by Alex Pitt
The other thing I was extremely nervous about was telling my mum. I’d never planned to be a father at seventeen, and I don’t think Daisy was ready for motherhood yet either. My mum would hit the roof.
Technically, the protection was faulty so I could blame that, but it wasn’t the whole truth. I should have checked the date. But, even then, I had a feeling I would’ve taken the risk and used it anyway because I wanted Daisy right there and then, as bad as that sounds.
So, Daisy left me and went home. I stayed right where I was, with my head in my hands, thinking. This whole thing was a mess.
Lifting my head up, I studied the surroundings. There weren’t many people in the park, but that would change soon. The moment half three came around, the children who were still trapped in school would swarm the whole area. I planned to be long gone by then.
I noticed someone walking towards me.
Someone tall and lanky.
Someone who sauntered in a menacing way.
I didn’t know who it was and the sun was behind him so I couldn’t make out any distinguishing features. I knew he had his eyes set on me. He was striding forward with a purpose. I should have got up and greeted the mysterious figure, deciding it was probably Scooter or Vince, but I stayed where I was.
“Not going to get up for me?” he asked, as I held my arm above my eyes, shielding the sunlight.
“Fuck,” I muttered to myself when I realised who I was up against.
Morgan. He had found me.
“Fuck indeed,” he smirked, bending down and making eye contact. “I still need to thank you for everything you did for me at the party. You know, I’ve been coming here almost every day since then to try and find you, and here you are. Are you and that bitch having issues? I was over there watching you, and it sure looked that way.”
“Don’t call her a bitch,” I retorted, really not keen on kicking up a fight today.
“Or what, mate? You interrupted me and Scooter’s bitch back at the party. “Lovely girl, she was. Very lovely indeed. Wasn’t too keen on me after you’d caught us though. And she was pissed that you’d thrown our clothes out the window. Still, at least her body was partly covered. At least you had the decency to do that for her, mate.”
“What’s your point, Morgan?” I asked, wanting him to hurry up.
“My point is that you can’t do that. You made everyone in the party see my naked-ass body. How do you think I felt?”
“Trisha didn’t mind flashing her skin. She was used to it,” I smirked, earning myself a slap.
“You know, Trisha and I haven’t spoken since Sam’s party, and I think you might be the reason why. I’m not too bothered because I got what I wanted from her, but she’s a decent enough girl. I’m glad I took her away from Scooter, and I’m glad I was there to see his face when he found out. He looked like he was about to cry for his mummy.”
Morgan laughed and it echoed through the sky.
Deciding I’d heard enough of him berate my friends, I pushed myself forwards and tackled him to the ground. I held him in place, not even sure what I was doing. I couldn’t exactly beat him up, it would only land me in trouble, but I didn’t want to let him go either.
He was a nasty piece of work. I wanted so badly to teach him a lesson. No one talks about Daisy and Scooter in the way that he did without earning a black eye for his trouble.
Screw it, I thought to myself. If I get done for assault then it would be worth it. I wasn’t going to let him talk about my girl and my friends like that. He’d already hurt Scooter, and that was probably his plan all along. He was a psycho, and he’d probably slept with Trisha to anger Scooter and, therefore, get back at me. Either that or he was a horny little prick, which was probably true as well.
“Fuck you, Morgan,” I said, launching a punch as his face.
One more punch, and again, and again.
It felt so good to finally be taking it out on him. It wasn’t even everything that Morgan had said. I was angry with Daisy but I didn’t want to lose her, so instead I used Morgan’s face as a punching bag for that.
He didn’t even say anything though. He didn’t moan, he didn’t wince, he just took it.
“You think that hurt?” he asked, when I finally stopped punching for a second. He spat blood onto the grass and said, “I’m used to much worse from my father. In fact, he’ll probably buy you a beer for that.”
“Just stay away from me, OK?” I asked, standing up and walking away.
He wasn’t done though. He was very far from done.
“Get your ass back here!” he shouted, and I bet he was thankful no one else was around.
“Stay away from me, Morgan. I’m warning you.”
“You’re warning me?” he laughed, then fished around in his pocket.
Taking out a knife, he flicked the blade open and started walking towards me. He might have just got it out for the scare factor, but this was Morgan we’re talking about. I’d heard crazy stories about some of the things he’d done in the past; cutting up people and beating them into hospital. He got it from his dad, but I didn’t trust him to not use the knife on me.
“Very big of you,” I taunted, still backing away. “Can’t use your fists so you need a weapon.”
I stared at the knife in his hands, as he said, “Stop running away, Jack. This is going to end one way or another. I need to punish you.”
“What for?”
“You already know that, mate. The fucking party.”
“Just let it go,” I shouted at Morgan, exasperated. “You had sex with Scooter’s girl, so I let everyone see your tiny tic-tac. We’re even, yeah?”
Morgan shook his head and raised the knife, pointing it straight at me.
“Not even close. I’m gonna fuck you up first, then I’m gonna get your bird, then I’ll get Scooter. Then we’ll be even.”
I couldn’t believe this was actually happening to me. After everything Daisy and I had gone through recently, I didn’t expect to be threatened at knife-point. This wasn’t where I saw my life going. Morgan was actually crazy enough to attack me, but, if I got out of this in one piece, I would make things right with Daisy. I needed her. She was so important to me.
It’s madness, as Morgan was approaching me with the knife, that all I could think about was the girl. Memories of her flashed through my mind. The first time I’d seen her in English, the way she’d sat down next to me, the first time we’d hung out after college, going to the party, seeing her kiss Sam, her kissing me, telling each other that we loved one another. It was crazy. It hadn’t even been two months yet, but I couldn’t lose her and I didn’t want the baby inside of her to tear us apart.
Thinking of all the memories with Daisy was making me smile, and Morgan noticed that. It was a bad move though, because he thought I was smirking at him.
“Fuck you, Jack,” he screamed, driving his hand forward with the knife.
I only just managed to twist out of the way, but the blade caught my top and ripped it open, exposing flesh. He had another go, this one actually pricking my skin and opening a wound. It didn’t hurt much, but it was enough to make me wince and drop my guard for a second.
I ran off towards the trees at the back of the park, and he followed. I was clutching my stomach, holding the wound together. This wasn’t happening. I was imagining it all. I had to be.
“Come back,” Morgan instructed firmly, but I wasn’t listening.
He was a fast runner though, and the gap between us was closing. I knew I was only making it worse for myself, that I should call the police, that I should scream for help, but I couldn’t do it. There was no one around to help me and I wouldn’t be able to ring the cops before Morgan caught up to me. He’d probably do a lot worse if he saw I was trying to call them. He might even cut my hand off.
How the hell hadn’t this kid been arrested before now? Perhaps his victims were all too scared to report him, but I’d call up the cops as soon as he left me alone. It wasn’t right that other people h
ad to suffer because of him. He was a year older than me anyway, the year above me in college, so he was the legal age to get arrested for his crimes. Let’s see how funny he found that.
Catching up to me, he slashed out again, catching my back and opening another wound. Any second now, he’d jab too hard and get the knife stuck in my flesh. I was bracing myself for the pain.
Reaching down, I picked up a section of broken fence off the floor and swung it around. I’d done it in one swift movement, giving him no time to react. The wood hit his arm and knocked the knife from his hand. I scrabbled to pick it up, not to use it, but to render him defenceless. He got there before me though, and started swiping the air madly with it.
I used the piece of wood to defend myself. He swung the knife hard on the wood, jamming it. He couldn’t free his weapon, it was buried deep. Trying to use this to my advantage, I pulled the wood away from him and he released the knife from his grasp.
The knife made the wood unbalanced, however, and I was caught off-guard. He kicked me straight in the stomach, straight on my wound, knocking the wind out of me and making me fall to the floor.
“That was intense,” he smiled, and it was a menacing smile.
“Yeah,” I agreed, just wanting it to be over. I wanted to call the cops, and then go to bed.
“You really should’ve let me have you in the first place, Jack. I would have just cut you up a bit, nothing too serious, but now?” He picked the wood up off the floor and prised the knife out of it. “Now you’ve really got it coming.”
There was nothing I could do. I was winded and helpless, watching him approach me with the deadly weapon. Laughing, he pulled back his arm and thrust it forward. It planted itself in my belly.
Screaming in pain, he took the knife back out and slashed a few times. My chest, my arms, even a few attempts down south, but my belt took most of those blows, thankfully. I was a bloody mess, and he stood there watching and laughing.
Then, the strangest thing happened. A look flashed across his face, and it was almost sad. It was full of guilt, and a touch of regret.
“No,” Morgan gasped, his accent on full show. “This is what he wanted me to become.”
Morgan put the knife back in his pocket, studied his hands for a few seconds, and then ran off.
I was confused by that last statement, but I supposed he was talking about his dad. His father had beaten him all the time, and beaten others, and now his son was following his footsteps. That’s who he must have been talking about, right?
Either way, I was glad to see the back of him. The wound in my tummy was painful, but I would live. The cuts on my body were also stinging, but they’d be fine in a day or two. I might have a few scars though. I was just glad he hadn’t attacked my face.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I opened up the keypad. Dialling 999, I held it up to my ear. Despite the last look he’d given me, I still had to report him.
“999 operator, what service do you require?”
“Police. Give me the police,” I urged, wincing from my wounds.
A few seconds passed. Then, “This is Sargent Davies speaking. May I take your name?”
“Jack. I’m Jack,” I gasped.
“And what’s the problem, Jack?”
I paused, not entirely sure where to begin. Should I start with the fight that had just taken place, or give him the information I had just found out? I decided on the latter, realising that it was far more important.
“Rachel and April. The two girls who died.”
“Yes, what about them?” Davies pressed.
And then I told him the terrible truth, “I think I know who killed them.”
Chapter Thirty
Davies took me straight to the hospital when he found me. I’d given him my location and he said he’d pick me up and we could go back to the station for a chat. But, seeing the condition I was in, he headed straight for the hospital instead.
I tried to tell him that I was fine, but he wasn’t having it. He was a copper, so I guess I had to listen to him. He didn’t even mutter a word about what I’d told him on the phone. I was right, though, I had to be. Morgan, as crazy as it sounds, had killed Rachel and April. The knife he’d attacked me with was the same as the one used to murder the girls.
It all made sense now. I couldn’t shake the final thing he’d said to me though, about becoming what his father had wanted him to be. A murderer? Had his father raised a murderer?
We got to the hospital and Davies bundled me through the door, calling for help. Several nurses rushed to the scene, helping him carry me forward. The pain was getting worse.
They placed me on a hospital bed, then one of the nurses pressed her hands to my skin and began examining me. She was asking so many questions, like who did this, what they attacked me with, where they were now, and Davies was shuffling uncomfortably. I could tell he wanted me to save those details for his ears only, but she was trying to help and so I gave her the bare minimum of information.
It was a boy I went to college with and he slashed me with a knife, that’s all I said.
“I hope you’re going to get that kid, Sargent,” the nurse tutted, looking at the officer.
“Course,” he smiled, and I took an instant liking to the man. “Back in a mo, I’ve got to make a couple of calls.” As he exited the room, he held a phone to his ear and I heard him say, “Cooper, it’s Davies…”
The nurse patched me up well, stitching together a few wounds and placing bandages over most of my body. She was concerned about the deep stab in my belly, but she thought it would be fine once stitched up. I was under strict instructions to come back immediately if I started having internal problems down there. I told her I would, and she left me alone after that.
A few minutes later, a woman turned up and Davies let her into the room. She was a blonde lady, probably in her early thirties, and she had a kind face. A worn-out face, but it looked extremely kind.
“Jack, do you mind if we ask you some questions?” she asked, taking a notepad out and sitting next to the bed.
I was in extreme pain, but I needed to get out what I had to say.
“That’s fine,” I grunted, and she nodded.
“OK, so you told Davies on the phone that you know who killed Rachel and April. Was he the same person that attacked you?”
“Yes.”
“Right, and can I take a name?”
“Morgan. Morgan Yu. He goes to my college.”
“So, he’s a child?” Davies spat, shocked. “What makes you think he killed the girls?”
“Just because he’s a child doesn’t mean he couldn’t commit murder,” Becky said, stopping me from speaking.
“He’s not a child anyway. He’s eighteen, and he’s completely psychotic. I’ve heard stories about him attacking people before. It wouldn’t surprise me if he was able to murder as well.”
“And what makes you think he did it?” Davies asked again.
“He had the same knife,” I told them, to which Becky gasped.
“The same knife? You mean, the foreign one?”
I nodded, wincing at the pain. Becky jotted a few notes down, then looked up and smiled at me.
“Thank you for that information, Jack. You’ve been very helpful.”
She stood up from the chair and headed to the door, but Davies stopped her. I was surprised she was ready to leave so soon, with so few questions asked.
“We should take him with us,” Davies whispered, but I could clearly still hear him.
“What? Are you crazy? Look at him.”
Becky pointed to me and I smiled. Didn’t I get a say in this? There was something about Becky though, something I recognised about her. Her voice, perhaps? Then it clicked. I knew where I’d heard it before.
“You were at that party a few days ago, weren’t you? You came to break it up.”
“The one down by the college? Sam Higgins? Yeah, I was there. How do you know that?” she questioned, her eyes narrowi
ng.
“I was there too,” I admitted, but she didn’t look surprised.
“You must have escaped before I saw you. Out the back, or something?”
“Yeah, something like that,” I chuckled lightly. I would never tell her the truth about that night.
“Well, how are you feeling, Jack?” This was Davies, and I shrugged.
“Fine. I mean, they hurt, but I want to come with you. I want to help.”
“Can we really allow that?” Becky turned her head to Davies, but she knew she was defeated.
“Yes, I can pull up Morgan’s address and find him that way but we might need Jack to testify that it was the same knife he was attacked with that was used on the girls.”
“Fine, fine,” Becky sighed, but I smiled.
After reading and watching about this case for weeks, I was glad to finally be involved in it. If Morgan had really murdered Rachel and April, I would help take him down. He was going away for a very long time.
I would make sure of it.
Chapter Thirty-One
Daisy
I’d been to see him again. This was the second time this week. Usually, he wouldn’t allow meetings outside of ‘office hours’, but he made a special exception for me. I needed someone to talk to, someone who understood me the way he did.
To be honest, he wasn’t the best person in the world. He was slimy and cold-hearted, but he was my therapist and I thought I could tell him anything.
“How would you describe your relationship with Jack?” he asked me, frowning over his spectacles.
“Rocky,” I admitted, because that’s exactly what it was.
“And why is that?”
“Because he doesn’t understand the things going on in my life. He’s a great person and easy to talk to, but I don’t want to tell him about, you know… I’m not ready, and you told me not to tell him anyway.”
“So, are you blaming me for the failures in your relationship?” he asked.
“No, not at all,” I said quickly. Perhaps a bit too quickly.
“I see,” he said, taking off his glasses and putting them on the glass table. “But do you see this boy in your future?” he asked me, and I shrugged.