[#]

A rat jumped through the undergrowth, startled by Jennifer’s urgent footsteps. The screams had stopped, but the silence that lay in its place was heavy and menacing. Jennifer slowly edged around an imposing oak tree. It was different to the others. The surrounding air carried a thickness that made it hard to breathe. Tracing the scarred bark with her fingers, Jennifer knew she had reached the beating heart of Raven Woods. She pushed her tousled hair off her face, determined to keep her emotions in check. But she was deep in the forest – and she was not alone. Pressing her hands against the bark, her eyelids fluttered shut in a last-ditch attempt at communication. Her senses blocked her attempts, screaming a warning; she was in danger, and she had to leave now. Sense finally prevailed, and shielding her face with her hands, she pushed her way back through the briars to leave the way she came. But it seemed the forest was not ready to release her, and the thorns that gently scratched her upon entrance now held her firmly in their grip. She pushed through the copse, gasping as thorny cables tore through her clothes and into her flesh. Blood beaded on her thighs and legs, as black flapping wings drummed a beat overhead. Jennifer’s legs weakened as her own vulnerability became evident. They were coming. The ravens were coming. The sight of the birds circling the pearly grey sky sent a dagger of fear through her heart.

Jennifer clambered through the dense forest, trying to find her bearings as the birds settled in the branches just above her head. Their stares were icy cold, and the noise of her backward steps in the still air seemed magnified a hundredfold. Jennifer swallowed, trying to calm her pounding heart. More and more birds roosted on the branches overhead, until they were thick and black, bearing feathers instead of the rotting leaves underfoot. Lost and disorientated in the dead, soulless forest, Jennifer whispered a silent prayer.

[#]

Bert was close to the forest now, he watched as a cloud of black ravens descended in the woodlands and held their prey. His tongue darted from his lips and he moistened them in expectation. Just a few more minutes and he would be there.

[#]

Disorientated, Jennifer forced one leg in front of the other. If the ravens beat her down now, they would tear her to shreds.

‘Get the hell off me,’ she growled as the first raven swooped overhead. Jennifer batted the bird away, staggering through the woodland as another took its place. ‘Help me! Someone, help me!’ her screams echoed through the forest as she pulled up her hood to protect her face. Warm blood trickled down her hand as a raven tore flesh from the back of her hand, its screams intermingling with hers in the fight for control. Jennifer spun around, lost and disorientated as she batted off countless birds while clinging desperately to her hood.

Suddenly a flash of white cut through the air. Jennifer instinctively followed the fluttering wings as they swooped to avoid the predators overhead. Her arms aching, she batted off the birds as she found her way through the forest. The ravens held back as she left, and the leaves underfoot were replaced by fresh, untainted soil.

‘Wait!’ Jennifer cried, reaching out with a bloodied hand. Relief flooded through her as the clearing came into view, and she scrambled up the grassy bank to her parked car, which was pimpled in a dewy mist. Peeling the keys from her sweaty palm, she jumped inside and activated the central locking. The car veered onto the dirt path, the ding ding of the car alarm protesting until she clicked in her seatbelt. It was not until the forest was out of sight that she pulled over, her stomach lurching from the adrenalin come-down. Taking in lungfuls of air, she leaned through the open window. Jennifer spat the sour taste from her mouth and lifted her hand to wipe it, sticky with a mixture of dirt and blood. Tears prickled the backs of her eyes as the pain from her injuries cut through her nerve endings. Who was she to think she could overcome such darkness? She grabbed her bag from under the seat, and tentatively dabbed her hand before allowing the tears to roll down her cheeks. Her wound needed dressing, and she was in no state to do it alone. But where should she go? Will would give her a telling-off for going to the woods alone. Amy would ask too many questions, and turning up in such a state would upset her nephew, who had told her not to go. Her eyes blurred as she stared at her trembling hands, trying to muster the strength to drive to casualty. A flash of black darted in her rear view mirror as she turned the ignition key. Jennifer drove away, the ravens’ cries echoing in her ears.

Chapter Thirty-One

Bert

Bert blew his nose in disgust. The forest smelt contaminated, as if someone had poured bleach, making it shrivel in its wake. He gripped the knife, his wheezing echoing in his ears. His eyes flickered to the ravens huddled on the bare branches. Their heads hung low as he glared at them for the late warning. All apart from the one with the missing tail feather and bloodied beak. Bert tried to count the years since he had seen his feathered companion. There was no mistaking the same glossy blue and purple coated bird. His guardian. Against all odds it had come back to see him finish the job. Bert lifted his arm high as he held his breath and beckoned the bird towards him.

The raven ruffled its feathers before spreading his wings wide and propelling himself from the branch to the ragged man below. With regal magnificence, it swooped through the thickening air.

Bert’s heart pounded as the bird got closer, giving no signs of stopping. Its wingspan was wide and strong, and it was the largest raven Bert had ever seen. He held his stance to welcome his old friend. The bird’s claws opened, grasping Bert’s skinny bicep, making it shudder under his weight.

‘Augh, Augh!’ the raven screamed, his cries slicing through Bert like a blunt razor. Bert hunched his shoulders, conscious of the strength in his domed beak. As the bird settled on his arm, Bert gave a humble sideways glance at the raven he had known since childhood. How was this possible? It was breaking all the boundaries. Bert’s eyes found the blood flecks on the bird’s beak. It was her blood. The raven had started what he had yet to end. Bowing his head, he scraped his beak on Bert’s sleeve before launching high into the sky. Just like all those years ago, he had laid down the gauntlet. And Bert would not let him down.

Bert had many voices in his head, but there was only one worth listening to. The one which gave him instruction to kill, and provided him with the tools to do so. It was the raven. Each predicted death brought a rich reward, but none would be so rich as ending the detective who tried to halt his mission. There was strength to be gained from killing those on his list, but the detective … she possessed enough psychic energy not just to replenish his body, but also to extend his life for years. The fact she was tormented by the recent deaths brought pleasure to his day. Bert said goodbye to the forest, a giggle rising in his throat. He had a prediction to make, and he couldn’t wait to see Jennifer’s reaction when she found out who it was.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Jennifer apologised to the nurse as she fought to stem the blood dripping from her shaking hand. The sterile wipe had blossomed a bright red as the blood seeped through, dripping onto the counter and earning her a disapproving look. She took the wad of paper towels offered to her and sat in the hard plastic chair as she waited to be seen. Jennifer tried to think rationally. It was the shock that made her want to cry, nothing else. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was attacked by a territorial flock of birds. She could hear Will’s words now. That’s what happens when you go into something with blinkered vision, embellished with an overactive imagination. She gulped back the lump in her throat as she avoided the stares of the other patients, their sideways glances confirming that she looked a state. She thought about what she would say if someone like her turned up at the police station, shredded clothes, bloodied skin, and a wild look in her eyes. She’d be thinking mental health issues before they even got the chance to speak.