Underground Rivers Read online

  Anthony was currently writing his own horror novel after studying literature at University. His novel was entitled In this Day we Last. He had woven the ethnicity issues into a story of post-apocalyptic survival and romance, all colliding together to create a powerful and gripping novel. He’d had inspiration from his mother to become a writer. And when she passed away due to a brain tumor, Anthony pursued his dream to become an author; his mother’s death his motivation and strength.

  Anthony reached the top of the escalator, he stepped off slowly. Ahead of him books covered the shelves. A smile came to his face as right in front of him was the book he had longed for. Anthony approached the book shelf, his arms extended and suddenly the novel was in his hands. He opened it and feeling a cold breeze hit his face looked down at the pages before him. The first page read, here lies the spirit of Elga Ford, may her dreams live on and her nightmares rest before her.

  A book fell causing Anthony to jitter, he felt afraid of something, as if someone was with him. Elga Ford was behind him, staring straight through his soul. Anthony turned, but to his naked eye no one was there, he had never felt that presence of fear before. He stood there, astounded, wondering what actually happened.

  The library was empty, yet it felt to Anthony as if it was full, his mind filled with confusion on everything that happened since he opened the book. Anthony walked to the top of the stairs, he advanced towards his chair. A light flickered above, suddenly behind him a light exploded; Anthony let out a gasp and sat upon his seat and began reading.

  The book was compelling immediately; he felt fully engrossed and that was just the first few pages. A book dropped from a shelf, causing Anthony to shift his head round to the location of the disruption. In the distance was a dark shadow, its yellow eyes staring towards him. He squinted in order to get better sight of whatever was there. The faded shadow had vanished and was nowhere to be seen. Anthony looked back down at the book after ignoring what he had just seen; he realised he was on the last page. It felt to Anthony as if he had just read the entire book, he knew everything about what had happened. He noticed that the last page had dust on the bottom of it. He blew it off. Small imprinted words became visible to Anthony’s eyes; he read what it said.

  Anthony stood up, dropping the book on the floor, the words read ... I SEE YOU. A loud thump was heard from down stairs, Anthony peered his head over the railing. The same face with yellow eyes appeared once again, which quickly raced towards Anthony, forcing him to fall backwards onto the floor. Heavy breathing beside him, gave Anthony the shivers. As he turned his head Elga’s evil eyes peered straight into his. He stood up, the eyes now even closer. Anthony advanced backwards, fear overrunning his mind. He came to a halt, Elga’s face in front of his. They both glared into each other’s eyes, Anthony with a struggle to keep contact. He knew that his life was at its end, but he chose to stand and face Elga head on.

  ‘Why are you doing this? Anthony mumbled from his dry mouth.

  Elga moved her face closer to Anthony’s. She slowly opened her mouth. Darkness lay bare inside, her tongue black. Then she vanished. Anthony in relief wiped sweat from his forehead. Elga strikingly appeared beside Anthony and whispered into his ear.

  ‘Fear becomes death and death becomes us? Elga whisper’s in a creepy but brittle voice.

  Anthony was forced over the railing. He landed on his head, twisting his neck on impact, his spine breaking. He was left lying there, his mouth wide open. A doll identical to him beside his corpse.

  Twenty years earlier...

  Elga was sat at her desk in her room; she was completing her final page of her novel. The darkness covered the room; the only light was the dull nowhere near bright light coming from Elga’s lamp beside her. Elga turned her head towards the door slowly; she turned back to her page and started writing.

  My death draws close, I know what is coming, but with my death I will grow stronger. My spirit will live on through the presence of my books, for I am Elga Ford and I will not simply just leave this realm. I will live on forever; the thought of my mere presence will make shadows quiver. I will live on, my presence lay bare and my desire ahead and so I will continue my work in years to come. People will fear thinking my name, once I’ve finished, for I will not fade nor will I die.

  Eggs In The Morning

  by Jonathan Owen-Thomas

  INT. BEDROOM - MORNING

  A young couple are sleeping in a student-looking house. The man, RYAN, has his arm over the woman, SAM.

  Sam slowly wakes up, disorientated, and looks around the room. She mumbles to herself.

  SAM

  What? Where am I?

  She tries to turn around suddenly but realises her head hurts. She notices a man spooning her from behind.

  She groans with realisation. Then attempts to remove his arm and leave. She finds her clothes scattered over the floor. She puts them on.

  She looks at Ryan, who’s still sleeping. She tries to sneak out quietly.

  Her phone rings, startling her. She puts it on silent as quick as she can.

  RYAN

  Morning.

  SAM

  Oh! You’re awake. Hi.

  RYAN

  Hi.

  Sam finishes putting on her clothes. With her shirt no longer blocking her view, she becomes aware of Ryan staring at her.

  SAM

  I was just, you know. I didn’t wanna disturb you. Sorry.

  RYAN

  You’re leaving?

  SAM

  Yeah. I mean, I have to get going.

  She makes her way to the door and stumbles.

  RYAN

  You remember where you live, right?

  Sam smirks, sarcastically.

  Ryan, in a laid back attempt to chase after her, gets out of bed.

  SAM

  Course I do.

  (beat)

  I just feel a bit rough.

  RYAN

  Yes I can see that.

  SAM

  Hey! I wasn’t the only one drinking, you know.

  RYAN

  I know.

  SAM

  You were too.

  RYAN

  Right. Except, I don’t get hangovers.

  Sam stares at Ryan after his quick comebacks, seeing his and the conversation as juvenile. She sees how it’s accompanied by a juvenile looking man. Muscular and attractive, no doubt, but with a childish grin.

  SAM

  Good for you.

  RYAN

  And since you obviously do, I feel as if I should keep you here. Until you’re in a fit enough state.

  SAM

  Thanks, but ... that’s alright.

  RYAN

  But I want you to.

  Sam waits for him to finish his sentence.

  SAM

  What?

  RYAN

  Stay.

  (beat)

  SAM

  Why?

  Ryan gives Sam a disheartened expression.

  She struggles to read whether he’s actually offended or serious.

  RYAN

  (cheekily)

  Why not?

  Sam, although flattered, can’t understand why she should stay, or even why this guy would want her to.

  SAM

  Hah. Look, I don’t do this often. At all actually. But as far as I know, the rule is, we go our separate ways.

  RYAN

  (confused)

  Says who?

  SAM

  Just the way it is.

  Ryan, bored of her apparent rule, abruptly changes the subject.

  RYAN

  Fancy an omelette?

  SAM

  What?
r />   RYAN

  You know. Eggs. Beaten. Add some cheese. I make a great omelette.

  She gives an awkward smile.

  SAM

  I’m not really hungry, but thanks.

  RYAN

  I am. Besides, you’ve gotta eat something. Come on.

  Ryan leaves his bedroom. Sam hesitates. She gives a slight curious smile before following.

  INT. KITCHEN - MORNING

  Ryan makes his way downstairs and into the kitchen. Sam staggers along behind him.

  Although feeling rather absent, trying not to concentrate on her headache, Sam takes a note of Ryan’s living conditions. She doesn’t really know why she cares, but picks out little details like a clean folded tea-towel by the cooker which tell her he is a sensible well-kept guy.

  RYAN

  I do have some pain killers, if that’s more like breakfast for you.

  SAM

  Would you mind?

  Ryan shakes his head, as he turns towards his cupboard.

  SAM

  Thanks...

  Sam looks at him, trying to concentrate. Ryan turns around.

  RYAN

  You don’t remember my name.

  Sam doesn’t say anything.

  Ryan hands her the painkillers.

  RYAN

  Oh my god, you really don’t do you?

  SAM

  I did! It’s just ... I forgot, that’s all.

  RYAN

  That’s alright.

  SAM

  I’m sorry.

  RYAN

  It’s fine.

  Ryan hands her a glass of water.

  Sam takes the pills. Ryan finds himself in a situation where he could read into her not remembering his name. How drunk she was, how he was just another guy. But he brushes off any potential awkwardness and continues preparing the omelettes.

  SAM

  I take it you remember mine then?

  Ryan takes a moment to think.

  As he does he continues preparing his ingredients, constantly remeasuring amounts of cheese and seasonings. Despite the added difficulty he finds himself enjoying cooking for plus one.

  RYAN

  Sam, right?

  SAM

  You know it’s Sam.

  RYAN

  What do you mean?

  SAM

  You do that thing. You know my name, but because I feel bad that I can’t remember yours, you pretend like you’re not sure.

  RYAN

  Why Would I do that?

  (beat)

  SAM

  To make me feel better?

  RYAN

  That’s what I meant, why would I do that?

  SAM

  Erm ... maybe if you were a kind person?

  RYAN

  But you didn’t want me to...

  Sam loses the conversation once again.

  SAM

  To what?

  RYAN

  Pretend.

  Sam thinks for a moment. She feels unsure if she’s being interrogated or if she’s simply stupid.

  SAM

  No, I didn’t. Look, forget it.

  RYAN

  So did you want me to spare your feelings or not?

  SAM

  (confused)

  No.

  RYAN

  (teasing)

  So you like bad guys?

  SAM

  Excuse me? When did I say that?

  RYAN

  You didn’t.

  Ryan gives Sam a grin as she tries to backtrack to what was previously said.

  SAM

  (uncertain)

  No?

  RYAN

  But you implied it.

  SAM

  No.

  RYAN

  Two eggs?

  SAM

  What?

  RYAN

  Two eggs? I could do you one but I’ll need a smaller pan.

  Sam takes a moment to consider Ryan’s intentions. Unsure whether he’s playing mind games with her, trying to feed her or possibly both, she decides to simply answer the question.

  SAM

  Two’s fine.

  (beat)

  Thanks.

  Ryan puts the omelette mixture into the pan. The sounds of him stirring and the eggs sizzling break the silence along with any awkwardness.

  Ryan also takes a moment to try to assess their chemistry. He finds it necessary to bring her out of her shell but without taking it too far. He likes her, and he knows because he actually cares for once how his eggs are going to come out. He just wants her to talk now, to show an interest.

  SAM

  So what’s your name?

  It is better than nothing.

  RYAN

  Ryan.

  Sam smirks to herself.

  SAM

  I remember now.

  RYAN

  Of course you do. I told you.

  SAM

  You know what I mean.

  (beat)

  Are you always this difficult?

  Ryan smirks, trying to show he enjoys being difficult.

  RYAN

  What do you mean?

  SAM

  You. You’re ... kind of annoying.

  RYAN

  I am?

  SAM

  Stubborn. Or something ...

  Ryan is fine with this, he sees stubborn as challenging. He sees her as a challenge. A challenge emotionally, and a challenge out of his league. He wants to be a challenge for her in some way as well.

  RYAN

  I’m just getting breakfast on the table.

  SAM

  Alright. Maybe it’s me. I’m just having a bad morning, okay? I’m sorry.

  RYAN

  (sympathetic)

  It’s fine.

  Ryan serves breakfast, they sit at the dining table facing each other.

  SAM

  Thanks.

  In Sam’s mind the topic felt brief and finished. Though Ryan stares at her. Curious of what goes on inside her mind, he attempts to dig deeper.

  RYAN

  Though, can I ask, why are you having a bad morning?

  SAM

  It doesn’t matter.

  RYAN

  Sure it does.

  Sam pauses.

  SAM

  Like I said, I don’t do this sort of thing.

  RYAN

  Do you regret it?

  Sam, to her own surprise, feels the desire to open up to him slightly. Though trying to do so without hurting his feelings.

  SAM

  (hesitant)

  I guess?

  Ryan brushes off the potential insult.

  RYAN

  Really? I don’t!

  SAM

  Well why would you?

  RYAN

  What do you mean why would I?

  (beat)

  Oh, I see how it is. Girls can make mistakes, and regret sleeping with some guy. But the guy will always be happy with getting laid.

  Sam freezes.

  SAM

  I didn’t / mean...

  RYAN

  (interrupts)

  Great generalisation there. I mean, what if I felt pressured into having sex with you and I wasn’t ready. Or, or ... what if I’d cheated on my girlfriend, and I was feeling guilty?

  SAM

  Have you cheated on anyone?

  RYAN

  No.
But, you know. All I’m saying is, next time don’t assume the guy doesn’t regret it.

  (beat)

  SAM

  Alright, you made your point.

  Ryan

  (beat)

  I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to break. It’s just something that bugs me. But it’s cool. You didn’t know that.

  Ryan smiles at Sam. She stares at him and smiles back unsure.

  Ryan asked himself why he felt the need for that little outburst. Perhaps he shouldn’t share everything right away, the fact that he didn’t do this often either. For whatever reason he felt more secure with the jock gloss over him, but he didn’t want her to feel like just another girl.

  SAM

  You were right about your eggs.

  RYAN

  Yeah? See, I told you.

  SAM

  Yeah, they’re really good.

  RYAN

  What I still don’t get is why you regret sleeping with me?

  SAM

  (awkward)

  It’s nothing against you personally.

  RYAN

  I mean, we met. Very briefly. I knew your friends, you knew my friends. But we’d never really spoken. And then we do, we have really good sex... Right?

  Sam gives him a pause for good measure. She hesitates jokingly before nodding in agreement.

  Her joke seems to go unnoticed.

  RYAN

  And then you wake up and get a nice breakfast. What’s to regret?

  Sam tries to answer but her mouth is full.

  Ryan continues on his positive rant.

  RYAN

  The way I see it, if we’re both single, we wore a rubber, I don’t have crabs or anything so what’s to regret?

  SAM

  I never said I was single.

  Ryan studies her face. He wonders whether to assume or to play it safe and ask.

  RYAN

  Are you?

  (beat)

  SAM

  Yes, technically.

  RYAN

  Technically?

  SAM

  Technically. I’ve never been involved with the guy, but we were really close and the other day he just came out with it. “I think we should give it a shot. What do you say?” I mean, what do you say to that?

  Ryan doesn’t want to know too much about this guy. For all he knew this guy deserved her more, so he decides to ignore the complexity of her situation and goes for a cold, logical response.