Chapter 72

Craig had been sitting behind the steering wheel of the kombi since he left the Pirates Barn. He wondered if Pamela knew what he was driving, but he doubted it. At least he had picked a parking that was hidden to a certain extent just in case someone drove by and noticed his kombi. The sun that disappeared behind the Pirates Barn gave Craig more comfort that he would not easily be noticed by anyone. He had been waiting for Pamela to leave the Pirates' Barn before he could accomplish what he waited out here for.

What he had noticed earlier was the devil's work. For the first time, it made sense what his children had been trying to tell him all along. He feared for his family's lives especially after he had heard his children's names from those guys sitting at the bar earlier. He knew they were still inside because he would have known if they left unless there was a backdoor which he doubted because they walked through the front door when they entered earlier.

Craig noticed Pamela leaving the Pirates Barn. She walked down the street and go into her car, a white Volkswagen Polo. She drove past him. He had to duck behind the steering wheel to avoid being seen in her rear-view mirror. Craig waited for a little while longer and decided it was safe to get out.

Craig crossed the road and walked up the stairs of the Pirates Barn for the second time. He felt an uneasy feeling stirring in his gut. He knew he had to find out what the guys at the bar were talking about, but he also knew he was outnumbered in case something happened. He did not have a good feeling about the guy with the tattoos all over his body, but he pushed it aside, the safety of his family came first.

Craig entered the Pirates Barn and noticed the guys still sitting at the bar. Fortunately, it was still empty which probably had something to do with the place itself. It was not the sort of place one would come to dine at except for a finger snack or a quick bar lunch. Maybe people did not prefer to go out during a normal weekday, but that was not his concern. Craig did not know how to approach the situation. He felt his heart thudding in his chest with each step closer to the bar. He knew he could not ask for a normal coke this time. He had to blend in with the crowd, but first, he had to order a brandy and coke and then slowly make himself part of the group.

Craig reached the bar next to them and ordered a brandy and coke. They paused their conversation for a brief moment and regarded him. It did not take them too long before they continued with their conversation, only this time they have done it in a hushed tone which was loud enough for Craig to hear thanks to their levels of intoxication. Craig knew it would almost be impossible for them to whisper even if they were paid to do it.

The bar attendant brought Craig's drink and placed it on the counter in front of him. Craig looked at it for a moment thinking about the past and all the damage alcohol had done, but this time it was different, this time he was going to have a drink to prevent damage from being done. He thought about the irony for a moment, picked up the glass and sipped. It had been years since Craig had a drink and it felt good the way the cold poison ran down his throat. He placed the glass down on the bar counter and took a chance by looking at the guys sitting on his left. He realised they were making plans of some sort which he had little interest in. It sounded like the things people talk about when they were planning a holiday trip.

'So where are you guys from?' Craig interrupted. He noticed their reluctance to let a stranger into their close circle of trust. For a moment he did not think that he was going to get an answer from any of them. They simply looked at him suspiciously.

'From hell,' one of the guys joked. They all chuckled except for the guy with the tattoos sitting on the other end. He just stared at the beer in his hand.

Craig could sense some truth in what was just said. He knew the boy probably told the truth in a joking manner because if these were the boys Andrew and Patrick spoke about, then they were most definitely headed for hell. Craig knew he had to use the evil angle of Satan to break the tight circle and loosen them up a little without them realising what he was trying to accomplish.

'Hell is not a bad place to be you know,' Craig smiled. He noticed the younger guys looking at each other as the uncertainty set in. 'You guys staying around here?'

'Vredenburg,' the boy in the middle said.

Craig nodded. He regarded them for a moment and extended his hand, 'how rude of me. I'm Craig. You can call me Satan if you want.' Craig smiled.

Craig was introduced to the younger crowd as Tommy, Victor and Mike. They were hesitant to shake his hand at first. He knew that would be the case before he even walked into the pub, but at least the ice was cracked. He was a little puzzled about the convict-looking guy sitting on the other end. He showed no interest in shaking his hand, but then again, Craig's business was with the younger boys who mentioned his children's names.

'How about another round for you guys?' Craig asked. 'That's of course if you are not scholars.'

'In that case, we are all done with school,' Tommy said. 'Well, almost.'

'Don't worry, I won't tell,' Craig smiled. He called the bar attendant closer and ordered a round of drinks. He turned to them and asked, 'what school is that?'

'E.D.S High,' Mike said before he emptied his beer.

Craig felt a surge of anxiety around his heart and stomach. He knew he was on the right track and the probability that this was, in fact, the odd group from school his children had told him about just got scarier by the moment. 'Your last year?' Craig sipped from his glass.

'Yeah, then we're done with that fucking shit hole forever,' Tommy said.

'Do you guys maybe know Patrick and Andrew?' Craig asked. He prepared himself for a reaction that might be violent, but he had to know for a fact that his children were not in danger.

'Yes, we do, why?' Tommy asked with a frown. Craig noticed how his question drew a certain reaction from the one boy who introduced himself as Victor. He was staring at Craig with suspicion.

'No, I was just wondering. I know their parents,' Craig said trying not to blow his cover, but judging by their change of attitude, he had already done that.

'What's it with all the questions old man?' Victor snapped with a harsh tone. Craig was caught off guard.

'Excuse me, son?' Craig asked. The anxiety he had when he entered the bar had been replaced by anger. He also noticed the convict staring at him with suspicion.

'Why do you want to know all these things from us? Why don't you poke your nose somewhere else and keep it out of our business?'

'You have quite an attitude young man,' Craig said. 'You should watch out for that. It will get you into trouble someday.' Craig's face was flaring with fury. He could feel the blood rushing through his veins.

'Oh yeah,' Victor said getting up from his chair. 'Why did you specifically ask us about those two? Have you been listening to us earlier you fuck head?'

Craig noticed the convict also getting up from his chair and he knew he had trouble. He always used to take care of his own troubles, but this was different, he was outnumbered. Craig hoped for a moment that the boys would rather stop what they were planning and leave because the anger inside started to blind him. 'They are my children you little fucker,' Craig said through his teeth.

'Is there a problem here,' Numbers asked looking at Craig and then back to Victor.

'These are the people staying in your old house,' Victor said. 'This is the father of that fucking guy in school I told you about.'

'So you are the fucker living in my old house hey,' Numbers said moving closer to Craig.

It all made sense to Craig, like a puzzle where the pieces fell into place to give the full picture. All the memories came rushing back in flashes. The thing he had found in the attic, the dysfunctional family Brian had told him about, the two brothers that went to jail for murder and rape, the brick that flew through the window and then the evil connection these four shared. 'You heard right you scum. That fucker living in your old house is here to fuck your skull in,' Craig said bolting his fists.

'Watch me wipe the floor with this old cunt,' Numbers said to Victor with a grin. He rolled his head on his shoulder as if doing yoga until a dull cluck sound erupted from his neck.

Numbers came closer and threw a punch into Craig's face. Craig felt the impact on his mouth and stumbled backwards still keeping his balance. Craig threw a punch but Numbers dodged. Craig could feel another punch from the side and knew that the youngsters also joined in on the fight. He was officially outnumbered. His temple strung as he tried to regain his blurry vision from another blow to the side. Another punch approached from Numbers and Craig managed to dodge it. Craig threw a punch and hit Numbers in the face sending him backwards slightly. Numbers was coming for him again, this time he was like an animal. Craig felt a huge impact followed by intense pain in his shoulder blades and the back of his head. He went down almost instantly. Before he hit the ground, he could see Victor holding a bar stool in the air and he knew Victor had hit him with it from behind. A high-pitched sound echoed through his head. His vision was blurry and he could barely make out muffled sounds around him, almost like the shuffling of feet. Craig felt blows in his face stomach and ribs and he knew he was being kicked from all directions. He tried to block out most of the blows by curling up his body into a foetus and blocking his face with his arms and hands, but he had taken too much damage already. The kicking had seized what felt like an eternity. Craig had a hard time thinking in the midst of the intense agony throughout his body.

Numbers grabbed Craig by his blood-smeared shirt and pulled him up from the ground. Craig was bleeding from his mouth and nose, 'you thought you could fuck with us hey?' He sent another blow into Craig's face.

Craig's head snapped back with the impact of the unexpected blow. His head dropped forwards again and he spat out some blood that accumulated in his mouth.

'Maybe I should just break a bottle and stab this cunt in the neck right here and now,' Numbers said to Victor who was standing next to him.

'No man, let's have some fun with the fucker first,' Victor said. 'I have a better idea.'

'Spit it out before I fucking kill him,' Numbers said.

'Wait, wait, guys, remember what I've done to the old fucker who caught me smoking meth in the toilet,' Victor said looking at Tommy and Mike.

'Yes. The curse you've put on him. Wonder if that fellow's still alive,' Tommy said.

'What curse?' Numbers frowned.

'The flesh decay,' Victor smiled.

'Ah, that. It's fucking old.'

'Yeah I know, but it's still a cool curse,' Victor said.

'Okay. Have it your way, but have you ever seen a flesh decay on steroids?' Numbers asked.

'Ah fuck yeah, go for it,' Victor said.

'Where did you start yours?' Numbers asked.

'Left hand,' Victor said.

'Okay, should I start it with his head?' Numbers asked.

'No, that's too quick,' Victor said. 'Not if you going to boost it a little. I would say start with his shoulder. That way he can suffer a little longer.'

'You're a cruel little bastard you, but okay, watch and learn my friend,' Numbers said.

Craig stumbled down the wooden stairs. If it was not for the railing on the side, he would have fallen on his face, but fortunately, he grabbed hold of it just in time. He stumbled across the road towards the kombi. His vision was still a little fuzzy and his balance was totally off centre although he hardly had two sips of his brandy. He hoped that he did not have too much damage to his brain due to the multiple impacts on his head. He stumbled across the street like a drunkard. After what felt like a marathon, he reached the kombi. He patted his pockets for his keys and found them in his right pocket. He dropped it twice before he managed to unlock the kombi. He got in and slammed the door. He sat for a moment trying to regain his consciousness and release himself from the dizziness. He started the kombi and slowly drove out of the parking lot. He noticed a blurry image of the four bastards standing on the deck watching him.