Sandy and Greg sat quietly, watching flames lick the wind, and listening to the crackle of logs settling, while Tracie and Lamar fought. They had been fighting all evening, both sure the other knew nothing about camping, and trying to one-up each other in every endeavor.
"Don't hold it that way," Lamar ordered, grabbing the stick out of Tracie's hand.
"Give me that stick, or so help me you'll regret it," Tracie snapped.
"Oh yeah? What are you gonna do?"
Tracie didn't answer, just politely stood, picked up her pack, walked over to Lamar, swung the pack and knocked him off the log he was sitting on.
Sandy and Greg couldn't help but burst out laughing. The look on Lamar's face right before the bag hit him was priceless. Their laughter died when Lamar jumped up and rushed Tracie, only stopping when they were nose to nose.
Greg stood, but Sandy held him back. "Wait," she whispered.
Lamar fumed, face red, fists clinched. Tracie didn't back down. She stood toe to toe with the enraged man, looking him dead in the eye.
The two stood, silently staring each other down, for what seemed hours, but was only five minutes, before Lamar smiled and planted a big, wet kiss on Tracie's lips. Tracie resisted at first, but soon melted against him.
Greg and Sandy decided to give the couple some privacy when things heated up to the point of pants and moans. They had just reached the edge of the campsite when a small bundle of energy jumped out at them.
"Well, well, what have we here," the newcomer said.
"What the hell?" Lamar, who was startled by Stacy's yelp, mumbled, barely subduing a laugh at sight of the little man.
"Are you laughing at me, Grouchy?" the little man asked, a sinister look on his face.
Tracie poked Lamar in the ribs. "He seems to know you," she joked.
"Shut up!" Lamar ordered Tracie, and then turned on the intruder. "What do you want?"
"That's not any way to talk to a lady," the little man told Lamar.
"I'll talk to her any damn way I please."
"Oh, I know, and she just lets you," the man replied, shaking his finger at Tracie as if to say shame on you.
"How do you know so much about us?" Stacy asked.
"I've been watching you."
"Watching us?" Greg echoed, unease settling on the group.
"Oh yes, you are a very entertaining bunch. The most entertaining in a while."
"You watch people all the time?" Tracie asked, disgust lacing her words. "What a despicable little man."
"The name is Grenwich," the stranger stated, offering his hand to Tracie.
Tracie snubbed his offer of friendship, opting to step behind Lamar instead. Greg had positioned himself in front of Stacy also, and both men squared off against Grenwich.
"I see," Grenwich said, noting their aggressive stance. "You wish to fight for the fair damsels," he added, brandishing a jewel encrusted dagger.
Before the four knew what was happening, Grenwich had rushed forward and stabbed Lamar through the stomach. He then twirled, and using Lamar's body as a footboard, jumped up and slashed Greg's throat. Stacy screamed, dropped to Greg's side, and tried to stem the flow of blood.
Tracie grabbed a nearby limb and charged Grenwich. Unfortunately, she wasn't fast enough. Grenwich moved out of the way and pushed Tracie into a large tree as she passed, using her own momentum against her. Tracie's neck snapped upon impact.
Stacy sat with Greg's lifeless body in her lap, unable to believe what she had just witnessed. Tears cascaded down her cheeks, and fear filled her eyes as she looked at Grenwich standing over Tracie.
Grenwich turned toward Stacy, smiled and saluted, then said, "Now it's just you and me, my dear."
"Are you going to kill me too now," Stacy asked.
"Oh, no, my dear. I never intended to kill you," Grenwich assured her.
"What are you going to do then? Let me go," she asked hopefully.
"Now that wouldn't work very well, would it," Grenwich said, tisk tisking her. "No, I have special plans for you," he added, coming to her side and stroking her hair.
Stacy drew away from his hand, struggling to get up. "Stay away," she ordered, pushing back along the ground.
"That's not any way to be," Grenwich said, frowning. "Soon you'll come to enjoy my touch," he added, licking his lips.
"Never!" Stacy yelled vehemently. "I'll get away from you. You can't keep watch me all the time."
"I won't have to," Grenwich told her, waving his arm in a circular motion.
Stacy was dumbfounded when a white light filled the forest, leaving a door standing beside Grenwich. The little man opened the door and gestured her forward.
"No," Stacy stammered, turning to run.
Grenwich zipped past her, blocking her path. Every way she turned, he was there, forcing her slowly backward toward the door.
When her back hit the door, Stacy froze. "Please," she begged. "Leave me alone!"
"I'm afraid not, pretty lady," Grenwich replied, pushing hard against her middle, knocking her through the door.
Grenwich then stepped through the door and closed it, cutting off Stacy's scream and her last glimpse of the world as she knew it.