The Collector Book One: Mana Leak (40 page)

He waited for further questions, but none emerged.

“So?” he said. “Where is the mana?”

He drained the last of his tea and started to nibble on the biscuit.

4.

Look at them
, thought Frank, looking around in disgust.
They’re buying it. They’re eating up every last word.

As The Collector told them his explanation of the mana and supposed ghosts associated with it, Frank remained leaning against the boarded window with his arms crossed.

This is complete nonsense! He must have put something in the water, LSD or some other hallucinogenic, to make us all see these things. It can’t be happening. It just can’t!

Frank struggled with the urge to run across the room and break the smug bastard’s neck, not only because of what he’d done, but to have the audacity to have
this
as an explanation.

He reached up and rubbed his forehead. A headache loomed.

He thought back to a week ago, sat behind his desk in his science lab, drinking good coffee and explaining the principals behind static electricity or sound wave scattering.

There must have been a single point
, he reasoned,
one small, almost insignificant event that caused this downward spiral that is my life.

He glowered at Anne.

Everything that goes wrong around here, it’s always down to you. The house not being cleaned, the kids being undisciplined…

Mr Harper?

The words brought back the sharp, burning pain of intrusion. Frank closed his eyes and squeezed his teeth together in a strained grin.

We need to talk urgently, Mr Harper…

Get out of my head!
Frank thought.
Get the hell out of my head!

I’m not stupid,
said The Collector inside Frank’s head.
I know you’re all lying to me. The mana is gone from here. I needed to get inside to confirm it, but it’s gone, isn’t it?

I don’t know what you mean,
Frank screamed.

Really? I could dig a little deeper and find out myself…

Pinpricks erupted inside Frank’s skull. He released a stifled cry.

“Frank?” asked Joe, turning from The Collector to look at him. “Are you alright?”

“I’m…fine…let him…finish…” he said, forcing the words out through the dizzying pain.

It’s gone, it’s gone!
he thought. The pain instantly receded.

That was easy, wasn’t it?

The Collector continued talking to the group, but Frank still heard him in his thoughts.

Now we have a real problem, Mr Harper. I can’t return back to the City empty handed. I need to replace that lost mana, if you catch my meaning…

I don’t understand
, thought Frank.

You will, as you’re an intelligent man. Maybe this will make things clearer.

Frank’s head filled with an image of his bathroom, as though The Collector was projecting it directly through his eyeballs. It showed Anne and Joe talking beside the bath and pointing into it. He even heard hammer blows from outside the room.

They were looking for the Prowler
, he thought,
while I sealed up the attic hatch.

Yes
, said The Collector,
this is one of their memories that I found.

In the mental image, Joe looked around and out through the bathroom doorway.

“He’s busy,” he whispered. “We won’t be disturbed.”

“Good,” said Anne. “I’ve wanted this since you arrived.”

She snaked her arms around his neck, pulling him downwards. He looked into her eyes as she raised her mouth to his.

No
, thought Frank.
That didn’t happen.

Didn’t it? Memories can’t lie, Mr Harper.

Joe put his hands on her hips, pulling her in quick. Her groin bumped into his. Anne slowly rubbed her body against him.

That couldn’t have happened
, thought Frank. Even his inner voice trembled.

You don’t sound very confident
, The Collector remarked.

Joe slid his hands up, moving over the bruised skin of Anne’s belly, higher and higher. He glided beneath her top and cupped her breasts. She moaned, the sound muffled, clamped inside by Joe’s eager kiss. Her top pulsated as he slowly started to squeeze and caress her.

Enough!
cried Frank, and the image vanished, revealing the living room again. The Collector still talked to the group.

Food for thought
, said The Collector.
Now, in return for letting you in on their little secret, you must do something for me. This conversation never happened. Say anything or behave oddly and I’ll have the Prowlers tear this house down and rip you all to pieces. Understand?

Y-yes
, said Frank. The room span, and his vision fuzzed.

Now listen, Harper, listen very carefully…

5.

“So, where is it?” The Collector drained the last of his tea.

“Erm…well…” said Eleanor. “As you said yourself, it can be quite elusive. You must allow us a little more time to locate it again.”

“You still do have it, don’t you?” asked The Collector.

“Oh yes!” said Eleanor. “But you were right. We all believed the mana to be the spirits of our loved ones. Now you have informed us of its true nature, why would we want to keep hold of it?”

“Really…” said The Collector. He fidgeted with the bowler hat resting in his lap.

“But you must grant us more time, to say our goodbyes. I haven’t seen my husband’s face for years. Surely you can humour us a little longer?”

The Collector stood sharply. They all jerked, especially Frank, who cowered in the corner.

“You must appreciate the severe time issues I’m under here,” said The Collector. “I fear I cannot wait much longer. The mana dissipates in this plane, losing energy through light and sound. It could be gone soon.”

“Trust me,” said Eleanor. “We know it’s still here.”

Joe nodded in agreement while everybody else sat still.

“Very well,” said The Collector, after pausing for thought. “You have one hour. If I am not presented with the mana within this time, then I will visit again, only this time, on much more serious terms. I bid you all good day.” He turned towards the doorway leading out into the hall.

“Wait,” cried Jake.

The Collector looked back over his shoulder, finding the teenager standing up from the armchair.

“I’ll see you out.”

“Hmm,” said The Collector. “I’m glad to see some good things have come from all of this. The boy has actually learned some respect. And manners.”

“After you,” said Jake, bowing his head.

The Collector laughed and placed his hat back onto his head. He gave it a firm push down, securing the bowler.

“How very touching. Come on, boy, if you insist. We wouldn’t want to waste what little time you have left in a battle of politeness.”

He walked out of the room, Jake quickly following behind.

“One hour,” he called back. “Be prompt!”

In the hall, Jake dashed around him to the front door. He unlocked it and swung it open, allowing the blazing light of the day to flood into the narrow room. He stood by the door, holding it open.

“I’m surprised,” said The Collector, studying him. “Maybe it was the other twin who was the bad influence. Perhaps you may become a more rounded person in his absence.”

“You’ve said your piece, now go,” said Jake. He waved his hand in front of his face. It felt like a fly was crossing his forehead.

“Very well,” said The Collector with a shark-like grin. “Remember young one, you have one hour. I feel you’ll be a key player in bringing back my mana…” He walked past Jake and out through the front door.

Jake slid the hammer from the back of his pants and, holding his breath, held it aloft and swung it down towards The Collector’s head.

“Nooo,” Jake cried, dropping the hammer and clutching his temples. It felt like a hand had punched through his skull and wiggled its fingers inside his brain. He toppled backwards, landing at the foot of the stairs.

“Stupid boy,” said The Collector, turning around and giving the dropped hammer a kick. It tumbled a short distance across the carpet and came to rest next to Jake’s left foot. “One hour, and I hope you have a better plan than that.”

Flashing his dangerous smile, The Collector headed back outside and strode down the garden path. Prowlers jumped from the bushes to accompany him.

Feeling the horrific sensation lessen the further The Collector walked, Jake grabbed the hammer from the floor and with eyes full of tears, fled upstairs.

He took the stairs two at a time, bounding upwards onto the landing. Behind him, he heard The Collector whistle a merry tune as he opened the garden gate. A shudder ran through Jake’s body. Though the penetration of his mind had ended, a tremor ran across the skin of his forehead.

Jake reached Charlie’s bedroom and banged both fists against the door.

“Open up,” he said, glancing over his shoulder to check The Collector hadn’t turned back and followed him. “It’s Jake. Open the door!”

He heard a noise from the other side: the chair being pulled from the knob and slid back. The door clicked and opened a couple of inches. Charlie peeked out.

The boy leapt back as Jake shoved the door open with a hard push.

“Hey!”

Jake walked in, finding Bronwyn sat on the bed and his mother dozing on the mattress on the floor. Her blankets had been replaced with clean ones.

“You two,” he said to the children. “Downstairs.”

Charlie was pressed against the wall, eyes wide and body shaking slightly, the rabbit watching the advance of a fox.

Jake felt pleased that his reputation still stood in these extreme circumstances.

“Problem?”

“Is…is it safe?” asked Charlie, his voice trembling.

“Safer than up here, if you get me…” Jake snarled.

“Come on, Bron,” said Charlie, holding out his hand. Bronwyn shuffled off the bed and shooting Jake a mean look, took her brother’s hand. He led her out onto the landing.

“And close the front door,” Jake ordered. He waited until their footsteps reached the end of the stairs before prodding his mother’s side with his foot. “Hey. Wake up.”

Jenny’s eyes gradually opened. She blinked.

“Jake? I must have dozed off…”

He crouched next to her.

“Yeah, you must have. Good job Harper didn’t catch you sleeping while you were meant to be watching his kids. He’d have killed you.”

“Yeah, yeah,” dismissed Jenny. She sat up. “I take it you’re here because
he’s
gone?”

“He’s gone all right,” said Jake. He shuddered again.

“And?”

“He caught me,” he said, hanging his head. The hammer hung weakly in his hand, pointing at the floor.

“You idiot,” said Jenny. “I told you to be careful, didn’t I? It’s going to be even harder next time. Now he’ll be expecting it!”

Jake swallowed. “Next time?”

“Of course next time. You want him to get away with this?”

Jake looked at her. “I…I don’t think I can.”

“Really, Jake? I thought you were the big hero now? I’ve heard them talking about you, about how you did us all proud when those things got in. And now you’re telling me you can’t finish the job?”

Jake stared at the floor, staying silent. “I…I think you’re just upset, Mum. You’ve never been like this. It’s the stress…”

“
They
don’t know the real you,” said Jenny, ignoring him. “
They
don’t know the years of abuse I’ve had to put up with.
They
don’t know it was your brother that saved me last night, not you…”

“Mum,” Jake cried, tears now cascading down his cheeks. “Please don’t say this. It’s just the situation.”

“Truth hurts, doesn’t it?” Jenny continued. “I’ve been shut up in here all night. The crazy woman, out of sight, out of mind. While you all planned and schemed together, I was alone. At least you kept me updated, which was something.”

Jake sniffed.

“I’ve had time to think,” said Jenny, “and I want him dead.” She spat the words out like they were acid on her tongue. “He took my boy, and it was because of you…”

“Mum! Please!”

“You had to be the big man, didn’t you? Chase him on that goddamn bike. That’s why he came for us, Jake. That’s why your brother is dead!”

“B-But…”

“But nothing. I know it was your idea to chase him, everything was always your idea…”

Jake dropped the hammer and put his hands over his face, sobbing into his palms.

Jenny ignored him, staring into space. Her eyes were dry.

“All we have is each other now, Jake. While
he
still walks, we can never be a family again. What you did will always hang over us while your brother’s murderer still lives. Do you agree, Jake?”

He slowly nodded.

“I said, do you agree?”

“Yes,” he shouted, pulling his hands away to reveal a face of tears and mucus.

“Clean yourself up and get back down there. Whatever they’re planning, be a part of it. Get close to him. Don’t let me down.”

“Th-There’s more,” said Jake. His words came out breathlessly. He gulped down air.

Jenny’s eyes found him and narrowed. “What?”

“We…we have one hour before he comes back.”

Jenny smiled.

“Then we’ll be waiting for him, won’t we?”

Again, all Jake could do was nod.

Jenny grabbed the front of his T-shirt and pulled him in close.

“We’ll get him. No one hurts my family. Hear me? No one!”

“Y-Yes, Mum.”

She pushed him away. Jake nearly fell backwards.

“Go back down,” she ordered. “You don’t want to miss anything. And tell no one. As far as they’re concerned, I’m still upset and a blubbering wreck. The less they know, the better. Eleanor and that grandson of hers would only try and stop us. Too nice for their own good, those two.”