The Original's Return (Book 2): The Original's Retribution

by David Watkins

  Now.

  But it was too late. Coming out of the tree line, slowly emerging into the sunlight, was an enormous wolf.

  4

  Josh was asleep upstairs and Karen sang to herself as she made a cup of tea. The kitchen was as familiar as her own and she was soon sitting down watching some awful daytime TV programme. It seemed to consist of people shouting at each other, whilst the caption read 'twins bed the same girl, but who’s the father?'

  Sometimes Karen thought that daytime TV was deliberately awful to try and force people back to work.

  She heard a knock at the door, the noise so loud, she jumped and spilt some tea over herself.

  “Dammit,” she said and brushed the liquid off herself as she opened the door.

  A good looking man and an obese woman stood smiling on the doorstep. Looking at the woman, Karen felt better about giving up the running. She had some way to go before she should be that worried.

  “Hello, is Mrs Stadler in?” the man said.

  “No, she’s not,” Karen said. Later she would wonder how the man knew she wasn't Mrs Stadler, but by then it would be far too late.

  5

  Michael drummed his fingers on the seat in front of him.

  “Scott, fill the car up with petrol, please. We may need to leave in a hurry,” he said, tapping the younger man on the shoulder.

  “Aren't we waiting for Jack?” Scott asked.

  “Yes,” Michael said, “but please do it.”

  “We don't have any money,” Scott said.

  “I'm sure you'll think of something,” Michael said. “Come on Sally.”

  He got out of the car and crossed the road. Once there, he waited for Sally and then they walked down the street together. He stopped outside the fourth house.

  “Are you sure?” Sally asked.

  “Can't you smell it? Besides, look at the window.” Jack had told them of how he had run away from his family after killing the wolf that was there to eat them. The man had even cried for a bit. Pathetic.

  A short flight of steps led to the dilapidated porch. Michael knocked on the door, three loud, sharp raps. After a moment, the door was opened by a large black woman. Well, larger than me, but way smaller than Sally.

  “Hello, is Mrs Stadler in?” Michael asked, smile in place on his lips.

  “No, she’s not. Sorry,” said the woman. “She’s just popped out, but will be back soon. Can I help?”

  Michael looked at Sally, then said, “We're old friends of Mrs Stadler’s. Would you mind if we wait for her?”

  A frown crossed the woman’s face and Michael knew he'd made a mistake.

  “You university friends?”

  “Something like that.”

  “Only she didn't say she was expecting anyone.”

  “No, we were just passing and thought we'd pop in.”

  The woman laughed. “No-one just passes through Huntleigh. What are you? Press or ambulance chasers?”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “Look, just go away, ok? Katie doesn't need any more grief.”

  Michael’s hand shot out so fast that Karen barely saw him move. She screamed, falling back from the door with blood pouring out of the gash on her face.

  Sally saw the claws for a second before they disappeared.

  “I didn't know you could do that,” she said in awe.

  Michael shrugged. “You just have to focus.” He stepped inside, pushing the screaming woman back into the small hallway. Sally closed the door behind them. Michael smiled again at the woman.

  “I think you'll find the ambulances chase us.”

  6

  Scott replaced the pump and looked at the price more through habit than anything else. He didn't have any money, so the fact that this price was bordering on the obscene meant nothing.

  The garage had a small shop next to the pumps and he could see an old woman watching him. He smiled at her and waved. Shit.

  He opened the door to the shop and made a play of scanning the shelves. What am I going to do? What would Michael do?

  “Nice day,” the woman said. Now he was inside, she didn't look that old. Mid-fifties, maybe.

  “Yep,” he said.

  “You on holiday?”

  “Yep.” He spied something he could use on the bottom shelf and picked it up.

  “You need a new battery too, huh? That’s bad luck on a holiday, love.”

  Scott swung the car battery as hard as he could. The woman was so surprised she didn't even scream. The battery connected with a thud, then a crack as the woman’s skull shattered. She fell to the floor, blood pouring out of the hollow in her head. He leapt over the counter and hit her again and again until the blood and brains were indistinguishable on the cheap lino floor.

  Panting, Scott stood up and then he heard the door open behind him. He turned quickly to see an old man in dirty mechanics overalls standing in the doorway. The man’s mouth was open. Behind him were two other mechanics. These two looked much younger and fitter.

  “What the-” the old man got as far as saying.

  In for a penny. Scott let the wolf burst out of him.

  7

  The path that Jack was on ran through the wilder section of the local woods. Ferns lined the paths and he could smell badgers and foxes as he ran past. Squawking calls of danger, the birds flew out of the trees as he approached. He ignored them and ran on into the valley. The path was little used and was overgrown in parts. Foxgloves adorned the way as he ran into a tunnel created by trees. Flecks of sunlight highlighted the flowers and the deep green of the leaves.

  Soon the trees gave way to a broader track that skirted the woods on his right and fields on his left. This path led further into the valley before rising to Huntleigh Woods proper. He jumped the stream at the bottom. In winter, this could be a raging river, but right now it was just a trickle - not enough even to warrant stopping for a drink.

  A short path led up from the stream, this one more maintained than the one he had just run on. There, the smell hit him like a truck. He was not alone. Anger coursed through every fibre of his being and his fur stood out from his body. He stopped and sniffed, focusing his senses.

  The other one was less than five hundred metres away.

  And underneath that scent, a much more familiar one.

  Perfume.

  8

  Katie let out a low moan when she saw the wolf. Its head was down and it glowered at her. Saliva dripped out of its mouth and it was growling.

  At me, it’s growling at me.

  Katie couldn't move. The wolf was less than one hundred metres away and getting closer with every second.

  “Leave me alone,” she screamed. Good one, Katie, that'll work.

  The wolf raised its head and howled. Katie flushed with adrenaline and fear as it was answered by more howls, these from behind her and to the sides, within the trees. All around her. She glanced over her shoulder and saw that the pathway was clear. For now.

  Without warning, the wolf suddenly turned, looking back at the trees. It stood there for a moment, watching the tree line.

  Now, run. Now’s your chance. Run.

  She did.

  9

  The Wolf heard the howl and the answering chorus and picked up its pace. It was in the woods now, on the main path. It hurtled forward, heading for the main scent. The ground blurred past underneath it as it ignored the other scent. The path turned uphill, but the Wolf didn't slow at all. It ran on, hoping that it was fast enough.

  10

  Katie ran as fast as she could, but she knew it was still too slow. She only had two legs after all. Even in her prime, she'd always been a distance runner. She was very far from her prime now, even with the extra exercise she'd been doing.

  Fear, however, proved to be a great motivator. She pushed herself on, even with her lungs burning and her legs aching. She rounded a corner on the path, knowing that the car was less than a couple of hundred metres away.

  Too f
ar, it’s just too far.

  She looked over her shoulder and immediately wished she hadn't. Four wolves were chasing her. The biggest was at the back, and it kept sniffing the air.

  “Fuck!” she screamed.

  Standing in front of the gates was an even bigger wolf.

  She was trapped.

  11

  The wolves skidded to a stop and growled at Katie, heads low, teeth bared. Katie looked from them to the other one, panic rising. She felt sick and was panting hard. The only way out was deep into the trees, but then what? No-one was here, no-one would find her.

  She looked at the big wolf, then back at the other four. The biggest one pushed its way to the front of the pack and walked slowly towards her. She backed away, but then remembered that was just leading to the other wolf and she spun.

  The other wolf was less than ten metres away. She could almost see the individual strands of thick black fur covering it. The wolf growled, then howled. She covered her ears: it was incredibly loud. She sank to her knees, still panting hard. Even so, she refused to cry.

  Katie looked from wolf to wolf.

  “Come on then, get on with it!” she roared.

  The lone black wolf planted its feet and roared back, but then she realised it wasn't roaring at her.

  Three of the wolves were now lying down. The other large – not large it's fucking enormous oh fuck oh fuck - black one was still growling. She looked back at the black wolf and stood slowly.

  “I've seen you before,” she said.

  The black wolf walked towards her, not taking its eyes off the other wolf. It stopped by her side and bared its teeth again. Katie moved her hand but then stopped. You're not seriously going to stroke a wolf are you?

  She backed away, keeping her movements slow. She didn't want to draw attention to herself. Both wolves were intent on each other only. Her back hit something hard and she only just managed to not shriek. It was the gate to the woods.

  Now she ran. She turned and sprinted to her car. Delving into her tracksuit bottoms, she pulled out keys and unlocked the car. It beeped loudly and all five wolves looked at her. The black one furthest from her howled.

  Swearing, she yanked open the door and jumped in. She was parked facing away from the woods and had to look in the rearview mirror to see what was happening. The wolf that had howled hadn't moved, but all of its pack were standing now.

  Suddenly, the wolf closest to her bolted. It took a vital second for her to realise that it was running straight at her.

  She shrieked and started the engine, but then the door was open and a naked man jumped in.

  “Drive!” he yelled. She didn’t really comprehend what was happening. There was no time.

  The four wolves were heading straight for her. They were huge in the mirror, all bared teeth and yellow, malevolent eyes. She floored the accelerator and they sped into the lane. The wolves receded in the mirror and then she looked at the man.

  “Hi,” Jack said. “I can explain everything.”

  “I really fucking doubt it.”

  Chapter 19

  1

  Knowles watched the film again and swore, again. The mobile phone footage showed a fat lady stripping off and then carnage as the wolves ran amok. Conservative estimates put the death toll at more than three hundred, but they were not releasing that figure to the press.

  The internet had exploded with more and more copies of the footage being released to social media. The film company cover story was already failing, even though the BBC had confirmed it was a new film coming out at Christmas. They had given the film a title of 'You Don't Know Jack', which proved that somebody, somewhere had a sense of humour. Even with the BBC onside, the social media hysteria was growing.

  Now everyone was seeing wolves. It was hard to cut out the obvious bullshit stories from the ones that might be true. An attendant in a shop for big women had been found crying in her changing rooms. That one was probably true as it was near where they'd found the stolen car.

  It was the end of the film that held Knowles’ interest now. On the phone, buried on the SD card in it, was a much shorter video. It showed Bryant, clearly, and he said, ‘Stadler, I'm coming for you.' To make it easier to analyse, the tech people had put all the footage together into one film.

  Every time he saw it, it chilled him. Bryant knew exactly where they were keeping Jack, and yet there was no sign of him. If he was coming for Jack, then where was he? Every time he watched it, Knowles grew more and more certain: Bryant was going after Katie.

  Raymond had done nothing bar shout orders into his phone. Knowles had watched him for over an hour now but said nothing. He had started to help clean up the base, but Raymond had ordered him to his side so he sat, impotent, whilst others dealt with the shock of that morning.

  So many dead.

  “Knowles.”

  It took him a moment to register that Raymond was no longer barking into a telephone.

  “Sir.”

  “This is a mess. We need a rapid solution. We have lost both Originals. Thoughts?” Raymond paused. “And please be candid.”

  Knowles grinned.

  “Like you wouldn’t be anyway,” Raymond said, with a rueful smile.

  “Sir, I think Bryant means to go after Katie Stadler.”

  “Why?”

  “To get Jack’s attention. He thinks Jack is here – he doesn’t know he’s escaped. Bryant only just got away himself. He wouldn’t want to come back here.”

  “Blindingly obvious analysis so far Knowles.” Raymond tapped his desk with a pen. “Do you really think Katie Stadler is in danger?”

  “Sir, yes. I think Bryant is going there,” Knowles looked at his watch, “shit, will already be there.”

  “But why? He thinks Stadler is here.”

  “Their meeting didn’t go well sir,” Knowles said, trying to keep the sarcasm from his voice.

  “It did not. But that doesn't mean he is going for Katie.”

  “No, but I think we should get some men there as soon as. We can't be too careful.”

  “And what will the press make of us sending troops to a village in Devon?”

  Knowles shrugged. I don't care what the press thinks.

  “A shrug does not fill me with confidence, sergeant.”

  “Sir, we have tried to contain this for months. We came close, but today means it’s out there now. Our cover story hasn't survived the morning.” Raymond nodded at this, conceding the point. “It is likely that the existence of the wolves, and our knowledge of them, will all come out over the next few days and weeks. If Katie dies, and people found out we knew and did nothing-” Knowles left the sentence hanging.

  “She is only one person, Knowles. Hundreds of people have been killed by these things today alone.”

  “Yes, but she is the wife of one of them. The poor abandoned wife of the monster-”

  “Enough Knowles. Cut the melodrama. I can have a team out there by nightfall. We can get some of the boys up there pretty quickly if we use the helicopters.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “Why are you thanking me? I am not doing this for you.”

  “No, sir.”

  “Dismissed, sergeant. Get some rest.” Raymond nodded at the door. “Close it on the way out.”

  2

  Knowles ignored Raymond’s advice and went straight to help the men cleaning up the mess by the gates. By the time he got there, the two vehicles had been moved and people were bagging up body parts. Another man was washing the ground, swirls of red running off the concrete into the grass verge.

  “We got this sergeant,” said the man washing the ground. Knowles recognised him. Evans. The one who had driven Bryant to Devon. The one who had sat outside Collins’ room.

  “You've done good work,” Knowles said. “Cleared it up quick.”

  “Thank you, sergeant.” Evans paused, visibly mulling over whether to say more or not. “There’s talk of the men going after them. We want some payba
ck.”

  Knowles nodded. “I've wanted payback for a couple of weeks, mate.”

  “One of them is your friend,” Evans said looking at his feet.

  “Friend is stretching it a bit, but yes, I don't think Jack is like the rest of them.”

  “Why not?”

  “Why isn’t he like the rest?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I think he’s a good man, underneath it all. The thing inside him is trying to change that, but Jack is not letting it.” Knowles paused, realising for the first time that he actually did believe that. “I don't think Jack is a threat at all.” Really? No threat at all?

  “What about Bryant?”

  “He didn't do this,” Knowles gestured around him, “perhaps he is trying to be like Jack.”

  “He needs to try harder, sergeant.” Evans resumed scrubbing, turning his back on Knowles.

  Knowles smiled to himself. On any other day, he would have roared at the man for rudeness, but today he just couldn't be bothered. Today, things were unravelling more than at any other point in his life. He felt worse than when he'd been in an ambush in Afghanistan with Carruthers; worse than when his wife had left him for another man; worse than when Claire’s face had been ripped apart by Callum a couple of weeks ago. They were at a tipping point here: the wolves were free, the public had knowledge of them and there were two Originals.

  He thought of Katie: the look of confusion she had given him the only time they had met. She had shot a wolf, then the Wolf had saved her from another. Knowles had been far too slow getting there and he'd walked into a bloodbath. He'd made things worse by calling the Wolf 'Jack' and then it had run away into the night, jumping through a window and taking half the wall of the bedroom with it when it did so.

  Katie had thrown all sorts of questions at him then, but he'd managed to duck most of them. He had taken her into the other bedroom of the house and stationed two soldiers with her. More and more troops arrived in the next few hours, and they cleaned up the house. They put sheets of polythene over the window, then left. He still had moments of regret in leaving her.