“Did you enjoy hearing about yourself on the radio?” Shark suddenly asked.

“Oh yes. Fame at last.” Smirked Howard. “I’m a fucking celebrity… get me out of here!” He took another step towards Shark, so that he was practically within touching distance to her.

“You’re suited to that sort of thing.” Commented Shark. Howard looked at her, puzzled.

“Suited to what?” He asked.

“You know, you… the radio… you’re suited to it.” Advised Shark.

“I don’t understand what you’re…” Howard was cut short as Shark swung the portable radio in a horizontal arc, slamming it with incredible force, right into the side of his head. Immediately, Howard’s legs buckled from underneath him and, not for the first time that day, he crashed to the ground, letting go of Mary in the process. He landed close to the radio which, miraculously, was still working.

Howard rolled around on the floor, clutching at the side of his head. A wound had opened up on it, and it was beginning to pour with blood. He looked up. Shark was hovering over him. She swooped down, and dragged Howard back to his feet, her hands gripping at his overcoat. Howard felt a wave of dizziness travel through his head.

“Not so fucking big now, are you?” Growled Shark, before executing a judo throw on Howard that sent him flying over her shoulder, and back to the ground again. He felt something in his shoulder crack, and pain shot down his arm.

“You fucking bitch!” He screamed. Howard rolled onto his side, and tried to reach for the knife that was in his coat pocket. His arm wouldn’t move. “You’ve bust my fucking arm!” He yelled, in anger. Shark knelt down beside him.

“Good. That’s nothing to what I’m going to do to you…”

“No, Shark.” Cried Mary, pulling at Shark’s arm. “Let’s just leave, get out of this place.” She pleaded.

“You’re a piece of shit.” Shark whispered into Howard’s ear, before grunting and then spitting a large greenie at his face.

“I’d do as Mary says, and quit while you’re ahead, if I were you.” Remarked Howard Trenton, Shark’s spit and snot splattered across his cheek and nose. He rolled onto his back, and stared up at the sky, which was finally clearing of mist. I can see the stars… somewhere out there is my home. Thought Howard. A home that I’ll never know.

Shark Mako got to her feet, towering over Howard Trenton.

“Come on. Let’s just go.” Repeated Mary. Suddenly, Gary Ackley appeared in the woods. He walked up to his friends, and then looked down at Howard, who was lying on the floor, clutching at his arm.

“Howard?” He asked.

“How are you doing, Gary? Your hair looks shit.” Croaked Howard, referring to Gary’s flattened blue mohican, which was hanging down, over his eyes.

“I take it that you know this freak?” Observed Shark. Gary nodded. “He’s the one that murdered Alex, and then snatched Mary.” She went on. Gary Ackley looked down at Howard, shocked.

“Why, Howard? Why did you do that to Alex?” He asked. Gary turned to Shark. “What’s wrong with his eyes?” He mumbled.

“Fucking contact lenses.” Answered Shark. Howard smiled.

“Because the little fucker knifed me in the back.” He advised, referring to Alex.

“What, you mean because of him going out with Mary?” Gary responded, confused.

“No. He actually knifed me in the fucking back, Gary.” Answered Howard. He rolled onto his front, and pulled up his clothes, exposing the stab wound inflicted by Alex Crennell. Gary winced at the sight of the ugly puncture, which was clogged up with congealed, scabbing blood.

“Don’t listen to him, Gary. He’s going for the sympathy vote. He murdered Alex, and he took Mary.” Said Shark.

“I know what he did.” Gary replied, still staring down at Howard.

“The police are after him. He murdered some old man back in Coldsleet.” Shark told Gary.

“How do you know that? “Gary asked.

“I heard it on the news, just a few minutes ago… it was on your radio.” Answered Shark.

Gary stared down at Howard Trenton, who had rolled onto his back again.

“Did you murder Alfie Whitehouse, Howard?” He asked.

“Yep.” Howard replied, matter-of-fact. “He was a miserable old bastard who had it coming. I killed Kate Williams, too.” He grinned. “Just last night, as it goes. I cut her throat… you should have seen the blood, Gary. So much blood…”

“What, Kate from the college?” Replied Gary, his voice quivering. Howard nodded.

“We should finish him off, here and now.” Said Shark. “You can see what he’s like. He’s a fucking murderer. He doesn’t deserve to live.”

“No, we should just leave him here. You heard what it said on the radio, Shark. The police are searching this area. Let them deal with him.” Mary reminded Shark.

“Mary’s right. You three need to get out of here, fast.” Exclaimed Howard. Shark stared down at the serial killer.

“Oh, and what’s it to you?” She asked.

“Well, you’ll get a head-start on me, if you go now.” Smiled Howard. “A couple of minutes lead. Hey, you might just make it to safety. I can’t offer you anything fairer than that now, can I? Go on, run. While you still can.” He said. Shark knelt back down, close to Howard, and grabbed at his neck.

“Nah. You’re a wild animal, Howard, and I think that you need putting down, right now.” She snarled. Then, suddenly, Howard’s fist shot upwards, delivering a blow to Shark’s chin. The young woman crashed onto her side, felled by the punch, knocked completely unconscious. Howard rose to his feet, unsteadily. He stared at Gary and Mary.

“I’ll honour what I just said. You’ve got two minutes.” Howard looked at his watch. “Starting… NOW.”

“I’m not leaving without Shark.” Replied Gary. Howard had another go at pulling the knife from his coat pocket. This time, he managed to do so.

“Well, if you don’t, then you’ll have to watch me use this thing on her, before I do the same to Mary.” Said Howard, referring to the knife. “Your choice… and you’ve just wasted twenty seconds.” He smiled. Gary grabbed Mary’s hand.

“Run!” He shouted.

Chapter Twenty Three

Gary Ackley pulled Mary along, through Skerrington Forest, against her will.

“We can’t just leave Shark alone with that fucking psychopath!” Mary shouted at Gary. “Did you hear me, Gary? We can’t abandon her like this!”

“We’re not abandoning anyone.” Snapped Gary.

“Oh really? Well that’s what it sodding well feels like.” Mary argued back. She tried to wriggle from out of Gary’s grip.

“What are you doing?” He asked.

“I’m going back! I’m going back for Shark!” Mary told him. Gary stopped running. He didn’t have the strength to pull Mary along any further.

“Look. We’re not abandoning Shark.” Said Gary. He looked around, spotting a thick clump of bushes close by. “Come on, we’ll hide in there.” He suggested, pointing at the undergrowth.

“Why?” Mary asked. Gary Ackley pushed his long blue hair from out of his eyes.

“Because that’s how we’ll get Shark back. Any moment now, Howard Trenton’s gonna come this way. As soon as he’s passed us, we back-track, get Shark, and then fuck off in the other direction.” Mary thought about this for a few moments.

“Okay.” She said. The pair ran over to the bushes, pushing their way into the middle of them.

Darkness was rapidly descending on Skerrington Forest. Howard Trenton walked through the woods, with Shark Mako slung over his shoulder, just like he’d done with Alex Crennell, a few hours earlier. He winded his way through the trees with speed, even though every step that Howard took caused him to wince a little in pain, due to the stab wound on his lower back. Howard’s broken arm hung at his side, and he was struggling to hold onto the knife. Well, it ain’t going back into my coat pocket… I’ve learned my lesson after that crafty little move Alex played on me… I doubt this girl’s gonna be out for too long, either… so that’ll be another fight on my hands. I need to catch up with Mary and Gary… get rid of him, restrain her, and this one here too… then I can have that party I’ve been so looking forward to. Howard sniffed at the air. They’re close, really close. I can smell them… and their fear too. Delicious. Howard slowed down, walking cautiously past a thick tangle of bushes. They’re hiding in there. I’ll let them think that I’m carrying on my way… then I’ll sneak up on the little fuckers and catch them unaware. Gary won’t be too much trouble to take out, even with one of my arms busted.