Disclaimer- I don't own anything but the idea, you stealie, I killie. Cheers. On with the story!!
Picked Off
"This should be fun! The whole gang hasn't gotten together in ages. And this place of Joe's is so beautiful!" squealed Mimi as she and Izzy drove up a country lane to an exquisite farm house, complete with stable and barn. The eight digi-destined were visiting Joe for the weekend. Matt, TK, and Sora were following the others, with Tai and Kari behind them.
"Welcome! I'm so glad all of you could come. We're going to have such fun this weekend," Joe Kido announced as the seven got out of their cars. Pleasantries were exchanged and everyone got settled into their rooms. Everyone had a separate room except Mimi and Sora, who volunteered to share one due to lack of space. The group arrived in late afternoon, so they were given a tour before dinner. The buildings on the vast lot were spaced far apart from the main house, so supper was enjoyed immensely by the tired travelers.
After-dinner coffee was served fireside, setting a cozy atmosphere for talking. As the clock ticked on the weary retreated up to bed. Finally, only Joe and Tai were left.
"Joe, it's great to see you, but I'm beat. I have got to go to bed so I can enjoy tomorrow." Tai rose from his chair, making for the stairs. "Are you coming?"
"No, I'll stay down a bit longer."
"Suit yourself. Good night."
"Good night indeed," Joe muttered to himself, smiling the faintest smile.
***LATER THAT NIGHT***
"Mimi. Mimi. Come on, get up. Let's go play hide-and-seek."
"Wha? Joe, it's three in the morning, why do you want to play now?" came the sleepy response.
"It's so much more fun in the dark. Come on, just come play one game with me! The others would be no fun, and besides, I only want to play with you."
Mimi, not knowing what to think and not wanting to think properly (it's 3AM, that's to be expected), finally agreed. Joe sounded so excited and romantic, she couldn't tell him no. They arrived at the barn. Joe flipped on a switch, turning on lights in the barn.
"Okay Mimi, you hide and I'll come find you. Go!"
Mimi ran into the barn looking for an easy spot. 'Joe said only one game so if it looks like I tried, but he still finds me quick, I can go back to bed,' she thought while ducking behind a bale of hay.
Soon Mimi heard the creak of a door, alerting her to Joe's presence. He was speaking in an odd tone she had never heard before; it was barely above a whisper and seemed to be a cross between a questioning tone and a firm tone, with a singsongy quality to it.
"Mimi? I know you're here somewhere, come out come out where ever you are."
Mimi peeked around the bale and saw nothing. She turned back and came face-to-face with Joe holding a pitchfork. His eyes shone and flashed and his smile was too big for his mouth.
"Now Mimi, why did you hide here? You knew I would find you quickly. And that's no fun." Joe spoke in the same voice as before. They both had risen, and Mimi was beginning to get nervous. Joe didn't stop grinning and didn't drop the pitchfork. He advanced on her and she was trapped by the hay.
"Joe? Why do you have that pitchfork?" she asked in an obviously fearful voice.
"Oh this? I always carry it when I hunt. Now you should have hidden better. I like a challenge."
"Well, then, we'll just have to play again, haha," Mimi laughed now completely scared. He stepped forward again. "I promise to hide better next time."
"No need. I never let my prey go once I've caught it. Do you know anything about hunting Mimi?"
"Oh, a little, not much," Mimi replied, trying her hardest to make herself flat against the hay.
"Well, let me fill you in then. If a hunter catches live prey, he must kill it if he wishes to show it off," Joe answered, twirling the pitchfork. "And I've caught myself some live prey."
***THE NEXT MORNING***
"Where's Mimi, she wasn't in the room when I woke up and she didn't leave a note or anything. Anyone know something?" Sora worried, but only slightly, about her friend.
"I regret to inform you that Mimi left early this morning. She said to say good-bye to you because it was so early," Joe explained as he came into the kitchen, where a vast and impressive set of knives was displayed.
"That's strange, did she tell you why Joe?"
"Uh, she got an urgent call on her cell phone, um, a relative or someone was in the hospital or something to that effect."
"Oh," said Sora, trying to hide her doubt and act normal. She didn't really buy the story Joe fed; she knew Mimi was an emotional person and would've at least woken her up to tell her she was leaving. It just didn't add up.
Unfortunately, Sora did not hide her uncertanty well. Joe could sense that she was skeptical, but he also couldn't believe he'd overlooked the reason Mimi would've left. 'I'll have to do something about that, but not now. There are Other, more pressing issues to attend to... and here he comes.'
"Matt my boy! Did you sleep well?"
"Uh, yeah Joe, it was actually the best sleep I ever had." Chorases of "yeah, me too"s murmmered among the group. This, however, did not surprise Joe. Unisom in wine makes a potent sleeping pill, even if it is semi-deadly. He couldn't have people waking up in the middle of the night and catching him. Only Mimi's drink was pure, naturally.
The day was spent reminising while the group wandered a trail cut through the woods on Joe's property. The conversation turned to how big a weenie Joe had been in the beginning. Joe put on a jovial face outside but inside he was seething. He pulled off the psudo-laughter with the thoughts of his plans. Oh how much he wanted to do all in one lump but he knew he could never get away with it like that. Seven on one weren't good odds. Joe knew his day would come, only a few nights left.
***LATER THAT NIGHT (AGAIN)***
Matt lay awake, he couldn't understand why he couldn't get to sleep. Unbeknownst to him, Joe had slipped him more drugs. He heard the door open and say Joe poke his head in.
"Joe, what are you doing?" Joe had anticipated this sort of thing so he wasn't phased at all.
"I was just checking on everyone. I'm just so glad you all could come. Why are you still up though?" Joe asked with fake-concern.
"I just couldn't sleep."
"Well why don't you come with me. The grounds are beautiful at night and maybe it'll tire you out to go to sleep." Joe laughed on the inside. 'Hahaha.'
"Yeah okay, why not." Matt never expected a thing.
The pair set off and began to walk the trails. They were lighted and soon Matt and Joe were far from the house. Silence pervailed until Matt finally spoke.
"You know Joe, I think maybe we should start back now. Don't want to fall asleep out here, now do we, heh heh heh."
"No, let's go a bit further. And I guarntee you won't fall asleep."
Matt was unsure, but he felt rude to object. 'Joe knows the property better than I do anyway. Maybe there's a shortcut. Maybe... Maybe there's a HUGE PITCHFORK POINTED RIGHT AT MY NECK! AHH, AHH, AHH!!!'
Joe had that maniac glint in his eyes again as he pushed Matt aganist a tree with the pitchfork.
"Joe, what the hell?"
"You always acted like you were so much better than I was, you deraided me, you belittled me, and now... now you're getting yours, just like Mimi!" And with that, Joe picked off another 'friend.'
***THE NEXT MORNING***
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well kids, another one of 'ems dead. and i know what you're all thinking, well gosh darn it who's next? and you don't know, 'cause only i know, and if you knew and i didn't then you'd be writing this story and i'd have to sue for stealing my idea, you common thief. next installment and murder coming soon, no worries monkies.