Tar: An apocalyptic horror novella (5 page)

O
ne of the
last memories Finn had of Marie before she left Belfast for London was her holding her dolly, which she called Moppy. Finn had just announced he would be staying behind. She had erupted into floods of tears. He told her he had brothers relying on him and he couldn’t abandon them.

“But I’m your sister,” she had howled, “and we have picnics in the woods. I don’t want to go to London. Not without you.”

Finn held back tears of his own and seeing his heartbroken ma’s own wavering emotions almost broke him. He knelt in front of Marie and wiped her tears with his thumb. “This is my home, Marie, and it needs me. Sometimes there are more important things than playing in the woods, okay?”

She recoiled as though his words hurt her.

But he continued. “London is a bad place, Marie, just like Belfast can be sometimes, but in London, you won’t have me to look after you. Be strong, lil sis, okay? No crying. And you be good for ma. You work hard at school, but let no one push you around. You be tough.”

She tried to stop crying, but it only made her sob harder. “I’m not tough, Finn. I need you to protect me.”

He shook his head and stood. “No, you don't. You'll be fine without me. You'll be tough.”

It was more than three years until he saw his little sister again. By then, both of them had changed. Marie lost her big brother and Finn lost himself.

I could have watched her grow up.

Finn came back to reality. His baby sister’s tears echoed in his head and left splinters in his skull. She hadn’t been fine without him. She hadn’t been tough.

She had needed Finn to protect her.

I turned my back on her.

Now he was wandering the wasteland in a country he had despised his entire life looking for the monster who had killed her. The last thirty years of his life had been a wasted journey. He could have spent his life by Marie’s side and it would all end the same. The tar would claim them all.

“Hey, Finn.” Minty was pointing across the road in front of him. “Those guys over there know Dom. They used to get their gear from him.”

Finn blinked and got himself back together. He peered across the road and saw two emaciated men sitting on the stone steps of an old bank. They were kicking a small, fuzzy-haired dog, keeping it trapped between them so it couldn't escape. The dog yelped with every angry boot.

Sighing at the pointlessness of it all, Finn marched across the street and shoved the men. They were so light that both of them went sprawling against the stone steps. One of them cracked a hip and screamed in pain. The other lay sprawled and confused.

Minty went to his knees beside the frightened dog, patting it as it trembled. He reached into his carrier bag and emptied a bag of pork scratchings onto the floor. The dog ate, cautious at first but then ravenous.

Finn waited for the two druggies to get up off the steps. They stunk of foulness, and their faces were wet tissue-paper stretched over skullbone. “I’m looking for Dominic Cassell. I hear he went to a warehouse called Latif’s.”

The injured guy rubbed at his hip and tutted. “Why’d you have to shove us, man?”

“Because you were picking on a frightened little animal, so I thought I'd let you see how it feels. Would you like another reason?”

“What d’you care? The world has ended.”

“It hasn’t ended yet.
Dominic
, I want to find him. Speak!”

The other druggie who hadn’t fallen quite so badly chewed his lip bloody. It cracked more as he answered. “Yeah, we know Dom. Used to hook us up 'til he tripled the price—twat. I know Latif’s too. It’s on the corner of West Highgate, near the dog’s home. The cop shop is nearby. I used to walk home from there after a night in the chokie.”

Finn was surprised to get such useful info—and so freely. “Minty, give these guys something to eat.”

Minty pulled a face. He was still petting the small dog which now wagged its tail. “After what they did?”

“Rules of the street. These guys helped without me having to get physical. Give them something for their troubles.”

“You got any gear?” said the guy with the bruised hip. His eyes suddenly lit up.

“We have salt and vinegar crisps,” said Minty, tossing two packets at them. “Enjoy what you’ve been given.”

Finn nodded. “I'd listen to the kid.”

After that, the two men took the crisps gladly. To Minty they said, “Cheers, buddy. Sorry about the dog.”

“And I’m sorry about the hip,” said Finn. “Try to be decent for whatever time you have left.”

As they walked away, Minty started chuckling.

“What is it?” asked Finn.

“You’re like a crime fighter. You go round saving puppies and trapped children. Finn the Hero.”

Finn rolled his eyes. “Don’t be away in the head. This isn’t a comic book. I’m not fighting crime, I’m getting answers. You don't want to see what happens when people don't give them.”

Minty stopped laughing, but kept a slight smile on his face. “Just seems like all the answers are coming from the bad guys you rough up.”

Finn was a bad guy beating up other bad guys. That didn’t make him a good guy. Good guys didn't abandon their families. Good guys didn’t kill people. Good guys didn't plant bombs.

The little girl he pulled from the rubble of the post office thought Finn was a good guy too. She’d never known the reason she needed rescuing in the first place was because of a rigged parcel Finn had left there.

Finn was no hero.

“I don’t know my way around the city, kid. Do you recognize the whereabouts that fella was talking about?”

Minty nodded. “West Highgate. Yeah, I know it. It’s not far away. We can probably walk it in an hour.”

“Let’s walk faster and make it in less.”

“Okay,” said Minty. “Maybe the three of us can stop and find some more food along the way.”

Finn looked at the boy and frowned. “What are you talking about, the three of us?”

Minty nodded at the ground between them. Keeping pace in the centre of their group was the frightened little dog. “Looks like he’s coming along,” said Minty. “Every hero needs a dog. Let's call him... Wonder Mutt.”

Finn rolled his eyes. “Just great. If he shits, kid, you’re cleaning it up.”

“
W
here's your family
?” Finn asked as they headed out of the housing estate and towards the main roads.

“Dead,” said Minty.

Finn knew that would likely be the case, so what had made him even ask the question? Probably the silence of their walk. Quiet made him uncomfortable. It had been a long time since Finn had needed to make conversation with a stranger, and he struggled with it. Back home in Belfast, he had only ever associated with those he had known for years. In London, every face belonged to a desperate stranger.

Finn cleared his throat. “You picked an awful time to be alive, kid.”

Minty frowned. “I didn’t pick it, but I suppose I know what you mean. If I'd been born a hundred years ago, I would've lived a full life without ever knowing that the world would end soon. It sucks.”

“Trust me, you’re not missing out on all that much. Life gets shit as soon as you’re out of puberty. Least you got the good years.”

“The good years? I spent the last three years getting my ass kicked at school every day, and my mum was so poor that I was still playing games on an old Xbox while all the other kids were chilling out with their PlayStation 4s. My dad barely wanted to know me.”

Finned grunted. “See, that’s the problem with kids today—especially English kids.”

“What?”

“Growing up shouldn't be about who's got the best stuff. It should be about exploring—playing in the dirt and jumping off rocks. Kids weren't meant to spend their time sitting on their fat arses playing stupid video games. Maybe if you spent more time outside you wouldn't have got your arse handed to you at school.”

Minty didn’t reply. He scrunched his face and moped. The little dog trotted between them without a care in the world, its previous torment forgotten. If only human beings possessed such talent for closure.

Imagine living life without regret.

Seeing he had upset the kid perversely satisfied Finn. Maybe now he would stop thinking of him as a good guy
. Maybe now he sees what I truly am.

They reached the end of the road where they were met by a wide roundabout. A retail park lay to their left. A makeshift camp had been erected in its carpark, full of people milling around and living in tents for mutual protection. These communes had popped up everywhere in the last couple of months. People were too afraid to stay in their homes alone, so they grouped together like flies, choosing to live outside in their own collective filth. Finn could think of nothing worse.

The other roads off the roundabout led back to the built-up areas of the city.

“Where now?” Finn asked the kid.

“What are you going to do when you find Dominic? Are you going to kill him? You killed Steve back at the Hobby Horse.”

“Who? Oh, you mean the Afghan vet. He killed himself when he pulled a knife on me. Why do you care, anyway? Those gobshites let you starve half-to-death.”

Minty shrugged. They had come to a stop at the roundabout so he knelt and patted the dog—or Wonder Mutt as he was apparently called. “I just don’t think you should kill people. I don’t think you should kill Dom.”

Finn narrowed his eyes and tried to understand the kid’s agenda. “What does it have to do with you whether I kill him or not?”

Minty shrugged. “Don’t you think there’s been enough killing? The last two days, all I’ve been able to do is look out of the living room window, and it's been like watching a horror movie. This morning I saw a woman raped right in the middle of the road. She was screaming out for help, and people just walked on by. I saw a little boy point at her and ask his mummy what she was crying about. Then, when she lay there abandoned and sobbing, someone came and stole her shoes. If I’d had anything to eat in days, I would have thrown up.”

Finn imagined the woman’s fear and then transferred it to his sister. Had she screamed out? Or had she gone somewhere in her head and remained silent? Just like Minty, the image made him want to vomit.

Finn felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, but didn't show it. Violence only upset you if you allowed it into your thoughts. He shrugged. “Everyone knows their time is up. They don’t care. People can do what they like.”

“Exactly,” said Minty. “So you could choose not to kill Dom. I don’t want you to be like everybody else. Beat him up if you have to, just don’t kill him.”

Finn grunted. “Tell me which way to go, kid. I don’t have time to moralise with you.”

“I’m not telling you anything unless you promise you won’t kill Dom.”

“Fine, I promise. Now tell me.”

Minty frowned. “I don’t believe you.”

Finn clenched his fists and felt his heart race. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I. Won’t. Kill. Dom.”

Minty stared him in the face for several seconds. Finn didn’t appreciate being scrutinised by a child, but he kept his temper somehow.

“The warehouse is straight on over the roundabout.”

“Thank you!” Finn nodded and got going again. Minty and Wonder Mutt hurried to keep up.

As they got walking again, Finn considered the myriad of ways he could kill Dom. Not once could he imagine a way of
not
killing him. The guy had been dead the moment Finn's ma had uttered his name.

A death sentence.

Abandoned cars choked the roundabout. It was due to such congestion that people never bothered to try the roads anymore. Finn had arrived in England by boat, but he hadn't been fleeing the grey death. He had been fleeing Northern Ireland because of what it had become. The offshoot of the old IRA Finn was part of had taken the end of the world as a sign that God was angry. It had led them to plan the largest domestic attack in the nation’s history—bombing a dozen Protestant and secular targets simultaneously. With national security falling into disarray, getting the parts for the bomb had been child’s play. Planting and detonating them was going to be even easier. Finn’s bomb was earmarked for a secular primary school. The group’s leader, Reverend Chris Adams, told Finn God would reward him for punishing the offspring of the wicked. The group's other targets included a hospital, police station, and an embassy. Twelve targets in total—one for each apostle of Christ. Every bomb would be an offering to a chosen saint.

Thousands would die.

Even as Billions died.

It was murder for murder's sake.

“It’s just down here,” said Minty, pointing, “just past the police station.”

Wonder Mutt ran around them in excited circles.

Finn studied the police station’s windows as they neared, wondering if anyone lurked inside. Proximity to law enforcement had worried him for so long that his heart rate increased out of habit. Finn saw police officers as the enemy—enforcers of an unholy regime. Truth was, they were no different to anybody else. The whole world was twisted and dark. Everyone found their own corner to piss in. What Finn once thought were just causes now seemed like childish fantasies.

Or outright fallacies.

“Are you okay, son?” somebody shouted from across the road.

Finn looked up and saw a police officer standing in the station's empty car park. He wore a white shirt with lapels, but lacked the rest of his uniform. He pointed a finger and asked again. “Are you okay?”

“Who, me?” asked Minty, when he realised the policer officer was addressing him and not Finn.

“Yes, are you in need of help? If you are, you can come on over to me.”

Finn shrugged at Minty. “Go on over. You’re better off with him than me.”

Minty waved back at the man across the road. “No, I’m fine; thank you, officer.”

“You don’t look fine to me, son. You look dirty and malnourished.”

Finn chuckled, letting the officer know he was in agreement. “I just met the kid today so don't blame me.”

“Finn gave me food,” said Minty. “He's my friend.”

The officer grew suspicious. He exited the car park and mounted the grassy embankment that bordered the road. It led Wonder Mutt to grumble and move to Minty's side. Finn noticed the officer had a gun on his hip, but he was questioned about his own weapon before he had chance to mention it. “That’s a big knife you’ve got hanging from your belt, sir.”

“Not big enough with the way things are.”

The officer laughed with what seemed to be understanding, but he looked at Minty and moved his hand over his gun.

Finn's hand hovered towards his knife.

“There’s a lot of bad men out in the world right now,” the officer said, now addressing Minty again. “Not many are willing to offer food without wanting something in return.”

Minty seemed to grow pale as if the comment made full sense to him. “Finn is all right. He’s a good guy.”

Finn bristled at the words.
There he goes again.

The officer eyeballed Finn. “Is that so?”

“No, it’s not,” said Finn. “I’m not a good guy, officer. In fact, I’m a pretty bad guy, even by today’s standards. It still doesn't make me someone who hurts kids.”

Finn thought of the little girl in the rubble.

At least, not any more.

“I gave Minty food because he needed it. In return, he is helping me find a warehouse called Latif’s.”

The officer was quiet for a moment while he digested what Finn had told him. Gradually, his hand moved away from his gun and relaxed by his hip. “Well, I suppose that’s the best I can expect nowadays. If you’re looking for Latif’s, you found it. It’s right at the end of this road. I wouldn’t advise going there though.”

Finn took a step towards the officer which made the man flinch and touch his gun again. Finn had to raise his hands to show no threat. “Why wouldn’t I want to go there, officer?”

“Because it burned down. I heard shooting last night, and when I went to check things out this morning, the warehouse was a blackened ruin.”

Finn ground his teeth. Had Dom set a fire, or had he been inside the building when it went up? Was he already dead? A twist of irony Finn would not appreciate.

I want that fucker to know who I am before I kill him. I want him to know he’s dying because of what he did to Marie. I want a confession. For my ma.

“I still need to check it out.” Finn turned to Minty. “You should stay here.”

“No way. I don’t know this guy.” He reached down and clutched Wonder Dog as if looking for agreement.

“He’s a police officer.”

“So? You know all those people I told you about? The ones who walked right on by while that woman lay on the ground begging for help? One of them was a pig.”

Finn winced at the slur, but the officer didn’t seem insulted. The time for sensitivity had long passed.

The officer sighed. “I’m sorry about that, son. Truth is, many of my colleagues who tried to do their duty when things went bad were beaten or stabbed to death. There's a lot more bad in this world than good, I'm afraid. I’ve been on my own for weeks now. A few of the junior officers took off early on, but most of the older guys stayed as long as they could stand. Police officers are human beings too—not all of them are good, I’m afraid. You’ll be safe with me though, son. Both of you, in fact. I have food, some water.”

Minty shook his head without even considering it. “I’m going with Finn.”

“No, you’re not!” Finn growled. “Look, kid, I appreciate you wanting to help me, but let’s not forget it was me who got you out of that room. I don’t owe you anything. Time to say goodbye. This fella is obviously the best bet for you.”

“I’m not staying here.” Minty moved to Finn’s side. Wonder Mutt followed, tail wagging. “I don’t know this guy.”

“No, you don’t, but you don’t know me either.”

“You’ve protected me instead of hurting me. That’s not something I’m about to give up.”

“It’s not your choice.” Finn walked away.

Minty and the dog followed.

“I’ll just follow you,” said Minty.

Finn turned, and was about to yell at the kid when he froze solid. Minty was oblivious to what was going on behind him and kept on arguing. “You saved me, so now you have to take care of me. I’m not stay—”

“Minty! Shut up and turn around.”

“No, I won’t stay—”

“Minty! Turn your empty head around.”

Wonder Mutt growled.

Minty frowned, but seemed to finally get the message. He turned around and saw the police officer pointing a gun at them.

“What do you want?” asked Finn.

“Tell the boy he isn’t going anywhere.”

Finn glared. “Why?”

“I’m taking him off your hands. He’ll be safer with me.”

Finn took a half-step forwards, but kept his hands above his head. “The kid doesn’t want to stay with you. I’m sorry, but he's coming with me.”

“You’re not taking him anywhere. Tell him to stay, and I might let you walk away.”

Minty stood between the two men, mortified. He obviously saw some kind of safety with Finn. He looked terrified now that safety was being threatened.

Wonder Mutt barked.

“Tell that mongrel to keep its trap shut!”

“Don't shoot him,” Minty begged.

Finn shook his head in disgust at the officer. “I bet the end of the world is like winning the lottery for sickos like you. Are you even a police officer?”

The man sniggered, adjusted his grip on his gun. “Like I said, we’re all just human beings. Now walk away, Mick!”

Finn snarled and so did Wonder Mutt. “I swear to God, if I hear that word one more time today…”

“Get moving!”

Finn tried to take another step closer, but the officer waved his gun. “Uh uh, don't be an idiot.”

Suddenly, Minty got in the police officer’s face and laughed. “You don’t know who you’re messing with, you stupid dickhead. Finn will kick your arse if you try to take me.”

“Minty! Shut your mouth.”

“I’m right, though, aren't I? You won't leave without me, will you?”

Finn shrugged. “Sorry, kid. I have my own problems to worry about.”

The officer grinned like a cat standing over a mouse. “Clever man. Now walk away so I don't waste a bullet.”

Before Finn turned to leave, he leaned towards Minty. “First chance you get, run!”

Minty shook his head, his eyes wide and terrified. “Please, Finn. Don’t leave me. I need you to look after me.”