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HEARING THINGS
The trio trudged on up the hill in silence for a while, till they came in view of Freya’s house. There were no lights gleaming from its cracked windows. The headland above it was shrouded by rain.
“You’re a long way from the waterfront here.”
“Yes, thank Frigg. We haven’t had much luck with seaside apartments. Oh, will you look at that, now?”
Freya’s efforts with the tarpaulin on the roof were being undone by a rising breeze that lashed the light drizzle into their faces. “I’ll have to fix that tarpaulin again. In the morning, though. No way am I getting up on that roof at night.”
“Good call. I don’t miss this weather when I’m in Egypt,” said Karim.
“I don’t usually mind the rain,” replied Freya, “when I’m properly dressed for it.” She wasn’t, having gone out in the much warmer, drier morning to get to school. It had been a long day out already.
Aisha gave an exaggerated sigh.
“It’s just typical that it would rain when there’s a chance of something interesting happening in this town. Freya, if you go in and your Mum’s home, will she make you stay in?”
“Very likely. Especially since it’s dark and raining. She’d say this is plant-growing weather, not people-growing weather.”
“Drat. Well, I want to go see what those lights are. Do you want to come?”
“Er... can I say no? I know it was my idea...” hesitated Freya. She rubbed her leg through her trousers. Although she was curious about the light on the cliff, the old bites on her leg were hurting after the walk up the hill, and probably needed a change of dressing.
“Why would you do that?”
“It’s just my leg. It’s a bit sore.”
“You can say no, but that would be super-boring. And I’d miss your company. So would Karim, isn’t that right, Karim?” Aisha bossed.
“Sure, but who said I was going anywhere but home? You’re assuming a lot, little sis,” Karim replied, refusing to be bossed, or to be drawn about missing Freya’s company.
Freya intervened before a sibling squabble could break out.
“Look, I’ll take the food in. If Mum’s there, I’ll stay in. If she’s not, I’ll come out with you, but only to stop you going up there by yourself. You know that’s not sensible, no matter how powerful Bastet is.”
Aisha accepted this compromise as though it was a heartfelt acceptance.
“All right, we’re on for adventure!”
When Freya glared at her, she relented a little.
“Yes, yes, I know, you’re only coming if your Mum isn’t there. But you’ve had interesting times, lately. I’ve just had second-hand storm stories. The only excitement we had was a lack of trains through the station for a few days while that mudslide was cleared off the tracks. And believe me, that’s the dead opposite of excitement. Anyway, I am ready for something interesting happening in my life. You got were-fights and lightning and mysterious strangers, and I got distant views of mud. So not fair.”
“You’re welcome to some of my awful luck, if you don’t mind assault. I wouldn’t recommend it, myself. But I guess I was lucky with the lightning,” Freya said somewhat wryly. Somehow, Lio had always felt like a secret friend.
“Excuse me, ladies,” interrupted Karim, “but are we going to stand out here in the rain all night, or is Freya going to deliver her mum’s dinner?”
Freya hastened to unlock the door – that probably meant her Mum was not at home, but it wasn’t a total assurance, since Danae had started locking it while she was in sometimes, after the were-attack on Freya. Mr Fluffbum threw himself at Freya’s legs, twining around her.
“Yes, yes, Mr Fluffbum, I’m happy to see you too. I got you some food.” Freya turned to her companions. “Come in for a moment,” she told Aisha and Karim. The siblings followed her suggestion, only too glad to get out of the cold drizzle for a time. Karim bent to greet Mr Fluffbum, who sniffed Karim’s hand with a series of huffs, before giving it a long smooch. Aisha patted Mr Fluffbum’s back, confident in her welcome as an already known friend.
Once inside, Freya tried turning on the lights with the switch by the door.
“Damn, we’ve had a power cut again.” She picked up the solar lantern they’d been keeping by the door and pressed its ‘on’ button. A dim light illuminated the hall. It looked like the lantern hadn’t been charged enough lately. However, it gave them enough light to see the stairs leading up to the bedrooms, and the short passage that led to the kitchen and lounge.
“Mum! I’m home, are you here?” When no-one answered Freya continued. “I guess she’s still working. I’ll just put this food in the kitchen, then. Aisha, Karim, do you want a cup of hot chocolate or something before heading out? I’m freezing after being out in that rain.”
“Are you kidding? I want to go see what those lights are!” Aisha was waiting near the door, clearly itching for something exciting to do.
“Oh, well. I guess we can always have a hot chocolate when we get back. It’ll be easier if the power’s back on, anyway.”
“Yeah, let’s do that. Come on, let’s get going now. Karim, I’m sure you want to investigate.”
To Freya’s surprise, Karim pondered for a moment.
“I’m not sure it’s a good idea in the dark, and with Freya injured. And I promised Mum I’d see you home, Aisha. I’d rather head up tomorrow morning. Do you have school?”
“It’s a Saturday tomorrow, Karim, of course we don’t have school. But what if whatever it is, isn’t there tomorrow?”
Karim looked briefly confused as he worked through this muddled statement. He opened his mouth as though he was about to argue in favour of a delay when there was a penetrating scream from outside.
“What was that?” they asked each other in unison.
“It came from the north,” said Karim.
“That’s up by the cliff! We have to go investigate now!” cried Aisha.
Freya shivered.
“I hope that wasn’t weres. I wish Mum was home safe. When I hear sounds like that, I wonder what’s going on.”
“Come with us, then. At least we’ll be together,” Aisha suggested.
Freya looked around the kitchen, which had lost its cosy feel. The dark night seemed to press in through the windows. The scream repeated. Was it further away?
No, she didn’t want to stay here alone. Freya made her decision.
“Alright, let’s go. Someone might be in trouble.”
***
