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Post by RitaLittlewood on Aug 12, 2008 22:20:40 GMT
Ooh er. Who's the lurker???
Patsy
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Post by eithne on Aug 14, 2008 22:26:43 GMT
Only two more parts left... Just a warning though, this gets dark towards the end, so reader discretion is advised. I hope you enjoy!
Twelve:
Early, the following morning
Simon sat on his bed staring at the photo. It was one of Steven when he was young, which Pat had put away in a family album. Steven was at a birthday party with Peter and Lucy. The three blonde kids in the photo looked so happy. 'What did I do wrong?' Simon asked himself as he thought of the current situation with his son.
Pat lay in bed, deep in thought. She could hear the voice in her head, but she just couldn't think who or what it was. She didn't know what they were saying or why she was thinking about them, but the voice had been plaguing her on and off over the past few weeks. She reasoned that her brush with death had played tricks with her memory.
Steven sat bolt upright in bed, jumping following his bad dream. He had seen Ian, Pat and Simon all turn their backs on him. Wiping the sweat from his forehead he remembered that it wasn't a dream - it was reality. He was alone. He had nobody. Knowing that they didn't believe him, he knew he couldn't go on. He knew that in twelve hours time it would all be over. He would be dead.
Dad,
I'm sorry, I really am. I really didn't mean for things to go this way.
Steven reread what he had written before groaning and crumpling up the piece of paper and tossing it into the bin. He sighed before closing his eyes and placing his head in his hands. He didn't know how to do this. A letter for Lucy and one for Ian had already been written and were now to one side. He picked up his pen and started again.
That evening
"Len."
"I said I'd check up on you."
"I'm fine."
"That's good to hear, but to be honest you don't look fine."
Pat raised an eyebrow, before shaking her head. "That's because I'm not."
"A problem shared and all that," he said, taking a seat beside her.
On the stairs Carly Wicks sat on the top step, smiling to herself as she looked through the family album. She'd found it in the bin and, puzzled, had dug it out and started to look through it. She laughed a little as she spotted a photo of Pat with her two boys. Even as a mother of two she looked glamorous, with the big earrings in even then. She flicked forward a few pages and came across Pat and Frank's wedding pictures.
'She looks so happy,' Carly thought to herself.
A voice from behind interrupted her thoughts. "Carly, what are you doing?" Carly turned and saw her father emerging from his bedroom. She gave him a big smile.
"I found this earlier and was just having a look. It's Pats."
Kevin sat down beside his daughter and started looking at the old photos. They went forward another couple of pages and saw photos of Pat and Roy's wedding, as well as photos of Pat in New Zealand. Again they went forward and out of the blue Kevin went silent, racking his brains. He pointed out a photo and asked Carly if she knew the woman in it. She shook her head.
"She was the girl from the car lot," he muttered to himself.
"What girl?" Carly asked.
Back in the living room Len was reassuring Pat about the guilt she was feeling over Steven being in the young offenders institute, as well as comforting her about Simon's refusal to visit him.
"I talked to Simon earlier on, but he just stormed off," Pat revealed.
Len gave her a smile. "It'll work itself out. That boy is still Simon's son and he's not well. I'm sure Simon will work that out in his own time."
"Sorry to interrupt Pat, but can I just ask you something?" Kevin asked, entering the room.
"What?"
Kevin moved closer and showed Pat the album, pointing at the photo that had puzzled him. "That girl, who is she?"
But Pat didn't respond. She could hear the voice in her head and she suddenly realised who it belonged to. It all clicked into place and fitted together.
"Pat?" Len asked.
"Are you okay?" Kevin enquired.
"It wasn't Steven."
"What wasn't?"
"I got it wrong. Steven didn't try to kill me."
The letters were on the table, finally completed.
The door was locked for the night.
The razor was in his hand.
He was ready.
Around the building there were screams of distress, but in this cell there was a scream of pain as the cut was made and blood started to run...
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Aug 14, 2008 23:02:56 GMT
Ooh. Can't help feel sorry for Steven even though he was a git. But who's the mysterious woman??? Dark or not, I can't wait to find out.
Patsy
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Post by eithne on Aug 16, 2008 22:13:19 GMT
Don't care about Steven. He was weird anyway. Ooh. Can't help feel sorry for Steven even though he was a git. Bit of a change of tune eh? Anyway stay tuned (no pun intended) for the penultimate part. |
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Post by eithne on Aug 16, 2008 22:16:00 GMT
Thirteen:
"That was the young offenders institute," Kevin said putting down the phone.
"What did they want?"
"It's Steven."
"Oh Pat, I don't know how to tell you this."
Kevin spoke, but Pat barely heard what he said after the first few words. She was silent, before suddenly speaking up. "You've got to find Simon. He needs to know."
"I'll go look for him now," Kevin said, reaching for his coat.
"I'll help you look," Len volunteered.
"Carly, stay here with Pat."
Len followed Kevin out the door, as Carly sat down beside Pat and held her hand. "Oh Pat. I'm sorry."
"I need a drink," Pat said, standing up and reaching for the spirits. She went to pour herself a drink but realised the bottle was empty. A quick search behind the mini bar revealed that all the drink was gone - Simon had taken care of that over the past few weeks. She swore, causing Carly to look up.
"What is it?"
"There's none left," Pat answered, brandishing the empty bottle.
"I'll go down to the Minute Mart if you want," Carly offered.
Pat nodded. She produced twenty pounds and handed it over to Carly. "I'll be back in five," Carly said.
Closing the door behind her, Carly looked around the Square. It was cold, wet and deserted. She crossed the road and headed for the Minute Mart. She did not notice the figure emerge from the end of the street and head towards No. 31.
Simon Wicks sat on the wall of the playground, watching a young family. It had been raining most of the day, so the father had taken his children out to play after the rain stopped. He had placed his coat on the swing before starting to push his son. The son laughed. Simon walked away.
"Carly, is that you?"
"No Pat, I'm afraid it's not."
Pat turned to face the door, although she already knew who it was. "Janine."
Janine Butcher stood in the doorway, a grin on her face. "The one and only. I have to say that you are looking a little better than you did the last time I saw you Pat. Have you figured it out yet?"
Two and a half weeks previously
Pat made her way down the stairs, glancing at the clock in the hall. Steven still wasn't back. As she reached the bottom step Pat heard a small movement in the kitchen. She edged closer the door apprehensively. Slowly she pushed the door open. The room was empty. Pat reached for her cup of tea on the counter and sat down. She failed to notice the empty bottle of pills on the counter behind her and she also failed to notice the funny taste off the tea as she worried about her grandson.
A couple of minutes later she realised something was wrong. Her head was spinning and she suddenly felt drowsy. Pat placed her head on the table. The back door opened and a figure walked in.
"Oh Pat. You thought I'd let you get away with getting me locked up did you?" Janine said, laughing...
Janine moved closer to Pat, who was on the sofa, and picked up a cushion. Pat knew what she was about to do and did her best to push her stepdaughter off. Pat jumped up and ran towards the front door. She tried to open it, but realised it was locked.
"You're not looking for this are you?" Janine asked. Pat turned back and saw Janine holding the key in her hand. "I didn't want to leave anything to chance. You see, I had a lot of time to think in prison. I wanted to get revenge and then I heard you and Ian talking one day and suddenly I saw my opportunity. When I heard about your wacko grandson and his pills I knew what I had to do."
"You heard me and Ian talking?"
Janine nodded. "Remember that day in the market? I was there and I heard every word. To be honest I didn't expect you to survive taking all those pills, a person of your age. But you surprised me, although this time you won't." Janine took a step forward, but Pat threw a vase in her stepdaughters direction and headed up the stairs, gripping the side for support. Janine recovered and followed Pat up the stairs.
Outside Carly had arrived back at the door, alcohol in hand. She heard a scream and then a thud...
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Aug 17, 2008 14:07:26 GMT
Yes but we saw what they did to Steven in the show. I feel sorry for him in yours. LOL!
I hope Pat landed one on Janine and it's not the other way round.
Patsy
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Post by eithne on Aug 22, 2008 23:57:05 GMT
Sorry for the delay with the final part. It's on its way over the weekend.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Aug 23, 2008 10:11:37 GMT
You don't have to apologise, Eithne. I'm just looking forward to it whenever.
Patsy
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Post by eithne on Aug 24, 2008 21:31:55 GMT
Okay, the final part is here. I'm delighted to finally complete this story and thanks to Patsy for all the encouragement! I'd love your feedback. Enjoy...
Fourteen:
She sat waiting. Waiting and thinking. More than a month had passed. Janine had survived her fall and had been arrested for attempted murder. Steven had pulled through following his suicide attempt, while Simon and Ian had both grown closer to the teenager - visiting him in hospital and helping with his recovery. And then there was Len. He had been there for her all through this mess and he was still here. She had moved on from Roy and from Frank. She was glad there was someone to tell all those little things to once again.
"We're ready," came a voice from the doorway of the kitchen. Pat turned and smiled at Simon.
"I'm proud of you, you know."
Simon raised an eyebrow. "What for?"
"For putting everything behind you and doing what is best for your son."
"Well it is what was right."
Minutes later Pat stood in the Square with Len, Simon and Steven, as they piled their bags into Charlie's black cab. They were returning to New Zealand for a fresh start. Steven turned to his grandmother and gave her a big hug. The bandages had been removed from his wrists but the scars were still there, still fresh.
"Thanks for everything," Steven said, pulling away.
"You're welcome," she replied. "Have you got your pills?"
Steven smiled, before producing a pill bottle from his trouser pocket. "Yes, of course. I won't be making that mistake again. I have my life back on track."
Ian, Lucy and Peter arrived from across the Square and said their goodbyes to Steven. Soon it was time for him and Simon to leave and the black cab pulled away. Ian and the kids left, leaving Pat and Len alone.
"I suppose I better," Len said, producing his keys. "But I'll be back tonight, if that's okay?"
"That's fine," Pat said, smiling.
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Aug 24, 2008 21:57:20 GMT
Happy to be a nag, Eithen.  Excellent story! Glad Pat got a happy ending. They should bring Len back. I liked him. Ypu can rest your fingers now.  Patsy |
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Post by eithne on Aug 31, 2008 18:06:04 GMT
Glad you enjoyed it!  It all ended very happily which was the way I had always planned. But when I was writing the part with Steven's suicide I really strongly considered changing it so that he died. But then I said happy endings aren't something Albert Square is known for, so I'd better give Pat one. |
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Aug 31, 2008 19:19:14 GMT
LOL! Very true. I did enjoy it. You created an illusion, making the reader think it was one thing when it was something entirely different. It keeps you guessing and wanting more.
Patsy
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It all ended very happily which was the way I had always planned. But when I was writing the part with Steven's suicide I really strongly considered changing it so that he died. But then I said happy endings aren't something Albert Square is known for, so I'd better give Pat one.