Aurora (ENG)

by Morrodes

The Entity consumes the survivors. Again and again he sends brutal killers to hunt the victims of its sadistic greed and again and again they have to fight for their lives. But death is no escape. Fear is a constant companion of the survivors, their inner wounds cut much deeper than the outer ones. Yet hope spreads as one night the Entity weakens and a passage presents itself...

10. Visit to an old Friend

beta reader: shadowwing135

Visit to an old Friend

"I can´t believe it's all true!" Louise Morel hysterically threw her hands over her head. "I´ve always thought stuff like this only existed in… in books and in movies."
"We were both pretty shocked," James Fairfield replied, "but especially after we´d seen all these killers with our own eyes, we couldn´t deny the truth any longer."
The Morels were sitting at the dining table in the Fairfields' house with Dwight's parents, arguing agitatedly about the current situation in Waltonfield. After Claudette had picked them up at the airport, they of course had immediately wanted to know, where their daughter had been all the time.
She had not even tried to explain it herself. Claudette had never been very talented with words or people. The task of storytelling had been left to Benedict Baker, who was suiting the role much better and with professional passion, Claudette's parents had been informed about the Entity and the fog, which had driven a growing expression of fear into their eyes. They probably would not even have believed the whole story, had Baker not been surrounded by grim FBI agents and all sorts of expensive, incredibly high-end-looking equipment.
However, the explanation had not been the only reason why Claudette had visited Baker. She was worried about Meg and Nea, and the thought of the dangers the two had to face would not leave her alone. So, as soon as possible, she had returned to the place, where she would most likely find out about the two and the status of their mission: the temporary command centre that the FBI had set up at the edge of the western forests.
Feng and Dwight had been there as well, along with Nea's parents, whose faces were dominated by blank worries and anxiety. Ace, on the other hand, had not shown up and neither Dwight nor Feng had known where the Argentinian had gone.
But Claudette did not care. The only thing that had interested her was the course of the mission and if there was any information about the events in the fog. She and Feng had been so annoying to the officers that after a while they had been expelled from the headquarters.
After that they had gone to the Fairfield´s, where they were now sitting in the living room. Claudette had insisted on staying near the forest, should there be any news, and fortunately Dwight's parents had extended their hospitality. She would share the guest room with Feng tonight while her parents had booked a hotel in the city centre. But for the time being, the two of them were visiting the Fairfields.
"Killer... I get a spine chill if I just hear that word!", Louise exclaimed, "It´s unbelievable, that you let these individuals into your house."
"Well, I couldn´t do all that much about it, could I?" James replied, sipping a tea-filled cup: "My son brought them here and when this nurse began floating in front of me… well, how should I say this... The lady was floating and I didn´t exactly want to annoy her. You can´t imagine what a shock Dwight was struck with there."
"I probably can´t."
"Fortunately, they turned out to be friendly," Elizabeth interjected. "Especially Sally. And can you even believe it, one of these beings is apparently related to one of my students."
"No!"
"Yes, yes, the girl´s called Jade Ojomo. Her uncle disappeared six years ago, and as it turns out, he was made a monster by this so-called entity."
"Incredible," Louise mumbled, "Even now that I know my Claudette´s fine, my fingers are still trembling. I don´t even want to think about the Karlssons. They must be dying from fear."
James nodded in agreement. "Awful. Their daughter is so brave, but had she been mine, I´d never have let her go."
"Her name´s Nea," Elizabeth remarked.
"I hope they come back safe," Louise said, then glanced sideways at her daughter, "I mean, of course she'll come back safely, right? Now the FBI is helping her."
"I'm really not all that well informed, but as far as I understand, the FBI can´t get into this other world," James replied, "That's why she went herself in the first place."
Claudette had heard enough and stood up from the chair where she had followed the conversation. The adult talk did not calm her down in the slightest, but only added to the worries that gnawed at her mind. Mournfully, she dragged herself to Feng, who was watching a TV show on the couch. When she saw Claudette coming, the young Asian girl slid sideways to make some room for her.
"Hi"
"Hello," Feng said sleepily, but as squeaky as always.
"Nice show?" Claudette wanted to know. She followed one of the scenes and discovered a doctor who spoke energetically to a surgeon. It seemed to be a hospital series.
"No idea," Feng replied, "Wasn´t really paying attention. My thoughts are elsewhere, I guess."
"I know what you mean," Claudette replied and then fell silent. In the background, she could still hear the conversation between hers and Dwight's parents, but she paid no attention to the words. The topics moved from Nea to the FBI before slipping into less important areas such as career and jobs. Something Claudette had never been eager to talk about.
Her thoughts kept wandering to Meg and Nea. Silently, she wondered if they were all alright, if they had found Jake and David, and if they were already on their way home. Maybe they were leaving the fog at the very moment, appearing out of nowhere somewhere in the western woods. Claudette could only hope.
Feng yawned beside her and the Claudette turned her attention towards the doctor's series. A complicated operation was going on, seemingly under the lead of a young surgeon who could obviously could not cope with the stress. An older doctor was advising him. He seemed to be some kind of mentor to the younger one and was trying to keep him calm, while his scalpels were piercing the patient´s skin. Claudette could not bring herself to follow the show attentively. The white coats kept reminding her of someone else.
Already half asleep she was a little startled when, after a while, a hand touched her shoulder and her mother said, "Claudette, darling, we're leaving now. Are you sure you want to stay here?"
Claudette got up and nodded. "Yes, I want to stay close if anything happens."
She glanced at her father, who was slipping into his coat before she was pulled into a tight hug.
"We'll see you tomorrow," Louise whispered. "Take care, darling, yes?"
"Yes," Claudette muttered with closed eyes. After a moment, the two of them parted again and after they had said goodbye to the Fairfields, the Morels went out into the night, where a taxi was already waiting for them.
Claudette let the door fall shut and went back into the living room, after she had waved toward her father. Tired, she fell back onto the couch next to Feng, but the Asian woman got up at the same moment.
"I'm going to bed," Feng remarked: "If I stay here any longer, I´ll probably stay all night. You coming?"
Claudette thought for a moment and shook her head, whereupon Feng wished her a good night and yawning shuffled out of the living room. In the door she almost collided with Dwight, who had just come down the stairs.
"Oops, Dwight, didn´t see you."
"Are you going to bed already?"
"Yes, I´m bone-tired. One minute longer and I´ll fall asleep right where I stand."
"Good night"
"Good night," Feng squeaked and Claudette heard her wander upstairs. Dwight, however, stepped into the living room and looked around for a moment before joining Claudette on the couch.
"Nice show?" he asked and the Canadian couldn´t resist a faint smile. She had asked Feng the exact same thing.
"Not really," she replied, "The jokes are a little funny, but the plot is nonsense."
"Well, what did you expect?"
"I don´t know... I guess I was just hoping I could distract myself a bit," Claudette sighed, "from Meg and Nea."
Dwight did not answer, so she turned toward him and asked, "You think they´re alright?"
Dwight followed what was happening on the screen for a moment, then hesitantly replied, "I don´t know. But they´ve got Sally and Anna with them. With those two, nothing´s gonna happen to them, right? I´m sure they´re alright."
Although Claudette knew that it made no sense, Dwight´s words did manage to comfort her, even if just a little.
"Sally would never allow anything happened to them," Dwight continued, "She's really trying to make things right."
Claudette nodded silently and for a while, the two were watching the show again, while their thoughts wandered afar. The Canadian sank deeper and deeper into the cushions and finally made herself comfortable in a half lying position.
"This show´s bullshit," Dwight finally muttered, pointing at the screen, but neither of them had the energy to sit up and reach for the remote. Claudette smiled and replied, "Told you."
"I know, I know."
Dwight glanced at her for a moment.
"What do you think? He´s gonna get her?"
He spoke of the surgeon who had chosen one of the beautiful nurses to be his object of desire. The Canadian returned Dwight's look and then answered, "No, never. Why would she get involved with him? She knows he just cheated on his ex. I´m pretty sure no woman would want someone like him."
"Maybe not," Dwight replied, "but after all, he´s the big fish here aiming for the top. A candidate for boss level."
"And? Women want men whom they can trust."
Claudette and Dwight looked at each other briefly, before bursting out in tired laughter. They knew that they were probably the two most unqualified people, to discuss things like love and relationships.
"What do you think of what Baker said?" Claudette asked after a moment, "that he's already been following the Entity for over ten years. I mean, if the authorities were informed, why didn´t someone do anything?"
Dwight thought for a little while and then answered, "He said he wasn´t really believed, remember? And hindsight´s easier than foresight."
Claudette just nodded and said, "I just thought maybe they could have spared us all of this."
She looked at Dwight.
"All the things we lived through in the fog. If only they had done something sooner."
"You shouldn´t think about it," Dwight retorted, "What happened, happened. We can´t change the past anymore."
Claudette nodded again, and Dwight added with a melancholy smile, "Try looking at it this way. Hadn´t we been abducted into the fog, we probably wouldn´t know each other now. Me and you and Nea and Meg and Jake and Feng."
"And David and Ace," Claudette finished the enumeration with a smile. She had now slid into a reclined posture and had made herself comfortable against Dwight's shoulder. "And I have to say, if not for the Entity, there probably would never have had anything… anything exciting happen in my life."
"Well, you don´t have to worry about that anymore. I think the excitement we had is enough for a lifetime," Dwight replied and Claudette felt his laugh vibrating in his chest. The two were now watching the surgeon again. Claudette noticed that the whole procedure had been unnecessarily prolonged and that no team in the world would have needed such a long time for such a simple treatment. Not even if the junior surgeon kept flirting with the assistant.
Nonsense.
Her mind wandered off into the distance again and the screen blurred before her eyes. She thought of Meg and the courage the athlete had proven over and over again. Then Nea appeared in front of her mind's eye and how she spoke to Anna. It was a strange sight to behold, but somehow Claudette had the feeling that the two got along really well.
Her eyelids were getting heavier.
"Hm, you were right," Dwight remarked, "He´s never gonna get her. She just knows what she wants." When there was no answer, he looked down and saw Claudette clinging to him, sunk in deep sleep with a peaceful expression on her face. Her breathing was slow and regular, and Dwight felt her beating heart at his side.
She was alive and safe.
Gently, he pulled the glasses from the girl's nose and placed them on a stand next to them.

Philip hurried ahead, glancing nervously over his shoulder to see if David was still following him. His long legs carried him swiftly through the forest and the survivor was visibly struggling to keep pace. But Philip could not give him a break, no matter how much he wanted to. The Doctor was certainly roaming the forest and the sooner they found Lisa, which would enable not only David, but everyone else to leave the fog, the better.
Philip looked back over his shoulder and in shock he noticed, that David was nowhere to be seen. He stopped abruptly and listened, but at that very moment the survivor stumbled out from behind a tree and walked towards Philip, panting heavily. The Wraith dropped to his knees and asked, "Do you need a break?"
"Shit… No, it´s... it's alright. You're just... fuck… just damn fast. "
Philip got up again and replied: "We´re near the institute now. Herman certainly followed Lisa after I got you out of the treatment room. She led him away from us, but that means he's most likely still around here. We gotta hope that she was able to shake him and is now looking for us."
He quickly looked into the forest, peered over his shoulder, and then continued.
"In any case, we have to keep quiet. Carter´s gonna track us down easily if we leave too many trails and you have no camouflage. Should he discover us, run as fast as you can. I´ll try to distract him from you. Alright?"
David nodded snarling and Philip took the lead again. This time, they moved a little slower, less noticeable and quieter. The Wraith wanted to avoid stirring up the ravens in the treetops and thus giving away their location at all costs. Although he might have been able to draw Lisa's attention at them, at the same time he would run the risk of alerting the Doctor. A risk Philip was not willing to take.
The two now reached the outer wall of the Lérys Memorial Institute, which stood a good fifteen meters high into the grim sky. Cold concrete stuck straight up out of the ground, the grey surface broken only by unadorned glass windows. Each one was dark, without any light behind the dirty glass. Creepy as always.
"Do you think she's still in there?" David whispered cautiously, and Philip looked up before he answered, "Only if Carter got her. But look, the ravens on the roof seem to be quiet. If a fight or a chase was going on, they´d probably fly off in all directions. No, Lisa escaped, I'm sure. She has to be somewhere in the forest."
David shot a quick glance over his shoulder and stared into the darkness. He could see absolutely nothing between the tree trunks and rocks, even though he had long since become used to the darkness. Lisa could literally stand five meters in front of him and he would probably miss her. Luckily the Wraith was less handicapped by the lack of light, his eyes piercing the darkness like daggers.
They were now running along the wall of the institute, warily creeping through between trees and shrubs, remaining hidden behind the tree line. Philip led the way and set a hurried pace, but he always kept an eye on David to make sure, he would not fall back again. Twice the Wraith stopped and waited a moment for the survivor to catch up before turning and walking on.
David did not trust Philip at all, but his explanation and that of the Nurse seemed plausible to him. After all, they had rescued him from a brutal fate in the Doctor´s hands. Why should they have done that and then lie to him afterwards?
Occupied with his own mind, David got his foot stuck under a root and almost fell. He was barely able to catch a branch and keep his balance, while Philip hastily turned around. The Wraith ran back several steps and asked, "Are you okay?"
David was about to answer, but Philip quieted him with a raised hand. He had heard something. David listened intently to the darkness, but he could hear nothing. No ravens were flying around, no wind was blowing, and the forest was covered in an eerie silence.
"What is it?" David whispered breathlessly and knelt behind a bush so that he could not be seen from the direction the Wraith was looking towards. Philip just shook his head and listened intently before he said, "I thought I heard something."
The two of them waited for a while, and just as they were about to set out again, several sounds echoed through the forest. Startled, David stopped dead again and even Philip seemed to be surprised by the sudden noise.
Somewhere in the darkness a twig snapped apart and a moment later the leaves of a nearby tree rustled treacherously. David looked up and spotted a dark shadow perched on a branch like a monkey, looking down at him and Philip. A shudder ran down his spine, while the Wraith already moved to position himself between the survivor and the creature. Then he froze midmotion.
"Buh!" Lisa whispered and giggling she showed her sharp teeth in the moonlight. Then she swung down a branch and Philip answered in a low voice, "Damn Lisa, did you really have to sneak up on us like that?"
"My dear Philip, we don´t want one of our two rascals to find us, do we?" Lisa replied, dropping the last few meters to the ground, where she bounced off her weight with striking agility. David automatically stepped aside and kept his distance from the Hag. After all, it was her who had asked to Doctor if she could eat him alive.
"Where´s Carter?" Philip asked, nervously glancing into the forest. Lisa, on the other hand, seemed calm as she replied, "Nearby. Not here in the woods, though. That wretch´s probably still looking for Lisa's little trump card."
She pointed to the institute and burst into amused giggles. David raised an eyebrow and looked at Philip, who was trying to make sense of her words himself.
"Your trump card?"
"A fine witchcraft, if I may say so, oh yes," the Hag replied and began to giggle again: "For now, that scoundrel´s going nowhere."
"A hex," Philip concluded, struck with relief, "Lisa, you're a genius."
"Hm, usually everyone keeps calling old Lisa crazy."
She turned to David, who did not seem to trust her at all.
"But the totem is in the institute, yes, yes, it is. He´ll find it soon and blow out it´s cute little candle, then he can come out again, free like an eagle. Luckily, Lisa found both of you first."
"Luckily, you´re right," Philip interjected, peering briefly between the trees, "We're a little under time pressure. Sally told us to meet her at the Asylum after you let David out of the fog."
"Let David out of the fog, huh?", The Hag asked. Then she bent down, immediately scratching a sign into the earth. "Of course, of course, nothing easier than that."
Philip nodded in satisfaction while Lisa casually inquired about Sally but was interrupted by David.
"Wait," the survivor said, "Stop it. I´m not going out of the fog. At least not yet."
Philip gave him a short look of dismay
"You wanna stay here? David, we just saved you."
"Nea is here too, isn´t she?", David asked: "You said so, right? Now who am I if I just go now and leave them behind?"
"David, we..."
"Shut it," David called and immediately regretted his volume. He lowered his voice, "You want to get me out of here, fine. But only according to my conditions. Without Nea and Meg I'm going exactly nowhere, you can be sure of that, pal."
Philip glanced briefly at Lisa, who just shrugged her shoulders and said, "I've always said this guy's a fighty one."
The Wraith looked back to David again and after a moment's thought, he said, "Fine, have it your way. But neither I nor Lisa can guarantee your sa... "
"I don´t give a shit about my safety," David replied. "I'm fucked anyway. Let´s go to the asylum. I´m sure that Nurse friend o´ yours´s already waiting."
Surprisingly, David took the lead this time and the killers had no choice but to follow him into the forest.

Herman Carter ran through the corridors of his institute, his footsteps echoing from the walls. How shameful, how disgracing to have been locked up by the Hag in his own domain while she was escaping with one of his subjects. She could not be allowed to do that. It was unacceptable.
His eyes flashed over every nook and cranny, burning with rage and attentively searching for the little flame that would tell him the location of the totem. Such a small, fragile construct, yet as effective and powerful as the Entity itself.
Herman brutally pushed aside a hospital bed that blocked his path and then ran through a door into a small room. Immediately he spotted the faint glow, the orange flickering in the corner and walked over to the tiny totem. It burned merrily, almost looking peaceful. Then the Doctor's foot crashed down. The spell was broken.

Meg awoke startled and tried to sit up, before she imminently stopped her attempts again, after a stabbing pain crashed through her shoulder. Completely on its own her right hand moved to the wound and felt the bandage. It was soaked with blood, but effective. Relieved, the athlete took a deep breath, before she looked to the side.
She was still in the same room where the Hillbilly had fed her with berries and then tinkered around on his chainsaw. Now he was nowhere to be seen. Only his cruel tool was still laying there on the workbench and instilled chills into her body.
Again she tried to sit up, this time slower and more cautious. The chamber was shrouded by semidarkness and the pain in her shoulder robbed Meg of her sight for a brief moment, before she could orient herself clearly again.
Damn, how long had she been here?
Cursing, Meg got to her feet and stumbled to the workbench, keeping the bandage fixed with her right hand. She had been shot by her own weapon, that she remembered, but how much time had elapsed between the accident and the Hillbilly nursing her up, Meg could not possibly say. Where was the gun anyway?
A glance at the workbench immediately brought the answer. There were several black metal parts scattered around the chainsaw, among which were a clearly recognizable slide, a barrel and a bent magazine. The gun was destroyed, rendered completely unusable.
Meg slammed her fist on the table in frustration. If she were a weapons expert with several years of experience, maybe she would have been able to remove the parts from the chainsaw and reassemble them back into a weapon. Unfortunately, she had not learned anything useful all her life other than running away.
Meg turned away from the workbench and her heart skipped a beat, as the door to the chamber was forcefully jerked open. Max came in and looked at the empty resting place before he spotted the athlete on the other side of the room. With unexpected cautiousness, he moved toward her and tried to guide her back to the bed. He made various sounds, all of which somehow sounded like "Meg".
But the girl resisted.
"No, Max, stop, I´m okay."
Somewhat gruff, she slipped the hillbilly's paw off her arm and took a step back. Max looked at her briefly, before he tried to pull her back toward the resting place again, his grip a little stronger than before.
"Max, stop, let me go!"
Meg had raised her voice, as she tried to free herself again from his grasp. She hardly dared to lay hands on the Hilbillys ghastly figure, but under no circumstances was could she allow herself to lie down again. She had to help her friends, always assuming it was not too late for that already.
Violently she tore herself from Max and pushed him away. The Hillbilly took a step back and insecurely stared at her for a moment, before she overcame her aversion and approached him again, extending her healthy arm.
"Come on, Max, I didn´t mean it. But I'm fine, really."
Max looked down, almost as if she had hurt him. He obviously had no idea what he was supposed to do, when confronted with another human being, and Meg fervently hoped he would not make a hasty decision to solve the problem by force. Finally, he lifted his ugly face and stared straight into her eyes. Meg returned the look. Then he extended his arm and a little later his palm touched hers.
It was a strange experience, Meg thought as she felt his rough skin on her smooth one. Nevertheless, it was a crucial point, because the athlete was now finally sure that she had nothing to fear from Max. He wanted to help her. She did not care about the why right now. Something else was in the focus of her mind.
"Max," she said after clearing her thoughts for a moment, "My friends need me. They need us. Sally needs us. We have to help her, and you have to show me a way out of here. You know a way out, right?"
Max thought for a moment, letting his brain work on what she had just said and finally when Meg had already begun to doubt the effectiveness of their communication, he seemed to understand. Suddenly life came to his limbs as he moved to tackle this new task, grunting Meg's name several times.
Hurrying, he ran to the resting place and picked up Meg's baseball cap from the ground before gently putting it on her head. Then he grabbed the heavy chainsaw from the work bench and effortlessly lifted it with his left hand as if it was light like a feather. After that, he hobbled out of the room and gestured Meg to follow him.
The athlete did so immediately. She could not wait to escape the oppressive atmosphere of the cellar, even if she could not flee from the stench of the Entity that way, and ran after Max, who set a fast pace. He led her through two stone corridors into the room where she had fallen down, and then pulled aside the heavy metal door on which Meg had previously struggled in vain
Before he passed through though, he grabbed a heavy cattle hammer that the athlete remembered only too well. Nevertheless, she kept following him. Again, they went through a dark tunnel and then up a steep staircase, which ended, however, in a dead end.
But Max lost no time and began to push his shoulder against the bare surface, which, to Megs astonishment, began to slide backwards. A narrow passage was created. As Meg squeezed behind the Hillbilly through the gap, she realized she was back on the ground floor of the farmhouse. Right where she had started her search.
The wooden surface, that Max had just moved was in fact been the back of a wardrobe that had covered the entrance to the secret basement. Obviously, Max had been hiding. But from whom? Probably the Entity, or one of his henchmen, the Doctor and the Trapper.
"You didn´t want to be found?" Meg asked as the Hillbilly returned the piece of furniture to its original place. He answered her question with a growl, that sounded a little like, "Max"
"I understand," Meg replied, before clenching her teeth as a stabbing pain shot through her shoulder once again. "Okay, Max, we… we have to find Sally and help her. Alright?"
Max took a step toward her and nodded eagerly. He was so much taller than Meg, and she had to raise her head when she wanted to look him in the eye.
"But if we want to help Sally, we have to find her first."
"Sally," Max grunted excitedly.
"You don´t, by any chance, happen to know where she might be?"
Disappointed, Max shook his head and looked to the ground.
"Don´t worry. We´ll find her. We´ll just have to go looking,"
Meg formed her plan with a decisive nod, immediately raising the Hillbillys mood. He seemed eager to get stuff done, almost like a child who had been forced to sit still for far too long. The athlete thought for a moment.
"I'd say we go to the Asylum, maybe she came out there. And if not we´ll at least get a good overview over the surroundings. Do you know where it is?"
Max nodded vigorously and gestured for Meg to follow him, grunting her and Sally's name several times. Then he turned on his heels and limped away at a maddening pace, making Meg struggling with her injured shoulder. A few meters into the cornfield he already had to stop and wait for her.

David heard a rustle on his left and looked over his shoulder into the forest. He saw the Hag´s shadow creeping into the moonlight, just to vanish again behind a tree. Silently cursing, he wondered why the old woman, like Philip, could not simply walk beside him.
Stupid wench.
The Wraith was invisible, but David knew where he was at all times, so he could assign any of his noises at once. However, when Lisa kept breaking out and disappearing in the woods, apparently to explore the surrounding area, she scared him half to death every time she reappeared unannounced from the darkness.
"Don´t worry, if anyone else than Lisa approaches us, I´ll hear it soon enough," mumbled Philip, evidently noticing David's sudden jumping. The killer lowered his voice and his nervousness could be heard quite clearly, but David did not doubt him for a second. The Wraith had excellent senses. Nothing escaped his piercing eyes and his razor-sharp ears.
"How long until we reach the damned Asylum?", David asked, whispering as well, and again he suffered a small heart attack, when the Hag suddenly answered from a branch above him: "Lisa can already see it, oh yes. It ain´t far, ain´t far at all."
Giggling, she swung herself back down to the floor, while David took a deep breath to calm down.
"You´ve already seen it?" Philip wanted to know and stepped back to the survivor who had come to a halt. "We're going in the right direction, are we?"
"Yes, yes, we are, indeed", Lisa replied, pointing with her thumb over her shoulder: "It's right in front of us, big and dark."
"That's good news," Philip nodded, looking at David, hoping to cheer him up. He realized that was not the case and so he explained, "Once we get to the Asylum and meet with Sally, the whole thing´s as good as..."
But he did not get any further; Lisa had silenced him with a finger raised to her lips. David and Philip immediately looked over their shoulders and the survivor crouched reflexively. A leftover habit from the countless trials.
"What? What is it?" David asked with a shiver running through his body and he looked first to the Hag, then to the Wraith, who just shrugged his shoulders and turned to Lisa himself: "Did you hear something, Lisa?"
The Hag did not answer.
"Say something!"
"Lisa isn´t sure", the Hag clicked her tongue: "But the air doesn´t taste right anymore."
"That's the damn fog," David swore. "Of course the air doesn´t taste right here. As if this place... "
He stopped in the middle of the sentence and exchanged a look with Philip, who must have felt it too. It was like the breath of wind, an inconspicuous feeling that barely touched the skin. Tingling, it crawled into the limbs and crept down one´s back, first evenly, then suddenly pulsing.
David looked over his shoulder in the direction from which they had come and there in the distance he spotted a pale figure running towards them, carrying a stick in both hands and dressed in a fluttering doctor's coat.
"Run," Philip shouted, pulling David away, "Run! This way! And don´t stop!"
Of course, he had not to ask the survivor twice and caught by panic David set off. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lisa, who quickly drew a symbol into the dark earth and then followed him. Philip was naturally nowhere to be seen, but David could hear one of his footsteps again and again, sometimes a little in front of him, sometimes somewhere behind him. But David wasted no time at determining the exact location of the Wraith. All he cared about was escaping.
Adrenaline flooded his body and pushed him forward with unknown strength. Repeatedly David was hit in the face by low-hanging branches and several times he almost lost his balance due to a protruding root, but luckily, he never went down. His muscles were working at full capacity, and David wondered in fear how long he could manage that effort. Hastily, he glanced over his shoulder.
For a moment the Doctor was out of sight, but then he emerged from behind a tree and the next moment he had already spotted David and Lisa, as they fled from him. When he took up chase, a grey phantom of the Hag suddenly erupted from the ground, causing him to stumble sideways. What happened then, David did not know, as he had directed his eyes back to the front. Hope sprouted in his chest as a wall appeared between two bushes.
It was only a few feet long and had a single kink in the middle, but the material was inevitably that of the Asylum. Lisa had not lied, it was not far away anymore. It would be much easier to outsmart and loose Carter in the stretching corridors and hallways of the Asylum. And if Sally was already waiting for them nearby, she would help them fight him off, should it be necessary. Although the Doctor was a frightening monster, he was nowhere strong enough to prevail against three killers at the same time.
Again David looked over his shoulder and could not see Carter anywhere. Relieved, he slowed his sprint to a quick jog, now anxious not to make any unnecessary noise. If they were lucky, the Doctor had already lost track of them.
"Come on, we gotta go," Philip whispered behind David and he could hear the Wraith rush past him. Lisa had disappeared somewhere between the trees again, maybe she had been able to lure Carter the wrong way a second time.
David shook his head and despite the approaching danger, a grin stole across his lips. The whole situation was so absurd, the Wraith and the Hag were actually trying to save him, David King, from the Doctor's wrath. The rising hope that they would even succeed gave the survivor an inspiring sense of confidence.
A blast of lightning, followed by something that sounded like static, echoed through the air and David reflexively pressed his hands on his ears. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a glare and as he turned his head, he could see Philip on all fours and pulled out of his camouflage. Smoke crept up from his back and small bolts of lightning spilled from his clothes into the surroundings.
Just as the Wraith was about to get up, the Doctor appeared just a few feet away from behind a wall and sent another one of his electric shocks toward him. Once again hit, Philip twitched in sudden spasms and was shortly thereafter kicked to the ground, Carter now towering above him.
"Now who do we have here?", The Doctor asked in mocking amusement. His eyes burned down onto his victim as he put a foot on Philips back. He had not yet discovered David and hastily the survivor took cover behind a tree, his heart pounding against his chest.
"I already assumed it was you, who so outrageously robbed me of my subject."
Carter gave the Wraith another kick into the side.
"You endangered my work, Philip, just like Lisa, that filthy whore, and in order to limit the damage you´ve already done, you'll tell me where you've e hidden my precious guinea pig right now!"
Philip mumbled something, but apparently the Doctor could not understand it. Crouching down he put his head to the side.
"What did you say?"
"Fuck you," Philip snarled under a wheezing cough and was immediately grabbed by the throat. Shivering in anger, Carter lifted him up and crackling bolts of lightning flashed along his arm. The electricity flowed down the limbs of the Doctor, gathered in his blackened hand, and finally discharged into Philip, who cried out in pain.
Carter held the current flowing for a few seconds before dropping the Wraith back to the ground and kicking him in the side again. Smoke rose from Philips throat and spilled out of his mouth as he gasped and tried to catch his breath.
"That was not a question," the Doctor continued, slowly pulling the iron stick from his belt. With every passing moment, the menace rose in his forced grin, and in panic David searched his thoughts for a way to help Philip. Slashing the stick thundered down on the Wraiths back.
"Ah, Philip, just how did you come up with the idea of risking your life for this scum?" Carter asked, letting his weapon slap into his hand twice: "Was it Lisa's idea? Possibly. But then again, it sounds a lot like Sally, that bitch. I haven´t seen her in the fog since the Entities collapse and I wouldn´t exactly be surprised if she had come back as well."
Carter emphasized the last word in a cruel tone and at the same time powerfully rammed his foot against the Wraith. Philip who had tried to get up, went down to the ground again, groaning in pain.
"She´s always had a soft spot for the vermin, hasn´t she?"
The Doctor was more speaking to himself than to Philip now.
"Whatever. I'll take care of them as soon as I'm done with you."
Again, the stick crashed down, and David was desperately trying to come with a plan. He had to do something. Anything. A moment later, he spotted Philips axe lying on the floor just behind the Doctor.
"But now." The doctor crouched down again, grabbed the Wraith by the neck and pulled him up. "Now you´ll tell me where my subject is."
"Just in the right place," Philip growled, pushing Carter away with all his power before reaching for the weapon David had thrown at him in the same moment. In one motion he caught the axe and let it fly towards the Doctor, who was just able to parry the attack with his stick.
His coat flying around, he now proceeded to counterattack using all his force and tried to stab Philip right into the chest. The Wraith jumped backwards at the last moment, giving Carter time to turn around and rush toward the now revealed and defenceless David, his eyes burning in raging fury.
As fast as possible Philip dove forward and hit the Doctor in the back. But the attack had been rushed and executed hastily and therefore failed to inflict any considerable injuries. What it did though was pull the Doctors attention back towards the Wraith and David took the opportunity to hide himself again.
Roaring, Carter now pushed against Philip, covering him with a series of wild blows. The Wraith was able to block some of them, others he had to block and several times he was almost knocked of his feet. After another parried attack, the Doctor surprised Philip by thrusting his shoulder forward during a feinted lunge.
Philip was thrown backwards, and his back slammed brutally against a hard brick wall, pushing all the air out of his lungs. Because of the bulk and power of the two killers, David had already expected to see the wall collapse, but nothing like that happened. Instead, it remained upright, hard and impenetrable, cutting of every possible route of retreat.
Screaming wildly, the Doctor charged at the Wraith, who was only able to defend himself under greatest difficulty. Just like the first, the second blow missed, while the third had to be parried and the Doctor´s stick was caught in the hooks of Azarov´s spine.
With a jerk, Carter pulled his weapon back and ripped Philips axe out of his hand. In shock, David watched the Wraith pull his arms up in an attempt to defend himself and dark blood splashed at the wall behind him. The blow had hit his upper arm and tore it from top to bottom.
With a cry of pain Philip finally lost his balance and fell to the ground, Carter already raising his foot to ram it in the Wraith´s face, but he was pushed away at the same moment by an angry ex-football player who had stormed out of his cover and rammed the Doctor right into the side. Growling, the killer looked around for the new attacker and discovered David, who slowly realized that he had probably made a mistake.
His face distorted by rage, the Doctor reached out and swung for the survivor, but David managed to dodge him. The next moment, however, the killer clenched his hand into a fist, charged it up with sparkling electricity and sent a devastating shockwave in the survivor´s direction.
David was hit with full force. All air was pressed out of his lungs, as the Doctor´s stick crashed down on his chest. David heard his ribs break and he was thrown several meters through the air, before hitting the ground. where he remained cramped and powerless. Philip in the meantime had tried to get up, but a quick shockwave kept him down.
"Unruly to the very end," the Doctor muttered, adjusting his coat and brushing off the dust, "I know your kind. They usually last the longest and deliver the best results. It will be a pleasure to host you on my table. But before we get to work, let´s wish Philip here a good night."
Carter threateningly stood over the Wraith, who was barely able to lift his arm in defence anymore, and reached out for the fatal blow. The tip of the metal weapon glittered in the moonlight and Philip´s blood dripped from the cruel points that had been placed alongside it´s shaft. The Doctor's muscles tensed and just as he was about to let the stick end Philip´s life, a shadow flew down from one of the trees. The creature landed on Carters back and began to work on his face, using long, sharp claws.
Carter cried out in pain and completely surprised he dropped his stick. With both hands he desperately reached for the creature, but he could not catch her. Giving him on last blow, the Hag jumped off and immediately ran to David, while the Doctor found himself on his knees, groaning in pain and his hands pressed in front of his face. Blood spurted out between his black fingers, but Lisa knew she had barely a moment to spare.
Hastily, she picked up David from the ground and carried him towards Philip, who was about to pull himself onto his feet, using the wall as support. Hurriedly she threw the survivor on the Wraith´s shoulder, causing him to almost collapse again. Then, with a sharp claw, Lisa carved a symbol into the wall and black mist immediately condensed over the dark surface.
"Lisa, what... what are you doing?" Philip stammered, struggling to keep David on his shoulder.
"Lisa sends you home," the Hag replied, pulling at his arm. She could see the Doctor behind his shoulder, who had risen in pain and was now slowly turning his face at the three of them. Several cuts crossed his already disfigured face, one of which ran right through his right eye. Blood dripped to the ground as Carter stormed at Philip, screaming in blind anger.
"Time to go," the Hag cackled, giving Philip a strong push that sent him straight into the black mist. Then she scratched over the symbol and ripped several lines across the rune. At the last moment, she jumped to the side before the Doctor broke through the dark cloud and slammed his weapon against the wall.
Confused and blinded by fury, it took him a moment, before he understood what had happened. Desperate and half-blinded, Carter looked around and turned his head in all directions, searching for any indication of where his prey might have gone. When he could not detect anything and his defeat became clear, crackling bolts of light exploded into the surrounding area as he yelled angrily and struck the wall several times.
Meanwhile, Lisa had taken herself up into the safety of the trees, sitting on a branch, hidden in the darkness and invisible to the eye. Silently, she watched the Doctor for a second before quietly climbing away.

Sally cautiously wandered through the forest. Her feet were only inches above the ground, deeper than usual, so that the tips of the blades of grass tickled her toes. The Nurse did not know why only now she had discovered that she still had some gravity left within herself. It was probably the influence of the Entity, which had stifled these thoughts for a long time and only the collapse of Sally's former master had allowed them to break free and return into her mind.
Between the trees, the walls of the asylum appeared, and when Sally raised her head, she could see the place from which she had jumped down. She peered attentively along the walls, searching for any threats, before glancing up at the barred windows. The shadow of the cold walls sprouted dark memories, and in her head, Sally heard a terrifying, drawn-out scream from bygone times.
There was nobody to see.
Evan had probably left the building after patrolling his traps, Sally thought, slowly emerging from among the trees. The only question was, where to? She could see the traces the Trapper had left when he had entered the asylum, but it was more important in which direction he had gone afterwards. If she wanted to find him, those tracks would be her best hope.
Sally turned right and began to circle the building. The Trapper was a cruel man, which was reflected in his steps. They were hard and heavy, racking up the earth and remaining recognizable for a long time. Especially here in the fog, where no breeze stirred, and nature seemed to be frozen in the present. Luckily, she herself did not leave any traces at all.
As she rounded the asylum and looked for clues, the Nurse's thoughts wandered to Meg, Nea, and Anna. The three had not turned up yet and all she could to was hope that they were fine. Maybe Evan had spotted one of them and laid out the traps to catch the in the asylum, after luring them there.
Sally shook her head. That was unlikely. As far as she knew, they had all come into the fog at the same time and Evan would hardly have had time to prepare his equipment for the rescue team. No, the traps were meant for David and Jake. The former had been in the Doctor's hands, and Sally doubted that Evan had not known about it, which hopefully meant that the latter had managed to elude Evan so far. Why else should he check his traps?
The Nurse hovered around a corner, silent like the wind, and spotted a track leading from a window in the wall of the asylum across the narrow strip of grass and into the forest. The footprints had been pounded into the ground by heavy boots. It could only be Evan.
Sally had bent down to inspect the tracks. Now she rose up again, nodding satisfied and peering into the trees. Evan was a dangerous and cruel man and although he had not found Jake yet, Sally still had to make sure no other survivor ended up in his hands. Besides, it was her only track. There were no other clues.
She might even be able to persuade him to turn away from the Entity. In contrast to the Doctor, the Trapper had always been amenable to logical arguments, so it was quite possible that Sally could draw him on her side, or at least persuade him to stop his hunt. Maybe he was unsure, did not know what to do or how to escape the fog. Sally would offer him a way out.

Silently she went on and just as she was about to disappear between the trees, she glanced over her shoulder at the derelict wall, which the Entity had perpetuated as silent monument of her sorrow in the timeless reality of the fog. Then Sally looked ahead again.
It was not long before suffocating darkness enveloped her as she was gliding through the forest, peering suspiciously in all directions. Sally had never experienced the fog in the role of the prey before, and even now she could hardly imagine what it must have felt like for a helpless girl like Claudette, when she was hunted through the darkness by merciless killers like herself. The Nurse had a debt to settle and she would do everything to make things right.
The Entity had equipped Sally, among other things with improved vision in the dark, so she could still follow the Trapper´s tracks in front of her. Had she been a normal person, she would have already lost her way after a few steps and end up completely at the mercy of the killers. But she was no longer a normal person and so she traced the tracks deeper and deeper into the forest, sneaking between the trees and following the Trapper further and further into the fog.
After a while, Sally noticed the flora begin to change around her. The trees stood closer and closer to each other with every metre she proceeded, and the grass grew higher and higher until it finally reached her knees. The temperature dropped slowly and only after some time did Sally realize that she was shivering.
Confused, she wrapped her arms around her upper body and tried to remember the last time she had felt like this. As a killer, the Entity had stripped her of all body heat, so that she herself had never really felt cold, unlike the survivors, whom she had always found trembling, but not only because of fear.
And there had been one specific arena, where the temperature had been especially harsh.
Sally floated on for a while before a silhouette between the trees confirmed her guesses. A large wooden hut slowly emerged in the darkness, made of rough tree trunks and a stone foundation.
Inside, Sally knew, there were all sorts of objects that suggested the existence of a child. There was a hobbyhorse and carved wooden dolls, while a big stove chased away the cold. Sally knew exactly who had lived here and once again she wondered what Anna had experienced before her fate in the fog.
At any rate, the Trapper now seemed to have set up his quarters here, the tracks leading directly to the dwelling before disappearing into a black doorway. Sally drifted slowly toward the building, keeping out of sight as best she could and peering over her shoulder every now and then. She had to avoid being ambushed at all costs and she knew that Evan would try exactly that, had he somehow been informed about her or anyone´s arrival.
It was risky, but if Sally wanted to know more, she would have to enter the cabin and search the inside, maybe even finding one of the survivors there. Before doing so however, she would wait and see if she could spot any sign of the Trapper. Something that would give away his position and tell her, if the was expecting a visitor. Maybe he would even leave and then her way would be free.
The Nurse knelt down, allowing herself to leave her floating state and touch the ground with her feet. Again, she felt the damp earth between, which provided her with a surreal sense of security, while she was keeping her eyes on the house.
For a while nothing happened, and Sally kept looking nervously over her shoulder, fearing an ambush. But there was nobody there. It was completely quiet, both in the shack and around it. Every now and then a raven croaked in the rafters, but apart from that, the building seemed empty and uninhabited.
Maybe it was.
Sally decided to circle the house and look for any traces the Trapper might have left when leaving the building. She got up and floated backwards into the forest, trying to stay behind trees and bushed blocking line of sight between her and the windows. Then she described a wide circle around the old house as her look shot from the ground to the hut and back again. It was not long before she had returned to her starting point.
Evan was apparently still in Anna's old home or he had blurred his tracks while walking, but Sally thought it unlikely. Nevertheless, she had to do something. Sitting here and continuing to stare at the walls would not take her any further, and if Evan was really on the move, every second she kept waiting would increase the likelihood of him returning.
Sally had to act.
Slowly she began moving toward the house, leaving the protective thickets of the trees and appearing in the silver moonlight, where her shape was reflected in a muddy puddle on the ground.
The Nurse kept her eyes on the house, and only once did she look back to make sure she was not being followed. Then she reached the walls of the building and approached a window to her left. As quietly as she could she climbed through the opening into the darkness.
Inside, it was warm and stuffy, the ashes of a fire glowed in the oven and a gas lamp that probably came from the Autohaven Wreckers bathed the room into a pale light. At one of the walls Sally spotted a pile of firewood, while on the other side a hobby horse was leaning against the cold stone, flanked by a wooden figure representing a witch.
Sally wondered if Anna had made the toy, before she brushed the thought aside and concentrated on her task. She still did not know if she was alone. Evan might still be in here and the faster she got her information, the better. She only wanted to know if Jake was in the Trapper's hands and if not, if there were any clues to his whereabouts.
She looked around and saw a staircase that led down into the accursed basement, the Entity had always added to his arenas. Sally had always detested the place, but it had been a useful tool to trap the survivors and sacrifice them to the dark master.
What was new, however, was the grille that blocked the passage. It lay vertically on the rectangular opening, made of coarse iron bars and fastened with large nails that had been driven into the ground underneath.
Sally floated over the structure and knelt down to inspect the barrier. She quickly realized that there was no getting through here, unless one was strong enough to tear the bars out of the ground. Or one was able to teleport.
Sally looked around again and considered using her power. This grille looked like it was guarding something or holding someone prisoner and she would bet her bone saw on that someone being Jake. Maybe he was trapped down there, abandoned in the darkness and stripped of any hope. There was only one way to find out.
Just as Sally clenched her hand into a fist, she heard heavy footsteps right above her head. They moved to the right and then to the stairs that connected the upper floor to the ground floor. The big boots stomped hard on the wooden floor and Sally hurried to get away from the grate.
She knew for sure that she did not have time to leave the room and if Evan was to discover her then she did not want to make the impression that she was snooping around. Hurriedly she hovered toward the table in the middle of the room, when the bulky shape of the Trapper appeared at the bottom of the stairs.
Evan stopped abruptly as he spotted Sally glancing around the room, pretending to just have entered through the door. He still had his grinning mask strapped in front of his face and his flesh was still pierced by cruel iron hooks. Even without moving, the Trapper remained an intimidating figure.
"Sally," he said, and suspicion lay in his tone: "What a surprise."
The Nurse slowly drifted toward him.
"Good evening, Evan"
"What are you doing here?", the Trapper asked.
"Am I not allowed to visit old friends?"
She hoped that Evan would not see through the admittedly weak lie, but she could not think of anything better. For a moment the Trapper's eyes locked on Sally. Then he nodded and pointed to the table in the middle of the room.
"Of course you are, please sit down."
Taking a deep breath, the Nurse struggled to hide her relief as she pulled back a chair and sat down on it. Casually, she put one leg over the other, watching Evan march to a nearby cupboard. The Trapper pulled out two glasses, came back to the table, set them down, and then went back again to fetch a dusty green bottle. Sally barely recognizing the fluid on the inside.
"I didn´t know that Anna had a private bar in her house," she joked, trying to lighten the oppressive mood. Evan walked past her and sat down at the table, his eyes always clenched onto her. Skilfully he filled the glasses before placing the bottle on the table.
"She doesn´t" the masked giant replied: "But you didn´t really believe that this retarded freak would appreciate a piece of culture like this schnapps, did you? No, no, I discovered this noble drop in the hold of the Pale Rose."
Evan pushed one of the glasses toward her.
"But I completely forgot: you have a soft spot for the bunny, not to mention our chainsaw idiot."
Sally picked up the glass and inspected the beverage before answering.
"I feel sorry for them, Evan. They´re not responsible for who they are."
She turned her eyes to the Trapper.
"But that's not the first time we´ve had this conversation."
"No, it´s not"
Evan laughed.
"Well, those glasses won´t empty themselves."
Casually, he reached up to the back of his head and opened the straps holding his mask in place. A moment later, the grinning visage clattered on the table, revealing the true face of the man the survivors knew only as the Trapper. Edged and scarred, a piercing look and a broad nose were the dominant features.
"Come on, Sally. I know you're not happy with what the Entity did to your face, but you don´t have to hide it from me."
A grin shot over his lips.
"We are all monsters here."
Sally hesitated for a moment before raising her hand and removing the pillowcase from her head. Like a waterfall, black hair fell on her shoulders as she turned her remaining eye on Evan. Then she raised the glass.
"Monster!" the Trapper exclaimed, pouring the alcohol down his throat in seconds. A disgusting smell hit Sally's nose as she brought her own glass to her lips and took a swig. Disgusted, she grimaced and put the drink aside.
"Alright, Sally", Evan said, after putting down his now empty cup: "How do you like my new home?"
The Nurse let her eyes wander around and then replied, "I doubt Anna will give it up that easily. You know, she's very attached to this building."
"And you know that I don't give a shit, about what Anna thinks or does.
Evan emphasized the Huntress´s name with particular disgust.
"The Entity is gone, as you surely have noticed. There is no one else to keep me away from her, and I have no problem with showing the freak where she belongs."
"Then I hope you never cross her path again," Sally remarked as she tried catch a clear thought. Evan had lost none of his violence after the disappearance of the Entity, but at the same time he had not noticed the rescue party yet. Maybe he could still be reasoned with.
"I hope so too," Evan replied, pouring out his second round, "for her sake. She probably left the fog, just like Lisa. The old bitch wanted to take one of the survivors with her, as if not enough of them had escaped already. She got in my way, can you believe it?"
"I suppose you didn´t stand for it," Sally said in a deliberately indifferent tone, and Evan laughed, "Not at all. One quick stroke and there she crawled. Bought just enough time however for the one with the green jacket to lose me. You know the one?"
Sally nodded. She knew who Evan was talking about.
"But not for long," the Trapper continued. "A little later he stepped into one of my irons, the fool. All I had to do was pick him up. Got him chained up down there."
Evan nodded his head on the grate above the basement stairs and took a self-satisfied sip. Sally followed his gaze, trying to look as indifferent as she tried to process the new information. So Jake actually was behind the bars and Evan did not sound like he was going to let him go. Anyway, she had to try.
"You still follow the Entities call?" Sally asked, looking back at Evan, "Why? He´s history and there is nothing that forces you to torment this poor soul anymore."
"No?" The Trapper answered, looking down at his glass. "I'm not so sure about that."
The Nurse raised her eyebrows.
"I mean, look at it, Sally. We´re killers. Our purpose, the mere reason for our existence, is the hunt for our prey. That's what the Entity made us, whether he still exists or not."
"Evan, please listen to me," Sally said in shock, "you did not deserve that. Nobody deserves that. What the Entity did to us and what we did to them were terrible things. But they are things of the past. The Entity is gone and that does matter. We can be free if we want and live our own lives. We don´t have to kill anymore."
"Do you really believe that?" Evan countered, standing up, "Besides, I don´t want to kill him. At least not right away. If I wanted, I would have done it right there. But why does it bother you, what I do with the bastard anyway?"
Sally shook her head and followed the Trapper with her orange glowing eye.
"Evan, you can´t be serious. Of course it bothers me what you do to him. Just as it bothers me what the Entity did to you. These hooks… that´s pain, you do not deserve."
"You forget why he tortured us," Evan said. "Because we were weak. We were not strong enough to do our job and we paid the price. But I learned my lessons. Pity is for the weak, Sally, I hope you understand that someday."
She looked up at him.
"And what are you going to do now?"
The Trapper was now right next to her, towering threating over Sally. After a moment of silence, he answered.
"Revenge"
"Evan, please, revenge won´t relieve your pain."
"No, it won´t," the Trapper said, "but that's the way the world works. They fooled us over and over again, Sally, and if those bastards had cared a damn about our suffering, I would not have any hooks in my back today. They made their choice in countless trials and now they´ll reap what they sowed."
He looked to the grid.
"At least one of them."
"What are you waiting for then?" Sally asked, "If you're so hungry for revenge, why are you trapping him down there?"
"As I said," Evan replied, "Compassion is a weakness and it is this very weakness that will drive the others back into my hands. I know they´re the only ones who can get back in and nobody else. If Lisa´s in the real world, then they've probably heard about her and now know that two of their companions are still in her with me. But while we're at it, a question comes to mind, Sally. Where have you been the last days?"
The Nurse reached for her bone saw, but Evan was faster. With the strength of a bear he turned her arm on her back and forced her upper body down on the table. A sharp scream escaped her lips, but Sally would not give up that easily. With a growl, she clenched her left hand into a fist and started summoning Spencer's last breath.
But Evan spotted the ruse. Forcefully he yanked her back while pounding his knee against her head so that she was flung down to the floor. Before she could straighten up, the Trapper stepped with all his strength on her left arm and Sally could hear her own bones break. In agony she cried out, but a second later Evan had already grabbed her by the neck and lifted her up.
"And I´d already hoped you´d be smarter. Oh Sally, to get involved with the survivors... How many are here? Three? Four? All of them?"
Sally did not answer. Instead she clenched her teeth, trying to free herself from Evan's iron grip. With her right foot she kicked against his knee and caused him to lose balance for a moment. It was not enough to escape however.
Snarling, the Trapper pulled Sally around and dragged her toward the table, where he rammed her head into the wooden surface with all his might. Crashing, she hit the hard table top and her vision went dark. Then a second and a third time. After the fourth blow she was already gone, and it took two more, until the Trapper noticed that the Nurse did not move anymore.
Growling, he threw Sally´s lifeless body to the ground and gave her one last powerful kick, breaking all the bones in her chest. Then he walked around the table and reached for his mask. The survivors were back in the fog. He had work to do.