The Coldest Winter

Part 4 - The Child

Dominic: So... What is your name...

Lucy: My name is Lucy... I went on this expedition with my mom... and while we were getting wood, a horrible man came in! He stole stuff, and my mom told him to get out... then another lady came in and grabbed her by the neck... My mom told me to run as far as I could to get help... Then I heard a snap of the neck, and I looked... Those 2 people then set the hut on fire, and ran out with stuff...

Dominic: That's awful... But I might be able to figure out who... What did they look like?

Lucy: I didn't see the girl much... but the man, I remember... He had brown hair, sideburns, brown eyes, had a scar on his face, and had a moustache, but no beard... He was tall...

Dominic: I think I know who you are talking about, carry on. Where was the Scar?

Lucy: It was on his eye! And another on his cheek!

Dominic: That's Charles... Charles Eborock. He's about my age, and he clearly lost his mind... What also is revealed by this is that his sister was the woman. Samantha Eborock. She went to prison at 25 years old for 10 years. She's free now, but she was never trusted. Or at least, I didn't. She and Charles must've both lost their minds... 

Lucy: Can I stay?

Dominic: *thinks for a bit, then sighs* Alright... I've got no choice, you'll freeze to death if you don't stay.

Lucy: Thank you!

Dominic: And to answer your question, yes... I did lose someone. Someone super important to me.

Lucy: Who?

Dominic: My dog... I lost my parents at 18, and then I found a puppy and raised him... we were best friends... People don't understand, and call me a miserable old bloke. It really gets annoying... I promise, we will catch Charles, and Samantha too. We will hand them into authorities as soon as we can get back.

The next midday...

Dominic: Alright these ores should be done... Yes... *lifts up a heavy chunk of metal and makes an anvil* Now I'll be able to make metals easier... *uses the scraps to make a hammer*

Lucy: Hey... we need to fire proof the hut...

Dominic: We do... I'm planning on making a stone wall, but we will need more stone...

Oscar: *gets up and rushes to the door*

Dominic: Well boy... Let's go get some stone. Lucy, I don't know if you should come...

Lucy: Why?

Dominic: If you come you might get in danger, but if I leave you here, you might also get in danger... 

Lucy: I want to come.

Dominic: Alright then your coming. Oscar you aswell.

Lucy: How did you tame a wolf?

Dominic: With care. *walks into areas with heavy chunks of stone, gets his pickaxe, and starts to mine*

George: DOMINIC! HELP! HELP! HELP!

Dominic: What?

George: I found Archie's coat, and near it, blood, and brain matter... He's dead!

Dominic: Dammit. We all agree there's a killer on the loose. This girl here had her mother killed...

Lucy: Theres two killers!

Dominic: I know who the killers are. Charles Eborock and Samantha Eborock. 

George: Hey isn't Samantha an ex-prisoner?

Dominic: Yes... and her brother, who I thought was decent, is actually a murderer. Many adventurers have lost their mind...

George: Thanks for warning me.

Dominic: If you see him, either run away, or detain him.

George: Alright... *walks back to his base*

Dominic: *continues to mine stone*

Lucy: *putting stone pieces into a bag*

Oscar: *guarding everyone, prowling around to make sure nobody comes near*

Dominic: *moves onto some iron ore and coal ore. He proceeds to mine them both*

Meanwhile somewhere else...

Charles: So your saying... THERE WAS A CHILD?

Samantha: Yes... and she ran away!

Charles: God dammit... Well... we're going to find them... I've killed 4 people so far. And they were grown adults. A little girl shouldn't be any problem...

Samantha: Just kill anyone we find right?

Charles: Yes. George spread the word that I was killing people... Let's kill anyone unaware while we can. And if someone's aware, just shoot them in the head. Or anywhere. And take loot. Anything we can find, and dispose of any houses afterwards! 

Samantha: And the best part... I found out how to make warm clothing that's also protective.

Charles: Now let's explore, bulldoze anything we find.

Back to Dominic's POV, 5 hours later...

Dominic: Alright! Let's head home. We got what we needed. *carrying a lot*

Lucy: *carrying one big sack* This is heavy... *frowns*

Dominic: And I'm carrying 3 heavy sacks. You've got it easy with only one. Now let's- *gasps*

Their hut has been destroyed, looted, and almost everything is gone...

Dominic: SHIT! 

Lucy: What happened?

Oscar: *inspects and begins to sniff*

Dominic: No rocks... couldn't of been a boulder... *sees very obvious axe and hammer marks* This was done by a human... *sees a note on the floor*

Note: Hello Dominic Wolfwood. I know you have that little girl with you... Samantha saw you. We destroyed your house! And we have looted your materials... We let you keep your anvil, furnace and bed, as they won't be needed anyway... So here's the deal, hand over Lucy, and we'll give you your materials back. Our base is near the cave, covered by a massive tree. If you don't give her up within 1 week, we will find you and kill you, lucy and your pet wolf! I promise we won't hurt her if you give her up...

1 week, 7 days, 168 hours. The choice is up to you!

-Charles Eborock

Dominic: What a fucking psychopath...