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

by Colin Griffiths

  The two men who were in their sat at their desks looked up the moment the door opened, everyone had to knock and be told to enter, the military man to Todd’s right immediately went for his gun and was quick enough to get it out of his holster and almost pointed it at Todd, but he was stopped at some overwhelming supernatural force that he had only heard about and been trained for. But this wasn’t what he imagined, the gun was in his hand, but it wasn’t in his control, his armed slowly turned and now the gun was pointing at his colleague sat at the opposite desk. He was holding the gun but he wasn’t controlling it, his colleague looked on in horror as his partner pointed the gun at him, he couldn’t move, something was preventing him from moving.

  “Do you want to pull the trigger?” Asked Todd,

  The military man shook his head,

  “Do you believe I could make you?”

  He nodded,

  “Put the safety on and put the gun on the desk,” he said, “you to,” he added pointing to the other man who had let out a big gasp of relief.

  They both did what he asked feeling they had no real choice.

  Todd looked around the room, there was an array of computers,

  “What’s these all for?” he asked,

  The soldier who thought he was going to get shot said, “a lot of it is for research, but it’s also a bit of a control centre and….

  Todd interrupted him,

  “Research on people like me you mean?”

  The two of them nodded, Todd walked around and stood behind the guy who had held the gun, he felt nervous with Todd standing behind him, they both were scared now, after what they had just seen they realised anything is possible,

  “What you doing on this one?” Todd asked.

  “It’s the internet deleter,”

  “What do you mean the internet deleter?”

  The man shuffled nervously in his seat he wasn’t supposed to tell anyone this, and normally he wouldn’t, but this wasn’t normal, not today it wasn’t,

  “It allows us to delete things off the internet that we don’t want people to see, we nicknamed it the internet deleter.”

  “What like flying me?” Todd Mocked. The man nodded,

  “How can you possibly do that?”

  “It’s not deleted and it’s very hi tech, but let’s just say we stop the servers and the search engines from reaching it.”

  “Cool.” said Todd.

  And both men sat there even more confused than they were a moment ago as this delightful young man was chatting to them,

  “Anyway,” said Todd, the two men didn’t like the words anyway,

  “I’m not going to hurt you,” Todd continued, the two men did not believe him “but here’s what I want you to do!” And then suddenly everything seemed all right, and superman was their friend after all. 10 minutes later Todd came out of the office, he had a smile on his face.

  He walked to the lift opened the cliff face as he got on the top, he knew he only had a few minutes before it automatically closed again, unless you had a card like Cathy Brown, and he did now. He had the two cards the military had from downstairs. He stood outside now, his intention was to leave, but he could not, the woods frightened him. He was sure that they were evil, and he hadn’t worked out how to beat that evil, not yet, and the cliff was too steep to climb. It wasn’t true he could fly, he had flown before but that wasn’t his choice, and there were soldiers on the gates. He would have to get closer to null them and they might shoot him before he got close enough. What once seemed so easy was suddenly difficult again as he thought of the obstacles he had yet to overcome, there was only one thing he could do and he went back inside and waited for Cathy Brown, because he was sure she would help him. He realised he wasn’t ready yet not completely ready, then he wondered if he would ever do this, ‘it’s been a good day’ he told himself.

  Chapter 37

  Daniel had reached his office by 8.30, he had a lot of paperwork to do before he and Cindy went to pick up Madison from the station. He was excited whilst he was travelling to work, he sang along to Mumford and Sons as he drove. He had some of his powers back and he was feeling so different, it was a year ago since they lost Todd and he thought something was bound to happen. Each day recently he had been beginning to believe his brother was not dead, but his mind had been confused, he didn’t know if he believed it or wanted to believe it, but today was different, he did believe it. Todd had something to do with this he had told himself. Madison was right all along, he was sure of it, the wonderful, beautiful, brave Madison, oh why didn’t I believe her, he thought whilst driving, I will never doubt her again. All he had to do now was find him, and he guessed he and Madison were the ones to do that. Once the memorial was over, they would find out if he was dead, one thing was for sure Daniel was determined to get to the truth and nothing would stop him, guns would not bring him down, and when the truth was out, fuck them all, let them try to come for us.

  He was absolutely delighted to find that Cindy had been in the office to do some work since 7.00am and he realised how lucky he was to have her, he would try and get her a salary increase, she certainly deserved it, she was there typing away when Daniel got in at 8.30.

  “Relax make yourself a coffee, I’ve not much to do and there’s just some things you’ve got to sign.” She had told him when Daniel got there, he thanked her and went to the kitchen area to make two coffees. Don’t ever leave me, he thought I could never do this job without you.

  Cindy was dressed in a beautiful lemon flowing dress and Daniel thought she looked really hot, and then he thought how lucky he was having so many beautiful women in his life, they took a break over coffee, idly chatting.

  The two men in black drove down the Newport high street in a pedestrian only area and parked up outside a jewellers. The high street was full of shoppers and protested as the vehicle drove along the pedestrian area. They were soon approached by two policeman, but as people looked on they noticed the men in black show the policemen something and off they went. Ten minutes later that area was cordoned off 100 yards each side and a crowd started to gather. One of them shouted that it was Daniel Fenton’s office, the local MP, all sorts of rumours were going around, but the men in black were there and knew none of these rumours were right. Neutralise or exterminate was the order, if it was a def-com alert it would be at the top of the scale, such was the intensity of the operation. They were armed and ready as they stormed the door beside the jewellers and ran up the stairs towards Daniel and Cindy.

  The crash startled them and their office door bursting open even more so. Cindy screamed in fright, as the military entered the office, she instinctively thought they were robbing the jewellers and had got the wrong door. They quickly walked either side of the desk, towering over the two people who sat at it, and one of them drew his gun on Daniel.

  Cindy was cowering behind her desk, Daniel was sat showing no reaction, not today, he thought, please not today, his heart raced what could he do.

  “You’re to come with us said the one with the gun,”

  “What about her?” Daniel asked pointing at Cindy,

  “Her too,” he looked nervous, Daniel noticed the sweat on his brow, he guessed that being nervous made him more dangerous.

  No way, Daniel thought, not another woman in my life hurt, over my dead body, and as he shook his head to indicate a no, that’s exactly what Daniel thought it would be, as the soldier raised his gun and Daniel closed his eyes, hoping it would be quick, and then he heard a shot and Cindy scream and for one split horrific second he thought they had shot her. That was until he saw the man with the gun lying on the floor holding his shoulder, blood pouring through his fingers from where he held his wound. The other man holstered the gun that he had just used to shoot his partner.

  “What the fuck!” said Daniel, but the gunman hushed him, he pointed with his gun to sit, and they did so. He took out what seemed to be some medical supplies from one of the many compartments of the many belt
s he had around his body. Daniel and Cindy just watched in astonishment as the gunman took out a knife and with great precision and medical skill removed the bullet that lay in his partner’s shoulder, as his partner screamed in agony. Soon he was patched up and the blood seemed to have stopped flowing. The gunman propped him up against the wall and ignored his partner’s protests, he had disarmed him and took all his radio equipment away.

  It all seemed so professional and Daniel new these guys shouldn’t be messed with but this guy was good he thought. The gunman put his gun on the desk in front of them and started to take his balaclava off. For one moment Daniel thought about making a grab for the gun but guessed he wouldn’t make it, then he seen the face behind the balaclava!

  “You,” his voice was loud and in shock as Daniel stood from his chair,

  “Can’t have anyone killing my daughters brother can I?” Said Morgan Hughes,

  “What are you doing here,” asked Daniel, Cindy just looked on in shock thanking god that at least the danger was over as Daniel knew this one, and he had saved Daniels life, she really thought she was going to die.

  “Two agents were coming here to kill you, I managed to disable the one guy and took his place, he (he pointed to the guy on the floor) didn’t notice, he was too scared in finally meeting the Daniel Fenton,”

  “You’re one of them?” Asked Daniel

  “Yes I am, but all I want Daniel is my daughter, I need to get her away from here before they neutralise her,”

  “I will kill you,”

  “Then that will have to wait Daniel.” Morgan knew he probably could kill him, but he felt or showed no fear.

  “You need to explain Morgan!”

  So he did.

  As he was about to start Daniels phone went, it was Madison, he looked at it, and a feeling of dread went through his body, he noticed missed texts off her, shit, he said to himself, I’ve missed her now, he texted her back, he knew she was safe, she had told him she had to get a taxi and he grinned at her last comment, ‘and you’re going to pay for it.’

  Morgan told Daniel and Cindy everything, from the day he was signed up, to the day he was given the job of minding a young girl at the age of three, how he had fell in love with her mother and subsequently fell in love with Madison as if she was his own flesh and blood. He even admitted that he was one of the men who had trapped Daniel in the woods at the age of twelve. Daniel wanted to thump him when he said that, but thought better of it. He told them everything he could think of, even that he was up on the mountain that day and he was one of the men that had taken Todd away. They had simulated the thunder and lightning in order for them to take him. ‘We flew him to Devon,’ he told him, it’s a place where they neutralise people, Cindy just listened, not once did she close her mouth.

  “Is he alive?” Asked Daniel,

  “Yes,”

  A relief so big that would be too hard to describe came over Daniel, his whole body shook.

  “But he may not be the same Todd you remember,” Morgan added,

  “You knew all along and you let us believe he was dead?”

  Morgan looked apologetic, he knew how this man must be feeling, but now wasn’t the time.

  “I done what I thought was right Daniel,”

  “I will kill you Morgan,”

  And for the first time in his professional life, Morgan Hughes felt real fear, because if any man was able to kill him, he was staring right at him.

  “Cut this out, now what do we do now?” Asked Cindy.

  “We go to a memorial,” said Daniel, he looked at Morgan daring him to challenge him, he didn’t.

  “You’re supposed to be dead!” Said Morgan, the words chilled Daniel to the bone, and how this man could talk about death as if it was nothing at all.

  Morgan went over to the military man sat on the floor he whispered something in his ear, he handed him the phone, then he put a gun to his head as the man spoke into the phone. He took the phone of the man and patted his cheek, he turned to Daniel and Cindy,

  “You’re now officially dead’ he said,

  They were words that Daniel thought he would remember for the rest of his life.

  “Would you had killed him if he hadn’t done what you asked?”

  “Never killed anyone in my life Daniel and I’m not going to start today,”

  “What would you have done?”

  “Think of another plan I guess,”

  “You mean you got a plan?” asked Daniel,

  “Like you said we are going to a memorial, only my partner here has to come with us,”

  “And how are we supposed to leave carrying a wounded man?”

  “Look out the window Daniel,” and Daniel did, and what he saw was a cordoned off street with a crowd at each end, and at the entrance to his office was a backed up SUV.

  As they both helped the wounded man to his feet, Daniel turned to Morgan and said,

  “If any harm has come to my family I will kill you, you know that don’t you?”

  “I know,” Morgan said, then he added, “You’re probably the only man who could.”

  There was a sudden admiration for this man from Daniel, he showed no fear, even when faced with death, this man knew the powers they had and still showed no fear, not like his partner who looked at Daniel as if he was the devil himself.

  “I just want Madison safe.” Said Morgan.

  “What is safe?” Asked Daniel, Morgan didn’t answer, he couldn’t.

  Five minutes later, with Morgan driving, Cindy in the front, and Daniel sat in the back with a gun held against their prisoner Cindy said,

  “It’s been a crazy day.”

  “And it’s going to get crazier.” said Daniel. Morgan grinned and the wounded man just shook in fright at the freak who held the gun against him.

  Chapter 38

  Cathy Brown sat at her kitchen table, looking at the Birthday cake she had bought, along with a card that simply said on the front was ‘to a good friend’ she had sat for 15 minutes wondering what to write. She had thought of loads of things, ‘congratulations’ ‘happy anniversary’ ‘1 year today’ and as she looked and pondered, she picked up her pen and wrote ‘congratulations on being neutralised and a fucking zombie for one year, love & kisses, Cath. She then ripped it up in as many pieces as she could and threw it up in the air, she clenched her fists and growled as she did so.

  She sat looking at the cake for a few moments, it was just a Victoria sponge. In a rage she picked it up threw it against the wall, the plate it was stood on smashed into pieces as fragments of sponge trickled down the wall.

  She sat back at the table, put her head in her hands and wept.

  It wasn’t a too early start for her, taking off the night shift at 10am. Her drive to work was a thoughtful one, wondering why in hell she would find it appropriate to buy him a cake and a card. It wasn’t a celebration it was just another day in his miserable life. She wanted out of this organisation, out of this top secret life, where all they seem to do was take advantage of young men and turn them into mice. She could never imagine Todd Fenton being a danger or doing harm to anyone in his short life, and Cathy Brown was right….to a point.

  She opened the cave entrance and descended with the lift. When the doors opened in the basement and she stepped out, Todd was waiting there, she was surprised to see him, even though the restrictions on him had been lifted, it was unusual to see him roaming around and not escorted or being watched. He walked towards her as she stepped out, she noticed he was different, he had a smile on his face, and his eyes, well they seem to sparkle. And as she looked she thought Todd Fenton didn’t look like a Zombie anymore, he looked like a normal handsome young man, and it was that moment when she realised she had fallen in love with a boy 22 years her younger.

  “Are you ok?” she asked, she went up to him and kissed his cheek without realising it, Todd reciprocated the kiss,

  “Before you do anything can I tell you something?” Todd asked.

>   She looked into his eyes, though they sparkled at that moment they looked deep and sad, as if they had a sad story to tell. Todd led her to his room, he pointed for her to sit on the bed and Cathy could see the new found confidence. This man wasn’t neutralised at all, far from it, though she wasn’t scared, she felt uplifted as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She sat on his bed and Todd remained standing, Cathy noticed his hands were swaying and thought he looked a little nervous, then she realised he was looking for the right words.

  “I have a brother Daniel, a sister, Madison, a mother Carol and I also have a girl called Wendy who I love very much, and as we speak she still mourns and waits for me.”

  Cathy looked wide eyed in shock, she did not know these details about him, they were never told the history of the patient, she only found out his name by accident when she overheard two military men speaking about him. She never gave it any thought how he had come to find these things out, though she knew it was true, she could see it in his eyes and his eyes were hurting.

  “A year has been long enough,” he added, he sat down beside her, he took her hand, something he had never done before. She liked the touch, she liked the affection, but the words ‘I have a girl that I love very much’ was still ringing in her ears. She held onto his hands and looked into his eyes and hoped those eyes would always sparkle and hope he would find his love once more, she’s a lucky girl, I doubt if they’ll ever let him near he,’ he stood, breaking their hold, then he bent down and kissed her forehead, her eyes watered, this seemed so poignant, so sad, like it was goodbye.

  “Are you saying Goodbye Todd?” She challenged him.

  He smiled a big smile, he thought of his mother ‘we never say goodbye we say see you later’ he hesitated, his face grew serious,

  “I meant it when I said I would never hurt you, I never would, you have been my only friend for a year,” she sucked her lips into her mouth, a tear trickled down her face,