Doctor Who_ Warlock - Andrew Cartmel [74]
Until Shell screamed.
A wordless shriek of sheer terror. It instantly shot raw fear through Ace. Human beings are programmed to be frightened by certain stimuli. Evolution has selected those stimuli. It makes sense that the most frightening thing is another human being’s fear. Something that makes another human scared is a good thing for you to be scared of. If you want to survive, your ears are attuned to that fear. When someone screams in utter terror you react from the very core of your being.
Now it was as if Shell’s terror had burst out into the room and taken root in Ace’s heart as well. She fought to control the huge payload of adrenalin that exploded in her body. Jack was saying something. Ace forced herself to listen his words.
‘I think she’s have a bad trip,’ he said. He had gone pale himself.
Ace could feel goose‐flesh prickling on her own bare arms. The temperature in the barn had dropped sharply. When had that happened? Ace hadn’t noticed the chill gathering but now the big shadowy room was icy.
Shell was breathing jerkily, making shallow panting sounds.
‘She’s really scared.’
‘She’s starting to scare me,’ said Ace.
‘Warlock has been dishonoured,’ muttered Shell. Her voice was shaking with terror, hardly coherent. ‘Terrible things are going to happen.’
‘This has never happened before. Come on, Shell. Chill out.’ As he spoke the words Jack’s breath fogged in the cold room. ‘She’s having a bad trip.’
Ace shivered. ‘Then we have to comfort her,’ she said grimly. Panic had started spreading among them and she didn’t know where it was going to stop. ‘We have to talk her down. Before…’
‘Before what?’
‘We just have to talk her down.’ She turned to look at the tattooed girl.
‘I’m trying,’ said Jack. ‘I just wish I wasn’t tied in this damned chair. Please, Shell. Take it easy.’
Ace could see he was getting nowhere. Shell was staring up with a scared pale face, not even registering her boyfriend’s words. ‘Let me try,’ said Ace. She cleared her throat. Jack was right, she felt helpless, strapped in the chair, unable to touch Shell or comfort her. She had to make do with her voice, and the ideas she could express with it.
‘Listen to me, Shell.’ Ace fought off her own fear and made her voice calm and gentle. ‘Can you hear me?’
A tiny voice spoke after a long silence. ‘Yes.’
‘Do you know who I am?’
‘Ace.’ The frightened girl could only talk in single gulping syllables.
‘That’s right.’ Ace made her voice warm and approving, a reward for a good child. ‘I’m the girl who lives in the house on Allen Road.’
‘Yes.’
‘Have you seen the sign on Allen Road?’
‘Yes.’
‘Have you seen the way some kids have altered that sign? With paint? They’ve altered one of the words. They’ve changed the word “Allen”. Have you seen that?’
‘Yes.’
‘They’ve only changed the word a little bit. They’ve made it into a new word.’
‘I know. I’ve seen it.’ Ace’s heart leapt when she heard Shell say this. Just a few shaky words. But not the terrified monosyllables of only a moment ago.
‘That’s right. I’m Ace and I come from that house. I live there with him. When they change that word on the road sign it’s him they’re thinking about.’
‘I wish he was here now.’ Tears were flowing freely down Shell’s cheeks, gleaming on her coarse, sensual, flower‐child face.
‘So do I. But I’m here. And I know what he’d say. He’d say not to be scared.’ Ace made her voice as gentle and comforting as possible.
‘I think you’re getting through,’ Jack whispered. He obviously didn’t want to break the spell.
Shell sniffled, full of snot and tears. ‘I can’t help it. I can’t help being scared. Warlock has been dishonoured.’
‘Don’t be scared of warlock.’
But warlock will be angry. I’ve known people who’ve OD’d on warlock.’ Ace was amazed at how rational the girl was now. She was stringing