The Dark Place (23 page)

B
rendan slid along the wall, moving slowly yet steadily, his mind chartering the journey he had made into the anteroom, all the while retracing his steps back out. He kept the gun at waist level, pointing at a slight angle, wishing he had brought the sawn-off shotgun with its indiscriminate blasting power, able to transform a human head into ash. The sawn-off might be socially unacceptable and awkward to use, but it was single-minded in purpose and always got the job done.

You’ve just described yourself perfectly
, thought Brendan, moving further into the darkness.

A sound to his left made him halt. Listening, he dropped immediately on hunkers, lessening his body’s target area. A grim smile appeared on his face.
Big might be better, but in this situation, smaller is smarter
.

Controlling his breathing, he gently thumbed back the hammer on the revolver. A mechanical pulse travelled through the gun’s heavy steel frame: a pulse that journeyed through his body before settling in his brain like a bullet. It had been a long time since he had experienced that pulse. It was beautiful and timely. Much needed.

Crawling on elbows and knees, he inched forward painstakingly slowly, the unmerciful concrete ground cutting through clothing,
sandpapering his skin into a bloody mess. He felt the clingy dampness of new blood travelling down his arms and legs, and instinctively clenched his teeth to create a pain barrier.

This is nothing. You’ve endured worse. Just make sure you find this bastard before he finds you
.

Something whooshed close to his right ear, stopping him dead in his tracks. It sounded like a hundred angry wasps caught in a bottle.

What the hell was that? Move!

Rolling twice, he fired two shots in succession –
bam! bam!
– before standing, running for the far wall.

Don’t panic. Assume nothing except what is taking place at the present moment.

Another whooshing sound popped his ears just as his body touched the wall. He was suddenly frightened and incredibly angry; angry for allowing himself to be trapped this clumsily.

Something moved in the darkness, ahead. He dropped to one knee, the adrenaline rushing through his body inducing an instinctual call for self-preservation. Seconds later, something hit the wall, inches above his head.

Bam!
Brendan fired, the muzzle flash momentarily revealing a distorted shadow. He was sure it was Hannah. Had he hit him, wounded the bastard, hopefully killed him?

“
Arghhhhhhhhhh!
” screamed Brendan, feeling his body propelling backwards as another whooshing sound made impact, hitting him perfectly.

“W
hat … what was all that shooting, Dad?” whispered Katie, gripping her father tighter.

“I … I don’t know, sweetie.”

“Do you think … do you think Brendan shot him, killed him?”

Karl couldn’t answer. Darkness was pouring into his brain, making it difficult to think. Something told him Brendan was dead.

“I heard something, Dad.”

“What? What, sweetie?”

“Something. Something out there. Listen …”

Karl listened, holding his breath. He cursed his heart, its thumping making it impossible to hear.

“I need you to rest on the ground, sweetie. Just for a minute or two.”

“What? No! You’re not leaving me!” screamed Katie, clinging tighter to Karl.

“Shhhhhh, sweetie. I’m not leaving you. I swear to you. But you’ve got to trust me. Do as I say. Quickly. We don’t have much time.”

“I’m scared, Dad.”

“I know, sweetie, but hang in there. Have faith in your old man.
Okay?”

Wiping away tears and muck, Kate nodded.

“Good girl,” said Karl, easing Katie to the ground. “Just stay still and –”

A noise, a sneaky, not-wanting-to-be-heard noise moved in the darkness.

“Dad …”

“
Shhhhhh
…”

In the godless gloaming, a shape was approaching, its many-angled blackness almost impossible to discern.

A horrible sensation began stabbing into Karl’s gut, travelling all the way to his bowels. Clammy sweat began hugging his face.

Closer, you bastard. That’s right. Just a little bit closer and you’ll –

“Karl …? I’m hit … pretty bad …” moaned Brendan, collapsing.

“Brendan …!” shouted Karl, quickly bending over the fallen body. “What happened? I heard shots being fired and … you’re bleeding … what the hell’s that?”

From Brendan’s upper body, an arrow’s metal shaft angled outwards, protruding horribly.

“I … I saw him, Karl. The bastard is stark bollock naked and covered in what looks like blood and war paint. He was mere feet away from me.” Brendan grimaced, sweating terribly. “He … he looked like the devil … the bastard’s … wearing night vision goggles and –”

“Night vision? Fuck.”

“– and armed to the rotten teeth with some sort of crossbow and a quiver full of lethal arrows. This one in my shoulder has to have had an expandable impact head. Feels like a steel fist, opening and closing.” Brendan grimaced again.

“I can’t pull that out. Too dangerous. Somehow, we’ve got to get you out of here, before you bleed to death.”

“No! No … we … we don’t have time for that nonsense,” exclaimed Brendan, gritting his teeth. “Besides, it takes more than an arrow from William bloody Tell to put me out of business. Just help me up. I’ve got a plan B.”

“Plan B?” said Karl, quickly removing his shirt, shredding it into
bandage strips.

“That’s right. And before you say it, hopefully it’ll be better than plan A,” replied Brendan, reaching out his hand before being eased up slowly from the ground.

“Let me place these strips against the wound, Brendan. They should help stem the flow of blood for a while.”

“I think I hit him.”

“What?”

“Not one hundred per cent, but there’s a possibility I shot him, in the leg.”

“That’s something, anyway. Pity it wasn’t his head.”

“Dad? What’s going to happen?” asked Katie, concern in her voice.

Karl glanced at Brendan.

“Your father and I are going to have to go and find this monster, before he finds us, Katie.”

“No! Dad, tell him. You promised you wouldn’t leave.”

“No one’s leaving you, love. Isn’t that right, Brendan?”

“It’s going to be difficult enough without worrying about –”

“Isn’t that
right
, Brendan?”

“Okay,” sighed Brendan, resigned. “Let’s get moving. Just keep in mind that he can see us at all times – though he’ll probably be wary, knowing we’re not defenceless.”

“Katie, sweetie. You’ll have to walk directly behind me, love. Okay?”

“Yes … don’t walk too fast or too far ahead …”

“I’ll be right beside you. Don’t worry.”

Moving slowly, the trio exited the room, hedging themselves against the walls, Karl leading.

“I’m going forward a few feet ahead,” whispered Brendan.

“Don’t be a fool,” hissed Karl. “He’ll pick you off like a sitting duck.”

“We’re the ones walking like a bloody duck patrol straight into his sights. He’ll pick each of us off, if we don’t spread out. Let’s make the bastard a little nervous, let him earn his blood.”

“With those night vision goggles, he’ll be watching our every move.”

“He doesn’t know how many guns we have, even with his goggles
on. Here. Take this,” said Brendan, handing the gun to Karl. “You know how to use it?”

Karl gripped the weapon in his hand. Despite the gun’s heavy cargo of dead weight, there was a feeling of naturalness, a familiar intercourse with the grip. Uncannily, the gun seemed designed to fit his hand. Either that, or his hand was designed to fit the gun.

“Why are you giving me this?”

“I’m going to be a decoy. He’ll go after the wounded animal first, try and finish it.”

“You’re in no state, Brendan, and you’re starting to bleed badly again. Let me do whatever you have in mind.”

“What I have in mind, only I can do. You protect your daughter. That’s your priority. I’ve a little surprise in store for William Tell, and it isn’t a damn apple. When you hear my command, just fire at anything moving. Understand?”

“No, I don’t understand, but I’ll do it anyway.”

“Good,” said Brendan, disappearing into the darkness.

“What’s happening, Dad? Has Brendan left us?”

“Everything is fine, sweetie, but from here it’s vitally important that we remain quiet. Okay? Katie? Katie!”

Without warning, Katie suddenly lost consciousness.

B
rendan eased slowly down The Tunnel, his right arm dangling uselessly. Blood was flowing more freely from the gaping wound, making him light-headed. He wondered just how much time he had before losing consciousness? Tellingly, there was no pain. He suspected what that meant.

Suddenly, he heard something not too far in front. Unfortunately, it wasn’t sudden enough.
You stupid bastard
, he thought, but before he could think again something hit his right leg. “
Arrrrrggggghhhhhhhhhhh!
”

Brendan felt new blood running down his leg, warming the skin. His left hand came up instinctively, pressing down against the wound. He felt relieved when he saw the red spray on the wall behind him, knowing it meant that there was an exit wound and that the arrow had gone right through.

Instinctively dropping to one knee, he pushed flat against the wall, breathing heavily. Seconds later another arrow smashed into a brick above his head.

“Missed, you bastard!” shouted Brendan, laughing like some crazed
creature. “You’re frightened of men, aren’t you? That’s why your hands are trembling. No longer fighting little girls, you sick bast –”

An arrow whizzed past Brendan’s eyebrow, barely missing the eye. It stunned him into silence, but only for a few seconds.

“C’mon, Hannah! You can do better than that. Surely even a
paedophile
like you can –?”

“Surely I can,” hissed Hannah, suddenly standing triumphantly over Brendan, scalpel in hand, pressing it tight against his neck. “You first, and then lovely Katie. I want Kane to witness everything before he dies. Blame him for your misfortune. He brought all this to – 
arrggggggggggggggghhhhhhh
!”

“Now, Karl!
Nowwwwwww!
” shouted Brendan, holding the flaming flare in his hand, blinding Hannah. Suddenly, the entire tunnel was abruptly lit up like fireworks night. A naked Hannah was screaming, frantically clawing at the night goggles, as if acid had been thrown into his face.

Karl came rushing down the tunnel, gun pointing, stopping directly beside the screaming Hannah.

“Shoot him, Karl!” shouted Brendan. “Now, while you have the chance. Shoot the bastard!”

Karl’s hand began shaking terribly as he held the gun to Hannah’s head, pulling back the hammer.

Hannah continued clawing at his eyes, screaming.

Karl fired once, bringing the screaming to an end.

“It’s over …” said Karl, lowering the gun, pushing a stunned and shaking Hannah down on to the ground beside Brendan.

“It’ll never be over,” said Brendan, his voice almost a whisper. “Don’t you understand, Karl? Hannah has too much power and influence. He’ll never see a day in prison. He’ll walk free and simply wait for the right time to continue his madness. There is no cure for creatures like him. Don’t you understand?”

“I don’t have an answer for that.”

“I do!” shouted Brendan, snapping the gun out of Karl’s hands, pointing it at Hannah. “I’m not letting him roam the streets, Karl, murdering and torturing young girls. It’s over for him. Take Katie and
get out of here.”

“Don’t do it, Brendan,” pleaded Karl. “You’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

“You don’t have much time, Karl,” said Brendan, removing a small package from the discarded rucksack on the floor. “It’s got a pressure plate release. It’s primed to go off as soon as I remove my fingers from it.”

“What … what the hell are you going to do with that?”

“I need you to get Katie the hell out of here! I’m ready to lose consciousness. As soon as I do, this whole area is going to kingdom come.”

“Please … please, Brendan. Don’t do this. You have a great wife who loves you dearly. Don’t do this to her.”

“Claire died badly, Karl,” said Brendan, his voice suddenly soft and solemn. “Shortly after Patricia’s funeral, and still suffering from the gunshot wounds, Claire went home and filled a bath with water before climbing in and slitting both her wrists.”

“Oh God, Brendan … I … I’m so sorry …”

“Now, I need you to go.
Now!
Take Katie. She’ll never have to worry about Hannah again.”

“I …”

“
Go, damn you!
”

Offering his hand to Brendan, Karl said, “When we first met, you said you would love to shake the hand of the man who killed Bulldog.”

A ghost of a smile appeared on Brendan’s face, a spark of revelation in his eyes.

“Goodbye, Brendan.”

“Goodbye, Karl.”

For almost one minute, the sound of Karl moving down the tunnel echoed all around Brendan Burns. Then came silence.

Weakening, Brendan felt his hands trembling. “Not yet. A few more minutes!” Gritting his teeth, he willed the hands to steady.

“Who … who
are
you?” asked Hannah, sitting opposite, motionless, eyes glaring.

“Who?” said Brendan, grimacing a smile, pointing the gun at Hannah’s face. “I’m the one who’s here to take away your purpose. I’m the end of your world.”

Passing the Circle before heading in the direction of the door at the end of the corridor, Karl ran clumsily with Katie scooped tightly in his arms. Breathing was quickly becoming laboured, and his legs felt ready to collapse while running on empty.

Come on. Almost there
. Despite trying to think positive, he couldn’t help but wonder how long the adrenaline coursing through his body would last, before he would eventually collapse in a heap? His heart was going mad. Air was impossible to taste.

Less than twenty seconds later, he reached the door, kicking it open, the cool night air lovingly hitting his sweating face. Directly ahead, the door leading back out towards the side entrance of the prison waited for him. He blinked sweat from his eyes.

You can do it. Not too far, now. Almost …

Suddenly, lights were blazing in the courtyard and surrounding area. Blue. Red. Orange. They looked like spotlights dipped in dull rainbows.

“What the …?”
An ambulance! Oh my God
… “Help! Help! Over here!
Helpppppppp!
”

The ambulance crew – two men and a woman – stared back in amazement. Two police cars were pulling up alongside the ambulance.

“Help! My daughter needs medical help! Quickly!”

Swiftly producing a stretcher from the back of the ambulance, two of the crew came rushing towards Karl. Three police officers quickly emerged from the cars and rushed forward also.

“It’s okay, sir. Everything will be okay. We’ve got her,” said one of the ambulance crew.

“How … how did you know to come? I called, but couldn’t get a signal,” asked Karl, following quickly behind as the crew reached the back of the ambulance.

“We never received any call concerning your daughter, sir. It was about this man,” said the ambulance man, pointing at a figure stretched out inside the ambulance. “He was attacked, and left for dead with his
throat cut.”

Karl felt faint seeing Willie stretched out, unmoving.

“Do you know this man, sir?” asked one of the police officers, suddenly standing beside Karl.

“His name is Willie … William Morgan, a good friend of mine.”

“You’re going to have to make a statement, sir, down at the station. We need to know what happened here.”

“My name is Karl Kane. Call Inspector Mark Wilson. He’ll explain everything to you, I’m sure. Right now, I’m accompanying my daughter and friend to the hospital. Understand?”

“Well, I suppose we –”

The ground suddenly shook.

“What the hell was that?” asked one of the police officers. “Felt like a miniature earthquake.”

Karl looked back towards the prison, distraught, before climbing into the back of the ambulance.

“Will he make it?” asked Karl, staring at Willie’s motionless body.

“Who knows?” said the crew member, his face noncommittal. “It’ll be touch and go if he lives, but if he does, he’ll owe his life to Mrs Blackburn.”

“Mrs Blackburn?”

“Yes. The old lady at number eighteen,” replied the man, pointing at the old lady standing at her door across the street. “She saw him being attacked and called 999.”

Karl stared across the street. The old lady – the one whom Willie had referred to as a nosey old bag – stood, arms folded, watching the scene and gathering crowd.

Seconds later, the ambulance began pulling away, into the night.