‘What?’ Ryska jumped to her feet in surprise, looking around and reaching for a weapon she immediately realised she wasn’t wearing. ‘Can’t you see him?’ Ryska looked around her. There was nothing. They were alone in the room. ‘What are you talking about?’ she shouted. ‘He’s right…’ Shining stared just beyond Ryska at the figure hanging a foot or so above the floor. The man was screaming at him, as if desperate for Shining to hear him. His face was distorted, the air around him rippling. It was like looking at your reflection in a pond after a stone had hit the water. Still, he recognised the face, yes, it was clearing… ‘Jamie?’ Shining asked. ‘Jamie is that you?’ And then the figure vanished and Shining was left staring at thin air. ‘Is this supposed to help your story seem more convincing?’ Ryska asked, her voice heavy with sarcasm, ‘because I hate to tell you but right now I’m thinking you’re completely off your head.’ The door opened and Jennings stepped in.
