by P L Kane
By the time the men had a grip on Mitch once more and Granger was readying to shoot again, Daniel was already there, had hold of the weapon and was wrestling it sideways out of the farmer’s grasp, flinging it to the ground. Granger immediately lashed out with a ham-fisted punch, which Daniel neatly avoided, bringing his own hand up, palm outwards to smack him under the chin. The large farmer toppled like a chimney being demolished.
Meanwhile, the men were still pulling Mitch towards the fire, had been tasked with throwing him on it and they were bloody well going to carry that out no matter what was happening around them.
He was vaguely aware of one of them letting go of him on his right – so Mitch turned, saw another bloke there. This one was in a suit, however: shirt, tie (loosened, granted), jacket, in spite of the heat; and a haircut which looked like a wave was crashing over his forehead. He’d obviously grabbed Granger’s gun, because he’d just felled one of the men with the butt of it, was bringing it around to swipe another with the side of the weapon.
Mitch couldn’t be sure of it, of course, but he was willing to bet that this guy was a copper. Plainclothes perhaps?
The policeman brought a knee up and the remaining hooded man on the right crumpled up like a used tissue. ‘Wotcha!’ said the man to Mitch, before two other hooded figures grabbed him and dragged him back into the crowds.
There were still the others on the left pulling Mitch, desperate to get him into that fire. But Daniel was helping now, dropping one by kicking him in the back of the knee. Chopping another on the back of the neck. The remaining hooded man Mitch elbowed in the face himself, causing the guy’s nose to explode with redness.
He heard a scream at that point, spun around just in time to see his Aunty Helen coming at him like a missile. It was clearly her intention to hit him, pushing him those final few feet onto the pyre.
She was intercepted at the last moment by another woman: Leah sideswiping her, rugby-tackling her to the ground. They went down in a blur of maroon and creams, rolling over and over. But where was his uncle Vince?
Mitch spotted him, too late, advancing on the other side, trying to do what his wife had failed to. Except he was gazing at Mitch, trying to do something with his eyes. Mitch looked down immediately, looked away. Had fallen for that trick too many times lately. But that didn’t stop the man reaching him, trying to shove him backwards.
Instead, Mitch angled his body to the side and Vince stumbled, tripped. Ended up ramming into the bonfire himself headlong. It was only now that Mitch looked, seeing the flame on top rising even higher, being fed with a sacrifice – albeit not the one it was expecting. As a consequence of Vince hitting those piles of wood, though, it destabilised the entire bonfire at the base.
Logs began to drop, flaming branches rolling off and along the floor. One, he saw, rolled to the side of the wooden wall of the barn and set that alight. In no time at all this entire place, mirroring Green Acres itself, would be an inferno.
Then he felt it, a hand snaking into his. Tugging.
Still a bit dazed and confused, Mitch looked down, then up into the face of the person who’d grabbed hold of his hand.
And, in all honesty, he couldn’t believe what was happening.
Chapter 34
Ashley Watts couldn’t believe what he was doing, how he’d got here.
When they’d been surrounded by the figures at his car, he thought they were done for. Here, without any kind of official blessing and definitely without the benefit of any sort of official backup. It wasn’t only going to be Bella’s brother that was killed at this rate.
Leaving them no way forwards, no way back, and opening up the doors. Then the pair of them were outside of the car, surrounded, with people asking what they were doing there. Why they were at some place called ‘The Commune’. Jesus, Bella had never mentioned this might be about a cult! Watts suddenly felt in way over his head, and here with a person who’d been ‘seeing things’, who thought she might have set fire to her own home! He’d read about folk like this, what they did to interlopers.
Then Bella spoke up, ‘I’m here to talk with Daniel. Daniel and Leah.’
It was even worse than he’d feared: she knew these people. Whether she was in this with them, or just knew the people by name who’d snatched her brother, he had no way of knowing. All he did know was, she hadn’t let him call the police – even before he’d dropped and smashed his mobile – and it probably explained why. She definitely seemed quite chummy with those two when they arrived, wandered off while Watts continued to be watched by the members of this Commune, all dressed in cream pyjamas not dissimilar to the ones he’d lent Bella when she’d come to stay.
He watched as she chatted to them, saw her point back at him a couple of times. Imagined her saying something along the lines of, ‘We must dispose of the unbeliever I’ve lured back here,’ like some kind of old-school villain or femme fatale. The tall man she’d called Daniel nodded, then Leah did as well. Finally, they returned and Daniel shouted for someone called James, to explain and spread the word.
Bella came around to his side of the car, the people who’d been ‘guarding’ him dispersing. ‘What’s going on?’ he asked her.
‘You wanted backup, Ashley. Here’s your backup.’
‘I don’t understand.’
She promised she’d tell him everything later. For the time being, though: ‘We need to go and find my brother, before it’s too late.’
Luckily, she’d known exactly where he would be, too – as if she was being directed somehow. Her mother perhaps, not that Watts believed she’d been in contact with the dead woman. Not really. Or did he? Because there was the bike, run off the side of the road like Bella said it would be. And there was the barn, where she said they would find Mitch. They’d headed up there like some kind of convoy, all the folk from the Commune in tow and in their vehicles. Watts had worried that maybe they’d make too much noise to sneak up on anyone, let alone the numbers Bella reckoned were involved in this at the farm, but they were otherwise engaged in the barn. ‘They’re going to kill him in there,’ Bella said, pointing to the building.
‘Why?’ he said, shaking his head. ‘I still don’t—’
‘You don’t need to, Ashley. Not yet. There’ll be time for all that later on. You just need to trust me. To help me.’ She’d placed a hand on his arm again and he found himself nodding.
Then suddenly they were there. James and a couple of others had instructions to phone the authorities from the farmhouse (they were assured they’d get through), making sure they were put through to the regional division. While the rest of them stormed that barn, trying to save Mitch.
When Daniel opened the door, Watts’ mouth had hung open in disbelief. This was the real cult, some real Wicker Man and Midsommar shit going on. And in the middle of it all, about to be chucked onto the bonfire, was Bella’s little brother.
Next came the fight, the battle of the barn, and he’d run off to try to prevent Mitch’s fate – scooping up a discarded shotgun in the process, which he had hoped he could fire and disperse the enemy. No such luck. In the end he’d whacked two or three of the nutjobs with the butt of it, then been dragged back into the fray again, the shotgun knocked out of his hands.
But he had seen Bella rushing past, heading for her brother. Taking him by the hand and leading him away from the bonfire, as bits of it fell off and started more fires on the floor, the walls. Trying to get him to safety. Watts lost sight of them momentarily, someone grabbing him by the throat. It was all too familiar, this: the way certain murders had been committed the year before.
Watts brought up his hands and grabbed the wrists of his attacker, trying to lever those fingers away from his neck. However, the grip was strong, so strong he couldn’t believe it. Couldn’t believe what he was doing: fighting for his life.
Fighting for his life in a burning barn, so far from home.
Chapter 35
It was good to see him again, even under
these circumstances.
Good to see him alive, definitely. Bella had worked her way through the crowds, through the fighting, to get to her brother. Daniel and Ashley had been trying to help him, clearing away the robed figures holding him. And Mitch himself had just narrowly escaped being shoved into the fire by their Uncle Vince, who was now languishing in the flames himself; Bella wasn’t about to shed any tears over that particular relative.
Leah was busy holding down Helen, which left the way clear for Bella to get Mitch away from the immediate threat. When she’d taken his hand, he’d gaped at her like he couldn’t believe she was really there.
‘Bella? Bella, is that you?’ he’d asked.
‘Yeah, it’s me,’ she told him.
‘What are you doing here?’
‘Later,’ she said.
He let her pull him away, and Bella was pleased to see members of the Commune grabbing children and getting them to safety as well, carrying some outside. They shouldn’t have been in here in the first place, but certainly not now the barn was burning up. They were almost at the door themselves when someone stepped in their way, pushing Mitch to the ground and taking a swipe at her.
It was a woman, about Mitch’s age. She thought she heard her brother call out, ‘Denise!’ and that name rang a vague bell for her, from her time living in Green Acres.
‘Can’t let you take him, love,’ said the woman.
‘I’m not your love.’
The woman grinned, then pulled out a large knife from under her robes. She swiped it from left to right, and Bella arched herself to avoid the blade. The woman lunged and Bella grabbed the arm, but had trouble hanging on to it because it was moving around like a live snake. Denise brought up her free hand, which had curled into a fist, but Bella managed to dodge the blow to her temple. She’d fallen for that move before.
Then Mitch was back on his feet and helping her with the knife-hand, yanking it back and forcing Denise to let go of her weapon.
‘Mitch, don’t do this. I love you!’ she screamed. Just who the hell was this crazy cow?
‘You’re trying to kill me!’ he yelled back at her.
Denise shook her head, like he just didn’t get it. Then she wrestled herself out of their grip, kicked Bella and launched herself at Mitch again. It was like a lover’s embrace gone wrong, like she wanted them both to go into the fire – so they could stay together forever, presumably.
What stopped them was Ashley Watts, shotgun raised and pointed at Denise’s head. ‘I wouldn’t if I were you,’ he said, wrenching his neck where Bella could see finger marks; obviously one of the robed figures he’d had to deal with. ‘I’m having a really bad day.’
‘You’re having a bad day,’ Mitch answered.
Watts smiled, then prodded Denise so she’d let go. ‘Okay, Bella, get your brother out of here,’ he told her and she thanked him.
‘Ashley, look out!’ Bella shouted.
But it was too late, Denise was rushing him, grabbing for the shotgun. The pair struggled with it, and both Mitch and Bella stepped forwards but were afraid to get involved in case they made things worse. There was a sudden bang! It was impossible to see who’d been shot. Then they both started to slide to the floor, keeling over together, Denise on top of Watts.
Neither of the prone figures moved for a second or two, then Denise twitched. Bella’s hands went to her mouth: ‘Ashley! Oh God, no. Ashley!’ Mitch was there in moments, arm around her shoulders.
Then Denise flopped off, Watts’ hands shoving the woman – the dead woman – from him. He staggered to his feet, tossing the gun aside, and Bella rushed to him, hugging him. ‘I thought—’
‘You won’t need to have a séance to talk to me just yet,’ he told her. ‘Come on, let’s get out of here.’
They found Mitch again, said as much to him. He was staring at an old man on the floor, his stick abandoned. Mitch looked like he knew him, was going to go to him – but the guy was already on fire and screaming out. ‘It’s too late,’ she whispered.
The members of the Commune, including Daniel, were helping as many robed figures out of the barn as they could. But some were simply walking into the fire, like they wanted to die. Bella knew their names, some remembered, some she was ‘told’: Wilkinson, Larson, Ellie, giving themselves to the Great Flame. Another was their Aunty Helen, having shrugged off Leah – who’d backed away from the lady. Figured it was her lookout. She probably just wanted to be with her husband, Vince.
Helen turned around once before walking into those flames, shot both Bella and Mitch a chilling look. Then she was gone.
Finally, the three of them made it outside, where members of the Commune and worshippers of the fire were congregating: some of the latter having to still be restrained because they were trying to get back inside. Bella was happy to see that most of the members of the Commune had made it out, though.
The three of them stood well back from the barn as the fire raged through it. Angry that it had been denied its prize, Bella thought to herself. She realized she was still holding on to Ashley Watts for dear life, her arm around his middle – while Mitch was on her other side and had his arm across her shoulders again. It was bizarre, but for the first time in so long she felt at peace. She felt safe. ‘Happy birthday, little brother,’ she whispered to Mitch, and he nodded. The best present anyone could have given him.
Even under these circumstances, it was good to be here. Good to be here with Ashley Watts. Good to see her brother again, to know she’d reached him in time.
Good to, quite frankly, still be alive.
Chapter 36
Mitch stood there, watching the barn go up in flames.
He had his arm around his sister – and he was still quite surprised she was there, had thought immediately about his plea for help. When he’d called out to her. But still, he hadn’t expected her to come. Really thought it might have been better if she hadn’t, given what his aunty had said would happen if she did. But she’d had help from the guy in the suit, from the … from the Commune, and he was still owed an explanation about that.
All in good time, he said to himself. For now, he’d got to the bottom of one mystery: the major one. Everything else could wait. Everything apart from getting home, getting back to Lucy. God, he hadn’t realized until then quite how much he’d missed her!
Something touched his leg and he started, causing Bella to jump as well. Mitch looked down and was surprised again – or not – to see Cat there, meowing. All this way, and the animal had found him, sought him out. Okay, after all the fighting was over, but the thought was there. The animal that had never, ever belonged to his father. That had come to the house for him and him alone.
‘I think you have a new friend,’ Bella said when she saw the black cat.
‘Yeah,’ Mitch replied, then nodded at the suited man. ‘You too.’ He bent and picked up the feline, who began nuzzling his neck and chin.
‘What a night,’ he heard the man on the other side of his sister say.
‘Yeah,’ repeated Mitch, then whispered to himself, ‘Nasty business.’ A business he doubted he’d forget as long as he lived, that would definitely stay with him no matter how far away from here he went. And as he made out the sirens in the distance – police, ambulance, fire brigade … all three? – he wasn’t surprised to also hear a clap of thunder; a storm coming to break up the heat. Finally raining, pouring, but that might be for the best; might help put out the fires. And Mitch thought to himself how quickly things had turned again. From nasty to—
That there was always scope for them to get worse, so much worse. But also better, the calm now before a very different kind of storm … For things to work out, as they had done here.
Scope for things to turn out okay in the end.
PART FOUR
Those who leave Green Acres always find themselves returning eventually …
Either that or they take away memories which will last forever, a little bit of the place that
they will always carry with them.
Chapter 37
It had been one of the best night’s sleep she’d had in ages.
Bella woke in the bed, no headache, no worries. Woke from pleasant dreams for a change. Even the voices were giving her a breather, it seemed. They’d be back, she knew they would. Things would soon return to normal, or as normal as they could be around here.
Not even the fact she wasn’t in her own home was bothering her today, because Ashley was letting her stay as long as it took to fix up the caravan; she’d been amazed that it could be fixed, frankly. Amazed at the generosity of her friends as well, the people she saw on a regular basis, the people who came to her stage show – not to mention the hotel itself – everyone had chipped in. Ashley had even had a whip round at the station, O’Brien herself kicking a note or two into the pot, surprisingly.
The investigators had put the fire down to a candle that had fallen over, and warned her about leaving those unattended and lit, especially at night-time. Bella had nodded and promised she wouldn’t do it again, had said nothing about the fact that she could now recall lighting the candle, touching it to her sofa. It was still a bit of a haze as to why she’d done that, recalling some of the rituals she’d seen from her youth, or her mother’s memories, or maybe the suggestion had been planted that if she ever started to remember some of that stuff she should just kill herself? Her Uncle bloody Vince!
It had definitely been her mother who’d helped her break down some of those barriers: the ones he’d put in place, that had caused the headaches, stopped the voices from coming through. That woman, who’d been murdered so brutally along with Bella’s real father, had been trying to help her right from the start. It was against the rules, apparently, for people from her own family to get in touch, but they’d been ‘relaxed’ or ‘bent’ – something to do with the balance of things. Then when she’d seen her mum outside in the caravan park, that human candle – not a usual occurrence, something to do with the bond they shared – the race had been on as to whether Bella would recover or just go mad. Or simply end it all.