'Send him to me David,’ his father said. 'Let me finish it.’
'What? NO!'
'David, listen to me. I'm an old man and I can never make up for the things I've done. Your mother doesn't have much time left. Let me do this one thing for you. For her.’ The whole time he was speaking his right hand was behind his back. Slowly he brought it forward showing a giant bread knife he had been hiding so well. 'Send him to me David. I know what I'm doing.’
In the end Dave had no control over that anyway. Dex smashed against his side once again and for a few seconds he lost consciousness. It was all the window Dex needed and he felt his presence leave his body and head directly for his father.
The relief was so overwhelming as Dex finally broke free of Dave. So overwhelming in fact that he failed to see the body he was flying into was firstly ready for him and secondly armed with a knife. He shot into John Strutter and the second John felt his presence, he thrust the knife deep into his own heart.
'LILY!' was all he could manage and then collapsed to the floor.
Relief turned to panic as Dex sensed his host on the verge of death. A dying host would also be the death of him and faced with either dying or being trapped in a prison, he chose life and shot back into Dave.
This time however, Dave was expecting him and this time he thought his better option would be to face Dex in Shael.
Chapter 28
'The Naval task force under the command of Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse set off from Portsmouth this morning to begin the nearly eight thousand mile voyage to the Falkland Islands. The quickly assembled fleet comprising some forty three vessels including the aircraft carriers HMS Hermes and Invincible will be joined by.....'
David's father clicked off the car radio.
'Looks like we're really going to war this time,’ he said. Lily squeezed his hand from the passenger seat.
'What does it mean Dad?' asked David. 'Are they coming here?'
'No, nothing like that,’ he said. 'What it means Davey is that some dodgy Argentinians are about to get their arses kicked!'
'John!' his mother teased. 'Not in front of the kids.’
His father laughed. 'My humble apologies oh mighty mistress. What I meant to say was about to get their bottoms kicked.’
'That's better,’ she said and patted his hand mockingly.
'Will you have to go fight dad?' David asked. He had an impressive collection of toy soldiers himself and at nine years old had a fascination with all things Army.
'No, nothing like that,’ he said. 'I can't see them drafting anyone on this one. I expect it will be all over in a couple of weeks. I bet your grandad will be itching to sign up though.’
Lily snatched her hand away and folded them both in her lap.
'How long do we have to stay today mum?' Katy had been quiet in the back seat until now.
'Just a few hours I expect,’ said Lily. 'Pop is getting very old. Doesn't like a lot of visitors.’
'He freaks me out,’ said Katy.
'Don't be like that,’ said Lily. 'He's been through a lot over the years, but he's just an old man now.’
'Yeah I get that,’ she said. 'But why does he have to be so mean, especially to grandma?'
She gave a sideways glance to John which both David and Katy picked up.'Like I said, he's been through a lot. It's just a few hours and then how about KFC on the way home?'
There was a resounding 'Yay!' from both kids and indeed John and they continued their journey to Lily's parents house.
Three months after this visit during the Easter holidays, Pop was dead. The Coroner said a stroke and that he died peacefully in his sleep. Lily's mother had said that in the weeks leading up to his death, Pop was like a changed man. The problem was, in the three months leading up to her father's death Lily could have said the same about her husband.
Dave shook this not quite so random thought from his head as he flipped himself and Dex back to Shael. He desperately wanted to dwell on these memories when all four of them were together. Happy times. Safe times. Times he could live in forever. But his mind was still in shock at the sight of his father plunging the knife deep inside of himself.
He was also angry. Angry at Dex for taking so much of their lives away. Angry at his mother for keeping him out of the loop until it was too late to do anything about it. Angry at his father for the selfless but unnecessary act that had now denied him any kind of reconciliation. But most of all he was angry at himself. Angry for being so weak and useless that his parents were left to these desperate measures entirely on their own.
His one shot of redemption was to finish it all now. Finally rid them of this Dex. Finally do what should have been done years before. He knew he had no chance of beating him in the state he was back home. Left inside him any longer and he would likely kill him - even if that meant the death of Dex himself. Over here in Shael, Dave knew he had a fighting chance. Being the one in control of where they crossed could also give Dave the advantage.
Potentially.
Dave and Dex appeared almost simultaneously in a no man's land just short of a cliff staircase. Knowing exactly where he was flipping, gave Dave a vital head start, but only seconds. It was liberating to be free from the crippling injuries and as soon as he was over, he was sprinting away from Dex and up the steps towards the tunnel entrance. He paused before entering and picked something from the ground; then disappeared into the darkness.
Dex, confused to be back in human form so quickly, took more than a moment to find his bearings. When he had, he caught site of the back of Dave disappearing into the tunnel above. He roared with rage, turned into the dog and raced up the steps after him. He still desperately needed to feed, but to be back in a physical form was more preferable to the virtual prison he had expected to be trapped in. He neared the tunnel entrance, paused and shouted down the shaft.
'No point in running boy!' he called. 'Wherever you try to hide, I will find you.’ When there was no answer he turned back to human and went in.
The cave was its usual damp dark self and Dex had to fully concentrate to not slip on the greasy floor. He was having trouble sensing the boy and he strained his ears for any sounds, but there was nothing. What was troubling was the fact that he couldn’t sense him either. When he was tracking Lily he could pinpoint her location like a radar. WIth the boy it was different, it was like he wasn’t there.
The cave jagged at right angles to the left and he was plunged into complete darkness. He knew the internal cavern with its weird array of blue lights was just up ahead and for the time being he would have to make his way along the tunnel by touch.
Minutes later, the gentle blue glow of the inner cavern began to light up the tunnel and he called again.
‘You can’t hide in here boy,’ he said. ‘I can sense your every move.’ This last part was clearly a lie and it was disconcerting the way he had just disappeared. A very real thought that he had been left stranded here began to materialise in his mind. Then, like the flick of the switch he sensed the boy again, moving fast. But something was wrong because it seemed like the boy was behind him. He began to turn and then CRASH, his head was instantly full of pain and stars as the boy struck him; sending him tumbling to the floor of the tunnel.
He’s behind me! He thought. How did he get behind me?
Dave had heard Dex call down the tunnel after him, but had waited until he heard him shuffling his way down before he made his move. He had picked up a decent sized rock at the cave's entrance and had come up with a crude but hopefully effective plan.
The minute he heard Dex making his way along the tunnel he flipped himself. Not back to the house this time, but back to the very same place he had just flipped to; right at the foot of the cliffs. Like an incredibly vivid Deja-vu, he again sprinted up the rugged staircase and entered the cave behind Dex.
He was pretty sure Dex had a way to track him over here so whatever he was going to do had to be quick. His eyes were still adjusting to the light
as he made the sharp dogleg left into darkness, but the soft blue glow from the inner chamber silhouetted Dex perfectly in the cramped confines of the cave. At the last minute he sensed awareness in Dex, but it was too late. Halfway through his turn, Dave smashed the rock against the side of his head. There was a soft, wet thud and Dex crumpled in a heap on the ground. Dave wasn’t about to take any chances and smashed the rock down a second time.
With Dex just a dark heap on the floor, the second blow was less effective and only thudded into his shoulder. Dex, in a dizzy daze at this point saw this as an opportunity to escape and kicked out at Dave. It was a hopeful shot in the dark, but fortunately for Dex it landed squarely in Dave’s balls. Being half blind with the darkness, he was unprepared for the hit and as soon as it landed he doubled over in agony.
The next twenty seconds were a blur for both of them. Dex was sprawled out on the cave floor with blood pouring from the side of his head. His ears were ringing and when he tried to move his arms and legs weren’t playing ball. Ironically, Dave’s balls were not playing ball either. The pain was so extreme he was now kneeling on the floor of the cave holding his crown jewels and wanting to shit and puke all at the same time. He thought his plan was too simplistic to go wrong, but he hadn’t counted on a lashing donkey kick from his nemesis.
It was Dex that miraculously gained some sort of control first. He couldn’t stand or even kneel, but what he could do was crawl his way along the tunnel floor; away from the boy and towards the lights of the inner sanctum. The injury he had sustained to his head made rational thought impossible at the moment, but a basic instinct to run had kicked in.
The throbbing in Dave’s balls had gradually begun to subside, so too had the feeling he was going to vomit. He knew Dex was crawling away from him towards the inner cavern and getting gingerly to his feet, he followed.
The blue lights were illuminating more of the tunnel now and he guessed that Dex was almost at the inner staircase.
‘How does it feel Dex,’ he said.
The figure on the floor froze. ‘How does what feel boy?’ said Dex. Although his words were very slurred and Dave had trouble working out what he was saying.
‘How does it feel knowing I’ve got the better of you? Knowing you are going to die. Knowing that your pathetic life has all been for nothing.’
‘You will be the one dying today,’ he slurred again. ‘You will die the same way your mother died; begging me for your life.’
‘Nice try Dex,’ he said. ‘I know you haven’t killed my mother. In the end she was too strong for you. In the end she got the payback she deserved. I am going to take great pleasure in telling her how you begged me not to kill you at the end. How you turned out to be just as weak as she always knew you were.’
‘You are wrong boy! Today it is you that die.’ Somehow, despite his injuries Dex leaped from the floor straight at Dave. The gloom still made it hard to see, but Dave did have time to throw up his hands in self defence. Much like Dex’s groin kick moments earlier Dave landed a lucky blow. His arms caught Dex on the chin in an almost perfect upper-cut and Dave caught a brief glimpse of a pair of shocked eyes and then they were gone as Dex stumbled backwards.
Like an exaggerated cartoon character Dave could make out Dex’s arms wheeling. Seizing the opportunity, he stepped forward and landed a kick to Dex’s chest. There was a winded oomph and then the silhouette was gone as Dex fell over the edge of the precipice into the darkness below.
Chapter 29
Dave stood at the edge of the drop and peered over into the cavern below. There had been no dramatic scream as Dex as fallen, just silence as he slipped away. A part of him still could not believe he had gone and any second expected him to appear from the pit. He waited for another five minutes and when there was still nothing, he moved away from the edge and made his way back along the tunnel.
The swiftness and anticlimactic nature of the end left Dave with a sour taste in his mouth. There was so much more he wanted to say, but knew now he never would get the chance. He had to take comfort from the fact that their lifelong torment had finally come to an end.
He made his way out of the tunnel and into the open air. The no-man’s land was as grey and lifeless as ever and he meant to spend as little time here as possible. As soon as he was clear of the cliff, he flipped back.
Back to the house.
His father was lying where he had fallen in the kitchen doorway. Any hope that he may still be alive was dashed as soon as he saw the amount of blood pooling on the floor and his father's pallid face. He knelt next to the body and pulled out the knife which came away with a soft sucking sound. He gently closed his father’s eyelids and held his hand. He sat that way for a while and knew before long the tears would come. There was also so much he wanted to say to his father, but for now he would have to make do with silence and hold on to the few remaining good memories he still had.
After a while he stood and wiped his eyes. His head was still throbbing and his side still ached - nowhere near as much as when Dex was inside him - but he knew he had to take care. Eventually he supposed he would have to get himself to a hospital and get it checked out properly. For now though, he had some unfinished business. He knew he needed to make contact with Jenny and the boys and he knew he had some work to do in his parents house, but firstly he had to see his mother.
He closed his eyes and flipped.
The cottage still stood as it did before with a tiny curl of smoke making its way from the chimney. It was bathed in beautiful late afternoon sunshine that was in marked contrast to the horrors that had just gone. Dave walked through the grassy area and opened the gate with Lily’s Pad engraved on it. He entered the garden and sitting on a two seater rocking chair he hadn’t noticed on his first visit, was his mother. She sat with her eyes closed and face tilted, soaking up the sun. Dave took a seat next to her and for a long time neither spoke.
‘Is it done?’ she said finally.
Dave nodded. ‘Yeah, it’s done. He’s gone.’
‘Well that’s good then,’ she said, still with her eyes closed.
‘Mum, about dad,’ he said. ‘I’m so sorry, I couldn’t get him away.’
She smiled and held his hand. ‘Don’t be sorry Davey. It was the only way.’
‘But I could’ve saved him.’
‘Yes you could,’ she said. ‘And then what? Your father would have to live with what he’s done. You would have to live with what he’s done. This way is better.’
‘How can you say that? He was your husband! He never did those things to you.’
She turned to face him. ‘Davey, the man I fell in love with. The man I married, is long gone. He’s not responsible for the things he did, but he did know what was going on even if he had no control over it. That’s not something he could live with on his conscience.’
‘I don’t see how you can be so flippant about it, that’s all,’ he said.
‘I’m not being flippant Davey, I’m just tired. At the end your father did what he needed to do. I'm not going to be around for much longer and maybe it was his way of, you know, redemption.’
'What's next then?' he said. 'Just stay here? Wait until you blink out?'
'You don't need to worry about me Davey. You need to go live your life now. Give those two boys of yours the best life you can. Be the man I know you can be; the man I have seen over here these past few days. Some are born to live. Others like your father and I were born to fight and suffer so that others can live. Besides, it's not like I'll be on my own.’
'What do you mean?' he said.
His mother flicked her eyes past him towards the end of the pathway. Walking hand in hand were his father and Katy. Just like he remembered before evil came into their lives.
Dave smiled. 'How long do you think you'll have over here?' he said.
'Oh I don't know. I don't have the strength to go back and I've got everything I need right here. I'm sure my 'body' will give out in a week or so and then, who
knows. Maybe two weeks, maybe a month.’
Dave sighed and grabbed her hand.
'Please don't mourn for me Davey. This is what I want.’
He nodded as his father and sister came to them. His father inexplicably held out his hand and Dave shook it.
'You did what needed to be done David,’ he said. 'You're mother and I are incredibly proud of you.’
'Nice one fucktard,’ his sister chimed in and punched his arm playfully.
They all stood that way smiling for a good few minutes and then he felt his mother's hand in his. She lead him away to the end of the garden.
'They're not really here are they?' he said. Motioning back along the path.
'They are here as much as you want them to be,’ she said. 'For now it's all I need.’
Dave chuckled at the ambiguity. 'You know what?' he said. 'I don't think I'll ever understand this place.’
'That's what makes it so beautiful and so dangerous all at the same time.’
Dave held her then. Held her like he was that ten year old boy again with a whole world in front of him. A world of adventure and excitement. A world of the unknown.
'You will come visit right?' she said.
'Of course I will. I've got a whole world to protect now!' He desperately wanted this last part to be true, but deep down he knew if he was to return to this cottage, his mother wouldn't be there.
'Good bye mum,’ he said. 'Stay safe.’
'I will Davey. You keep those boys and that lovely wife of yours safe too. They deserve the life your father and I couldn't give you.’
He hugged her again and kissed her cheek. It was wet with tears and as he walked away through the tall grass, he noticed his was too.
It took hours, but eventually he put things back to a state of normality at the house. His side and knee were incredibly hindering but bit by bit he got the jobs done. He cleaned his father up and with a lot of effort got him upstairs and laid him next to his mother on the bed. She still looked terribly frail, but peaceful as she lay there seemingly asleep. Their bodies would eventually be found he supposed and to the outside world she would appear to be in a coma until she gradually drifted away. Dave would always know better.
Homecoming Page 16
