The Black Pathway

by Mark C Sutton

  “I take it that that’s not your real name, young woman?” Stan asked.

  “No. It’s Ellen.” Answered Shark.

  “You should stick with your christened name. It’s much nicer.” Stan commented.

  “I’ve never been christened… anyway, I don’t mean to be rude, but can we use your telephone?” Requested Shark. Stan frowned.

  “Erm… I don’t have a telephone.” He responded, with an awkwardness to his voice.

  “I don’t mean a mobile… I need to use your landline.” Said Shark.

  “But that’s what I meant, young girl… I don’t have a landline. Or one of those horrible mobile contraptions.” Replied Stan. Shark rolled her eyes.

  “You’re kidding me? You’ve got no telephone?” She wanted to know. The elderly man shrugged his shoulders.

  “There’s no need for one. I lead a very simple life here… quiet, remote, solitary. Which is how I like it. I try to keep any contact with the outside world down to an absolute minimum.” Stan informed Shark. “Sit down, sit down,” he gestured towards a comfortable-looking sofa, “you both look frozen. I’ll go and make you a nice cup of tea.”

  “Don’t suppose you’ve got anything stronger?” Asked Shark, cheekily. Stan gave her a look that made the young woman feel slightly uneasy.

  “You won’t find alcohol in this home.” He said. “Do you take sugar in your tea?”

  ***

  Mary and Shark sat in Stan’s lounge, as he busied himself in the kitchen, making them all a drink.

  “I don’t like this guy.” Whispered Shark. “He’s creepy.”

  “Aw, he’s just a harmless old man.” Replied Mary.

  “Hmm, I suppose you’re right. I’m just fucking paranoid about everything at the moment… hey, I didn’t ask him if he’d got a car… he must have a car, right? He could drive us into Knighton?” Wondered Shark.

  “We’ll ask him when he comes back into the room. Shark, just calm down. We’re safe now. Everything’s going to be alright.” Mary reassured her friend.

  “I won’t really feel safe until I know that that little fucker Howard’s been caught, and banged up.” Said Shark, both legs jigging up and down with anxiety and impatience. “He must have a car?” She asked again.

  “Yes, he’s bound to have one.” Replied Mary. “You couldn’t live out here without a…”

  “Without a car?” Said Stan, suddenly appearing in the doorway, carrying a tray with mugs of tea on it. “I think you’ll find that one can manage perfectly well without a vehicle… and no, I don’t have a car. It’s like I told you before. I have minimal contact with other people. I’ve no need for a car. If I need to visit the village…”

  “Village? What village? I don’t even know where we are.” Interrupted Shark.

  “Apologies. This farmhouse is one mile from the village of Oakden, and three miles from the town of Knighton. Not that I ever go to Knighton. I purchase all my provisions from the village, once a week, usually on a Friday. I’m a man that needs very little.” Stan advised the two women, and he placed the tray down on a small wooden table in the centre of the lounge. “Now, drink your tea, and we’ll sort out the sleeping arrangements for the night.” He smiled.

  For a second or two, Stan’s suggestion didn’t quite register with either Shark or Mary. When it did, Shark was the first to react.

  “What are you talking about? ‘Sleeping arrangements’? We’re not staying here.” She said. Stan sat down in an armchair, and sipped at his mug of tea.

  “Well, I don’t think that you’ve got much choice.” He responded.

  “Look, mister… you don’t understand. There’s a fucking psychopath on the loose somewhere out there… me, my friend here… yourself… we’re all in danger, real fucking danger…”

  “Do you mind not using that sort of language in my home, please?” Cut-in Stan, harshly.

  “Did you not listen to anything that we told you about what happened to us earlier? Howard Trenton has already killed two of our friends today, and he’s been after us all night. If he somehow finds that we’re here, he WILL find a way in, and he’ll murder all of us… he’s not the sort of person that would have any hesitation in killing an old man, either, and you can trust me on that one…” half-shouted Shark.

  “Oh, I’ve heard all about Howard Trenton on the radio today. I know that he’s wanted for the murder of an elderly gentleman in Coldsleet… look, I agree with you. He sounds like a very dangerous individual. However, that doesn’t change the fact that there’s nothing we can do about it tonight. As I said before, we’ll sort out the sleeping arrangements…”

  “I’m not stopping here!” Exploded Shark. “Not with that freaky nut-job out there!” She stood up, from off the sofa, shaking. Mary reached out to Shark’s hand, and took it in hers, stroking it gently.

  “Calm down, Shark, just take it easy. We’re okay now.” Mary said.

  “How can I take it easy? We’re out in the middle of nowhere…”

  “We’re not in the middle of nowhere.” Stan tried to correct her.

  “We’re out in the middle of nowhere, with a murdering, psychotic, fake yellow-eyed shit-bag hunting us down.” Raged Shark. “It’s hardly conducive to a fucking relaxed atmosphere, is it?”

  Chapter Twenty Six

  Shark Mako headed out of Stan’s lounge, and down the hallway, towards the front door, followed by Mary.

  “What are you doing, Shark?” Asked Mary.

  “I’m getting out of here, that’s what I’m doing. If we stay here, then we’re sitting ducks for Howard Trenton.” Shark replied.

  “But he doesn’t know where we are.” Pointed out Mary.

  “We don’t know that. We need to keep on the move. It’s not safe here.” Said Shark. Stan appeared in the hallway.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” He wanted to know.

  “How do I get to Oakden from here?” Shark asked Stan.

  “You won’t be safe out there. You need to calm down. Even if this Trenton boy somehow shows up here, then I can protect you.” Stan replied. He opened up a door that was built in to the bottom of the staircase, and reached inside. Stan pulled out a large, single-barrelled shotgun, to demonstrate his point about being able to protect the two young women. Both Shark and Mary stared at the weapon for a moment.

  “Nice gun. But I don’t need your protection.” Said Shark. “Now, how do I get to Oakden?” She repeated her question.

  “You don’t need to go to Oakden. Not now. What you pair need is a good nights sleep. I’ll walk us all down to the village in the morning.” Was Stan’s answer.

  “Fine. Don’t tell me then.” Shark looked at Mary. “Are you coming, or what?”

  “Maybe Stan’s right… we can get some sleep, then go down to the village in the morning, when it’s light… when it’s safe.” Answered Mary. Shark took a deep breath, trying to contain her temper.

  “I’m not staying here, and that’s that. Now are you coming with me, Mary, or are you gonna stay here?” She asked again.

  Stan tried to reason with Shark.

  “I think that your friend here realises that it’s a lot safer in this farmhouse, than what it would be if you went back outside.” He said.

  “Is that what you think, Mary?” Asked Shark.

  “I don’t want to go back out there, Shark. Not with Howard somewhere around.” Admitted Mary.

  “Are you sure?” Shark wanted to know.

  “Yes. I’m sure.” Confirmed Mary. Shark turned back to face Stan.

  “Right. I’m going to take my chances, try and reach Oakden. You heard what Mary said. She wants to stay with you, and that’s her decision. So just make sure that you stay true to your word, and protect her, if needs be.” Said Shark. Stan nodded.

  “Of course I will. It’s a given.” He assured Shark.

  “Now, will you please tell me how to get to the village?” Shark repeated her request. Stan straightened himself up.

  “
Yes, I’ll tell you.” He replied. “You need to head left, back onto the gravel path. Once you’re on it, carry on down the hill. You’ll come to a T-junction with another gravel track. Turn right. It’ll lead you straight into the village. It should take you about fifteen, twenty minutes maximum” Advised Stan.

  “Okay… got it.” Said Shark. “As soon as I reach the village, I’ll arrange for you to be picked up, Mary, so don’t get too comfortable here.” She added. Shark moved over to her friend and gave her a hug. “You’d better look after her.” Shark warned Stan, before opening up the front door and beginning her trek down to Oakden.

  After Shark had left, Stan guided Mary back into the lounge. The elderly man carried the shotgun at his side. Mary sat on the sofa, whilst Stan walked over to the window, peeking out of the curtains.

  “Do you think that Shark will be able to find the village okay? What with it being so dark and all?” Mary asked.

  “I shouldn’t think so.” Answered Stan, who was still gazing out of the front window of the farmhouse.

  “I beg your pardon?” Said Mary, confused about Stan’s reply to her question. The elderly man turned around, a deadpan expression on his face.

  “I said, I shouldn’t think so.” He reiterated. Mary felt her stomach tighten a little.

  “What are you talking about?” She asked, nervously.

  “If she follows the directions that I gave her, your friend will end up back in Skerrington Forest.” Smiled Stan. Mary’s whole body stiffened.

  “Why the fuck would you give her the wrong directions?” She responded, her voice trembling. Stan slowly raised the shotgun, until it was aimed at Mary.

  “So that she’d go away… so that you and I can be alone. We don’t need someone like your friend around. She’s too mouthy… and she’d just get in the way.” Advised Stan, as he walked across the lounge, towards Mary…

  ***

  Shark Mako walked hurriedly along the gravel track, her whole body aching, but driven by a determination to reach the village, and find rescue for Mary. After a few minutes, she reached a T-junction, just as Stan said that she would. Shark remembered the elderly man’s directions, and took the right pathway, which led onto the edge of another field. The gravel track carried Shark past the field, and then down into a dip, between two high, elevated grass banks. The track was easier to walk along, more even and less bumpy, giving Shark’s aching feet some much-needed relief. She looked ahead, and, in the near distance, Shark could make out the shape of a bridge, crossing the path that she was on. This looks like an old railway line, thought Shark. I wonder if this is the one that used to run into Coldsleet, before they closed it down? She wondered. Shark picked up her pace a little, continuing along the track, then walking under the arched railway bridge. I guess that this old line runs into Oakden. It shouldn’t be too far away now. Shark began to feel a genuine sense of hope returning insider her. She couldn’t help but smile to herself. We’re going to get out of this one okay. I didn't think that we would, but I was wrong. We’re going to make it. Then suddenly, Shark heard a noise that almost made her jump out of her own skin…

  ***

  Mary walked up the farmhouse staircase, with Stan right behind her, pointing the barrel of his shotgun into the small of her back. They reached the top of the stairs.

  “Right, into that room, there.” Ordered Stan, and he pointed the barrel of his gun towards an open door, just to Mary’s left. She nodded, and did as Stan requested, entering a darkened bedroom. Behind her, Stan switched on the light. Mary glanced around. The room was full of cardboard boxes of different sizes. Some were open, and empty, others were still sealed. “You’ll have to forgive the mess. I only moved into this place a few months ago. I still haven’t got around to unpacking everything.” Stan informed her. “This is where you’ll be staying, for tonight.” He went on. Mary noticed an old, dirty white mattress lying on the floor in the corner of the bedroom. She also couldn’t help but spot a smear of dried blood on it. Stan gave Mary a push, so that she was standing right over the mattress. “Get on it, and stay there. I’ll be back in a few minutes with some blankets.” Said the elderly man. Mary sank down, and got onto the mattress. She looked up at her captor, who was staring down with his cold, blue eyes. “Remember what I said. Stay put.” He reminded Mary, before turning and leaving the bedroom. Mary heard a lock click on the bedroom door, followed by the creaking of wooden floorboards as Stan walked across the landing, towards another bedroom.

  A few moments later, Stan unlocked the bedroom door and re-entered the room. He was carrying a pile of bedding, which he tossed towards Mary.

  “Look,” said Mary, “what’s all this ab…”

  “HUSH!” Interrupted Stan, putting his finger up to his lips. “No questions. I want you to go to sleep now. I’ll be back in the morning. If you need the toilet, then there’s a bucket, just near that wardrobe.” He said. Mary looked over to the wardrobe, which had a door missing. Just in front of it was a filthy, metal container, with a length of dried excrement, and more blood, staining the outside of it. Mary felt herself wretch a little, which Stan noticed.

  “Stop being such a fussy little madam. You’re better off in here than being outside, what with that Howard Trenton chap roaming around. You should think yourself lucky. Now pull yourself together, and get some sleep. We’ve got a busy day ahead of us tomorrow.” Advised Stan, before leaving the bedroom again, and locking the door.

  Mary listened to the sound of Stan walking back down the staircase. When she felt it was safe, she got up from off the mattress. Her first action was to check the bedroom window. Mary quietly pulled back the curtains that were covering it; there was only a small, separate pain of glass, at the very top of the window, that could be opened; it would be impossible to climb through. Thwarted, Mary walked across to the bedroom door and tried to open it, even though she’d heard Stan lock it just moments ago. Sure enough, it wouldn’t budge. Right. What the hell do I do now? Mary wondered. I know. I need to find something… anything… to use as a weapon. Yeah, Stan’s got a shotgun, but I need to try and even the odds just a little. I can’t just do nothing. It’s a shame he made me leave my backpack downstairs, before marching me up here… my swiss army knife’s in there, somewhere. Okay, it’s not much, but it’s something. Oh well, there’s nothing I can do about that now. Mary suddenly remembered her mobile phone, which she’d put into the pocket of her jeans when she’d got changed, just after wading through the river with Shark. Mary pulled out the phone. There was no signal.

  Mary sighed to herself.

  “This isn’t gonna work, but I may as well try.” She whispered. Mary opened up the contact list on the phone. She’d exchanged numbers with Shark earlier that morning, before everything had turned to shit. Mary began typing a text message to her friend.

  Stan lied to u he sent u the wrong way he has locked me in bedroom get help if u can but don’t come back here, 2 dangerous. Mary

  Mary pressed the ‘send’ tab. A message flashed up.

  Cannot send. Retry? Yes/ no

  Mary pressed ‘yes’. A repeat message appeared.

  Cannot send. Retry? Yes/ no

  She tried sending the text again, and was greeted with the same message as before. Mary pressed ‘yes’, but didn’t particularly want to see the ‘failed’ message anymore. She was just about to put the mobile phone back in her pocket, when it made a short bleeping noise, indicating that the text had gone through. Mary looked at the display, which said,

  Message sent

  “It bloody well worked!” Mumbled Mary. With trembling hands, she tried to dial Shark’s mobile number. Her call wouldn’t go through; the signal was gone again. Mary moved the phone around, holding it up in the air, but the signal refused to come back. But maybe Shark’s got the message. I just pray to God that she has… hoped Mary.

  ***

  The noise came again; it was the sound of Shark’s mobile phone beeping. Immediately, Shark pulled the phone from t
he pocket of her combat trousers.

  I’ve got a signal! I’ve got a full-on signal! Shark opened up the text message inbox on her mobile device. She frowned; it was a communication from Mary. Shark looked at the text.

  Stan lied to u he sent u the wrong way he has locked me in bedroom get help if u can but don’t come back here, 2 dangerous. Mary

  Shark staggered backwards a few steps upon reading the message.

  “You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me…” she spoke, at the phone, “this just can’t be fucking happening.” A voice suddenly cut through the air, coming from somewhere behind Shark, male, high-pitched, almost cheerful.

  “What’s the matter, Shark? Have you just had some bad news or something?” The voice asked. Shark spun around, looking back towards the railway bridge. There was somebody standing underneath it. A person with dull, yellow eyes that softly glowed in the darkness. The mobile phone fell from Shark’s hand, hitting one of her hiking boots before landing on the gravel path. “Hey, you’ve dropped your phone.” Said Howard Trenton, in a concerned manner. He emerged from under the bridge. “Here, let me come and pick it up for you.” Howard walked slowly towards Shark…

  ***

  Having given up on the mobile phone again getting a signal, Mary began looking around the farmhouse bedroom for something that she could possibly use as a weapon. There was a half-opened cardboard box close to the door. Mary began rummaging around inside it. The box was half-full of books, most of them centring around true crime. She pulled some of the books out, looking at the titles. ‘The Strange Case of Donald De’ath - Lifting the Curtain on the Hanley Killer’, ‘The Dead Winter Mountain Murders - The True Story of Stephen Morris Hartley’, ‘Unsolved - Who is the M81 Slayer?’, ‘The Exington/ Merivale Murders and the Unmasking of Brian Miller’… Mary placed the books back into the box, before moving over to another container, close to the dirty mattress. Inside the box were more books, again, mostly about true-crime, but one of them immediately caught Mary’s attention.