From The Shadows (Blaze series Book 1)

by David Carter

  Blaze stopped the car.

  “We’re here,” he said sadistically.

  He left the headlights on and stepped out into the storm. He looked skyward, embracing the feeling of a thousand pins and needles pricking his face all at once. That tingling, almost spiritual, feeling he’d experienced the night he’d burnt down St Mary’s returned, sending shivers through his entire body, injecting him with a vital shot of energy he needed to complete his final task.

  He retrieved the nail gun, then the two planks of wood sticking out of the car window. Father Meyer looked frightened as he took note of his actions.

  “What are you doing?” he asked warily.

  Blaze smirked as he answered, “Giving you a fitting farewell, fuckface.”

  Blaze used the nail gun to join the two pieces of wood together. He then used the shovel to dig a deep, narrow hole and he didn’t notice the pain from his wounds even once. He threw the shovel on the ground and wrenched Angela’s rear door open. Father Meyer tried to resist as he dragged his bloodied body out into the rain, but it was to no avail; his blood loss levels were near critical. Blaze laid him down on his crude construction.

  “No! Please!” cried Father Meyer, terrified at the thought of being crucified.

  Blaze picked up the shovel and clobbered his kneecaps, shattering them from the vicious blows. He then wrenched out his knife from Father Meyer’s genitals. The storm drowned out Father Meyer’s shrieks for help. Blaze threw the shovel to one side and retrieved the nail gun. He crouched over Father Meyer’s trembling body.

  “I’ve dreamed of this moment for a fucking long time,” he said coldly. “I just want you to know how much I’m going to enjoy it.”

  He placed the nozzle of the nail gun over the palm of Father Meyer’s hand and pulled the trigger. His screams were deafening, even over the rain and thunder as the nail drove through the flesh and bone and bit into the wood beneath.

  “Let’s even things up a bit, shall we?” He drove a second nail through his other hand.

  Father Meyer convulsed and cried out to God as Blaze mercilessly punched numerous holes through his arms and legs in a burst of pleasurable rage. Blaze dropped the nail gun, and with his remaining strength, heaved the cross up on its end and dropped it into the hole he’d dug at Father Meyer’s feet. Using the shovel, he backfilled the hole, then used it to brace the cross upright. “We don’t want you falling over backwards now, do we?” he snickered.

  Father Meyer started the pray. He hoarsely whispered, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name—”

  “Shut the fuck up!” shouted Blaze. He picked up the nail gun and fired it at him.

  Father Meyer grimaced as the nail punctured his abdomen, but continued his prayer, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done—” Blaze fired another nail. “On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors—”

  He cried out it agony as Blaze doubled tapped two nails into his chest, then reached inside Angela for the gasoline canister and barbecue lighter. I’ll show you just how fucking forgiving I can be.

  Father Meyer continued. “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil…”

  Blaze opened the canister and doused Father Meyer with its contents.

  “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever...”

  “Amen, motherfucker,” said Blaze as he ignited the lighter and ruthlessly tossed it at him. He felt the warmth on his face as he wearily leaned back against Angela, relieved, free from his nightmares at last, savouring his tormentor’s screams as the flames devoured him like a pack of starving lions.

  Chapter 74

  “Hello? Hello?” said Hampton as he answered the mysterious call on his cell phone.

  He could hear only the sound of heavy breathing on the other end of the line.

  “Blaze? Is that you? Are you hurt? he asked.

  “Tell Ryan it’s over.” Blaze grimaced. “And that I want my freedom as promised.”

  He went to hang up, but Hampton quickly asked him, “Where are you? Are you okay?”

  “I’m stitching myself up down at the station.”

  “Is it anything serious? You should come to the hospital with the rest of us.”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “All right, if you’re sure.” He paused, then asked, “Should I even ask what you did with Father Meyer’s body?”

  He hesitated a moment, then replied, “Let’s just say I scattered his ashes somewhere appropriate.”

  Good Lord, thought Hampton in dismay.

  “You will have your freedom, Blaze, I can assure you of that, but only after we’ve dotted a few i’s and crossed a few t’s with the Department of Corrections. And you may have to answer a few questions when Ryan gives a statement to the press; they’ll be all over this when word gets out.”

  Blaze winced as he doused the wound on his ribcage with antiseptic cream.

  “Are you fucking serious?” he demanded. “I ain’t going on TV!”

  “Do you want your freedom or not?”

  “Not that badly...”

  “Blaze...”

  He sighed in disbelief. “Fine; whatever it takes to get out of this hick town.”

  Elizabeth and Danny walked into the waiting area after going to the staffroom for coffee.

  “I’ve got a call for you, Elizabeth,” Hampton said to her and handed her the phone.

  Her heart raced in the hope it was Blaze. “Bobby? Is that you?” she asked anxiously.

  “Yeah, Mum, it’s me.”

  Tears streamed from her eyes at the sound of his voice. “Oh, Bobby! You stupid, stubborn boy! Thank God you’re okay!”

  He secretly smiled to himself. “How are the others?”

  “They’re both shaken up but they’ll pull through; they’re both as stubborn as you are. You should come see them if you’re up to it? I know they want to thank you for what you did.”

  “I’ll swing by in the morning. I’m not in the best shape right now.”

  “Are you all right? Do you need company? I can come to you if you’d prefer?”

  “No, I’m fine, honestly. You should be there for Sharon.”

  “All right,” she replied. She saw the look on Danny’s face as he, too, eagerly wished to speak with him. “I’ll see you in the morning, Bobby; Danny wants a word with you.” She handed him the phone.

  “You still in one piece, man?” he asked.

  Blaze grinned. “Pack your bags, Danny boy, we’re finally getting outta this shithole.”

  “Thank fuck for that. Where are we going?”

  “It’s my turn to help you deal with your past. We’re heading to Summit Lake. I hear it’s to die for.”

  “Are you sure? We could just leave it alone and see where the road takes us? Might be nice to be normal for a change.”

  “You’d be bored in five fucking minutes. And besides; I don’t do normal.”

  Danny sighed. “So how are we getting there?”

  “Well, my Mustang’s still locked up at the impound from the night I burned down the school. How about we ride in style?”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  “We just have to make one stop along the way...”

  “Yeah? Where?”

  “In Worthington. I’m going to go pay my dear grandparents a visit.”

  “You mean, the Bowmans?”

  “Damn right. I need a picture of my father so I at least know what the fucker looks like if I ever track him down.”

  “Should make for an interesting trip...”

  Blaze paused, then said, “Have you woken up yet?”

  “Woken up from what?”

  “Do you remember what you said to me back in The Wolves’ Den, that riding with me could only ever be a pipe dream?”

  “Yeah, I remember...”

  “Well, you better fucking brace yourself, Danny boy, because this is the real thing. Now it’s just yo
u, me, and the road, brother.”

  Epilogue

  The lone rider rolled into town after changing down through the gears of his Harley Davidson motorcycle after his four-hour journey from Brighton. With the dire need for a smoke and a cold beverage, the sight of the countryside melding into the outskirts of a small town with a pub on the main street was a welcoming sight.

  He pulled up and parked his bike outside The Greasy Axle, then lit up a cigarette. He took a long, slow drag, relishing its calming effects as a pretty young waitress came outside to serve him at the table he’d just occupied.

  “Can I get you something to drink?” she asked him.

  “Beer, thanks, sweetheart,” he replied with a sleazy grin, and blew out his lungful of smoke.

  She feigned a smile, feeling a little intimidated by the tall, strongly built biker with a tattoo of a red back spider on his right hand. When she returned with his beer, she cringed at the image on the back of his worn black leather vest; of a skeleton nailed to a cross, engulfed in flames, beneath the words: SINNERS & SCARECROWS.

  As she turned to go back inside, the biker stopped her, and asked, “Say, would you be able help me find a friend of mine around here?”

  Nervously, she replied. “I’ll do my best. What’s his name?”

  He blew out another cloud of smoke. “He goes by the name Blaze.”

  Her face lit up with a smile.

  “You know him?” he asked.

  “You mean the guy on the news yesterday?”

  “Yeah, that’s the one.”

  “He’s probably down at the police station.”

  “Shit, is he in trouble already?”

  “No, nothing like that.” She smiled. “He’s actually a bit of a hero around here. His name’s been cleared as a reward for his assistance in the capture of the Watcher. He’s been living in one of the cells at the station with his friend, Danny. They come in here almost every day for breakfast.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate your help.” He picked up his beer.

  “But you had better get moving,” she continued. “I overheard them talking about leaving town this afternoon while they were in here this morning.”

  He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray on his table. He pulled out a roll of one hundred dollar bills from his pants pocket and peeled one off. “Where can I find the police station?” he asked.

  She pointed to the far end of the main street. “Just carry on down there and take the last street on the left before you leave town. You can’t miss it.”

  He handed the money to the young waitress. “Thanks again, love,” he said with a grin.

  He drained his beer and straddled his Harley, before firing the engine into life and roaring down the main street.

  “I’m glad Sharon’s making a steady recovery,” Blaze said to Danny as they loaded their bags and supplies, mainly consisting of whisky and junk food, into the back seat of his metallic blue vintage Ford Mustang.

  “Yeah, me too,” Danny replied. “She’s as strong as she is sexy.” He grinned.

  “And I think it’s cool how Ryan pulled some strings for Frankie; he’ll make a good constable for this town. I’m gonna miss that crazy-ass detective.”

  “I bet he doesn’t miss you, though.” Danny laughed. “Especially after all those one-word answers you gave at the press conference!”

  Blaze laughed with him, then froze as he heard something in the distance. “Can you hear that?” he asked Danny.

  “Hear what?”

  “That beautiful sound...”

  Danny turned around and heard the motorcycle’s engine growling louder as it turned onto their street and approached them.

  “Holy shit! It’s Spider!” exclaimed Blaze as the bike pulled up next to them. He beamed as Spider pulled off his helmet and gloves, and dismounted his Harley.

  “Blaze! My brother!” Spider greeted him with a full embrace. “I’d figured you were either dead or skipped the country till I saw you on the news! What the fuck are you doing hiding out in this shithole?”

  Blaze sighed. “It’s a long story, brother. But first, I’d like you to meet someone.” He introduced Danny with a summary of how they’d met.

  “You know, we could use a guy like you in the SAS,” said Spider, “to keep this hothead over here under control from time to time.”

  Blaze playfully jabbed him in the ribs, and said, “So what brings you to this neck of the woods?”

  Spider’s smile vanished. “There’s been some new developments concerning the Lombardi Family business.”

  “Such as?”

  Spider exhaled heavily. “Mr Lombardi has hooked up with some rich asshole in a new business venture. I don’t know who he is, or where he suddenly came from, but I have to admit; he scares the living shit outta me.”

  “So why are you here telling me this? I can’t go back to Brighton! The Lombardis will kill me on sight!”

  “That’s why I’m here. After Mr Lombardi and his business associate saw you on the news, I was sent to give you this.” He produced a cell phone from his pocket. “Just ring the number on it.”

  It couldn’t be him, thought Blaze. It’s just a coincidence.

  “Who gave you this?” he demanded. “Mr Lombardi?”

  “No, the man he’s gone into business with.”

  Shit. “And Mr Lombardi’s okay with this?”

  “Mr Lombardi said they’ve known each other for years. I didn’t fancy getting shot so I didn’t ask any questions, but they both told me to tell you that it’s in your best interests to make the call. You have until tomorrow morning.”

  “Or what?”

  “I don’t know. But if I had to guess, something real fucking bad.”

  Blaze powered up the cell phone and made the call.

  The call was answered on the third ring.

  “Who the fuck are you and what the fuck do you want?” Blaze swore into the phone.

  The man on the other end of the line sat behind his office desk, casually leaning back in his comfortable leather chair, polishing his glasses as he spoke to Blaze on speaker phone. “My dear Bobby, what a pleasure it is to speak with you again. I saw on the news that you’ve been up to your usual tricks.”

  “What the fuck do you want, asshole?”

  Archer smiled smugly to himself. “I believe I have something that belongs to you, courtesy of Mr Lombardi. And if you ever want it back in one piece, you had better listen carefully...”

  “What could you possibly have of mine that would make me ever want to do anything for you?”

  Archer motioned for Francois to bring in the prisoner, then said to Blaze, “Mr Lombardi and I have been acquainted for many years, Bobby. He rules the north, and I rule the central region. We have always been peaceful business neighbours. But times are changing, Bobby, and there are always new markets to explore.”

  “Get to the point, asshole.”

  “Very well. We’re combining our assets, and after learning you were formerly employed by Mr Lombardi, and have many skills and talents required for our line of work, we have mutually agreed to offer you your old position back.”

  “You want me to work for you?”

  “That’s right. The past will remain buried; all debts have been paid. You and your crew will be rewarded handsomely under our new organisation. You can even bring Danny aboard. I assume you two are still in contact?”

  “I’d rather eat my own shit than work for you or that Italian dwarf again. You hear me? You can both go and fuck yourselves!”

  “I’m disappointed to hear that, Bobby. We could accomplish something great if we could just work together. I really hoped you would agree of your own accord, as now I’m going to have to resort to violence to motivate you.”

  Francois forced the prisoner down on her knees and held a pistol to her head. “Last chance, Bobby, or Francois will put a bullet through her pretty face.”

  “Whose face?”

  Archer nodded his approval for the p
risoner to speak. “Blaze, it’s me! Please do whatever he says! He’s holding a gun to my head!”

  His heart almost stopped beating as he heard her voice. “Zoe? You’re still alive?”

  “Concede, join my empire, and your girl lives,” said Archer. “You have three seconds to decide. One– two—”

  “I concede!” Blaze screamed into the phone. “Don’t you lay a fucking hand on her!”

  “Very well.” Archer smirked. “I expect to see both you and your lover-boy, Danny, here by noon tomorrow. Spider will show you where to go.”

  “If there’s so much as a strand of her hair missing I’m going to blow your fucking head off, Archer! Do you hear me!” Blaze seethed. “I’ll fucking kill you!”

  “You have my word, Bobby. We’re on the same team now. No harm will come to her. You will be free to be together.”

  There was a moment’s silence between them until Archer smugly said, “So, Bobby, until noon tomorrow?”

  He exhaled heavily into the phone, his pride at an all-time low as he replied, “Until noon tomorrow, asshole.”

  To be continued…

  ***

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