Chapter3: The Mountains
Jack awoke in a cold sweat. He had never had a dream that felt so real. It frightened him. Could it be some sort of omen? Perhaps a higher power was trying to warn him. He shook those last thoughts out of his mind. After all it was only a dream, and a ridicules one at that. He had just met Wolfe but he trusted him completely. He didn't enjoy killing and the thought of decapitating someone sickened him. Then he remembered seeing the fatal wound that Aku had inflicted upon him. It seemed almost laughable now that he was awake. He took a deep breath. Maybe the dream meant something else. Whatever it was he resolved not to let it interfere with his mission. He went back to sleep feeling much better.
Two days later Jack had all but forgotten his nightmare. He was happy to be out of the sweltering climate of the jungle and he could see the outline of the mountains in the horizon.
"We're getting close now. It's not safe for me to talk about our plan here. Aku might be watching. He can't see where going besides I want you to meet the rebels. In the past couple of months they've become my family. Family, for so long I had forgotten what that word actually meant. After I left the care of the monks I decided to go back to my hometown and visit my parents. What I saw shocked me. The town I knew, the town I grew up in had been destroyed by the same beast that had taken my life! He set up his cursed religion-Akuisim and made every town erect a shrine in his honor. His so caked priests made sure that everybody worked, even my father, who was in his seventies. One day he couldn't keep up and was beaten to death by his taskmasters. They wouldn't even let my mother bury him. After the shrine was completed everyone was made to bow down and worship Aku. My mother refused. As her punishment she was burned alive. I keep thinking that if I had only been there I could have saved them. After I. 'heard what had happened to my parents I grabbed an axe and rallied an angry mob together. We tore apart that shrine killed all of the priests. After that we went into hiding and that's how the rebellion started," said Wolfe before turning away. He didn't want Jack to see the anguish on his face.
Jack kept silent He marveled at a world where a man could suffer so profoundly. Then he thought about what Aku had done to his own life and it sickened him. He clenched his fist and looked towards the mountains.
The next day they reached the base of the mountains but instead of climbing Wolfe ran his hands over the chiseled rock as if he was searching for something. He did this for a few minutes until he found a shallow crater about the size of his fist. Then he produced a stone talisman from his pocket. Placing it in the crater he rotated his palm counter clockwise. Suddenly the mountain began to shimmer and for the briefest of seconds they could make out the image of an owl carved into the rock. Jack gasped as Wolfe's entire body seemed to melt into the mountain. Then he heard a piercing shriek. He leaned against the rock and to his horror, his body passed through it as if it were liquid. When he had reached the other side what he saw almost made him scream too.
It was the most gruesome thing that Jack had ever seen. Dead bodies were lying everywhere. He saw Wolfe standing in the corner, his glazed eyes transfixed on a message written in blood.
"General, it seems as though you have miscalculated again. I have taken some of your miserable rebels. If you like you can pay me a visit. Give my regards to the samurai.
Love, Aku".
Jack was speechless. He was overcome with hatred for Aku and pity for Wolfe. He heard something faint and realized that it was the sound of breathing. Someone was still alive.