Prophesy: The Immortal Witch (29)

Part 28 at: https://www.abctales.com/story/marandina/prophesy-immortal-witch-28

 

THE WESTERN HERALD

 

 

11 hours ago 2 min read

Child abductees return home in mysterious circumstances

 

Story by Dan Jones

Over the last few days, several children previously reported missing in the county have returned home. Last Friday night, Freddy Bentner, aged 9, was found wandering in Acorn Close near to his parent’s home in Frome. Spotted by a neighbour, he was soon reunited with James, 36, and Samantha Bentner, 35, at their semi-detached residence at around 9pm.

Both mother and father were ecstatic to have their son back.

“It’s such a relief. We never thought we would ever see him again.” Said mum Samantha.

Freddy is due to have a medical to check on his health. He claims to have no memory of any events after waking in his bedroom four years ago. Bizarrely, he seems not to have aged since his disappearance and was said to be wearing exactly the same clothes as on the day he was last seen.

29 miles away in Banwell, John Brewster, aged 15, also arrived back at his family home on the same night as Freddy Bentner. John went AWOL under suspicious circumstances in 2018.

Both Cameron Downs, 17, and Annie Dale, 19, are further suspected abductees that have turned up out of the blue to be declared as returnees. On each occasion, none of the youngsters had any recollection of what happened to them. All are said to be dressed exactly as they had been on the day they vanished and, strangest of all, none appear to have aged a day.

Ged Spencer, SIO, has appealed for any evidence that may assist in the ongoing case of alleged abduction over the years since the respective disappearances. He confirmed that an investigation remains open. He did not comment on any of the more controversial aspects involved. He went on to indicate that further leads had been received that suggest more youngsters have been found, all from the missing person’s register. He promised to give more detail when available.

 

 

 

 

Read more local news in the printed edition of The Western Herald.

 

 

The world swam back. Opening his eyes, the blurred image of a woman loomed large.

“Billy…Billy….are you awake?”

The words sounded distant, muffled, as though under water with someone calling to him from the surface. Things became more focused; it was his mum, Marie.

“Mum…where…where am I?” He tried to rouse.

“Billy…Bill you’re awake! You have been through such a lot. Just take your time.”

Groaning, he managed to push himself up onto pillows.

He was in a hospital ward.

A family visiting their frail mother trundled past, a man dressed in a scruffy tracksuit top and baggy jogging bottoms glancing over to eye up his mother standing next to his bed. He smiled a lecherous smile. Trailing after an older man and woman, he nearly tripped over in his distraction. Marie rolled her eyes, staring back with an ironic expression, her head cocked to the side in a wordless “Really?” The greasy haired lothario was an annoyance when all she wanted was to care for her child.

It was nearing lunchtime, the clank of trollies signalled meal rounds starting promptly.

Marie caressed her boy’s straggling locks, then his gaunt face, gazing worriedly at his drawn features.

A doctor in a white coat pursued by an entourage scurried past, trainees holding clipboards chattering and taking notes as they followed.

“Doctor…he’s just woken from a coma. Can you have a look at him and make sure he’s OK?” Marie grabbed at the medic’s arm.

Backtracking, the bustling physician shuffled over to Billy’s bed. Surrounded by junior colleagues, he read notes on a tablet, used a pen light to check pupil dilation, discussed a prognosis with those gathered before finally declaring all was well. Marie watched him stroll off, his prescription resonating. It seemed that monitoring was required for now, regular check-ups whilst reacquainting the patient with regulation food and drink.

After initial small talk, Marie held her son’s hand as she brought him up to date with the facts from recent times: He had been comatose for the last week. Found unconscious at Brean Fort in one of the outbuildings, he had been flown in by an air ambulance. Suffering from hypothermia, if his plight had continued for much longer he may have died. It seemed that fate had been smiling down on him.

It was noisy at Weston General Hospital. Marie checked the time; it was 11:52. She was expecting visitors herself shortly. On cue, two sets of footsteps clipping along on the polished floor signalled the arrival of interested parties in Billy’s recovery, the same interested parties that had been checking on his progress for the last few days.

Glancing over her shoulder, by the time Marie had switched back to converse with her boy, he had drifted asleep again.

Minutes passed until the invalid was coherent again.

“I see you made it, young Billy.” It was rhetorical statement made with a mild grin.

Tanya King was stationed at the end of the bed. Next to her was the unexpected sight of Danielle. It was hard to believe but there she was, in the pink. And very much alive. But how? He remembered seeing her fleetingly in the graveyard. She had been a decomposing cadaver. Then there was the combined assault on the witch.

Groggily, he managed:

“Hi Missus King, hi Danielle. How are you?” The question came out croaky; his throat dry.

Handing him a plastic cup filled with water from a beaker, Tanya went on: “It’s not about how we are. It’s about you and your recuperation.”

“Oh he’s fine. A doctor’s just checked him over. He’ll be monitored for a day or so. Hopefully, he can come home soon assuming no issues.” Marie sounded relieved and optimistic that she would be reunited with her progeny and back at their flat again. She didn’t like hospitals that much. Places full of death and despair, she always thought.  

“Fancy a drink? I imagine Billy and Danielle have some catching up to do.” Marie instantly regretted offering the invite. She didn’t want to leave so early but she knew him all too well. He would want to debrief with his friend who may, incidentally, also be his first real girlfriend. It was an opportunity to give them some space.

Tanya responded with a confused look before remembering that the two teens were close; closer than she would have liked. Thirteen was no age to be gallivanting around with callow males, especially ones as complicated as this one. She also accepted that to try and stand in the way would invariably backfire. No, it was easier to keep things like this out in the open where she could see them and have input.

“Oh…yes…why not. I’m sure these two will want to pick up where they left off. Well…you know what I mean. I…” Marie could see the hole being dug getting bigger with each word. Intervening, she stepped across, took her fellow mother’s arm and slipped it through the crook of her own.

Together they trundled away from the youngsters, Marie mouthing “back in a jiffy” as she went.

Billy watched the women stroll off into the distance then turned to Danielle.

“I honestly thought you were a gonna.” He whispered conspiratorially, a frown ripped across his brow. There was a modicum of embarrassment that accompanied the declaration, the youngster self-conscious from sporting blue and white striped cotton pyjamas. He thought he looked like a tube of toothpaste.

“The last thing I remember is being in a basement. This woman dressed in a robe kept me captive. She had an altar or something and was doing stuff with small bowls and a book. I think it may have been the grimoire. I’m not sure. Next thing I knew there was fog everywhere and I was dragged off up a flight of stone steps. After that, all I can recall is being outside the caravan. My mum screamed when she opened the door!”

Billy listened intently, processing the story.

“As it turns out, one of the local newspapers has run a piece about missing children returning home. It seems I wasn’t the only one.”

This was a lot to deal with. He reflected on the state of his partner in crime at the makeshift island cemetery. She had been a mess, a nightmare of decomposing flesh and bone whilst still wearing worn, dirt-encrusted clothing. Now it was as though nothing had happened, her cute denim jacket, sparkly t-shirt and pleated white skirt in stark contrast to what had gone before.

Billy summoned her to sit and, leaning over, recounted the events leading up to the fateful final showdown with the witch. Danielle sat quietly, absorbing the bizarre narrative whilst trying to come to terms with it.

At the end, she asked: “So what do we do now?”

The chatter ceased, the intrepid duo quietly considering what to do next.

After what seemed an age came the reply: “I think the witch is no more. And it seems that the abductees have been reunited with their families. I would say that that’s the end of it.”

Billy stroked his chin as he added:

“I guess we could go looking for the house where you were held prisoner. Maybe the grimoire is there? Maybe even the witch if we are really unlucky but I do think she has gone to meet her maker.”

Danielle thought about things for a while.

Tanya and Marie returned clutching half-drunk Styrofoam cups of Americano and Cappuccino coffee bought at the café on the ground floor.

“So all caught up now? Have we heard the last of all this supernatural nonsense?” Danielle’s mum was as caustic as ever.

“Perhaps you would like to bring us up to speed as well, young William.”

Billy winced at the use of a formal moniker.

Both teens glared at Tanya.

“Yes, of course. Are you both sitting comfortably?”

Billy’s face lit up in anticipation of being the centre of attention

“When I get out of here, we’re all going to Uphill, though. Two years later than planned but whatever. I think the church there may be haunted.”

 

Part 30 at: https://www.abctales.com/story/marandina/prophesy-immortal-witch-30

 

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