He's Watching Me (5 page)

“Almost done,” he turned to Laura and gave that same look she saw all too often at school: relief.

“Me too,” Laura responded, using the back of her hand to wipe away the ring of pop she feared was around her lips.

As she sent the last few pages of a history project to the printer, detailing world war two with heart breaking photographs, she became aware of a flashing chat bar at the bottom of the screen. There was an unread message highlighted in blue.

“Are these all logged into social networking groups?” Laura asked.

“Yeah, my dad is a bit of a social addict. He has tonnes of celebrity friends which he stays in contact with through the networking groups, so he usually logs in and forgets to log out, or gets distracted by work, or booking transport for business conventions and stuff,” Toby mumbled, prodding away at the keyboard. Laura detected a hint of emotion in his low tone.

“Does he go away a lot?” his fingers came to a halt as he stared zombie-like at the luminous screen, internally debating how to answer the question. Honesty, or keep up appearances.

“Yeah, both of them do,” Toby groaned with the same low pitch, raspy like a heavy smoker.

“Oh, I see,” she sympathized, clearly he was lonely.

“You enjoy school though? And friends?” Laura asked, scraping stray hairs from her face.

“School yeah, but I don't really have any friends.” His eyes lowered to the keypad as he idly flicked dust from between the buttons.

“Why is that? You seem like a nice young lad,” Laura's heart was breaking slightly, minuscule chips cracking the throbbing muscle in her chest.

This in itself seemed pathetic; she had known the boy a matter of hours. But couldn't help but feel attached to him, and sympathize with his situation. On the surface he had the perfect life, full of riches and wealth, anything he desired at the touch of a button. But
all
that clearly came at a price.

“I go to a private school where kids only care about superficial things like sports, or reality television, or getting really drunk and taking drugs.” Toby grimaced, suggesting he wanted friends, but not at the expense of compromising who he was. He wasn't ready to conform to society just yet, and hoped he wouldn't have to. That he would find like minded individuals who shared mutual interests.

“Seriously? At your age they drink and take drugs?!” Laura felt as if she had been hit by a bus, he was only of around eleven years of age. What is coming of the youth of today? Even though technically she was still in that category. He nodded awkwardly to her question, shoulders hunched.

“Well good for you Toby, don't hang around with people like that, you have a good life, and I promise as you get older, the people you are faced with will mature. Don't do drugs or drink,” Laura advised, feeling slightly parental. But also hypocritical by telling him not to drink as she was known to enjoy tipple with friends occasionally.

“Oh I won't that's why no one really wants to hang around with me. So I go to school, and am chauffeured home, where I play video games and do homework.”

“What do you do on a weekend? Do your parents take you places?” Laura assumed there would be endless trips to museums, theme parks, holidays, weekend getaways, shopping trips and such.

“They take me somewhere about once every month. There, done, shall we go pick a film?” Toby was obviously trying to change the subject, pushing away from the desk and plastering a smile across his face, so Laura obliged in his subtle hints.

“Two seconds, I am just finishing up,” Laura smiled, in hopes of lifting his spirit, which had clearly lowered significantly during their very personal chat.

She was logging out when her meddling accumulated as she clicked on the chat box. Truth be told, she was hoping to stumble upon a conversation between Dr Anderson and one of these celebrities. A hot actor? Or internationally known singer? Her eyes read the name of the person, and was stumped when it read 'Anonymous'.
Hmmm maybe that is so they can remain undetected, should the castle's security ever get breached and an intruder go through chat history should an account ever be left open.
Her eyes flickered to the message
itself, which read, 'What film will you two be watching then?' Laura gasped.

Chapter 5

She was no longer a young adult, but a fragile little girl. As if an even younger, scared girl was trapped inside. A golden nugget of dread had formed in her stomach and was gleaming with a morbid fate, and the dissolution of optimism. This person that had been vacant from her ongoing thoughts was still here. Still lurking. Still tormenting. Still intimidating. They could see, or hear, or both. But where were they? She doubted they were inside. They couldn't be. Then the revelation of the door being opened when she had been upstairs talking to Toby flashed before Laura. Now was appropriate to be frightened.
Was it time to call the authorities or not? What would it hurt to sneak off and make that all important phone call that could mean the difference between life and death?

“You done yet?” Toby asked.

“Erm...kjnsf....”
what? That's not even a word.
Laura was flustered. “Y
eah, you go on ahead into the living room, just move my stuff onto the floor and I'll be there in a sec,” Laura responded trying to appear aloof.

“The living room? Laura, we have a screening room, like a small cinema,” he laughed.

“Oh of course you do,” she muttered. “Well, is it down here?”

“Yeah, just two doors over,” he smiled.

“Well you go, I am just finishing up, gonna give my dad a quick call.”

“Oh don't use your mobile phone, use that one by the printer. The signal is terrible out here, which is why we have several advanced wireless routers in the castle that actually boost reception,” Toby pointed to the corner of the room to the huge printer, beside a modern phone set.

“Okay, thanks,” Laura said as Toby left cradling the sweets and pop like a new born baby.

As soon as the door shut, she poked the buttons harshly, frantic with panic, 9-9-9, beep-beep-beep, and waited for the ring. All it took was one of them and a husky voice answered. “Hello you're through to the police department how may I direct your call? Is this an emergency?”

“No, I just need, well, actually, I just want to ask something, I have a stalker watching me.”

“Okay, you want to be more specific?” he patronisingly asked.

“I am Laura Bass I am babysitting for Dr Anderson at Castle Ver-”

“
The
Dr Anderson? Father of Toby and husband of Marion?” the police officer seemed impressed.

“Yes, do you know them?”

“Yes, so what exactly is the problem?” his tone fell serious.

Typical. As soon as rich people are mentioned this becomes an important call.

“It is probably me just overreacting to a prankster, but I got a call a couple of hours ago. At first he didn't say anything, then he ended up asking if I was alone, and when I told him I was, there was a pause. Then he said
you're next
,” she explained.

“Anything else?” his pitch jumped an octave.

“Yeah, I went upstairs to check on Toby, and when I came down the door was open, and they had moved a bowl of candy I'd left on the floor.”

“Had you opened the door previously to anyone?”

“Yeah, some trick or treaters,” Laura was beginning to sense that he wasn't taking this seriously, and in all honesty, she wasn't sure he should. She resembled a typical melodramatic teenager.

“Okay, had it occurred to you that it was the kids that came in for more candy?” he coughed.

“Yes that had, but then who phoned? And I also got a message when I logged into a computer in the computer room.”

Laura was firing more information like they were bullets, trying to prove she was not insane, gunning down his condescending attitude.

“It asked,
what film will you two be watching then?
As we had been discussing watching a movie together after we had done our work.”

“You do know that Toby's father has microphones in each room of the house, and cameras,” he revealed, somewhat sarcastically.

“I didn't, no. What are you suggesting?”

“He also is constantly on his mobile phone.”

“Even when dining with his wife?” Laura's face creased.

“Especially then, their marriage is quiet, to say the least. They don't often speak, and only socialize as that is what married couples are supposed to do.”

Laura was stunned at this little morsel of information.
I guess being financially comfortable comes with its fair share of other problems.

“So, what are you saying?” Laura ran a restless hand through her blonde hair.

“Maybe he was listening to you guys on the microphones and assumed you wouldn't get scared, and you would answer him. Oh wait, did you answer him?” he questioned.

“No, I thought it was the stalker,” Laura's eyebrows rose.

“Well, I am sure if you go back to the chat and reply, it will be Dr Anderson. He has freaked people out before, especially babysitters,” he chuckled, which Laura took a little offence too.

“Really?”

“Yes. So I wouldn't make any assumptions,” he sounded full of himself in that instance.

“OH! The note!” Laura jumped.

“Note, what note?” Officer Thompson was confused and slightly startled at her outburst.

“Someone left a note in the candy that they moved saying: how was Toby?” just as Laura was beginning to feel slightly peaceful, even with the cop's condescending attitude, that shred of evidence sent her heart racing.

“Could one of the kids have known? The trick or treaters perhaps?” he suggested.

“Well they did say they come to the castle every year as it's spooky, and Dr Anderson always gives out good treats. So I guess they could have known,” Laura was now less tense and on edge, and felt more idiotic with each passing second. She really wasn't helping the over dramatic stereotype of teenage girls.

“I know the kids around there, they are mischievous little fuckers,” he laughed.

Laura actually liked the sound of his laugh; it was warm and endearing.

“I guess, so I think I should go now, and not be so silly. Sorry for wasting your time,” she blushed.

“Nonsense, it is always better to be safe rather than sorry, as they say. But if anything else happens that worries you, just call back and ask for Officer Thompson,” he seemed sincere, she was starting to like this police officer, just as the conversation was coming to an end.

“Thank you, bye then,” Laura bid farewell praying that, as nice as he actually was, she wouldn't have to call back.

The chat rolled around in her mind like a hamster spinning a wheel. Everything had been resolved, but she just couldn't settle. It all seemed too easily explained to be
that
simple. But, if this officer knew what he claimed to about the kids, Dr Anderson, and the microphones, then all was now well. And the next eerie circumstance shall be approached with sensibility. So she forced a smile on her face. No longer in worry of her existence, she was charged, and hankering to check out this room. If recent history was any indicator, it would be dazzling. So Laura knocked on the door to make sure it was the right one.

“Toby, you in there?” Laura yelled.

“Yeah, come in,” Toby replied, voice warbling.

She pushed open the door and her eyes almost fell out. It wasn't like a mini cinema, it
was
a cinema!
What was Toby comparing it too when he said it was a small cinema? What kind of cinemas does he go to?
With walls carpeted in a luscious burgundy, a gigantic screen between red velvet curtains below a declining mountain of comfy looking crimson seats all aimed at the screen. It was more alike to a fine Broadway theatre, staging America's finest musical productions.

“Where you wanna sit?” Toby asked from behind, standing, with the goodies on an armrest.

She puffed out air, lost for words, and presented with too much choice of seating.

“Erm...you pick,” she flung up her arms, grinning, completely fascinated. Caught up in amazement she looked up to see gold engravings and portraits of babies and Greek men.
Holy crap!

“Wow! I can't believe this place, it's incredible,” Laura giggled, jaw almost touching the carpet.

“Oh, you might like this then,” Toby dragged her down the many steps to the very bottom. He took Laura to one of the curtains, brushing it aside, revealing a huge window, tall but slim. Yet it was the view that was even more incredible. The cinema actually sloped down the land and rested a few hundred metres from the cliff's edge. If Laura was to hazard a guess she would say it was a quarter of a mile away at most. It was exhilarating, but alarming. Laura had wondered how a cinema on the first floor could lower so much, and stretch out so far. To the right, a path could be seen. The very same one Laura and her father had driven up hours ago. The gates were barely visible in the dark of the night, many trees acting as the gate's accomplice in concealing its location. To the left was the rest of the cliff, spread over a few miles, joined by a perfect view of the sea in the distance, thrashing away under the heavy downpour and strong gusts of wind. Yet it was the cliff's edge, directly out front, unnervingly close, the sea just beyond it, that unnerved yet also impressed Laura.
Could this place be any more phenomenal?
Laura almost screamed aloud in excitement. Then she remembered this was only one tower of the multi-winged castle. What else was laying in wait?

The next couple of hours flew by in a pleasant blur. Laura and Toby enjoyed an animated movie, laughing hysterically at the comical characters performing slapstick humour. The audio system was excellent, and the treats went down nicely, washed down by plenty of fizzy pop. It didn't take long for Laura to feel bloated after the over-indulgence of snacks and carbonated beverages. Toby became lethargic towards the end of the movie, so he retired to his bedroom as the credits began to roll, with an upbeat song bouncing off the soundproof walls. Soon enough Laura also retreated, to the living room. With a couple hours more energy remaining, she figured the workload could be whittled down some. Laura was partly bursting to explore this dwelling. Examine every crevice and crack, every room that allowed access. This urge only intensified as time went by. So after a short spell highlighting paragraphs in a biology textbook, yellow ink everywhere, she put her work away for the night. It wasn't until cramming everything back into the bag, that Laura realised just how much work she had managed to complete. She felt proud. Then something occurred to her. She didn't know which bedroom she was actually sleeping in. Dr Anderson had left that little crumb of necessity out. So Laura had a legitimate reason for searching, and seeking a room for the night. She gathered her belongings and trudged upstairs. The upper hallways were sensational. Long stretches of coral carpet with concrete pillars, the ceiling a mesh of arches. Each one had been delicately painted with a mix of patterns. Every so often down these mile long corridors were thick oak doors, again, on either side. There was an abundance of rooms; she didn't know where to begin. But a room with a view sounded appealing, so she continued to the end of the tower, clutching a backpack, with her jacket artfully looped around the straps. As she did this, a double door at the end of the walkway came into view, leading outside. She guessed that it was a balcony at the end of the tower. Laura lugged everything to the door and wandered outside. It did lead outside, but it was not a balcony, it was an outdoor path encompassing the exterior of the castle. It inclined onto another wing. Another thing she noticed, were the windows scattered along the path. People strolling down the outdoor path could look into every room of that floor, on that side of the castle anyway.
Better keep my curtains closed at all times then, don't want no peeping toms.
Laura smirked. But then that same thought sent chills down her spine. She then had an idea. Turning around there was in fact a window, its curtains open, allowing easy viewing of the room. It was a magnificent bedroom. A king bed with wooden posts, cream walls crowded by glorious artwork, a petite red velvet chair nestled in the corner, thick oak dressing table, and on the inside of the window was a cushioned windowsill. She imagined sitting on that windowsill and admiring the view for hours. Or snuggling with a good book.
Now that would be one hell of a way to wake up.

Following that beautiful vision she returned to the hallway opening the first door on her left. And alas, that was the room she had been staring at like a child looking through the frosted window of a toy store at Christmas. Laura almost giggled. A smell lingered within the room, some kind of musty odour. It was akin to an old novel, biography, or history book. It was that well known ancient musky aroma of high quality paper and ink. This evoked an insatiable appetite to grab a bulky hardback and hop on the windowsill, soak up the atmosphere whilst becoming lost in a fictional world. In that instant she decided that was exactly what had to be done, not quite ready for bed just yet. Flinging belongings on the bed she dashed downstairs and tried to recall which door was the library.

She paused briefly to remember, then Laura skipped towards the door, eager to take a peek into the fountain of literature. Or more accurately, ogle every inch of the interior. She wouldn't exactly call herself a 'bookworm' but she did enjoy a good read every so often. But now that a craving had risen, she was high on anticipation of what lay behind this door. One mighty heave and the heavy wood creaked open, and Laura fell in love.