Davina and The Goyles cover. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Davina-and-the-Goyles-ebook/dp/B00928727A/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1345965442&sr=1-1

Davina and The Goyles - first 5 chapters

Davina and The Goyles Pitch:

The world stands on the brink of annihilation. While the unknowing masses go about their daily routines the Gargoyles have been watching.

It is time…

 

Over the last century the Chimera has been growing a terrifying army of Grotesques in the desert. She intends to obliterate the world’s cities.

Time to destroy humanity…

 

Davina and Ghost have entwined Gargantuan destinies that lead to an epic adventure to save the planet.  Unfortunately Davina just can’t remember…

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Davina-and-the-Goyles-ebook/dp/B00928727A/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1345965442&sr=1-1

DAVINA AND THE GOYLES

Goylegate – Book 1

 

By

Ruby

 

Published by Ruby at Kindle.

 

Copyright  Ruby

This book is shall not be lent, resold or hired out by way of trade or otherwise without the author’s consent. All rights remain with the author: Ruby

Kindle Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Kindle.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Especially created for little Davina.

Bounce, bounce, bounce.

The person with the most natural bounce I ever met.

Thank you for being an inspiration.

Thank you for advising me that Gargoyles eat walls.

- I never knew that before.

 

Part I

What does a kid really remember?

 

CHAPTER 1

The fastest pace throughout the chase.

 

TIME: TODAY

LOCATION: ENGLAND

 

Davina hated being chased. So why was she in that situation? With her heart pounding, she glanced behind her. The beefy black-suited men were catching up. She gritted her teeth, put her head down and ran her absolute fastest. Effortlessly, she wove through the crowds with such speed and agility that she was barely even noticed. It was as if a warm breath had been exhaled and then she was gone.

In all directions, the hunters yelled into small lumps of black.

‘Cut her off!’ screamed the voice in charge.

How had the situation grown so out of hand? One minute she was eating from the large dark container on the street. The next she was being hunted. What was the problem? She had watched a hairy man with a long jacket eat from the cabbage smelling place. So why were they picking on her? Admittedly she was small, acrobatic, with long, dark hair and pale skin. Nothing that unusual, other than her blue freckles.

‘Stop right there!’ a brawny bloke had hollered.

Instinctively she had scarpered. The chase began with one angry-looking man and now there were already ten involved. She had done nothing wrong! Well, certainly nothing she could remember. 

The screeching sound of the wheeled, metal cages jerked her from her thoughts. Her pursuers intended to surround her. There was no way! She had to escape but she was at that designated place for a reason - but why? There had to be a clue…

Davina rounded a corner and searched for an escape or somewhere to hide. The crowd parted and watched her curiously. She wasn’t panting or making a noise, so why were they staring? Maybe running, climbing and jumping at a rate none of them could manage was something to do with it. Or was she more agile than many children her age? Actually, what was her age? That was a completely different matter.

Ahead of her, two burly black-suits blocked her path. She glanced behind her - four grimacing men, waving their arms, attempted to round her up like a chicken. The onlookers expected her capture and stopped in the street, gawking. Why couldn’t people mind their own business? What did it matter what she had eaten or where she had obtained it from? Maybe they had been monitoring where she slept at night. Had they followed her to the place where people pulled down their trousers and sat for a while before they left again? All she did was climb through a small, square window when the moon rose. It was completely opposite to her usual routine, but she had to live the same rhythm as the ‘outsiders’.

With a deep breath, she sprinted towards the two chunky chasers blocking her path. ‘Idiots!’ she muttered, ran sideways up a wall and used a dustbin to launch herself clear over them.

Some of the gawping onlookers applauded.

With an elegant landing, she continued. As she raced along, she glimpsed a reflection in a window: the two male black-suits huffed at each other, puffed out their chests and lolloped back into a heavy-footed run.

Frantically, she searched for a place to hide. The church - the same church she had woken up outside of on that first day. She hurdled the wall, sprinted the graveyard but ground to an abrupt halt. Something about the carved, stone figures leaning out of the church jogged her memory. Were they associated with her mission?

She scurried to the nearest grey, stone wall, ingrained with yellow and green lichen. Using all her upper body strength and her fingers like claws, she navigated the carvings up to a balcony. The strangely familiar gargoyle faces appeared to grin at her as she wedged herself into a tiny alcove on the roof. Had she heard a growl of welcome?

Below her, a small pile of steaming stones appeared. They tumbled heavily to the ground. Plop, plop, plop!

Cautiously, she traversed the edge of the roof and found a small nook to hide. Unfortunately, it was not enough to conceal her from what was overhead. The whirring of blades from a metal flying machine made her jolt. Up in the sky, men shouted into the dark talking machines and called in her location. She caught her breath and clung to the ledge. The wind from the machine was strong and blew her hair across her face. Davina scraped it back and erratically scanned the area for escape. She considered fighting the black-coats directly, but that would give her away. Davina sighed, if only she could remember. ‘Whatever you do Davina - do not draw attention to yourself. She will send people to capture you. This is all you are supposed to remember,’ was all that remained.

What had she done? She had already drawn attention to herself and that meant trouble!

Davina gazed up at the whirring, flying machine and glanced below. The black coats beneath circled like starving dogs. She had to take action. Her only possible escape was to leap to a nearby tree then across the adjacent field. Could she make it?

Davina took a deep breath launched herself along the balcony. Bang!

The bitter sting of something sharp bit into her behind. Darkness descended upon her. Time was lost with her last thought – who were the outsiders?

 

 

CHAPTER 2

Brain drain what a shame.

 

The stark, grey walls were lined with dark wooden benches. The suspended tubular lights emitted a green glow that made her feel queasy – more queasy. Lemon flavoured bleach tinged the air whilst Davina’s mind remained bleary. The tranquiliser had completely wiped her out, she hadn’t even managed to track her location.

In one of the offices down the corridor, two adults discussed her in hushed voices; they assumed she couldn’t hear. Sergeant Riley, wearing his black, police uniform, noisily sipped from a cup of tea served in a blue, china cup. The Sergeant resembled an old bear with the deeply inset lines on his brow and sagging bags beneath his eyes. All the while, Ms Kirk flitted about the office in her long, shadowy dress. She was a hunched, bony women with sharp, penetrating eyes, a jutting chin and lips that naturally turned down at the corners.

‘So what you’re telling me is that little girl out ran ten policemen and a helicopter? That kind of behaviour suggests she’s guilty of something,’ Ms Kirk said in a scolding tone.

Sergeant Riley nodded blankly and gazed at the television. It played a news feature with a wind-swept presenter talking about a church with ten extra Gargoyles. Coincidentally, it was the same place they had captured the girl.

‘Did you see that?’ asked Sergeant Riley.

‘Did I see what Sergeant?’

‘That there church is where we were today. Where the girl was rounded up.’

‘What are they saying about it then Sergeant? Is there anything about her?’ asked Ms Kirk sharply. ‘We don’t want any attention!’

‘Nothing about the girl, just that the statues were miscounted in the middle ages. I wonder why she ran there of all places?’

‘Mmm,’ said Ms Kirk stopping mid-stride. ‘The people in the middle ages probably couldn’t count properly because they had fingers missing or hands chopped off for stealing. I think the girl running there is a coincidence Sergeant. You only notice it on television because you were there today rounding up a badly behaved child.’

‘We don’t know for sure that she’s done anything wrong,’ he replied taking another sip of tea.

Ms Kirk stopped her pacing and turned sharply. ‘So tell me that again Sergeant. You chased a girl because she didn’t do anything wrong?’

Sergeant Riley stirred his tea and huffed, ‘Ms Kirk it was an anonymous tip-off. Anyway, she doesn’t seem to remember doing anything at all. What’s more, she seems fascinated by some of the simple things that we take for granted.’

‘Like what?’ Ms Kirk studied the Sergeant with her eyebrow raised.

‘Well she stared at me curiously when she heard the voices down the radio.’

Ms Kirk paced some more, ‘are you completely sure that she remembers nothing at all?’ she said leaning close to Sergeant Riley.

‘Well only her last few days.’

‘Sergeant Riley that is not nothing! That is something! If she can remember a couple of days then she could very well remember more. You know how these children are always pretending... All this make-believe twaddle they’re fed and look what happens... They start believing it. It’s no wonder there is such a need for a naughty children’s home like this. The thing that’s bothering me Sergeant is why did she run if she’s not guilty of anything?’

Ms Kirk rubbed her cheek with her bony hands. ‘God whoever invented children? Life would be so much easier without them! Anyway, she must know more. Kids don’t forget. They’re like elephants but with smaller brains.’

‘Look I don’t think she’s fibbing,’ said Sergeant Riley.

‘You can never tell. Some children are so well trained at lies that they don’t even know when they are lying themselves. So tell me Sergeant Riley has she been naughty or not? Does she fit the criteria to be brought here?’

‘I don’t know – I didn’t reference the disobedience parameters that you provided. However, there is something very dangerous about her. Her ability to climb, mixed with her acrobatics would suggest something is laying dormant. At times there is something ferocious in her eyes.’

With a stroke of the chin, Ms Kirk digested what was being said.

Folding his arms and crossing his legs, Sergeant Riley appeared to be in conflict. ‘Although, she seems quiet and keeps staring at me with those large, green eyes. Sometimes she does it without blinking too. Then at other times she seems to have so much energy that she practically bounces off the walls.’

Ms Kirk rolled her eyes. She wasn’t surprised. ‘Kids do that to freak you out. Now listen to me. I will only allow her to stay if you can prove to me that she’s been misbehaved.’

‘Well I didn’t want to mention this, but I saw her eating out of a dustbin. That was what originally started the chase.’

‘Disgusting! But Sergeant you chased her because she ate from a dustbin. Then why the use of the helicopter?’

Sergeant Riley flushed red. ‘Miss Kirk, well… That anonymous tip-off said she was a threat – a violent one at that.’

‘Hmm, what exactly did they say?’ she asked, scratching her long, chin.

‘I don’t know the details but my Gov’nr gave me orders to round up a girl fitting her description. He said she was around thirteen, highly athletic with caramel skin. Her description stated that she had green eyes and long, black hair. His source said she was extremely violent and that we had to catch her before she…. well, before she made any attacks.’

‘And?’

‘And… she ran but was not aggressive.’ The Sergeant stirred his tea again. ‘So Ms Kirk will you keep an eye on her?’

Ms Kirk huffed. She didn’t like it. ‘She can stay but if she causes trouble…’

 

Davina paced back and forth along the gloomy corridor. Did she want to stay in a place where they confined misbehaved children? Was she in some kind of prison? Who had tipped them off? As far as she could see, she had done nothing wrong! Yes, she had eaten out of what they called a ‘bin’ to survive. That was because she had no shiny lumps of metal or drawn on paper to exchange, so how else was she supposed to eat? If she hadn’t seen something called a tramp do it, then she certainly wouldn’t have considered doing it herself.

Davina leant against the wall and waited for the adults to inform her of their plan. They took ages. For some reason they wanted to discuss her further.

‘Is there anything else I should know about her?’ asked Ms Kirk.

‘Well... When she finally spoke, she talked with a strange accent. I don’t think she’s from this country.’

‘You know I don’t like foreigners Sergeant Riley. They scare me,’ Ms Kirk picked up her cup and sipped her tea.

‘Ms Kirk, she’s a child.’

‘How do I know she isn’t a spy? You know this school is still in its trial stages. So what is the accent? French, German, Scottish?’

‘I couldn’t tell you.’

‘You see... there’s something awfully suspicious about not being able to identify an accent isn’t there Sergeant?’

Sergeant Riley shook his head, Ms Kirk’s reluctance was infuriating!

‘Ms Kirk, my Gov. says can you do him a favour and keep the girl here for a short time. ‘Til we find out more? I know you have some spare beds ‘cause you had two girls adopted last week.’

‘They’ll be back before the three month trial is up... mark my words!’

‘Maybe they’ll change. Maybe they’ll like having a home and a family,’ protested Sergeant Riley.

‘They never change, that’s the problem. Once bad - always bad. Rotten children are like rotten apples. Once they turn nasty, they stay that way. That’s the truth and you know it. As they say... even the nice ones turn nasty!’ she said slamming her cup on the table.

Sergeant Riley sipped his tea and sighed. ‘Come on give her a chance. She’s just a kid after all and she needs a bed.’

‘Well where was she sleeping before?’

‘We heard she was sleeping in a cubicle of a public toilet.’

‘Well maybe that is where she belongs: in toilets, eating out of bins.’ Ms Kirk stamped her right foot emphatically, ‘let me talk to her. She will talk to me! Mark my words, she will tell me everything. Then we will see where she’s really from.’

 

With the clatter of heels, Ms Kirk stormed out of the office. Davina skidded across to the seat where she was supposed to be sitting. A few of the inhabitants of the home peeked through a door opposite, trying to see who was causing all the kafuffle. Davina studied the other children; they looked scruffy and unkempt, just like her.

An intimidating dark, bony shape emerged from the office. The scowling woman carried an atmosphere of cruelty, the kind of woman who would kick a small puppy. Her features were hawk-like and she appeared to scan every movement for fault and potential criticism.

The clench in Davina’s gut bothered her. The woman ‘felt’ odd. Her skin seemed grey, actually no, it had more of a blue glow and her eyes were pale, so pale that they were like ice. Davina averted her gaze, the presence of the woman made her feel like she was in trouble (even if she hadn’t done anything wrong).

Ms Kirk stomped over to Davina and placed her hands on her hips.

‘Right! What is your name?’

‘Davina - I think.’

‘Davina I think what?’

‘I don’t know. Davina is all I remember.’

‘Okay Davina no name, we are not playing games any more. What is your last name?’

‘I just told you... I don’t know!’

Ms Kirk leaned forwards and stared into Davina’s eyes. ‘You’d better not be winding us up! You’re not here for fun. This is not a fun day out or a bit of a lark! This is the Nadim Naughty Children’s Home. Every child here has been disowned by their parents. Do you understand? Even the parents don’t want these kids anymore because they’re bloomin’ awful! How does that make you feel? Now I assume you are bad because your parents got rid of you. I am correct aren’t I?’

Davina’s lower lip quivered. ‘I don’t know miss. I don’t remember.’

‘Of course you don’t remember! You don’t remember anything do you? That’s a good excuse isn’t it! You mean you won’t remember!’

‘No miss I can’t remember.’

‘Do not call me miss, I am Ms Kirk, I am in charge here and you will demonstrate respect or be disciplined. Now what is that stupid accent of yours anyway?’

‘I don’t know and it’s not stupid!’

‘Have some respect girl! Now you’re not from round here, you’re not even from this country. Where are you from?’

‘I have no idea.’

‘Of course not. You seem to be sticking to that same story. How long have you been practising this?’

‘I haven’t been practising,’ said Davina.

‘Likely story!’ Ms Kirk sighed, adjusted her long, stringy ponytail and placed her hands behind her back. ‘Now... I need you to prove your naughtiness.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘What have you done that is really bad?’

‘Nothing.’

Ms Kirk spun on her heel. ‘Do you think I was born yesterday? All children do bad things… they’re just excellent at hiding it!’

‘I slept in a toilet and ate garbage. Is that bad enough?’

Ms Kirk came to an abrupt halt and turned slowly, ‘what did you say?’

‘I slept in a toilet and ate garbage.’

‘Disgusting! You are foreign. Do you eat rubbish in your own country? Doesn’t matter... so tell me how old little Davina is?

‘I don’t know I...

‘Don’t remember,’ said Ms Kirk mimicking Davina’s voice.

The locking of Davina’s jaw and the clenching of fists revealed her feelings about the vicious woman in front of her. She had to focus and remain calm, instinctively she wanted to take the woman to the ground but that would no doubt lead to more trouble!

‘Look I’ll let you stay for a short time. But be warned, if anyone else arrives we will kick you out. Do you hear?’

‘Yes ma’am.’ Davina stared at her feet, she had to conceal her rage.

Sergeant Riley smiled and nodded, Davina had a place to stay. ‘I think you should tell her what’s expected of her Ms Kirk.’

‘I was coming to that Sergeant. Stop getting your ten peneth in where it’s not required! So Davina no name... you will do your chores like everybody else. You are not special… do you understand? Then on Thursdays you will line up like everyone else for the selection process.’

‘Selection process?’

‘That’s where desperate people come along and try to adopt a child. It seems all the good ones are running out and some consider the dregs we have here. Can you imagine? Anyway the potential parents choose who they want from the line-up. And before you ask, it’s a new system based on an old system. And don’t think you stand a better chance because you’re cute.’

Davina frowned, ‘I don’t get it.’

Ms Kirk shook her head in aggravation, ‘haven’t you listened to a single word I said? These unwanted children are here because their previous parents could not cope. There are always do-gooders who believe they can convert them. It never works, they always return within three months... once bad, always bad. You cannot teach any child new tricks.’

‘But why do they come here then?’

‘Questions, questions, questions! Ask your other inmates, I mean kids, I mean children... I haven’t got time for dull chit chat!’

Ms Kirk leaned forwards, her sharp nose almost touched Davina’s nose. ‘From now on you are a Nadim child. That means you are here to repent for all the bad you have done.’

‘What if I haven’t done anything bad?’

‘Then you can repent for all the bad others have done!’ Ms Kirk glowered.

 

 

CHAPTER 3

Learning to lie and not to cry.

 

A gangly girl with matted, curly, brown hair led Davina to a vast dormitory. Davina side-glanced her as they walked, she had a hooked nose and burn scar on her right cheek. Her posture was closed, her spine arched and she kept her arms folded. When they reached the door she pointed.  ‘That will be yours,’ she said. A bed ten beds away in a vast room with more than two hundred beds in lines. Each metal frame carried a thin mattress and was dressed in a grey blanket. Beside each bed was small, grey set of drawers.  

 ‘There’s a fresh school uniform on the bed and a second in the side cabinet. You have to wear uniform at all times. Ms Kirk says that your own clothes can only be worn once you leave.’

‘Thanks,’ said Davina, studying the brown and yellow uniform. It was horrendous! The shape was sack-like and the yellow would make anyone look ill.

‘Look I’m Rose. I have been in care for three years. I was sent ‘ere when it opened. Now I’m in charge of bed allocation.’

Davina nodded, ‘I’m Davina. Erm, can I ask you a question?’

‘If you must.’

‘Why are you here?’

‘I burnt me parent’s ‘ouse down,’ she replied matter of factly.

Davina unconsciously shook her head and shuffled backwards. ‘What made you do that?’

‘’Spose it seemed sensible at the time.’

Davina sighed. ‘Then what happened?’

‘Well they kicked me out and ‘ere I am.’

‘Don’t you miss them?’

‘Kind of… Davina innit? Let me give ya a tip ‘bout being ‘ere. Don’t get all e-motional like ‘cause the other kids‘ll pick on ya. You’re going to ‘ave to learn to survive quick like. You make up a story far more awful than any kid can fink of and then they’ll leave ya alone. ’

Davina sucked her bottom lip under her teeth, she didn’t like lying.

‘Erm Rose what is this place?’

‘Some of us reckon it’s some kind of experiment. I reckon they fink kids ‘ave all got out of hand and want to discipline ‘em before they let ‘em back on the streets or into normal ‘omes.

‘Discipline?’ asked Davina anxiously.

Rose rolled her eyes. ‘They can whack you if they want. They ain’t told you about the Head of Corporal Punishment then.’

Davina shook her head; a flush of red climbed her throat.

‘Mr Whacker, we call him. You’ll get to meet him soon enough.’

‘What? They actually hit you?’

‘Yes Davina they hit ya,’ Rose replied by whacking her hand.

‘But that’s Barbaric!’

‘Mate just don’t get in trouble… otherwise ya won’t be able to sit down for days… so Davina why are you even ‘ere?’ asked Rose.

‘I got picked up by the police because I was eating out of a bin and sleeping in some public toilets.’

‘That ain’t even in the remotest bit scary,’ said Rose barely stifling a yawn.

‘It’s the truth.’

‘Truth ain’t welcome. You need to make up somef’ing real bad. Somef’ing sick like. You know, so I don’t want to go near ya. So why are ya ‘ere?’

‘I ate my parents.’

‘Ha! That’s more like it... ’ said Rose with a smile. She re-folded her arms, the girl had potential!

Davina rolled her eyes.

‘What did they taste like?’

‘Chicken.’

‘Wicked! You’re good at this. So why’d ya really eat them?’

‘Because they ran my hamster over.’

‘What?’ laughed Rose. ‘So what’s the real reason?’

‘I didn’t eat my parents. I don’t even remember if I have parents or anything at all. I don’t even know how old I am, or which country I am in.’

Rose sighed and sat on the bed beside Davina. ‘I don’t know wev’er you’re good liar or wev’er you’re a bit screwed up like.’

Davina studied her nails sadly, ‘imagine not remembering anything and not knowing where you are. All you know is that you have something to finish, but you don’t know what it is.’

‘Okay, that’s pretty ‘arsh. I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes,’ Rose replied.

Davina shrugged, ‘look I have a cut by my ear. I think I must have fallen or something.’

Rose studied the cut; the blood wasn’t the usual colour - it was a dark blue.

Davina sensed something was wrong by the confused expression on Rose’s face.

‘Let me give ya some advice. When the potential parents come - suck your thumb and do ya best ta look sweet. You don’t belong ‘ere - that’s somef’ing obvious. Hang out wiv me, and when the new parents come we’ll watch ‘em to decide who suits ya.’

‘Do the others pretend to be good too?’

‘Don’t think so! You don’t get it do ya? The others ‘ere don’t want nice homes to learn to be nice little darlings. They’re just not like that. You’re a cosy kid, I can tell… and ya won’t survive a month ‘ere.’

Davina fidgeted, was she right? ‘Is there anything else I should know?’asked Davina.

Rose nodded, ‘how are ya at animal noises?’

Davina frowned. ‘I don’t get it?’

Rose sighed, ‘look there are some real nasty pieces of work ‘ere. When you’re in trouble make an animal noise at them. Snarl or something.’

Was Rose winding her up? Davina searched her mind for animal sounds… nothing came to mind - so she guessed. A low rumbling gurgled from her throat. She paused and coughed. With a frown, she focused on that tone, closed her eyes and felt it. From a snarl came a growl – that growl rolled into a roar. ‘Like that?’

Rose sat back and stared at her incredulously. ‘What on earth?’

Davina shrugged.

Rose crossed her arms, shifted away and appeared to be studying Davina’s clothes intently. Davina followed her gaze and looked down. Although mucky, they didn’t look as though they were ‘normal.’

‘There’s somef’ing real strange about you Davina and I don’t know what it is. I think ya need to get that memory of yours working so we can find out why you’re ‘ere.’

There was a moments silence while Rose thought.

Davina glanced about the room; she liked the large glass windows facing out onto the grounds. The arcs at the top of the windows, and the fact it reached from the floor to the ceiling, made it kind of cool. Was the building once a manor house?

‘Oh one more thing, some of the boys here are real nasty. Be careful... come and look,’ said Rose, signalling for Davina to follow her to the window.

Outside a group of boys were fighting on the lawn.

‘Watch them. Watch what they do,’ said Rose with a cruel glint in her eye.

The boys tussled, kicked each other and wrestled. It wasn’t that interesting so Davina scanned the grounds instead. The school was set amongst a vast forest. It worked perfectly as a deterrent against escape. What child would risk making their way through a massive forest to freedom? Davina sighed; she had to work on an escape plan but that would take time. She needed supplies and a way to work out where she had to get to.

An elbow to the ribs jolted Davina from her thoughts.

‘See that one over there... The one standing on the far side, not moving?’ said Rose tapping the window and pointing at a lone boy. ‘Keep an eye on him ‘cause there’s somef’ing real weird about him too. He doesn’t talk, he doesn’t fight and no one knows ‘is story. All we know about him is he’s dangerous.’

Rose grinned, ‘look they‘re going to ‘ave a go at him.’ 

‘Davina come closer and watch what ‘appens,’ said Rose excitedly. 

One of the boys crept towards the silent boy and went to slap him. Before impact, the silent boy twisted and moved in such a way that was so graceful and fast that the attacker had no chance to react. Davina watched the silent boy manoeuvre the other boy to the ground, strip him of his jacket and tie him up. The would be victim returned to where he was sitting cross-legged and continued staring at the building.

With a clap of excitement, Rose glanced at Davina. ‘We ain’t got no idea what’s going on with him nei’ver. He keeps to himself and no one has ‘eard him talk. You wait ‘til you see his eyes, they’re different colours and one is almost white. You keep an eye on him. Some of the boys call him Ghost ‘cause he keeps appearing from nowhere and when he sleeps he sleeps with his eyes open and hums.’

‘What did he do to get here?’ asked Davina inquisitively.

‘Nobody knows. One day he was just dumped on the steps. In his hand he held a note saying ‘DANGEROUS!’’

Davina shook her head and retreated from the window. It was all too much! The home was weird, the people were weird and she wanted out!

 

CHAPTER 4

Stalling and calling.

 

That night Davina could hear whispering throughout the dormitory. The patter of barefeet was accompanied by hushed voices.

‘Come on get up,’ said one of the older girls to another from a bed further down the dormitory.

‘She’s definitely asleep. We need to go through her things and find out what’s going on with her,’ said another climbing out of bed.

Davina sensed the talk was about her, something bad was about to happen. As a distraction, she focused her mind and attempted to remember where she was a few days before. The harder she tried, the harder it became to remember. Everything was… just darkness.

‘She has no idea does she?’ the girls whispered excitedly as they crept closer.

Davina ignored them and gazed at the huge, silvery moon outside the window. Silhouettes  and shadows were cast across the nearby beds as the girls scurried about. What were they plotting?

The more she listened, the more she felt the urge to practice animal calls. She tried to think of some but… nothing - her mind was blank. Instead, she curled up and continued to gaze at the calming moon. Blink. A number of distorted shapes flew past the bright orb and disappeared into the clouds. What were they? Why did she instinctively want to make a ‘call’? Images of moving stones played through her mind… And… something else too.

‘Get up,’ demanded a girl wearing a burned golden mask. The ornate, gold patterns swirling about the mask triggered another mental image. The pattern had dislodged something that would terrify them.

‘Tell us why you’re ‘ere,’ commanded the leader, her black mask was decoated with black jewels. The other girls circled like sharks.

‘I ate my parents.’ Davina snarled.

‘You didn’t. You made that up you liar!’

Davina’s eyes widened. A surge of blood pulsed through her veins and her throat constricted. She had to hold back.

‘Rose told us - stupid. She’s the gossip here. You just have no memory. You’re not bad like us…’ said the leader viciousiously.

‘It really doesn’t have to be like this,’ said Davina, beads of sweat trickled over her temples. She glanced at her wrists, the pulse was throbbing. A burning sensation tingled down her spine as her nails transformed into claws.

‘Of course it doesn’t, but ‘this’ is how we like it. That’s why we’re ‘ere.’ The leader glanced at the smug looking girls behind her. They all agreed with nods.

Davina shifted awkwardly in her bed. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed three more shapes fly past the moon. She desperately wanted to call… Her jaw tightened she had to hold back. She must not lose control!

One of the girls who had been shuffling closer growled, a smaller girl next to her barked and the other girls all joined in until animal noises rang through the dormitory.

Davina drew in her legs and hid her claws. Her stomach knotted. She was in trouble. With a deep breath, she straightened her back and closed her eyes she had to be calm otherwise… Silently she placed her hands on her stomach and focused inside. From deep within her, something shifted. In that second, her rage rose and she made a loud, ferocious roar.

The girls froze in silence. They glanced quizzically at Davina, who from cross-legged propelled herself to standing. With a deep reverberating rumble the surrounding window panes cracked.

The girls stepped away, the girl before them appeared to be selecting her prey.

With a glance at the windows, Davina shifted to the end of the bed and gazed into the leader’s cruel eyes. She altered her growling pitch, glanced out of the window and made the call! RAAAAAAAahhhhhhhh!

The dark shapes in the sky changed direction and swooped towards the home. Bang. Bang. Bang! Whatever was outside collided with the walls. Windows exploded, glasses shattered and the room shook.

The girls grabbed the beds, whilst others screamed.

‘You freak!’ cried Sheba, the leader, from behind the black encrusted mask.   

Davina stared the broadshouldered, muscular girl in the eye and with a satisfied look noticed the blood trickling from her nose. ‘You come anywhere near me again….’

‘And you’ll what?’ said Sheeba poking Davina in the shoulder with a black varnished nail.

‘Try it… You’ll find out,’ Davina replied.

Sheeba was silent, a glint of light had revealed Davina’s claws. She wiped her nose, noticed the blood and frowned.

‘Quick Ms Kirk’s on her way!’ yelled a tall girl guarding the door.

From down the corridor a heavy, flat-footed, stomp struck the tiled floors. The bony shape was on the rampage. Ms Kirk carried a search-light and stormed towards the girl’s dormitory. ‘Always the same! Always someone new and look what happens!’ she muttered pounding past the boys’ dorm.

The boys heard the ruckus and were keen to discover the source of the commotion.  Stealthily they crept behind Miss Kirk anticipating quite a show.

With a sudden spin, Miss Kirk shone her torch on the boys. ‘Get to bed! This is not for everyone to have a bit of a party!’

The boys ignored her, trailed behind and glanced at each other with looks of fascination.

Inside the girls dormitory there was a flurry of intense activity. Masks were hidden before the girls dived under their covers and pretended to be asleep. Davina covered herself with her blanket and stared at the door.

Slam! Ms Kirk swished her torch about the dorm. The girls pretended to wake up when the light hit them.

‘Don’t act the innocent! You cannot fool me!’ spat Ms Kirk. She walked the length of the room and arrived by the windows. Crunch!

‘What’s this?’ she said lifting her foot.

No one said a word.

In a slow motion, she lifted her head and scowled at the room. ‘Someone here knows something. Where are the windows?’

Once again, silence filled the dense atmosphere.

‘Right extra chores and tomorrow is Thursday. Looks like there’ll be no girls in the line-up unless all the chores are done!’ she said making sure the searchlight rested on each of the practiced innocent faces.

‘Oh and don’t think you have got away with this. Tomorrow you will get up early and I will interrogate every single one of you. You cannot smash my windows and think you’ll get away with it! There will be beatings for everyone unless someone owns up!’

Ms Kirk shone the spotlight on Davina who stared past at the silvery moon. Something was out there. When she had called, that something had answered – ‘it’ was aware of her existence.

 

 

CHAPTER 5

Avoiding explaining the unexplainable.

 

Early the next morning in Ms Kirk’s office, Davina sat in an uncomfortable high-backed, wooden chair staring at Ms Kirk’s contorted features. Without saying a word Ms Kirk whacked the palm of her hand with the cane. The whacking tempo inceased as she began to pace. ‘So…’ Whack! She pressed her lips tightly together and made a sucking rasp. ‘So… you say you don’t know what happened.’ The cane sliced through the air. ‘One minute you were asleep and then there was a blast of wind… And all the windows smashed at once?’ Smack, smack, smack! Went the cane. ‘Then how do you explain that God awful noise then?’ Ms Kirk leaned close to Davina’s ear. Swipe! The tip of the cane made a breeze close to Davina’s face.

With a flinch, Davina then shrugged. ‘I don’t know. I was asleep. Maybe it was the wind?’

‘Davina you are a terrible liar! I don’t know why you’re being so loyal. You do know that as soon as the others get in here they’re going to grass you up. Then you get all the punishment.’ Whack. Whack! Ms Kirk slammed the cane on the desk. She place both hands on either side of the wooden chair and leaned in close. ‘This is your last chance. What happened?’

‘Do you mind if I go and do the gardening now?’  asked Davina with a sigh.

Ms Kirk slammed her fist on the chair arm. ‘Davina you will answer the question!’

‘I was in bed, asleep.’

‘I don’t believe a word of it!’

‘Look Ms Kirk the truth is - neither you nor I want me here. That’s obvious. The sooner I get into that line up, the sooner I’ll be out of your hair.’

‘So you do want to get out of here? That’s a good sign. But tell me one thing… how come my home was fine until you turned up?’ Ms Kirk stood upright and folded her arms.

Davina shook her head, ‘Ms Kirk I told you I have no idea what’s going on and I want to get on with my chores.’

‘Go, but I will be watching you. There’s something peculiar about you and I don’t like it! I just can’t put my.... now go!’ she said flicking her fingers in the direction of the door.

Davina turned to leave.

‘Oh and Davina no name... If you have any memories as to who you are, you will tell me won’t you?’

‘Yes Ms Kirk.’

Davina slipped out of the dingy room into the corridor. The queue of disobedient girls extended as far as she could see. As Davina passed, she glanced cautiously at them; whispers and murmurs travelled the line. Davina clenched her fists as she walked. She wouldn’t allow them to get her into trouble. She intended to escape. But how?

On the way to the garden, Davina noticed Rose at the very end of the line. When she passed, Rose shot her a look of apology. It meant nothing. Rose had betrayed her and that was it!

There was a tingle on Davina’s neck. Something was wrong, she glanced over her shoulder and noticed Ms Kirk stood by her office door watching. She has seen the interaction and was smiling triumphantly to herself. ‘So… Rose if you would like to come to the front of the line and step into my office. Tell me in your own words what happened with Davina. I know I can rely on you.’

Rose stood up, glanced at Davina and walked the length of the line to the office with her head down. It was all over, the betrayer had no loyalty! Davina had to escape!