Sixty-four

Every step he took brought him closer to the barn and further away from Sherrie.

He didn’t want to dwell on what she must be thinking. He didn’t want to think about the horror she must be experiencing being left stuck in a condemned house all alone on a night like this.

He looked up into the dark sky and watched as lightning flashed overhead.

Will this ever end?

He studied the barn as he walked closer towards it. At first he thought it was new, certainly constructed more recently than the farmhouses. But as he got closer and the lightning allowed him to study it, he realised the barn was probably just as old as the farmhouses. It was just kept in better condition. It looked as if it had been painted just recently, the red paint shiny and reflective in the rain, and there was no sign of the dilapidation that was present in the farmhouses.

Who keeps a barn all spic-and-span while they let their house rot away?

Thunder clashed around him.

He kept an ear out for Sherrie, just in case she was calling for him. But in the rain and with the thunder, he knew he had very little chance of hearing her now.

He wrapped his arms around his chest. He was shivering even more now and his breath fogged in the air around him as he walked. His chest and arm wounds were itching under his shirt, but the pain in his cock was just a dull ache.

He wanted to think about Helen and what Fox must have done to her in that small room.

All that BLOOD!

But he couldn’t. His mind wouldn’t let him.

He wiped his hands on his jeans again.

Can’t think about that now…

Sherrie was in trouble and he had to fix that problem first.

He just hoped there was something in the barn that was strong enough to use as a lever.

If not…?

I don’t know.

What will you do?

I don’t know!

He stopped out the front of the barn. Standing in the rain, he concentrated on his hearing and listened for what seemed like an eternity.

All he could hear was the never-ending pelt of the rain on the ground around him and on the barn roof. It was accompanied by thunder as it rolled on by.

The barn had two large sliding doors, painted in red with a white sash running diagonally across both doors.

He stepped closer and reached out for the handle.

Then he changed his mind.

Be careful.

He had to be, for Sherrie’s sake.

Wiping the rain from his eyes and running a hand through his hair, he turned and walked across the front of the barn and down one of its long sides.

He knew what he was looking for, and he found it about halfway down.

Walking as quietly as he could, trying hard to keep his footsteps from sloshing in the wet grass, John sidled up to the barn’s window.

The sill was at shoulder height, so he made sure he stood to the side of the pane before carefully looking inside.

He wanted to make sure he wasn’t about to be surprised by anything – or anyone.

He knew he’d have to wait for some lightning to see what was inside the barn, but a few seconds wait wasn’t going to hurt.

He peered through the window.

But he didn’t have to wait for the lightning.

He could see inside already.

He spotted the large bales of hay first. Dozens of them, lined up along the far wall of the barn, some stacked three high. He looked for any farm equipment, but he could see none. In the far corner was a workbench. Nailed to the wall above the bench was a variety of tools. Different sorts, different shapes and sizes. Almost a dozen. From saws to hammers, sanders and screwdrivers.

Yes!

John was sure he could find something to help get Sherrie out from under the floor.

He couldn’t tell what they all were from this distance and in this light, but he was sure he could make do.

Pretty impressive tool collection, he thought.

And then he remembered Fox.

That’s probably what he uses on them…

And all of a sudden John felt sick and weak all over again.

I can’t do this.

I can’t beat Fox.

You have to try.

How can I beat someone like that?

First thing’s first. Get Sherrie out!

Yes! I have to do that first.

Concentrate on Sherrie.

YES! I’m coming, my love!

His eyes darted to the other side of the barn, across to where the two sliding doors were. There was no sign of anyone inside.

Good.

And then his eyes spotted it.

He saw the reason he could see so clearly into the barn without the aid of the lightning.

A burning candle sat on one of the hay bales.

A candle?

It burned a soft light in the night, licking at the air.

The rain fell heavier. Thunder and lightning clashed almost at once.

He had no choice. He had to get those tools and get Sherrie out of here.

Maybe I can’t fight Fox at his own game, he thought as he dashed back through the drenched grass to the front of the barn. I just need to save myself and Sherrie. I have to think about her now.

And about us.

His breath steamed from his mouth as he reached out to the barn door and slid it open.

It squealed along its rusty old track as the lightning struck overhead.

Just get the tools, get Sherrie and get the fuck out of here!

He stepped into the barn, closed the door behind him and dashed straight over to the old wooden workbench.

Thunder shuddered the earth. Rain battered the roof.

Yes! he thought. So many to choose from!

Hang on, my love. Here I come!

He reached up for the nearest one.

“I knew you’d come,” Zoe said from behind him.