“We’ve got to get out of these soaking wet clothes right now, or we’re gonna catch our death.” She said. “Did you manage to keep your backpack out of the water?”

“Yeah.” Answered Mary.

“Good. Come on, let’s get dried off and changed, and then get out of this place. We’re too exposed out here.” Said Shark in an edgy tone. She looked nervously around the field, which was partially illuminated by the moonlight.

“It’s a shame that the helicopter’s not around… they’d spot us out here, for sure.” Commented Mary, pulling a towel from her backpack.

“Yeah, and so would Howard Trenton.” Pointed out Shark, her teeth chattering from the cold. “We can’t hang around here.”

“Do you think that we’ve lost him, Shark?” Asked Mary, with hope in her voice.

“Maybe.” Replied Shark. “Maybe.”

***

After ten minutes of walking, Howard realised that he was no longer in Skerrington Forest. If the girls have come this way, then I’m probably fucked, because the village of Oakden’s not too far from here. That’s if they came this way at all. Howard walked a little further along the riverbank, and then something caught his attention, just to his right. Howard walked away from the water, into a small field.

“What’s all this then?” He said out loud, as he moved across to a small pile of soaking wet clothes that lay on the grass. Howard knelt down, and picked up a soggy jumper, that he recognised straight away as belonging to Shark Mako. Howard looked around, breathing in the cold air through his nose, searching for the scent of his quarry. A familiar smell filled his nostrils, and Howard Trenton smiled to himself.

“I’ve found you, girls. I’ve found you.” He said. Howard threw the wet jumper back down onto the grass, and began to follow the scent of his victims once more. “Looks like we might just be having that little party after all.” He smirked.

***

Mary and Shark found themselves descending a gravel track, bordered by two large hedges.

“You don’t think that we’ve stumbled back onto the Black Pathway, do you?” Wondered Mary.

“No way. This track… look at the hedges, Mary. They’re well-maintained. I think that this might be a part of somebody’s property. If that’s the case, then maybe, just maybe, that person has got a residence somewhere nearby. Fucking hell, I hope to God that we find it… if I’m right that is.” Said Shark. Up ahead of the two women, the gravel track twisted to the left. They followed it around, and that’s when a small farmhouse came into view. “Do you see what I see, Mary Broderick?” Asked Shark, with a huge grin on her face.

“I do, Shark.” Mary responded, and then she put an arm around her friend. “We’ve made it. We’re gonna be okay! Everything’s going to be okay, Shark!” Beamed Mary.

Mary and Shark hurried along the gravel track, and then turned left, up a short stone path that led to the side of the farmhouse. They walked around the perimeter of the building, making their way to the front door of the property.

“There’s a light on, look!” Said Mary, pointing to one of the ground floor windows.

“Thank God. I tell you something, Shark… for a while back there, in that bloody forest, I really thought that we were a goner.” Confessed Mary.

“Same here. Mind you, I won’t feel safe until we’re inside this building.” Replied Shark, who rapped on the front door of the farmhouse with her scratched and swollen knuckles. They heard movement inside the building. Shark knocked on the door again.

“Hang on!” Shouted a male voice.

‘Fuck, imagine if it was somehow Howard inside th…”

“Don’t even joke about it, Mary.” Whispered Shark. There was the sound of a door-bolt being pulled back, and the old, wooden front door opened up. A tall old man, with piercing blue eyes and a shock of thick, grey hair, stood before them.

“Do you realise what time it is?” He asked, wearing a scowl. “It’s almost midnight.”

“We’re sorry sir, but you’ve got to help us.” Replied Shark. “There’s a killer out there in the forest, and…”

“Oh.” Interrupted the elderly man, with a look of surprise. He looked the two young women up and down, noticing their dishevelled appearance. “Is this something to do with the police search? Up on the Black Pathway?” He asked. Shark and Mary both nodded at the same time. “Are you the two girls that they’re looking for?” The man queried further.

“Yes. Can you help us, please?” Mary asked. The elderly man smiled, his blue eyes softening.

“Of course, of course. Come in. Please come in.” He replied, before ushering the two young women into the farmhouse.

***

For a few minutes, Mary and Shark stood in the hallway of the farmhouse, recounting the events of that day to the man, who appeared to be horrified at their plight. After this, the elderly man led Mary and Shark into a small, cozy lounge, and then introduced himself as Stan. He asked the girls what their names were. He raised an eyebrow at Shark’s response.

“I take it that that’s not your real name, young woman?” Stan asked.

“No. It’s Ellen.” Answered Shark.

“You should stick with your christened name. It’s much nicer.” Stan commented.

“I’ve never been christened… anyway, I don’t mean to be rude, but can we use your telephone?” Requested Shark. Stan frowned.

“Erm… I don’t have a telephone.” He responded, with an awkwardness to his voice.

“I don’t mean a mobile… I need to use your landline.” Said Shark.

“But that’s what I meant, young girl… I don’t have a landline. Or one of those horrible mobile contraptions.” Replied Stan. Shark rolled her eyes.

“You’re kidding me? You’ve got no telephone?” She wanted to know. The elderly man shrugged his shoulders.

“There’s no need for one. I lead a very simple life here… quiet, remote, solitary. Which is how I like it. I try to keep any contact with the outside world down to an absolute minimum.” Stan informed Shark. “Sit down, sit down,” he gestured towards a comfortable-looking sofa, “you both look frozen. I’ll go and make you a nice cup of tea.”

“Don’t suppose you’ve got anything stronger?” Asked Shark, cheekily. Stan gave her a look that made the young woman feel slightly uneasy.

“You won’t find alcohol in this home.” He said. “Do you take sugar in your tea?”

***

Mary and Shark sat in Stan’s lounge, as he busied himself in the kitchen, making them all a drink.

“I don’t like this guy.” Whispered Shark. “He’s creepy.”

“Aw, he’s just a harmless old man.” Replied Mary.

“Hmm, I suppose you’re right. I’m just fucking paranoid about everything at the moment… hey, I didn’t ask him if he’d got a car… he must have a car, right? He could drive us into Knighton?” Wondered Shark.

“We’ll ask him when he comes back into the room. Shark, just calm down. We’re safe now. Everything’s going to be alright.” Mary reassured her friend.

“I won’t really feel safe until I know that that little fucker Howard’s been caught, and banged up.” Said Shark, both legs jigging up and down with anxiety and impatience. “He must have a car?” She asked again.

“Yes, he’s bound to have one.” Replied Mary. “You couldn’t live out here without a…”

“Without a car?” Said Stan, suddenly appearing in the doorway, carrying a tray with mugs of tea on it. “I think you’ll find that one can manage perfectly well without a vehicle… and no, I don’t have a car. It’s like I told you before. I have minimal contact with other people. I’ve no need for a car. If I need to visit the village…”

“Village? What village? I don’t even know where we are.” Interrupted Shark.

“Apologies. This farmhouse is one mile from the village of Oakden, and three miles from the town of Knighton. Not that I ever go to Knighton. I purchase all my provisions from the village, once a week, usually on a Friday. I’m a man that needs very little.” Stan advised the two women, and he placed the tray down on a small wooden table in the centre of the lounge. “Now, drink your tea, and we’ll sort out the sleeping arrangements for the night.” He smiled.