Chapter 8

Carson sat in the bunkhouse waiting for Jimmy to wake so he could ask him some questions. Teaspoon had tried to persuade him otherwise, but he felt that this could not wait. He had to know while it was fresh in the young man's mind. The doctor had come a few hours ago and told them that he was fine but was probably experiencing some sort of shock. No shit. The old bugger gave him something to make him rest which brings us to now. Carson heard him grunt and roll over. He went back to his notes as he continued to wait.

Buck waited for Teaspoon and the others to get back to their daily routine before he slipped out to find Raven. He found her sitting in the restaurant. She seemed to not be surprised by his dream and him riding out to find his friend. She only insisted that she speak with him immediately.

Jimmy groaned again and rolled to this back. He wiped his mouth with his hand and felt something odd. He held it up to see white wrappings. He blinked again trying to get his bearings as he rubbed his face. He felt more on his head. He relaxed back and tried to get his mind right.

"Jimmy? It's Carson."

Jimmy frowned but pushed himself up to a sitting position. He was sore.

"Jimmy, I hate to bother you, but I have to ask you some things."

Jimmy squinted against the bright light filtering in through the window. He was in his bunk in the bunkhouse. He didn't remember how he got here. He grimaced as he shifted.

"Can't it wait. I got one hell of a headache."

"I am afraid that it can't. I need to know while it is still fresh in your mind."

"Why what is still fresh in my mind?" Jimmy groaned.

Carson jumped as the door opened and Buck peered inside.

"Sorry, but Jimmy, I have someone here I think you should talk to."

"Not you to." Jimmy growled.

Buck opened the door to allow Raven in. She smiled at Carson as he glared back at her. Jimmy just rubbed his head. Raven cut in front of Carson as she squatted down to Jimmy's level.

"Jimmy, I know that you saw him. Buck told me that you fell. That is what saved you. He likes to strike fear in the person that he is after. Feel their heart race before he rips it from their body. It drives him mad. He loves it."

Jimmy blinked and stared back at the woman in front of him.

"You smelled him. The smell of death and fear. He instills that sense of hopelessness. He pulls your courage from you and replaces it with fear. Fear that drives the heart into madness. Madness that he can tear from your body."

Jimmy felt the fear pull him back in. He started to shake remembering where he had been. Raven continued.

"Think back. Dwell upon those feelings. There has to be something that you noticed. The smell, the drool. Something."

Jimmy sat back on his bunk in fear. He stared into nothing.

"Think about it. You saw something. Heard something."

Jimmy started shaking his head as he crawled farther back on his bunk.

"I think he has had enough." Buck said stepping forward.

"No! You stay there!" Raven yelled. "What did you hear, Jimmy?"

"It was a person. It knew me. Knew where I worked. Knew who I was. I heard it whisper my name then laughter. It laughed. It caught me as I ran. I tried to shoot but something cut my hand. I couldn't. It stared at me as I got up to run again but it didn't chase me. I never looked back. I fell."

"Perfect."

"He will come for me, won't he? He knows me." Jimmy said starting to shake.

Raven sat back and looked over her shoulder at Buck.

"Bring me some more of that stuff the doctor gave him. It will make the shock of it all ease."

Buck reluctantly handed some to her. She made Jimmy drink some and watched as he rocked to sleep. She slowly stood and turned to leave.

"Who are you?" Asked Carson.

"The woman who will take him down." Raven said as she left.

Buck stood stuck in place after she left. He looked at Carson.

"It is part human then. He must live near here." Carson said writing.

"She pushed the shock back on Jimmy so he would think back. How?"

"I don't know but I am glad she did. Now I have more clues. Excuse me. I must think on this. I want to catch this creature. I will not allow her to kill it." Carson said as he stood to leave the room as well.

Buck sat down at the table in the bunkhouse as Lou made her way inside. She eased over to look at Jimmy before coming to sit down at the table with Buck.

"Think he will be ok."

"I hope so. Once you get that taste for fear, it changes you. It never goes away."

"I saw that woman leave here. Did you bring her? How could you let her see him like this?"

"She knows more than us, Lou. I can't tell you or explain it to you, but I trust her."

"Buck, she is a total stranger that just showed up. You can't trust her."

"You wouldn't understand."

Lou watched as Buck stormed out. She went to sit on Jimmy's bunk. He was lightly snoring. She pulled his blanket up over him. She lifted his wrapped hand to lay it on top when she noticed the bruising from under the bandage. She would have to remember to tell Rachel later.