by Line, Al K.
Damn. Left, try left.
Nothing, the road was blocked within five minutes, a huge oak fallen right across the narrow road. Edsel backed up in a panic, Lash keeping unusually quiet.
Not a good sign.
Edsel turned at the junction and took what would have been the right hand turn.
He drove, and drove and drove. He felt himself losing control. To get so close and to lose him now simply wasn't an option, but they could be driving for days and never find him. Michael could be miles away by now, or parked behind a hedge right beside them and they'd never know. The lanes criss-crossed in all directions, some impassable, others stretching on for miles only to end where a bridge had fallen or the narrow way was blocked by anything from trees to the carcasses of herds of cows, trapped in the lanes and eventually dying.
Nerves were fraying and the silence in the truck was almost as unbearable as the tightness in Edsel's chest. He just couldn't keep doing this, he had to find Aiden, he had to find him today and put an end to the madness.
Edsel tried another direction, turning off a road down yet another small side access point — it could lead to a house or it could join up with another main artery and they could find themselves right back where they started. It had happened so often that Edsel really was beginning to hate the peaceful countryside he had grown to love not so long ago.
Edsel began to tap his hand on the steering wheel uncontrollably, then his foot took up the beat, almost making them crash as he tapped the accelerator pedal too hard.
Lash turned and looked at him before putting a hand over his, stopping the nervous twitching that Edsel was hardly even aware of. "Calm down; it's okay. We'll get him, we just need to keep searching. Michael was coming here for a reason. I think this is it, it's the day we find our boy."
"I hope so, I really do Lash. My nerves can't take much more of this. I feel like I'm going to explode or something. Just, you know, lose it totally and run screaming out into the bloody fields and just scream until my lungs explode. Ugh."
"I know, I know, I feel the same way. It hurts doesn't it? It's like a physical pain that stops you from breathing properly. We're just exhausted is all, it's too much mental anguish. The not knowing..."
"I think I know what it's like to have a panic attack now, except it feels like it's just a permanent part of who I am, just constantly frazzled, worried and scared. What have they been doing all this time? I just don't get it."
"Me either," said Lash, sounding like she was too exhausted to carry on much longer, just like Edsel.
"This is getting ridiculous. What does this man want from us?"
"The chase; he's having fun," said Lash.
"Yeah, well I'm not," muttered Edsel.
Where to now? This man is driving me nuts!
"Okay, I'm well and truly lost. I'm going to go back to that junction. We've tried the left and the right turns, I'm going to go back and go straight ahead, see where that takes us. Sound good?"
"I think so. We've taken so many different turns I haven't got a clue how close we are to where we started any more. Think you can find your way back there?"
"Sure. Well, I think so."
Edsel stopped the Toyota at a passing point, and after a lot of scratching and banging into hedges managed to get the large vehicle turned around. He headed back the way they'd come, trying to stay calm enough to think about what direction to go in.
What was it? Left here, then a right. Then we took that lane by the old red phone booth, I remember that, you don't see them any more.
Edsel slowly made his way back to the junction, Lash keeping quiet so he could concentrate. Turn after turn, all blurring into the same restricted view of hedges, fields, dead livestock and no sign of life anywhere.
Edsel slammed on the brakes. "I'm sorry, I don't know where we are, I'm lost. I don't know if this is the right way or not. And even if it is then we'll just be back where we started. They could be anywhere by now."
"It's okay, don't worry, they're around here somewhere, I just know they are. Today is the day Edsel, we will find them."
She's more confident than me. But yeah, we're going to find you Aiden, hang tight buddy.
Edsel put the car into first gear and drove off once more, willing his body to calm itself and not just freak out totally.
~~~
He made it back to the junction where they had lost sight of the car, but it took over an hour of wrong turns, dead-ends, and frustration threatening to bubble over into Edsel tearing out the short hair that had grown back. Every time he caught a glimpse of himself in the rear-view mirror straining to look forward and behind, not wanting to miss the chance to catch sight of the car they were tracking, he winced at the sight that confronted him. He'd grown accustomed to the patterns over his face, almost used to the feel of the hard raised skin that swirled around his features, but his head was a different matter entirely.
When the hair on his body first began to grow back, he realized that the blue Ink acted as a total barrier to hair follicles, determined to dominate his flesh above all else. So when the hair on his scalp sprouted through his flesh, he looked decidedly odd. He'd tried to shave it down to the bone, thinking that would be the best solution, but trying to get a close shave over such rough terrain was impossible — the only answer was to let it grow long again, which he had rather liked. A month in and the hair was still short enough though that the strange patterns were totally visible, contrasting with his dark hair, making him look strange and dangerous. He certainly wouldn't want to meet anyone looking like him down a dark alley, that was for sure.
All he could do was wait, give it time, and eventually the hair would grow long enough to at least hide the markings over his skull. The rest? Well, it was what it was; he had more pressing matters to concern himself with. Aiden, they had to find him.
Edsel pulled his sight away from the strange man that stared back at him in the rear-view and focused on the road.
"Okay, so, let's try this again. Straight ahead at this junction, let's both try to remember which way we go so we can do this with some kind of a system this time. Agreed?"
"Agreed. Let's do this." Lash smiled at him weakly, trying to boost a confidence he knew neither of them really shared.
This is so damn frustrating.
Edsel drove slow, going straight ahead for five minutes before having to reverse as the way was blocked by a river that had flooded, the banks washed away, running fast across the lane where it dipped down. It was clear they wouldn't make it even in the Toyota, so there was no way Michael could have driven across. He reversed back until he came to a turn off to the right, and with no other choice he took it.
On and on it went, going forward only to find the way blocked, or backtracking as lanes just led nowhere but to houses that clearly didn't have any sign of Michael or Aiden.
The afternoon wore on, heat rising as the dense growth on all sides increased the humidity. Nervous energy from Edsel and Lash made the truck increasingly uncomfortable.
"There, there, back there," shouted Lash, pointing at a house that Edsel had totally missed, lost behind a thick conifer hedge that had grown wild and high. Edsel slammed on the brakes, feeling the power of the vehicle responding quickly.
"Did you see the car?"
"No, but I saw all the grass flat where tires went over it. Either it's them or someone else has been there not long ago."
"Right. Okay, let's do this."
And this time we're prepared.
STEALTH
Lash and Edsel had picked up a large amount of gear over the previous weeks, and even Edsel was impressed by the fact they'd managed to find so much stuff. As well as good clothing, decent footwear and all manner of waterproofs, sleeping bags, knives, cooking and eating equipment, even bottles of propane and a two ring camping stove, they'd also had the good fortune to find two shotguns in a gun cabinet at a small farmhouse, complete with more boxes of ammo than was reasonable for a farmer to control the l
ocal population of vermin.
Although neither of them were very good shots, even after practicing, there was no doubt that at close range the weapons were extremely effective.
Once they had picked up what they needed from the bed of the truck, a backpack each with knives, water and even bandages — Edsel had learned from experience that you just never knew what would happen when you least expected it — they quickly checked their weapons and Edsel had to grab Lash before she just went and walked right up through the main gate.
"What are you doing? Are you mad?"
"I'm not letting him get away again," said a resolute Lash.
"Neither am I, but let's play this safe. We don't want to get shot or risk not being able to get Aiden, so let's find a safer way to take a look at what's going on. Okay?"
"Okay." Lash nodded and stood waiting impatiently. "Well?"
"Well, come on then."
She looks like a total gangster with her black vest, tattoos and shotgun. I wouldn't want to mess with her.
Lash was totally focused, and Edsel knew that she would put herself at risk just to get inside the house as fast as possible. She was impulsive and could be irrational when it came to rushing in when she needed to take her time and think — Edsel understood all too well, he was exactly the same, but acting that way had almost got him killed years ago when he simply walked right into the church where he'd had his first Ink. No thought when it came to confrontations of this type was foolhardy, and he'd learned his lesson.
He explained this to Lash in fast whispers, making her understand just how dangerous this was, reminding her that they had no idea what Michael had waiting for them. He'd evaded them for a month so they had to be extremely careful — it wasn't just their lives on the line, it was Aiden's too. They had to be cautious.
Lash listened impatiently, itching to make a move and storm the house head-on, but nodded in agreement and let Edsel calm her until she began to agree that they would take it slow and not risk the only chance they might ever have to be a family again.
"We'll get him, we'll leave, we will be together. And we will never, ever, let anything like this happen again. Okay?"
"Okay. Let's get Aiden. I love you Edsel."
"I love you too Lash. We will get our family back this day, and Michael will pay."
"With blood."
Damn, she is one scary woman.
Edsel and Lash walked along the road, trying to find another way into what were obviously extensive grounds. It was impossible to see anything, the hedge was so dense and where there were bare patches a number of large native trees and a wild and overgrown garden hid practically everything. Edsel caught a quick glimpse of what appeared to be a rather large red brick early Victorian three story building, but it was impossible to really see.
They walked along the edge of the lane, away from the main gate, trying to get a peek at the grounds and the building — desperate to move fast yet Edsel knew that this was to be their only chance, so they had to be as cautious as they possibly could.
He could have others with him in there, but I doubt it.
As they moved further down the lane the gaps in the conifers grew wide enough for Edsel to see the size of the gardens and the main house. The grounds wrapped right around the building — very extensive, but extremely overgrown.
This might be where Michael calls home when he isn't traveling.
There were countless signs of how efficient the property had once been, with a large solar array and windmill, a number of paddocks and pens for animals, barns and pig pens. There were no animals now though, just vacant spaces where it had all been abandoned or neglected long ago. Edsel pointed to the far end of the main garden where it bordered a field; Lash nodded.
Edsel held up the barbed wire that was hidden in the tangle of brambles bordering the lane; Lash ducked under. She then held it up for Edsel and once both through they crept among the weeds along the edge of the field until they were past level with the house. They repeated the action to get into the main grounds.
He could be watching; waiting for us to get close enough to shoot and not miss.
Crouching nervously, Edsel held onto Lash's hand as they ran fast from tree to tree, ducking down, weaving to make less of an easy target. It felt wrong, like they were wasting their time, as if Lash's idea had been the right one after all and they should have just walked up to the front door rather than worrying about hiding.
If he knew we were following him why did he stop? Surely he'd know we'd keep looking until we found him?
It wasn't feeling right, but what choice did they have? They had to find out, there was no other option. It somehow felt too easy though. Even after a month of hunting, now that they'd presumably found Michael and Aiden, it was as if it had been handed to them — like Michael had finished his game and decided to have a rest from the chase.
Maybe it isn't him? Maybe there's a different car parked around the back, or in one of the barns, and this is just an ordinary person's home. They're gonna get a surprise if it is.
Edsel didn't really believe it, but something was nagging at him.
Why now? After all we've been through, why stop now?
They were out of time, they'd made it to the back door without incident. There was only one thing left to do.
Edsel tried the door handle — it was unlocked. With weapons poised Edsel pushed the door open, hinges creaking loudly.
Lash was right behind him; they stepped inside.
Edsel sniffed the air; the familiar smell of coconut oil telling him all he needed to know.
LOSS
"Where is he?" shouted Lash, pointing the shotgun at Michael who was sat in the kitchen drinking a cup of tea, totally calm and clearly expecting them. Edsel stood next to her, scanning the room just in case.
"That was fun, wasn't it? I must say, I thought I'd lost you so many times I was having doubts about how good you really were. But you have my congratulations, that was quite a thrill."
"You were asked a question," said Edsel. "Where's Aiden?"
Michael looked at them both inquiringly, confusion written large on his face. "You don't know, do you?"
I don't like the sound of this one little bit. He thinks we know.
"He's dead. You didn't find him? We had a fight after you jumped out the car," Michael said, staring at Lash. "It got out of hand I'm afraid to say, and, well, he tried to get away again, that same day, and I shot him."
"You shot him? You're trying to tell me that you shot him and he's been dead for a month?" Lash didn't believe him, but Edsel knew it was true, he could see it in his eyes.
"Where?" was all Edsel could manage to say.
"That town, I forget it's name, the first one you would have come too after Lash escaped. We were in a large house, painted yellow of all things, right at the end of the main road. He's in the living room."
Schklikt.
Edsel racked the shotgun then pulled the trigger. Michael's chest exploded in a mass of blood, organs and bone, gore spraying across the kitchen cupboards and counter top, staining a gleaming porcelain sink dark. The body slumped forward onto the table.
Game over.
END
"That's not Aiden," said Edsel.
"I know honey, it's just an empty shell. Aiden's gone to The Void." Lash had tears streaming down her face; she did nothing to wipe them away.
"No, it's not him." Edsel stared at the body, fighting the sickness that threatened to overwhelm him. The body had Aiden's size and build, even some of the clothes he'd been wearing when he was taken, but with the face blown off to little more than a pulpy mess he couldn't be recognized even if it was him.
It's not him though, it's not.
"It is. He's just dead Edsel. But it's him all right. His clothes, his body. Even his sneakers and that bracelet he always wore after he made one for both of us. Look, I still have mine." Lash held up her arm, her friendship bracelet still worn amongst other similar bands.
&nbs
p; "No, it isn't him. Aiden had a mole on his forearm, and it isn't there. See." Edsel crouched by the body and showed Lash the arm. He knew it wasn't him; something didn't feel right. It was as if he could still pick up a hint of Aiden in The Noise, but something else too — he knew the boy, the man now, too well, everything looked right but it felt wrong.
"Oh my god, oh my god. I can't believe it. But, well, if this isn't Aiden, then where is he? And who the hell is this?"
"That's what I'd like to know as well. Only problem is I shot the only person that could tell us."
EPILOQUE
Aiden watched Edsel and Lash leave the building and drive away. It was the hardest thing he'd ever done in his life.
He made his way back into the house and wasn't surprised to see Michael dead. It was what they'd agreed on, what Michael had wanted — it was rare, but even Awoken sometimes succumbed to The Lethargy. He'd been getting worse, zoning in and out of reality more and more often over the last few weeks; soon he would have been lost forever.
Aiden knew the minute he'd seen Michael, and they spent half a day talking, that Michael was what he'd been looking for. The more time he'd spent with him, the more sure he was about what they'd discussed.
Now he had his freedom and Edsel and Lash had been brought out of their lonely life, back to the world to interact and maybe make a difference somehow — just like he planned to. Aiden felt terrible for the things he'd agreed to do, for his part in ensuring Edsel got his new Ink and for Lash being so frightened thinking she had been kidnapped. But it was for the best — it gave them something to really live for.
There was no doubt as far as Aiden was concerned that unless he did something then Edsel would have been dead soon anyway — the extreme rock climbing he'd taken up obsessively was a cry for help. After everything that had happened to Edsel he'd clearly become an adrenaline junkie, and as each climb got more dangerous than the last Aiden knew it was only a matter of time before he fell. Then what? Then he and Lash would have been alone. So he decided to do something about it: make them go with him on an adventure.