The Wilds (19 page)

‘And if you take a step closer, you’ll get the same,’ he said.

The man mountain, named Harry, threw back his head and laughed loudly. The rest of his kin joined in.

‘Really?’ Harry said. ‘You’re going to kill us all?’

‘If I have to,’ Pearce said. ‘You’re all under arrest.’

This brought on another round of hysterical laughter from the group of monstrosities.

‘How many of us do you think you can stop with that one gun, before the rest of us get to you and tear your fucking head off?’

Holly reached to her hip, she pulled her gun from its holster and aimed it straight at Harry’s head.

‘Two guns,’ she said.

Jason struggled to try and stem the flow of blood from Karl’s wound. His friend was starting to look pale.

‘Drop the gun, Booth,’ Pearce said, though it was more of a plea than an order. ‘Leave this to me.’

‘But, sir,’ she began.

‘You’re pregnant,’ Pearce said. ‘Just drop the gun.’

It was then, as the worst thing in the world was unfolding around him, that Jason understood why she had seemed so off with him lately. It was a revelation that made his heart swell, even in this horrendous situation.

‘You’re having my baby?’ he asked.

Her eyes filled with tears as she dropped the gun.

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘I didn’t know how to tell you.’

Jason grabbed her hands and pressed them to the wound on Karl’s shoulder. Once she had applied the pressure, Jason threw his own arms around her and held her tightly.

Pearce dropped his guard as he watched his nephew and his protégé share that moment. He looked at them only for a split second, but it was long enough for Harry to swing the chain he was holding.

It connected with a force that knocked Pearce to the ground, the chain wrapped around his throat. His gun flying from his hand as he gasped for air.

‘You killed my little brother,’ Harry said as he stood looming over Pearce. ‘Now it’s your turn, you fucking pig.’

Harry’s monstrous muscles tensed as he pulled on the chain. It tore into Pearce’s flesh. His jugular was ripped open and he began to gargle on his own blood. Pearce thrashed wildly, unable to get away from the ever tightening grip of the chain.

Harry kept pulling, tightening the chain, until he heard the snap of Pearce’s neck.

‘Jon!’ Jason screamed as he reached for the gun that Holly had dropped.

Before he could get hold of it he was grabbed by two members of this hideous family. They held him up as Holly wept, still trying to stop Karl from bleeding to death.

Harry walked over to the captive Jason. He drew a hunting knife from a sheath on his belt.

‘You’re next,’ he said, holding the tip of the blade to Jason’s face.

‘No!’ The cry didn’t come from Holly, but from Mrs Pritchard as she got to her feet.

‘What?’ Harry said angrily.

‘For once in your life, listen to your mother, Harry Pritchard,’ she said.

The old woman slowly walked over to Holly, she put her hands on the weeping woman’s shoulders.

‘Get up, dear,’ she said gently.

‘I can’t. He’ll die,’ Holly sobbed.

Mrs Pritchard looked down at Karl.

‘That’s inevitable now,’ she said.

Holly looked at Karl and saw that the old woman was right. Karl had lost far too much blood, there was no way they would get him to a hospital in time now. It was better that he slipped away quietly, without seeing the horror that her and Jason were experiencing. She slowly got to her feet, and for a reason she couldn’t understand, she hugged the old woman.

‘What are you playing at, Mother?’ Harry said.

The old woman smiled.

‘There’s been enough death here today,’ she said patting Holly’s back. ‘They’re having a baby.’

‘So?’ Harry grunted.

‘Don’t you see?’ Mrs Pritchard said. ‘A new life, it’s so precious. New blood in the family.’

Harry thought he understood.

‘You want to keep her until she has the baby, so you can replace Miko?’ he said.

The old woman shook her head.

‘No one could ever replace your brother,’ she said, tears forming as she looked the mangled corpse of her son.

‘Then what are you suggesting?’ Harry said.

‘A baby needs both its parents,’ Mrs Pritchard said. ‘You did, their baby does too. They’re both going to stay with us.’

Harry looked shocked.

‘You can’t stay here mother,’ Harry said. ‘The fire will attract the emergency services soon.’

‘Then we’ll all go back to the island with you,’ she said, still patting Holly’s back. ‘We’ll be one big happy family.’

THE END

Kit Tinsley is an English horror author. He is a fan of all things horror.

He graduated from DMU Leicester in 2002 with a BA (hons) in Media Studies and English. Since then he has spent time teaching both subjects in secondary and further education.

He has also worked on several independent films, writing a film called
Red Route
in 2007. Unfortunately, the film, which Kit also acted in, has been lost in postproduction hell since completion. 

Most recently he has worked on production of a film called
Shadows of a Strange
r, working with actors from the popular TV shows
Doctor Who
,
Rainbow
and
Torchwood
, as well as an actor who appeared in both
Batman Begins
and
The Dark Knight
. The film is being prepared for its release as we speak.

Kit is also a musician. He is lead vocalist/guitarist for a punk/folk/rock band called Dog Goblins.

He was born in Shropshire in 1978, but has lived in Lincolnshire since 1985.

He lives with his wife and their young son.

For more info, visit
kit-tinsley.com
.