The movie

'Why?'

'Because Carrie made Lala go to heaven.'

'Yes. Lala's gone to heaven. But this was not because of Carrie.'

'Yes! Carrie told me that Lala should not have bit me. And Lala did and didn't care. And I cried. And Carrie got angry and...and...Lala went to heaven.'

'There is no Carrie, Amaka. Carrie didn't make Lala go to heaven because she doesn't exist.'

'She does! She does! Don't make me think I'm crazy because I'm not. You're a liar! You're a liar....'

Breakable sounds were heard. Screams. Then the tape went blank.

I pressed a hanky to my mouth to stifle the sobs. That poor girl. Amaka Ulondu had been suffering from a severe case of schizophrenia and had grown so agitated during her last session with her therapist. She had grabbed the pencil on the desk and stabbed the therapist in the eye. Now Amaka was a catatonic patient in St Matthews Hospital. It was so heartwrenching. She was so young and pretty and had been a normal child playing with dolls or friends or her dog. Until her dog had been killed by ‘Lala’.

I rubbed my hands tiredly over my eyes and looked out of the window. It was 8pm. The office was shut and I was pretty sure I was the only one on this floor. I stood and stretched, welcoming the pain as my muscles protested then sighed in relief. It had been a very long day and although all I had to look forward to at home was a glass of wine and a long bath, that was better than nothing. I thought ruefully about my ex and maybe ringing him then I shook my head. No, it was better to leave the past where it was.

Rubbing my neck, I walked slowly to the cabinet with the patients’ files which contained recordings of their sessions. I had been given a handful of files to go through. I was writing a story on schizophrenia and how it affected patients from birth. Normally, these were confidential but I could watch as long as I did so alone. Did I have the time to listen to another recording? I had opted to listen to recordings first before watching the videos. Amaka was just eight years old when she had stabbed her therapist. She had also killed her dog, Lala but she claimed Carrie did it. Carrie must have been one of her personalities. I refused to believe a child that young was capable of killing voluntarily.

I looked out of the window again then shook my head resolutely. There was no way I could listen to another tape. I grabbed my coat from the back of my chair then made to step out. Suddenly, I heard a sound. A little scuttle.

I stopped and looked back then around. I heard the scuttle again and jumped a little startled before laughing to myself. Clearly, Amaka’s case was affecting me more than it should. There was no one here, I was certain of it. I put on the light of the office and it went on, flickered then went off. I jumped again at this. Okay, now this was weird. I quickly rifled through my bag shakily and grabbed my phone dialing 999 as I rushed back to my table to grab my snow globe as a weapon.

'Hello!?' I whispered as I tiptoed out of the office. I heard a male voice asking me what the problem was. I replied harshly as my gasps threatened to choke me, 'I think there's someone in my office with me. There shouldn't be anyone but I think someone's here and I'm the only one here.'

'Calm down ma'am. Where is this office?' The voice asked soothingly but I couldn't reply. I was frozen in one spot staring at the vision in front of me.

Amaka stared back at me. Or I think it was her. My brain was as frozen as my feet. She was garbed in her hospital gown and her hair was an unkempt afro. Her eyes looked eerily white in comparison to her very dark skin.

The phone dropped from my suddenly numb fingers as she said in a quiet, baby voice, 'Carrie made me do it, doctor. Don’t you believe me?'

I opened my mouth but no words came out. This was a dream. It had to be! She wasn't real. I opened my mouth again and garbled out ‘Ama...?’ I was definitely hallucinating. She was in a hospital all the way in America for crying out loud! The tape was twenty years old. My eyes widened in horror as she glided towards me.

Oh my God, I thought.

'Oh my God!' I screamed as she ran towards me. I turned around ready to run but I fell down and bit back a sob. Fuck, I was going to be killed by a crazy eight year old girl!

I looked back and this time, let out a scream as her hand stretched like claws towards my face...

'ANNNND CUT!'

The whole crew started clapping as the final scene was filmed. I let out a joyful laugh as I stood up and hugged the little actress squealing happily.

'You were great!' I said, giving her a kiss on the cheek. Armand, the French director practically ran to us and grabbed us both in a bear hug.

'Both of you were fantastic! Just one take and you both nailed it brilliantly. C'est magnifique!' He was in raptures. I laughed again then walked through everyone clapping me on the back. This was going to be the movie of the year. That was the rumour going round anyway. Filmed right in time for release for Halloween.

I dallied for about half an hour with the crew as we all joked and laughed. Shots of tequila and beer made their way round and I had my fair share of the alcohol. Soon, I got a little bit tipsier than I should be so I quickly made my excuses. I was exhausted and had been filming for 14 hours at a stretch. My tiredness combined with my tipsiness meant that it was time for a long bath and some much needed sleep.

I got into the chauffeur driven car and rested my head against the cool leather of the seat as I was whisked back to the hotel. When we got there, I was relieved to see the entrance was empty. Normally, bloody photographers were waiting to take my photo and splatter it all over their rubbish papers. 'Actress, Tabby Howard stumbles home from a drunken night out.'

Fucktards.

I practically hobbled to the lifts, smiling tiredly at the concierge. Soon I was in my penthouse suite, my trainers kicked off and my feet caressing the soft carpet. I ran a bath quickly and in a few minutes I was soaking in the jasmine scented water. I closed my eyes and let my mind go blank as I rested. No more early morning scenes, no more repeated takes, no more crackers and cigarette diet…bliss.

All of a sudden, I heard the door burst open as armed men rushed into the bathroom and dragged me out of the tub. I looked on groggily, not comprehending what was going on until I saw a man in a white coat coming with a large needle towards me. I started screaming and struggling, trying to bite an arm or finger but I was held too tightly by the armed men. Before I knew it, the needle was plunged it into my neck and darkness reigned.

I woke up with a start strapped to a flat bed. What the fuck!

I saw my parents on the other side of the glass door sobbing as they looked at me. What was going on? Was this a kidnapping attempt? Why wouldn't they let my parents in?

I began struggling and screaming again.

A voice came through speakers that were not noticeable in in the room.

'Calm down, Amaka. You are distressing your parents as well as yourself.'

What? Amaka? These fools had me clearly mistaken for my 8 year old co-star’s character.

'Don't be silly! I'm not Amaka. Amaka doesn't exist. It's just a movie...one you people should not be privy to...' Realization dawned on me. My publicists were pulling a stupid stunt. On a normal day, I’d have been okay with it but this had gotten out of hand and I was not pleased in the slightest.

'Okay, Alice. This might have been funny in theory but it's really not. Let's stop this rubbish and I just might not fire you.'

I did not get a response.

'Alice!' I screamed loudly. I saw my parents being led away as they cried, their shoulders hunched in apparent despair.

What was going on? Where were my parents going? This was not funny anymore. It had not been from the start. I screamed louder. I was with a bunch of lunatics and my parents were in trouble!

***

'She seemed like she was recovering and I let her have a bath unattended. This was clearly my fault, and I am so incredibly sorry, Mrs Ulondo.' Dr Howard looked mortified as the woman sat opposite her wailed loudly. Her husband tried to console her but he was visibly fighting to hold on to his emotions.

Her eyes strayed once more to the video by the side of her table. And she looked down quickly. This was definitely her toughest case yet.

Eight year old Amaka kept on screaming as she struggled against her restraints. 'I'm Tabby Howard, you fucking morons! You don't know who you're messing with. I'm a fucking Oscar-nominated actress! I’m going to sue the lot of you if you don’t get me out of here. I’m gonna bury your arses, you halfwits. Let Me GO!'

Dr Howard shut off the volume instantly.

It wouldn't do to agitate Amaka's parents further.