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59

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Mort sped down the highway, trying to catch up with Ted. He had gotten too far to let everything go now. Ted had that book and he wanted it. One way or another.

Coming off of the highway and now speeding along a road, Mort dodged his vehicle through traffic.

Suddenly, Ted's car turned off the road and into the woods. Mort swerved after him.

Racing through the wooded path, Ted came to a stream. But Ted's car happened to be a regular old highway vehicle, not something meant to go offroad. The one Mort had stolen, on the other hand, happened to be a Jeep, therefore it would be able to get him across the stream in one piece.

"Shit!" Ted cursed as he slammed on the brakes. The car stopped at the end of the stream, fuming. Mort stopped just behind him. The men both got out of their vehicles and stood, careless of the water on their lower halves, in the flowing stream.

"What do you think you're you doing?" Mort asked.

"Matter of fact, I was just on my way over to your place," Ted replied.

That's a bit strange... Mort thought, nevertheless he ignored it as he had so many other things already. "Where's your buddy?" Mort asked, referring to the mysterious 'John Shooter'.

"Came alone," Ted replied.

"Sure you did," Mort said, believing that John Shooter was probably stashed away in the trunk or something.

Mort advanced to Ted and looked off to the side. He breathed in and out. "I know what you're up to," Mort finally said. He almost laughed at himself because it was the biggest lie he'd ever told. He had no idea what Ted was up to.

"Look Mort.. A lot of what's going on right now is my fault.. Most of it, in fact," Ted told him.

"Most of it? Hell, you've been going around pretending to be someone for god knows how long, then you put me on this stupid assignment which has nearly gotten me killed oh.. say.. about a dozen times! And then you have the nerve to act like I got myself into this! What do you want?" Mort shouted.

"I want you out of my life," Ted said simply. "Now, I'll pay you for your trouble but--"

"Money! You think that all I care about is money!" Mort shouted.

"No, I know that you care about other things than money. No. What this is about.. is getting this thing done. 'Cause I'm afraid if we don't, well, who knows where it might go and I think you know what I'm talking about," Ted explained.

"Well, Teddy. I think I do, but here's the problem: I don't respond well to intimidation, makes me feel.. icky. You know..," Mort said, pushing Ted slightly.

Ted lifted his arms. "Whoa. Heh heh. You know, I'm attempting to have a normal conversation, here."

Mort advanced further. "I buried my dog, Mister!" Mort yelled.

Ted was bewildered.

"This whole thing is out of your control now. You know it, and I know it. You started this shit. I'm gonna finish it. Now do me a favor, go back and tell that your filthy little friend," Mort said. He pushed Ted in the face with three fingers.

Ted's head went sailing back and hit the window of his fuming car. He was knocked out cold. His body slumped down the side of the car and fell into the flowing stream.

Mort sighed, knowing it wasn't right to leave Ted to drown. Even though Ted had stolen his wife, put him through hell and almost gotten him killed, he still supposed that he should drag him to safety at least.

Mort looked down at him. "Bummer, Ted." He grabbed Ted by the collar and proceeded with dragging him to safety.

All of a sudden: "Not so fast!" A female voice shouted. Mort let go of Ted and looked around to see Amy standing behind him, brandishing a pistol. She must've gained consciousness during his and Ted's argument.

The whole fight before had been a gag, then. Just a big plan to get Mort where they wanted him.

Mort put his hands in the air. Amy used to be so loving and caring. How had she become so... icky? "Get a grip, Amy. You wouldn't kill me."

She put the gun to his throat and looked at him menacingly, rage burning in her eyes. She pushed the safety. Mort gulped.

"You're right. Amy wouldn't. But I would," She said, lifting her hand to her face and pulling off her skin to reveal the face of Liana Telfer beneath. Everything was going just... peachy.

"Put him in the car," She ordered.

Mort was hesitant to do anything at the moment. She jabbed the gun into his neck. "Do it!" She yelled.

Mort nodded, bent down and scrambled Ted to his feet. It was extremely difficult, considering all the water they were standing in. But he still managed to do it. He held him up with one hand and opened the door of Ted's fuming car with his free hand.

Liana banged the gun down on Mort's hand. "Not that car, you idiot. Your car."

"Ow!" Mort cried, feeling pain rush up through his hand and then spread further up his entire arm. He moved over and opened the door of his Jeep and manoeuvred Ted's unconscious body into the backseat. Then he shut the door and turned back to Liana.

Liana jabbed him in the ribs with the gun. "Now get out of my way."

Mort stepped a few steps backward into the water and watched as Liana got behind the wheel of his Jeep. She grabbed Mort's possessions and dumped them into his arms, then started the car up and took off.

It was over. Ted had gotten away with 'The Nine Gates'.

Mort pulled off the silly robe and pentacle, tossed them aside and traded them in for his usual attire: His coat and bookbag.

He trudged through the stream, soaking his entire lower half even more. As he reached the other side, he looked down the path. But sure enough, his Jeep was long gone.

Mort surveyed the car in the stream. It was in no condition to go anywhere; He would have to walk back to town.

He dropped his bookbag onto the ground and put his coat on. Reaching into the pocket, he grasped onto something hard and brought it out.

What was this inside his pocket? The gun? Hmm...