Read Online Thursday's Child by Clare Revell - Free Book Online Page A

shook her head. “Deraj sounds better.”
    Jared laughed, leading her back inside. “Then Deraj it is.”
    Niamh whimpered, twisting in the chair as the scene changed.
    …A warehouse exploded and burned out of control before, unable to bear its own weight any longer, it crashed to the ground, vanishing from sight into a huge fiery lake of rubble and flame. A car door slammed and footsteps echoed up the path. She looked into the sad faces of two officers in firefighter uniform. A flag at half mast, coffins draped in the Union Flag carried on the back of fire engines with a sea of men in uniform following it. A burned face, bandages, a figure in a bed, trumpet music playing...
    The images flowed from one into the other, incoherent jigsaw pieces trying to make a whole.
    She was in a car, frantically stamping on the brakes as something inexorably hurtled towards her. She flung her arms up and screamed. Then it was dark and there were more footsteps, this time chasing her. She ran, ran as fast as she could, but he was quicker and gained. She turned; a knife glinted in the darkness and plunged towards her. She screamed...
    A child’s voice echoed with hers. “Mummmmyyyyyy.”
     
    ****
     
    Niamh sat bolt upright, screaming, tears streaming down her face, rocking back and forth. Someone spoke and touched her arm, but she pulled away, struggling for breath. A hand gently touched her cheek and guided her to look into a pair of hazel eyes.
    Jared?
    “Hey.” His tone was gentle and soft. “It’s OK.”
    Niamh tried to draw breath, unable to tear her gaze from his. Her whole body shook, and she grew light headed from lack of oxygen. Jared ran to the kitchen, returned with a paper bag and guided her hands to hold it. “Breathe into this. It’ll help.”
    How is a paper bag going to stop me from suffocating?
    Her head spun and her eyes wanted to close. Jared scrunched the bag up and placed it over her mouth and nose. “Breathe into the bag.”
    She did as he asked, grateful he was holding the bag as her hands wouldn’t grip anything. This mad idea of his seemed to work, and as it got easier to breathe, Niamh realized he had his hand resting on her back, rubbing it. The touch felt strange, but at the same time familiar. She didn’t shy away, but leaned into it. The scent of his aftershave filled her senses. Pushing the bag away, she looked at him. “I’m sorry, did I wake you?”
    Jared smiled. “It’s OK. I woke a while ago and was just finishing dinner when I heard you scream. Are you feeling better?”
    Niamh nodded. “Yes, just a stupid nightmare.”
    He looked at her, brushing the hair from her eyes. “Want to tell me about it while we eat?”
    “Sure. It doesn’t make any sense though.”
    “Nightmares seldom do.” He helped her to her feet, his sleep tousled hair giving him a childlike air. It was kind of cute. “What was it this time? Freddie or the fog monster?”
    She leaned heavily on the crutches and walked slowly across the room. “Fog monster?”
    “Hey, don’t mock. I usually have to save you from him once a week.”
    “Oh, no, it wasn’t a monster made of fog, and I wasn’t being chased down a long dark hallway by a burned madman with knives for fingernails either. Though the guy in my dream did have a knife, and he was chasing me, right before I woke up. I was running, trying to get away, but he grabbed me and hit me and brought the knife down. Before that, I was in a car and the brakes didn’t work, and I think I crashed, but I’m not sure because at that point the knife man appeared. Before that there was fire and flags at half-mast and coffins on fire engines.”
    Jared touched her shoulder for a moment then let go again. “You’re safe now. Did you see his face?”
    “The bloke in my dream? No, I didn’t. Why?”
    “No reason.”
    “OK.” She took a deep breath. “Are you wearing Fascination?”
    His voice caught as he replied. “Yes. You always buy it for me because you like