Katy, in the wheelchair, was now being pushed by Bill. The wheels were crooked, it was with great difficulty that he pushed her up the side of the hill. Every bump in the chair, every rock that he hit, jarred through her body like a toothache. He would have a good view from the hill. He would be able to see them coming. He needed to rest. He still felt strong, still felt ready, but the hill was steep. The wheelchair was extremely hard to manoeuvre. He sat on a rock, lit a cigarette, then told Katy all about what he was going to do with her. Katy didn’t care. She was ready to die, she just wished he would get on with it.
Madison was in front as they reached the clearing. No one knew where she got her energy from. She always seemed to be helping someone, asking if everyone was okay. They were all in awe of her, so pleased that they had met this wonderful girl, she had chosen to go along their path. She screamed that she could see a cabin ahead. They all wondered where she got her strength from, she jumped up and down, and flapped her hands. All six of them stood on the edge of the forest now, looking at the cabin ahead. They needed to be careful. If the three were in there, they didn’t want to frighten Bill into doing anything.
Daniel had decided that he alone should approach the cabin, make himself known, because it was him his father wanted. They all argued. All volunteered, each having their reasons why it should be them. Reasons like ‘I was married to him.’, ‘It’s my girl he’s got.’, ‘I’m his mother.’, ‘and I’m the oldest. I should sacrifice.’ Madison simply said ‘Let me go. I can do this.’
‘It’s me.’ said Daniel. ‘I'm the one he wants.’
They sat on whatever they could find for a little while, staring at the cabin, looking to see if there was any sign of life, but it looked deserted. Madison stood, pacing. She wanted to get on. She wanted to do something.
Marie Rose and James sat together on the sodden ground, which didn’t matter as their clothes were soaking anyway.
James put his arm around her.
‘I'm so glad I found you again.’ he said
She looked at him smiled.
‘Me too.’ Her expression changed.
‘Can you feel it, is there death in the air?
The doctor gazed at the cabin.
‘No I can't.’ he said.
‘Good.’
‘Will you tell me if and when you can?’
‘Of course’
Chapter 50
Jezz, Becky and Tracy looked at the two cars parked up, they could see the path that the others had taken. It seemed the only obvious way, yet they weren’t sure what to do now. Tracy was wondering whether she had done the right thing. She had wanted to phone Goldstone, but the others had stopped her. Jezz wanted to go alone. Tracy wanted to call for the police. Becky wanted them all to go into the woods and find the rest of them. She was sure that Daniel would have found the two girls and they would soon be home.
‘The police will just mess it up.’ said Jezz, because he really didn’t want the police, as attracted as he was to the one that stood before him. He didn’t trust the police. He didn't trust himself with them.
‘What have you got against the police?’ asked Tracy. ‘Do you really want to know?’ Jezz said. ‘Do you really want to know? When I see them every day of my life, taking bribes, beating up no more than little kids. I’m black!’ he said. ‘You can’t know what it’s like being black, living in that place. The only way we can survive is by bringing them in on every move we make. Do you know who makes the most money out of the drug trade on my patch?’ His eyes grew wide, he gritted his teeth.
Tracy didn’t answer she didn’t want to know, though she could have guessed at the answer.
‘Do you use, Jezz?’ She asked.
He was surprised at the change of subject, but he answered anyway.
‘Not for four years. Bit of dope now and again, I’m clean.’
‘For fuck’s sake!’ Becky shouted. ‘Let’s have the life story later. Are we going in, or what?’ She was agitated. There was no time for this. She walked into the forest.
They both followed Becky into the woods, Jezz insisting they follow him, he took over from Becky. The girls walked together, with Jezz in front.
‘You know I would break your legs, if you ever touch my Daniel, copper or no copper.’ stated Becky to Tracy, as they walked deep into the forest.
Tracy smiled.
‘Well, the one thing I've learnt over the last day or so, is not to mess with the Fenton’s.’ She stroked the side of her own face. ‘Even the women know how to punch.’ Becky laughed.
Tracy touched her on the shoulder, as she walked.
‘I'm not after Daniel. He's hot, but he's married to you. I'm no home wrecker.’
Becky smiled again,
‘I love him to bits.’
‘How did his brother learn to fly,’ she laughed,
‘I think Daniel taught him.’ They both laughed...
Jezz urged them on to keep up, they quickened their pace. As they did, the rain came on, and the long arms of the trees looked as though they were going to reach out and grab them. For the first time that night, Tracy felt scared as she wondered whether the trees had swallowed the others in front of them and were about to do the same to them. She held Becky’s hand.
Becky gripped it tight, for she too was scared.
Jezz just wanted to do one good thing in his sorry life. He just hoped he wasn’t too late. He led with a determination to succeed, a feeling he had never known before, but it felt good, he liked it.
***
Daniel approached the cabin slowly, occasionally glancing back towards the group, to make sure he wasn't followed by them. They all stood watching, hoping, and praying.
He called out ‘It’s me, Daniel.’ as he approached. He kept calling it, as he reached the cabin. The door was open; it was off its hinges. He could see that the cabin was empty. He stepped in, the log burner was still ablaze. There was a rucksack there, a saucepan and a kettle. He knew they had been here. He called the rest over, waving to them frantically, they all ran forward to the cabin, all except for Madison.
Half way there she stopped, changed direction, and started jogging towards the hill. She wanted to see who it was standing on top of it. She could hear the others. They had all reached the cabin and were disappointed to find it empty. The heat from the burner was welcome, and now at least they would have a base to work from. They were all taking off their coats, hoping to get dry by the fire. Marie Rose lit her first cigarette of the night.
The Doctor looked around
‘Where’s Madison?’
‘She was here. She was with us.’ said Carol. She went to the door and shouted Madison’s name.
‘Shit!’ exclaimed Daniel. ‘I’ll go look.’ This was a problem he could do without. Where the hell had she gone?
‘I'm coming,’ said Todd, ‘and don’t you dare try to stop me.’ They walked towards the direction from which they had just come.
Madison heard them calling, but she ignored it. She thought she could hear someone’s thoughts again. As she stopped to listen, the thoughts had stopped, but it hadn't been clear. It was like it had been more than one thought. As she climbed the hill, her legs aching, she couldn't hear anything. As she drew nearer, she could see a man looking out over the sheer drop of the hill, in front of him was a wheelchair. Even from where Madison was, she could clearly see that there was someone in the wheel chair. She saw Todd and Daniel leave the cabin. She felt guilty, as she knew they were probably looking for her, she had just added to their troubles. She couldn't shout out to them, as that would alert the man that she was there. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do. Her young life had never experienced anything like this before.
She walked towards the man and the wheelchair as they moved closer to the edge of the cliff. What was he going to do? She shivered as if someone had walked over her grave, when she realised that the man was going to send the wheelchair and its occupant, over the hill. She had to try and stop him. She
had to do something. Was the man Bill Fenton? Was this her Father?
Bill hadn’t noticed them arrive at the cabin. He had been too busy trying to get the wheelchair up the hill. Now he was at the top of the hill, looking down at the cabin, he could see Daniel and Todd running out of the cabin. He wondered what they were doing, running back. It had been a long time since he had seen his boys. He realised they were now men. For one moment he felt a tinge of sadness and regret. He wished them a better life than his had been. He looked out over the cliff, thinking what a wonderful view it was from up here. He reached the edge of the hill and looked down.
‘Take a look, Katy,’ he said, ‘before I push you over. This is your destiny. This day was made for what is about to happen to you.’
Katy just sat. She wet herself. She didn’t want it to end like this. She shivered. Please let it be quick, she thought. She imagined herself bouncing against the rocks, strapped in the wheelchair, a certain death, but not necessarily a quick ending. Then she heard a voice. It was a female voice. The voice of a young girl.
‘You don’t have to do that, Bill.’ Said Madison.
Bill wasn’t sure at first, wasn’t sure where the voice had come from. He thought it was Katy, but it couldn't be. The shock made him take his hands off the wheelchair, but it didn’t roll over the edge. He looked to the side of him, not quite believing what he could see. He thought it was an angel or something. On the hill with him, no more than six feet away, was this beautiful young girl, an angel in the making. For the first time that night he was scared.
‘Who the fuck are you?’ he demanded.
Madison will never understand what made her answer as she did.
‘I think I’m your daughter. You’re my father.’
Bill turned looked at her. At the smile which was now fixed on that innocent face. How can that be? Bill didn’t say it, he thought it. For the sixth time in her short life Madison heard a person’s thoughts.
‘You and my mother had a one-night stand in Cardiff about seventeen years ago. I’m the result.’ she smiled. She wanted to show him that she understood.
‘Hello dad.’
Bill’s mind drifted back seventeen years. He could remember it, although he wasn’t sure why. He remembered waking up, and how the girl had changed from the night before, when she was up for it. In the morning all she wanted to do was to clear off as quickly as she could.
‘It wasn’t you.’ She had been embarrassed. ‘She don’t normally do one-night stands.’
Bill was taken aback. ‘How?’ He paused, his shoulders dropped, what was happening?
‘I can hear your thoughts.’
‘Can you?’ You are so beautiful, he thought
Madison blushed. ‘Why, thank you.’ she said.
Bill was confused. He couldn’t focus. Something wasn’t right. He felt like he couldn’t cope. He wanted to jump off the cliff himself.
‘Don’t do that. Please don't.’ she said.
Katy just sat in the chair, looking over the edge of the cliff, looking at what only moments ago was to have been her final destination. She could hear the girl, but couldn't see her. Would her life be saved? Tears came to her eyes. I promise never to be bad again, she thought.
‘Why?’ His voice croaked. He wiped his mouth. ‘Why would you want to save me?’ He pleaded.
Madison smiled again. ‘There’s been enough hurt, don’t you think?’
He did. Finally, he realised there had been. He had, had enough? No more hurt he thought no more pain. Get a fucking grip! Said the voice in his head, the voice of his father.
Madison was confused. It shocked her. She almost shrieked. She gulped. There was a second voice, a second thought, but it was coming from Bill. Someone else was in his head.
‘Who the hell is that?’ She asked.
Bill smiled, his evil stare returning ‘It’s your grandfather.’ he said, he continued smiling as his father spoke. Push her. Push her, you coward.
‘He says I've got to push her.’ ‘Then don’t listen.’ she said.
‘What?’ said Bill, even more confused?
‘Don’t listen to him.’
Who the fuck are you, to tell my son what to do? The voice in Bill’s head said
‘I’m Madison. Who the fuck are you?’ she clenched her fists and gritted her teeth.
Bill’s father’s voice was confused. She had heard him. How could that be?
I'm your worst fucking nightmare, the voice said
Madison sniggered.
‘Nightmare?’ she said. ‘You’re just a cowardly voice. You don’t even exist. You’re just living off his memories. Just go!’
Kill her. Kill her, the voice raged. It was loud. Madison could clearly hear it.
‘Dad.’ she said. Bill stood confused in a trance. ‘Dad!’ she screamed.
He jumped, as if being woken from a dream. What was happening? He wondered. He put his hands to either side of his head. It hurt like mad. There was too much going on in there.
Too many people, too many voices.
‘Do you want to listen to your dad?’ she asked.
Bill screamed,
‘No. No, but I can’t stop it. I have to do what he tells me.’
Kill them both, the voice said.
Madison walked over to Bill. She placed her hands over his, which were still holding his own head.
‘It’s just a voice. We can make it go. Do you want it to go?’
‘Yes.’ he screamed.
‘Get the fuck out of there!’ she said, addressing the voice.
Kill her. Kill her. Kill them both.
‘Noooo!’ Bill screamed.
‘Get out of his head! Get the fuck out!’ and she pressed the side of Bill’s head until it hurt. ‘Go! Get out!’ she screamed. She held his head to her chest, while she stroked his hair. Somehow she knew she had the power to do this, this was her gift. ‘Go now,’ she said softly, ‘leave him be and never come back.’
The voice in his head screamed obscenities, as it disappeared fading into the distance until it could no longer be heard. Bill knew he would never hear from his father again, he wept as Madison held his head against her chest.
‘It will be okay.’ she said. ‘He's gone now.’ She held him for a further moment. ‘Who is it in the chair?’ she asked him. Bill raised his head.
‘It’s Katy.’ He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand ‘Tell her I'm sorry.’ He took two steps back from the cliff edge. ‘Someone has to die tonight.’ he said. He turned and ran.
Madison pulled the wheelchair away from the cliff. It was heavy and the wheels didn’t turn. She knelt before the chair, before the terrified girl who sat in it. She untied the gag from the girl’s mouth. Katy took a deep breath, as if it was her last.
She coughed and spluttered, barely getting her words out.
‘Thank you.’ she said.
Madison worked at the tape around her legs and arms. Katy just sat there, letting her rescuer do it. She couldn’t believe that she was alive. Yet she was still scared. She thought that she might remain scared for the rest of her life. Her life had been spared, but her fight had all gone.
‘Who are you?’ she asked the girl, who continued working on the tape.
‘I'm Madison, Todd and Daniel’s sister.’ she said. ‘It’s a long story, one I don’t fully understand yet, but I'm getting there.’’ she released Katy’s arms.
How good it felt to Katy, as she touched her face with her own hands.
‘I didn’t know they had a sister?’
Madison freed her legs.
‘Nor did they until very recently.’ she said. ‘Can you stand?’
‘I think so,’ she said, ‘but I think I've twisted my ankle.’
‘I could go and get some help.’
Katy grabbed Madison’s sleeve and held it tight.
‘Please don’t leave me. He's out there. Please don’t go.’
Madison smiled.
‘I won’t leave you. Come on. I�
�ll support you somehow.’
She helped Katy to her feet. Katy put an arm around her shoulders.
‘I’ll tell you what.’ Madison said.’ I don’t think much of my father or grandfather.’ If Katy could have laughed she would have.
They hobbled down the side of the hill, one girl wondering what would happen next, the other one just thankful that she was still alive.
Somewhere in the distance dawn broke, and the rain pounded down on the torso of Wendy Cross.
Bill Fenton walked the forest of Wentwood in a hazy daze. Todd and Daniel heard the shouting from Madison and were so relieved that she was okay. As they ran towards her, both boys were going to chastise her for running off, until they saw her almost carrying another girl.
‘Help me.’ she said. ‘I'm knackered!’
Daniel took the girl easily, sweeping her into his arms.
‘What the hell?’ said Todd?
‘I've met your dad.’ she said. ‘Bit of a nutter, isn’t he? I hope it doesn’t run in the family.’
As soon as they got to the cabin there were a million of questions and answers, but first James got his bag out and treated Katy’s wounds as best he could. He strapped her ankle. Then the others helped her out of what little damp clothes that she was wearing, and gave her a coat that had been drying by the fire. She lay beside the burner, warm and thankful to be alive. She told them as much as she could. No one was sure whether to love or hate her. There was certainly plenty of sympathy as they looked at the beaten girl. Yet wasn’t she really the cause of all this. Still that would have to wait. They still had to find Wendy.
‘So he just carried her out?’ asked Daniel.
Katy looked exhausted. Tears streamed down her face. ‘Yes.’ she said.
‘And she was alive?’
‘Yes, I’m sure she was.’
‘And he was gone for about thirty minutes.’
She thought again, wiping her face. ‘I think so.’
‘So she can be no more than fifteen minutes away!’
The Fenton Saga: Never Say Goodbye / There Was No Body. Page 23