Tar: An apocalyptic horror novella by Iain Rob Wright Read Free Book Online Page B

“Tell me which way to go, kid. I don’t have time to moralise with you.”
    “I’m not telling you anything unless you promise you won’t kill Dom.”
    “Fine, I promise. Now tell me.”
    Minty frowned. “I don’t believe you.”
    Finn clenched his fists and felt his heart race. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I. Won’t. Kill. Dom.”
    Minty stared him in the face for several seconds. Finn didn’t appreciate being scrutinised by a child, but he kept his temper somehow.
    “The warehouse is straight on over the roundabout.”
    “Thank you!” Finn nodded and got going again. Minty and Wonder Mutt hurried to keep up.
    As they got walking again, Finn considered the myriad of ways he could kill Dom. Not once could he imagine a way of not killing him. The guy had been dead the moment Finn's ma had uttered his name.
    A death sentence.
    Abandoned cars choked the roundabout. It was due to such congestion that people never bothered to try the roads anymore. Finn had arrived in England by boat, but he hadn't been fleeing the grey death. He had been fleeing Northern Ireland because of what it had become. The offshoot of the old IRA Finn was part of had taken the end of the world as a sign that God was angry. It had led them to plan the largest domestic attack in the nation’s history—bombing a dozen Protestant and secular targets simultaneously. With national security falling into disarray, getting the parts for the bomb had been child’s play. Planting and detonating them was going to be even easier. Finn’s bomb was earmarked for a secular primary school. The group’s leader, Reverend Chris Adams, told Finn God would reward him for punishing the offspring of the wicked. The group's other targets included a hospital, police station, and an embassy. Twelve targets in total—one for each apostle of Christ. Every bomb would be an offering to a chosen saint.
    Thousands would die.
    Even as Billions died.
    It was murder for murder's sake.
    “It’s just down here,” said Minty, pointing, “just past the police station.”
    Wonder Mutt ran around them in excited circles.
    Finn studied the police station’s windows as they neared, wondering if anyone lurked inside. Proximity to law enforcement had worried him for so long that his heart rate increased out of habit. Finn saw police officers as the enemy—enforcers of an unholy regime. Truth was, they were no different to anybody else. The whole world was twisted and dark. Everyone found their own corner to piss in. What Finn once thought were just causes now seemed like childish fantasies.
    Or outright fallacies.
    “Are you okay, son?” somebody shouted from across the road.
    Finn looked up and saw a police officer standing in the station's empty car park. He wore a white shirt with lapels, but lacked the rest of his uniform. He pointed a finger and asked again. “Are you okay?”
    “Who, me?” asked Minty, when he realised the policer officer was addressing him and not Finn.
    “Yes, are you in need of help? If you are, you can come on over to me.”
    Finn shrugged at Minty. “Go on over. You’re better off with him than me.”
    Minty waved back at the man across the road. “No, I’m fine; thank you, officer.”
    “You don’t look fine to me, son. You look dirty and malnourished.”
    Finn chuckled, letting the officer know he was in agreement. “I just met the kid today so don't blame me.”
    “Finn gave me food,” said Minty. “He's my friend.”
    The officer grew suspicious. He exited the car park and mounted the grassy embankment that bordered the road. It led Wonder Mutt to grumble and move to Minty's side. Finn noticed the officer had a gun on his hip, but he was questioned about his own weapon before he had chance to mention it. “That’s a big knife you’ve got hanging from your belt, sir.”
    “Not big enough with the way things are.”
    The officer laughed with what seemed to be understanding, but he looked at Minty and moved