Chapter 18

Frederick sat and listened to the others account of what happened. He remained silent until everyone had told their own story.

"So." He said rubbing his chin.

"So?" Asked Teaspoon.

"She has marked her three to complete the life circle. One is already missing, the other is you." He said pointing to Ike.

Ike nodded.

"Let me see your back shoulder."

Ike looked at Emma who motioned for him to go ahead. He pulled his shirt down to reveal the moon. Frederick leaned back.

"The mark that he bears is hers. She needs his life to make herself whole again. The other fellow went missing yesterday. Where's the other?"

"Ain't sure. He ain't been acting like himself. He rode out of here today. We couldn't track him."

"He's the one then."

"The one?" Asked Emma.

"Yes. He was the first. She chose him because he would be easy to consume. Take over his mind and tell him what she expected of him. He would do her bidding. If I had to guess, she will start roaming tonight. He will meet her out there."

"Cody." Said Lou in shock.

"He must have the stone."

"I dropped it. It went down to the bottom of a lake." Said Louise.

"You thought it did but he has it. She possesses the stone. As long as he holds it, she can inform him what to do. She will have to reassert her hold on the other two."

"An old wise man told me that this woman was cursed. How did she get free?" Asked Buck.

"It was by me."

"You?"

"Yes. Me and a young indian woman. I was a young naive sorcerer and she was a chosen spirit. I set her free by my own stupidity. The young indian cursed her and took the stone for safekeeping. After many years of life, she didn't want her immortality and she gave it up for love. She is gone so now it has become my sole responsibility to find the specter and send her back. I've been chasing her for over a hundred years and I've come close. This is the closest that she has ever been to being mortal again. Now is my chance to send her back to hell and to set myself free."

"How will you do that?"

"It's not for mortals to know. Just know that I will try my best not to fail you."

"What about my boys?" Asked Teaspoon.

"If I succeed, then they will live. I don't have to tell you the other."

"How do we know that you are telling the truth?" Asked Kid.

Frederick stuck his hand out and motioned for them to follow him outside. They watched from the porch as he stood in the center of the yard. He started chanting something over and over. The clouds gathered putting the station in a haze. He kept repeating it. The wind kicked up. Thunder boomed overhead. They watched as he pointed to the empty pasture. A single bolt of lightning crashed down. He turned back to them and said something else. They saw him float over and land in front of them.

"Well?"

"I think we're good." Said Kid in shock.

Cody sat on his horse and watched the activity at the station. He saw the strange man. He knew he couldn't return. He rode out onto the open plain and waited for the night to fall. After the sun set, he felt the eerie breeze and heard the wail. He breathed in deep and looked out. He saw her floating toward him. He smiled.

Ike was laying down on his bunk when he heard it. He jumped up waking the others.

"Slow down, Ike."

Frederick was there along with Teaspoon and Emma. He put his hand up.

"He says he heard it." Said Buck.

"She's back."

Ike looked at the faces of the others in fear. He frowned and fell down to his knees. Emma and Buck rushed to him. He pointed and tried to grab his back. Buck jerked his shirt off. The moon was black and smelled like it was burning. Ike gasped in pain.

"She's coming for him. We need to be alert for anything!" Yelled Frederick.

Just then the wind started howling outside. Dust kicked up blocking their view from all the windows. Buck ran to the door. Frederick went to grab his arm but the door cracked open before he could. The dust swirled inside. Everyone had to hold their breath and close their eyes. The dust filled the room until they couldn't see each other. Just as quickly as it came, the dust settled. Kid and Lou coughed as they shook the dust off of themselves. Everyone else swatted the dust off their clothes. The entire bunkhouse was covered in dust and dirt. Emma wiped her eyes. Frederick looked around. Buck was frantically searching.

"Don't bother. She has him."

Jimmy woke and tried to clear his eyes. He wiped his face. He looked at his hand. He had blood on it. He rubbed his eyes. He wasn't tied anymore. He felt something around his neck. He reached up and felt along. He had on a steel collar. He looked at the large chain coming off it. He followed it over to an old mining car. He pulled. He couldn't budge it. He started searching for something to use on the chain or as a weapon but the area was spotless. He heard something. He heard it again. It couldn't be. He started pulling at his neck and the chain. He felt the fear rising up. He suddenly felt dizzy. He fell onto his knees still holding the chain.

Ike woke laying in a small clearing. Trees were all around him. He reached up and felt the lump on his head. He grimaced. He sat upright when he felt something tug at his neck. He felt a collar. A big collar. He followed the chain with his eyes. It was fastened into the rock face. He looked up. It was daylight and what appeared to be late morning. The last thing he remembered was being in the bunkhouse last night. He remembered that dust storm then nothing. He heard a noise away in the distance. Then the sound of another chain. He stood up and saw what looked like Jimmy stirring across the clearing. He clapped his hands.

Jimmy eased up and looked across the clearing. It was Ike.

"Ike?! You ok?!"

'I think so. Don't know how I got here. What's going on?'

"It ain't good. We got to figure out how to make a run for it. If we can." Jimmy said bending over.

'You ok?' Signed Ike after clapping to get Jimmy's attention.

"Yeah just ain't feeling too keen right now. I been here with nothing for two days. It's catching up to me is all."

'Where's Cody?'

"Around. He got me here. I've kinda lost track of my days but I think we ain't got but one left."

'The others know. They will find us.'

"But what are they gonna do if they find us, Ike?"

'They have help this time.'

Ike watched as Jimmy pulled and fought the chain until he sat down on the ground holding his side. Ike started looking around where he was chained but there was nothing within reach. He looked up as the sun beat down on them. He saw Jimmy crawl over to the mine car and try to find some shade. He had two trees near him. Ike went and held his breath as he climbed up a little ways. He broke down a few branches with leaves. He held onto his stomach as he carefully slid down. He clapped hands to get Jimmy to look at him. He held up the branches.

Jimmy turned toward Ike. He wiped the sweat from his face. He had a few tree branches. He held onto his side as he crawled over on his knees. Ike tossed him some branches. Jimmy leaned them up against the mine car trying to get some more shade.

"Thanks Ike."

Ike nodded and eased back against the tree. They both turned when they heard a horse approaching.

Cody rode into the clearing. He saw both his friends. He actually smiled as he saw Jimmy trying to hide under some tree branches from the sun. He looked to Ike.

"So nice of you, Ike. But don't worry, she comes for you tonight. She will get her hold on you again. Then she will be human and we can be together."

"That's the damn stupidest thing I've ever heard." Mumbled Jimmy.

"No, what's stupid is you thinking that you have a chance to live through this."

'We are your friends! Help us! Don't do this!' Signed Ike.

"I know Ike and I'm going to miss you but sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the greater good."

"And what are you sacrificing?" Asked Jimmy.

"My family. Now shut up. Night will be here soon enough."

Ike and Jimmy watched as Cody walked over to the shade. He pulled out food wrapped in a towel. He sat and ate. Jimmy turned his head. Ike shook his then looked at Jimmy with fear in his eyes. Jimmy looked back at Ike. He couldn't help himself much less him. He felt weak and defeated. He tried to close his eyes as the sun beat down on both of them.