The Hunter Chronicles : The Beginning

Chapter 18

We get into the truck and before long I fall asleep too tired to wake myself when the dream begins. A group of five men are camping. I see a tent and a fire surrounded by trees and bushes, two men are playing video games while the others lie around, one says, “Dude, you’re cheating!”. The other replies smiling, “No, you just suck.” Suddenly I’m outside the tent and I feel there is something hunting them.One of the men comes outside and walks over to one of the trees. I watch him from one of the bushes while he pulls down his zipper. I try to look away but can’t. The man looks around, there is a crunching sound of a branch being stepped on and the man gasps. A few seconds later he shakes his head, I have a bad feeling about this. I want to scream at him to run but nothing comes out. I hear a scream from inside the tent and I can’t see what happens next. They are taken one by one until only one remains, he runs back into the tent looking as terrified as I feel. He breathes heavily and I want nothing more than to help him. Suddenly he is grabbed by his legs and dragged off.

I wake up and don’t know where I am. I look around frantically and see that I am at a filling station. Jared looks up from the pump. “What did you dream about?”

“Was this your plan the whole time?” I ask upset.

“I’m sorry but you need to let it in, you can’t not sleep forever.” 

“I don’t want to see the things I see, you have no idea how terrible it is to see the things I see and have no way of helping or stopping it.”

“I can only imagine but think of all the lives you can save by stopping whatever it is that’s killing people.”

“Why do you want to do this again? It was great stopping the woman in white but you nearly died and I was scared out of my mind.” 

“It might be the only way you can control your gift.” 

“Fine but the second it becomes too dangerous we the hell out of there.” I reluctantly agree.

“Deal.” Jared grins and kisses my forehead before getting back in the truck. I tell him what I dreamed about and after I describe the surroundings I’m surprised when he says he might know where the camping grounds are. He did a quick search and confirmed it. On our way there he stops at a copy shop and get a bunch of fake ID’s, they look extremely real. My heart is bouncing out of my chest. I can’t believe we are doing this.

“Why are you so quiet, beautiful?”

“I’m scared.” I admit.

“Nothing bad is going to happen to you, I won’t let it.” He tells me. I believe him but I am not scared for my safety.

We stop at the Ranger’s station and one of the Ranger’s asks, “So where are you going?”

“We are environmental students, just going to get some hands on research done.” Jared lies. It still amazes me how good he is at it making people believe him. I know that lying is a necessary evil to protect his true identity.

“Just working on a paper.” I say backing him up.

“Bullshit.” The Ranger says and my heart skips a beat. “You’re friends with that Maddy girl aren’t you?’

“Yes.” I rely too fast. Jared shoots me a look and I hope whoever Maddy is, that she is not a troublemaker.

“I’ll tell you what I told her, her brother and his friends filled out a permit stating that they wouldn’t be back for at least a couple of days, so it’s not really a missing persons case. Tell that girl to quit worrying I’m sure her brother is just fine.”

“We will.” I tell the Ranger and he has this look on his face like he knows we aren’t who we say we are.

“That girl is quite a pistol.” He complains.

“Actually, it would help us if we could show her the return date.” Jared smiles.

The Ranger agrees and we leave. We drive to the address on the permit. Maddy opens the door and Jared introduces us as Ranger sent to ask her a couple of questions about her brother, Billy.

“Let me see some ID.” She demands not taking her eyes off of Jared.

“Here you go.” Jared smiles handing it to her. I am relieved that he got them made.

“Come on in.” Maddy says after looking it over.

“Thanks.” Jared says putting the ID back in his wallet.

“So if Billy isn’t supposed to be back for a while, how do you know something is wrong?” He asks as we sit down in the lounge.

“Checks in everyday and we haven’t heard from him in a couple of days.” Maddy replies.

“Maybe he can’t get reception?” I offer.

“He’s got a satellite phone.” Maddy says glaring at me.

“He is probably just having too much fun and forgot to check in.” Jared says.

“He wouldn’t do that.” A teenager says from the corner.

“Our parents are gone’ it’s just me and my brothers so we keep pretty close tabs on each other.” She explains.

“Can I see the pictures he sent you?” Jared asks.

“Sure.” Maddy smiles getting up from the couch. We follow her to her laptop and she opens the photos. I immediately recognize them from my dream. I lump form in my throat.

“We’ll find your brother, we’re heading there first thing.” Jared says while looking through the photos.

“Maybe we will see you there.” Maddy says adding, “Look I can’t sit here anymore so I hired a guide, we’re leaving in the morning and I’m going to find Billy myself.”

“Would you mind forwarding me these photos?” Jared asks.

“Sure.” She smiles.

We headed to the nearest bar we could find. I definitely noticed the way Maddy was looking at Jared. I felt a surge of rage run through me and I wanted to rip her head off, it took every ounce of self control I had to keep me from scratching out her lustful eyes.

“So mostly campers but in the last few months a couple of hikers have also gone missing.”  Jared says staring at his laptop making me lose my train of thought.

“Anything before that?”

“In the last few years about eight people have vanished said to be bear attacks but it’s strange, it happens every twenty three years like clockwork, watch this.” He says turning his laptop to me so I can see the video of Billy.

“It’s the same guy from my dream.” I still can’t believe that it’s really him. “Wait. Play it again.” 

Jared comes to sit next to me and plays the video slowly, I see a shadow by the tent, he must have seen it too when he says, “That’s three frames a second, whatever it is can move.”

“Vampire?” 

“Don’t know but there is something else, someone survived a bear attack, he was just a kid, barely crawled out of the woods.” 

“Is there a name?” 

“Yeah, James Shaw.” He replies.

***

“Look Rangers, I don’t know why you’re asking me all this, its public record and I was just a kid when my parents were mauled by…” James Shaw tells us after inviting us inside.

“A bear?” I finish for him. “Is that really what attacked them?”

Mr. Shaw doesn’t respond.

“If we knew what we were dealing with we might be able to stop it.” Jared says.

“I seriously doubt that.” Mr Shaw says taking the cigar from his mouth and sits down on his beaten up lazy boy then continues, “Anyway, wouldn’t make any difference, you wouldn't believe me if I told you, nobody ever did.”

“Mr.Shaw, what did you see?” Jared asks.

“Nothing, it moved too fast, hid too well but I heard it roar like no man or animal I’ve heard.”

“It came at night?” I ask seeing the fear in his eyes as he spoke.

Mr. Shaw nods, “It got inside our cabin while I was sleeping in front of the fireplace, it didn’t smash the window or break the door down. It opened it. You know of any bear that can do something like that? I didn’t even wake up until I heard my parents scream.”

“It killed them?” I ask. My heart breaks hearing this. He was so young.

“Dragged them off into the night, why it left me alive.” Mr. Shaw shrugs. “I’ve been asking myself ever since but it did leave me this though.” He says showing us a scar from his neck down to his left shoulder. He had been clawed.

“Thank you for your time, Mr. Shaw.” Jared says and we get up. I’m about to go out the door when I turn around and go back to Mr. Shaw.

“Forget something?” He asks.

“I just want to let you know that whatever hurt you will never hurt anyone else ever again. I promise.” I tell him. I normally don’t make promises I can’t keep but I intend on keeping this one if it’s the last thing I do. Mr. Shaw is shocked for a moment before smiling and nodding at me.

“Spirits and demons don’t open doors.” Jared says to me as we get into the truck.

“What else could it be then?”

“Can’t be a vampire either, they wouldn’t leave scars like that and they wouldn’t have let the boy live.”

I shiver, “We can’t let Maddy and Jake go into the woods.”

“What are we going to tell her? She can’t go into the woods because there is a big scary monster?” 

“Why not?”

“She won’t believe us. Her brother is missing, she is not just going to sit this one out. No, we go in and we protect her and keep our eyes open for fuzzy monsters.” Jared replies.

We head to a motel and I fall asleep almost instantly not caring what dreams plague me.

***

I wake up feeling refreshed. I didn’t dream. Maybe this is how it works when we are dealing with a monster I don’t dream about monsters. After a shower and some breakfast we drive to the entrance of the woods. I spot Maddy and Jake and who I assume is the guide that Maddy hired putting on their gear.

“Got room for two more?” Jared asks as we walk up to them.

“You want to come with us?” Maddy asks surprised.

“Who are they?” The guide asks.

“Apparently this is all the Park Service was able to muster up for the search and rescue.” Maddy says sarcastically.

“You’re Rangers?” The guide asks in disbelief.

“That’s right.” Jared says.

“And you’re going to be hiking in biker boots and jeans?” 

“I don’t do shorts.” Jared mumbles. I feel the corners of my mouth pull up into a smile. The guide better not comment on my outfit because I am also in jeans and a tank top with my leather jacket on.

“You think this is funny? It’s dangerous and her brother might be hurt.” The guide snaps at me.

“We just want to help Maddy find her brother.” I say calmly keeping my eyes on Jared. We finally headed out much to my relief. I was worried there would be a fight.

After a while of walking Jared asks the guide, “So what furry creatures do you normally hunt?”

“Buck and bears.”

“Tell me has Bambi or Yogi ever hunted you back?” Jared asks and the guide pushes him to the side. I am sure that Jared is going to rip his head off, the guide bends down and puts a stick into the ground.

“Watch your step there, Ranger.” The guide smirks as the bear trap snaps shut breaking the stick.

“Bear trap.” Jared mutters.

“Hold on, you don’t have any provisions and you are carrying a tiny backpack each, you are not Rangers so who the hell are you?” Maddy asks pulling Jared to face her. Oh crap! We are screwed.

“We are looking for someone and we think that he might be here.” Jared lies.

“So why didn’t you just tell me that from the star?”

“I’m telling you now.”

“Okay.” Maddy smiles and I swear she batted her eyes. I walk past them quickly my blood is boiling.

This is it.” The guide says stopping I nearly walk right into hi.

“It’s dead quiet.” I whisper.

“I’m going to go and take a look around.” The guide says.

“Shouldn’t go off by yourself.” I warn.

“That’s sweet but don’t worry about me.” The guide winks and walks off.

“Everybody else stays together.” Jared instructs as we walk further into the woods.

“Maddy, over here!” The guide calls and we all take off running, the place feels so familiar to me as soon as we reach the clearing Maddy exclaims, “Oh, my God!”

“Looks like a bear.” The guide says while inspecting the torn tent. I spot the blood and a pit forms in my stomach.

“Billy! Billy!” Maddy calls out.

“Shhh.” Jared whispers.

“Why?”

“Something might still be out there.” He replies looking around.” He replies looking around.

“Jared.” I call and continue when he reaches me, “The bodies were dragged but here the trail vanishes.” I point to the ground.

“It’s no skin walker or back dog.” He whispers.

We go back to join the others and I see Maddy holding a bloody and broken phone. “He could still be alive.” I say hoping I sound reassuring.

“Help me!” A voice calls from the woods, the guide runs off first and Jared pulls a gun from his back that I didn’t even know he had. We run through the bushes and up and down hills searching for the source of the scream. We finally stop and I say out of breath, “Seemed to be coming from here, didn’t it?”

“Back to camp.” Jared says urgently and when we reach the camp site all our bags are gone.

“What the hell is going on?” Maddy asks confused.

“It's smart, it wants to cut us off so we can’t call for help.” Jared says more to himself.

“Some nut job out there stole all our gear.” The guide says kicking dirt.

“Let’s talk.” Jared whispers, taking my hand and leading me away from the group.

“It’s a wendigo, the claws and the way it mimic’s a human voice.” He says when we are away from them.

“Wendigo?” I ask but then I feel all the answers come to me, “Aren’t they cannibals?: I’m terrified. What did I get us into?

“Yeah.” Jared replies surprised. “I’m probably the only one here it will allow to live. That’s if I don’t get in it’s way.”

“What do we do now?” 

“We need to get everyone the hell out of here.” Jared replies.

We walk back to the others and Jared says, “Okay, listen up, we need to go, things have just gotten complicated.”

“Whatever it is, I can handle it.” The guide says raising his gun.

“If you shoot this thing you are just going to piss it off.” Jared warns.

“First, you’re talking nonsense and second, you are in no position to be giving any orders.” 

“Relax.” I say to the men sensing a fight. “We just want to protect you.” I say to the guide.

“Protect me? Sweetheart, I’ve been hunting these woods since before your momma even thought about having you.” The guide says and shoves Jared.

Oh no! I position myself in between them just in time, “It’s getting late, this thing is a near perfect hunter in the day and even better at nigh, we need to get settled in so we can protect ourselves.”

“How?” Josh asks.

Jared and I look at each other and without saying a word we get a fire going. I’m still not entirely sure why it hasn’t come after us yet, we are the same number of people than those boys were and it just dragged them off. Once the fire is strong enough I sit down on a stump, Jared joins me minutes later, I’m so sorry I led us to this place.” 

“We are here for a reason, we need to stop this monster before it takes anymore lives, besides it’s my fault we are here I basically forced you.” He says putting his arm around me.

“Help me!” A voice calls from the darkness, we all stand up and try to determine where it’s coming from, the screaming continues and the siblings look around terrified.

“Don’t move. Stay together.” Jared instructs.

The guide fires a shot into the bushes and takes off.

“Crap.” Jared says and runs after him.

“Wait here don’t leave this fire.” I say to the terrified siblings and against my better judgement I run into the darkness. I reach Jared minutes later when we hear the guide call, “It’s over here!”

We lose sight of the guide. Jared tries to listen but then shakes his head. We walk around for what feels like hours when we decide to go back to the camp. I can see the sun rising so I know we will have a better chance of finding the guide when we can see clearly. I have made up my mind to tell them what we’re up against even if they might not believe me.

“This type of thing isn’t supposed to be real.” Maddy says in disbelief after I finished telling the.

“I wish I could tell you different.” I reply and mean it. I know how she feels.

“How do you know that it’s not out there right now watching us?” Jake asks.

“We don’t.” Jared replies and I feel a shiver run down my spine.

“So how do you know so much about this stuff?” Maddy asks after a moment of silence.

“We just do and I for one want to kill this monster.” I say.

“You know I’m in.” Jared winks at me then faces the sibling, “So these things are hundreds of years old and each was once a man.” 

“How did he become this thing then?” Jake wants to know.

“In winter time if he finds himself cut off from food and starving he would eat people from his tribe to survive. In some cultures they believe that if you eat enough human flesh it gives immortality, speed and strength, so if you eat enough of it over the years you become this less than human thing and always craving more.” I answer.

“If that’s true then how can Billy still be alive?” Jake asks.

“You’re not going to like the answer.” Jared replies.

“Tell us.” Maddys says. I nod at Jared and he says, “He keeps them to feed on whenever he wants, if your brother is still alive it’s keeping him somewhere dark, hidden and safe. We need to track it there.”

“And then? How do we stop it?” Maddy asks full of panic.

“Burn it.” I reply.

We walk through the woods searching for hours. I stop to look at the claw marks on the trees.

Jared says exactly what I’m thinking, “It’s too easy.”

A figure runs from a bush and circles us, it’s too fast to make out clearly what it looks like. Maddy screams when blood drips on her shoulder. I look up and see a body fall from the trees. I push Maddy out of the way and the body falls on the ground. It’s the guide.

“I couldn’t smell it.” Jared says puzzled walking over to the guide, “His neck is broken.” Jared looks up and yells, “Run!”

We scatter but I stop to help Jake up after he tripped over the root of a tree. Maddy screams and we make our way over to the sound of her voice. My heart is beating fast. There is no sign of Jared or Maddy.

“Jared!” I call in vain.

“If he keeps them alive then why did he kill our guide?” Jake asks, shaking.

“Honestly, I think it's because he pissed it off.” I reply. I know the guide was a pain in the ass but he didn’t deserve to die like that. I focus myself hoping to have some sort of witchy ability to locate Jared but nothing happens. We walk deeper into the woods and find an abandoned mine entrance. We climb though and I know that I shouldn’t be bringing this kid into a dangerous place like this but I can’t leave him by himself either.The cave is dark and cold and has a horrible smell. The smell is rotting flesh and it makes me nauseous. If it wasn’t for the flashlight in my hand we would be blind. I hear a growl and instinctively push Jake against the wall with me, he gasps and I put my finger on my lips to let him know he needs to be quiet. I know I should be terrified but I am not. I only want Jared back and safe, I keep wondering why the creature would take Jared if according to him, he is not even human.

We creep further into the cave when Jake steps on a floorboard, it caves in and Jake falls through with me right behind him. I let out a groan when I landed on my back. I turn to my side to look for Jake hoping he is okay. I see what appears to be human remains. Nausea is quickly replaced by anger. I push myself up and see Jake. I’m relieved when he stands up, I look around and see Jared hanging down from a beam, his hands tied above his head.

“Jared. You okay?” I ask gently, putting my hand on his face.

“Think so.” He replies breathing slowly. I take the knife from his pocket and cut him loose.

“Are you sure you are okay?” I ask him worried.

“I’m fine.” He replies holding his side as I help him move. He's definitely not fine but is too stubborn to admit it. Jake takes the knife from me and cuts his sister down. They make their way to Billy, he opens his eyes when Maddy touches him and pulls in a deep breath, Maddy yelps, “Get him down.” She holds Billy while Jake cuts the rope.

“What now?” I ask Jared.

“Flare gun.” Jared points to a small case lying by some bags. I spot the bag and many more that I know must have been down here for a very long time.

“Let’s get them out of here.” I say to Jared and help him stand, with us in front and the siblings behind us we make our way to the exit. I can see the light from outside although it looks to be late afternoon. The sun is going to be down soon. My thoughts are interrupted by an awful deep growl, Jared points the flare gun as the siblings scramble behind us when we turn, “I’ll distract it while you get out.”

“I’ll do it.’ I say shaking my head.

“No.” Jared protests.

“You’re hurt and at the moment I’m stronger and faster than you are, besides I’m not really good with directions so I’ll get all lost before we can make it out of this forest.” I say and manage a little smile.

“But…”

“Don’t argue.” I cut him off. I take the flare gun from him and point to the exit. I make my way back into the cave hoping to get the monster as far away from them as I possibly can.

“Come and get me you ugly piece of s**t monster!” I call, banging on the walls and kicking over discarded tools and wood trying to make as much noise as I can.

“Go. Get out of here!” I hear Jared yell and I run to the cave entrance. I hear a scream and pray everyone is still alive.

“Hey!” I call the creature cornering the four of them. I aim and fire. I miss it completely but at least I get it’s attention. The creature jumps on me, as I fall on the ground the flare gun slides out of my hand. The creature opens his mouth and roars. Jared throws himself on top of the creature and gets knocked back into the wall. The creature turns his attention back on me and tries to slice my throat open. It amazes me that I am able to hold this thing back with one hand while struggling to grab the gun with the other. My fingers are inches away from it, if only I can get a little closer. I'm about to give up hope when the flare gun slides into my hand, without thinking twice I fire and hit the half human-like creature in the gut and it stumbles back. It starts to burn from the inside, it makes a terrible screeching sound and we all cover our ears. It’s over. Finally!

I helped Jared up and put his arm over my shoulder, still dazed but extremely grateful to be alive. We make our way back to the Ranger’s station.

***

“That bear was huge!” Jake exclaims throwing his arms open to demonstrate. I nod in agreement. We’ve been practicing our story all the way up here, one of the Ranger’s says, “We will go and look for it first thing in the morning.”

I glance over to where Jared is getting patched up and notice Maddy walking over to him. I can see her smile and kiss him on the cheek. I really want to scratch her eyes out now. As soon as the Ranger finishes questioning us, Jake and I make our way over to them.

“Thank you.” Jake says as we walk.

“You’re welcome.” I smile, cooling off a little. I stand next to Jared, I don’t know if I’m trying to tell Maddy to back because he is mine or standing close to him hoping that he wants me to be his. All I know for sure is that Maddy better keep her hands to herself. Jared takes my hand and I feel guilty for being so jealous. Maddy briefly glances down at our hands then says, “Thank you both for helping to save my brother.” 

We watch as the siblings climb into the ambulance with their brother and drive off then we get in our truck and drive away. Jared insisted on driving and I don’t mind either way.

“Want to talk about it?” He asks a while later.

“I killed it.” I reply a few moments later staring out the window. Regardless of it killing and eating people, I still took a life and I don’t think that I will be able to get over that soon.

“You did what you had to.”

“I’m scared. It was so easy for me to pull that trigger.” I say softly still not facing him.

Jared pauses, “I’m sorry that you had to do that.”

“At least we saved three lives, so that counts as something.”

“You did and not just three think of all the other people it could have killed.” Jared says and I admit I do feel a little better now. But only a little. 

The rest of the drive back to the Ranch was silent, not that I mind. There is a lot for me to think about. I get out of the truck. This feels like home. I head straight upstairs and just begin to undress when Jared comes up behind me, “Jealousy, now that is something I can get used to.” He whispers stroking my arms with his fingertips, tiny sparks shoot through my entire body as he touches me. s**t! I thought that I hid my jealousy well.

“I like it.” He says kissing my neck, “Although there is no need for you to be jealous you are the only one that I want.”

I turn around and his lips finds me, the rhythm of his tongue makes me forget how tired I am, I can feel the desire radiating from me, his hands move over my body and squeezes my butt. I press up against him and put my hands under his shirt and pull it off, he kisses my body as he slowly undresses me, it’s a little torture that he is taking his time but at the same time more arousing. He pushes my naked body onto the bed and steps out of his pants. He stands at the edge of the bed looking down at me. I do love the way he looks at me. He gets on top of me parting my legs, he kisses me and then is inside me, each thrust a little harder and more urgent than the last, every muscle in my body trembles and I know I can’t last much longer. I’ve missed being this close to him.