Disclaimer:  I don't own anybody.

            As the bus stopped at its usual stop, Calvin shivered.  He wasn't cold, but the mere thought of going walking the rest of the way home sent shivered down his spine.  The block he had to walk seemed a thousand miles longer.

            Since it was winter, it was slightly darker than usual.  The sky was not the sunny light blue that he always saw and in the summer, but grayish-white.  Suddenly, a chilling breeze caressed his face.  He quickened his steps, looking around nervously for any signs of his pursuers.

            Finally, he walked up the steps to the door of his house.  He opened it and yelled, "I'm home!"  From habit, he braced himself for the onset of Hobbes, but suddenly realized that Hobbes was gone.  The men had gotten Hobbes.  The thought just made Calvin shiver again.  He stepped inside and closed the door.  Inside, his mom was cooking supper.  She looked curiously at him as he passed her and went up to his room.  He did not have the stuffed tiger with him as he used to.  He didn't complain about Hobbes jumping him, and he did not even have a speck of dirt on him.  It was strange.  Just then, she seemed to recall something about Calvin screaming that Hobbes was gone.  Calvin's mom shrugged.  "I guess he left him in the woods or something.  He'll find him tomorrow."  Then she realized that she had said 'him' about Hobbes and grinned sheepishly.

            Calvin sulked in his room.  Suddenly, he glanced out the window and thought he saw an orange speck in the dusky woods.  He rubbed his eyes and looked again.  The orange speck was moving.  Calvin's eyes opened wide.  "HOBBES!" He rushed downstairs, threw the door open, and sloshed across the think layer of snow that had started to accumulate.  There it was- the orange speck again.  Calvin ran toward it, and as he neared it, he could see black stripes over the orange.

            "Hobbes!"

            Suddenly, a dark figure materialized out of the trees.  He wore a brown suit that let him blend into the scenery.  "Good to see you again, SIR.." He smirked.  He was holding Hobbes in his arm.

            "You... you.. you're one of those men that were chasing me!"

            The man laughed a cold laugh.  "Lieutenant Crow, if you please."

            "Gimme back Hobbes!" Calvin shouted, mustering all his courage.

            Crow laughed again.  "Not so fast, Supreme Dictraitor for Life.  You must first do as I say."

            "Like what?"

            "First, you'll have to come with me." Crow said in his cold, featureless voice.

            "No way!" Calvin leaped back as the man extended a hand to grab his arm.

            "Never?"

            "Never!"

            Crow smiled unpleasantly.  "Ah.   If you choose to do so..." He paused and took out a sharp knife.  On its blade was carved many mysterious symbols, and the handle was engraved so as to resemble a bone.  "Do you know what this is?"

                        Calvin gulped and inched back slowly.  "Uh... a knife?"

                        "This is the sacrificial knife for the G.R.O.S.S. ritual.  You see, we sacrifice traitors, and since you are a traitor, you must be sacrificed.  But since you have avoided us successfully many times, and since G.R.O.S.S. members must have a heart of kindness, we shall sacrifice your tiger."

            "HOBBES?"
            "Yes.  At this time tomorrow, Hobbes will be torn into five pieces, each representing the five classes of G.R.O.S.S."

            "Or?"

            "Or, you could come with us.  You and the tiger will both be saved if you agree to a few ... conditions."

            Calvin pondered the problem for a while.  Then he sighed heavily.  "I guess."

            The thin, cold smile spread across Crow's pale lips.  "Excellent.  Now come here."   He blindfolded Calvin and led him deeper into the forest.

To be continued

R&R!!!!