Raymond's Secret

By G. Wulfing

Toby Wilson’s best friends from school, Callum and George, are starting to become more and more worried about Wilson’s other friend and fellow student: the polite, mysterious Raymond. Is Raymond just foreign and a bit weird, or is he genuinely dangerous? If he is genuinely dangerous, would knowing the reason why be more dangerous than not knowing it? Wilson struggles to allay his friends’ fears without lying to them or betraying Raymond; and then another problem appears: Raymond has a stalker. And she even knows the contents of his lunchbox. Wilson finds that he needs to learn to emulate Raymond’s poise and acting ability very quickly – preferably without going mad, hurting any of his friends, or getting into huge amounts of trouble that would be extremely difficult to explain to adults.
Raymond’s secret threatens to explode in his face – and take Wilson, Callum, and George with it – in this story, the third in the ‘Raymond’ series, about the ‘sort-of vampire’ and his long-suffering friend Wilson.

• Language: English
• Publisher: G. Wulfing
• Release date: Dec 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463692431

G. Wulfing

G. Wulfing, author of kidult fantasy and other bits of magic, is a freak. They have been obsessed with reading since they learned how to do it, and obsessed with writing since they discovered the fantasy genre a few years later. G. Wulfing has no gender, and is of varying age. G. Wulfing lives amidst the beautiful scenery of New Zealand, prefers animals to people, and requires solitude, books, music, chocolate, and masala chai lattes in order to remain functional.

Book preview

Raymond’s Secret

Published by G. Wulfing at Smashwords

Copyright 2019 G. Wulfing

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favourite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

———

The book cover is by the excellent DrRiptide:

drriptide.deviantart.com

———

This is the third book in a series by G. Wulfing: the first book is titled Raymond, and the second Raymond’s Nemesis.

———

Table of contents:

Raymond’s Secret

About G. Wulfing

Raymond’s Secret

It was a grey, cold day partway through the Winter term.

School had just finished for the day, and George, Callum, Raymond and I wove unhurriedly between the groups of other chattering students, making our way towards the school gates.

George stretched his shoulders, rolling them against the straps of his backpack, and yawned. Wish I could take one of Mr Gibson’s maths classes right before bedtime. I’d sleep so well.

I nodded, yawning in sympathy. If we could just have basketball during maths, and maths at bedtime. We’d never learn any maths, ’cause we’d be half asleep, but that wouldn’t be anything new.

And we’d get to play more basketball, Callum agreed. Win/win.

I caught Logan’s eye as we passed him, but the tall, dark-haired teenager looked away immediately. I supressed a smirk. Logan Graves had stayed away from me and Raymond consistently since early Autumn, and that was exactly how Raymond and I wanted it.

As we exited the school gates, Raymond looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to fall into step beside him so that we could walk home together, as usual.

George muttered in my ear, Wilson, can we talk for a minute?

Oh, okay. I looked at Raymond. Um, I’ll catch you up in a minute, Raymond.

He nodded casually. His expression behind his smoky-amber sunglasses was subtle, but I could tell what he was thinking almost as clearly as if he had said it aloud. ‘I trust you, Toby Wilson. I know that you will not tell my secret; not even to Callum and George.’

I found myself giving a slight nod in response, as though he really had spoken. Then he turned and walked on.

George gave my backpack a light slap. Come on.

He and Callum led me swiftly back through the gates, against the flow of students, past the majority of the school buildings, and out into the middle of the sports field. From here, we were out of earshot of everyone in the school, and we could see anyone approaching.

George turned slowly on the spot, scanning the surroundings thoroughly to make sure that there was no one else around. Okay, I think we’re all right here.

Wilson … Callum began, quietly.

Ye-es? I answered apprehensively, guessing what was coming next.

Callum and George glanced at each other.

George cleared his throat. Um … about Raymond … It’s sort of awkward … not knowing stuff about him.

I nodded, and said simply, I know.

It’s just … is he … Callum began, then trailed off with a grunt of frustration, and shook his head. No. Never mind. I don’t want to know.

I gripped his shoulder in grateful appreciation, relieved. No, Callum, you’re right. You really don’t. And I need you to not ask.

Callum looked at me thoughtfully. He hasn’t … threatened you at all, has he?

I shook my head. Of course not. He wouldn’t do that. I paused, searching for the right words. But some things are just best … not talked about. I looked at them. You’re okay with that, right? Both of you?

Callum thought for a moment, then nodded, then shook his head. Yes, but no. I mean … part of me really, really wants to know. And another part of me thinks … I really don’t. It could be – too dangerous to know.

George nodded. Same here.

I nodded. I get that. But trust me, guys: it’s all right. Everything’s fine. He hasn’t done anything spooky in all the time that we’ve known him, has he? So … it’s fine. I shrugged. Isn’t it?

"But … he’s weird! Callum moaned in frustration, trying to keep his voice down. He’s just – so weird!"

I laughed ruefully, shaking my head. "I know, Callum, I know! He is weird.

"But, listen, we have two choices: we can tell him he’s too weird and forget about him, in which case he won’t stop being weird, we just won’t have to be around him. But that would suck. We’d be back to playing basketball with only three people.

Or we can just accept his weirdness, and not let it bother us.

"But I keep wondering if he’s gonna start – I dunno – growing fangs or something! Callum muttered, glancing around to be sure that no one could overhear us. It’s freaky, Wilson."

I bit hard on my tongue. The words ‘I have never seen his fangs, so they probably don’t exist’ had leapt to mind, and I almost choked myself in stopping them from coming out of my throat. Anything I could say in reply to Callum’s statement, I realised, would be lethal. It would either sound like a lie, an obvious cover-up, or the truth.

But silence would be just as bad.

I swallowed, and forced a laugh. I don’t think we have to worry about fangs, I said carefully. I risked a surreptitious glance at George, and saw that he was studying my face. I was probably only slightly less transparent than plastic cling-film.

I keep wondering what he’s going to do next time I have a nosebleed! Do you remember how he stared at me the first time he was here and I got one? What if he ––

Callum stopped abruptly.

The three of us looked at each other.

I think what Callum is trying to say, George said circumspectly, is that if there’s anything we need to know, – for safety’s sake, then you’d better tell us.

I took a deep breath. Right. Yes. That makes sense.

I glanced back in the direction of the school gates. But can we do it another time? Raymond’s probably waiting for me to catch up, and I don’t want him to start worrying.

Worrying about you? asked Callum flippantly. What, that you’ll get hit by a car again, or something?

I looked at him coldly. No. Worried about himself. Worried about what I might be telling you.

Oh. Callum looked slightly shamefaced.

You’d better go then, said George understandingly, giving me a small, amiable push. And tell him not to worry. We’re not going to ditch him. – Or you.

I gave a small smile. Thanks, guys. I’ll see you tomorrow.

I jogged to catch up with Raymond, my school backpack heavy on my shoulders. As I had suspected, Raymond was lingering at the first corner on the way home, lounging with his customary effortless elegance against a lamp-post, reading his small black leather-bound book. I knew that he would have heard me coming, but it was only as I drew close that his amber eyes flicked up from the book, straight into mine. Raymond was many things, but afraid of eye contact was not one of them.

He closed the book, waiting for me to speak. I looked away, not knowing how to start.

There was a pause.

Wilson … Raymond hesitated. Is there a problem?

I shook my head awkwardly. Not exactly … George and Callum were asking me about you, though.

I heard Raymond give a deep, sad sigh; something which was unusual for him.

Don’t worry, I said quickly, knowing what he was thinking, they said they wouldn’t ditch you. Or me. They’re just … a bit worried. About you.

Raymond nodded slightly. That is natural enough; however, I had understood that they were content to know as little about me as possible. – Is that no longer the case?

I squirmed slightly, feeling as though I was stuck in the middle; trying to keep Raymond’s secret without lying to Callum and George.

It is and it isn’t. They’re just a bit worried that you might lose control at some point. They want to know what to do if you – lose it.

Raymond’s face lit with mirth. Emergency procedure for a vampire, he said humorously. How truly delightful. It is wise of them, Wilson.

Yeah, I guess so, I said, relaxing slightly. But you’d better tell me what to say to them.

Of course.

We started walking.

Tomorrow afternoon, perhaps, at the Cemetery, Raymond suggested. Would that be convenient for you?

Yeah, should be fine.

Good. That will give me some time to think.

A few moments later he said, Wilson. I understand that it is difficult to be in your position. You feel compelled to keep my secret, yet you cannot lie to your friends.

I nodded.

Raymond swallowed. I apologise for placing you in such a difficult position.

I shrugged.

The game was never intended to become this complicated. I never … I did not intend for situations such as this, and the one concerning Logan, to arise.

Yeah, I know. I shrugged again. I suppose … well, I suppose it was inevitable really. I mean it was fine when you were on your own, but once I got involved … and then George and Callum …

Your involvement was largely my fault, Raymond pointed out.

"Yeah but … not really. I mean … Oh, sod it, Raymond, I guess I’m just trying to say that it’s okay. George and Callum will be fine once they know that you’re really and truly not dangerous. They’re just a bit worried. I suppose if one of my friends was hanging out with someone I was pretty sure was a vampire, I’d be worried too.

And if I didn’t want to be involved in the game, I’ve had my chances to walk away, haven’t I?

Indeed you have. Raymond gave me one of his slow, warm, closed-mouth smiles which lit his eyes, like golden, late afternoon sunlight. And it is marvellous to me that you are still here, despite the number of times that I have put you in danger.

I shrugged again, and grinned. Yeah, well, what can I say. I really like your telescope, that’s all.

Raymond chuckled deep in his chest. Do you also have a fondness for the full moon? he asked humorously.

S’pose I must. I must be as obsessed with it as you are.

Is it possible for a human to be so?

Probably not.

Then perhaps you are not an ordinary human. He looked at me. I suspected as much. Your heart is too large, and your intellect too broad.

I felt myself flushing with embarrassment, and muttered, Oh, shut up.

Raymond merely smiled.

The following afternoon, Raymond and I detoured from our usual route home, and made our way to the Keystone Cemetery. It was deserted, as was usual on a weekday afternoon. The iron latch of the side gate clinked behind us, loud in the cold, grey stillness of the Winter day.

We trudged along the familiar gravel paths, heading for the dozen massive, currently leafless oak trees at the far end of the cemetery. We leant our school backpacks against the trunk of the largest oak, and perched as usual on its roots. By now we had found the most comfortable parts of the roots to sit on.

In the gloomy shade of the trees, Raymond removed his sunglasses, and began with no ado.

The question of – Raymond’s mouth quirked with amusement; he still found it funny – ‘emergency procedure for me’ is relatively simple. The difficulty of it is, Wilson, that you must allay Callum’s and George’s fears without confirming nor denying their suspicions toward me. If you confirm them –

They might freak out, I interjected, "because even though they know that something is different about you, we’ve never actually discussed what it is; and if they get scared enough they might tell someone. I don’t think they would, but … the more people there are who think that you’re a vampire, the greater the chances that someone will let it slip. Plus it would be lying."

Precisely, Raymond nodded. And if you deny them: ––

If I deny them, they’ll either think that I’m lying to protect you, or they’ll wonder why I didn’t tell them sooner. They might think that I led them on, which is basically the same as lying to them. – Plus they’ll think you’re potty.

Exactly. Raymond hesitated. Once again I apologise utterly for placing you in this situation, Wilson. It is … truly awful.

Yup, I agreed frankly, and leaned back against the tree trunk. But playing basketball with only three people is pretty awful, too.

I took a deep breath. "Raymond, since I met you, I’ve been scared out of my wits, I’ve almost killed myself by falling off a roof, I’ve run