Chap 6
After an hour, they were deep into the forest. They had avoided several mines and stepped over a couple of tripwires, but they still had seen no way out and little sign of civilization.
"Mulder, you're the authority on this guy. How long will he let us wander around out here?"
"So far, all we've come across are traps meant to disable, not kill. I assume he lets his victims wander around for however long it takes to weaken them, and then he kills them. It's more of a mind game for him, the smartest survive the longest. Perhaps he was…"
A sudden, loud snap echoed though the forest, and Mulder's first thought was rifle. He spun, looking for the shooter, and saw, much to his amazement, the ground swallow Skinner whole.
Skinner didn't make a sound, crashing against the smooth walls of the man-made pit. With a crunch, Skinner hit bottom and didn't move.
"Skinner! Sir, are you okay? Skinner!" Mulder edged around the sides of the well hidden pit, trying to see though the darkness. All he could hear was debris still falling. He held his breath, waiting for an answer. Why isn't he answering me? It couldn't be that deep, could it? I know one thing that'll surely get his attention.
"Hey, Skinman! You okay down there?" Mulder listened silently for an answer. Finally, he heard a groan.
"Don't…" Skinner coughed. "Don't call me that. What happened?"
"Well, it seems that you fell for one of the oldest tricks in the book, literately. How you doing?" Mulder could hear some shuffling, then a loud gasp.
"I think I broke my wrist." Skinner said, painfully.
"Can you climb out?"
"No. The sides are smooth. I can't climb them."
"Alright. Wait right here. I'll be back."
"I'm not going anywhere." Skinner said, settling back to wait. A few minutes later, Mulder returned.
"Here! Grab this and I'll pull you out." A long, thin vine slithered down the side of the pit. It stopped mere feet from Skinner's reach. He strained, but he couldn't reach it.
"It's too short! Can you lower it anymore?"
"I can't! I've got it tied around the nearest tree that can support your weight, and that was the longest vine I could find. I don't know… Wait! I've got an idea!" Skinner heard shuffling, and then the vine lowered several feet.
"I don't know what you did, but it sure worked!" Skinner yelled as he grabbed hold with his good right hand. He began to climb, using his right hand only, but it was slow going.
"Hey, Mulder! Are you going to start pulling or not?" Skinner gasped, out of breath.
"Not. Just hurry up, will you?" Mulder said, sounding strained.
Skinner grumbled, but didn't complain. I'm probably too heavy for him to lift, even with the vine. Oh, well. It's just like boot camp. Skinner finally reached the edge and pulled himself over.
He lay gasping at the top before turning to look for Mulder. A few feet forwards and to the left, Mulder was curled up in a fetal position, the vine still tied around his waist. Skinner was confused and exhausted. What the heck is he doing?
"Mulder? Are you okay? What happened?" Mulder shifted slightly, and then curled up tighter, cradling his stomach.
"Mulder?" Skinner stumbled over to his side and turned him over.
"Sh…! What did you do?" Mulder rolled over on his side, facing Skinner.
"What I had to. It was the only way to get the vine down low enough to reach you."
"Yah, but how did you keep me from pulling you in also? I mean, the entire time I was climbing, you couldn't have braced yourself without some support."
"I grabbed onto the tree and hung on for dear life." Mulder said, trying to lay back. He hissed and rubbed a tentative finger along the oozing, cherry-colored rope burns that layered his abdomen.
"Was this really necessary?" Skinner said, emotions mixed.
"Well, it's too late to come up with better ideas. Besides, I couldn't let you beat my injury list. What would Scully think? Speaking of injuries, let me see your wrist."
"I'm fine."
"Are you sure it isn't Scully that's rubbed off on you? Just let me look; I'm almost an expert." Mulder sat up painfully and examined Skinner's wrist.
After a few seconds of poking and prodding, Skinner almost snapped, but the strained look on Mulder's face and his stained undershirt quelled Skinner's ire.
"Looks like just a bad sprain. I'd recommend ice and rest, but it looks like both are in short supply." Mulder said, dropping Skinner's wrist and standing slowly.
"We better head out. Who knows how much farther we have to go, and, sorry, Sir, you're not my idea of a fun sleepover partner."
They set out, now testing the ground ahead of them with the long walking sticks they picked up. As they walked, Skinner muddled over Mulder's actions. He interrupted the companionable silence with an observation.
"You know, if I was alone out here, I'd already be caught. How do you think he'll react?"
"Another good reason to keep moving." Is all Mulder would say, pressing on though the undergrowth.
Skinner realized he was embarrassed by his heroics. Mulder? Humble? That's a thought. But the more Skinner contemplated it, the more he realized just how humble, and even shy, Mulder was. He's different than the mask he wears. Well, of course he is! I'm his boss, what do I expect? Mentally, Skinner vowed to get to know the true Mulder, but before he could make good on his vow, the forest ended.
A nine meter space of dieing grass and assorted weeds was all that lay between the edge of their shadowy land and a ten foot wire fence. Exuberant at finally finding the edge of their wilderness, the two men were still very careful in reaching the fence. Mulder was ready to climb over and be done with it, but Skinner held him back.
"Why does this look so easy? We can't be the first to get this far." Skinner said suspiciously. Mulder stepped back, considering it.
"There. That's why." Mulder said suddenly, pointing to a black blob hanging on one of the wires, about a foot above the ground.
"What is it?" Skinner asked.
"I'm pretty sure that used to be a squirrel. This fence is electrified, but I don't understand. Everything else is non-lethal. Why kill us now?"
"Maybe it can't. I don't see any deer skeletons, or even raccoons, and we've never found any electrocuted bodies. Maybe it's only strong enough to disable, not kill. At least, not kill us."
"Yah, but I bet the ASPCA would have a heyday with this guy."
"There has to be a way to get though this. Since everybody else was alone here, maybe if we work together we can escape." Skinner went left and Mulder went right. After several unproductive minutes, Skinner came across something that looked hopeful.
"Mulder! Take a look at this, and tell me what you think. Can we make it over?" Mulder jogged over and examined the broken tree that leaned against the fence.
"Perfect! This must have just happened. The wood's still green. It looks like it'll hold our weight." Mulder stretched his arms, but couldn't reach the tip of the branch.
"Dang it! It's just too high!" Mulder paced along the fence while Skinner sat, Indian style, waiting for an epiphany. As usual, inspiration struck. Mulder squatted down in front of the fence.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Climb on!" Skinner cocked his head, looking skeptical.
"That's your big idea? Using you as a ladder?"
"It'll work, won't it?"
"Look, Mulder, in case you haven't noticed, I'm pretty heavy, not to mention I've got this accursed wrist. Why don't I act as ladder?"
"It won't work that way. I've got this all figured out, just trust me, will you?"
"Alright." Skinner said, sighing. Somehow they maneuvered into place, and Skinner managed to pull himself onto the branch. He turned and looked down at Mulder.
"Now, how do I get you up here?"
"Simple, You can just…" Mulder was interrupted by a loud creak from the branch.
Skinner froze, then scrambled down the branch, one handed, trying to get off before it snapped. When Skinner was still a few feet off the ground, the branch split, bucking from his grasp. Skinner made a flying leap and rolled to a stop a meter outside the fence.
Lucky I didn't jump the other way, or I'd be fried. Skinner thought as he caught his breath.
"Hey, Sir, are you okay?" Mulder asked from the other side of the fence. Oh, shoot! Mulder. How's he going to get out now?
"I knew you should have gone first." Skinner said, standing.
"Why? So I could be the one to make like a monkey? Thanks, but no thanks."
"How are you going to get out now?" Skinner said, scanning the shattered remnants of the once strong tree branch.
"We'll figure something out. Maybe there's another branch we can use? Longer this time?"
"Maybe." Skinner said doubtfully. He looked around, noticing the lack of old growth and subsequent lack of long, strong branches.
"Mulder, I'm going to have to go look. Will you be okay by yourself? Are you sure he won't come for you?"
"I'll be fine. You go find a way out, or, if you can, some help. Don't worry about me. I'm a big boy." Mulder said with a cocky grin. Skinner nodded and set off.
As Skinner's shape faded into the bushes, Mulder's smile faded with him. Yah, I'll be fine. Just come back. Mulder thought, his insecurities raring. Of course he'll come back. What am I worrying about? This is Skinner, not some guy from the VCS. He'll come back for me. An insidious voice ate at the back of his mind. Why would anyone come back for Spooky?
"He'll come back. He will." Mulder whispered out loud, willing himself to believe.