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  But then, a wind picked up and his brown scarf caught it, coming loose to rise into the air and float away, towards a mass of rain-threatening clouds. The Lady started to wail, and the man disappeared from beside her.

  Just as her dress turned from pure white to black, another man appeared to amble towards her. He was sure of himself, dark-haired, with piercing blue eyes, the colour and intensity of cold steel. He took The Lady by the hand and started to pull her away from the railing, but she wailed, resisting. The man’s face contorted with malice. He raised a hand and hit her across the face. The Lady collapsed to the deck and a heart-wrenching cry left her lips, so devastating, so harrowing, that it made Sofia wake up.

  She sat up on her bed in the dorm, one hand on her brow, wiping away cold beads of sweat. What a horrid nightmare! Sofia threw a glance at Annika in the semidarkness and was relieved to see she hadn’t disturbed her. Her roommate was fast asleep, her breathing soft and even.

  Sofia gave a soft sigh. Once her pulse began to slow down, she put on a cardigan over her pyjamas, found her slippers and left the room on tiptoe to visit the communal toilets down the hall.

  No one else was there at this hour. She rushed to the washbasin and splashed water on her face. It felt wonderful, reassuring, grounding. It put distance between the dreadful nightmare she’d had and her blissful, uneventful reality. But then, to her horror, she looked up and saw her face in the mirror. Across her cheek, long finger marks, red and angry, made her gasp in shock.

  ***

  “And you’re sure you saw those finger marks? You’re sure it wasn’t your imagination? A trick of the light, perhaps?” Annika examined Sofia’s face in the ample morning light that streamed through their bedroom window, her brow creased. She turned her friend’s face with a gentle hand this way and that but saw nothing.

  “Of course, I’m sure! I’m freaking out, Annika! What am I going to do?”

  “Do you want me to ask around? Lots of our British classmates are into psychic stuff. You know the Brits! Always telling ghost stories! Some of them go to clairvoyants regularly. You want me to ask? Maybe a consultation might shed some light.”

  “Are you serious? I’ve decided to put all this weirdness behind me. I can’t go back to dealing with clairvoyants and disturbing dreams. I want to forget it, to move on!”

  Annika shrugged. “Sofia, it looks like The Lady is not likely to leave you alone anytime soon. Sounds to me like you have no choice.”

  “Cheers, very helpful!” said Sofia, her voice thick with sarcasm, her sanity hanging from a fine thread.

  Annika sat on Sofia’s bed beside her and rubbed her back soothingly. “Let me ask around for you. They might be able to recommend a gifted clairvoyant, someone who could explain what it is the spirit wants. What do you have to lose?”

  Sofia pulled away, then bent over and brought both hands to her head. She gave a grunt. “I know what The Lady wants, okay?”

  “You do?”

  “Of course, I do! She wants me to give it another try with Danny. She wants me to fight for his love. But I can’t, I can’t go through this any more. The constant rejections, the Scottish shower of hot and cold. I’m not strong enough!”

  “Sofia, my own opinion, if you care to hear it, is that you should give both The Lady and Danny another chance. Maybe she knows better than you.”

  “But don’t you see? I couldn’t approach Danny again, even if I wanted to. Last time I tried to phone him he refused to come to the phone, remember?”

  “It doesn’t matter. If you open up to the possibility, perhaps The Lady will guide you. She could show you how to solve the mystery behind her and hopefully, how to win Danny’s heart, too.”

  “But where do I even start?”

  “Well, I think if you only let her, The Lady could guide you to find that woman called Maggie. You’ve given up on that too soon, just because you lost the note with her address. If I were you, I’d be all over town asking around. You know so much about The Lady already, just from meeting her chauffeur. Just think how much more you could learn from her best friend!”

  Sofia shook her head fiercely, then buried her face in her hands. “I can’t face it. I just can’t.”

  “But why? Why are you so negative? I thought you loved Danny. What’s changed?”

  “I’ve given up, Annika. I can’t handle it. Especially now that . . .”

  “Now that what?”

  “Now that I’ve found someone who’s unafraid to say he wants me; someone willing to fight for me, for my love. Someone gentle, unlikely to break my heart.”

  “You mean Jeff?”

  Sofia nodded and gave a reluctant little smile. “We went out last night, as you know. He’s leaving today, but he said he has feelings for me and wants me to be his girl. It’s like balsam to my heart, Annika, after my heartache over Danny. You do understand, don’t you?”

  Annika heaved a sigh. “I don’t know. I don’t think anyone can give right advice on matters of the heart. You know best. I can’t push you to give this spirit a chance if you’ve already decided to give up on Danny.”

  “So . . . what do you think I should do about that awful dream and the finger marks? You do believe me, don’t you?”

  “Yes, of course I believe you. As I said to you before, I have read a lot on the subject of paranormal phenomena. But, in your case, I strongly doubt this is likely to go away. Sorry to say this Sophia . . . but you’ll remain knee deep in trouble unless you take heed. Spirits, when haunting someone as relentlessly as The Lady has been haunting you, don’t give up easily. In fact, from what I know, the more you resist her, the scarier the manifestations you’re likely to face. Think about that next time you feel all nice and gooey in Jeff’s arms.”

  “Why would you say that, Annika? You’re scaring me!”

  Annika placed a hand on her friend’s shoulder and squeezed gently. “Sofia, it’s called tough love. It’s the only kind I can give you. Seems to me, I’m the only friend you have right now. Your Greek girlfriend and her fella have left town. Who else is going to shake you about and make you see the light? You don’t want to play tough with spirits, Sofia! It’s already turned scary. What else are you waiting for?”

  Chapter 7

  The Palace Pier was quieter than usual that morning. Holding hands, Sofia went through the entrance with Jeff. He had just arrived to spend another weekend in town. The first thing he did, after checking in his B&B, was phone Sofia and ask her to meet him.

  “Same B&B as last time?” asked Sofia when they found an empty bench to sit on and watch the world go by. Before them, the view of the seafront was majestic. High waves crashed against the beach, the swooshing sounds reaching their ears like music, coupled beautifully with the cry of the gulls flying overhead in a cloud-strewn sky.

  Jeff put his arms around Sofia and wrapped her long scarf around her neck against the biting wind. “Yep, the same. It’s good value for money.”

  “What a British thing to say,” she teased, giving him a playful tap on the chest. He squeezed her against him, planting a firm kiss on her cheek.

  “We’re not meeting your local friend today then,” she teased again, and when he threw her a glance of mock-annoyance, she stuck her tongue out. “Fancy lying to me you had a friend in town!” She gave an easy smile, then stifled a yawn.

  “I wasn’t going to give myself on the platter, was I? I might as well have told you I was mad about you there and then,” replied Jeff, caressing her hair. “I had to say I travelled over here with a friend. But you were too clever for me, and guessed the lie easily enough.”

  “It’s cute, actually, I don’t mind.” Sofia grinned, then rested her head on his shoulder. She cast her gaze at the angry wash before her, trying to ignore the ghostly West Pier in the distance that now seemed to beckon to her even in her waking hours. She was about to speak again, to tell Jeff how happy she was that he came, but instead, she opened her mouth wide to yawn once more.

  “What’s
the matter, Sofia? Didn’t you get enough sleep last night?”

  “Oh . . . No, you know, studying and all that . . .” It was only an excuse, of course. Before long, she yawned again, this time, it lasted even longer.

  Jeff teased her, then made a joke about her suggesting he was boring, and they stood to get a bite to eat. At the nearby café, she ordered a strong coffee. These days, she was sleepy like this every morning. She seemed to function on caffeine alone. The nightmares were getting worse and worse. The Lady would appear every night in her dreams, always crying, always wailing, her eyes burning, her face a mask of pain and horror. It often caused Sofia to wake up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night, sometimes crying out in distress as she did.

  The night before, she’d found finger marks on her face and neck a second time. But no matter how Annika insisted that she should pay attention to The Lady, Sofia was happy now with Jeff. So, she drank yet another strong coffee that morning and hoped for the best.

  ***

  For their night out, they chose a club near the West Pier that Jeff had heard about. Sofia hadn’t been there before, but the music was great so they ordered their drinks and sat close together, their faces exuberant. For about an hour they had a good time, but things changed when Sofia spotted Danny dancing with his friends, a small party of young boys and girls his age.

  She stared; she didn’t mean to, but as easy as she’d found it to keep him out of her thoughts, the moment she laid her eyes on him, it seemed impossible to look away. Instead, she remained transfixed until, somehow, through the crowd of youngsters dancing and standing around, Danny saw her too.

  Their eyes locked together, seemingly forever. A sense of warmth rose in Sofia’s chest, ricocheting throughout her body in all directions. She felt herself break, or rather melt, become nothing, of no more substance than the sound of jovial music reverberating in her ears, or the heavy cigarette smoke that permeated everything in the dark hall.

  Danny’s expression seemed just as ecstatic as he gazed back at her, as if it weren’t a human being he was looking at but a holy revelation, an unimaginable thing. He ached to run to her, but his feet felt glued to the ground. He tried to look away, but her eyes were pinned on his and there was no escape. When Jeff returned from the bar with two drinks, somehow, as he brushed past Sofia to sit beside her, her eye contact with Danny broke and they both snapped out of their trance.

  Sofia felt relieved Jeff had returned. Otherwise, she’d have stayed forever mesmerised. The realisation unsettled her, angered her even. Thoughts of The Lady and the nightmares she’d been having for so long returned to laugh at her with glee. We’re stronger than you, she imagined them saying, mocking her. She felt lost. She thanked Jeff and sipped at her drink and, all the while, watched as Danny returned her nervous glances every once in a while, enough for her to realise she wasn’t the only one keen to talk. But now, she was with Jeff. This is so awkward!

  When Jeff went to the loo a while later, it was evident that Danny had been waiting for the right chance, because he walked up to her without wasting a moment. He stood before her, both hands in his pockets, a hesitant smile under a pair of solemn eyes.

  “Hello, Sofia. How are you?”

  “Hi, Danny, I’m well. And you?” came her tight-lipped response. She wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole. What if Jeff returns before Danny goes? What do I say then? Do I introduce them? Oh, God, what a mess!

  “Great. Haven’t seen you in a while.”

  “Not my fault, Danny. If I recall, last time I phoned, you told your sister to lie you weren’t in.” There. Now I’ve said it. It hurt and you should know.

  He winced, then looked away. “I’m sorry about that. I’m a plonker, I’ve told you. You’re better off without me.”

  “As you can see, I took your advice. You left me with no choice.” She spoke matter-of-factly, in a way that she knew stung him, but she could have done it no other way. The alternative would be to break down, throw her arms around him and confess she never got over him. But what good would that do?

  “Yes, I see. He seems like a nice bloke. Good for you,” replied Danny. Yet, in his eyes, the blue seemed fluid like a troubled sea, rising and deepening, about to burst out of its confines and flow free. But, whatever he was feeling, he kept it all inside. Just like she did. Under the surface, they were both fighting it, knowing deep down it hurt like hell, but refusing to admit it.

  Sofia gave a little sigh. “So, any news? How’s everyone at home?”

  “The same. Dad’s doing his plumbing rounds, and Sue, still dreaming of becoming the next Kate Moss. Between them, they make life at home an exciting adventure, what can I say?” He shrugged and flashed one of those irresistible smiles that made Sofia melt. “And you? How are your studies, Sofia?”

  “Going good. Do you speak to Steve these days?”

  “Yes, he phones sometimes. Sounds like he and Loula are living the good life in Kent.” A gentle smile lit up Danny’s eyes, his expression almost happy.

  “I’m pleased to see you, Danny, I really am.”

  “Me too, Sofia . . .”

  “And your news? All okay with you?” Sofia kept the conversation going, panicky at the very thought of an awkward silence between them.

  “Actually, I do have some news . . .” He scratched his head. “I’ve signed up for a Marketing course at a private college.”

  Sofia’s face brightened. “Really?”

  “Yes! Only for a year, mind you, but I’ll get a certificate when I pass the final exam. I took your advice to get a degree, in the hope it’ll help me get a better job.” He shrugged.

  “That’s excellent, Danny. I’m very proud of you.”

  “You are?”

  “Goes without saying. Good for you. Do you still work at the café?”

  “Yes, I sell sandwiches by day, and study like a mad thing at night. Tonight is an exception.” He pointed at his friends, who were swaying on the dance floor behind him. “One of my mates bought his dream car and he’s taken us out to celebrate. I don’t go out as much these days; too tired from all the studying.”

  Sofia gave an easy smile and wondered if she should ask him about therapy but then she noticed Jeff was approaching. Her momentary alarmed expression caused Danny to follow her gaze, then he threw up his hands and said, “Great meeting you, Sofia! Give me a call sometime, will you?”

  And with that, he was gone, long before Jeff returned to his seat next to her, none the wiser.

  Chapter 8

  September 1940

  It was mid-September and the summer was drawing to an end. Maggie had been asking Laura insistently to go out to town with her for a walk along the promenade while the mild weather lasted. Yet, Laura refused for she was still reluctant to lay her eyes on the West Pier.

  At the end of the summer, overnight, the Army had decided to cut a sixty-foot gap between the Pier head and the Concert Hall as an extra precautionary measure against a possible enemy invasion. Laura refused to see the Pier wounded to this extent. It was the same with the promenade. These days, with the beach sealed off with posts, concrete blocks and barbed wire, it was anything but a joy to frequent.

  When Saturday morning came, Maggie asked Laura if she fancied a trip to the cinema in the afternoon. There was a matinée showing of the movie “The Ghost Comes Home” at the Kemp Town Odeon. Paul and Meg were going. They telephoned Maggie at home that morning to ask both girls to come along. Paul was on leave from the Navy for a couple of days. It was the perfect opportunity to see him again. A reunion at the cinema seemed to Maggie a splendid idea.

  In response to the invitation, Laura had just sighed and looked out the window for the hundredth time that day. The cawing of seabirds echoed outside her bedroom window. It was the only thing that made Laura crack a ghost of a smile these days.

  Maggie’s heart sank. Clearly, she has no inclination to watch a flick. By now, she’d started to fear that what Laura needed the most was a
trip to Dr Barnett’s surgery. She’d grown increasingly depressed, hardly ever smiling any more and was never in good spirits. A cloud of sadness seemed to rain on her day and night.

  Maggie could understand all that. She was around every day to witness the chill in Charles’s demeanour in the short interludes where he’d exchange a word with both women. He never spoke to Freddie and his verbal exchanges with his wife had long been restricted to curt greetings as he came and went. Seeing that their deeply rooted grudges and mutual upset had helped them both settle in a comfortable status of peaceful silence, neither of them seemed willing by now to change the situation.

  Still, Maggie wondered how frightened Laura could be to choose to live such a life. Since Freddie’s birthday party, Laura had confided in her that she confronted him about his affairs, and he was blasé about it. He simply laughed it off, saying that it was all a man could do. They hadn’t shared any intimacy in months and, what’s more, now Laura had to refuse him as he recently started to ask.

  On the odd night, he’d return home drunk after a late night out, and he’d knock on her bedroom door— thankfully in a quiet and discreet manner—but she’d always refuse to answer it. On a couple of nights, with his desire fuelled further by his drunkenness, he attempted to use his front door key to fiddle with the lock on her door, but she’d placed her key in the lock on the inside and a large armchair behind the door, just in case.

  Laura shared all this with Maggie except for one thing: that she hid a dagger under her pillow as a last resort. She was willing to be his prisoner forever, for the sake of her child’s safety, but she’d never allow him to make her his, ever again. Nowadays, she’d rather die or kill him instead.