Modern Link's Shadow

Chapter 3

Nightmare

Link sighed as he parked his car and opened the door. He was in front of the same Zora gas station. He walked inside. It was completely empty. All except for a mysterious figure standing in front of the candy aisle. The figure smiled and took a step forward. He reached into his hoodie's pocket and took out a bottle of The Red Drink.

"W-what... huh?" Link mused, taking a cautious step back," Where is everybody?"

The person took no regard to his question," I hear you like The Red Drink. I bought some especially for you! Here, drink up. You have a long way to drive."

Link did not move. He was locked in place by fear.

"What's this?" The figure asked himself, taking another step forward. His arm was still outstretched with the drink," You do not want a drink? One that I bought especially for you?"

Link shook his head quickly.

The figure snarled and dropped the bottle. The bottle exploded. Sizzling, red liquid was washed all over the floor tiled floor. Link gasped in surprise and took another step back.

"You will pay..." the figure threatened softly.

With a sudden cry, the figure shot forward and grabbed Link with amazing strength. He brought him into the candy aisle and threw him down. He drew a black sword and brough it down on Link.

Link screamed and rolled to the side," Stop, please, I'm sorry!"

"'Sorry' will not make the cut!" The figure roared again and hacked at Link.

Link jumped up and made an attempt to tackle the figure. The figure stepped to the side, allowing Link to hit the ground hard. The figure chuckled and brought his sword down. Link let out one final scream.

Headline News: Another Stab Victim is YOU!

Link shuddered and shot awake. He was hot and the sides of his face were washed in sweat. He was breathing heavily.

"I-I'm alive...!" he exclaimed quietly in a small, meek voice," Oh God; I have let all this murder stuff get to my head... Ugh."

~*~

Link ate the breakfast of pancakes and bacon quickly and without talking to his parents. He got up and thought for a moment. I could watch the news and see if anything on the killer turned up. Heck - why am I so interested in it? All I did as meet a wierd guy at a gas station. Yeah; the police will get the killer. And it looks like all the kills are up in the north. Or... I think so. Seems like it if he's in Canada, I shouldn't be scaring myself by looking for the killer all-

"Link, why are you just standing there?" his mom blurted out suddenly.

"Oh...? Oh! I'm just thinking." he replied quickly.

"About what?"

Link searched his brain for ideas," Homework."

"What about it?"

"I don't think I have any."

His mother walked by him and placed the empty coffee mug by the counter," Oh, okay." she made her way past him and up the stairs into her room. Link waited until he knew she had walked back into her room before thinking more again.

Link sighed and shook his head. He would watch the news. His legs started to move him automatically into the living room. He sat down on his couch, stretched his legs hard. It was cloudy outside again. He grabbed the remote and turned on the T.V. and flipped thorugh all of the news channels.

They never had anything on the killer.

~*~

"You like it out here?" Christopher asked his friend and they rested comfortably by the camp fire around Lake Ouachita in central-west Arkansas.

"Hm?" James, his friend noised, looking up from a small book.

"I asked if you like it out here."

"Oh! It's good. I still can't get get over how big the lake is!"

"First time I ever came here was when I was twelve. And, boy, it seemed even larger, then!" Christopher said with a small laugh.

James nodded slowly," I see."

The leaves rustled mysteriously in the distance. A bit of fallen pine crunched in the woods, like something was walking. Christohper looked up. The walking stopped.

"You hear that?" he asked James quietly.

"Yeah!" James exclaimed under his breath. He laid his book down and looked off into the woods.

The pine crunched again. It was a step towards their camp.

"Oh shoot! Don't they have black bears around here?" James asked urgently.

Christopher nodded slowly. He grabbed a small pistol he had brought for protection. The pine crunched a bit more.

Then, from the dark woods in the distance, came a projectile that looked similar to an arrow. The projectile landed in the fire. Sparks flew. James jumped up, realizing it was an arrow. Then, the fire started to die. A strange, black muck was seeping from its wooden stalk, putting the fire out. Then everything was dark, only lit by the faint glow of the moon.

"Owwwhooo! Run, boys!" James heard someone scream.

Both men jumped up and looked around frantically. James heard a scream come from nearby and gagging sounds. James looked towards Christopher, only to see him being stabbed by some dark outline of a person.

"Chris, no!" James cried.

Christopher let out one last scream as the figure yanked its sword out. A pair of glowing, red eyes turned to face him. He could make out a small smile in the figure's face.

"You can see him again." he said, showing his dark sword threateningly.

James screamed and started to run away as fast as he could. He could hear the figure laughing loudly as he made pursuit.

James tore through the under brush and thorns. He jumped over tree roots and saplings and dodged large rocks. He heard the steady breathing of the foe chasing him. James never once stopped. He did not even stop to take in his surroundings to make a plan. He just kept sprinting, as fast as he had been.

"Run!" the figure called out.

James was sprinting faster than ever. He felt himself cramping up. He groaned, no longer able to sprint. He finally made it to a stop behind a large rock. He was breathing heavily. He could still hear his foe running. He knew he would not be able to stay where he was. He got up and started to run again.

"Better speed up!" the figure mocked.

James tried, yet he found himself unable. Suddenly a blow to the back made him go flying into a tree. He groaned in utter pain and looked up to see the same, glowing eyes staring at him. Oh God; it's a nightmare! he thought as he stared up into the unmoving eyes. The dark figure stared down at him gleefully.

He let out a small laugh," No... 'It's' not. But - you are very welcome to call me that!"

Wait! Was he able to read minds? If so, what was-

James screamed as the figure stabbed him once and powerfully. James squirmed and gasped as the blade twisted quickly. He screamed again as it was yanked from its place in his body. A strange black muck started to spill from the wound, covering most of his blood that fell out. He tried to stay alive. Sudden spasms of pain shot up into his brain. He screamed again and fought to stay alive. He heard the figure laugh. Then the figure was gone.

"N-noo!" James moaned," I c-can't die! No..." he moaned.

He placed his hands on his stomach. It was almost frozen. He cried out again and moaned in agony. He twitched and stirred, over-taken by pain. He never once pulled his hands away from his stomach, even though they were growing numb.

"I..."

He trailed off as a sudden weak feeling overtook him. He felt lightheaded. All the feeling in his body disappeared. His eyes rolled back into his head. Then everything was gone.