Jack's Diary - It's All a Game - Day 80

*Morning*

            You’d think I’d have gotten used to these dreams by now. No matter how pressing the situation is in real life, my thoughts always come these dreams I’ve had. They seem so real. So realistic to the point where I believe that they are my reality, until they end.

            Last night, I dreamt I woke upon the ground, just beneath the tree we slept in. It was twilight out, not quite morning yet, but the light from the sun just below the horizon of the trees provided enough light to see. Mike and Julie were still up in the tree asleep and my body felt beat up so I assumed the rope that was holding me broke and I fell (the branches, while bruising me, must have slowed my descent and saved me or so I thought). I was about ready to climb back up when Ann appeared from behind a tree (Although I was looking the other way, I “sensed” her, in a way. I knew she was nearby and turned around). She was wearing a seductive red dress with straps on the shoulders and was barefoot. She walked off behind the tree again as I chased after her. In dreams, my logic is always misconstrued to a certain degree and my senses are dulled. I hadn’t noticed the lack of noise in the surrounding area, the lack of soulless or people, the fact that the trees were barren and dry, and the stench that any nose would’ve smelled; the smell of skunk. None of this became apparent to me until much later in the chase.

            I couldn’t catch her. Whenever I looked around a tree, I’d see the bottom of her skirt going off behind another one.

            “Stop running, Ann!”

            I started throwing knives as soon as I went around a tree (I never hit her, not even her dress). This went on for a few minutes. I was running out of breath. I rested myself against a tree, leaning on it with my hand and felt something wet. The trees were oozing a red substance (maybe blood or sap). The chase went on. I heard her laughing mixed with the sound of deep breathing (it wasn’t just mine, I’m sure of it). This “game” led me in circles until suddenly, coming around a tree, I ran into her. She grabbed both my arms and stared into my eyes, smiling. I tried to get free, but her grip on my arms got tighter and tighter until I felt like yelling. The pain was so intense that I dropped the knife I was holding. I tried kicking her, but she came right up to me, standing on my shoes and putting her chest against mine. Just as quickly as she had grabbed my arms, She pushed me back and fell on top of me, still smiling. Her knees were now pinning my legs down and the grip on my arms only got tighter has she leaned in to where he face was only an inch away.

            “The curtains are drawing to a close,” she said playfully.

            “Perhaps…” I stated, “but on who?”

            I tried to hit her with my head, but she moved back.

            “Oh Jack, you’re such a tease!” she said in a taunting way and laughed.

            “If you’re going to kill me then do it already. I’ve had enough.”

            “Awwww,” she said, as if speaking to a child, “Giving up? That doesn’t sound like you. I was hoping to have a little fun first. After all, you are my favorite toy but let’s get down to business. I have a proposal: since you were so gracious and stupid enough to let me accompany you, I thought it be common courtesy to extend to you the same offer.”

            There was no hesitation, “No.”

            “I’m sure you know what the other option is if you listened to my messagers.”

            “I’d rather die than end up like one of your slaves.”

            She smiled.

            “It’s amazing what a drop of my blood can do to someone. A small taste of my nectar is all I need. I just discovered this recently myself. Though I would never do that to you.”

            “Why is that?”

            “Because you and I are the same. I can feel it, can’t you? We are powerful, strong, and smart; we should stick together. Besides, I could sense the tension between us, before you had that first dream. You wanted me and in a small way, you still do.”

            “I’m nothing like you. I don’t stalk and mess with others for enjoyment.”

            At this, she laughed.

            “It’s strange what power can do to a person. Power is a subjective term. It applies to an essence that is capable of achieving, of doing,” she spouted off like a philosopher. “Those who have power can do as they wish and it’s only a matter of time before your shaky morals fall apart and you realize this. You can do so much more than you’re doing now yet you sit around day after day and fear me. No matter what you do, you can’t shake the feeling that my eyes are upon you and you are powerless to stop me. You look for reasons in what you do; a law or collection of knowledge to validate your decisions when none of that means anything to your decisions. In the end, you choose them because you know you can do as you wish despite what others think because you hold power over them, just as I hold power over you.” She continued, “By the time you decide, you will have no more power and your day in the sun will long since have ended.” She leaned in again, “Your life no longer entertains me so soon I’ll be moving on to a new show, right after one last game.”

            Just then, Mike and Julie appeared from behind a nearby tree behind us and shot Ann multiple times. She collapsed on top of me.

            “Jack, you alright?” asked Mike.

            I was about to answer when I heard Ann whisper, “Even your friends can’t save you…” she said. She quickly turned around and unloaded a clip on them from the gun she took from me. While my one arm was free, I drew a knife and stabbed her in the neck. It did nothing. She only dropped the gun, picked me up and threw me at Mike, who was just getting up after being shot. (I don’t know if Julie was dead, but she didn’t stand up). The guns that Julie and Mike brought with and dropped were mysteriously gone so I took out another knife and Mike took out his hatchet and we charged at Ann, who grabbed both of us by the neck and squeezed. She lifted us into the air as her grip tightened and I heard a subtle crack. Black.

            It was then that I woke up. Mike, Julie, and I were still hanging from the tree by rope. I looked through the scope on my sniper rifle to the camp. It was gone: the men, tents, and supplies were all gone. I instantly began shouting up to them, saying, “Mike! Mike!” I yelled.

            “What?!” he said waking up.

            “They’re gone! You said to wait and now they’re gone!”

            “Keep your voice down.” He said. He looked through his binoculars. “Damn…”

            I untied my rope from the branch, got down, and ran to the spot while Mike and Julie did the same. The spot was completely clean and unmarked; as if no one had camped there at all.

            “This doesn’t make sense. I saw them last night. They weren’t packing up at all. How could they do this so quickly and efficiently?” asked Mike. We were all at a loss for words. We searched the surrounding area to no avail. They were gone. I should have just came here myself and killed them all, maybe tortured a couple to get them to tell me where she is.

            Mike and Julie stopped and ate breakfast before we were to head out. I didn’t. I wasn’t hungry. I just wrote. Although I didn’t agree with her, Ann’s words still ring in my head, like a howling wind.

*Noon*

            There’s no sign of them anywhere. No footprints or dropped equipment. Julie suggested that the people at the camp were all magicians and just disappeared. With everything going on, it wouldn’t surprise me.

*Evening*

            This might be my last entry so anyone who finds my body has permission to have whatever equipment is left on me (though you were probably going to take it anyways without permission). We continued to search for the men that “disappeared”. After some time, we made our way into an open field because we saw something strange on top of the large rock near the center. From a distance, it looked like someone had painted and/or decorated it. We approached it and began to smell the horrible stench. The rock was covered is blood and crushed organs.

            “That’s disgusting,” said Julie.

            It was less than a second later that Mike yells, “Get down!”

            We dropped and gunshots were coming from all directions. There were men hiding in the tree line shooting at us. I drew my rifle and killed five of them while Mike and Julie shot in different directions, no doubt taking out a fair number of enemies as well. Just as quickly as they revealed their presence, the gunshots stopped and they left. A few scratches here and there, but for the most part, the three of us got out of that situation just fine, which seemed very odd. We were surrounded, had no cover, and were fired upon at a constant rate, and none of us were hit? It’s almost like they were trying to scare us. We got away from that boulder and searched the body. They all had the red irises and a wide variety of guns. I didn’t take an accurate count, but there had to be around 100 men in the camp and we killed 12.

            It didn’t stop there. Every few minutes as we were searching for them, I’d hear a subtle sound like a twig snapping or Mike would see something odd in the far distance and just like that, we get showered with bullets. However, we always won, but these sudden attacks are taking a toll on us. Julie hasn’t spoken a word in hours, Mike’s looking over his shoulder every minute, and my hand hasn’t let go of my gun in since the fifth attack. It’s all a game. Just one big game! One big bloody game!

            We’re hiding in a small cave right now and we’re taking turns watching.

*Night*

            I’m on watch. Seven attacks! Seven attacks since we stopped here! These aren’t even attacks! They’re target practice! The last two attacks were just plain unbelievable. They didn’t fire; they just stepped in front of the cave entrance and stood there until I shot them dead. I’m at a loss for words. They’re just bags of meat. There’s no victory until Ann is dead. Her puppets are nothing, but insects to me.

- Jack's Diary

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Jack's Diary - The Truth - Day 78

*Morning*

            Didn’t go to sleep until near dawn. Sleep is a waste of time anyways when you think about it. You spend at least one third of your life sleeping and there’s nothing good unless you have something nice to dream about.

            The lists are done. I couldn’t think of any new trap designs. I did decide during that time I’d like a sling or slingshot. Both can come in handy in situations, both in combat and in hunting, and of course, there will come a time where bullets will no longer be available as they are so might as well start practicing with weapons other than firearms (or look into making new bullets). I’ll start making a slingshot eventually, maybe at night after I’m done with that metal ruler thing.

            Mike gave the guys and me the job of accentually digging a ditch (I suppose I should hand this one to my guidance counselor. Digging ditches for a living). Mike announced he was going out for a while. I asked where and stuff, but he just avoided the questions and left. Moron. I thought he’d learn by now.

*Afternoon*

            Handed out my notes on plants to the hunters and a few of the “tree dwellers”. The way they accepted them, you’d think I was trying to get them to sign some unimportant petition to save the whales or something. Hopefully, they’ll at least read over them.

            We dug for hours straight. I constantly looked over my shoulder (a habit that’s hard to break and too important to let go). During a break, I continued sharpening the metal ruler.

*Night*

            Funny, a sick kind of funny actually, how quickly things can turn sour and how much evil wishes to dwell among us. I was still digging when two men came up to the side of the ditch, one asking me, “Excuse me, may we ask you some questions about these plant notes you handed out?”

            I saw no reason to deny them so I climbed out and they led me to two other men, who were examining a plant growing on the base of a tree. The one farthest to the left turned and said to me, “Hello. We’ve read over the notes you handed out and I must say that you did an excellent job at documenting and drawing the edible plants. However, I believe there are a few that you missed, such as this plant here. We’re split down the middle on this, can you help us settle the matter on whether or not this plant is edible. I believe it is called bedrog.”

            I’d never heard of a plant by that name. When I leaned down to get a closer look, I swear it looked like a bare fireweed with the flowers removed. There wasn’t much time for me to examine it as I was grabbed by the throat, injected with something and dragged off by my arms. The men made it known to the diggers and guards that they had me and then gunfire broke out (I’m uncertain if anyone was hit). Once I had been dragged a great distance, one of them then took my weapons (all, but two of my knives that they missed. Still, they would be hard to reach discreetly in my position). I don’t know what they injected me with, but I felt like I was going to pass out. I could see a few people following from time to time.

            Then, I was brought to my feet and one just held a knife to my throat while standing behind me and they watched and waited. They never shouted demands, asked me questions, or even acknowledged me for that matter. Every time I opened my mouth to talk, the guy with the knife nudged me to stop and brought the knife closer to my throat. I thought at the time they were waiting for someone to show up and aid them, but after thirty minutes, no one showed. In that time, whatever they injected me with wore off and I could’ve attempted escape. This wouldn’t be the best plan, however: two of the men (not including the one holding the knife to my throat) had their guns pointed at me, those who were trying to save me were just a few trees away, waiting for an opening and the last two were waiting for the opposition to make their move. It was a stand off and if I were to incapacitate one of them, the others might take that as their cue and attack, only to get hurt. Besides, while standing there so long, I noticed that all of them had bloodshot eyes, and almost red irises (I read that this only occurs in albinos when blood leaks into the irises. They weren’t albinos.) Their mannerisms were like that of a dog waiting for its food; unyielding, loyal, and determined, a quality you would find in trained soldiers or animals. I wasn’t afraid; I was interested to see what their next move would be.

            Unfortunately, I never got the chance to see. Mike shot the guy holding me in the neck. He dropped the knife and I quickly brought him in front of me to use as a shield while the men hiding behind the trees shot the others. The four were no doubt dead from all the bullets they took and the bullet that struck the guy’s neck closest to me didn’t appear to have struck his spine so I ripped off a piece of his shirt and applied pressure to the spot while I held him down to question him. He still had those red eyes.

            “Who are you? Why’d you do this?” I questioned.

            “It was… at the master’s request… to test the followers.”

            “Master? Who’s your master?”

            “The master… wishes to meet you. She will bring… the end… to the fading show... with a joyous finale.”

            “Finale?”

            “You no longer please my master… she is coming.”

            I tried to get him to talk more, but he just kept repeating “She is coming” with a smile on his face. None of my words or punches could get through to him so I left him to bleed out. It turned out that those men were from the tree village. No one living there had seen them for three days and they swore they had nothing to do with the attack on my life (or whatever you called it). I believe it. We wouldn’t have known if they didn’t tell us in the first place.

            I only know one “she”. From the way he talked, it has to be Ann though since when does she have followers (followers almost as mindless as the soulless). If what he said is true then she’s coming here to kill me and probably everyone else. I have to tell Mike. I’ve been avoiding this conversation for too long and I can’t just let this one go, especially if I’m right about the attack. Or I could just run away? I don’t know.

*After Midnight*

            I had to tell him. I’ve been up for hours thinking about it. If I ran away, he’d probably think I was captured and even if I left a message explaining the situation, he might think it was just made up to throw him off and begin a search for me. I had to tell him in person. I went to where he was sleeping and woke him up.

            “What is it, Jack?”

            “We need to talk. Now.”

            “Can it wait until morning?”

            “No”

            We walked out a ways a ways from everyone.

            “Look, what I’m going to say right now is going to sound crazy, but you have to stay with me on this. You remember, Ann?” I asked.

            “Yah. I never thought I’d hear you mention her.”

            “She left our previous outpost. The night she left, I had a dream about her. She said that she’d been following me for a long time, even before I met you and that my life “entertained her”. When I woke up, my bed sheets were soaked in blood when there were no cuts on me except for my finger, there were bloody footprints and handprints on the walls, and there were pages documenting the dream I had, written in blood.”

            Mike was taken back by all this, “Jack, what the hell are you saying?”

            “I’m saying that whatever she is, she’s not human. She’s a psychopath. Remember when I found you hung on a flagpole? That was her. She did that!”

            “Wait. Wait. Slow down. You saw her hang me on the flagpole?”

            “No, but I know it was her. She carved that message into your back, “watch and be watched”.”

            “You’re saying you woke up from a dream, a dream, correct, not real life? And found all that weird stuff. And even though you didn’t see her, you know she’s the one who jumped me and carved a generic message on my back. How do you know it was her doing? Do you have any proof, like these “pages written in blood” with you?”

            “No. They went missing.” (should have known it would come back to bite me)

            “Have you actually seen her since that night?”

            “I saw her in another dream last night.”

            “A dream? A stupid dream!? And that’s it!?”

            Mike walked over to a tree and put his head against it.

            “I just thought that you and Ann got into a fight and she left. Worse, I thought you killed her, but now you’re telling me… I don’t even know what you’re telling me, man! Jack, why are you telling me this?!”

            “Those men that held me hostage. The one I questioned told me that whole event “was at the master’s request to test the followers”” I told him, saying it like the man said, “and that “the master wishes to meet you. She will bring the end to the fading show with a joyous finale.””

            “The guy sounds nuts! And you believe what he’s saying?”

            “You didn’t see them up close. They all had bloodshot eyes and red irises.”

            “Then they had a sickness of some kind that made them go nuts.”

            “Come on, man! I know how this sounds. I wouldn’t even be telling you this if there wasn’t the threat of her attacking.”

            “Jack…” he tried to say in a desperate and pleading way.

            “Don’t even say it…”

            “I’m going to!” he yelled, “Did you consider for a moment that you’re imagining all this? You’re the only one who’s been experiencing these dreams and seeing all this weird stuff. We’ve all been through a lot and we handle it different, I get that. But tell me, are you 100 percent certain its her, that she’s responsible for all these things, which could’ve been done by a bunch of people and accidents instead of just one?”

            “I didn’t wake you up to debate this. I’m leaving in the morning. I only told you this so you wouldn’t think I was captured or that I left because I didn’t like being here. There’s no reason to put you all in danger. She’s after me, not you.”

            I walked away without giving Mike the chance to say another word to my face. I had hoped that this conversation would’ve gone better. Then again, what can you expect when talking of things that even I would be skeptical of had they not occurred?

            Back when she first revealed her true colors, I was afraid, paranoid of what was to come. Right now when I look out into the darkness of the night from the tree I climbed, I see eyes staring back at me. Perhaps they’re hers, her followers, or just some animals, but I know they are real, even if they are only real to me. Right now, I have to prepare myself. There’s no time for sleep and no time to write anymore.

- Jack’s Diary

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