I Was Never Here

We were sitting and waiting
And I told you my plan
You were far too busy writing
Rhymes that didn't scan...

"I'm not vacant," Clara was arguing with Eve, Jacob pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger, caught in the middle.

"You're almost as vacant as this house," Eve countered.

Clara just shook her head, unable to believe what she was hearing.

"It's like you're not here, Clara," Eve said tiredly. "Your body's here, but your soul's somewhere else sometimes. Ever since that STEM fair - all I'm saying is, something's changed, and it's worrying."

"I'm fine," Clara said from between gritted teeth. Before Eve could say anything, the sound of screams from outside filled the room, making everybody rush over to the window, only to see Cassandra and Kate running up the path away from the chaos. "Jesus Christ!" Clara gasped, clutching the windowsill for support at the sight of the shadow man standing atop the Jeep, smashing the windscreen with the hatchet Jacob had found, shards of glass exploding everywhere.

"Where did Cassie and Kate go!?" Jacob demanded, craning his neck.

"They're" - Clara began, only to do a double-take. "Hey, they were there a second ago!"

"They're - they're gone," Eve said, backing away from the window.

"No, they're not," Jacob snarled, stalking out into the hall, the others following him, only to find themselves in a back bedroom.

"I was here before," Clara said, turning on the spot.

"Where you saw the shadow man and the kids?" Jacob asked, raising his crowbar.

Clara nodded, glancing around, only to see Eve was gone.

"Eve?" Jacob called, only to recieve a bang as his answer. "Come on," Jacob said, signalling Clara forwards. As they moved, reality seemed to ripple, and then Eve was there, knocking on the wall, engrossed in her task. But as the floorboards creaked under their feet, Eve whirled around, aiming her gun at their heads. "What the hell!?" Jacob exclaimed, almost dropping his crowbar.

"That's the third time you've done that," Eve snapped, lowering her gun.

"What?" Jacob said, confused.

"Where did the shoes go?" Clara said, glancing down.

"What shoes?" Eve spat.

"There were rows of shoes here," Clara said, frowning.

"Who gives a shit about some missing shoes!?" Eve snapped. "Because I sure as hell don't!"

"You really want something to shoot, don't you?" Jacob said to Eve, grinning despite everything.

"God, I want something to shoot," Eve snarled in agreement. Suddenly there were screams from downstairs, Cassandra and Kate shouting for the others, thuds and bangs puncuating their cries. "Stay here!" Eve ordered, taking off, raising her gun as she moved.

"Jake," Clara said slowly.

"What is it, sweetheart?" he said, turning around, only to freeze at the sight of the dolls house in the middle of the floor. But Clara was nowhere to be seen, only empty space where she stood. "Clara?" he yelled. "Clara!?" And then there was a flash of red light, his crowbar clattering to the floor, the only trace he'd ever been there.