by Simon Clark
‘No … use your noses.’ She sniffed. ‘That’s engine oil and filth … you even get that greasy hair smell.’
Fisher breathed in through his nostrils. ‘I can smell it. You know, someone in need of a shower.’
Adam seemed to wake from his trance. ‘Shit, you bastards. That’s my girlfriend lying through there … and you bastards are talking about body odour.’
‘It’s important, Adam,’ she said gently. ‘We’ve smelt this before.’
Fisher nodded. ‘The guy in the woods.’
‘Cantley,’ she said. ‘When Cantley got close to me this is how he smelt.’
In a quieter voice, Fabian said, ‘Then Cantley’s here. In the house.’
Adam lunged for the stairs. Fabian grabbed him.
A howl rose from Adam. ‘Let go of me.’
‘No. Adam … no! Stay here!’
‘I’m going to rip the bastard apart.’
‘Adam, no! He’s armed.’
‘Get off me!’
‘You saw what he did to Belle. We don’t know what caused that. A knife, a gun.’
‘Adam. Fabian’s right.’ Josanne tried to soothe him. ‘Come back to the kitchen; we’ve got to talk about this.’
At last Adam consented to be led away. Josanne walked with her arm around him.
Fisher realized it was high time they brought the police to The Tower. The question was how?
Cantley didn’t waste breath trying to coax the dog from whatever room it had scurried into. The dog hated him. It wouldn’t be fooled by cajoling. Not that it was Cantley’s style either. He preferred the knife to solve his problems. Now, the dog was the first problem to be solved. Then the blade would deal with the rest of those trespassers downstairs. Cantley stood in the doorway should the dog decide to dash for the stairs. It was so gloomy in the room he could barely make out the clutter of discarded furniture, old mattresses and cardboard cartons.
‘Dog,’ he hissed. ‘I’m going to kill you, dog.’ Cantley listened. Either his threat had gone unheard or the mutt remained perfectly still. Damn the thing. It had cunning, that’s for sure. He moved on to the next room. In the darkness he could just make out dozens of old paint cans stacked one on top of another. Looked like a decorating job that had never been completed. This time he tried the light switch. It clicked, only the light refused to come. The developer must have cut the power to the upper storeys. No worries. He’d still find the dog. Come hell or high-water.
They assembled in the kitchen.
‘I’ll stay at the door,’ Marko told them. ‘We don’t want the lunatic taking us by surprise.’
Fisher said, ‘See anything, you shout, OK?’
‘I’ll shout all right,’ he said, grim-faced.
Adam yanked the cutlery drawer and tipped it on to the counter. This guy was ready to spill blood.
Fabian said, ‘Choose a weapon you think you can handle. Don’t take anything that’s likely to do more harm to you than to him. Be careful of knives. If you have to use it on him slash rather than stab. If you stab, your hands are apt to slip from the handle and you’ll end up carving your own fingers on the blade.’ He followed his own advice. A hammer lay on a shelf. He chose that. Adam grabbed a carving knife then headed back to the door. The light in his eye was murderous. He was out for revenge.
Josanne called to him, ‘Adam, wait until everyone’s got a weapon.’
‘I’m killing the rat – that’s all there is to it.’
Fabian held up his hand. ‘Don’t rush this. We don’t know what he’s armed himself with: It might be a gun.’
‘We didn’t hear any shots,’ Marko pointed out.
‘That’s good enough for me,’ Adam said.
‘No. Wait. There’s something else,’ Fisher told him. ‘Adam … wait just a minute.’
‘Why? So he can get away?’
‘No.’ Fisher’s heart beat hard in his chest as he looked at their drawn faces. Belle’s death had hit them hard. Now he had to go and hit them even harder. Only this time it was with the truth. ‘Take a minute to listen to me. Marko? Can you hear me?’
Marko leaned back through the door. ‘I hear you.’
‘Good, because there’s certain facts we’ve got understand here. Belle saw what would happen to her—’
Adam snarled, ‘You bastard, not this.’
‘When she fell asleep in the car—’ Fisher pushed on regardless. ‘When she fell asleep in the car she dreamt that she was stabbed to death by a man who she described: scruffy, messy hair, a scar on his forehead. Adam, don’t walk away. She was describing Cantley.’
Fabian spoke through gritted teeth. ‘Save the philosophical discussions for later, Fisher.’
‘This isn’t philosophy. I’m talking about us surviving. Listen. Kym described how she’d had a nightmare where this machine came down on her with a spike. It went straight through her chest. She told me she really believed she’d died. When it happened she heard the clock chiming.’
Josanne spoke in flat voice. ‘When I was drowning in the cellar … nearly drowning. I heard the chimes, too.’
‘The guy I met on the runway.’ Fisher forced himself to speak clearly. ‘Blaxton explained how this worked. I told you in the ballroom. Now I’m telling you again. People who stay in this house have a dream, or some kind of hallucination. They’re given a vision of their own death. It’s accompanied by the sound of the clock chimes. They wake up. They say, Thank God, it was only a nightmare. Then later – whether hours or years later – shazzam! The vision becomes reality. They die just like they saw in the dream. They die hearing the chimes.’ Fisher’s heart thudded. A bead of perspiration crawled down his face. They’d listened to him. Great God in Heaven, they’d listened.
‘But I beat the house,’ Josanne said at last. ‘I was trapped in the cellar. It was full of water. I heard the chimes. But I got out.’
‘Fisher got you out,’ Marko told her, as he leaned back through the door. ‘He saved you.’
Sterling rubbed his jaw. ‘Does that break the curse? If someone else rescues you?’
Fisher shook his head. ‘I don’t know. All I do know is the sequence of the Death Dream as Blaxton called it. That you’re hit with the vision. Then it happens.’ A stillness settled on everyone in the room. ‘I don’t know why it happens. Evil doesn’t always have a motive. People grow up with the idea that Satan is this guy with a pitchfork; that he’s always plotting his evil acts. But I think of evil as being as intelligent as an earthquake, or a famine that wipes out ten thousand people. Evil is a blind, mindless force that drifts along until it happens across an opportunity to hurt you. If I stick my neck out here, I’d say there’s a force connected to this house. It’s conducted through the walls like electricity runs through a wire. It’s found some quality in us that it can use … or it needs. Whether it’s fear, or even the terror of us dying a violent death – who knows? But a long time ago, hundreds or thousands of years ago, it hit upon a process where it can harvest from us this ingredient that it wants.’ The effort to relay his thoughts dried his mouth so much it felt like he’d bitten into a handful of dust.
A breeze stirred the bushes outside. Branches hissed as if some enormous presence released a heartfelt sigh. The breeze quickened. It elicited a thin sounding cry as it ran through gaps in the window frame. Suddenly the room grew cold. A deep shudder ran through Josanne.
Fisher licked his dry lips. ‘The question that is important to our survival is this: Who else has dreamt their own death?’ He looked round. The faces were grim.
Josanne spoke first. ‘For me it was water. I dreamt my room was flooded. OK, the setting turned out to be different, but it was still a deluge of stinking swamp water.’
Fisher added his own experience as a prompt. ‘I saw the walls and the ceiling close in to crush me. Anyone else?’
Sterling said, ‘I dreamt I had something in my mouth. I couldn’t breathe. What it was I don’t know, but I remember knowing in the dream that I blacked out then I died
.’
‘You heard chimes?’
‘Yes, I heard the bloody chimes.’
Marko grunted as he stood there in the doorway. ‘For me it was burning. No details. Just fire. Lots of pain. Yeah, the chimes went with it, too.’
Adam blinked as if images flickered before his eyes. ‘Tonight when I went to bed … The moment I closed my eyes I was convinced that I was suspended in darkness. Like I was floating out in space.’
Fisher turned to Fabian. ‘What did you see?’
‘Nothing.’
‘You’ve not had the dream?’
‘No. Maybe this old house doesn’t see anything inside me it wants.’ He gave a grim smile. ‘Story of my life, huh?’
Sterling watched Fabian’s face as if trying to assess if the man told the truth. ‘Then maybe you’re the only one of us who’s immune?’
‘Maybe.’
The breeze hissed through the bushes again. This time a sinister sound. After this long night there was an impression that close by something was stirring.
Marko spoke up. ‘Best take a look at this.’
Adam gripped the knife so tightly his knuckles whitened. ‘He’s there?’
Marko stepped through the door with the words. ‘Grab your weapons. We might need them.’
Fabian had the hammer. The others chose sharp kitchen knives, while Fisher picked up a screwdriver that tapered to a lethal point. He handed Sterling a flashlight and chose one for himself.
‘Easy now,’ Marko told them, as they moved from the kitchen into the corridor. ‘Don’t startle him.’
They looked in the direction Marko pointed. There, in the entrance hall at the end of the corridor, they saw Jak. He stood at the bottom of the stairs poised ready to attack.
‘Jak’s pointing the way for us,’ Marko whispered. ‘Let’s go find our man.’
CHAPTER 33
Blast the dog. He’d slice its throat open then watch it slowly bleed. He’d gloat over the animal’s death throes. Damn it. Damn, damn, damn. These hot, poisonous thoughts spurted through Cantley’s mind as he shuffled to where the stairs opened out onto the fifth floor at the top of the tower. He’d thought he’d blocked the dog’s escape. Yet as he walked into the last room on this floor – the only room where the dog could still be hiding – it darted through the legs of a bunch of old chairs that had been stored there. Cantley had furiously slashed at the mutt’s head with his knife.
The dog moved like a black ghost. It was swift, silent. It could run almost in a crouch so its body skimmed the floor. And once more the only thing the blade cut was air. Hell, he hated the animal. At school, years ago, he’d seen photographs of the black jackal that guarded Tutankhamun’s tomb. This dog looked exactly like it. He remembered the way it lay on its belly outside the coffin chamber, with its head upright, the ears pricked, its eyes always watchful. Now that supernatural jackal appeared to have moved into The Tower with those kids. He didn’t fear them. Not for one bloody minute. But the dog? That was another matter. It didn’t even seem to be made out of fur and bone. The damn thing was a spirit.
One of the pains returned. It felt like a long thin needle being slowly inserted into his eyeball. He winced. Before the night was out he’d have to complete his deal with the house. The lives of everyone here for the rest of his life without pain. He moved closer to the staircase. He half-expected the dog to rush back up to attack him. Then we’ll see who’s a spirit dog or not, he thought, as he tightened his grip on the knife. Do spirits bleed? Let’s find out, shall we, boys and girls?
What he saw made him flinch back. Coming slowly, but purposefully, up the stairs were the trespassers. He counted five guys and a girl. Some carried flashlights that they used to dispel the darkness in front of him. He didn’t fail to notice that they’d armed themselves with knives and hammers. One on one they wouldn’t be a problem. But six of them? What’s more the dog led the way.
He heard the girl’s voice echo up the staircase. ‘There. You can smell it again. Stale sweat. Motor oil. That’s Cantley.’
Another said, ‘Remember what he did to Belle. When I get hold of him nobody stop me from ripping his head off, OK?’
Cantley murmured to himself, ‘So you’ve figured it out, eh? You know it was me.’ His voice came as a faint whisper. But he’d barely finished speaking when the dog’s head jerked up. Its amber eyes locked on his. Don’t believe for a moment dogs are handicapped by poor eyesight. The animal saw him all right even though it was still three floors below him. It immediately unleashed a volley of savage barks. They sounded as loud as gunfire echoing up the grand sweep of the staircase. In a second, the kids had their flashlights locked onto him. Cantley scowled against the glare.
The woman shouted, ‘See him! Right at the top of the stairs!’
They moved faster now. The brilliant lights were trained on him. Another disadvantage. He was too dazzled to see his enemy properly. From the sound of the eager barks the dog raced toward him.
Fisher ran upstairs behind the dog. The others were close behind him.
Marko called out, ‘Jak … Jak! Stay with us, boy.’
The dog held formation with his human pack. He knew better than to rush ahead alone. Fisher’s heart beat hard. It wasn’t purely exertion, it was the excitement of the manhunt. Something primeval flared up inside of him. From the way Adam’s eyes blazed he guessed Belle’s death wouldn’t be the only one tonight. Adam lusted for revenge. So be it …
When they reached the final flight of stairs they slowed to approach it more warily. Jak stopped dead to raise one paw, so it was tucked back into his body as he leaned forward, staring in the direction of where Cantley must be hiding. The classic ‘pointer’ response of a dog. For the moment he was showing the way rather than attacking.
‘OK, nice and easy,’ Fabian said. ‘Make sure he doesn’t have a gun before you make a move on him.’
As they climbed the remaining steps to the top floor a cold breeze reached them.
Josanne hissed, ‘Feel that draught. He’s opened a window.’
‘I hope the bastard falls,’ Sterling said with feeling.
Adam grunted, ‘He better not. I want him to suffer.’ He dashed toward the room from where the cold air flowed. Fisher followed with the flashlight held high so he could direct the beams over Adam’s shoulder. What they did see was that the sash window yawned wide open. Cold air gushed through the aperture as if the house sucked oxygen into its stone lungs. Fisher made it to the window the same time as Adam.
‘There’s a fire escape,’ Fisher called back. ‘He’s gone.’
Adam began to climb out through the window. Fisher grabbed his arm. ‘You’re not going to catch him that way.’
Adam shrugged himself free. ‘We’ll follow the dog. He’ll find him for us.’
‘We need to get the other flashlights,’ Marko told them. ‘Everyone needs one.’
‘And see if there’s any rope. We might need to tie him up.’
Adam spoke with a dark passion, ‘After I’ve finished with him he won’t need tying up.’
‘No!’ Josanne stood in the doorway to block their exit. ‘Listen. Nobody’s chasing after Cantley.’
‘You think we should let him get away? Did you see what he did to Belle?’
‘I know what he did.’ Josanne stood her ground. ‘No, don’t push by me, Adam. Stop … you’ve got to listen to this. OK, we took Cantley by surprise. From what I saw he didn’t have a gun. But if he has access to one that’s where he’ll be going now.’
‘He doesn’t frighten me.’ Adam was so revved up he was ready to rip Cantley’s face from his skull.
‘I know,’ Josanne told him, ‘but that doesn’t alter the fact that if he has a gun then one or more of us will wind up being shot.’
Adam’s veins stood out in his neck. ‘Let him try.’
Fabian nodded. ‘Josanne’s got a point, Adam. It’d be crazy to take on the guy with a firearm.’
Adam kept his jaw clenched. H
e didn’t want to hear this.
Sterling sighed, as if logic had now got the upper hand over the passion for revenge. ‘She’s right, and we all know it. Cantley’s on home ground. He’s got the advantage.’
Fisher sensed that bloodlust fade into thin air. ‘All we’ve got are kitchen knives and a hammer. Cantley could pick us off one by one.’
‘It’s got to be the police,’ Fabian told them. ‘They’ll handle this.’
Adam rubbed his forehead. ‘Haven’t we been through this before? We’ve no phones. Cell phones can’t pick up a signal. Roads are flooded.’
‘All of them won’t be flooded. We’ll find a way through somehow.’ Josanne squeezed Adam’s forearm gently. ‘Listen, we’ll find a phone this time. We’ll call the police. They’ll soon have Cantley.’
‘We can take Belle with us, can’t we?’
Fabian shook his head. ‘We can’t, Adam. We have to leave her exactly where she is. The police have got to … you know …’
‘Yeah, sure.’ Adam sounded beaten now. The girl he loved lay dead in a pool of her own blood. The poor guy couldn’t even cover her face.
‘OK.’ Marko’s voice was gentle. ‘What’s the plan now?’
Fisher expected Fabian to speak first but the guy seemed to have something else on his mind. Fisher decided to take the lead: ‘First we make sure we don’t split up. We stay together at all times. We collect the keys to the van. You’ve got them in your room haven’t you, Sterling?’
Sterling nodded.
Fisher continued, ‘Then we all get in the van. We drive out of here. OK?’
Adam’s voice was shaky now. ‘I … It’s best if I stay here. Someone should be with Belle …’
‘I’m sorry, Adam. We all go. If Cantley returns with a gun … you know what I mean?’
Adam gave a single nod of his head. His eyes bled a naked pain.
‘All right. Everyone ready?’ Fisher looked at each in turn as they muttered an affirmative. ‘Keep the flashlights ready. Cantley shouldn’t have had time to grab a gun yet …’ His voice adopted a grimmer tone. ‘But I wouldn’t want to stake my life on it.’
