DARK INTRUDER
DARK INTRUDER© nesciri
Part 12
Baruk was content. The takeover of the young man he now possessed had been easy, a lot thanks to the fact that he had been stunned from the blow to his head. His only disappointment was that the older man, Teaspoon, had sent him and the blonde rider to look for the Indian he had killed. Baruk would have preferred staying in Louise's presence, but he could not do anything without waking suspicions. And although he eventually intended to kill all of them, he would have to wait until Louise was his. Until then he would find a way to bend this young man's heart and soul to serve his purposes. He suspected that it would be harder than the young woman, but he was strong now. Nothing would stop him from getting what he yearned for this time.
"I don't see why Teaspoon had us do this again," Cody complained as they continued down the same track they had followed the day before. Kid didn't say anything as he was well aware that the whining was just Cody's way of hiding his worries. Besides he had a terrible headache that just wouldn't go away. He assumed that it was the blow to the head he had had as Jimmy had knocked him across the barn. the strange thing about it was that it made him hear voices, soft, muffled voices that seemed to echo in his mind. And when they had discussed their plan in the morning, he knew that he had intended to kiss Lou, but for his life he couldn't remember if in really had done it.
"You're alright?" Cody asked, waking him out of his reveries.
"Yes," Kid replied, bringing himself back to the present. "Why do you ask?"
"You seemed to be "gone", and I had to ask you two times before you replied," Cody stated. "Besides, we're almost there, so we better keep our eyes open."
Kid concentrated on their task, trying to forget about the headache and the temporary memory loss. But the closer they came to the Indian sacred grounds, the more uneasy did he feel, when they finally reached a warning post filled with sacred items to warn travellers from entering.
"Well, this is the last place to look," Cody stated. "And if Rosemary lied, than we'll probably find him here, angry as hell that we disturbed anything sacred." Cody urged his horse forward when Kid called him.
"Wait, Cody."
"What?"
"We should go in there."
"If we're gonna look for Buck that's the only way. What if he did meet Rosemary and she only winged him? If he's hurt, then we gotta find him. Come on, Kid, you don't usually hesitate?
Kid knew he wasn't the one to hesitate when a life might be at stake, but there was something telling him that he couldn't go on, forcing him to stay were he was. He tried to fight the unfamiliar feeling, but it refused to budge.
"You go on a head. I'll stay here and keep an eye out for trouble."
"If you say so," Cody said and shrugged before he continued.
Baruk cursed silently. There was something threatening in that area that they had called 'sacred'. A force stronger than his was residing there - a force similar to the one he had felt in the young Indian rider - but much stronger and with strong bonds to the land. He couldn't enter without giving up some of his strength and that upset him. Besides he had been forced to struggle his host's will for the first time and found the young man's soul and heart stronger than he had anticipated. He raged, as he was trapped inside the young man's body, trying to find any emotion he could use, but found none. This young man held no hatred nor had any selfish ambitions. Baruk fumed with anger until he found self-doubt and resentment over the killing. At least Baruk could use that - and he decided to use it the best way possible. When the rider named Cody came back and they had left this dangerous area, he would kill him.
Cody scanned the area as he urged his horse forward carefully avoiding the graves of Indian braves. The area scared him, but he was more concerned with finding Buck than anything else. "Come on, Buck, be here," he mumbled as his eyes scanned the landscape. But his friend was no where to be seen. To make sure he cupped his hands around his mouth and hollered, "Buck!" a couple of times. The name echoed against the side of the walls but there was no reply. An eerie feeling crept over Cody and suddenly he wished to be out of there and back at the station. With only a second's hesitation he turned his horse back. He would catch up with Buck and then it was best they headed home. They wouldn't find Buck.
The young man stirred in his sleep and White Feather moved closer to him, as Buck opened his eyes.
"I know," White Feather said slowly. "It's here. But it can't reach us - we are protected here."
Buck nodded when he thought he heard his name. I'm going crazy, he thought when he heard it again, and this time he recognized the caller.
"Cody," he gasped before turning to White Feather. "My friend is out there, he's in danger."
"There's nothing we can do," White Feather said slowly. "He's safe as long as he remains here, but when he leaves, he will be on his own."
"I have to warn him."
"You can't."
Buck stared at White Feather, only too aware that the old man was right. He closed his eyes.
"Be careful, Cody," he whispered.
It was with relief Kid saw Cody return.
"Any signs of him?" he asked.
Cody shook his head no. "Nothin'," he muttered. "We should head back."
Kid didn't reply but simply turned Katy around, towards Rock Creek. They rode in silence as they both contemplated the situation. Cody desperately wanted to voice his concerns but their was something about Kid that were different, that made him hesitant. He stared at Kid's back and got a nasty feeling that something was wrong and it made him uneasy.
"You're alright, Kid?" he asked and rode up next to his friend.
Kid turned to look at him. "I'm fine," he mumbled. "Why shouldn't I be?"
"Just thought with everything that had happened lately, and Lou acting strange..."
"What do you mean Lou acting strength?"
Cody almost fell backwards at the harsh tone in Kid's voice.
"It was you that were worried," Cody stated dumbfounded. Suddenly Kid grimaced and turned his head away.
"What's wrong?" Cody wanted to know.
"Nothin', just got a headache that's all," Kid said as he tried to fight the strange feeling inside him that seemed intent on being angry with Cody. He wasn't angry with Cody so why was there a voice inside his head, nagging him, telling him that Cody was in his way? He closed his eyes as he wiped his brow with his hand, as if it would help against the headache.
"You sure there ain't something wrong?" Cody asked again.
"Will you stop naggin' me!" Kid growled.
Cody shook his head. "You're in a bad mood today," he muttered and urged his horse forward, taking the lead.
"All you have to do is take your gun and shoot him. He won't even know what hit him." The nasty voice echoed in Kid's head, and refused to go away. I'm not shooting Cody, he thought to himself, I don't want to kill Cody. The voice seemed to grow louder and increased the headache. Finally Kid had enough.
"No!" he yelled, and urged Katy in to a gallop in an attempt to run away from the strange feeling and the craving to kill Cody.
"Kid!" Cody looked baffled at his friends and as soon as the first shock had settled his followed him.
Baruk fought the boy for power, smiling evilly as he knew he would win. The young man wouldn't be able to run from him. It was a long struggle, but it didn't take long until Baruk found Kid succumbing to his being.
"Yes," Kid whispered and held in Katy in order for Cody to come up alongside of him. As he waited he slowly drew his gun and hid it under his jacket.
"What the hell is the matter with you?" Cody asked angrily as he reached Kid.
Kid was just about to raise his gun, when Katy suddenly bucked and threw him to the ground. The fall stunned him and the gun rolled out of his hand. Cody was quickly by his side, collecting the gun, smiling.
"That was a neat trick," he said jokingly. "How did you make her do that?"
"Just help me up," Kid muttered. Cody reached out a hand and dragged him to his feet.
"My gun," Kid stated and reached out his hand. Cody threw a glance at it before handing it back.
"Doubt it will be any good," he said. You've got sand or something stuck on the barrel. It won't turn."
Kid looked disappointed at the gun and realized that Cody was right. His gun was useless until he could clean it. Reluctantly he replaced it.
"Let's continue," he said shortly and walked over to Katy. To his surprise, the horse skidded and stepped away from him. "Come on, Katy," he said, but the horse continued to walk away from him, eyeing nervously. Finally Kid gave up.
"I'll take your horse," he said and handed the reins of Katy over to Cody, who had been watching the scene with amusement.
"What makes you think she'll accept me?" Cody asked with surprise, knowing that Katy was one man's horse. But to his surprise Katy made no sudden movements as he approached her and he was allowed to mount up without trouble. He smiled at Kid.
"What did you do to her?" he asked, but Kid just stared at him and without a word mounted Cody's horse.
"Let's get home," Kid said and brusquely slammed his heels into the horse's side. And you were lucky this time, Cody, the vile voice inside him said. Next time you won't be so lucky.
