Tar: An apocalyptic horror novella (9 page)

F
inn checked
things were clear before stepping outside. He couldn’t risk losing Dominic—not now that he had Katie—but he had to bide his time. Luckily, Dominic’s injured leg kept his pace slow, and Finn hadn't lost them when he exited the factory.

The three men headed down the road fifty metres ahead. One of them had a hand clasped against Katie’s backside and guffawed loud enough that Finn could hear it at a distance. As they continued moving, the group edged to the side of the road and entered the cover of the various factories.

He would lose them soon.

Finn could sneak up and shoot all three men dead, but it wasn’t a certainty, and he risked injuring Katie. One false step announcing his presence and everything would turn bad fast. Surprise was the only advantage he had.

He needed to wait and use it for maximum effect.

“You let them take Katie?”

Finn flinched and pointed his gun. When he saw Minty hiding behind a dustbin, he lowered it again. “What you jumping out at me for, kid? I could have taken your head off.”

“Katie, you let them take her.”

Finn glanced at Wonder Mutt who seemed happy to see him, then back at the kid. She gave herself over to them. I'm going to get her back.

“You kept your promise not to kill Dominic.”

“I did, but don’t count on me keeping it much longer. Come on, we have to move.”

They kept to the shadows, which was easy to do with the sun obscured. Finn wondered if he'd adapted, for he was sure could see in the dark better than he ever did before.

Dominic and the others became silhouettes in the distance.

“What’s your plan?” asked Minty.

“I don’t know, but I need to hit them before they get back to the Hobby Horse. If Dominic gets back there, I might have ten guys to deal with instead of three.”

“Why not do it now?”

“Because there’s no cover.”

Minty did them both a favour and shut up, which meant they were able to begin pursuit in silence. Even Wonder Mutt seemed to understand the need for stealth, and instead of running ahead, he kept close to Finn's heels. They kept pace with Dominic until they were heading out of the industrial estate and back towards Latif’s. The stench of smoke greeted them long before the sight of the ruined building.

Dominic stopped to take a rest. His limp had worsened in the last twenty minutes, and he staggered over to an abandoned Rover just outside the burned warehouse and hopped up onto the bonnet. Finn kept to the shadows, moving as close as he could. He crouched behind an advertising board at the nearby petrol station and surveyed his targets. He could hit them if he fired now.

This is it. I have cover and surprise. If I can get a tiny bit closer, I'll be able to take them out without them even spotting me.

Minty seemed to sense his urgency because he was fidgeting when he moved up beside Finn. God knew where Wonder Mutt had got to.

Finn put a finger against his lips.

Minty whispered. “You could scare them? Pin them down or something while Katie runs back to us.”

“Quiet, kid.”

Finn lined up his shot on the guy who had been groping Katie’s ass. Even now the man was running his hands all over her, forcing her to stumble backwards amongst the rubble of Latif’s. He wanted to kill Dominic last, so the man would know he’d fucked up, but the guy groping Katie would make a good first kill. The other guy was out in the open, leaning against the Rover that Dominic was sitting on. His gun hung loosely by his side. He might spot Finn once he started shooting, but he would be too slow to get a shot off.

Finn just needed to get closer to ensure he didn’t miss. Handguns were not rifles.

He could solve his proximity problem simply by walking out into the open and firing on his targets as he approached. But was it worth the risk?

“Get off me!”

Katie shoved the guy pawing at her and started yelling. Dominic slid off the bonnet and wheeled on her immediately. “Oi, keep your cock sucking mouth shut. You want to bring the Beverley's back down on us?” He pointed his gun at her face, which led his two companions to do the same. Katie wasn’t cowed. She had the look of absolute fury, and kicked and scratched at her chuckling tormentor.

“Hey, Katie, is that you?” Ledley appeared from the rubble. “Hey, you bullies get off her.”

Finn stared from behind the advertising board. Ledley was staggering towards the men with a half-empty bottle of vodka in hand. “You step away from her now, you nasty bastards. Didn't you cause enough trouble last time you was here?”

Katie's tormentor gawped at Ledley, but his confusion slowly became anger. “The fuck are you, Bob Marley? What you gonna do about anything? Maybe I’ll bench this bitch over right now and let you watch while I stretch her arsehole. Maybe I’ll let you get a taste of my cock after I’m done.”

Ledley staggered towards the man, tripped several times, but made it over. “You step away from that lady, or I’ll bust your face.”

Silence.

Dominic broke it by laughing. “Rasta’s got a sack on him, don't he? I like him.”

The other men laughed too. Katie's tormentor clutched his stomach in mock hysteria. “You, you, you got some front on you, Bob. You, you, you definitely one hell of a Buffalo Soldier.”

Ledley nodded, gave a little smile. The laughter continued all around.

Dominic raised his gun and shot Ledley in the side of the head. He spat on his body when it hit the ground. “Stupid fucking wog.”

Katie screamed and ran at Dominic. “You fucking animal!”

Dominic adjusted his aim and fired another shot.

Katie went down in the rubble.

Wonder Mutt appeared from somewhere, growling like an animal twice his size. Dominic turned towards the dog and frowned. “What the fuck?”

Before he knew it, Finn had leapt out from behind the advertising board. The noise of his own yelling was deafening, louder even then the shots he was rapidly firing.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!
It took Finn three shots to hit Katie's tormentor, but the bullet struck him right in the Adam’s Apple and tipped him over like a rusty ironing board.

One down
.

Dominic returned fire, but in his confusion his aim was bad. Finn moved at light-speed, whipping his aim, firing a round straight into the chest of Dominic's remaining man.

You're last motherfucker. I want you to see my smiling face.

Dominic located Finn and aimed his gun.

Wonder Mutt launched at him like a little doggie torpedo. At such a small size, the impact did little, but it knocked the man off balance and bought Finn the split-second he needed.

Finn took aim, sweaty finger over the trigger.

“Finn stop!”

Distracted, Finn half-turned to look at the kid behind him.
Why is he shouting?

Dominic fired another shot.

A mighty punch hit Finn and sent him stumbling sidewards. He grabbed his arm and blood seeped between his fingers.

“Fuck it. Fuck it. Fuck it.” Dominic was the one shouting.

Why wasn't he still shooting?

Finn was dazed, not even sure where he was facing. Standing out in the open, he was an easy kill.

Finn’s left arm hung by his side so he raised his gun with his right. He blinked and swallowed, tried to focus. He turned a laborious circle until Dominic wheeled back into his view.

There was still a chance to kill the son-of-a-bitch.

Finn aimed, his hand trembling. His finger twitched over the trigger as his dazed mind tried to find the command to pull it. Just when he thought he would be able to, however, he pulled his finger away.

Finn smiled.
I've got you.

Dominic was fumbling madly in his pockets. He grinned suddenly when he managed to pull something out of his jeans, but bellowed when he dropped whatever it was onto the floor. “Damn it, no. No!”

Finn marched across the road, his gun held casually by his side.

“Damn it! Damn it!” Dominic tried to kneel and pick up the bullet he’d dropped, but his leg was so heavily bandaged that he was struggling. It was like watching a one-year-old try to pick up a crayon.

And like a one-year-old, Dominic was defenceless.

Finn felt fire in his lungs as he strode towards the man he hated.

Dominic finally got his fingers pinched around the bullet and grunted with relief. He threaded it into the open chamber of his revolver.

Finn picked up his pace.

Stumbling onto his knees and panicking, Dominic closed the gun chamber and brought the weapon up to fire.

Finn brought his knee up crushed the kneeling monster's face. The sound of cartilage shattering was sublime.

Dominic sprawled backwards into the rubble, blood exploding from his face. The revolver slipped from his fingers and fell amongst the debris. Minty shouted nearby, but all Finn heard was the thudding of his own heart.

Dominic scrambled away like a wounded crab.

Finn stood over him. “That’s the problem with those shitty, backroom-of-the-bar, antique revolver’s little boys like you like to run around with,” Finn, savoured the moment, “only six bullets.” He pointed his own gun in Dominic’s face. “I always go automatic.”

Dominic spat blood. “Who… who the f-f-fuck are you?”

“I’m a brother. A big brother who left his sister for monsters like you to prey upon. A big brother who wasn’t there when he should have been. I'm also the man who is going to kill you.”

Dominic tried to claw his way up, but couldn't. He slumped against the burned timbers and grunted. “You’re Marie’s mad Mick of a brother, aren’t you? She told me about you. Said you were a goddamn terrorist. She was scared of you, mate.”

Finn growled. Then stamped on Dominic’s wounded leg. The monster cried out like a kitten. “Y-You fucking psychopath.”

“You were the one she was afraid of,” Finn raged. “You were the one who beat her. Who raped her. Who left her body in ruins.”

Dominic chuckled despite the blood choking him. “Bitch liked it rough.”

“You're a monster.”

“I’m Dominic Cassell, so go fuck yourself, you stupid fucking Mick.”

“Getting real tired of people calling me that.” Finn raised the gun again and pointed it at Dominic’s forehead.

Dominic spat more blood. “Just get it fucking over with. You say I'm a monster, but your sister told me the things you did. Said you blew up post offices and schools. A little girl died. You're the monster.” He took a breath, spat some blood away. Then laughed weakly, “Even despite that, it was you she threatened me with when I gave her the last beating. Said 'my big brother will make you pay.' I laughed because I thought she meant that pussy, Clive. Guess she got the last laugh, huh?”

Finn shook his head slowly. “She's not laughing. She's dead.”

The shot echoed through the burnt-out building.

The bullet struck Finn with such force that it launched him forwards onto his hands and knees. His palm slashed open on a twisted nail poking out from a half-burned timber, but the pain seemed far away. All the strength went out of him at once, and he collapsed onto his side in the building’s charred remains.

“Dad, are you okay?”

Dominic's jaw fell open as he looked across the road. “Fucking ‘ell, Mikey, is that you?”

F
inn lay dying
in the rubble, watching.

“You left me stuck in the flat, dad.”

Dominic pulled himself up to sitting. “I know, son, I had some complications to take care of. The Beverley’s hit us hard. How are things back at the Hobby?”

Minty shrugged. “They were okay when I left, but that was a day and a half ago. I found mum in the bedroom.”

“Yeah, sorry about that. You know what she was like. Went off her head when the drugs dried up. I was just defending myself. I told you that before I left. She okay?”

Minty shook his head and knelt down beside Wonder Mutt, stroking the animal as if to calm his nerves. “She cried out after you left for hours. When I found her she was dead. I never got to see her, dad. You locked me up while she was dying.”

“Are you fucking crying on me, son?”

Minty wiped his cheek. “I just keep seeing her face.”

“Don’t be a bloody pussy, Mikey. Help me up. I just lost two of my boys, and I need to get back to the Hobby before I lose any more.”

“What's it even matter? Everyone is going to die soon, anyway.”

“Get me the fuck up before I give you a bloody mouth.”

Minty reached down and helped his father up. Finn stayed still in the rubble. His entire body was numb, so it wasn't difficult. He was dying.

I’m sorry, Marie.

Wherever you are, I'm sure I won’t be joining you.

Dominic leered down at Finn. With his broken nose rapidly swelling he looked like a demon. Finn considered playing dead, but it was already obvious he was still alive. “Fucker broke my nose. How'd you end up with him?”

“He’s just some guy,” said Minty. “He came to the pub looking for you.”

“Did you know the bird as well?” He nodded at Katie who was lying nearby with one of her legs folded beneath her.

Minty nodded. “Yeah, she was nice.”

“Now she’s worm food, stupid bitch. Come on, son, let’s put this muppet out of his misery and get back to the boozer. I’m going to need your help. That fucker messed up my leg even worse. We're ditching that fucking mongrel too. Thing bit me, so you're lucky I don't ring its neck. Should ring all your necks.” He spat blood at Finn. Finn was too weak to even flinch.

Minty made eye-contact with Finn and a flicker of guilt in his expression made him look away. “Can’t we just leave Finn here? He thought you killed his sister. You didn’t though, right? You told me Marie ran away because you were finished with her.”

“What do you fucking care?” Dominic growled. “Stop pissing and moaning like a woman. Don’t make me beat the life out of you like I did your stupid mother.”

“Dad, why do you hurt women?”

Dominic backhanded his son across the mouth. Like his father, Minty ended up spitting blood. “Don’t you dare question me, boy. I don't owe you a fucking thing.”

Dominic kicked Wonder Mutt, making the dog yelp and howl. Then he turned and stood over Finn, shaking his head. “Never have kids, mate.” He grabbed a length of still-intact timber from the ashes and held it over Finn’s skull. “Bad luck, Mick. You almost got me.”

“Dad, please! Just leave him.”

Dominic sneered. “Not a chance.”

Finn closed his eyes.

Click!

Dominic still held the length of timber in his hands—had been about to smash it down on Finn’s forehead—but now he turned around in silence. Minty stood before him, terror etched across his face. “Did you just pull the trigger on me, boy?”

Minty pulled the trigger again. And again. His face fell as he realised the revolver was empty.

Like father like son.

Dominic sneered. “You must have missed the bit where I ran out of bullets, you stupid little prick. You're dead.”

Dominic punched his son hard in the face and sent him sprawling like a ragdoll to the ground. Finn winced, but used the distraction to try to unbury himself from the rubble.

Every movement hurt, and he had to bite down on his lip to keep from screaming out, but he was gradually able to get control of his body again.

Minty wailed and called out for help, but none would come. Dominic bore down on his son, ready to strike again. “The world is over, Mikey,” he said. “Only the strong get to live. If it wasn’t for me, you’d be dead already, and you have the sodding balls to pull the trigger on me?”

“Please, Dad. I'm sorry!”

Finn tried to pull himself up. If he could just get behind Dominic and hit him with something.

But it wasn’t going to happen. As much as he fought, he moved at a snail’s pace. Even if he could climb up, he was too dizzy to stand. He heaved himself forward a few inches, but then his arms failed him, and he collapsed back onto his side.

He was screwed.

And so was Minty.

Finn blinked, hating himself for failing the one chance he had to do something good.

It had been his last chance.

A way to put that little girl behind him. The little girl who had died of internal bleeding even after he had carried her out of the wreckage. It was the last person he ever killed on behalf of the IRA. The reason his next bomb had been an intentional dud. The reason Chris Adams had stalked him across the city with a gang of his former brothers.

He was going to die with nothing but blood on his soul. When he finally stood before the golden gates, he would lack a single honourable deed to beg access with.

Hell waited to claim him.

Then Finn saw it. A way out.

Glinting amongst the rubble like a beacon of hope was his automatic pistol. It poked out from beneath a blackened shelving unit where he had dropped it when Minty shot him.

Dominic kicked Minty in the guts as he tried to clamber to his feet, forcing the air from his small lungs in a gigantic howl.

Finn reached out for his gun, every muscle crying out in protest. Inch by inch, his fingertips stretched towards it.

“Dad, please…”

Dominic kicked his son again. And Again. He was killing the kid. His own blood.

“Come on,” Finn told himself. His fingertips wiggled and stretched. As much as he strained, he could not make that final inch he needed to get the gun. It was just out of reach.

His body would move no further.

No. Come on. Please God.

Something beneath Finn shifted and fell. All of a sudden, his body slid to one side and a whole pile of debris moved.

His hand found the gun.
Thank you, God!

Or was that you, Marie?

Dominic grabbed a length of copper piping poking out of a toppled brick wall and yanked it free. The end was sharp, and he held it over his shoulder like a javelin. He glared at Minty. “See you in Hell, son.”

“Hey, Asshole,” Finn shouted.

Dominic spun around, almost tripped as Wonder Mutt tangled in his feet.

“This is for Marie.” Finn pulled the trigger. The bullet tore through the knee of Dominic’s good leg, and he dropped to the ground screaming. “Stupid Cockney.”

Finn slumped back into the rubble, gasping. It took almost two minutes before he was able to move again. Agonisingly, he dragged himself towards a nearby shelving unit and climbed it until he was almost on his feet. The whole while Dominic continued to writhe and scream, clutching his knee and bellowing obscenities. Finn ignored the man's agony and instead checked himself over. He’d been shot. Twice. The first time by Dominic had been a flesh wound to his left tricep, but the second bullet—fired by Minty—had struck his back and come out his front. The exit wound was still bleeding.

The kid's messed me up bad.

Minty wept amongst the debris, his skinny body curled up like a foetus. Wonder Mutt sat dutifully by his side, ears pricked up as if waiting for assistance.

“Hey, kid. It’s okay,” Finn called out. “You can get up.”

Minty lifted his head like a newly hatched bird. “You're going to kill me.”

Finn shook his head. “No.”

Gingerly, Minty pulled himself up, still sobbing as he favoured his ribs. His lips had swollen into thick purple sausages from Dominic’s fist crushing against them.

Finn held onto the shelving unit while his head swirled. “Fuck me, I feel like a mule kicked me.”

Minty started crying, hysterically now. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Please don’t shoot me, Finn.”

Finn looked at the gun in his hand and let it fall to his side. The weight of it had suddenly become heavy. “I’m not going to shoot you, brother. And if I did, it wouldn’t be in the back.”

“You were going to kill my dad.” Minty wiped away a stream of snot with the back of his hand. “I told you not to kill him.”

Finn huffed. “Excuse me if I don’t label you a hypocrite, but I seem to recall you pulling the trigger yourself.”

Minty shook his head and stared at Katie's body amongst the blackened debris. “I thought he’d be proud of me,” he muttered. “I thought he killed my mum by accident, but you heard him. He killed Katie and your sister too. He was a monster.”

Finn looked down at Dominic and felt sick to his stomach. He should never have let him take Katie. He should never have allowed her to sacrifice herself like that.

I should have done something sooner.

It’s all because of Dominic.

But
Finn knew that it had really started with him. His sister's death could be traced back to the day she stood there with her dolly begging her big brother not to abandon her.

“You can kill him now,” said Minty, tears streaming down his cheeks. “You can kill my dad.”

Finn pushed himself away from the rubble and was able to stand on his own. He stumbled over to Dominic and took a closer look at the man. Instead of shouting out curses, Dominic gritted his teeth and said nothing at all. Finn knew he was trying to keep his dignity before he died.

This is it. The reason I'm here instead of at home with Ma and Clive.

I made a promise.

Finn felt the weight of the gun in his hand and let it drop into the rubble.

“I don't understand,” said Minty. “What are you doing?”

“Breaking a promise. And keeping another.”

Finn threaded his way through the rubble and limped out into the road. A blood trail stained the ground behind him and his vision twinkled with inky stars. Death was coming for him. He didn’t want to give another minute to hate. Dominic could live or die; he didn’t care anymore.

No one had any time left.

The final moments were perhaps the only ones that had ever mattered. Finn was glad not to spend them killing.

“Where are you going?” Minty called after him.

“Just somewhere.”

“Can I come?”

Finn stopped and turned around to face the child who had shot him. “Yes,” he said. “Of course you can come. Bring the dog, too.”