Lucky 17

Original Idea by: Scraps

Characters created by: Katie Rice

Chapter 2: Confirmation

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Finally! After washing dishes and making milkshakes for hours on end, I was finally getting my well-deserved lunch break. Although I enjoy working for Steak-n-Shake as a Fountainhead and busboy, but there are those days where I wish I were doing something else. The only thing I dislike about my job is the smell and the mess I get from it. Aside from me, all the other servers, cooks and supervisors are very nice to me and even allow me to move up in the ranks and learn new things, something I would never accomplish from my old jobs. As for me, I have this job to pay for the bills at the local college, which I am attending so I can get a CNC license. My parents bought me a basic apartment and pay the rent in exchange that I have a job and I am attending school to advance my career. I already have a Family and Consumer Science degree from EIU, but after the third year there, I realized that helping people with their problems may not be the best choice in a career. It may or may not also have something to do with my desire to hunt people, but perhaps this is just an excuse for a jaded college student to avoid missed opportunities.

As I sit down at a table with a Cajun steak burger and a Vanilla espresso, I notice a man at the table across from me rising from his table and walking towards my direction. I quickly realize that this man was the same man who gave me the "proposition" a while ago, I knew him as Martin, a "messenger" of the EHC. As he sat down in the chair across from mine, he whipped out a crossword puzzle and started to write in it. After a few minutes of awkward silence, I decided to break the ice.

"So…I got the e-mail." I say quietly, trying to contain my building excitement "They told me to talk to you about my…accommodations."

Martin put down the crossword and looked at me. A warm smile grew across his face as he took my burger and took a big bit out of it.

"Yeah, I know, they told me about Camp…whichowana?" he said with a mouthful of steak and Cajun spice.

"It's Weedonwantcha." I corrected, using my index finger and thumb to spell out the pronunciation "Camp wee-don-want-cha."

"Hey, I never heard of the place until now, and the bosses don't like to write things down. So sue me if I make a mistake."

I sigh at the excuse and let it slide. Martin was a laid-back guy despite his career choice and I found that it was easy to talk to him and even joke about his job. "Anyway, I was told that you would help me with the...ahem…accommodations."

"Oh yeah, those." Martin said as he opened the crossword again. As he turned it to me, I saw that in the boxes were the rules and regulations of the agreement. "As a formality, the bosses want me to give this to you to make sure you understand how we work.

As I looked down the crossword, I read down the rules and began to study them to the letter.

Elite Hunting Club Tenets

Once you have selected a target and made contact, you must ensure that the target dies by your hand or by other causes. If the target is not killed or escapes, then you will take his/her place.

If you intend to perform any form of torture or action by means of the EHC, it must be recorded and given to your messenger. Failure to do so will lead to suspension of actions within the EHC.

For obvious reasons, you must not inform anyone aside from your messenger about your actions or whereabouts of said actions. Failure to do so will lead to execution of you and those you have informed.

Understand that joining the EHC is permanent. Once you join us, you are a member for life. Any attempts to defect are dealt with fatally.

I look up to Martin, who managed to devour my entire burger while I was reading the Tenets. As I glare at him and watch him, brush the crumbs off his shirt and try to look innocent. I sigh and look back down at the tenets. If I happen to change my mind or if I screw up, this meant that the EHC would kill me on the spot. As I thought this through, I then remembered the years of lies that I got away with. Such as the fact that I fabricated a whole sexual harassment issue that got me through EIU without paying tuition. Therefore, if I can get away with that, then I can sure as hell can get away with this. Besides, if I screw up, and if the EHC is as secretive as they say they are, they can insure that my death would be honorable or at the very least quick and painless. As I skim through the book, I noticed a simple key taped to the back of the book. It was obvious that this was the key to the cabin the EHC provided me.

"So, are you okay with the whole "We can kill you if you screw up or change your mind." thing?" Martin said with a burp as he lightly pounded his chest with his fist, "Because I oversee your obituary should you die, and I thought of this cool idea involving a tuba, a cery-picker, and a bag of feathers."

"Sure, I can do this." I say to Martin, disregarding his obvious insanity "Just one question though. It's about the inhabitants of Weedonwantcha"

"Sure, I was able to get a look around before and I got a couple names. I sent those pictures to you. You already have a specific mark."

I smile in response as I pull out the photo of the camp and pointed to the little blond girl with the branch. As Martin looks at the picture, I could see his eyebrows rise in surprise as he looked up at me.

"This is your chosen target? Little Seventeen?" He said with an expression of mocking sympathy.

"Yeah, you know her?" I reply with a small nod of my head, keeping a mental note about her name.

"Yeah, she is such a button. Just watch out for the big one called Brian, he's like her bodyguard or something." Martin said sadly, "It's such a shame though, she reminds me of my two daughters, you know, Kasey and Mavis. They are just as energetic."

"I understand," I reply with my arms crossed on the table, "But unlike your daughters, this kid's gonna receive the full EHC treatment. I waited too long to pass up such an opportunity and since there's no way I can back out now, better just let this happen."

Martin lifted his hands up, pointing his palms defensively "I know, I know…just please don't tell me about it. I have to deal with the fear of losing my daughters already."

I smile as I pick up the crossword puzzle and glance at the clock, which read 2:29 P.M. My lunch was now over and it was time to go back to work.

"As much as I enjoyed talking about your family Martin, I have to go back to work. I will expect to see you again when I get back from my vacation." I said as I sat up and walked towards the kitchen.

"Likewise." Martin said with a greasy click and finger point, "Just a reminder that got the cabin all set up with the necessities. Therefore, all you have to do is drive up there and you're all set. Ciao!"

As I left the table to place the notepad into my locker, I could not help but smile again, knowing that starting tomorrow, I would begin the journey to Camp Weedonwantcha, and show that little Seventeen girl, that I do want her, the same way that a carnivore wants a feast.

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