Chapter 16: A Hunting He Will Go

Zack had made himself a pretty nice little shelter out in the woods. He found this really big tree that should scatter all the rain away when he was underneath it. There was an old log he pulled up which could be used as a chair or a table. And, best of all, there was several edible plants around. Who would have guessed all that work as a shipper would have taught him what he could eat out in the wilderness. But it did, he could identify all the various roots and grasses that sometimes got shipped. It was all in all a pretty nice place to live. He was far away and safe from any crazed villager.

It wasn't right. It just wasn't right at all. Zack wasn't the murderer, but everyone was after him anyway. He pulled a satchel that he had brought with him down from the tree and took out some bread. The only thing he had to eat that was really any good. How did it all get twisted around like this? Zack wanted to know so badly...

Jack knew where Zack was staying. He had tracked him into the woods. It was a little something he had picked up over the years. But the first time Jack had followed him, he wasn't ready. So he set up a little booby trap near Zack's camp. He'd go back, from time to time to check in on his little prey. Jack knew that in a one on one fight, Zack could wipe the floor with him. That's why he needed to be extra careful. The death of Zack was crucial to his plan...

Mary eventually went home as day turned into night, leaving Carter and Cliff behind in the hospital. Anna scolded her harshly for leaving the library unattended all day. She just stood there and accepted her punishment. Clean up the entire house. Scrub the floors, clean the kitchen, the bedrooms, the bathrooms, everything. Mary was used to it. She set about doing the tasks that Anna had assigned her. Mary never cried once during her punishment, but afterwards she cried her heart out in bed. Punished for trying to do the right thing...

Zack needed to start a fire, it was starting to get quite chilly at night, and he was in no position to catch a cold. As the sun was falling he set out from camp. Leaves on the forest floor crunched under his boots. At least it hadn't rained for a while, so it shouldn't be too hard to find some good dry sticks for the fire. He wandered around a bit picking up a stick from time to time. He almost had enough. Every now and then he looked over his shoulder. Zack had the eerie feeling that somebody was watching him. He almost had gotten enough sticks when something grabbed his foot. Zack tried to jump back, but was quickly pulled off his feet. He spun rapidly as he swung upside down and watched helplessly and he crashed headfirst into a tree. As he blacked out, the last thing he saw was a shadowy figure approaching carrying a scythe in his hands.