The Black Pathway

by Mark C Sutton

  Shark spoke to Howard with alarm in her voice.

  “Are you saying that Mary’s being held captive by this Ben Askew bloke?” She asked.

  “Yeah, it’ll be Ben alright. That’s the only farmhouse around here. Mary’s fucked. Quite literally.” Replied Howard.

  “Will you help me, Howard?” Requested Shark. Howard glared at her.

  “Why would I want to help you?” He asked.

  “It’s like I said before. Do something good, for the people who’ve cared for you since your mom died. Do it for Lucas, for Kay…” Howard suddenly remembered his mother, not long before she died, lying in bed with him sat beside her… she was looking up at Howard, stroking his face…

  “You’re a good boy, son. Don’t live your life like me… always worrying, constantly seeing the black side of everything… don’t waste each day, stressing about stuff that you’ve got no control over… get out there, enjoy yourself, but always look out for those who love you…” Howard thought about Lucas; the man that he’d looked up to for the past three years.

  “Me and Kay, we love having you here, Howard. Don’t ever feel, as you get older, that there’s some urgent need for you to leave this house. You’re as much a part of the home as myself and Kay are.” Lucas had once told him. Howard thought about what his cousin would be going through at that moment; hell. And it was all his fault.

  “What do I get in return, Shark? What’s the deal that you say is on offer?” Asked Howard. “There has to be something in it for me.” Shark stepped towards him.

  “You help me get Mary out of that farmhouse, to safety. You don’t touch a hair on her head. When that’s done, then, well… whatever it was you were going to do to her… you can do to me instead.” Replied Shark. “I won’t resist. I’ll take Mary’s place.”

  Chapter Twenty Eight

  Howard Trenton walked a few feet ahead of Shark Mako, whistling to himself.

  “Do you have to keep doing that? It’s really annoying.” Commented Shark, who was still holding Howard’s knife in her hand.

  “Why? Don’t you like the tune that I’m whistling?” Asked Howard, before beginning to cough. Shark noticed the heavy bloodstain on the coat covering Howard’s lower back; it was spreading.

  “No, I don’t like it.” Replied Shark.

  “Tough. If you want me to help Mary, then I’m going to have to insist on being allowed to whistle.” Said Howard. He went to whistle again, just to annoy Shark, but couldn’t. Instead, he began coughing again. When he’d finished, Howard looked back over his shoulder at Shark. “I hope I can hold out for just a bit longer… I’m looking forward to us having a little fun together, Shark… don’t worry, by the way. I’d decided not to kill Mary… I was just gonna…”

  “I know what you were going to do to her, Howard.” Snapped the young woman.

  “No, actually, you don’t. But you will.” Howard grinned, before giving Shark a wink. “Anyway, I still don’t understand why you need my help. You could take out Ben Askew on your own, surely? He’s an old man, and you’re as hard as nails.” Wondered Howard.

  “Yeah, an old man with a great big fucking shotgun… and from what you’ve told me about him, he’s not frightened to use it.” Pointed out Shark Mako.

  Howard pointed up the track.

  “There it is… there’s the farmhouse. Looks like Ben’s still up. The lights are on.” He said. Shark felt her stomach roll with anxiety.

  “I hope he hasn’t done anything to Mary.” She mumbled to herself.

  “What was that?” Asked Howard.

  “It doesn’t matter. Are you sure that you’re going to be up to this, Howard? That bleeding on your back looks like it’s getting worse.” Said Shark.

  “Yeah, I’ve got the thought of our little liaison to hold onto, Shark. That’ll spur me on for a bit longer.” Replied Howard. That’s what you fucking think, Shark thought to herself.

  “So, have you raped a lot of women, Howard?” Asked Shark. At this question, he turned around, angered. Shark raised the knife towards him.

  “I’m not a fucking rapist.” Howard snapped.

  “Oh no? Then what was it that you shouted at me and Mary, back in Skerrington Forest? You were gonna fuck Mary like she’d never been fucked before? Charming. I take it that’s what you’ll be doing to me, eh Howie? Fucking me like I’ve never been…”

  “Shut it!” Barked Howard. “I’m not a rapist.” He repeated, quietly. Shark gave him a cynical smile.

  “Of course you’re not, Howard. Of course you’re not.” She said.

  “It’s not like you think.” Howard told her. “I’m not… dirty…”

  “I don’t want to know. Now turn around, Howard.” Ordered Shark.

  “But…”

  “Turn around. We need to get Mary from out of that farmhouse.” Instructed Shark. Howard relucantly looked away from Shark, and continued trudging towards Ben Askew’s farm. A pain shot through his back, and down into his legs. I always knew the deal… I sort of guessed that I was going to die up here, and I’m okay with that… let’s face it, this has really been just one great big suicide mission… but I’m still going to have that last little party with Shark… and despite what I’ve promised, maybe Mary too… thought Howard.

  ***

  Ben Askew unlocked the bedroom door, and walked inside. Mary Broderick was stood in the corner of the room, staring at him with fear in her eyes. Ben looked around the room.

  “What are you doing up here? I can hear you, snooping about… you know, moving stuff.” He said. Ben was holding the shotgun in his hands. “I thought I told you to get some sleep. So why aren’t you on that mattress?” He asked. Ben took a few steps towards Mary. “Why are you looking at me like that?” He wanted to know.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Responded Mary.

  “Yes, you do. You’re staring at me, all frightened. Why are you frightened of me, Mary?” Quizzed Ben. He smiled. “All I want is for us to be alone together. I’m not going to hurt you.” Ben took another step towards the young woman. “Is it because I’ve left you in this bedroom all on your own?” He asked. “Would you feel happier if I were to stay in here with you tonight?”

  “I’m fine, honestly, I’m fine. I’ll go to sleep now.” Said Mary. She walked back to the mattress and got down on it. “See? I’ll just sleep. I’m okay now.” Mary went on. Ben Askew shook his head slowly.

  “No… this won’t do. This won’t do at all. You’re scared. I can see that. It’s in your eyes, Mary. The fear. The fear of being all alone, in a strange room. No, I’ll stay with you tonight… sleep on the mattress, by your side…”

  “Really, I’m fine, I don’t need…” but before Mary could finish her sentence, Ben Askew put a finger up to his lips in a ‘hush’ gesture.

  “It’s okay. I’m here now… you don’t have to be alone anymore.” Said Ben. He knelt down, and placed the shotgun on the floor. Then he stood back up, and removed his trousers and underpants. Mary glanced at the old man’s cock, sticking out, erect. Ben began to walk towards her, and at that moment, someone started knocking on the door downstairs.

  ***

  Ben Askew opened up the front door of the farmhouse, and stared at Shark Mako, his blue eyes wide with anger. He raised the shotgun towards her face.

  “You shouldn’t have come back here.” He said. Ben took a few steps backwards. “Get in here. Now.” He ordered. Shark raised her hands in the air in a gesture of surrender and nodded. She walked through the doorway, entering the hall. Suddenly, Ben Askew grabbed her roughly by the arm, pulling her further into the building. He pushed past her, moving towards the front door, in order to shut it. Ben was just about to close the door, when a force from the other side powered into it, knocking the old man backwards. Howard Trenton barged into the hallway, and ploughed towards Ben Askew. The old man accidentally squeezed the trigger of the shotgun, and it discharged, letting out a deafening bang. With lightning speed, Howard snat
ched the weapon from Ben’s hands, and then whipped it around in a circle, smashing the barrel into the triple killer’s head.

  Ben Askew slumped to the floor, a large gash on the side of his head beginning to bleed. Howard threw the shotgun to the floor, and then knelt down next to the injured man. He looked up at Shark.

  “Pass me the knife, Shark.” Howard requested. Shark shook her head.

  “Uh uh, no way.” She said. Howard stared at her with disbelief.

  “For fuck’s sake, just give me the knife. I need to finish this cunt off.” Howard advised her.

  “No. I’m not giving you the knife, Howard.” Shark responded.

  “Look! I’m keeping my side of the deal, aren’t I? Now just pass me the…” suddenly, Ben Askew lashed out with his fist, slamming it into the side of Howard’s head. The younger man went rolling sideways, his one good hand clutching at his skull. Ben reached for the shotgun. He picked it up, and then slowly got to his feet. The old man raised the weapon above his head, preparing to bring the buttstock down onto Howard’s cranium. At that point, Shark lunged the knife forwards, ramming it into Ben’s lower back, just as Alex Crennell had stabbed Howard, the day before. Shark pulled the blade from out of Ben Askew’s body, and as she did so, thick, bright red blood began to spurt from the wound that she had inflicted on him. Ben dropped the shotgun, and then fell down on all fours.

  “He’s all yours.” Said Shark to Howard, before leaving the hallway and racing up the stairs, in order to find her friend.

  Shark reached the top of the farmhouse stairs.

  “Mary!” She cried out. “Mary, where are you?” Shark asked.

  “Shark!” Screamed Mary from behind an old wooden door. “I’m in here!” Shark walked over to the bedroom door and tried the handle. It was locked.

  Fuck it! Thought Shark.

  “Mary, are you okay? Did that bastard touch you at all?” Shark wanted to know.

  “No. No, he didn’t.” Mary responded. “He would have done though.”

  “Yeah, I know. Okay… he’s locked the fucking door. I can’t get in.” Said Shark.

  “Where is he? Where’s the old guy?” Shouted Mary.

  “He’s downstairs, with… he’s downstairs. Don’t worry, he’s not going to be bothering you again.” Advised Shark. “He must still have the bedroom key on him. I’ll go down and…”

  “There’s no need to do that.” Said Howard Trenton, who was standing at the top of the stairs, holding a key in his hand. “Here, take it.” Shark went to grab the bedroom key from Howard, and that’s when he made his move. Howard’s bony, but incredibly powerful fingers clasped Shark’s wrist. He yanked the woman forward, whilst at the same time lolling his head backwards, then Howard slammed his forehead at Shark, butting her with maximum force, in the face, felling her instantly.

  At the sound of Howard’s voice, Mary had begun to scream.

  “You’re wasting your breath, Mary.” Said Howard, calmly, as he unlocked the bedroom door. He pushed it open, grinning at the terrified young woman.

  “Howard… please… don’t do this.” Begged Mary. Howard ignored her. He briefly disappeared out of the doorway, then came back, dragging Shark along the floor by her blonde hair. Howard smiled at Mary.

  “It’s your lucky day. I struck a deal with Shark here. I thought about reneging on it, at one point… but nah. I’ll keep my side of the bargain… you can go. Leave. Get out of here… and when you reach home, tell Lucas and Kay that the only reason I’ve spared you is because of them.” Said Howard. Mary looked at him in shock and disbelief.

  “What are you going to do to Shark?” Mary asked.

  “You’ll be able to ask her that for yourself, in a few days… but don’t worry, I’m not going to kill her, if that’s what you’re thinking.” Replied Howard.

  “Oh no… you’re going to…”

  “Just get out of here. Now. Before I change my fucking mind.” Snapped Howard.

  “I’m not leaving here without her.” Said Mary.

  “Then let me put it another way, you silly fucking bitch… get out of here now, and you and Shark will live to see another day. Insist on staying, and you’ll both die a really nasty, agonising death, right here in this bedroom. Now, I’m going to count to five, and if you’re not gone by the time that I reach it, then…”

  “I’m not leaving.” Argued Mary.

  “One.” Smiled Howard. “Two.” He continued. Mary looked at her friend, then back towards Howard. “Three.” He said. “Four.” The young woman began backing out of the bedroom.

  “That’s it. That’s a good girl.” Mocked Howard Trenton. “Go on, fuck off, get yourself back home.” He watched as Mary disappeared from the bedroom. Howard listened to Mary’s footsteps as she ran down the stairs. He turned to Shark. “Finally. Party-time.” Said Howard, before walking over to the bedroom door and locking it from the inside…

  ***

  Mary got to the bottom of the stairs. In the hallway, lay Ben Askew, face down, in a growing pool of blood. He was still breathing, but only just. Gingerly, the young woman edged past him, before leaving the farmhouse through the open front door. I’ve got to do something. I can’t just leave Shark upstairs with that murdering bastard, thought Mary. She pulled out her mobile phone, hoping against hope that there would be a signal. There is! There’s a signal! I’ve got reception! With shaking hands, Mary dialled the emergency services. A voice came on the other end of the line.

  “Help! I need help, now!” Said Mary, with urgency in her voice. “My name’s Mary Broderick. I’m outside Ben Askew’s farmhouse, near to Oakden. Howard Trenton is inside. He’s killed two of my friends, and now he’s got another one held captive. You’ve got to hurry!” She continued. The operator told her to try and calm down, then got Mary to repeat exactly what she’d just said. A few minutes later, a message went out to the three separate search teams out on, or near to, the Black Pathway. WE’VE LOCATED HOWARD TRENTON. In the sky above, the pilot of a police helicopter was told to divert from Coldsleet Moor, and to head south-east, towards the village of Oakden. The pilot duly changed course, the helicopter doing a sudden one hundred and eighty degree turn, before lurching forwards, away from the moor, then skimming over the thousands of tree-tops that formed Skerrington Forest. The net was quickly closing in on Howard Trenton.

  ***

  Howard Trenton lay naked on the dirty mattress, his body pulled up behind Shark Mako. His one arm was wrapped tightly around Shark’s belly, whilst his other, broken arm hung limply at his side. Howard’s head rested against the back of Shark’s frozen neck. Howard smiled as he listened to Shark’s slow, deep breathing.

  “There. That wasn’t so bad at all now, was it Shark? You’ll wake up, in a few hours, and never know what we did together. You’ve been oblivious to it all… but we’ve procreated. I felt that electic bolt pass from my stomach, and into your body. There’s new life inside you now… I can sense it, and I can smell it. You’re going to carry on my legacy, Shark. You’ve become a mom… and you’ve become my mother… and I’ve become my father.” Howard kissed Shark gently on the back of her head, before pulling himself away from her. The bedroom filled with the sound of cracking ice and frost. “I lied to you when I said that I wasn’t a rapist. You were right about that. I am a rapist… just not in the sense that you meant. Yeah… I’m a rapist alright… just not some dirty, filthy human type, doing it for fun. So, Shark, in a way, you were wrong as well.”

  Howard got up from off the mattress, and began to get dressed. It was a struggle, with one hand completely out of use, but eventually, Howard stood, fully clothed again. What the fuck do I do now? He thought to himself. I’ve had my party with Shark, salved my conscience with Mary, Lucas and Kay… do I go back out, into the early morning darkness, or just wait here… to die? Howard looked around the grubby bedroom, wrinkling his nose in distaste. Nah, fuck that… I’m not gonna die in this shit-hole. I’d rather it happen when I’m back outside, close to natur
e again. Howard Trenton walked across to the bedroom door, and unlocked it. He looked over at Shark for one last time.

  “We had a deal, girl. It had to be done. I’m not sorry. I’m never sorry. I am what I am.” Said Howard, pulling the bedroom door open. He turned away from Shark, and then left the room. Howard walked down the stairs, then past the body of Ben Askew, who was now dead. “Fucking amateur.” He remarked, with arrogance, as he looked down at the old man. Howard was just about to step out of the front door, when he heard a familiar voice, from somewhere nearby… outside.

  “He’s in there! He’s in there, with my friend!” Shouted the voice. It was Mary. Howard peeked his head outside. The young woman was about fifty yards away, together with three men. She was pointing back towards the farmhouse. “You’ve got to stop him! You’ve got to stop him!” Said Mary.

  “The bitch! She’s managed to contact the coppers. Fucking bitch!” Cursed Howard, fleeing back into the farmhouse. “I should never have let her leave.” He seethed, feeling his hatred towards Mary rise once more. Howard carried on down the hallway, past the staircase, and through to a large kitchen. There was a back door near the corner of the room. Howard hurried over to it. The door was unlocked. He opened it up, and then exited the farmhouse, finding himself in a small backyard. Howard ran down the length of the yard, and then climbed over a small wooden fence at the bottom of it. He made his way through long, wild grass, moving in parallel with the side of the farmhouse. From up in the sky, came a dull, almost thudding sound, rapidly getting closer. Howard looked up. A bright light was approaching.

  “Fucking helicopter.” He growled. Howard continued to move forward, until he found himself at another low, wooden fence. From here, he could see Mary again. There was a policeman stood next to her. Armed. The other two that she was with must be inside the farm, thought Howard. He crouched down, peering over the fence at Mary. I don’t see why I should keep my part of the deal now… you grassed me up, you fucking bitch… Howard took a deep breath; he’d made up his mind. He was going to try and take the policeman by surprise, and then snatch Mary Broderick.