Chapter Two – Under The Moon

Under the light of the waxing moon Duke Forrester watched his only son die. Blood poured down Simon's neck and speckled the dirt underneath him. He choked as it trickled into his lungs. His eyes glazed over. He was gone.

Max had never seen Duke angry before. He was the sort of man that you do not think capable of anger. Watching him at that moment was terrifying. He leapt towards his son's lifeless body, tearing at the creatures that still chewed at his body. He crushed them. He twisted them. He tore them in half.

Seven people stood in a circle and watched a grown man cry. It was deadly quiet except for the slow sobs of the man on his knees. No one stopped him. Max wanted tears to come, but none did. His eyes still stung.

The buildings were still burning behind him. His home. His mother.

'We need to go.'

Duke was standing now, still looking at his son. Nobody questioned him.

'Mary, would I be able to borrow a shovel from your cousin at the ranch?'

She looked at him. 'Yeah, probably I guess.' Her daughters were again hiding behind her legs.

Riley spoke up. 'Duke. Your boy helped me when I was in trouble.' Their eyes met and the two men held each other's gazes. 'If you'll let me it would be an honour to help you bury him.'

Silence fell across the group again. Duke nodded.

'We'll all bury him.' Mary said. To Max it sounded like she was trying to reassure herself more than the rest of the group.

Duke's eyes flitted to the mother for a second. His expression stony, he crouched and heaved Simon's body over his shoulders. He felt a hand on his back, steadying him as he stood and turned to see Claire's brother, who smiled weakly.

'Dan.' He said. 'If I can help you in any way…'

'Don't worry about it. I've got him.'

He was a big guy, but he still struggled to carry the body. Simon's weight fell awkwardly and there was nowhere to grip properly. The trees stood before them. They were lucky, the trees grew loose and they could travel easily. Moss littered the dirt at their feet and bushy ferns grew around them, but they didn't have to struggle against branches or overgrowth.

The path was well worn and wide and although it was so well defined Mary felt it necessary to lead the group. Her children were close behind her and Claire and Dan walked behind them. Behind them, Max could see their hands clasped together. Maybe they weren't siblings. He, Riley and Duke brought up the rear. Max sensed his friend's head next to him, lifeless, bobbing along with each footstep. He made sure it stayed out of his peripheral vision.

In the last hour he had lost his mother and his best friend. Both had been killed in front of him. The events looped again and again in his head but they felt so distant. He was just an observer. These things weren't happening to him.

'Max?'

Duke's voice pulled him back between the trees. He was looking at Max with the same tenderness as in the long grass but instead of fear there was sadness. Vulnerability.

Riley was catching up with Mary at the front leaving Max and Duke a distance from the rest of the group. Duke was deliberately walking slower, falling out of earshot, and Max followed his lead.

'What is it?' he asked.

Duke struggled to find the words. 'Are you ok?'

Max stayed quiet. His eyes were fixed on the path.

'We've both lost the person closest to us. You've lost…' he trailed off. 'Look, if you want to talk to anyone then I'm here for you. I can't imagine what you're feeling right now but seriously, I'm here.'

'And same to you.' Max coughed.

'What?'

'If you need to talk to anyone I mean.'

Duke forced a smile. 'I'll be alright. I'm a big guy.'

Max finally looked at Duke. Simon stared back. His neck smiled at Max, drooling blood over Duke's shoulder. Red stained the blue shirt.

'Duke, you watched your son die and now you're carrying his corpse so you can bury him. You don't have to bottle up your emotions and hide to make me feel better.'

Stunned, Duke let out a little laugh. 'I'm going to head to Saffron. Janet needs to know what happened. I can't tell her over the phone.'

Max had only met Simon's mum a few times. She seemed nice. He didn't know what had happened between her and Duke but Simon used to say they split up because it just didn't work out.

'Come with me Max.' He could tell that it was hard for Duke to ask. 'I think we should stick together. I'll pay for your travel and you can stay with us. I guess…'

Duke paused. Again he struggled to find the words.

'…I guess I just really don't want to be on my own right now.'

Max didn't even have to think about it. He'd always been a good friend with Simon's dad. Duke would hang out with them like one of the guys. Duke was the dad he never had. And, like Duke, Max really didn't want to be alone.

'As long as I won't cramp your style.'

This time the laugh was genuine. Small, but real.

And it was short lived. A scream ripped through the forest, distant but strong. The whole group froze.

And then again.

'Help!'