As soon as the mist dissipated, I felt unprotected. Even though I had a gun, I needed to have some protection for George. He needed to remain in the shadows. If he didn't, they would go on a killing spree. I couldn't have that.

George remained silent and I didn't know how to talk to him about anything. After all, we were probably headed into our deaths. Or my death. How can anyone talk or spare a thought?

"I should warn you. The Black Hand will probably threaten or beat me senseless. Do not, I repeat do not, come out to protect me."

"How can I not?"

He stopped and faced me.

"They will kill you or me. Maybe even both of us. One of us has to survive."

"It won't be you. They will kill you."

"That is why I didn't want you to come. I don't you to witness it. It'll scar you for the rest of your life."

"I'm a police officer. I've seen people get shot and I've shot James Gillies."

"That's different. You never had to watch someone you love get shot or have to shoot them."

"I won't leave you unprotected especially with your injury."

"My injury is fine. I won't be unprotected. I have a gun."

"Will it protect you?"

We both knew that it wouldn't.

"It'll do its job." I lied.

"We both know that it won't."

"We are all destined to die anyways. I believe that I've been cheating death for far too long."

He didn't have an answer for that. The mist returned. I started walking again and he didn't follow me. I rubbed my arms for warmth. I turned and he stood there.

"Aren't you going to follow me?"

He still didn't answer or move.

"George?"

I started to get concerned.

"George? This isn't funny."

I walked to him and his eyes were totally white. I knew what this was. I needed to get him away from here. I painfully lifted him up and slung him over my shoulder. The mist became thicker and started to take me over. I fought the mist off as best as I could. I saw the end of the forest and I felt relief. My body was starting to give out but, I couldn't abandon George here. The mist started to blur my vision just as I got out of the forest.

I slid George off of my back and fell. My vision returned but, I still couldn't will my body to get up. George stirred but didn't get up. The air tasted sweet as I took in big gulps to get rid of the mist in my lungs. I reached out to George and my fingers grazed over his hand. He jolted up and started to gasp hard. I felt relief that he was okay.

He looked at me and worry washed over his face.

"Don't worry about me. I'm fine."

He rolled me over and helped me to sit up.

"I'm worried. What was that stuff?"

"A chemical. It's one of their new experiments."

"Spooky stuff."

I laughed which felt nice. But, it wouldn't last.

"That mist means that we're getting close. They must have a new base here somewhere."

"Didn't your father tell you about their new bas or base locations?"

"He didn't tell me about their new base. If he did know, he would've told me."

"This is really getting dangerous."

"Do you now understand why I wanted you to stay behind?"

"Danger isn't new."

"This type is."

He helped me to stand up.

"How's your wound?"

"Been better. I'll be okay."

He took my hand.

"Are you going to follow me?"

"To the end."

{*}

We stopped for a break before going onward. I knew that the Black Hand would have booby traps all around their base to keep everybody else out except for me. They knew that I would be clever enough to figure out where the booby traps are and how to avoid the traps. George would have to follow my exact steps.

In the distance, I could make out a cabin.

"There it is, I think."

I pointed to the cabin.

"Seems easy enough to get to."

"That's what they want us to think. It won't be easy. One wrong move and you're dead."

"That's reassuring."

"Just follow my exact footsteps and you should be okay."

"Should be?"

"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."

I didn't really know what I was doing but, I was fairly confident. We walked slowly towards the cabin and I stopped once I saw a bulge in the ground.

"Stop."

I held out my arm to stop him in case he didn't hear me.

"Explosive."

"Will it blow us sky high?"

"Yes. There won't be anything left of you."

I saw bulges all around the cabin. It seems that they were upping their game.

"Look, explosives everywhere."

"Can't we walk around them?"

"I don't know if there are smaller ones around it. I don't want to take that chance."

I saw a back trail leading to the back of the cabin.

"There's a trail right there leading to back. I want to check it out first."

"I'm not staying here alone."

"They won't attack you so close to the explosives. One wrong move and bye-bye people."

I slowly walked backwards towards the trail keeping George in my line of sight. I carefully followed the trail and I was right. It lead to the back of the cabin. There were no booby traps either which worried me.

I went back to George.

"I was right. The trail does lead to the back of the cabin."

"No booby traps?"

"Oddly, no. It does worry me."

"The easy way or the hard way?"

"I want to take the hard way but, we could be blown up."

"Easy way it is."

"I'm just worried about the lack of booby traps."

"I'm sure you'll figure it out."

We carefully walked along the trail and entered the cabin. The squeaky door alarmed me.

"You have to stay out here."

"So they don't kill me?"

"Exactly."

"I don't want you-"

"George, we've been over this before. Only one of us is getting out of here and that's going to be you."

I continued walking forwards and saw that the cabin was deserted. I processed this through and I realized that we walked into a trap. I turned and ran for George.

"Run, George!"

He jumped off the deck and I exited just as the cabin behind me exploded in a fiery inferno.