***
Ten minutes later, Howard Trenton arrived at the stretch of water which Shark and Mary had jumped into. He turned the music that he was listening to off, and placed the earphones back in his coat pocket. Shit! I didn’t know that there was a fucking river running through this part of the forest! He thought. Howard raised his nose to the air; the scent of Mary and Shark trailed off at the edge of the water, and then completely disappeared.
“Fuck it!” He cursed. Howard paced up and down at the edge of the river for a few moments. “Those fucking bitches! I don’t believe this. They’ve got away. I can’t track them.” He whined. “Now what am I supposed to do?” Howard asked, losing his temper. He looked down at the river, and then further on, into the darkness of the forest. I’ve lost them. I’ve gone and fucking lost them! I don’t know which way that they've gone! This was supposed to be my last night of fun… now I’ve fucked everything up.
Howard began to walk along the edge of the river, heading south. Maybe I’ll pick up their scent again, at the point where they get out of the water… but then that might be on the opposite fucking riverbank… or in the other direction. Bollocks. I’ve blown all of this, big-style. Howard stopped walking, listening out for a sound, anything, that might give him a hint as to the whereabouts of Mary and Shark. The only noise that he could hear was the distant buzz of the police helicopter. Howard decided to do a quick health-check; he looked down at his broken arm, trying to move his fingers; there was no sensation in them at all. He reached around, with his other hand, to his lower back, feeling at the stab wound, which was scabbed, congealed, but, more importantly, dry. There was no blood. Ah well, at least that’s something. Looks like I’m not gonna bleed to death after all. Howard felt up, to his face, where Shark had hit him with the portable radio. There was a large lump, just above his cheekbone, but otherwise, no damage. His lips, which had been split open, were now scabbed over and sore. Apart from my arm, I’m still in relatively good working order, Howard thought, before continuing with his walk along the river’s edge.
***
Mary and Shark scrambled out of the freezing cold water, and up a muddy riverbank. They were no longer in Skerrington Forest. Shark gave a quick glance across the field that they found themselves in.
“We’ve got to get out of these soaking wet clothes right now, or we’re gonna catch our death.” She said. “Did you manage to keep your backpack out of the water?”
“Yeah.” Answered Mary.
“Good. Come on, let’s get dried off and changed, and then get out of this place. We’re too exposed out here.” Said Shark in an edgy tone. She looked nervously around the field, which was partially illuminated by the moonlight.
“It’s a shame that the helicopter’s not around… they’d spot us out here, for sure.” Commented Mary, pulling a towel from her backpack.
“Yeah, and so would Howard Trenton.” Pointed out Shark, her teeth chattering from the cold. “We can’t hang around here.”
“Do you think that we’ve lost him, Shark?” Asked Mary, with hope in her voice.
“Maybe.” Replied Shark. “Maybe.”
***
After ten minutes of walking, Howard realised that he was no longer in Skerrington Forest. If the girls have come this way, then I’m probably fucked, because the village of Oakden’s not too far from here. That’s if they came this way at all. Howard walked a little further along the riverbank, and then something caught his attention, just to his right. Howard walked away from the water, into a small field.
“What’s all this then?” He said out loud, as he moved across to a small pile of soaking wet clothes that lay on the grass. Howard knelt down, and picked up a soggy jumper, that he recognised straight away as belonging to Shark Mako. Howard looked around, breathing in the cold air through his nose, searching for the scent of his quarry. A familiar smell filled his nostrils, and Howard Trenton smiled to himself.
“I’ve found you, girls. I’ve found you.” He said. Howard threw the wet jumper back down onto the grass, and began to follow the scent of his victims once more. “Looks like we might just be having that little party after all.” He smirked.
***
Mary and Shark found themselves descending a gravel track, bordered by two large hedges.
“You don’t think that we’ve stumbled back onto the Black Pathway, do you?” Wondered Mary.
“No way. This track… look at the hedges, Mary. They’re well-maintained. I think that this might be a part of somebody’s property. If that’s the case, then maybe, just maybe, that person has got a residence somewhere nearby. Fucking hell, I hope to God that we find it… if I’m right that is.” Said Shark. Up ahead of the two women, the gravel track twisted to the left. They followed it around, and that’s when a small farmhouse came into view. “Do you see what I see, Mary Broderick?” Asked Shark, with a huge grin on her face.
“I do, Shark.” Mary responded, and then she put an arm around her friend. “We’ve made it. We’re gonna be okay! Everything’s going to be okay, Shark!” Beamed Mary.
Mary and Shark hurried along the gravel track, and then turned left, up a short stone path that led to the side of the farmhouse. They walked around the perimeter of the building, making their way to the front door of the property.
“There’s a light on, look!” Said Mary, pointing to one of the ground floor windows.
“Thank God. I tell you something, Shark… for a while back there, in that bloody forest, I really thought that we were a goner.” Confessed Mary.
“Same here. Mind you, I won’t feel safe until we’re inside this building.” Replied Shark, who rapped on the front door of the farmhouse with her scratched and swollen knuckles. They heard movement inside the building. Shark knocked on the door again.
“Hang on!” Shouted a male voice.
‘Fuck, imagine if it was somehow Howard inside th…”
“Don’t even joke about it, Mary.” Whispered Shark. There was the sound of a door-bolt being pulled back, and the old, wooden front door opened up. A tall old man, with piercing blue eyes and a shock of thick, grey hair, stood before them.
“Do you realise what time it is?” He asked, wearing a scowl. “It’s almost midnight.”
“We’re sorry sir, but you’ve got to help us.” Replied Shark. “There’s a killer out there in the forest, and…”
“Oh.” Interrupted the elderly man, with a look of surprise. He looked the two young women up and down, noticing their dishevelled appearance. “Is this something to do with the police search? Up on the Black Pathway?” He asked. Shark and Mary both nodded at the same time. “Are you the two girls that they’re looking for?” The man queried further.
“Yes. Can you help us, please?” Mary asked. The elderly man smiled, his blue eyes softening.
“Of course, of course. Come in. Please come in.” He replied, before ushering the two young women into the farmhouse.
***
For a few minutes, Mary and Shark stood in the hallway of the farmhouse, recounting the events of that day to the man, who appeared to be horrified at their plight. After this, the elderly man led Mary and Shark into a small, cozy lounge, and then introduced himself as Stan. He asked the girls what their names were. He raised an eyebrow at Shark’s response.
“I take it that that’s not your real name, young woman?” Stan asked.
“No. It’s Ellen.” Answered Shark.
“You should stick with your christened name. It’s much nicer.” Stan commented.
“I’ve never been christened… anyway, I don’t mean to be rude, but can we use your telephone?” Requested Shark. Stan frowned.
“Erm… I don’t have a telephone.” He responded, with an awkwardness to his voice.
“I don’t mean a mobile… I need to use your landline.” Said Shark.