Dean Carter - Blood Water

‘Where was this?’

‘Past the pagoda, down the bank by the stream.’

‘Well,’ the teacher said, looking down the path behind Sean, ‘maybe I’ll have a look just to be sure, but you’d best be getting home. I won’t say anything about seeing you as long as you give me your word you’ll stay indoors until you’re back at school.’

‘I will, I promise.’

‘Good. Right, you take care then.’

‘OK.’ Sean set off, but a second later the teacher stopped him again.

‘Sean!’

‘Yes?’

‘I forgot to warn you – the bridge is flooded now so you’ll have to find another way across. Is there anyone who can give you a lift? Could be quite a journey.’

‘The bridge is flooded already?’

‘Yes. The river’s still rising. I came down to take a look. I’ve already phoned the school to recommend sending everyone home early.’

‘Oh, right… I’m sure I’ll find a way to get back.’

‘All right, but if you have any difficulty go up to the school, OK?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Right.’ And with that the teacher walked on.

Sean adjusted his hood to protect his face from the rain, then hurried on along the waterlogged path.

When he reached the bridge, he was amazed to see that the water had swamped the road. It was swelling by the second, and was beginning to make its way up to the high street. He quickly headed for the video rental shop, where a crowd had formed. Cars had stopped on both sides of the river, the drivers staring, bemused, at the water, some unable to go either forwards or backwards. Just then, a police car arrived; two officers got out and started ushering everyone further up the high street. More people were stopping to marvel at the approaching tide. Some leaned out of windows; some interrupted their shopping to come and see what all the commotion was about. Somewhere a child cried out in excited glee.

The river was now a monster, a terrifying one, and it looked like there was no stopping it.

Although he was worried about the flood, Sean’s primary concern was getting home – it would be difficult as the only direct route from Orchard Wells’ high street to the suburbs was now under water. There were back roads from the other end of town that would get him there, but it would take all day if he had to walk. He needed a lift. Then he remembered that his brother had said he’d be finishing college early today and might go for a swim afterwards. If so, his car would be at the pool.

Sean turned and headed up the high street, taking a left at the library, then over a small bridge that was dangerously close to the rising stream, and into the swimming pool car park. He scanned the vehicles. There were people chatting on their phones, no doubt informing loved ones of the situation. Others were getting into their cars and driving away while they still could. He checked each parking space, his eyes sweeping the vehicles, until he found it – a red Ford Fiesta with one hubcap missing. His brother was still there. He made for the entrance to the building and went inside.

Mr Phoenix scanned the path and the bank leading down to the water’s edge for signs of disturbance; soon enough he came upon muddy footprints and trampled grass that he guessed had been left by Sean. He looked down through the trees to the brown, swirling water below, reluctant to go near it, but interested enough in Sean’s story to see if there was any truth in it. The boy believed he’d been hallucinating after what had happened to him on Sunday, but maybe someone really had come to harm.

Mr Phoenix made his way slowly down the slope, using the trees for support when he slipped, but he soon reached the water and saw signs of a recent disturbance in the mud. It was hard to tell if anyone besides Sean had been there. He looked around for any sign of vomit, but could see nothing except… In the grass to one side he glimpsed something dark and slimy. He moved closer and looked down, trying to guess what it was. It looked like oil, only thicker, more viscous, and gave off an awful pungent smell. He squatted down to take a closer look but had to turn away as the smell of vomit assailed him.

Suddenly he saw movement in the grass on the other side of the rough path: something was making its way towards him. He waited to see what it was – a rabbit, he guessed – but the grass stopped moving and nothing appeared. He walked over to the spot, crouching down to get a better look. In the thick tangle of grass and twigs lay something shiny and wet, long and dark – an eel perhaps. Whatever it was, he didn’t really want to touch it, and he was about to leave it be when it shot out from its hiding place and attached itself to his face.

He cried out, more in revulsion than fear, and fell backwards onto the muddy ground, scrabbling madly to remove the thing from his face. It had contracted its body now so that it was shorter and fatter, like a slug, and though he pulled at it with both hands, it wouldn’t come away. He yelled in panic as he felt it slide its way down from his nose and cheeks to his mouth, the smell making him gag. He didn’t want it near his mouth, didn’t want to taste it. He turned and crawled over to the edge of the stream, splashing water into his face in the desperate hope that it might remove the creature, but it was still sliding down and was now above his top lip.

‘Urgh!’ he cried. He got back to his feet, tried once again to wrench off his unknown attacker, then slipped and fell backwards into the water. The intense cold, the ferocious current and the incredible roaring force of the water claimed him.

Sean knew the boy working behind the reception desk at the swimming pool.

‘Hey, Ed, is my brother still in the pool?’

‘Nah, he got out about five minutes ago.’

‘Ah, great, I’ll wait for him.’

‘Hey, Sean, is it true that the river’s flooded the bridge?’

‘Yeah… News travels fast.’

‘Dad phoned. He said I should probably let everyone in the pool know.’

‘Yeah. They’ll have to go the back way up the hill. That’s why I came to find James. I can’t get home without him.’

‘Oh, yeah. Why aren’t you at school then?’

‘Oh, long story…’

‘Is it to do with the race?’

‘Yeah. Still feeling a bit— Ah, here he is.’

James was coming towards the reception area. When he noticed Sean, he looked confused. ‘What are you doing here? You should be at home.’

‘I haven’t got time to explain. The river’s flooded, it’s over the bridge and into the town.’

‘Bloody hell.’

‘Yeah, so we have to go home the back way.’

‘All right, let’s go. I’ve got to pick up some things from work. It won’t take long though.’

As they went out into the car park, James took his car keys from his jacket pocket and looked up into the sky, which was still disgorging the seemingly endless rain. ‘So why were you in town?’

‘I had to get out for some fresh air. Thought I’d manage an hour or two before Mum came home.’

‘But it was raining.’

‘I didn’t care.’

‘So is the flooding really that serious?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Why didn’t you go back over the bridge before it got so bad?’ James unlocked the car and they got in.

‘I was in the park and I… saw something really weird,’ Sean said, buckling up his seat belt.

‘Weird?’ James started the car and checked his mirrors before driving towards the exit.

‘Yeah. I saw this guy crawl out of the water – I don’t know how, the current must have been really strong – but anyway, he crawled out, looking really bad, and puked this black stuff out and then just fell back into the water.’