Chapter 18

Buck raced up to the cabin. He slid to a stop and leapt from his horse. He jerked the door open. He sighed. Jimmy was laying in the corner on his side. He made his over to wake him then stopped. His hands were covered in what appeared to be blood. Buck took in the long fingernails. The long fangs that now protruded from his mouth. He stepped back when the floor creaked. Jimmy opened his eyes.

"Buck?"

Buck looked on in shock as Jimmy climbed to his feet.

"Buck? What's wrong?"

Buck snapped out of his stupor. This was Jimmy. He watched worry stretch across his friend's already tired features.

"There was another killing. Found just a little while ago."

Jimmy went to rake his fingers through his hair when he noticed what Buck had been staring at. He stopped and held his hands out. He saw the dried blood. His hands began to tremble.

"Jimmy….."

"What am I doing? It is me, ain't it."

Buck watched the torment run through his friend. He started to say more when he heard someone on the porch. Jimmy looked around in a blind panic. The door opened and there stood Raven. Buck stepped in front of Jimmy.

"I knew you would show me where he was hidden."

"Raven, please. Hear me out."

"No. Nothing that you can say will change my mind. I have seen the destruction left behind. I have witnessed it first hand. I must stop it. I gave him my word." She said as she pulled her blade and stepped inside.

Carson strode in behind her.

"Jimmy, it is time to accept your fate. Time to accept what you have done here."

"He didn't do anything. It is not him." Buck stated.

"Step away from him." Raven growled. "You betrayed me. Betrayed your beliefs. You were not worthy of my trust."

"Raven, I am telling you the truth. This is Jimmy. He is not a killer."

"Look at his hands, Buck. Look at them!"

"There has to be an explanation. He was here."

"You were not so how do you know?"

"Because he is my brother. I know."

"Buck, maybe she is right." Jimmy said behind him.

Buck shook his head but did not break eye contact with Raven. Carson took this moment to try to slip around. Raven charged at Buck. Jimmy was knocked back as Buck fought with Raven. Carson pulled out the syringe which shone in the light. Jimmy felt something change inside him. He knocked Carson's hand and the needle slid across the floor. He fell down grasping his stomach. He shook all over and yelled in pain. Raven broke free of Buck and watched as the beast itself stood heaving before them. Buck slowly got to his feet and stood with his hands out. Carson and Raven behind him.

"Move! Let me finish this!" Raven yelled.

"No! Jimmy! Calm down!"

Carson stared straight into Jimmy's red eyes. Jimmy stared back. He let out a piercing yell that made them all cover their ears. Carson stood straight and did not waver. Jimmy lunged at him while Buck yelled. Raven raised her sword. Buck jumped into Jimmy, knocking Raven away. The three of them hit the ground. Jimmy saw Buck laying there. He looked over at the sword on the ground. The busted syringe on the ground. He grabbed the unconscious Buck and quickly ran out the cabin.

Teaspoon, Noah, and Cody walked around searching for any clues. Everything was the same. The body torn apart. The smell. The tracks. They still had nothing. They made their way back home with nothing to show for it.

Raven paced the cabin as Carson tried to pick up the pieces of the broken syringe. She forcefully pushed her sword back in its sheath.

"This is stupid. We came here unprepared and look what happened. Trust you, ha. Work together. Yeah right."

"Come on now, Raven. This was just a test. To see what we were up against. Now that we have seen it with our own eyes, we can be better prepared."

"I was stupid for letting you talk me into this. I'm done. I work better alone."

"Hold on a minute, I have a plan. Trust me. This will work."

Raven stared at Carson in anger.

"I will meet you back in town later."

She left Carson kneeling on the floor.

Steven sat cowering in the back corner of his barn as his animals stepped about skittishly. He held his lantern tight as he held his breath. He heard the ragged sound of nails scraping against wood. He could hear the heavy panting coming from the other side of the wall. He heard a low rumble. He jumped as a small shriek of terror escaped his lips. His body shook all over. The glass of the lantern rattled in his hands. The horses stomped in fear. He heard rustling above him but couldn't bring himself to look up. He felt a breeze waft through the barn. With it came the most putrid smell. He felt the hot tears run down his face. He closed his eyes. When he opened them, he expected to see death upon him, but it wasn't there. He felt relief when suddenly something burst through the wood of the barn. He screamed in fear and pain as the claws tore him apart.