The Marenon Chronicles Collection - By Jason D. Morrow Page 0,2

trouble from the beginning, but he had no idea who they really were until Garland finally told him.

“They are Sleepers, men completely possessed by the Stühocs,” he had said.

As far as Silas could tell after listening to Garland’s explanation, “Stühocs” were a fabled group of creatures from another world, bent on finding one certain medallion.

Of course, Silas had never seen one of these individuals and had questioned the old man’s sanity on more than one occasion. Garland told him that the possessed were uncommon and not often seen, but their coming to him meant that it was time to finish Silas’ training.

The idea of the possessed was intriguing to Silas. All the Stühocs could do was implant ideas and wishes into the mind, making the possessed believe they wanted something so badly even if they cared nothing for it. When Silas asked where these Stühocs resided he only got a mumbled answer and a wave of the hand. This only added reason to doubt the creature’s existence, but with to men trying to kill them, there wasn’t a lot of time for a better explanation.

The question then came, why did they want this medallion?

“Why haven't you told me what is so special about it?”

Garland grimaced. “Not right now, Silas.”

“Why not now? You dragged me all the way out here because some possessed freaks are trying to get it. We've both nearly been killed multiple times! Please tell me there is something in that cave that will help us.”

Garland did not move. His eyes were fixed straight ahead as if choosing his words carefully in his mind. “It's … it's very powerful, Silas.”

Silas rolled his eyes. “Does it keep the monsters away, Gramps?”

“Unfortunately it doesn’t,” Garland said.

Silas had expected a snide remark, but sensed a gravity in his grandfather's tone. The conversation ended abruptly when they saw the truck come around the nearest bend. The shell-ridden machine finally rolled to a stop and for a moment there was complete silence. Not even the bugs made noise. Then, both doors opened immediately and the two men stepped out of the truck. They wore the same black trench coats as they had when they arrived at Silas’ home a few days before. Both of them held a machine gun in the right hand. Theron, the taller of the two, had been driving. He threw the butt of his half-finished cigarette to the ground and said something to the red headed Marcus. Marcus nodded.

“What are they doing?” Silas whispered.

“They know we can't be too far and they know we weren’t in the truck. The tracks we left stopped there.”

Silas watched intently as Marcus and Theron walked slowly into the wooded area. Marcus lifted his head and sniffed as if he would be able to catch their scent.

Silas eagerly anticipated the darkness as he looked to the sun in the distance, its last rays melting behind the hills.

Marcus and Theron had their guns ready to fire at anything that moved as they walked through the thick brush and small trees. Eventually the two of them crossed directly under Silas and Garland and were close enough for Silas to smell the stench of cigarette smoke. He looked at his grandfather and caught a quick wink. How Garland planned to get to the cave was a mystery.

Silas didn’t know whether or not to believe his grandfather when he said the Stühocs had possessed these men. He wasn’t even sure he believed there were such creatures as Stühocs. But possessed or not, they were there to hunt and kill.

The night fell upon them and Silas silently swore when he noticed Marcus and Theron had found the cave.

“Do they know what’s in there?” Silas asked.

Garland said nothing for nearly a minute then answered. “I believe they may have known about it all along. I was just hoping that we could get there first.”

“What’s in it that we need so badly?”

Garland looked at his grandson, the moonlight giving him just enough illumination to see his face clearly. “I can’t tell you right now,” he said. “I swear to you when this is over, I will tell you everything.”

He didn’t want to, but Silas accepted his grandfather’s avoidance. There would be no point in arguing with him now.

After it was completely dark, Garland made them wait two more hours. Silas' body felt stiff and sore from lying on the rock surface for so long and his eyes felt as though weights dangled from each lid. His breathing became deeper just before