Marlow by Andy Briggs

Author:Andy Briggs
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tanglebox Books

Chapter Eleven

Dan jolted awake with a cry as frigid water splashed over him. He thought he was drowning and all he could see were blurs as another cold jet of water splashed him between the eyes.

“Wow! Stop!”

“Sorry,” grunted Marlow's familiar drawl, “Didn't see you'd opened your eyes.”

Dan groped for his glasses and felt them thrust into his hand. He was feeling disoriented and a little sick. Marlow's face hove into view. Her usual surly expression replaced with concern.

“Where are we?”

Dan took stock of his surroundings. It was daylight. He was lying on the back seat of a rather expensive car that was now sopping wet. He sat up and the world swam around him. He gripped the back of the passenger seat for support.

Events from that morning flooded into his memory. The police had turned up thinking that Marlow had kidnapped him. He recalled his desperation at the thought of being returned home and the deal he’d made with Marlow. She had had little choice but to agree so Dan instantly allowed himself to be swallowed into the welcoming embrace of sleep that had been gnawing at him for hours.

“What happened?” He dreaded the answer.

“You're full of questions this afternoon,” grunted Marlow leaning through the window as she chucked a Mars bar at him. “You sorted the cops out, that's for sure.”

Dan smiled as he peeled open the bar. He bit into it and noticed Marlow didn't look like a woman that was thankful to have been saved.

“They're alright, aren't they?” asked Dan as he chewed. Marlow's expression made him hesitate. At the same time he recalled the unpleasant nightmare he’d experienced; the first he could ever remember having. In it, he was running through a dark unpleasant landscape unaccountably heading towards an ancient arena, a twisted obsidian structure that was home to a colossal creature that broadcast tangible malice. He could recall nothing more than a blob of flailing limbs with a hideous slit-like mouth running the length of its tower blocked sized body. Its skin constantly blistered and popped, spawning the creatures that Infiltrated people's dreams. Dan shivered at the thought.

“Well, let’s just say that they no longer think I'm just a kidnapper,” sighed Marlow.

“Good,” Dan said automatically before he had chance to process the statement. “What do you mean 'just'?”

“A lot of people...” Marlow's voice trailed off. She coughed and couldn't meet Dan's eyes. “They think I, somehow, killed some of those people back there. Despite the evidence... they think I did it.” Marlow shook her head and Dan felt uncomfortable. “It's getting outta control, kid. You're like a nuclear meltdown, building ‘n’ building until pop.” She made an explosive gesture.

The chocolate in Dan’s mouth was suddenly tasteless but he swallowed it anyway. Marlow looked like somebody who had already been convicted and Dan knew that it was his fault. He had destroyed her life. He was responsible for the atrocities at the diner. Without him everything would have been all right.

“I promised to help you, kid,” she said slowly.

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