Soul Factory

by William E Belanger

  As Dezzy walked off Dave suddenly felt different. It was as if something had been slammed inside his body at the speed of light. He suddenly had a pounding headache and his ears were ringing like he had just attended a concert. He sat perfectly still for a few moments to try to fight the wave of nausea that had overtaken him.

  When everything cleared he was more coherent than he had felt in ages. The story was wrapping up about the kids and their alleged abductor and Dave suddenly felt the urge to get involved. “I gotta find them” he said to himself as he got up and put his jacket on. “I’ve gotta kill them” he whispered.

  Dave pulled some money out of his wallet to pay for his uneaten meal and noticed the badge. “Federal Marshal eh?” he asked himself and chuckled. “At least I can move around without people asking questions” he mused. “What’s that hun?” the nosy Dezzy asked, interrupting his thoughts for the second time in around 5 minutes. “Nothin’ Dez” Dave snarled and bumped her as he walked by. Dezzy grunted and exclaimed “Wellll exxxxcuuuuse meee” loud enough to make the other patrons look up at Dave. He ignored their annoyed glances and headed outside.

  “Hey, they must like me” Dave announced when he noticed the clearly government issued Charger sitting in the parking lot. Most agents got beat up Lincolns or worse, he must’ve been a promising marshal to get such a sweet ride.

  Dave sat in the ride and contemplated his plan before heading out. He would need to find a quality gun shop and get some good weapons for his mission. The vanilla arms of the US government just didn’t suit his personality one bit. He used his phone and found an arms depot only 80 miles from his current location. He set the coordinates and headed out in that direction, thinking about how he was going to locate the three fugitives.

  Dave arrived at the Tri-State Armory about an hour and a half later. The second he entered the place he knew he had made a good choice. They had everything he would need and more. He could even forego some procedures by flashing his badge here and there but he didn’t want to draw too much attention to himself.

  One .50 cal. sniping rifle, a pair of FN F2000 assault rifles, various knives and a compound bow later Dave had successfully succeeded in drawing a lot of attention his way. He played it all off by saying that his department wanted to try some new weapons so he was sent to pick up some guns to use on a trial basis. It seemed to work well enough and people went back to their business.

  #1185 had no idea how much room Dave had on his credit card but luckily everything was accepted. He added several hundred rounds to the tab and proceeded to load up his car. Luckily the Dodge had an expansive trunk and he used almost every square inch of it. He still needed some tactical clothing but he figured he would find an Army-Navy store for that kind of stuff.

  Dave went to get some lunch and brought in his laptop so he could get some work done. He was starving since he had skipped his breakfast in his haste to get to work. While his lunch was cooking he set up an email and text alert for reported suicides. He knew the factory had a web of “advance scouts” who would report in by killing themselves when they saw the gang in their area. It would take some time to establish a pattern and a path but it seemed like the only way to get the trail started as he had no idea where they were heading.

  After lunch Dave drove a couple hours west to a safe house they had set up in the woods. It was very remote and located on government land. It was the perfect place to try out his new toys and kick back for a few days while the trail of bodies stacked up and pointed him in the right direction.

  The waiting game was his least favorite part of the hunt but it was pointless to drive aimlessly around the country hoping to bump into three people who obviously did not want to be found. He was frustrated that they would gain several hours of ground on him every day he waited but if he jumped too soon he may end up on the wrong path, people kill themselves every day, but hopefully they don’t kill themselves along a route very often.

  Chapter 19- The chase

  Jeff, Amy, and Bryan had settled into their cabin nicely. They paid extra to have satellite internet so they could keep watch on what was going on in the world. It appeared that nobody had traced them to the area so they were safe for the time being. The last time they were spotted and reported on the news is when they bought Amy her clothes. This just confounded the authorities because the apparent victim was seen on the store’s cameras laughing and having a good time with her supposed captors. An expert or two tried to claim Stockholm syndrome but everyone laughed it off, being with someone less than 24 hours couldn’t lead to them being in love could it?

  Bryan had done some scouting and research of the area and found them a proper escape route if anything went down at the cabin. He had prepared 3 bags with all the supplies and provisions they would need on the Appalachian Trail. He had also discovered an underground network that smuggled illegals, drug runners, murderers and many other forms of lowlife in and out of states. It was a despicable enterprise but it would also be useful to them if they needed it. He had placed the $5,000 a head fee in each bag so they could use the service if they were forced to.

  After all the bases were covered he set about researching news and events with Amy. It took all his self-control to not ravage her whenever she was within ten feet of him. You would think that being with someone for a thousand or so years would make you tire of them quickly but his relationship with his soul mate had been full of excitement, danger, and tragedy. He was actually quite scared that he had found her because he wasn’t known to spend much time with her before one of them died; he vowed to not let that happen this time. She was his for good now.

  Jeff spent his time fretting and worrying about their future. He was a bit of a wreck so Bryan would often send Amy to calm him down. She would take him out back and make him pick flowers with her and fetch fresh water from the creek. Anything to keep him occupied. Sometimes Bryan would ask his advice about an article or topic to keep him engaged and part of the team as well. He also did most of the cooking and was becoming a quality chef.

  ***

  Back at the government safe house Dave felt confident he had a good lead on the group. They were somewhere in the North Georgia mountains. Dave knew that was going to be like finding a needle in a haystack but he could set up camp there as well and maybe find some leads. How many mid 30s gentlemen are traipsing around in the woods with a teen girl and boy? Dave hoped there weren’t too many single dads with a boy and a girl running around in the mountains.

  Dave packed up his gear and got prepared for the trip. He had sighted and dialed in all his weaponry and purchased all the gear he needed. He should be able to take out his targets from a ridiculous amount of distance away if he was presented with an opening. Unfortunately the Appalachians weren’t going to offer him a half mile of visibility. He didn’t mind, he would sneak up behind them and cut their little throats if he had to. He might even make a show of it, that girl of theirs was quite the looker.

  Dave arrived in the region a little too late to find a cabin for rent so he spent the night in a small town that had a hotel. In the morning he would randomly pick a cabin rental company and hope for the best. Imagine the luck if he ended up right across the road from his prey.

  There was nothing exciting going on in town so Dave called it an early night. Even the local bar was dead at midnight and there were no girls to be seen. Amazingly the county wasn’t dry so he was able to pick up some beer for the room. He wasn’t particularly tired since he had been sleeping in late after practicing his night stealth techniques until around 4am every day.

  The next day at breakfast Dave was treated with an obituary for an inn-keeper who committed suicide just yesterday. He was in an area known for hiking and weekend getaways a mere 40 minutes from where he was staying. Dave checked the internet and found 4 cabin services within 15 minutes of the hostel’s unfortunate owner. They could be as far as 30 miles out though because that area was one of the few places you could get provisions, which would put
another 8 cabin services within reach.

  A lead is a lead though and the fact that they could have rented a cabin meant they were probably just hiding out trying to figure out the next thing to do. Dave would see to it that their next step would be their last. He gathered his things, checked out, and plotted a course to the first cabin rental facility. He could use his badge to work over the clerks and find out where his prey was. The hunt was on and he could feel the excitement welling up inside him. He really did enjoy killing too much but it was his job, it had been for centuries and it would continue that way until the end of time.

  The first cabin broker had a ring of 4 cabins around a lake. Dave doubted they would be going for an ornate cabin but he knew he needed to cover all his bases or he would regret it later. The girl at the desk was pleasant and cute and he didn’t even need to flash his badge, just his charm. He told her he was interested in a cabin nearby but wanted to make sure nobody would be out partying and making a ton of noise. She informed him that only one cabin was rented and it was rented by a family of 3. She described the father as in his late 30s and balding. She didn’t see the kids so she couldn’t tell him anything about them.

  He rented the cabin across the lake for the minimum amount of time. He figured even if he struck out he could enjoy the hot-tub in between searches. If they didn’t have a cabin they could be anywhere in the great, expansive forest and that would be a nightmare. Dave hoped this would be an easy job, then he could go underground and find assassination jobs to bide his time until his next life and mission.

  The cabin was gorgeous, an a-frame design with an expansive deck off the back with a hot-tub and hammock. It also had a relatively clear view to the other side of the lake nearly ¼ mile away. The other two cabins were on the north and south side of the lake and partially obscured by trees but a little maneuvering would provide a clear shot if it was necessary. Dave was always concerned with a clear shot, even when he wasn’t on a mission. He preferred to live in locations that had obscured shots so he would not be a target in his own home but he loved it when a target’s home was out in the open.

  While unpacking Dave reminisced on a job in Africa whose targets took up refuge in a desert valley. He was able to position himself on a tall dune and never had to get within 3/8th of a mile of his victims. 4 shots, 3 kills later the job was done. He missed the woman who was running around hysterically after her husband and son’s heads exploded in front of her. It was hard to judge a running target’s ultimate location from that distance but luckily the woman tripped and he was able to put one through the back of her head while she was down.

  Dave smiled; he really enjoyed every aspect of assassinating people. The kill was the climax but the hunt was the thrill. He almost hoped this family wasn’t his target because they had come too easily. He considered taking them out whether they were or not. He could use some live target practice. He really didn’t need to be on the run from the law while chasing his prey either, it would just make things messy and unpredictable.

  After putting his bags inside the house Dave strolled out to the deck to admire the scenery. It was a gorgeous day and the sun was sparkling off the calm waters of the lake. Even a cold hearted psycho could enjoy a place like this. Dave noticed movement on the opposite bank of the lake; apparently the family was enjoying the day too.

  He went back inside and grabbed a beer and his .50 caliber sniping rifle. He stripped naked and carried his gear outside, placing the beer and gun next to the hot-tub before climbing inside. “I should’ve bought a cigar” he said to himself as he cracked the beer and took a swig. He set the beer down and grabbed the rifle with both hands. It was a heavy beast and he practically had to stand to get it into the tub with him. He placed the bi-pod on the edge of the tub and kneeled on one of the seats to get a good view through the scope.

  The man was lying out on a beach chair reading a book. Dave couldn’t get a good view of his face so he wasn’t sure if it was his man or not. The boy was in the lake, bobbing up and down and coming up in random places. His hair was brown when it was wet but he could easily be his target. He moved and splashed so much that he didn’t get a good enough look to positively ID the boy.

  Dave scanned around the surroundings and couldn’t find the girl. She must be inside somewhere. The photo of her from the news was probably the best of the three since she had just taken pictures in school. Dave had all three in a folder back in the cabin that he forgot to bring out. He set the gun aside and climbed out of the tub so he could go in and retrieve his photos. Hot-tubbing and shooting would be a new thing but the thought really got him going. He was always looking for new ways to dispatch people.

  He quickly returned with the photos. He had them laminated because he often found himself in wet ditches and various other poor environments that would destroy his paperwork. Today’s environment wasn’t poor but it could certainly ruin his photos.

  The dad set his book down and Dave knew immediately that it wasn’t his man. A twinge of sadness overcame him and the excitement left his body, he wouldn’t be doing any hot-tub sniping today. He was about to put the gun back down for good when he noticed movement at the cabin’s door.

  The girl came outside with a tray full of food. She had been making lunch for the boys. She was wearing a bikini top and spandex volleyball shorts. Dave found her to be quite stunning. She had shoulder length blonde hair and some freckles around her nose. She was probably only 15 but age was really no concern for Dave. He had been hired to kill babies that would have inherited thrones or empires in the past.

  He gave her the twice over with the scope, checking her out from head to toe and back. She had her toe and finger nails painted neon green and had a little stud in her nose and several ear piercings. Dave reached over and chugged the rest of his beer. He wanted another but he didn’t want to stop looking at the girl yet.

  The family sat down at a picnic table and began to eat their lunch. The girl sat facing him and kept looking nearly directly at him. He had the sun behind him so he was certain she couldn’t see exactly what he was up to but she probably could recognize that there was someone in the hot-tub facing them.

  She shielded her eyes and squinted several times and Dave quickly realized that his scope must be giving off a glare. He didn’t want to stop watching her but she was definitely on to him. If he wanted to continue he would have to sneak out the front and flank the cabin a bit. That would involve getting dressed and leaving the hot-tub though. Maybe he should just shoot them now and be done with it?

  Dave relented and set the gun down. He sat in the tub for a minute but realized that he HAD to watch the girl some more. He jumped out of the tub, grabbed his weapon and documents and rushed into the house.

  Dave grabbed a couple beers, threw them in a bag and donned his green overalls quickly. He didn’t bother putting anything else on, just the overalls, his beer satchel, and the gun was all he would need. He went out the front door, snuck around through the trees and was soon back near the bank of the lake in a marshy area with tall grass.

  Dave laid down in the grass and felt the cold moisture seep into his overalls. He sighed softly; he knew the discomfort was going to be worth it once he got everything in place. He set the rifle up quickly and found his prey was just getting up to take care of the trash and leftovers from lunch. She got up and disappeared back inside. Dave literally crossed his fingers hoping she would come back out.

  While she was inside he chugged a beer. He should be out looking for the boy and his friends, not sitting in a bog lusting after a teenager but he had needs too. If they were hiding out they wouldn’t be going anywhere soon and he would be much more relaxed if he could take care of himself first, it had been a while.

  He popped open the second one and took a glance through the scope. She was sliding the door open and coming back outside! As she crossed the threshold she pulled her shorts off and wriggled them to the deck and stepped out of them and her sandals in one smooth motion. She wa
s now just wearing her canary yellow bikini and looked like she was going to go swim with her brother. She stopped at the picnic table and started to put lotion on her body. Dave was enthralled and blindly reached for his beer. He ended up tipping it over clumsily and it poured into the boggy earth.

  Dave cursed. His great mood had just been turned sour. He turned his attention back to the girl who was busy rubbing her legs down. He put the crosshairs of the rifle square on her forehead and started his breathing routine. He cycled his breath three times and on the third he squeezed the trigger.

  CLICK! Click, Click! Dave fired off three dry fires and smiled. It wasn’t quite as good as killing her but it did the trick. He was ready to return to the cabin, clean himself up and go out looking for his real prey now. He vowed to take care of her if they were still around when he returned.

  Dave spent the rest of the day chasing ghosts. None of the other cabins had a family of three checked in but a local suggested he try Deer Head cabins a little further up the mountain. He had seen a car with three people heading up that way 3 days ago. Dave thanked the man and got back in the car. It was getting dark but that wasn’t a bad thing. He could sneak in, watch the trio for a bit and go ahead and take them out if necessary. Being up on the mountain would make the boom from his cannon travel farther but it was hunting season so it shouldn’t stand out too much other than the enormous caliber of the bullet and associated blast to propel it.

  Deer Head pass had a string of 5 cabins on it that ended in a dirt cull-du-sac with an impressive scenic overlook. If there was only one occupied cabin it would be that last one but he played it cautious and parked a half mile down the mountain at a trail-head often used by hikers. There was one other car there but it wasn’t uncommon for hikers to leave their cars for days.