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Poltergeist: The Legacy fan fiction by Nicol Leoraine
3.Chapter
"One cannot live with the dead; either we die with them, or we make them live again"
- Quoted by Louis Martin-Chauffer
Derek was almost asleep, when Nick started to trash and mumble. It was clear he was dreaming. Derek neared him, trying to calm him down. It wasn´t the best thing to do. As he reached out to touch him, Nick´s leg shot up and almost hit Derek in the chest.
"Come on, Nick. Wake up!" urged him Derek, afraid that he will only hurt himself trashing around like this. The precept panicked, never before seeing Nick in the throws of a nightmare.
"Nick, wake up!" he shook him, sending waves of agony through his body. Nick´s eyes flipped open and he looked around, his eyes frantic. He shot up, regretting the move almost instantly, but nevermind trying to get away from Derek.
"Nick, it´s me. You´re safe Nick. Come on, it was just a nightmare." Derek reached out, trying to steady him.
Nick blinked, only now realising where he was. With realization came the pain and the fact he was leaning on his bad arm caused his breathless body to collapse back on the ground. Derek eased him down, careful of the injuries, while Nick tried to calm his ragged breathing.
"What happened Nick? Are you all right?"
"I think - so," answered Nick after a moment.
"Nightmares"
Nick only nodded.
"The same one?"
"Yes and no. It started the same, but then I was the one who was chased. I looked at my hand and clothes... but it wasn´t my watches." Nick was silent for a second, thinking.
"But those watches was familiar to me. Somehow. I think... they looked like the ones we got in the SEAL after the Hell week was over. But I lost mine few years ago."
"Come on, Nick. What was different in this dream?"
"I fell. Someone was right behind me. I tried to kick - I know I would´ve hit anyone, but I couldn´t. I wasn´t in control of that body. The man was paralyzed with fear. Then... I felt a sharp pain... I... reached to my back and... there was a knife. That´s when you woke me."
Derek reached for the bottle with water and handed it to Nick, who greadily drank.
"Derek, what if it wasn´t just a dream? It was too real..."
"It could be a vision," admitted Derek hesitantly.
"Why me? Why not you? I´d never before had a vision." Derek shrugged, not wanting to tell Nick, that the dream was probably a result of the concussion he sustained in the fall.
"I don´t know, Nick. You said the watches were familiar to you - from the SEAL. Do you think it could be someone from the NAVY?"
"Maybe, but I - doubt it. That man wasn´t trained, he panicked."
"Do you think he´s dead?"
"Well, I doubt that a knife in the back is very good for health," answered sarcastically Nick, squirming.
"Can it be a warning? What did you feel?"
"Fear and threat. Pain."
"Yours or his?"
"I don´t know Derek," replied Nick wearily and looked at his watch. He was surprised that it was already after one a.m.
"Derek, go sleep. I´ll take the guard."
"I´ll stay up a while longer. Why don´t you lie down?"
"Look Derek, I won´t sleep after that nightmare, you know it. So it would be useless for the both of us to stay awake."
Derek sighed, seeing that Nick is telling the truth. He knew from experience, that it´s hard to sleep after a nightmare.
"Okay, but you wake me if anything," A moment later, Derek was fast asleep. Nick blinked tiredly, longing for a dreamless sleep, but knew better. He shifted a little, trying to make himself comfortable, as he looked up at the sky, watching the stars. Meanwhile he contemplated their chances.
The idle night turned into chilly morning, without any choppers or planes flying above their heads. Derek woke up to the aroma of fresh coffee, and for a second he thought he was back at Angel Island. The vision dwindled away in the moment he shifted and felt the coniferous leaf and branches under his aching body. Sitting up he looked in the direction of the coffee aroma. Nick was sitting near the fireplace, the only mug with hot coffee in his hands. He looked at Derek and smiled.
"Good morning. How did you sleep?" such a casual question. Derek stretched his stiff limbs and walked to the fire, holding his hands above the flames to warm up. The morning was truly cold.
"Not too bad, though I prefer my own bed." Nick grinned.
"Me too. You want some coffee?"
"Thanks." Nick handed him the mug and Derek held it for a while just enjoying the warmth of the liquid. He took few sips then returned the mug to Nick, who quickly emptied it.
"I see no one appeared there?"
"Nothing. It´s weird. Even if the locator wasn´t working, they should´ve know our position from the flight-plan."
"We were flying by the plan, yeah?"
"By the controls..." Nick stopped. "By the controls," he repeated in daze.
"Nick?" Derek had a feeling that their chances to be found just vanished.
"The controls! I didn´t fly by the map, Derek!"
"Nobody flies by the map, Nick. We have co-ordinates, GPS, satellite system."
"Derek, I was flying by the controls," stated Nick vehemently, "but I don´t know why did the chopper crash!"
"You think it was a sabotage? Nick, that´s a little-" Derek feared that Nick was getting paranoid from that bump to his head.
"A little what, Derek? Excessive?"
"I´d more thought about exaggerating, but excessive would do," complied Derek, earning an angry scowl from Nick.
"I hope you´re right, Derek. Because if not, we´re in real deep trouble."
"Okay, so how do we know if the cotnrols were good?"
"It´s easy. We should find that river of yours, then locate our point at the map." Derek nodded.
"We´ll look. Maybe we can catch some fish." Nick grinned at the mention of food.
"Oh, Mitchell, what do we have for breakfast?" he asked, trying to look like his precept. Derek´s eyebrows shot up, but he quickly rumagged the backpack and pulled out few things.
"Well, my Lord," he said, trying his best to imitate the Brittish accent, only succeeding to sharpen his Dutch, "we have a delicious dried meat or some canned pork."
Nick was trying hard to sustain his serious face and cocked his head to the side, as if contemplating.
"Hm, I´ll try that dried meat, Mitchell. Do we have some champagne?"
Derek looked at him with disbelief, then smiled.
"Stop it, Nick, or I´ll really think that bump on your head caused some permanent brain damage." Nick just grinned and started eating.
"So, you say the river was there?" asked Nick after they finished the breakfast and looked at the map.
"I don´t really know if it was a river or a lake," admitted Derek. "I saw it just for a second and we were falling." Nick frowned.
"So it could be the lake?"
Derek shrugged, glancing at the map.
"It´s a problem?"
"Well, I suppose yes. You see, we were due to cross a river sometimes later, but the lake is good fifteen miles from our course."
"But you were flying by the controls...?"
"Yeah, and maybe that was the problem. Derek, we don´t know why did the chopper crash. By all means, the motor just stopped and we fell."
Derek looked straight at Nick, seeing the growing concern and suspicion.
"Well, another reason to find that water. I know it wasn´t far away, maybe a hour of walk."
"We should start then," said Nick, packed everything into his bag and tried to put it on his back. Of course, with broken arm and ribs it wasn´t an easy task and when Derek spotted what he is doing, he quickly grabbed the bag. Shooting Nick a warning glance, he put it on his own back. The only thing he left for Nick was his gun and the compass.
They walked for almost an hour, when they both smelled water. Though they couldn´t hear any sound indicating there should be a river and both Nick and Derek felt a chill ran through their spine.
After few more minutes of walking, they saw a blue penetrating through the forest. Weaving through the bushes, they stopped at the shore. Nick sighed. The water was clear blue and they could see the bottom; the lake, big as two football stadions, was surrounded by trees. Wonderfull view, but for Nick and Derek it meant only problems. Because now they know that the search party won´t be looking for them in this part of the forest, as well as the fact that someone tampered their controls. It was a sabotage. Their eyes locked and Derek was first to ask:
"What now?"
"We have to get away, alone. But that´s not what bothers me."
"So what?"
"Someone wanted us on the ground, badly. If they wanted to kill, they could simply put a bomb inside the chopper."
"You´re telling me, that someone is playing with us?" asked Derek, knowing that he won´t like the answer.
"I think we´ll have a company," stated Nick. As if waiting for these words, two masked men appeared behind Derek. Nick couldn´t even turn in time to see what happened - Derek was gone.
Instead of him, there was the third man, lunging himself at Nick. He side stepped and kicked out, hitting the attacker square to the chest, knocking the wind out of him. But it didn´t stop the masked man. A second later, he was on his feet and caught Nick in the face with a right hook. The world spun around him and he was on the ground. The attacker wanted to make the better of it and deliver a kick at Nick´s chest, but the ex-seal reacter and kicked him off ballance with his foot. The attacker fell and Nick lunged at him, incapacitating him with few solid punches to the head. When the man sopped moving, Nick reached up and removed his mask.
It was like deja vu. Under the mask was the battered face of Wakefield, the member of Nick´s SEAL team, who died in the jungle - not once, but twice!
The memories rushed at him, the years in the Seal, the day when he discovered that Richter was still alive and killed the Cardinal and few other priests, then get into Nick´s room and left the note. He lured Nick to the cave, with the dead members of Nick´s team.
Richter had revived them then, in some sick plan to make his perfect team of soldiers, so he could clear this world. Thanks to the spiders, he contracted some special abilities. He called Nick, because he was the last member of his team - and questioned him, if he wants to join the team. It was easy - let yourself be bitten by the spider, or die. Nick chose the latter, though in the end, he was the one who survived. He thought Richter was dead, but it seemed he was wrong and Richter now had Derek.
The seconds this thoughts crossed his mind, were enough for Wakefield to return to consciousness. He punched Nick, sending him to the cold water of the lake. When he emerged, spitting water, Wakefield wasn´t here anymore. In his place stood his Commanding officer John Wesley Richter - the man which betrayed his own team. But Nick knew he wasn´t really standing there.
"What do you want from me?" spat Nick with ice cold voice. Richter threw him a crazy grin.
"Your soul. You have one hour to find my cave, otherwise you will never see your chief again, only if you end up in hell."
"How can I find it?"
"You will. My men will show you the way." Richter once again grinned, turned and vanished. Nick stood in the water, trying to cool down his anger at himself. He was careless and stupid, but what was the worst, he endangered Derek. Getting out of the water he found himself shaking violently - not just from the cold but from anger too. Why didn´t Richter die? He had a chance - even two. But he´s still bothering him. Nick looked around and spotted his bag. For once he was grateful for Derek that he took it - and then put it down once they reached the lake. He quickly found some dry clothes and changed.
"Well, now where?" he asked. Richter mentioned some caves - but where are they?
Nick scrutinizingly looked around and felt chill ran up his spine, as he realized that he know that place. It was in his dreams, only he couldn´t see the lake, because it was always behind his back. Nick took up his backpack with a fuming, then took the trail he recognized from his dreams. Looking at his watch he realized time is running out. He quickened his pace and ran to the place where his dream ended. No caves. Looking around, a movement on his side caught his eyes. He spotted an army vest. He took after him, and after a while saw the back of one of Richter´s man.
He followed him until the man reached a clearing, then vanished. Nick stopped, crouched down and took a look around. Before him was an entry to the cave, similar to the one he blow up the last year. He took down his bag and put it behind the bushes for later. He kept only the knife and his spare gun along with few cartridges. He fastened the holster with a spare gun to his ankle, while the other gun stayed in his hands. The knife ended behind his belt. Raising from the ground, he headed for the cave.
Derek was looking at the lake and heard Nick talking about the company. Suddenly he felt someones hand on his mouth, then a blow to the head and the darkness was interrupted only by the swaying as he was taken away. The feeling of cold brought him awake, along with the pounding headache. His hands were tied above his head and he quickly found out, that his jacket is gone and he´s hanging only in his pants and a thin shirt. He was in a dark cave, lightened by several candles. Looking around he saw the big jars from glass, full of crawling spiders.
"I see you´re awake. That´s good. I was starting to get bored," sounded the voice, startling Derek. He turned his head as much as he could, but saw no one.
"Where are you?"
"Here," said the voice and a figure stepped out of the shadows. It was a man in army pants and black shirt, though he evidently wasn´t bothered by the coldness in the cave. Half of his face was badly scarred, but Derek could easily identify him by his eyes - he saw them on the photo Nick showed him last year.
"Richter. I thought you died."
Richter´s smile was instantly replaced by a frown.
"I was - for a while. I see our dear Nick told you about our little encounter the last year."
"How did you survived?"
"Oh... We will leave it for later, when Nick gets here. I don´t want to repeat it."
"Let Nick be!" threatened Derek.
"Ah... or what? I don´t think you´re in position to make threats."
"What do you want?"
"I? I only want to give Nick a chance to join me. And I need you as a bait, so he´ll come. But don´t fear... I have some plans for you too."
"I thought you´re shooting only at Cardinals," said Derek sarcastically and earned few blows to stomach.
"You should keep quiet. Initially I looked forward to the conversation with you, but now I see I made a mistake. Pity, now I´ll have to wait for Nick in silence." Richter walked to a table and picked up an adhesive tape, sealing Derek´s mouth shut. He then reached for one of the jars and stared at the spider inside. Half hour later, when Derek thought he fell asleep, Richter jerked and with a smile on his face stated:
"We have guests. Scott, Tetoni - bring him."
Scott and Tetoni appeared at the entry, both with glassy eyes. Nick nodded and followed them inside the cave. It was bigger and complex, but the damp coldness was the same. Nick saw the cande lights and continued his walk alone. Scott and Tetoni vanished. Nick treamed his gun as he reached the hall - he couldn´t call it otherwise, because the cave was so big they could´ve arranged even a ball in there. In the middle of the room though, he saw the half-naked Derek hanging by his hands, his mouth taped. The Precept of the San Francisco House was looking at him, his eyes almost screaming the warning.
Nick as always didn´t listen to him and took few steps to him, when Richter stepped out from the shadows: Nick trailed his gun at him, but Richter only smiled and walked to him.
"Welcome in my cave. The gun isn´t necessary," as he said it, the hall was occupied by the members of Nick´s team, they riffles aiming at Nick and Derek. Nick shrugged and lovered his hand, however, he still held the gun.
"That´s a little better."
"I thought you´re dead," stated Nick.
"Almost."
"Why are you here?"
"Oh... it´s a long and boring story. In short: Before you blowed up my cave, I made it to the shelter. Didn´t make it in time, though - it blew up my facade a little," grimaced Richter. "Anyway... while you were going home, I meanwhile visited few of my comrades in hell and - well, you wouldn´t believe it," chuckled Richter and Derek jerked at the raw sound, "but they offered me a deal. I discovered that there´s a high reward on that organisation of yours, especially on your chief here, Derek Rayne. So I made the deal with few people and said that I´ll get Derek along with you, and then the rest of your Legacy. As you can see, they approved."
"It was your job we crashed?"
Richter scoffed at him.
"Why, of course. You don´t think it was an accident?"
"You could´ve killed us straight then. Why all this?"
"Hm. I think I wanted to give you another chance. After all, you was a good soldier and you can be useful to me."
"Let Derek go, and I´ll stay." Derek vehemently shook his head, but Nick ignored him. Richter seemed amused by the idea. He laughed, then looked offended.
"Ah but Nick... You don´t think I´m such a fool? The first condition was killing Derek."
Nick looked at his dead friends and asked, his voice full of disgust.
"Why are you doing this to them? They did nothing wrong to you."
"They were good soldiers, and my team. The same you belong to."
Nick sharply shook his head.
"No, nevermore. Just like you. It was you who betrayed them, who sent them out to be killed. They´re dead, give them their peace."
The words only infuriated Richter and he stepped behind Derek. Pulling out his knife, he put it at Derek´s throat.
"Dead like this one will be."
"Let him go. We can make a deal." Richter laughed.
"You forgot boy, I already made one deal. Will you join me or not?"
"If I join, would you free him?" Richter looked contemplating.
"If I say so, will you believe me?" and he looked straight into Nick´s eyes. Their eyes locked in a silent understanding. Nick broke the gaze and shook his head, silently saing:
"No. I don´t believe you anymore. You betrayed us."
Richter nodded and was prepared to kill Derek, when Nick stopped him.
"No, wait!"
"What?"
"I want to fight with you. Fair play - one on one. If I had to die, let it be in fight."
"Why should I do it?"
"In the name of that trust I and the others once had in you - I ask you for it. Don´t kill Derek. If you ever valued me, don´t do it."
"I have to kill him."
"All right. We´ll fight, and if you kill me, do it."
"Why not now?"
"I don´t want to see another friend who trusted me die, like them," and he nodded, indicating the rest of his team. Richter thought about it for a moment, then pulled the knife from Derek´s throat. A small trickle of blood had a screaming quality on the pale skin of the Precept. "Okay, because it´s you and the old times, I´ll kill him later."
Nick looked into Derek´s eyes, communicating a silent sorry in case he´d lost. Seeing Derek blink in response, he nodded.
Okay guys, the final chapter will come in a week.
Lisa, Rozzy07, Boyles Babe - Thanks for the reviews, hope you´ll like the ending. Jill - Thanks again for the tips and facts about U.S., even if I didn´t use them in this