Simon followed signs for East London, knowing that Firdy was well ahead of him. He floored the accelerator, not slowing for speed cameras, which were foreshadowed by waves of brake lights ahead. Instead, he weaved between vehicles and blared the horn. If he was too careful, Firdy would catch up with Sarah and he would never see her again.
He struck the wheel, half-imagining hitting himself and half-imagining knocking Sarah’s head against a wall. He had performed the code and she had answered, only to tell him that she had already made Firdy’s job easy by texting him her location. Tears of frustration and rage welled in his eyes. She was naïve, but after the disappearance of their parents, the weapons positioned strategically around the house, the vetting of her friends, being abandoned for days at a time and blood in the bathroom, perhaps he should be grateful that she still managed to show some sign of innocence.
As long as it didn’t get her killed.
The engine idled at yet another set of traffic lights, this time an enormous roundabout with half a dozen exits. He scanned the rows of vehicles, noting the white Transit vans, discounting each one from the possibility of belonging to Firdy.
He felt as though he should get out and run to keep moving, but when the lights changed to green, he felt sick, advancing towards a series of confrontations that could only end badly.
He had to kill Firdy or he’d always be a threat to Sarah. He had to do it before the Creature returned. Physically, he didn’t imagine that killing him would be too much of a problem, as Firdy appeared to be sick and in a lot of pain. He thought that Firdy would be less sure of himself without the Creature, but he was likely to be less predictable too.
The two main problems lay elsewhere. The first was the remaining animal in the van. If it was anything like the dog, he was in trouble.
Another set of lights.
The second problem would come later. He projected himself into the future, a world in which Firdy’s body was on one side of the room and his head on the other; what then? When the Creature returned, it would discover what had happened. The thing would read his mind. He could stash ideas, bury memories, tie thoughts down, but he wouldn’t be able to suppress the memory of having killed Firdy. He wasn't that good.
Even if he could somehow get away with killing him, the Creature would expect him to pick up where he left off. Once again, he’d be a threat to Sarah. She would always be in danger, until either he or the creature was dead.
How do you kill something that's invisible, intangible, but can see every thought you have?
You don’t.
There was no cold sweat as he considered suicide. It was a familiar destination, as all paths seemed to lead this way.
He changed down a gear, swung the car around a corner and powered to the end of the street, cutting out a jam. Protecting Sarah was his reason to live. If living placed her in more danger than dying, then suicide was the logical option.
In some ways it would be a relief. His death would save a lot of lives. He had been selfish the last three years. Many people had met uncertain ends so that he could have the pleasure of watching Sarah live.
The danger was too close now. He didn’t know how much time he had before the Creature returned; it could be the next corner, it could be next month. Once he had made life as safe as possible for Sarah, he'd have to kill himself.
She’d want to know, but that was out of the question. It would be cruel. She wouldn’t understand.
I don't understand, thought Simon. It could have anyone. Why does it want her?