It's Only the End of the World

by J. A. Henderson

  “Why not?”

  “The longer they’re in the vehicle, the more chance of being noticed by a police helicopter.” He tapped the map. “They’ve got a safe house somewhere around here.”

  “Still a big area,” Victor snorted. “They could be in any village or farmhouse.”

  “It’ll be an isolated building,” Hill continued. “Villages are close-knit communities. Soon get suspicious of a couple of kids moving in with no sign of their parents. But it’ll be near a village. Out in the sticks there would be no internet connection for Frankie to use.”

  “Getting interesting.” Candy-Anne opened one eye.

  “I am checking which villages in the region have good broadband.” Markus hit the keyboard and eight blue lights sprang to life on the map. “Kirknewton, Balerno, East Calder, West Calder, Polbeth, Bellbowrie, Stoneyburn and Tarbrax.”

  “That’s still a lot of ground to cover.” Victor folded his arms. “It’ll take a while to scope them all out.”

  “Let me try something.” Markus began to type again. “I will enter these names and see if I can come up with any anomalies.” He coughed disdainfully. “Frankie is not the only one who can use algorithms.”

  Victor and Hill leaned over his shoulder, bristling with impatience.

  “Ha! I have a radio recording from a taxi operator talking to his controller,” Markus said triumphantly. “Some fellow got picked up from a petrol station on the same road as the van was travelling. The cab driver was laughing about him wanting to go to Bellbowrie but not seeming to know the address.”

  “So, he’s drunk or an idiot,” Victor’s exasperation was obvious. “Doesn’t mean anything.”

  “It is still worth a try.” Markus bent over the keyboard. “The petrol station has a security camera that I am now accessing. It won’t cover the road but it may spot something.”

  A grainy image appeared of a man walking onto the forecourt, throwing something in a bin and making a call.

  “See. Where is his car?”

  “It must have broken down.” Victor slapped his head. “Stop wasting our time.”

  “Prepare to eat your words.” Markus froze the frame on the man’s face. “Take a good look.”

  Candy-Anne opened her other eye. “Handsome chap.”

  “Now. Here is a mug shot of one of the escaped prisoners.” An image came up on the screen. “Scotty Primo.”

  “It’s the same guy!” Victor grinned.

  “My guess is the kids ditched him and he was not pleased about it,” Markus said smugly. “He figured out roughly where they were going and followed.”

  “Get transport ready,” Victor commanded. “We’re heading for Bellbowrie.”

  “Why would they dump Primo in the middle of nowhere?” Candy-Anne asked. “After going to all the trouble to break him out?”

  “Perhaps they needed him to help free the other prisoner,” Markus suggested. “The one they really wanted. They got rid of the dead weight once he had served his purpose.”

  “Who’s the other inmate?”

  “Tadeusz Tietze,” the hacker announced. “Better known as the White Spider.”

  Victor picked up the intercom on his desk. “Mrs Magdalene? We’ve found them.”

  “Excellent.” The vice president’s voice crackled back. “What do you need?”

  “I want four vehicles to accompany us. Twenty men. Heavily armed.”

  “Isn’t that overkill?” Candy-Anne looked at Victor quizzically. “We’re up against two children. Even if this White Spider is with them, it shouldn’t be a major setback.”

  “Twenty men, heavily armed,” Victor repeated. “The best you have.”

  “I’ve been waiting for your call. I’ll have them ready in ten minutes.”

  “I agree with Candy-Anne,” Hill said warily. “Do you know something about the White Spider we don’t?”

  “No harm in being cautious.” Victor put his hands behind his back, so his companions couldn’t see them shaking. “If they have a stone-cold killer with them, it’s best to be prepared.”

  His team could see the logic in that.

  “We’ll come in over the fields in case the road leading to the safe house is trip-wired.” Victor checked his pistol. “Fetch that nasty big doggie and let’s move out.”

  27

  Daffodil sat on the floor eating Jaffa Cakes and drinking Coke, while Frankie played salsa music through his computer speakers. Charlie was hunched miserably on the couch, shoulders slumped.

  “Here’s to the Chazmeister.” Daffodil took a swig and belched loudly. “That was a pretty extraordinary scheme, even if it didn’t work out like we wanted.”

  “That’s an understatement,” the boy moped. “It was an absolute disaster.”

  “I know you’re upset but I couldn’t let the Spider hijack our van on some isolated country lane. None of the scenarios stemming from that looked good for your survival.”

  Charlie was silent, staring at the ground.

  “I might have hurt you, Mac,” he said finally.

  “That was the serum, Chaz,” Daffodil replied soothingly. “You’re a big softie, really.”

  But she didn’t sound entirely sure.

  “All the same, we’re back to square one.” The boy looked forlorn. “In fact, we made things worse. Now there’s a maniac running around the countryside.”

  “Your job was to break him out and you did that. I’m entirely to blame.”

  “Besides, the Spider isn’t going to chuck his micro-chipped ID away,” Daffodil reassured him. “I bet Frankie is monitoring him right now.” She glanced at the screen. “Ain’t that right?”

  “I’m keeping a very careful eye on the Spider’s whereabouts, yes.”

  “Then we have to call the police,” Charlie said decisively. “We don’t want him murdering some family in their beds just so he has somewhere to hole up.”

  “Oh, he’s not going to do anything stupid. The man is a master at hiding and if he kills anyone it’ll turn the search for an escaped prisoner into a nationwide manhunt. He’s way too smart for that, trust me.”

  “It still don’t help us, though.” Daffodil finished off another Jaffa Cake. “How do we take on Manticorps without him?”

  “I guess that’s up to me.” Charlie patted his thighs fretfully. “Frankie? Tomorrow I want you to give me every bit of information you have on their headquarters. How many men. What kind of defences. I need to formulate a plan of attack.”

  “Then you better give that big brain of yours some rest.” A picture of a pillow filled the computer screen. “Beddy-bye time. You too, young lady.”

  “You ain’t the boss of me.” Daffodil screwed up her face.

  “Technically I am.”

  “But I’m not tired.” She leapt to her feet. “Who wants a game of charades?”

  “I’m not really in the mood, Mac.” Charlie rubbed his face wearily. “Anyway, Frankie will win every time.”

  “Got that right. Maybe one go, just to prove you don’t mess with the best.”

  “That’s the ticket!” Daffodil mimed swimming. “I’m a book but also a fish.”

  “Moby Dick,” Charlie said flatly.

  “Dead right! He beat you, Frankie!”

  “Moby Dick is a whale, and whales are mammals. I demand another go.”

  “Sore loser.” The boy got up and headed listlessly for the door. “Night, both of you. I have another plan to come up with.”

  *

  Charlie woke with a start. It was bitterly cold in his room and the clock read 10.00 p.m. As he snuggled under the covers, trying to get warm, he heard a faint snigger from inside the cupboard.

  “All right, Daffodil. You’re not tired. I get it.” He struggled out of bed, rubbing sleep from his eyes. “But this prank is getting really annoying.” He went to the open window, pushing apart the flapping curtains, and looked down. Sure enough, there was a drainpipe right outside. “What do you expect me to do? Sing you a lullaby?�
� He closed the window, then walked over to the cupboard, grabbed the handle and yanked it open.

  The White Spider was crouched among the coats, gore-coated teeth gleaming in the darkness.

  “Surprise!”

  A bony hand shot out and grabbed Charlie by the throat. He instinctively punched the man in the face, but the Spider hardly blinked. His grip tightened as the boy kicked and chopped, to no avail.

  Seconds later, Charlie lost consciousness.

  *

  Downstairs, Daffodil finished brushing her teeth and came back to the living room.

  “I can’t stop worrying about the White Spider,” she said. “What if he does decide to break into someone’s house? We’ll be too far away to stop him murderin an innocent family.”

  “There’s no danger of that, I promise.”

  “I know you’re good at predictin things, but you can’t be absolutely sure.”

  “Afraid I can.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Mac, the White Spider is in our house.”

  “What?” Daffodil looked around in panic. “I thought this place had a security system.”

  “I switched it off.” Frankie sounded ashamed. “I really am sorry.”

  The screen went black.

  “Frankie?” Daffodil tapped the lump on her neck. “Frankie!”

  There was no answer.

  She grabbed a poker from the fireplace and hid behind the couch as the living room door swung open. The White Spider entered with Charlie slung over his shoulder. He dumped his victim on the couch and straightened up.

  “Come out, come out, little pig,” he taunted. “I can hear you breathing.”

  Daffodil appeared, swinging the poker at his head. The man took a step back and the metal rod whistled though empty air. She swung again, but the Spider ducked under the arc of her blow. He reached out nonchalantly, pressed two fingers into her shoulder and Daffodil collapsed with a grunt.

  *

  When the pair awoke, they were tied to straight-backed chairs. The White Spider was sprawled on the couch, sipping a mug of coffee.

  “Let’s have that little chat, now that I’ve calmed down a bit,” he said affably. “I came here to kill you for what you did, but I find myself overcome by curiosity instead.” He pointed a thin digit at them. “I’d like some answers.”

  “You coulda just asked, bub.” Daffodil shook her head groggily. “Instead of comin over all Tarzan on me.”

  “After you threw me out of a van then attacked me with a poker?” The man laughed humourlessly. “You’ll forgive me for being a little cagey.”

  “Isn’t being set free good enough?” Charlie strained ineffectually against his bonds. “You could have got clean away instead of coming after us.”

  “My temper often gets the better of me.” The Spider put down his mug. “But cycling is a very calming pastime and I had plenty of time to think while I was lurking in the cupboard.”

  “Peaceful, ain’t it?” Daffodil agreed. “I should know.”

  “Why did you think I’d be willing to help you fight Manticorps?” The Spider rubbed thin hands together. “I’m not exactly a… reliable type.”

  “We don’t entirely know,” the girl admitted. “That one was Frankie’s idea.”

  “Just as I thought. The question is, how did he rope two teenagers into assisting him?” The Spider tried a reassuring smile, but it made him look like a carnivorous frog. “Is he blackmailing you?”

  “Sort of.” Frankie had let the Spider in, so Daffodil saw no point in being loyal to her absent companion. “We both have missin parents. He promised to tell us where they are if we helped him.”

  “Has he given you the information, now I’m out?”

  “That’s not the deal,” she said. “We don’t get it until Manticorps are beaten.”

  “What a slippery customer. I shall interrogate him and find out the answers we all seek.” The Spider gave a grimace. “If I don’t like what I hear, I will kill him.”

  “Eh… He seems to have gone.”

  “Has he left the building or is the rotter hiding somewhere?”

  “Either way, I guarantee you won’t find him,” Daffodil assured their captor. “I’m havin a little trouble contactin our mutual pal myself.”

  “Shame. It means I’ll have to interrogate you two instead.” The Spider got up. “Back in a mo.”

  “You think Frankie can get us out of this mess?” Charlie whispered, once he was gone.

  “Chaz. He let that psychotic nut-job in.”

  “He did what?”

  “Frankie gave him access to the house. And now he won’t answer me. We need to play for time.”

  “Naughty, naughty.” The Spider strolled back into the room. “I’d appreciate you not talking behind my back. I abhor rudeness.”

  “I hope I’m wrong,” Daffodil groaned “But I’m guessing you ain’t about to challenge us at darts.”

  In the man’s hand was a kitchen knife.

  28

  “No need to carve us up, Tad.” Daffodil looked the killer in the eye. “I’ll answer every question you have, straight up, if you’ll do the same for me.”

  “You’re not in a position to bargain, missy.”

  “It ain’t a bargain. It’s a civilised conversation. You can’t have had many of those in Sunnyside.”

  “That’s certainly an understatement.” The Spider pared his nails with the knife. “But if I don’t like—”

  “What you hear you’ll kill us. Yeah, yeah. Stop soundin like a broken record.”

  “What an astonishing young woman you are.” He looked impressed. “Very well, let’s start. Who is Frankie?”

  “You’re gonna find that a bit hard to accept.”

  “Try me. I’ve experienced some rather… strange things in my time.”

  “He’s an artificial intelligence with computerised circuits embedded in my neck.” Daffodil rolled her eyes. “It’s so embarrassin havin to say it.”

  “Well, that’s just too odd to be a lie.” The Spider got up and felt under her hairline until he encountered a lump. “Tell him to come out and play, little pig.”

  “Like I said, he ain’t answerin. My turn now.”

  “I shall indulge you. After all, I’m a man of my word… most of the time.”

  “Frankie said you had a real beef with Manticorps. What’s it all about?”

  The Spider thought for a moment. “I used to work for them as a mercenary,” he said. “I was contracted to fight in some truly inhospitable foreign places. Natives called me the White Spider because no quarry I was after ever escaped.”

  ‘Wow!” Daffodil exclaimed. “Could you shoot webs from your wrists?”

  “What? No.” The man looked exasperated. “It’s just… spiders. They catch things.”

  “Relax. I’m pullin your chain.”

  “Touché. I suppose it is a rather silly title. Anyway, one day Manticorps gave me and my squad a new drug they’d been developing. They said it would enhance our capabilities. We were told it was safe.”

  “I’ll lay odds it wasn’t,” Charlie grunted.

  “Indeed,” the Spider agreed. “Next time we battled insurgents, we all went mad with rage. Killed the enemy and then turned on each other in a frenzy, till only I was left.” He cringed at the memory. “We were the perfect guinea pigs. Who would miss a few thugs for hire in such a war-torn land?” He crossed his legs in an attempt to stay composed. “I sneaked back home, but I was different. Smarter. Stronger. And with an anger I simply couldn’t control. Got into a fight with some people Manticorps sent to silence me and killed them too. I don’t even remember it.” He chuckled mirthlessly. “I should never have escaped, to be honest. Prison is the best place for me.”

  “Can’t deny that,” Daffodil agreed.

  “That’s not what I mean,” the Spider laughed. “Manticorps have tried to eradicate me in Sunnyside a few times, but I rule that place. It’s the only reason I’m still bre
athing.” He clapped his hands like a child. “Your turn now. I like this game.”

  “I was given the same drug as you,” Charlie said. “A better version, I think.”

  “You should have kept your mouth shut.” The Spider’s expression turned stony. “If I think you’re playing me for a fool, I’ll gut you.”

  “Let me loose and I’ll prove it.” The boy pulled at his bonds. “If you hadn’t surprised me before, you’d be the one sitting here.”

  “Nice try, sonny.” The killer rubbed his shaven head. “All right. I’ll bite. What did the serum do to you?”

  “I’m smarter and stronger than I was,” the boy replied. “But, mainly, I can copy anything.”

  “Now you’re just copying what I said.” The killer pointed his weapon. “I want real, incontrovertible proof or things will turn very nasty.”

  “How do I convince you then?”

  “Tell me how it feels.”

  “On the surface, it’s wonderful,” Charlie said. “Like I’m physically, intellectually and morally superior to everyone else.”

  “One win at charades,” Daffodil tsked, “and suddenly he’s a cross between Captain America and Stephen Hawking.”

  “Shhhhhh!” The White Spider waved away her complaint.

  “But under the surface, every vile, cruel, ugly, disturbed, violent thought I ever had has congealed into a creature that is pure hatred.”

  “Go on, boy.”

  “It’s desperate to take over. It never stops testing and probing. Any unguarded emotion can give it a foothold, so I don’t laugh or cry or smile. I can’t afford to care. I push everyone away.” He stuck out his chin. “I try not to feel anything.”

  The White Spider stared at him for a long time.

  “Yes,” he said finally. “That’s exactly what the Atlas Serum does.”

  “Charlie?” Daffodil looked horrified. “I didn’t realise how bad it was.”

  “It’s also a fate I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.” The man advanced on his prey. “The only humane thing to do is end your misery.”