Disclaimer: No I don't own The Black Stallion!
Authors note: Hey guess what Jessie-Chan, I updated!!
WARNING: This chapter has some gory detail so please don't read if you are at all sensitive!! If you scare easily you may just want to wait for the next chapter…. Jessie-Chan, this chapter isn't exactly for you, but you can read it, but don't like freak out.
Chapter 2. Fate is sealed!
Jack woke, drenched with sweat, lying in his bed. He inclined his head an inch to look at his clock. It read 2:37 am. Too early, he thought and closed his eyes, but he found that, no matter how hard he tried, he could not go back to sleep.
He sighed as he sat up and looked around, it was too dark to really see, but he could make out the shapes of his small television and his stuffed bookshelf. Leaning over, he clicked his lamp on and blinked until he could see properly. Groaning, he placed his feet on the floor and stood. As he glanced out the window, he could see that the rain had let up and the fog had cleared.
Pulling his jacket on, he tiptoed out of his room, through the kitchen, and onto the back porch. He could not stop thinking about Galiant and every noise he heard he hoped it was the stallion. He stepped off of the porch and headed for the road, going north towards the old wooden house where he knew that the horse was.
Once he got to the muddy road, he left the road and walked beside the muddy way so that he was somewhat hidden by bushes and trees. When he arrived at the "house" he saw that there was a dim, flickering light in one of the windows. Approaching the house quietly, he went to the window and peeked inside, what he saw horrified him.
There, tied down in the middle of the room, was Galiant. His head was strapped down to the floor and all four legs were tied so that they lay straight out in front and back. There was also a strap across his back that disappeared into the wooden floor. A man stood with his back to the window, but when he turned Jack saw that he was holding a large knife covered with blood. Only then did he notice the long, gaping wound from the withers down to right about his hoof. Jack winced and looked at the man again, but the man had disappeared from Jack's sight.
Backing away, Jack glanced from side to side and saw deep in the shadows, the outline of a man. Thankfully the man did not see him, but instead he headed out to a shed far from the house. Now is my chance, and with that he swiftly and quietly entered the house. Looking around, he almost retched; there were jars of ancient looking liquids everywhere in the kitchen. He practically fell into the living area where the stallion was. Now he could see the full extent of his injuries, his other front leg had a wound almost identical to the other; only this one was a little worse and already covered with maggots.
There was a big chunk missing from his flank and his tail was matted with blood and sweat.
"Oh you poor beast." Jack whispered. Only then did Galiant notice that Jack was there, and after the stallion had struggled with all his might and given up, Jack took a chance and approached the horse. The fear in Galiant's eyes was so hopeless that Jack knew he would never again trust humans, but Jack also knew he had to get him out now.
"Hush now, poor thing, shhhh. Easy dear, easy." Jack whispered as soothingly as he possibly could knowing how in a hurry he was. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pocketknife, not letting Galiant see because he knew what the stallion would think. The first thing Jack cut was the strap holding down his head. He stroked the beast's head slowly as he worked on his leg straps. The poor thing is too weak to even protest, Jack sighed.
When all four legs had become free, Jack turned slowly and began cutting through the thick strap around his middle. When he was half way through, footsteps could be heard coming up the porch. Swearing, Jack finished cutting the strap and forced Galiant to stand. Checking to make sure that the horse could at least walk enough not to fall, Jack started looking for an alternative route out. He saw a large back door that Galiant could fit through.
As he led Galiant over to the door and slid the lock out from its hold, the front door opened and the man stepped into the kitchen. Quickly, Jack sped through the door with Galiant stumbling behind. He closed the door and led the horse into the woods and headed towards the main road. When he and the horse were safely covered by the shadow of the trees, an angry yell came from the direction of the house. Then he heard a door bang open and heavy footsteps walking around the house.
Jack knew that Galiant should not be moving in his condition, but he had a feeling that if they lagged even a bit they would both be killed. Finally Jack saw the main road, but he stayed in the cover of trees. He did not know if the man was following or not.
After what seemed like hours of walking and stumbling, for the horse, Jack came upon the Alger's stables. He went straight for the stable and put Galiant into a stall. The stallion immediately fell down on the hay and closed his eyes. Knowing time was critical, Jack raced out to the house.
"What now boy?" Mr. Alger grumbled after he opened the door.
"Follow." Was all Jack could get out and he ran back to the stable.
"Oh my go…" Mr. Alger cried out after he saw Galiant. Then he ran out to call the emergency vet.
Fifteen minutes later…
The vet had arrived and even though he said there was no hope, Jack had insisted on at least trying, so Galiant's wounds were all treated and bound. No one would have ever gotten close to Galiant if he hadn't been so dangerously close to death. After the vet was sure the bleeding had stopped and had given Galiant a mild sedative so he would sleep, the three sat down so Jack could tell what happened.
Once the story was told, Mr. Alger called the police and they came and heard Jack's tale and left immediately with backup to the old wooden house. They returned later with the news that the man was nowhere to be found, but there was enough evidence still at his house to press charges and their team had taken pictures.
Finally, Jack laid back in his own bed with the covers pulled up and closed his eyes. The police had searched both His and Mr. Alger's houses to make sure the man had not followed them, and they had also set up patrols along all the roads. He sighed and fell asleep.
Authors note: So, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I am sorry about this chapter, but I just really wanted to write something dark and this was it. And it helps me move the story along so I will HOPEFULLY update more!