The Haunting Of Holland House: Chapter Four
THE GHOST HUNTERS APPRENTICE - BOOK ONE
Todd woke with a start, bleary eyes struggling to make out the time on his alarm clock through the darkness. 7:45am. Fifteen minutes before he had to leave for school.
"Shit!" He exclaimed, throwing off his duvet and scrambling out of bed.
He raced to the bathroom, nearly tripping over a pile of discarded clothes and shoes on his bedroom floor.
No time for a shower, he'd have to make do with a quick wash.
Todd grimaced at his dishevelled reflection as he splashed water on his face and ran wet hands through his messy brown hair in an attempt to tame it. Bleary blue eyes stared back at him through contact lenses he'd haphazardly popped in.
Glancing at his watch, Todd muttered a curse. 7:52am.
He had eight minutes to get dressed and get out the door. He darted back into his room, pulling his uniform out of a crumpled heap on the floor. The shirt was badly creased and his trousers were stained from yesterday's lunch, but it would have to do.
Todd thundered down the stairs, the smell of burnt toast and coffee greeting him as he rushed into the kitchen. He grabbed a bagel from the table and took a huge bite.
"Whoa, slow down there, love," his mum Colette said, looking up from braiding his sister Meg's curly brown hair. "Running a bit late this morning?"
Todd nodded, his mouth full of bagels. He washed it down with a gulp of orange juice straight from the carton.
"Your phone's been ringing all night," Colette continued. "And Chris called asking for you again."
Todd tensed at the mention of his former best friend. "What did he want?"
"He didn't say, just asked me to have you call him back." Colette gave Todd a searching look. "Is everything alright between you two? I haven't seen Chris around in ages."
"We don't really hang out anymore," Todd muttered, avoiding her gaze.
"Yeah, because Todd's too cool for him now that he's Mr Popular," Meg piped up in a sing-song voice.
Todd shot his sister with an irritated look. "That's not it, you little tit."
"Now now, enough you two," Colette interrupted gently. She finished Meg's braid and sniffed the air in disgust. "Why can I smell cheap cider?"
Todd checked his watch again. 7:59. "Sorry mum, I gotta run, I'm late."
He slung his backpack over his shoulder and headed out.
As he wheeled his bike down the front path, his dad Jacob was just getting home from his night shift, looking exhausted.
"See you later, dad," Todd called with a small wave. Jacob gave a tired smile and nod in return.
Todd pedalled hard, trying to push thoughts of Chris and his cryptic phone calls out of his mind.
Instead, his thoughts drifted back to Imogen Noon.
NEXT CHAPTER…
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