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Prologue
Little, wooden, fleshy face,
Full of evil, full of grace,
Is he good or is he bad?
Spooky little sailor lad. - PJM
Red sky at night... shepherds delight.
Red sky dawning... Sailors warning - ANON
1 - Underneath the arches
The train emerged slowly from the tunnel, rattling and bumping along the tracks. The station platform was only minutes away.
   Lalna stared in fascination out of the window. "Wow! Look at these old archways. They look really creepy. I wonder what they were used for?"
   Xephos looked out at the crumbling Victorian brickwork and shook his head. "I've no idea. Look... there's an arch with a door."
   Lalna nodded.
   The train passed under a bridge and moved closer to the embankment. Xephos frowned at the jumble of litter strewn along the edge of the rails: bottles, cans... even an old mattress. As they passed under another road-bridge, more archways appeared, and then the most striking graffiti on the brickwork.
   "Wow!" Lalna gasped "Some artist!"
   Xephos, who had always enjoyed art, stared at the bold style and vivid colour of the lettering. He nodded enthusiastically.
   A voice sounded over the intercom: "The next station is Scawlsby on sea. The train will terminate here. Please check you have all your belongings."
   Xephos' mind wandered to the cosy Victorian house at number ten, Yogcave Terrace. Aunt Kim had invited him and Lalna to stay for a few days. Scawlsby on Sea was definitely not the most picturesque of towns, especially during the winter. But it was still a Tektopian, Sea-side place, and with Lalna - his best friend - alongside him, he just knew that they were going to have a great time.
   The train slowed, bumped and jolted its way along the jumble of tracks. The boys stood up and reached for their bags.
   "Come on, Minty! We're here!" Xephos said excitedly.
   Mrs Minute had been dozing for the last half hour. Xephos' two year old sister, Lomadia, had slept by her side. Mrs Minute stretched and yawned. "Are you boys OK with those bags?"
   "No problem Mrs M!" Lalna replied.
   Xephos manhandled the bigger of the bags toward the end of the carriage. "We'll wait by the door, Mum." he said. Minty wasn't actually his mum, more like a sister, but he did sometimes call her it.
   The train passed under the shadow of another road-bridge and ground to a halt. Xephos put his bag down on the floor and stood with his legs astride it. The carriage was only a metre away from the underside of the bridge. He found himself staring through the window at an image daubed in paint directly in front of him.
   "Hey Lalna! look at this!"
   The graffiti depicted what looked like a wheelie bin, but with the lid lifted slightly. Sinister eyes stared out from the shadow just beneath it. The word 'SCULLION' was painted in a dramatic style down the side of the bin.
   The image fascinated and disturbed Xephos at the same time. The eyes peering out from bellow the lid - they looked really menacing... almost, threatening.
   The train lurched forward again.
   "That's weird!" Lalna exclaimed. "And look...there's more of them."
   Both boys watched spellbound as the image repeated itself along the crumbling brickwork of the station approach... at least ten more wheelie bins... ten more sets of evil eyes staring out from bellow the lids... the word 'SCULLION' running diagonally across each bin.
   The train finally pulled up alongside the platform.
   Xephos pushed the button by the side of door. It hissed open.
   A few moments later, he and Lalna had the bags on the platform. They waited patiently whilst Mrs Minute took Lomadia away to make a 'loo-stop.'
   "Who do you think painted the graffiti?"
   Lalna shook his head. "I've no idea."
   Xephos' mum reappeared with Lomadia in her arms. "OK you two? Let's go and find a taxi."
   Xephos and Lalna picked up their bags. Mrs Minute put Lomadia down and grabbed her overnight bag. They made their was up the platform and passed into the main street. As they moved through the station exit and out into the street, a group of people brushed by them on the way in. Xephos suddenly felt compelled to look over his shoulder. A girl, about the same age as himself, turned and stared back. She smiled and he quickly looked away, the colour rushing into his cheeks. But her face was 'freeze-framed' in his mind... a pale, smiling face with shiny white teeth and clear determined eyes. His arms began to ache. He walked on a few paces, stopped and put his bag on the floor. He took a deep breath and looked back. She was gone!
   "Are you OK, Xephos?" Lalna asked. "What are you staring at?"
   "There was a girl..." Xephos whispered. "She was staring at me."
   "Oh yeah!" Lalna chuckled. "In your dreams!"
   "I'm telling you-"
   "Come on you two!" Xephos' mum called to them. "Let's get to Kim's! I'm gasping for a cup of tea."
   They moved out into the street. It was beginning to get dark and the cracked paving slabs glistened in the drizzle. Xephos shivered a little and felt a tinge of excitement as he recalled the girl's face. Why had she smiled at him? It was almost as if she'd recognised him.
   "Come on, Xeph! Stop daydreaming!" Lalna teased, as he climbed into the taxi.
   A few seconds later, they were being driven along streets lined with brightly-coloured Victorian houses. But Xephos noticed lots of vandalism... bus shelters with broken windows, upturned supermarket trolleys littering shop fronts, and graffiti daubed across almost every available wall space.
   No one in the taxi spoke. Even Lomadia remained silent. The extensive vandalism and the drizzly weather combined to blot out the colourful nature of the old seaside town.
   Xephos' mum finally broke the silence. "Almost there!" she said in a cheery voice. "I hope you're Aunt Kim's got the kettle on."
   The taxi turned into Yogcave terrace.
   "By the way," Mrs Minute said with a slightly nervous edge to her voice, "Aunt Kim's taken in a lodger. His name's Honeydew Prior. He's an old man. Apparently he's a bit grumpy, but Kim says he's harmless enough and won't bother you."
   Xephos looked at Lalna and Lalna stared back.
   "Why does she need a lodger, Minty?" Xephos asked, sensing she wasn't over pleased with the idea.
   Mrs Minute sighed. "It all helps to pay the bills. Her part-time job pays precious little, and ever since uncle Ridge died..."
   As the taxi finally drew up outside number ten, the wind whipped up and the drizzle turned to driving rain. Aunt Kim appeared at the door and shouted at them to get inside. Though she was smiling, Xephos saw the worry in her eyes. And then he saw that her front garden was strewn with litter... bottles, cans and all manner of rubbish.
   "Hi Kim!" What's happened here?" Xephos' mum shouted through the rain. She trotted up the path with Lomadia clinging tightly to her.
   "I'll tell you when you're all inside," Aunt Kim shouted back. "Hurry up, Xephy... and - Lalna, isn't it?" Come on in... out of the rain."
   Xephos picked up his bag and pushed open the gate. As he set off up the path, he failed to see the face peering down form the bedroom window. It was an old, ginger bearded man's face, wrinkled and tanned. It stared at Xephos with sad eyes... a haunted expression... finally disappearing beck behind the lace curtains.
2 - Aunt Kim
Aunt Kim greeted each of them in turn. She embraced Xephos' mum, moved on to Lomadia, gave Xephos a hug, and finished by shaking Lalna's hand. Although Aunt Kim was only a few years older than his mum, her face looked much older... more wrinkles than the last time, Xephos thought to himself.
   She brushed a hand over her greying head and led them through the hallway into the sitting room. A big fire roared in the hearth. The warmth of the dancing flames made Xephos feel calmer and more relaxed.
   "So how are you Kim?" Mrs Minute asked, taking a cigarette from her bag.
   Auntie Kim said nothing. She frowned at the cigarette. Xephos watched as his mum put it back in the pocket. "Sorry! Force of habit... I'll smoke it outside later."
   "It's a bad habit Minty. I can't understand why you don't give it up."
   "Easier said than done," Xephos' mum replied. "Anyway... that's my problem. What happened to the garden?"
   Xephos looked straight at Aunt Kim, wondering what she would say. Her garden had always been the best-kept in the street. She took a real pride in it.
   "I'll tell you later," was all she said.
   While Aunt Kim busied herself in the kitchen, Xephos' mum hung their coats up and the two boys made themselves comfortable.
   Xephos scanned around at the old-fashioned décor of the room... bright flowered wallpaper, chintz curtains and a strikingly bald patterned carpet covered in red and orange swirls.
   "This house is really cosy," Lalna said. "Who's the man in the photograph?"
   Xephos followed Lalna's gaze up to the mantelpiece above the fire.
   "That was Xephos' uncle Ridge," Mrs Minute replied. "He died ten years ago. He was a good man."
   Xephos went over to the photograph, picked it up and gazed at uncle Ridge's striking features. Deep chestnut curly hair topped his bronze face. His warm but mischievous smile revealed rows of flashing white teeth. (Aunt Kim said that uncle Ridge was always smiling.) The eyes were steely blue - so clear and full of life.
   He passed the photograph to Lalna. "He was a member of the lifeboat crew," Xephos said proudly. "He saved loads of lives."
   "One hundred and three to be exact," Aunt Kim chipped in, placing a tray of scones down on the coffee table, "He'd worked with the fishing fleet and been a voluntary member of the Scawlsby Lifeboat crew for seventeen years, ever since he'd left school."
   "That's fantastic!" Lalna said, eyeing the scones at the same time.
   "He loved the sea, and that's what killed him in the end."
   A hush fell across the room. The fire crackled and hissed.
   "There was a great storm and a shipwreck," Xephos' mum said sadly. "Lots of men lost their lives that night."
   "Enough of that," Aunt Kim said, forcing a smile. "Help yourselves to scones and jam while I go and get the drinks."
   The rain continued to splatter on the windows and the wind whistled down the chimney making the flames dance brightly. It was good to be tucked up inside. And yet Xephos sensed that all was far from cosy in his Aunt's little terraced house.
   He bit into a fresh scone smothered in raspberry jam... it tasted good and he cheered up. He cheered up even more as Lomadia licked at her scone and covered her face in jam and cream. Lalna said she looked like a little clown who'd just been hit in the face with a custard pie, and this made Xephos laugh.
   And then something made Xephos look over his shoulder toward the door... and his heart skipped a beat.
   An old man's face peered around the door at them- sad eyes... staring... penetrating - and then it was gone.
Aunt Kim clutched her mug of tea and spoke in a shaky voice. "Vandals! They did it. They're a damn nuisance! I didn't hear a thing. I just got up this morning and there it was. Litter and rubbish everywhere. It's senseless!"
   "Kim, that's really bad... I know how much you love your garden," Xephos' mum said sympathetically.
   Aunt Kim took a sip of tea before continuing. "We all love our gardens - or at least we did! Now folks are starting to give up. And you can't blame them. What's the point? They just trash everything."
   "Has anyone been in touch with the police?" Xephos' mum asked.
   "Yes... we all have."
   "And...?" She asked expectantly.
   "Nothing!" Aunt Kim sighed. "The police say they're keeping a look out. But nobody's ever caught. The whole town's rife with it... there's vandalism everywhere. It's killing the place."
   Billy looked across to his friend. Lalna read his thoughts. "Xephos Blue, private investigator... he'll get to the bottom of it," Lalna quipped.
   Aunt Kim frowned. "From what I've heard, you two had more than enough adventures on your last holiday. I'm sure the police will get to the bottom of it, and in the meantime, you can enjoy yourselves and keep out of trouble, The forecast's not too bad for the next few days."
   "I think I better go and get this little madam cleaned up and ready for bed," Xephos' mum said, smiling. She picked Lomadia up and moved towards the door.
   "Watch out for Honeydew!" Aunt Kim said. "He's harmless enough, but he creeps about the place."
   "Your new lodger," Xephos said. "Minty told us."
   "Yes, he was a friend of your granddad. He's had a lot of bad luck recently and he needed somewhere to stay."
   "What sort of bad luck?" Lalna asked.
   Both boys watched as Aunt Kim took another sip of tea. "Well, a few weeks ago his kitchen caught fire and half his house burnt down."
   "Wow... that really is bad luck." Xephos sighed. "How did it happen?"
   "Says he left a pan on... silly old duffer!" Aunt Kim said. "Fire brigade got there just in time. He was upstairs. They had to get him down on one of their ladders.
   Xephos looked back toward the door of the living room. There was a dark space between the edge of the door and the hallway. He half expected to see the old man's eyes peering through again... but there was no one.
That night, Xephos tossed and turned on the bed setee. Aunt Kim had set it up in the sitting room. The fire had died down, but it was still throwing out some heat. Perhaps the room was too warm. Perhaps his mind was too active. Perhaps it was Lalna snoring loudly by his side. Whatever the reason, Xephos found himself unable to get to sleep.
   When he finally did drop off, he dreamt he was walking underwater... on the seabed... weaving in and out of great fronds of seaweed... looking for something, but he didn't know what. And then, in the distance, through the wavering blue haze, he saw a shoal of big fish. And as he moved closer, he saw that they were dolphins... all swimming in a circle... around something... the same something he knew he was looking for.
   As he moved closer still, the dolphins parted to reveal a mermaid sitting in their centre.,, a beautiful young mermaid with long blonde hair and a familiar face. She stared at him, her clear blue eyes intense and penetrating... delving into his mind.
   Xephos woke up in a cold sweat, desperately trying to think where he'd seen that face. And then - as consciousness fully returned - he knew!
   He rolled over to face Lalna and whispered loudly. "Lalna! Wake up. You won't believe this!"
   Lalna stopped snoring, grunted and half opened his eyes. "What are you on about?"
   "The girl... the one that smiled at me in the railway station..."
   "Yeah... like I said before... in your dreams!"
   Xephos pushed himself up on his elbows and stared at Lalna with wide eyes. "That's exactly the point," he whispered excitedly. "I've just seen her again... in my dreams!"
3 - Beside the seaside.
Xephos and Lalna walked quietly up to the kitchen table. The old man sat at one end; Xephos' mum sat at the other side, Lomadia by her side.
   "There you are! Morning, boys! Come on... sit yourselves down," Aunt Kim said, smiling at them. "Now this is Honeydew - my lodger."
   Xephos sat down and glanced across at Honeydew. He was eating a bowl of cereal. He raised his eyes and nodded his head ever so slightly.
   "Honeydew... this is Xephos - my nephew - and his friend, Lalna. They're staying with me for a few days during half term. My sister's leaving them with me."
   Honeydew raised his eyes again, looked Xephos and Lalna up and down, and went back to his cereal.
   The boys cast a glance at each other and concentrated their attention on Xephos' mum and Lomadia - it was much easier!
   "What time are you going home, Minty?" Xephos asked.
   "I'm going into town with Kim - on her way to work - and then I'll be off. Don't worry, you'll soon be rid of us!" Mrs Minute said with a smile.
   Helping themselves to cereal and toast, the boys talked quietly and made plans for the day. Honeydew finished his cereal, slurped his mug of tea - rather too loudly, Xephos thought to himself - and left without speaking.
   "You'll soon get used to old Honeydew," Aunt Kim said, pouring herself a cup of tea. "He's a heart of gold underneath that grumpy exterior. And he's had a lot to put up with one way or another."
   Xephos nodded. It wasn't every day that someone's house half burnt down.
   "It's a lovely day today, boys," Aunt Kim said from the sink. She was already washing some of the breakfast dishes and gazing out of the window. The sunlight streamed in and lit up the window.
   Xephos suddenly remembered the rubbish strewn across her garden, "Have you got any bin liners? We could clear the garden for you."
   "Bless!" she said, smiling toward her sister. "You've a good lad there, Minty."
   "You don't have to tell me," Xephos' mum replied proudly. "And Lalna... he's not so bad either."
   Lalna took a bite from his slice of toast and pretended not to hear.
   Breakfast finished, both boys left the table and headed off toward the garden. They each had two black bin liners supplied by Aunt Kim from the cupboard under the kitchen sink. Xephos was eager to get started.
   Lalna wasn't too enthusiastic. "Why did you have to go and say that? Great start to the holiday - picking up rubbish" We'll probably pick up a disease and finish up in the hospital!"
   "I just felt sorry for her," Xephos said quietly. "I wanted to cheer her up."
   Lalna sighed. "OK! it shouldn't take us too long if we get stuck in."
   Whilst Lalna watched, Xephos tore one of the bin liners into two and wrapped the black plastic around his right hand. Lalna did the same. A few minutes later they were out in the morning sunshine, picking up the rubbish with their protected hand and dropping it into a bin liner held up in the other.
   As Lalna had predicted, it didn't take long. After a final search amongst Aunt Kim's shrugs and bushes, Lalna found something interesting.
   "What do you make of this?" he shouted, holding up a small round object. He dropped it on to the garden path.
   Xephos walked over and peered down at it. "It looks like a little hat." He picked it up and examined it more closely, his hand still wrapped in the bin liner. It was white with a black band around it. A small emblem stood out on the front of it. "Look at this. It looks like a small anchor."
   Lalna stood with his hands on his hips and stared at it, deep in thought. "I've got it!" he said triumphantly. "It's a doll's hat... a sailor doll!"
   Xephos looked at Lalna admiringly. Lalna was brainy. And what with Xephos being practical... they made a good team.
   Xephos stuffed the little cap in his pocket. He decided to ask Aunt Kim about it later. He did a final sweep through the garden, tied each bag of rubbish securely and placed them in the wheelie bin round the back of the house.
   Aunt Kim was more than pleased to have her garden neat and tidy again. Even the late-flowering shrubs seemed to glow with pride in the autumn sunshine. She gave Xephos and Lalna some money to treat themselves down on the promenade. The sailor cap remained in Xephos' pocket... he forgot all about it.
By mid-morning, the sky had turned cloudy. A cold wind whistled up the cobbled street, but at least it wasn't raining. As the two friends walked side by side, heading toward the seafront, Xephos glanced to his left down an alleyway and saw an abandoned shopping trolley lying on its side, empty lager cans scattered around it. There was graffiti daubed across a redbrick wall, but nothing like the spectacular artwork they'd seen by the rail tracks.
   He turned to Lalna. "That girl I saw at the station - the one I dreamt about - I cant stop thinking about her."
   "You've got it bad, Xephy-boy!" Lalna replied, looking eagerly toward the seafront. "Maybe you need a girlfriend." He sniffed the air and ran on ahead. "Come on... I can smell candyfloss."
   Despite the cold Autumn day, most of the amusements and food stalls were open for half term. A wooden shack adorned with the word 'CANDYFLOSS' in faded painted letters caught their attention. They each bought a stick and continued on towards an amusement arcade.
   "Look" Lalna suddenly cried out. "They've got Zombie attack!"
   They shuffled up behind the huge computer screen and watched in fascination as the player concentrated on destroying a line of zombies.
   "Wow! He's doing really well," Lalna almost shouted from the back of the seated figure.
   A zombie, scarier than the rest, suddenly appeared on the screen and hurled missiles toward the player. The screen exploded in a blaze of colour and then the words 'GAME OVER' appeared.
   The boy swivelled round to face Xephos and Lalna. He was wearing a red baseball cap and his face looked even redder. "You dorks! You broke my concentration!"
   Xephos took a step backwards. Lalna did the same. "Sorry!" Lalna said meekly. "I didn't mean to... I thought you were doing really well."
   The boy stood up. He was tall... at least a foot taller then Lalna. "That's just the point, mate... I was doing well - until you two geeks turned up."
   Xephos and Lalna took another step backwards.
   At the same time, four more boys appeared. They wore similar red baseball caps and none of them smiled. One of the four was more muscly than the rest. He wore gold rings on all his fingers and a small ring through his top lip. "You owe Benj some money," he said in a gruff voice.
   "W-why...?" Lalna stammered.
   "You made him lose... so it only seems right that you pay up... so that he can play again."
   The other boys scowled and nodded in agreement.
   Xephos glanced sideways at Lalna. Lalna read his thoughts.
   The two friends sprinted out of the arcade on to the promenade. Xephos glanced back over his shoulder. His heart raced at the sight of the four boys all haring after them.
   Lalna couldn't speak. He panted heavily as he looked more scared, opening up a short lead over Xephos.
   "YOU'RE DEAD MEAT!" a voice screamed from behind.
   Xephos sprinted on, his heart beating even faster. Now he was at the side of his friend. He spoke in short gasps. "They're going - to catch us - cant keep - this up -"
   Lalna said nothing. His face was deathly white, his eyes wide with fear.
   The sound of chasing footsteps grew louder. The two friends ran on, desperate to get away. They weaved in and out of numerous holidaymakers strolling along the promenade. They almost knocked over a small boy walking between his parents.
   "You stupid idiots!" the boy's father shouted after them.
   They ran along a line of amusement arcades, side stalls, snack bars and on toward a small funfair at the end of the promenade.
   Neither of them dared look back over their shoulder. They could hear the yobbish voices of their pursuers growing louder... they were sure to be caught - it was just a matter of time..."
   Xephos stared ahead and saw a girl about the same age as himself walking straight toward him. She wore a black burette and a red tartan kilt. She was on a collision course.
   "Get out of the way!" he yelled at her.
   But she stared down at the ground and just kept on coming.
   "WATCH OUT!"
   He tried to swerve to miss her, but she moved the same way. He braced himself for the collision and half closed his eyes... but nothing happened! She wasn't there anymore - and Xephos found himself running onwards.
   "The girl in the kilt!" Lalna gasped. "What happened?"
   Before Xephos could reply, a hand gripped him on the shoulder. Without hesitation he turned round and threw a punch with his right hand. It caught the youth completely by surprise and knocked him to the floor. The other four boys were close behind. The sight of their friend being punched to the ground made them madder than ever.
   "YOU LITTLE..."
   Xephos didn't hear the rest. He and Lalna ran on even faster then before... but they both knew they were almost finished.
   And then... there in front, standing by the helter-skelter, a girl stood waving at them.
   Xephos and Lalna gasped in surprise. It was the girl in the kilt again.
   But how...
   And then Xephos recognised the girl's face...
   "Quick! This way!" she yelled at them.
   She set off running to her right, and Xephos and Lalna followed. She led the through a maze of narrow streets and alleyways, all the time the voices of their pursuers growing more distant. Finally she lead them up a narrow cobbled street that finished in a dead end.
   They sat exhausted on the pavement by the side of an upturned shopping trolley.
   Xephos scanned around at the scattered beer cans and the graffiti on the wall. It was the same alleyway he'd seen earlier, right at the start of their walk. They'd run around in a huge loop. But it didn't matter. They'd shaken off their pursuers, lost them... and all due to their mysterious helper.
   "This - is the girl - I told you about," Xephos said to Lalna in short gasps.
   "Your 'dream girl'," Lalna said sarcastically.
   The girl didn't look up. She picked up an old lollipop stick and began breaking it into little pieces.
   "Who are you?" Xephos asked her.
   "Xevphera," she replied. "Xevphera Purpleblade."
   "What sort of a name is that?" Lalna asked.
   "What's your name?" the girl asked back.
   "Lalna!"
   "What sort of a name is that?" she sniggered.
   Lalna frowned.
   "When you saw me at the station... you seemed to know me," Xephos said to her.
   "I know lots of people... and lots of things," Xevphera said mysteriously.
   "Look... we can't stay here," Lalna chipped in. "Those guys will be looking for us."
   "You should go home, Lalna... and you too, Xephos. Go back to Aunt Kim's," Xevphera said calmly. "They'll have forgotten about you by this afternoon."
   Lalna jumped to his feet. "Hey! How come you know his name?"
   Xevphera didn't reply. She threw the bits of lollipop stick into the gutter and started playing with the ends of her long blonde hair; it was greasy and matted.
   Xephos got to his feet, stood by Lalna's side and stared down at her.
   Her white jumper looked grubby. He kilt looked threadbare and both of her white knee length socks were full of holes. Her shoes were almost worn out and one of the silver buckles was hanging off.
   Lalna was also staring at her. "Your clothes are a bit retro, aren't they?" he said in a way that suggested they were a bit strange.
   She still didn't look up. "I don't know what you mean."
   Xephos felt sorry for her. "Where do you live?"
   She glanced up and smiled. "Not far form your aunties."
   "How come you know so much?" Lalna asked, his voice full of frustration.
   Xevphera rose to her feet and looked Lalna squarely in the eyes. "I told you before... I know lots of things - because i'm a mermaid and I live at the bottom of the sea!" she ran down the alleyway, back towards the main road.
   Lalna looked at Xephos with a pained expression. "She's weird!"
   "She saved us from that gang," Xephos pointed out. "Come on... let's go after her."
   If Xevphera wasn't the coolest dresser in town, she could certainly run. She sprinted all the way back to Auntie Kim's house and hardly drew breathe as she stood by the gate.
   "Come on you two slowcoaches," she teased them. "What kept you?"
   Xevphera grinned. Her face looked radiant and her eyes blazed with energy.
   Xephos couldn't help admiring her. "Do you want to hang around with us?" he asked.
   "But she's... a girl!" Lalna protested.
   "Very observant, Lalna Jones!" Xevphera laughed.
   "Hey! How do you know..." Lalna turned to Xephos. "I give up! This girls a total nightmare!"
   Xephos nodded, and Xevphera burst out laughing. She folded her arms across her chest. "I suppose you think I'm just a girl and not very tough?" She bit into her bottom lip and looked thoughtfully. "Well, maybe you're right. But I do need your help, especially Xephos'. That's why I'm here."
   "What do you mean?" Xephos asked, beginning to tense. "Why do you need help?"
   Xevphera looked at him. "I'll tell you tonight. Meet me by the old Punch and Judy stand - it's by the side of the pier - if you're brave enough!"
   Xephos didn't hesitate. "What time?"
   Xevphera didn't hesitate either. "Midnight!"
   Xephos and Lalna looked at each other in disbelief.
   Xevphera began to walk away. "That's settled then!"
   "But why midnight?" Lalna shouted after her.
   "Because that's the only time I can show you," she shouted back.
   "Show us what?" Xephos asked expectantly.
   Xevphera broke into a run. "YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE!" she yelled over her shoulder.
   And then she was gone.
4 - Midnight encounter
Later that night, the two boys had moved their belongings upstairs into the spare bedroom. They were right next door to old Honeydew's bedroom. His door was closed, but every now and then they could hear him moving around.
   And now Xephos and Lalna lay awake in the big double bed.
   It had been easy to stay awake. There had been so much to talk about. As usual, Lalna did most of the talking... his brain working overtime. "What do you make of old Honeydew?" Lalna whispered.
   "He's a bit scary... but I think he's OK!" Xephos replied.
   "He's a lot scary!" Lalna went on. "He really gives me the creeps!"
   "Keep your voice down," Xephos said quietly. "He might be listening. He's only in the next room."
   "Probably with his ear to the wall," Lalna whispered in a creepy voice.
   "I don't think so," Xephos chuckled. "Listen..."
   They both lay in silence and strained their ears. A rasping snore sounded through the wall. The boys giggled and resumed their conversation.
   "What do you think of Xevphera Purpleblade?" Lalna said thoughtfully.
   "I've never met anyone called Xevphera before," Xephos whispered.
   "Except you did meet her before," Lalna reminded him, "twice, if your dreams are anything to go by. She makes me feel nervous. She's wacko!"
   Xephos giggled. "It's like she's form a different planet, but I still like her.
   "Did you see what she was wearing?" Lalna said laughing. "She looked like some sort of miniature female Scotsman."
   Xephos shrieked with laughter. Lalna laughed even louder. They were almost laughing to the point of tears when a voice sounded from the doorway: "Are you two settling down? It's time you were asleep."
   "Sorry Aunt Kim," Xephos said, trying not to giggle.
   "Well, goodnight then!"
   "Goodnight!"
   "Goodnight!" Lalna repeated.
   As Aunt Kim's footsteps retreated on to the landing, Lalna leant out and looked at the electronic clock on the bedside cabinet. 11:45 pm.
   "OK, Xephos... it's almost time. We'll wait five more minutes, check your aunt's settled down, then we'll go."
   A knot suddenly formed in Xephos' stomach. He decided he would much rather stay tucked up in bed than venture out into the cold night air and meet Xevphera.
Xephos and Lalna walked with hands deep in pockets towards the seafront promenade.
   The streets were dark and almost deserted. Just a few late-night revellers returning home, the occasional car driving past, everything quite normal.
   "I hope those guys from the arcade aren't lurking around," Lalna said. "it'd just be our luck to bump into them."
   "Just keep your head down and keep walking," Xephos replied. "We're nearly there."
   "So you know where it is?"
   "I can't remember seeing an old Punch and Judy stand, but I know where the pier is."
   "And do you think Xevphera what's-her-name is really going to be there?" Lalna asked.
   "She'll be there." Xephos said confidently.
   A thin, grey drizzle began to fall and the two boys sped up a little.
   A few minutes later they were walking along the empty promenade. The sea was far out on their left and looked inky black; the waves made a loud crashing sound as they broke on the shore.
   "There's the pier," Xephos said, pointing ahead.
   As they drew closer, a girl stepped out from the shadows of a tall wooden structure.
   "You made it," Xevphera said. "I wasn't sure you'd turn up."
   Lalna looked at his watch. "It's bang on midnight," He whispered.
   Loud voices sounded from across the road. A drunken gang stumbled out of a doorway and staggered away up the pavement.
   "It's a disco - the Icelandic..." Xevphera informed them.
   Xephos looked left towards the pier entrance. A sign by the side of a rusting turnstile read: 'PIER UNSAFE - CLOSED FOR REPAIRS'.
   "We can't go in there," Lalna said. "It's too dangerous."
   Xevphera set off towards it, "It's ok... I know what I'm doing. Xephos - follow me!"
   "What about me?" Lalna asked indignantly. "You're not leaving me behind."
   Xephos stared at Xevphera's shiny black coat. It looked like plastic. She pulled the collar up around her ears. He'd never seen a coat like that before. She was wearing the same beret she'd been wearing earlier. What with the plastic coat and the beret, he thought she looked like some sort of secret agent.
   "I'm going to show Xephos his worst nightmare - the reason I need your help," she said. "I want you to stay here. Keep watch. We'll not be long. When Xephos gets back, get him home."
   Xephos turned to his friend. Lalna didn't look at all pleased. "I don't know what this is all about," Xephos frowned. "Do you mind keeping a look out. If anyone comes - "
   "I'll give a loud whistle with my fingers," Lalna interrupted. "I suppose you're right... one of us needs to keep watch. If the police come and find you on the pier you'll be in serious trouble."
   Xevphera smiled at Lalna and moved towards the turnstile. She climbed over it and disappeared into the shadows. "Come on Xephos!" she whispered from the darkness. "Follow me!"
   "OK... I'm coming!" he whispered over his shoulder. "If we're not back in ten minute, and you can't see any sign of us..."
"Don't worry," Lalna said in a reassuring tone of voice. "I'll raise the alarm."
   Xephos nodded and disappeared over the turnstile into the darkness.
If it was spooky in the streets, it was twice as spooky on the deserted run-down pier. Xevphera led Xephos through a maze of shadowy huts, the sea crashing loudly beneath their feet.
   "Where are you taking me?"
   "You'll see. Be patient!"
   "If this is some sort of joke, then it's definitely not funny!"
   "It's no joke!"
   They walked up to an old wooden bench alongside the rusted pier railings. Xevphera sat down on it and beckoned Xephos to do the same. They sat side by side and she shuffled up to him.
   "Hold my hands," Xevphera said, making Xephos feel uncomfortable.
   He began to stammer with embarrassment. "B-but... why?"
   "Hold both my hands and close your eyes... you'll see why!"
   She closed her eyes. Xephos hesitated. She opened her eyes, scowled at him, and then closed them again.
   Xephos got the message. "OK... if you say so!" He took hold of her hands and gasped. They felt so cold... so hard... like ice! He closed his eyes.
   "Now count to three!"
   Xephos took a deep breath and did as he was told. "One... two... three!"
   An intensity of light, life and sound suddenly exploded around him. Xephos opened his eyes and gawped.
   It was daylight - a warm, sunny day... lots of people walking among the brightly coloured stalls - Madame Clara, - fortune teller... hot dogs... ices... candyfloss - busy amusement arcades. A siren sounded form the end of the pier - a ghost train perhaps?
   Xephos looked at Xevphera. She was smiling at him. He realised he was still holding her hands, but now they felt warm and soft. He let go and jumped back.
   "This is a dream, isn't it? It's not really happening. It can't be!"
   "I've got to go now, Xephos. My mum's waiting. She's calling me. I'll catch up with you later."
   As Xevphera got up, he noticed she was wearing the kilt again - the black plastic coat had disappeared. "You can't just leave me here," Xephos pleaded. "I need to get back to Lalna."
   Xevphera gave Xephos a warm smile. "He'll be waiting for you after you've seen it."
   "Seen what?"
   Xevphera hesitated and her smile changed to a frown. "How it all started... the reason why you're here to help me! It's waiting at the end of the pier."
   As Xevphera disappeared into the crowd, Xephos looked around again. It was a happy peaceful scene with loads of people enjoying themselves. And yet there was something really strange about it all... something he couldn't quite put his finger on.
   A child by his side dropped his side dropped her ice cream cone on the floor and started crying. Her mum bent down and picked it up. Her skirt was so short that Xephos looked away - he'd never seen a mum with a skirt so short - and it was made of the same shiny plastic as Xevphera's coat. And then Xephos noticed that lots of people were wearing clothes he hadn't seen before.
   His head swirled in confusion, he got up and moved towards the end of the pier. If his worst nightmare was waiting for him, then it was time to go and face it.
   He got up and made his way through the crowds of holidaymakers. The siren shrieked out again in the distance... excited screams - definitely a ghost train.
   My worst nightmare... Surely she didn't mean the ghost train? Lalna's right - she's crazy!
   Xephos relaxed a little and moved on more quickly.
   And then he heard a different sound.
   Laughter! High-pitched hysterical laughter! Sinister, menacing... terrifying laughter!
   The sound of it filled Xephos with dread. Goosebumps spread all over his body and a cold tingling sensation shot down his spine. He felt compelled to turn around and flee back to the pier entrance.
   No! I'm Xephos Blue! I'm not scared!
   And with this brave thought surging through his mind, he pushed on toward the end of the pier.
5 - Midnight experience
The horrible laughing was coming from inside a small arcade tent next to the ghost train. As Xephos walked toward it, he saw the brightly coloured sign above the entrance.
Scullion's Amusements
As Xephos made his way slowly inside, the laughter stopped.
   The arcade was full of slot machines - old-fashioned mechanical ones; not a single electronic machine in sight!
   Xephos watched as a boy put a coin into a slot, flicked a lever, and a small metal ball shot around a spiral coil before disappearing into a hole at the centre. The boy muttered and walked away. Another boy put a coin in a crane machine and tried to pick up a fluffy toy, but the jaws of the crane closed over thin air and missed the toy completely.
   Xephos pressed on, wondering what he was going to find, all the time growing more and more tense... then the hideous laughter started again.
   He swung around and saw the small figure over to his right. It was seared in a glass case, rocking from side to side. A boy about the same age as Xephos stood and watched. A younger girl stood by his side - his sister, perhaps. She started to cry and stepped backwards.
   Xephos moved closer and saw that the figure was some sort of sailor doll sitting astride a barrel. It laughed hysterically, its hands planted on its knees and its eyes seeming to stare back at anyone who looked at it.
   It suddenly stopped moving and its head dropped forward. The boy moved away and tried to console the young girl.
   Xephos walked up to the glass and peered at the slumped figure. It wore a navy-blue sailor suit, its cap resting carelessly on its head of wiry black hair.
   Whoaahh... that is so spooky, Xephos thought to himself.
   He stared further and took in the dolls grotesque features - wide nose... flared nostrils... cheeks jutting out savagely... thick lips - all set in a hideous grin.
   A man edged up to Xephos' shoulder and laughed. "You do right to stare son. That dolls enough to give anybody nightmares!"
   Before Xephos had a chance to say anything, the man put a coin in the slot and stood back with his arms folded.
   Xephos was only inches away from the glass as the doll's head angled upwards. Its eyes were only painted - but they seemed to stare at him with frightening ferocity. As the doll sprang to life, he jumped backwards.
   "Steady on son... its only a doll!"
   But as the demonic laughter grew louder and the intense eyes followed his every move, Xephos sensed that it was much more than a harmless doll. Xevphera knew it too... She hadn't sent him here for nothing.
   He began to panic. His mind swirled in a confusion of thoughts and images - slot machines, hot dog stands, candyfloss stalls, and brightly coloured lights. He began to feel dizzy. He started to fall backwards... in slow motion... a fainting movement. He hit the floorboards with a heavy thump and everything went black.
   And when he opened his eyes... everyone had disappeared!
   He sat up by the side of the slot machine. All was silent. The sailor doll lapsed back into lifelessness. Xephos held his breathe, sensing that something awful was about to happen. Still feeling faint, he struggled to his feet. He had to get back to Lalna.
   As he walked away, the hideous laughter started up again. He looked anxiously over his shoulder... and his blood froze.
   The sailor doll was rising to its feet.
   Like a rabbit frozen in a car headlight, Xephos stood rooted to the spot... watching everything happen... unable to do anything.
   When its eyes firmly fixed on Xephos, the doll threw a punch and shattered its glass prison into a thousand fragments. It began climbing out of the slot machine and down towards the floor. At first its movements were jerky, mechanical... unreal. But as it reached the floor and turned its head, it moved in a more human way, like a small child.
   Xephos finally reacted. He turned and started to run.
   He ran and ran, weaving his way through the shadows... the pier dark and deserted again. He almost tripped over a cat that sprang out from behind a hut, and then he bumped into a waste bin. But there was no time to pause. The nightmarish laughter was growing louder all the time.
   Xephos finally reached the pier entrance, saw the turnstile and lunged for it, throwing himself over the top and out onto the promenade... and then all was darkness - grey, damp, drizzling darkness - as he fainted again.
When he came round, Lalna was kneeling over him.
   "Are you OK, Xephos? Are you all right?"
   "Why? What happened?"
   "You passed out. You must have climbed over the turnstile, fell on the pavement and banged your head. I found you in a crumpled heap."
   Xephos felt his head. No bumps. No soreness. "I think I'm OK. What happened?"
   Lalna looked at him with a guilty expression. "I'm not sure. I fell asleep... I only woke up when you came crashing through the turnstile -" Lalna paused. "And that's when I realised..."
   "Realized what?" Xephos asked, a nervous flutter welling up in his stomach.
   "It's four o'clock in the morning! You were in there for four hours!"
   Xephos felt the colour drain form his cheeks. "Wow!" was all he could say at first. His mind reeled back to the events inside. "Did anyone - anything - follow me out?"
   "I don't think so... I didn't see anyone. What happened in there? Where's Xevphera?"
   Xephos struggled to his feet. "I'm freezing. Let's go back to Aunt Kim's. I'll tell you everything then. You'll never believe it!"
   Lalna scanned nervously around. "I'll believe anything you tell me Xephy-boy!"
   Xephos walked up to the turnstile and peered through on to the pier. Everything was clothed in shadows, dark and deserted... no sign of anything untoward. He shook his head in disbelief.
   "Come on! Lets go!" he sighed. "The sooner we're back, the better!"
The streets were empty. Not even a car to be seen. They were completely alone... but Xephos kept glancing over his shoulder, as if someone might be following.
   "Xephos... why do you keep looking behind?"
   "You don't want to know," Xephos said. "Just keep walking. We need to get back."
   Lalna nodded nervously and lengthened his stride... Xephos found himself jogging to keep up.
   Suddenly, every sound and every shadow seemed threatening.
   Overturned dustbins cast shadows of creeping monsters on graffiti covered walls and a cat screamed the scream of a preying vampire. Xephos and Lalna walked on nervously, neither of them speaking.
   They turned away form the promenade into a dark street and saw a row of wheelie bins lined up along the kerbside. As they sped past, Lalna tapped each one with his left hand. Xephos guessed it was just a nervous reaction.
   Neither of the boys saw the lid of the fourth bin rise up a little as Lalna's hand knocked against it.
6 - street stalker
Further along the road, Xephos stopped in his tracks and looked over his shoulder.
   "What's up?" Lalna asked.
   Xephos stared down the deserted street, along the line of wheelie bins. "There's something wrong! I can sense it!"
   "Xephos, you're freaking me out," Lalna uttered. He sped on, Xephos raced after him. A loud clatter sounded some distance behind.
   Xephos stopped and swung round. Lalna did the same. A wheelie bin at the bottom of the road had toppled over. Something was moving by the side of it.
   Lalna's voice started to quake, "It's just a cat..."
   "It's no cat!" Xephos whispered. "Quick! Get down!" He tugged at Lalna's elbow. They dived into a gateway and peered around the hedge down the street.
   They watched in stunned silence as a small child-sized figure delved into the rubbish split from the wheelie bin and began throwing it over the privet hedge into the garden.
   "God! Who's that?" Lalna asked in disbelief.
   "You don't want to know!" Xephos muttered half under his breath.
   When the sinister silhouetted figure had scattered all of the bins contents into the garden, it picked up something heavy from the gutter and threw it towards the house. Xephos looked at Lalna in horror as the sound of breaking glass reached their ears.
   The dwarf-like figure sprinted away down the street. At the same time, the lights came on In several of the windows.
   "We'd better get out of here fast or they'll think it's us!" Xephos exclaimed. "Run for it!"
   Lalna was in no mood to argue and they set off at full speed. This was becoming a habit! They sprinted around the corner into the next street. Almost back!
   Xephos glanced nervously up the alleyway where they'd sat with Xevphera that morning. He saw a small figure scurry across a dark space and retreat into the shadows. A shiver rattled down his spine. "Did you see that?" he gasped. "Something's creeping around up there!"
   Lalna shuddered. "Let's get back... I've had enough excitement for one night!"
   Xephos nodded and sprinted on. He'd definitely had more than enough.
   They finally reached Aunt Kim's and breathed a sigh of relief. No lights on... everything in darkness. They hadn't been missed.
   Xephos was the first through the front door. Lalna followed, looking distinctly pale. They crept upstairs and into the bedroom. Neither spoke as they slipped out of their clothes and back into their pyjamas.
   "I feel tired out and scared stiff at the same time," Lalna whispered. "Now tell me - what happened on the pier?"
   "OK," Xephos replied, climbing into the bed and snuggling down under the duvet. "And then we'd better try and get some sleep - we're going to need it!"
   Lalna nodded and climbed in beside him. Xephos closed his eyes and relived the whole experience. He told Lalna everything.
   Lalna lay in stunned silence and said nothing until Xephos had finished. "Wow! No wonder you couldn't wait to be back here. That sailor doll sounds more scary than the Bonebreaker!"
   "When you found me and I came round, I thought it had all been a dream - some sort of vision - but I'm not so sure now."
   "Well Xevphera was real though," Lalna said. "I wonder what happened to her."
   Xephos yawned. "I don't know. Let's talk about it tomorrow. Like I said... we need to get some sleep."
   Lalna nodded and turned over. Xephos closed his eyes and tried desperately to empty his mind of all that had happened. He finally managed to drop off.
When he opened his eyes again, it was still dark and Lalna was snoring beside him. He wasn't sure why he'd woken up - he didn't need the loo or anything. He just sensed that something was wrong. He peered over his duvet around the bedroom. All was cloaked in shadows, but otherwise everything was as it should be.
   He slipped out of bed and crept out on to the landing. He peered down the stairs and his heart leapt at the sigh of the front door half open.
   Lalna must have forgot to drop the latch, he thought to himself. He trod quietly down the stairway, gently closed the door and dropped the latch.
   A few minutes later he was back in bed... still feeling that something was very wrong.
   Oh no! he suddenly thought t himself. If the door's been open, something might have got in!
   He looked around the bedroom again... everything seemed quite normal. He broke out in goosebumps as he made his mind up to look under the bed. He leant out, lowered his head and peered into the dark space.
   Every muscle in his body went completely stiff as he saw the small figure lying there, its head turned towards him in the half-light.
   Xephos leapt back up and almost knocked Lalna out of bed. "LALNA! HELP!"
   Lalna groaned, still half asleep. "What are you on about?"
   "You left the door open... its got in... under the bed!"
   As Lalna's brain registered what Xephos was trying the say, his face went a deathly shade of white. He took a deep breath and leant over his own side of the bed. He straightened up again and faced Xephos. "What are you on about? There's nothing there!"
   Xephos leant over again on his own side. Sure enough, whatever he'd seen a few minutes earlier had gone!
   "You've had a nightmare, Xephos! Try and get back to sleep."
   Xephos laid his head back on the pillow, his heart still racing. Lalna was right - these days it was hard to tell the difference between dreams and reality!
   He took one last look over the edge of his duvet... and saw the silhouette of the small figure standing at the bottom of his bed!
   It jumped on to the duvet and began crawling up his legs. Xephos watched in shocked horror as the grinning wooden face with red cheeks inched its way up towards his chest. He tried to scream, but the sailor doll had already reached out and gripped him by the neck. "Lalna..." Xephos croaked. He dug his elbow heavily into Lalna's ribs.
   Lalna stirred. "What's up now?"
   Xephos couldn't answer... he was choking.
   Lalna jolted upright and sprang into action. He lashed out at the sailor doll, but it never budged. It sat astride Xephos' chest, its thick bushy eyebrows and wiry black hair giving it a grotesque appearance... wooden chubby fingers closed even tighter around his throat.
   Xephos felt faint as the lack of oxygen took effect.
   Lalna jumped out of bed, lifted his side of the duvet and threw it over the demonic figure. Thrust into darkness, the doll released its grip - and Lalna wrapped it tight and pushed it over Xephos' side of the bed on to the floor.
   Coughing and spluttering, Xephos jumped out on to his 'mummified' enemy and sat on it, pinning it to the ground. The doll struggled and writhed, wrapped up inside the heavy duvet.
   "Through the window!" Lalna yelled.
   Xephos nodded. As Lalna opened the window, he lifted the rolled-up duvet and manhandled it through. He watched as the heavy bundle fall down into the garden an landed heavily.
   "WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING?" a voice boomed from behind.
   He turned round to see Aunt Kim glaring at him. "I'm... I'm sorry!" Xephos stammered. "Something got in... under the bed. Me and Lalna -"
   "Lalna looks frozen!" Aunt Kim interrupted. "Whatever possessed you to pull the duvet off and throw it through the window?"
   Xephos looked at the bed. Lalna was sitting up and staring at him in a very peculiar way. "He's been dreaming again!" Lalna said indignantly.
   "But... but... you saw..."
   Lalna yawned and stretched his arms. "The only thing I saw was you, wrestling with the duvet. Why did you chuck it out of the window?"
   Xephos leant out of the window and looked down into the garden. The duvet lay where it landed, still rolled up. He turned to Lalna, and then to Aunt Kim. It seemed that Lalna was right - he'd been dreaming again! "Sorry!" Was all Xephos could think to say. "I've had a nightmare."
   As Aunt Kim tutted and accused Xephos of watching too many scary videos, he put his slippers on and headed downstairs to retrieve the duvet. On the way, he tried to sort out in his mind the dreams from reality. The business on the pier had seemed real enough at the time. But so had the sailor doll under the bed. And what about the dwarf-like figures in the street on the way home? Lalna had seen them surely?
   Well, nightmares or not, Xephos was sure of one thing - it was all a warning of thing to come.

Description
body div#devskin0 hr { }

Prologue
Little, wooden, fleshy face,
Full of evil, full of grace,
Is he good or is he bad?
Spooky little sailor lad. - PJM
Red sky at night... shepherds delight.
Red sky dawning... Sailors warning - ANON
1 - Underneath the arches
The train emerged slowly from the tunnel, rattling and bumping along the tracks. The station platform was only minutes away.
   Lalna stared in fascination out of the window. "Wow! Look at these old archways. They look really creepy. I wonder what they were used for?"
   Xephos looked out at the crumbling Victorian brickwork and shook his head. "I've no idea. Look... there's an arch with a door."
   Lalna nodded.
   The train passed under a bridge and moved closer to the embankment. Xephos frowned at the jumble of litter strewn along the edge of the rails: bottles, cans... even an old mattress. As they passed under another road-bridge, more archways appeared, and then the most striking graffiti on the brickwork.
   "Wow!" Lalna gasped "Some artist!"
   Xephos, who had always enjoyed art, stared at the bold style and vivid colour of the lettering. He nodded enthusiastically.
   A voice sounded over the intercom: "The next station is Scawlsby on sea. The train will terminate here. Please check you have all your belongings."
   Xephos' mind wandered to the cosy Victorian house at number ten, Yogcave Terrace. Aunt Kim had invited him and Lalna to stay for a few days. Scawlsby on Sea was definitely not the most picturesque of towns, especially during the winter. But it was still a Tektopian, Sea-side place, and with Lalna - his best friend - alongside him, he just knew that they were going to have a great time.
   The train slowed, bumped and jolted its way along the jumble of tracks. The boys stood up and reached for their bags.
   "Come on, Minty! We're here!" Xephos said excitedly.
   Mrs Minute had been dozing for the last half hour. Xephos' two year old sister, Lomadia, had slept by her side. Mrs Minute stretched and yawned. "Are you boys OK with those bags?"
   "No problem Mrs M!" Lalna replied.
   Xephos manhandled the bigger of the bags toward the end of the carriage. "We'll wait by the door, Mum." he said. Minty wasn't actually his mum, more like a sister, but he did sometimes call her it.
   The train passed under the shadow of another road-bridge and ground to a halt. Xephos put his bag down on the floor and stood with his legs astride it. The carriage was only a metre away from the underside of the bridge. He found himself staring through the window at an image daubed in paint directly in front of him.
   "Hey Lalna! look at this!"
   The graffiti depicted what looked like a wheelie bin, but with the lid lifted slightly. Sinister eyes stared out from the shadow just beneath it. The word 'SCULLION' was painted in a dramatic style down the side of the bin.
   The image fascinated and disturbed Xephos at the same time. The eyes peering out from bellow the lid - they looked really menacing... almost, threatening.
   The train lurched forward again.
   "That's weird!" Lalna exclaimed. "And look...there's more of them."
   Both boys watched spellbound as the image repeated itself along the crumbling brickwork of the station approach... at least ten more wheelie bins... ten more sets of evil eyes staring out from bellow the lids... the word 'SCULLION' running diagonally across each bin.
   The train finally pulled up alongside the platform.
   Xephos pushed the button by the side of door. It hissed open.
   A few moments later, he and Lalna had the bags on the platform. They waited patiently whilst Mrs Minute took Lomadia away to make a 'loo-stop.'
   "Who do you think painted the graffiti?"
   Lalna shook his head. "I've no idea."
   Xephos' mum reappeared with Lomadia in her arms. "OK you two? Let's go and find a taxi."
   Xephos and Lalna picked up their bags. Mrs Minute put Lomadia down and grabbed her overnight bag. They made their was up the platform and passed into the main street. As they moved through the station exit and out into the street, a group of people brushed by them on the way in. Xephos suddenly felt compelled to look over his shoulder. A girl, about the same age as himself, turned and stared back. She smiled and he quickly looked away, the colour rushing into his cheeks. But her face was 'freeze-framed' in his mind... a pale, smiling face with shiny white teeth and clear determined eyes. His arms began to ache. He walked on a few paces, stopped and put his bag on the floor. He took a deep breath and looked back. She was gone!
   "Are you OK, Xephos?" Lalna asked. "What are you staring at?"
   "There was a girl..." Xephos whispered. "She was staring at me."
   "Oh yeah!" Lalna chuckled. "In your dreams!"
   "I'm telling you-"
   "Come on you two!" Xephos' mum called to them. "Let's get to Kim's! I'm gasping for a cup of tea."
   They moved out into the street. It was beginning to get dark and the cracked paving slabs glistened in the drizzle. Xephos shivered a little and felt a tinge of excitement as he recalled the girl's face. Why had she smiled at him? It was almost as if she'd recognised him.
   "Come on, Xeph! Stop daydreaming!" Lalna teased, as he climbed into the taxi.
   A few seconds later, they were being driven along streets lined with brightly-coloured Victorian houses. But Xephos noticed lots of vandalism... bus shelters with broken windows, upturned supermarket trolleys littering shop fronts, and graffiti daubed across almost every available wall space.
   No one in the taxi spoke. Even Lomadia remained silent. The extensive vandalism and the drizzly weather combined to blot out the colourful nature of the old seaside town.
   Xephos' mum finally broke the silence. "Almost there!" she said in a cheery voice. "I hope you're Aunt Kim's got the kettle on."
   The taxi turned into Yogcave terrace.
   "By the way," Mrs Minute said with a slightly nervous edge to her voice, "Aunt Kim's taken in a lodger. His name's Honeydew Prior. He's an old man. Apparently he's a bit grumpy, but Kim says he's harmless enough and won't bother you."
   Xephos looked at Lalna and Lalna stared back.
   "Why does she need a lodger, Minty?" Xephos asked, sensing she wasn't over pleased with the idea.
   Mrs Minute sighed. "It all helps to pay the bills. Her part-time job pays precious little, and ever since uncle Ridge died..."
   As the taxi finally drew up outside number ten, the wind whipped up and the drizzle turned to driving rain. Aunt Kim appeared at the door and shouted at them to get inside. Though she was smiling, Xephos saw the worry in her eyes. And then he saw that her front garden was strewn with litter... bottles, cans and all manner of rubbish.
   "Hi Kim!" What's happened here?" Xephos' mum shouted through the rain. She trotted up the path with Lomadia clinging tightly to her.
   "I'll tell you when you're all inside," Aunt Kim shouted back. "Hurry up, Xephy... and - Lalna, isn't it?" Come on in... out of the rain."
   Xephos picked up his bag and pushed open the gate. As he set off up the path, he failed to see the face peering down form the bedroom window. It was an old, ginger bearded man's face, wrinkled and tanned. It stared at Xephos with sad eyes... a haunted expression... finally disappearing beck behind the lace curtains.
2 - Aunt Kim
Aunt Kim greeted each of them in turn. She embraced Xephos' mum, moved on to Lomadia, gave Xephos a hug, and finished by shaking Lalna's hand. Although Aunt Kim was only a few years older than his mum, her face looked much older... more wrinkles than the last time, Xephos thought to himself.
   She brushed a hand over her greying head and led them through the hallway into the sitting room. A big fire roared in the hearth. The warmth of the dancing flames made Xephos feel calmer and more relaxed.
   "So how are you Kim?" Mrs Minute asked, taking a cigarette from her bag.
   Auntie Kim said nothing. She frowned at the cigarette. Xephos watched as his mum put it back in the pocket. "Sorry! Force of habit... I'll smoke it outside later."
   "It's a bad habit Minty. I can't understand why you don't give it up."
   "Easier said than done," Xephos' mum replied. "Anyway... that's my problem. What happened to the garden?"
   Xephos looked straight at Aunt Kim, wondering what she would say. Her garden had always been the best-kept in the street. She took a real pride in it.
   "I'll tell you later," was all she said.
   While Aunt Kim busied herself in the kitchen, Xephos' mum hung their coats up and the two boys made themselves comfortable.
   Xephos scanned around at the old-fashioned décor of the room... bright flowered wallpaper, chintz curtains and a strikingly bald patterned carpet covered in red and orange swirls.
   "This house is really cosy," Lalna said. "Who's the man in the photograph?"
   Xephos followed Lalna's gaze up to the mantelpiece above the fire.
   "That was Xephos' uncle Ridge," Mrs Minute replied. "He died ten years ago. He was a good man."
   Xephos went over to the photograph, picked it up and gazed at uncle Ridge's striking features. Deep chestnut curly hair topped his bronze face. His warm but mischievous smile revealed rows of flashing white teeth. (Aunt Kim said that uncle Ridge was always smiling.) The eyes were steely blue - so clear and full of life.
   He passed the photograph to Lalna. "He was a member of the lifeboat crew," Xephos said proudly. "He saved loads of lives."
   "One hundred and three to be exact," Aunt Kim chipped in, placing a tray of scones down on the coffee table, "He'd worked with the fishing fleet and been a voluntary member of the Scawlsby Lifeboat crew for seventeen years, ever since he'd left school."
   "That's fantastic!" Lalna said, eyeing the scones at the same time.
   "He loved the sea, and that's what killed him in the end."
   A hush fell across the room. The fire crackled and hissed.
   "There was a great storm and a shipwreck," Xephos' mum said sadly. "Lots of men lost their lives that night."
   "Enough of that," Aunt Kim said, forcing a smile. "Help yourselves to scones and jam while I go and get the drinks."
   The rain continued to splatter on the windows and the wind whistled down the chimney making the flames dance brightly. It was good to be tucked up inside. And yet Xephos sensed that all was far from cosy in his Aunt's little terraced house.
   He bit into a fresh scone smothered in raspberry jam... it tasted good and he cheered up. He cheered up even more as Lomadia licked at her scone and covered her face in jam and cream. Lalna said she looked like a little clown who'd just been hit in the face with a custard pie, and this made Xephos laugh.
   And then something made Xephos look over his shoulder toward the door... and his heart skipped a beat.
   An old man's face peered around the door at them- sad eyes... staring... penetrating - and then it was gone.
Aunt Kim clutched her mug of tea and spoke in a shaky voice. "Vandals! They did it. They're a damn nuisance! I didn't hear a thing. I just got up this morning and there it was. Litter and rubbish everywhere. It's senseless!"
   "Kim, that's really bad... I know how much you love your garden," Xephos' mum said sympathetically.
   Aunt Kim took a sip of tea before continuing. "We all love our gardens - or at least we did! Now folks are starting to give up. And you can't blame them. What's the point? They just trash everything."
   "Has anyone been in touch with the police?" Xephos' mum asked.
   "Yes... we all have."
   "And...?" She asked expectantly.
   "Nothing!" Aunt Kim sighed. "The police say they're keeping a look out. But nobody's ever caught. The whole town's rife with it... there's vandalism everywhere. It's killing the place."
   Billy looked across to his friend. Lalna read his thoughts. "Xephos Blue, private investigator... he'll get to the bottom of it," Lalna quipped.
   Aunt Kim frowned. "From what I've heard, you two had more than enough adventures on your last holiday. I'm sure the police will get to the bottom of it, and in the meantime, you can enjoy yourselves and keep out of trouble, The forecast's not too bad for the next few days."
   "I think I better go and get this little madam cleaned up and ready for bed," Xephos' mum said, smiling. She picked Lomadia up and moved towards the door.
   "Watch out for Honeydew!" Aunt Kim said. "He's harmless enough, but he creeps about the place."
   "Your new lodger," Xephos said. "Minty told us."
   "Yes, he was a friend of your granddad. He's had a lot of bad luck recently and he needed somewhere to stay."
   "What sort of bad luck?" Lalna asked.
   Both boys watched as Aunt Kim took another sip of tea. "Well, a few weeks ago his kitchen caught fire and half his house burnt down."
   "Wow... that really is bad luck." Xephos sighed. "How did it happen?"
   "Says he left a pan on... silly old duffer!" Aunt Kim said. "Fire brigade got there just in time. He was upstairs. They had to get him down on one of their ladders.
   Xephos looked back toward the door of the living room. There was a dark space between the edge of the door and the hallway. He half expected to see the old man's eyes peering through again... but there was no one.
That night, Xephos tossed and turned on the bed setee. Aunt Kim had set it up in the sitting room. The fire had died down, but it was still throwing out some heat. Perhaps the room was too warm. Perhaps his mind was too active. Perhaps it was Lalna snoring loudly by his side. Whatever the reason, Xephos found himself unable to get to sleep.
   When he finally did drop off, he dreamt he was walking underwater... on the seabed... weaving in and out of great fronds of seaweed... looking for something, but he didn't know what. And then, in the distance, through the wavering blue haze, he saw a shoal of big fish. And as he moved closer, he saw that they were dolphins... all swimming in a circle... around something... the same something he knew he was looking for.
   As he moved closer still, the dolphins parted to reveal a mermaid sitting in their centre.,, a beautiful young mermaid with long blonde hair and a familiar face. She stared at him, her clear blue eyes intense and penetrating... delving into his mind.
   Xephos woke up in a cold sweat, desperately trying to think where he'd seen that face. And then - as consciousness fully returned - he knew!
   He rolled over to face Lalna and whispered loudly. "Lalna! Wake up. You won't believe this!"
   Lalna stopped snoring, grunted and half opened his eyes. "What are you on about?"
   "The girl... the one that smiled at me in the railway station..."
   "Yeah... like I said before... in your dreams!"
   Xephos pushed himself up on his elbows and stared at Lalna with wide eyes. "That's exactly the point," he whispered excitedly. "I've just seen her again... in my dreams!"
3 - Beside the seaside.
Xephos and Lalna walked quietly up to the kitchen table. The old man sat at one end; Xephos' mum sat at the other side, Lomadia by her side.
   "There you are! Morning, boys! Come on... sit yourselves down," Aunt Kim said, smiling at them. "Now this is Honeydew - my lodger."
   Xephos sat down and glanced across at Honeydew. He was eating a bowl of cereal. He raised his eyes and nodded his head ever so slightly.
   "Honeydew... this is Xephos - my nephew - and his friend, Lalna. They're staying with me for a few days during half term. My sister's leaving them with me."
   Honeydew raised his eyes again, looked Xephos and Lalna up and down, and went back to his cereal.
   The boys cast a glance at each other and concentrated their attention on Xephos' mum and Lomadia - it was much easier!
   "What time are you going home, Minty?" Xephos asked.
   "I'm going into town with Kim - on her way to work - and then I'll be off. Don't worry, you'll soon be rid of us!" Mrs Minute said with a smile.
   Helping themselves to cereal and toast, the boys talked quietly and made plans for the day. Honeydew finished his cereal, slurped his mug of tea - rather too loudly, Xephos thought to himself - and left without speaking.
   "You'll soon get used to old Honeydew," Aunt Kim said, pouring herself a cup of tea. "He's a heart of gold underneath that grumpy exterior. And he's had a lot to put up with one way or another."
   Xephos nodded. It wasn't every day that someone's house half burnt down.
   "It's a lovely day today, boys," Aunt Kim said from the sink. She was already washing some of the breakfast dishes and gazing out of the window. The sunlight streamed in and lit up the window.
   Xephos suddenly remembered the rubbish strewn across her garden, "Have you got any bin liners? We could clear the garden for you."
   "Bless!" she said, smiling toward her sister. "You've a good lad there, Minty."
   "You don't have to tell me," Xephos' mum replied proudly. "And Lalna... he's not so bad either."
   Lalna took a bite from his slice of toast and pretended not to hear.
   Breakfast finished, both boys left the table and headed off toward the garden. They each had two black bin liners supplied by Aunt Kim from the cupboard under the kitchen sink. Xephos was eager to get started.
   Lalna wasn't too enthusiastic. "Why did you have to go and say that? Great start to the holiday - picking up rubbish" We'll probably pick up a disease and finish up in the hospital!"
   "I just felt sorry for her," Xephos said quietly. "I wanted to cheer her up."
   Lalna sighed. "OK! it shouldn't take us too long if we get stuck in."
   Whilst Lalna watched, Xephos tore one of the bin liners into two and wrapped the black plastic around his right hand. Lalna did the same. A few minutes later they were out in the morning sunshine, picking up the rubbish with their protected hand and dropping it into a bin liner held up in the other.
   As Lalna had predicted, it didn't take long. After a final search amongst Aunt Kim's shrugs and bushes, Lalna found something interesting.
   "What do you make of this?" he shouted, holding up a small round object. He dropped it on to the garden path.
   Xephos walked over and peered down at it. "It looks like a little hat." He picked it up and examined it more closely, his hand still wrapped in the bin liner. It was white with a black band around it. A small emblem stood out on the front of it. "Look at this. It looks like a small anchor."
   Lalna stood with his hands on his hips and stared at it, deep in thought. "I've got it!" he said triumphantly. "It's a doll's hat... a sailor doll!"
   Xephos looked at Lalna admiringly. Lalna was brainy. And what with Xephos being practical... they made a good team.
   Xephos stuffed the little cap in his pocket. He decided to ask Aunt Kim about it later. He did a final sweep through the garden, tied each bag of rubbish securely and placed them in the wheelie bin round the back of the house.
   Aunt Kim was more than pleased to have her garden neat and tidy again. Even the late-flowering shrubs seemed to glow with pride in the autumn sunshine. She gave Xephos and Lalna some money to treat themselves down on the promenade. The sailor cap remained in Xephos' pocket... he forgot all about it.
By mid-morning, the sky had turned cloudy. A cold wind whistled up the cobbled street, but at least it wasn't raining. As the two friends walked side by side, heading toward the seafront, Xephos glanced to his left down an alleyway and saw an abandoned shopping trolley lying on its side, empty lager cans scattered around it. There was graffiti daubed across a redbrick wall, but nothing like the spectacular artwork they'd seen by the rail tracks.
   He turned to Lalna. "That girl I saw at the station - the one I dreamt about - I cant stop thinking about her."
   "You've got it bad, Xephy-boy!" Lalna replied, looking eagerly toward the seafront. "Maybe you need a girlfriend." He sniffed the air and ran on ahead. "Come on... I can smell candyfloss."
   Despite the cold Autumn day, most of the amusements and food stalls were open for half term. A wooden shack adorned with the word 'CANDYFLOSS' in faded painted letters caught their attention. They each bought a stick and continued on towards an amusement arcade.
   "Look" Lalna suddenly cried out. "They've got Zombie attack!"
   They shuffled up behind the huge computer screen and watched in fascination as the player concentrated on destroying a line of zombies.
   "Wow! He's doing really well," Lalna almost shouted from the back of the seated figure.
   A zombie, scarier than the rest, suddenly appeared on the screen and hurled missiles toward the player. The screen exploded in a blaze of colour and then the words 'GAME OVER' appeared.
   The boy swivelled round to face Xephos and Lalna. He was wearing a red baseball cap and his face looked even redder. "You dorks! You broke my concentration!"
   Xephos took a step backwards. Lalna did the same. "Sorry!" Lalna said meekly. "I didn't mean to... I thought you were doing really well."
   The boy stood up. He was tall... at least a foot taller then Lalna. "That's just the point, mate... I was doing well - until you two geeks turned up."
   Xephos and Lalna took another step backwards.
   At the same time, four more boys appeared. They wore similar red baseball caps and none of them smiled. One of the four was more muscly than the rest. He wore gold rings on all his fingers and a small ring through his top lip. "You owe Benj some money," he said in a gruff voice.
   "W-why...?" Lalna stammered.
   "You made him lose... so it only seems right that you pay up... so that he can play again."
   The other boys scowled and nodded in agreement.
   Xephos glanced sideways at Lalna. Lalna read his thoughts.
   The two friends sprinted out of the arcade on to the promenade. Xephos glanced back over his shoulder. His heart raced at the sight of the four boys all haring after them.
   Lalna couldn't speak. He panted heavily as he looked more scared, opening up a short lead over Xephos.
   "YOU'RE DEAD MEAT!" a voice screamed from behind.
   Xephos sprinted on, his heart beating even faster. Now he was at the side of his friend. He spoke in short gasps. "They're going - to catch us - cant keep - this up -"
   Lalna said nothing. His face was deathly white, his eyes wide with fear.
   The sound of chasing footsteps grew louder. The two friends ran on, desperate to get away. They weaved in and out of numerous holidaymakers strolling along the promenade. They almost knocked over a small boy walking between his parents.
   "You stupid idiots!" the boy's father shouted after them.
   They ran along a line of amusement arcades, side stalls, snack bars and on toward a small funfair at the end of the promenade.
   Neither of them dared look back over their shoulder. They could hear the yobbish voices of their pursuers growing louder... they were sure to be caught - it was just a matter of time..."
   Xephos stared ahead and saw a girl about the same age as himself walking straight toward him. She wore a black burette and a red tartan kilt. She was on a collision course.
   "Get out of the way!" he yelled at her.
   But she stared down at the ground and just kept on coming.
   "WATCH OUT!"
   He tried to swerve to miss her, but she moved the same way. He braced himself for the collision and half closed his eyes... but nothing happened! She wasn't there anymore - and Xephos found himself running onwards.
   "The girl in the kilt!" Lalna gasped. "What happened?"
   Before Xephos could reply, a hand gripped him on the shoulder. Without hesitation he turned round and threw a punch with his right hand. It caught the youth completely by surprise and knocked him to the floor. The other four boys were close behind. The sight of their friend being punched to the ground made them madder than ever.
   "YOU LITTLE..."
   Xephos didn't hear the rest. He and Lalna ran on even faster then before... but they both knew they were almost finished.
   And then... there in front, standing by the helter-skelter, a girl stood waving at them.
   Xephos and Lalna gasped in surprise. It was the girl in the kilt again.
   But how...
   And then Xephos recognised the girl's face...
   "Quick! This way!" she yelled at them.
   She set off running to her right, and Xephos and Lalna followed. She led the through a maze of narrow streets and alleyways, all the time the voices of their pursuers growing more distant. Finally she lead them up a narrow cobbled street that finished in a dead end.
   They sat exhausted on the pavement by the side of an upturned shopping trolley.
   Xephos scanned around at the scattered beer cans and the graffiti on the wall. It was the same alleyway he'd seen earlier, right at the start of their walk. They'd run around in a huge loop. But it didn't matter. They'd shaken off their pursuers, lost them... and all due to their mysterious helper.
   "This - is the girl - I told you about," Xephos said to Lalna in short gasps.
   "Your 'dream girl'," Lalna said sarcastically.
   The girl didn't look up. She picked up an old lollipop stick and began breaking it into little pieces.
   "Who are you?" Xephos asked her.
   "Xevphera," she replied. "Xevphera Purpleblade."
   "What sort of a name is that?" Lalna asked.
   "What's your name?" the girl asked back.
   "Lalna!"
   "What sort of a name is that?" she sniggered.
   Lalna frowned.
   "When you saw me at the station... you seemed to know me," Xephos said to her.
   "I know lots of people... and lots of things," Xevphera said mysteriously.
   "Look... we can't stay here," Lalna chipped in. "Those guys will be looking for us."
   "You should go home, Lalna... and you too, Xephos. Go back to Aunt Kim's," Xevphera said calmly. "They'll have forgotten about you by this afternoon."
   Lalna jumped to his feet. "Hey! How come you know his name?"
   Xevphera didn't reply. She threw the bits of lollipop stick into the gutter and started playing with the ends of her long blonde hair; it was greasy and matted.
   Xephos got to his feet, stood by Lalna's side and stared down at her.
   Her white jumper looked grubby. He kilt looked threadbare and both of her white knee length socks were full of holes. Her shoes were almost worn out and one of the silver buckles was hanging off.
   Lalna was also staring at her. "Your clothes are a bit retro, aren't they?" he said in a way that suggested they were a bit strange.
   She still didn't look up. "I don't know what you mean."
   Xephos felt sorry for her. "Where do you live?"
   She glanced up and smiled. "Not far form your aunties."
   "How come you know so much?" Lalna asked, his voice full of frustration.
   Xevphera rose to her feet and looked Lalna squarely in the eyes. "I told you before... I know lots of things - because i'm a mermaid and I live at the bottom of the sea!" she ran down the alleyway, back towards the main road.
   Lalna looked at Xephos with a pained expression. "She's weird!"
   "She saved us from that gang," Xephos pointed out. "Come on... let's go after her."
   If Xevphera wasn't the coolest dresser in town, she could certainly run. She sprinted all the way back to Auntie Kim's house and hardly drew breathe as she stood by the gate.
   "Come on you two slowcoaches," she teased them. "What kept you?"
   Xevphera grinned. Her face looked radiant and her eyes blazed with energy.
   Xephos couldn't help admiring her. "Do you want to hang around with us?" he asked.
   "But she's... a girl!" Lalna protested.
   "Very observant, Lalna Jones!" Xevphera laughed.
   "Hey! How do you know..." Lalna turned to Xephos. "I give up! This girls a total nightmare!"
   Xephos nodded, and Xevphera burst out laughing. She folded her arms across her chest. "I suppose you think I'm just a girl and not very tough?" She bit into her bottom lip and looked thoughtfully. "Well, maybe you're right. But I do need your help, especially Xephos'. That's why I'm here."
   "What do you mean?" Xephos asked, beginning to tense. "Why do you need help?"
   Xevphera looked at him. "I'll tell you tonight. Meet me by the old Punch and Judy stand - it's by the side of the pier - if you're brave enough!"
   Xephos didn't hesitate. "What time?"
   Xevphera didn't hesitate either. "Midnight!"
   Xephos and Lalna looked at each other in disbelief.
   Xevphera began to walk away. "That's settled then!"
   "But why midnight?" Lalna shouted after her.
   "Because that's the only time I can show you," she shouted back.
   "Show us what?" Xephos asked expectantly.
   Xevphera broke into a run. "YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE!" she yelled over her shoulder.
   And then she was gone.
4 - Midnight encounter
Later that night, the two boys had moved their belongings upstairs into the spare bedroom. They were right next door to old Honeydew's bedroom. His door was closed, but every now and then they could hear him moving around.
   And now Xephos and Lalna lay awake in the big double bed.
   It had been easy to stay awake. There had been so much to talk about. As usual, Lalna did most of the talking... his brain working overtime. "What do you make of old Honeydew?" Lalna whispered.
   "He's a bit scary... but I think he's OK!" Xephos replied.
   "He's a lot scary!" Lalna went on. "He really gives me the creeps!"
   "Keep your voice down," Xephos said quietly. "He might be listening. He's only in the next room."
   "Probably with his ear to the wall," Lalna whispered in a creepy voice.
   "I don't think so," Xephos chuckled. "Listen..."
   They both lay in silence and strained their ears. A rasping snore sounded through the wall. The boys giggled and resumed their conversation.
   "What do you think of Xevphera Purpleblade?" Lalna said thoughtfully.
   "I've never met anyone called Xevphera before," Xephos whispered.
   "Except you did meet her before," Lalna reminded him, "twice, if your dreams are anything to go by. She makes me feel nervous. She's wacko!"
   Xephos giggled. "It's like she's form a different planet, but I still like her.
   "Did you see what she was wearing?" Lalna said laughing. "She looked like some sort of miniature female Scotsman."
   Xephos shrieked with laughter. Lalna laughed even louder. They were almost laughing to the point of tears when a voice sounded from the doorway: "Are you two settling down? It's time you were asleep."
   "Sorry Aunt Kim," Xephos said, trying not to giggle.
   "Well, goodnight then!"
   "Goodnight!"
   "Goodnight!" Lalna repeated.
   As Aunt Kim's footsteps retreated on to the landing, Lalna leant out and looked at the electronic clock on the bedside cabinet. 11:45 pm.
   "OK, Xephos... it's almost time. We'll wait five more minutes, check your aunt's settled down, then we'll go."
   A knot suddenly formed in Xephos' stomach. He decided he would much rather stay tucked up in bed than venture out into the cold night air and meet Xevphera.
Xephos and Lalna walked with hands deep in pockets towards the seafront promenade.
   The streets were dark and almost deserted. Just a few late-night revellers returning home, the occasional car driving past, everything quite normal.
   "I hope those guys from the arcade aren't lurking around," Lalna said. "it'd just be our luck to bump into them."
   "Just keep your head down and keep walking," Xephos replied. "We're nearly there."
   "So you know where it is?"
   "I can't remember seeing an old Punch and Judy stand, but I know where the pier is."
   "And do you think Xevphera what's-her-name is really going to be there?" Lalna asked.
   "She'll be there." Xephos said confidently.
   A thin, grey drizzle began to fall and the two boys sped up a little.
   A few minutes later they were walking along the empty promenade. The sea was far out on their left and looked inky black; the waves made a loud crashing sound as they broke on the shore.
   "There's the pier," Xephos said, pointing ahead.
   As they drew closer, a girl stepped out from the shadows of a tall wooden structure.
   "You made it," Xevphera said. "I wasn't sure you'd turn up."
   Lalna looked at his watch. "It's bang on midnight," He whispered.
   Loud voices sounded from across the road. A drunken gang stumbled out of a doorway and staggered away up the pavement.
   "It's a disco - the Icelandic..." Xevphera informed them.
   Xephos looked left towards the pier entrance. A sign by the side of a rusting turnstile read: 'PIER UNSAFE - CLOSED FOR REPAIRS'.
   "We can't go in there," Lalna said. "It's too dangerous."
   Xevphera set off towards it, "It's ok... I know what I'm doing. Xephos - follow me!"
   "What about me?" Lalna asked indignantly. "You're not leaving me behind."
   Xephos stared at Xevphera's shiny black coat. It looked like plastic. She pulled the collar up around her ears. He'd never seen a coat like that before. She was wearing the same beret she'd been wearing earlier. What with the plastic coat and the beret, he thought she looked like some sort of secret agent.
   "I'm going to show Xephos his worst nightmare - the reason I need your help," she said. "I want you to stay here. Keep watch. We'll not be long. When Xephos gets back, get him home."
   Xephos turned to his friend. Lalna didn't look at all pleased. "I don't know what this is all about," Xephos frowned. "Do you mind keeping a look out. If anyone comes - "
   "I'll give a loud whistle with my fingers," Lalna interrupted. "I suppose you're right... one of us needs to keep watch. If the police come and find you on the pier you'll be in serious trouble."
   Xevphera smiled at Lalna and moved towards the turnstile. She climbed over it and disappeared into the shadows. "Come on Xephos!" she whispered from the darkness. "Follow me!"
   "OK... I'm coming!" he whispered over his shoulder. "If we're not back in ten minute, and you can't see any sign of us..."
"Don't worry," Lalna said in a reassuring tone of voice. "I'll raise the alarm."
   Xephos nodded and disappeared over the turnstile into the darkness.
If it was spooky in the streets, it was twice as spooky on the deserted run-down pier. Xevphera led Xephos through a maze of shadowy huts, the sea crashing loudly beneath their feet.
   "Where are you taking me?"
   "You'll see. Be patient!"
   "If this is some sort of joke, then it's definitely not funny!"
   "It's no joke!"
   They walked up to an old wooden bench alongside the rusted pier railings. Xevphera sat down on it and beckoned Xephos to do the same. They sat side by side and she shuffled up to him.
   "Hold my hands," Xevphera said, making Xephos feel uncomfortable.
   He began to stammer with embarrassment. "B-but... why?"
   "Hold both my hands and close your eyes... you'll see why!"
   She closed her eyes. Xephos hesitated. She opened her eyes, scowled at him, and then closed them again.
   Xephos got the message. "OK... if you say so!" He took hold of her hands and gasped. They felt so cold... so hard... like ice! He closed his eyes.
   "Now count to three!"
   Xephos took a deep breath and did as he was told. "One... two... three!"
   An intensity of light, life and sound suddenly exploded around him. Xephos opened his eyes and gawped.
   It was daylight - a warm, sunny day... lots of people walking among the brightly coloured stalls - Madame Clara, - fortune teller... hot dogs... ices... candyfloss - busy amusement arcades. A siren sounded form the end of the pier - a ghost train perhaps?
   Xephos looked at Xevphera. She was smiling at him. He realised he was still holding her hands, but now they felt warm and soft. He let go and jumped back.
   "This is a dream, isn't it? It's not really happening. It can't be!"
   "I've got to go now, Xephos. My mum's waiting. She's calling me. I'll catch up with you later."
   As Xevphera got up, he noticed she was wearing the kilt again - the black plastic coat had disappeared. "You can't just leave me here," Xephos pleaded. "I need to get back to Lalna."
   Xevphera gave Xephos a warm smile. "He'll be waiting for you after you've seen it."
   "Seen what?"
   Xevphera hesitated and her smile changed to a frown. "How it all started... the reason why you're here to help me! It's waiting at the end of the pier."
   As Xevphera disappeared into the crowd, Xephos looked around again. It was a happy peaceful scene with loads of people enjoying themselves. And yet there was something really strange about it all... something he couldn't quite put his finger on.
   A child by his side dropped his side dropped her ice cream cone on the floor and started crying. Her mum bent down and picked it up. Her skirt was so short that Xephos looked away - he'd never seen a mum with a skirt so short - and it was made of the same shiny plastic as Xevphera's coat. And then Xephos noticed that lots of people were wearing clothes he hadn't seen before.
   His head swirled in confusion, he got up and moved towards the end of the pier. If his worst nightmare was waiting for him, then it was time to go and face it.
   He got up and made his way through the crowds of holidaymakers. The siren shrieked out again in the distance... excited screams - definitely a ghost train.
   My worst nightmare... Surely she didn't mean the ghost train? Lalna's right - she's crazy!
   Xephos relaxed a little and moved on more quickly.
   And then he heard a different sound.
   Laughter! High-pitched hysterical laughter! Sinister, menacing... terrifying laughter!
   The sound of it filled Xephos with dread. Goosebumps spread all over his body and a cold tingling sensation shot down his spine. He felt compelled to turn around and flee back to the pier entrance.
   No! I'm Xephos Blue! I'm not scared!
   And with this brave thought surging through his mind, he pushed on toward the end of the pier.
5 - Midnight experience
The horrible laughing was coming from inside a small arcade tent next to the ghost train. As Xephos walked toward it, he saw the brightly coloured sign above the entrance.
Scullion's Amusements
As Xephos made his way slowly inside, the laughter stopped.
   The arcade was full of slot machines - old-fashioned mechanical ones; not a single electronic machine in sight!
   Xephos watched as a boy put a coin into a slot, flicked a lever, and a small metal ball shot around a spiral coil before disappearing into a hole at the centre. The boy muttered and walked away. Another boy put a coin in a crane machine and tried to pick up a fluffy toy, but the jaws of the crane closed over thin air and missed the toy completely.
   Xephos pressed on, wondering what he was going to find, all the time growing more and more tense... then the hideous laughter started again.
   He swung around and saw the small figure over to his right. It was seared in a glass case, rocking from side to side. A boy about the same age as Xephos stood and watched. A younger girl stood by his side - his sister, perhaps. She started to cry and stepped backwards.
   Xephos moved closer and saw that the figure was some sort of sailor doll sitting astride a barrel. It laughed hysterically, its hands planted on its knees and its eyes seeming to stare back at anyone who looked at it.
   It suddenly stopped moving and its head dropped forward. The boy moved away and tried to console the young girl.
   Xephos walked up to the glass and peered at the slumped figure. It wore a navy-blue sailor suit, its cap resting carelessly on its head of wiry black hair.
   Whoaahh... that is so spooky, Xephos thought to himself.
   He stared further and took in the dolls grotesque features - wide nose... flared nostrils... cheeks jutting out savagely... thick lips - all set in a hideous grin.
   A man edged up to Xephos' shoulder and laughed. "You do right to stare son. That dolls enough to give anybody nightmares!"
   Before Xephos had a chance to say anything, the man put a coin in the slot and stood back with his arms folded.
   Xephos was only inches away from the glass as the doll's head angled upwards. Its eyes were only painted - but they seemed to stare at him with frightening ferocity. As the doll sprang to life, he jumped backwards.
   "Steady on son... its only a doll!"
   But as the demonic laughter grew louder and the intense eyes followed his every move, Xephos sensed that it was much more than a harmless doll. Xevphera knew it too... She hadn't sent him here for nothing.
   He began to panic. His mind swirled in a confusion of thoughts and images - slot machines, hot dog stands, candyfloss stalls, and brightly coloured lights. He began to feel dizzy. He started to fall backwards... in slow motion... a fainting movement. He hit the floorboards with a heavy thump and everything went black.
   And when he opened his eyes... everyone had disappeared!
   He sat up by the side of the slot machine. All was silent. The sailor doll lapsed back into lifelessness. Xephos held his breathe, sensing that something awful was about to happen. Still feeling faint, he struggled to his feet. He had to get back to Lalna.
   As he walked away, the hideous laughter started up again. He looked anxiously over his shoulder... and his blood froze.
   The sailor doll was rising to its feet.
   Like a rabbit frozen in a car headlight, Xephos stood rooted to the spot... watching everything happen... unable to do anything.
   When its eyes firmly fixed on Xephos, the doll threw a punch and shattered its glass prison into a thousand fragments. It began climbing out of the slot machine and down towards the floor. At first its movements were jerky, mechanical... unreal. But as it reached the floor and turned its head, it moved in a more human way, like a small child.
   Xephos finally reacted. He turned and started to run.
   He ran and ran, weaving his way through the shadows... the pier dark and deserted again. He almost tripped over a cat that sprang out from behind a hut, and then he bumped into a waste bin. But there was no time to pause. The nightmarish laughter was growing louder all the time.
   Xephos finally reached the pier entrance, saw the turnstile and lunged for it, throwing himself over the top and out onto the promenade... and then all was darkness - grey, damp, drizzling darkness - as he fainted again.
When he came round, Lalna was kneeling over him.
   "Are you OK, Xephos? Are you all right?"
   "Why? What happened?"
   "You passed out. You must have climbed over the turnstile, fell on the pavement and banged your head. I found you in a crumpled heap."
   Xephos felt his head. No bumps. No soreness. "I think I'm OK. What happened?"
   Lalna looked at him with a guilty expression. "I'm not sure. I fell asleep... I only woke up when you came crashing through the turnstile -" Lalna paused. "And that's when I realised..."
   "Realized what?" Xephos asked, a nervous flutter welling up in his stomach.
   "It's four o'clock in the morning! You were in there for four hours!"
   Xephos felt the colour drain form his cheeks. "Wow!" was all he could say at first. His mind reeled back to the events inside. "Did anyone - anything - follow me out?"
   "I don't think so... I didn't see anyone. What happened in there? Where's Xevphera?"
   Xephos struggled to his feet. "I'm freezing. Let's go back to Aunt Kim's. I'll tell you everything then. You'll never believe it!"
   Lalna scanned nervously around. "I'll believe anything you tell me Xephy-boy!"
   Xephos walked up to the turnstile and peered through on to the pier. Everything was clothed in shadows, dark and deserted... no sign of anything untoward. He shook his head in disbelief.
   "Come on! Lets go!" he sighed. "The sooner we're back, the better!"
The streets were empty. Not even a car to be seen. They were completely alone... but Xephos kept glancing over his shoulder, as if someone might be following.
   "Xephos... why do you keep looking behind?"
   "You don't want to know," Xephos said. "Just keep walking. We need to get back."
   Lalna nodded nervously and lengthened his stride... Xephos found himself jogging to keep up.
   Suddenly, every sound and every shadow seemed threatening.
   Overturned dustbins cast shadows of creeping monsters on graffiti covered walls and a cat screamed the scream of a preying vampire. Xephos and Lalna walked on nervously, neither of them speaking.
   They turned away form the promenade into a dark street and saw a row of wheelie bins lined up along the kerbside. As they sped past, Lalna tapped each one with his left hand. Xephos guessed it was just a nervous reaction.
   Neither of the boys saw the lid of the fourth bin rise up a little as Lalna's hand knocked against it.
6 - street stalker
Further along the road, Xephos stopped in his tracks and looked over his shoulder.
   "What's up?" Lalna asked.
   Xephos stared down the deserted street, along the line of wheelie bins. "There's something wrong! I can sense it!"
   "Xephos, you're freaking me out," Lalna uttered. He sped on, Xephos raced after him. A loud clatter sounded some distance behind.
   Xephos stopped and swung round. Lalna did the same. A wheelie bin at the bottom of the road had toppled over. Something was moving by the side of it.
   Lalna's voice started to quake, "It's just a cat..."
   "It's no cat!" Xephos whispered. "Quick! Get down!" He tugged at Lalna's elbow. They dived into a gateway and peered around the hedge down the street.
   They watched in stunned silence as a small child-sized figure delved into the rubbish split from the wheelie bin and began throwing it over the privet hedge into the garden.
   "God! Who's that?" Lalna asked in disbelief.
   "You don't want to know!" Xephos muttered half under his breath.
   When the sinister silhouetted figure had scattered all of the bins contents into the garden, it picked up something heavy from the gutter and threw it towards the house. Xephos looked at Lalna in horror as the sound of breaking glass reached their ears.
   The dwarf-like figure sprinted away down the street. At the same time, the lights came on In several of the windows.
   "We'd better get out of here fast or they'll think it's us!" Xephos exclaimed. "Run for it!"
   Lalna was in no mood to argue and they set off at full speed. This was becoming a habit! They sprinted around the corner into the next street. Almost back!
   Xephos glanced nervously up the alleyway where they'd sat with Xevphera that morning. He saw a small figure scurry across a dark space and retreat into the shadows. A shiver rattled down his spine. "Did you see that?" he gasped. "Something's creeping around up there!"
   Lalna shuddered. "Let's get back... I've had enough excitement for one night!"
   Xephos nodded and sprinted on. He'd definitely had more than enough.
   They finally reached Aunt Kim's and breathed a sigh of relief. No lights on... everything in darkness. They hadn't been missed.
   Xephos was the first through the front door. Lalna followed, looking distinctly pale. They crept upstairs and into the bedroom. Neither spoke as they slipped out of their clothes and back into their pyjamas.
   "I feel tired out and scared stiff at the same time," Lalna whispered. "Now tell me - what happened on the pier?"
   "OK," Xephos replied, climbing into the bed and snuggling down under the duvet. "And then we'd better try and get some sleep - we're going to need it!"
   Lalna nodded and climbed in beside him. Xephos closed his eyes and relived the whole experience. He told Lalna everything.
   Lalna lay in stunned silence and said nothing until Xephos had finished. "Wow! No wonder you couldn't wait to be back here. That sailor doll sounds more scary than the Bonebreaker!"
   "When you found me and I came round, I thought it had all been a dream - some sort of vision - but I'm not so sure now."
   "Well Xevphera was real though," Lalna said. "I wonder what happened to her."
   Xephos yawned. "I don't know. Let's talk about it tomorrow. Like I said... we need to get some sleep."
   Lalna nodded and turned over. Xephos closed his eyes and tried desperately to empty his mind of all that had happened. He finally managed to drop off.
When he opened his eyes again, it was still dark and Lalna was snoring beside him. He wasn't sure why he'd woken up - he didn't need the loo or anything. He just sensed that something was wrong. He peered over his duvet around the bedroom. All was cloaked in shadows, but otherwise everything was as it should be.
   He slipped out of bed and crept out on to the landing. He peered down the stairs and his heart leapt at the sigh of the front door half open.
   Lalna must have forgot to drop the latch, he thought to himself. He trod quietly down the stairway, gently closed the door and dropped the latch.
   A few minutes later he was back in bed... still feeling that something was very wrong.
   Oh no! he suddenly thought t himself. If the door's been open, something might have got in!
   He looked around the bedroom again... everything seemed quite normal. He broke out in goosebumps as he made his mind up to look under the bed. He leant out, lowered his head and peered into the dark space.
   Every muscle in his body went completely stiff as he saw the small figure lying there, its head turned towards him in the half-light.
   Xephos leapt back up and almost knocked Lalna out of bed. "LALNA! HELP!"
   Lalna groaned, still half asleep. "What are you on about?"
   "You left the door open... its got in... under the bed!"
   As Lalna's brain registered what Xephos was trying the say, his face went a deathly shade of white. He took a deep breath and leant over his own side of the bed. He straightened up again and faced Xephos. "What are you on about? There's nothing there!"
   Xephos leant over again on his own side. Sure enough, whatever he'd seen a few minutes earlier had gone!
   "You've had a nightmare, Xephos! Try and get back to sleep."
   Xephos laid his head back on the pillow, his heart still racing. Lalna was right - these days it was hard to tell the difference between dreams and reality!
   He took one last look over the edge of his duvet... and saw the silhouette of the small figure standing at the bottom of his bed!
   It jumped on to the duvet and began crawling up his legs. Xephos watched in shocked horror as the grinning wooden face with red cheeks inched its way up towards his chest. He tried to scream, but the sailor doll had already reached out and gripped him by the neck. "Lalna..." Xephos croaked. He dug his elbow heavily into Lalna's ribs.
   Lalna stirred. "What's up now?"
   Xephos couldn't answer... he was choking.
   Lalna jolted upright and sprang into action. He lashed out at the sailor doll, but it never budged. It sat astride Xephos' chest, its thick bushy eyebrows and wiry black hair giving it a grotesque appearance... wooden chubby fingers closed even tighter around his throat.
   Xephos felt faint as the lack of oxygen took effect.
   Lalna jumped out of bed, lifted his side of the duvet and threw it over the demonic figure. Thrust into darkness, the doll released its grip - and Lalna wrapped it tight and pushed it over Xephos' side of the bed on to the floor.
   Coughing and spluttering, Xephos jumped out on to his 'mummified' enemy and sat on it, pinning it to the ground. The doll struggled and writhed, wrapped up inside the heavy duvet.
   "Through the window!" Lalna yelled.
   Xephos nodded. As Lalna opened the window, he lifted the rolled-up duvet and manhandled it through. He watched as the heavy bundle fall down into the garden an landed heavily.
   "WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING?" a voice boomed from behind.
   He turned round to see Aunt Kim glaring at him. "I'm... I'm sorry!" Xephos stammered. "Something got in... under the bed. Me and Lalna -"
   "Lalna looks frozen!" Aunt Kim interrupted. "Whatever possessed you to pull the duvet off and throw it through the window?"
   Xephos looked at the bed. Lalna was sitting up and staring at him in a very peculiar way. "He's been dreaming again!" Lalna said indignantly.
   "But... but... you saw..."
   Lalna yawned and stretched his arms. "The only thing I saw was you, wrestling with the duvet. Why did you chuck it out of the window?"
   Xephos leant out of the window and looked down into the garden. The duvet lay where it landed, still rolled up. He turned to Lalna, and then to Aunt Kim. It seemed that Lalna was right - he'd been dreaming again! "Sorry!" Was all Xephos could think to say. "I've had a nightmare."
   As Aunt Kim tutted and accused Xephos of watching too many scary videos, he put his slippers on and headed downstairs to retrieve the duvet. On the way, he tried to sort out in his mind the dreams from reality. The business on the pier had seemed real enough at the time. But so had the sailor doll under the bed. And what about the dwarf-like figures in the street on the way home? Lalna had seen them surely?
   Well, nightmares or not, Xephos was sure of one thing - it was all a warning of thing to come.