by David Carter
“I’ve been expecting you,” said Father Meyer. He held his prized dagger to Sharon’s throat. “You don’t exactly know the meaning of silence, do you? I could’ve heard you shouting and destroying my basement a mile away.”
“Drop the dagger, shithead,” said Blaze. “If you want this to end the way you’ve always wanted it to, you’d better be smart about this. The pigs will be here any minute, but to be honest, that’s not the way I want this to play out.”
“So what’s your proposal?”
“Let everyone go. This ain’t their fight. It’s ours. If you agree to release them without any further harm, I’ll remain here at your mercy.”
Ryan groaned from where he lay on the floor. “He killed our baby, Blaze.” He winced. “Just shoot him please,” he begged.
“If you don’t hand over your gun this instant, I’ll kill Sharon, too,” Father Meyer threatened. “You have three seconds. One– two—”
Blaze walked forward and placed his gun on the end of Sharon’s bed, then said, “Let my friend take them to the hospital. They both need medical attention.”
“And where’s this “friend” of yours?”
“He’s close by.”
Father Meyer chuckled. “Come out and join us!” he called out to the passageway.
Danny hesitated, unsure whether to reveal himself.
“He’s armed,” said Blaze. “Agree to my terms or I’ll get him to end this right now. And believe me; he won’t miss that ugly mug of yours.”
Father Meyer dipped his hand into his pocket, then threw Blaze a key. “Unshackle the detective and take his place. Then tell your friend to come out of his hiding place and hand over his weapon. Once I’m satisfied you are secured and your friend is unarmed, I will allow everyone to leave.”
“Agreed.”
“But I need your assurance that we won’t be interrupted by the authorities. How can I be sure your friend won’t just blow the whistle the second he walks out of here?”
“Because Blaze would kill me if I did,” said Danny as he revealed himself, walking into the room with his hands up. “He’s been longing for this moment for the past twenty-three years, and I’m not about to take it away from him.”
Father Meyer looked upon Danny in amusement, and said, “You do realise what it means if you leave him chained up, don’t you? You’ll never see him again, and I’ll be long gone by sunrise tomorrow.”
“They all understand, as do I,” Blaze answered for him. “I will stay so they may go free. This was never their destiny; it’s mine.”
Father Meyer considered his proposal carefully. To reassure him further, Blaze said, “Did you see what I did to Arnold Spencer’s face the day we went to arrest him?”
“Yes, I did. You did quite the number on him.”
“Exactly. That was meant for you; that’s how badly I want this to happen...”
Father Meyer hesitated. Blaze willed him along. “What have you got to lose? You either have a prison cell waiting for you, or Danny can end it with a bullet right now. But I’m offering you a third option; the chance to finish what you started with me. Hurry the fuck up and choose before it’s too late.”
After a moment’s consideration, he said, “Very well, Bobby; we’ll do it your way.”
Danny placed his pistol next to Blaze’s on Sharon’s bed and took a step back towards the entrance. Blaze released Ryan from his shackles. “Can you stand?” he asked him.
Ryan clutched at his head and groaned as he said, “I think so. The bastard caught me off guard when I was looking for Sharon.”
Blaze helped him to his feet. “Lock me up,” Blaze ordered him.
“I can’t leave you here like this.” He winced. “He’ll skin you alive.”
“It’s the only way I can save all of you. And I owe you that at the very least...”
“We’ll just wait for Steve to call for backup,” Ryan protested.
“We can’t do that. We both know he’ll kill Sharon if they come within ten feet of this room. I won’t have her blood on my hands, too...” He focused on the floating blob in the jar of formaldehyde on Father Meyer’s trophy wall.
“That’s not your fault; you can’t blame yourself for what he did to her.”
“Please!” Blaze stopped him. “I need to do this. Just get the hell out of here and forget you ever knew me. It’s best for everyone, including me.”
Ryan reluctantly gave in, and fought off his dizzy spells to help Danny unbuckle Sharon while Father Meyer stood at the back of the room, pointing one of the Glocks at Blaze’s head, after pocketing the other. “Wh-what’s happening?” Sharon stammered as she regained consciousness.
“It’s okay, you’re safe now,” said Danny. “I’m getting you outta here.” He gently picked her up off the bed, careful not to tear her stitches. He glanced at Blaze as he turned to leave, saying goodbye, thank you, and good luck with an affirmative nod of his head. Ryan used the bed frame to balance himself, before stumbling after Danny up the passageway.
His vision blurred as he dragged himself up the stairs and outside into the rain; the sight of Sharon still breathing was the only thing that kept him moving.
Hampton saw him coming and dashed to his aid, taking his weight as he struggled to the car. He helped him into the passenger seat, while Danny gently laid Sharon across the back seat before darting back to Hampton’s car to update both Hampton and Elizabeth on the situation.
“We can’t leave Bobby behind!” cried Elizabeth. “I’m going down there after him!”
Danny firmly pushed her back into her seat. “We need to get to the hospital! You’re no use to Blaze now. Father Meyer will just blast a hole through his head if you go down there—and yours, too. It’s all in Blaze’s hands now; which is exactly how he wants it. You should trust that he knows what he’s doing.”
Elizabeth lost all control and wept bitterly as she longed to hold her son one last time. “God be with you, Bobby,” she sniffled as Hampton screeched out of the driveway and off to the hospital with Danny in hot pursuit.
Chapter 72
“So, when did you realise you were a kiddie-fucking cum-junkie?” Blaze antagonised Father Meyer.
He did not look amused. “I will give you this one warning, Bobby; hold your tongue or you will suffer greatly,” he replied. “And empty your pockets for me, too. I want to be sure you’re unarmed.”
Blaze smirked as he pulled out his cell phone and placed it on the floor, then said, “You know, my asshole still hurts something chronic every time I have to take a shit all thanks to you. Perhaps you could kiss it better for me?”
Father Meyer made good on his threat. He picked up the cell phone, pocketed it, then silently walked to the end of the room and selected an item from his weapons rack. As he casually uncoiled the bullwhip he said, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you, Bobby.” Then, as quick as a flash, he unleashed the whip right next to Blaze’s head.
CRACK!
Blaze reached for his ears and cried out in pain as the sonic boom rippled through his eardrums. “Fuck!” he cursed as his head throbbed worse than any whisky hangover he’d ever endured.
“Any more outbursts like that and I’ll use your earlobes for target practice,” said Father Meyer. “Now, it’s time you and I had a wee chat, don’t you think?”
Blaze looked up at him. “I’m sorry, I’m a little hard of hearing. I thought you just said, blah, blah, blah, I’m a dirty old priest who likes to fuck little boys’ bums.”
CRACK!
Blaze growled through clenched teeth as he fought the pain in his side after the cracker tore through his T-shirt and ripped out a chuck of flesh from his ribcage. “You son of a bitch!” He lost his temper. “You’re gonna wish you never fucking did that!”
Father Meyer snickered at him. “I’m merely warming up, my dear Bobby. Back in my day, I could whip a fly clean off a horse’s nose. Now, I may be old and a shade rusty, but I can assure you, Bobby, I’ll hit my mark every time.
”
“Well you certainly hit my love spot without any trouble—and little George Walker’s...”
CRACK!
Blaze keeled over on his side and blood pooled on the concrete floor beneath him. He lay motionless. The only visible sign of life was the rapid rising and falling of his chest as he endured the searing pain. Eventually, he steeled himself and dragged himself up into a sitting position, leaning back against the cinder block wall. He decided a more diplomatic approach was in order. “Can I ask you a question?” he asked humbly, wincing with every breath.
“Why, of course...”
He paused, then looked into his eyes as he asked, “Why me?”
Father Meyer returned the bullwhip to its place on the wall. “Why you?” he answered curiously as he selected another crude item from his arsenal.
“Yeah, I’ve always wondered why you attacked me that night and if your intentions were to kill me or not. You at least owe me an explanation before you rip my guts out with that butcher’s hook.”
“Very well, Bobby,” he replied, then sat opposite him on the edge of the bed where Sharon lay captive only moments before. “Do you remember the day you slugged me in the face and told me to go ‘procreate’ with myself when your mother and I tried to have you baptised?”
Blaze grimaced as he scoffed in amusement. “How could I forget? It’s one of my fondest memories.”
Father Meyer smiled. “It’s one of mine, too.”
“Really? Why’s that?”
“Because that’s the day I decided to rid Glendale of you and your devilish soul. You see, you are a bad seed, Bobby, amongst many in this town. Your mother came to me in confession before you were born—telling me of how she unwillingly lay with another man and had fallen pregnant. So in that moment when I tried to baptise you, and you resisted with such ferocity, I realised you were the seed of the devil, and that there was no saving you. And as it’s my God-given duty to weed out the bad and harvest the good, yes, I had every intention of handing your soul over to the devil that night.”
“All but for a freshly sharpened pencil, eh?”
Father Meyer was taken aback. “Yes, I must admit I severely underestimated you. I should have known better from what I knew about you at the time.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Father Meyer shuffled around on the bed until he was comfortable. He seemed more relaxed now that he had Blaze talking civilly. He put down the butcher’s hook as he said, “I watched your every move as a boy right up until you left Glendale. I saw the fire that burned in your soul, and the way you dealt with trouble when it presented itself. The anger you carried, and still do, no doubt, gave you an edge over any rival that dared cross your path. But I did not fear you. For I do not fear the devil and his angels. It was God’s will to extinguish your life, and I intend on fulfilling my duty at long last.”
“So how does that explain you fucking me in the ass?” Blaze chuckled, before coughing and wincing in pain. “Surely that makes you the biggest hypocrite on the fucking planet?”
Father Meyer picked up the butcher’s hook and dug it into the side of Blaze’s face, just above his ear. He slowly and painfully etched a jagged gash all the way through to his chin. Blaze felt the sensation of blood tricking over his jawbone and down his neck as Father Meyer leaned in and eerily said, “You will watch your mouth when addressing me, Bobby, or I’ll remove your tongue.” He snagged the hook beneath Blaze’s jaw, piercing the skin as he lifted his head up for an answer.
“Whatever you say, boss,” Blaze replied.
Father Meyer released the hook. “In answer to your question, Bobby, I will share with you something I’ve never told a living soul.”
Blaze’s chains clinked as he pulled his knees into his chest and wrapped his arms around them, beaten, and in no position to fight back. Father Meyer, sensing he had broken him, put the hook down and revealed his dirty little secret. “I was born with certain unnatural desires to which I’ve succumbed to in moments of weakness. I dedicated my life to God in the hope of overcoming those unsightly urges towards young boys.”
Blaze bit his tongue; it wasn’t worth a hook through his jaw.
“I never intended on hurting you in the way I did that night. It was a spur of the moment decision that just happened. I lost myself in the moment just as I did with George Walker. But God is merciful and forgiving. His word tells us that if we confess our sins, and show true remorse and sincerity, he can purify us and make us whole again.”
“Is that what you truly believe? That your favourite Bible verse will get you off the hook with God?”
“As I said, I never meant to do what I did to you that night. And yes, God has forgiven me. I know this to be true.”
“But you always intended to kill me, right?”
His face turned harder than stone. Then he coldly answered, “Yes, Bobby, that was always my intention.”
“So why didn’t you try again? You had another ten years to finish the job before I left town...”
He hesitated before he answered, “I didn’t want to tempt fate. My lust for you almost caught me out. I prayed to God for the strength to never touch another child again, as I know in my heart it is wrong. And my urges towards you were stronger than anything I’ve ever experienced. So I let you be until you matured. I prayed for patience, resisting all urges to take action against you and the townspeople who defied the word of God. But occasionally I grew weak, using my chamber here to purge the sins from the unclean. Then before I knew it, you had grown up and left; my world was turned upside down. I didn’t understand what God was telling me. I faithfully continued my service to him, watching the comings and goings of the townspeople, waiting for a sign from God to take action. And then, out of nowhere, you returned. I understood your message the second I heard you’d burnt down the school. I knew in that moment you had come for me. And I was right; the fire in your soul burns fiercer than ever before.”
“I knew you would accept my challenge, too,” said Blaze, “but I never knew how many lives would be taken as a result of my actions. That was never my intention. Their blood is on my hands. I deserve to die.”
“Do not feel guilty, Bobby. It was God’s will as is your demise this very night.”
Blaze flopped his head back against the wall in defeat. “I’m ready,” he conceded, “knowing that I did the right thing in the end; trading my life for Sharon’s. Besides, I’ve already lost the love of my life, and I had to abandon my MC Brothers. I also recently learned the truth about my father, and I finally made peace with my mother. I’ve got no regrets. Just do me a favour and make it quick.”
“As you wish. I will even let you decide your fate: a bullet to the head, or a dagger to the heart.”
“I’ll take the bullet. It’s how I’ve always figured I would go out.”
Father Meyer picked up one of the Glocks and held it point blank to Blaze’s head. “Any last words, Bobby?”
“Just let me stand. I want to die with honour.”
“Very well.”
Blaze slipped his fingers inside the tongue of his boot, then launched himself up and plunged his knife straight up into Father Meyer’s genitals. He let out a bloodcurdling scream as he dropped to the floor at Blaze’s feet, writhing in agony.
Hurt what already hurts. Blaze stomped the knife deeper into his genitalia, all the way to and past the hilt. Father Meyer shrieked even louder, much to Blaze’s delight.
“You should have killed me when you had the chance, asshole.” He spat in his face, then reached for Father Meyer’s keys and his cell phone. He removed his shackles and retrieved the bullwhip from the weapons rack. He coiled it around Father Meyer’s neck and tied it off. “Let’s go on a little trip, shall we?” Blaze mocked him.
He grimaced as he picked up both the Glocks, then dragged Father Meyer by the neck out through the passageway and up the stairs.
Chapter 73
Blaze caught his breath while resting on his
haunches after dragging Father Meyer along the hallway to the door with the broken stained-glass window, stopping every few seconds to ensure he didn’t choke him to death. He wanted to make this moment last.
Father Meyer held out his grazed, weeping arm, and said, “Please, Bobby, I beg of your mercy—”
He didn’t let him finish. He roughly stood him up, bent him over, and drove his head into the remaining pane of glass in the door. He slumped to the floor after the impact.
“Looks like you got some nasty cracks in your windows there, mate,” snickered Blaze. “Might pay to get them looked at.”
Blaze noticed a set of car keys hanging on a hook on the wall inside the front door. He took them and headed towards the garage, with Father Meyer in tow. The skin on his face and arms shredded to ribbons as Blaze dragged him along the path outside, using the tiny, jagged stones as a human cheese grater.
He momentarily stopped to rest after heaving Father Meyer into the rear seat of Angela, then started searching the shelves and cupboards for some useful items. Jackpot! he thought as he retrieved a battery-powered nail gun from its hook on the wall. He also found two planks of wood, one long, one short, a shovel, a canister of gasoline, and a barbecue lighter.
“All aboard,” he chuckled, and fired up the engine.
He backed out of the driveway and onto the road, then made a hard, ninety-degree turn and drove straight up and over the curb directly across the road from Father Meyer’s house.
“Sorry about the bumpy ride, old man, but your suspension is a tad out of date for off-roading!” He cackled like a madman on the loose.
He floored little Angela as fast as she could go, past the BMX track and the playground, wheel-spinning and drifting across the waterlogged sports field as the storm unleashed its full fury upon Glendale.
He reached the site of the new school where the foundations had been laid. Construction was well underway. The new wooden frames of the classrooms and dormitories flashed into view as strewn bolts of lightning crackled across the blackened sky.