Bernadette Azizi - Undying

“James, be careful.”

He scouted around the room, but there was no one there.

“Where did he go?” I screamed to James.

I then looked at Mr Kemp who stood in the doorway, pale and not wanting to enter the room.

“Where did he go?” I yelled at Mr Kemp. No one would answer me.

I stood up and looked around the room, still fearful that I would actually find what I was looking for. I couldn’t make sense of it. Had they let him go in those few seconds? James was now standing looking at Mr Kemp. I went to him and held onto his shirt.

“I thought it was you. I did!” I cried.

“It’s alright, I have you now. I’m not going to leave you ever again,” James said, looking at Mr Kemp to make sure his intentions were clear.

“James, he kissed me and I let him… I thought it was you…” I said as I grabbed onto James and buried my face into his chest. James grabbed my arms and pushed me away from him to look me in the eyes.

“Kissed you?” he asked with alarm.

“Yes, there was someone in this room. I came in here to see you to give you a gift. Mr Kemp tried to stop me, but he was being awful and I wanted to escape him, so I just came in and locked the door. But it was so dark.”

I shook my head with disbelief and looked up at James.

“Is this college haunted?” I asked.

“Pardon? No… Of course not!” James replied. He then looked at Mr Kemp, who was now making his way to us.

“Is that what you think is happening? That this college has a ghost? Is that really what you think?” Mr Kemp asked with sarcasm in his tone.

“I don’t know. Something is happening, I hear voices. I feel like I know things that I couldn’t possibly know, and now this. Wait…” I looked at Mr Kemp in shock. “You didn’t push me into James’s door, did you?”

“Finally, she gets something right,” Mr Kemp replied again with sarcasm, I guess I deserved that one.

I looked at James. “And you know that for sure, how can you be so sure. If you have the slightest idea as to why this is happening or who is doing this, you have to tell me.” I pleaded.

To my disappointment, Mr Kemp answered instead of James. “We can’t tell you anything, that is the problem; you have to figure this out on your own. This college, haunted?” he muttered, amused.

I looked at James. “What is he talking about?”

“Mr Barclay, please remember what we spoke about and agreed to,” Mr Kemp reminded James in a stern voice.

James took hold of my hand, directed me to his chair and knelt beside me. Mr Kemp went back to the door to attempt to fix it. “Mr Kemp is on our side,” he continued.

“Sides? Are we in battle?” I asked sarcastically.

“Not exactly… When he, Mr Kemp, wanted you gone, it was to protect you, so that you didn’t have to go through what you are going through now. He has been right from the beginning.”

He then looked at Mr Kemp with a look that seemed thankful.

“He is a very important man, whose life is beyond belief, and we need him on our side. If we are to be together, we need him.”

I couldn‘t believe what I was hearing. Mr Kemp is the hero of the day? This just keeps getting weirder.

“What did he mean by I need to figure this out on my own? Can’t you help me?”

“That’s not possible. It just doesn’t work that way, I’m sorry.”

“Are you sure you can trust him?” I looked at Mr Kemp who was still working on the door.

“Yes, I know it’s hard to believe, but yes, I most definitely trust him, and you have to also.”

“I don’t know — I really don’t think he likes me…” I said unconvinced.

“What he thinks of you is not important, but your safety is.”

“James, I don’t know what you want me to say. This… all of this doesn’t make sense to me. And I am suppose to figure this out like it’s a riddle and you’re the prize,” I said putting the gift I was holding into James’s hand.

He looked down at his hands, then looked at me confused.

“I got you a gift today. That’s why I came here,” I whispered.

James straightened his posture and smiled.

“Are you sure you want to give this to me now?” he questioned me, as he looked at Mr Kemp.

I smiled my answer.

“Alright,” James smiled, opened the pouch and emptied it into his hand. He brought it close and seemed to be overwhelmed. He was both happy and sad at the same time. I felt confused.

“You got this?”

“Yes.”

“Why this ?”

“Do you think it is silly?”

“No, not at all… It’s perfect, I am just curious as to why you picked this?”

“A daydream… I…”

“Thank you… anything inside?” he interrupted.

Before I could answer, James had clicked it open, without even trying.

“What? No message?” he asked cheekily.

“No, not yet. Any ideas?”

“Actually yes, but I will wait to see what you come up with,” he replied.

“Mr Barclay, Cathy, I hate to interrupt all this that, but we do have to set some rules. What happened to you today cannot be repeated. What would have happened if we were not here to intervene?” Mr Kemp said as he closed the door that he had successfully fixed, an impressive effort.

“Happen again? Do you think that’s possible?” I directed my question to James.

“Happen again my dear girl? Yes, yes it is quite possible,” Mr Kemp butted in again.

“Mr Kemp, please, not now. Scaring her like this will not help,” James insisted.

“Mr Barclay, if she has no idea and doesn’t remember anything before her next encounter, being frightened is the least of her concerns.”

“Remember what?”

No one answered.

“What am I suppose to remember?” I turned to James for a reply.

“Nothing. You will stay in my room and between the two of us,” he looked at Mr Kemp “you will not be left alone.”

“Is that your plan?” Mr Kemp grunted.

“Yes, yes it is.”

“I think that’s a wonderful plan,” I agreed, excited about the prospect of staying in James’s room every night.

Mr Kemp walked over to where James and I were.

He looked furious and frustrated. He pulled up a chair and sat close by; he took a few deep breaths to compose himself and then looked me straight in the eyes, paused for a moment then spoke.

“I want it to be known that I believe this is a dreadful plan. This is not a joke; I don’t envision you staying in James’s room will help the situation. However, I don’t think we have any other avenue to take, you can’t stay in mine and no-one else must know of what has happened today or even that you and Mr Barclay have feelings for each other, no-one,” he repeated. “Do you understand that?”

He paused for an answer.

I nodded and looked away. Mr Kemp’s eyes were too intense.

“Mr Kemp, thank you. I know you mean well. If Catherine spends more time with me, maybe things will become clearer to her?” James suggested.

“You two must never… um… you know… just complicate things,” Mr Kemp was so embarrassed by the thought of his insinuation that he struggled to get his words out.

James waited and let him suffer a bit before responding. “I understand that, and I can restrain myself but…” James then looked at me, indicating that I was the one who needed to show restraint. I playfully hit James on the chest, which got him laughing and Mr Kemp shaking his head, once again in frustration.

“Oh, well, don’t say I didn’t warn you then…” he whispered to himself as he left the room.

James held me close and looked directly into my eyes.

“I need you to take this very seriously Catherine. You must never be alone. Mr Kemp is right. This cannot happen again.”