The Way

Chapter one

Tara Fry was an unusual young lady in her view on the world. 

Many of her peers were into ways of escaping the hum drum of every day life. They chose many routes; smoking was a favourite – primarily behind the bike sheds.  The attempting of this had become much harder to do since the installation of the clear enclosures surrounding them, and the C.C.T.V. all in the name of safety and security of the pupils – of course.

Alcohol was another choice, they lived for the excitement and warmth that a can of beer or a guzzle of cheap wine brought to their stomachs and the area around their heart.

The girls would often project new images: changing the colour and style of hair and make up nearly as often as their underwear.

The boys changed their childish pastimes into ones of more aggression. Play-fights with makeshift swords now become football team’s rivalry or macho bullying of their previous friends. Old allegiances fell to the onslaught of puberty and the ever elusive man-hood. 

Many of them found, but would never confess, that these pastimes or escape routes didn’t help for long.  In fact some become more of a bind than the childhood they were trying to leave behind.

As I said, Tara was unusual, a little unique, perhaps.  She sought no escape routes, in fact even her close friends would often call her a ‘goody two shoes’, but quietly and behind her back.

Tara if she was honest wasn’t totally satisfied with her lot in life.  There was restlessness deep inside.  However with wisdom beyond her chronological years, she somehow knew that the solution would not be found in a cigarette or at the bottom of a glass.  She had a good imagination and a flair for the dramatic, so she indulged in the pastime of the ‘drama club’ all the while knowing that it wasn’t the be all and end all in her life.

The way she viewed her name was unconventional. Though officially named TARAFRY, she preferred ‘Gillie’, for no other reason than –“It seems to fit me”.  This answer once given would often be accompanied with a smile and the raise of her right eyebrow; it being quite independent of its companion.

Gillie was friendly with all – she had two or three close friends but counted all those around her worthy of note.  She never excluded anyone just because they were different. Even those who would have called her ‘enemy’ had to agree that it wasn’t because she went out of her way to offend.

She was of average height for her fifteen years, with shoulder length tawny blonde hair. Her eyes flashed with intelligence and changed colour – blue grey or green – depending on her mood or the season.  She lived not far from her school and took a slow walk there, sometimes alone but mostly with friends.  Her life to this point had been uneventful.  It was as though it had been waiting for the right time to intrude.

Gillie ran!  She ran for her life!  She couldn’t understand why they had chosen to pick on her or why for once she had been unable to diffuse the situation.  However this was not the time for long musings but for action.  So she ran!

Her lungs were on fire and she dared a glance behind.  She saw no-one and stopped.  With her hands on her knees, as she stooped over to try and catch her breath.  Her heart thundered in her ears as it pumped.  As it slowed, she was able to hear the sounds around her.  There appeared to be no people nearby, even for a Sunday evening it was quiet.  ‘No-one to help’ she thought and for a moment she dared to hope that she’d managed to escape her pursuers.

            “This way”, came a distant voice.

            “I know where she lives” another cried out.

            “We’ll get her easy” said the first.

Gillie gulped and scanned the area around her; perhaps a short cut would be in order.  Picking up her weary feet she headed towards home.  Another voice came to her, this time nearer and to her left.  They seemed to know where she was headed and it was possible they could get ahead of her.

Her quick, intelligent mind viewed her options. As much as she wanted to get home, perhaps for safety’s sake she needed to hide but where   Then it came to her.  Her favourite haunt was not too far away.  There were places she could conceal herself – no one knew the place as well as she did.  Quickly changing her direction she headed right – towards the old graveyard.

Within minutes she was there. The old stone gateway stood proud, if a little dilapidated, before her.  She ran in, panting.  Exhaustion and the stitch in her side almost making her collapse.  Still there was no one around! No kids playing football, or chase, not even someone walking their dog!  The silence had become almost deafening.

By modern standards it was a very small graveyard.  No longer used – a larger plot had been found further down Newport – but it had served its purpose and its time.  Now it served her.  It had been her playground and make shift fantasy world.  It had been somewhere to sit and while away thoughtful hours.  It had even been a study place for homework.  However all she needed from it now was a secure hiding place.  The walls were barren – the tombstones too much like the leaning tower of Pisa to be of much use.  Over in the corner was a secluded section.  The conifers surrounding it had grown tall and dark and they were at least three trees deep.

            “There” she thought “that’s the best place” and immediately hurried over to them.  As the branches of the trees hugged her, like a straight jacket, she once again heard voices.

            “She must have turned back…”

            “She’s not that clever” another replied “she’s around here somewhere”

            “Here Gillie, Gillie, Gillie….” This was a new voice, deeper, with a hint of a laugh as though a joke had been made.

            “They knew her name?”  she shook her head in shock as she tried to quieten her breathing.  Less gasps now but still heavy.

Gulping as quietly as she could, Gillie took a couple of steps backwards.  The dark green trees spread their silence around her.  Unfortunately it wasn’t a comforting sound – but the silence meant that she could hear the group’s voices all the more clearer and louder.  The only thing that seemed louder to her was the thumping of her terrified heart.

            “Where could she go?”  maybe she had made a mistake in coming here.  However it was a mistake that she would now have to live with as there was no way out now.

He watched in amazement and horror. This was one of the major reasons why he wouldn’t come to this place, this “Thin Place” for days, sometimes weeks on end.  The frustration of being so close and yet unable to be involved.  He could see the terror on the girl’s face – and he really wanted to help.

Gillie took more steps backwards, slowly and quietly.  Not looking back as she did but scanning the graveyard in front of her.  They were here!  She could just make them out at the entrance. There seemed to be more of them – or maybe she was just seeing double!  Well she could hope anyway.  Further and further back she went the graveyard becoming more distant. Like a light at the end of a tunnel.

He stood as he realised what was going to happen.

            “How could they?” he thought “there’s just one of her” If only he could help. Instinctively he reached out his hand and startled himself with the realisation that he had grabbed the girl’s arm. Before he had time to change his mind – he pulled.

Gillie felt a tug, and then intense heat hit her arm.  With a half scream still forming in her mouth, it all went dark…..