feeling the throb as they began to burn out. His mind pushed him on like a montage, he couldn’t stop, not for a rest, not for anything. He had little time alone with his victim, time that he wished could be extended.
The headlights of the Wolf’s van lay ahead, they guided the way as the branches and foliage poked at their legs and torso’s, the whole time he guarded his daughter from any more harm. The music had increased as they neared it, the song playing constantly on repeat. He stopped by the driver’s side and let go of the killer’s leg, it hit the ground, his body remained still. Richard stopped the music, the woods fell silent again. He moved to his vehicle, checking his back every few steps to ensure the Wolf had not moved or attempted to run.
Megan was lowered into the passenger seat, he pulled the coat further up her neck, covering her numb skin. He moved to the boot and opened it, the light clicked to life displaying the items. The blankets were thick and heavy, he grabbed two and draped them over his daughter, being sure to guard her body from the extremities. He clicked the seat belt into place, to hold the warmth against her. The door closed gently, as not to disturb her. He moved quickly to the rear and picked up the rope, running back to the beast in the snow.
The headlights were switched on, the Wolf was blinded by the beams. He attempted to move, the shade his eyes from the brightness. He couldn’t. He waited until the focus had adjusted to his new surroundings, he thought for a moment that he was back in the dream, he waited for his invisible guest to greet him. Instead, he was met by the large figure, his face stone cold, his eyes piercing. Richard had waited until the monster had awoken, it didn’t take long after the slaps to its face were issued. Whilst unconscious and unknowing to the predicament it was now in, Richard had secured Russell’s wrist to the van’s door handles of the driver and passenger side. The rope tied tight so that any slight movement would burn the skin. His arms were pulled wide open, his shoulders throbbed with the uncomfortable position, he was unable to move without causing himself more pain. The beams from Richards car now illuminated him.
‘Do you know who I am?’
‘No……do you know
‘I do!’ replied Richard, nodding his head slowly.
‘No you don’t, you think you understand me, you don’t know what I’ve become!’ his vision still blurred as he attempted to stare at his new guest.
‘I know what you are about to become……and it’s not what you have in mind!’ he informed, lowering to the Wolf’s level.
‘Do you know what fear is?’ Richard quizzed.
‘I do, I have seen it……tasted it and swallowed it all, I put it in to each of my girls, they knew fear……….I gave them that!’
‘Well, you are about to see and feel a whole different kind of fear, I promise you this, it will be slow!’ he stood and moved to the rear of his vehicle, the items gathered into his arms. He placed them beside the front wheel, laying them down neatly so that he didn’t have to search for a desired tool. The blanket lay upon the snow, the weapons spaced out on top. He placed the heavy rucksack in front of the headlight, the contents clicked against each other. The Wolf’s Polaroid camera was sat upon the bonnet. He moved toward the incapacitated beast, his legs kicking towards Richard. He stamped them down and fell upon the limbs, the Wolf cried a short burst of pain as Richard pinned the legs to the floor. He reached for the heavy bag and tape from the blanket. He secured the legs just above the ankles, the bag placed in the natural bends of the Wolf’s limbs. He used an excessive amount of tape, making sure the bind wouldn’t break. He stood, admiring his work.
‘Are you ready to feel fear?’
The Wolf starred back into his eyes, a glint of anger stirred within. The metal baseball bat was lifted from the blanket, the surface glistened under the crying moon, the large ball of light witnessed the end of its offerings.
Richard stood by the secured legs, the bag had pushed them slightly apart and held them still. He raised that bat and offered the beast a glance, he forced the anger from his core into the eyes of the killer, he showed control, he fed him fear. The weapon was swung hard, the wind brushing passed it as it cut through the air, the whooshing sound filled their ears. The tip connected with the right foot, the bone cracked and was separated from its home, the skin split under the strain and began to leak onto the snow. Russell screamed as the pain overwhelmed him, his cries turned into growls as he succumbed to the searing pain. Richard stepped over the lags and positioned himself to the Wolf’s side, he raised the bat, poised for strike number two. The bone shattered and splintered through the skin, the foot twisted under the connection and lay bent up in an unnatural position, the red liquid escaped the multiple tears. Once again the cries turned into low growls, he inhaled sharply through his nostrils, his mind fought the pain.
‘Now you can’t hunt them….can you, now….you can’t run away!’
***
The vehicles had parked up, Jack sat in the van, his eyes fixed on the house. It appeared dark and empty, he hoped for the result he needed. Task teams one and two had called in, stating that the cordons were in position.
‘Good, if this bastard tries to run I want him brought down……hard!’
They were ready. His pulse raised and heart beating wildly. The location was quiet, he noticed no movement…..he waited…….
‘Go…Go…Go!’ he shouted down the radio handset. The doors of the van were thrown open and the occupants dispersed to the large hedge at the front of the building. They lowered to one knee, the line hand railed the foliage. Jack sat at the front, observing the target. The windows were dark, the shadows stalked the exterior. He signalled to the front man to move in, the line followed one and other as they moved to the building. They rested upon the walls, the front door checked. The officer shook his head, informing Jack that it was locked. He pointed to four individuals and ushered them to the rear of the building. They moved quickly and silently in the darkness.
‘Back door has been broken down Sir, structure in the garden also open’ the words whispered through the communications system.
‘We enter through the back, no sound. Torches only, the switches maybe rigged, check your footing and move slowly. You enter the house, I’ll lead the rest into the outside building, over’
‘Roger that Sir, on your mark’
‘Go…Go…Go!’
The teams moved in, Jack at the front, heading towards the garage. The house team stalked through the depths of the house, the dead animals spotted on the units. Jack crept into the garage, his torch illuminated the mass cages, the occupants hiding from the light. The team moved through the outer building, searching the interior, nothing found. He ushered them outside with a wave of his hand, they followed the second team into the house. He was met down stairs by the officer leading the search team.
‘We got nothing up stairs’
Jack’s team signalled a find as one stood by the entrance to the cellar. They moved closer to observe.
‘Go, careful of your step’ Jack ordered, the first two men descended into the shadows. Jack waited for an all clear sign and moved towards the den, his heart racing. They stood in the room from the photos and homemade movie, they recognised the painted walls.
‘This is it, holy shit…..this is his place!’ the officer spoke aloud.
‘Sir, we have a map!’ Jack headed to the voice and spotted the chair, the blood stagnant below it.
‘Jesus’ he coughed.
They observed the map, deciphering the pinned locations.
‘Number three, it’s the third girl….number three!’ he informed.
‘Yellow or Red, Sir?’
Jack illuminated the details with his torch, the shadows from the pin heads danced as his hand shook. He located the red pins, confirming the locations of the bodies.
‘Red, number three…..what is the grid?’ he asked, his phone removed to type it in. The grid was called out and Jack tapped it in frantically.
‘Right, let’s go….now, COME ON….MOVE!’ he bellowed, the officers fled to the stairs.
Jack located the number on his phone and called it. The Director answered, sounding half asleep.
