Freak

By Philip Henry

When the carnival came to Portstewart in the summer of 1973, it was to change the life of Marie Stanton forever. Still barely a child herself, she became pregnant. Ostracized by her family and friends, she vows to raise the child herself, but the boy is not normal. He has unnatural powers that make him a danger to others. Through his childhood and teenage years his powers increase with his rage and torment.

Nowadays his name is whispered in darkness, striking fear into those who would hurt the innocent.

Fear the night... for it belongs to him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Philip Henry
• Release date: Jun 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005694050

Philip Henry

Philip Henry is the author of The North Coast Bloodlines series of books. These books are all based around the north coast of Ireland where he lives, and although all the books can be read as standalone stories, if you read them in order you will notice characters from other books popping up and getting mentioned.Philip is also a keen singer/ songwriter. He released his first album, Songs About Girls, in 2018 and as of writing this is halfway through recording the follow-up. He has also written and directed two no-budget feature films and over a dozen shorts. Links to all his creative endeavours can be found on his website: www.philiphenry.com

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The North Coast Bloodlines Series - Book Four

FREAK

PHILIP HENRY

CORAL MOON BOOKS

www.philiphenry.com

The North Coast Bloodlines Book Four: FREAK

By Philip Henry

Published by Coral Moon

www.philiphenry.com

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, save those clearly in the public domain, is purely coincidental.

Freak Copyright © 2008 Philip Henry

This edition published 2021

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the Publisher, except for short quotes used for review or promotion. For information address the Publisher.

ISBN: 9798510086621

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3

With the grateful support of The Arts Council of Northern Ireland

The North Coast Bloodlines Series:

1: Vampire Dawn

2: Mind’s Eye

3: Vampire Twilight

4: Freak

5: Vampire Equinox

6: Bleeding

7: My Ivory Summer

8: The Dead Room

9: Dreamwalker

10: Head in the Clouds

11. Method

One

Marie Stanton lay in bed, listening. She heard the water running as her parents brushed their teeth. She watched the rectangle of light around her door disappear. She heard their bed creak as they got in and settled. Then, only the grandfather clock in the hall could be heard. The persistent tick of the pendulum echoed through the house. Then a louder click, followed by a whirring and the clock began to strike. Marie counted off the ten chimes in her head. All was silent again, apart from the ticking.

She wouldn’t get up right away. She needed to give them time to fall asleep. When the clock sounded the half hour should be long enough. The June night was hot so she threw back the covers. She was fully dressed apart from her trainers, which she had left under the bed. The nervous excitement in her stomach was building. A boy had never shown this much interest in her before. He wasn’t even a boy; he was nineteen, which was a man. The other girls at school would die of jealousy when she told them. She would be inducted into a whole different realm at school. No longer one of the quiet, forgettable girls on the periphery. She would surprise them all. Derogatory comments like ‘frigid’ and ‘dyke’ would be replaced by ‘still waters run deep’ and ‘it’s the quiet ones you have to watch.’ The thought of her infamy made her smile.

She would French kiss him, that was a given, but she felt she might also let him touch her on the breasts. The thought made her giggle and she clapped her hand over her mouth to stifle the sound. She pulled her dress tight across her bust and was content that there was enough there for a boy, or a young man, to hold onto. Her thoughts returned to the French kiss. From what she had divined from the girls at school it just involved touching tongues when you kissed. ‘But what exactly do you do with your tongue?’ she had asked. She was answered with a choir of laughter. Marie hoped it would be instinctive. If she did it wrong she would come across as some silly, inexperienced fifteen year-old. She didn’t want that. She thought she should definitely let him touch her breasts, now. If the kissing went badly it would distract him. The breast-touching was easy for her – all she had to do was stand there and let him grope.

She felt the pocket of her jacket and reassured herself that she had brought her camera. She wanted a picture to remember him by. When the carnival left town he wouldn’t be back again for at least a year, and 1974 seemed like a lifetime away. If he even came back the following year. It was the first time this particular carnival had come to Portstewart. She thought how romantic it would be if he did come back the following year. If he just showed up on her doorstep completely out of the blue with a bunch of flowers. She hugged her pillow tightly to her chest and whispered, I love you, Gustav. She moaned lightly and rubbed her cheek against the soft pillow and answered herself, And I love you, Marie. She smiled.

Their meeting the previous night had been like a dream. She had gone with her father and mother, regardless of her protests of carnivals being for children. Her father’s word was law and she would be going whether she liked it or not. According to him she was too young to stay in the house by herself. Marie’s protestations that she was fifteen, and that it was 1973, did nothing to help her cause. She sat sulking in the back of the car as they drove to the carnival. Once there she was surprised to find herself enjoying the rides and attractions. Although her father’s face changed little she suspected he was enjoying himself, too. Her mother didn’t participate in any of the games or rides, but smiled contentedly as she watched Marie and her father throw hoops and shoot at metal ducks. Marie had just finished screaming her lungs out on the ghost train when she spotted two friends from school going into the freak show. She asked her dad if they could see the freaks. Her father consulted his watch; it was already a quarter-past ten. Marie used her most pathetic, pleading expression and her father relented.

A tall, albino man greeted them upon entering the freak show and Marie’s father paid him as she scanned the enclosure for her friends. She walked with her mother and father to the first attraction, still looking all around. The tent contained a man who was seven feet, one inch, tall. Several men who were barely three feet tall accompanied him. People were having their pictures taken with them. The little people tickled the children and they howled with delight. Marie’s family moved on to the bearded lady who was having trouble with a precocious seven year-old, determined to unmask her deceit as he had done with a Santa Claus impostor six months earlier. She was a large woman with rosy cheeks and laughed heartily as the young boy tugged on her beard.

Marie checked the corners of every tent they entered for her friends but did not see them. They only stayed briefly in the psychic’s tent. He was a man in his late forties, dressed in an old-fashioned black suit and top hat. When they entered he was telling a young man that a fire would leave him severely disabled sometime in the next two years. He advised the young man to buy a fire extinguisher and keep it in his kitchen. There was an awed hush in the room. Marie’s father proclaimed it ‘the devil’s work’ and dragged Marie and her mother from the tent quickly. The next tent contained a man, The Human Fish, sitting inside a huge tank of water. Several teenagers were huddled outside the tank with a stopwatch. One shouted, That’s seven minutes, man! Far out! through the glass at The Human Fish.

At the final attraction Marie saw her friends. The tent was shared between the Reptile-man (his mother was bitten by snakes while pregnant, the poster proclaimed) and a strongman. Marie’s father looked at the leathery skin of the Reptile-man briefly and then moved over to the strongman. He had a target painted on his stomach and a group of young men were taking turns at punching it while their girlfriends looked on.

Daddy, there’s Dolores and Sally from school, can I go and say hello?

Her father looked at his watch and shook his head lightly. Only if you’re quick.

Marie smiled and ran to her friends. Hi, you guys, what are you doing here?

We’re meeting Willie and Arthur. Arthur’s brother’s got a car and we’re going to drive down to The Strand with them, Sally said proudly.

It’s a shame, too, added Dolores, because we just met this really cool guy. He gave us cigarettes and some beer. He’s cute, too.

You met him here? asked Marie.

Sally’s eyes lit up. Hey, we could introduce you if you like. Maybe you could come with us to The Strand.

I’m here with my parents.

Dolores looked over her shoulder and saw Marie’s father watching. Can’t you ditch them?

I don’t think so.

Even for a little while, just so we can take you to meet Gustav? Sally asked.

Gustav? What sort of name’s that?

I don’t know, he’s foreign or something, Dolores said.

Marie bit her lip, thinking it over. She didn’t really care who this Gustav character was, it was more important not to appear immature in front of Dolores and Sally. Even though she was fairly certain that her father would not let her out of his sight, at least they would see her asking and know it wasn’t her fault. I’ll go and ask, she said.

Marie ran over to her parents, who were still watching the strongman being punched in the stomach. Daddy?

Are you ready to go?

Erm, no. I wondered if I could go around the carnival with Dolores and Sally for a while.

No, Marie, you’re too young to be off by yourself.

"But they’re here by themselves."

I’m afraid…

Just for an hour, daddy. Please.

I’m sorry, Marie, it’s too late.

Oh, please, daddy. Just half an hour. I’ll meet you at the gate. She looked at her watch. I’ll meet you at eleven o’clock, I promise.

Marie’s father looked at her mother who smiled with a shrug. Marie’s father shook his head and exhaled. Eleven. Not a minute later.

Yes! Thank you, daddy.

You be careful. Don’t talk to any strangers and stay with the other girls. Stay together.

I will, daddy. I’ll be all right. Marie was already walking away.

Here, her father shouted, digging in his pocket. Marie ran back and he handed her some money. Get yourselves a drink or some candy floss or something.

Marie took the money and said, Thanks, daddy. She ran over to Dolores and Sally and the three of them shuffled off quickly.

Dolores led them to a makeshift fence behind one of the tents and started to climb over.

Where are we going?

To see Gustav, Sally answered impatiently. He works for the carnival. He hangs out back here.

Sally followed Dolores over the fence and then, hesitantly, Marie climbed over. They picked their way over the electrical cables, pipes and ropes on the ground and headed for a beaten-up looking caravan. Dolores rapped on the red door when they got there. They heard sounds of movement inside and then the door was opened. Gustav was nineteen years old with dark curly hair and was trying to grow a convincing moustache. He finished buttoning up the last couple of buttons on his shirt and then gave the three girls a toothy grin.

Ah, the pretty ladies have returned! What have I do to be so lucky? And you have bring another pretty lady with pretty blonde hair. I am indeed a lucky man.

This is Marie, Gustav, she’s a friend of ours, said Dolores.

Ah, the beautiful name for the beautiful girl. Come in please.

The girls filed inside. Marie was doing her best not to wince at the smell inside the caravan. There were clothes strewn everywhere, all in differing degrees of dirty. A cloud of fettered smoke hung in the air, the smell attaching itself to everything. Gustav offered a pack of cigarettes around. Sally and Dolores each took one, Marie declined. She was worried enough that her father would smell the smoke off her clothes; she didn’t want him to smell it on her breath, too.

You no like to smoke? Gustav asked. Maybe you like the beer, huh? Gustav grabbed a bottle of beer from the cabinet and pulled the top off with his teeth. Sally and Dolores smiled and nudged each other. Gustav offered the bottle to Marie. Marie shook her head quickly and looked at the ground, she was sure she was blushing. Sally and Dolores both took a long swig when the bottle was offered to them and then Gustav finished off the bottle in one gulp.

Well, we have to get going. We’re supposed to meet the guys at the gate at a quarter to, Sally said, standing up. Marie got to her feet before Dolores.

Dolores spoke to Marie while looking at Gustav. You don’t have to go yet, Marie. You should stay and get acquainted with Gustav.

No, I better get going, too. Marie said as she forced the door open and stepped outside. Sally went after her.

What are you doing, Marie?

What? Nothing. I thought we were going.

You can’t come with us; you have to meet your dad. Why don’t you stay here and get to know him. He seems like a laugh, don’t you think?

He’s OK, but I…

What, are you scared?

No, I’m not scared, I just…

Have you ever even kissed a guy?

Marie looked at the ground.

Oh my God! Sally said, laughing. Maybe you’d rather go home and play dollies or something.

Marie’s face reddened. I’m not a child!

Dolores stepped out of the caravan. Sally moved close and whispered to Marie, Look, do what you want. Stay and talk to him or leave, it doesn’t matter to me. Maybe in another fifteen years someone else will call you beautiful and you can go with him instead. Sally stepped back and locked arms with Dolores. They both said their goodbyes to Gustav and walked back towards the fence.

You are going, you are staying? Gustav asked.

I can stay a little while if you want to talk.

Gustav stepped out and sat on the step. Marie edged back and leaned against the caravan. She looked at his strong arms bulging under his T-shirt. She wondered what it would be like to be held in those arms.

You are not like your friends. There are, how you say… the scree… in the scree… indiscree?

Slappers.

Please, what is slapper?

Marie smiled. Someone who is indiscreet frequently.

They are not your friends?

No, they are. I just don’t like it when they try to make me like them.

You are better than them.

I don’t know about that.

Yes, yes, you are. Your eyes are the colour of autumn leaves. I am thinking you are more beautiful by a hundred times.

You’d have the minority opinion, there, Gustav.

The boys, they do not think you beautiful?

Marie looked at the ground. No.

The boys of this country are imbecile! Marie smiled, still staring at the ground. I am ashamed to admit that I think about kissing you since first I see you. Gustav looked at the ground as Marie looked up. When I meet girls on road I have not time to get to know them as I wish. He looked up and caught her eye. We stay in each town only a few days and then we gone.

Must be lonely.

Is very lonely for Gustav.

Marie’s insides fizzed with excitement as she edged closer and sat down on the step next to Gustav. I feel lonely, too. It’s like no one understands. Not my parents. Not my so-called friends. I want someone special who really understands me, maybe better than I understand myself. At school, it’s not about love; it’s like a score-card of who can have the most boyfriends. Sally thinks because she’s had four different boyfriends this year and let them all touch her…there, that she’s an authority on love. I think she’s full of it.

You have no boyfriends?

No. I think I’m judged as my father’s daughter. He’s big in the church.

The church is small?

Marie laughed. No, I mean he’s important in the church. Very religious.

I see, Gustav said nodding. I wish I had more time to know you, Marie. You are truly a rare angel.

Thanks.

You want come inside? I make you a cup of tea?

Marie looked at her watch and saw it was five past eleven. She jumped to her feet. I’m sorry, I have to go. I was supposed to meet my parents five minutes ago.

You cannot stay?

Marie’s heart ached. No, I can’t. How much longer are you here?

Tomorrow is last performance. You come tomorrow night?

I… I don’t think…

Is OK. My heart it is broken, but I let the angel fly.

Maybe I could sneak out tomorrow night after my parents are asleep.

Gustav’s face brightened. You come see me tomorrow night?

I’ll try.

You make Gustav very happy. He stepped close to her. She smelt his musky odour and felt his rough, unshaven skin brush hers as he kissed her lightly on both cheeks. He stepped back and looked her in the eyes. That is how we say goodbye in my country.

Marie’s face was over-animated and seemed to be having trouble deciding on an expression. Eventually a smile won out. Good night, Gustav.

I hope I see you tomorrow.

I hope so, too. I’ll try my best. She gave him one last smile and then ran back to the fence and climbed it quickly. The carnival shut down at eleven and everyone was walking towards the gate. She ran through the crowd. When her father saw her come into view he raised his watch and shook it at her.

As they walked to the car and on the drive home, Marie was berated for being late. She hardly heard any of it. Her mind was elsewhere. She was in Gustav’s arms. Occasionally she raised her fingers to her face and touched where he had kissed her, to see if any of the magic remained. She got into bed that night so deliriously happy that she had to restrain herself from laughing out loud. In the sleepless hours that followed she imagined scenarios where Gustav left the carnival and got a job in Coleraine just to be with her. When she left school she would move in with him. Her father wouldn’t like it at first but when he saw what a hard worker Gustav was and how much he loved Marie, she was sure he would warm to him.

The next morning Marie awoke smiling, fresh from dreams of Gustav. It was Saturday and she spent the day helping her mum with the washing, then going shopping. She kept an eye out when they were in the supermarket, just in case Gustav had come to get supplies, but she didn’t see him. The late afternoon took forever to become evening. She ate her dinner then had a bath and found it was still only 7.30. She spent some time picking her outfit for that night and eventually decided on a little orange mini-dress. She would wear her denim jacket over the top. She would have to wear her trainers because there would be a long walk ahead of her, plus she would have to climb the fence again and she didn’t fancy trying to do that in heels. She played some records and danced around her room singing The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face into a hairbrush. When her mother looked in before she went to bed Marie was already under the covers and feigning sleep. Her mother closed the door lightly. Marie’s eyes opened wide and she listened intently to the sounds of her parents going to bed.

When the clock chimed 10.30 Marie sat up and tip-toed over to her door. She pressed her ear to the wood and heard only the clock ticking and a light snore from her parents’ bedroom. She went back to the bed and took her trainers out from underneath and slipped them on. She moved silently over to her door and opened it. Her heart was banging in her chest and her whole body was tingling. She walked across the edges of the landing where the boards didn’t creak and quickly descended the stairs. She wriggled the stiff deadbolt on the back door until it released. She turned the key and opened the door. Once outside she closed the door as softly as she could and relocked it. She put the key in her pocket and ran around to the front of the house. There was no one on the street. Several of the houses still had lights on but no one was looking out. She ran down the driveway and up the street.

She ran all the way to the taxi rank. She was out of breath by the time she sat down in the backseat of the cab. Where to? the driver asked.

Marie was still breathing hard. Port… Portstewart. The… carnival.

The taxi moved off and Marie didn’t try to engage the driver in conversation. She tried to calm herself down, but it wasn’t just the running that had put her heart in overdrive. Marie paid the driver when they arrived. She had brought all of her babysitting money with her, though she didn’t know what for. They were unlikely to go anywhere. They would probably just sit in his caravan and kiss.

Marie paid her way into the carnival and went straight for the fence. She climbed over and hurried towards the red door of Gustav’s caravan. Outside the door she straightened her clothes and checked her face and hair in her compact mirror. She took a deep breath and knocked lightly.

A harsh voice shouted, What you want now?

Marie took a tentative step back. She looked across the yard, back to where the fence was. The door swung open quickly and slammed against the metal shell of the caravan. Gustav’s face softened when he saw her. Is you! Is my angel!

Marie mustered up a smile. Hi, Gustav. I just thought I’d… maybe this is a bad time for you.

No, is OK. I think you ringmaster. Sonofabitch has been bothering me all night. ‘Fix this, Gustav,’ ‘Move this, Gustav,’ ‘Clean this up, Gustav.’ I am not his slave. Is not my job.

Sorry you’re having a bad night.

Is OK. Everything is fine now my angel is here. You come in, yes?

Marie nodded and smiled. The caravan looked exactly as it had the night before. She thought he might have cleaned up in anticipation of her arrival. The smell still bothered her but she convinced herself that a little mess added to his charm.

You no like the smoke or the beer, what I get you?

Maybe I’ll try a beer. Or we could share one if you haven’t got enough. I have some money if you want me to go get some. I can get served in…

Is OK, I have many beer. Gustav sat down beside her. You look even more beautiful tonight. You put on the make-up and perfume?

Just a little.

You do this for Gustav?

Marie looked down at the ground and saw what she imagined had been pizza a long time ago, squashed flat into the carpet. Gustav put a finger under her chin and lifted her face up again. She looked into his eyes. You do this for Gustav. Gustav likes.

He leaned in and kissed her. His tongue slid between her lips and probed hungrily inside her mouth. Her tongue flickered against his, unsure of its function. She opened her eyes a crack and saw his olive skin so close to her. His eyes were closed so she closed hers again. His hand moved to her hip. He was so strong, so confident when he touched her. Marie felt like she was going to be caught. Somehow her father would come through that door any second and tear her from Gustav’s embrace. There was a loud banging on the door. Gustav broke off kissing and shouted something at the door in a language Marie didn’t recognise. He was answered in the same language.

Gustav exhaled and hung his head. Carnival is closing. I must help pack away. This is my job.

Oh, well maybe…

You will wait for me?

I don’t…

You wait here for Gustav. I will do my job extra fast tonight to get back to you, my angel. You will wait?

Marie looked at her watch. It was only a little after eleven. Her parents usually got up around seven on a Sunday; she had plenty of time. Did she want Gustav to know she had plenty of time, though? She had French kissed him. That would shut Dolores and Sally up for a while, and his hand had been creeping towards her breast when the door was knocked. A few more minutes and she would have had that to tell them, too.

OK, I’ll stay a little longer.

Gustav is pleased. Listen to the radio if you want. Drink beer. I not be long. Gustav smiled and left quickly.

It was well over an hour before he came back. She had drunk a whole bottle of beer by that time and had relaxed a little. In the first few minutes after he had left she had been very close to going home, but the more beer she drank the less she wanted to leave. After failing to get a decent tune out of the mouth of the beer bottle she was blowing across, she read some of the home-improvement articles in the naked lady magazines she had found. She now felt confident that she could turn a dowdy flat into a swinging bachelor pad for less money than you would think. She didn’t judge him; the magazines were just another symptom of Gustav’s loneliness. The caravan was a dump – he mustn’t have read the home-improvement articles yet. Surely he wouldn’t need much persuading to leave this life behind. He couldn’t be happy living like this.

She heard Gustav coming back. There were voices outside, again in that language she couldn’t place. There seemed to be a lot of them, maybe half a dozen or more. Gustav opened the caravan door and looked in. He smiled to Marie and then turned and spoke to the men outside, again in his native tongue. Gustav stepped into the caravan, leaving the door open.

You stayed. Good. Gustav is pleased.

Marie smiled and looked quizzically at the open door. Are we going somewhere?

No. I sorry about this, angel. But I lose much at poker, many bets, and owe much money to the other carnival people.

Marie moved her hand to her bag. Well, how much? I have some…

No, is too much more than that. I must do favour.

What favour? Marie’s heart began to slow.

Gustav shook his head from side to side then said, You are favour.

What? Marie’s attention turned to the door and she saw the strongman and Reptile-man come inside. She swallowed hard. The albino and the psychic peered their heads inside the door. Marie stood up and backed away from them. No, Gustav, please, no.

Gustav stared at the ground and scratched his brow. You take your clothes off. He stepped towards her. You do it now, please.

Marie stepped back and found herself in the little bedroom. She clutched her bag tight to her chest. She saw the tiny open window and screamed, Help me! Somebody help me!

No one who can hear you will help you.

Please, Gustav, don’t do this. She caught a glimpse of Reptile-man behind Gustav, taking his trousers off. The Human fish was there, too. As was the strongman, the albino… all of them. They were all getting undressed.

Marie looked into his eyes. I’m begging you, Gustav, please, don’t let them do this. You’re not like them. You’re kind and…

I not like them? he snapped. Gustav started unbuttoning his shirt. Marie’s eyes widened with terror. Gustav opened the shirt and she saw four fingers and a thumb growing out of his stomach. Gustav dropped his shirt to the ground and walked towards her. He let his arms fall to the side, his palms facing her. The fingers and thumb protruding from his stomach twitched as he neared her. Marie started screaming and climbing the walls of the caravan. Gustav started laughing. The rest of the men laughed with him.

Outside, the screams were soon muffled. The red door of the caravan closed and didn’t open again for over five hours.

Two

Christian leaned in and kissed her lightly on the cheek. She smiled briefly but didn’t awake. He pulled the covers over her shoulders and quietly left her bedroom. It was great having a girlfriend with her own flat. He wished he wasn’t still living at home, but his wages at Psychedelic Vinyl were meagre at best. Last night after they had been to the carnival, Carol had leant over to him and told him he didn’t have to go home. It was what Christian had been waiting months to hear. He loved her so much. He was going to marry her someday. Christian and Carol Warke; it had a nice ring to it. She was the girl he was going to grow old with, but if he didn’t get home before his parents got up he would be grounded for years. Even though he was eighteen and technically a man (definitely a man after the previous night) his parents still treated him like a child and he wasn’t quite ready to have a knock-down, drag-out argument with them about his maturity. Not this morning.

He closed Carol’s front door lightly and ran towards the town centre. He wasn’t running because he was pushed for time, he was running because he was bursting with energy. The running kept him warm, too. The light jacket he had worn to the carnival wasn’t doing much to keep out the morning chill. He cut across the field where the carnival had been pitched; this would shave at least ten minutes off his trip. The carnival had moved on and all that was left behind was a lot of litter. As Christian kicked an empty cola can, something caught his eye. He knelt down and lifted the ripped poster, wet with a thin film of dew, and saw a five-pound note lying under it. A smile broke on his face. He lifted the note and examined it – it was genuine. He wiped it on his T-shirt and stuffed it in his pocket. He proceeded across