The story is about a young boy who makes contact with an outwouldly robot. 

It is part crime story and science fiction, a strange mix I know.

 

 

 

But however you observed this work, it was very good.

The bright light had now caused some very dark shadows from certain objects in the

room.

Peering further into the dusty basement he could see a table, and a blanket lying near

the table on the floor. But there was something under the blanket?

Reeder froze all of a sudden, what was under the blanket?

Officer Reeder neared the blanket.

What was under that bloody blanket?

When he was finally close enough, he pulled the sheet of material off the covered object.

A dirty greasy engine appeared. Sitting on the basement floor. The engine was stained

with dark fluid.

Reeder placed the blanket back on top of the engine.


For the next hour or so Reeder checked every other room, no sign of the boy. It was

time to leave.

The owner did not come home. 
                                                                                                                                                          
Once officer Reeder had completed his search he locked the front door with his metal                                 

device. And left satisfied with his search.


He walked back to his police car and opened the door. Once he was in the comfort of

his vehicle, he breathed a sigh of relief, it was over with.

Reeder looked at himself in the front mirror. His reddish hair glistened in the strong

sun. He decided to drive back to the station.




Chapter 6,

Tommy had walked through the forest for a little while now, and was growing tired.

Where was his mate, even he did not know?

The trees blew gently in the soft breeze.

The trail he had picked was quite an easy route. The mud was dry, easier to walk on.

The countryside was so quiet, so different from city life, drug pushers everywhere,

trying to corrupt nice people.

The countryside there was no danger to be found, in general everything seemed more

peaceful, tranquil.


Tommy ventured up a slight hill; the grass seemed longer in this area.

Then he heard the trickling of water nearby. The young boy had to investigate.

Walking more quicker now passed a couple of dark green hedges, he came upon a little

pond. The water rippled slightly, it looked beautiful, restless.

“I love this place, if it wasn’t for Jack I would be having the best time ever,” he

suddenly shouted. Annoyed with his mate, but at the same time worried.

That’s why he had gone on this crazy adventure in the first place. To find his mate, to

somehow help him, rid him of his demons once and for all.

Through the murky water he could see a couple of swimming fish. It was hard to

make out the colour of the fish, as the water was dull in colour. But they swam

happily, avoiding each other by a matter of inches.

Tommy decided to carry on with his quest. Everywhere seemed a little confusing

now, trees looked like trees, direction seemed like every other direction.


Tommy realized he was lost, which direction was the journey back to the camp?

Oh shit he thought.

He started panicking a bit now, as the spinning of the trees became worse. And then

he had the massive urge to sit down, at the trunk of one of the tall trees.

He felt like he wanted to pass out, his head tingled strangely.

What should he do?

He carried on sitting at the trunk confused.

Now he understood how Jack got lost, the big dark forest was like a maze, every

corner seemed like another direction into nothing.

Tommy started biting his nails, more at of nerves then anything else.

The sun shone slightly through the trees, so there was a little light coming into the

dense forest, but it was not much.

Tommy got up from the base of the trunk; it was time to go back to the camp.

He had an idea just follow the trail back from where he had come it was easy.

The young boy still lacked confidence, the forest was huge and it was going to be

dark in a few hours.

He started walking from which he had come. The footprints in the mud helped

a little, but the mud was not wet enough, so occasionally the foot prints would

disappeared. Or a patch of grass would appear causing even more problems.

Still he carried on down the path from which he had come. The tall menacing trees

either side of him, rustling high above him. Yet again another patch of yellowish

grass was in front of him, causing the indentations from his shoe to vanish.

He tried thinking back, what trees did he walk in-between? what was the route he took

earlier?

He could not think all of a sudden, his little brain went blank, this was useless.


And then a crack of thunder was heard high above as it roared across the sky, making

Tommy jump out of his skin.

A twig snapped behind him suddenly.

Tommy swung himself round from where the noise had come.

A man holding a rifle stood there, his eyebrows meeting in the middle of his forehead.

Then the elderly man spoke.

“What are you doing this far in the woods? It’s dangerous you know, wild animals

will tear you apart the moment you close your eyes for a split second.”

Tommy just stood there; he stayed silent as the man carried on talking.

“You lost boy, do you come from that camp where all you kids run amok, scaring the

animals away with your constant noise?” he stopped and stared

at the scared boy, his eyes were cold.

Tommy noticed the elderly man wore a bright multi coloured lumber jacket. And

worn jeans with little holes around the knee area.

“Come on then let’s get you back, to the safety of the camp,” the man bellowed as he

started walking away from Tommy.

Tommy was already lost so he had nothing to lose. He followed the tired old man

down the path of the ever-darkening forest.


Six thirty that evening and the children had already eaten tea.

Tony noticed Tommy was not there.

He must still be in his cabin Tony thought, “Jenny have you seen little

Tommy at all, he wasn’t at dinner this evening, I’m worried about him, but the only

problem is he likes you more then me. Could you be a love and check up on him?” the

male teacher said batting his eye lids.

“You are such an idiot Tony, but yeah I will check up on him, just for you,” she said

batting her eye lids back.

They both kissed each other on the lips softly. Tony knew the camp leader was

showing the kids first aid in the big hall at the far end of the camp. So he had some

free time to read a magazine in his cabin, alone. At last peace and quiet from the

screaming little kids.


He trekked back to his empty cabin, and opened the door. He had left it unlocked on

purpose, he knew no one would break in. Once he was inside he turned on the light,

and sat on his comfy bed. Rearranged the pillows, and opened the second drawer

on the wooden cabinet, which stood near his bed. Tony peered at the front cover.

Lovely he thought, a big buxom beauty stared back at him from the front of the

magazine. He opened to the first page and started reading one of the erotic stories.


Her feet ached a little bit as she walked up the quite steep hill. One of many in

the camp, bloody hills she thought. Tommy’s cabin was just ahead, passed a couple

of high bushes. Jenny walked passed them nervous; anyone could be hiding in them,

watching her that minute observing every move. She turned the corner and now

the young boy’s cabin was in sight.

Please be alright she thought, knowing the boy was blaming himself for his friend’s

disappearance, but it could not have been helped.

The cabin was now getting closer with every stride. Finally she had made it to the

three small steps that led to the front door of this particular cabin. She walked quietly

up the small steps, and knocked on the wooden door.

There was no answer, she decided to call his name instead, “Tommy don’t be scared

it’s Jenny,” still no answer.

“Look I was worried about you, are you OK Tommy, you done really well this

morning. Talking to the police officer I mean, oh come on please open the door, I’m

worried about you?” still no answer.

Jenny tried the door. It was strangely unlocked. Jenny pushed the door open, and

there was darkness inside. Where the hell was he. She turned the little knob on the

wall so the ceiling light came on.

Once her eyes had got use to the bright light. She looked around the rooms of the

cabin to indicate where he had gone, no clue at all. Then she remembered the first aid

class, maybe he was there joining in the fun? Maybe there was nothing to worry about

at all? So he was not at dinner that does not necessarily mean he had gone missing like

his mate?


Jenny decided to go for a walk up to the big hall at the far side of the camp, just so she

could see Tommy with her own eyes then she could finally relax.

She closed his door without locking it, and ran up another steep hill passed more tallish

bushes.


“Follow me, come on I know where I am heading, come on,” the elderly man

bellowed, his rifle still in his hand.

Tommy did not know what to make of this situation. The trees still stood tall around

him, making him feel suffocated.

The man looked in his direction, his eyebrows still meeting in the central part of his

forehead. The man’s stare was still cold and quite unsettling.

“Are you going to keep up or not? Hurry up and stop peering at me like I am some

kind of freak that you would stick in some asylum and laugh at through the thin glass,

you hear me,” the man suddenly stopped bellowing, and carried on walking down the

dense path of the huge forest.

The young boy decided to make conversation with the strange man, “Excuse me sir,

how close are we to the camp, are we getting closer, or do you think we might be

lost?”

Suddenly a hand smacked Tommy hard around the face. Tommy felt giddy, as he

opened his tired eyes.

The man with his lumber jacket stood over him, “Are you taking the piss boy, just

follow me. Unless you want a ten times worst beating, you got that you little shit,” the

evil man shouted. His rotted teeth showing through the darkness of his evil mouth.

Tommy wanted to cry, he was really scared, but he got up from the muddy ground of

the forest. Following the man even further, maybe into the unknown.


After another half an hour there was still no sign of the camp. This was looking

bleaker by the minute.

The man still walking in front of him.

Tommy could sense the elderly man was talking to himself, as his mouth moved up

and down the majority of the time. But there was no sound coming from the old

codger.

But Tommy was too scared to say anything now, just in case he got hit again.

This was the worst trip he had ever been on, it was even worst then humiliation.


Still more time passed, the man in front staying silent, holding his gun.

Occasionally looking back at the young boy, his teeth clenched.

Then the man stopped, “You know I am not taking you to your camp don’t you boy?”

he said without batting an eye lid, like it did not matter.

Tommy stopped all of a sudden, the fear growing more intense once again, “What are

you going to do to me sir?” Tommy said scared for his life.

The man turned in the young boy’s direction, then spoke, a slight smirk on his face.

“What do you think I’m going to do to you, try guessing it’s fun? Me and my

dead father use to play the same game, but it always ended up with me beaten to a

pulp. But carry on guessing it’s fun”?”

Tommy now knew he was dealing with a psycho, and stayed quiet.

The man in his lumber jacket now looked confused as he stared at Tommy, trying to

work the boy out.

But his youth was long gone. His long dead father had made sure of that.

Then he grew increasingly angry, more at his father then anything else. The man

suddenly started shouting at the heavens above,

“I hate you so much you bastard, you evil vindictive bastard, you have turned me

into what I am now, you weak willed bastard.”

Then silence, as he took his anger out on the boy once again. He lunged at the boy

and grabbed him by the neck. And started dragging him along the muddy ground of

the forest.

“I’m taking you to your mate, yes you heard me you little shit, their’s more of you in

the forest tonight,” the scary man bellowed.

He carried on dragging a petrified Tommy.

Without warning Tommy was dropped onto the hard floor.

“Get up you little shit,” the man bellowed again.

Tommy done what he was told, he got up swiftly from the cold floor. The first thing

he saw was a red picket fence, stuck in the ground with great care.

The man stared at him again, “This is where I come when I feel like I can’t cope,” he

said.

Tommy was somewhat confused, what was this strange man going on about? What

did he mean when he said he could not cope?

Just pass the elderly man there was a clump of tall grass, and behind that something

else.

The boy could not work out what exactly it was, but it was square shaped, and dark in

colour.

The lumber jacket man had both his hands on his old face, and kneeled down on the

muddy ground. He started whimpering like an unhappy dog, after the owner had told

it off.

Tommy just stood looking at the strange man as he cried. The young boy had

never seen a grown up cry before, and it was quite unsettling.

Tommy felt like he should say something, “Stop crying please, it can’t be that bad,

please stop crying, if you are worried about hitting me I will not say anything I promise,

we all make mistakes.” But Tommy deep down was scared at of his wits.

Behind his wrinkled hands his face reappeared. And gave the

boy a less harsher look then previously, and then he spoke, more softly now, “You

don’t understand boy, I have done something that I can’t take back. At the time I was

angry and I felt so depressed, so lonely. But now I have to live with myself and my

crime. Now you are involved, I am sorry lad but I don’t have any choice, if only

you had stayed at the camp safe and warm.”

With that the man stopped all of a sudden and got up from cold floor. His rifle still

gripped strongly in his hand. The man walked towards the boy and gripped him

around the arm hard, “Follow me”, he said with a grunt.

Dragging the scared boy nearer to the darkish object, that stood embedded in the mud

behind the clump of yellowish grass.

“What are you going to do to me sir?” Tommy pleaded.

Silence.

A rusty looking key appeared from the man’s pocket and he stuck it in the lock of the

strange object.

The young boy realized that the object was actually a cage.

The man wrapped a blindfold around the boy’s eyes.

“This is more for your own protection boy then mine,” he grunted.

Then he wrapped a strong bit of rope around the boy’s wrists, “This will stop you

from causing any trouble, I’m sorry for this boy but it has to be done. It’s for your

own protection, you hear what I am saying, your own protection.”

The man then opened the door of the cage, as it creaked terribly. Then with his

strong hands he pushed the boy into the dark dirty cage. Tommy was petrified, as he

sat in his new home. The damp ground wetting his trousers,

“What do you want from me?” he shouted.

No answer.

Tommy then heard the shuffling of feet, as they got further away.

Before long the shuffling had disappeared, the young boy now knew he was all alone.

Sitting in some grimy cage. Awaiting his fate.

He had to get the blindfold off before the man came back.

He could feel the bars of the cage with his hands. But because his hands were

tied. Escaping was going to be extremely difficult, this was looking bleaker by the

minute.

Then Tommy had an idea. If he rubbed the tight rope against one of the bars of the

cage, it might eventually cut through, it was worth a go.

He started rubbing the rope hard against one of the bars. But after about a minute, it

had made no difference.

“For god sake work,” he said with his teeth clenched.

His wrists were beginning to hurt now, as the rope seemed tighter then ever around

his small arms. Tommy felt defeated as he sat back down on the cold damp floor, he

was shit out of luck.

From what he had seen of the cage earlier, it was about five metres in length, and

about three metres wide. Maybe there was someone else in the cage as well, tied up,

unable to speak?

Tommy decided to go for a crawl, to see what he could find. Even though his hands

were tied together, he was ready for the challenge.

In-between his fingers he could feel the slime of the mud it felt disgusting.

And his knees felt cold as they positioned themselves firmly onto the floor.

Slowly but surely and with great difficulty he started crawling around the quite big

cage.

His hands felt something solid, and very cold.

Strangely enough this object felt like cold hard metal, maybe it was an engine from a

car?

With fascination he used both hands to explore the shape of the object, it seemed

bulky.

Tommy had trouble working out what the hell this thing was, and more importantly

what was it used for?

He realized he had found a switch of some sort. Tommy moved the switch

downwards and it clicked.

A strange humming noise was heard, then a couple of bleeps.

Suddenly something kicked him hard in the leg.

“Ouch,” he screamed, there was definitely someone else in the cage with him.

“Who is that? I’m not scared you know, come on if you are hard enough?” he

shouted trying to look brave, but he was petrified to say the least.

Another couple of high-toned bleeps, then more humming.

Through his blindfold he could make out two bright lights. They seemed red in

colour, and they seemed to be moving.

“Who are you, what do you want from me?” Tommy shouted again, his heart was

beating like crazy.

Then without warning something grabbed him around the throat. But whatever had

hold of him was not human? The hand around his throat was stone cold.

Tommy now had trouble breathing, and he felt his body weaken all of a sudden.

This was it; he knew he was close to death.

And then the hand let go, as the young boy fell back onto the floor.

Tommy’s hands were still tied, so he could not fight back.

He laid there useless, shaking.

Then he felt something cold touch his face. And then the blindfold he wore was

ripped off.

Tommy was too scared to open his eyes.

“Please don’t hurt me mister?” he kept saying, as he swayed back and forth in the

same spot.

And then the strange being in the cage with him spoke, “Do not be scared, I did not

mean to alarm you, I am confused to where I am, where am I?”

Tommy slowly opened his tired eyes.

In front of him was the strangest sight ever.

A man made out of metal.

This being had the face of a human, but with red glowing bulbs for eyes. And a gaping

hole for a mouth.

Its arms and legs looked like bluish coloured pipes, that bent in the middle.

The torso of the being was more metal, this time a greyish colour. With little strange

markings at the bottom of the torso, near where the thin legs connected.

A strange code was also imprinted at the bottom of the torso, Q E A 12537.

The thing spoke again, “Do not be scared, I will not harm you, can you answer me

something?” the strange robot went quiet all of a sudden.

“What do you want to know?” Tommy said, finally feeling at ease with the situation

he was facing.

The head of the machine peered up at the young boy. The red lights from the bulbs

blinded Tommy for a split second. Then the machine spoke again.

“Why am I stuck in this cage? Where is my team? The last thing I remember is being

attacked heavily in battle, I do not understand?” then the metal man stopped, staring at

the young boy.

Tommy did not know what to say. He had never encountered a man like this before.

But he now knew he had a chance to escape the confines of this dirty cage. He had a

plan, “If you get me out of this cage, I will do my best to find out what happened to

you, that is a promise,” Tommy said, shaking the machine’s solid hand.

The machine looked confused, as its head moved erratically, “What are you doing

little man?” it said.

“This is a friendly gesture, we are now friends, and do you understand what friend

means?” the young boy said hoping he had made a breakthrough with the metal man.

The machine did not answer. But with its amazing strength it kicked one side of the

cage. The metal bars of the cage cracked under the pressure. And then the machine

ripped the bars away, so now a gaping hole had formed.
“Time to leave little man,” the machine said as it climbed through the hole, “Are you

coming?”

Tommy noticed a blanket in the far corner of the cage. The blanket was definitely

covering something, but what?

“Come on little man,” the machine said from outside.

“In a minute, I want to check out something first,” Tommy shouted back, as he

crawled to the blanket with great difficulty.

Once he had reached the darkish blanket, he threw the blanket off the object it was

covering.

Looking back at him with lifeless eyes was Jack. Pale white in colour, his

eyes staring through fear.

Tommy had finally found his mate, but he was already dead.

On Jack’s throat was little indentations. Giving the impression he had been strangled

violently.

Tommy was absolutely shocked as he fell back onto the cold muddy floor of the cage.

Without thinking he let out a piercing scream. He had never seen a dead body before.

He suddenly felt dizzy as his head spun. The vision of his dead mate kept haunting

him. The staring eyes, the terrified look. The blood drained from his young body.

Even though Tommy was in shock he felt something grab him around the

arms. Pulling him somewhere, but he did not know where? For a little while the

young boy had forgotten where he was. And what was happening.

His body and mind was numb, lifeless.



Chapter 7,


Jenny was nervous as she picked up the phone. She could not put it off any longer.

Jack’s parents would have to be notified about their son running away. It had now

been two or so days, things were not looking good at all.

The teacher dialled the number that she had got from the school folder.

A voice answered at the other end.

“Hello this is Mary speaking, how may I help you?”

The teacher was nervous as hell, but this had to be done. “Hello I am one of the

teacher’s from your son’s school. I have no easy way to say this, but I am afraid your

son Jack has ran away from the camp we were staying at. The police are also helping

to find him,” she said nervously.

Silence at the other end. And then a man’s voice was heard all of a sudden.

“Tell me what you just said to my wife?” the man demanded from the other end of the

phone.

Jenny started all over again, “Your son Jack has ran away from the camp, he has

been missing for a couple of days now. But we are confident we will find him.”

The man at the other end started shouting, “If he isn’t found we will take your crap

school to the court house, you got that you bitch. And why didn’t you ring us

yesterday if he had been missing as long as you say he bloody was, answer me that?”

The teacher did not expect that sort of reaction. And felt sick, she wanted to puke.

Tony the other teacher was on hand to help, just in case something went wrong. He

grabbed the phone from Jenny’s clutches. The angry man was still shouting at the

other end.

Tony decided to say something, “Look this is no ones fault sir, and your son has

misbehaved since he got here. There is also security on the camp. The boy

ran off, we can’t keep an eye on everyone twenty four seven.”

The angry man stopped ranting and raving and started listening.


For the next couple of minutes Tony spoke to the man. Jenny sat as faraway from

the phone as possible. The desk she sat at was covered in paperwork it was a tip.

She peered round at her male friend, admiring his good looks.

If only the boy had not gone missing, this would have been the trip of a lifetime.


Tony finally put the phone down. And rubbed his forehead with his right hand.

Sweat was pouring off him. Maybe it was the heating. “Who else to ring

love, I know Tommy’s gone missing, but he’s probably just sulking somewhere,

to embarrassed to show his face?” Tony said to Jenny.

She half smiled at him from across the office. “I’m going back to my cabin Tony, I

want to be alone, sorry,” she said quietly.

Then the lady teacher left the office.

Tony sat there for sometime, staring at the phone. Getting the courage to ring

Tommy’s mum. To explain what was going on, it was not going to be easy.

After some minutes his vision got a little blurry. But he decided to ring her that night,

to get it over with. He dialled the number and waited patiently.


It was dark outside now. The trees looked like giant silhouettes, as they blew in the

slight breeze.

Jenny was making her way back to the cabin. Down the path of the camp, which was

quite steep. Her feet still ached from all the walking.

A twig snapped behind her, making her jump. As she looked round to

where the noise had come from, young Kelly stood, her young face looking sad.

“What’s wrong Kelly?” the teacher said in a caring manner.

The young girl finally spoke, “I didn’t want Jack to go missing really. I like him

really. I just like winding him up, but please find him, will you promise me that miss.

That your will find him safe and well?”

Jenny cuddled the young girl, and whispered in her ear, “I promise you we will find

him.”

With that the girl ran swiftly back to the warmth of her cabin, which stood about

forty metres away.

Jenny watched the girl open the front door and enter the cabin.

Then she carried on with her own journey back to her own cabin.



Another drag of the fag the smoke floating effortlessly through the warm air.

“What now?” Steve the security guard said to the tired camp leader.

Frank was exhausted, “I really don’t know, two young boys have gone missing from

this camp. It is going to put us out of business. I hope their both safe Steve, if they

are not, I don’t think I could live with that, you know what I mean,” he said sitting at

his comfy desk.

“The only thing we can do is keep searching nearby sir,” Steve said, trying to stay

optimistic.

Frank nodded, “That’s all we can do,” he said agreeing with the security guard.

A knock was heard at the door. Frank looked at his watch. The time was ten fifty

two, “Who could that be, it’s a bit late?” he grudgingly said, before getting up from

the chair and walking to the front door. The security guard walked closely behind

him. The camp leader turned the key in the lock and opened the door.

“Officer how can we help you?” the camp leader said.

Surprised at such a late visit from the police.

Officer Reeder walked into Frank’s cabin, looking slightly distressed.

“What’s wrong officer?” Frank asked worryingly.

Reeder finally spoke, “You rang me earlier about a second boy going missing, how is

this possible. You knew the boy was upset about his mate. Why didn’t you make a

better effort to keep an eye on him.”

The officer suddenly stopped. And wiped his sweaty brow with a bit of tissue.

Frank did not know what to say.

Then Reeder carried on, “I apologize for my outburst, but this case is becoming a

nightmare, two boys going missing in the spate of two days. I am afraid this might be a

lot worse then we first thought. I think there might be a paedophile on the loose.

Kidnapping children for his own sick pleasure.”

“I hope you are not being serious officer,” Frank said, not liking the sound of that

at all.

The officer scratched the top of his head. His reddish hair glowing from the bright

light on the ceiling, “The only thing we can do now, is hope for the best. Hoping the

two children are safe. Starting tomorrow morning a massive search for the two

children will take place. Police from all over the country will come to North

Norfolk to help in the search. I am afraid that’s all we can do now gentlemen.

I will pop in tomorrow before the search takes place. If you want to help in the search,

that would help greatly, goodnight gentlemen,” Reeder said before making his

way to the door.

“Goodnight yourself,” the camp leader said.

The policeman opened the creaking door. And shut it behind him, causing a slight

bang.

“It’s time I was off Frank,” Steve said, patting the middle-aged man on the back.

“Yeah that’s fine Steve, thanks for what you have done, I wouldn’t be surprised if

Vincent is hiding something though. He was always a bit strange. But goodnight

anyway mate,” Frank said as he sat back down on the comfy chair.

The cigarette he held had now gone out, he placed it in the ash-tray.

The security guard left the cabin. Closing the door behind him.

Frank sat for sometime on his own, praying the boys were safe. Worrying also for

the camps reputation. Tomorrow was going to be tense to say the least.

After about an hour the camp leader decided to go to bed. Knowing he was not going to

get much sleep though. He picked himself up from the comfy chair and walked towards

the bedroom. Once in the bedroom he switched the little lamp on which stood near

his bed. A warm orange glow descended from the lamp. Frank took his clothes

off slowly, leaving his pants on, and crawled into bed. For the first time that day he

felt safe, like a little child. Wrapped in warm safe blankets.


Tony sat near the bed in his cabin. He wanted to ring Jenny on his mobile. But how

would she react? He decided to ring her anyway, he had nothing to lose. Tony got the

mobile phone out of the pocket of his trousers, and dialled her number in. Ringing

was heard from the other end, and Tony waited patiently for her to answer. He

waited for about ten seconds, and then her voice was heard at the other end.

“Hello, who is this?” she said quietly.

“It’s me Tony, are you OK?” he said, worried about her.

Jenny spoke again, not sounding overly positive, “I’m OK Tony, but it is a bit

late, you woke me up. It had taken me ages to get to sleep as well. Can we speak

tomorrow Tony, I feel absolutely shattered, I just need a goodnights sleep, are

you fine with that?”

“Yeah that’s fine Jenny. Sorry for disturbing you at such a late hour, goodnight love,”

he said before turning his mobile off for the night.

Putting it back into his trouser pocket.

Tony moved the curtain that covered the window.

Outside was dark.

A few stars could be seen in the night sky, as they hung there with no effort.

The male teacher thought about the two boys missing, it was hard to ignore. It was on

every ones mind. Lost in the darkened woods. Unable to find the way back, scared.

He moved the curtain back to its original position. So it covered the window once

again, and walked to the sleeping quarters of the cabin. It was time to go to sleep. It

was going to be a long day tomorrow.

He took his blue shirt off, followed by his casual dark blue jeans. And peered at the

alarm clock that sat on the cabinet near the bed.

The time was eleven seventeen, nearly midnight.

The wind outside sounded like it was picking up. As he heard a couple of tiles from

the roof of a nearby cabin being flung off with great force, as they hit the ground with

a thud.

Tony went to bed that night feeling very uneasy, not knowing what to expect next.


Tommy woke suddenly, his head still spinning a little.

As he looked around from where he laid, he noticed he was in some kind of cave.

The young boy knew this by the rock like boulders that covered him. And he could

hear the whistling of the wind in the near distance.

What Tommy had witnessed earlier was horrifying, but did it really happen? Or was it

some kind of fake memory? His mate being dead.

The strange machine that he had spoken to. The evil man that had dragged him

through the forest wishing him dead.

Tommy was unsure if any of it actually happened, maybe being lost in the dark

woods had sent him mad?

He heard a scraping sound all of a sudden coming from the entrance of the cave. He

knew it was the entrance by the noise of the wind outside. As it blew into the

darkness of the cave with force.

And then without any warning a vicious grey dog ran through the cave towards him.

Its long type fangs bearing, as it was ready for the kill. It lunged at the young boy.

Tearing a fragment of Tommy’s coat. Tommy started screaming as he tried

crawling away from the vicious beast.

But the dog kept coming after him, barking madly saliva dripping from its mouth.

“Get away from me,” Tommy kept shouting, as he tried pulling himself away from

the mad dog, his hands gripping the cold rocks of the cave.

Suddenly the dog stopped in its tracks. As a bewildered look came across its beast

like face.

Tommy did not know what to make of this.

Through the canine’s furry throat four metal like fingers appeared.

The vicious dog was then decapitated. Staining the cave with dark red.

Tommy screamed yet again. Never before seeing an animal being so brutally killed.

The dog was flung out of the cave with great force.

The metal man stood in front of the young boy, “Hello”, it said calmly.

“What the hell are you doing? I thought we was friends. I didn’t need to see that

you heartless thug?” Tommy screamed at the machine.

The metal man was stunned. Not knowing what to say, but it had to say something. This

was his new friend.

“I do not understand. I was only protecting you. The furry hairball was trying to destroy

you little man, what did I do wrong?”

The machine was silent now. Somewhat confused by the whole situation.

Tommy understood what the metal man was saying to him. If it had not appeared

when it did, Tommy would probably now be dead. “I’m sorry metal man, but from

now on there has to be rules. You can’t just kill things just like that. That is not the

way. Do you understand what I am saying?” Tommy said.

The machine stood in the darkness of the cave. Its red bulging eyes shone into the

darkness, thinking.

“I am sorry little man, I have let you down. It will never happen again,” the metal

man said covered in the hairballs blood.

The wind still howled outside. And the trees blew harshly.

The machine walked up to Tommy and then sat next to him, “I am sorry little man, it

will never happen again,” the metal man said again more gently this time.

Tommy looked up at the strange being.

The eyes of the machine blinding the young boy.

“I’m sorry as well, you are the best friend I have ever had,” Tommy said, feeling

guilty for shouting at the machine. Knowing the machine had just saved his life.


The metal man suddenly looked towards the entrance of the cave, and said

chillingly, “We are not alone, there is someone else outside. I think they know

we are here.”

“Oh shit what can we do?” the young boy said quietly, as he crouched in the shadows

of the cave, hoping they would cover him from danger.

The head of the dog still lay near the entrance. Dark blood trickling from the stump.

“Be quiet?” said the machine, as it sat with the young boy.

The machine could hear the boy’s heartbeat, as it raced.


From outside a gunshot was heard. It sounded like it came from miles away.


The darkness of the cave seemed to be consuming them both. As the shadows seemed

slowly darker and more menacing then before.

“Trust me little man, I am going for a look outside, to check no one is lurking about. Just

stay here safe, do you understand?” it said quietly in the boy’s ear.

Tommy nodded.

The machine got up from the floor. Within a second was gone, out of the only

entrance of the massive rock. Leaving the young boy sitting all alone.


Old Vincent was pissed off. The bloody kid had escaped. Vincent knew this because

of the empty cage. Half the cage had been ripped apart, by something very strong.

Whatever had done this was at this time a mystery.

The elderly man felt intense rage, “Where are you, where are you hiding you little

shit. When I find you, I will cut you up like a dead pig?”

He walked down a slight hill of the forest. Everywhere was so dark. But the torch he

held in his right hand helped. The light beaming from the circular end of the torch,

making things easier to see in front. Vincent had been walking the huge forest for

about two hours, and his legs ached a little. His lumber jacket kept him warm though.

“Where are you, I will search you out. And then gut you like a pig,” he shouted

again.

The rage in him was overwhelming, and a little scary.

The other boy had died at his hands, and now he had a taste for it.


Vincent heard a twig snap. Through all his experience, it could be anything. A

woodland creature of some sort maybe? Scurrying through the forest looking for

food, or maybe it was the boy?

He gripped both hands onto his trusty rifle. And proceeded ahead, towards the noise.

The elderly man walked some more, doing his best to stay quiet through the unpredictable

territory. Trees either side of him, sheltering him from prey ahead.

He walked some more, his boots treading softly onto the ground.

His gun ready for the vital kill.

The wind blew a little, causing his old face to go numb. The temperature that night

was low, bitter.

Another twig snapped about twenty metres from where he stood. What the hell was

that he thought?

Vincent fired a shot in the direction of the noise. And heard the bullet ricochet of

something, but what? Maybe it was just a harmless tree? Or maybe the boy was hit?

Dying twenty metres from where he stood, happy days he thought.

The old man picked up the pace. Heading yet again in the direction of where he fired

the bullet, and where the noise had come from earlier.

Vincent had covered about twenty metres, but nothing, no dead body, nothing.

“You playing with me, I will hunt you down, and I will kill you like your

mate. He thought he could take the piss out of me. But I proved him

wrong, didn’t I boy. Now he’s lifeless lying in some grotty cage. Rotting in the

wind. And I promise you, you are going to end up the same,” he bellowed.

The light from the torch suddenly caught a glimmer of something, something shiny.

But as the old man tried to direct the light back onto it. Whatever it was, was gone.

That is very strange Vincent thought, maybe he was hallucinating. Being

out in the open too long was affecting his mind. But the job had to be done. The boy

must die soon, if not the police would be on his doorstep.

A leaf brushed his face, as he walked slowly passed one of the tall trees. The path he

followed was narrow. Patches of grass occasionally appearing, throwing him off

the path at times. The moon was high in the black heavens above, causing glimmers

of light through the forest.

“Come on boy, I was only joking earlier, I want to show you the way back to the

camp. It’s dark and cold boy. Just come out and I will help you,” the elderly man

shouted, trying to trick the young lad.

Still no sign, Vincent was now becoming very impatient, and picked up his pace.

Suddenly his left foot slipped on something. And he fell to the ground.

“Shit,” he bellowed, as he felt slimy mud sticking to his face.

Vincent still held the torch in his hand, and switched it on again. As it had switched

itself off in the fall.

Sitting on the coldish floor of the forest, he directed the light in front of him.

Luckily he was a metre or so from the path. With a little discomfort he got up from

the ground. And brushed his trousers down, to get rid of the wet mud.

“When I finally catch up with you, I’m going to ring your bloody neck lad.”

In front of him something moved in the near distance, “Who is that?” he

shouted.

Directing the light yet again towards the source. With care he walked a little

further down the path, the light still beaming in front. Suddenly he saw an arm of

something disappear behind one of the trees.

“Who is that, you don’t scare me?” he said nervously, his rifle clutched in his hand,

ready for the kill.

He carried on walking, and then tripped over something that laid on the path itself.

Falling yet again onto the cold wet floor of the forest, “Shit, shit, shit, bastard shit,”

Vincent screamed angrily.

He beamed the torchlight onto the strange object he had tripped on.

Within seconds he realised it was his trusty canine Ben. But its head had been ripped

off. And dark red blood streamed from the pinkish hole where the neck should be.

“No, not my beautiful dog,” the elderly man cried out.

His voice echoing through the dark forest. Vincent started crying uncontrollably, as the

grief suddenly took hold of him.

He lay on the ground next to his beloved pet. His hands over his eyes, wanting the tears

to stop, but they would not.


Tommy was getting worried. It had been over ten minutes since the machine had

left him in the cave, where was his new friend?

He heard something at the entrance of the cave, and grew scared all of a sudden.

Then the metal man appeared in front of the young boy.

“We have to go little man. I have side tracked the evil hunter for the time being, let’s

go?”

Tommy knew the machine meant business, and he picked himself up from the hard

ground. “What did you do metal man?” the young boy asked.

The machine proudly explained, “I moved the body of the hairball to a further

location, knowing the evil hunter would find it. Giving us time to get as

faraway from him as possible, now let’s go.”

They both ran out of the cave.

Then carried on down an unknown path, which would hopefully lead to a more populated

area.

Then the boy would be safe, away from the psycho hunter.