"Seriously what the hell was that?" George asked after he heard a sound.

"Maybe it was a rabbit or a squirrel." Todd suggested.

"Yeah right. We've been walking for hours and spotted nothing but birds, then suddenly a freaking rabbit springs up from fallen leaves. Oh, the magic of summer's end." George mocked.

"George I'm not a zoologist so I have no idea what that sound was and I don't care. What I do care about is the 'Michael' your father mentioned a while ago and how that name is related to Mary. While you're too busy trying to figure out some stupid sound, I'm trying to understand the shit my big brother has got locked up in his heart. I mean I don't know the man. Not anymore."

"I'm sorry Todd and trust me I know exactly how you feel. I was in that same place a few months ago. Dad's changed and it all started after Mary came into our lives. For everyone it was just the intrusion of a poor crazy girl on our summer vacation but for dad, it was like he'd met with a nightmare. That's the only reason I'm here Todd. I'm desperate to find out how Mary's that nightmare. I don't trust him anymore."

"But he's your father, George!"

"And he's your brother! If you ask me we're both on the same boat so it's time we act that way. Sure, Mary's worth fighting over but if we're to protect her, we've got to be a team like we always have." George said with a smile.

"You're right bro and hey, I'm really sorry about earlier. I kind of lost it for a minute. You figured your dad out and instead of being crippled by fear you're keen on discovering his secret. You're no kid, you're a man." Todd smiled back while he tapped his nephew's shoulders in dependence and confidence.

Mary stood still like a deer would at the sight of headlights.

She hoped desperately that they had not heard her but she knew that wish was merely a pipe dream.

"Damn twig! Damn boots!" she cursed.

She was far away from them. She was sure she could continue her mission undetected.

Mary took a peek at the Beckham boys.
Richard stood still as he was. Lost in awe of a wonder only he knew.

George tugged on Todd's clothing and they both whispered to each other.

"Seems they noticed. No. Maybe they didn't. I've got to get close." Mary thought.

She pranced as carefully as she could towards an old oak tree a few feet from where the Beckham boys stood.

Just a step away from the oak's large trunk, a rock hidden by a pile of fallen leaves, stood in the way.

Mary's hasty strides came to an abrupt pause.

She tripped and while she was caught up in trying to regain her balance, gravity threw its works of woe at her. Mary fell forward and like a bat to a baseball, her face slammed against the huge trunk.

A loud thud followed which echoed in the forest.

"Not again." Mary cried while she pressed her palms against her forehead.

Invisible needles by their thousands scratched her head over and over. Her skin burnt and a light touch sent flames across every inch of her skull. She was in pain.

Mary was too hurt to move. A bad headache followed the pain.

She had to take a break.

Her legs gave way and she sat behind the trunk while she took in long deep breaths, hoping the pain will roll away with the wind.

While being swept up by pride, George was in the midst of painting the moment of his uncle's proclaimed trust in the canvas of his mind when he heard another sound. It was a lot louder this time. George's eyes met with Todd's.

"Oh I heard that one." Todd said after his ears caught the loud thud that echoed in the forest a few seconds ago.

"I'm gonna go check it out." George said while his heart tried to adjust to the new phase of nobility and bravery his uncle had begun to see in him.

"Leave your bag here. Wait a minute." Todd said.

He took George's bag pack off his shoulders and began to scan its contents like a cop would. Todd took out an object and handed it to George.

"An axe? Really? I might be brave but I'm not a murderer." George told his uncle.

"We may be humans but we're really just a higher class of animals George. The tendency to kill is in our blood. We just need some form of danger to trigger it."

"Instagram? Yeah that's in my blood. Facebook? Sure! Twitter, Tiktok, Snapchat? Hell yeah, they're in my blood. Hacking or stealing a candy bar off a counter? Certainly in my blood. Murder? Hell no! If I sense danger? Let's say a gun barrel is pointed at my head, like every normal human, I'd scream, pee in my pants and beg for my life." George explained.

His sweaty palms caressed the axe Todd had given him earlier.

Todd laughed so loud Richard turned his neck slightly but thankfully he remained in the same spot.

"What are you ladies chatting about? This isn't the time to bicker on! It's the time to spread your arms wide and joy in the moment..." Richard continued, completely drunk on the excitement that had engulfed him.

"He's really obsessed with whatever's in that cabin. It seems my brother has more secrets than I imagined. We're going to find out what his secrets are but first you've got to embrace your animal instincts." Todd told George in a whisper.

"Fuck you Todd." George cursed while he took cautious steps towards the trunk of an oak tree nearby.

George's legs had begun to sweat. Endless streams of salty water bath the erect hairs on his skin as fear scuttled his veins with every step he took.

"Shit! Shit! Shit!" He muttered as he got closer to the tree.

A cold wind howled across his face and at that brief minute he sighted a black wave of fur behind the tree.

The piece of fur sat on something. A head.

The head moved.

George's heart skipped a beat and increased its pace like galloping horses would at the sight of a wild cat.

"Fuck! Fuck! Shit! Shit! Fuck!!!" George's whisper became a forceful yell as he swung the axe the moment he was a step ahead of the oak tree's trunk.

His eyes were closed while he swung the object to and fro. After a few seconds less than fifteen he heard a squeal.

George paused.

His hands began to fondle the axe. His fingers strolled down the handle and met with the blade. It seemed wet.

The warmth of a liquid rolled over his fingernails and soon stained his fingers and palms by drops and swipes.

George brought his fingers close to his nose.

A gentle whiff of iron carried by the wind rode through his brain. He took in a deep breath and in a few minutes, his neurons interpreted his nasal observation and spoke one word which he blurted out in a whisper.

"Blood!"

George opened his eyes immediately the word crept out of his mouth.

Sun rays blinded his eyes for a while but after the dances of golden on his eyelids, he blinked twice and the scene before him became clear as day.

He looked down at the axe head. He was right. Blood like art painted the almost grey metal. George's heart began to pace even faster. His ears went dumb to the tweets of birds and the rustles of loose leaves on branches were mute.

He turned his head to the source of a fading groan. His pants were made wet by a drop of urine and a dark ring had begun to build under the arms of his T-shirt.

"It's just a rabbit." George's thought replayed Todd's words.

"A fucking huge rabbit." George's thoughts made quiet complaint in attempt to comfort his mistake.

Tears by drops hung on his eyelids and his hands lost all strength. The axe he held dropped on a pile of leaves which the wind carried.

While brown, green, maroon and yellow danced with the breeze, George bit his lips and a second later he uttered the only word he knew how to in moments of confusion.

"Fuck!"