The Fenton Saga: Never Say Goodbye / There Was No Body.

by Colin Griffiths

  They split into two teams. Daniel and Carol, Todd and Madison, with James bringing up the rear. They would climb the hill on either side.

  Marie Rose looked exhausted, as she stayed with Katy, who had her head in the old lady’s lap. Marie Rose was now stroking Katy’s forehead gently.

  ‘If she dies, I’ll never forgive myself.’ Katy told her,

  ‘They will find her sweetheart and she will be okay.’ Marie Rose promised, as she stroked the broken girl’s forehead. She hoped that she really believed what she had just said.

  Chapter 51

  If Bill Fenton had killed his father today, rather than all those years ago and if Marie Rose had been a battered wife today rather than all those years ago, things may have been different. Authorities would have acted; organisations would have helped. Neither Bill nor Marie Rose would have needed to walk around with bruises and battered faces. Teachers would have picked up on it, friends, neighbours, and others would have noticed. Support would have been given. Maybe mother and son would have stayed together and maybe, just maybe, Bill Fenton would not have turned out as he had. But that was a long shot, everyone associated with the Fenton’s would have known that. You can’t legislate for evil and Bill Fenton was evil.

  No one had actually told Bill Fenton that his father was dead. Yes, Bill had pushed him down the stairs and left him for dead. When the police had arrived and taken Bill into care and rushed his dying father, William, to hospital it had been five days before he came round, and a further three months before he left hospital, after a further seventeen years before he was deemed well enough to be released from the mental facility where he had spent those years. He now resided in a residential home for the elderly, at the tax-payers’ expense. Bill hadn’t killed his father. William Fenton was still alive.

  Bill knew none of this. The abused child had been hidden from his father’s fate. It was better that Bill believed his father was dead, the authorities deemed. They didn’t want the child to be haunted by the thought that his father was still alive and would come after him. If he thought his father was dead, he would be able to remove him from his life and maybe forget.

  How wrong can the authorities be?

  Bill had spent all his childhood going from one carer to the next, from one foster parent to the next, believing that he had killed his fat and his father’s soul would not let him forget that.

  William Fenton was never charged for the offences that he had committed against his wife and his son. Most people would argue that Bill Fenton was born an evil man, because some people are just born that way. History tells us this. The man who had sired Bill Fenton, William Fenton, ergo had the same DNA as his son. Evil to the core. Bill’s two sons carried his DNA. There were people who believed the two brothers would go the same way as their father and grandfather. They had genes which very few other people shared, unique in fact in the modern day world. People would always be looking at them for that reason. If they could see them now, they might have a different point of view.

  The old man lifted his draught counter. His hand shook, as it hovered momentarily in mid-air. He had had a bad day, a very bad day and night. Picking the counter off the board seemed to take all his effort. The last twenty four hours had certainly taken it out of him. His hands hadn’t been good lately. They always seemed to be shaking. His legs had grown weak, he was finding it difficult to walk. The carers had noticed this, in their minds, it was just that William Fenton was in decline. He loved to play draughts and he almost always won. He jumped his opponent’s draughts and shakily removed them from the board. His eighty years of age was catching up with him, along with recent exhausting events.

  ‘I didn’t see that,’ said Edith, an elderly lady in her late eighties, who sat opposite William, at the small draughts table in the communal room of the home. She had been there for four years longer than William, and they had become friends in some ways. William’s cheekiness reminded her of her late husband, Frederick. She studied the table, looking for her next move. It would take her more than ten minutes.

  The home was a good home. It met all the required standards that were laid on homes of this type, having passed all the inspections, and was not known for mistreating any of its residents. The staff members were well vetted and had passed all the relevant tests. Some residents did get shouted at, now and again, and William Fenton was not an exception, for he too had his moments. He was very rarely scolded for he appeared to have the foulest mouth on earth and he wasn’t scared to use it.

  He was generally a good patient, not deemed aggressive, just foul mouthed. He never gave the carers much stick, would throw a few lewd remarks at the younger ones, but they were trained to ignore it, every night in his room, before bedtime, William Fenton would talk to his son, sometimes shouting at him, often swearing at him. Nobody questioned this, as almost half of the residents would talk to someone at night, a lost loved one that had passed on, but they could never ever let go.

  Residents were generally free to roam, walking the vast gardens, or even pop to the local shop. It wasn’t a prison, but it had a smell about it. A smell which said, once you pass these doors, you will never leave. The antiseptic smell of death.

  Today the carers were a bit concerned about William. Although he had never mentioned his son to the carers, today he did. In tears he told them that his son had died. They knew they would have to keep an eye on him, try to get him through it and hope he would make up another son from somewhere, or even a daughter.

  Edith moved her piece. She was a dear old lady. ‘Mad as a hatter.’ William always said. Nearly every night they played draughts and chatted at the same table. They would both miss each other when one of them had gone. William Fenton didn’t think that would be long now.

  ‘So you say, when you talked to him last, someone else was there?’ asked Edith, as she wiped spittle from her mouth with the back of her hand.

  William was making his next move. He was fed up now. Edith had asked the same question five times since he had told her. He wished the old bat would just shut up and play the game, He was 2-0 up and it was the best of five. He wanted to watch the movie that would be on the communal telly.

  ‘Yes. I told you, some girl.’ he said, angrily.

  ‘Okay. Okay. Don’t get your knickers in a twist.’

  William tutted, then finally moved his draught with the same shaky hand.

  ‘Your move.’

  ‘And you say she spoke to you?’ asked Edith.

  William flipped the game board upside down. ‘Stupid fucking game.’ he proclaimed as the counters fell to the floor. Two carers looked on, monitoring the situation. Edith put up a shaky hand signalling that everything was okay. William leaned forward. Edith could feel the stench of his breath. William’s eyes were now wide. He looked evil.

  ‘She took me out of his head.’ he said and sat back in the chair.

  ‘Nasty girl.’ she said.

  A carer came over, picked up the spilled pieces and set them on the table. Neither William nor Edith acknowledged her.

  ‘How can you take someone out of your head?’ asked Edith.

  William slumped in his chair, breathing heavily. He had thought about this. He leaned close and whispered,

  ‘I don’t know, but she’s going to pay.’

  Edith tried to reach down to her ankle, her frail body struggling with the task.

  ‘Ooh, my corns are playing up,’ she said.

  Chapter 52

  Todd and Madison walked together, a steady climb up one side of the hill, the rain still coming down, soaking them once again. There seemed no let up as the dawn broke, the weather seeming relentless with the attempt to deter them from their objective. The weather was really working against them by providing another challenge for them, but wild horses would not deter them, and Madison seemed to possess a strength way beyond her years and petite frame.

  ‘She seemed a nice girl.’ Said Madison, referring to Katy, as they walked.

  To
dd thought about that for a moment, she was, after all, a kidnapper.

  ‘The jury’s still out on that,’ he said, ‘and how can you know that. You saw the state of her, beaten, and God knows what else.’

  ‘She was awfully scared.’

  ‘I could see that.’

  ‘She said she and Wendy became friends.’

  ‘I will let Wendy be the judge of that.’ said Todd. ‘How come you know so much about her?’

  ‘When we were coming down the hill, we chatted. All she could talk about was Wendy. It seemed she really cared for her.’

  ‘If Wendy dies, the blood will be on her hands.’

  Madison didn’t answer. She could understand her brother’s feelings, but she felt that Katy was genuine, and whatever she had done, surely she didn’t deserve that.

  They continued walking for a couple of minutes. They didn’t really know what they were looking for. As Todd walked, he hoped it would not be he who found her. He didn’t want to be the one who found the body of his girlfriend. He didn’t think he could cope with that.

  Madison thought of home, her father, her real father, Morgan, not the biological one that she had just met. She wished Morgan was here now. He would know what to do, he always did.

  Daniel and the rest were still in sight, some distance away. Carol was waving at them frantically. Madison heard Carol’s thoughts telling her that they had found Wendy. As soon as she told Todd what she had heard, they ran towards the others, Todd tripping and stumbling down. He shrieked in pain as he stood up again.

  ‘My ankle,’ he said, ‘I've twisted my fucking ankle.’

  For the second time that day and with great strength Madison used herself for support as they ran and hobbled towards the other search party.

  Daniel, Carol and James could see her now. They could see her limp body laid out on the ground. She was no more than a few hundred yards away, the rain pelting her body, heavy and unforgiving. Her head was clearly visible, but most of the lower half of her body was covered by mud, wet and slimy as it slid down the hillside, covering her spread-eagled body. Mud still poured from the hill in mini landslides, devouring the landscape and all which stood in the way of Mother Nature.

  The three of them were exhausted now, as were Todd and Madison who were closely following them. The sight of Wendy had given them hope and renewed their strength. Daniel, holding the doctor up, as they tracked through the mud. The doctor fighting every ache and pain in his battered body, his hand tightly clutching the medical bag that he carried. He thought of all the patients that he had treated, mostly he thought of those patients that he knew whose life was ending. He prayed his gift would not reveal itself today. Today he did not want to smell death, taste it, even though he had never met this girl, he wanted to save her life more than any other, such was the magnetism of the whole situation.

  The doctor stumbled and both Daniel and Carol grabbed him before he fell. He grunted and waved his arms, as if to say I'm okay. They carried on, no words were spoken. Wendy was yards away. They were almost there.

  Carol looked back, seeing that Madison and Todd were not far behind. She could see that Todd was struggling and Madison was supporting him. She marvelled at this young girl’s strength, after all that she found out and been through in the last twenty four hours.

  Carol wondered whether she would ever get over it. The five of them felt as if the whole party could only be stopped if death was borne down upon them. The same could be said of Wendy Cross, a fighter if there ever was one. It looked as though the fight had gone out of Wendy, as her last breaths faded away and the life slipped from her, her last thought were of Todd.

  Todd winced with pain on every stride that he took. His sister, whom he had only just met, supporting him all the way. Todd also wondered where she got her strength from, what he would have done without her. For the first time he could see the girl that he loved, the girl that he adored, tied down to a hill, which had taken her.

  As the first three reached Wendy’s body, Daniel and Carol slumped beside her, scraping the mud away from her body and trying frantically to untie her. James checked for a pulse, anything, any sign of life. This can’t be it, he thought, not all this for nothing.

  ‘There’s no pulse!’ he shrieked. ‘She's not breathing.’ He paused. ‘I think she’s gone.’ and he wept, the first time he had cried since his beloved wife had died.

  Both Daniel and Carol shouted for him to do something, almost blaming him. The doctor now slumped to the ground still holding Wendy’s hand, where he was trying to find a pulse.

  ‘She’s gone.’ he said.

  Daniel shook the doctor ‘Did you see it?’ he screamed, before we reached her, did you see it? Did you know she was dead?’

  James wiped his lips with the back of his hand, letting go of Wendy’s limp hand.

  ‘No. No. I didn’t.’

  Carol broke down now. She was slumped in the mud crying, sobbing like a baby.

  Fifty yards away. Todd had stopped. He told his sister to go on. Madison was reluctant to leave him, telling him she could support him the short distance to where Wendy lay, but he shoved her away.

  He stood there now, the pain in his ankle gone, or not relevant anymore. He stood, arms outstretched in the air, looking up at the skies that poured rain down on him. He looked like some Godly figure. He opened his mouth to scream, but nothing came. At least no sound that any human could hear. Four military personnel dressed in all black with no insignia looked from the distance.

  There was no cry of pain, torture, anger or even fright, just a little light, hardly noticeable in the rain, floated, floated to where the group was as they cradled Wendy’s body.

  Madison had stopped and she was looking at Todd now. She saw the light, saw where it went. Still Todd screamed, with no sound.

  It’s not time yet. Todd heard himself say, deep inside his mind. ‘You have too many songs to sing, Wendy.’ Arms still outstretched, his body silhouetted against the grey skies.

  And you have too many songs to write, came the reply.

  Madison could hear it. She could hear two people, just like with her father and grandfather. She could hear her brother and she could hear Wendy.

  I will still write them I will get them to you somehow.

  I will sing them always.

  I will sing them with you.

  The doctor screamed, as if in agony as he picked up Wendy’s hand.

  ‘There’s a pulse. I’m sure there’s a pulse.’

  Everyone sat up. There was a sign of urgency on their faces, the look of hope.

  ‘Please, James. Please, God.’ The doctor checked again.

  How can you Todd, you’re leaving me.

  I will never leave you, Wendy.’

  Madison was looking back and forth, at Todd and Wendy. She didn’t understand it, but she knew they were talking to each other. Madison cried.

  Wendy’s eyes flickered, and partly opened, not seeing anyone, not hearing anyone, except Todd. All she could hear was Todd. He had come to save her. The tears were now tears of joy, from the people who sat beside her as the doctor checked her over.

  I will always be with you Wendy. Todd said to her,

  ‘In person, or in memory?’

  ‘In your heart, and in your soul.’

  Wendy’s eyes were fully open now, although she didn’t seem to notice the people around her. She sat up. The Doctor slumped in bewilderment he had never seen anyone come back like this. Carol and Daniel not really believing their eyes, not believing the miracle unfolding around them, only Madison knew it was no miracle.

  Madison just stood there, totally transfixed, looking at the God-like figure of her brother, who suddenly appeared to be ten feet tall. The look on his face would be one she would never forget. She knew it would be in her dreams for years to come. She watched, as the angelic figure of her brother sank to his knees. She knew he was crying, as was Wendy. They wept like babies.

  As Wendy’s breathing got str
onger, the person she loved more than anything in the world, was slipping away from her.

  Don’t go Todd.’ She told him. Only Madison heard,

  I have to, Wendy.

  I will always love you, Todd.

  I will never stop loving you, Wendy. You are my life.

  I’m scared, Todd.’

  Don’t be.’

  Why are you leaving me?

  To give us life.

  I don’t want to say goodbye. I need you, Todd.

  I love you Wendy. Say hello, never say goodbye.

  Wendy was alert now. She sat up, strength returning as she came out of her trance. No one could believe what was happening.

  ‘Don’t go Todd!’ she screamed.

  As she spoke, what seemed to be lightning, struck Todd Fenton. They all turned to stare at the place where Todd had stood. All they could see was the earth underneath him. It was scorched.

  ‘He just disappeared,’ cried Madison, ‘into thin air she said as she scrambled towards where Todd was standing digging the ground with her fingers as if he was buried there. There was a light. There was something, or someone, in the light. He’s gone.’ she cried as she stopped digging.

  ‘He saved me!’ said Wendy.

  They all looked up into the sky. They could see a small light, fading in the distance, then it was gone. The clouds parted, and the sun shone brightly down on them. For just a moment, Wendy could have sworn she saw Todd, waving goodbye, but it may have been the clouds, playing tricks with her eyes. Daniel looked at Madison, and she at him. Daniel knew his brother was gone. He knew why. After all, it was his fault.