Thursday, February 12

A young girl pulls the last backpack from a Ford Escalade trunk, "Look you guys I still think this is crazy!" she closes the lid and places the backpack with several others on the walkway. "Skipping school, using my mom's car to get here," she shows great concern, "Couldn't we have ditched somewhere else… this place gives me the heebie-jeebies."

Two arms wrap around her from behind, "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha, stop scaring your self." The tall boy reaches around and kisses her cheek, "Besides we didn't skip school, the boiler blew and now we have a four day Valentine weekend and our parents believe we are camping up north, so stop worrying and let's have some fun."

Giving a smile Marsha sees the two teenagers from earlier walk out of the office. The girl is waving keys in the air. "Alright," she turns to her boyfriend, "it looks like Russ and Carol have the room keys, we should get settled in."

Another boy from the group hollers, "Score-Baby" and takes the hand of one girl and pulls her towards Carol. "I'll take one of those." With key in hand he checks the number and the doors then walks down past the crowd of teenagers.

A boy yells out, "Hey Bobby and Cheryl, you might want your backpacks." He gives a sly grin, "Well, unless you plan to sleep in the buff?" Everyone gives a grin and giggle.

Marsha picks up two backpacks and walks toward Cheryl who is approaching her. "Thanks Marsha," she pauses a moment, "Hey, do you know if there are enough rooms?"

Looking back, Marsha sees Dean her boyfriend waving a Motel key above his head and pointing back and forth between them. She turns back to Cheryl, "Most likely. This Motel has plenty of rooms and we only need four of them." She looks into the parking lot and sees two cars pulling in and then back at Cheryl. "Well, that is if Dexter and Abby don't show."

After a girl hug Cheryl takes the backpacks and disappears behind her Motel room door with Bobby while Marsha joins Dean who is making plans with the others for the next day adventure. "I hope we don't have to get up to early" Cheryl states then walks towards her room. Along the way she hears a woman crying in the room next to hers and for a moment pauses at the door, moving her ear close. She thinks of knocking, but before she can Dean lifts her in the air and carries her off. Their laughter flows through the air, causing the others who have dispersed to laugh along with them.

Inside the Motel office two older people in their mid thirties are listening to the owner and manager share his tale of the Valentines Day killer. Being very tall he leans towards the couple as he talks in a haunting voice. "You should turn and run. For everyone knows Harry Warden ain't done. They say just a whispering hint of a Valentine kiss will cause his rotting corpse to swirl in the dust of hell and reform bringing down his vengeance on anyone who gets in his way."

The couple hinted a laugh. "Laugh all you want and stay if you must, but beware of Harry Warden or else you heart will be his lunch." He watches their faces grow with slight worry. "And if Harry doesn't find you there is always his apprentice." The Manager turns and grabs a key from the box, then hands them to the young man. "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," he grins at the notion, "enjoy your stay."

Looking at photos on the wall Mrs. Smith turns to the manager, "Is this you and your daughter?"

The manager gives a slight growling sound, "No, that is my departed wife. She was murdered five years ago, right here at this motel by Harry Warden himself." He looks at the photo. "It is one thing to be a murderer, but to be a psychopathic murdering cannibal at a time when love is in this air is…"

Mrs. Smith interrupts, "I am sorry, I didn't mean to bring up bad feelings." She feels the hand of Mr. Smith on her shoulder nudging her to the door. "Have a good evening, Mr. Luna,"

The couple disappears out the door leaving the manager to wonder. He picks up the wooden name plate on the counter that reads Welcome to Our Motel and underneath it says "Manager: "Milford Luna." He shakes his head and puts it back then walks into the small apartment adjoined to the office where he lives.

Emergency lights flicker through their colors of red, white, blue and yellow. Fire trucks help hold traffic back, should there be any on Duffie Hill road near the crest corner where a tow truck is about to finish pulling a once burning vehicle out of a deep ravine. The vehicle rocks on the edge and with one jerk from the tow truck pulling forward the front wheels land safely on the roads shoulder. Smoke still flows from the crushed mustang and the fireman who were once standing and watching over the edge for signs of error head back to their fire trucks.

One fireman in full gear approaches Chief Palmer who is talking with the coroner near the county coroner vehicle where one victim lays on a black body bag spread out on a gurney. He gets the Chief's attention, "Hey Axel, we couldn't find anyone else." He hands Palmer a license plate that reads, "My2UGRL". Looks like J.R. may have pushed the corner too fast this time." He puts a hand on Axel's shoulder as a sign of his remorse and to offer comfort to Axel who helped J.R. and his mother during a horrifying time.

Zipping the body bag over the corpse Palmer stops the Coroner with a gentle touch of his hand. "Wait," he attempts to remove the miners mask, but the detaching sound of the skin stops him. He finishes closing the bag for the coroner. "Are you going to be able to get the miner's garb off", his voice is choked from the smell of burning flesh and rubber causing him to cover his mouth, "without damaging the body to much?" His voice echoes with concern, "I just want him to look normal if at all possible for Helen."

"I will do my best." The Coroner's words of uncertainty did not bring comfort. But they were not meant for comfort. He knew the garb was seared to J.R.'s body from head to toe and removing just the slightest piece would prove hopeless for any recognition.

The firemen return to the smoldering car and are about to foam it down with extinguishers when a large blast reignites the backend sending eight foot high flames into the air and almost flipping the car onto the tow truck that is still attached to the front end by a single chain. Landing back on its melted back tire the mustang rears into the air and breaks the hook chain then begins to slide back to its last resting place.

Seeing the teetering car a fireman nudges another and gives pointing directions and the two of them quickly rush to the vehicle, each on opposite sides and with simultaneous blows they swing the miner axes they hold deep into the doors and pull.

Quickly other firemen rush to aide their comrades and together they hold the mustang on the brink of falling while the tow truck driver and Chief Palmer rush with cable hooks and reattach the vehicle to the tow truck and not a moment to soon. The little black car's metal screams as it begins to stand on its backend near the edge of the hillside. With headlights pointing to the sky, the mustang has flames rushing through what remains of the interior and out the windshield.

Fire dances all around the body with a devouring roar. Everyone steps back in fear, then with raging power of a big block the car is pulled back down and dragged into the road by the tow truck where fireman rush in to douse the flames.

Hours later as dawn approaches the tow truck following the emergency vehicles quietly go past the Motel where Tom is leaning against a support post to the long stretch of rooms smoking a cigarette. The scene draws his attention and he tosses the lit smoke on the ground then crushes it out with his boot. As he watches the vehicles pass he sees the lights on a police car light up and come barreling into the parking lot then come to a screeching halt in front of him.

For a moment the vehicle sits, then the lights go dark and the door opens. Axel steps out with the driver's car door between him and Tom. Anger looms over and it takes all his unwilling strength to stop from pulling his gun and ridding the world of Tom Hanniger forever. His hand slides down to his gear belt and across the cold butt of his gun. Gripping the cold cylinder of his flashlight Axel swings it up and flashes the light into Tom's face. "Why are you here Tom? There is nothing left in this town for you and certainly no one wants you here." He steps away from the car, leaving the door open.

Tom responds calmly, "I may have no one here, but I do have a lot here. The mine has stayed operational, only because I allowed it." He stops and steps into the parking lot. "This is my home town and with the passing of my father I am now owner of a lot of assets in this town." Tom does not enjoy the feeling of bragging his riches, "Sorry, you already know what part of Harmony owes its survival to my family and I having never lived up to the expectations of my father since high school football." Tom stops, shakes his head then with a calm breathe, "You have my files." Tom turns away from Axel to head back to his Motel room.

He gives the door a look then turns his head to Axel, "Ironic that I am here in Harmony at the this Motel staying in room four, just like five years ago when you and I came head to head."

His words hit deep in Axel causing his emotions to boil and watching Tom walk away before he has his say just makes things worse. With a deep loud voice he yells, "Tommy you're nothing more then a want to be miner."

Without words Tom approaches Axel which sends Axel into a guarding stance. Still holding back his rage Tom speaks with an almost monotone voice. "Tommy," his voice gets a bit excited. "You haven't called me Tommy since we were in grade school Ace."

"I am no longer Ace to you", his voice bitter, "I am Chief Palmer and you can address me as so." Axel reverts the conversation back to his agenda, "Whatever business you have in town get it done and get out." Walking back to the car he turns to Tom, "People here fear you Tom and as long as you're here they will live in that fear."

A laugh escapes Tom's lips, "They fear me, they should be afraid of you. I didn't kill those people five years ago."

Axel storms up and points a finger at Tom his voice hardened with anger, "You will never convince me you didn't slaughter our friends. You are a cold blooded killer." He pulls his uniform shirt out of his pants to show the scar left behind from Tom who jabbed him with a pick-axe five years ago at the mine. "You did this Tom and when anyone starts to doubt you're a killer I show them this." Axel reveals a diamond shape scar on his waste then pulls his shirt back down and tucks it in.

The word doubt sticks in Tom's mind telling him there is still a bit of hope. "I am sorry Axel for jabbing you, but at the time I thought you were going to kill Sarah and me like you did everyone else." He stops for a moment when Axel's eyes look away and towards the room next to his. The curtains swing closed. "It wasn't me at the mine it was Harry Warden." Tom turns back to Axel, "And he has never left." He receives a burst of laughter from Axel who is returning to his car.

Looking at his watch Tom sees it is four in the morning and after watching Axel drive away he returns to his room for more sleep.