Stuart James - Apartment 6

She crawled slowly towards the kitchen door, her hands pawing on the floor in front of her. She was sure she could hear the front door creak open. As Tricia paused, listening, she was certain. The front door to the cottage was banging against the hallway wall. Every few seconds, she heard the wooden door swinging, crunching, getting more intense. She could feel the wind hard in her ears. She looked behind and up at the side window. The branch was crashing against the glass. Tricia manoeuvred herself upwards, getting onto her hands and knees and crawling towards the kitchen door. Once she reached it, she grabbed for the handle and twisted, opening the door to the hallway.

The front door was open. Trees swung outside, the branches like pendulums, viciously swinging left and right. Tricia stood, raced to the door and forced it shut, using her body weight.

She pictured Meagan asleep upstairs. She needed to go to her now, get her out to safety. Whatever was going on, her sister had vanished. She’d stood beside Tricia only a few moments ago, cooking, chatting, telling Tricia everything would be okay and that she was safe. ‘Anne. Where are you? Please answer me.’

Tricia eyed the stairs; the lights were on above her. She raced up the steps, taking them two at a time, barging the door open. Meagan was still sleeping.

‘Oh, thank God. Sweetie, sweetie, wake up quickly. Something’s wrong.’

Meagan sat up, clutching her bunny. ‘Don’t worry, Mummy. I’ll protect you.’

Tricia lifted her from the bed, glad to see her daughter was still wearing the clothes from earlier.

‘Okay, listen, something is happening. I’ll explain in a minute, but you need to come now, hurry. We need to find Aunty Anne. Something isn’t right. Okay?’

‘Is she hiding too, Mummy?’

‘Maybe, I’m not sure. I hope so.’ Tricia placed her hands over her face, pulling down hard in frustration. ‘Quickly. We need to go.’

Tricia headed out towards the hall, looking over the steps to the darkness below. She needed to get out to the street, ask someone for help. She stood on top of the stairs, listening, trying to figure out what had happened. There one minute, gone the next. Surely Anne wouldn’t play a trick; she knows the situation I’m in.

Meagan was at the top of the stairs. ‘Mummy, did you find Aunty Anne yet?’

‘Meggy, keep your voice down. We need to keep very quiet, okay?’

‘Why, Mummy?’

Tricia took a deep breath, held it for a second and steadied herself. ‘We just do, Meggy. Remember when we’re looking for someone? It’s much easier to catch them if they don’t hear us coming.’

‘Okay. I got it, Mummy. I won’t make a peep. Nor will Arthur. He’s very tired, Mummy, he’s had a long day too.’

Tricia reached the front door. The house was still plunged in darkness, and suddenly so still. ‘Okay, Meggy, when I open the door, we run. Got it?’

Tricia looked up the stairs, watching Meagan nodding, her finger covering her lips. ‘Good girl. That’s great. Keep as quiet as possible.’

Tricia turned the handle. The front door was jammed. ‘Come on, you piece of shit, why won’t you open?’ She took the handle with both hands, placing her leg on the side wall, yanking, twisting the handle, pulling until her hands were numb. ‘What is going on? Come on.’

Meagan had joined her. ‘Don’t worry, Mummy, I’ll help you. I can pull hard. I’m strong. Miss Lester said I’m as strong as some of the boys in my class. One day I–’

Tricia cut her off. ‘Quick. Move with me to the kitchen. I’m going to try and open the back door. Hurry, Meggy, we don’t have time.’

Tricia placed her hands in front, moving as fast as she could towards the kitchen door, swiping at the space in front of her, with Meagan following, listening to her mother’s voice.

They made their way to the centre of the room, guided by a light close by, giving a small glow where they stood.

‘Wait here, Meggy. Don’t move. I’m going to try and open the back door. I need to check if it’s safe. You hear me now? Don’t move. Stay here with Arthur. You got it?’

‘I got it, Mummy. Stay here with Arthur. I’m not going to move.’

‘Good girl.’ Tricia felt for the back door, tapping the glass, feeling below for the handle, touching a key placed in the lock. She turned it, opening the back door. ‘Oh, thank God.’

She stood outside. The wind had eased slightly, but the chill in the air was icy cold. She glanced upwards. The sky was almost transparent, covered with tiny specks of light. She needed to be sure it was safe for them to run. Tricia was worried about where her sister had gone. She hadn’t time to look for her. The main concern was getting Meagan to safety, out of the house and unharmed. Something had obviously stirred with Anne’s emotions. Maybe she was having a panic attack, feeling sick. Whatever was happening, Tricia would get help and find her later.

As Tricia went from the side of the house to the street, she looked along the road. There was no one in sight. The street was clear; empty and desolate. She stepped back inside the cottage. ‘Okay, Meggy. It’s clear. Are you ready to run?’

‘Yes, Mummy.’

‘Okay, let’s go. Take my hand.’ Tricia reached out, searching for her daughter. She heard her voice, tiny and soft.

‘Mummy?’

‘Yes, Meggy. Come on. Take my hand, we need to go.’

Tricia could just about make out a shadow in front, standing close to her. ‘Please, Meggy. Where are you?’ Suddenly she felt a sleeve. ‘Got ya. Okay, move. We need to go.’

Tricia tugged on the sleeve, trying to let her daughter know the sense of urgency.

‘Meggy, please baby. Why aren’t you moving? Come on, will you? I’ve got your arm; you’re safe now.’

‘I’m here, Mummy. I’m behind you. That isn’t my arm.’

Suddenly a light came on. Sean was standing in front of Tricia, holding a bright torch, his other hand clasped around Tricia’s wrist. She saw the familiar smirk, the smug look, the evil expression.

‘You found us, Daddy. I knew you would. Oh, Mummy, you must be so happy.’

Sean looked at his daughter. ‘Oh yes, Meagan, she must be.’

Oliver hadn’t seen or heard from Meagan for over a week. It was best this way. Both of them had to move on. Yes, it had been great while it lasted. Oliver had fallen for this woman hard. He’d never had feelings or known as much emotion and passion as he had for Meagan. She blew into his life like a hurricane, turned it upside down and left like a cool breeze, calmly saying goodbye as she prepared to face her husband.

Oliver was in the process of moving. The flat in Chelsea was too expensive. He’d spoken with an estate agent, who assured him he’d be placed on their priority list. He’d just had a call from Darren, head of property management. ‘Good morning Oliver, it must be your lucky day.’

Darren told him about a small flat that had just come onto the market in Kilburn. Newly refurbished, cosy, quaint, great views, affordable. All the usual shit they throw at you to try and coax you into falling in love with the place, with an offer too good to be true. A drop everything, take a deep breath, humdinger of a once in a lifetime opportunity.

‘Oh great, excellent, that’s news I’ve been waiting to hear.’ Oliver went on to explain his sudden split with Claire, his ex, the lady who calmly kissed his forehead before pissing off without a thought about how he’d feel. ‘But she still wants to be friends,’ he added bitterly. Oh yes, that would work now, wouldn’t it? I’ve ploughed all my time into honing my skills as a partner, just to share the odd pizza and a glass of wine every few weeks. Thank you, Claire, how very thoughtful. Am I pissed off? No, why would you think that?