38

Sue picked up her glass of red, took a sip, then suddenly broke down.

Liam flashed Ianto a look whilst Joan went to comfort Sue. Liam told them to use the spare room if they wanted, and the women left the men on their own.

"She lost her son not long ago." Ianto tried to explain to Liam.

"Oh well," Liam cackled. "More wine for us."

Ianto was taken aback by his attitude, but didn't want to verbally attack him for his comment as he was putting them up for the night.

Maybe this is what he's like.

Or maybe it's all an act.

"Women," Liam snickered. "They like a good cry now and again, don't they?"

Ianto remained silent and sipped his wine. Despite taking them in, Ianto was beginning to dislike this Liam character.

"I couldn't believe how easy it was to kill those things," Liam suddenly blurted out.

"They can die just like the rest of us," Ianto spoke up. "The owner of the last guesthouse we were in had his throat damaged by a Hitcher, and when he turned he dropped to the floor straight after. I'm guessing from blood loss."

"Well if that's the case, people who have been infested and have had severe injuries must eventually bleed to death."

"Maybe they just heal quicker than us. I don't really know."

The men fell silent as new footage came onto the screen. They watched as mobile phone footage was showing the Hitchers wreaking havoc at a circus in Lichfield.

"So what's it like living round these parts?" Ianto asked. "I mean...before all of this happened."

"A bit boring, to be fair. There're a few guesthouses, farms and a few pubs scattered along the barrens, as well as some residential areas. We have a quiet existence, and the tourists that stop by just about covers the mortgage. We did have a disappearance once."

"A disappearance?"

"About four years ago; a young girl called Joss Haines disappeared. Never found her."

"That's awful."

"It was on the main media channels for a week. It brought in some business though."

"Joss Haines." Ianto nodded in thought. "I think I remember that."

"Man, she was only fourteen." Liam finished off his glass and grabbed another bottle from the kitchen, returned to the living room and unscrewed the cap. His big hand wrapped around the middle of the bottle.

He poured himself another glass and without asking Ianto, topped him up.

Ianto remarked, with his tongue firmly in his cheek, "I thought you said not to get too drunk."

"Man, it takes three bottles to get me drunk on red wine."

Liam looked over his shoulder and said quietly, "A few months ago, around Easter time, a couple of middle aged women from France stayed the night in the guest room. They got pissed and, fuck me, what a night that was. Do you know what I mean?"

Liam began winking at Ianto.

"Not really." Ianto decided to play dumb.

"While Junior was sleeping in the next room I was in mine with the French birds."

"Playing scrabble?"

"Yeah, very funny." Liam seemed to be taking Ianto's teasing well, and was pleased to have some adult male company to converse with.

"So do you sleep with all your guests? Should I be worried?"

"You don't need to worry. I've never been balls deep in a man before, not my thing. But I have my fair share."

"I could imagine." Ianto took a slurp of the wine, the alcohol was loosening his lips. "I've seen the sheep on the hills."

"Man, you're a cheeky bastard," Liam laughed. "I like you. Maybe we should make this stay longer, until our government sorts this mess out."

"I doubt that's going to happen."

"No?"

Ianto nodded towards the television where constant footage was being showed. "At the speed they're going at, this infestation is gonna spread rapid. They'll end up being more of them than there is of us."

"What's your family situation like?" Liam leaned over and asked another question. "You have kids?"

"No, thankfully." Ianto shook his head. "Neither does Jack."

"I have a sister and a nephew in Bristol. Her name is Kate, and my nephew is called Connor. Fingers crossed they're okay. Also have a brother, but he's a twat."

"Can't you contact them?"

Liam waggled his head and seemed to have lost his cheeky attitude, which was being replaced with a more sombre look on his features. "Tried phoning her, Facetime, even tried Facebook...nothing."

"What about your parents?"

"Dead."

"Same here."

Liam took a gulp of wine and looked behind him, wondering what was keeping the girls.

Ianto gulped, knowing that it could be a potential tricky subject, and said in a nervous tone, "You never mentioned Junior's mother."

Liam smiled. "No I didn't."

There was a sudden bang and the men jumped in fright. Liam was immediately embarrassed by this and immediately rose to his feet, picking up a crowbar by the side of him that Ianto hadn't noticed before.

A teary Sue and Joan ran into the room and Joan predictably asked, "What the fuck was that?"

"It's them," cried Sue. "I know it's them."

"Calm down, girl," snapped Liam. "Don't get your tits in a twist. I think someone ran at the door."

Junior then came into the room. "Dad, one of those fuckers is in the car park."

"There you go." Liam used his hands to gesture everyone to calm down. "Just the one."

Jack picked up the shotgun and said sternly, "I'll go and check it out."

"No you fucking won't." Liam walked over and lowered the gun that Jack was holding. "It's probably a stray. One blast of that thing and you'll get dozens of them at the door. Then we'll be in trouble."

"I already know that," Jack sighed. "So are we just gonna sit here?"

"No, I'll go down."

Liam crept down the stairs with Ianto and Jack not far behind, looked through the spy-hole, then slowly opened the door and stepped into the fresh air.

The small beast was no older than four and had its back to him. Liam knew this was going to be a difficult kill. The child may have been infested, but it was still human.

Although it was for the safety of his son and himself that this thing should be removed, it was still committing murder. Wasn't it?

Liam looked over his shoulder to see Jack and Ianto behind him. He had a small audience now, so he needed to act cool and not think too much about the fact that he was about to kill a small child.

He cleared his throat, a noise that was loud enough to attract its attention, and saw the child turn around. It was just ten yards away, eyes bloodshot. It snarled and ran at him with vicious pace.

Liam tightened his grip on his crowbar with his clammy hands and once in range he struck out, smashing the front of its head. It tumbled to the ground and never got back up again. Blood poured from the head from its little body and Liam could feel himself getting nauseous.

Liam looked at Ianto. "Help me drag it by the pond."

Ianto said okay, and each man took an arm and walked to the back of the car park and dumped the body by the trees as Jack followed with the gun.

"So this is the pond." Ianto looked out. It wasn't that big, but it was a beautiful setting with the hills behind it. He could see a cabin on the tiny island that was in the middle.

Liam chuckled, noticing that Ianto was staring at the cabin. "And that's where that old bastard stays."

"I think we better get inside."

Liam nodded and wiped the bloody crowbar on the grass. He, Jack and Ianto made the small journey back to the main door of the pub, where the door was wide open with Joan standing by it. Ianto was the first to enter the establishment, but Liam's entry was put on hold when he turned to the side and threw up. After he spat the last bits of puke from inside of his mouth, he looked at Jack, who was looking at him, and said, "Must have been something I ate."

He never responded. Joan shut the door once he was in, locked and bolted it.

All of them went upstairs to the living area and was in shock after seeing the demise of the little boy.

When was this going to end?

After the episode of destroying the little boy, they had begun to calm down thanks to two more bottles of wine that had been opened. It had been getting on for midnight when Liam announced that they should all retire to the attic.

Finally dragging Junior off of his Xbox, they went through a door, which Liam locked afterwards, and trudged up some stairs to the attic.

"We stay here for the night," Liam slurred, obviously from too much wine from before.

Jack could see a couch in the corner and a double bed at the other side of the room. It was an attic, but it was just like a bedroom.

"Not bad for an attic," Sue spoke up.

"It's actually my room, girl." Liam announced. "Junior sleeps in his room downstairs, usually, and the other two rooms are for guests. Haven't had any of them for nearly a week. We'd be more comfortable with a room of our own, but if these things break in..."

"We'd be in danger." Ianto nodded. "I understand."

"I'd be in danger," Liam scoffed and ran his fingers over his hairless head.

"Me and Junior. I don't give a shit about you lot, but the fact is if one of those things breaks in and comes up the stairs and a spider thing attacks...Sue, for example," Liam pointed at Sue who was now sitting on the couch next to Jack, "then there would be two of them in my home. No! We all stay together."