. There was a street. I know this place. But where is the colour? The world did not sit right, yet she knew it all the same. The lightning suddenly ended and she saw a flurry of explosions, each more dazzling than the last. Fire fell from the sky, great tails of red and orange blazing in their wake. She saw Glasgow; although from her vantage point it looked nothing more than a black cardboard cut-out; a shadow of what it really was. Overcome by anger, she reached across her waist without thought. Her fingers wrapped tight around something…

  Then she woke. Lori was hovering over her. It took Hayley a few moments to remember where she was and even longer to recognise her friend.

  “Are you ok?” Lori asked. Hayley noticed the washer woman had placed a hand on her shoulder, although she had never felt her put it there.

  “Yeah. Why?” Hayley noticed her fists were clenched tight, knuckles white from tension. She opened them, surprised. I didn’t even feel closing them…

  “You were thrashing and shouting again.”

  Hayley looked around the small cell and found all her roommates staring. Two of them, Francis and Jane, looked worried, Diane wore a reassuring smile but Jill was red in the face. Hayley wiped the sleep from her eyes. “Sorry…”

  “Yeah, that’s the third night in a row you’ve said that,” Jill grumbled. Facing away, she pulled the quilts over her head.

  “Like you’ve never had a bad dream.”

  Jill didn’t reply. L
ori sat down by Hayley’s side. “They do seem to be getting worse.”

  Hayley gave her a funny look. “They’re only dreams.” But why do they feel so different to this one?

  “I know, but I’m surprised that you don’t wake yourself up. You were really thrashing about.”

  “We think you should go see Jo, she makes sleep potions,” Diane put in.

  “But I’m fine,” Hayley insisted, forcing a smile.

  “No, it’s us we’re worried about. I’ve hardly got a wink these last few nights because of you.” Francis moaned from the far end of the small floor space that served as their home.

  “I said I was sorry!” Hayley repeated, throwing up her hands in defeat. What else can I possibly say?

  “I think you should see Jo,” Diane said again, but not unkindly. When Hayley looked at her, she gave a nervous smile. “Sorry, Hayley, but we do need to sleep as well.”

  Hayley rolled her eyes. “All right, I’ll go,” she groaned. “But can it wait until the morning?”

  Lori looked at the others, who exchanged indifferent looks. Smiling at Hayley she said, “Sure.” And just like that the lanterns were shuttered and everyone returned to their sleeping mats.

  Hayley lay awake for a long time with her dreams circling in her mind. They’re not just dreams, she thought. At first they had come infrequently - once every few days - but now they came every night. Their ferocity had magnified in that time as well. But the scariest thing of all was that none of them frightened Hayley. She knew they should. An overwhelming sense of déjà-vu was always left where the fear should have been. It felt like she walked in another person’s skin and saw through another’s eyes in the dreams…but she knew they were her eyes. Her last few dreams had also brought heart burn and splitting headaches with them. But worst of all was the feeling she got when she first woke. It always felt like she had forgotten something…

  Hayley absently reached to scratch her shoulder blade, which had started to itch. When her fingers touched the long, thin scar that ran diagonally across the bone, the memory of how it got there - one on each shoulder - raced back to her. Her skin had come to bear the lacerations after Alex had borrowed the power of her soul to escape the chains his fallen brother Gabriel had imprisoned him in. The guardian had returned it to her body afterward but there had been side effects. Having been carved from Alex’s soul in the first place before she was born, the angel had found it difficult to separate her piece from his again. The result of which had left Hayley with the marks and a handful of tiny, white feathers sprouting from her back. The feathers had fallen out quickly and had never grown back. But the scars had never healed and they itched from time to time. Hayley recalled how upset she had been when she first discovered them. She had freaked out. She had not wanted a set of wings. Now she would have given anything for a pair so she could fly home. Hayley knew it was a silly thought. She knew it was not that simple, even if she did have them.