Mary Broderick got out of her bed and wriggled back into a pair of jeans that she had earlier slung on the floor.
“Are you always this impulsive, Alex?” She asked, smiling.
‘Yep.” Came his brief response.
“This Black Pathway… is it, you know, dangerous? Howard told me that there’s a couple of mountains involved.” Wondered Mary.
“It’s just a walk, Mary. A very long walk.” Alex replied.
“I take it that you’ve done it before then?”
“Yeah, of course.” Said Alex, with dishonesty. “It’s a piece of piss.”
“But Howard told me that it can be dangerous in parts.” Mary responded.
“Howard doesn’t know what the fuck he’s talking about.” Snapped Alex, struggling to keep his temper. “I bet that he’s never actually walked the trail. He was probably just trying to impress you.” Alex added, with utter hypocrisy.
“You really don’t like Howard, do you?” Observed Mary.
“No, I don’t. He’s a sullen, stroppy little shit.” Said Alex. Mary remembered how Howard had turned on her, down at Hingley beach. She didn’t mention this to Alex.
“Okay, Alex. We’ll do the Black Pathway this weekend… as long as I can get the Monday off work. It shouldn't be a problem though.” Smiled Mary.
“Nice one.” Responded Alex, who was desperate to put himself back on an even-keel against Howard Trenton.
***
Howard Trenton walked down the road where Kate Williams lived, near to Coldsleet Harbour. It was late, getting on for midnight. So, Kate, you think that it’s okay to just dump me like that? Have your fucking way with me and then discard me like I’m some worthless piece of shit? Well, we’ll see about that, thought Howard, angrily. It’s not as if I’ve got anything to lose. I know… KNOW that that cunt Tom Grogan is onto me about Alfie Whitehouse… it’s just a matter of time before he comes knocking on my door again, and not to ask to borrow my fucking hi-tops, either. I’m gonna end up being banged away, so I may as well go out with a bang. Howard reached the front gate of Kate William’s home and smiled to himself. You’re gonna go all cold on me, Kate? Soon, you’ll now what it’s like to go really fucking cold. You want to be a frosty little bitch? Well, you’re gonna get exactly what you wish for. Suddenly, Kate’s front door opened up, causing Howard to jump. He lurched sidewards, away from the front gate, and hid behind a nearby hedgerow. Howard peered around the hedge. Kate was stood on her front doorstep. With a man. A man that Howard Trenton knew. His name was Alan Lane, and he was an English language lecturer at Elman College.
Howard peeked out and watched as Kate Williams embraced Alan Lane, before kissing him fully on the lips. The teenager felt a surge of resentment and anger swell inside him.
“Promise that you’ll stay over tomorrow night?” Kate asked Alan.
“Of course. No getting up for work the next morning to worry about, not on a Friday evening.” Replied the English tutor. Howard heard this, and felt his stomach knot. He imagined Alan fucking Kate from behind, just like he had done, not very long ago. What the fuck? Thought Howard. I’m getting a fucking hard-on. I’m getting a stiffy… as I torture myself thinking about that… silly drip… shafting MY Kate. What the hell is wrong with me?
“Shall I bring some wine over tomorrow?” Asked Alan Lane, a short, weedy-looking man with a greying crew-cut.
“That’d be nice.” Answered Kate. “We could get a takeaway, too.” She suggested.
“Sounds ideal.” Said Alan. The pair kissed again. “Right, I’d best be making tracks. See you in college tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow.” Replied Kate. Alan walked up the pathway, opened the small front gate, and walked past the hedgerow where Howard was hiding. Except Howard had already gone.
***
The next morning, Howard Trenton looked out of his bedroom window; there was no sign of any police activity across the road, over at Alfie Whitehouse’s home. They’ve probably already got all of the fucking evidence that they need to arrest me, pondered Howard, gloomily. A knock on the bedroom door interrupted Howard’s thoughts.
“Come in.” Said Howard. His cousin, Lucas, entered the room.
‘Are you not going to college today, Howard? Only it’s getting on for eight o’clock?” Lucas asked.
“Oh, I’ve got a late start today, Luke.” Replied Howard. “I’m gonna drive into Elman… I can’t be arsed hanging around in the cold for a bus.” He added. Lucas nodded.
“So, what do you think about this whole Mary and Alex business?” Wondered Lucas. Howard felt his body tense up at just the mention of Alex Crennell’s name.
“I think that Mary’s making a big mistake getting involved with that cunt.” Answered Howard, with venom.
“Blimey, don’t mince your words, eh Howard?” Laughed Lucas.
“He’s a wanker.” Continued the teenager. ‘Mary’s too good for him.”
“I agree with you there. Still, there’s not much we can do about it. Mary’s a grown woman. It’s not up to us who she chooses to go out with.” Pointed out Lucas. Howard grunted, but other than that, he didn't reply.
Lucas picked at a flake of paint that was coming off the door-frame into Howard’s bedroom.
“Hey, Howard. You’ve walked the Black Pathway, haven’t you?” He asked his cousin.
“Sure. Why?” Howard replied.
“Is it safe to walk, you know, in the middle of winter?” Wondered Lucas. Howard let out a little laugh.
“Not really… unless you’re experienced… and I do mean experienced. Hardly anyone walks the trail during the winter. Why? You’re not thinking about having a bash at it, are you Luke? Coz I’d hold off until the spring, if I were you.” Said Howard. Lucas smiled.
“Nah, walking up mountains isn’t my thing. It’s Mary. She reckons that her and Alex are going to do the Black Pathway walk this weekend.” Lucas told him. Howard felt a stab of jealousy; HE had wanted to take Mary on that walk.
“Then they’re fucking crazy, the pair of them. They’ll never make it.” Commented Howard, with a cynical laugh. “They won’t even make it to Knighton, not in the middle of winter. The walk will fucking kill them.” He went on.
“Kay and Mary were arguing about it this morning, after Mary told her what she’d got planned. Kay said pretty much what you’ve just told me, that it’s not a walk to be tackled in the winter. Mary wouldn't listen.” Said Lucas.
“Yeah, well she’ll wish that she fucking listened when her and her shit-head boyfriend are wondering around Skerrington forest in the middle of the night, lost, hungry, and shivering their bones off. Pair of idiots.” Remarked Howard.
Lucas leaned against the door-frame.
“Maybe, Howard, you could have a word with Mary? Try talking some sense into her?” Suggested Lucas.
“No. Fuck the pair of them. If they wanna go traipsing up the Black Pathway at this time of the year, then I say let them.” Howard stared at his cousin. “Don’t worry, Lucas, they won’t die up there. Well, probably not.” He said. Lucas frowned, concerned. “Hey, I’m just kidding. Most people who die on the Black Pathway snuff it up on Knighton or Hoffen Mountain. Trust me, Mary and Alex won’t get that far. When are they thinking of heading out there?” Howard wanted to know.
“Tomorrow morning.” Lucas answered.
“Stupid fuck-wits. They’ll be back before teatime.” Said Howard.
“Do you reckon?” Asked Lucas, seeking some reassurance from his cousin, who had walked the Black Pathway many times before.
“I’d put money on it. Just let them get on with it, Lucas, learn things the hard way. I fucking hate people like those two…”
“Hey, come on now, Howard, Mary’s my sister-in-law… and you don’t hate her.” Lucas said, upset at Howard’s vitriol.
“I don’t mean that I hate Mary… I just hate the attitude of people like her, and Alex, you know… they’ve got no fucking respect for nature… they think that…”