Day #5, Sleep Over – by Elizabeth Averay
BANG.
‘Dad, what was that?’
‘Easy, Jane. I think we blew a tyre.’ Pulling over to check, Dan finds two tyres have blown out. ‘Crap.’ Looking up at the sky, he grimaces at the thick black/grey clouds mounting up.
Leaning out the back window, Greg asks, ‘So, Dad, what’s the verdict?’
Kicking the tyre closest to him, Dad climbs back in the car. ‘Well, two tyres are gone and there is only one spare. And even if I could get another tyre we have another problem – looks like snow is coming, and we don’t have any snow chains.’
‘Fantastic! Thanks, Greg. This is all your fault! Staying in bed and missing the school bus.’
‘Yes, Jane, it’s all my fault. My fault that you take forty minutes to do your hair just to put a bloody beanie over it. When you wouldn’t let me go in the bathroom before you for just five minutes. That’s why I stayed in bed.’
‘Oh, you blame me?!’
‘Enough, both of you! Firstly, Jane, I have to say Greg is right that missing the school bus is your fault. Now quiet.’ Switching on the CB radio he says, ‘Anyone out there? This is Big Dan. I have two blown tyres and am halfway up Peak Mountain with my teenage twins and it looks like snow is coming.’
One hour later with lots of messages sent out over the CB and nothing from anyone in return. The family lost hope. Then from down the hill comes a tow truck. The truck pulls up in front of the car. Climbing out the door the driver approaches Dan’s vehicle. ‘Howdy, folks. I’m Carl from Carl’s Car Removals.’ He points to his overalls. ‘I heard your shout out, I did respond but soon figured you couldn’t hear me. So I put it out that I was heading your way and no one else need come.’
‘Thank you, Carl. We lost hope of anyone coming along. We were headed to Peak School camp and you know the rest.’
‘Well, Dan, I can’t take you folks that far, but I can take you as far as the police station. It’s an hour away. I have a stolen vehicle to collect. The officers there might be able to help you out, though.’
An hour later they pull into the police station car park – just as it started to lightly snow.
‘Well, folks, this is as far as I can take you. While I swap the cars over you three go on in. Officer Smith will be able to sort you all out.’
‘You are a lifesaver, Carl, thank you. How much do I owe you?’
‘Nah, mate, just spruik me to your buddies. Call it quits.’ With that Carl heads off. Dan and the twins head inside; thankfully the twins have been quiet so far.
Until now.
‘Dad, I’m hungry.’
‘Dad, I’m thirsty.’
Sighing, he hands over some money and points to the vending machine in the corner.
‘Ah, Officer Smith? I’m Dan.’
Officer Smith holds up his hand. ‘Big Dan and teenage twins. I heard your shout out but Carl let me know he was heading to you. Since you’re all here that means so is Carl. Take a seat and I’ll be right back.’
Half an hour later he comes back in, stomping his feet and brushing snow off. ‘Good thing Carl’s in a truck, it’s really coming down out there. I’m sorry, but you three will have to stay the night. The cars won’t make it out the parking lot. But the local garage will come out tomorrow and sort your tyres.’ With that he wandered off, coming back soon after with camping beds; vanished again only to return with pillows and blankets.
‘I’ll leave you to sort this out. I have some paperwork to do.’
The three family members were left in the foyer to organise the beds and settle themselves in.
‘Dad, I’m bored. There’s nothing to do.’
‘Jane, you’re old enough to entertain yourself, or ask Greg for a book.’
Wrinkling her nose at the idea of reading, Jane wanders off to check out the cop shop.
Dan and Greg are left together in the foyer. Officer Smith is in his office. Jane checks out the bathroom and fixes her hair again, then looks at the lost property store. She finds jumpers, jackets, scarves, shoes, mobile phones, wallets, watches, and even a bird cage.
Fed up, she carries on to find herself in the cells. There is a prisoner. Pulling a chair over, Jane sits herself down.
‘Hey. I’m Jane. My father, brother, and I are stuck here for the night. Our car blew two tyres and now it’s snowing. It’s not fair. I really wanted to go on this camping trip.’
‘Piss off.’ The prisoner turns his back and ignores her. A door opens and Officer Smith walks through with a tray of food for the prisoner’s evening meal – and freezes. ‘WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?’ Turning away briefly he passes the prisoner the tray through a hatch in the cell door, then turns back and grabs Jane’s arm and marches her out of there and back to her dad and brother.
‘Dan, you and your children are welcome to stay here but I don’t want your kids wandering all over the place. I just found this one in the cells talking at my prisoner.’
Dan spun around and yelled at Jane until he was red in the face and she was in tears.
‘I am so very sorry, Officer Smith. I don’t know what has gotten into her lately. She never used to wander about.’
‘Dan, keep her here. My prisoner is not a kind or discriminating man. He enjoys causing immense pain and fear.’
Gulping, Dad looks at the officer. ‘The cells are secure, right? He can’t get out. Can he?’
Laughing and shaking his head, Smith says, ‘No, no, no. He can’t get out. I have the only key and the cells are extremely strong.
‘Anyway, there are microwave meals in the coffee room. You can have them. I’m sure the girl can show you the way.’ Leaving them alone again he headed for his office, happily closing and locking the door behind him.
Sitting behind the desk he carries on sharpening the knives spread across it. The cupboard to the side of the desk moves to reveal a hidden doorway, and standing there is the prisoner. With an evil grin he shuffles in and sits down.
‘Well, Carl delivered. I will enjoy destroying the girl. My God, she never shuts up!’ Looking up from the knives Officer Smith smiles. ‘“Prisoner” – or should I say Brother – should we show the girl what happened to the real Officer Smith? Make her father and brother think she’s losing it?’
‘Shit, Dave, are you tired of being Officer Smith already? We can’t start anything anyway ‘til Carl gets back and blocks the front with his truck.’
Jane shows her dad and brother where the coffee room is, snuffling the whole time. Dan heats up mac and cheese for them all. When they’ve eaten Greg cleans up. Heading back to the foyer they can hear laughter coming from Officer Smith’s office.
Looking at each other, the little family go to their camping beds.
‘Goodnight, kids.’ Holding his hand up to stop Jane’s complaints he carries on, ‘The sooner we go to sleep the sooner morning will get here.’ He rolls himself into his blankets and is soon snoring, as is Greg. Jane can’t sleep, feeling nervous and suspicious. Something is wrong – especially with Officer Smith. He just doesn’t seem right.
A couple of hours later Jane, still unable to sleep, goes to the bathroom just to do something. When she gets back, her father’s gone. Bed, blankets, pillows – all gone, no trace of dad.
She shakes her brother’s shoulder. ‘Greg.’ A rougher shake. ‘Greg!’ Nothing – just a snore.
From behind the counter comes a groan. Moving slowly, Jane creeps around the counter and sees a young man: bound, bloody, and beaten, eyes swollen shut.
He groans again.
Moving closer, Jane sees a gag in his mouth. Carefully removing it for him, her hands shaking, she listens with horror as the young man says, ‘I’m Officer Smith. They have taken your dad and drugged your brother.’ He tries to say something more but a knife appears in his throat. Blood bubbles out of his mouth as he keeps trying to speak…then, nothing.
Looking up, Jane sees fake Officer Smith there with the ‘prisoner’, insanity shining in their eyes.
They advance on the girl, the ‘prisoner’ – Andy – lunging and slashing at her arm. Pulling away, she falls into Officer Fake – Dave. His hand snaps out, and he slices her ear off!
Screaming in pain and shock, Jane tries to get away only to fall and land on the real, the dead, Officer Smith.
Bellowing from the cells, and Carl runs into the room being chased by Big Dan, who tackles him to the floor and smashes Carl’s head into the ground repeatedly until his brain sprays out like a fountain.
Dan looks up to see Jane, slashed up and ear missing. He roars in rage and dives forward, ripping the knife from Dave’s hand and slices Jane’s head clean off. ‘Finally! She shuts up.’
Andy and Dave are stunned, can’t move for surprise. Dan spins around an in a frenzy stabs them both over and over.
Greg, groggy from the drugs, sees his twin’s head on the floor, picks up his cot and pummels his father to death.
Finding a way out he runs down the mountain to a farmhouse for help, and swears to never go on a sleepover of any sort ever again.
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