Chapter 11

I moved my hand slowly so as not to startle the animal or give it reason to attack. At the same time, I kept edging the small knife from inside my vest. If the animal did decide to attack, I was going to make sure he would regret that decision. The wolf paced back and forth, as if sizing me up. As he paced, I inched slowly upward to a sitting position. He began to move closer.

I remembered reading somewhere that wolves generally would not attack, preferring to run away instead. Maybe this one didn't read that part, I thought to myself.

The animal had now gotten just a little too close for my comfort. With one motion I picked up one of the branches and swung as hard as I could. Apparently I was lucky and just nicked him as the animal ran off into the brush. I waited for what seemed like hours for it to try again. Obviously once was sufficient. I lay back down, readjusting my covering. Fatigue finally overtook me as the next thing I knew I awoke to see the sun was above the horizon.

I brushed away my "blanket" and attempted to stand. Immediately I sat back down as the ankle was still in pain. I couldn't just sit around and wait on them, I had to get going. Spying three twigs, I untied my shoe, then tore three strips from my shirt. The brace didn't look like much when I had finished, but I had tied the strips tight enough that when I got on my feet, I was able to move around without too much pain.

My mind went back to the 2nd Hell in the Cell match with Foley. I had done the match with a broken bone in my foot and had even climbed to the top. Now that I think back, how I did that only God knows. My foot was wrapped so tight that night I thought the circulation had stopped going to my foot. And walking on top of that cage didn't help any either. I told myself that if I could do it then, I could do it now.

By the way, in case you're wondering why I didn't use the rifle to scare off the wolf, I don't think I need say why. I'm sure that is a no-brainer.

I walked around some more till movement became easier. I picked up the rifle and resumed my trek northward.

Chapter 12

As I hobbled along, I noticed a streak of gray off to my right. I turned to see it was the same wolf that I had run off last night.

"What are you looking at?" I asked.

The wolf stood there, watching me with curiosity.

"Anxious to find out whether I'll make it or not."

I went on hobbling north. Along the way my so-called new friend followed me at a distance, stopping when I stopped to take a break. I was becoming accustomed to my "new" friend who always stayed a safe distance, watching my every move.

By the position of the sun I guessed it was close to midday. I had found a stump to sit on to give my ankle some rest. My companion sat watching as I checked my homemade brace. So far, it had held up pretty good. I tightened the strips just a bit, then looked around.

Some distance away I noticed the ground looked as if it gave way. I went over and saw it came to a rocky ledge. I looked down to see it was a deep hole or grotto, whatever one called it. I couldn't tell how far down it went. It had to have been more than 40 feet, but then it again, it could have been more. I couldn't tell what was at the bottom, I figured it had to be more rocks. I stepped back and thanked God. To think if I had kept on walking in the dark, I could have been down there. I went back to and sat to rest a bit more before heading east and hopefully finding the cabin.

My mind also dwelt on the fact that my pursuers still had not caught up with me. I came to the conclusion they wished to take their time, to let the elements do me in and then corner me for the kill. It reminded me of a pack of wolves. Speaking of wolves, my new friend was still sitting there, watching. I looked closely at him, or her as the case could be. The animal had smoky gray fur with black fur trim on its back. It's chest and legs were snow-white, reminding me of an over-sized sled dog. It didn't seem to mind me giving it the once over. If I wasn't mistaken, it seemed to rather enjoy it. I laughed to myself. A wolf with an ego. Reminded me of Trips. I preferred the wolf.

I noticed the ears perk straight up, its eyes focused on the direction behind us. It then slunk off into the brush. I turned and began hearing the familiar sound of an ATV, moving as if not in a hurry. I listened for the rest but didn't hear any but the one. I looked around, finding a large clump of brush that partially hid the grotto. As fast as I could I got behind the brush, easing myself down behind it, loading the rifle as quietly as possible.

Chapter 13

I watched the ATV approach slowly and come to a halt. I couldn’t see at first who the rider was as he alit and began walking around looking for signs of me. When he turned in my direction I saw his face - Salzberg. I stayed as quiet as I could, hearing his footsteps approach. “Okay, Calaway. Come on out.” As he said that, I heard him cock his rifle.

I peered from behind. The instant he saw me he fired. He was either a very bad shot or missed on purpose because the bullet missed, chipping wood from a tree next to me. I pointed the barrel through the brush and fired, also missing on purpose as I wanted him to come closer. I purposely raised myself up to get him to fire. As he did so, I fired off a shot, missing to get him to duck. I then crawled toward the edge of the ledge, still behind the bushes. I raised up once more. He fired once again. This time I pretended I was hit. I screamed, making it seem I had fallen off the ledge.

I waited for him as he cautiously approached. I lay on the ground, still behind the brush, as he walked by. When he was near the ledge, he took out his radio. “Can’t tell. He fired a couple of shots at me. When I fired, I heard him yell and disappear. I’m looking down at what looks like a grotto. Can’t tell from here….”

I got up quietly and came up behind him. He turned to see my rifle pointing straight at him. The minute he saw the barrel he stopped talking and lowered the radio. “Mort! Mort! What’s going on?”

Salzberg didn’t move, his eyes focused on the rifle barrel. I took his rifle from him and threw it down the grotto. Little droplets of sweat broke out on his forehead and trickled down his nose. His eyes traveled up to meet mine. What I saw in his was pure fear; fear which made him forget where he was.

So shaken was he that it wasn’t until he began to lose his balance that he realized he was on the edge. He tried to regain his balance and pleaded with me to grab his hand to keep him from falling. I just stood there, watching when he finally fell, his screams echoing. Then silence. There was nothing more to do but go on.

I hobbled over to his machine and rifled through his backpacks, finding sticks of beef jerky which I wolfed down hungrily. I drank what seemed like the whole canteen in one swallow. Never had water tasted so good. I saw my four-legged friend had returned, licking his lips at the smell of the jerky. I threw a couple of pieces his way. He sniffed and then gobbled it down in two bites. I swore I could see a faint trace of a smile on his face.

"Same here," I smiled. I got on the ATV, revved the engine and took off.

Chapter 14

I estimated I had gone at least a couple of miles. If you think that I should have reached a familiar spot by now, remember, no map, no compass of any kind. For all I knew, I could have missed the trail that led back to the cabin and gone passed it. Of course I wasn't alone. My companion was there, keeping pace with me.

"So now I have a personal escort. Or is it bodyguard?" I asked my friend aloud.

I stopped to relieve myself. When I had finished I took out another piece of jerky and threw one to my companion. I hadn't heard anything of my persuers. No ATV's, nothing. It wasn't the fact that I wasn't hard to follow. They were thinking I wouldn't last long in this wilderness and would be easy to kill.

I did have one thing in my favor, my companion. If they were anywhere close by, I was sure he would let me know. I got back on and resumed my ride, going at a slow pace, looking for anything out of the ordinary.

It had to have been an hour later when I stopped again. In the distance, roughly 40 yards, I saw one of the ATV's. Pondering whether to check it out or not, I decided on the latter and approached cautiously, looking around for anything unusual. I spotted some footprints leading eastward. I went to follow when my friend emitted a low snarl. I heard a clicking noise and turned to see it was Dr. Estes with a high-powered rifle at my chest.

"Do you realize what damage I can do with this type of rifle at this close a range?" he sneered.

I nodded having used one on several deer hunting trips.

His finger kept squeezing. "Looks like I'm going to be very lucky today."

I lunged and grabbed the barrel and pushed it off to the side just as he fired. Both of us fell to the ground with me on top. I now held the rifle with both hands and was pressing it against his throat as he struggled. I pushed harder, cutting his air supply. What I heard next was a low growl and then a high pitched scream. I quickly balled my fist and hit Estes, who went unconscious.

I turned to see my four-legged friend had Seurock pinned to the ground, his teeth literally at the man's throat. Seurock screamed for someone to get him off. I watched as the animal sunk his teeth into the man's arm, tearing the clothing as it became soaked with blood.

A dull thud on my back knocked me to the side. Another thud hit my right side as I looked up to see Estes was on his feet, the rifle in his hand and aimed at the wolf. I bent my leg and kicked him in the stomach as he fired, making him swing the gun in the other direction and miss. My wolf friend stopped and ran into the brush.

I got up and grabbed the rifle from Estes and proceeded to hit him several times. I felt something whiz past my head and hit Estes square between the eyes. He fell, dead instantly.

Chapter 15

I heard "Son-of-a-Bitch!" and found myself once again being pummeled from behind. Seurock had found the strength to pick up his gun and attack me as hard as he could with his one good arm. I yanked the gun from him and returned the favor, calling him every name I could think of in the process. There wasn't much he could do to defend himself except scream in pain. Instantly his body jerked, blood spewed immediately from his head. The radio crackled. "Calaway, you hear me?"

"I hear you," I replied out of breath.

"Just to let you know, I deliberately killed them."

"Why?"

"I want you for myself," he answered.

"What kind of fuckin' human are you?"

A menacing laugh came back at me. "REINS!" I yelled, but no response.

My companion appeared from the brush. I got up and wobbled to the ATV. I took stock of myself as I reached for the canteen. My back and right side near the rib cage were bruised as it did hurt to breathe. The shirt I wore was practically in shreds (from use as a bandage) and fresh blood was oozing from the bullet wound again. I also checked my brace. It had held up better that I thought.

I know what you're thinking. The Undertaker, who always kicked ass and took names, is literally getting his ass kicked wherever he turns. Yeah, but this is a different kind of match. There's no ref, no time limit, and only one way to count - dead.

I tore another strip from my already shredded shirt and dampened it a bit to wipe the blood. At this point I didn't care how dirty the shirt was. I found a hollow piece of bark and poured some water into it. I figured my friend wouldn't mind a sip or two. He waited till I had placed the wood near a tree and had gone back to the ATV. When he was sure I was far enough away, he went over to the tree and sniffed the makeshift water bowl, then lapped the contents in no time. He sat down when he was finished. The pain must have gone to my brain. I swore I thought I saw a look of thanks in his eyes. And then again, I might be just a tad bit crazy by this time. I threw him a couple of pieces of jerky, which he gulped down.

I relaxed for a bit. I still couldn't fathom why this was all happening. What was the reason behind all this? I had just closed my eyes when I heard a shot. I crouched behind the ATV. At the same time, my companion yelped and fell over, pawing the ground. I heard my name over the radio.

"Hey, Calaway, You see what I just did to your friend."

"What the fuck…?

"Because I wanted to and to show you I can any time, anywhere. I have a good bead on you now, but I'm not ready yet. I want you alone."

"You piece of shit! When I get my hands on you…."

"I know you're heading back to the cabin. Keep going in that direction till you come to a high rise. I'll have it marked. I'll be watching."

"REINS!" There was no response.

I heard soft whimpering and crawled over to my companion. The bullet had gone into the spine. I knew what I had to do. "Friend, I hate I have to, but…" I couldn't finish. I went back and got the rifle and readied to put him out of his misery. For a bit I hesitated, my eyes became blurry with tears as I pulled the trigger. The shot echoed throughout the valley.

There's anger, and then there's anger. What I felt now was the second. The urge to kill had now taken over, and I couldn't wait to make Reins the first.

Chapter 16

I kept going, watching for any more signs of that bastard. By late afternoon I was at the rise. Just like he said, it was marked. The hairs on my neck began to bristle. I looked around, something didn't feel right. This was way too obvious. Just then I heard a sharp pop. I quickly got off and got behind the ATV. There was another, and another, bits of dust and grit flying everywhere.

"Calaway. I didn't say it was going to be easy. I want to have some fun first, or should I say blast."

Something about the way he said that last word made me realize I had to get out of there fast. I crawled toward the only thing available, a piece of boulder stuck out of the ground. "Fuck! I forgot the damn rifle!" I was about to make my way back when the ATV exploded. I put my face to the ground and covered my head as pieces fell around me and on top of me.

"See, a real blast."

I waited for what seemed like hours to move. I peered over the boulder. The ATV was a smoldering lump of steel and black smoke. There was no telling if he was still out there, watching, waiting. "Fuck it!" I took off my tattered vest and used it as a blanket. I needed the rest. Tomorrow he would be getting his. I propped myself against the boulder and tried to sleep.

I nodded off and on. I jerked awaked sometime during the night. I looked around and didn't see anything at first. Then near a tall spruce something caught my attention. I rubbed my eyes, wondering if I was imagining things. A large cloud appeared from nowhere and began to take shape. It was my four-legged companion, sitting there, its eyes glowing. "I have to be dreaming," I thought to myself. I rubbed them again. The form was still there. "Come back to see if I was still alive."

A feeling of calm overtook me. I lay back against the boulder and closed my eyes again. I'm not sure if this happened or if I was merely dreaming, but I swear I felt something warm lay next to me. The next morning I awoke to see that I had not. I saw the slight indentation and put my hand into it. It was warm. My ghostly friend had indeed lain next to me.

I stretched to get the blood circulating. Of course I got a good whiff of myself. Let's say I wasn't exactly smelling of flowers.

"Calaway. What's the hold up? I expected you to be halfway there by now."

"Where are you?"

"Where I can see you but you can't see me."

"I'll be there when I get good and ready."

"Maybe a little incentive is needed.:

Shots began whizzing by me. I lay flat till he was through. "Damn!" The barrage of gun fire kept on. The man must have had an arsenal with him.

"Is that enough?"

I didn't answer, only waited. "The hell with this," I said and got up and started down the trail.

Chapter 17

The ATV was parked in front of the cabin. I stood at the edge of the trees, contemplating whether to see if he was there or just walk the short distance. My feet were willing but my mind hesitated. Something just wasn't right. The ATV was too conveniently parked for me to use. I decided to work my way to the back side. The jeep was there, hood open. I crept up and looked inside. The missing piece was in place. I happened to look at the steering wheel and saw the keys. I could have jumped in and drove away, but that moment of hesitation. Was this for him or was the jeep rigged to explode the minute I turned the key? My instincts told me to expect the latter.

I left it and crept to the front, noticing the door was slightly ajar. I went up the steps and got as close to the front entrance as I dared. Easing the door open, I cautiously peered in.

"It's about damn time!"

I jerked my head around to see him standing at the bottom of the steps, his finger on the trigger. I braced myself, but at the last second he took it off. "Not yet," he said. "Get in there."

We entered, the barrel pressed against the small of my back. He pointed to a chair at the dining table while he sat on the arm of the sofa and pulled out a cigar and lit it, savoring the aroma. "Nothing like a good Cuban to celebrate my victory." He pointed the rife at me, then lowered it.

"If you're gonna do it, do it!"

"He puffed. "It would be easy, but not yet. I want to savor this for a while longer." He paused. "I have to admit, you lasted longer than I thought. Too bad the others aren't here to enjoy it."

"If memory serves me you purposely killed two of them."

"Estes and Seurock. They fucked up the minute they let you get the best of them. I can't abide screw ups, even if they were new to this. Now Shuler, he was my best and you killed him. How did you do it?"

"I chokeslammed him. His head head a rock."


He shrugged his shoulder as he puffed and blew smoke rings. I suppose you're curious. It shouldn't hurt to tell you since you haven't got much longer."

He took a couple more puffs and began. I went to move but he pointed the barrel at me. "Don't even think about it." I sat back in the chair.

"Where do I start? Oh. I got interested in this some time ago while on an expedition in Borneo. Why I was there is not important. I happened upon as yet an unknown tribe who had lived the same way I would venture for at least a thousand years. Very primitive I became interested because they had an unusual way of spending their 'leisure' time. They hunted humans for sport. Usually someone they caught while on a raid or sometimes one of their own, who was chosen by lot. The person was given a head start, say about 20 minutes. Sometimes the hunt would take as little as a couple of hours or as long as a week, depending on the skill level of the prey. Eventually the prey was captured and killed, the body divvied up, with the head given to the chief, who would have it preserved."

"Just how did you end up not being the one hunted?" I asked.

"I really don't know. Being very primitive they probably thought I was some god or something. As with most primitive tribes, they feasted, cooking the body parts as the main course. I had to admit I was a bit turned off at first, but the chief made me eat some. I don't know what they used, but I never would have known had I not seen that I had eaten human flesh."

"You got hooked on it," I said with disgust.

"After I was there a year and had participated in a few of the hunts, yeah. There's nothing like pitting your intellect against that of your prey."

I sat there watching him smugly smoke his cigar. His demeanor reminded me of a man I had read about some years ago. I couldn't think of the name at first, then it hit me - Hannibal Lechter. Reins makes him look like a wuss.

"After I got back to the states, I got in touch with Shuler, who was a hunting buddy of mine. He and I had hunted everything imaginable. I had come up with the idea of continuing what I had started in Borneo on the flight home. Once I put the idea across to him, it didn't take much for him to take to it as we had become rather bored with hunting the four-legged kind. We came up with a scheme on who to use - homeless, drug addicts, you know, those nobody would miss. Estes, Seurock, and Salzberg joined a few months back. Well, it became boring as basically none of them proved to be much sport. Then I came up with the idea of why not someone who was an athlete. Shuler added why not a wrestler. We all agreed. We scouted various shows looking for the right person. That's where you came in. We did some checking and liked what we saw. I also did some checking into your personal background. Yeah, you proved to be the right one. Being a loner was just what we wanted."

He took a plastic bag from his jacket. It contained several pieces of jerky. He put the bag on the table. "Want some?" I shook my head. "Come on. I want to show you something." He had me get up and go to the back of the cabin; the rifle constantly at my back. It was the padlocked room I had been curious about a few days earlier, but with the padlock off. "Open it."

Chapter 18

My hand rested on the knob. I took a deep breath to brace myself for what I concluded awaited me.

"Open it!" he growled.

I turned the knob and forced myself to enter. Even knowing what the room contained I had to turn away. On the walls were large glass jars, each mounted on its own shelf, and each containing a preserved head. On the far wall was an empty jar with a label attached. Given what I had just seen, I guessed the empty jar was for me.

I turned around. Reins was standing in the doorway. "You look a little pale," he sneered. "If you really want to see something, open up that chest over there."

I looked at the chest freezer, then at him. "Go on," he said.

Again I took a deep breath and gripped the handle. As soon as I lifted the lid I slammed it shut. Even with the little I saw I knew what it was, frozen bags of human remains.

"What did you expect? Of course we froze the parts. I'm the one who did the chopping and also did the cooking. That stew you ate your first night here was made from the thigh of one of those on the shelf, which is always the best part. Oh, and that jerky you and your friend ate was made from the upper torso."

My stomach churned. I tried to keep from heaving but the thought of what I had done. I began to throw up whatever was left in my stomach. Reins laughed. "What kind of human are you?" I choked in between heaves.

"No different than you or anyone else. I just happen to have a special quirk."

He raised the rifle. "And in just a little bit, I'll be putting your head on the shelf."

It was now or never. I rushed, the momentum force us out of the room against the wall. I wrestled the rifle from him and threw it toward the living room. I began pummeling him with lefts and rights to wear him down. Reins turned out to be a lot stronger than I thought. He lifted his leg and pushed me to the floor and ran toward the living room.

I grabbed his leg, which threw him off balance and made him fall to the floor. With his other leg he again kicked me, this time hitting my left shoulder. I let go, but only for a bit, but which was enough to get him out of my reach. Both of us got up at the same time. He spied the rifle and dove for it. He turned around to fire. At the same time I had pulled the small knife from my boot and threw it, getting his right arm.

Grimacing, he pulled the knife from his arm and got up. We circled each other. Several times he made attempts to stab me. I lunged and grabbed his right arm, twisting the knife from his hand, his blood on my hands. At the same time he picked up a statue from an end table and hit me in the head. For several seconds I was woozy, which was enough time for him to run out the front door to the ATV.

I shook my head, hearing him rev the engine. I ran out the front to see Reins sitting there frozen, his eyes wide in surprise. I blinked my eyes. It was my ghostly companion getting ready to jump. That was enough time for me to pick him up off the machine and throw him at the front door. Reins went back inside. I followed him in to see him holding the rifle. I spotted a kerosene lantern beside me. I grabbed the lantern and dove out of the way just in time for him to miss and me to throw it at him. The lantern broke, splashing kerosene over him and getting in his eyes. Resins stumbled, screaming in pain. I took him by the arms to his "trophy" room and threw him inside. I took the lighter from his pocket.

Reins wiped enough of the kerosene from his eyes to see me standing flicking the lighter. He began to laugh. It was something I would never forget. "Go ahead, you son of a bitch!" he sneered. I threw the lighter at him. Immediately he caught fire. Just to be sure, I threw a couple of the jars at him and got out of there. The room was in flames in seconds.

I ran out of the cabin and around to the back. I didn't bother to check the jeep. I just closed the hood and got in. When I had gotten far enough away I stopped and looked back. The whole cabin was now ablaze. "Payback is a bitch," I said. To my right I saw my ghostly companion for the last time. I waved and drove off down the road.

This is the end of my tale. Whether or not you believe is up to you. I know I will never forget - never forget who they were or what they put me through, my four-legged companion, or the last thing I heard from him, the maniacal laugh as he lay there burning. May God forgive me.

EPILOGUE Vince leaned back in the chair, holding the envelope that he had found inside the journal. He opened the envelope and took out the letter.

"I leave this with you, knowing you are the only one I could think of to trust this with. To keep it from anyone else reading it and even knowing about it.

As of this moment, I don't know where I'm going. All I know is I can't come back until I can forget this nightmare and be able to be at peace with myself.

Mark"

The letter was dated five years ago.

Vince sighed as he put the letter back in the envelope and back in the journal before putting it in his private safe. He closed the door, thinking of where Mark could have gone.

"Wherever you are, Mark, I hope you find it."

THE END

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