Darkmoor by Victoria Barry Page B

about?’ I wonder.
    Slowly making my way down the staircase, Pete and Julie come into view. Reaching the bottom step I notice my Dad’s back turned towards me, and his head is hanging down towards the floor.
    As I step closer I realise that Julie is crying, whilst Pete is reassuring her that it’s going to be ok.
    ‘What will be ok?’ I begin to wonder. Before I have chance to ask, my Dad slams the door shut, places some sort of leaflet on the sideboard and walks past me shaking his head.
    Without exchanging words, I curiously look down at the glossy paper.
    “Catherine…” I whisper as I feel tears fill my eyes, “Catherine!” I shout out as my legs give way beneath me, once more the pain of Crow becomes ever present, and my hand begins to angrily throb. Deep red blood begins to pulsate breaking my skin, and as I grip the paper with Catherine’s face on, tears stream down my face. In disbelief I read the bold writing again,
    “10 year old Catherine Rose went missing four days ago
    at a car boot sale!”
    I sit myself down on the cold hallway floor. Minutes pass.
    Something moves. I anxiously glance towards the steps. There’s nothing there. I stare at the floor. It’s there again. The floor creaks and I look up to find a shadow cast on the landing above. I hit myself on the cheek to awaken myself, but I am awake. Another creak follows then an all too familiar outline of Crow. Pure fear overwhelms me, he’s calling me, gloating, reminding me that it wasn’t a dream after all.
    ‘I know it’s not over,’ I think to myself as his evil caw bellows out across the whole of Filius, and throughout the old Victorian vicarage.