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by Goddess Rip
Mary ran, screaming, through the woods. She was the first of many to come to this gathering place. She was the first to come the cabin, the first of many to arrive for the weekend of a life time. She barely had time to unpack, when this presence came to her from the back of the cabin. She had barely enough time to set her back pack down, when the maddening creature came to her with a bloody hatchet. Mary was running, now, back pack still attached to her body. She ran, who knows how long, how far, until she tripped on an up rooted tree. Her clothes and things scattered everywhere, as she struggled to get back to her feet. The cackle of the woman's voice still plagued her ears, as she started to run once again.
Mary wasn't sure if the woman was chasing her, nor did she take the chance to find out. She wanted to find the road, wanted to find help, wanted to live. Out of breath and sore legged, Mary broke through the trees, and found the old country road. She stopped to catch her breath, and bent down to rub the charlie horse from her calf. Suddenly, she heard a twig break behind her. She jumped back and faced the noise, as she walked, backwards, onto the road. A small animal appeared in front of her, and ran past, as it crossed the pavement. Mary laughed at herself, as she felt her heart pound. "Maybe she was killing something for supper. She must be on of us. Yeah, the one I was to help before the others get here." Mary told herself, as she walked back into the woods, and strolled towards the cabin. She felt silly, and embarrassed, as she gained her breath back. She readjusted her back pack, and tried to clear the choking feeling from her throat. It was getting cool, and sweating from the run, made her even more cold. Another twig cracked, from the distance, but Mary paid no attention, until it was too late.
Rip had been driving all day, picking up a bride here and a sister there. Her new Saturn van was really getting its workout, since she headed out Wednesday, to get this Undertaker/Kane weekend going. Chris and Sonje had helped out, quite a bit, since they first thought of the idea. Sonje came to the U. S., from Australia, and helped get the cabin cleaned up for their big weekend. She had gone ahead to fix up the place and have a meal ready for the others, as Chris and Rip gathered the girls. Mary agreed to go straight to the cabin and meet Sonje there, though she never met her before. Chris housed the girls, not from the U. S., as Rip gathered the others from the airport. Some arrived a few days early, others waited until the last minute, but now all were together. They were packed into the van, Rip drove, and Chris held a map, as she sat in the passenger seat. Athena sat behind Chris and read to everyone, who listened, an article on Taker and Kane's strange disappearance from the WWF. Of course the article was bull, for the girls knew where they really were. Iris sat next to Athena, as she drew out plans for their activities once they got to the cabin. Gabrielle and Agatha sat in the same seat and conversed back and forth, about their abilities with their supernatural gifts. Lauruna and Prudhoe chatted about their awful plane ride to the Atlanta Airport, as they sat behind them. Arianna and Joanna quietly sat next to them, as they listened the Athena's reading. Angel and Evie sat in the very back of the van, and happily slept, not concerned about the buzzing noises of the other passengers.
The music played, moderately, out from the speakers. Rip knew not everyone liked her taste in music, so she made sure she didn't disturb the other ladies. She and Chris hummed along, as they concentrated on their task at hand. Every so often, Chris would tell Rip where to turn, since she had the road map. Rip would look around for traffic, and then turn, from road to road. She hoped they wouldn't get lost, and hoped the men could find this place. She didn't really know how it happened, but it just lucked out that their two most favorite wrestlers wanted to meet their female fans. Everything was legitimate, and papers were signed, but it was all still so unreal. Never in Rip's wildest dreams, did she think she would meet her web friends, as well as, meet Taker and Kane.
Rip made a final turn, as Chris told her it was the road to the were cabin would be. She was relieved because she had to pee for over an hour, and had to call a certain person's cell phone to see if they were traveling in the same direction. "Okay, ladies, we're about a mile to the cabin, so you need to get yourselves ready. Put your shoes on, get your things, and Wakey Wakey!" Rip told the ones in the back, as she turned off the music. She laughed as they all sang in unison, "NAG, NAG, NAG!" "Sorry, just wanted to let you know, is all."
Everyone climbed out of the van, giggling and chatting about, as they grabbed their suitcases. Rip walked on, ahead, as she dug in her pockets for Lisa's cell phone number. She hoped that her and her sister Debbie had picked up their honored guests, and was on their way to the cabin. Rip had left the sisters at the air port, to meet the men, and gave them a drawn out map to their destination. Just as she walked into the door, she found the number. "Hello, Sonje!" She called out as she headed to the telephone, "We're hear!"
Rip heard no reply and thought her friend might be out back, with the bar-b-que. She picked up the receiver, and dialed the number. She hoped it would pick up the line, if not, then that ment they weren't close to the area yet. Chris lead everyone else in and showed them to their rooms. Rip had no luck with the phone call, and hung up, "Sonje?" She called out, as she walked through the house. She peered out the back door and found her friend coming up from the grill. Rip opened the door and stepped out onto the deck. "Hey, Rip!" Sonje yelled, as she walked up the steps. The girls hugged, and went back inside. "Mary hasn't come yet, has she?" Rip asked, as she grabbed a carrot, from the counter and began to munch on it. "Well, the funniest thing happened, Rip. I heard a noise and came to the front room. I saw this girl standing there, and I must have frightened her, cause she had this startled look in on her face. Next thing I knew she took off." Sonje explained, as she began to chop up some vegetables. "And?" Rip asked her to continue. "Well, I tried to go after her of course, but she was to fast, so I said the hell with it and came back." Rip nodded at her friends reasoning, while picking bits of carrot from her teeth, with her tongue. "If it was Mary, then I'm sure she'll be back. That is if she didn't get lost, or something ate her." Sonje chuckled, evilly, as Rip huffed a laugh. Rip slapped her friend's shoulder and drug her into the front room, so all the girls could get to know each other.
Debbie looked at her watch, and tapped her foot, restlessly. Her and Lisa had been waiting for over an hour for Taker and Kane's plane to land. Her sister had gone to get some snacks and sat down next to her. "Nuts?" Lisa asked, as she waved the package of honey roosted peanuts in Debbie's face. "I'm not nuts!" Debbie gasped, then grabbed the small bag. "I wish they hurry up and get here." Lisa mumbled, as she opened her soda. "I hope this isn't a prank. Do you have the number for the cabin?" Debbie asked her sister, as she took a sip of Lisa's soda. "I have it in my purse, somewhere." Just as Lisa was looking in her purse, their was an announcement, of a plane landing, on the speakers.
The girls got to their feet and watched the doors, as passengers began walking from the plane to the building. "Do you see them?" Lisa asked. "No, but from the looks of people, I'd say we could spot 'em from a mile away." Debbie told her sister, as she craned her neck to get a better look at the door. "What's that suppose to mean?" Lisa asked, frowning at her sister. "These people are shorter than shrimp!" The girls burst out laughing, until two large men come into their view. "Oy, boys! Over here!" Debbie called, as Lisa whistled. The men looked in their direction and smiled. They knew the girls were their ride to their weekend get-a-way, and walked towards them. "Which one of you is Rip?" Taker asked, as he put out his hand to them. "Uh... neither, Rip had to pick up the other girls, so we are your ride. I'm Debbie, and this is my sister Lisa." "Hello." Lisa smiled, as she looked starry eyed in Kane's direction. "We got proof, if you need it?" Debbie told them, while getting out her ID and a piece of paper. She showed it to the men, and all were soon off to pick up the mens' bags.
An hour later, the girls and their fellow passengers found themselves stuck in a traffic jam. "Cripes!" Lisa yelled, as she shook her cell phone. "What's the matter?" Debbie asked her, as she slowly drove the car up and stopped with the traffic. "The bloody phone still won't work! Rip's gona kill us for not calling before we left the airport." Debbie shook her head, "NAH, she seems pretty easy going, I'm sure she knows we're on our way. Once we get off this road, we'll go to a gas station and give her a ring." "How close are we to this cabin?" Taker asked, as he pulled a small black box from his jean pocket. "Close enough for me phone to work, about three miles. At least the that's what the map says." Lisa followed the trail with her finger, trying to see if there was a back road to get onto. "What's the number?" Taker asked, as he opened the box up. "Got a phone?! Cool!" Lisa piped up, as she handed him the number. "Wow, that's a small, isn't it?"
Taker smiled and dialed the number. He heard three rings, before someone answered. "Hello?" An female voice asked. "Yes, Would it be possible to speak to a Miss Rip?" Taker asked, as his tongue roamed his teeth and jaw. "This is she, Mr. Undertaker?" Rip questioned, almost not believing it would be him. "Yes, this is Taker. Listen, we have a bit of bad news. We're in the car, but in a traffic jam." Taker told her, as his eyes wandered the highway. "Okay, where exactly are you?" Rip asked him. Taker covered the receiver and asked the girls, in the front seat if they knew. Once they told him, Taker repeated the message, "We're on the 405. A mile passed Junction road." Rip told him to hold while she looked at her map, then quickly returned. "Okay, tell Debbie to get off on Jefferson, it should be the next turn off. Then tell her to go straight until she gets to Melbourne, the turn left." Taker repeated the direction to the girls, as Debbie watch her driving, and Lisa marked the trail in the map. "Once you drive over the bridge and turn right, you should be back in the 405." Rip finished telling him the directions, as Debbie found the turn off. Taker said his good byes, and Rip told him they will keep their dinner warm. Soon, both hung up their phones.
Rip hung up the phone, as the girls began to grow quiet, and look at her. "They had to take a new rout. Wreck or something." Agatha smiled, as she stood up from her chair, "They'll make it. I know they will." She hugged Rip, as the others started over to the dinner table. The table was filled with all kinds of food, both healthy and not so healthy, but all favorites of the young ladies. There were vegetarian meals for the vegetarians, and bar-b-que for the carnivores, as Rip gladly called herself. Burgers, stake, chops, and chicken, which Sonje claimed to have killed herself, wine, beer, cokes, and desserts, which Chris had made and put on ice until this night. Everyone was hungry, and cared nothing more than to start eating.
Rip, staid standing, at the front of the table, and raised her glass. "For someone who doesn't talk very much, I'm going to start right now. So please bare with me." The others laughed as they knew better, and happily waited for Rip to speak. She cleared her throat, and looked at her friends gathered around the table. "To happiness, dreams, friends, and men. Especially the MEN!" Everyone toasted each other, as they repeated Rip's words, and began to eat.
While the ladies ate their supper, Gabrielle began to feel a twinge of concern. She couldn't place her fear, but knew it was something very dark. Being telepathic, Gabie was use to hearing other peoples thoughts, no matter how brief, or lengthy, of the other person's mind. She scanned the other girls, as she ate. One by one, she read so many things; Rip was worried about Mary and the ones in the car, who had to take the long way to get to the cabin, Chris was nervous about meeting the Undertaker, Iris was hoping that others were able to understand her English, and so on, until... Until her eyes went to Sonje. Gabie didn't know Sonje all that well, only that she was Rip's and Chris' friend and a fellow sister. But as she tried to read Sonje's mind, the young Aussie turned a sharp look at her.
Before everyone knew it, Gabie was out cold. Athena jumped up, quickly, and helped Gabie to her feet. Laruna and Prudhoe helped carry her to her bedroom, as the others made a path for them. "What's wrong with her?" Evie asked, repeatedly, as Rip tried to calm everyone down. "She must be exhausted, the poor thing. You all must be." Sonje replied, as she somberly drank her wine. Joanna ran to the adjoining bathroom, of her and Gabie's room, and got a cool washcloth. "Here, put this on her." She quickly said to Athena. Athena applied the damp cloth to Gabie's forehead, "There, there, it'll be all right." "Why don't we let her rest, and finish eating. I'm sure we are all tired from the travel. Some of us just handle it differently." Rip told the worried women, as she tried to get them to come back to the dinning room. One by one, each lady went back to their seats.
Everyone soon began to eat, quieter than before, and listened for any sign of Gabrielle's conciseness. Arianna seemed to have lost her appetite, and just drank her wine. She couldn't stop looking into Gabrielle's room. "She seemed so strong, and so alive." She thought to herself. It was strange for her to see someone just pass out, all of a sudden, "But maybe Rip was right and people do handle fatigue differently." She turned to the other girls, and smiled, as she tried to eat. Angel sat next to her, knowing how Arianna felt, she smiled back, and briefly touched her hand. "It'll be all right. She'll be fine." Angel told her. Chris gave a sigh, and asked, "Where is Mary" Shouldn't she have come here by now?" Rip drank her last sip of coke, and wiped her mouth, "Sonje said she was here, but she frightened her away." She stopped to laugh, "But it is getting late and I do think we need to find her." "Which way did she go, Sonje?" Iris asked, looking at her with great concern.
All eyes turned to the red head, as she got up from the table. "She went through the woods. Um.. toward the road, I think." Sonje turned around and walked into the kitchen. "Maybe we should split up and go look for her?" Laruna asked, as she stood up and began to take her plate to the kitchen. "Well, she might have gotten to that corner store, that's a mile down the road. She'll either be back, or get a ride home." Sonje told her, as she grabbed Laruna's plate from her hand. Soon, the other young women gave Sonje their plates, and went to sit in the front room. Chris helped her with the dishes, as Rip went out side to see if their was any sign of Lisa and Debbie's car, or Mary. But the only thing she saw was the sun setting, the leaves falling from the trees, and her deep purple van. "They'll be here soon, won't they?" Prudhoe asked her from behind. Rip jumped and smiled as she nodded, "Yeah, maybe in another hour or so."
Evie sat on the floor, next to Angel and Arianna, on the couch. "I can't wait until they get here. It's like a dream come true, almost unreal!" She smiled up at them. Angel grinned down and giggled, "It's like, so unreal, just hope Gabie gets better soon. If she misses them coming in, she won't be to happy." "I know, I hope she doesn't have the flue or anything. I catch cold easily." Arianna tried to chuckle her nervousness away. The three girls talked amongst themselves, quietly, as Athena went to check on their fellow sister. Gabrielle still slept soundly, as Athena recooled her washcloth. She sat on the edge of the bed, and held her friend's hand, as she waited to see if she would awaken soon.
"She's still out?" Joanna whispered, as she put her hand on Athena's shoulder. "Yes, I wonder why she went out so quick? Not like her." Athena replied, giving the young lady one more look before leaving the room. "Well, maybe she'll wake up when the men get here." Joanna assured Athena, as she shut the door and walked into the front room. Agatha, had followed Prudhoe and Rip outside, as Laruna made room, on another couch, for Athena and Joanna. "You'd think they get cold out their." Laruna remarked, as she sipped her drink. Iris sat in a chair, next to them, and smiled, "Maybe their wine will keep them warm?" "Rip, didn't drink wine, though." Athena remembered, as she looked out the big picture window. Rip only had on a thick gray sweatshirt and jeans, as she stood out in the cool night air. The other girls had their jackets on, and Athena decided to take Rip hers.
Athena went into Rip's bedroom, and picked up her jacket. As she did, Athena heard something drop to the floor. She bent down and picked up the object. Athena examined the piece, as she headed for the front door. She quietly stepped outside and walked towards, the girls, "Rip, I think you need this." Rip gave Athena a smile, as she put her jacket on, "Thanks, mom!" The girls laugh, as Athena blushes, "Well, I hate to see people cold, when they don't have to be. By the way, this dropped out of your pocket." Athena handed Rip the object, as she zipped up her jacket. Rip took the object from her, and looked at it with curiosity. The strange object was a necklace, a strange symbol with three stones, one green, and two blue. Rip looked at the necklace, and cocked her head. A brief memory came, of Sonje giving her and Chris look-a-like necklaces, when she came over on her first visit. "Thanks, Athena, I wondered where I put it."
"Gabrielle, Gabrielle... you must wake up, now. Wake up and remember nothing of what has happened." A voice whispered into Gabie's ear, as her eyes slowly opened. She found herself lying in a dark room, confused as to what had happened to her. One minute, she was eating, the next minute she was in here? She slowly sat up, and listened for anything in the darkness. "Hello?" She asked out into the dark, but no one answered her. She did hear, however, muffled voices out side of the dark place. She then realized she was in her bedroom, at the cabin. She put her feet on the floor and felt for the light switch, on the lamp, next to her bed. At first, the light was harsh to her vision, as her head began to pound. She blindly found her way to her night bag, and found some headache pills. She then made her way to the bathroom, and got a glass of water.
She started to leave the bathroom, and suddenly looked at her reflection, in the mirror. "No, this would never do." Gabie told herself, and found her hair brush. She washed her face and brushed her hair, then put her shoes on, before leaving her room. She was never a vain person, just believed in looking presentable to others, when it called for it. She smoothed her dress down, and opened the door. She noticed right away, that her friends were gathered in the front room, as she made her way down the hall. "Ello, hon, how are you feeling?" A voice popped up from out of nowhere, which made Gabrielle jump. She turned around and saw Sonje's smiling face staring back at her. "I'm.. I'm fine, thank you." Gabie answered her, as she clutched the neckline of her dress. "Oh, I'm glad. Sorry I frightened you. Here, I made you some tea." Sonje said, as she handed Gabie the cup. "Thank you." Gabie replied, as she took it. Sonje smiled, sweetly, as she watched Gabrielle take a good, long sip of the hot liquid. Sonje, then took hold of Gabie's arm and lead her down the hall, to the front of the cabin.
Just as the two young ladies entered the room, Rip had opened the door. Debbie and Lisa, with their bags, came hobbling into the cabin. The other ladies slowly stood up, as they waited in anticipation. Soon, the Undertaker and Kane, with their suitcases, came in with huge smiles on their faces, as if glad to finally make it. Everyone, seemed to fall in line, as they were introduced, one by one, to their most honored guests. Rip and Chris showed the last four people to their room, and let them settle in, then lead them to the dinning room. The other girls staid in the front room, while Debbie, Lisa, Taker, and Kane ate their dinner. Every so often, one girl would check in on them, and see if they needed anything, just to make sure they weren't dreaming. The men enjoyed the attention, as they ate, and admired Sonje's home cooking and bar-b-que.
Everyone seemed to be getting more relaxed, as the night grew darker, and colder, outside. Agatha watched Rip, as she would peer out the window, and make a path to the phone. She watched Rip, for several minutes, feeling like something wasn't right. The whole time they were in the van, Rip acted as happy, and as excited as the others, about the trip. But now, she seemed anxious, worried. This Mary she spoke of, the one who was supposed to be here already, never showed her face. Well, she never came back from being frightened off. Agatha got up from her seat, and walked up to Rip, by the window. "Rip, maybe we should go look for her." Agatha said, as she placed her hand on Rip's shoulder. As Rip turned to look into Agatha's eyes, Agatha began to have one of her visions. She gazed into Rip's deep blue eyes, and found the most horrid of visions. *A flash of a tree, a thick piece of rope, and a shadow of a swinging body.*
Agatha jumped back, as her vision quickly faded. She had visions of future events, off and on, through out her life. Some came true, other partly true, and others not at all. But this vision seemed real! Just before she could say a word, Sonje had tapped her on the shoulder, and offered her a cup of hot tea. Agatha smiled, nervously at her, as Sonje directed her away from Rip, and blindly drank the tea. Rip turned hypnotically back to the window. She still had her jacket on and zipped up, though the cabin was well heated. Suddenly, Iris' reflection in the window, caught her eye. Rip turned to her and smiled, then turned back. "Rip, don't you think you should take your jacket off? It's pretty warm in here, and I don't want you to get sick." Iris smiled, as she cupped her hands behind her back. "I'm fine. I'm just thinking we need to go find Mary." Rip replied, then gave a sigh. "Well, let me get my coat, and I'll go with you." Iris smiled. Rip nodded, quietly, and adjusted her zipper. "I want to go to." Athena said, as she walked up to Rip, while Iris went to get her coat.
"Are there any flash lights in the cabin?" Athena, asked, as she put on her coat. "I think there's one in the kitchen. I've got one in my van." Rip replied, slowly, as if deep in thought. "I'll go get mine." Athena nodded, as she head to the kitchen, and spoke over her shoulder, "We may need them." Iris put her jacket on, and zipped it up, as she followed Rip out the door. Taker had heard the small concerning chatter and gave Sonje a knowing look, "One of you missing, eh?" Sonje grinned back at him and nodded, "Yes, I kinda scared her off, today." "Well, maybe we should look for her?" He told her. "Well, I wouldn't really worry, she could have made it to a local store, down the road." She replied, as she began to pick up Taker's plate. Taker took hold of Sonje's wrist, "You don't seem to worried, like your friends." Sonje shot him a look, then smiled, "I'm sure she's hanging around some where." Taker let go of the young ladies wrist, and wiped his mouth. Sonje took up all the plates and headed into the kitchen.
Sonje caught Athena rummaging through the cabinets, as she put the dishes in the sink. "What are you looking for?" She asked. Athena looked up and smiled at the sweet little Aussie, "A flashlight. We're going to look for Mary." Sonje looked around the kitchen, then back at the pretty red head. "I think I heard Rip say she had one in her van. I had looked for the flashlight, earlier, just in case the power went out. But I never found it." Athena blinked at her cute little friend and nodded her head. "I guess one flash light would be enough. Thank you Sonje." Athena brushed her hand on Sonje's arm and left the room. She met Agatha at the door, as she zipped up her coat. "May I go with you girls? That tea Sonje gave me made me a little too warm." Agatha told her, as she chuckled. Athena smiled, "Sure, the more the marrier."
Agatha and Athena met Iris and Rip, outside, near the van. "Are you all right, Agatha? You look flushed." Rip said, as she pushed the button on her flashlight. "I'm just warm from the tea. I'll be fine, just want to help find Mary." Agatha smiled, weakly, as she folded her arms to her torso. Rip gave her a concerning look, then lead the girls in the direction Sonje had pointed out earlier. "I hope she made it somewhere safe." Athena said, with fogy breath, "Goddess knows what's out here." Iris gave her a frightened glance, then turned to Rip, "Are there bears and snakes around here?" Rip almost laughed, but only smiled, "No, sweets, bears don't live in this area. Snakes, yes, deer, yes, but I don't think wild meat eating animals live out here. If they do, I'm sure the forest rangers watch out for them. You can block a bear, or a wild cat, but as for snakes, just keep your eyes open." Iris shuddered at the thought of finding a snake out in the dark, and wished she had her dog with her. She walked closer to Rip, and the flashlight, as she watched the ground with wide eyes. Athena and Agatha strolled on the other side of Rip, watching the lighted trail.