In the corner of the room, he heard a crash, as if something had fallen from the chest of drawers. A vase, perhaps. He tried to sit bolt upright, wrenching his arms in the process.
‘Who is there?’
But no reply came.
An icy wind blew over his body now. He heard footsteps, small ones, pattering about the room.
‘Julia? This isn’t funny, you know.’
All those stupid, mad stories she had told him about the ghosts of her ancestors crowded into his mind. Her husband and his sudden heart attack – was he now in line for one of those? His toes and fingers curled while he tried whatever he could to seek warmth.
Somewhere close to his ear, a chain rattled, then there was whispering, as if from multiple mouths, very faint, but finally crystallising into recognisable words.
‘Your time is short,’ it whispered over and over again. ‘Your time is short.’
‘Who are you?’ he begged. ‘Lord, have mercy on my soul. May the power of Christ smite those who deny Him. I invoke the name of the Lord.’
But the whispering continued, and so did the cold. He heard rattling, as if an earthquake or a heavy thunderstorm struck the room, making every loose item vibrate.
‘Get thee behind me, Satan,’ roared Adam, trying to make himself heard over the growing din. He began to sing Rock of Ages, concentrating hard on the words in order to keep his mind, which threatened to slip away into a black maw of terror.
Something else crashed to the ground. Then he felt a pain, like the blade of a knife, dragging up his thigh.
‘Get away!’ he shrieked. ‘Go away!’
At that moment, a light snapped on and he heard Julia’s voice.
‘Oh, for pity’s sake. Leave him alone. Go after me if you must, but he’s done nothing to offend you. Good God, it seems every ghost in Saxonhurst is after you.’
The noise ceased and the air in the room gradually reheated.
Adam tried to talk to Julia, but his mouth failed to co-operate and all he could do was twist his wrists and ankles in a mute appeal for freedom.
‘Oh dear,’ she said, sitting down on the edge of the bed. ‘They are awful. They’re in a terrible mood at the moment, but I wasn’t expecting them to take it out on anyone except me.’
Adam found his voice and croaked out a few words.
‘Either I’m mad – or you’re sane … I don’t know which …’
She stroked his cheek.
‘It’s all real enough.’
‘Untie me.’
‘You know, I’m not sure I should.’
‘Julia!’
‘You aren’t safe and I want to keep you out of harm’s way. What would be easier than keeping you up here, locked away from the world, until the danger has passed?’
‘You can’t kidnap me. For pity’s sake, set me free.’
With a sigh, she set to unravelling the tightly wound ribbons, first at his ankles, then at his wrists, until he was able to sit up, stretching his arms and legs to dispel the pins and needles brought on by the bondage. He took off the blindfold and stared at Julia’s despondent face.
‘What was that? The noises, the – feelings?’
‘My ancestors. Poltergeists. I didn’t think they’d bother you, but they’re having an angry phase, so …’