Finley Flood: Mirrors and Glass

By John Cummings

Finley Flood age eleven starts to see something very strange happening in the bathroom mirror and from that moment on, his life will never be the same again.

We tag along as he embarks on a fantastic and dangerous adventure into the unknown and mysterious world of The Merrelger in search of his missing grandfather.

His closest friends are enlisted to help out, and each of them undertakes an amazing journey where they learn much more about themselves than they ever thought possible.

Surprises and danger abound as the mystery deepens and they realise that much more is at stake, as they battle to save their own world.

If you could ever get to choose a friend in times like this, then Finley Flood would be top of the list.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Cummings
• Release date: Nov 19, 2013
• ISBN: 9781909425835

John Cummings

Author of the Finley Flood series of books aimed at Middle Grade readers of nine and above, right through to adult.The books are fantasy adventure stories, and based around the central character Finley who is currently aged twelve. When writing I try to ensure they would be suitable for my own children to read making them fully appropriate for the age groups they are intended for.Finley is starting to gather his own fan base and a visit to his Facebook page will get you more information about him.https://www.facebook.com/pages/Finley-Flood/165809730280773

Book preview

Prologue

Franklin had wrapped the small boy in a warm blanket and was carrying him over his shoulder. He carefully made his way down the mountain track in the dark and although quite steep, it was fairly smooth underfoot and well trodden. He knew a huge forest lay off to the right side, but at night all he could see was a vast sea of black. The moon offered just enough light to illuminate the way and he tried to stay as far away from the edge of the path as he could. It was quite a long hike, but eventually he saw the lights of the village twinkling at the bottom of the mountain.

By the time he arrived it was late, and the main street was deserted. He headed past the first set of houses at the entrance to the village and then stopped outside a larger house with a tower. Pausing for a few seconds to get his breath back, he looked further down the track and saw no sign of life. He then looked up at the large door in front of him and reached out for the handle. It was stiff but it turned with some effort and he pushed firmly. The door swung back slowly; it was extremely heavy and he had to keep his shoulder against it until there was enough room to go inside.

The house smelt fresh and he quietly quietly into the hallway, still holding the boy tightly. At the end of the corridor he paused by another door and gently reached out for the handle. This one was much easier to open and he entered the room, allowing the door to shut behind him.

A large chair sat facing the fireplace, and he could see that coals were burning in the grate. He walked around the back of the chair and saw that it was occupied by a hooded figure. Franklin stopped and the figure rose and bowed its head; its face completely hidden by the hood. Greetings, Franklin. You have bought the boy with you? The voice was raspy and breathless. Franklin turned and gently opened the blanket slightly, allowing the boy’s face to be seen. The hooded figure took a close look, and gently reached out to touch the boy’s skin with its right hand. We must make haste, Franklin. Follow me. It said in the raspy voice, and quickly turned towards the door.

They exited the house and walked deeper into the deserted village; the residents all deep in their slumber. The buildings along the track were all shapes and sizes. Most of them were nicely decorated, and the village had a homely feel. After a few minutes the hooded figure stopped and turned to Franklin, pointing at a gap between the houses. Tread carefully through here Franklin, the floor is slippery. The creatures voice sounded even more breathless than before.

Franklin followed him and saw an entrance to a cave tucked in behind the two houses.. The creature went inside without pausing and Franklin gripped the boy slightly tighter before making his way behind, along the smooth, slightly damp rock path.

The cave seemed to be illuminated by a blue glow that flickered and pulsed gently and as they moved further inside, the ground started sloping down quite sharply. They continued on and then the walls started to narrow and the ceiling started to get lower until Franklin found himself having to stoop. The tunnel kept closing in until it seemed that their passage ahead was blocked. Without pausing, the hooded figure ducked down and squeezed through a narrow gap that was impossible to see a few seconds earlier. Once through he turned back and took the swaddled boy from Franklin’s arms, to allow the old man to bend low and squeeze through the gap himself.

Before them lay a great chamber; the ceiling was high and stalactites dripped continuously. Ahead there was a large lake of water and in the centre was a huge blue crystal sitting on a nest of large rocks. It illuminated the whole cavern and lights danced on the walls and ceiling as the waters reflected them. The crystal seemed to be pulsing and Franklin could feel its energy in the air.

The hooded figure gently unwrapped the blanket from the boys face and knelt down at the water’s edge. Pulling a small cup from his pocket, he plunged it into the cold clear water and filled it, before placing it against the boy’s lips and gently pouring some of the water into his mouth. His eyelids flickered. The hooded figure looked up. It is done, Franklin. There is no more we can do. Franklin nodded his head, reached down and closed the blanket around the boy again.

Chapter 1

Fin jumped out of bed. Something was on his mind and he had just had the worst night’s sleep ever. He wasn’t exactly sure why he had slept so badly, but something had kept him awake. Something he couldn’t shake off.

He glanced up at the curtains that covered the window at the foot of his bed and saw that It was beginning to get light.

POP! POP! POP!

The noise was familiar and he realised that the boiler had come on. The house was beginning to make its customary early morning noises as it warmed the pipes.

CREAK!

Fin cocked his ear as a floorboard in the hall made its presence known. The noise would probably have scared some people – yes, just like his sister, but then she was scared of everything. Fin wasn’t scared, he liked noises; in fact, Finley Flood liked all manner of strange things.

He left his room and headed across the hall towards the bathroom. The heating pipes were still making their little popping noises as warm water flowed through them and he quietly kept in time with them, making his own kind of popping noises with his lips.

Fin washed his hands and just before he turned to dry them, he looked into the mirror, which was mounted on the wall above the sink. Something immediately caught his eye. What was that? He looked closer, but couldn’t see anything. This reminds me of something. What is it? What am I thinking about? He slowly raised his hand and just before his fingers made contact with the glass, he saw it again.

BANG!

Fin jumped as the bathroom door burst open and the handle hit the wall hard. Phoebe stood there, hands on hips. Mummy! Finley is looking at himself in the mirror and I need a peepee. Fin quickly dropped his hand and pulled back from the mirror.

Finley, let Phoebe use the toilet and go down and get your breakfast, shouted his mum from the main bedroom. Fin made a face at his sister and pushed past her.

Downstairs he made himself busy in the kitchen, but he was still thinking about the mirror. Why was that familiar? Noises from upstairs meant his Mum and Dad were up, and Fin quickly sat down with the Golden nugget balls he had poured into a bowl for breakfast. He looked at the box as he ate. BE YOUR OWN SUPERHERO, the writing on the front cried out.

He wandered off into a small fantasy in which he could become invisible each time he pulled his right ear. Pulling the left one made him re-appear. Oh, that’s cool. How neat that would be at school. Footsteps on the stairs snapped him out of the fantasy world, and he subconsciously tugged on his left ear.

CRASH!

This time it was the kitchen door’s turn to suffer from Phoebe’s heavy-handedness as she slammed it back against the wall.

Fin hurried his breakfast; he didn’t want to be clearing up after Phoebe. She had to be the messiest sister in the world. Within seconds, Fin’s observation seemed to become true as Golden nugget balls were spilt all over the table and floor, milk was dripping from the table edge and her hair was dangling in the cereal bowl.

Fin swallowed the last of his nuggets, and thought how funny it would be if Phoebe’s bowl had real nuggets in it. Don’t break your teeth, Phoebs, he said as he slipped down from his chair. Phoebe looked at him with a strange nugget-filled grin, milk dripping down her chin. Where did you learn to eat? The Monkey Farm?

Shdugggg firry, shouted Phoebe, spilling more nugget balls from her mouth.

Eww, you are gross, he called back as he headed for the stairs.

The bathroom was occupied and Fin had to scrap any thought of going back to the mirror for now. He got dressed and pulled his schoolbag onto the bed, checking to make sure his homework was in there. He then grabbed a small rubber chicken from the floor and looked at it before stuffing it into the bag. You never know when you might need a rubber chicken. The chicken squawked quietly and he made sure he gave it another squeeze before zipping his bag up. Mum’s head appeared around the bedroom door.

FINLEY! Put that chicken down and go and clean your teeth. Fin gave the bag another squeeze for good measure, giggling as the chicken squawked again. NOW!

Pushing the bathroom door closed, he loaded his toothbrush and studied the mirror as he brushed. He couldn’t see anything unusual. Hmm, I must have imagined that. He rinsed, then put the toothbrush back in its holder and reached out to touch the mirror again.

FINLEY! His mum was shouty today and Fin decided he’d better get downstairs with his bag.

Chapter 2

The school bus stop was at the corner of the street, about five minutes’ walk from the house, and about twenty children were already there when Fin arrived. Various grunts were directed at him and he returned them all with his own style of grunt and nod. He loved the way that boys could grunt at each other and know exactly what the other was saying as if it was a secret language. Fin had thought about that a lot; a secret world where only he and his trusted companions could communicate in code. Put that with my powers of invisibility and I really will be a superhero. He was lost in thought as the bus pulled in.

The boys were no gentlemen and they crammed around waiting for the door to slide open. Squeals of complaint came from the girls, as the boys piled on in front of them. The driver growled at them to behave and to keep their feet off of the seats but as they pushed on, there wasn’t any acknowledgment that a single child had heard him.

Fin put his foot on the doorstep and as he was about to climb up, something caught his eye. The mirror had shimmered, he was sure. He tried to pause for a closer look, but felt a push in his back as the boy behind herded him into the bus. Come on, Fin.

He flicked his head around and saw it was Robby Ibbotsen, his friend. Oh, hi Rob. Robby pushed him into a seat and sat down beside him, squashing him a little with his schoolbag.

As the bus pulled away, Robby started flicking paper pellets at the girls in front of them, the closest of whom was Hannah Sherwood. Fin liked her; she was blonde and cute with a little turned-up nose. Hannah always seemed to have her makeup mirror out, and today was no exception. She turned her head away from the compact and gave Robby a dirty look, shouting above the noise of the bus for him to stop or she would get him thrown off. Robby of course, took this as encouragement to increase the bombardment and Hannah and her friend squealed as more pellets rained down on them.

That’s enough, Robby, said Fin, hoping that Hannah would notice him. There wasn’t much sign of that happening as a jet of water hit Robby in the face. Hannah’s friend was now squeezing her water bottle and both girls were laughing at Robby who now looked a bit sheepish with water dripping down his face.

The bus pulled into the school gate and stopped. Immediately the boys were up and out of their seats. No pushing, growled the driver, not very convincingly.

Fin had French for his first period with Miss Shepherd; a small strict woman with a short black bob. He wasn’t keen on French, preferring Science and tried to concentrate while Robby nudged him in the ribs every few minutes. Robby was a distraction, but he was a good and loyal friend.

Fin reached down into his bag for his pencil case and as he did so, accidently squeezed the chicken. A loud squawk came from his bag and the whole class turned towards him, silence quickly turning to laughter making Fin blush.

SILENCE! shouted Miss Shepherd, the laughter immediately ceasing. She hadn’t found it funny at all and Robby was turning red as he tried to stifle a fit of giggles with his hand. FINLEY FLOOD, bring that to me, NOW!

Fin’s face was red too; his ears were positively glowing and he avoided catching anyone’s eye, as the whole class watched him. He knew Hannah would be watching too and he wished he was invisible. Fin pulled the chicken out of the bag and tried to hide it in his hands unsuccessfully. There was more giggling and pointing and squawks came from the back of the room. SILENCE! Miss shepherd was on her feet now.

Fin made his way to the front of the room and placed the chicken in the tutor’s hand. If she found it remotely funny, she certainly didn’t show it and glared at him instead. Go and sit down and come and see me at the end of your last period.

Fin returned to his seat, still blushing as Robby nudged him. Nice one, mate, and he started giggling again.

Mr Ibbotsen, do you want to come and see me too?

No, Miss, Robby replied and managed to get himself under control. Fin kept his eyes firmly on the desk in front of him.

Chapter 3

Fin heard the lunchtime bell ring and started to make his way down to the cloakrooms. As he turned the last corner, a big boy with a thick mop of hair pushed him. Chicken boy, he said gruffly. A group of smaller boys stood at his shoulder.

George McCarthy was one of the mean boys Fin tried to keep away from but now the chicken had put him on the radar and George’s entourage were making squawking noises and doing various chicken movements with their arms. Fin tried to slip past them, but George read his move and blocked him. Not so fast, chicken boy.

Fin tried hard to avoid eye contact, but George pushed him and he fell against one of the boys who was making the squawking noises. Another push and he was propelled back to George, who caught him square on with his shoulder. Ouch. He felt a sharp pain in his ribs, where George had caught him.

Get up, chicken boy. Fin decided it would be safer if he stayed down. Aw, the chicken boy needs his rubber chicken.

Suddenly there was more pushing. Robby had arrived and he pushed one of the boys out of the way and grabbed Fin’s arm, pulling him up onto his feet. George glared at Robby. Get lost, George, he said and pulled Fin away.

George’s friends were looking at their ringleader, waiting to see what he would do but although he was bigger than Robby, he didn’t fancy a fight. Robby was fast and wasn’t scared of him, so George decided there were easier pickings than Robby and backed off, calling his entourage to him.

Are you okay? Robby asked.

Yeah, I’m okay thanks, Fin replied and rubbed his side.

Stupid kid, Robby said, watching George and his pack as they walked away together. That chicken stunt was hilarious; trust you to come up with that.

It was an accident, Rob.

Robby was laughing. Come on, let’s get our lunch. Maybe they have chicken on the menu. This time they laughed together.

Robby turned left into the lunchroom, and Fin took the opposite door into the boys’ toilet. As soon as he walked through the door he had that that feeling again, the same one he had had when he woke. It felt familiar again. He looked around; the bathroom was empty, but it didn’t feel empty. What’s wrong with me? Something nagged in his head and he shook it gently, trying to place the familiar feeling.

The sinks were to his right with individual mirrors above them and a shimmer flickered in the corner of the first one. He looked directly at it, but now it was coming from the next mirror down. Each time he tried to focus on it, it moved on to the next mirror. This is so weird.

He moved along the bank of mirrors in front of him and paused at the second one, keeping his eyes turned to the first one. Out of the corner of his eye he could see a shimmer in the second mirror and he quickly flicked his eyes over to it and tried to focus, but it immediately disappeared and appeared in the next mirror along. He decided to stand still and raised his hand to the glass and watched as a glow appeared around the edges of the reflection of his hand.

The closer he pushed his hand toward the mirror, the brighter the glow got. When he pulled away, the glow dimmed. He tried again and moved it even closer, and there it was again, stronger this time. Now he could feel something pulling at his hand. He pulled it away with some some effort.

Fin looked around the mirror again, moving in even closer and trying to peer inside. He pushed his hand towards the glass, flattening his palm. The glow began reflecting around his hand and he felt the pull again. He expected to touch the glass and just before he did, the reflection of his hand disappeared into a kind of swirly mist.

SQUAWK!

The glow immediately disappeared and Fin’s hand was suddenly flat against the glass. Robby was standing behind him looking over his shoulder, smirking at his own chicken impression. What are you up to, Fin? He raised an eyebrow.

Oh, um, there was a fly. I tried to squish it.

You goof, come on we need to get lunch or there won’t be enough time.

Chapter 4

Fin just about made the school bus, with his extra piece of French homework tucked in his bag. Miss Shepherd had returned the chicken and Fin had strict orders not to bring it to school again. He didn’t intend to.

He reached his house and rang the doorbell. Phoebe opened the door, with