The Disillusionists cont'd...

He forded a small stream and lay panting on the other side - trying to comprehend what had just happened. His clothes were soaked in sweat and stuck to his skin like wallpaper. He could hear nothing but the pulse pounding in his head and could not make out if they were chasing him. It was pitch black and he ached all over.

Gunther clung to the bank of the stream. He moved several yards along but decided he was making too much noise. The previous few days spooled through his mind - they had planned it all along... An owl called. He was to take the blame, there was no way May could've known; they were willing to kill her. Willing to kill him! They weren't artists. They were animals. He had to do something. Her parents, how would they listen to his news, "I'm sorry, I left your daughter in a heap on the floor." He didn't have a choice, anger swelled up into his brain. He got up and turned back, looking for a tree branch, a club or a rock. His life would never be the same.

* * *

May woke up in a small puddle of blood on the kitchenette floor. She was unsure as to how she got there. There was a large gap in her short-term memory. Something about doing the dishes. The place was a mess. No one else around. She felt sick and dizzy and needed some air.

Outside, the generator still putted away. A floodlight swarmed with bug and she though she heard music. The fire crackled. Then she saw the smashed television and it all came back to her. She now felt the sticky wet blood in her hair. She tripped up the stairs of the camper and rifled through the cupboards until she found a first aid kit. Pouring disinfectant directly on her wound, she wobbled in pain and wrapped head head tightly with gauze. Trying not to vomit, she went through the cupboards again until sje found an expired can of bear spray and tossed it on the passenger seat. She climbed into the driver's side. There were no keys in the ignition.

"Shit!" She pounded on the steering whell, stood up and hit her head on the bunk above. It felt almost good, numb but tight - like an over inflated balloon. She went outside once more to the rear bumper and groped through the road muck and oily grime behind it until she found the magnetic key box that had been there since she was a teenager.

She just wanted to lie down...

* * *

Gunther stopped suddenly at the sound of a twig snapping and hunched down low in the bush.

Another one.

He peered into the darkness and saw three shadowy figures spread out in the trees. A dim flashlight panned in front...

* * *

May looked over on the ground where she sat and saw a bottle of wine. She reached over and took a swig. Thus fortified, she got back up, steadied herself and made her way back inside the camper. With the spare key, she turned the key and waited for the glow plugs to warm up. The buzzer beneath the dash sounded like a ship's horn to her and she cranked the engine a little early. It hesitated and then mercifully coughed to life.

* * *

The three assailants stopped and turned at the sound of the camper starting. They hacked there way back to the road, Gunther following as closely as he could. The headlights receeded into the dark - she was backing up along the road. The generator and lawn chairs had been dragged several yards as well. Mike, Jay and Alexis stood in the empty campsite with their arms at their sides. Mike's cry echoed through the valley.

"FUCK!"