Secrets of the Past (8 page)
Read Secrets of the Past Online
Authors: Wendy Backshall
Also
a brother, this story is coming to life a bit
too
fast for me now, I must never go back again,
and I
knew that, it
was not
my time.
I decided
however
it was time for lunch, feeling a hunger
pang in my stomach,
low fat sandwich
I think
, been trying recently to get my figure as it was a couple of years back, trying to get rid of this extra roll that had appeared around my hip area.
As I sat the phone rang it was Mel, she told me she would not be round for a while as she was going to stay at her sisters in Hastings, we chatted for a while, then said our goodbyes, she did not know how long she was going for, but invited me down to stay at anytime.
I sat back relaxed and switched on the TV, it was the lunchtime local news and in front of my eyes was a picture of Zoë filling the screen, and I
leaned forward, to hear.
Her body was
discovered,
in a lane in Strood.
Which is near Rochester, where I live?
They were looking for a man seen in the area, they then gave a description, then a photo fit picture, which resembled the man Geoff, I became very worried, and I realized I could be next, so thought I will give it to him if I see him again.
Poor girl, I wondered if I may have helped her if I had gone to the police, I now know I should have gone with my instincts, however it was too late now.
The rest of the day went quickly and I retired early all this knowledge had made me tired and sleepy.
I must have fallen asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
I was so tired of all this.
Suddenly a ringing awak
en
ed me and banging, I looked up and it was still dark, so I switched on the bedside lamp and fumbled for my dressing gown.
I ran along the hall and down the stairs and open
ed the door without thinking, just
a
bout the din of the ringing. H
ow my neighbo
u
rs would feel.
As the door opened with such force, I fell, flying backwar
ds, hitting my head on the step I assume.
I awoke with a pain in the back of my
head;
there was a cold chill o
n my face when I opened my eyes. I
mmediately in front of me was a large old wooden door, with large hinges, and a huge lock.
It was like a door you would see in an old castle.
I then realized how cold
my bottom was, and
I was sitting on a cold concrete floor. I quickly jumped up, pulling my dressing gown up around my neck, as I was cold and shivery.
I looked around and it looked like a dungeon or prison cell, nothing at all anywhere, just the window with thick bars, and the door.
I was feeling very panicky by this time, my head hurt
and I was so cold. I went towards the window, where the bars were and tried to look out, but they were high, and could only see another concrete wall beyond.
I started thinking back, what could have happened? How did I get here?
I remembered opening the door, then no more.
I pushed my hair from my face, felt something wet, it was blood, tangled in my ha
ir,
and it
must have been when I bumped my head I thought.
On my forehead, the blood trickling down my face.
Suddenly I thought a
bout Geoff, w
as it he that brought me here. W
ho else
could it be
?
I ran to the door tried to open it but was unable. I started to become hysterical, but after a time I thought, no calm down Amy, think about it.
I sat on a bit of a step in the corner, shi
vering, what can I do I thought?
I thought I saw something move out the corner of my eye, then again, it came closer. I jumped up and squealed it was a rat.
It went away again.
I sat cringing at the thought of more.
Then I heard a noise so backed from the door and the din of the key opening, made me flinch with terror.
It opened and there he was, him, Geoff looking worse than ever, like a tramp, dirty, filthy clothes, his breathing wheezy, I was on the brink of rushing at him, but my legs were so weak.
He then
spoke.
“I warned you
”.
H
e shouted, coughing and wheezing.
H
e star
ted towards me, I was now backing
to the cold grey wall behind me, and he stopped a foot or so in front of me.
I
could not scream, or speak,
paralyzed with fear.
“I warned you, didn’t I?
”
Now you’re going to pay just like the others
”,
H
e said, breathing heavily.
By this time, I was frozen, could not speak or mutter a noise even if I wanted to.
He then added,
“Now are you going to tell me where the locket is or am I going to kill you this
time
?
”
He came close to my face. His breath hot, he smelt so
bad, I had to hol
d my breath to stop the disgusting smell
.
He then shouted,
“Well, are you going to tell
me
?
”
I pushed him back
.
“I haven’t got it anymore, someone took it,
and don’t
you think I would give it to you if I had it”.
I said.
Thinking of Zoë and Lynne, who had already died by this man’s hands, should I just give it to him?
I then screamed at him
.
“Get off, let me go.”
However,
he swung his hand and hit me in the face, which stung as his hand left my cheek, he then grabbed my arm started dragging me to the door.
I tasted blood on my lips.
He grabbed me again by the throat, his nails sinking in to my flesh but then let go, pushing me to the floor
, then grabbed my hair, pulling at the roots,
he
then dropped me and
headed for the door.
I shouted after him.
“Please let me go,
I really don’t have the locket.”
He then appeared again throwing a carrier bag; raising my hands to stop it from
it hitting me in the
face.
He then spoke again.
“I will be back soon, and you want to
pray you are telling the truth.”
I stood against the wall for a moment, then glanced at the bag and slowly opened it to see mums jumper the fleecy one I had kept in my wardrobe, it had a tiny picture of Bambi on it.
I was thrilled he had chosen this one rather than any other.
I had it for years.
I remember when mum bought it at a market when we holidayed in Hastings, she bought
the
Bambi
one,
and I had a penguin on mine, they were soft, especially as the holiday weather had turned breezy, they kept us warm, and I had kept it all this time. We used to cuddle up together, and then fall to sleep.
There was also a pair of tracksuit bottoms and trainers. Blimey, I thought this person had a half a brain after all. I was starting to feel a little warmer now; top was a little small now though, but did not matter.
I was overcome with emotion and starting sobbing,
Please help me Mum; I sat there alone crying for some time. My eyes so tired. I
just
wanted to go.
Mums jumper felt gorgeous it smelt like a sweet shop, you know all the sweetie odors’ you get when you walk into a sweet shop.
In the bag, I found a packet of crisps and carton orange, and I was a bit hungry, so I tried to eat, but I choked and just could not manage to swallow. Therefore, I sipped the drink.
Mum would always give me strength; I needed her right now, and felt she was sitting there with me.
In the distance, I could hear car engines; I could just
see the sky t
hrough a little gap in the bars
if I strained my neck a bit. I was still a little cold.
I started worrying about Geoff, was he really going to kill me, no surely not, he was not the killer of Zoë, no my imagination is running away from me again.
Suddenly I heard a noise it was he, he was back, the door opened and he shouted,
“Right get out here, I am going to let you go and if you say anything to the pol
ice or anyone, I will kill you, do you understand me?”
I grabbed the bag before he changed his mind, decided keeping my mouth shut this time.
I then said, “Yes thank you so muc
h”.
As I got outside the door, he said
.
“Righ
t put this over your head and you be
quiet or you’re dead
.
”
I slipped it over my head as quickly as possible.
It was a hat, a woolly one, he pulled it down over my eyes, scratching my face and
then
grabbed my hand, draggi
ng me up some steps.
I stumbled, catching my fingers on the wall.
“For god’s sake do you want to stay here or go home?” He screeched.
I followed him best I could, tripping on every s
tep, he held my arm tightly,
and it
was hurting.
We walked a few yards, I was then, pushed to the floor of a car. Then I heard a slam and the engine start.
He then said,
“Don’t you dare move a muscle or your dead”
?
“You will get me the locket, or you’ll end up like them other girls, is that what you want?
”
Therefore, I lay there terrified of what was coming next.
My hand was painful as I leaned on it.
A few minutes
later,
I was dragged out
,
told to sit, he said,
“Don’t remove that hat ti
ll you cannot hear the motor no
more, and I’ll be watching, I will come back and throw you in the river, like the other girl.
I sat frozen, heard the car drive off it was in the distance now, so I slowly pulled off the hat, my eyes were blurry and realized I was sitting opposite the river below Rochester castle in seating in an alcove. It was dark.
I chucked the hat on the ground.
I just sat there could not see anyone, finally I rose to my feet and began running towards my flat, my legs were weak, I was soon in the high street.
I did not see anyone, there were people, but I was running so fast, just images at t
he side of my face,
I just ran, I ignored them, I must have looked awful, such a mess.
I could taste blood as I ran, but ignored it, just had to get home
, off this
street.
CHAPTER SEVEN
I reached my home and arrived at the door to see it partly open; I quietly went in, listened at the bottom of the stairs, t
he door still locked behind me, so I was relieved.
He must have come here again.
I went directly to the bathroom to look in the mirror, I was horrified, was not me, could not be, blood down my face. My cheek, to one side was bright pink and my eye slightly different to the other, blood dripping down the side of my lips, and my hair, I look like a cave girl.
I immediately ran the bath water, and walked to my kitchen area, where I made myself a hot drink, and returned for my long awaited bath. I sobbed, but there was no one here to help me.
I must have been in there for some time, eventually dragging myself out. My eye looked a little better now, and no blood to be seen, but my head hurt a little.
My hand was hurting, but I think just badly bruised.
I sat on the sofa, curled up and fell asleep, I was exhausted, this day had to be forgotten, forever, I didn’t want to die like Zoë and the other girl in the river, I don’t want the locket, they can have it I thought, I didn’t want it in the first place.