Dead Gorgeous (7 page)

‘I had a quarrel with my dad,’ said Liam bitterly.

‘Pardon?’

‘I had a big fight with my dad.’

‘And what? You had a heart attack or something?’ asked Nova.

‘No. Look, I don’t want to talk about it.’

‘Was it your dad’s fault then?’

Liam turned away without answering.

‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to pry,’ said Nova.

‘I’ll live!’ said Liam.

Nova burst out laughing. Liam stared at her. Then he realized what he’d said and smiled. Nova still couldn’t believe it. Here she was, chatting to a ghost in her room. She was doing
something no one else in her family had ever done. She was the first. A first in itself. ‘A real, live ghost . . .’ she breathed.

‘Yeah, you keep saying that.’ Liam frowned. ‘I still can’t believe you can see me. I’ve been trolling around this dump
for ever
and no one’s ever seen
me before.’

‘Lucky me!’ Nova sniffed. ‘And this place is not a dump, thank you very much.’

‘I’ve heard you call it worse,’

‘I can ‘cos this is my home.’

‘It’s my home too,’ Liam pointed out.

‘It’s still not a dump,’ Nova bristled.

Liam smiled unexpectedly. ‘No, it’s not. You’re right. It used to be, but your family have done a good job.’

‘Hmm!’ Nova murmured, only slightly placated.

‘Sorry. OK?’

‘OK,’ said Nova reluctantly. ‘So why’re you here?’

‘What d’you mean?’ asked Liam.

‘Why aren’t you in Heaven or Hell or some place where teenage ghosts go? Why’re you still here?’

‘I don’t know.’ Liam stood up and walked over to the window. ‘You get a good view of the sea from up here.’

Puzzled, Nova was determined not to let the subject drop. ‘Do you like it here so much that you don’t want to move on?’

‘Are you kidding?’ Liam rounded on her at once. ‘I hate it here.’

‘Why don’t you leave then?’

‘How?’

‘I don’t know. Just go. Fade out. Disappear. Walk away – or whatever it is that ghosts do.’

Liam turned back to the window. ‘I’ve tried all of those. They don’t work.’

Nova considered for a moment. ‘You were outside. Why don’t you just head off in one direction and keep going?’

At first she thought Liam wasn’t going to answer. ‘Because the further I go, the darker everything gets. And then I pass out and when I wake up, I’m right back here. And I have
no idea how I got back, or who brought me back or how much time has even passed. D’you have any idea what that’s like?’

Nova couldn’t even begin to imagine what it must be like. She shook her head, but Liam seemed to have forgotten that she was even there. He carried on talking, more to himself than anyone
else.

‘It’s like walking up a long flight of stairs and never, ever getting to the top. Or starting a race and running as hard and as fast as you can and never even getting past the
starting line.’ Liam’s voice was getting softer and softer. ‘It’s like dying – over and over again, without ever being born.’

And now there was nothing left of him but his voice fading away into nothing. Melting into nowhere.

Nova looked around. ‘Liam? Come back. Liam . . .?’

But she was alone.

The sun was low down in the sky now. Another few minutes and it’d set. But there was still enough light to see the Manor Hotel. It was just as I remembered it.
Standing in front of it made me feel strange – almost homesick. And heartsick – though I’d never be dibby enough to let anyone know that. How could anyone let the place get into
this state? With a bit of TLC it could be halfway decent. The wire-mesh fence might have been reinforced but it still couldn’t hide the fact that there was mud and debris and neglect and
decay everywhere.

My place.

I mean, where else was I meant to go? I wasn’t going home, that’s for sure.

The tunnels.

None of my friends knew about the tunnels. Only me. In the cellar of the hotel there were a number of empty, rotting, wooden, floor-to-ceiling wine racks, but behind one of them was a door.
I’d only found it by accident when I leaned against one of the stone slabs on an adjacent wall. The door behind one of the wine racks sprang open. It scared the hell out of me at the time and
then some. But of course, once I’d got over the shock, I just had to go exploring. I mean, what kind of person would pass up a chance like that? I swung back the wine rack, most of it
crumbling to so much dust as soon as I touched it. It was pitch black in there so I only took a few steps inside before I bottled . . . I mean, before I decided to be prudent. After all, I
didn’t want to break a leg or something.

The next day I came back with a torch, spare batteries and some string so I could do a Theseus and the Minotaur. I spent not just hours, but days exploring those tunnels. Every spare chance I
got. They ran back and forth under the hotel and grounds, into the copse on one side and down to a cave set in the cliff by the sea front on the other. Apart from the hidden exit by the sea front,
I’ve only ever found two other exits – but I knew enough to realize that was just the tip of the iceberg. Who knew how many more exits and how many more tunnels ran underground for
kilometres around?

I never used the copse tunnel. Too many animals had made it their home over the years and it stank to high heaven, plus I didn’t think it’d be too safe with animals burrowing back
and forth through it. They didn’t seem to venture much beyond the copse though.

The exit I used was in the hotel gardens beneath a hollowed out slab where some old, weather-worn benches had been dumped. I spent ages clearing them away but it was worth it. Now I could come
and go without even entering the hotel building. It was like another world down there. Dry and warm, with a mouldy-earthy smell it didn’t take me long to get used to. The tunnels were my
favourite part of the Manor Hotel, because I instinctively knew that no one knew about them but me. They were all mine to discover and explore and make my own. You wouldn’t believe how good
that made me feel.

I walked to the end of the fencing and carried on along the road. If I cut round by the copse, skirting the edge of it, I should be able to double back and make it round to the back of the
hotel where the grounds were. Me and my mates had fixed the short wire fencing round the back so that we could get in and out without anyone realizing. All we had to do was push the wire mesh back
into place when we’d finished.

Once my mate Dave was stupid enough to try and get through without pushing the mesh all the way up and the wire sliced through his leg like a sharp knife through a squishy tomato. You
should’ve seen the blood pour. I tied my belt around his leg to try and stem the bleeding and then we had to practically carry him all the way back to the main road. Stopping at the first
house we came to, we finally managed to call for an ambulance. They rushed him to hospital but fast. He needed twelve stitches and a blood transfusion. My mates weren’t too keen on the place
after that. But something kept drawing me back. It was a great place that deserved a good owner. Someone who would take care of it as it should be taken care of.

But the tunnels were mine.

At least for a little while.

At least for tonight.

‘Yeah, that’s right! The wrinklies are next door. Hang on a sec!’ Andrew flopped down on the bed, swinging his legs around so that he lay prone. He moved his
mobile phone to his other ear, away from the wall, announcing, ‘In this dive, the walls are probably as thin as tissue paper.’

‘Your mum still flapping over you?’ asked Kieran at the other end of the phone.

‘What d’you think? Still, at least I’ve got my own room – not that it’s up to much.’

‘What’s the hotel like?’ asked Kieran.

‘Have a guess! If we weren’t leaving on Sunday, I’d be tearing my hair out. Goodness knows why Mum thought it would be such a great birthday treat for me. But guess what?
There’s a girl here—’

‘That didn’t take you long!’ Kieran laughed.

‘You know me! Anyway, her name is Rainbow but she calls herself Raye.’

‘Rainbow? Love and peace, man!’ laughed Kieran. ‘So what’s she like?’

‘She’s OK, actually.’

‘Ooh!’

‘I mean, she’s a bit of a whippet but in a land of dogs, she’s the least canine . . .’ Andrew amended hastily.

‘A whippet?’

‘Yeah, you know – skinny. You could probably use her ribs as a toast rack. But she’ll do.’

‘High praise indeed!’

‘I’m not joking. From what I’ve seen so far, the girls down here should walk around with paper bags on their heads and do us all a favour . . .’

Kieran’s burst of laughter over the mobile phone could be heard from across the room. ‘So, are you going to make a move on her?’

‘Of course. I’ve got nothing else to do.’

‘I bet her parents watch her like a hawk.’

‘So? She fancies me something rotten so that’s half my work done for me already!’

‘I bet you don’t even get the chance to pucker up!’ Kieran scoffed.

‘Wanna bet?’

‘You’re on! I bet you don’t get to snog her before you leave on Sunday.’

‘Oh, please! Don’t insult me. Can’t you come up with something a bit more challenging than that?’ Andrew said disdainfully.

‘Talk is cheap.’

‘What kind of cheap are we talking about?’ Andrew challenged.

‘What did you have in mind?’ Kieran asked.

Andrew laughed before mentioning a sum of money.

‘The last of the big spenders!’ Kieran was not impressed.

‘That’s all any of the girls down here are worth,’ said Andrew.

‘Right then. You’re on! But you’ve got to provide proof that she kissed you.’

‘How do I do that?’

‘That’s your problem,’ said Kieran.

‘OK,’ Andrew replied. ‘I almost feel guilty about taking your money off you. Almost . . . but not quite! The girl’s practically eating out of my hand already. You
should’ve seen the way she looked at me. She obviously has first-class taste and knows a good thing when she sees it!’

‘You don’t think much of yourself, do you?’ said Kieran.

‘If I don’t love myself, who else will!’

‘Hmm! So how d’you plan to do this?’

‘I’m going to find Rainbow and chat to her. Let her see my sensitive side.’ Andrew grinned.

‘Good luck, but don’t forget, it doesn’t count unless you can prove it.’

‘Don’t worry. I and my proof will be with you on Monday!’

Andrew hung up, throwing his phone down on the bed. Placing his hands behind his head, he smirked up at the ceiling. And in the corner of the room, unseen by Andrew, stood Liam, listening to
every word.

‘Miss Dawn, will you be leaving any time soon?’

‘Miss Eve, I might ask you the same question.’

The two elderly women sat regarding each other, smiles serene, eyes like diamonds, minds like steel traps. They were closer than sisters, but they weren’t friends. They called themselves
‘acquaintances’. To everyone else they were travelling companions and rarely apart. The two women were currently sharing adjacent rooms at the Phoenix Manor Hotel.

‘So who have you got your eye on now?’ asked Miss Eve.

Miss Dawn scrutinized Miss Eve before answering, ‘Mr Jackman – as if you didn’t know. I saw you talking to Nova earlier. What were you doing? Asking about me – or Mr
Jackman?’

‘What makes you think you have anything to do with it?’ Miss Eve huffed. ‘The world doesn’t revolve around you, you know.’

Miss Dawn smiled serenely. Miss Eve glowered at her.

‘So you’re after Mr Jackman, eh?’ asked Miss Eve, trying to show that she wasn’t rankled. ‘Now, he’s definitely edible!’

‘Put him down! Besides, he’s mine!’

‘I do like to see a woman of your advanced years still living in hope,’ taunted Miss Eve.

‘Hope is my middle name,’ Miss Dawn said silkily. ‘You should know that by now.’

Miss Eve considered her companion. ‘So you reckon you’ll get him?’

‘I know I will.’ Miss Dawn’s smile had returned.

‘That’s what you said about the last three, and it didn’t happen, did it? I got them.’

‘It’ll be different this time. I can feel it in my vitals.’

‘That’s what you said the last three times.’

‘I have faith,’ said Miss Dawn.

‘Faith?’ scoffed Miss Eve.

‘Yes, faith.’

‘An extinct commodity.’

‘Dormant perhaps, not extinct.’

‘On the way out,’ argued Miss Eve.

‘Or on the way in. It all depends on your point of view.’

Miss Eve tried and failed to keep the irritation out of her voice. ‘Why d’you always have to argue?’

‘Why do you?’

‘You really are the most aggravating creature,’

‘I know!’ Miss Dawn’s serene smile broadened.

‘I could always move on, you know.’

‘Not without me you couldn’t,’ said Miss Dawn. ‘Where one of us goes, the other follows – remember?’

Miss Eve glared at her companion, then suddenly smiled. ‘I don’t know why I’m worried. Mr Jackman
is
going to disappoint you.’

‘Why?’

‘Why what?’

‘Why’re you so sure he will?’

‘You expect too much. You always do.’

‘He’ll do the right thing,’ said Miss Dawn. But was that the faintest trace of doubt in her voice?

‘Ah, but his idea of the “right thing” might not be the same as yours,’ Miss Eve said with glee.

‘We’ll see,’ said Miss Dawn. ‘We’ll see.’

‘Hello, Rainbow.’

Raye whirled round, ready to do battle with whoever it was using her full name. Only her words of rebuke withered and died on her lips. Omigod! Another gorgeous guy, with short black hair and
the most beautiful brown eyes she’d ever seen. Attractive guys to the left. Handsome guys to the right. This was much more like it!

‘It’s Raye. I prefer Raye.’

‘Of course. I prefer Raye too. Rainbow is a bit “hippy chick”, isn’t it!’

‘Excuse me?’

‘Not that I don’t like Rainbow too. I do,’ the boy amended hastily. ‘It’s just . . . it’s just time for me to shut up now!’