Sample Chapter from Crack in the Dark Glass

As soon as Kirsty came in Greg felt ashamed of the mess. At home he was famous for making one. This maelstrom had happened in record time and, although he wasn't responsible for the soot, he still hadn't bothered to clean it up. He knew from her expression that Kirsty's room would be tidy. Too late now, she was in. He shifted the computer boxes to clear the way.
"I want you to look at this." He went over to his machine. She followed clutching the green towel and her wash-bag.
She stiffened the moment she looked at the monitor and he hadn't even told her what the problem was. She dropped the towel and the wash-bag on the floor and went right up to the screen, even touched it. There was a crackle of static and she pulled her hand away.
"It's this frame thing," he said. "I don't know where it came from and I can't get rid of it. It's outlining the edge of the screen. But the weirdest thing is that it's brown and the monitor's black and white. And look in the corners, they're birds. That's the freakiest thing after being got by that crow this afternoon." He hesitated, knowing that what he was going to say sounded far-fetched. "I wondered if it might have anything to do with the old man?"
She focused on the top left hand corner of the screen.
"Can you see the crack?" she asked.
"What crack?"
"It's there if you get really close. In the corner."
He bent his head next to hers until their shoulders touched and she moved away.
"It's not the screen that's cracked," he said. "It's a mark that looks like a crack." Nothing like this had ever happened to his predictable computer before. He rubbed the scars on the back of his hand. "And about being pecked by that crow. How come the wounds healed so quickly?"
"The cream's special," she said. "Come to my room. I want to show you something." He tripped over the wash-bag and stumbled after her.
It was obvious the moment he went in. The heavy frame above the mantelpiece was an exact copy of the one edging his computer screen. The mirror drew him like a magnet. Every little detail of the dark brown frame including the crack in the top left hand corner was reproduced exactly on his monitor. It was incredible.
The mirror was old, the glass not clear like an ordinary mirror, although it reflected all right. He glimpsed his own surprised face and behind him, Kirsty watching. He touched the crack. Another surprise, he couldn't feel it. He traced the line and moved his finger down the glass and, as he did so, the crack lengthened. He shot back.
"Did you see that? I made the crack longer."
"Do it again," Kirsty said.
"No way."
He couldn't tell whether she was frightened or not but she moved her finger across the glass. Nothing happened.
"You do it. Go on," she said.
He swallowed nervously and his heart leapt in his chest. It was only a mirror for heaven's sake; it wouldn't bite. If she'd done it, he'd have to. The glass was cool against his skin. He relaxed a little.
"Go on," she encouraged. She was fascinated; not terrified like he was.
He moved and the crack lengthened as if his finger was a pen on a whiteboard. He let it go where it wanted and before he knew it the crack had become the head of a bird. There were three strident caws and beating wings at the open window. Kirsty knocked his hand from the glass.
"Ebenezer says don't."
The crow landed on the sill and looked in. Greg ignored her and continued. Kirsty launched herself at him so hard he was knocked off balance. Both legs went from under him. He crashed to the floor hitting his knee on the stone hearth. She was beside him at once.
"Sorry. I'm sorry. Are you all right?"
He was furious and, with a groan, gingerly flexed his knee waiting for the pain to subside. She tried to help.
"Get lost."
"I didn't mean to hurt you."
He clambered to his feet raising his hand towards the mirror for one more go. The crow launched itself across the room screeching loudly.
"Clear off!" Greg shielded his face and retreated to the door. Now he could only think of getting away. He grabbed the handle and pulled the door shut behind him. The last thing he wanted was to be pecked by that bird. Once was enough. Slipping and sliding across the floorboards he staggered back to his own room, barricading the door with the chair and falling over a box in his dash to shut the window. Thoroughly scared he fell onto the bed, his breath coming is quick gasps.
It wasn't until he breathed normally again he realised he'd shut Kirsty in with the crow. Well, too bad. The bird was on her side anyway. He rolled over and saw the green towel and wash-bag lying in the middle of the floor.
"Hell!" He got off the bed to pick them up. When he opened the door he was shocked to find her there. He thrust the towel and the wash-bag into her hands. He didn't wait for her to say anything but swung the door shut and hobbled back to the bed. Without bothering to take off his clothes, he crawled under the duvet and other junk piled there and curled into a ball.