Skinned (6 page)

‘Callum,' Melissa's urgent whisper made him jump. ‘D'you see that guy up ahead?'

Callum's heart began to beat loudly. ‘Uh . . .'

‘Just where the footpath goes narrow as it enters the wood,' Melissa said. ‘He's got . . . oh,
what
, what's wrong with . . .' She trailed off, open-mouthed.

‘You . . . you can see him?'

The nightmarish figure raised one arm shakily, still staring at Callum with its only eye.

‘What do you mean, can I see him? How could I miss him?' Melissa's voice was low and trembling. She took a step backwards. But they both stopped short as the figure opened his mouth.

‘Yoooou . . .' His voice was horribly choked.

‘Oh, no,' Callum whispered. ‘Melissa . . .'

‘I-is he talking to you?' she said, her eyes wide.

‘Melissa . . .' Callum said again.

‘I – Callum, I think he must have escaped from hospital or something . . . I think we should . . .'

‘MELISSA!' Callum shouted.

The terrifying figure took a shuffling step towards them.

‘Wh-what's he doing?' Melissa's words came out as a strangled murmur.

‘Melissa,' Callum croaked. ‘That's a
ghost
.'

‘H-how can it be?' Melissa gasped, frozen to the spot. ‘It
can't
be a ghost! I can't see ghosts – except Jacob . . . B-but –'

‘RUN!' Callum shouted, grabbing Melissa's arm.

The figure was shuffling towards them with quicker and quicker steps, his ragged clothes floating around him, his arm still outstretched. ‘Sssstop . . .' its gurgling voice called after them.

‘Callum . . .' Melissa said, her voice tight with panic.

‘Over here, behind these trees,' he shouted, ducking behind a frosted trunk deeper into the woods. He and
Melissa crouched silently for a moment, watching for movement.

‘What does it want?' Melissa whispered, panting.

‘I don't know,' Callum said, shaking his head.

‘Callum, what on earth is going on?'

‘
Shhh
,' Callum said suddenly. ‘Don't move.'

The ghost was on the pathway near the trees, like a smudge of dirt and blood across an otherwise pure and glittering landscape. They both stared as it turned its head this way and that: it looked up into the bare, icy canopy above and peered into the woods on either side, then glanced over its shoulder down the road behind it. It was as if the spectre had heard Melissa's cry, and was trying to work out where the noise was coming from.

‘Stay still,' Callum hissed. The ghost continued to look around searchingly.

‘What do you think he's –?' Melissa began to whisper.

‘
Shhh
.' Callum clamped a hand over Melissa's mouth.

But when he looked back at the path, the ghost was gone.

Callum's fingers were beginning to go numb with
cold – and the insistent tingling. Turning slowly to see what was there, Callum let out a cry as he saw the bloody face of the ghost loom directly in front of him.

Without thinking, Callum pushed out hard. To his shock, the ghost tumbled backwards. He hadn't made physical contact with the spirit, but the move was enough to confuse it. Before it could recover, Callum leaped from the cover of the trees, grabbing Melissa's arm as he did so.

‘Let's get out of here!' he shouted, and together they scrambled back up to the path and ran as fast as they could. They didn't stop until they reached the lane that led to Nether Marlock Church.

‘What – what do you think it was going to do?' Melissa gasped, her teeth chattering. She bent over to catch her breath.

‘I don't have a clue,' Callum replied, his own breath pluming in rapid clouds in the cold air. ‘The ghosts don't usually seem to know what's going on around them. And they've definitely never tried to attack me. Plus I don't understand how
you
could see it too.'

‘M-maybe it's part of the Shadowing,' Melissa
panted. ‘Maybe with more activity around the Boundary, humans and ghosts are becoming aware of each other.'

Callum nodded. It made some sense, but he certainly didn't like it.

‘Well, whatever was going on with him, I think he ought to stay dead,' Melissa said in a low voice, and a visible shiver ran through her whole body. ‘Do you think he'll come back?'

Callum clenched his teeth tightly together. ‘I doubt it.' He sighed hard. ‘I should get to the church, and you should be getting to Gran's.'

‘Where shall I tell her you are?'

‘Tell her I'm doing some training on my own – she should understand that I need to start . . . preparing. Just don't mention Jacob, obviously.'

Melissa nodded, but she was clearly apprehensive.

‘Do you want me to walk with you for a bit?' Callum asked.

Melissa's jaw set. ‘No. I'm going to have to start getting used to this sort of thing, I guess.'

Callum nodded, and then tentatively looked around
him. The usual ghosts were clustered there at the crossroads, but he found himself eyeing them all closely. Most of them were so familiar to him they now seemed like . . . not old friends, exactly, but at least neutral. They might be hiding dark secrets, but he saw them every day and they minded their own business. There was the figure in the hooded cloak that always stood facing away from Callum. There was the cluster of weeping women in black veils, and there was the gravedigger who had chopped a slice out of his shin with his spade – all milling about in their usual places, and all thankfully ignoring Callum.

‘Can you see any ghosts here?' he asked Melissa tentatively.

‘No . . .' She stared around her, and then returned her gaze to Callum. ‘But they're all around, aren't they? I can sort of
feel
them. You know how it feels when you're in a cinema and it's dark, but you know there are people everywhere?' She hesitated, watching Callum's face closely, and grimaced a little as she spoke. ‘I'm right, aren't I?'

Callum nodded grudgingly. He didn't want to scare
her, but as he looked around him again he realised the ghosts were looking at each other anxiously, as though they were suspicious of one another. One of the veiled women kept glancing over her shoulder at the gravedigger; the gravedigger kept waving his spade threateningly at the cloaked figure. Their movements were nervous and furtive. They seemed confused and – was it possible for a ghost to be afraid?

Maybe not afraid. But certainly uneasy. Still, they seemed oblivious to Callum and Melissa, for now at least.

‘It's the usual suspects though,' Callum said. ‘I know it's a bit creepy, but I don't think you'll run into any trouble.'

Melissa gave him a wry smile. ‘Let's hope not. Remember the good old days when the only thing to worry about was the Fetch digging my eyes out of my head?'

Callum laughed. ‘Sure you'll be OK?'

‘I'll be fine.' She gave a quick wave, took a deep breath and then set off down the road towards Gran's
cottage. Callum watched until she was out of sight, and then he turned towards Church Lane.

*

As Callum let himself through the gate, the evening was already drawing in and the churchyard was in shadow. Jacob and Doom were waiting for him in their usual spot beneath the yew at the far end of the cemetery. Jacob tilted his head slightly in greeting and, without a sound, Doom stalked to Callum's side to lead him into the ruined church.

‘Something really strange happened on the way here,' Callum told Jacob. ‘There was a ghost on the Nether Marlock Road, a new one I've never seen – and Melissa could see it too.'

Jacob frowned. ‘Has she seen shades before?'

‘Only you. She thought it might be to do with the movements around the Boundary – a sign of the Shadowing.'

‘She is likely correct. There will be more of this as each moon progresses – growing numbers of the living
people in your world will be able to see the spirits. Many of them will, of course, refuse to believe what their eyes tell them.'

‘Well, there was no avoiding this one. It tried to
attack
us. It was weird, like he'd suddenly become aware of everything around him.'

Jacob paused.

‘Yes. With some of the shades, when the Shadowing comes, they become more aware of themselves, and their . . . circumstances. How they came to be as they are. They become restless.'

‘Do you think that ghost will give us trouble again?' Callum asked, frowning with concern. He wished he had a mobile so he could check Melissa made it to Gran's OK.

‘I think not. Most of them will be transients. I am certain the spirit you saw will have already moved on.'

Callum nodded. ‘Good.'

Jacob paced away from Callum then turned, and clasped his blood-stained fingers together. ‘Are you ready?'

‘To see more ghosts?'

A faint smile crossed Jacob's gleaming white features.

‘I meant, ready for the lesson. The reason you are here.'

‘You don't take any prisoners, do you?' Callum said. ‘Come on then.'

Jacob gave an almost imperceptible nod, and Doom bounded at Callum.

It was like going right back to the beginning. What little Callum had learned last night, he seemed to have completely forgotten now. Doom bowled him over in a single leap. The spectral dog didn't even bother to hold Callum down this time, just strode away.

‘Humph,' was all Jacob said.

Jacob's indifference made Callum even more irritated with himself. He got to his feet determinedly.

You've got to master this
, he thought.
You don't have any choice. You just fought off that ghost, you can do this
. . .

‘Why don't
you
try it,' Callum challenged Jacob.

‘What do you mean?'

‘Attack me. Do it yourself.'

‘I see no point. You are not afraid of me. It is
fear
you are learning to battle against. Once you have
done that, you will be able to focus and concentrate your abilities.'

‘I'm definitely a little afraid of you,' Callum confessed. ‘You're not exactly cuddly, you know. And if I can get the hang of putting up a barrier against
you
, maybe I can make a stronger one next time, and it'll work against Doom as well.'

Jacob nodded silently, but before Callum could say anything more, the Born Dead faded from view entirely. Callum was left with only Doom, who stared at him with huge red eyes.

‘Jacob?' Callum's voice sank into the growing darkness. He swung around, scouring the corners of the ruined church, but Jacob had disappeared. Callum jumped as Doom began to emit a low, warning growl.

‘Jacob?'

Silence, except for Callum's own ragged breathing. ‘This isn't funny. Jacob?'

‘Behind you.'

The whisper was in Callum's ear, close and sudden. Callum whirled but, behind him, instead of Jacob in his normal form, his body was stretched to twice its
usual height. Black blood leaked from his eyes and ears and dripped from his fingertips, which had become elongated and claw-like. With a terrifying shriek, the ghost hurled himself at Callum.

‘NO!' Callum shouted, throwing his hands out protectively. He braced himself for impact, but instead of connecting, he felt Jacob pushing against some invisible barrier, before stumbling back from him. Callum watched in relief as the Born Dead shrank back to his normal size in front of his eyes.

‘Blimey,' Callum breathed. ‘This is definitely a better look for you. I mean, that was . . . I didn't even know you could
do
that.' He attempted a smile, but he could feel the palms of his hands tingling – the feeling was running up his arms. He folded them and looked over at Jacob. But the ghost looked surprised.

‘You did it.'

Callum frowned in confusion, but then it dawned on him. ‘You mean the shield thing? The chime child shield?'

‘Yes, Callum, you
blocked
me,' Jacob said.

Callum grinned at him. ‘I suppose I did.'

Jacob nodded approvingly. ‘You controlled your fear, and you focused. Well done.'

Callum smile faded a little – he hadn't really tried to do it deliberately.

‘How did you feel?' Jacob asked. ‘Think it through.'

‘Well, I
was
afraid but I . . .' Callum paused, running it back through his mind. ‘I suppose I just went on instinct, and I was just thinking about the irony. You know, second ghost attack in as many hours. And I sort of knew what you were doing was an illusion. At least, I
assume
it was illusion?'

Jacob nodded, with a hint of a smile. ‘It was.'

‘So maybe it was a bit different from how I feel about Doom. I
know
what Doom can do with those teeth. He tore the Fetch to ribbons.' Callum gave a weak laugh, but Jacob was still nodding.

‘It does not matter what your reason was. You did it. You are making progress.'

Callum raised his eyebrows. ‘Yeah. I suppose so.' He still wasn't sure, though. What use was it if he could only use his powers by accident?

‘Try again,' Jacob said. ‘Try again with Doom. Only this time, remember how you felt when I attacked – singularly focused on stopping the blow.'

Callum nodded and took a deep breath.

‘Doom.'

Doom leaped, but as soon as he did, Callum panicked and the dog slammed into him. Callum collapsed to the ground, and Jacob shook his head.

But another 45 minutes later, Callum still hadn't got anywhere. Jacob was relentless.

‘Again.'

‘Wait,' Callum said tightly. He clenched his jaw, his frustration causing prickling heat to rise up his neck despite the pressure from Dooms icy paws. The Grim released him, but Callum stayed on the ground. He sat up, his hands bunched in fists on his knees. ‘This isn't working. Maybe . . . I don't know, maybe
if you both attacked at the same time?'