Velodrome

                                    

                                          
"It's all just bells,  sometimes I ring myself to see if I might chime" ~Velodrome-Dessa
                          
11 January 1969 6.52am
                          
There was no light. There was barely any sound, she knew she'd been here before. Charli walked forward instinctively.
                          
There was a young girl with red hair on the floor, her lifeless body bruised and bloodied. A woman stood nearby the body with her back turned.
                          
Charli rushed to the young girl's body, her face was a mass of bruises and blood and barely recognizable. Charli's fear turned to rage as she yelled at the woman's back.
                          
"This is your fault!" she screamed tugging at the woman's skirt "You did this to her! He killed her and you did nothing!"
                          
The woman didn't turn.
                          
"You never cared!" Charli screamed louder "What did I ever do?"
                          
Before she could say anything else, she felt 2 large hands at her neck.
                          
*
                          
Charli gasped sharply as she woke in a cold sweat.
                          
"It's okay kitten," a voice soothed her "You're home"
                          
The darkness from her nightmare faded and the room came into focus. She looked around frantically, Martha sat up worriedly at the foot of the bed.
                          
"You're okay luv," Paul said again pushing a strand of hair from her face.
                          
Charli sat up and wiped at her face as Martha put her head in her lap.
                          
"Sorry.." she said quietly to Paul "I didn't mean ta' wake ya's"
                          
"Don't apologise luv" he assured "It's been a while since you've had nightmares like this"
                          
"Now it's like bloody clockwork," Charli scoffed "I almost dread going ta' sleep"
                          
She sighed scratching Martha's ears absentmindedly.
                          
"What do ya' think is causing it?" Paul asked propping himself up on his elbows.
                          
"A lot of things," Charli said with barely a thought "Interviews about the second Hawthorne Woods...writing me own bloody story..it forces me to relive everything over and over....it doesn't help she came back"
                          
Just before Christmas, Mandy had stopped by for tea. She brought Christmas presents for Charli and Paul and told Charli the news that her mother had moved back to England and was living with Mandy for the time being.
                          
"A lot has happened since Christmas," Paul agreed scratching at his beard.
                          
"I can't really visit Mandy right now," Charli sighed "I'm a terrible niece. She's such a kind and generous person, especially letting mum live with her after everything...and I'm fucking selfish I can't bring meself to see her."
                          
"Yer not selfish," Paul said "You know she understands"
                          
There was a long pause.
                          
"What have you got on today?" He asked trying to change her focus.
                          
"Teaching," Charli answered "Mika is starting an aerial class for children....she wants me to teach it"
                          
"I'm sure you'll be brilliant at it," Paul assured.
                          
Charli looked back at him again and smiled.
                          
"What are you up to today?" she asked.
                          
"I'm not sure," Paul sighed sadly "It's our day off in studio...I'm not sure I want ta' go back after yesterday"