The Disappearance of Katie Wren (26 page)

Chapter Thirty-Five

The Front Door

“Wow,” Annabelle whispers a couple of hours later, as the doorman steps aside to let us through the front door at Knott's Court, “this house is pretty smart. I feel like I'm cheapening the place just by being here.”

Stepping into the hallway, I make my way to the double-doors that lead into the reception room. Nothing has changed since my last visit, and I can't help feeling as if somehow the people of Knott's Court have been waiting for me to return. The doorman certainly offered no resistance when I said I wanted to come inside and speak to someone about my daughter, and a moment later a maid comes through with a tray of tea and biscuits. I watch as she starts setting everything out on a table by the window, and then I hear a bump nearby.

Turning, I see that the front door has been swung shut.

“No turning back now,” Annabelle mutters under her breath as she walks past me and enters the reception room. She heads to the window and looks out for a moment, before turning to watch as the maid continues to set out the tea-cups.

“Mr. Stewart will be along presently,” the doorman announces.

“That'll be Dominic Stewart, yeah?” Annabelle says, clearly a little over-awed now that we're actually inside the house. “Now
there's
a character I've been trying to track down for a few years. He doesn't seem to leave the house very often. When he does, he always manages to give me the slip. It's a good job I don't take these things personally.”

She wanders over to a cabinet and picks up a vase.

“Please don't touch the items,” the maid says quickly.

“Valuable, are they?” Annabelle asks, tossing the vase from one hand to the other.

“Please,” the maid continues, “just put it down.”

Annabelle rolls her eyes as she sets the vase back on the cabinet. I head over to her and wait as the maid leaves the room.

“They don't seem surprised by our visit,” I whisper.

“Why would they be? They know you're not an idiot. They must have realized you'd figure out that Katie's here.”

“But you said they were very secretive.”

“Don't forget, from their point of view, this is the end-game. Their stupid little cult came out of hibernation because of a specific date, which just so happens to be October 31
st
of this year. They probably think they're so close to the return of their god now, they no longer need to be quite so worried. And they think Katie's their golden girl.” She glances over her shoulder and then turns back to me. “Besides, they know they could kill us both right now and nobody'd ever touch 'em for it.”

“When you put it like that,” I reply with a faint sigh, “I suppose it makes sense.”

“Mrs. Wren,” a familiar voice says suddenly. “Ms. Churchill. What a pleasure to see you on this fine afternoon.”

Turning, I see that Dominic Stewart is standing in the doorway, watching us with a faint, rather smug smile.

“Where's my daughter?” I ask, marching over to him. “I want to see her right now!”

“Katie is a little busy at this precise moment,” he replies, evidently no longer feeling the need to lie. “She will be available shortly, and I'll be happy to take you to her. Then you can see that she's absolutely fine, and that we're taking very good care of her.”

“I was to see her
now
!”

“And I've told you that this won't be possible. I also wish to apologize to you, Mrs. Wren, for lying when last we met. I'm afraid the circumstances demanded subterfuge on my part, but the act did not sit well with me and I'm glad of this opportunity to put things right.”

“I'm taking her away from this place!” I tell him. “She's not going to spend another night under your roof!”

“If that is her wish. I rather think that the decision is Katie's to make.”

“Her head isn't right,” I continue. “You've filled it with all sorts of nonsense.”

“If -”

“Don't think we don't know what's going on here,” I add, interrupting him. “I know all about your filth! The Hiirux rubbish, and the cult that existed thousands of years ago and that you now think you've woken up, and the October 31
st
date and all the rest of it. Don't think for one moment that we haven't uncovered it all, but it's at an end, do you hear? I simply will not tolerate my daughter being sucked into whatever games you're playing.”

“You tell 'im, Winnie,” Annabelle mutters, although her mouth sounds full.

Turning, I see that she's eating one of the scones that was brought with the tea.

“Poisoned scones isn't their style,” she adds, as crumbs drop from her mouth. “Is it, Dominic? When you kill us, it'll be something more old-fashioned.”

“It's a pleasure to welcome you to the house, Ms. Churchill,” he replies, with a smile that's positively dripping with condescension. “I know that you've been interested in our work here for quite some time. I must admit, I derived a measure of amusement from the various sightings of you. Once or twice, I stood at one of the upstairs windows and watched you as you watched us from your vantage point at the end of the street.”

“Oh, I knew you were watching me,” she tells him. “I was watching you, while you thought you were watching me.”

“And I knew you knew I was watching,” he replies. “I enjoyed watching you while you thought you were the one who -”

“I want to see my daughter right now!” I say firmly, pushing past him and heading out into the corridor, only to find that three maids are blocking my way.

“And as I already told you,” Dominic continues, “she'll be ready to greet you shortly. I'm afraid her schedule here is rather demanding, so she can't simply accommodate visitors at the drop of a hat. Please, Mrs. Wren, just have a little patience and you'll be able to see Katie very, very soon. I promise you, she's very excited to learn that you're here. I'm sure that she, too, has been uncomfortable with all the lies that had to be told.”

“We're taking her outta here,” Annabelle tells him.

I step toward the maids, before turning and seeing that Annabelle is standing in the doorway, still chewing a scone.

“And we're taking her today,” she continues. “If you think we just walked in here like a pair of idiots, with no back-up plan, then you're wrong. I know this house has existed under the radar for a long time, and I know you think you've got all the angles covered, but I'm still capable of throwing a few surprises your way.”

“I'm sure you are,” he says with a smile. “The High Priest will probably want to talk to you first, though. Won't you at least give him that courtesy?”

“The High Priest?” Annabelle replies, clearly amused by the pretension of this place. “Wow, you guys really like your pomp and ceremony, don't you? Do you have a Priestess and a Dungeon Master too?”

“Please,” Dominic continues, stepping past me as the maids move out of the way. “The High Priest can address you before you go to see Katie. I know for a fact that he'll be very keen to see you both.”

“I don't care about anyone else,” I mutter, as Annabelle and I follow him along the corridor, heading deeper into the house. “I just want to see Katie.”

“Relax,” she whispers, leaning toward me. “I'm starting to figure these freaks out. And remember the thing with Bob. We have something up our sleeves here, something they can't possibly have guessed. These assholes are a little wary of us. They're trying to figure out plan out, but they don't have a chance.”

Dominic leads us into a large, ornate room. A huge chandelier hangs high above us, while large oil paintings adorn the walls.

“I shall tell the High Priest that you've arrived,” Dominic explains rather stiffly, opening the door at the far end of the room.

“Yeah, you do that,” Annabelle mutters.

“One moment, please.”

With that, he disappears into the next room.

“This is going great,” Annabelle continues, turning to me. “We've got 'em on the ropes, Winnie, and they don't even know it. You saw the smarm on that guy, he thinks he's the cat that got the cream. As far as he's concerned, we're just two dummies who wandered through the wrong door. This High Priest guy probably thinks he's gonna come in and give us some long-winded speech about the importance of all the crap that's going on here, and then they'll tell us we can't leave, and all that bullshit. It's sad, really. They're completely deluded, but we're gonna bring this place crashing down, and we're gonna expose every crime, every lie that ever existed between these walls. And then -”

Before she can finish, the double-doors swing open behind her and an elderly man steps through, wearing some kind of pale cotton robe.

“Let me guess,” Annabelle continues, raising an amused eyebrow while steadfastly refusing to turn and look at him. “He's wearing a head-dress kinda thing, isn't it? Like a peacock? It's the High Priest, right?”

“Where's my daughter?” I ask as the man stops and watches us with his hands clasped against his chest. “I want to see Katie this instant!”

I wait for an answer, but the man seems to be watching Annabelle.

“This is gonna be fun,” she tells me, with a faint smile. “These guys are so up themselves, but they sure as hell haven't seen us coming. I'm gonna -”

“Hello Annabelle,” the man says suddenly.

She freezes, and I see a hint of fear in her eyes.

“I'm very sorry about the circumstances,” he continues, his voice sounding gravelly and perhaps even a little sick, “and I had tried to avoid this encounter, but you've really left me with no choice. You've proven to be both more dogged and more resourceful than I had anticipated.”

“Annabelle?” I whisper, as I see a tear starting to trickle down her cheek. “What's wrong?”

Her lips tremble, but she seems utterly shocked.

“Annabelle,” the man continues, “you must come to me now. I'm sure you have a lot of questions, and I no longer feel the need to hide anything.”

“No,” she stammers, “please...”

“Turn and look at me, Annabelle.”

“What's wrong?” I ask again. “Is this part of the plan? Annabelle?”

She starts to turn, but her whole body is shaking now and she seems increasingly pale.

“Are you feeling weak
now
, Annabelle?” the High Priest continues. “Of all the times to lose your resolve? Come on, pull yourself together. You're stronger than this. You've done so well, you've kept going when anybody else would have given up. Don't let yourself fall apart at this late stage.”

“No,” she whispers, hesitating for a moment before finally turning to him. “You can't -”

She hesitates, and then suddenly she slumps down. I catch her, but I'm not able to hold her up, so instead I carefully ease her to the ground. Shocked, I realize she must have fainted, and I can't help noticing that she feels very clammy when I place a hand on the side of her face.

“Annabelle?” I say firmly. “Annabelle! Wake up! Can you hear me?”

“You must forgive her,” the man says, stepping closer. “I'm afraid my arrival must have caused her quite a shock.”

I try again to wake her, before looking up at him.

“My name is Harold Plume,” he continues. “Or Harry, as people used to call me when I was in the newspaper business. I'm afraid I must speak to Annabelle alone, so that I can explain some things. But for now, Mrs. Wren, you'll be pleased to know that your daughter Catherine is waiting for you in the sanctum room. And she's very,
very
pleased to hear that you've finally arrived.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

Robes

“Mum!”

As soon as I step into the next room, Katie gets to her feet and runs to greet me. I barely have time to see that she's wearing some form of elaborate golden robe, before she wraps her arms around me and hugs me tight, burying her face against my shoulder.

“I was starting to think maybe I'd never see you again!” she sobs. “Oh Mum, I'm so glad you found me! You've got no idea how long I've wanted to tell you about all of this, but I had to wait, even though I was burning up with excitement inside! I just had to!”

I open my mouth to ask what she means, before turning and looking back out into the hallway. Two maids are gathering Annabelle up from the floor, and they start carrying her unconscious body away as the High Priest follows. A moment later, another maid steps into view and pulls the door shut, leaving me alone with Katie. For a moment, I feel compelled to go out there and find out what's happening to Annabelle, but suddenly Katie steps back from me. I turn to her, and she puts her hands on either side of my face, and all thoughts of Annabelle quickly fade from my mind.

Tears are streaming down her face, but they seem to be tears of joy.

“I'm so sorry,” she continues. “Please forgive me, Mum. I just couldn't tell you about any of this, not until the time was right.”

“I came to get you out of here,” I tell her, shocked by her apparent elation. “Katie -”

“Get me out of here?” she replies with a big, beaming grin. “Why would I ever want to leave Knott's Court? This is what my whole life has been building toward!”

“Katie, please...”

“At the end of this month,” she continues, interrupting me again, “the world is going to change. The ancient priests foresaw this date, and they foresaw that a woman would have to call to the great Hiirux across the void and invite him to enter her body. Think about it, Mum! Two thousand years of waiting, and finally the moment's here! Or at least it's right around the corner.”

“No!” I say firmly. “Katie, you're ill! You're sick and -”

“I've never felt better!”

“You've been brainwashed!”

She shakes her head, and still that awful, deluded smile remains on her lips.

“I don't know how these people got into your head,” I continue, “but clearly they've exploited some lapse in your thoughts.” I look down at the robes she's wearing. “What have they promised you, Katie? Whatever it is, you have to know that it's all a lie. The people here are deluded, they're part of some ridiculous cult and somehow they've dragged you in, but I'm going to pull you right out again, even if -”

Suddenly she bursts out laughing. She takes a step back, clearly amused by everything I just said, and I can't help noticing that this laugh is unlike any I've ever heard from her before.

“You're coming with me right now!” I say firmly “Do you hear me? Right this instant!”

“Where to?” she giggles. “Back to Shropley?”

“Eventually! But to the hospital first! You're sick!”

“Sure I am,” she continues, finally getting her fit of laughter back under control. “Whatever. The High Priest said you might take that approach. He warned me, and it looks like he was spot on. The problem, Mum, is that you can't change my destiny. The great Hiirux is returning to this world before the last day of this month, and I'm going to be waiting to welcome him. Can't you be pleased for me? Can't you see that I'm going to play a role that has been ordained for thousands of years?”

“Katie,” I stammer, seeing that she's even more sick than I'd realized, “you just -”

Before I can finish, I hear a brief, loud shriek from far off in the house. I turn and look back toward the closed door, but silence has returned. Still, I'm certain that the shriek came from Annabelle.

“Don't worry about her,” Katie says after a moment. “The High Priest told me he'd have to talk to her. I'm not quite sure why, but he seemed to know her in some way. Whoever she is.”

I turn back to her. “What's he doing to her?”

“Just talking.”

“Then why did she -”

“I don't know, Mum,” she continues, smiling again with tears in her eyes as she steps toward me. She reaches out and takes my hands in hers. “I've got so much to tell you. So much to
show
you. It was during my first trip to London that I was introduced to my role here at the temple. Do you remember how much I suddenly wanted to move to London that first time? I didn't realize it at the time, but the High Priest explained that it was my destiny calling to me. And then they told me that I had to go back to you, just for a short while, just to calm everything down again. I think there was a danger of us attracting too much attention from the dis-believers and -”

“You lied about Tim!”

“Who?”

“Tim! You said he kept you in his basement!”

She furrows her brow. “Who?”

“Timothy Ashford-Clarke! The man whose home you were living in!”

“Oh, yeah.” She pauses, before shrugging as if she doesn't give a damn. “They told me it was the easiest story to make people believe. I wasn't sure at first, but they persuaded me, and they were right. People
did
believe me, didn't they?”

“He's dead!” I remind her, shocked by her lack of care.

“I know. He was killed at the prison, wasn't he? Something about a screwdriver in the neck?”

“You lied about him,” I continue, pulling my hands free from hers. “You supported all the lies, and now he's dead.”

“There was no other -”

“He was a good man!” I add, struggling to contain my anger.

“Probably, but -”

“He was one of the kindest people I've ever met!” I continue. “Katie, your lies were...”

My voice trails off as I remember the last time I saw Tim. He was begging me to help him, to believe him, but it never occurred to me that my daughter might be lying. But now, as she grins at me and tries to take hold of my hands again, I can see the utter obsessive delusion in her eyes. She genuinely believes everything she's been told by these people, and she doesn't even seem to care that an innocent man died because of her lies. It's as if she sees Tim's life as something disposable and worthless.

“It's almost time for another attempt,” she says after a moment. “Mum, do you want to see?”

“See what?” I ask, still horrified by her grin. “Katie -”

“We're calling to him,” she continues, taking hold of my hands and squeezing them tight. “Mum, each time we call, he gets closer. He's a long way from us still, and we can only call for a few minutes at a time 'cause otherwise I might get burned out, but we're making him notice us. And each time, I can feel him a little more, I can sense him turning to me in the darkness. He understands that we're opening a gateway for him, and he's coming to us.”

I shake my head.

“Mum, please! If you just witness the ceremony in all its glory, you can -”

“Katie...”

Before I can say another word, Annabelle cries out again.

“What are they doing to her?” I stammer, turning again to look toward the door.

“Forget about that woman.”

“Is she expendable?” I ask, turning back to her. “Is that what you think? Is her life worthless, just like Tim's?”

“Mum, that's not important. The ceremony is about to start. I feel strong and rested, more so than ever now that you're here with me. You give me strength. And with that strength, I can call to Hiirux and guide him through the darkness so that he can find me in the void on the other -”

“Stop!” I hiss.

“Mum -”

“Just stop! Stop saying all these awful things! You're my daughter, you're an ordinary girl and a
good
girl, and I'm taking you away from this terrible place!”

“You can't take me away,” she continues. “Don't be silly, Mum. I've already started reaching out to him. I couldn't leave now, even if that was what I wanted. The ceremony simply amplifies the connection between us, but it's a connection that can never be broken.”

“You really believe this, don't you?”

She steps closer and puts her arms around me again.

“You'll understand when you see it, Mum,” she tells me. “You'll realize that I'm right, and that I'm so lucky to be the chosen one. Truth is always beautiful, and this is the most true thing of all.” She kisses the side of my neck, and I feel her tears against my flesh. “You have to see it. You can't be told. You have to see it for yourself, and then you'll understand. All those other people... Their lives were worthless.”

“Tim's life was not worthless!” I say firmly, stepping back from her.

“Of course it was. In the grand -”

Before I'm able to stop myself, I slap her hard. She steps back, clearly shocked, but then slowly she turns to me and her smile returns.

“You'll see,” she continues finally. “Your eyes will be opened and you won't have a choice.”

***

“Hear me!” Katie cries out, her voice filled with hope as she leans her head back and looks up toward the stones that tower above her. “Hiirux, hear my voice! Come to me through the darkness!”

I step forward, determined to go and pull her away, but I feel hands on my shoulders and I turn to find that the maids are still holding me back.

“Follow my words!” Katie shouts. “Come closer! Come to the world! We need you!”

She's naked, standing on a stone altar in the center of a vast and cavernous room beneath the main house. Fires are burning in huge bronze bowls all around us, while several robed figures remain kneeling in front of my daughter. Some of the figures are chanting, while others simply have their heads bowed. At the far end of the room, behind Katie, the High Priest is reading aloud from a book, as if somehow he's leading the ceremony. Yet at the center of it all, at the focus of all the attention, Katie remains in place on the altar with her arms up high and her wrists held tight by a set of metal shackles. My poor fragile girl is shaking so hard, I'm scared she might fall apart.

“Get her out of there!” I shout, with tears streaming down my face. “Katie, stop!”

“The world will welcome you!” she calls out, ignoring me. Her eyes are wide open, and she seems almost mesmerized by the sight of the stone pillars. “The world has waited so long for someone to come and offer guidance. Billions of people are living their lives without help, without hope, without the certainty that something exists beyond this miserable life. Your return will be met with joy and happiness, but first you must find me through the darkness and fill my body with your mind! You've wandered lost and alone for long enough! Hiirux, come to me now!”

She falls forward, but the chains around her wrists keep her up.

“You don't mean this,” I whisper, with tears in my eyes. “Katie, this isn't the real you.”

“I can feel you now,” she continues, lowering her head and closing her eyes. “I can sense you in the dark, coming closer. I know you still have an infinite ocean to cross, but you
will
cross it, and then I shall feel you pouring yourself into me. I am waiting, Hiirux. I have no purpose but to serve you, and no will but to be yours. I am your humble servant and I -”

Suddenly she cries out, and her whole body twists and writhes as if she's in pain.

“Stop!” I shout, stepping forward again before the maids grab my arms and hold me back. “You're hurting her!”

The High Priest continues to read from the book, and more chants rise up from the bowed figures all around.

“I feel him!” Katie gasps, hanging down from the chains around her wrists as her body continues to shudder. “He's found me in the darkness! He's closer than -”

She lets out another pained cry, and again she tilts her head back. She whispers something, but her voice is too soft now and she's drowned out by the chants.

“Get her down from there!” I sob. “You're going to -”

Suddenly she cries out again, and to my horror I see a sudden tear running through the flesh of her belly, splitting her open and causing blood to start dribbling down to her legs. It must be some kind of trick, some form of effect, because nothing touched her and there's no way her flesh should simply open like that.

“The mark of Hiirux!” she screams, as blood starts dripping from her feet. “He touched me! He's so close now, he actually touched me! I have his mark and I am his and -”

She cries out again, twisting desperately. It's clear that she's delirious, and I can't help wondering if these monsters have drugged her. My sweet girl would never act in such a way unless she'd been fed some kind of stimulant.

“Stop!” I shout, pulling away from the maids and starting to make my way toward the altar, only for two hooded figures to block my way. I try to get around them, but more appear and hold me back, grabbing my arms tight even as I try desperately to push past.

“He is upon me!” Katie gurgles, as blood starts running from her mouth. “He is -”

She screams, twisting her body yet again as another rip pulls open the flesh around her waist. I know it's not real, I know it's some kind of awful joke, but I still cry out as I see my poor girl flailing naked, still hanging from the chains. She looks to be in so much pain, and nobody is lifting a finger to help her. I try to reach for her, but the robed figures are forcing me back toward one of the pillars.