The Playing Fields First Draft

Chapter Seven

     Rick and Mari ran toward the screaming.

     Despite Claire's desire to run with Rick and Mari, she couldn't move her body. It was as though Claire was trapped by some invisible force, though she knew that it wasn't there. Her body wasn't moving because of some supernatural force.

     Claire was trapped by her fear.

     "Claire! What are you doing? Come on!" Rick yelled out to her.

     "Will and Jimmy could use our help!" Mari added.

     It was no use, Claire couldn't move.

     Then it hit her.

     That if Claire couldn't step up, and help the others when they were in need, then they all die.

     Damn it! Claire shouted at herself. MOVE!

     And Claire was free, and she ran as fast as she could.

     Claire found the duo standing behind a pair of trees. Mari looked as though she was going to vomit, her head rested on her arm. Rick wasn't in as bad of shape as Mari, but it was clear that the gore they witnessed took their toll on them.

     As Claire hid behind a tree, she stole a peek at what they saw. What Claire saw was part of the reason why she was too afraid to follow Rick and Mari.

     Blood was everywhere, as though someone ripped open a body, and used the blood to paint the trees. Limbs were thrown all over the place, crushed organs were sprinkled across the ground. It was almost impossible to tell who this once was.

     Almost.

     The trio inspected the site, with Rick leaning to examine the man's head laying on the ground. Although it was damaged nearly beyond recognition, Rick examined the hair. "It's Jim." Rick announced, solemnly.

     "Then where's Will?" Claire asked, she regretted saying those words as soon as they came out of her mouth.

     "Isn't it obvious?" Rick asked, gruffly.

     "Will's the changeling." Mari said, softly.

     Claire took a step back and tripped on a tree root. A yelp of pain escaped from Claire as she hit the hard wood. Despite how painful the impact from the fall was, it was dulled by Claire's shock. It was strange, Claire shouldn't be feeling this kind of shock, she barely knew the young man. Perhaps it was the kinship she felt with Will over the shared experience of being outsiders.

     "I know it's hard to accept..." Mari told Claire, there was a sense of loss in her tone. "...but Will is out to kill us now."

     Claire wondered if it was Mari's ability to connect with others that caused her to feel hurt over the Will revelation. "Right." Claire said, as she got up.

     "Can you confirm it with retrocognition?" Rick asked Claire.

     Mari frowned. "Don't make her see this bloodbath, Rick. It's already too much for her to know that her friend's a killer."

     "We need to know for certain." Rick stood firm.

     "Certain?!" Mari finally exploded. "How certain do you need to be? Jim's mangled corpse is here, and Will's is not! It doesn't take a genius to figure out what happened!"

     "Perhaps." Rick said, thinking it over. "But there is still the possibility that the thing chased Will, and that is why neither Will, nor the changeling are here."

     Mari opened her mouth to protest again.

     "I can try." Claire said, interrupting the argument.