A Place Called Perfect (17 page)

CHAPTER 34

Choices

Boy spoke with certainty, and though Violet didn’t want him to be, he was right. They had to split up.

“We don’t know what direction he’s gone Violet,” Boy said, speaking quickly, “it’s either the shop or the Ghost Estate. I’ll go to the shop if he’s not there I’ll meet you in the estate, okay?”

Violet nodded though chasing after Edward Archer alone wasn’t on her list of favourite things.

“I know you’re scared but we have to do this. It’s for them,” Boy said, pointing to the mayhem, “and for William and for your parents. You want them to be safe; you want them back don’t you?” 

“Of course,” Violet snapped.

“Well then come on,” he said, pulling her onto her feet, “Go through No Mans Land. Just find out what he’s up to. Whatever you do don’t approach him. He’s probably gone to the shop anyway so you won’t have to worry about meeting him.”

“And what about you? What if you meet him?”

“I’ll be fine,” Boy smiled.

Violet waited as her friend crossed the square ahead of her. She was just dodging the fist of a Watcher when Boy turned and called her name.

“Violet. Be safe okay?”

She could manage was a nod, anything else would break her voice and she wasn’t crying in front of Boy. Shaking off her nerves, Violet turned on the spot and raced towards No Mans Land. Guilt ate her up as she ran through the deserted streets. She didn’t wish Boy luck or safety. What if something happened to him? He was her best friend.

Suddenly there was movement ahead. She stopped. A short, stout figure passed through the barbed wire gates into No Mans Land. Edward Archer. It was too late to run back and get Boy. It was up to her now. She had to follow him.

No Mans Land was empty. The streets were a mess, as if every soul suddenly dropped what they were doing to evacuate the town. Like a warm seat when someone’s just left.

Edward Archer moved as fast as his fat figure could through the claustrophobic alleyways, coming to a halt in the middle of a particularly dingy street. Although all of No Mans Land was in disrepair this place had to be one of the worst. Every window on every home was broken and rubbish piled knee deep along the edges of the street. A rat scampered over Violet’s foot stopping to nibble on her big toe nail. Horrified, she kicked the creature away.

Holding her nose, she crouched down behind a bin of rotting nappies as Edward Archer disappeared inside one of the derelict buildings. Flies that had been enjoying a feast of moldy baby poo now swarmed round her face. A skull and crossbones and the words “The Everything Evil Shop” were graffitied on the battered iron door William disappeared behind. Torn and tattered posters patterned the shop front with headlines like Passion for Poison? or Mad about Murder? Violet’s heart pounded. What could Edward Archer want from a place like this?

A few minutes later, the door screeched round it’s hinges and Edward Archer returned to the street. He was carrying a small, slim object barely visible through the barrage of flies.

“Oh you pretty Pistol,” he smiled, stroking the long black neck of the deadly metal.

Violet panicked. Edward Archer had a gun! She lost her balance against the bin causing it to rattle. Edward swiftly shoved his purchase into his pocket and looked around the empty street. Violet ducked further down and waited. Droplets of sweat ran down her forehead.

His suspicions taken by a rat running out from behind some bins, Edward continued his journey. Violet followed a safe distance behind as he passed back through the alleyways and out into the main square of No Mans Land. He then took off in the direction of the Ghost Estate.

How was she going to stop him? He had a gun! What was he doing with a gun? Suddenly something caught her eye. A swish of material. A flower pattern forgotten until now. She stopped dead and turned. Rose Brown stood in the middle of the empty road. The base of her flowery skirt swung round her ankles. She moved nervously from foot to foot.

“Mam,” Violet whispered, her voice trembling.

Rose didn’t answer.

“Mam,” Violet said, running to her mother side, “Mam, what are you doing here?”

“Oh I’m sorry. Were you speaking to me young girl? I thought you were addressing your mother. I suppose

I am the only one in this strange little place,” Rose Brown replied, looking sheepishly around.

“Mam! Mam please, it’s me,” Violet choked, her voice breaking.

“I’m sorry, I think you’re a little confused.”

“You can’t have forgotten me already. You can’t Mam. Please! I only left a few days ago.”

Her mother eased away from Violet.

“I don’t know how I ended up in this place,” she stuttered, turning her back on her daughter, “I was walking towards town and I saw those pillars. I’d never noticed them before. Isn’t that odd? They are quiet huge…”

“It’s No Mans Land Mam. It’s where I’ve been. I’ve missed you so much…”

“Please little girl,” Rose interrupted, “I’m not comfortable with you calling me your mother. Have you hit your head dear? Maybe it’s this place. It is very confusing. Come on I’ll bring you back to Perfect and help you find your parents.”

Violet searched her mother’s face for some recognition, something that told her the last ten years had not been forgotten. Rose moved further backwards away from her daughter.

“Do you happen to know how to get out of here? I have to get to the shop; ran out of eggs you see. You can’t make Madeira cake without eggs,” she laughed nervously.

“I’ll get William,” Violet said suddenly, “That’s what I’ll do. I’ll get William. He’ll fix the Reimaginator and then he’ll fix you. I have your imagination Mam. I left it in Iris’s.”

“I think you’ve banged your head dear. Anyway it was lovely to meet you but I must be on my way.”

“I can help you get out of here,” Violet shouted, quickly incase her mother ran away, ”Please, please, follow me.”

Her mother looked around cautiously and after a little hesitation followed her daughter. They were just passing through the square when a loud bang shook the streets. Violet and Rose jumped in unison.

“My goodness that sounded like a gun shot!” Rose gasped, her hands cupping her mouth.

It had to be Edward! Boy, her Dad, Macula, William, Violet was about to abandon them all. Finding her mother had pushed them from her mind.

“Mam,” she said, quickly changing her tone, “you have to stay here. There’s trouble in Perfect. I have to go but I’ll be back for you. I promise.”

“I’m not your mother little girl. Please stop calling me that!”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Violet stuttered, thinking on her feet, “its em…it’s the Archers. They asked me to find you. They said you make the best…em…the best Madeira cake in Perfect. They want you to make some for a party they’re having…”

“A party, how wonderful. Why didn’t you say so sooner little girl. We must get going then. I really need those eggs now,” Rose said, walking towards the gates.

“No!” Violet shouted, “No they said to wait here. They are getting the eggs delivered here. The shop is closed for Christmas.”

“Closed for Christmas but it’s only September?”

“Oh Christmas is early this year,” Violet said, pulling
over an abandoned crate, “Sit here and don’t move until I come back. The Archers are very excited.”

“Okay but make sure and hurry back with the eggs won’t you?”

Violet nodded then sprinted down the road Edward Archer had taken just a short time earlier. She passed through the streets at bullet speed and without hesitation ran headlong into the Ghost Estate. The place was still glacier cold but the sadness didn’t affect her. Her heart and soul were on fire. She was going to save her family.

CHAPTER 35

Edwards Escape

A little into the estate Violet slowed her pace. Edward Archer was about. She was nearing Macula’s house when another shot ripped the air. Suddenly the place was filled with the cry of a thousand screeching babies. The eye plants had woken. Goose pimples dimpled her skin. Just then two figures emerged from the fog ahead walking through the park in her direction. She ducked down by one of the half built walls.

Edward Archer pushed Eugene Brown roughly across the grass. Her father’s weakened body stumbled on several occasions as he tried to keep up with the twin’s brisk pace. Her usually strong father was now feeble. She turned away, plunged her fingers deep into the loose earth and gripped the soggy soil. Her body shook with the pressure of an inner scream. From Boy she’d learned the art of timing. If she acted now any chance would be lost.

“Faster Eugene!” Edward Archer roared, “We have to get out of here. That blasted brother never could keep to his own business.”

“I can’t move any faster,” Eugene Brown coughed, tripping over a tuft of grass, “I need food.”

“I fed you last week! Now move it or it’s your eyes I’ll be stealing next.”

“Where are you taking me?”

“Somewhere else; I’ll create my own Perfect where William won’t find me.”

“What about my family? You promised they’d be okay.”

“Oh they are Eugene. Well your wife is at least. She’s perfect. As for that daughter of yours, I left her in the middle of a battle with any luck a Watchers squashed her.”

“Violet’s fighting back? I knew it. She’s braver than all of us.”

Her father’s voice was weak. He was standing on Macula’s lawn just metres away, a broken man. She had to do something. Suddenly Violet was on her feet.

“I’m here! I’m here Dad!”

Eugene Brown turned to face his daughter. All weakness left him and he ran. Wrapping her in his arms he held Violet tighter than ever before. All her bravery fled and she collapsed into him, a kid again.

Another shot cut the night. Eugene shoved Violet behind his back and turned to face Edward. The stocky twin pointed his pistol at the pair. His cocked arm shook as he stared in hatred.

“Eugene. GET.BACK.HERE!”

“You’ve had your day Edward Archer. I won’t let you take my family from me,” her father’s voice was strong and steady like it used to be.

“I don’t want your stinking family, they can go to hell as far as I care. I only need you!”

Edward’s eyes bulged from their sockets.

“You can’t have me. You’ve taken enough.”

“I can have whatever I want. I have a whole town at my finger tips.”

“Had,” Violet shouted, sneaking out from behind her father, “the town is not yours anymore. William saved it!”

Something moved in the upstairs window of the house. A shadow passed by the pane, rested for a moment then pulled back into the room. It was Macula Archer.

“William is better than you’ll ever be,” Violet roared, drawing all attention towards her.

“Oh William, William, William, the prodigal son. Everybody loves William. Well he can take Perfect if he wants but I have Macula!” Edward laughed.

“You kept her prisoner,” Violet shouted, loud enough for Macula to hear, “You told her lies, made her believe William was dead when he’s not!”

“You better learn to shut your mouth little girl!” Edward’s voice was full of venom.

Macula silently prized open the window. Eugene had seen her now too.

“Just go Edward, we won’t try to stop you. Perfect is gone. The game’s over,” he said.

“Not without Macula!”

“She doesn’t love you!” Violet roared.

“I will not leave without Macula! William took my mother from me, but who wants that old bat anyway! He took my friends too, they were a bunch of brainless buffoons - but then he took her and she was meant to be mine! I loved her. I still love her and you Browns are not going to stop us being together!”

Edward Archer charged for the house. The window was fully open. It was now or never. Violet raced across the lawn after him.

“She doesn’t love you, she loves William!” she roared.

The stout twin stopped and turned. His eyes changed. Hatred was replaced by evil. She’d made a mistake. Time slowed. He cocked the gun. A faint click. BANG!

Suddenly time resumed. Violet was catapulted backwards. The air left her lungs as she smashed against the soil. Everything went hazy, foggy. She couldn’t see. Slowly shadows merged. Her father’s face floated in the sky above.

“Violet! Violet are you okay?”

“I’m…em…” she couldn’t reply.

The weight. Something was sitting on her chest. Edward must have shot her. It always happened that way in films. The person took an age to realize they’d been hurt. There was no pain. There was never any pain in the movies.

“That boy. He saved your life!” her father stammered.

“What?” Violet said bolting upright.

Boy lay unconscious on the grass beside her. His body floppy just as it’d been when he’d fought the Watcher. Quickly Violet crawled to his side.

“Boy, Boy please wake up,” she cried.

Her father pulled her aside to examine him.

“Will he be okay Dad?” she sobbed, “he’s my best friend.”

The house door opened and Macula Archer ran out across the lawn.

“Will he be okay?” she panted, reaching Boy’s side. “He saved your life.”

Violet was hysterical as Macula pulled her into her arms and away from the scene. She was shaking. Pain, like nothing before, dug into her chest. A hole was scooped from her stomach where Boy, her best friend, had been. She couldn’t lose him. Not now. Not after everything.

Edward Archer was sprawled flat across the lawn behind Macula. The thickest book ever lay open beside him.

The Worlds One Thousand Worst Eye Ailments.

“I dropped it on his head,” Macula smiled, hugging Violet closer.

Boy’s lips were a faint blue now. His cheeks pale too. The hole in her stomach grew larger. Edward Archer wouldn’t get away with this. She broke from Macula’s arms and turned towards the unconscious twin. He was gone.

Quickly she scanned the area. His stocky figure stumbled along the estate road towards the graveyard. Furious, she sprinted after him. Her blood boiled propelling her legs forward. Everything was his fault and now he’d killed her best friend, her only friend. Edward Archer had to suffer. He had to pay.

He staggered under the hazy street lamp and slipped through the turnstile into the graveyard. Violet followed. She wasn’t afraid. She was angry. She couldn’t let him get away with what he had done. The putrid smell of disintegrating bodies grabbed her nostrils. She was standing on the path that divided the cemetery. Gravestones hovered either side. She ducked down behind a mossy one and waited. He had to be here, somewhere. Her heart beat loudly and her breath formed icy clouds in front of her nose. The graveyard was dead still.

“I know you’re in here Edward Archer,” she shouted, trying to sound brave, “You won’t get away with this. The whole of Perfect is on the way.”

“You’re on your own Violet, aren’t you afraid?” the twins voice echoed.

There was a sudden movement. Quickly she turned. A figure passed behind her. She raced after him. He was quick, cutting swiftly through the tightly packed headstones. She tripped and fell. Her palms were bleeding. The person stopped to stare. Laughter wrapped the graveyard. The fog was too thick. She couldn’t see a face, but the figure was too thin to be Edward Archer.

“What’s wrong Violet?” the stranger laughed, moving towards her.

“Violet. Violet where are you?” her father’s desperate voice cried from the graveyard wall.

“Looks like I’ll have to introduce myself another time. Pass my regards onto Boy,” the stranger sneered, then disappeared behind a tombstone.

Violet raced to the where the stranger had stood but they’d gone. Vanished, as if by magic. The tomb was covered in thick moss, which she scraped away to read the inscription. The text was too damaged by time to make sense. A tiny wooden cross rested against the bottom corner of the tombstone like an afterthought. Two broken branches held together with a single nail. Hanging from the cross was a hand written card covered in grimy plastic.

HERE MARKS THE FINAL RESTING PLACE OF A.W. ARCHER. MORE THAN HE DESERVES.

“Violet, what were you doing running off alone,” her father snapped, reaching her side.

“I’m sorry Dad,” she stammered looking up, “It’s just I wanted to catch Edward Archer. He can’t get away with what he did to Boy. He’s gone Dad. I couldn’t find him!”

“I know Violet,” her father soothed, pulling her up into his arms, “but don’t worry we’ll track him down, those Archers are not as clever as they think. As for your friend Boy, he’s going to be fine. It’s just a bump to the head.”

“Boy’s alive?”

“And kicking,” her father laughed, as Violet jumped around in his arms.

“Wohoo…Boy’s alive!”

Happiness, relief and exhaustion flooded her body and, after celebrating, Violet buried her head deep into her Dad’s shoulder and cried. Her tears were not for sadness or loss but for Boy. He was going to be okay.

“Dad,” Violet asked, as Eugene Brown carried her across the Ghost Estate, “who’s A.W. Archer?”

“I don’t know Violet but if they’re related to Edwa
rd and George I’d prefer not to!”

Macula was nursing Boy on the soggy grass when they reached them.  Her father left Violet down on the lawn and picked up Boy, he was still too hazy to walk.

“Come on,” Eugene smiled, heading towards the exit of the Ghost Estate, “lets go home.”

There was a piece of paper on the lawn where Boy had lain. Violet picked it up. It must have slipped from his pocket in the fall.

So you’ll never be invisible.

Now she knew what was familiar about the note, the handwriting, she’d seen it before. Holding the prized paper firm in her fist she ran to catch the others.

“I think this is yours,” Violet said, tugging on Macula Archer’s sleeve.