The Realms Thereunder

5

Freya used the smaller side roads to move her way farther up into North Oxford. It was a winding, snaking path, but one that she thought would be hard to follow. She was banking on the hope that Felix hadn’t been able to get out of the house fast enough to see which direction she’d gone. And so, tired and exhausted, she staggered past houses and parked cars-as well as people who duly ignored her-towards the place she had last seen Daniel, at St. Michael and All Angels Church. But she couldn’t go there yet.

She limped into Summertown-little more than a busy hotspot of shops and restaurants along Banbury Road and a complex maze of terraced housing. She found herself wearing her jacket when she left Stowe’s apartment, and in her pockets she found her cell phone and small purse that she kept her money and bank cards in-they must have been on her all along. She couldn’t turn on her phone; its battery was probably dead. She thought to go to her apartment, but was afraid that Stowe would find her there-or worse, on the way there. She knew that she should go to the police, but she didn’t know what would become of Daniel then. She had to at least make an attempt to rescue him. Then she would go to the authorities. If it really had been days that she’d been trapped, then there’d be another panic. She may have already made the media again-missing for the second time would certainly have a headline appeal.

Her clothes were dirty and smelly and her hair was an absolute disaster. She hoped that she didn’t look so alarming that she would get thrown out of anyplace. She dug around in her purse for a ten-pound note and held it clearly visible before her as she walked into a small cafe. She put the money on the counter in front of her and ordered a baguette, some fruit, a packet of crisps, a coffee, and a bottle of juice. She took this food to a small table from which she could see the street without being seen.

She devoured her food as calmly and as slowly as possible under the circumstances, and waited. She got up to use the toilet a couple times, cleaning herself up as much as she was able to in the small sink and mirror, always returning to her table and keeping an eye on the street and the sky. She spent enough money to stop the staff from moving her on, gradually nourishing herself. She may not have eaten anything in days. It was vitally important that she didn’t collapse. She needed to keep it together just a little longer.

At six o’clock a cautious waitress came over and told her the cafe was closing. Freya left and wandered the back ways and parking lots of Summertown until the sun was just about to set. Then, with her heart rising in her chest, she went to the church.

She stood outside the lych-gate. This is where Daniel had disappeared-she could still see him taking that first step into oblivion. She stared at the wooden frame and doorway and wondered what she had to do next. She wanted to bring Daniel back, not follow after him-but could she do that? And how?

There was a new feeling growing in her chest. It wasn’t anticipation or nervousness-it was more like a charge that she was getting from the air. Something was happening. There was some sort of a . . . presence was the only way to describe it. Was it danger? She looked up and down the street. She was completely alone.

But, turning back to the lych-gate, she noticed something odd-it was darker inside of it than outside. She tilted her head so that the sky was visible through it and saw that not only was it darker, but whereas her sky was cloudy and overcast, she could see stars through the lych-gate.

“Daniel!” she called into the archway.

There was no answer. The darkness seemed to thicken. She tried again.

“Daniel!”

It now looked like full night through the lych-gate. She could see the churchyard through it, but it was like looking through a veil. She saw a light-at first she thought it was a trick of her eyes, but the flickering glow bobbed and grew in front of her.

“Daniel?”