Scarred

By Julia Crothers

Returning to the fantastical land of 'Solari', 15-year-old Evie Campbell is left reeling when a shocking turn of events leaves all of the inhabitants in a state of utter devastation. So intent is she on helping her friends that she remains oblivious to the horror that is unfolding in her own world and to the terrifying ordeal that awaits her return…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Oct 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9781528961004

Julia Crothers

Julia Crothers was born and brought up in Cardiff South Wales. She worked for 22 years as an NNEB in schools and hospitals, until finally giving up her job to raise her own five children. ‘SOLARI' is her first novel.

Book preview

Epilogue

About the Author

Julia Crothers was born and raised in Cardiff, South Wales, where she currently lives with her husband and five children. Having worked with children for most of her adult life, she has now turned her attention to writing. Her current novel, ‘Scarred’, follows on from the success of her first novel, ‘Solari’, which was published in 2016.

About the Book

Returning to the fantastical land of ‘Solari’, 15-year-old Evie Campbell is left reeling when a shocking turn of events leaves all of the inhabitants in a state of utter devastation. 

So intent is she on helping her friends that she remains oblivious to the horror that is unfolding in her own world and to the terrifying ordeal that awaits her return…

Dedication

For Bet and Laurie With love.

Copyright © Julia Crothers (2019)

The right of Julia Crothers to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781528914758 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781528914765 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781528961004 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published (2019)

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd

25 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5LQ

Acknowledgement

I would like to thank my husband, Steve, and my children for their love and support during the writing of this book.

It has been said, ‘Time heals all wounds.’ I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone.

― Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy

Prologue

The girl couldn’t breathe.

A waxy sheen shimmered on her skin as she struggled with the great hulk of a man who lay heavily on top of her young body; his hot fetid breath smothering her as he tried to push his slug like tongue inside her mouth. Thick fingers ripped away the buttons of her blouse, causing screams to explode inside her head.

‘No! No! This could not be happening!’

A searing panic jolted inside her brain as the full impact of what was about to happen hit her squarely in the chest. She was helpless against his heavy body that held her pinned to the ground, her struggles useless as he spiralled upwards into a frenzy of lust.

A torrent of fear surged through her veins as his bruising, groping fingers forced their way into the waistband of her jeans…until a loud rumbling sound ricocheted around the small kitchen, causing the man to pause in his assault and glance upwards to the door.

A great white beast, the size of a lion stood blocking the entrance, its hackles raised and its lips peeled back to display a magnificent set of gleaming fangs that dripped saliva as it growled. Menace flowed from its body in rippling waves, as every nerve and fibre strained to breaking point.

The big man swore loudly.

That was it.

The enormous wolf leapt forward and took his leering face in its mouth…ripping it from ear to mouth in one single lunge until striations of blood splattered over worktops and walls like a crimson fountain.

And all the while his screams continued…

Chapter 1

The massive wolf stood perfectly still and listened. She peered with intelligent amber eyes through the forest foliage which was stilled and hushed by a carpet of thick snow. Shaking her giant mane of white fur, she sent the coating of shining, soft crystals scattering in all directions like a dusting of icing sugar, releasing her from their clinging wetness. The great beast then sat down on her haunches raised her long snout into the air and sniffed; her warm breath trailing through the freezing air like wisps of candy floss, and her black velvet muzzle quivering and dancing as the scent again reached her nostrils.

Human!

She knew she was right!

Whining with excitement, she opened her mouth and released a mournful howl that resonated throughout the forest – the primal chords sending chilling shock waves to splinter through every leaf, crack and crevice, until, finally, cloaking the land in a blanket of fear.

Standing again, she padded forwards on velvet paws – her movements like liquid as she melted into the forest’s undergrowth.

Not too far away, fifteen year old, Evie Campbell was trudging through the thick icy snow as carefully as she could, pausing every so often to listen and sniff the air around her.

She tugged her cloak more tightly to her body before blowing on fingers that were rapidly shadowing to a deep blue, as her emerald green eyes studied the trees of the Black Forest and she pondered her next move.

The howl, when it came, sent her senses reeling, and she quickly stifled the sob that rose up and threatened to overwhelm her; quickening her pace with a growing urgency.

A small clearing brought her to a halt, where she stood statue like as she listened – completely unaware that the enormous wolf lay silently watching her.

Time seemed suspended as the whole forest held its breath, encased in a vacuum of silent anticipation.

Nothing moved.

Not a leaf.

Not an animal.

Not an insect.

Nature stilled its heartbeat and waited.

As if in slow motion, an explosion of white erupted from the undergrowth in a surge of pure, magnificent power and in one bound, was upon her, causing Evie to scream loudly…with delight and joy!

Sharlaa! she cried. I knew you’d come. Oh, Sharlaa!

The wolf’s massive body resembled that of a large lion as it squirmed with pleasure and wrapped itself around the small, slightly built girl, knocking off her hood to release a waterfall of red hair that cascaded down her back in waves of fiery gold.

Finally, Sharlaa sat in front of Evie, and studied her intently as the girl slowly shut her eyes and concentrated. Evie carefully adjusted her breathing and cleared her thoughts, becoming one with the life force of the forest as it filled her mind, body and soul. She was aware of the scurrying ants and small animals; the rhythm of life softly infusing her body as the gentle wind whispered its ancient secrets into the air around them.

The people of Solari had taught her how to use and utilise her senses in this manner, and how to reach inside herself for the skills that she didn’t know she had; the skills that most human beings had either lost or forgotten about over the ravages of time. Her whole being had become finely attuned to herself and her surroundings, thus enabling her to not only travel with ease between Solari and her own world, but to allow Sharlaa to speak to her through her mind.

Evie felt joyous emotion bubble up inside her as she heard the low, guttural voice inside her head.

Dogo Shugga, it rasped. "You are my family and a member of the Pack of the White Wolves. I will always be here for you. We do not forget that you pulled Suri from the jaws of death in the Gloom pools. Her life belongs to you."

Saving the life of Sharlaa’s cub, Suri, had not only earned her a place in the wolf pack, but also her title, ‘Dogo Shugaa’, meaning ‘Little Warrior’, of which, Evie was immensely proud.

Concentrating, she thought the words she wished to speak.

Sharlaa…how I have missed you! It feels so good to be back!

Likewise, Dogo Shugga. I trust that you no longer live in fear?

Casting her mind back to the day she had arrived at this strange but wonderful place, Evie gave an involuntary shudder as she remembered the beatings she had received at the hands of her alcoholic stepfather and the vicious bullying taunts from the local girls. The intolerable fear and pain ‘Big John Campbell’ had caused her had finally pushed her over the edge of sanity to plunge into the darkest pit of hell…where her mind had given her an escape route from the horror of her trappings and into the light that was Solari – a place of comfort and solace. Sharlaa had returned with Evie to her world to put an end to her suffering at the hands of such a brutal man.

The guttural sounds of the great wolf’s voice was like music to her ears and Evie sighed happily.

He has been taken care of, she whispered. Locked away and never to return.

Hanging her head, she cast her eyes downwards.

You left your mark on him, Sharlaa, so that now people cower and hide from him.

She shuffled her foot on the ground and chewed on her bottom lip before the words burst out from her.

And I’m glad! I’m glad because it means he can’t do to others what he tried to do to me!

Throwing her arms around the massive beast, Evie hugged her tightly and buried her face in the luxurious fur seeking comfort as the distressing images flooded her mind…

He was carried away, whispered Evie. "Screaming about a monstrous white lion. They think he is quite mad."

"He was punished," growled Sharlaa."It is done."

They remained close together, their bond strengthening as the love they shared flowed between them…until a series of spine chilling howls brought them both swiftly to their feet to listen intently as the primal calls continued to wail out their melancholy lament.

In just a flicker of time, Sharlaa was gone.

Chapter 2

Adrian Chubb sat on the small hard chair, and wrinkled his nose disdainfully as the sharp acrid smell of disinfectant and medicines assaulted his senses. The incessant bleeping of the machine was getting on his nerves, and he wished his mother would hurry up and get better so that they could leave this hospital, and go home.

That small dark Irish nurse had just come over and put a hand on his shoulder while she whispered that it ‘wouldn’t be much longer’. If that was the case, why couldn’t they go?

He fumbled in his pockets with a meaty fist and pulled out one of the many chocolate bars that forever lay nestled in their depths, before thrusting it in his mouth all in one go. He chewed methodically; his fleshy jowls wobbling back and forth as he savoured the creamy sweetness.

Adrian peered through a curtain of dark greasy hair at the tiny birdlike figure in the bed and sighed. He knew that she hadn’t been well for a while with a constant pain in the chest – ‘indigestion’, she’d said and had absolutely refused to see the doctor.

Three days ago when she had collapsed, Adrian had been forced to call an ambulance and she had been admitted straight away to Liverpool’s General Hospital.

It was the first time the word ‘Cancer’ had been used.

‘Cancer’!

The word that caused people to tremble and cover their ears!

The word that people avoided speaking aloud as if the silence would protect them from its deadly clutches. The poisonous disease that attacked and killed at random; merciless cells darting out to slash and maim like terrorists, before burrowing deep inside to hide from any responding retaliation!

He didn’t think for one minute that she wouldn’t get better.

She had to!

Brenda Chubb had been a big, brash, loud-mouthed character who doted on her podgy, overweight