Legend Tripping

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  1. Most of the children of Carlin High School were engaged in the usual playground activities, girl gossiped rapidly sounding like a thousand busy typewriters; youthful first years laughed and chas ed each other around the yard, burning off energy; older kids from the rough end of town hid behi nd the toilets, smoking weed. Steven was sitting alone, perched on the fence like a hawk, watching all the normal mayhem when he spotted Simon Anderson take a nosedive onto the concrete. The boy just went white and dropped, and even though the other kids were making a godawful din, Steven definitely heard Simon’s skull crack like a heavy egg as it smashed onto the ground. The noise was a sickening, hollow sound that made his heart jump in his chest. He immediately jumped off the fence and rushed to see if the older boy was alright. In the seconds it took him to move to where Simon was, there was a large crowd around Simon, some girls were screaming, an older boy was shouting, “Get a...
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Gross Domestic Product: 18

Chapter Eighteen

Morton was out of his depth and he knew it, the creature wearing Tommy Bryce’s flesh was not some mere bogle that haunted the closes of tenements, giving fright to pensioners, not was it even one of the Fae folk. This was something of a different magnitude. It exuded power, it was a kind of a dreadful but alluring stench. He felt like prey caught downwind of a lion. It was, as far as he could tell, given the evidence, the manifestation of cruelty, an independent, terrifyingly perceptive and intelligent thing. He knew he would have to be very, very cautious. He also realised he needed to show confidence, balls, in front of this entity. He went to speak but was cut off.

“You are about to ask me what it is I want, why I came here, who I am and a hundred other questions that are of no importance. The only question, the one all of you truly seek an answer to is how I can give you more power.” Buer stated. He had not moved from the position he had taken when he’d sat down.

“Astute assumption, but not strictly true.” The other said, Skinner, who’s presence Buer had not predicted.

“Oh?”

“Yeah,” Skinner replied. “What I want is for you to give us what you can and then tell us how to be rid of you. Your presence is not welcome, you know that.”

“Shut up, Skinner,” Morton barked. “Let’s hear him oot.”

“You have, potentially, interesting futures. I have the means, the knowledge to make you all richer and more powerful than you imagine, all I would ask in return is an allegiance, in so far as you will assist me when needed and avoid thwarting my plans when they are inconvenient to you.” Buer explained.

“What kind of plans?” Morton said.

“For fuck sake Alec!” Skinner said, exasperated. He stood up and threw the tarot card back on the Table. “This is you, right?”

The card spun across the table, and swerved, unnaturally, as it slid towards Buer. As the demon went to pick the card up Skinner lunged, ripping out a large knife from inside his tracksuit bottoms and ramming it, point first, into the hand of Buer, affixing it to the table with a hard thump. With a small grunt, Buer turned his head to face him. “Interesting.”

Morton also stood up. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing you fish faced fuck?!” he yelled.

“Simmer down Alec.” Willie Boyle growled. “This fuckin’ thing is seriously dodgy.”

Alec’s face turned red with fury, “You too Willie? Anyone else?”

Donny Stephenson shrugged. “Aye Alec, I’m no playin’. Remember that shite in Drumchapel?”

That gave Alec pause for thought, while Buer just chuckled. “I am impressed by your collective audacity. However, this is a waste of time.”

Skinner yelped and drew his hand back wiggling it as the large blade began to glow, bubble and melt. Molten metal dribbled down onto Buer’s hand, sizzling. Ghostly trails of smoke that smelt distinctly of roast ham rose up from the burning hand. Buer pulled it from the table and watched the destroyed flesh as the fat ran down his wrist spattering drops like hot wax. He laughed.

“Fuck sake! That table cost me a fortune,” Morton hissed, bearing his teeth. “Enough of this shit. Get to the point you diabolical cunt.”

“There are sleepers I could guide you to, creatures who could make you all kings of men, in turn I need access to certain other individuals you have business dealings with, specifically within the oil and arms industries.” Buer said.

“Sounds like bullshit to me Alec,” Willie said. There were grunts of agreement throughout the room.

“All right, shut it, I’m thinking.” Alec said and he was. He knew what Buer was talking about, barely believed it to be true, but then again he’d just watched a demon inside one of his boys melt a knife over itself and laugh. This was a dangerous game, but if the sleepers, or the Auld Yins, as they were known to him, existed, then he could… He cut himself off from even thinking about that.

He realised he couldn’t trust the thing, but neither did he want to piss it off. “Nah, nae deal. Thanks. Noo if you don’t mind, fuck right off and I mean right off. If I get a whiff you’re in Glasgow, I’ll make you wish you were back in Hell, you fucker.”

Still smiling, Buer stood up and saying nothing, turned and walked out the room. He was quickly followed by the others. Skinner was clearly furious. “You’re just going to let it go? You know what it could do?”

“Shut it, Skinner.” Alec repeated. “You jist wanted some gain out of this, don’t try and play the Jesus on me ya cunt. Fine, you can take over Tommy’s businesses. Yer still independent, alright? jist nae fuckin’ wae ma troops.”

Skinner was surprised by that but nodded, it was more than he thought he’d come away with, much more. “Fine, does that include the butcher’s shop he left in Prince’s bookies?”

Glowering at him, Alec pointed a chubby finger. “Don’t fuckin’ test me, or you’ll be spending eternity at the bottom of the Clyde.”

“You don’t scare me Alec, that fuckin’ thing scares me.” Skinner retorted as he pointed towards the front door, but he knew better than to push it, this had been a win, of sorts.

Buer was out the front door and down the drive. Once he was out of earshot, Alec placed a hand on Skinner’s shoulder. “We’re no finished wae that prick, no’ by a long-shot.”

“Whit d’ye mean?” Skinner asked.

Alec just gestured with his eyes as Bryce’s car drove off. A second or two later another car, on the other side of the road started up and followed it. “Nae point in us gettin’ oor haun’s dirty. Let’s jist see whit the fucker gets up tae, eh?”

Skinner looked at him with an impressed smile. “You’re smarter that I gave you credit for, Alec. Good shout.”

“Right, noo, get the fuck aff ma property. I don’t want tae hear fae you until we know exactly whit’s happenin’ wae aw this shite.”

Skinner nodded. “Cheers Alec. Take care big man,” he said before walking down the drive. He still had the lamp in the bag and stopped and turned. “Alec?”

“Fur fuck sake… whit noo?”

“Do you by any chance have a contact number for the O.A.?” Skinner asked.

Morton sighed. “Aye. You wantin’ rid of that lamp, eh?”

“Might be worth a bit.” Skinner shrugged.


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