In Search of Peace

Chapter 4: The Threat

It's early the next morning. PJ and I are enjoying a cold breakfast. Last night after we ate I tried calling the police but my cell phone went missing. I searched all over the cabin even my car and it was nowhere to be found. There isn't a phone in the house except for a satellite phone which my father kept with the "end of the world" supplies. He may have been a man of extreme preparedness but organization was not his thing. I decided it was faster to just drive into town rather than dig through all the boxes under the cabin.

PJ slept with me in the loft above the living room. He didn't seem to want to be left alone and I was glad I didn't have to sleep in my parents room. It hadn't been touched since the crash. I was still not willing to go in there at least not past the threshold. "Did you sleep okay sweetie?" I asked as I poured the orange juice. PJ just nodded at me and shoved a spoonful of cereal in his mouth. He was pretty cute now that he was all clean. With his hair shiny and his eye clear he reminded me of a precious moments figurine. "Once we finish up breakfast we'll get dressed and head out to town. You'll have to talk to the police there and tell them what happened." PJ just shook his head in a definite NO. Then started shoveling the cereal in at a snail's pace as he wrapped his little legs tightly around the stool he was sitting in. Did I say cute? I change my mind. I roll my eyes at him and he rolls his eyes back at me making me laugh. Okay he's cute. "I understand yesterday was hard. I can't even imagine what you must be feeling but we do have to report this. Don't you want to find your family? I didn't see your parents were they in the cabin with you when the wolf showed up?" He didn't look at me just continued eating and looking out the window. "We're going PJ. I'm not trying to be mean I'm trying to help you." He had a pout but didn't acknowledge me.

I get up to rinse our dishes PJ is still locked to his stool as I leave the kitchen. In the bathroom I change into a pair to cut off jean shorts and a soft cotton t-shirt. I pull my hair back into a messy bun. I figure since I'm actually going into civilization I should put in a little extra effort. So I line my eyes in brown to enhance the green in them. I might as well swipe on some mascara and tinted lip balm while I'm at it. I even spritz a bit of perfume in homage to my mom and head out the door.

As expected PJ is still glued to his spot not willing to budge. "Come on PJ. Don't act like this. I'll buy you some ice cream when we get into town. What kind do you want?" A vigorous shake no. "How about toys or new shoes or toys and new shoes?" I say in my most convincing this isn't a bribe voice but I think it came off more please I'm desperate. He just looks at me like "Seriously?" I give an exasperated sigh and before I can say anything PJ's eyes widen and his head whips toward the front door. "What's wro..." before I can get the words out there's a loud metallic crunching and a something hits the front door. Then another crunching and several thunks on the porch. "Stay here!" I yell and run to the door and slowly ease it open.

Random metal rods, pipe and other odds and ends littered the porch. I look out into the lawn and I see where it all came from. My Jeep stood in the driveway with the hood completely torn off. Which was crunched into an accordion then thrown aside. The engine was nothing but a gaping hole and it's remnants strewn at my feet. A naked man stood over the hole still ripping pieces out. I bent down to grab bits of engine as I yell. "Hey! What are you doing to my car!" I toss a few pieces at him. "Get out of here!" One hit his back causing him to turn around. Rather than respond he just stood there assessing me. The first thing I noticed were his gold hawk like eyes. Those mixed with his wind blown dark curls and dirt streaked body gave him a look of wild beauty. "I said get out of here." My voice coming out weak so I clear my throat and say with a bit more conviction "You're on private property you need to leave."

"I'm taking him back." He didn't yell them but the words caused me to jump. "Who are you taking about?" I say my voice coming out breathy. Is this man here to take PJ? He can't be. He clenched his fists "You trespassed on our territory and you killed them. I'm here to let you know that you're not getting away with it. You're not gonna drive us out." And with that he turns toward my Jeep and pees on it. He just pees on it. My brain is barely registering what he's doing. I'm still trying to make sense of what he'd said. I don't even know what to say or how to react to that. Even worse he's just looking at me like he does this sort of thing all the time like it's completely normal. Before I can say anything a huge wolf crashes out of the woods and the man turns slamming his fist into it's face. The massive animal flies ten feet back flipping onto its paws. It shakes off the punch before making another lunge for him. My eyes are riveted on them the wolf is snapping and swiping at him. The man just dodges and dives getting in a few good punches into the wolf's sides and head. Before I know it the man has the wolf around the neck and with a jerk I hear a loud snap. Instantly the wolf goes limp. The man is barely winded and just stares at me as I'm scrambling backwards through the front door. I slam it hard and fumble with the locks. PJ makes a loud animal like whimper causing me to scream and drop my keys. He startles and I drop to my knees to hug him. "Did you see all that?" I try to keep my body from shaking. I feel PJ nod his head into my shoulder.

I'm breathing hard trying to make sense of what just happened. Getting a hold of myself I realise he may still be out there. Jumping to my feet I rush to my parents room. In the trunk at the end of their bed is an arsenal of guns, bullets and knifes. As I'd said before my father was eccentric this was the not so charming part of his eccentricity but at this moment I'm thankful for it. I grab a shotgun load it and make my way back to the front of the cabin. PJ is still sitting on the floor with his back to the door his eyes bug out when he sees me. "I know! I look crazy. I'm sorry but there's a psychopath outside and sometimes you have to fight crazy with crazy Okay?" He just continues to look sceptical and kind of shuffles away from me as I open one of the front windows. Ripping enough of the screen to poke my gun through I see the wild man there just staring toward the cabin. He seemed to sense I was watching him. His posture changed as soon as I locked eyes on him triggering him into action. With all the confidence in the world he struts over to the porch and pees a nice long stream aiming right at the front door. At this, I don't know why but this pisses me off, I fire my gun. He startles and jumps away a few feet. Then I scream like a screeching banshee "Get out of my yard!" I start firing like crazy. I don't know what I'm shooting at I'm just screaming and screaming and shooting and shooting till I have no more bullets on me to shoot anymore. Finally the dust and debris clears and my yard looks like a war zone. There are holes in my jeep. There are holes in the porch, the railing, the furniture, the ground but there is no sign of the wild man. "Thank God!" I collapsed on the floor in a heap. Several moments pass and I get up on shaky legs. I look toward the kitchen behind me and see PJ pop his head out from behind the sectional. His eyes are still wide and he just waves at me giving me a look that says, "You good now?" I just start laughing hysterically and collapse back down by the window.