James Hackett

This story was the seed for Warren Le Platte’s own ongoing series (which he is currently developing further for SHiZZiES).

After the events of the previous night involving Rhonda’s Kidnapping, David and his grandparents arrive at their intended destination. David’s life has begun to take a very weird and interesting twist. Will he be strong enough in mind and body to survive?

“You’re sure it’s safe Peter?” Glenda asked her husband.

“He’ll be fine dear,” Peter replied calmly “let the boy sleep.”

“yes but suppose they come?” she whispered. “he did say they would try to capture David.”

“Look Glenda, we have time. He is still safe, now come on let’s go,” he said, leading his wife out of the Land Rover and into the foliage.

“Run David! Run and don’t look back!” That was the last thing his guide to this strange land said before they came.

Dark shadows descended from the trees. Acting on pure instinct, David ploughed blindly through the underbrush behind him. Running for what seemed to be hours, he finally stops.

“Nah boy… I cyah run… no more…” He was totally out of breath. Panting, he stood up and looked around. He was in a small clearing. It somehow didn’t seem natural. David  heard heavy breathing  all around him. Between the trees he could see literally hundred’s of eyes, glowing fiery red in the deep shadows.

“You may be fast young Bois, but you will never escape,” uttered the voice. It reminded David of a horror movie. Villanous laughter filled the clearing as David’s worl exploded into brilliant crimson…

The Midday sun hits David squarely in the face, burning brightly through the delicate skin of his eyelids. Shielding his raw eyes from the merciless sting, he sits up with a groan. “that was a real weird dream boy,” he mumbles to himself.

The door to an ancient Land Rover opens with groaning more, David steps out. Two stretches and a yawn later David shoulders his backpackand starts off in the same direction his grandparents took two hours before.

Three miles along the path… A sudden eerie silence descends.
“Peter, something wrong.” Glenda whispered. “The birds have stopped singing, even the insects are quiet.”

“Yes, I noticed,” Peter replied, deep in thought, “Maybe we should go back and get David.” They Hardly reached halfway down the path before they were abruptly stopped.

“The master  was expecting yuh!” said the raspy voice, a coarse stage whisper.

There was a rustling of leaves from a rather large tree to their left with a slimy hiss a creature slithered out. It was a huge snake, a Mapepire. What made this one different from your ordinary bush-variety serpent, was the fact this one had the head of a man. A very hideous man with two pairs of eyes and a sharp triangular teeth.

“what are you doing here?” Peter asked angrily.

“ah site seeing. What yuh think ah doing here?” replied the creature quite sarcastically. “Allyuh acting. Just hand over the boy and let me go meh way,”

“he has nothing to do with you or your master!” shouted Glenda.

“hat is what you think,” the creature said mockingly.”The boss say the boy supposed tuh be important tuh he plans or something. Anyway, just give meh the boy.”

“Over our dead bodies,” stated Peter while steppign forward and pointing his hunting rifle.

“That could be arranged yuh know,” mocked the foul creature.

“You can go back to hell where you came from,” threatened Peter, cocking his rifle.

“If that is how allyuh want tuh get on, ah will go, but ah taking all ah allyuh with meh,” With that the things drops onto the with another deafening hiss. Peter takes aim…

A flock of birds explode from the tree canopy as David hears two loud gunshots ring out further  up the path. Fearing something is not right, he breaks into a run. ROunding a sharp turn David almost trips over broken branches littering the path.

“What the…” was Daviod’s only response. He takes a closer look. The limb is thick as his legs and appear to have been ripped from the tree. ” I not staying around tuh find out what do that nah!” He continues sprinting up the trail. As he darts around a sturdy Bois Canoe tree, David hears all too familiar voice behind him.

“Not so fast young Bois. We have some unfinished business to attend to.”

David stops, and turns around to face the voice.

“You again.”