Backwards Into Hell

Part Two: The LFG

Jake's Diary

Tuesday 26th October

I woke with a start as the wall behind my bed shook. Someone was knocking on my door. Tap-tap-tap. Like a woodpecker.

I crawled out of the covers, arms feeling like they were trapped in cinder blocks, and put my feet on the cold floor. Maybe someone had come to kill me, I toyed. But I supposed I was more of a danger to them.

He'll know what to do. It'll be fine.

What was that?

I put a hand against my head.

He knocked again. It was David. I debated whether to answer it because anyone muttering to themselves couldn't have been in a brilliant state of mind. Still, it was unlikely he'd try anything—he'd come to me for help, after all. What sort of right-hand man would turn him away?

So I dragged myself up and opened the door.

It was a shock to see him in his pyjamas—an old t-shirt and pair of frayed boxer shorts—with fish-wide eyes. To rattle David, something terrible must have happened.

'You alright?' I whispered.

David nodded frantically, although he clearly wasn't.

'Come in.'

I widened the door and he swayed past to perch on the end of my bed. His hands shook as he gazed over the darkened room.

This was a mistake. I should've kept it quiet. I shouldn't have come here—

'David?'

Was it... him?

The dim light obscured his face so I swung the door shut and switched on the overhead.

'What's happened?'

I sat next to him, keeping a respectful distance.

I can trust him. He's helped.

It was David's voice. His middle-class, southern accent rang through my head. But his lips didn't move.

These were David's thoughts.

It was The Old Man's doing. I was certain, but surely this would be more of an inconvenience than a help? David's internal voice was so loud that I could hardly pay attention when he finally did speak.

'I found something,' he said.

My head was swimming. 'What?'

Focus on the sound. Ignore the constant background noise, the nervous chatter.

'In the hallway. I was going to the kitchen but, I don't know, I heard something, got curious.'

'Heard what?'

Our eyes met, and I worried I was watching him too intensely.

'A rat was running around the washing basket.'

Oh, God.

'And I opened it, and... and...'

'Go on.'

It could have been better timing, I supposed, but it would at least serve as a distraction from the shipbuilding.

'It was Delilah.'

His head was clearer now he'd gotten it all out.

'Delilah?'

I widened my eyes as shock was written over my face—or at least, I hope it was—as I smothered a cheeky grin.