“Well, well, well! I’ve finally got my fifteen minutes of fame!” Said Howard Trent, emerging from the undergrowth of Skerrington Forest, together with a terrified Mary, right in front of Shark. “It looks like we all have! Is that your real name then, Shark… ‘Ellen’? That’s a nice name. Ellen, I mean, not ‘Shark’. That’s fucking ridiculous, if you don’t mind my saying so. Oops, forgive me. I don’t think that we’ve met before.” Howard grinned. He walked towards Shark, pushing Mary with him. Shark took a step backwards.
“You’re him, aren’t you? You’re that guy they just mentioned on the radio. Howard?” Replied Shark, trying to stay calm. What the fuck is wrong with his eyes? Is he wearing contacts or something? Shark thought to herself.
“Yeah, I’m Howard. Mary here… her sister is married to my cousin, Lucas. That’s right, isn’t it Mary?” Asked Howard, and he forced Mary to nod in agreement by pushing and pulling with his hand at her mouth.
Shark felt a surge of anger at Howard’s humiliation of her friend.
“Let go of Mary.” She ordered.
“No. I don’t want to.” Replied Howard Trenton, with a sickly grin on his face.
“I said let go of her.” Repeated Shark.
“I’m happy having Mary right here with me, thanks.” Said Howard. He took another step towards Shark. This time, she stood her ground. Howard glanced at Shark’s hair. “That’s a nice haircut… dated, but, yeah, I like it.” He commented. “Very eighties. A bit like how that singer… what was her name now… Grace Jones… used to wear hers. Except yours is blonde. Well, bottle blonde.” Howard went on, trying to provoke Shark.
“Did you enjoy hearing about yourself on the radio?” Shark suddenly asked.
“Oh yes. Fame at last.” Smirked Howard. “I’m a fucking celebrity… get me out of here!” He took another step towards Shark, so that he was practically within touching distance to her.
“You’re suited to that sort of thing.” Commented Shark. Howard looked at her, puzzled.
“Suited to what?” He asked.
“You know, you… the radio… you’re suited to it.” Advised Shark.
“I don’t understand what you’re…” Howard was cut short as Shark swung the portable radio in a horizontal arc, slamming it with incredible force, right into the side of his head. Immediately, Howard’s legs buckled from underneath him and, not for the first time that day, he crashed to the ground, letting go of Mary in the process. He landed close to the radio which, miraculously, was still working.
Howard rolled around on the floor, clutching at the side of his head. A wound had opened up on it, and it was beginning to pour with blood. He looked up. Shark was hovering over him. She swooped down, and dragged Howard back to his feet, her hands gripping at his overcoat. Howard felt a wave of dizziness travel through his head.
“Not so fucking big now, are you?” Growled Shark, before executing a judo throw on Howard that sent him flying over her shoulder, and back to the ground again. He felt something in his shoulder crack, and pain shot down his arm.
“You fucking bitch!” He screamed. Howard rolled onto his side, and tried to reach for the knife that was in his coat pocket. His arm wouldn’t move. “You’ve bust my fucking arm!” He yelled, in anger. Shark knelt down beside him.
“Good. That’s nothing to what I’m going to do to you…”
“No, Shark.” Cried Mary, pulling at Shark’s arm. “Let’s just leave, get out of this place.” She pleaded.
“You’re a piece of shit.” Shark whispered into Howard’s ear, before grunting and then spitting a large greenie at his face.
“I’d do as Mary says, and quit while you’re ahead, if I were you.” Remarked Howard Trenton, Shark’s spit and snot splattered across his cheek and nose. He rolled onto his back, and stared up at the sky, which was finally clearing of mist. I can see the stars… somewhere out there is my home. Thought Howard. A home that I’ll never know.
Shark Mako got to her feet, towering over Howard Trenton.
“Come on. Let’s just go.” Repeated Mary. Suddenly, Gary Ackley appeared in the woods. He walked up to his friends, and then looked down at Howard, who was lying on the floor, clutching at his arm.
“Howard?” He asked.
“How are you doing, Gary? Your hair looks shit.” Croaked Howard, referring to Gary’s flattened blue mohican, which was hanging down, over his eyes.
“I take it that you know this freak?” Observed Shark. Gary nodded. “He’s the one that murdered Alex, and then snatched Mary.” She went on. Gary Ackley looked down at Howard, shocked.
“Why, Howard? Why did you do that to Alex?” He asked. Gary turned to Shark. “What’s wrong with his eyes?” He mumbled.
“Fucking contact lenses.” Answered Shark. Howard smiled.
“Because the little fucker knifed me in the back.” He advised, referring to Alex.
“What, you mean because of him going out with Mary?” Gary responded, confused.
“No. He actually knifed me in the fucking back, Gary.” Answered Howard. He rolled onto his front, and pulled up his clothes, exposing the stab wound inflicted by Alex Crennell. Gary winced at the sight of the ugly puncture, which was clogged up with congealed, scabbing blood.
“Don’t listen to him, Gary. He’s going for the sympathy vote. He murdered Alex, and he took Mary.” Said Shark.
“I know what he did.” Gary replied, still staring down at Howard.
“The police are after him. He murdered some old man back in Coldsleet.” Shark told Gary.
“How do you know that? “Gary asked.
“I heard it on the news, just a few minutes ago… it was on your radio.” Answered Shark.
Gary stared down at Howard Trenton, who had rolled onto his back again.
“Did you murder Alfie Whitehouse, Howard?” He asked.
“Yep.” Howard replied, matter-of-fact. “He was a miserable old bastard who had it coming. I killed Kate Williams, too.” He grinned. “Just last night, as it goes. I cut her throat… you should have seen the blood, Gary. So much blood…”
“What, Kate from the college?” Replied Gary, his voice quivering. Howard nodded.
“We should finish him off, here and now.” Said Shark. “You can see what he’s like. He’s a fucking murderer. He doesn’t deserve to live.”
“No, we should just leave him here. You heard what it said on the radio, Shark. The police are searching this area. Let them deal with him.” Mary reminded Shark.
“Mary’s right. You three need to get out of here, fast.” Exclaimed Howard. Shark stared down at the serial killer.
“Oh, and what’s it to you?” She asked.
“Well, you’ll get a head-start on me, if you go now.” Smiled Howard. “A couple of minutes lead. Hey, you might just make it to safety. I can’t offer you anything fairer than that now, can I? Go on, run. While you still can.” He said. Shark knelt back down, close to Howard, and grabbed at his neck.
“Nah. You’re a wild animal, Howard, and I think that you need putting down, right now.” She snarled. Then, suddenly, Howard’s fist shot upwards, delivering a blow to Shark’s chin. The young woman crashed onto her side, felled by the punch, knocked completely unconscious. Howard rose to his feet, unsteadily. He stared at Gary and Mary.
“I’ll honour what I just said. You’ve got two minutes.” Howard looked at his watch. “Starting… NOW.”
“I’m not leaving without Shark.” Replied Gary. Howard had another go at pulling the knife from his coat pocket. This time, he managed to do so.
“Well, if you don’t, then you’ll have to watch me use this thing on her, before I do the same to Mary.” Said Howard, referring to the knife. “Your choice… and you’ve just wasted twenty seconds.” He smiled. Gary grabbed Mary’s hand.
“Run!” He shouted.
Chapter Twenty Three