Текст книги "The Black Pathway"

Автор книги: Mark C. Sutton

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Текущая страница: 13 (всего у книги 18 страниц)

“Well, some people around here reckon that there’s been a serial killer operating in this area for quite a while now. There’s been a fair few disappearances and stuff. Have you heard that, Shark? Mary?”

“Yeah, I have.” Replied Shark.

“So have I.” Said Mary.

“Right, well, one theory is that Stephen Hartley was responsible for some of those disappearances, and that the bodies are buried here, up on Coldsleet Moor.” Gary informed the two young women.

“Nah, I don’t buy it.” Shark instantly argued. “He was caught, two years back. There’s been more disappearances since then.” She stated.

“I said that Hartley was only responsible for SOME of the disappearances. Rumour has it, there’s another serial killer on the loose in this area.” Explained Gary.

“I still don’t buy it.” Said Shark, digging in her heels.

“Why not?” Gary asked.

“Because it just sounds like bull-shit. Stephen Hartley pretty much confessed to everything that he’d ever done. He wasn’t cagey about his crimes at all… sung like a fucking canary, from what I read about him. As far as I recall, he never once mentioned doing anything dodgy in this neck of the woods. Why would he bother keeping stuff secret? He didn’t have anything to gain from doing that.” Argued Shark.

“Fair point.” Considered Gary, smiling.

Mary jiggled her shoulders a little, readjusting the backpack she was wearing.

“Hey, wasn’t there another murderer who lived not far from Knighton? Some farmer who killed his wife and daughter, years back? Maybe he’s the serial killer?” Asked Mary.

“Oh, you’re talking about Ben Askew. Weird that, coz I was reading about him in the local paper, just before Christmas.” Replied Gary. “No, he’s not the serial killer.” He added.

“Why not? He was a double murderer, right?” Mary responded.

“Wrong. He was actually a triple killer. Good old Ben killed his wife and two daughters… they reckon he had some sort of breakdown and just went nuts… gunned his entire family down, the bloody fruit-cake.” Remembered Gary.

“Well, if he could do something like that, I don’t see why he couldn’t be the one responsible for some of the disappearances around here.” Argued Mary.

“Impossible. He was banged up in a mental institute for just over twenty years… that’s what the newspaper article I was reading was all about. He was released, just before Christmas, and there was a bit of a fuss about it in Knighton, coz he’d bought another farm, not far from Oakden, and so was living back in the area again.” Advised Gary. “The locals… they weren’t happy… obviously.”

“I’ve never heard of him.” Admitted Shark, who was the one now feeling a little bit left out of the conversation.

“It was years ago, Shark. The killings happened before I was even born.” Said Gary.

Gary Ackley remembered something that he thought Mary and Shark might find interesting.

“Oh, that’s right, I forgot to mention… my granddad’s brother, Tom… he was a drinking buddy of Ben Askew’s, back in the day.” Gary told them.

“Really?” Asked Mary. “What was he like?”

“Who? My granddad’s brother? He was sound. Bit of a piss-head, but sound.” Joked Gary. Mary gave Gary a playful push.

“No, I meant Ben Askew, you twat.” She said.

“By all accounts, he come across as a really nice bloke, a proper family man. Great uncle Tom used to drink with him all the time, and never saw anything untoward in him. Yet one day he just topped his whole family. It’s fucking mental, when you think about it.” Gary mused.

“I wonder what made him go…”

“Hush!” Said Shark, suddenly. Gary and Mary turned to her. Shark was wearing an alarmed expression.

“What? What is…”

“I said hush! Be quiet! Listen…” instructed Shark.

“Listen to what?” Asked Gary. And then he heard what she was referring to; it was a voice. A male voice. A male voice screaming for help. It was the voice of Alex Crennell.

Gary, Mary and Shark stood on the slope of Coldsleet Moor, listening to Alex Crennell’s cries for help.

“Someone… please… I’m sinking…” he shouted.

“How the fuck has Alex ended up here on the moor?” Whispered Shark.

“You know what a clumsy twat he is. He’s obviously got lost.” Surmised Gary.

“But it sounds like he’s somewhere ahead of us… how the hell has he gotten ahead of us?”

“I haven’t got a fucking clue… but that’s definitely Alex, and it sounds like he’s in big trouble. We’ve got to do something. Agreed?” Gary asked Mary and Shark. They both nodded. “Alex!” Shouted Gary. “It’s me, Gary. What’s happened to you?” There was silence for a few seconds.

“Gary! Gary! I’m stuck, man! I’m stuck in some fucking peat bog, and I’m sinking, fast!” Replied Alex, from somewhere in the mist.

“Okay. Try and calm down Alex, we’re coming to get you.” Gary turned back to Mary and Shark. “You ready, girls?” He asked them.

‘What if Alex is just pissing around?” Mary wondered.

“It doesn’t sound like he’s pissing around, Mary. I know that he’s a complete prick, but he needs our help.” Said Gary.

“Okay. Let’s go and find him then.” Mary replied.

“Right. I’ll lead the way… both of you, stay right with me.” Instructed Gary, and he left the Black Pathway, heading towards Alex Crennell’s cries for help.

The three walkers ventured onto the moor, trying to locate their former friend.

“Alex, I need you to keep talking, so that we can find you.” Shouted out Gary.

“What do you want me to fucking talk about, Gary? I don’t want a conversation, I just need you to pull me out of this fucking mud before I go under, man.” Alex shouted back to him.

“Look, Alex, we’re trying to get to you as fast as we can, but it’s a bit bloody difficult when we can’t see where you are, so, like I said before, just keep talking… how the hell did you get out onto the moor?” Gary asked.

“I don’t fucking know! I was just walking, that’s all. I thought I was heading back to Coldsleet, but I must have got lost what with all of this bloody mist. Hey, can you hurry up, Gary? I’m waist-deep in this shit and I can’t get out. It’s sucking me down, man!”

“Just keep talking, Alex. I don’t think that we’re far from you now.” Said Gary.

“Okay, okay.” Replied Alex, from somewhere nearby.

“Alex, whatever you do, don’t try and struggle. I watched a documentary a couple of years ago, about people getting trapped in quicksand. You have to just keep still, mate, don’t wriggle around, struggle… it’ll just make you sink faster.” Instructed Gary.

“But I’m not in fucking quicksand!” Whined Alex Crennell.

“I know you’re not, Alex, but it’s the same bloody principle. So just try and stay as still as possible. Understand?”

“Yeah, I understand… Gary, how deep are these sodding peat-bogs?” Alex shouted out.

“Deep enough to drown you. So just keep still.” Replied Gary.

“Okay. I’ll try.” Said Alex. “But can you hurry up? Please?” Alex pleaded.

“We’re nearly with you, Alex. Just hang on in there.” Gary tried to assure him. He looked around to Mary and Shark, who were following behind him in silence; they both looked scared.

Gary trudged forward, across the moor. His feet were starting to sink deeper into the peat with every step that he took.

“Shit, this place is fucking treacherous.” He said to Shark and Mary. “We’re gonna have to tread carefully.” He advised. Gary took another step, and his boot sank into the squelching black peat, right up to his calf. Gary started to fall forwards.

“Shark! Grab me, grab me!” He said. Shark put her arms around Gary’s waist.

“What’s the matter?” She asked.

“My foot’s stuck in some mud.” He told her. “Pull me back.” He instructed. Shark heaved backwards.

“Mary, you’re gonna have to give me a hand.” She said. Mary also put her arms around Gary’s middle, and the two young women both pulled at him. Gary felt his foot coming out of the peat.

“That’s it. Keep pulling.” He said. Gary’s boot popped free of the peat bog, and he stepped back, away from it. “Thanks.”

“Are you okay?” Asked Shark.

“Yeah, but we can’t carry on forward anymore. It’s too dangerous.”

“But what about Alex?” Responded Mary.

“Shit.” Cursed Gary to himself. “Alex!” He called out. “Alex! Are you okay?” There was no reply. “Alex? Talk to me!” Gary shouted. Silence. “Alex, just let me know that you’re okay! Say something!” Gary’s request was met with continued silence.

“Do you think he’s…”

“Yes, Mary. He must have gone under.” Said Gary. Mary put her hand to her mouth. Gary laid a hand on her shoulder, and shook his head. “We tried. There’s nothing more we can do. We’ve got to get back to the pathway. If we don’t get off this fucking moor, one of us is going to have an accident next.”

Gary Ackley looked around. The moorland mist was now so thick, he could barely see more than a couple of feet in front of him.

“Bollocks!” He suddenly cursed.

“What is it?” Asked Shark.

“I’ve lost my bearings… I can’t remember which way that we came from.” Gary admitted.

“I thought that the pathway was back down there.” Replied Shark, pointing to her right.

“Are you sure?” Gary said to her, seeking assurance. Shark nodded.

“Yeah, I think so. Look, we can’t stay here, so let’s just walk. We’ve got to get back on the trail.” She said.

“You’re right. We need to get back on the trail, and home to Coldsleet.”

“Should we phone for help? I mean, for Alex?” Mary asked.

“I don’t think there’s any point.” Gary answered. “ALEX!” He shouted once more, at the top of his voice. “ALEX! CAN YOU HEAR ME?” He bellowed, but to no avail. “It’s no good. He’s gone. Come on. Let’s find the Black Pathway. Mary, we’ll call the emergency services as soon as we get back on the trail, to let them know what’s happened.” He said.

“Okay.” Replied Mary.

“Let’s go. I’ll lead the way.” Gary walked in front of the two young women, and they slowly began to trek across the mist-shrouded Coldsleet Moor. In completely the wrong direction.

***

Howard Trenton walked behind Alex Crennell, holding a knife up to the base of Alex’s neck.

“You did good up there, Alex. That was one hell of a performance.” Howard said, smiling. “Ten out of fucking ten… well done!”

“I still don’t understand…”

“Why I made you do all that? I would have thought that was perfectly obvious, Alex. For fucks sake, you’re really not very bright, are you? No wonder I stopped hanging around with you when we were younger… you’re lack of IQ would have probably rubbed off on me.” Sighed Howard. “I needed to get your beloved friends off the Black Pathway, make them get lost… and we’ve done it, Alex, we’ve done it! You and I, together, working like a team again, just like we did when we were kids! They’re heading south, instead of east… they’ll be off this moor soon, but nowhere near the Black Pathway.” He advised.

“How do you know which way they’re heading? I can’t see them, so how can you?” Alex asked.

“Because I can scent their trail.” Howard answered, matter-of-fact.

“You can what?” Alex responded, confused.

“I can scent their trail. We’re about a minute behind them, and they’re heading south, right off the moor and into Skerrington Forest. They’re fucked.” Howard chuckled.

Alex could feel the sharp tip of Howard’s knife against the back of his neck.

“Hey, Howard, how about you put the knife down now? I’m not gonna do anything stupid.” He requested.

“Oh, I know that you won’t, Alex. Because if you do, it’d be just like I said earlier… I’d catch up with you and slice you into little pieces.” Reminded Howard. “But I’ll keep the knife pointed right at you. In fact, I insist that I do.” He grinned.

“Okay, okay, but I’d just feel easier if…”

“Shut your gob, Alex. There’s nothing more to say on the matter. As I said earlier, behave yourself, and I won’t hurt you. Now let’s just drop the subject.” Howard said, firmly.

“Can I ask you something?” Asked Alex.

“If you must.” Replied Howard, already bored with his new travelling companion.

“What did you mean, when you said that you could scent the trail of the others?” Alex was curious to know. “I know that you come up here a lot… have you learned all of that tracking stuff or something? Is that what you meant?” Howard laughed at this.

“You really are a fucking fool, Alex Crennell.” Replied Howard, who was enjoying humiliating his former friend. “Normal people don’t track using scent… they usually follow other signs. But not me. I’m different.” He advised.

“I don’t understand… how can you track by scent? You know, if people don’t usually do it that way?” Alex asked.

“Because my daddy was an alien,” smiled Alex, “and I’m guessing that a heightened sense of smell was one of his genetic gifts to me… bless the little bastard.” Confided Howard, and this time he burst out laughing.

***

The sound of Howard Trenton’s manic laughter echoed across Coldsleet Moor.

“What the fuck was that?” Asked Mary, frightened.

“It was somebody laughing… Alex?” Said Shark.

“That wasn’t Alex.” Replied Gary, remembering Alex’s high-pitched, childish little giggle. “There must be somebody else out here, up on the moor. Another walker.” He went on. “HEY!” Gary shouted out. “HEY! WE NEED HELP! CAN YOU HEAR ME? WE NEED HELP!” His shouts for assistance were met with silence. Gary turned to Mary and Shark. “They must have moved on.”

“What, in a couple of seconds?” Replied Shark, sarcastically. “HELP!” She called. “HELP! WE’RE LOST!”

“They’re not answering. Are you sure that it couldn’t have been Alex?” Mary asked.

“It wasn’t fucking Alex.” Snapped Gary Ackley, losing his cool. “Okay, that’s enough. Everybody, stop walking.” He said.

“Why?” Shark responded.

“Because I have no idea which fucking direction we’re heading in. We should have been back at the Black Pathway by now, but we ain’t.” Gary answered. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a mobile phone. “We’ve got no choice, we need to call someone for help.” Gary told Mary and Shark.

Gary dialled in 999 on his mobile. The phone flashed up that there was no signal, and that his call couldn’t be made.

“Fuck it!” Swore Gary. “Shark, Mary… have you got your phones on you?” He asked. The pair nodded. “Try calling 999. My phone’s got no signal.” Shark was the first to try dialling the number. She hit exactly the same problem, and then, so did Mary. “Shit. It must be the moor blocking out reception… or maybe Knighton Mountain.” Gary said. He tried ringing 999 again. No signal. “Jesus, why do these sodding things NEVER work when you need them to?” Gary cursed. “And why won’t this mist just shift? If it’d clear, then we’d be okay, we could see where the fuck we were going.”

“Haven’t you got a compass or something like that?” Asked Shark.

“No, Shark, I don’t have a compass.” Replied Gary, in a sarcastic voice. “I didn’t think that I’d fucking well need one, just following a pathway. How about you? Did you remember to…”

“Hey, don’t start getting shitty with me, Gary. I was only asking…”

“Yeah, well don’t.” Gary said, angrily. He shook his head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to have a go at you like that.” He apologised.

“S’okay.” Replied Shark. “We’re all pretty stressed out.”

“You can say that again… look, I don’t know what to do.” Gary admitted. “Should we just carry on, in the direction that we’re going? Or backtrack? Or just stay put, wait for the mist to lift? Problem there is, it might not clear for hours… and I don’t fancy being stuck out on this fucking moor when it gets dark, which it will do in about two hours time.”

“I say that we keep heading forward. Sooner or later, we’ve got to come off this moor.” Suggested Shark.

“Shark’s right. We should keep moving.” Added Mary. Gary took a deep breath.

“Okay. You’re right. That’s what we’ll do.” He said, looking down at his mobile phone, which still had no signal. “That’s what we’ll do.” He repeated.

Chapter Twenty One

 

Howard Trenton had a change of heart. He pulled the knife away from Alex Crennell’s neck, and pocketed the blade.

“The big bad knife’s gone away, Alex.” He said. “But remember, be on your best behaviour or…” Howard Trenton didn’t get the chance to finish his sentence. Alex suddenly turned around, and kicked out at Howard as hard as he could, catching the smaller man in the groin. Howard buckled forwards, clutching at himself, in pain. Alex followed through with a vicious punch to the side of Howard’s face, and he went crashing down to the muddy floor. In an instant, Alex was down on Howard, sat astride him.

“You fucking freak!” Said Alex, before punching Howard in the face again. “You fucking nut-job!” Alex went on. He hit out again, splitting Howard’s lips.

“You’re making a bad mistake, Alex.” Howard said calmly, through a mouthful of blood.

“Shut up, you fucking…” Alex went to punch Howard again, but instead found himself flying backwards as Howard powerfully jerked his body from out underneath him. Now it was Alex’s turn to land on his back, in the mud and peat. Howard quickly got to his feet, and approached Alex. Alex tried to get up, but slipped, this time falling face-first onto the wet and dank moorland. He felt impossibly strong arms wrap around him, from behind, and then Alex was dragged back up, onto his feet.

“What did I warn you, Alex?” Asked Howard.

“Let go of me, you crazy fucking cunt.” Snarled Alex.

“No.” Responded Howard, tightening his grip.

“You’re fucking crushing me! Let go!” Shouted Alex.

“No.” Howard whispered into Alex’s ear. “We need to talk.” He continued. “As a matter of urgency.”

***

Gary, Mary and Shark stood on the edge of Skerrington Forest.

“Well, we got off the moor.” Said Gary. “It’s just a shame that we’ve come off it in completely the wrong direction.” He added.

“What is this place?” Asked Shark.

“It’s Skerrington Forest.” Replied Gary.

“I thought that Skerrington Forest was past Knighton?” Commented Mary.

“Some of it is, but the forest is L-shaped, bordering Knighton to the east and the south. We’ve hit its south side. We should have been heading east.” Pointed out Gary.

“Well, can’t we just head back out onto the moor? Re-trace our steps?”

Mary asked. Gary gave her a withering look.

“You want to go back out onto the moor? In this mist?” Said Gary. Mary shrugged her shoulders.

“It was just a suggestion.”

“I know. I’m sorry, Mary, I know that you’re just trying to be helpful, but we really don’t want to be heading off back onto…”

“Hey, Gary, don’t fucking patronise her.” Interrupted Shark. Gary stared at her.

“I’m not trying to patronise anyone.” He protested.

“Well it sounded pretty fucking patronising to me.” Argued Shark. “Go easy on Mary, okay? She’s just lost her boyfriend, for fucks sake.”

“Alex wasn’t my boyfriend!” Snapped Mary.

“Oh, you know what I mean.” Shark tried to reason.

“If anyone should be upset, it’s me.” Said Gary. “Me and Alex were mates for a long time.” He reminded Mary and Shark.

“This isn’t some fucking competition, Gary.” Commented Shark, sourly.

Shark looked towards the darkness of Skerrington Forest. The mist had lifted slightly, and visibility was a little better.

“Look, we need to stop arguing amongst ourselves, and work out what we’re going to do. Where does the forest lead to, Gary?” She asked.

“Knighton Mountain. But if we follow the edge of the forest, and head east, then eventually, it’ll twist north, and we’ll be back on the way to Knighton. Whatever, if we take that route, then sooner or later, we’re gonna hit the Black Pathway again. It cuts straight through the forest.” Gary advised.

“Right, then that’s what we need to do. Follow the edge of the forest… hey, which way’s east?” Queried Shark. Gary pointed to his left.

“It’s got to be that way. Skerrington Forest is on the southern edge of Coldsleet Moor only. So, yeah, we go in that direction.” He advised.

“What time is it, now?” She wanted to know. Gary looked down at his watch.

“Half four.” He answered.

“Do you think that we’ll be able to reach Knighton before it gets dark?” Shark asked.

“Well, we’re off the moor now, so the going should be easier, and the mist has lifted a little… yeah, we should get there before nightfall.” Gary confirmed.

“Okay. Then let’s keep on moving…” said Shark. She checked her mobile phone. “Still no signal. What about you two?” Gary and Mary checked their telephones.

“Nothing.” Said Gary.

“No signal at all.” Advised Mary.

“Well, there’s nothing we can do about that. Let’s go.” Instructed Shark, and she began to lead the way, skirting along the edge of the dark and foreboding Skerrington Forest.

***

Howard carried an unconscious Alex Crennell over his shoulder.

“Why did you have to go and fuck up like that, eh Alex? Why did you have to go and attack me? There was no need for it. I’d put away my knife… and I hadn’t told you, but I’d sort of, well, warmed to you again… just a little. It was nice having you as company… a bit like the old times. Well, it was sort of nice. You’re still an irritating, boring little fucker, but, hey ho, we can’t change who we are, eh Alex? I didn’t tell you, but I was going to let you off… not kill you… after all. I’d had a change of heart, and that doesn’t happen very often, Alex. Once I’m set on doing something, I usually carry it through.” Said Howard. He shook his head. “I don’t know what it is about you, Alex, I really don’t. Even after all of the jibes and piss-taking that I’ve suffered from you over the years, I just can’t bring myself to absolutely hate you. Even when I came up here, this morning, onto the Black Pathway… with every intention of wiping you and that bitch Mary from off the face of the Earth forever… I still couldn’t hate you. And even now, Alex, even now… I don’t hate you. And I don’t really want to kill you, either. Mary… now she’s different… a worthless little whore. A fucking prick-teasing bitch. She means nothing to me, Alex, nothing at all. But you… it’s always been so difficult. My feelings, I mean. I think I just miss the times when we WERE friends, all those years ago. Yep, that’s it. There’s a little piece of my childhood, lodged somewhere in my fucked-up head, and you’re written all over it, stamped right through it.” Smiled Howard.

Howard Trenton took in a deep smell of the air around him. That’s interesting. Mary and her friends have changed direction… now why would that be? Wondered Howard. He noticed a thick spread of trees appearing from out of the mist. Ah, that’s why. They’ve hit Skerrington Forest, and now they’re heading east, following the edge of it, until it turns north again. They’re planning on getting back to the Black Pathway, when it cuts through the woods.

“We can’t have that, Alex! We can’t have Mary and her pals finding their way back onto the Black Pathway Trail! I tell you something, Alex… I should kill you just for having brought that little know-all Gary Ackley up on the trail with you. Things would have been a lot simpler without that smart-arse on board.” Howard laughed. “Fuck, he’s the only one of you that actually knows what they’re doing. Not to worry. We’ll pick him off, soon enough, and then that’ll just leave Mary and that other girl… what’s her name again? Ah, that’s it… Shark… stupid fucking name. Yeah, once Gary’s gone, taking out Mary and Shark will be a piece of piss. I’m looking forward to it. This is my last party, Alex, my last little party, and it’s really good to have you all up here, along with me.” Said Howard. He stopped walking for a moment; Alex’s body was slipping off Howard’s bony shoulder. Howard leaned his neck a little to one side, and tilted his shoulder bone upwards, which secured Alex again. “That’s better.” Commented Howard. He walked a few more yards, until he was at the edge of the forest, then turned left, following the scent of the three individuals that he was hunting down.

Howard strided forward, taking large, confident steps, quickening his pace. He took another sniff of the air.

“They’re not very far in front of us now, Alex. We’re going to have to take a quick detour in a minute, through the forest, so that we can get ahead of them without being seen. We’ve got a lot to get done… damn you, Alex, you really do make everything so difficult at times… can I let you into a secret, my friend? I’m not even sure if I’m going to kill you, anymore. Do I? Don’t I? Do I? Don’t I? And as for Mary, well… I’m even beginning to wobble a bit about her now, and do you know why, Alex? Do you want to know why? Because I can think of something even worse to do to her, that’s why. Yep, something even worse than just cutting her throat, or strangling her, or pounding her to death with my fists and my feet… no, that’s the easy way out. Mary should be made to really suffer, the fucking witch… it’s only fair. She led me on, Alex, she led me on, and then she turned on me, rejected me. She made me think that she was interested in me, but it was all some stupid sort of game. Nah, death… it’s too quick, too clean, too easy. I think I’ve got something much better in mind for dear, pretty, precious Mary.” Howard smirked.

Alex Crennell began to wake up, his head pounding from the beating that he’d taken off Howard Trenton. Both of his eyes were already turning black, his nose, broken, still dripped with blood. Alex’s mouth felt completely numb; he didn’t realise that Howard had kicked out most of his teeth. Where the fuck am I? Oh shit… it’s Howard… he’s carrying me over his fucking shoulder. The top half of Alex’s body dangled down across Howard Trenton’s back. Howard’s overcoat was twisted slightly, and Alex noticed a knife-handle jutting out of one of the pockets. His hand began to creep towards the blade.

“I tell you what’s going to happen to Mary, Alex.” Said Howard, oblivious to the fact that Alex was now conscious. “I’m going to have sex with her. Just like my father did with my mom. I’m going to have sex with Mary Broderick, and, in thirteen months time, she’ll give birth to our baby. That’s how long my mother was pregnant with me, Alex; thirteen months. It works different with… well, people like me. I’m going to have sex with Mary Broderick, but she won’t even know that we’ve fucked, because, well, it’s not how my kind do that sort of thing. There’s no… fucking, as such. Not when we reproduce. It doesn’t happen that way. No, I’ll give Mary the good hiding that she’s got coming to her, then I’ll make her pregnant, and then she’ll have to bring up my child, all on her own. Hey! I’ll have a legacy! I’ll…”

“Crazy fucking CUNT!” Screamed Alex Crennell, before plunging the knife deep into Howard Trenton’s lower back, and as soon as he did this, his captor went crashing to the ground like a sack of bricks.

***

Mary, Shark, and Gary all turned around at the sound of shouting, coming somewhere from behind them.

“Fuck, did you hear that?” Asked Gary.

“Yeah, I heard it. It sounds like people fighting or something. Do you think…”

“I think that we need to get out of this place as fast as we can.” Said Gary, alarmed. “Come on, let’s pick up our pace.” He went on.

“But what if it’s someone in trouble?” Wondered Mary.

“I don’t care. We’re in enough trouble ourselves, without having to worry about other people. Whatever’s going on back there doesn’t sound good. Let’s just keep out of it and get ourselves back on the Black Pathway, before it gets dark.” Whispered Gary. A short, sharp scream pierced the mist-shrouded, late afternoon sky. Gary looked down at his hands; they were shaking. “Come on, girls, faster. We need to move.” He instructed. Shark and Mary did as Gary asked, both of them picking up their pace. Mary looked back over her shoulder, but all she could see was mist. A cold chill ran up her spine, and she turned back to her friends.

“How far do you think it is until we turn north?” She asked Gary.

“We must be close. Look, I know that you’re frightened. So am I, and I don’t mind admitting it. Just focus on where we’ve got to get to. We’ll be okay, Mary, I promise.” Gary assured the young woman. I shouldn’t make promises that I’m not sure I can keep, thought Gary Ackley, privately.

***

Howard Trenton sat in the mud, cross-legged, next to the dead body of Alex Crennell, his knife still protruding from Alex’s left eye. Howard shook his head slowly, from side to side, glancing sidewards towards Alex.

“You always were a sly little fucker, Alex.” He said, grinning. Howard put his hand on the puncture wound to his back. He brought the hand back around and examined it; his palm and fingers were covered in thick, sticky blood. “You did a number on me there, Alex. That was a real good shot, you sneaky piece of shit. Well done! Who knows, I might even bleed to death out here now, because of you. Or maybe I won’t. I hope not, because I’m looking forward to having a play with lovely Mary. Hey, perhaps I could play with the other girl too… what’s her name again? Whale? Dolphin?” Howard tutted, then slapped himself on the forehead, leaving a blooded palm-print on it. “No, silly me, it’s Shark… yeah, maybe I’ll have a little bit of fun with her, too. Why not?” Said Howard. He twisted his body around, so that he was on all fours, and then crawled over to Alex. Howard pulled the knife from out of Alex’s eye-socket, and a small fountain of blood spurted up into the air. Howard put the knife back into his coat pocket, and then began dragging Alex’s body towards him. A few moments later, Howard was upright, and once again carrying Alex Crennell over his shoulder. He walked off, in the direction of the others, leaving a trail of blood, oozing from his back, behind him.

***

Detective Tom Grogan, together with two other armed policemen, reached the stone-bridge on top of Leeton Hill. It was almost five o’clock in the afternoon. Tom was on the phone to Kevin Burrows.

“Have they got any helicopter support sorted out yet, Kev?” He asked his colleague.

“Yeah, there’s one flying out from Salegate in the next half hour. They should be in your area at around five forty five.” Kevin Burrows informed him. Tom looked ahead, at the mist.

“Good. Not sure how much help it’s gonna be though, what with this mist… did you get that weather forecast for me, Kevin?”

“Yep. Clear skies by around seven tonight. Of course, we can’t be specific about the moor and mountains…”