The Black Pathway

"What are you talking about, Gary?" Enquired Mary, puzzled by the 'damaged ego' remark.

"Ask your boyfriend." Gary replied, flatly.

"No, I'm asking you." Said Mary.

"Just leave it." Alex said to her, desperate for the truth not to come out. He glared daggers at Alex, in a warning to him to keep his mouth shut.

"No, I won't leave it. I want to know what Gary meant…"

"Alex lied to you, Mary." Butted-in Shark. "He's never completed the Black Pathway."

Mary stared at Alex for a few seconds, before turning to Shark.

"What did you say?" She asked.

"Alex lied to you. He's never finished this walk. He had to bail out at Hoffen." Answered Shark. Suddenly, Alex Cre

"Shut your fucking trap, you mouthy little bitch!” He roared, pulling his face close to Sharks. Her response was unexpected, but incredibly impressive. She twisted her whole body round in a flash, sliding from out of Alex's grip with ease; in the next instant, the twenty year old found himself being flung over Shark's shoulder, and then flying through the air momentarily, before landing on the muddy ground, just off the pathway. Alex Cre

“Don’t ever touch me, or threaten me in any way again, you whinging little cunt.” She warned, before heading back towards where Mary and Gary were standing. Mary Broderick came walking across to Alex.

“You asked for that.” She said to him. “Oh, and by the way, we’re finished. I don’t go out with blokes that attack women.” Mary told him.

“Aw, come on Mary, don’t be like that! That bitch was provoking me.” Pleaded Alex.

“Go and fuck yourself, Alex.” Came Mary’s icy-cold response.

Alex Cre

“You three fuckers… I haven’t finished with any of you yet.” He threatened. Shark went to move towards him again, but Gary Ackley held her back.

“Just go home, Alex.” Said Gary, calmly.

“You’re a fucking big-mouthed shit-face.” Alex hit back at him. He turned to Shark. “No-one gets away with doing something like that to me. Do you hear me?” Alex said. Shark smirked at him. “And as for you,” Alex stared at Mary, “well, you can find your own way back down to Coldsleet… or spend the next two days with this pair of cunts. It’s your choice, bitch.”

“Just go home.” Gary repeated. Alex Cre

***

Gary Ackley put his arm around Mary Broderick, with Shark standing next to him.

“Are you okay?” He asked her.

“Yeah. I’m fine, thanks.” She replied.

“Well, I suppose that we’d better be heading back to Coldsleet too.” Said Gary. “We can’t carry on with the walk now.”

“What did you mean, when you said about Alex’s damaged ego being the reason for him wanting to walk the Black Pathway?” Mary was very curious to know. Gary took in a deep breath.

“He got jealous when he found out that Howard wanted to take you along the pathway. He got even more jealous when he discovered that Howard had walked the trail loads of times before.” Explained Gary. “You know what Alex is like about Howard. There’s no love lost between them at all.” He reminded Mary.

“I still don’t understand.” She said.

“It’s because, as Shark said earlier, Alex couldn’t manage to complete the Black Pathway. Me and Alex, we walked the trail the summer before last, and he couldn’t hack it, he got as far as Hoffen, and then fucked off home.” Gary went on. “He hated the thought that Howard had completed the Black Pathway loads of times. All of this… it’s about Alex’s stupid, petty fucking jealousy.”

“That’s ridiculous.” Said Mary.

“Alex is like a big sodding child at times, and as I said, it doesn’t help that he really hates Howard… and has done for years.” Commented Gary.

“Yeah, I gathered that much… well, I say bollocks to Alex Cre

“You’re joking?” Asked Shark. Mary turned to her.

“No. I’m not joking at all.” She calmly replied.

Gary wasn’t sure about Mary’s suggestion that the trio continue walking the Black Pathway Trail.

“Mary, a few minutes ago, you were saying that you wanted to go back to Coldsleet.” He reminded her.

“Well, to be honest, I can think of other things that I’d rather be doing this weekend than traipsing around in the cold and the mist… but if completing the walk fucks Alex off, then I’m all up for carrying on with it.” Mary smiled.

“Are you sure? I mean, you’ve just broken up with Alex and…”

“And nothing.” Mary interrupted Gary. “I’ve got no regrets there, and I don’t feel upset, either. He attacked Shark. He’s a man that takes his anger out on women. He can fuck right off.” She asserted. Gary and Shark nodded.

“Did you see the look on Alex’s face, just after Shark had done that weird judo throw thing on him?” Asked Gary. He looked at Shark. “Where did you learn to do stuff like that?” Shark gave him a bittersweet smile.

“A friend taught me.” She replied. “Do you reckon Alex will be okay, getting back down to Coldsleet?” Shark asked Gary.

“He’ll be fine,” he assured her, “all he has to do is follow the pathway back across the flatlands and down Leeton Hill. Alex will be okay.”

***

Alex Cre

“Well, you ain’t my friend anymore, Gary Ackley. Those days are over. You’re go

Suddenly, Alex became aware of a noise behind him… footsteps… somewhere behind him were the sound of footsteps. Nah, there’s no-one else up here with me, I’m on my own… all I’m hearing is echoes of my own fucking walking, reasoned Alex. Don’t let your imagination start ru