“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 the 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