Stillborn XV (Paige)

XV - Paige

 The fog didn’t seem so thick outside the department store.  It was still there, of course, rolling along the street, turning the buildings on the other side into monuments to shapelessness, but no longer did it seem so threatening.  There could be no fog monsters hidden within and for that she was profoundly grateful.  The air seemed colder, however, and she suppressed a shiver as she stepped out of the relative shelter of the store front and back onto James Street.

 “If this was any other night,” Henry said, glancing up at the sky they could not see, “I’d say it was going to snow.  Tonight?” he shrugged, “best not to think of it I suppose.”

 Paige nodded, then reached for Charlie’s hand as he walked past her.  The boy accepted the offer straight away and, as the cold seemed to set in to all of them, he huddled closer.

 “What’s the easiest way to the Kirk, then?” Paige asked, staring up at the shopping centre which marked the end of the street.  It was strange to see it at night without any lights on.  Strange and unsettling.

"Normally I'd say through the shopping centre, but I guess that isn't open tonight."

"We could break in," Paige suggested with a casual air that shocked even her.

"I think we've done enough vandalism for one night," Henry said with a grim smile, which shifted as he added, "unless we have no choice."

"So where, then?"

"Up past the centre by the multi-storey car park entrance, I guess, then the kirkyard is just across the road."

Paige nodded and let Henry walk ahead of her as she and Charlie followed, holding each other for all the warmth they could get.  It wasn't very far to the little service alley Henry had been referring too, and though they walked past the backs of shops and a bar not known for its salubrious nature, all was quiet.  Only the wind and the fog filled the silence.

The alley itself usually stank of urine, but the cold air seemed to have supressed that somewhat.  Paige had heard rumours that prostitutes liked to hang out there and so, in some ways, this strange deserted night was almost a blessing, but even so her eyes kept flickering into every alcove, waiting for something to jump out.

As it was the walk was uneventful.  The only terrors were imagined and so they emerged onto the next street safe, only colder and with hearts pounding from anticipation.  And there, across the empty road, lay the wrought iron fence of the kirkyard, the Kirk itself only a foggy shadow beyond, but they could clearly see one or two gravestones, ancient and ornate.

"So here we are," Paige found herself saying.

"Josh is here too," Charlie added, "and he's not alone."

"How does the boy know that?" Henry asked and Paige realised she had no answer.

But he does know, she thought, so who are we about to meet in there?