Chapter Seven

Into the Woods

We wake the next morning to Abe throwing a pillow at us.

"Wake up you two. Time to get ready to go save the world."

I stretch as Jackson pulls the covers back over his head.

"Come on Jackson. Abe's right. Plus the faster we save the world, the faster we can go home."

"Your lady is right, plus she and I have a date with a wolf."

"Don't forget the mad Doctor."

"Of course, how could I?"

I laugh softly as I get up and get ready for our day of walking through the woods. When I get out of the bathroom after showering, changing, and getting ready, Jackson is still in bed. While he is sitting up he is still rubbing his eyes and looks exhausted. I walk over and give him a quick kiss before I leave.

"Don't make Chloe and Jamie wait to long for you."

"I won't. I'll see you later. I love you."

I chuckle softly as I head for the door.

"I love you too."

Abe scoffs and chuckles.

"What no love for the big guy?"

Jackson laughs.

"Yeah, love you too Abe."

The three of us laugh as Abe and I head out of the hotel room to meet Mitch down stairs in the hotel lobby. Of course he looks as if he has been waiting for hours on us.

"You two ready to go get a wolf?"

Abe nods.

"As ready as we'll ever be."

It doesn't take long to reach the forest near the prison, which should logically be where the wolves are, But then again with what we are dealing with logic doesn't always stand true. As we pull up Mitch rolls his neck, as if he is trying to pop it.

"Yeah, this looks like the place."

I nod.

"Yeah it does."

The three of us get out of the SUV and gather our hunting supplies. As we start into the forest Abe hands me the net gun.

"Hold this."

Mitch looks at us confused as Abe picks up a stick, cutting into one end of it with his knife and sticking the other end in the ground.

"What are you doing?"

"He is marking our path."

Abe stands and takes the net gun back.

"You want to find your way back, don't you."

I laugh softly as Mitch nods. Before Abe and turn back to the forest we hear a gun shot in the distance. Mitch lets out a worrism sigh.

"Alright, let's do this."

We walk deeper into the woods, looking for any sign of the pack. Every now and then Abe or I mark our path with another stick. As we make our way cross a small creek we hear a phone go off. Abe and I both look to Mitch who is cringing.

"Sorry, I didn't think th… I gotta take this."

Mitch answers the phone.

"Hello. I know, i'll look, if there's something to be done,we should do it. Yes. Look, I just. Let me. Let me talk to a few people I know, okay? Alright. Hey, hello?"

Mitch looks at his phone, whomever it was they hung up.

"I'm turning this off now."

I look over at him a little considered.

"Is everything okay?"

"That was my ex."

"Ah, you have an ex."

I walk up next to Abe who continues my thought.

"That's good to know."

"Some might assume you were incapable of deep human contact."

"Yeah, my ex would be one of those. We have a daughter."

"Wonderful."

I turn back to Mitch.

"How old is she?"

Mitch gives me an I don't wanna talk about this look.

"I thought we were supposed to be quiet."

We walk for a little longer, before a heavy fog drops onto us. It's not surprising with the rain coming down. Before long Abe stops. Mitch walks up next to him.

"What is it?"

"There."

Abe points to a hole in the side of a very small hill as I walk up behind Mitch.

"A den."

I move in front of them and kneel down, looking at some tracks.

"Fresh tracks, which means the wolves will be back soon."

Abe nods.

"Which means we should get out of here before they do."

"Yeah."

We walk around the woods some more, following some of the tracks. Eventually we come across a very very small clearing with a wolf pup in the middle of it. Since I somehow ended up in front I stop and the boys stop behind me as we do our best to stay out of sight, Abe tries steps in front of me. The worst thing we could do is to come between a wolf and a pup. Even if they are acting abnormally, they will protect their young.

"I got this."

Abe steps forward toward the pup as it starts to growl at him. When Abe gets about two yards away from the pup, it runs off. As Abe goes after the pup, Mitch and I do our best to keep up with Abe. Before long we see almost a white blur run past us. Both of us stop and turn to each other, confirming that the other saw it as well. We shake our heads and keep going, trying to catch up with Abe. We pick up our speed and begin calling out for him

"Abe! Abe! ABE!"

"How do we lose a huge 6'7 man in the forest."

Mitch scoffs as we run.

Soon we come across a man with long dark, dirty hair, in prison blues, covering in mud, blood, and god knows what else. This must be Evan Lee Hartley, whom is standing in front of Abe, who has his back against a small tree, as Evan Lee begins to quote what sound like bible verses.

"And the beasts shall stand in judgement of the wicked and the boastful."

Mitch and I look around and there are five wolves around us. I know this isn't a time to think about how amazing these animals are, but they truly are beautiful creatures. Mitch reaches back moving himself directly in front of me, as he reaches back and grips my forearm. I can't help but think to myself, 'well, I guess he really is a father.'

As Evan Lee looks us up and down, almost as if he is unsure of what he is seeing, the wolves begin to growl and snarl. He looks down to one of the wolves and they lower their heads as he looks at them. I see what Jackson meant about them acting submissive to him. They act as if they are domesticated pets. Evan Lee looks over to Abe then back to Mitch and myself, before we hear shots ring out in the distance, followed by howls. As the howls begin Evan Lee and the wolves run off. Abe, Mitch, and I look between each other, making sure the others are alright.

As Abe stands we hear footsteps again, someone running toward us. We look into the direction of the noise and we see Chloe and Jackson running towards us. When they get to us they are out of breath and clearly worried. Jackson pulls me into his arms and kisses my forehead, while Abe looks at the two of them confused.

"What are you doing here?"

Jackson replies, still out of breath.

"We're looking for you guys."

Chloe continues.

"An inmate escaped from the prison, we think he might be in these woods."

Mitch nods and sighs.
"Yeah, we saw him just now."

Jackson looks at me even more worried.

"What?! Are you okay?"

"Yes, we're fine."

"Which way did he go?"

Jackson looks like he is ready to kill Evan Lee himself, as Chloe puts an arm up in protest before I can.

"No, no, it's too dangerous. I'll notify Kraft."

"What are you talking about? He's connected to this. He couldn't have gotten far."

I pull Jackson back as he tries to go off in the direction Evan Lee and the wolves headed in.

"Let Kraft do his job."

Chloe nods.

"When they capture him, I will arrange for an interview."

"Oh, and if he says no?"

Mitch sighs and shakes his head.

"While you three work this out, we still need a wolf to examine."

Jackson shakes his head,

"We saw one about a hundred yards back. It's just been shot."

"Lets go."

Jackson nods and heads back the way he and Chloe came as the rest of us follow him. It doesn't take us very long to find the wolf again. When we do, Mitch begins to look over the poor thing.

"He should be alright. But we will need to get him back to the hotel before we do any tests."