Witch: A Horror Novel (The Cursed Manuscripts) Read online

  “Yeah, man. Hold on.” Ricky stopped and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a clear plastic lighter, but something else fell out onto the ground. Ashley was close enough to see what it was.

  Rose’s locket.

  Ricky froze, staring down at it like a lit bomb. His mouth worked silently for a few seconds as he tried to form words. “I… I grabbed it from her. I-It was in her hand when I tried to… I forgot I had it. I put it in my pocket when we climbed the slope.”

  Behind the railing, Danny frowned. “The fuck you on about, Ricky? What is that? Jewellery? Whose is it?”

  “It’s mine,” said Ashley. She marched over and grabbed the locket off the ground. To sell the lie a little more, she glared at Ricky like he’d stolen it from her. It wasn’t hard because she hated the sonofabitch, but she was also doing it to protect him. “Can’t believe you took this, you prick. It was my grandmother’s.”

  Ricky got a hold of himself and seemed to realise she was playing a part for his benefit. He shrugged his shoulders and rolled his eyes as if she were a lump of shit on his shoe. “Whatever, bitch. Get out of my sight before I spark you out.”

  Ashley shook her head in disgust, turned on the toes of her trainers, and rejoined Jude, who was standing a little further back. The two of them left, shoulder to shoulder, with their heads turned so that they could speak quietly.

  “We need him to come with us,” Jude whispered. “The police will want to talk to him. He needs to back us up.”

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” said Ashley. “I mean, what the hell do we even say? You really want to tell the police that a crazy, naked witch in the woods tore Lily Barnes to shreds – a girl we just so happen to hate. I don’t even want to imagine what her crazy family might do if they hear we were with Lily when she…” She shook her head and hissed. “Look, Ricky clearly wants to pretend like this the whole thing didn’t happen, so perhaps we should do the same.”

  Jude’s eyes went wide. “We can’t ignore this, Ash. That woman – Rose – is still out there in the woods. What if she hurts someone else? What if she hurts us?”

  “I just… I just need to think. There are no options that feel like they’re going to go well for us. Why the hell did we go back there, Jude? We’re so stupid.”

  “It was because I made us. Ash, I’m so sorry.”

  She put a hand up, not wanting him to feel any sorrier for himself than he already did. “You could never have known. At least we’re alive, which is more than I can say for Lily. Do you…”

  “Do I what?”

  “Feel bad for her? I’m not sure that I do. Does that make me evil?”

  Jude clutched his wounded hand against his stomach. Once the pain stopped, he looked at her. “You’re not evil, Ash. Lily didn’t deserve what happened to her – nobody would deserve that – but she was a bad person. Not just mixed up, but an actual rotten person that was probably never going to be anything else. Even Ricky’s better than her. I almost feel like it’s a front with him.”

  Ashley had got the same impression briefly when Ricky had helped Jude up from the shallow ditch, but then, as soon as he had seen the twins, he’d gone right back to being an arsehole. All the same, she’d had his back when he had dropped the locket on the floor. He was in this with them, and they all needed to stick together.

  She lifted the locket now and examined it. It was chunky and round, possibly gold or something similar. Dull rather than shiny and dotted with tiny green flecks, it had a clasp on the side to open it. She prized it apart slowly, fearing it might explode in a puff of poisonous gas. But all she found inside was a pair of tiny photographs.

  Her breath hitched in her throat, and she almost dropped the locket. “It… It’s them. It’s the children.”

  Jude squinted and looked closer at the locket. He exhaled loudly and began nodding. “It’s the same kids I saw on TV. The two kids I watched get stabbed.”

  “I saw them too. Rotting in the ground. Jude, who are they?”

  “They must be Rose’s kids. Why else would she have their photographs around her neck? Shit, she’s going to want this back, isn’t she?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe we should call the police.” She put a hand to her face and groaned. “But we still have no idea what to say. No, we shouldn’t speak to anybody until we have a story somebody is going to believe. This isn’t just a woman in the woods anymore. Lily’s dead. That’s murder – and the police aren’t going to go searching for some naked witch in the woods. They’ll pin it on somebody else.”

  Jude blubbered like he was about to sob. Fortunately, he didn’t. “Y-You mean somebody like us? You reckon we could get the blame for this?”

  “I just think… I think maybe we say nothing for now. Let’s see how things play out.”

  Jude didn’t reply, and the two of them fell into silence. Ashley slipped the locket back in her jeans pocket and thought about the two children. When she’d seen them on her laptop, it had looked like years ago. Their clothes were old-fashioned. If the children belonged to Rose, then how old would that make her? It made no sense.

  She can’t be their mother.

  They walked the rest of the way without exchanging a word. When they reached Jude’s front door, they stopped to look at each other. “We’re really not going to call the police?” he said. “Lily’s family will be worried.”

  “Lily’s family are psychopaths, and she’s gone whether we say anything or not, so let’s just think about us, okay?”

  Jude nodded and opened the front door.

  His mother was standing in the hallway, talking with somebody.

  PC Riaz turned to face them. “Ah, just the two people I’ve come to see.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Jude almost fell. The shock of seeing PC Riaz standing in the hallway sent a shockwave straight along his thighs. He had to grab hold of the stairway banister to keep himself upright. Ashley came up behind him and put a hand on his back.

  PC Riaz raised an eyebrow. “Are you kids okay? Looks like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  Jude’s mind was blank, which was why he was glad when Ashley answered.

  “You startled us, that’s all. Is everything okay?”

  His mum chuckled. “Of course, honey. The officer just wants to go over your story one last time.”

  “Well,” said PC Riaz, “I’ll decide if everything’s okay after I hear what you kids have to say for yourselves. Why don’t we take a seat in the kitchen?”

  “I’ll put the kettle on,” his mum said. “It’s almost lunchtime. Can I make you a sandwich?”

  “Not for me, thank you, Ms Gowdie.”

  Ashley followed PC Riaz into the kitchen while Jude remained in the hallway and took a deep breath. The plan was to keep quiet about what had happened today, but what did they say about yesterday? Did they recant their story and say they were lying all along? Lying to the police felt like a bad idea, even when the truth was awful.

  His mum called out from the kitchen. He realised he was dawdling. “Sweetheart? Are you coming?”

  Jude went into the kitchen and sat beside Ashley while his mum stood in the corner watching the kettle boil. Her hands were placed flat on the counter and she was tapping her fingers. PC Riaz sat completely still and said nothing. He just stared at Jude and Ashley.

  Eventually, Ashley broke the silence. “I’m sorry about yesterday. I think… I think Jude and I must’ve got spooked or something. We went into that old farmhouse, and it was so dark. I thought I saw a woman, but it was probably an animal. I screamed and started running, and I didn’t stick around long enough to make sure. Jude only panicked because I was panicking. Honestly, I didn’t mean to cause any trouble. What would be the point? I thought there was a woman who needed help, but I was wrong.”

  Jude glanced at her, slightly surprised by the words gushing out of her mouth.

  PC Riaz remained silent. After a moment, he turned to face Jude. “Is that correct, Jude? Was this all a case o
f too much excitement?”

  Jude swallowed and felt like he was sweating. The officer’s stare was intense. “I-I suppose so.”

  “Well, did you see a woman in that farmhouse or not?”

  “I… I…”

  PC Riaz leant forward, his stare increasing its intensity. “Jude, I need you to be very honest with me right now. Did you see a woman in that farmhouse or did your imagination get the better of you?”

  Jude flinched as something struck his shin beneath the table. In the corner of his eye, he saw Ashley glaring at him. He knew what he needed to say, but it was like standing on a cliff edge. If he took a step forward, he would fall, with no way of stopping himself if he changed his mind. As soon as he said there was no woman in the farmhouse, he would be a liar. He couldn’t take that back.

  I will be lying to the police.

  Can I really do that? Isn’t the truth the best option, no matter the situation? I would rather get caught telling the truth than telling a lie.

  But if I lie now, everything might work out okay. It could be over.

  I don’t think this will be over.

  “I…”

  “Kettle’s boiled,” his mum said, and she moved over to PC Riaz with a big smile on her face. “What can I get you, Officer?”

  PC Riaz sat back in his chair and folded his arms. “Nothing for me, thank you.”

  Ashley kicked Jude beneath the table again. He looked at her, and she mouthed something that he didn’t catch. Her meaning, however, was obvious: don’t say anything about the woman.

  PC Riaz leant forward again and resumed his intense stare. A shiver ran up Jude’s spine. He wriggled in his chair. “I suppose, maybe, you know—”

  “Jude, I want a straight answer, please.”

  “Well… It’s just that—”

  Ashley beat a fist on the table. “Dammit, Jude, just say it. Say we were wrong about the whole thing and that we’re idiots. There was no woman. Say it!”

  PC Riaz put a hand up to stop Ashley. “Quiet! I want to hear Jude answer for himself. I want to know—”

  Jude could hold it in no longer. “There was a woman! There was a woman chained up in that farmhouse and she’s crazy. She killed Lily Barnes. She ripped her apart like an animal. Mum, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” He sobbed, unable to face the officer any longer. His mum gasped, then ran to his side to hold him, shushing him like a baby. It made him feel better, but only a little. He had opened the lid on a box he couldn’t close.

  PC Riaz sat silently for a moment, and Jude was glad when he turned his attention to Ashley. Ashley, by now, was furious, her fists pushing against each other in front of her mouth as she clearly tried to keep control of her temper. Jude had betrayed her. Instead of doing what they had agreed, he had done the opposite. Now he would have to wait and see what the consequences were.

  “I don’t know what the fuck he’s on about,” said Ashley. “He’s lost the plot.”

  Jude’s mum tutted. “Ashley! I don’t know what’s going on here, but we need to sort it out.”

  “I agree,” said PC Riaz. “Lily Barnes? Are we talking about the same Lily Barnes who is well known to the police?”

  “That girl is a menace.” His mum shook her head. “The whole family is.”

  PC Riaz laced his fingers together on the table and sighed. “I’ve had a few run-ins with Lily Barnes, but did I hear you right, Jude? Did you say something happened to her? Did you say she was dead?”

  Jude tried to stop sobbing. Snot ran down his lip and slipped into his mouth. He wiped himself with the back of his forearm and took a breath. “Y-Yes! We went back to the farmhouse to see the woman. She attacked Lily. She tore her throat out.”

  His mum covered her mouth. “Oh my God. What on earth have you kids got involved in? I think… I think I might need to call someone. You can’t question them without a solicitor or something, right?”

  PC Riaz put up a hand. “Nobody is under arrest here – yet – and this isn’t an official interview. Let’s just calm down and talk. This is all a little hard to stomach. If you kids say Lily Barnes is dead, then I need to know where she is, right now. Ashley, talk to me. I’m not your enemy, okay? If something’s happened, then telling me is the best thing to do, I promise you.”

  Ashley shook her head. “I don’t want to say anything.”

  PC Riaz turned his head. “Jude? Where is she? Where is Lily?”

  “In the woods. She’s at the farmhouse.”

  “And you say this woman attacked her? The same woman you saw yesterday? A woman of whom we found no evidence? Look, I really need you to take a moment to think about this before things go too far. There were no signs of anybody at that farmhouse. No chains, no blood. In fact, the only thing we found was your bracelet, Jude.”

  “I have her picture!” He fumbled with his pockets and pulled out his phone. A surge of excitement flooded through him as he realised he had evidence. He could prove he was telling the truth. “Here… look.” He thumbed at his phone, opening the gallery and the images he had taken of Rose.

  What? I don’t understand.

  The image he had taken of Rose showed only an empty room. Bare stone floors and crumbling brick walls. No symbols on the ground. No naked woman in chains.

  Ashley was looking at him, a frown on her face. “Go on, Jude. Show them.”

  He tossed his phone on the table, revealing the useless picture. “I must have missed her. I don’t…” His face lit up. “The locket! Ash, show them the locket.”

  Ashley looked at him and didn’t say anything. To his surprise, she shrugged. “What locket?”

  “The… The locket.”

  Ashley shrugged again.

  Jude’s mum squeezed his shoulder. “Tell the officer the truth, sweetheart. Stop whatever this is, right now, do you hear me? Ashley, what did you get Jude mixed up in?”

  Ashley lurched back in her chair, a shocked expression on her face. “Did I get him mixed up in something? It was Jude’s dumb idea to go back to the farmhouse. He wanted to be a hero and rescue the woman, but it turns out she’s a goddamn psychopath. No wonder someone chained her up in the woods.”

  PC Riaz raised an eyebrow at her. “So you did see a woman? I thought you said you were mistaken.”

  “What? Yeah, well…” She stood up, knocking over her chair. “I’m done. You believe what you want, but I’m sick and tired of this.”

  “She wasn’t mistaken,” said Jude. “There was a woman in that farmhouse and her name is Rose. We went back to find her and she got free. Lily Barnes was with us, and Rose killed her. You need to go back to that farmhouse and arrest her before she hurts someone else. She’s crazy. Right, Ashley?”

  Ashley folded her arms and said nothing.

  Jude sighed. “Please, officer. You need to believe us.”

  PC Riaz stood up. He went to speak but stopped himself, went to speak again but ended up shaking his head. After a moment’s thought, he muttered to himself and left the kitchen. “I need to make a call. You kids better be worth the overtime.”

  Ashley glared at Jude, and he wondered if they would still be friends after this.

  Ashley went home via police car for the second time in as many days. Fortunately, her dad was at work until 4 p.m., so PC Riaz had to speak with her mum. She had been too shocked to say anything besides, “Go to your room, young lady, and wait for your father to get home.”

  Ashley and Jude were on lockdown at each of the houses while the police investigated the woods, and two hours went by without Ashley knowing if the police had found anything. She spent the time in her bedroom, sitting cross-legged on her bed and staring at the wall. Thoughts ran through her mind like bees in her brain. Not only was her head full of horrifying images – Lily Barnes being torn apart and rotting children – but she was also furious at Jude. She tried not to hate him too much, but it was hard.

  To distract herself, she opened the locket and examined the children’s smiling faces. The photographs were
old, not quite black and white, but almost – like the sepia filter on her phone. She wished she had her phone now and wondered if her mum had taken it to the market yet. She wanted to talk to Jude, wanted to yell at him for being such a dumb fucking idiot. Now the police were investigating a murder, and she and Jude would most likely become the prime suspects. They hadn’t found Rose the last time, and she had a grim feeling they wouldn’t find her this time either. The woman possessed an impossible ability not to be seen. Lily Barnes didn’t see her right until the moment her throat had been torn out. How was that possible? What was different about Lily that meant she hadn’t been able to see Rose? How on earth was Lily like the police in that they could not see the woman either?

  Ricky had seen her, though. In fact, he was the one other person who could back up their story. She hadn’t mentioned his name to the police yet, not entirely sure why, but she wouldn’t hesitate to get him involved if need be. No way was she going down for Lily’s murder.

  I’m glad she’s dead.

  If anybody deserved it, it was her.

  As mad as she was at Jude for stabbing her in the back and not going along with the plan, she wanted to speak to him more than anyone else. He was her best friend and the only person who understood her – or at least the person who understood her most. She understood him too, which was why she knew he couldn’t lie to a police officer. When PC Riaz glared at him and demanded answers, he had crumbled. Dishonesty just wasn’t in Jude’s nature, and she couldn’t blame him for being who he was. Still, it would feel pretty good to give him a mouthful of abuse right about now.

  Ashley stared at the clock for another half-hour, continuing to sit in silence. She waited for news, for PC Riaz to arrive and tell her she was right about everything and that they had caught Rose and placed her under arrest. But that didn’t happen. Instead, she flinched as the front door opened and her dad’s voice sounded in the downstairs hallway. He already sounded grumpy, but his tone quickly worsened and his volume increased as he spoke to her mum in the kitchen. Then she heard his heavy footsteps on the stairs, loud and angry.