Joe Lake's serial novel

Fear Of Darkness A serial novel by Joe Lake.

(So far: Julie’s husband has had an accident and disappeared. At the police station, in the two-way mirror, she sees two people who have no reflection but is told that it is a trick of the light. Next, she finds her husband in bed with her and notices two marks on her neck when she takes a dream-like excursion through the universe. She wakes up in their bed in the Winnebago and she rings her sister in Melbourne.)

Her sister, who is six years older, would know what to do. They had always been close. She was the one who taught her to walk by holding onto her hands. It was then, at that moment, when they looked into each other’s eyes that an eternal bond of trust and relationship had formed. Her sister was like the guiding voice of a god; whenever Julie would be in trouble, she’d consult her. They had sworn, as children never to part but then Rosi got married. Later, Rosi had been in a car accident in Melbourne; Julie had flown over and stayed by her sister’s side until she came out of her coma. “Blood sisters,” she thought but then, the previous days swam back into her mind as she looked at her sleeping husband next to her. And then she thought if it had all been a dream - the people who had no reflection in the mirror; the woman who had given her the hug that left two marks on her neck and the palaver of the woman who had told them about having to be weary of daylight and that wonderful suggestion of an immortal life. She shook her head. It couldn’t all be true, or could it?

There was a knock at the door of her caravan. “Yes?” Julie called out from their double bed.

“I’m from the hospital. I’m a social worker. We thought that you might need to see someone.”

“Just a moment.” Julie got out of bed and put her dressing gown on. Then she drew the curtain to the double bed and opened the door of the van.

A young woman of about twenty came up the steps. She wore a black pants suit and a scarf around her neck. Her face was relaxed and open and she smiled as she brushed her blonde hair from her forehead. She held out her hand to Julie, who shook it and noticed how dry and soft it was.

They sat at the fold-up kitchen table.

“My name is Susan Smith,” said the social worker.

“I’m glad you came,” said Julie. “The most peculiar things have happened to me in the last few days, let alone the problems with my husband. It’s like a nightmare and yet it feels all so good. Let me tell you quickly what happened. We’re from Sydney, we bought a house here in Burnie but it’s still occupied and we live here in the van. I won’t tell you about the park but my husband fell and hurt himself. The ambulance came and the police, and took him away. Then the van and my husband disappeared and I thought I saw vampires and then I flew through the galaxy...”

“You did,” said the social worker as she nodded.

(To be continued next month)