The Encounter
By
Steph
Chapter Fourteen
*
Just before dawn. Isabelle felt herself being pulled to her feet.
She protested but was rewarded with a slap across the face.
Fouchon cut the bindings and shoved her from the room.
Isabelle ran her fingers through her tangled hair an rubbed her bloodshot eyes.
He led her downstairs and outside to an awaiting black jeep Cherokee where Pik sat as well.
Isabelle could not look at him, it was too painful. Preston sat in the front seat
along with the driver.
It was still as dark as night outside and the air had a chill to it.
Wherever she was going, it was going to be over
soon.
They drove for a short while until they entered a dense swampy area.
Pik glanced over to Isabelle and slipped something hard under her thigh before he
exited the vehicle.
Isabelle ran her hands over the object and found it to be a gun.
He had given her a weapon, it was apparent she was going to need to defend herself.
Fear began to run rampid through her mind.
Isabelle placed the weapon inside her shirt and tucked it into her waistband.
At least it turned the odds a little in her favor. Not that Isabelle was an expert
marksman by any means, but she had a way to defend herself.
Fouchon pulled her from the vehicle and led her around to where Preston was standing.
He was garbed in full camouflage
gear and he had an array of weaponery stapped across his back.
Pik was simply dressed in his typical black overcoat and trousers and stood silently nearby.
Would he interfere ? Isabelle asked herself as she looked into his direction.
The first rays of sunlight cast an orange glow over the swamp and Fouchon stepped
in front of her.
"Your options, make it through the swamp and back the house and you'll be set free."
He smiled. Isabelle knew he was lying. He would not let her go until she was dead.
"You have a ten minute head start so please do no waste it." Fouchon stood and eyed
her as Preston handed him a steaming cup of coffee. Isabelle was shocked.
She was going to be hunted and here they stood drinking coffee.
She looked to Pik who stood silent with his hands in his pockets. He was not going to help her.
She was angry with herself for believing he would.
"I would just like to say that your all sick bastards!"
Isabelle starred directly at Fouchon and Preston, then she turned and looked at Pik.
"I hate you!" She hissed and turned her back on him.
God, it killed her inside to say that when she didn't mean it in the least.
But she had no options.
Fouchon lifted his watch and replied. "Nine minutes."
Isbelle began to walk. The ground was soft and the moss crunched beneathe her boots.
Within a few moments she could not longer see them.
The dense undergrowth was alive
with wild life, crickets and owls and whatever else lurked here.
Isabelle walked quickly. She was not heading back into the direction of the house,
there was no reason.
Many years ago, when her Grandfather was alive, he would take her for outings into
the dense swamps so Isabelle was not overly afraid of what she may come across out
here in the faint light.
She walked for awhile in one direction then changed direction until she came across a pond.
Perhaps if she walked a bit in the water, her tracks would not be so easy to follow.
The green lurking water was only a few inches deep and she was thankful.
It had to be ten minutes by now,Isabelle thought to herself as she slid her hand into her shirt
and touched the handle of the pistol. A small consolation indeed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fouchon was aware of Preston's tracking abilities and that Van Cleaf was superior.
"Pik, if you will !" Pik stepped out in front of the others and led the way.
The sun had risen further and he could easily see her footsteps. This was perhaps
the hardest thing he would have to do ever, in his life.
She was moving quickly and he was impressed. Pik grinned slightly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Isbelle kept walking through the thick green water until it became deeper
and then she stepped back onto the soft moss covered ground.
She took only a moment to catch her breath and rub her still reddened wrists.
It was quite an unpleasant feeling to know that you are being hunted.
What kind of human being would hunt down and kill another ? Certainly Pik was one of them.
But how could a man who loved so deeply and with so much passion, be a cold blooded killer ?
She walked on and pondered that thought.
The snapping of a branch caught her off guard and she stood as still as possible.
Listening to their approach. So much for loosing them by walking in the murky water !
Isabelle removed the pistol from her waistband and looked it over.
She had never really held a weapon before. It was cold and heavy.
Her fingers ran over the trigger and she wondered if she would be able to actually pull it.
Isabelle continued on, her wet shoes making a sloshing sound at every step.
She decided to remove her shoes at least for now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pik kneeled down and eyed the still ripping water.
She had made it farther then he had expected. Pik was impressed and rather proud.
Preston was impatient. They had been out here now for over an hour and not a sign of the girl.
Perhaps this Van Cleaf fellow was leading them in the wrong direction. Preston was
a bit put off at the lesiurely way Van Cleaf walked and carried his shotgun over his shoulder.
The man was intriguing to say the least !
"Let me lead." Preston announced as he stepped into the murky water ahead of Van Cleaf.
Preston increased the pace.