Vengeance Child by Simon Clark

name? That’s not fear, that’s schizophrenia.’
    Victor waded into the argument. ‘Mr Mayor, let Laura handle it. This situation is more complicated than you might think.’
    â€˜If you knew what I really think . . .’ He shook his head, disgusted. ‘I’ll leave you to sort this out, but I warn the pair of you – if you can’t stop that child screaming the place down he’ll have to leave the island.’
    Laura was ready to launch a physical attack on the mayor. ‘It’s after nine o’clock at night. Where do you expect him to go?’
    The mayor glanced at his watch. ‘He’s disturbing the residents. Whatever the problem is, deal with it. OK?’ With that he marched away down the street.
    â€˜He’s insufferable,’ Laura seethed. ‘Dear God, it’s all I can do not to throw rocks at him.’
    Victor gave a grim smile. ‘I like the sound of rocks. You and I have more in common than I thought.’
    Together they took Max to the cottage where Lou was staying. As Lou did her best to soothe the sobbing youth Laura and Victor walked back out into the garden.
    Victor glanced up at the bedroom window of the cottage. ‘Max is beyond scared, isn’t he? He’s genuinely terrified.’
    â€˜I’ll say.’ She sighed. ‘Lou will do her best to calm him. I don’t see she’ll make much progress, though. He’s in pieces.’
    Standing in the light falling through the window, Victor saw how vulnerable she looked. As if at any moment she expected the sky to fall on her. ‘Laura, if Max is saying that Jay repeated his name, what does he expect will happen?’
    Her face darkened. ‘Max will expect the worst.’
    â€˜Archer, come with me.’
    Archer opened his eyes. If it wasn’t for the light on the landing his bedroom would have been in total darkness. Numerals on the clock radio burned at him from the gloom: 10.03. All he could see of Jay was a silhouette.
    â€˜Archer. Listen.’ His voice had that near-silent quality. Like a draught blowing through the gates of a tomb. ‘Archer, you’ve got to come.’
    â€˜Go away.’ Archer pulled the bedclothes over his head.
    â€˜There’s something you’ve got to see. It’s important.’
    Archer tried to hold on to the bedding so Jay couldn’t tug it from his face, only his fingers seemed to lose all their strength. He felt the bedding being hauled from his body. He closed his eyes. If I don’t see Jay that might be enough . . . I’ll be all right . . . Yet the cold night air touching his skin brought him up into a sitting position. The sharp outdoors smell had appeared with an abruptness that shocked the boy.
    â€˜Why aren’t I in bed? What have you done to me?’
    Jay gazed at him. His eyes glowed in the darkness. Archer reached out for the bedding but all he felt were the pyjamas he wore. The bed had become hard now. He groped for where the mattress should be. Instead of soft fabric, a block of cold matter.
    Archer’s heart beat hard. Where was his bedroom? How had Jay brought him outside?
    Jay’s witchcraft, that’s what it is! Was Jay taking Archer to see his dead father again? No way! He jumped up then began to run across the damp grass. His bare feet skidded as Jay caught hold of him.
    â€˜Please don’t say my name, Jay,’ Archer pleaded. ‘I know you did it to Max. You said his name twenty times. I heard you. More than twenty. More than fifty! You’re going to make Max die. He’s a bully. But he doesn’t deserve a curse.’
    As Jay gripped him, his face was strangely impassive. Really, it should have been too dark to see. Yet it glowed; the skin itself generated its own light. The elfin eyes grew larger.
    â€˜Archer, there’s something wanting me to do bad things to people. I don’t want to. I’m trying