Chapter 2

Carter heard the crunch of dry leaves beneath his shoes. He looked down and saw the void had given way to the forest. Glancing over his shoulder he could see only trees, surrounding him like an enemy. Trunks stood like soldiers; their branches, weapons. The void had disappeared, leaving behind only a shimmering remnant of its existence; which itself soon dissipated like mist into the night.

Suddenly he felt very alone.

“Hello!” he called out, his hands cupped around his mouth to funnel his voice. “Can anybody hear me? Hello!”

And then his hands dropped to his sides. The thought occurred to him there might be danger lurking in the shadows, creatures or men who would harm him. His ears pricked up, straining to hear their approach. He turned his head slowly, scanning the night for any hint he wasn’t alone. Hearing nothing, he stepped carefully forwards. Every sense was honed, not just because there might be danger, but also because he needed to find a way out of the forest, out of the nightmare he’d unwittingly stumbled into.

The sound of his footsteps in the leaf litter had a strange effect on him. There were times he was oblivious to it, too focused on the shadows and the movements within them, and then other times it lulled him into a trance-like state. He could feel himself moving forwards but had no sense of his body.

He yawned. It had been a long day at school and an even longer evening. As he’d locked the front door of the school, images of a warm bath, a bottle of wine, and a freshly made bed had filled his head. Now his concerns lay with finding his way out of the forest, ascertaining where he was, and returning safely to more familiar surroundings.

His eyes rolled skywards. “Why me?” he beseeched the heavens. “Why?!”

* * * *

The sound of a snapping twig brought him to a dead stop. He felt the blood drain from his face, taking all warmth with it. His eyes were wide and his nostrils flared as he tried to suck in as much oxygen as he could without making a sound, and although he couldn’t hear anything, he knew he was no longer alone. Something was moving slowly through the night towards him.

He stepped carefully backwards, one foot behind the other until he found himself backed up against a large tree. He reached back, his hands coming to rest on the coarse bark. Sliding one hand over the other, he guided himself slowly around the trunk to the other side where he allowed himself a few seconds’ rest to catch his breath.

His heart beat a tattoo. A slight sheen of perspiration shimmered on his forehead. He wiped it away with the back of his damp coat sleeve and turned around, pressing his body against the tree. Comforted by the solidness of the trunk, he peered around, staring into the shadows to search for movement.

It approached with stealth, though he could still hear the faint crunch of leaves beneath its feet. Between each step it would pause. And he would hold his breath. Adrenalin flooded his body, pulsing through his veins and urging him to take flight. Or fight. His hands were balling themselves into fists against the tree trunk, straining the ligaments in his wrists until they began to ache. With wide eyes, full of panic and defiance, he scoured the ground hoping to spot a large stick he could use to fight with, but the light was pale and the shadows too thick and plentiful.

Suddenly a dark figure, solid and male, stepped into the moonlight. Carter, forgetting his fear, leapt. He saw the man bring his arms up to shield his head, and bend his knees to brace for impact. Carter flew through the air and slammed into the man, bringing him crashing to the ground.

“Who are you?” he demanded to know, pinning the man’s arms down.

The stranger didn’t struggle or attempt to free himself.

“Steady on fella,” he said. “My name’s Paul. Paul Bennet.”

“What are you doing here? Where am I?” Carter barked.

“I don’t know. I’m as lost as you are, mate,” replied Paul. “Now would you please get off me?”

Carter stared down at the man, at the shadowy features of his face, and, deciding he wasn’t a threat, he climbed off. He rested on his haunches and watched carefully as Paul sat up and brushed himself off. How could he trust anyone in this bizarre situation?

“I was running to catch a bus,” Paul said, picking the leaves out of his short brown hair. “The bastard saw me coming, but pulled out onto the road anyway. I ran after it thinking he’d stop for me and then suddenly the night seemed to come alive. The space around me turned all…watery—well, it wasn’t really water but it looked like water. It seemed to, to…”

“Shimmer,” said Carter.