The Most Dangerous Game
Chapter 2
By Captainkodak1
"KP? KP?"
Kim woke up as Ron gently shook her shoulder. She looked around and noticed they were still hiding under the tree and still in the same sitch she had gone to sleep thinking of. She tried to get the stiffness out of her arms and legs.
"Anything going on?"
Ron shook his head.
"Nope. All is quiet. I let you sleep as requested."
She leaned over and gave him a little kiss.
"Now, it's your turn. I'll keep watch. Don't snore, too much."
Ron giggled.
"The boat has sailed on that one; I didn't have to worry about any animals trying to sneak up on us. They all ran away when they heard the sound of some awesome creature snorted and growling under this tree."
Kim swatted him on his shoulder as a grin spread across her face. If anyone else in the world had said that to her she would have been highly offended. However coming from him it was very special. He started to lay down when she reached over to guide him down with his head in her lap. She gently played with his bangs as he closed his eyes. Within seconds he was asleep. Shaking her head, she gazed down lovingly at the young man who had his head in her lap. How anyone could relax and go to sleep that quickly was beyond her understanding. Looking up she gazed out into the jungle and thought back about their current sitch.
Kim walked in front of Ron as they were led down the hall and down a flight of stairs. Another man wearing camouflage fatigues opened a metal door and motioned for the two to enter. Kim followed his direction knowing that things were not quite going their way right now. They would have to wait until the opportunity to take over the situation came their way. One of the men in front of them stopped at another door and entered a code on a pad. The door slid open and he motioned the two of them into the room. There were two chairs with places for arms and legs. The guards quickly grabbed the two of them and dropped them into the seats. Before either could fight, they were strapped tightly into the seats. The final straps across their foreheads forced them to remain immobile.
Sharpe walked into their field of vision.
"Now, I had wished for this to be easier but I clearly underestimated the two of you. I shall not make that mistake again. Now, before the two of you can pull another trick I must take a number of precautions."
Kim noticed a man and woman walk into view from behind them. Both were wearing medical coats and both carried small syringes. Kim tried to fight and with a glance to the side she could tell Ron was gathering himself to call on his Monkey power. The nurse quickly swabbed Kim's arm and plunged the needle into her arm. The doctor did the same to Ron. Almost instantly Kim's head began to swim. Her muscles relaxed. Sharpe nodded to the doctor and nurse as they left the room.
"Now then, let me first say that what you were injected with is relatively harmless."
Ron's voice interrupted Sharpe.
"Define 'relatively' cause Kim would really like to know."
Sharpe laughed.
"Very good Mr. Stoppable. Very good. The drug you were injected with allows you to be awake, but little control over your muscles. Your involuntary muscles are not affected. Also, the drug affects some of the more important parts of your brain. You may have difficulty concentrating also. This allows me to make certain suggestions."
Kim forced herself to talk.
"How quaint. Now are you going to tell us all of your plans for us?"
Ron joined in.
"Yeah, since you have told everyone we are dead I am sure you have something nice set up for us."
Sharpe smiled evilly.
"Ohhhh, yes. I have plans. And I do plan to tell you a few things. You see. I started this island preserve so I could hunt on my own, by my rules. You see I enjoy the hunt but some many people seem to want to protect everything now. I soon found out that no animal had a chance against me. A man, a hunter with his logical mind and his wits about him will prevail all the time. Then after a ship floundered off my coast I discovered a new prey that could give me the hunt I deserved. I have them mounted here in my trophy room."
Sharpe motioned to the other men in the room. Two grabbed the chairs Kim and Ron were strapped to and spun them around. A curtain pulled back. Kim gasped as her eyes dilated at the sight. Before them was what appeared to be a trophy wall for animal heads. The problem with the sight was that there were human heads on the wall. Below each head was a small plaque. Sharpe took a few steps over to the wall gazing at his trophies.
"Oh yes, I have found that the most dangerous game to hunt is really the human being. He can think and reason. So I changed the channel lights protecting the reef off my island. When a promising boat comes by I change the lights and the ship will wreck on the reef. I jam any signal from the craft and send out a rescue boat. Rescue that is select my prey. The rest I just leave in the ocean."
Kim steeled her voice.
"You are insane; you even tried to wreck our ship! I saw the lights change."
Sharpe shook his head as he turned to face Kim.
"Oh no Miss Possible, I did not want to wreck your ship. It had far too many passengers. You see, the storm came over my island at that time. Lighting struck the building that controlled the lighting system and caused it to flicker. However, I was hoping for another smaller ship to come by. But also, you see I was getting bored with my common prey. Those that I have hunted were just common people, sailors and such. They never gave too much trouble. Oh, don't misunderstand me; a few gave me quite the hunt."
Sharpe spun and faced the two of them.
"But then, providence laid a gift at my feet. The storied Team Possible, the two young people who have taken on some of the most dangerous villains in the world and survived. Two young people for whom the experience of being hunted is normal. Now Mr. Stoppable I hope that my explanation can reach even Miss Possible. If not, maybe YOU can explain it to her."
Kim growled.
"You are going to HUNT us? Just what makes you think that we are going to play your little game?"
Sharpe smiled at Kim before walking over to a table and picking up a device. She swallowed when she recognized it. It was a cattle prod. He walked over to face the two of them.
"Play my game Miss Possible? Of course you will play my game. You see, there are many ways to die. Some are very slow and very, very painful."
Sharpe jabbed the prod against Kim's side and pressed the button on the control. Kim shrieked at the shock coursed through her body. Sharpe pulled the prod from Kim and repeated the process with Ron. After a few seconds he returned the prod to the table. He waited for a few minutes until they had recovered somewhat from the shocks.
"You see, if you don't play my game, each of you will watch the other die very slowly and very painfully. But, I realize that this is a situation that you might have faced before so I took a few extra precautions."
Sharpe waved to someone standing behind them. They watched as two men carried two display stands and set them up in front of them. Two more men carried in two cloth covered displays and placed them on the stands. They removed the covers so Kim and Ron could see what was on them. Both of them looked on in horror. The displays were covered in pictures of their families. Each picture had a telescopic sight superimposed on it. Sharpe stepped back into view.
"You see, if you don't play, others will suffer too. Just think Miss Possible, your mother walking down the street and a bullet could pop her head wide open, or you Mr. Stoppable, how about that beautiful little sister of yours. Just imagine what a round from a rifle would do to her."
He stood there for a few moments before he continued.
"Now, do I have your full attention and cooperation?"
The word "yes" spilled out of Kim and Ron's mouths.
Sharpe smiled.
"Fabulous, now we have some preparations to make."
Kim snorted.
"What happens if we survive your little game, like we have any chance?"
Sharpe patted her on the head.
"Oh, if you survive I'll just keep you around. I surely cannot let you go. But maybe, just maybe you might escape. Until then, I will sell the chances to hunt you to someone else. Yes, that would be a nice little way to make money. Oh yes, I forgot to mention. When we recovered you from the beach we found the delightful little device in Mr. Stoppable's neck. It was not operating a full power and could not send out an appropriate signal. We took the opportunity to retrieve it from his neck and place it in some of Mr. Stoppable's clothing that we removed. That little package was fed to some of the sharks swimming off my island. So, if someone tracks you and finds the chip, they will have all the evidence they need to confirm that you were killed by sharks after falling overboard."
Sharpe slapped his hands together.
"Now then, let's get on with the preparations. I have two employees here that will help you prepare for your 'mission'. That mission will be simple, to stay alive. You will be given some basic survival equipment, but that is all. The hunt will last for three days. I will give you the first day free, after that the hunt will be on. I doubt you will be able to leave the island but I will advise you not to attempt so. My men will be scouting the island from the water and will have orders to shoot anyone or anything attempting to leave the island. There is a half mile zone around the island. So if you wish to attempt to swim to different parts of the island you may do so. However, if you leave that zone, you will be shot on sight. Do you have any questions?"
Sharpe paused for a few moments as he waited. Kim finally spoke for both of them.
"I take it you will not be truly happy until our heads are up on that wall."
Sharpe gazed at the two of the intently.
"Oh, I am looking forward to this very much. I will have the personal pleasure of knowing that I hunted and killed the Team Possible. But all the gloating is for later, you will soon see that part of my plans will make this even more exciting."
Sharpe turned to one of his men.
"Tell him they are ready and he can proceed with our plans."
Kim glanced up from her watch. It was about time to wake up Ron. They had been on the run for twenty four hours now. Sharpe would be going on the hunt soon. The rest of the plans had been explained to them. They were given a choice of clothing. Both of them had chosen camouflage pants and green t-shirts. They had also taken long sleeve camouflage shirts. The equipment that had been given to them had been limited as Sharpe had said. Their equipment was limited to two canteens, a hunting knife, some camouflage rope, and several packs of self contained ration each. Sharpe had assured both of them that the small streams on the island were quite safe to drink, but gave them a bottle of pills each that would disinfect any water. Kim had been surprised at the amount of equipment that Sharpe was allowing them to have. He had chuckled.
"It's quite simple Miss Possible. I am giving you a little more equipment than I normally would because I am sure you are quite capable of using what I have given you."
Ron finished putting his equipment in the pockets of his pants and the small bag hanging from his equipment belt.
"Oh that so nice of you. Just what are you going to be hunting us with? A nice high powered rifle I am sure. Just like the one you wanted to use on my little sister."
Sharpe shook his head.
"Oh no Mr. Stoppable. That….that would not be 'cool' as some of the American youngsters like to say. A high powered rifle would put me at too great an advantage. No, I will be using this."
Sharpe reached into a cabinet and pulled out a rifle. They both recognized it from survival training. He was holding an Armalite AR-7 survival rifle. There was a small scope attached above the barrel. Sharpe gestured toward the rifle.
"An AR-7 survival rifle, firing a twenty two caliber long rifle round. I shall be using hollow point rounds so you will not be able to just laugh off being hit by one. I'll have to be within a couple of hundred meters to get a shot at you. Now, I see that you are ready. Will you please join me for dinner? You will be able to get a good meal into you. After that, you can leave at your leisure. Once you leave this building, the time will start. But, you MUST leave before tomorrow morning. If you wish you may spend the night here resting. I will also supply you with maps of the island."
Kim sighed as she realized that time had gotten past her in her thoughts. They had taken Sharpe up on his invitation to dinner and the time to rest that night. They spent most of the evening going over the maps that he had given them. She reached down and shook him on his shoulder.
"Ron, RON! Come on, wake up."
Ron rolled his head over and blinked as he looked up. He grimaced. Kim punched him in the arm.
"Hey, I can't look THAT bad."
Ron smiled as he sat up.
"Nope KP you are as basically beautiful as ever. I was dreaming a wonderful dream of you, a bikini and a deserted beach. Then I woke up to find some wacko nut job has decided to test his hunting skills on us. And I thought Drakken came up with some real crazy things."
Kim grimaced at the thought. Then she leaned over and gave him a quick kiss.
"Yeah, I know. And to let you know, I had a nice little dream too. You, me and deserted beach."
Ron smiled.
"Oh really, and just what else was in this dream."
Kim blushed slightly.
"A girl needs to have some secrets."
She paused for a moment looking around them.
"Well, he has started by now. We need to get moving. We laid down some crazy tracks and trails yesterday. But I have a feeling that he will find us."
Ron sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. Kim took this signal from him that he knew something and most likely she would not like what he knew.
"What Ron? Now is so not the time to hold back on any secrets."
Ron looked out over the jungle.
"You know that show that comes on the hunting channel that you hate so much."
Kim scowled.
"The one where they show people shooting all those animals? Yeah, I remember. Why?"
Ron bowed his head.
"I was wired after a mission a few weeks ago and could not sleep so I turned on the TV. Browsing the channels I came up on commercial about the new Zombie Mayhem game so I stopped to watch. It was that channel. Well they weren't shooting at anything at the time and they had a special guest on, our so called host. The dude is a legend in the hunting circles. Name the big game he has hunted it. We are talking big leagues here."
Kim reached over to touch his arm.
"How about your mystical monkey power?"
Ron shook his head.
"I don't know. I've tried to access it a couple of times but can't. I don't know if it's because of the big shock we got because of the lighting strike or the drug he gave us. But unless something changes, I won't be able to use it."
Kim sighed and played with her ration pack. They would have to eat soon and get moving. Ron reached out and took her hands in his.
"Kim, we haven't talked about this yet. But if we are going to get out of this…if and when he tracks us down and we fight….we might have to…."
Kim shook her head vigorously.
"NO, I WILL NOT KILL!"
Ron bowed his head.
"Kim…KP…we may not have that choice."
Kim looked him in the eye.
"Ron, could you? If it came to it? Could you?"
Ron finished her sentence.
"Kill? Kim do you even have to ask that question? What happened to Warwonga and Warhawk?"
Kim looked away.
"You were just saving the world. You did what you had to do."
Ron reached out and grabbed her by both sides of her head and made her look at him. He stared into her eyes.
"Kim! I DID'NT DO IT TO SAVE THE WORLD. I DID IT TO SAVE YOUR LIFE."
He lowered his voice.
"Kim, I don't know what you think of why I did it. But when Warhawk lifted you up like a piece of trash and stated that he was going to mount you on a wall as a trophy. I didn't care about the world at that point. I cared about MY world, YOU! That's why I did it. I still have nightmares over it but I would take nightmares the rest of my life as long as you were safe. I still stand by that. If I have the chance and he is after you. I will have no compunction at all to kill him."
Kim lifted her head and stared at him through the bangs of her hair that were hanging down. She lifted her hands and took his.
"Ron, I just don't know what I would do or will do. But….I will ask you to trust me that I'll do what has to be done."
Ron smiled and gave her a quick kiss.
"That's all I can ask. Now, let's get something to eat and get our plan moving."
Sharpe grumbled to himself. He was sure he would be able to track the two of them easily. But he soon found out that his quarry was a lot smarter than he thought. They had double and tripled back. They had split up and retraced the other's tracks. He had seen tape of Kim being able to leap long distances and bounce off trees and rocks. Ron's trail just seemed to disappear at times. Only by looking carefully would he see moss and leaves disturbed in the trees. This was not what he was bargaining for. At times it appeared that they were actually playing with him.
He had stopped to examine a vine he thought that one of them had used to cross a small stream. When he tested the strength of the vine it upended a nest of eggs, a nest of spoiled eggs, a nest of spoiled eggs along with some dung from some of the pigs that lived on the island. The rather odoriferous concoction covered him head to toe. He used some leaves to clean himself off as best he could and continued trying to trail his quarry. Their tracks had come together again and were traveling toward the dead volcano section of the island. But then their trails stopped right in the middle of a clearing. Sharpe stopped and looked around. There was no way that anyone could have found a way out. It was then he saw another vine. Cautiously he approached the vine and noticed where they had caught it at the edge of the clearing, then used the rope to pull it along with them. Getting to the center of the clearing they had swung back to the edge of the clearing and climbed up into the trees. He would have to back track and start working in a circle until he found where they came down out of the trees. He shook his head at their actions. This was turning out better than he had ever thought.
It took longer to find their tracks than he thought it would. Apparently they had climbed down out of two different trees and headed off in opposite directions. He started to follow the boy's tracks as they made a bigger track in the soil. Then he realized something and stooped down to examine the tracks closer. The footprints were not as deep as before. The two had exchanged shoes. Cursing under his breath he backtracked until he could find the girl's or actually the boy's tracks. He followed the tracks until he noticed a broken limb. Apparently the boy had tripped while wearing the girl's shoes and broken the limb. Sharpe walked toward the limb to get a closer look when his leg hit something.
Only reflexes honed by years of hunting saved him from injury as he dove backwards to the ground. He held his rifle in front of him to help ward off any blow. A limb flew by over him smashed the rifle out of his hands and slammed into a tree he had just passed. He lay there looking up at the trees above him for a few moments then looked over at what had passed over him. The limb had several spikes tied to it. If he had not sensed danger when he did he would have been skewered and their lovely little game would be at an end. Rolling over, he noticed the remains of his rifle hanging from one of the spikes. It had not survived being smashed into the tree. The scope was broken and lay on the ground. The receiver and barrel were bent.
Disgusted with himself at nearly being taken by the two he stood up and brushed himself off. Picking up the remains of his rifle he looked around. This was becoming something truly interesting. It appeared that the boy had hidden talents that no one suspected. It appeared unlike his companion he was quite willing to kill. It looked like if the hunter was not careful he could be the prey. This pair had teeth, teeth that would maim or kill you if you discounted them and were not careful enough. Sharpe checked his watch, it was late and it would be safer to head back to the house now. He would need a new rifle and some more information on his prey.
"I don't know if you are within hearing distance. But I congratulate you for a most intriguing first day. I had hope for a challenge and you have given me something beyond what I have ever dreamed. Young man, I take it that you were the one who laid this little surprise. Congratulations, few people know how to set up something like this. Luckily I spent a tour of duty in Vietnam and have experienced a few of these before. I can also tell that the two of you wish to instill a sense of humor into our little game. The nest of eggs and dung was masterful. The first day's hunt goes to you. I need to head back to the house and get a new rifle and have my wounds tended to. Rest well; we will pick up the game tomorrow."
Sharpe turned and headed back toward his home. Two pairs of eyes watched him walk off from under some brush just thirty yards away.
Kim turned over and looked Ron in the eye.
"You had already set that trap before we talked this morning."
Ron nodded.
"Yep, most likely it would not have killed him but it would have definitely put a hurting on him. Hey, he liked your little trick."
Kim giggled a little.
"I learned that one from the tweebs on a family camping trip. Boy, was I mad, but not as mad as mom and dad. The tweebs lost all internet privileges for week when we got back home and they had to wash all my clothes."
Ron watched as Sharpe disappeared into the jungle.
"Yeah, the tweebs would be a great help right now. Some of their ideas could come in handy right now."
Kim thought of a moment then her eyes brightened, and then she bent over to give him a kiss.
"Now I know one of the reasons I fell in love with you. You have the greatest ideas."
Ron stared back at her for a few seconds.
"Uhhhh….KP….unless you have one of them in your pocket or they have designed some unknown way of teleportation I don't think they will be around to help us."
Kim's eyes glowed.
"Yeah, but you reminded me that they were always experimented with things. Since I had to clean up or pick up the remains of their experiments, I remember most of them. There are a few that just might help us. Now, let's get to that cave you found earlier. The one not on the map."
Ron groaned.
"You mean the one I FELL in."
Kim looked to make sure Sharpe was gone and scuttled back down the ridge they were hiding behind.
"Ron, it's an old lava tube. It's been covered for years and you just were lucky to have stepped in the right place. It will give us a place to hide at least for tonight."
Kim took one step when something whipped up from the ground. Shrieking, she was pulled into the air by a vine around her foot. Ron jumped up and caught her before she swung into a wall of spikes that had risen from under the limb that was lifting her up. He held onto her belt with one hand and a tree with the other. Kim hung there for a moment before she drew her knife from its sheath. Performing a stomach crunch she reached up and cut the vine encircling her ankle. She fell to the ground with a loud thump. Groaning she reached for her ankle. Hissing in pain she examined her foot.
"I don't think it's sprained but it hurts."
Ron knelt down beside her and took a look at it.
"Yeah, it doesn't look too bad. Let's get you to the cave. It appears our host has a few surprises of his own around here."
Kim nodded as she put her arm around his shoulder and gingerly put weight on her ankle.
"I can put some pretty good weight on it, but it's still really tender."
Ron nodded as he turned and picked her up. Before she could protest he looked her in the eye.
"KP, what would you do if we were switched?"
Kim put her head down on his shoulder.
"I would tell you that I was going to give you a piggyback ride so that you could rest your ankle and that I would not take no for an answer."
Ron gave her a look with an upraised eyebrow. Kim sighed and nodded.
"Take off boyfriend. We have plans to make."
Sharpe had stopped his walk when he heard the girl's scream. It had not been abruptly cut off so either she died before she could scream again or the boy stopped what was going to happen. The only booby-trap that was in the area of the scream was the trip line with the spike bed. It was a personal favorite of his and was shown in delightful color in the Vietnam movie he truly hated, "The Green Beret". One of the title characters was killed in the final moments of that particular movie by the same such trap. He would come directly to this point first thing. If her remains were there or there were signs that the trap had been successful, then he would go after the boy. If somehow the trap had been unsuccessful, then he could only hope that she was injured in some way. It would make the situation all the more interesting. He would have to check the status of some of the other traps on the island and set more if he thought he needed to. He never told them he would have to shoot them, setting a trap and killing or maiming them would just as much hunting as with the rifle. The coming day would be very interesting. Sharpe started to whistle contentedly as he made his way back to his home.
I hope that you enjoyed the second chapter of "Dangerous Game". This plot bunny has really jumped on me. I hope that you will enjoy the rest of the story. Please leave a review. I would really appreciate it.
This is the Captain
Right hand salute
Roger and out