Read Dreamwalkers Book One - The Intruder. A Markland Garraway Paranormal Mystery Thriller Page 30

  Chapter 29

 

  Howie Doyle’s Flat

  Bristol

  Tuesday 20th October

  8.05 p.m.

 

  “So why couldn’t you just tell me over the phone?” asked Howie, whilst handing Markland a mug of coffee.

  “Because I wanted to speak with you face to face, and I didn’t want to discuss it in school.”

  “Have you worked out what’s going on with James?”

  Markland didn’t answer, at least not straight away.

  “I’ve been seeing things. I’m seeing visions of things to do with James, and I’m certain what I’ve seen is connected to the hill in the woods

  “What have you seen?”

  “Multiple images of him……. and of me. I started to see things after you made contact with me just over two weeks ago. But on Friday, after I left you, James and Han, I saw more images when I got home. They were real, almost as if I could reach out and touch them. I had the same feelings when the hill was communicating with me before.”

  “What kind of feelings?”

  “Nausea,” said Markland, stretching his leg and rubbing his knee.

  “And aches and pains,” he added.

  Markland had noticed sharp twinges of pain in his joints, which reminded him of when the short-lived, but crippling arthritis started back in two thousand and nine.

  “Do you think the images of you and James are significant?” asked Howie.

  “Very much so, and I’ve been thinking of their significance over the weekend.”

  Markland noticed his hands were trembling. He was becoming involved in whatever was happening, and there was nothing he could do about it.

  “Do you know Jodie Standwick?” asked Markland

  “The pretty science teacher? No, well not really. I say hello to her in school, but that’s about it.”

  Markland noticed a look in Howie’s eye when he mentioned the teacher’s name.

  “I had a long chat with her yesterday.”

  “About James?”

  “Indirectly. I have an idea about what may be happening to your friend, and what Jodie told me may confirm my hunch.”

  “Which is?”

  Markland placed his coffee on the table and cleared his throat.

  “I think James has been swapped.”

  “For who?”

  “For himself. Somehow, I think the James with us here and now, isn’t the same James who was living with his father before he’d disappeared.”

  Howie wasn’t shocked by Markland’s theory, and in his mind, he was desperate to say ‘I told you so’.

  “I’ve had that feeling since he returned. It took me a while to accept it. This is the reason why I needed your help. I was sure it was something paranormal.”

  “I don’t think it’s anything paranormal. We’re not talking about voices from beyond the grave. Although, I wish it was because that would be easier for me to deal with.”

  “What did Jodie say that made you think that he’s been swapped?”

  Markland did his best to explain the Many-Worlds theory.

  Howie listened intently, then sat back in his chair and closed his eyes. Markland said nothing, and watched Howie take on board what he’d just told him.

  “So you believe that James, has somehow, swapped his life for a better one?” asked Howie with a frown.

  “No, I hadn’t even thought about that. But that would make sense.”

  “But how could such a thing happen? What you’ve just said about this many-worlds thing doesn’t seem to be something a person has control over.”

  Markland nodded.

  “If the many-worlds theory is true, I assume it’s something of which we’re not aware. It’s something that just happens, and we’re ignorant of it,” replied Markland, shrugging his shoulders.

  “Perhaps James found some way of tapping into it? But somehow I doubt it, he isn’t the cleverest person I know.”

  “When you first approached me about your friend I wanted nothing to do with you, or any of this. But now things are different, and whether I like it or not, I’ve become entangled. For some reason the hill wants me to be involved.”

  Markland lent forward, rubbed his face and pushed his hands through his hair.

  “I’m going to have to do something which I swore I would never do again.”

  Howie said nothing and waited for him finish what he was about to say. Markland swallowed dryly.

  “I’m returning to the woods. I need to go to the hill …….. but this time, I’m not going alone.”