Come Into Darkness Read online

  “Sir, I recommend you do as Miss Foster says. You will have your turn, in time.”

  Mario spun to face him. “What the fuck is going on here? Doors can’t just appear out of thin air!”

  “Obviously,” said Worth. “Maybe you had failed to notice it, what with your obsession over the television. Now, please stand aside with me.”

  The door trembled under another heavy knock.

  Mario stared at it.

  “Sir!” said Worth, firmer. “I must insist you come and stand aside with me. Allow Miss Foster to enjoy this moment…”

  Worth tugged on Mario’s sleeve, and, still staring at the door, he walked backwards into the corner. The old man hung by his side in his stale cloud.

  Kerry, her head bowed, approached the door, hand outstretched.

  “No,” said Mario. “Don’t do it. There’s something on the other side…”

  She glanced over her shoulder. “I know,” she said, and swung the door open.

  5

  A tall, wide figure stood in the doorway.

  “Yes?” said Kerry. “Can I get you anything?”

  Mario blinked and listened carefully. Kerry’s voice had changed, softened, with a slight tremble.

  A hand shot out of the dark beyond the open door, a white envelope clutched between fingers the width of sausages.

  “This came.”

  The deep, rasping voice slithered into the room like a snake moving across dry leaves. Mario had trouble determining its gender.

  That couldn’t be a woman. Sounds like a troll.

  “Thank you,” said Kerry and gingerly reached for the letter. She plucked it from the large hand and tore along the seal.

  “What’s it say?” the figure demanded.

  Kerry swallowed and slid the letter free.

  “Kerry-” said Mario.

  Worth held out a hand. “Sir, please just watch.”

  “But what’s going on? Who is that?”

  “There’s no need to be alarmed. Miss Foster is in no danger. Just watch. It might shed some light on what you can expect. It’s your turn next, sir.”

  Kerry’s voice quietened both men. “I…I can’t believe it.”

  “What?” asked the dark shape. Something tapped the floor hard. “Tell me!”

  “It’s from a company called SM Pharmaceuticals. They…they’ve offered me a position.”

  The figure stepped forwards, out of the doorway and into the red light. Shadows slid away from her face.

  “What do you mean? Position?”

  The woman towered over Kerry and stood twice as wide. Her hair, a tangled mess of dark red, was piled on top of her leathery head. She banged a black cane against the floor. It sounded different on the carpet, a softer thud. “What do you mean?”

  Kerry stepped back. “They…they want me to work for them. I told you I went to an interview last week.”

  The woman’s eyes narrowed over her flat nose. It looked like she’d been hit in the face with a shovel. “Hmm. So my little girl will finally be able to pay her way?”

  Little girl?

  Mario glanced at Worth, who stood watching like this was an amateur play, mildly entertained.

  “Mum…it’s in London.”

  Mum? How can that be her mum?

  “London?” The woman’s frown deepened. “Then you can’t go. Throw it away.”

  Kerry’s grip tightened on the letter. “But Mum, please, can’t we talk about this?”

  Her mother stepped deeper into the room, looming over Kerry. Her cane pounded the ground.

  “I told you to throw that away,” she said. Her voice remained calm, a low and threatening rumble. “Now, stop being a silly girl!”

  “But Mum-"

  A hand whipped out and snatched the letter from Kerry. She jumped back, collided with the bed and fell down.

  Mario started forward. Worth held him back.

  “Wait, sir.”

  Her mum studied the letter for a moment, holding the paper close to her face. She sneered and screwed it into a tight ball.

  “Nonsense,” she said and threw it on the carpet. “You’re much more use here with me.” She looked down at the plate and spilled glass. “I see you’ve already eaten. Clean this mess up and start on mine.”

  “But Mum-"

  Her mother snapped a hand up, and Kerry flinched.

  “I won’t stand for anymore backchat. Now, clean up and get downstairs.”

  “No.”

  Her mother blinked. “What did you say?”

  “I said no! I’ve worked too hard for this. I can’t stay here forever!”

  The tip of the cane thumped on the floor.

  “We’ll see,” said her mother. “If you want to go, then fine. Go! Leave me! But one day-and one day soon-you’ll come back here and find me dead, girl. Dead at the bottom of the stairs with a broken neck. Or maybe something worse, eh? You know I forget to turn the stove off. You might come back to a burning hole in the ground, and your mother, your poor mother will be nothing but a pile of charred bones. All because her selfish daughter abandoned her.”

  “I’m not abandoning you,” cried Kerry. “I have to live my life, Mum. This job is everything I ever wanted!”

  “And your books,” her mother continued. “They would burn with me.”

  “Mum!”

  “You’re not going!” she blasted into her daughter’s face.

  Kerry shrank back.

  Her mother grinned, her face lopsided.

  Mario stared at her.

  A stroke victim? Must have been one hell of a stroke to bring this beast down.

  I have to do something.

  Worth still held out his arm, like a policeman at an accident scene.

  Move along please. Nothing to see here.

  “Get this cleaned up,” said Kerry’s mother once more. With a final bang of the cane on the floor, she turned and headed for the door.

  On her knees, Kerry gazed up, tears glistening. Her hand slid across the carpet, fingers grabbing the plate.

  “Kerry!” said Mario. He pushed forwards against Worth.

  Plate picked from the floor, Kerry staggered to her feet and crept behind her mother, who’d nearly reached the doorway. Kerry, wide-eyed with her teeth barred, lifted the plate.

  “Kerry! No!”

  Her mother, as if she heard Mario’s cry, glanced back.

  The plate smashed over her head, just above her right eye. The ceramic opened the skin in a dripping crescent, the painted eyebrow of a clown. Her mum staggered forwards as the white shards rained down to the carpet. The cane fell from her hand.

  Kerry dove forward and picked it up.

  “Kerry!”

  Worth clung onto him. The old man was remarkably strong. “Sir. Let it run its course.”

  “Get off me!”

  Kerry seemed to examine the tip of the cane with fascination and smiled.

  “Don’t do this!” said Mario, struggling. “Kerry!”

  She lifted the cane and whipped it down. It struck her mother on the right shoulder. The woman cried out and fell against the wall. She slid down and sat on the carpet.

  “You’re not taking this away from me,” said Kerry, voice now low and husky. “I’ve worked too fucking hard, you hear me?”

  Her mother, silent, peered up at her from the floor.

  “You hear me?” Kerry screamed, raising the cane once more.

  Her mother smiled, despite the blood pouring into her eye.

  “You’ll never amount to anything, darlin’. The world will swallow you up and spit you out! You will stay here.”

  Kerry’s frown deepened, and she released a long breath.

  “You know what, Mum? Watch me.”

  The cane snapped down in a short arc and clubbed the centre of her mum’s head, denting the thick red hair.

  Her mum slouched, mouth hanging open, her eyes almost closed.

  Panting, Kerry dropped the cane. It thumped the carpet.

>   “Christ,” said Mario, breaking free from Worth. The guide made no attempt to grab at him. “What the hell?” He rushed over to the slumped body. “What were you thinking?”

  Kerry quietly sat on the bed. She picked up the stuffed bunny and clutched it to her chest.

  Picking up the woman’s wrist, Mario searched for her pulse. He found it: slow and faint.

  “She’s alive,” he said, glaring at Kerry. “Barely. Worth, we need to call an ambulance.”

  The old man chuckled. “No need, sir. Really no need.”

  Mario hunched over Kerry’s mother and with some effort, repositioned her body in the recovery position. He straightened, out of breath.

  “Aren’t either of you going to do anything?” he shouted. “This woman might be dying!”

  “The woman is dead,” said Kerry from the bed. She dipped her head and kissed the bunny.

  “What are you on about? She’s breathing…” He pulled his mobile phone from his pocket, and tried to dial with trembling fingers. “Damn it! No signal in this goddamn building. Kerry, you must have a phone.”

  He glanced at her.

  Kerry swayed on the bed, eyes glazed.

  My God. She’s in shock.

  Shock? She just tried to kill someone!

  “Kerry!”

  She looked down, like a zombie. “Mmmm?”

  “Have-you-got-a-phone?”

  She shook her head. “No signal here. Left in cloak room.”

  “Great,” said Mario. He considered Worth. The guide lingered in the corner, humming to himself and rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet. He didn’t appear to have a care in the world.

  Even if he had one, he wouldn’t let me use it.

  What is it with him? Why isn’t he bothered about this?

  “Will somebody please help me?”

  “No need,” said Kerry, her voice a little clearer. “My mother died in 2004.”

  Mario strode to the bed and grabbed her by the shoulder. His fingers dug into her skin and he shook her.

  “Are you stupid?” he yelled. “Stupid or drunk or high? This isn’t your mother! You think your mother would agree to this…this re-enactment? I knew it couldn’t really be your mother in here. It’s an actress! An actress made up to look like your mother! Can’t you see that? You’ve killed an actress!”

  He threw her back and walked over to the unconscious woman.

  “That,” said Kerry, now sitting motionless. “Was my mother. She died from a second stroke in 2004.” She slid a hand into her jacket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lighter. She removed a smoke and lit it. “I didn’t bother with the funeral. Bitch.” She took a drag and blew out a plume of red mist. Mario considered turning off the lamp and finding some better light.

  Mario rubbed his temples and attempted to control his breathing.

  Why is no one doing anything for her?

  “She kept me in here, most of the time. Played on her condition, you know? Made it out like she could do nothing on her own. I always thought she was fucking nuts, ever since Dad left us. She only let me out to go to university and do the chores. I was like Cinderella…” She sucked on the cigarette. “…but with a masters degree in business.” She smiled. “I lied and told her I had to return some books to the library. I went to an interview and they offered me the job. It was all I’d worked for.” She sighed. “And you saw what happened afterwards.”

  “You attacked her?”

  Kerry snorted. “I should have. I packed a few things and left in the middle of the night. I’d made a few friends at uni and they gave me a place to stay for a couple of weeks. After I started the job, I got my own place and that was that.” She looked around. “I never came back. Just left her here to dwell on things.”

  She held out the cigarette box and offered one.

  “I don’t want a cigarette,” spat Mario. “I need a phone.”

  “Take it,” said Worth, stepping deeper into the red light. “What else are you going to do? Take it and enjoy it. Calm yourself, sir.”

  Dismissing Worth, Mario pushed past him and headed for the hotel room door leading to the corridor.

  Gotta get out and call an ambulance or something.

  Can’t just leave her there.

  The door had gone, replaced with more wall containing an ‘N Sync poster.

  No.

  Mario pressed a hand against the wall. Solid.

  No no no no.

  “What the hell? This some kind of goddamn funhouse?”

  Worth walked past the lamp and stood next to Kerry.

  “Miss Foster? If you are done savouring these delights, perhaps it would be wise to move on?”

  Kerry wiped both eyes with the back of her hand. Appearing reluctant, she carefully placed the bunny on the bed, propping its back against the pillows. She stroked its ear one last time.

  “Yes.” She sniffed. “I suppose we should. The night is young, and it’s Mario’s turn next…”

  “My turn? To do what? This?” He shook his head. “I get it now. This is one of those places were sickos come to kill people, and now I can’t get out so what? I’m the next attraction?”

  Mario ran through the room, bounding over the spilled Coke and unconscious woman. He headed for the dark doorway from which she’d entered, on the far side of the room.

  “No!” cried Worth, darting forwards, his hand reaching out. “Miss Foster. Stop him!”

  Kerry stood from the bed, looking dazed.

  Mario reached the door. A flight of stairs descended into complete darkness. He fled downwards.

  “You aren’t ready yet,” Worth called after him.

  Ignoring him, Mario pressed on, his arms out, feeling through the total darkness.

  What am I doing? I’m trapped in a madhouse!

  He stumbled on a step and quickly regained his footing. He leaned against the wall and slid along with his shoulder.

  “Mr. Fulcinni!” Worth called. “You have to come back!”

  Mario descended faster. The sounds of commotion increased behind him.

  They’re chasing.

  Mario’s outstretched hand connected with something hard in front. He stopped before he walked into it.

  A dead end?

  Why would the stairs lead to a dead end?

  You’re asking why stairs that appeared from nowhere would lead to a dead end!

  He frantically swept his hands over the smooth surface.

  Behind, footsteps sounded close behind.

  Mario glanced over his shoulder and up the stairs. A silhouette lurched down another step, framed in red light like the fires of hell.

  Worth!

  Mario searched with renewed vigour, but his hands slid uselessly around the wall. Wishing for a scrap of light, he reached further, and his fingers struck something protruding from the wall.

  Mario cried out and pulled back, nursing his crushed fingers.

  More creaks from the stairs, closer…

  Come on!

  He groped in the darkness and grabbed what he hoped was a doorknob. It turned.

  Yes!

  A hand clamped down on his arm.

  6

  A hand clamped down on his arm.

  You’re asleep! Don’t open your eyes. Don’t open them!

  His father jerked him, and Mario’s body lifted from the mattress and flopped back down. His eyes flickered like a camera shutter.

  “My boy…” His father sounded very drunk, words stretched with elastic syllables. “You’re awake…”

  Mario inhaled, long and deep, and sighed, feigning sleep.

  “I sit downstairs alone. It’s lonely. Your father needs company.”

  Mario rolled away to face the wall, still faking sleep. His father’s hold stopped him.

  “I know you’re not sleeping. Whatsa matter with you, eh? You no love your father anymore?”

  I never loved you. Leave me alone!

  Mario nearly voiced the words, but his lips lay par
alysed. His whole body had frozen, and a wave of goosebumps swept up his arm. He wondered if his father could feel them.

  “Is dark.” His father’s eyes seemed focussed in the distance. He swayed. “Is dark.”

  With his free hand, he pulled back the duvet. The hand holding onto Mario started to stroke the skin.

  “Is dark.”

  He crept forward.

  *****

  “Get off me,” Mario shouted and ripped his arm free from Worth’s grip. He shoved the old man back with his shoulder and swung the door open.

  He blinked in the sudden bright light, blinded. Arms out, he staggered through the door and into the unknown.

  “Sir! Come back!”

  “Fuck you,” Mario hissed. His foot struck something hard, and he fell. The ground knocked the air from him and his face hit the earth. He spat.

  What the-?

  He wiped his lips and examined his fingers. Damp sand clung to the skin.

  Two sets of hands grabbed him under each arm, trying to pull him to his feet.

  “Get off me!”

  “But sir, you have to calm yourself! We’ve had…issues like this before. Don’t rush. Take it slow.”

  “I told you to get off me,” said Mario and shrugged himself free. He landed on his hands and knees, out of breath.

  “Don’t be stupid,” said Kerry from behind.

  The wind ruffled his hair.

  Mario frowned.

  A breeze?

  He pushed himself up and sat back.

  Grassy dunes spread out to meet the sea at the horizon, and nimbus clouds traversed the sky in slow-moving queues. Somewhere, a seagull cawed.

  Mario stared out across the land and water. “Worth?”

  The old man stood by his side.

  “Yes, sir?”

  “I…what…?”

  Mario mumbled the words. Questions collapsed before they had begun, and his tongue fell dormant and useless.

  He watched the waves slowly roll about a mile away.

  “Come on,” said Worth. “Miss Foster, would you help me get the young man to his feet?”

  “Sure,” said Kerry. “What’s wrong with him?”

  “Just a little overwhelmed,” said Worth. “It happens. I’m sure you appreciate such a reaction.”

  They helped Mario stand and held him. His knees gave way, and he leaned against Worth.