CHOWfic

 HUNTED By Stephen Chow 10:00 PM- October 30, 2001- The Toniker Residence  It was a bleak and stormy night. The rain fell heavily and an ominous mist covered the ground. If one listened closely, one could almost hear whispers chanting a terrible, clashing medley. But no one was listening. They were all safe. Indoors, where the darkness couldn't penetrate- or so they thought...  20 miles from town there was a house. In the house, an eighteen-year-old girl named Sarah was sitting at the computer in her room, chatting with some of her friends. Her room was warm and the curtains were closed. The place was strongly lit in the light of the ceiling fan.  Sarah heard a noise downstairs, as if the wind had blown through the front door. Maybe her parents had already come home and were just rushing to get into the house. The light bulbs in her room slowly flickered. Sarah went downstairs to greet her parents and ask them for her weekly allowance, which she had not had the opportunity to ask for all day. When she got down stairs, the door was shut and no one was there.  "Mom?! Dad?!" she called. No one answered. She shrugged and headed back toward her room. Just then, the room was illuminated with a fierce flash of white light, followed by a roar of thunder. All the lights in the house sparked and went black. It was silent- that was, until she heard an alligator-like growl behind her. She felt a breath of moist warm air passing over neck. There was //something// behind her.  Sarah didn't know what it was, but she was frightened and jolted out the front door. She was almost across the front yard when she tripped on an oversized tree root and fell flat. When she looked up, she saw the horrible beast that was pursuing her. The monstrosity was like nothing she'd ever seen in her life, or would see again. The creature growled. There was a tearing of flesh. Blood spilled on the ground. October 31, 6:59 AM- Riverton High  It was the beginning of another long day for Jack as he entered his first class. He strolled in ready to endure the next miserable hour of math class. "Nothing I learn here matters," he thought to himself as he put his textbook on his desk. Little did he know, he would learn something today in class that would matter for the rest of his life. But he wasn't going to learn it from the teacher.  "Did you hear about the murder?" Alex asked as Jack took his seat.  Jack shrugged. "No, who got killed?"  "The Toniker family. Their daughter, Sarah Toniker, used to go to this school! I even hear that it could've been a wild animal that killed them, but it's not likely because. A cop friend of my dad's said whoever killed the Tonikers broke into their house," Alex explained.  "Damn, that's Terrible," Jack gasped.  "I just hope he doesn't come for me," Alex remarked.  "You mean //it//," Damien said from behind them. "I was at the crime scene this morning right as they were putting up the yellow tape and snuck a picture of Sarah Toniker." He showed Jack and Alex a picture of Sarah Toniker's bloodied body. It was torn in half, with broken rib bones protruding through the flesh. Her skull was crushed in and there were claw marks in her chest and head. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Alex said, "Weird, these look like... raptor tracks, except larger." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Dinosaur tracks?" chuckled Jack. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "I don't know, maybe it's an undiscovered species of lizard of something." Damien said. "I'm gonna show this to Mr. Stewart today in biology, see what he thinks of them. If these tracks are from an unidentified animal, I'm gonna identify it and kill it tonight. The first guy to bag this thing will probably make front page. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Jack said, "You got room for one more in your group? I frankly cannot just sit around while an unknown creature goes around eating people." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Damien said, "Well, I'm not about to share my publicity... unless you're willing to buy in." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Then Alex and me are coming with you. Here's two hundred bucks," Jack said, pulling two hundred dollars out of his wallet and handing it to Damien. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Alex looked at Jack. "Hey, I never said anything about wanting to come with you," Alex complained. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Dude, Alex, you 'gotta grow up sometime. Ever since I've met you, I've felt sorry for you and your fear of everything. I was really bummed when you wouldn't go to Six Flags with me because you were scared of roller coasters. It's time for you to man up- starting helping us kill that thing in the woods!" <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">12:00 PM- Riverton High Cafeteria <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Jack came to the table where Alex and Damien, along with a third guy were sitting. "I showed your picture to Mr. Stewart. He asked me if it was some kind of joke- complimented my ability to reproduce dinosaur footprints in the mud." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Then we've got ourselves a target. Thanks for meeting me here," said Damien <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "So what's //he// doing here?" Jack demanded, referring to Phil, the previously uninvited person at the table. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "He's our tech expert," Damien explained. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Why do we need a tech expert?" <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "We don't know how many of those beasts are out there or how hard they are to find. If there's only several of them, they could be anywhere. But I have a plan. Phil here, is going to hook 50 wireless webcams to his laptop and watch the video feed after we set up them up around the forest. If we do this correctly, our target should wander in front of one of the cameras. If the rest of us patrol different parts of the woods around the Tonier house, one of us should be able to go right to the beast's position once Rob locates it," Damien explained. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Wow, good thinking- and I was beginning to assume this hunting trip would be hard. Sounds like a walk in the park to me now." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Then it's settled, we'll meet at... wait, hold on a second. Damien got up and walked toward a nearly empty table. Sitting at the table was Roger, the boyfriend of the now deceased Sarah. Damien said sympathetically to him, "Hey Roger, why're you all alone?" Roger said nothing and continued eating his lunch. Damien persisted, "C'mon, what's got you down?" <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Roger said, "Go away, you know what happened." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Damien got serious, "I know man. But you've gotta start living again. And what better way to do it than by getting back at the thing that killed your girlfriend." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Roger dryly chucked, and reached for his drink. "You've gotta be joking, the police will deal with it." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "No they won't. They'll eventually figure out it was an animal- a rare, previously undiscovered species, and animal control will be all over it. They'll probably lock it up or something. But if we get it, think of the publicity we'd gain. And we would kill it... or we could sell it. Either way, you will have your revenge. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "And just how do you know it was wasn't just some grizzly bear?" Roger asked. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Because bears don't have big-ass raptor talons," Damien said as he plopped his crime scene picture in front of Roger. "The biology teacher complimented me on my ability to reproduce raptor footprints in the mud," Damien remarked. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "And I compliment you on your ability to use //Photoshop//," Roger said sarcastically. "Now just let me eat my damn lunch in peace. I've already got enough crap going on." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Well, what have you got to lose? Tell you what- I'll give you my watch. I'll only get it back if we catch the unknown beast that killed your girl. But you have to promise to be at the Toniker house at 12:00 tonight," Damien said as he took off his watch. It was a very nice watch too. Judging by the elegant design and chrome finish, one could assume its value at about a $200. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "And if you ditch me... I get to keep the watch?" Roger questioned. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Of course you do. But we'll be there. Me and the rest of my team- and I assure you, you won't be disappointed. I'm trying to help you Roger. Help me help you and be at that house tonight," Damien reached out his hand to conclude the deal. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Toniker house- 12:00 AM <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Greg was waiting outside the now vacant Toniker residence. It was a two story house in the middle of a dark, wooded area. The wind was blowing though trees like some melancholy chorus. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> But here was no one else there but him. He waited for five minutes, then ten minutes. And still no one. "Oh well," he thought, "At least I get the watch." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Just then he saw lights in the distance on the road leading up to the driveway. They were getting closer. As the course of the light came closer, he saw a black hummer. As it got even closer, he saw Damien behind the window and someone in the passenger seat. "Then again, maybe be not." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> The Hummer slowed to a stop as gravel crunched under the wheels. At once the four doors on the jeep swung open and out stepped Damien from the driver's seat, along with three others from the back of the jeep. Damien yelled to his crew, "Alright, everyone grab a gun and some web cams from the trunk and get started on your routes! Phil, get those links up and start watching that monitor the instant you get a connection!" Damien himself walked over to the trunk to get his tools. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Roger knew these people from his school, and was surprised to see Alex in particular. Alex was the last person anyone would ever suspect to find on a hunt for a beast that mauled a human being in cold blood. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Next to Alex was Jack- a person who always enjoyed a good hunt. And then there was Phil. Phil was a genius when it came to computers. It was hard for Roger to see why he would want to go on a hunting trip. Then again, maybe they were somehow going to use technology to find the beast. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Damien walked to Roger. Acknowledging Damien, Roger said, "I was beginning to worry you wouldn't come. I was even beginning to think about how much this watch would pawn for. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Well here we are, and here's your gun.", Damien said as he handed Roger a shotgun. "I don't think I need to boar you with details, but you should know that this weapon can fire 10 rounds before it has to reload. Just be careful- it packs quite a kick, so you'll have to be careful not to get knocked back when you fire the thing." Damien continued. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Jack walked by and said, "We're going on our routes now if that's fine." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Damien responded, "Make sure your walkie-talkie works." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "It works great," Jack said. "I love how our custom-made walkies can hear things from ten feet away. It's amazing." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Thanks to me and my awesomeness!" commented Phil as he typed something on his laptop. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Damien yelled so everyone could hear him, "On a quick note, remember that everyone is on the same channel. So anything you say into your walkie, everyone is able to hear!" <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Damien turned to Roger, "Anyway, you're also gonna need this," he said as he handed Roger a backpack. "Inside the backpack is some duct tape and some web cams linked to a laptop in the jeep. Phil here is gonna watch the video feed from all 50 of them and tell us when he sees what we're looking for. Right now, we're planting these things all over the woods. There's also a map in your backpack that tells you where to set up your designated webcams and what route to patrol in once they're all set up. Good hunting." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Roger said, "Thanks, Damien... I know we haven't found the beast yet, but it was a really nice thing of you to invite me to come along with you guys. You can have your watch back." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Damien pushed the watch back, "Hey, now I'm a man of my word. If we don't find the thing that killed your girl, then consider that watch a gift. Something to sell to on Ebay to cover for the expenses for your next date." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Roger responded, "Thanks man. Honestly, though, I don't think I'll ever find love again." "People can be so melodramatic", Damien thought to himself as he watched Roger walk into the woods. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">12:30 AM- The woods <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Jack, how are you on those webcams?" came Phil's voice from over the Jack's walkie-talkie. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> " Ten of twelve cams in position." Jack answered. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Well, plant those things quicker." Phil said. "We don't have all night. I want to go home and play some COD 6." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "But these trees are so damn wet.", complained Jack. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "And I suppose the everyone else's designated trees are dry", retorted Phil, "everyone else got done about ten minutes ago." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Hey, I'd like to see you come out here and do my job." countered Jack. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Phil said, "Well sure but then I'd just..." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Jack cut in with a "Shhhh... quiet." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "What you're so sacred of my argument you have to cut me off? Well I-", Phil responded in an irritated manner. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "No.", whispered the jack, "I hear something." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">A soft growl resounded from all directions around Jack. The growl sounded like that of a crocodile, except it sounded high-pitched and low pitched at the same time. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Wait, I hear it to", responded Phil. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Seconded.", confirmed Damien's voice over the Jack's walkie-talkie, "Who's closest to Jack?" <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "That would be Alex", Phil responded. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Oh dear God, why me?" Alex's voice came from over Jack's walkie-talkie. "I am not ready for this." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Go!" said Damien, "It's all you man." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "F#ck, it sounds close but I can't see it." said Jack, who starting to getting sacred. "What do I do? What do I do? Oh my God I'm gonna ripped apart and it's gonna crush my head and snap my ribs just like it did to that girl!" <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Calm down!" exclaimed Phil. "Whatever you do, do not panic!" <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "It's getting closer!", quivered Jack <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Phil continued, "Now I want you to put your back up against the tree. That way, the thing won't be able to attack you from behind." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Done. But I don't think this is helping much." quivered Jack <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "I'm coming buddy!" Alex's exclaimed. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Not if I get there first.", panted Roger. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Now Jack", said Phil continuing to instruct Jack. "Keep checking behind you. On both sides of the tree and don't forget about what's in front of you. And if you see the beast, stay calm, aim, and take the shot. Do not get let fear stun you." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Easy for you to say" Jack said in a frightened voice as he followed Phil's instructions. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Alright Jack, I can see you from really far away. Look to your right." came Alex's reassuring voice over the walkie-talkie. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Do you see it- the monster?" quivered Jack. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "No.... wait. I do see it." A concerned tone started to dominate Alex's voice. "Oh my god. Run!!! Run!!!" <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "But Phil told me to-" Jack started to say <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "I don't care what Phil said! Jack, the monster's right behind you! Behind the tree!!!" <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Holy shit, holy shit!!!" Jack sprang up in fear and tried ran. He heard heavy footsteps crash behind him and heard the ominous crocodile-like roar. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Now turn around and fire!" Said Alex. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Jack turned and forced himself to face the beast. He fell down and saw the it. It was a horrible, eyeless, four-legged reptilian animal with a hairy midsection from which spiky tufts of hair protruded. It had a long tail with a sharp pointy end. From its back loomed were to tube-like appendages that bent towards the front of the animal. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Jack fired a few shots into the thing. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> BANG! BANG! BANG! <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> It was still standing. It growled. Flesh was torn. Blood fell onto the cold, hard dirt. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">12:35 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Phil did not like how this was going. He had seen jack's death up close and personal through his laptop. The webcam Jack had been trying to plant on the now bloodied tree recorded everything. Without second thoughts, Phil rammed the gas pedal and the Hummer's engine roared. Phil felt a jarring thump as the car went off the road and pierced into the woods. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Phil said into his headset (which was linked to the team's walkie-talkie channel), "I'm not letting this continue. We are leaving!" <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Damien responded, "That's cool with me. I'm at G-4" <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "B-12", Alex said next. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "C-7", Greg said, reluctantly said. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Phil brought up a coordinate-labeled map of the woods on his laptop and thought of the quickest route from his current position to his team-mate's locations. He used the "pen " feature to trace his intended route onto the map and typed in a command which allowed the map to display the location of his vehicle. He did all this while dodging trees and ditches as he careened the car through the woods. But the difficulty of it all was worth it, as he would now be able to predict what obstacles were coming up. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Phil gave his plan some thought and finally said, "Alright, now listen carefully. I'm going to pick you up first Damien. Find a good hiding place and get ready to run to the car when I get to your position. Alex and Greg start running to C 10. I will try to get there at the same time as whoever gets their first and I will pick up the other one on their way there. Is that understood? <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">12:40 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Alex was running. Running as fast as his lungs could carry him without exploding. After all, his best friend had just been mauled by a creature who was resistant to the only weapon they brought to kill it. But the invincibility of the monster wasn't the only thing driving Alex to run. This creature was different than any other animal in the animal kingdom. It couldn't have been an animal. Alex just knew that the otherworldly monster had to be a demon. And Alex was scared of demons. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> As Alex ran, he could just feel the monster pursuing him. He felt the darkness of the forest closing around him, rushing forward so that if he tripped, he would be lost in darkness forever. This was for the most part true. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Alex finally got to the rendezvous point, where Phil would pick him up shortly. But when he got there, saw a bush rattle and heard crocodile-like growl. Fear arced across Alex's face, for he knew that that was the exact same thing that Jack and the Toniker family had heard before they died. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Alex frantically asked over his walkie-talkie, "Phil, what is hiding in the bush at the rendezvous point?" <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "I don't know...", said Phil in a worried tone, "the web cam over there doesn't cover the angle that the bush is in." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Alex said in a frightened voice, "Well, hurry up- it's in the bush!" <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Just then, a black Hummer, headlights glaring, sped out of the mass of trees in front of the rendezvous point. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Hurry Alex!", came Phil's voice from over the walkie-talkie (although it could be heard from inside the car). <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Damien, who had been picked up earlier, held the door open for Alex, who sprinted into the passenger seat of the car. As soon as Alex had taken his seat, Phil accelerated the vehicle, pressing Damien and Alex against their seats. "Welcome aboard" said Damien to Alex. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "Alright", said Phil, "All we need to do now is get Greg and then we can ditch this hellhole." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> And so they sped off, feeling safe in the Jeep, since it was obvious that the jeep could easily outrun the demon. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">12:50 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Greg was running toward the rendezvous point, however reluctant he was in doing so. He had already heard the rest of his team get saved over the walkie-talkie channel and he was next. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Damien said from over the other end of the channel, "Listen, I'm sorry that we couldn't go through with this. But sometimes we have to know our limits." <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> "It's fine" said Greg into his walkie-talkie. But it really wasn't. All night Greg had been eagerly awaiting his vengeance upon the thing that killed the love of his life. But only a few minutes ago, that chance all but slipped away. //If only there was some way- anyway, I could kill that bastard of an animal//. Just then Damien said, from the other end of the channel, "Hey, what's that sound?" and the infamous crocodile-like growl resounded. Greg heard horrified shrieks, the tearing of flesh, the braking of bones, and the car spinning out of control from his walkie-talkie. He then thought he heard a Jeep skidding over mud and hitting trees a measurable distance in front of him. Sure enough, it was the same black Hummer that had greeted him on the gravel road before all this madness happened. And he could see Damien's face through the window. Except this time, it was bloodied, maimed, and contorted. All the sudden, the car hit a giant boulder and flipped onto it's back. The screams ceased. The growling didn't. Greg knew what to do. He quickly climbed up on a rock at shot at a fuel line on the underside of the jeep. The line broke and caught fire. In response, a door on the car flew open and out lumbered the demon. The demon snarled viciously at Roger, ready to charge. But it never got the opportunity to. Right as it was poised to leap, the burning fuel line set the gas tank ablaze, causing the entire car to explode. The sheer force of the explosion tore the demon in half and small bits of metal from the explosion broke the monster's ribs and skull. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Roger took a picture of the demon with his phone in solemn triumph. He then crawled into the cramped quarters of the crashed Hummer. Inside he saw Damien. In his hands there was a piece of paper. Roger gently took the paper from Damien's cold, pale, hands. It read //Dear Roger, if you are reading this, I am dead and you'll have killed the demon. Otherwise, how could you get this note in the first place? That monster was a sly bastard and I knew it would do us in right there in the Jeep. I just knew you could do it. Oh crap, I hear it n[unintelligible scribbling] .// <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Roger put the note in his pocket and took off the watch on his wrist. He placed the watch on the wrist of its rightful owner. The demon was dead and a deal's a deal.