DISCLAIMER: Ain't mine. Period.

Chapter Two: The Wilderness

"What do we do now?" Ayako asked quietly. She tried to ignore the growing sensation in her stomach and the hairs that were standing to rise at the back of her neck. She was not used to a town with no electricity power.

"I'd say we stay here and enjoy our vacation." Kiyota said stubbornly. "It's free anywayz. Why waste it?"

"I don't like this." Akagi spoke up. His eyebrows were furrowed in a frown and his muscles were stiff and tense. "I don't like this at all."

"Me either." Said Sendoh.

"Look, it's not a problem." Mitsui stated. "We could just pack up and leave. No big deal."

"I don't think so." Miyagi's eyes were focused on the floor with fierce concentration. "I heard at the restaurant that a real storm is coming up." He raised his eyes and stared outside. Dark clouds covered the sky and occasional rumblings of thunder were heard. "I don't think we can make it."

"So what do we do? Sit here and brood?" demanded Sakuragi.

"I don't feel very comfortable here." Kogure admitted. "I'd really like to leave this place."

Hikoichi suddenly snapped his fingers. "Wait a minute." He faced Sendoh. "There was another town a few miles from here, right?"

"Yeah." Sendoh nodded.

"And I remember seeing electricity lines there. We can go call Coach Taoka there for our peace of mind. And maybe we can ask him to send someone to get us."

Sakuragi snorted. "We have a van. We don't need someone to get us. And you can't possibly go there, if ever there was another town. There's a storm, remember?"

Ayako sighed. "Sakuragi's right. We're stuck here."

"Not if I can't help it." Fujima stood determinedly. "I'm not just gonna sit here and wonder what the fuck is going on. I want answers and I want it now." He gazed at Akagi. "We came here by bus, so can I borrow your van?"

"Sure. I'll go with you." He stood up.

"Me too." Said Maki, also standing up.

"You ain't leaving without me." Sakuragi declared. Sendoh, Hanagatta, Uozumi and Kiyota also stood up.

"Alright. The rest of you, go back to your rooms and try to catch some sleep." Akagi ordered.

"And for god's sake, try not to worry too much." Uozumi added.

"I'm sorry guys, but I think we're lost." Akagi admitted defeatedly two hours later.

"How can that be?" Sakuragi asked roughly. "How can you be lost when there's only one road?"

It was raining hard, the droplets of water falling like pellets from the sky. The wind howled loudly and eerily, lashing furiously at the trees and leaves, which were cloaked by the darkness. The fog was so thick; Akagi's eyes were straining from fatigue.

"I'd swear we've been here before." Said Kiyota.

"Are you kiddin'? We can't even see a goddamn thing."

"Maybe we should go back."

"Go back where? We're lost, remember?"

"Yeah, well. Sorry. I had amnesia."

"Oh, haha. Very funny."

"You can stop being sarcastic."

"Gee, I'm sorry. I can't help it. It just comes naturally."

"What the hell is your problem?"

"Will you people stop it!" Akagi yelled angrily from the driver's seat. "We're fuckin lost, fuckin hungry, and so fuckin tired! And all you guys do is bicker like some immature brats!"

There was a tense silence. Akagi never cursed.

The wipers flicked back and forth noisily as the strong wind threatened to blow the van sideways. The rain fell loudly above them.

Uozumi sighed. "We're all tired. Let's just try to survive this night, okay?"

It took about half an hour before somebody spoke up again.

"Hey look! That looks like a fence!" Fujima cried, unable to control his growing excitement.

"A fence?" Kiyota stared at him blankly. "So what?"

"Don't you get it?" He asked impatiently.

All shook their heads.

"There might be a house nearby."

Everybody craned from their seats and strained their eyes, trying to see beyond the fog and the darkness that surrounded them.

"Hey, hey! I think I see a roof!"

"Yeah, I see it too!"

"That's a driveway!" Fujima pointed. "Just infront of us. C'mon, let's go there!"

Akagi maneuvered the van towards the unusually wide driveway. He stopped the engine near wide steps leading to the house. They couldn't make out properly the house because of the fog and darkness.

"C'mon! Let's make a run for it!"

All of them scrambled out of the vehicle and ran as fast as they could up the stairs. Fortunately, there was a shade at the top of the stairs that protected the huge oak doors.

"Wow! This must be a mansion."

Sakuragi gaped at the huge double doors. Both panels were carved with a lion. Its teeth were bared as if growling silently.

"Quit staring!" Uozumi yelled, trying to be heard above the deafening rain and the thunder. The occasional lightning served as a source of light for them. He was already trying to open the doors. "Help me push!"

Everybody stood beside the doors and pushed. After a few seconds, the doors finally gave way for them. Not wasting anymore time, they went inside and quickly closed the door. All of them were already soaking wet and shivering from the cold.

"Hello?" Fujima called out. Nobody answered.

"W-what now?" Sendoh asked. He was breathing heavily and his usually spiky hair fell and plastered itself on his face.

"F-fire. We n-need to m-make f-fire." Hanagatta forced out from his clattering mouth. He was sitting on the floor with his arms wrapped around his middle, trying to lessen the cold from his body.

Akagi glanced around the room interestedly. Although it was so dark, he could make out wide stairs at the center leading to the second floor. There were many woodcarvings at every furniture and every door. He advanced forward and deduced that there were approximately three doors at either side. He opened the door nearest at the right side. Stepping inside, he was welcomed by black darkness. All of a sudden, lightning flashed and in that split second, he saw the interior of the room. It looked like a living room. Sofas and upholsters were set up infront of a huge fireplace. Beside it were large logs.

A fireplace!

"Hey!" Akagi shouted. "I found a fireplace!"

They were sitting by the fire a while later. Maki found dry matches on one of the drawers a while age and used it to build a fire. Their clothes were by now half-dried and they were starting to get hungry.

"Let's check out the kitchen." Sakuragi declared, standing up. "I don't know about y'all, but I'm hungry."

"Tell me something I don't know." Kiyota mumbled under his breath.

"No food." Maki replied, entering the room. He was holding a torch which he found along with the matches. "This place looks deserted."

"I checked out all the other rooms and found these." Sendoh stated, holding up blankets. He, too, was holding a torch.

"Guess we're crashing here tonight." Uozumi remarked.

She watched them patiently from above. Unknown to them, there was a balcony above the living room. The darkness served as her camouflage.

Her twisted mouth curved into an evil smile.

Pathetic idiots.

So easily falling into a trap.

Her smile turned into a wince as impregnable pain rocked her entire body. Her remaining fingers touched her stomach, where it was starting to bleed again. She stared at the guys who were getting ready to sleep with hungry eyes.

It won't be long.

I'm gonna get you.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: I'm not very familiar with the facts about Slamdunk… If there are any errors… Well… Don't flame me… Just inform me… ^_^