All Hope Lost (17 page)

“Then I cannot believe you, whoever you really are, and
however you are doing this. Get out of my house.”

I paused a moment, feeling
defeated.  “Ok. I may return when you have less people here. I just cannot
show myself to them as well as you. My bosses would be very angry.”

As Torment headed back into
the living room, I hopped back inside his PC, noting the concerned look on his
face as he sat down with the other two men, and rode the line back home.

It was only midday when I
reached the house. My failed mission to Torment’s home was deflating. The last
two visits had gone so well, I hadn’t even thought that this one would go
differently. I was back in the living room, the laptop open on the coffee
table. I heard movement upstairs. I guessed Steve was up and about. Sitting
down, I typed into the search bar my name, and the news article of my death
appeared on the first page. I clicked on it and opened it up to find the names
of those who had murdered me.

I wanted some revenge, I knew,
but first I had to find out where they were being held. The news article had
their printed names, ages and their court date.

“…Three men (Gary Oldham, 29, Frederick Banner, 35,
and Ray Winner, 30) have been arrested for the rape and murder of a woman in
her own home, late Friday evening. Her body was found by a friend, who wishes
not to be named. On finding her body, she immediately phoned the police and
ambulance services who attended the scene. The woman (named Ms Sharon Hartman,
24 of Havelock Close) had left work that evening after a leaving party and
walked home. She had consumed alcohol at the time according to witnesses at the
party. Anyone with more information, please call the local police on…..The
three men will be appearing at the Crown Court, Reading…”

I clicked open a new tab and
typed in the names of the three men into a new search. Options appeared, some
relating to the article I had just read, another though had some more
information, and even mentioned the outcome of the court case as well as the
name of the jail they were being taken to.

“… Gary Oldham,29, Frederick Banner, 35, and Ray
Winner, 30 have been sentenced to 25 years each, and will be held at the
Bedford Prison in Bedfordshire…”

“Got you now…..” I spoke aloud, and I hopped inside the
PC. I searched about the internet looking for a site for the Bedford Prison,
and finding that they had internet access, I grabbed the route, and started my
way along it. It didn’t feel to take long as I appeared at the other end in an
office. Everything was clean and tidy, numerous people were tapping at their
keyboards, one of which I made shudder with cold as I popped out through their
PC. I had no idea where to start, so I decided to do a clockwise search.
Turning left out the door, I headed down the corridor, passing open and closed
doors on both the left and right of me. Eventually I came to a door at the end
of the corridor that opened into a reception area. People in casual clothes,
which I presumed to be visitors for the inmates, waited patiently for their
turn to go visit friends and loved ones.

I waited for someone to be
called, as I thought it would be a good idea to follow someone rather than hunt
about for the right direction. It didn’t take long, and a lady in baggy sweats,
trainers, matching top and tight pony tail was called up. She stood and walked
with a security guard to another room where she was patted down and made to
leave all her belongings in a box in another room. I followed, careful not to
walk through or knock anything accidently. We entered a room where there were
about ten tables, each with a convict and civilian. The lady went straight to
one who gave her a long kiss. I felt like turning away, embarrassed but
remembered that it wasn’t like anyone could see me. I headed across the room to
the other entrance where I assumed the convicts were brought through. There
were guards everywhere, all with guns, truncheons, whistles. You named it, they
probably had it.
Must be some real nasty folks in here,
I thought.
Oh,
my killers for a start!

I headed out the other end of
the room and found myself in a small room where guards watched monitors of the
room I just passed as well as of cells. I walked through the wall and found
myself in an open area, cells either side to me, stairs across from me heading
up, with more rows of cells above.
Here we go,
and I started the arduous
task of trying to find the correct cells.

Every cell I passed was
occupied with men of all ages, large and small, black and white. What I found
incredible was the amount of stuff they had in their cells. Some of them
probably had better lives inside prison than they would normally have at home!
This was another thing that irritated me, which was our justice system.
How
can this be justice when other people out there lived their lives honestly,
respectfully, and yet were worse off than this scum?
It would have made my
blood boil if I had any.

I continued through each area
filled with cells, some were open, and the inmates were free to walk about in
their main communal space and socialise with the others. Many were still sat
within their cells, their doors locked. I could only assume that they had to
take turns for time out of the cells. I passed through the next holding space
and saw a door leading outside to a basketball court. Inmates were there
playing, some sat on the benches around the edge taking in the game, or just
relaxing in the fresh air. This really didn’t seem to be a bad life for bad
people. I sighed and continued on.

Row after row, cell after cell
came and passed, but I didn’t see my murderers.
Where are they?
I fumed.
I decided to head downstairs, and ended up in a large kitchen. Guards were
posted at every spot possible, some standing, others on patrol. The inmates
were bustling here and there making lunch for the others, some preparing
vegetables, others stirring pots, a few washing dishes. At a counter, a man
stood with his back to me, but even then, he rang alarm bells for me.
Was it
one of my killers? He seems familiar but why?
I stared at him for a moment,
then bent over as though I was back on my kitchen table and looked at him side
on. I noted the hair pulled back, the way he stood, his overall stance. I
remembered that stance, the one who had been rooting through my knife drawer
those few months ago. The man turned around, so I could see him full on. My
brow furrowed. I didn’t recognise him this way.
How can I teach my killers a
lesson if I can’t even remember them!?

Thinking back, I recalled the
mirror in the strange tower. It had shown a man who I recognised, and it had
been one of my killers.
Maybe it would be able to show me them all?
I
thought.
I can’t just go around haunting all the inmates until I find the
right one. I know one has a scar on his nose, and yellow teeth, but what of the
others?
I knew then, that I had to return to the tower. I had to get a good
visual of my three killers before I could get my revenge. I sighed heavily.
Damn.
I really wanted to scare the shit out of them too!

So how to get back to the Land of the Dead?
I
pondered. Closing my eyes, I imagined myself standing by the tall black tower.
Do
I need to click my heels together or something?
Nothing was happening. I
couldn’t recall if I was told how to reach the place or not, just how to leave.
I grumbled frustrated.

“All I want is to go the tower. How difficult is that?” I
exclaimed to the world in general. At that moment, I was sucked backwards and
after a few moments of feeling stretched, I popped out the other side on a
desolate path, the surroundings grey and barren.

“Thank you!” I spoke aloud to no one, then started
heading forward along the path. The journey was the same as before, the path
was long but eventually the black tower came into view, gradually getting
bigger the closer I got. The tower walls still fascinated me as I drew close,
the stars in the walls twinkled within, and not in the sky as normal. I opened
the door upon reaching it, and stepped inside, the door closing softly behind
me. I was surprised to see some familiar faces as I walked into the hall. The
same lady who had shied away from me was still here, pacing around a sofa, the
man who tried to stop me from heading up the stairs was still hovering at the
stair bottom. I walked over, and on seeing me he stepped aside, eyes wide, but
silent in speech. I smiled at him as I walked past, and began the two flights
of stairs upwards.

The second floor was just as I
remembered. The corridor was long, and mirrors dotted the walls every now and
then. I drew close to the one I recalled showing me one of my murderers and
stared into it. The reflection stared back, but was only myself. Frustrated I
moved on to the next one, but again the image in the glass was just myself. I
continued on, to each mirror, getting more and more annoyed as they refused to
show me what I wanted to see; what I needed to see. I finally found myself at
the foot of another flight of stairs heading upwards. I took them two at a
time, and found myself on yet another floor filled with benches and bookcases.
Slowly I passed them, then stopped suddenly between two chairs. I peered at the
door.
That shouldn’t be there.
I thought.

I looked back at where I had
come from. I had been heading in a clockwise direction upwards. The outer tower
wall to my left, the inner rooms to my right; but this door was on the left.
How
can there be a door on the left? It would open into thin air?
I turned from
it and headed further down the corridor. More doors appeared but on the right
side this time, one opening and a figure emerged, closing the door behind them
and walking back the way I had come from. Turning around I headed back to the
chairs and paused as I drew closer. The door had vanished.
What on earth is
going on?
I thought. Maybe I had imagined it? I continued on, further
around the corridor. It felt as if it would go on forever until I met with
another flight of stairs heading upwards. I sighed. There were no mirrors on
that floor, so I decided to continue upwards, curious at what was upstairs.

The fourth floor appeared just
as the third, with more benches and bookcases, some laden with books, others
with oddments. Passing two doors on my right, I found myself confronting
another door on the left.
Should I open it? Or will it disappear like
before?
I voted for the first option, and reaching for the handle, slowly
twisted it. The door swung open violently, as though a gust of wind had caught
it, yet beyond, there was a straight corridor.
How can this be? It’s
impossible!
Edging closer to the entrance, I grabbed the architrave, and
cautiously put my foot across the threshold; it found solid floor beneath.
Still clutching the entrance with one hand I stepped through, expecting the
corridor to disappear and let me fall; plummet to the ground.
What would
happen if I did though? I couldn’t die, I was already dead.
The thought
hung there a moment before I let go of the door frame. I stepped further in,
and the door slammed shut behind me.  Turning, I grabbed the handle and
twisted it, but the door wouldn’t budge.
Shit, locked.
Typical!
I
faced back around and the corridor loomed off into the distance, doors closed
every so often.

I headed for the first door on
the left and knocked. There was no answer, so I opened it slowly. Inside the
room was darkened by windows with black out blinds. Numerous tables were lined
up in orderly rows, and oddly on top of each one, a person lay asleep. Or I
hoped they were. I walked over to one and looked over them. Each person was
dressed in a black robe, their skin pale, but all appeared to be sleeping
calmly. I couldn’t see their chests rising or falling, the dead didn’t require
air to breathe, but somehow I knew they were still aware of me in the room.

“How did you get in here?” a voice sounded behind me,
making me squeal in alarm. “You should not be here!” The figure of a tall man
loomed above me. He was extremely imposing, and must have been nearly seven
feet tall. His black robes fell about him swirling around his legs.

“I, I I’m sorry”, I stammered,
“I opened the wrong
door!” My hands entwined each other, nervously. I couldn’t see the man’s face,
the hood of his robe cast a dark shadow within, so only a deep voice emanated
from it.

“Leave. Now.” The voice spoke. I nodded and quickly
darted around the figure and headed out the door so fast I nearly fell over my
own feet. The door slammed behind me, and I heard a key turn, the lock clicking
into place. If my heart could beat right now, I’m sure it would be pounding.
I’ll
just have to try each room.
I headed to the next door which was on the
right hand side and tapped on the wood.

“Enter.” A voice sounded from within. I opened the door
slowly, to be met with a small group of people, sat in a circle. A lady, whom I
assumed was the teacher smiled at me. “One moment class.” She stood and walked
over to me, ushering me back outside.

“Are you lost my dear?” she asked me.

“Er, I’m not sure where I am. I came through a door, and
it locked behind me.” I decided the truth may be best here rather than lying. I
didn’t know enough about the place to do so.

The lady looked at me head to toe. “The door let you in?”
I nodded in response. “interesting. It’s been a while since it has opened its
door to just anyone. Though from the feel of you, you are not just anyone; am I
correct?” Her head tilted slightly to one side.