FOOLS GOLD

---

6423

Fools Gold

Oh God... Someone help me please. Someone.. Oh the pain when will it stop? When will they be done? With his one remaining eye Jason looked down at the obscene remnant of his body. He could not understand how he could still be alive, or why he could not pass out. His feet were gone, as were his right leg, arm and his ears, and of course his larynx ( cannot disturbed the babies while they are being fed). How long has it been? They said they could keep a strong man alive for months, while the babies fed. Oh God please let me pass out. But that can't happen, they need all the adrenaline the brain could produce. It makes the feed right for the growing babies. Oh God why was I so greedy...

1

Twenty four hours earlier

Jason Feltworth saw nothing but fame and fortune before him. He could not believe what he was seeing. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure he was not being observed peeking into the house. Jason knew the his associate at the Syracuse Institute of Paranormal Psychology or SIPP; was acting strange of late. Jason had been watching him for over a week as he went about sneaking around, and stealing equipment from the SIPP labs. He decided tonight he would follow him home and see what he was up to; but this, was beyond his wildest dream. Inside, in the center of the room stood a cage, with what appeared too be a little man maybe three feet tall, his skin appeared to be pale and rubbery, his eyes were huge and fish like, set in the darkest pool of black he has ever seen in a pair of eyes. All on a head that seemed to big, with a mouth and flat nose which seemed all to small. The ears were Spock like. The man/creature had wires running through out his body and hooked into various machine and monitors.

Jason pried open the window, when the door at the top of the stairs opened. DR. Chambers walked down into the room; and went to the creature.

"Now my little friend, how are you doing this evening?" he asked

"Please, I make you richer than before.” It said.

Jason's interest peeked at this, and strained harder to hear.

Chambers laughed at this, "My friend,” thought better of this, “or whatever you are, I will become very rich and famous for discovering you. Now just relax, I need to draw some more samples."

Jason watched as Chambers took some blood and saliva samples, then went back up the stairs and left locking the door.

Jason's thoughts raced over what he just witnessed his thoughts focused on what the little creature said. “Richer than before”

"Well, well, well. I do believe that I am going to be rich." He mused to himself as he opened the window and let himself in. Once in he let his eyes adjust to the setting darkness, he carefully made his way to the center of the room. Not knowing what to expect he cautiously approached the cage.

The man/thing appeared to be resting now; getting a better look at the thing Jason was finding it more difficult believing what he was seeing. The thing appeared to have an almost comical appearance about it. Like it was a bad attempt, by a novice cartoonist to draw a human. Jason started thinking himself a victim of a very bad joke. He was about to turn and leave when the Creature's eyes suddenly opened. Jason froze as the thing spoke.

"Could this my savior be? Please help I, must go home I can not be gone long I." It spoke in a broken English like a immigrant new to the country.

After several attempts Jason was able to get his mouth to work." Who.. What are you?" Jason asked

"Kay-tar name, a Nilmerg are us, us live next to humans, one time your month when harvest moon gate opens, allows us to pass to human world. Only twenty four of your day keepers can stay I, before time over must go home. If no go home must stay here until next moon"

Jason listened to an almost hypnotic quality in Kay-tar's voice. Jason shook his head "Nilmerg?" Why does that sounds familiar? Jason pushed aside the thought and asked

"So the harvest moon was almost a month ago how did you get stuck here?"

"Gatherer am I" Kay-tar explained. "come here, take things that interest us to home. In your learn place was, some bottles open one I did, head spins then go dark, wake up here... What means ether?"

Jason could hardly contain himself, he started giggling which lead to explosive laughter. Kay-tar stared wide-eyed at him,

"Why laugh you?" Kay-tar asked

Jason brought himself under control. "Nothing, nothing at all."

He groaned to himself. Not only does he speak like Tonto, he’s sensitive also,"what does Chambers want with you anyway?" He asked

"He says he become famous for finding I. I tell you please help I. To my people I need go. Make you rich will I." Kay-tar said

Jason thought about this for a moment. licking his lips as he spoke . "How can you make me rich? You can't even get out of the cage."

"My home, many of your rich stones are there, you help I, many of the stones you take." Kay-tar said

"Stones, what type of stones?" Jason asked

"The ones that look like sun." Kay-tar said

Jason; feeling giddy asked, "Sun? You mean gold... I'll be God damn if you do not mean gold"

"Yes that is the name by you humans. Please help I." Kay-tar said

Jasons started rubbing his chin in thought. "You are going to have to convince me better, how do I know you are not lying, that there really are riches waiting for me?" He asked "I tell you, know you the water by the music place?"

"You mean the Syracuse amphitheater on Onondaga Lake?

Yeah I know the place?" Jason replied

"Follow water way of sun, go to grandfather tree. Make hole on the side of sun, there find you box with riches." Kay-tar said

"Alright, I'll check it out, if you are right, and the gold is there, then I will help you. If not, you can rot here for all I care." Jason turned and started for the window, Kay-tar watched him...

2

Jason sped away heading towards Onondaga Lake. After two hours of trudging and cussing while following the shoreline, Jason found the tree. He felt it more than he saw it. It was a dark foreboding place. Jason almost tuned back, back his greed got the best of him.

He went to the west side of the tree and started digging. After fifteen minutes, he uncovered a metal box. With growing eagerness he removed it from the soil and inspected it, it did not appear to have a latch or opening. Jason glared disgustedly at the box.

"Well Kay-tar it looks like your lying Nilmerg ass is going to rot, DAMN." Suddenly the box started illuminating, dimly at first, then building in intensity and brightness.

"What the hell!"

Startled, Jason threw the box down, and averted his eyes.There was a popping sound accompanied by a flash. And then, everything was back to normal.

Jason turned and hesitantly approached the box. Now open, a strange green glow was emanating from it. Jason reached down and gently picked up what appeared to be green stones. Though they were oddly shaped and were highly polished he did not see any value in them.

"What is this crap?" Jason shrugged his shoulders, and placed the stones back in the box.

3

It was well after midnight when Jason returned to Dr Chambers house. He peeked into the darkened room as he tried the window. He signed in relief as the window opened for him. Using a flashlight he got from his car, Jason made his way to the center of the room. In a whisper he called out.

"Kay-tar? Kay-tar? Can you hear me?"

"Kay-tar here, Kay-tar is glad that his savior is returned." Kay-tar said

" You can cut the savior crap you little s***! I went through two hours of hell trying to find the goddamn tree and two hours finding my way back and all I got to show for it is some stupid looking rocks." Jason fumed

"Not yell at Kay-tar, Kay-tar tell truth. This is valuable rock man always seeks. Kay-tar insisted

"Listen you little shit, I know what gold looks like, and this green shit" Jason lifted one of the stones for emphasis. "IS NOT GOLD!"

"Yet it is not, but you can make gold." Kay-tar said

Jason's mouth dropped opened "What do you mean I can make gold? What are you saying

"You must first mix with warm blood" Kay-tar said

"BLOOD! You... you... mean like pig or chicken blood?" A dark chill passed through Jason as he realized the answer before Kay-tar spoke.

"No must be human blood" Kay-tar said

"Are you crazy, where am I going to get human blood from?"

Suddenly the door at the top of the stairs opened. "Is there someone down there?" Dr Chambers asked as he peered down into the darkness. He turned on the light to the basement and started down the stairs.

Jason watched as Dr Chambers walked down the steps, he pulled out his knife, and smiled...

After putting Kay-tar in the back seat of his car,Jason started driving back to his house. It was a long day and he wanted to go home, shower and go to bed. He especially wanted to wash off the blood from his knew gold. Jason smiled to himself, he could not believe how easy it was, it was like someone else was doing it, and Jason was watching. Boy did he like watching that old fart die. Jason smiled again.

"Why keep Kay-tar in cage. Kay-tar keep word. Please help Kay-tar to..."

Jason cut him off. "Yeah, yeah, Kay-tar go home, well listen here my little friend, you're my ticket to the good life, so I am going to keep you in that cage until the rest of my gold is with me.."

Jason continued the rest of the drive home humming to himself "I am in the Money…i am in the money…” while touching his gold...

4

The next morning Jason got up early, and the first thing he did was google “gold dealer’s," it was going to be a least two hours until any of them opened. He decided to work out with his weights, and have breakfast. All the while Kay-tar eyed him never saying a word. Jason wondered if Kay-tar was hungry, or for that matter, if he ate. He decided not to worry about it.

"Listen Kay-tar, if the gold checks out, we are going to be rich."he said

"I need not your money. You take me home." Kay-tar said. 25

Jason rolled his eyes "Yeah, yeah, no problem, but remember you promised me more gold if I got you home."

"How much more gold need you?" Kay-tar asked

Jason laughed "Oh man are you kidding me, I want to be rich, so rich that nothing would be impossible. Do you realize how powerful I can become?" he asked

Kay-tar stared at Jason.

Jason shrugged and waved a dismissive hand at Kay-tar

"What the Hell would you know about it anyway?"

After getting dressed Jason put a sheet over Kay-tars's cage he smiled to himself and said "Just like a parrot,” I wonder if he will go to sleep he mused as left the house.

It took him about a half an hour to make his way to the jeweler's shop. it was one of those ritzy places. Jason had reservations about going inside. Then he laughed to himself. "I am one of them now.”Jason walked in, the salesman eyed him with obvious distaste. Jason walked up to him with a big smile and reached out with an offering hand.

"How are you doing partner?" Jason asked with his best,Texan imitation voice.

The salesman shook his hand like he was touching garbage.

"Are you sure you are in the right place? The second hand establishment is down the block." He said in a most annoying snooty voice.

Jason held his tongue and mentally counted to ten. He put on his best winter smile as he spoke.

"Listen you little shit, are you going to assist me or what?"

The salesman rolled his eyes. "How may I help you... sir?"

"That's more like it. I have some family stones... actually gold.”Jason said

One of the salesman's eyes arched. "I am afraid... sir... we are not a pawnshop. Nor do we traffic in, shall we say borrowed items.”

Jason glared at him. "I said these belonged to my family, I just want them appraised." Jason pulled out a bag and emptied the contents on the counter.

Jason was quit content with the salesman's reaction his mouth and eyes opened wide.

After a few force starts the salesman was able to speak.

"Never in all my days as a jeweler have I seen a more perfect piece of gold. May I?" He asked as he reached for one of the nuggets.

"By all means" Jason said smugly, as he allowed the salesman to pick up a nugget for a closer inspection.

After a few minutes Jason asked “So, How much do you think they are worth?"

Taking one of the nuggets off the scale. "It's two ounces, I will give forty five hundred for this one, and any others like it?" he said

Jason; barely able to contain himself stammered. "forty..forty five hundred dollars? Just for one?"

"Yes and I will give it to you now. Tell me, where did your... Ah,... your family heirlooms come from.” the clerk asked

"Never you mind." Jason took back the nugget and added, "Let me get back to you."

The salesman grabbed Jason's arm pleadingly. "Please will you at least take my card, and give me a call later if you want to sell them, my home phone number is also on the back."

Taking the card, Jason smirked "My ain't it funny how a little money could make one important"

Jason left the shop humming his money tune.

4

Jason was jubilant as sat in his car using his calculator app on his phone. "Forty five hundred times twenty ... Shit... ninety thousand dollars... Kay-tar you sweet little...whatever you are"

When he got home, Jason ran into the apartment.

"Kay-tar... I am rich, you were right, those nuggets are worth a fortune..."

Kay-tar stared emotionless . "You take Kay-tar home now?"

"You bet little, buddy, now what do we do? You said we must wait until the next harvest moon... tonight, you have to go home tonight?" Jason asked

"Yes, you take Kay-tar to tree." kay-tar responded

A cold chill ran through Jason as he thought about the tree. That whole area did not feel right.

"You must bring warm blood to place of grandfather tree, so we can enter."

"How... how much more blood? How much more damn you?" Jason asked

Kay-tar just stared emotionless as ever as he spoke. "We will need two more of your people."

"TWO? ARE YOU CRAZY?... WHY TWO?..." Jason's head was spinning.

"One is needed for entrance into my home. Other needed for your gold. Kay-tar stated in a matter of factly tone.

Jason started thinking out loud. “ Where am I going to find two bodies?"

"Blood must be warm," Kay-tar added in the same tone

“Damn it."Jason glared at Kay-tar as he spoke."If I didn't know any better, I swear that you are enjoying this."

"Not like, need... to go home. I..."

"Yeah, yeah E.T go home, and all that other garbage,”Jason finished for Kay-tar “but where am I going to find one person, let alone two, and how am I going to convince them to come with me to the woods? I mean..." Just then the ringing of the phone interrupted Jason's thoughts.

He glanced at the phone screen; it was his work , he cursed beneath his breath as he answered the call.

"Hello? He asked

"Jason?" A familiar female voice responded

“Yeah, this is him”

"Jason, this is Silvia. Just calling to see if you are ever going to make it into work today."she said

Jason groaned inwardly, how he hated this snooty b****. He was just about to hang up on her, when he was struck with an idea, he grinned as he responded.

"Sure, I am coming in... but Silvia listen... I think I found something that you will be very interested in... can you come out to the apartment? an audible pause.

"Listen Jason, I do not have time for any of your games, and I do not think I am up to fighting off any of you advances. I mean you have arms like octopus, Now you promised me the last time, if I did not report you to human resources, you would stop making advances towards me, are you breaking that promise now Jason? Don't you think you are pushing it?" she asked

Pushing it, I'll show you pushing it you b****, Jason thought as he replied.

"Silvia listen, if what I have to show you does not impress you as soon as you arrive, you can leave. But I guarantee you will be impressed. You will be very impressed."

Another audible Pause. Alright Jason, what time do you want me to come over?"

Jason thought for a moment. "how about two thirty?"

"Okay, I'll come out, but what you have to show me better be worth my time "

You bitch Jason thought but responded with. “It will be, I promise”

"Oh before I forget, you any idea where Dr. Chambers is? He did not show up for work this morning and I have been calling his home, but there has been no answer. Have…”

Jason hung up the phone on her before she could finishes what she was saying. "Don't worry you'll be seeing Dr. Chamber soon you snooty b****.”Jason turned to Kay-tar , "We got one." He said

Kay-tar stared back at Jason "We go soon?"

"Yeah we go soon. I figure we will leave around dark." Jason said

"We leave soon..." Kay-tar said then added . ”You strong man" he seem to state rather then ask.

Jason; confused and uneasy "Well...well yeah, I guess you can say that." he stammered.

Strong men are always good." Kay-tar said.

Now Kay-tar was being down right spooky. "Why... why do you say that?" He asked

Kay-tar would not answer, he sat down in his cage and closed his eyes. Jason tried to shake off willies Kay-tar gave him.

"Well enough of that. who's number two?." Jason remembered the jeweler's card, he fished it out of his wallet and read it..

John Boyar "Jeweler At Large" Jason rolled his eyes "What a jerk, but if anything, I know people, and this one would sell his mother if the price was right... He'll do fine."

Jason took his phone and dialed the number on the card. It rang three times before it was answered by a familiar snooty voice.

" John Boyar, how may I help you?"

"Yes this is Jason Feltworth, the man with the gold nuggets, do you remember me?" he asked.

"Yes, oh yes sir, how can I help you sir?” Boyar replied

"Stop boot licking for a moment and listen up." Jason said "How would you like to own that nugget plus twenty more I have? And how would you like to find out where they came from?

"YES... oh yes I would. Please sir I would..."

"Well it is going to cost you..."

" Yes anything, I'll pay you twenty five thousand and…”

"NO! Not money, it is going to cost you a favor." Jason cut him off

" A... a favor sir? What type of favor?” Boyer stammered

"Well... let's just say that I am going to need some help with something. Why don't you close up and come over here, and i'll explain everything?

" Yes, yes I'll close up now."

"Ok,I'll see you in twenty minutes." Jason texted him the address and hung up the phone. He turned to Kay-tar "We got two. Now all we have to do is wait."

And to Jasons frustration, Kay-tar did not respond, instead it just stared...

The doorbell rang for a few minutes before Jason decided to answer it. Jason knew it was the jeweler and he wanted him to wait in nervousness for a bit. When Jason opened the door, John was they looking real anxious.

"Sir... I came as soon as I possibly could." He said almost out of breath.

Jason smiled . "I am sure you did, well don't stand there come in and close the door behind you."

John entered the apartment and closed the door behind him. "What is this favor you need of me?" John asked

"Straight to the point aren't we?" Jason asked “Well I like that.

Anyway the same place, where the Gold nuggets came from, There are thousands more, just waiting for someone to come around and collect them?" Jason noted with satisfaction the way John's mouth dropped open. "And suppose I told you we can go out tonight and get them?" Jason smiled as John's buckled forcing him to take a seat.

John swallowed before he spoke "T... Thousands?" he asked

"That's right Johnny boy, thousands just waiting for us to pick them like flowers. And you know what?” Speechless John could only shake his head no .

Half can be yours." Jason said with a flourish

John blinked his eyes "Half? W... What is it I have to do?"

"That's why I like you. here is a list of items we are going to need. I want you to round them up, and be back here by seven sharp. Oh and one more thing… NO QUESTIONS ASKED!"

John took the list and scanned it. "Jason?"

"Yeah" Jason responded

"We are not going to break any laws or anything are we?" he asked

"Remember; no questions asked." Jason put his arm around John's shoulder and led him to the door. "Hey don't worry about it, we are going to be filthy rich?" Jason said as john went out the door, and scurried to his car. "Damn snooty jerk." He said after him

Jason shut the door and went about setting up the apartment for Silvia's visit, he wanted everything to be just right...

5

Silvia reluctantly rang the doorbell; she had no desires to be here but Jason was so damn convincing. She was about to ring the doorbell again when the door suddenly opened... and appeared the annoying face that was Jason.

"Well Silvia, glad to see you, how are..."

Silvia shoved her way passed Jason cutting him off mid sentence "Fine; now, what is it that was so important, that you dragged me out here to this... this dump?" She said looking around in pure disgust.

Jason kept a tight smile on his face as he closed the door and followed Silvia into the apartment. "Fine if you will step into the living room I promise you all questions will be answered." He said smiling

Silvia walked to the entrance of the living room where she stopped and scanned the room, her eyes opened; both with surprise and amazement as they settled on the cage in the center of the room. In the cage was Kay-tar staring impassively at her.

"My God Jason, what is it? Is this some sort of joke?" She said as she approached the cage. Kay-tar stood as she neared. If not for the shock of seeing Kay-tar, Silvia would probably have heard Jason coming up behind her. She was bending over for a better view at Kay-tar, when Jason put an ether filled cloth over her nose and mouth. Silvia struggled for about thirty seconds, the last thing she saw was Kay-tar staring down at her, and she realized deep in her heart that she will never see anything or anyone else ever again...

Kay-tar watching asked " “Ether?"

This Brought on an uncontrollable fit of laughter in Jason, it took him a minute to control it. Wiping a tear from his eye Jason spoke. "Yes Kay-tar ether ."

Jason taped her hands and feet, then her mouth. Once done, he looked over his handy work. "There, not to snooty now." he mused

"Me go home now?" Kay-tar interrupted

Jason signed "Yes, as soon as the jerk gets here. You're not one for patience are you?"

Kay-tar stared blankly...

The doorbell rang at seven sharp, Jason quickly opened the door and let John in. John entered carrying a box. Jason was going to give John a hand with the box, then thought better of it...

Let the little s*** do it himself, Instead he asked : ‘Any problems getting the items?"

"No I didn't" John responded

Jason pointed to the box and asked “And the rest of the items?"

"Out in the car, the self inflatable raft with the outboard , was the most difficult” John responded

"Good" Jason said

"Do you mind me asking why you had me purchase these items?" John asked

"Well Johnny boy we are going to have a night out by the lake and in the woods." Jason said

A distastefulness flashed across John's face.

Jason smiled and threw John a pair of coveralls he pulled out from the box. "Well are you going to change, or are you going for the best dressed woodsman award?" Jason asked

John took the coveralls to the bathroom to change. While John was doing that; Jason took some of the items out of the box and went into the bedroom. He pulled out a leather case and eyed it critically. "It will do." He went over to Kay-tar. "Listen, I am going to have to cover your cage for a while, and you are going to have to be quiet." He said

Kay-tar stared at Jason . "We go now?”

Jason signed. "Yeah we go home now." Jason put the cover over the cage and adjusted the straps so the cover would stay on .

"Why put Kay-tar in darkness?"

"Listen Kay-tar, I cant let the geek see you now. It's bad enough trying to get him to go along with doing the bitch." Jason explained

"Geek?" Kay-tar repeated

"Yeah geek, I cannot have him freaking out on me. Do you understand?"

"We go home now?" Kay-tar repeated

"Yes, yes you little s***, we go home now. Now will you shut up?" Jason turned and left the room, John was already changed and waiting for him. Jason thought he looked like a fish out of water with those clothes on. "Are you ready?"

"Yes I am." John answered.

" Go down to the car and open the trunk." Jason ordered

John looked like he was going to say something but Jason cut him off.

"Now, now no questions asked remember?" He reminded John

John closed his mouth and left the apartment. Jason went to the closet and dragged Silvia out, he checked to make sure her binds were still secured. He started putting her into a sack. Once done he hefted her up on his shoulder, and took her out to the car where John was waiting, the color drained from John's face as he realized what Jason was carrying. Jason approached the car and deposited Silvia into the trunk, and slammed it close. the shock on John's face, caused him to smile as he walked up to John and put his hand on his shoulder. "What's the matter Johnny boy? You look like you seen a ghost." Jason asked smiling

"You... you said nothing about murder." John stammered

Jason removed his hand from John's shoulder. "John I told you; you were going to have to pay a heavy price for the gold, or do you want to forget about it?" He said glaring at John,

John stood silent and stared at the trunk.

"Well? Answer me damn it, do we go or do we forget it?"

John took one last look at the trunk before making his decision. John licked his lips before answering

"We... we go." He said

"Nice choice Johnny boy." Jason grinned to himself as he closed the knife thinking how he would have hated to have put John into the trunk also. Jason went back to the apartment and got Kay-tar and put him in back sear of the car.

John looked questionably at the covered cage "What's" he started caught himself, instead said "never mind" I know, I know no questions." John shut his mouth and got in on the passenger's side.

6

In about an hour, Jason and John found themselves on a raft trolling along the lake bank.

Jason patted himself on the back for the idea of using the raft instead of trudging trough the woods carrying that bitch and the cage carrying Kay-tar, got them there

in a quarter of the time it took him before.

"Kill the engine " Jason ordered John, as he shined the light at the shore.

Jason felt the same creepy feeling he felt when he first came upon the tree. Jason shot a glance at John, and saw that John was also experiencing the same feelings of uneasiness. But Jason refused to let it spook him, he was really close to becoming rich. They drifted a little until Jason pointed to a spot on shore.

"There... thats the place there." John started the motor again and the raft headed in the direction Jason was pointing in.

"Jason this place does not feel right" John nervously spoke.

"Yeah... I know what you mean," Jason whispered to himself, to John he said, "Well don't think about it keep your mind on the prize Johnny boy."

Jason said while putting on a brave face. Jason put down his flashlight, and put on a head lamp band. He turned on the light. John shut off the engine, letting the raft drift the rest of the way to the shore. Jason jumped out and tied the raft to a fallen tree branch. Then he picked up Silvia and carried her to the tree, where he placed her at the base. Jason returned to the raft and got Kay-tar, when he returned to the tree, John was already there adjusting the light on his head band. Jason waited a moment until John was finished, then he said

"Well John, I guess we are ready." Jason took the cover off the cage. It took a couple of seconds for John's brain to register what he was seeing. When it did, John refused to believe what he was seeing. "is this some sort of joke?" Was his only response as he approached the cage for a better look.

Unfazed, Kay-tar stared his fish eyed stare, as John approached closer.

Jason on the other hand was slowly pulling out a bottle of ether from his pack, poured some on a cloth, and with a stealth, that belied his size, crept up behind John. John's nose crinkled as he caught a whiff of the ether.

When Jason spoke he was right behind John. "Oh you can believe it all right. I want to thank you for helping me get my gold." Jason said

Startled at the closeness of Jason's voice, John jumped, And started to speak, but all he got out was” Your ... " his sentence was cut off, as Jason placed the ether soaked cloth over John's mouth and nose. John tried in vain to remove Jason hand away, but his eyes were already fogging over, and his head was starting to spin, and in a couple of seconds; he did not care...

"There that should shut that damn annoying voice. He said "Now what do we do?" He asked Kay-tar as he opened the cage to let him out.

"Ahhh.... Good to walk free again." He looked at Jason. "Door there." Kay-tar said pointed to the same spot where Jason earlier dug up the gold. "Must put warm blood there.”

Jason went to Silvia. "Well ladies first I always say." He opened the sack and dragged Silvia out. He took her to the spot where Kay-tar indicated, and laid her face down her neck centered over the hole he earlier made. He pulled out his knife from its sheath.

"Well babe, I'll name my first yacht after you." He brought the blade across her throat going from ear to ear. The whole started filling quickly with blood. Jason stood wiping his hands on his pant legs. He looked at Kay-tar, Kay-tar returned his all to familiar emotionless stare, not seaming to care about what transpired. Jason shrugged

"What now Kay-tar? What happens now?"

Kay-tar walked up to the now newly departed Silvia, and looked into the hole. "More blood, needs more warm blood."

"Now wait a minute, what about my gold?" Jason asked

Kay-tar looked at Jason. "More blood to go home and for your gold.”Kay-tar explained

Jason signed, grabbed John by his shirt collar and dragged him over to the tree, he dragged Silvia out of the way, and placed John in the same position. He grabbed a handful of hair, exposing his throat, he took his knife and slashed him unceremoniously from ear to ear. Jason stayed keeling over John watching as his lifeblood flowed from his body. "There Kay-tar you wanted more blood, you got more blood. Now what about my gold damn you?"

"Don"t worry Jason, we are going to make sure you get everything you deserve." With spine tingling clarity, Jason noticed two things at once , one was the strange rumbling coming from the tree, and two; for the first time since he met Kay-tar, he was talking normal, and not the broken English he was talking before. Jason was just about to turn around, when something jumped on his back. Jason did not have to look to know it was Kay-tar, and that the ether soaked cloth being held over his mouth and nose was the same he used on John. The last thing that Jason heard before he passed out was one word from Kay-tar

“Ether..."

7

Jason started coming out of the ether induced sleep.His eyes opened, vision clearing, it was as if a fog was dissipating. His mouth was parched, and he had difficulties swallowing. When his vision cleared, he took in his surroundings, at first he thought he was seeing doubles. Two Kay-tar's looking down at him, then two more were going about on some unknown task.

One of the Kay-tar's approached him and spoke. "Good you’re awake. I can see you are surprised to hear me speak so clearly. “ Jason wanted to answer, but he realized that he could neither speak nor move. He also realized that he was nude...

"You are probably wondering what is happening, let me enlighten you; I was not exactly truthful when we met, we do not cross into your reality to collects things, we collect humans… strong humans are... or should I say will be a host.

Oh and those stones you thought were gold, they are from our reality, we call them Mesmo Stones. They leave humans who touch them extremely suggestible to our suggestions. In your case, I told you gold was you reward, because of you’re greed, you saw it change into gold.You were able to transfer the suggestibility to John so he saw the same gold as you.” Kay-tar’s grin seemed to broaden at this

Our queen lay's her eggs every fifty years, three days later when they hatch the larva needs a host to feed on. They grow exceptionally well when adrenaline is present, the more the adrenaline the healthier the babies. That is why you will be kept awake, and you will be aware of everything, feel every bit of pain, but do not worry, your not alone.” kay-tar waved his hand around pointing out the other Nilmerg in the room taking care of their captures.

“But I digress, where was I …oh yes, as the larva slowly digest your body, you will feel such pain as you never thought possible. Sorry, you will not be able to pass out, and you will never go hungry. You will be kept nourished, and know that it was you who supplied your own food." Jasons mind raced as he tried to comprehend Kay-tar's meaning, his eyes opened wide as the meaning dawned on him.

Kay-tar smiled as his understanding set in, "Thats right Jason we hope that you will enjoy the "Bitch" and the "Geek", we found that they make the most nutritious meals and they will help keep your strength up nicely. You will not be able to die until the larva eat the last of your vital organs. You have a very healthy and strong body. That is very fortunate for us, unfortunate for you I am afraid."

Jason could not believe what was happening, as they placed larva on him, there appeared to be hundreds of them. The Larva crawled until they each chose a spot to enter, there was a sharp pain as they bored into him using some sort of excreted acid like substance.., the pain was excruciating; as hundreds of larva started boring in, each: seem to have it's own signature pain.. then a thought finally clicked in his head, he finally realized why Nilmerg was familiar...it's GREMLIN spelled backward...Jason could not do anything, except acknowledge the painful realization that his situation was bought on by his greed...

Comments