Chapter 7

Jimmy made camp next to a rock face for the night. He stacked more wood than he would need for a week. He glanced up at the darkening sky. He kept his horse saddled just in case. He laid his guns beside him as he ate hard tack as the fire burned. He laughed thinking of what Cody would say if he caught him acting this way. Hell, he had to admit that he was skeptical at first but damn, it was starting to get to him. He would just keep himself calm til morning. He laid back and closed his eyes. Couldn't scare him if he was asleep.

Jimmy woke a few hours later. He grunted and rolled over. He coughed and finally sat up. He rubbed his eyes then froze. The air around him was thick. Thick with that God awful smell. He reached for his guns. He heard something above him in the trees. He jumped and looked up. The fire was burning low, so he quickly tossed more wood onto it. The flames leapt up providing more light. He took a deep breath. Don't panic. Just ease over to your horse. Get the hell away from here. Jimmy slowly stood to back over to his horse who was pawing the ground nervously. He went to step in the stirrup when a sound pierced the darkness. Sundance reared and raced away, pulling Jimmy along with him. He flayed as he was pulled through the dirt until his boot came loose. Jimmy laid on his chest on the ground as he heard his horse thunder away. He scrambled back to his feet as the foul scent grew stronger. He was away from the fire. He was consumed in the darkness, but he could still faintly see the flames in the distance. He heard something. He looked blindly to his left. It was scratching. It sounded like metal being cut into rock. It squealed in a high pitch tone. He felt himself start to tremble. He tried to slow down his breathing. He tried to think. He remembered that it loved fear. He felt a puff of air behind him causing his hair to blow forward. He spun around but saw nothing. It happened again from behind him. He held his breath as he heard a low rumble. He couldn't stand there. It was too much. It was too close. He panicked. He ran.

Buck rode as fast as he could. The dream still heavy on his mind. He looked for Jimmy knowing that he had to make camp somewhere. He rode on in the darkness until he saw a fire. He pushed on in its direction. The smell suddenly filled his nostrils and took his breath away. He looked up. It was the early morning hours. Dawn would break soon. He searched the camp and found the tracks. He pushed his panic down as he followed his boot prints. He was running. And it was behind him. Buck did not think of his own safety as he ran long. He slid to a stop at a small boulder. There was blood smeared on it. He ran on. He looked ahead as the sun began waking up the territory. He saw him.

Teaspoon, Kid, and Cody rode hell bent behind Buck. Kid had rushed into town to let Teaspoon know about Buck's nightmare and that he felt that it had to do with Jimmy. Teaspoon felt this odd feeling come over him as they rushed out to find both of them. He couldn't explain it, but something told him to ride fast.

Buck looked over at Jimmy as he sat by the fire. He rocked back and forth as he shook. Buck handed him some more coffee. He had found Jimmy knocked unconscious as he lay on some rocks. He could only assume that he lost his balance and fell in his flight away from what was after him. He hadn't said much. He just sat there rocking.

"Jimmy, I am going to walk down to the stream for some water so I can finish cleaning that gash on your head and your hand."

"Stay, stay."

"The sun is out. You are ok now. I will be right back."

Buck hurried to the stream and carried the water back. After boiling it, he set to washing the blood off Jimmy's face and head.

"Jimmy, I have to ask, what did you see?"

Jimmy shook his head and looked down at the cup in his hands. He felt it shake.

"I have to know. You have to get it out so you can move past this."

Jimmy looked up at Buck as he leaned back from wrapping his head. He closed his eyes.

"It smelled. The smell was so strong, Buck. It ate the air up."

"Keep going."

Jimmy shook his head slightly.

"You need to."

Buck heard horses and noticed Teaspoon and the others rushing into camp. He held up his hand motioning for them to keep quiet. The three of them looked at each other before easing closer. Jimmy sat rocking with his eyes closed.

"Keep going, Jimmy. I have to know."

"I tried to stay calm, but it was hard. The hardest thing I have ever done. I heard leaves moving, nails on rock. A growl. I tried to get on my horse, but he bolted. He pulled me away from camp before I fell. I was in the dark. The dark, Buck. The dark."

"You aren't in the dark anymore. Keep going."

"I couldn't see a thing. I felt it's breath on me. It's heat. I ran. I ran until I felt like my heart was gonna burst. I could hear it behind me. Running steps in the dark. The dark was chasing me, Buck. The dark."

Buck looked back quickly at a concerned Teaspoon. Kid and Noah had lost all color from their faces.

"What happened next?"

"A weight hit me in the back, and I fell. I tried to get up, but the weight was there. Holding me down. I rolled over with my gun, but my hand hit something sharp. Sharp as knives. I lost my hold. I could feel it's hot breath on my face. I couldn't breathe."

"Then?"

Jimmy shook his head but kept his eyes closed.

"Then?" Buck asked again.

"The weight was gone, and I took in some fresh air. I crawled backwards and got to my feet. It was no longer there. I ran again. Then nothing."

Jimmy opened his eyes to look at Buck. "You had me."

Teaspoon eased closer as Jimmy rocked. He kneeled down in front of him.

"Jimmy?"

"It had me. It had me." Jimmy mumbled.

"It's ok, we got you now."

Jimmy laid down on his side as he suddenly felt sick. He closed his eyes. Buck pulled the blanket up higher and moved away from him over to the others.

"Buck, what the hell?"

"He got away. I don't understand."

"How did you know that he was in trouble?"

"I had a dream. I knew I had to come."

"How is he?"

"Out of it. He hit his head on a rock when he fell and sliced his hand pretty good, but that's it. Not another scratch on him."

"When he gets up, let's get him back to the station. Have the Doc come have a look see."

Buck nodded and went to walk around the area to look for any more signs. Teaspoon turned to see the ashen faces of Kid and Noah.

"I'm making some changes until we sort this out. No more runs where we have to camp overnight. I'll figure out a schedule."