Fairy Tale Of Fenchurch- The Final Countdown.
The lush green hill dominated the surrounding buildings. It was a stark contrast to the dull grey brick of the farmhouses and similar buildings, and the bland scarecrow standing guard over them. In fact from here it looked like a copper. The Quattro pulled to a halt and Gene was just about to get out when 3 gunshots whipped through the air. The first missed, the second hit the open door and the third into the side. Without thinking Gene ducked, slamming the door shut and diving into the lap of Alex. She was startled but ducked too, to avoid any bullets that did reach its target.
'What the hell? That raving lunatic has a gun!'
Gene shouted over the gunshots, not lifting his head. Annie was lying flat across the back seats, not daring to look up. Then as quickly as they started they stopped. Gene got up and opened the door with such force it almost flew off its hinges.
'You Bastard! You shot my car!'
Gene stood there, brave as a lion. The perpetrator revealed themselves and walked towards the car.
'I've filed my report, Hunt. You can't change anything now.'
Annie tapped Alex's arm, she was still lying down, but now peeking a look outside.
'It's him, Alex, The guy who killed him'
Alex nodded and told her to stay in the Quattro. She opened her door and leaned across the roof. A gun In her hand, not that she wanted to use it. Jim looked at her and smiled. What a creep. He edged closer towards them, but stopped when Gene reminded him of the gun in his hand by tightening his grip on the trigger. Keats held his hands up in the air, then removed his glasses and held them in his hands, using them while he was talking to emphasise his points.
'Alex, glad to see you saw the truth in all the rubbish. Hunt isn't who you think he is. The lies, the deception.' He dropped his voice to barely a whisper. 'Three years Alex. How does it feel to think you know someone, when really they are just playing with your mind?'
Alex remained silent but held his glare. She wasn't going to back down, or let him see her fear. When she did not reply, he continued.
'But it's not the first time it's happened is it Gene? Remember a guy called Sam Tyler, your DI. Except you killed him didn't you. Shoved his car in a river and said it was an accident.' Jim Laughed. 'Oh, but I unearthed you, Hunt. I brought you down brick by brick and you don't have enough cement to build it back up again.' He ended with a smug smile and placed his glasses back on his nose.
'You have nothing to put it your report, Jimbo. Class A bullshitter you are.' Gene walked towards Jim and held the gun in front him, pointed at Keats.
'You deserve this, No, you deserve worse you scumbag!' Gene rested the gun on Jim's chest and his eyes did not waver from Keats for a second. 'You are not untouchable Keats. You got Sam, and you tried to get Alex, but you will not get me.'
The sound of a gunshot.
The spillage of blood.
The lifeless corpse on the floor.
The screams from Alex.
The cries from Gene.
The last breath from Annie.
That was how she saw it. Step by step, sentence by sentence. Annie had clambered out of the car and leaned on the Quattro but Keats had clocked her and without the Guv noticing, he had aimed it at her and pulled the trigger. She fell to the floor without a sound and left this world silently, as if she had no more tears or pain left in her to express. It was in that moment that over the hill came a white car and pulled up by the Quattro. Out clambered Ray,Chris and Shaz. When they saw the body and Keats with the gun still aimed at Annie, they let out a collective gasp. Ray, without thinking, lifted the gun in his hands and shot, three times, the person who had killed some of the most important people in their lives. Keats didn't fall to the floor, he seemed to float. He rested softly on the hard floor and clutched at the gunshot wounds. He's face dropped and fell silent. Gene turned his back on the traitor and walked towards Annie. He lifted her in his arms and laid her on the soft grass beside the scarecrow. He dropped to his knees, and he crouched over her, her head in his hand. Alex walked up behind him and softly placed her hand on his shoulder, as a sign of sympathy. Gene let her go and stood, releasing himself from Alex's soft grip and walking to the Quattro, not looking at anyone. Alex strode towards Chris, and told him to take Annie's body away, he complied and took Ray with him. A soft voice came from behind her, the source of which was Shaz.
'Ma'am, Do you want me to go back to CID?' Alex nodded her head and told her to inform them of Keats' death but not to tell them any details or about Annie. Shaz turned and got into the unmarked police car while Alex got into the Quattro. The door squeaked as it shut and Gene looked up at Alex, he looked like he had been through a lot. Alex reached out and laid a hand on his thigh, and looked into his eyes.
'It's important to me, I need to know, we need to share this if we can move on' Alex asked him with a pure longing to know in her voice. Gene returned the look but waited a few minutes before answering.
'I don't remember a lot. I was a young copper and I was shot, went straight through the eye. Woke up here and made it my own. I am the Manc lion after all. I don't even remember the year, or the name of anyone I used to know. That comes with age I suppose.'
Alex half smiled at how he hasn't changed a bit. She understood now, he didn't want to remember. He moved on and so would she. The others would share their stories if and when they wanted too. However, at this one moment, it was just Gene's story that mattered to her.
'Shall we just move on Gene?'
He nodded and opened the door to find Ray and Chris standing about having a fag.
'Get off your lazy arses and get in the car!' He shut the door and turned to Alex. 'They are still bloody useless dead!' Alex laughed and she found her memories drifting from her, so much so, she couldn't even clutch at straws as to what they were. Her memories consisted now of the day she joined the force and when she first became a DI. Not of a bullet to the head and a blonde daughter. She knew that her and Gene would have a good life together, they wouldn't be soppy or lovey-dovey, but Alex would love him no matter what. As they drove away and Gene turned on the radio a classic bowie hit was played. Ashes to Ashes, Alex could have sworn that it had some meaning, but nothing but a floating red balloon came to mind. She turned the station over and it was the start of her life in 1983, not that she even knew it.
Authors note: Thank you for reading this! I appreaciate all the reviews, I really do. I apologize though, as I don't think this is my best, and if it was not for the fact this has to be up before the end of ashes I wouldn't post it. I will be writing more, and a lot better things soon, so please, stick with me and I will continue to write ashes and mars! x