From the Dark

by K. A. Richardson

  Just go with it… Sam’s voice drifted into her mind. Her guide would keep her safe, she knew that as sure as she knew she was starting with another vision. A shiver of apprehension trickled down her spine – she really didn’t want to feel another murder.

  Bright lights flashed in her eyes and an unfamiliar voice invaded – a woman’s voice. Toni heard just one word. Mark.

  And just as quickly the vision disappeared. She turned onto her back, staring at the ceiling as she tried to process the information.

  She knew she’d felt pain – on her face. The smell of antiseptic reminded her of hospitals. That would account also for the carpet changing to a hard-type floor. Go to him... Sam’s voice was so quiet – barely a whisper, in fact. But she jumped to her feet and quickly pulled joggers and a jumper over her pyjamas, and knotted her hair in a loose bun on top of her head. Toni shoved her feet into her slip-on shoes and grabbed her car keys.

  Approaching the receptionist in the hospital, she was suddenly struck with the humour in her situation – here she was rushing to the hospital to the aid of a man she had known as a child but hadn’t seen for years because she believed him to be injured. A nervous giggle escaped as she waited for the receptionist to tell the drunken man in front of her where the toilets were.

  ‘That’s the fifth time tonight I’ve told him where the loos are. Sorry, how can I help?’

  ‘Do you have a Mark McKay here? As a patient I mean.’

  ‘Relative?’ asked the receptionist, giving her a quick grin.

  Toni paused realising only relatives would be allowed in. ‘Um, fiancée.’

  ‘Okay – if you want to take a seat in the waiting area I’ll let the doctor know you’re here. He’s just in the examination room now. They’ll come get you when they’re done.’

  Only minutes after she sat down, the nurse came over to her.

  ‘Are you Mark McKay’s fiancée?’

  She felt guilty for lying but nodded her head silently – the nurse’s voice was the same as the one she’d heard during the vision. Looking without making it obvious, she noted the nurse’s name was Claire.

  ‘He attended a little over an hour ago. He’s okay, but he has a broken nose and chipped cheek bone. He’s also got a laceration inside his mouth that needs a couple of stitches. He’s been unconscious so we’re just monitoring him for now. He might well be moved up to a ward later if the doctor thinks it necessary. Follow me and I’ll take you through to him.’

  Toni prepared herself before she went into the room, or thought she had, but seeing him lying in the bed with his face bruised and dried blood around his mouth, made her gasp. His eyes fluttered open at the noise, and for a minute he looked confused. She could tell he was going to speak – probably to ask how she knew he was there – but Toni was painfully aware of the nurse standing beside her. She crossed the room in two steps and before he could speak, she lowered her lips to his and kissed him gently.

  ‘Shh, it’s okay, baby. Don’t speak – I’m here now.’

  His eyes had widened as her lips gently touched his – feather light so as not to hurt his sore lips – his grey eyes darkened and smouldered instantly but he didn’t speak. After the kiss, he just nodded once then closed his eyes, leaving the nurse the perfect opportunity to leave the room.

  ‘Sorry – they said I could only come in if I was family.’

  Laughter glinted in the grey eyes that had smouldered at her just seconds before. ‘So, what, you told her you were my wife?’

  ‘Fiancée,’ she grinned conspiratorially.

  ‘Wait a second, how did you even know I was here? I’ve not told anyone yet.’ Realisation dawned and he stared at her. ‘A vision? Of me?’

  ‘Not exactly. I got out of bed and face-planted on the carpet. I had a couple of snippets that’s all. Not a full vision.’

  ‘Enough that you knew I was here though. That’s some gift you have, Toni.’

  ‘So, what happened?’

  ‘I can’t actually remember. One minute I was in the car eating pizza, the next I was waking up with a broken nose. Doc said I need a couple of stitches on my lip – they’re coming to do that soon. Hoping they’ll let me go home after that.’

  ‘The nurse said you’d been knocked unconscious. You’ll probably need a scan of some kind. Don’t know if they’ll need to keep you in for that.’

  ‘Not gunna happen. I’ve got work tomorrow – I’m not staying in hospital. I hate hospitals.’

  ‘Well thanks very much,’ said the nurse, breezing back into the room with a tray in her hand.

  ‘Sorry – nothing against you – I just… don’t like hospitals.’

  ‘Not many people do. I need to pop the stitches in your lip. I’ve got a local anaesthetic to inject first – it’ll take a couple of minutes to take effect. Then I’ll pop the stitches in.’ She snapped some blue gloves over her hands. ‘Open your mouth for me.’

  Toni watched as Mark complied, the nurse gently lifting his top lip and positioning a long looking needle in the gap between his lip and gum.

  ‘Sharp scratch,’ the nurse said softly, pushing the needle forward.

  Mark winced then relaxed back into the pillows.

  ‘It’ll make your speech a little slurry and your lip will be numb for a while. I’m just going to go deal with another patient and I’ll be back in a couple of minutes.’

  ‘Say the silly sausage stole a shirt,’ said Toni with a smile once the nurse had left the room.

  ‘Shilly shausage shtole a shirt,’ muttered Mark, trying to smile at how he said the words and failing miserably. His grimace made Toni smile wider.

  ‘Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Have they given you painkillers? Your nose and eyes are really swollen.’

  Mark nodded. ‘Shorry – I shound like I’ve got a lishp.’

  ‘Don’t speak then. Just lie back and wait for the nurse. I’m going to go see if I can scrounge up some coffee. I’ll be back.’

  ‘You don’t have to shtay you know. I mean if you don’t want to.’

  ‘I don’t mind staying, at least for a while. Be back in a sec.’

  Toni took a deep breath as she left the room – it was stiflingly warm in the hospital. And like Mark, she wasn’t a great fan of them herself.

  Finding the coffee machine was easy – and in no time she had a hot cup in her hand.

  He must think I’m nuts, rushing here to his side as if I have every right to be here. She took a sip of the sweet liquid, forgetting how hot machine coffee was. It burned her lip and throat as it travelled down, making her gasp.

  And yet he did look relieved to see me. Maybe I’m reading too much into it.

  Her head nodded of its own accord in agreement with her thoughts – she turned back and strode back into the emergency room with her shoulders pushed back and her head high – like she had every right to be there.

  Chapter 7

  18th December, 0020 hours – Axa nightclub, Edinburgh

  He watched Lee from a distance, not going close enough to be recognised. Not that the lad would, of course – he was far too interested in kissing the other young man at his side in Axa – the only openly gay nightclub in Edinburgh.

  ‘You like to watch do you, mate? For fifty quid I can put on a proper show for you.’

  The voice in his ear made him turn, his eyes narrowing in on the man standing off to the side behind him. With a T-shirt a size too small and a wiry frame he didn’t look threatening. He didn’t speak though – didn’t need to. One glare had the man backing away with his hands out in defence. ‘Sorry – I presumed… but no harm no foul. I’m backing off.’

  Clearly worse for the wear, the man wound his way back through the crowd towards the bar. He watched him intently as he ordered a drink, then sidled up to the bouncer standing beside the end of the bar. The man’s head gestured towards him and he knew that the bouncer would soon be coming over.

  Turning quickly, he made his way down the stairs to the main entrance and sli
pped out onto the main street.

  It wouldn’t do to get caught now. Instead he staggered across the street, pretending to be drunk in case he was picked up on any of the city cameras – and that was likely since the cameras were everywhere nowadays. His hat was low over his face, though, and he doubted very much anything identifying would be displayed. Ducking into the nearest alley, one he knew without a doubt led to a main road and a park opposite, he stood in the shadows and waited.

  Not for Lee – it was far too soon for that – but for the lad who’d grassed him up. He could understand it – gays had enough problems with gay bashers for this lad to believe he was one – but that didn’t excuse the disrespect. Disrespect was something he just couldn’t allow.

  He didn’t have to wait long – a mere twenty minutes of standing in the freezing cold. The man came out of the club and down the steps. Turning, he shouted something at the bouncer at the top of the stairs – it was in that moment he realised the man had been forcibly ejected. No one would believe a word the lad said now – about anything. Not that he’d be talking for much longer.

  He followed at a distance as the lad staggered towards the end of the street where the pizza shops were. He knew there was another alley before the shops loomed – an alley with an exit at the other end onto a back street. If he turned the corner where he was now and sprinted, he could make it to the alley before the young man got there.

  Then he’d make him understand that disrespect was something he wouldn’t tolerate.

  He picked up the pace and was in the alley in a couple of minutes. Peeking round the wall edge, he was pleased to see the lad was still a little way off, weaving around the pavement and muttering to himself.

  Now to put the act on. The lad had clearly been up for anything when he’d spoken to him in the club. All he’d have to do is turn the charm on and he just knew he’d follow him into the alley.

  Waiting until the young man was close by, he stepped into the shadows at the side of the alley, knowing that his form would be seen but that the street lights wouldn’t highlight his features.

  ‘Hey you, I was watching you in the club. Fancy a quick blowy?’

  The young man’s eyes lit up and without hesitation he stepped into the alley.

  Not giving the lad’s eyes time to adjust, he stepped further into the shadows, knowing he would follow. He grabbed the lad’s waist and turned him slowly so he faced the wall. He was compliant – more compliant than anyone with any semblance of spatial awareness should be.

  He had to stop himself stepping back in revulsion as the lad started fumbling with his belt, plainly happy with whatever was on offer. Before the man got his belt fully undone, though, he pulled his favourite knife from the sheath at his ankle and in one movement held it to the lad’s throat.

  The young man froze, his hands still on his belt. He couldn’t decide whether the lad thought he was joking or whether he’d frozen in fear. To make it clear he wasn’t joking he said, ‘You’re coming with me. I won’t hesitate to kill you so if you want to survive, do what I say.’

  The lad’s hands dropped to his sides in one movement – he understood the severity of the situation now. This was the time he had to be careful – it would be all too easy for the man to start shouting or worse, screaming like the bitch he was. He pressed the blade tighter to his throat. ‘Say one word and it’ll be the end of the road for you. Understand?’

  He felt a slight movement at his neck – indication of the lad trying to nod. He pulled a little, the sharp knife blade nicking the skin with ease, making the lad gasp loudly.

  He had no trouble manoeuvring the two of them down the alley to the back street. He held him in such a way that to anyone looking on they’d think they were a couple – one hand held his victim’s hand and the other held the knife snug to his neck. He kept them to the shadowed sides of the street, making his way to where his van was parked.

  Releasing the lad’s hand, he unlocked the van and slid the side door open. It was then that the young man started to struggle, almost as if sensing his end was near.

  The knife moved seemingly of its own accord, pressing against the softer flesh around the top of the lad’s chest where it met with his shoulder. He felt some pressure as it touched the collarbone but he pushed it harder and it sank to the hilt – the young man crying out sharply, as he withdrew the blade with a quick sweep. It was a move he used often – it incapacitated quickly and proved he meant business.

  He pushed the lad into the van, grabbed both his arms and yanked them hard behind his back, securing them with the cable ties he had tucked into the back of the driver’s chair. He winced as the lad’s foot kicked backwards and connected with his hand, sending his knife skittering across the tarmac towards the drain.

  Reacting quickly, he used his foot to stop his favourite weapon disappearing down between the bars of metal covering the drain. Swiftly retrieving it, he secured it back in its sheath and he turned his attention back to the man lying in the back of his van. Arsehole – I shouldn’t have been able to grab you as quickly or as easily as I did.

  He pushed the lad’s feet into the van hard – he didn’t react other than to grumble loudly, and the level of the lad’s intoxication became apparent. Idiot was that pissed he didn’t even realise now what was happening – that sober moment when the knife had been at his throat suddenly and happily forgotten. He probably thought he was at home tucked in his bed. He slid the door shut with a bang, hopped into the driver’s seat and pulled off from the kerb.

  18th December, 0235 hours – Edinburgh Royal Hospital, Edinburgh

  Mark had chatted with Toni for a while after the nurse had left the room. It was an easy conversation, about nothing in particular really but it was comfortable. She left to get another coffee and an orderly had arrived and whisked him away for a CT scan and he’d been waiting for the doctor to come back in with the results so he could get discharged. Toni was sure they were going to keep him in – but that wasn’t going to happen.

  He was getting antsy now and feeling closed in. The room had no windows, the air was filled with antiseptic and all he could hear was equipment clanging outside his room. Toni hadn’t come back yet – maybe she wouldn’t – he couldn’t blame her. She had no reason to stay really: they barely knew each other, not anymore anyway.

  The antiseptic scent was so strong he could taste it, though his nose was too swollen now to smell anything. He gagged, almost throwing up, and leaned backwards taking some deep breaths to try and steady himself. He really hated hospitals. It all spanned back to when his father had died, he knew. He remembered it all too clearly. The knock at the door that had his mum collapsing in a heap on the floor as she’d screamed. Alex at her side, holding her up as she sobbed. And then not too long after, the visit to the hospital.

  Not even Annie knew what had happened there. All the kids had been left in the waiting room while his mum went to view his dad’s body. He and Annie had feigned needing a toilet break, and gone for a wander, both hurting and needing to be together rather than with everyone else. It was a funny thing the twin connection. He knew Annie had felt it as keenly as him and they’d both blurted at the same time that they needed the loo.

  Except Annie really had needed to go. She walked in the door and he’d heard sobbing from a room near the toilets. Knowing instinctively it was his mum, he’d headed in that direction. She’d left the side room and he watched her walk back towards the waiting room, not noticing him through the grief and tears.

  Mark had been overcome with the absolute knowledge that he needed to see his dad. Just one more time.

  He’d pushed through into the room which was empty apart from a prone body under a sheet on the bed. Even now he remembered that cold feeling that a room has when someone’s died. His hands were shaking as he reached for the top of the sheet. Tears had started falling and for a minute he paused, too scared to see his dad in this way. One thought invaded his then-teenage brain, I bet Alex would do it
without being such a wuss.

  Steeling himself he’d tugged the sheet down in one movement.

  The scream had risen in his throat instantly, silent but deafening at the same time. Never in his life would he forget the horror that he’d seen under that sheet. His siblings had never mentioned knowing, but his dad had been shot in the face at close range. What Mark had seen was the broken, partial face that was left behind. A monster that was no longer the dad he’d known and loved. He’d backed out of the room, his fists clenched at his sides as he’d tried his best to hold it together and backed straight into Annie who’d known instantly he’d seen something terrifying. She’d done her twin duties well and truly that day, covering for him when she needed to, comforting him when the nightmares had started.

  Now as a grown-up, he still associated that horrified feeling with hospitals. Just the smell alone would set him off. The only thing that had made him stay this long was the fact that his injuries were severe enough to warrant all the scans, and that Toni had turned up. For some reason he found her to be quite a calming influence. That and you fancy the arse off her. Mark frowned at his thoughts, then had the grace to try and hide the guilty apologetic look as Toni pushed open the door and walked back inside.

  ‘Uh oh. What’s that look for? What did you do?’

  Startled he realised he hadn’t managed to hide it as well as he’d thought. ‘Just thinking about leaving now and not waiting to speak to the doc. Thought you were him coming back in.’ He tried to smile and felt the stitches in his lip pull and twinge slightly. Guess the anaesthetic is wearing off.

  ‘Ahh. Not a chance. You need to stay and hear what the doc says. No good leaving then collapsing in an hour, is it?’

  ‘Now that’s good advice,’ said the doctor approaching from behind Tony. ‘Mr McKay, how are you feeling now? Apart from eager to leave this wonderful establishment.’ His tone was wry and Mark knew he was keeping things light.