Free Skinned by Adam Slater

didn’t really bear thinking about what could be out there, or what they might be getting themselves into.
    â€˜I’ll see you tomorrow,’ Callum said. ‘You’ll be all right getting home?’
    â€˜Yep,’ Melissa said, taking a deep breath and pulling her coat closer around her. Callum gave his friend a reassuring smile as he shut the door behind her.
    Turning back into the cottage, Callum took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying the quiet. He felt exhausted, and he knew Melissa was right – the worst hadn’t even begun. He felt like he was battling against a raging tide, with no idea what was out there – it all felt so out of his control.
    But control seemed to be the key to it all: controlling his excuses to Gran; controlling his fears so he couldcreate a shield against evil; controlling his chime child visions. The powers were all there, but at the moment they seemed to be almost completely
outside
of his control. Callum let out another grunt and clenched his fists, taking the opportunity to vent his frustration while he was alone.
    But as he unfurled them, Callum looked down at his hands. It was true – the powers were all there, literally in his hands. He remembered how his mum always used to say, ‘Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.’ That’s why she was so into her climbing; the idea of tackling something that seemed insurmountable. The thought boosted Callum. He
could
do this. He’d fought off that crazy ghost after all, right? He had it in him; he just had to try even harder, learn to use his powers at will, to get as good as he possibly could.
    Maybe it was easier said than done. But he had to try . . .
    Suddenly, a new thought made Callum’s muscles tense. That ghost in Marlock Wood had spoken to him, had known Callum was there. What if . . . Callumwas almost afraid to think it, but what if the Shadowing had one positive outcome?
    If ghosts were able to see mortals, then maybe, just maybe, he could find and actually speak to the ghost of his mother?
    It would make everything worthwhile. Callum had never felt so determined.
I’ll do whatever it takes
, he swore to himself.
Whatever it takes
.

Chapter Eleven
    Melissa came pelting down the platform the next morning minutes before the train to Leicester pulled into Marlock station.
    â€˜Whoa! Slow down,’ Callum said with a grin. ‘What happened to nine o’clock sharp?’
    â€˜Ha ha,’ Melissa retorted. ‘Have you seen this?’
    She thrust a newspaper into his hands, and Callum’s face fell. SECOND CHILD MISSING FROM LEICESTER SUBURB, the headline shouted.
    â€˜Two kids, vanished. The first one was a nine-year-old boy – just completely vanished from his
bedroom
at some point during the night. I saw his mum beinginterviewed on the telly this morning – it was awful, the poor lady was really distraught. The police are searching a wood nearby.’ Melissa shook her head. ‘I don’t think it’s a coincidence, do you?’
    Callum’s heart sank. No, it probably couldn’t be a coincidence. The train pulled in, and they both took their seats in silence.
    â€˜Maybe this is a mistake,’ Melissa said in a low voice. ‘I mean, if Black Annis is already running around snatching children, it could be dangerous us going to Leicester at all.’
    Callum shook his head. ‘We just need to check things out, see if we can get any clues – especially what those humans want with her. We’re going to be careful, don’t worry.’
    Melissa nodded, but they both sat the rest of the journey in preoccupied silence. Fields and houses flashed past outside, and Callum watched them go by with a growing sense of unease. He didn’t want to admit it, but a tingling feeling was building in his hands as the train rattled along. Something was wrong, he just didn’t know what.
    He was almost