by Tufo, Mark
“The girl believes that they are not more than two or three days ahead of us.”
“What? She’s playing you, Bailey, she’s trying to survive.”
“You believe a twelve-year-old is capable of that type of lie?”
“To preserve her own life? Sure. You should have seen how deft my own daughter could be with her lies just to attend a party. If we were talking about something like saving her own life, I’m sure she could have won some kind of award.”
“Where are you going?” Bailey grabbed my shoulder before I could walk away.
“I’m going to get some more information from her.”
“You scare her.”
“I guess that makes us even.”
“Michael, besides her brother, her family is dead, eaten right in front of her by those beasts. She knows you want her dead, and her infection has also given her insight to what resides within you. If you press her, she will run, and we will have to do as you say. But right now, we have a chance to save her.”
“I’m the insane one? We’re just going to track down the Lycan and kill them all before the next full moon?”
“Wasn’t that your plan all along?”
“Kill all the Lycan, yes. Before the next full moon? Not without a nuclear device.”
Bailey was looking at me quizzically.
“Huge bomb,” I clarified.
“Can you get ahold of one?”
“Nuclear bomb? Shit, I hope not, I’d use the thing.”
“There are only three of them.”
“Nuclear bombs?”
“Lycan, there’s only three of them.”
“Huh? You can’t switch conversation threads like that.”
“Ah, yes, I forgot I was talking to a man. Why is it that your gender can only focus on one thing at a time?”
“Yeah, it’s horrible following through with something to the end, whereas I could just easily get sidetracked by a variety of inane things like your gender.”
I think she growled at me. How is it that I can have lived for so long and still not realized when I needed to shut the hell up. If I learned one thing from my time with Tracy, it is that it’s impossible to win an argument with a female. And see! That’s why when two females fight they will fight for the rest of their lives with each other, both believing themselves to be right beyond reproach. Neither can acquiesce. When a man and a woman fight, the guy will generally defer after a time to the woman because he just wants the stupid fucking argument to be over, not because he feels that he is wrong. Two guys fight, they buy each other a beer and both accept responsibility.
“Fine, there are three of them. How do you suppose we catch them? I don’t think your feet will hold up if we push it too far too fast, and we’ll have to take them with us. They’ll slow us down. Little shits will probably turn the moment we spot the Lycan, like some divine cosmic joke.”
“We’re not going.”
“That’s the smartest thing you’ve said tonight.”
She growled again.
“I mean we, as in me and the kids.”
“What?” Then it dawned on me. “Bailey, what fucking impression do I give you that I can defeat three Lycan?”
“There is a fair chance.”
“Fair as in what sort of odds?”
“Odds?”
“Yeah, like if I had ten tries at this. How many times do you think I’d be successful?”
“One.”
“Pissah! A one-in-ten chance. Just fucking perfect.”
“You only need one,” she told me.
“And the other nine?” She looked confused. “Forget it,” I responded. “What are you going to do?”
“If you don’t make it in time, I will do what is necessary.”
“How do you know I’ll even try? Maybe I’ll just go a couple of miles, wait a few nights, scratch myself up with some thorns and come back afterwards.”
“You will not. BT spoke of your honor.”
“I am not the same man he wrote about.”
“Clearly.”
“Whoa, that stung a bit.”
“You still know the difference between right and wrong, even if you would rather be immoral.”
“Shit, Bailey, don’t sugar-coat it for me. Just let me have it. Anything else you want to tell me, like maybe my face is unpleasant to you, or I have a distinctive unyielding odor? I can take it.”
“Well, now that you bring it up…”
“I hope you’re kidding, but you’re like reading tea leaves. I have no clue.” I looked over to the children. Bailey had wrapped them up in a small blanket. The girl had her brother in her arms. She looked almost human after she was cleaned up a bit. For a moment I could imagine they were mine and what wouldn’t I have done for any of my kids? My head sank, my chin almost hitting my chest. “I’ll grab my things and get going. And should I fail?”
“You will not.”
“Bailey, there are three of them, and a dying Lycan almost handed me my ass. If I fail?”
“I will swiftly and mercifully thrust my bayonet into the hearts of both children.”
Bailey’s job was both infinitesimally easier and more difficult. Even though my odds of coming out of this were dismal, I would have taken my shitty end of the stick every time it was offered. The opportunity to kill Lycan was now what I lived for. The girl cringed as I approached. Oggie’s tail began wagging furiously as I came closer and grabbed my belongings. He knew something was up.
“Bailey.” I turned to look at her. “I need you to keep an eye on Oggie for me.”
“You truly do not believe you will be back?” she asked.
“Just keep an eye on him.” I got down on one knee and hugged him, his head next to mine. He pulled back a little and laid a slobbering tongue along my neck, over my ear and half way up my head. “I love you too, Oggie.” I moved back a little so I could look into his face. “I have to go away for a couple of days. I need for you to keep an eye out for Bailey, she really has a hard time surviving on her own, I mean with that weak constitution of hers and all.”
Oggie whined. Bailey, who was usually quick to point out my errors, let this one slide.
“Good luck.” She grasped my arm.
“How about a kiss for good luck?”
Bailey looked at me for long moments, her gaze never wavering. Her eyebrows furrowed then softened as she leaned down and in. Her eyes never closed as she kissed me tenderly on the lips.
“Holy shit! I was just kidding, but that was awesome,” I exclaimed as she stood back up. “At least now I know how much you truly believe I’ll be back. What should I call that? The kiss of death or maybe a kiss off? Certainly not a ‘kiss this’.”
“Do not make me regret my display of affection.”
“Affection? I’ll take it. Well, I guess you’ll know whether I succeed or not. If I fail, do not come looking for me, go home. Get ready for the coming storm. Am I clear?”
“I am not deaf.”
“I know that, but I’ve yet to meet a woman who hears more than what she wants to.”
“Why did I kiss you?”
“Who can resist? Good luck, Bailey,” I said seriously.
“Good luck to you as well.”
Chapter Three – Mike Journal Entry 3
Two or three days my ass; I’d been on the trail for nearly a week and hadn’t seen hide nor hair of the Lycan. I should have known a twelve-year-old girl was capable of laying it on thick. It was getting down to crunch time.
Those first few steps were the hardest. Bailey had to hold Oggie to keep him from following me. He was barking furiously. It was sort of surreal, like even I didn’t believe I was heading out on this quest. Would Bailey know if I went a few miles and just waited out the turning of the moon? How miserable of a person would I be if I left her to the fate of killing those children without even trying?
“Yeah, that’ll surely get me some brownie points when I try to get back up there.” I looked to the heavens.
“How many are you going to give me when I die trying to save those kids? What? No response? What the fuck, God? Can’t you throw me a fucking bone? I’m going to risk everything, and you can’t even say good job? Why is faith such a one-way street? No wonder so many of your flock stray.” I was pissed off and getting angrier with every step. I had every intention of killing the Lycan, but on my terms. I hated having my hand forced.
I’d been walking for hours when I had railed on my deity, the words no sooner out of my mouth when I heard something up ahead. I stopped, and may have been holding my breath. I thought for a second that I was going to come across Moses’ burning bush. I did receive a message, though; but it was much more blunt. It came in the form of a rolling mass of stone, something about the size of a minivan, thundering past not more than ten feet from my present location. My body was vibrating from the impact the giant boulder made as it cruised on by.
“A little bit of overkill, don’t you think? And they say I’m dramatic. And, oh yeah, I said bone not stone!” This time my heart was lighter. I got the feeling He was listening. I wasn’t sure how much He would, or could, help but just knowing someone was watching out somehow made a difference. A witness of sorts. “A Jehovah’s Witness!” I had to stop as I laughed.
It was no secret that, in my previous existence, I’d made life a living hell for every person that had ever handed me a Watchtower magazine in hopes of saving my eternal soul from damnation. “Shit, maybe I should have listened.” And I laughed again.
I’d once answered the door in my underwear, drinking a beer. The woman was maybe in her early fifties and handsome in her own way. Short, gray hair almost cut in a crew fashion was staring back at me. I noticed more than once her eyes drifting down to what I’m sure was perfectly outlined in my boxer briefs. I didn’t give a shit as the day had been ninety plus degrees and I’d just finished mowing a lawn for my side business. I was a handyman and brought in some decent revenue, especially during the lean times of which there were many.
Anyway, this stupid lawn had a special built-in feature, namely an underground wasp nest. Yeah, that was fun. Every time I got even relatively close to their home, they would send a small patrol out and sting me. Felt like I was getting Tazed each and every time. By the time the job was done an hour and a half later, I was seventy-five bucks richer, less gas. I was completely drenched in sweat and had nine stings to my face and neck for my efforts. All I could think about was getting home, stripping down, grabbing a beer, and getting in the shower. When the doorbell rang, I didn’t even hesitate to answer it. Looking back, I’m glad it wasn’t any of my daughter’s friends as I probably would have ended up on a sex offender registry for being somewhat exposed. It was priceless to see that woman’s face as I opened the door. She started to ask if I wanted to be saved.
“Too late,” I told her. “I’ve already been marked by boils.” I pointed to the large and expanding nodules on my face and neck. She had gasped and almost fell off my small porch as she tried to get away. “Is there anything you can do for me?” I asked as I opened the door and followed her. Poor thing dropped her entire stack of pamphlets. “I was a good person once! Come back!” She was running. “Hypocrite!” I yelled, taking a swig of beer and heading back in.
I trekked through the entire night, the sun coming up just as I was getting ready to leave the large rock face and head into the woods. I found a game trail but I had no idea if it would lead to the Lycan, as I was sure there were a few dozen trails. I would just have to believe that I was going down the right path.
“So this is faith, huh?” I grimaced. “Can’t say I like it much, I’d rather have a GPS. Although I guess I kind of do. I have a Godly Positioning System! Well, if I wasn’t going to burn in Hell before, I guess I am now!” I was laughing like I needed to be locked up and tied in a straightjacket with only a crayon clutched in my toes for entertainment. “Fucking blasphemy.” I shook my head.
The sun was high overhead by the time I took my first break. I did so more as something like I felt needed to be done rather than something I needed to do. I wasn’t particularly tired. Thirsty, yeah, not a hundred percent sure if it was for water or something a little thicker. I tried not to dwell on that for any length of time. I ate heartily of some venison jerky before continuing on. I’d been plodding on at a decent pace, but I wasn’t going to break any land speed records. I still wasn’t even sure if I was headed the right way. I had no reason to run just yet. For all I knew, I would have been running further away from where I needed to be. The sun was getting ready to call it a day, and I was distinctly aware that I had just a little more than twenty-four hours to find and dispose of the enemy. I wasn’t thinking I was going to have much chance with the former (much less the latter), especially with this compressed timeline.
That was at least until I came upon the fringes of a small settlement. The house was not smoldering anymore, but it was easy enough to tell that the smoke had dissipated recently. Fallen rough-hewn beams moved against each other as they slowly settled further to the ground, their groans and creaks of protest clearly audible. They were no longer needed for support, and their displeasure of this fact was evident.
I moved slowly, trepidation making my heart beat faster. My head was on a swivel, turning quickly from side to side. I could just about smell the fear pheromones that had been mass-produced from the people here, and it was having an effect on me. There had been six structures, all of them razed. A field was off to my right where stalks of corn rustled in a slight breeze that somehow added to my unease. Anything could have been in there watching me. It’s sort of needless to say, but I had my rifle out and ready. Not going to lie, it felt great in my hands.
Bones were scattered about the main clearing. I’d love to be able to say they were horse or cow, but their size didn’t give me that impression. They were a dull, glistening yellow. What the Lycan hadn’t finished, scavengers had. Here they would lie until they were returned to the earth.
“Poor bastards,” I said as I looked down to avoid stepping on the littered remains. Here were some honest folks just trying to eke out an existence. Merely surviving in this world was a full-time job. This was either an extended family or like-minded folks who had banded together to forge a life with one another. They didn’t deserve this. I about swallowed my Adam’s apple when I turned to the side and saw a large figure had strode out of the cornfield. The dog was so big that I mistook it for a werewolf and almost put a bullet in it for its troubles. Thing had to be close to a hundred and fifty pounds. Some sort of Rottweiler mix, it looked like it could have been a cousin of a bear. That small thought brought a cascade of old feelings, none of which I could afford to go through now.
Its tail tucked underneath its body, the dog alternated between barking at me and whining. I tried to lure him out with some jerky. He wouldn’t budge, but kept looking over to one of the fallen houses. I couldn’t afford any more time trying to coax him out. I finally left most of my meat on the ground before leaving the village. Never saw the dog again, not even a hundred percent sure I saw him then. If that was the case I’d just fed the ants.
I moved during the entire night, a fine balancing act of running to catch up and a stealthy approach to come in as silent and deadly as possible. I needn’t have worried, at least not that night.
Half vamp or not, the pace was beginning to take its toll. I needed real food and at least water. Something a little on the rare side would go a long way as well. Morning birds were heralding in the new day. The happier their song the more grim I felt. In a world that time had forgotten, I was running out of that one particular commodity. Time, I mean. How ironic is that? I had somewhere in the neighborhood of twelve hours for this quest to have any success, and I needed some of that to sustain myself. As I tracked down a squirrel, I was thankful to be alone. I was pretty disgusted with myself as I ripped its head off and shook the blood into my mouth like I was downing a soft drink, even squeezing its body to get every last drop. I the
n made a quick fire and roasted its body. The meager meal wasn’t much, but it was what I needed. I’d handed over nearly an hour to the merciless passing of time. I was going to have to jog; I’d given up the choice of not doing so.
“Where the hell are they?”
The sun had long ago passed its apex and was now thinking seriously about beer thirty. I was thankful I’d stopped to ponder a question I didn’t think I was going to get an answer to. I was hunched over, grabbing ahold of the material of my pants down by my knees when I heard a woman’s scream. I came up quickly and looked around. There was a bend in the path not more than a couple of hundred yards, and it was that direction in which I’d heard a cry. I cut the distance in half before heading off the path and into the thicker growth. I didn’t have to go far before I came across my quarry. Two Lycan were sitting on a large boulder, both looking over a pathetic huddling of people. One man, who looked as if he’d been beaten nearly to death, was being tended to by an older woman as well as another around his age. Although, because of the bleeding and bruising, it was difficult to get an accurate estimate of how old he was.
There was another woman, maybe early thirties, who was seated on the ground wailing and holding what could have maybe been a brother or husband’s head in her lap. He was clearly dead. She was the one I’d heard. The man had just been killed, blood still flowing freely from him. A third man was trying to pull the corpse from the clutches of the woman who would not let go. I could not fathom why this man with no clothes desired the body so much. Was he going to offer it to the Lycan as an appeasement? Then it all kind of clicked. This was the third Lycan in his camouflage mode. It was not bad enough that he had killed someone very dear to this woman but now he was tormenting her with his human form.
She cried out every time he toyed with her as he pulled on the man’s lifeless form. He could have stripped it from her easily if he desired. As I moved my rifle up to my shoulder, I turned to check on the other two. I didn’t know if I was going to be fast enough to kill the one in front of me before the other two either took off or descended upon me. The one farthest from me was lazily watching the drama unfold in front of him. Impossible to say if he was taking any sort of satisfaction from the spectacle, but I guess the fact that he wasn’t turning away was proof enough. The one closer was looking around as if he knew something was up. Then he stood. Was I downwind? Was he catching a scent?