Hybrids: A New Species

“What?” Ben mutters, his throat dry.

He stands across from Jack at gunpoint, clenching his fist and shaking from rage. He feels a large amount of hatred coursing through him.

His heart sinks to his stomach, and his mind is scrambled.

Is Cole really responsible for the Fallen virus? Was it really his idea to test the cure on Ben? These questions ramble in his head.

“You’re lying.” Ben tells Jack.

Jack chuckles, “I haven’t lied to you once since we’ve met.”

Ben grits his teeth, He’s furious. He doesn’t know who or what to believe anymore.

“I can tell you’re in distress. Your trust was twisted, and now you feel lost.” Jack tells.

“Shut the hell up! I have nothing to say to you!” He snaps at Jack.

“I can only imagine how you’re feeling right now.” Jack responds. “I’ll make a deal with you.”

Ben steadies his breathing, “A deal?” he says with concern.

“I know you have questions about me, and I’m willing to give you answers.” Jack explains.

“However, in return I want you to tell me what this cure does and whatever you know about it.”

Ben still can’t figure out what Jack’s goal is. If he wanted Ben dead, he would have done it already.

“Well? What do you say?” Jack says.

Showing his menacing smile, making Ben uncomfortable.

“Fine. We have a deal.” He answers.

“Delightful! Ask away than.”

Ben swallows, thinking about the questions he wants to ask.

“Who are you?” Ben asks.

“A survivor, like you.” Jack says. “I’m a man who wants to continue surviving.”

“Why?” Ben questions. “This world is dead and it wants us to die. So why continue living?”

Jack scratches his head, “I thought like you before. But then I was driven by a rumor.”

“A rumor?” Ben says, his eyebrow raised.

“A rumor that there was a cure here in Colorado. I’ve been here for only a few years and I took orders from a man named Gary Maxwell. A greedy fat bastard who controlled people with money and lies.”

Ben is confused. How did a rumor spread like that?

“Of course, that turned out to be a lie.” Jack continues. “Until I found the boy.”

Jack is talking about Cole.

“How did you find Cole?” Ben asks.

“Pure luck.” Jack says. “He was founded here in the city at some old research building.”

“You knew he had a cure and were looking for him?”

“No. My men and I were looking for supplies. The boy just happens to be there with his experimental pet.” Jack answers. “It was pure coincidence that he happen to have a cure.”

Ben’s mind flashes back to the camp. He thinks about the first-time meeting Cole, when he was on the brink of death. He bites his lips.

“Tell me everything Cole told you. About the cure and the virus.”

Jack cracks his neck and relaxes a bit, all while he keeps his gun pointed at Ben.

“Glad you asked.” Jack says, grinning.

Two weeks ago before Ben’s arrival at the drifter’s camp, Jack waits for a group of men to come back from their supply run. His black buttoned shirt is loosely opened and he sluggishly sits on a wooden crate in a tent, sweating from the warmth of the sun. He wipes the sweat off his forehead and takes a drink of water from a metal canister. He is bored, and he impatiently waits for his people to return. His patience is finally awarded when he hears a commotion outside.

“Jack!” A voice calls out to him.

“Finally.” Jack groans.

He exits his tent. The bright sun shines off his glasses. A stubby man in a dirty white shirt and rough black beard runs up to him.

He pants as he speaks, “Jack, you have to see this.”

Jack wipes off some water from his mouth as he listens to the sweaty man.

“You won’t believe what we found.” The man says.

Jack follows the man. They walk across the camp and as they reach their destination, Jack notices the camp is empty. He feels uneasy.

“What exactly did you find?” Jack asks.

Before the man says anything, they approach their destination. Jack is astounded to see all the people occupying his camp are huddled around something.

“What is going on here?” Jack says, curious to know what they’re all looking at.

Jack then hears an unsettling screech coming from the group of people. They all flinch and jump back. Some of them run from the group, looking sick from what they saw.

Jack finally approaches the small crowd and he pushes through to the center. He stops in his tracks when he reaches the center and finally sees what everyone was looking at.

“What the hell is that?” Jack speaks in disgust.

A large monstrous creature about the size of a horse lays on the ground tied up. It has four legs, but with five fingers on each end. Its body is gray, leathery, and some parts of its body is covered in green scales. It has the appearance of different animals mutated together and its face is a combination of human and a bat. Its eyes are yellow, have thin pupils and it has an expression of discomfort. This creature is in a large amount of pain. Next to this creature is a young man with curly hair and dirty glasses and his hands are bounded. He looks up at Jack, his eyes squinting from the glaring sun. He appears dehydrated and dramatized.

The people surrounding the two new prisoners talk among themselves, making comments on the creature. Jack whistles loudly, grabbing the attention of everyone there.

“Alright someone tell me what the hell is going on here!” he shouts.

A man with a black cap speaks out.

“We found them in town Jack.”

“They were together?” he asks.

“Yes sir!”

Jack kneels down to the young man, “What’s your name?”

The young man tries to moisten his mouth and speak.

“Hm.” Jack thinks.

He grabs his canister of water from his back pocket and pours what’s left of it into the young man’s mouth. He swallows the water quickly, his dry lips finally becoming moist.

“Your name?” Jack asks once more.

The young man coughs and clears his throat. “My name is Cole.”

“Cole huh? Well Cole, my name is Jack.”

Jack turns to his people.

“Everyone get out here!” he orders. “I need to have a talk with my new friend here.”

Everyone disperses and go back to their normal duties.

Cole looks to the monstrous creature.

“Dr. Mori…” He whispers.

Jack overhears and kneels down to Cole’s level.

“What was that?” he tells Cole.

Cole looks down and stays silent.

Jack chuckles, “You can make this a lot easier for the both us if you cooperate.”

Cole continues to look down, ignoring him.

“Fine. Let’s have some fun than.”

Cole’s head is bleeding, and he’s breathing heavily. His hands are still bounded and he’s lying on the floor of Jack’s tent. Jack stands tall, cracking his knuckles. His hands are red and bloodied. He’s been beating Cole.

“I can go all night boy.” Jack says, impatience in his voice.

Cole coughs blood and stays mute. He blankly stares at Jack’s feet.

Jack grabs Cole by his collar and drags him up.

“What the hell is that thing out there!?” he yells at Cole.

Cole smiles. “It doesn’t matter. None of it matters. The human species will die off.”

Jack grits his teeth, “Do you really want to die?”

“Do it.” Cole smugly replies.

Jack smiles ominously. “Okay than.”

He wraps his hands around Cole’s throat. He begins gasping for air. He feels his life slowly passing. Jack keeps his smile and presses on choking him. Cole begins to squirm as his body reacts to the lack of oxygen. His face starts turning blue and his eyes water. Jack laughs and throws Cole to the ground.

Cole gasps, finally getting the taste of air in his lungs. He coughs rapidly, and his neck is red from Jack’s grip.

“No I won’t kill you.” Jack speaks as Cole lays there coughing for air. “I’m just going to make you suffer.” he laughs.

Cole gives him a despised gaze.

Jack draws his knife with the brass knuckle handle.

“I want to know who you are and what that creature is.”

Cole says nothing. He lays on his side still glaring at Jack.

Jack grins, and he jams his knife into Cole’s leg. He shrieks in agony. The sharp pain makes Cole cringe, but he refuses to say anything.

Jack begins twisting the blade, causing only more discomfort. Cole lets out painful grunts and he bites his lips trying to endure his pain.

“Come on boy, tell me.” Jack says.

“Fuck you!” Cole snaps.

“Oh such language. Maybe if I ask nicely?”

Jack twists the knife in Cole’s leg more, “Please tell me? Pretty please?”

Cole yells in agony. He can feel the long metal blade carving deeper into his flesh.

Jack just laughs as he causes Cole more pain.

Then suddenly a shriek of an animal, louder than Cole’s cry echoes throughout the camp.

The noise catches Jack’s attention, then he notices Cole’s worried expression.

“I can see causing you pain won’t accomplish nothing.” Jack says. “So maybe?”

Jack looks to the entrance of his tent. “Maybe I should torture that thing out there instead.”

“No don’t!” Cole responds.

Jack laughs, “So that’s your trigger huh?”

Jack grabs his walkie talkie from his belt and pushes the TALK button.

“Brian?” Jack speaks into it.

A scratching sound comes from the speaker, then a voice is heard.

“Yes boss?” the voice says.

“That animal out there. Have some of the boys make it scream. But don’t kill it.” Jack orders.

“Sounds good boss. We’ll have some fun.” The scattered voice responds and the radio cuts out.

“Wait no!” Cole yells out.

Jack looks at Cole with a cunning expression.

There’s silence at first, then comes a loud unbearable screech. The creature outside yells in pain.

Cole’s eyes widen and he begins yelling in frustration.

“Stop it! Please don’t hurt him!”

“Him?” Jack questions. “You better start talking.”

The suffering scream outside continues, with other noises of men laughing.

“Please make them stop!” Cole cries out.

Jack says nothing and just smiles at Cole.

Cole begins to panic. The screaming of the creature outside makes him cringe.

“Fine I’ll tell you everything! Just make them stop!” Cole shouts once more.

Jack nods his head, “You know what I want.”

“Okay, okay! It’s a cure!!” Cole finally answers.

Jack smiles menacingly and pushes the TALK button on the walkie talkie.

“That’s enough Brian. Thank you.”

“Sure thing boss! That was fun!” the voice speaks then laughs.

“Now what was that about a cure?” Jack asks.

Cole heavily pants, the unbearable screech still lingers in his head.

“Suddenly lost your voice again? Don’t worry I can bring it back.” Jack says, grabbing his radio again.

“No wait! I’ll talk.” Cole quickly answers.

“Wonderful!” Jack says in excitement. He grabs Cole by the shirt and drags him to his feet.

Cole immediately falls to the ground and barks in pain.

Jack chuckles, “Aww what’s wrong? That flesh wound on your leg bothering you?”

Cole is sweating and his leg is numb from the consistent stabbing.

Jack drags him up once more and sits him down on a wooden crate.

“Now talk or I’ll personally skin your ‘friend’ out there.” Jack orders aggressively.

Cole looks to the ground and takes a deep breath.

“That creature out there is my mentor. A man named Dr. Mori who founded a cure for cancer.”

Jack suddenly becomes intrigued and sits on a chair across from Cole.

Cole continues, “A negative effect from the cure altered Dr. Mori and mutated him. Turning him into that creature out there.”

“This was a cure for cancer that caused this?” Jack asks.

Cole shakes his head. “No, it was a cure for the Fallen virus.”

Jack smiles, “A cure for the undead huh? Tell me why that sounds like a crock of shit?”

Cole gives Jack a confused look.

Jack’s tone changes into aggression “You really expect me to believe that you try creating a cure for something nature caused?”

“It wasn’t nature that caused the dead to rise.” Cole responds.

Jack raises his eyebrow.

“He-” Cole swallows. “We created the virus that ended our world.”

Jack is astonished. His mind races. Mixed feelings begin to bubble up. How does someone react to news like that? Jack stands from his chair, draws his Desert Eagle and points it to Cole’s head.

“So, you’re telling me I should kill you right now for ending our world?” Jack speaks.

Cole looks Jack in his eyes. “Do it. I deserve death.”

There are no words for a few seconds. Then Jack withdraws his gun. Suddenly he begins to laugh. It makes Cole uncomfortable.

“Amazing. Here I’ve thought our world ended because it was mother nature’s way of ridding the human species.” Jack grabs Cole by the jaw. “Turns out it’s because of some stupid kid and his teacher.”

“We didn’t mean to.” Cole says.

“So what? You try playing god and wanted to bring the dead back to life? Is that it?” Jack chuckles.

Cole becomes annoyed. “You wanted answers and I’m giving them to you.”

“Don’t sass me boy.” Jack talks down to Cole.

“Now explain this more to me. How and why the hell did you create this virus?”

Cole closes his eyes and gathers his thoughts.

“It was an accident.” Cole begins to explain. “The cure we created for cancer had a negative effect on humans. It was meant to kill the cancer cells in people. It was successful at first, but then our test subject became sick and the cure evolved into a virus. It soon became airborne and well, you know what happen next.”

“The end of humanity.” Jack finishes Cole’s sentence.

Cole says nothing. He’s filled with regret.

“So, why didn’t your cure work?” Jack asks.

Cole looks up to Jack again. “I don’t know. I was going to take the cure but Dr. Mori administered it to himself.”

“Well start using that brain of yours. You’re going to figure this cure out.” Jack says, confidence in his voice.

“You’re insane! This cure is a bust. It won’t work.” Cole responds

Jack laughs and grabs Cole by his curly hair. “You think I’m insane. But maybe that’s what this world needs. A little bit of insanity.”

Cole squirms away from Jack. “I don’t know how to fix it!” he snaps at Jack.

“You better think of something or I’ll end yours and your teacher’s life. However, I’ll make sure you both suffer first.” Jack says cruelly.

Cole is sweating. He doesn’t want Dr. Mori to suffer. He has to think of something.

“Well?” Jack asks.

Cole nervously swallows. “I have a theory.”

Jack sits back down on a chair as he waits for what Cole has to say.

“We need someone who’s been bitten by the Fallen. My theory is that the cure didn’t work on Dr. Mori because he wasn’t infected. Get someone who’s ill and the cure might work.”

“Let’s hope.” Jack says, scratching his head. “Because killing you would be a waste if it didn’t.”

Cole is disgusted with Jack’s answer.

“One last question.” Jack asks.

Cole says nothing, but he listens to Jack.

“What will the cure do if it’s successful? Will it change them?”

Cole becomes serious.

“This cure will do more than rid the virus from a person. They will change into something not human. They’ll become stronger than an average person. Find some poor bastard and give him the cure.”

Jack smiles, he is fascinated. “Interesting. You sure this will happen?”

Cole nods his head. “Yes. Well that’s what supposed to happen.”

Jack stands up from his seat. “It’s decided then. I’ll get you someone who’s been bitten and they’ll take the cure.”

“There one problem.” Cole says smiling.

Jack tilts his head, wondering what Cole means.

“There’s no cure left. Your dumbass men destroyed the facility where I was at. Along with samples of the cure.” Cole smugly explains. “You lose.”

There’s silence between the two. Cole thinks he completely destroyed Jack’s plan to have the cure. Cole feels a sudden relief, realizing Jack didn’t get what he wanted.

“Now why don’t you just kill me already!” Cole barks.

Jack doesn’t say anything for a bit. He just stares at Cole coldly. Then, he smiles. It gives Cole an uneasy feeling. Then Jack begins laughing. It hauntingly echoes through the space of the tent. “For someone who supposedly smart, you sure are an idiot.” Jack jests.

Cole is shocked to see this reaction. His mouth gone dry and he can’t speak.

“The creature out there has the cure running through its blood. Now this is just a theory, but you're a scientist right? You all like to get off of theories. I’ll just feed it to an infected person and see what happens.”

“You better not hurt him!” Cole yells. He struggles to free his bounded hands but the ropes are too tight.

Jack swings his right hand at Cole, knocking him to the ground. He passes out from the impact.

Jack stands over Cole’s unconscious body.

“Thank you boy. You gave me a new purpose.”

“So that’s what he told me.” Jack says, finishing his story for Ben.

Ben looks to ground, absorbing the information Jack told him.

“It was Cole’s idea to use someone infected to take the cure.” Jack continues.

“But it was your idea to use me.” Ben retorts.

Jack smiles, “Yes it was unfortunate that you were the one we used. But, you were going die anyway. We would never have bother grabbing you if it wasn’t for Cole.”

“Where were you when all of this happen?”

“I made sure me and my most trusted people were somewhere else.” Jack sneers. “Just in case.”

“You knew what would happen?”

“No, but you slaughter everyone at my camp. It was good thing I left when it happened. It’s amazing that one man could do that. So, I tracked you down.”

“How did you track me?” Ben asks.

“Well I didn’t exactly ‘track’ you. I had a location already set.” Jack says.

“What?”

“Cole happen to give me his home’s location after telling me everything about the cure. He was scared I’d hurt his friend.” Jack says with a creepy smile.

“So how did you know I’d be with him?” Ben continues his questions.

“I didn’t. I just hoped. You can imagine how happy I was to see you walking out that house. The exact location the boy gave me.”

Ben clenches his first. His palms are sweating and his heart is rapidly beating. He feels betrayed and a deep amount of hatred for Cole. He’s been travelling with the person who made the Fallen virus. The one reason he lost everything is because of the Fallen. Because of Cole.

Ben feels he can’t trust him now.

Ben prepares to ask another question until their conversation is interrupted from a gurgling noise. It’s two grotesque Fallen coming around the corner of the house they’re in front of. They followed the voices of Ben and Jack. Blood and drool leak from their mouth as they make their way to them.

“Pierce. Please take care of them.” Jack says.

The large man Pierce, who sits on the dry grass grunts in pain. He wipes blood from his forehead and slowly stands up.

Ben is sweating, Is Jack really having Pierce kill the Fallen? He can barely stand up.

The Fallen are getting closer to the men now, and Pierce reaches for his large weapon left on the ground. He then drops, shouting a curse as he hits the ground. Now Ben is panicking seeing how calm Jack is as the Fallen get closer and his friend is unable to defend himself.

Suddenly Ben acts on instinct. He reaches for Pierce’s metal weapon and swings it at the Fallen. They were only a few feet away from reaching them until the first one is flung off the ground from the impact of Pierce’s weapon. Ben lets the large weapon make a full swing around and he strikes a second blow at the other Fallen. The top of its body is torn clean off when the head of the metal hammer makes contact.

Pierce watches the scene play out, astonish to see Ben swing his heavy weapon so easily.

Jack stands there smiling, is gun still pointed at Ben as he too watches him.

The two Fallen are killed instantly and Ben now stands there panting. He doesn’t know what happened. He acted on instinct and didn’t think about how he could have been shot by Jack. But Jack didn’t shoot.

Ben gives his attention to him again. He drops Pierce’s weapon.

Jack laughs, “Amazing! You saved Pierce.”

“No. I saved myself.” Ben bluntly answers.

Pierce stays laying there, his head sunken into the ground. He closes his eyes and chooses to relax.

“Are you sure? You could have let him die.” Jack responds.

Ben grits his teeth, preparing to say something. But he can’t think of an answer. Instead Ben changes the subject by asking Jack another question.

“My last question, what do you want from me?”

Jack shines a friendly smile, “Just your help.” He speaks.

Ben raises his eyebrow, “My help?”

“I want you to come with me. I have a secured home in the mountains.” Jack says.

“Ha!” Ben laughs. “You really think I’d go with you after what you did?”

“Of course not.” Jack responds.

Jack looks over to Pierce, “Bring the box from the car.”

Pierce grunts annoyingly and slowly stands up.

Ben watches as the large man slowly limps to the black Camaro they drove in.

“What are you up to?” Ben asks.

“I have gifts.” Jack speaks.

Ben is confused, A gift?

Pierce finally returns with a wooden box in his hands. He drops it by Ben and steps back.

He looks down at the small box and notices supplies like water and food.

“What the hell is this?” Ben asks, annoyed.

“In that box are supplies. There’s a map leading to my lodge and I even supplied bullets.”

Ben jolts his head down to the crate; did he say bullets?

“This is my gift to you Benjamin. I want you by my side. I want you to give me and my people the cure.” Jack explains. “This is my peace offering.”

Jack lowers his gun and holsters it.

“And this is my sign to trust you.” He says.

Ben doesn’t say anything at first. He looks at Jack then Pierce. He doesn’t know if he can still trust these men.

Ben thinks for a moment. Then he begins focusing his breathing and close his eyes.

He thinks about his wife and daughter. What would he do if they were still alive? Then he thinks about Cole. He pictures his face and what he told him about curing humanity. Ben tries to remember but the only thing that comes to him are lies.

Cole is the reason the virus even exists.

Anger begins to bubble up. The only thing he can picture now is Cole’s disembody head on the floor. Ben’s eyes shoot open, his eyes transition to their animalistic state. He suddenly moves quickly, he grabs his knife on the ground and rushes forward at Jack with it. Ben’s movement is too quick for Pierce to react, he’s already in front of them. Ben kicks Pierce to ground, knowing the large man will protect Jack. Pierce falls, shouting in pain. Ben presses his blade to Jack’s neck. Jack stands there smiling. He doesn’t move. Ben stares strongly at him, his blade ready to slit his throat.

“You shouldn’t have trusted me.” Ben says.

Jack stays silent, but he continues to smile.

It begins to aggravate Ben. “Why the fuck are you still smiling?!” Ben yells.

“Because I know you won’t do it.” Jack responds.

The blade shakes in his hands.

Why can’t I do it? Ben thinks.

He struggles to press the blade against Jack’s throat. It begins to cut into his flesh, however Jack still doesn’t move.

He’s right. Ben won’t kill him, even though it would be so easy. He slowly steps back and lowers his blade. Pierce still lays on the ground. He looks up to see Jack still alive. He drops his head on the dead grass and relieves a sigh.

“How did you know I wouldn’t kill you?” Ben asks.

“Because we’re alike Benjamin.” Jack answers. “I imagine myself in your situation and think what I would do. I know you’re curious on what my goals are. You know I could have killed you, because I don’t need you to have the cure. I just need your blood.”

Ben is silent. He relaxes his breathing and his eyes transition back to normal.

The transition excites Jack.

“We had a deal, right?” Ben says.

“We did.”

Ben relaxes himself. “What do you want to know?”

“Tell me everything you know about the cure. What does it do to a person?” Jack asks.

Ben takes a deep breath, “It changes us. I’m stronger than I ever was, I heal quicker, my senses are enhanced, and I can go longer without food and water.”

“Magnificent. You are the next evolution step to our species.” Jack happily says.

“But.” Ben interrupts Jack’s moment. “It’s not safe.”

“What do you mean?” Jack says, becoming serious.

“The cure. When it’s administered, it not guaranteed that a person will survive.”

“Oh? You’ve given it to others already?” Jack asks.

“Just two. A man we found bitten in town named Rick and the other is Cole.”

Jack smirks, “So the boy has it now? He must have begged for it when he saw it worked.”

“No not exactly. He was bit.”

Jack laughs, “Wonderful! The boy just has luck.”

“The other man, Rick, didn’t make it.” Ben continues. “I gave him the cure, but the transformation was too much for him.”

“How so?”

“The cure isn’t safe. When I got it, it was the most excruciating pain I’ve ever felt. My body felt it was on fire in and out, and it felt like my organs were being torn apart. It was terrible.”

Jack has a stern expression. He thinks on what Ben said. There’s no talking, just the sounds of a few birds in the distance.

The cure is not safe.

“This is perfect.” Jack finally speaks.

Ben looks confused.

“This is how it should be. This is a way for the weak to be exterminated.”

“What?” Ben surprisingly says.

“If the cure is dangerous like you said. Then only the strong can survive. You and the boy were strong enough to move on to this next step of our evolution.”

“Jack this isn’t something I can just give to people. It’s not safe!” Ben argues.

“It’s evolution Benjamin! The weak die off and the strong move on!” Jack retorts.

Ben gives Jack a crazed look, Is he serious? Ben thinks.

“My people and I will take the cure. If we die, then we weren’t strong enough. When we give it to other survivors, and if they live, they are strong enough to continue in this new world.”

“How the hell do you expect to bring society back like that?!” Ben asks.

“Bring it back?” Jack laughs. “Do you really want the world the way it was before?”

Ben raises his eyebrow. He’s curious what Jack means.

“Think about it. We lived in a society where money, greed and religion ran our governments. Our elections were rigged, politicians brought war to the innocent, bankers controlled our economy, and the people were slaves. Humans are evil. We were killing each other for selfish reasons, we pretend to care by sharing issues through media but did nothing about it! The rich were fat greedy bastards and they lived in luxury while thousands of people were homeless and starving!”

Ben is shocked to see Jack go off about this topic.

“Do you really want that kind of world back? This apocalypse was like a reset button. There are no more rules. This cure will kill the weak and only the strong will remain! Humans will be no more. We will rise as a new species, and we’ll live in a new world where only the strong will stay in control!” Jack finishes, out of breath.

Ben swallows his words; he doesn’t exactly know how to respond to that.

“This is how it should be Benjamin. We need a new species and this cure is the gateway to that.”

“I don’t know.” Ben says, looking down. “But you’re right about the old world. It was terrible.”

“Exactly Benjamin. I knew you would see it the way I do. So please come and join me. We’ll save this world.” Jack tells.

“What about Cole?” Ben asks.

“The boy can come with; however, I don’t think he likes me very much.” Jack chuckles.

“I’ll talk to him.” Ben stays with a stern look.

“So, do we have a deal?” Jack says smiling, his hand extended to shakes Ben.

Ben looks at Jack’s hand, but he ignores his gesture, “Not just yet. I want to talk to Cole first. Until then, let’s make a meeting point.”

“Which is?” Jack asks, lowering his hand.

“I have a cabin in the mountains. It should be a few miles away from the cave you found me at. I'll mark it on the map. Meet me there and I’ll make my final decision.”

“I understand; I’ll give you a week. I look forward to you joining us.” Jack grins.

Jack and Ben have come to a decision to meet again, at the agreed location. Ben still feels uneasy about Jack, but he’s a man who appears to have some kind of plan.

Jack and Pierce enter their Camaro and drive off, leaving Ben behind with his supplies. Ben digs through the wooden box, finding everything Jack said he left; food, water, medicine, a map to his lodge, bullets, and even a gun. He grabs the gun, it’s silver with a black grip. He inspects the weapon, noticing that it looks quite new to anything he’s own before. Ben loads the gun and holsters it. It’s quite fitting. He grabs the box and begins walking down the road, back to Cole’s house. Ben will make his final decision on joining Jack, depending on Cole’s story. If his story matches up with what Jack told him, then he was telling the truth. Now Ben is determined to make Cole tell the truth, even if he needs to be brutal with him.