A/N: Be warned, this next chapter is a bit darker than what I usually write. I don't believe it is enough to cause my rating to be changed at the present time, but that may change as the story progresses. Read it over and tell me what you think.

Chapter 3: Impossible Survival

Jonas still watched the empty shadows, and Colonel O'Neill's hand on his shoulder finally drew his attention away.

"You've been standing there for the past ten minutes, Jonas. There's nothing there. We tried. C'mon, we'd better get back inside before whatever happened to him happens to us." Jack replied quietly.

"I'm sure there was something there. I shot it. There was no way it could've survived. I was sure I'd made a direct hit." Jonas said.

"Well, Jonas, apparently, your marksmanship isn't as good as you think. Come on."

Jonas nodded silently and followed the rest of the team back into the palace.

Johnston met them at the entry way, face deathly pale, and eyes afraid.

"You all must be daft! Terrible things lurk in the shadows, there aren't many that survive." He yelled.

"Hey, we're okay. There were no creepy crawlies out there waiting." Jack said.

"You are incredibly fortunate that there were not."

"So, are you going to tell us what happened now?" O'Neill questioned.

"Come back to the library, I'll explain all that I know."

"We're right behind you." O'Neill said and followed the man to the library.

When all were settled in around the fireplace. The king began to explain.

"A few months ago, strange things began to happen after dark. It all started with the disappearance of a local boy, only seven. Harrington Grewin was his name. He went missing one night. His mother said that she turned away for only a moment, and when she turned back, her boy was gone without a sign. A few days later, we found Harrington's body in the centre of the town. He had been mutilated almost beyond recognition. The boy never had a chance." Johnston explained.

"How awful." Sam replied.

"Indeed it was, especially for the boy's parents. His father completely broke down at the final viewing and had to be rushed away. He was the only child, and his mother can have no more. The first was risk enough." Johnston continued.

"Then what?" Jack asked suspiciously.

"A few days later, another went missing from the village. A woman this time, I believe she was called Carine Threshly. She went missing during the night as well. Her soon-to-be-husband had been holding her only seconds before. She was taken right from his arms. The next morning, her body was found on Gyles's front stoop. Gyles was her romantic interest. He could not accept the fact that she was gone."

SG-1 was silent, listening for more information, when Johnston spoke again.

"The village was quiet for a few weeks, the law had been out searching for the murderer, and had no luck in finding the person. Toward the end of the month we had another series of disappearances, many were children, each turned up dead a few days after the disappearance. Last week, we had three law officers go missing in the same night, the next day, each man's body had been placed either in the centre town, or on his stoop. There had been no more incidents until tonight. By now, my entire village is terrified to be out after dark." Johnston said.

"How many have been killed by now?" Jonas asked.

"I believe there have been fifteen. Fifteen murders in the past two months, and nobody knows what to do about it."

"Has anyone tried to find out what has been causing it?" Jack asked.

"Of course! However, those who did try, were killed."

"So, if your theory is correct, then the man who went missing tonight, will turn up dead in anywhere from one to three days?" Jonas questioned.

"Yes. Unless he is one of those who escape, only to die a painful death short hours later. We've had two or three of those incidents." Johnston replied.

"So, it's not impossible to escape, only impossible to survive?" Sam wondered.

"Precisely."

Uneasy silence fell over all of them, as they took the news in. In the fireplace, the crackling embers slowly dwindled down, as all present fell into uneasy sleep where they sat, their sleep haunted by horrible dreams of the shadows.