WE ARE DELIGHTED TO WELCOME BACK TEAM MEMBER, EVA BIELBY, WHO IS SHARING HER FLASH FICTION STORY, 'INTERFERENCE' #RWRTeamBlog #ReadWriteRepeat

INTERFERENCE

She introduced herself as Gillian before taking her seat at the table. We sit in silence as I take in every detail of the young woman sitting before me. I feel a sickness in the pit of my stomach that I have never previously experienced whilst working with a client. I’m visited by an overwhelming need to cry…in pain…despair…and hopelessness. This lady is a deeply troubled soul; desperate, tormented, distressed, and anxious.

A new Range Rover was parked in my drive and I sensed rather than saw, that someone sat in the driving seat waiting for her.

“Someone has brought you to me today, haven’t they, my dear? Am I correct in thinking that it is your mother who waits for you?”

“Y…yes! It…it’s my mum. She…she said I nee…needed to s…see you.”

I reach across the table and take her hands in mine. Her sleeves ride up in that simple movement and I can’t fail to notice angry, dark bruises on both lower arms. She closes her eyes and tears start to roll down her sunken cheeks. Her hands tremble in my grasp and my eyes are drawn to her fingernails; they are bitten down to the skin and look raw. When the shaking subsides, I release both hands and gently place them palm side down on the table.

After shuffling my deck of tarot cards, I fan them out in a row and ask her to choose five. She tentatively selected her five and handed them back to me. Taking a swift glance at her choices, I’m alarmed. I don’t like what I’m seeing, but I try to keep any expression of deep concern from my face. I show her only two cards of her selection, The Star and The Hierophant, before placing the remaining three cards face down. I won’t let her see the last three just yet. They couldn’t be much worse…The Tower, Death and The Nine of Swords. This is going to be bad.

“I’ll come back to these three later, my dear.”

I face her again. Her recent tears have dried up, but I search her sad, hollow eyes. Eyes so beautiful should sparkle with love and happiness, yet it seems those gifts have not visited this young woman for several years.

She shuddered; that ‘walking over the grave’ involuntary quake. I have to look away. I cannot bear to watch the utter terror in her.

I gaze into my crystal ball, and as visions from her past come into a haze-like focus, I am horrified by what I see. A man I assume to be her husband or partner, is dragging her around the bedroom by her hair. Different scenes, further occasions, slowly appear before me…a story playing out. She is lying in a hallway, knees drawn up to try to shield her swollen belly from his vicious kicks. Blood is seeping into her denims and I realise the baby is lost. The act changes, and the man is tearing her cell-phone from her hands and locking her in what I assume to be their bedroom. Yet more vile scenarios appear before me: cigarette burns on her body, a violent blow to her head, and a gag tied tightly around her mouth to prevent her screams. This man is evil.

The murky images come to an abrupt end, and what unfolds next is her no-less-than-horrifying, future. He ties her hands and feet and is force-feeding her with something that looks disgusting. She frantically moves her face from side to side to try to avoid the spoonfuls of a concoction of his making, being forced into her mouth. She lets the gloop dribble from her lips and down her chin. I sense there is worse yet to come and almost on cue, the nightmare within the crystal continues to play.

She has a small pregnant belly this time, and the man is pounding down on her; raping her. He has a dressing gown belt in his hands and is pulling it tight around her neck. Her eyes are wide open in panic and dread, gurgling noises coming from her mouth and she has no fight left in her; she’s giving up. This is her future.

I can’t let this happen! I just can’t! I can’t let this beautiful and tormented young lady go through the tragic events I just witnessed in the crystal.

“What is it? What’s the matter?” the young woman asks me; her voice full of fear.

I sigh heavily before considering my response to her questions.

“I have seen images of your past, my dear. I know what has been done to you. I saw it all. You have been through so much. I need you to close your eyes now, as I look to your future. Please, don’t worry. Everything is going to be fine.”

She looks dubious (understandably so considering the circumstances) but nevertheless, her eyelids meet, and she continues to sit, patiently waiting and nervously wringing her hands together.

“I want you to shut out the darkest memories of your past. Focus on being positive and ridding yourself of the demons that haunt you as I work for your future – a positive future.”

She makes a conscious effort to keep her eyes tightly closed, and loosens the chiffon scarf from around her neck. In that movement, I couldn’t fail to notice the angry red and purple marks on her throat. My anger becomes more intense.

I catch my breath and start to voice my incantations…while silently removing my wand from the drawer at my side of the table.

With a few flicks of my wand and using the appropriate verbiage, I tap the crystal three times. Gillian is in a deep trance by this time and I don’t think she hears the few sparks that fly with each tap of the wand. I repeat the process with the three remaining tarot cards. My room fills with a light, swirling mist. I feel a familiar, painful shift inside of me. In this instant, I know that I’ve succeeded. It takes all of forty-five seconds for the mist to completely evaporate.

“You may open your eyes now, my dear.”

Slowly, hesitantly, she opens her eyes. I smile at her as I reveal each of the three tarot cards. They couldn’t be better; The Lovers, Three of Cups and Four of Wands.

“I can reveal that you have a bright and positive future ahead of you, Gillian. A brand new relationship with a man who has experienced great hurt himself. This man genuinely cares for you and wants to protect you from all that is wrong in the world. That longed-for family you always dreamed of will be yours. A new and wonderful life with your family and such exciting times ahead…”

I pause for a few seconds before continuing.

“But before all these treasures can be realised, you must take action. I’m not telling you what that action is, because you already know that the happiness you so desire cannot begin until you have taken those steps – hard as that may seem right now.”

She gazes at me in silence for a while, trying to read my eyes; trying to delve into my mind. Finally, she speaks.

“Yes! I know what I nee…need to do. I need to report my abusive husband to the police. My mother has told me that, and now you have said it too. I feel ready to do it now. I must find the strength. I…I will.”

“I will know, my dear. I will know.”

I stand on my doorstep and wave them off, young Gillian and her dear mother.

*****

Several hours later, I revisit Gillian’s situation in the crystal ball. It’s done. The images have started to become a little hazy around the edges so I know they are more recent events. The visions show Gillian, along with her Mum in attendance, being interviewed following her statement. The proceedings were being recorded by a handsome young constable. I could tell by his aura that he was widowed. After he stopped the recording, he handed the weeping young lady a handful of tissues and folded her in his arms, offering her some additional comfort. I could feel their empathy for each other…along with a strong mutual attraction.

More recent images follow and I watch on as Gillian’s husband is duly arrested for domestic abuse and the murder of their unborn baby.

*****

I fear that I may now be banished by my Sisters in ‘The Secret Order’, for my interference. We make certain pledges during our initiation ceremonies that we must abide by. The Sisters, to my knowledge, are unaware that I possess a tool – my trusty wand. Perhaps they know about other special powers and gifts that I possess. Would they tell me if they do? I don’t know.

I have used my special gift to alter the fate of a young lady who deserves so much more and I have no regrets in doing so. If I am to be cast aside by ‘The Secret Order’, so be it. If that is the case, I will be sad, but hopefully, I can do more good in the world – and give more people like Gillian, the happier endings they so deserve.

**********

© Eva Bielby 2025

COMING SOON: On Wednesday, 17th September, we are delighted to host, guest author, Dawn Colclasure, who is sharing an excerpt from Chapter 8 of her novel, 'I'll Be Ghosting You'.