1.

 Grey Matthewman sprung up in the freezing car, which stood alone overlooking the riverbank.

            Beside him on the passenger seat were two bottles of Jack Daniels, one empty and the other well on the way to joining its counterpart. Grey wiped his dry mouth, removing the flakes of dead skin on his lips with one swift motion. Pulling down the rearview mirror, Grey winced with a starry gaze at the bloodshot eyes that stared back. His fading hair was ruffled, that little greyer by the day.

            Grey by name, Grey by nature.

            Those words made the anger come back, but the drink … the drink made the anger go away.

            He picked up the whisky, yanked off the top and thrust the neck of the bottle into his mouth before chugging its contents; the cold air biting at his exposed arms being quickly eradicated by the heat of the liquor burning his throat.

            Anger subsided and he pulled out the bottle, wiped his mouth and sighed.

            Out of the windscreen, he overlooked the calm flow of water, wondering if he would ever feel that peaceful again.

            The world’s loudest headache started to pound unbearably behind his forehead.

            Jesus Christ … I really need to cut back on the booze.

            ‘But you can’t do that,’ the murky voice said from the backseat.

            Grey took a deep breath.

            With reluctance, his eyes couldn’t help but move toward the rearview mirror.

            Those dark-rimmed and sore tired brown eyes of his shuddered when he saw what was sat in the backseat.

            On the peripheral edge of the rearview glass, the left side of Its face sprung on the mirror; Its head was matted with blood down the side of its temple and bright blue eye staring a hole into Grey’s soul.

            The flesh of the thing was starting to rot. And the smell - the foul dank scent of death.

            The thing appeared to grin, its teeth stained black and yellow.

            Grey closed his eyes and muttered: ‘You’re not real. You’re not real. You’re not-’

            ‘Then why have you come back?’ the thing asked, with the voice as dank as Its smell.

            Grey opened his eyes and the thing in the backseat had thankfully vanished.

            He reached up, pulled the mirror down to face the whole backseat for confirmation.

            It was gone. He was gone.

            Why have you come back here?

            Taking another drink, Grey thought about the sealed bag that may or may not be underneath that calm water.

            Could it still be underneath the surface of this peaceful setting after so long?

            Thinking of what happened last year made the walls of the car close in, like he was inside some metallic coffin. Suddenly the world outside seemed a lot smaller, he was trapped in this hell.

            Grey went to take another drink, only to find the bottle empty.

            The glass slipped from his hands, landing on the pedals next to his feet with a dull thud. He raised his palms in front of his face. Blood? No, it wasn’t there, not anymore.

            Grey couldn’t take it any longer and burst into tears.

            He gripped the steering wheel, feeling his palms tighten like an anaconda wrapping around its prey.

            Releasing the loudest and inconsolable scream he could muster, tears started to stream down his flushed cheeks.

            Mia … please forgive me!

            The mobile phone sat beside the other empty bottle on the passenger seat and pinged a few times.

            Grey composed himself as well as he could and picked it up with a shaking hand.

            Message from Julia: Dnt B late.

            She never was the best with grammar.

            The time was 08:34, which meant he had just over an hour to sort himself out.

            Back to that place, the place that haunts you.

            Grey pulled himself up, rubbed his weary eyes and fired up the ignition.

            Double-checking the rearview mirror again, he pulled away from the murky turbidity of the water and headed to Ravenswood.

!

Next Chapter: Chapter 2