Chapter 3 - Pray and Run

The house was still and quiet in the morning. Dymphna woke up to find himself alone in bed, Gulliver sound asleep beside him. He gently roused his son and took him to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. He warmed up some water for hot cocoa and set about making scrambled eggs and bacon. However, his thoughts were consumed by concern for his girlfriend, and this lingering sense of anticipation weighed heavily on his mind.

Gulliver sat at the kitchen table with his father, patiently waiting for his mother to join them. Dymphna couldn't help but steal glances at the doorway as he cooked, his worry growing by the minute.

Finally, Haisley entered the room, draped in a shawl to ward off the morning chill. Dymphna instructed Gulliver to watch television with Auntie Charlie, granting them privacy. As the little boy happily scampered away, the couple was left alone.

Haisley sat across from Dymphna, her hands trembling slightly as she held a cup of hot chocolate to warm herself against the chilly room. Dymphna observed her closely, his own nerves heightened by her unusual behavior.

"Now, what's so important that you couldn't tell me until now?" he inquired, his voice a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

Haisley produced a pregnancy test rolled up in toilet paper from within her cozy shawl. She placed it on the table before Dymphna, who regarded it momentarily before carefully unrolling the toilet paper. Fresh from her recent use, the pregnancy test lay exposed in his hand. Dymphna's face conveyed a complex mix of emotions, and he nervously bit his thumb while his leg shook anxiously. After a moment, his lips curved into a smile, and he let out an exuberant, almost celebratory moan.

"Shite, I wasn't expecting this. It all makes sense now why you've been acting so strange lately. We're having another baby."

"This must be shocking to you considering you weren't there when I was pregnant with Gulliver."

"I wanted to be there for you, but this business takes away all my free time. I'm here now, ya?"

"You don't belong in this family business. Crime is not something I see in ya. When we were children, ya used to pick flowers for me by the meadow. You challenged my abusive father and lost.

"When I came home beaten bloody my father made sure he never woke up again. Your mother ran off, and I took care of you. Kept you away from my family drama for as long as I could. It wasn't enough," Dymphna cried, "I should have told you to run as far away from here as possible."

"Nothing would have changed. I'd stay for as long as ya needed me because I love you. We will figure something out."

Dymphna's phone rang abruptly, causing him to frown as he picked it up, his gaze still locked onto Haisley sitting across the table. The conversation was brief, but whatever he heard seemed to shake him to his core. He abruptly ended the call and rose from his seat, his emotions in turmoil. In an impulsive rage, he hurled a glass of juice at the wall, the glass shattering into a chaotic spray of shards and the vibrant orange juice staining the surface in jagged patterns.

Haisley startled in terror, her eyes wide with fear. "What's going on?" she demanded, her voice quivering.

Dymphna's expression was grave. "We need to go," he said urgently.

"Go where? Dymphna, you have to tell me what's happening."

"Paudi is furious. We have to get to the barn."

"Why? I don't understand."

"I don't either, but we have to hurry," Dymphna replied, moving quickly to his sister in the living room. His voice was stern as he spoke to her. "No matter what happens, do not let go of that child to anyone but us. Do you understand?"

"Fine, but what's going on?" she pressed.

"Business..."

Under the sun's unrelenting heat, the couple sprinted to Dymphna's red car. An eerie and unsettling feeling settled over them, sending a chill down their spines. A single tear rolled down Dymphna's cheek, and he sought solace in his girlfriend's presence, rubbing her thigh as they sped towards the isolated farm. The end drew near, and uncertainty pressed heavily upon them.

"Will you marry me?" Dymphna asked, his voice quivering with sincerity.

Haisley looked at him, a mixture of surprise and amusement dancing in her eyes. "I already said yes to this, why are you asking me again?"

Dymphna's gaze was intense, and he spoke with heartfelt determination. "I need ya to know I'm serious. I love you, Haisley. I'd rather die than see anything happen to you."

Overwhelmed by his sincerity, Haisley's tears flowed freely. "Yes, okay, yes, yes," she cried.

In the distance, the German Shepherds continued their incessant barking. Haisley wiped away her tears, her trembling demeanor suggesting a mix of fear and resolve. She exited the car, ready to face whatever fate awaited her. Dymphna held her hand and guided her into the rundown barn that served as his family's home. One of the rooms inside housed a small kitchen with a dining room table and four chairs. Paudi sat at the table, smoking a cigarette.

Dymphna tried to maintain a strained smile. "Uncle Paudi... Fine day, isn't it?"

"Sit down," Paudi commanded.

Dymphna nodded and pulled out two chairs, showing his manners by ensuring Haisley was comfortably seated. She sat beside him, her eyes wide with trepidation. Paudi finished his cigarette, leaving it in the ashtray to smolder into ashes. He let out a small, humorless laugh under his breath.

"Hector tell you about the dog?" Paudi asked.

"Dog? Dog..." Dymphna replied, his confusion evident.

"He ate a wasp. It's a habit they've had since they were pups, you know. I think he must have eaten one that wasn't dead. His tongue's all messed up, he's wheezing, and he's stuck lying down since yesterday. Be a shame to put such a loyal animal out of action, you know? I'm sure, as the good Lord himself would say, that's that. Well, screw that goon, Hector. Can't believe he didn't tell you about the dog."

"No," Dymphna responded.

"All that man cares about is his little stash snuck away there in Ballinbracken."

"He's still out there, is he?"

"Jesus Christ. I think his brain's turned to mush. He has this unconscionable stack of sprays and perfumes. Bathing himself every second day. He has these little clippers for his toenails. Can you believe that?" He coughed and continued, "He forgets to feed the damn dogs. So this... this business about the molester."

"You mean Fannigan?"

"Fannigan. Another loyal skin, no doubt. You're dealing with quite a few loyal skins, huh?"

"Didn't Hector tell you? It's been taken care of."

"Taken care of?"

"She dealt with Fannigan."

"He's dead..." Haisley quietly interjected.

"Dead?"

"He won't bother anyone anymore," Haisley clarified.

He chuckled, "Well, you took your sweet time. Better late than never, I suppose, huh? So, maybe a seasoned killer like yourself can help with the pup. Help him on his way? Hm? Come on, grab that scattergun there in the corner, will you, nephew?"

The dog barked loudly, chained up at the doorway. They headed over to the barn. There was blood on the floor by the entrance. The Shepherd was barking uncontrollably, revealing his yellow, plaque-covered teeth. He snarled as if he hadn't eaten in days. Dymphna stood before Haisley, protecting her while holding the gun over his shoulder. This decently sized gun could fire at a short range with a small bullet, probably used for hunting small animals in the forest. Something didn't seem right here. Dymphna had Haisley stand behind him in the doorway to avoid the bloody mess.

"He's pretty wound up, isn't he?" Dymphna remarked.

"That's the other fella. He's in a bad way, with his brother being all messed up, you know? That gun loaded, Dymphna?"

"Aye."

"Give it here to me, then."

"Right, here you go," Dymphna pulled the gun off his shoulders and handed it over to his Uncle.

Paudi vanished into his barn, where his dog was suffering immensely in the back. The dog lay on the floor, whimpering for help. The barking Shepherd quieted down to see what was happening to his brother. He began to bark at the darkness, much louder than before, as he heard the gun clicking. Haisley held onto the back of Dymphna's jeans, disgusted by all these noises. The panicking dog on a chain. The crying pup is in pain. The sounds of dripping blood. This blood had to be coming from somewhere.

"Shut up, Leo. The poor little puppy. We're going to put you out of your misery. I'm going to put you down."

A crazy thought came to Dymphna's head. He backed up with his girlfriend still hanging onto his jeans. This blood had to be coming from something or someone. Above, depending on the window of the second floor was a dead man hanging by his ankles. His body faced the barn, his neck slit open like a pig drained for its meat. Rain poured down on them as if this was it. The final stand of the beautiful couple who loved each other more than anything. Just as Haisley screamed, Paudi's gun went off, killing the dog in the dark. She cried and called, knowing who this man obviously was up there hanging like the pig he was.

Dymphna panicked, "Oh, Paudi, what the fuck?"

"Get in here, the pair of youse, huh?"

"Whoa. Fuck, no, no, no!"

"The pair of youse, you hear me? In here now."

"Okay, Kay, Paudi. What the fuck is this?"

This is where it ends, they thought. Dymphna cautiously ventured into the pitch-black barn, his arms outstretched before him, moving slowly and deliberately to avoid making any sudden movements. His girlfriend followed close behind, sobbing uncontrollably, her vision blurred by tears, making it difficult to see where she was stepping. The building was oppressively cold and shrouded in darkness.

Paudi, resolute and armed, held his gun firmly, ready for this moment. He aimed the weapon at Dymphna's head.

"Just like you chose a child-molestin fuck over your own flesh and blood, huh?"

"I thought we took care of it."

"You were too busy down the hairdressers getting the blonde color put in your hair, and you were too busy fucking my nephew. No one took care of nothing. Only me! I am the only one who cares about this fucking family anymore."

"Why didn't you just fuckin take care of it? You told me you took care of it. What have you done?

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I couldn't do it. I lied to him, don't take this out on him, please. Just leave him alone."

"I'll do it next time." Dympna said, "You know I would have taken care of It. Listen, I'll do it. I'll take care of it next time. Just put the gun down. Please."

Rain poured down on the barn, and a dense fog enveloped the farm and carried a chilling breeze. Paudi lowered his gun and nodded slowly, a man standing there with his head seemingly lost in the clouds, his laughter starkly contrasting the grim surroundings. It was evident that the old man had lost his sanity.

Dymphna, overcome with a heavy mix of emotions, exhaled deeply, his eyes welling up with tears. He looked horrified at his girlfriend's face, her palm pressed against her stomach as she wheezed and coughed, her distress leading to her vomiting uncontrollably on the dirt floor, right beside the lifeless dog sprawled on the ground.

"I'm sorry." She cried.

"Here, "Paudi tried handing him the gun, "Take care of it now, why don't you, huh?"

Dymphna takes the gun from Paudi. His hands shake, full of tears and emotions, "I love you, Haisley..."

"I love you too..."

"Finish the job now, like a good boy, huh? Make your daddy proud."

Dymphna walks closer and places the gun on her head, watching her break into tears again, "For fucks sake... she's pregnant..."

"Dym...." Haisley cried.

"She made her choice. Family business and that's down to you." Paudi said. Show me what your fuckin made of."

"It's okay, Dymphna. Take care of our boy for me. Keep him safe. Don't forget us, okay. We'll always be here for you."

"Fuckin run," Dymphna cried.

"What?" Haisley cried.

"Fuckin run!" Dymphna shouted.

In a matter of seconds, a critical decision had to be made. Haisley's instincts kicked in, and she bolted towards the car with lightning speed. Out of the corner of her eye, she witnessed Paudi pistol-whipping Dymphna, using a firearm he had concealed in his back pocket. Tears streaming down her face, she wasted no time, jumped into the red car, and sped away through the long, winding dirt path. At this point, protecting her son became her utmost priority.

Haisley drove back to the house, her heart pounding with fear and determination. She broke down the door and rushed into the living room, where everyone casually watched television. Without hesitation, she snatched Gulliver, gathering all her belongings in a frantic rush.

"What's going on? Did you two have a fight?" Charlotte asked.

"No, Uncle Paudi tried to kill us. I have no idea if Dymphna is still alive, but he bought me some time to escape. I have to leave before he comes for me."

"What did you do?"

"He asked me to kill someone, and I refused because I have never done it before."

"I never asked for this. I am so sorry..."

"No, Charlie, it's not you. I have to leave, but I'll come back for you some day. I can promise you that."

"Okay,"

She swiftly gathered her child and brought him to a hotel far from the ocean. Her little boy, speechless and terrified by his mother's actions, clung to her for comfort. They spent hours hiding within the confines of this modest hotel room, uncertainty and fear clouding their thoughts.

Amidst this tense atmosphere, her phone buzzed insistently in her pocket. Trembling, she retrieved it and noticed that Dymphna was calling her. Relief and anguish washed over her. He was alive. Haisley picked up the phone, tears streaming down her face, as she buried her face in a pillow on the hotel bed, her son beside her, equally shaken.

"Where are the fuck are you? Okay, things got a little out of hand back there, but it's all calm now, yeah? I've got Paudi to calm down, and I just need you to come back."

"No, please, Dymphna, I can't go back. I have to protect our son."

"It doesn't work that way."

"What are you talking about?"

"Our family is growing now, and he wants to take advantage of that for our family business if you can believe it."

"What if I say no."

"He will find you, and he will kill all three of us. Starting with me probably so I won't be able to warn you. Come home, please. I can't do this without you."

"We're not going down without a fight."