The Fenton Saga: Never Say Goodbye / There Was No Body.

by Colin Griffiths

  As in any agency it is responsible for the collection and analysis and exploitation of information and intelligence in support of national security and defence. This is where this agency differs from the others, the areas they are involved in are, the unknown, the supernatural, they were commonly referred to as the “witch hunters”, and the truth wasn’t far from that.

  They weren’t there to counteract acts of terrorism or espionage, which was the job of other agencies. Their job was to stop the enigma of The Fenton’s, and anyone they could find like them becoming known. Years ago they would have just burnt them alive, today they needed to understand them. Study them, use them if at all possible, but more importantly not allowing them to use their abilities as and when they desired, and furthermore to ensure these people, these powers do not fall into the wrong hands. If there was any remote chance of that they were to be locked away forever or even terminated. Nobody knew how far the Fenton’s, could or would go, it had laid more or less dormant until the birth of one remarkable man, Todd Fenton.

  Morgan Hughes was good at his job, one of the best, one of the simplest lessons they are told is “not to become involved” and that was easy. After all these people were witches, the menace of society, they weren’t human, they were supernatural beings that had no place on this earth and had to be controlled or eliminated. Morgan Hughes excelled at every rule the agency thrust upon them, all except one, the simplest one, “don’t get involved.” He had failed miserably, now it was coming back to haunt him and more importantly it was about to haunt the people he loved most dearly.

  The briefing was simple, William Fenton a subject from the past that had been neutralised and have not come on the radar for years. He has slipped the net, his whereabouts unknown, research had been done and officers are now on their way to Pendle hill where he grew up, but hopes were not good as he had not been there for 50 years. The instructions were simple, find him, neutralise him, or assassinate him. He was not deemed a threat, he was old, not in good health, and it was clear that the monitoring over the years had proved that William Fenton no longer possessed any special abilities. But no chances could be taken. Morgan’s role was to visit the home where William Fenton had stayed, speak to people and find out what he could. The Fenton’s must be monitored and if necessary be prepared to take them out, and as Morgan Hughes left the SIS building his first thoughts were of Madison, over my dead body, he told himself.

  He was sat on the train, first class, they always travelled first class. He was on his way home to Manchester, his laptop was on the table in front of him but it remained closed, he hadn’t booted it up yet. He sat looking out of the window, looking at the grey industrial buildings that they were passing. Soon the view turned into fields of green, then what appeared to be a village. He was looking but he wasn’t taking it in, his mind was elsewhere, his stomach felt knotted, he felt anxious. He loved working for the agency, it was his proudest moment when he was appointed and he was on course to be the best, until 15 year ago when he was given the job of monitoring a young mother and child. He had thought it was a mundane mission and objected vehemently, but he was told to get on with it, and he did as he was ordered. And as he sat looking out of that window staring at nothing in particular, the words that he was told when he first signed up went through his head.

  “The job comes first above anything else” and he had agreed with that, readily agreed and accepted, no one would come between him and the job, no one. Those thoughts went through his mind.

  He opened his laptop and booted it up, no one, he told himself. The laptop was now asking for the password, he stared at it for a while as if he was trying to remember it, but of course he knew it. He closed the lap top, took out his Mobile and looked up his wife’s number, the number was there now, on the screen of his phone, titled ‘Sue’.

  His heart seemed to go into his mouth as he thought of her, no one, he told himself, he pressed call, no one accept my wife and child.

  Chapter 31

  After her ordeal and as a treat, James McCarthy had taken Marie Rose into Cardiff, for a bit of retail therapy as he had called it. The 25 minute drive into the city centre Marie Rose had not closed her mouth. She had rattled non-stop about anything and everything, and all the way there James just smiled and nodded when appropriate, happy in the fact that his cousin had put the episode of the flowers behind her and everything was, or at least seemed to be getting back to normal. But one thing in the back of his mind was just gnawing at him telling him that perhaps everything was not quite what it seemed. There was one thing he couldn’t answer, no matter how hard he tried, why did I pee on those flowers?

  They had visited the St. David’s shopping centre. Marie had bought herself a new blouse, now they were in the Welsh shop and Marie Rose had bought herself a Welsh Love spoon, which completely baffled James because she was as English as they came. James wanted a Coffee by the side of the millennium Stadium alongside the river Taff and that’s where they headed. It was still warm though not as sunny as it had been and the place was busy as Cardiff remained one of Europe’s fastest growing cities. The road they had to cross running pararell to Cardiff Castle was always busy and they stood by the crossing waiting for it to change colour so they could cross the road. James noticed an elderly couple on the other side of the road waiting to cross, James guessed that they were a married couple and wondered if people thought that he and Marie Rose were married. He giggled to himself as Marie Rose urged the lights to change. The old man on the other side looked reasonably fit and healthy, the old lady looked a bit unsteady on her feet and at that moment James felt for her as she held on to her husband for support.

  It all happened so quickly, in what seemed a split second and later when giving his statement to the police, that’s what James would say. He had no idea why the old lady stepped into the road when the little man at the crossing was still on red. He watched as her husband tried to pull her back but he wasn’t quick enough as she was hit by a transit van and her body somersaulted in the air and landed in the middle of the road. Then all of a sudden her husband who looked fit and healthy sank to his knees in despair at the sight of his wife lying face down in the road, where a pool of blood was forming. There were screams and a scene of utter panic, James was the first to tend to the old lady. He knelt beside her searched for a pulse, then he went cold as he froze, ‘do something’ someone shouted at him as James sat there motionless. A man came running over, pushed James out of the way claiming he was a doctor to which James was thankful for. Marie Rose had seen James stall, she grabbed his arm as he now stood on the pavement.

  “Why didn’t you do anything, why didn’t you try to help you’re a doctor?” She screamed, she noticed the colour had gone out of James.

  “There was nothing I could do.” He said.

  Marie Rose and James just stood staring at the chaos that was around them. Parents were ushering their children away from the scene. The traffic now at a standstill, strangers in tears at the sight of the old lady lying in the road. They could hear the sirens in the distance, what was only moments ago was a very pleasant day out in the capital city of Wales turned into a scene of horror.

  “What do you mean there was nothing you could do?” Marie Rose demanded, then she noticed James was shaking, she held both of his arms,

  “James are you ok?” She asked in a panic,

  “I couldn’t do anything because I sensed it.” He said.

  Marie Rose stared on in horror,

  “Oh god no!” She cried.

  Chapter 32

  Gabriel lowered the shotgun and stared at the man he recognised despite not having seen him for 30 years. William Felton looked around the room bringing back a thousand memories. He still stood by the door just glancing around the room taking in the memories. There was just a chair a 2 seater sofa, a sideboard and a coffee table, with an over flowing ashtray based at the feet of Gabriel. The room with its threadbare carpet was stuffy and filled with smoke from the chain
smoking Gabriel. The windows were covered with smoke stained curtains, the ceiling yellowed. It looked was nothing like his mother would keep it, she kept it meticulously clean. Known commonly as the evil witch she had impeccable standards. A moment of regret come over William, regret of not having been part of this. As the eldest of 3 siblings he had inadvertently killed his sister. Leaving him banished forever until today. William couldn’t remember whether his sister had any abilities or not, but if she did he could not imagine his beautiful sister hurting anyone. He remembered her as an angel. He remembered there was never any of those special powers in his youth, his father and his mother hid them well, controlled them learnt to park them.

  The words that Gabriel spoke chilled William to the bone,

  “The man who killed my sister.” he said, not taking his eyes off William, the shotgun was resting in his lap, ready if needed. Gabriel was 8 years younger than William, but he had not aged well, the thick set man’s body had been eaten away by the cancer that grew inside him. He had lived in this house on his own for the past 25 years. He had months if not weeks to live as his body lost the fight to the thing that grew inside him. He lit a cigarette, waiting for the response. Gabriel wanted to die here, die alone and soon, the fight had all gone out of him, he had nothing left. Some days were okay as the drugs kicked in and nulled the pain. Today was one of those okay days, but most days were painful and would very often put the shotgun in his throat in order to end it, not once had he come close to pulling the trigger, fear or something else would stop him. Maybe this is the something else, he thought as he looked at his brother and puffed on his cigarette. He had noticed his brother shiver at his words, and was there a tear as he looked, he didn’t think so.

  “I miss her every day.” William said, he looked sullen as Gabriel’s stare cut into him, and just for a moment Gabriel believed him, just for a moment. Then the hate came flooding back as if it hadn’t gone in the first place, and it hadn’t, Gabriel could never forgive William for killing his sister, and their mother and father died unable to forgive their son.

  “May I take a seat?” asked William not taking his eyes of his brother.

  He sat on the edge of the sofa opposite his brother, his hands clasped together.

  “What do you want?” asked Gabriel as he leant forward to put out his cigarette, the shotgun still in his lap. William looked at his brother, he looked frail, not what he was expecting, he just hoped not everything was gone out of him, he needed his help.

  “To put that shotgun down for a start.” said William.

  Gabriel did not flinch, he never took his eyes off William.

  “Can you take me to see their graves?’’ said William, Gabriel slowly laid the shotgun on the floor in front of him.

  “I wish it was your grave.” He said.

  The headstones were either side of a large oak tree that stood in the acres that the Fenton’s had owned. A tree where many homemade swings had been attached, many picnics taken in front of, childhood memories seemed to be always associated with this tree. Gabriel had struggled to take his brother, the short walk seemed to make every bone in his body ache, and now as he looked down at the headstones of his parents alongside the brother that had destroyed their family life, he had a headache like no other. He thought he may die tonight and he would welcome it, he leaned against the tree, exhausted, he panted as he caught his breath.

  William knelt by the side of his mother’s grave, it was the first time he had seen it, he touched the stone and crossed his chest and looked up into the skies. He looked as if he was saying sorry or asking for forgiveness. Gabriel knew he would never be granted that forgiveness, wherever his parents were. William repeated the same with his father’s stone. Now he stood alongside his brother, he looked at him as if asking permission. Gabriel’s eyes told him it was alright. Behind the oak tree but in the middle of the other two graves lay his sister, he knelt by her grave, touched the stone with one hand, bowed his head and started to pray as William Fenton asked his sister for forgiveness. He stood after his prayer, there were no tears as he didn’t want his sister to see him cry, he would cry later. Gabriel stood and looked on and watched and, for a moment he felt for his brother, but he wouldn’t show it, he didn’t deserve it.

  “Why weren’t they buried together?” he asked

  “The oak tree binds them together.” Answered his brother.

  They walked slowly back to the house, William pausing every so often looking at the broken down out buildings that he used to play on. He could picture his sister running around playing, chasing the dogs, laughing, she was always laughing. He could see in the distance the place where she had fallen off her horse and William had picked her up and brought her to the house. He didn’t want to go down there, he didn’t want to see that place, he had seen that place in his dreams to many times.

  Gabriel Fenton sat in the same chair that William first saw him in, a cigarette in his hand, the shotgun leaning against the wall. Gabriel no longer needing the security of it, he had sensed that if William was there to hurt him he would have done it when they were outside. On the table in front of him was a tea stained mug still steaming with the freshly made brew. William sat on the sofa, holding his tea stained mug, he took a sip, it was surprisingly good.

  “Why are you here?” Asked Gabriel,

  William put his mug down on the floor in front of him, he leaned forward,

  “I want to avenge the people who murdered my son, I need your power,” he licked his lips and moved his eyes away from Gabriel,

  “Your son?”

  “Yes I had a son, they killed him, those with powers, I haven’t got long, and I think the military will be here soon,”

  “The men in black?”

  “Yes.” William was looking at his Brother now, a pleading look on his face.

  Gabriel didn’t know William had a son and he had no interest in asking him about him, but he could remember the men in black visiting the farmland, talking to his dad whilst pointing at Gabriel, his father seemed scared of them. They had frightened him when he was young, but seeing his father frightened, scared him even more.

  “Why should I help you?” He asked.

  William thought about this for a moment,

  “I can’t think of a reason why you would,” he paused looked deep in thought, he knew he could never be forgiven, “I loved her as much as anyone,” he added.

  Gabriel guessed he did, he knew he did, but he had killed her and Gabriel wanted to kill him, he still did, Gabriel had never had children, but knew what it was like to lose someone you loved. William had lost a son and he couldn’t comprehend how that felt, now he wanted his powers, powers he had parked for over 50 years, but he knew they were still inside him, if the cancer hadn’t eaten them up.

  “One condition,” he said, William nodded,

  “You end your sorry life after you have avenged your son,”

  “I always intended to.” Said William.

  “Okay let’s do it.”

  A few minutes later, after Gabriel had insisted on another cigarette, and during those few minutes they talked about their mother and father and their sister, and the memories felt good to both brothers. They were now both knelt on the floor facing each other. Gabriel’s headache had worsened and his body ached all over. They held out there hands, took each other’s, and closed their eyes, and William Fenton could feel it. He could feel the power in his younger brother, he could feel it stir up inside his brother as William awoken it and beckoned it into him. Gabriel could feel it, something was stirring inside him, something that had been dormant for decades had been awoken by his brother and as their hands linked and their body’s shook, the heavens outside opened up and the rain poured, and the thunder boomed, and the lightning struck the house and for one moment, just one fleeting moment, before all of Gabriel’s inner powers were transferred to William, the house was just like it used to be. His father sat reading his paper, his mother in the kitchen, the smell of someth
ing good cooking. Gabriel and William were building with wooden bricks on the lush carpeted floor and their sister was sat on the sofa playing with her dolls. And for that moment, for both brothers everything was ok, and as the last of everything was transferred from Gabriel into William, they had both looked at each other and seen each other as the young boys they used to be, and William noticed Gabriel smile as they unlinked their hands. Then the winds eased and the sun shone and Gabriel fell to the floor as everything was taken out of him including his life. He lay lifeless, and the room was old and decrepit as it was before. And it smelt of smoke and rot, and it looked as if the walls were shedding tears. And the house groaned as the last of the Fenton’s who lived in this once fine house was taken away. It took William a moment or two to gather his thoughts and to pull himself together. He looked at his brother, who he knew was dead as he lay there, he put his two thumbs on his eyes to close them. He gently lifted the frail body of his brother and walked out of the front door to the graves of his family. He lay the body of his brother by the side of his sister, straightened him out the best he could. He stroked his forehead as he knelt beside him and as he stood, he said to his dead brother ‘you’re with your sister now,’ he turned away and looked towards the fields that stood beyond the farm. He knew it was a long walk to the next village, and that’s what William Fenton did, he set off to avenge his son.