Chapter Three

As Jackson headed inside he heard barking. Cujo was at the door as he came in whining and licking him all over. "Oh stop being such a worry wart you big baby." As he  walked to the kitchen he noticed that the two strange men he had been with, were no longer with him at all. In fact, when he went outside to find them, thinking they may be by the dead body of the creature he had killed, he didn't even find the body. "Okay. I'm officially a little creeped." He headed back inside for his Coke and rum mix, he didn't even care that it was two in the afternoon. When Cujo gave him a look that said, isn't it early, he just said, "Hey, it's five o'clock somewhere" before downing the rest of glass two.
He slid out another Smooth cigarrette as he found his way to the couch. Sliding into the comfortable cushions, not even getting the chance to turn the T.V. on before he passed out.

He was dreaming. He had to be dreaming. There was no way that a giant eagle was giving him a ride on its back. No that's not right. It is Eatlon. He did not stop to even think of how he knew that. He watched as the montain city came into view. He was finally home. After all of these years. He smiled and did not care to wipe the one solitary tear that fell from his eye. As he looked down on the long forgotten city beneath the sea he could hear crowds of people cheering his return. But as quick as came.
Jackson awoke with a start. Cujo was barking at him, ringing his bell by the door. "Oh come on man really?" He groaned as he got out of his seat to get the leash. "Alright let's go." As he clicked the leash into place and opened the door for the excited puppy.
The dog did its business as Jackson bundled himself up a little more to protect himself from the chill night as he watched Cujo walked to the car. "Where are you going?" He watched him walk to the car and bark at the door. "Cuj' we're not going anywhere for the next. . . Oh shit." He thankfully had his keys in his jacket when he had check the time and noticed it was 9:00 p.m. and he was late.
He opened the door and let Cujo take his backseat place and sped out of the parking lot a little to fast. Thankfully it only took him five minutes to get to the bus station, along the way noticing he had not only missed a phone call from his aunt but also from Jocelyn and Grace. "Bud we are in so much trouble." Cujo whined and laid his head down. "Yeah I know."
He pulled into the vacant lot and kept the car running. He sat on the hood and looked around, not seeing any signs of life. He sighed and prayed the girl had not taken a cab since she probably had no money and expected Jack to pay for it for being late. He pulled out a smoke and decided to wait a little longer but he was lucky because she came walking out. She had a backpack over her pink winter coat, a messenger bag across her shoulder with flowers on it and a look that could kill.
"I thought you quit smoking." He flinched, remembering he had just lit one.
"I uh. . ."
"Don't bother lying to me Jackie, you know I won't take it. You said, you said. . ."
"I know I know I know, but it was a hard day and. . . I'll get it in the car."
It was a quiet ride back to the apartment, even the dog was quiet. Although, he was quiet because Jocelyn was rubbing him behind his ear. Traitor, was all Jackson could think. When they finally pulled up, she did not even wait for Jack to turn and try to apologize, she grabbed her bags by her feet went for the door. Jack followed behind quickly hoping to make this better but as he got to the door he could tell something as wrong.
"Joce."
"Yeah?"
"Get behind me." She did without saying another word. The apartment was a mess, it was obvious someone, not some thing had been in here, and he did not want his little cousin finding out what.