Four (Their Dead Lives,1) (26 page)

As the axe crunched into the nightstand, Kale’s body twisted and turned, and a throat-shredding scream tore from his mouth. The cabin spun like a vicious tornado. Eyes rolling back, he spasmed, and his mind wandered off to another time, another place. He welcomed the respite, even hoped it went somewhere kinder.

eight years earlier

THEM

Alec clenched his fist, tensing for the sound of another scream, waiting to verify he was sane. The forest twirled, but he stood still, waiting.
 

Scot stepped to Kale. “What the hell was that?”
 

“Okay, listen, this might sound ridiculous but bear with me.”
 

“Spill it,” said Scot.
 

“Just listen.” He took a deep breath. “You guys know about that kidnapper guy, obviously. That shit never happens in Green Hills.”
 

Jeff scratched his pudgy arm. “What about him?”

“I have reason to believe he’s taking the kidnapped kids out here.”
 

Alec stared at Scot. Scot stared at Jeff. Jeff stared at Kale. No one spoke.
I should say something. They need my guidance. But what?
 

Scot cleared his throat. “Let me get this straight. You think a dangerous criminal is out here, and your brain goes,
Hey, I should take my best friends there
?”
 

“No. My brain is saying let’s do something good. Let’s save some kids.”
 

“Please say something,” Scot implored Alec. “I have nothing else.”
 

Alec ignored him, moving to Kale. “What makes you think he’s out here?”
 

Kale glanced away, his voice quiet. “I got a guy.”
 

“You got a guy?”
 

“All right, fine. Jimmy Miller told me. And if you really think about it, where else would these kids be? We’re talking about Green Hills here.”
 

“I changed my mind, I do have something else to say,” interjected Scot. “You actually listened to Jimmy Miller of all people? We paid that guy $6 to put peanut butter on his—”
 

“I know!” Kale raised a hand to cut off that line of conversation. “I know Jimmy is dumb but, come on, guys, let’s take a chance on some mystery.”
 

“I’m in,” Alec announced. And just as expected, Scot’s jaw dropped.
 

Jeff’s fingers still dug at his own arm, now picking furiously at a scab. “Really?”
 

“Listen, the guy has been taking what, six-year-olds? He’s not after us. We are out here. We heard that scream. We can help.” Alec looked to Kale. “Lead the way.”
 

Kale nodded, fighting to restrain a wide grin.
 

“You guys are insane.” Scot grabbed Jeff. “And you’re making Homer pick at his skin again.”
 

Jeff’s hand retracted from the scab as he flushed in embarrassment. “Oops.”
 

Alec turned to all of them. “What do we always say, guys? We look after one another. We stick together. We do this and we leave as four.”
 

Scot hesitated. “I asked Kelsey out today,
finally
. I’d really like to see that through.”
 

Alec smiled, slapping his arm in congratulations. “Good for you, buddy. I promise you’ll have that date. You think I’d risk never seeing Nicole again?”
 

She has a little sister. If someone wants the children in Green Hills, this guy has to be stopped. I won’t let harm come to Nicole’s family.
 

Scot shook his head, mumbling, “Whatever.”
 

Alec’s eyes landed on Kale. “You ready?”
 

Kale unleashed the grin. “I was born for this.”
 

As they traveled deeper in the woods, the sky turned grey and fog thickened around trees. Wind became biting and its cold breath wrapped around them as they walked. Kale led with Scot close behind him. Alec and Jeff followed a few feet back. They cut through brush, heading deeper in the woods, heading in the direction of the scream . . .
clueless
.

Kale tracked back a couple steps to walk next to Scot. “So, you finally asked Kelsey out, huh?”
 

Scot nodded.
 

“Did she say yes?”
 

“Yeah, she did.” Scot smiled at the memory.

“Surprising, but good for you.”
 

“Why is that surprising?”
 

“No, I mean—” Kale shrugged. “I mean, I’m just surprised it finally happened, is all.”
 

“Right.”
 

“I’m happy for you.”
 

“Really? Because your tone says otherwise.”
 

Alec sped up to walk with them. “Hey, guys, we have bigger things to worry about right now. Let’s focus.”
 

Scot stopped. “Even if we find him, what the hell do we do?”
 

“We find the spot. Then call the police. We don’t do anything else.” Alec looked at Kale. “Agreed?”
 

“Agreed.”
 

“I’m so glad you guys thought this out,” sniped Scot in his sarcastic tone. He hadn’t always been so sarcastic. Growing up, Scot had usually been the shyest one. Only in high school did he break from his shell. And with his increased confidence came increased sarcasm. But Alec still saw him as the skinny, shy kid.
 

They kept moving. The conversation returned to the topic of Kelsey.
 

“So are you excited for your date?” Kale asked Scot.
 

“Yes.”
 

“Where are you taking her?”
 

Although trying to focus on his surroundings, Scot gave in to Kale. “I’m not sure yet.”

“Ha. Good work, kid.”
 

Alec squinted through trees and fog, swore he saw something—a black spec.
 

It vanished.
 

At the same moment, Scot stopped walking. “Kale, why do you care?”
 

“I’m asking as your friend. Is that a crime?”
 

“When you sound jealous, yeah, it is.”
 

Fog thickened, becoming a blinding barrier, wrapping densely around the trees and along the ground. Alec felt an ominous chill, and his bones wanted to shake but he fought to stay still, to stay strong.
 

Kale laughed. “Jealous? Why would I be jealous?”
 

“Fuck me,” Jeff whispered to Alec.
Wow, he dropped the F-bomb.
They both stopped as Kale and Scot kept walking, still arguing.
 

“What, Jeff?”
 

“Thought I saw something over...there!” He shot a finger down the hill, pointing through the gray blanket of fog hugging the trees.
 

“I don’t know, Kale,” said Scot, unaware the others had stopped. “How about you tell me why you’re jealous?”
 

“I swear I’m not!”
 

Alec yelled at them to shut up and they finally dropped the conversation. All four pairs of eyes followed the line of Jeff’s pointing finger.
 

“I don’t see anything. Damn these new contacts.” Scot blinked rapidly, trying to bring his vision into focus.
 

I see it.
Alec grabbed Scot’s head, aiming it down the hill. Rolling fog cleared for a moment, revealing a dark figure stalking through the forest.
 

“What the hell is that?” Scot’s voice shook.
 

“More importantly, what’s he carrying?”

Alec knew. His eyes focused only on the brown bag the figure dragged along the ground. The brown bag had someone in it.
 

Someone the size of a kid.
 

Kale jittered in place, excitement shooting through him.
We found him. Holy shit, we actually found the kidnapper.
 

The four of them were up on a small hill, crouched behind some bushes, spying on the kidnapper below them. He was a man, covered in a black cloak, a hood over his face. He was standing in place, not moving at all. Clouds of fog rolled behind him. He still had the brown bag containing (most-likely) a kid.
 

“What the hell is he doing?” Kale whispered, feeling Jeff scoot back.
 

“I really don’t like this.”
 

“Yeah, of all the dumb stuff we’ve done, this easily takes the top.” Scot pulled back with Jeff.

Pussies. This is the opportunity of a lifetime.
 

The cloaked figure abruptly dropped the brown bag and darted off in the fog, vanishing before their eyes.
 

“He saw us?” Scot retreated some more. “Holy shit, I think he—”
 

Kale rushed up, slapping a hand against his mouth. “If he hasn’t, he sure as hell will hear you.”
 

Scot swallowed, more of a gulp, and quieted down. Kale let him go.
 

“Damn.” Alec rose from his crouch, faced the others, turning his back to the clearing where the cloaked figure had stood moments earlier. “Okay, you guys stay here. I’ll see if I can get a better view.”
 

Kale grabbed his wrist. “Wait.” Down the hill, the rolling fog covered the body bag, creeping its way toward the friends’ hiding spot. “Forget a better view. Let’s grab the kid in the bag and get out of here.”
 

Alec smiled at him with that crazy smile he sometimes wore. “You all stay put.” He shoved through the brush and went down the hill before anyone could stop him, disappearing into the grey fog.
 

“I don’t believe this. I really can’t believe this.” Scot confronted Kale. “You just got Alec killed.”
 

“He’s gonna be okay.”
 

 
Jeff cupped his hands around his mouth. “Alec!”

“Homer, damn!” Kale tugged at his arm. “You want to give us away?” His heart dropped when there came from deep within the fog the sound of a snapping branch.
 

“Alec?” Jeff whispered hoarsely.
 

Another snap, nearer to them.
 

Jeff, Kale, and Scot huddled together. “I hate you, Kale,” whispered Scot. “I hate you so much right now.”
 

You’ll see, this will turn into a marvelous thing.
 

Another snap, even closer.
 

They backed away from the brush, staring straight ahead, waiting for another branch to snap.
 

Scot pulled away. “Screw this!” He tensed, preparing to spring away, when a shape lunged from the fog.
 

Alec raised his arms over his head, waving them around, mock wailing, “Boo!”
 

Jeff slammed back.
 

Kale stayed frozen.
 

Scot said, “You have got to be kidding me.”
 

Alec grabbed his stomach, laughing. “The look on your faces — sorry, bros, I had to do it.”
 

Kale joined Alec’s laughter. “That was priceless.”
And reckless. The price of comedy.
 

Scot helped Jeff up. “We are out of here. Right, Homer?”

Jeff nodded quickly, the movement causing his chubby cheeks to jiggle.
 

Alec shrugged. “Look, I can’t find that body through this damn foggy mess.” He glanced back at the moving grey wall of thick fog right behind him. “I say we cut our losses and—”
 

A long arm snaked from the fog, and a gloved hand wrapped around Alec’s face, and one swift tug took Alec from their sight.
 

Kale, Scot, and Jeff were anchored, frozen in shock, at least until they heard Alec’s scream.
 

“Alec!” Scot shoved past Jeff, and Kale and darted off in to the grey.
 

Not knowing what to think, Kale looked wide-eyed at Jeff, who gulped and nodded.
 

They followed.
 

The trees were a blur as Scot’s feet flew across the ground. His hands chopped in front of him, and he panted to gain momentum.
 

I’m the fastest of us four. Run. Damn it, Run!
 

The dark cloak was mere yards ahead of him, Alec dangling over its shoulder.
I’m coming, Alec. I got you.
Although terrified, Scot wouldn’t leave his friend in danger. If only they’d all left when they had the chance. So he pushed himself harder, ignoring the burning ache in his chest and the cramps in his legs. Closing in on the kidnapper, the figure grew larger. And larger. It stood a foot-and–a-half taller than Scot, and he began to regret his decision to run headlong after it into the forest. But he kept pushing to go faster, not sure what his move would be if he caught up to them.
 

Scot wasn’t sure whether the kidnapper could hear him or was simply choosing to ignore him. A rushing of energy sent Scot into turbo mode, and he was only a few feet behind Alec. He reached for his friend, fingertips straining to graze Alec’s shirt.
 

The kidnapper halted, becoming a stone wall.
 

Scot flew at the cloaked figure, bounced off, fell hard on his back, knocking the breath out of him. He rolled in the dirt, struggling to regain his feet while leaves and dirt clung to him. As he flailed about, his right hand landed on a black boot. He paused, looked up.
I’m dead
, he told himself. Most of the man’s face was covered by the black hood, save for the hint of a grey beard fluffing out from underneath the shadow.

The hood lifted.

Run, run damn it.
But he couldn’t. He was cemented, but not from fear or shock. Instead, it was the kidnapper’s eyes that held him in place—eyes shrouded in darkness. What should be white was engulfed in black. Such lifeless eyes they dug through Scot’s own, searching for his soul.
What are you? What the hell are you?

A massive fist swung into Scot’s face.