The Priest Hole by Amy Cross

Author:Amy Cross [Cross, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction, Horror, Occult, British
Amazon: B01606DBC6
Publisher: Dark Season Books
Published: 2015-09-29T04:00:00+00:00

***

“I want you to reconsider,” I hiss, hurrying after Mum the following morning as she makes her way to the taxi. “Just wait a day or two and then go, when things have died down a little!”

“This silliness has to stop,” she mutters, opening one of the vehicle's rear doors and then turning to me. She's been short with me ever since she got up, as if she's still angry at me for what I said last night. “You're sixteen years old, Laura, and that means you're not a child anymore. You always said you wanted more responsibility, right? Well here it is, in spades. Don't go using childish ghost stories to try to get me to stay.”

“What if they're not stories?” I ask. “What if they're real?”

“And what if martians come down and invade?” she replies, climbing into the car. “Your uncle and I will be here first thing tomorrow, probably around nine or ten. Look after your sister and make sure she eats properly. No TV after dinner and for God's sake don't let her use the internet if you're not there to monitor what she's doing. In fact, maybe you should both stay away from the internet, the last thing I need is for you to give yourselves ideas.”

She reaches out to pull the door shut, but I stop her and lean into the car.

“Please don't go,” I whisper, aware that the taxi driver can probably hear me. “Please, Mum, I'm begging you, just stay. If not for me, then for Suzie. She needs you.”

She stares at me for a moment, but I can see from the stony look on her face that my pleas aren't working.

“There's lasagna in the freezer, “ she says firmly. “Put it in the microwave and make sure you have salad too.”

“Mum, if you're trying to punish me for what I said to you before -”

“Grow up, Laura,” she snaps.

I stare at her, shocked by the change in her tone.

“Just a little,” she adds. “Please. For me. I need you to be a little more adult. We're in this together, we're starting a new life and I already have to deal with Suzie. It'd be very helpful if you could start helping out more, instead of causing drama.”

“Mum, I'm scared!”

“Obviously,” she snaps, “but you don't have to be a bitch about it. Just -” She pauses for a moment. “I didn't mean that.”

“If you leave right now,” I reply, shaken by what she just said, “I'll never forgive you.”

“Well,” she says, forcing a smile. “Poor you, having such a terrible mother.”

Sighing, I step back and watch as she pulls the door shut, and a moment later the taxi starts to pull away. All I can do is watch until Mum is out of sight, and then I turn back to look at the house. For a moment, I can't shake the distinct feeling that I'm being watched, but finally I tell myself that I'm just letting myself get easily spooked. For Suzie's sake, if not for mine, I have to stay calm and hope that Mum's right for once.

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