The Writer by Amy Cross Read Free Book Online Page B

going to hang up now. There’s no -”
    “Don’t hang up, Mummy.”
    I stop dead in my tracks, as a cold wash runs through my body. It’s almost as if all the blood has drained out of me at once.
    “Why don’t you want us with you?” the voice asks.
    “Hannah?” I reply, my voice trembling with emotion.
    “Why don’t you want us to live with you anymore?”
    Hurrying to the window, I look out at the driveway and see that the two figures are still out there, still staring at the house.
    “I… What kind of joke is this?” I ask. “Who is this?”
    “Mummy, why can’t we be in there with you?” she continues. “Daddy says you’re keeping us out.”
    “This is sick,” I hiss. “Whoever’s doing this, I’m going to have your call traced and -”
    “Why are you shouting at me?” she asks, her voice sounding as if she’s close to tears.
    “I’m not shouting at you,” I reply, before realizing that this entire conversation is insane. With anger rising through my chest, I head to the front door. “Let’s see your face, then,” I continue, fumbling with the lock before finally getting the door open and stepping out into the driveway. “Why don’t you -”
    Stopping in my tracks, I stare at the two figures ahead. They’re still there, still staring at the house, and although their features are hidden in the night’s dark thrall, I can tell instinctively that it’s them . I swear to God, I’d know Hannah’s silhouette anywhere, even after two years.
    “I…” I start to say, feeling the anger and pain starting to drain from my body.
    “Mummy,” the voice on the phone says, this time also coming from the figure itself, “we just want to come back inside. Why won’t you let us?”
    “Because you’re not…” I pause, unable to finish the sentence.
    “Mummy, I miss you. Can’t you let us back in? Please? Why are you stopping us?”
    “I’m not stopping anything,” I tell her. “There’s no -”
    Suddenly I remember. Turning and hurrying back into the house, I make my way into the kitchen and turn no the light. After checking the floor for a moment, I spot the small crucifix that Jacqui gave me the other night. I’d completely forgotten that it even existed, but as I pick it up I can’t help wondering if this could be the item that is keeping David and Hannah out of the house. If that’s the case, it would explain why Louise didn’t detect anything: the crucifix was keeping the house empty.
    “Mummy,” Hannah continues over the phone, “Daddy says that if you let us back in, we won’t bother you anymore. We won’t wake you up in the night or scare you. Please, just let us back in.”
    “This isn’t real,” I tell her.
    “Mummy,” she sobs, “please…”
    “This isn’t real!” I shout, cutting the call and setting my phone on the counter. A couple of seconds later it starts to ring again, but I quickly switch it off. After just a moment of peace, however, I hear the land-line phone ringing in the next room. “Stop,” I whisper, “please, just stop, just -”
    Finally, unable to handle the noise any longer, I make my way to the back door, pull it open and throw the little crucifix out into the garden. Almost instantly, the phone stops ringing.
    I stand in complete silence, as the cool night air breezes past me and enters the house.
    Slowly, I become aware of something behind me. There’s a presence – no, two presences, and they’re just a few inches from the back of my neck. Staring straight ahead, I dare myself to turn and face them, but I can’t quite bring myself to see their faces again. I know with absolute, crystal clarity that they’re going to be there when I look, that by throwing the crucifix out I’ve allowed them back into the house, but as tears start to roll down my face I realize that in some strange way I like the idea that they’re back. Before I can do anything, however, I need to turn and face them.
    Closing my eyes, I turn and wait for a