short story-BEWITCHED TED-BY CHERYL V.

CHERYL VERBEKE
4977 MEISNER
EAST CHINA TWP.,
MI 48054
EMAIL-cherbear1950
@yahoo.com



BEWITCHED TED


CHAPTER I


PROLOGUE

Mike, has had a hunting friend, Ted, a real health nut, for some time. And, since, Ted jus loved hunting a lot during the hunting season; he decided to move to Metamora, Michigan. And jus because Ted has had a few friends, which he, accidentally, shot dead, a few times while hunting which friend’s death has been causing him, all these nightmares

Ted happened to find out from some geographical program which he loves to watch at night, that Metamora is a great city which has plenty of woods in which to go hunting. Also, through the geographical program, he learned that there are plenty of deer as well as turkeys, which, always, seem to hang out in these woods in Metamora.

Ted went from city living to country living, mostly, because he wanted to give country living, a tryout, since, he is used to living in the city all of his life. And this big house, into which he moved, looks jus like a mansion from the outside. The first floor has these huge pink
Pillars which stand out against the pink walls and circular staircase.

Dressed in fatigues and a camouflage hat, this young man, Mike, jus arrived in Metamora, Michigan after traveling for a number of hours. He came there from Ypsilanti which has been quite a trip for him jus to meet his friend, Ted, at his house to go hunting with him.

Jus as Mike hopped out of his car, he’s in deep thought, “Boy, through those photos, which Ted sent me of his new house, I never dreamed, though, that his house, actually, was so big. And I jus can’t wait to see what it’s like inside being I’ve never been to his new house before.”

Then, jus as Mike walked into to Ted’s backyard he said to himself, “Boy, these woods in back of his house seem to go on for endless miles, and are bigger than any other woods, I’ve been through before. Ted’s backyard is beautiful, and seems to cover quite a lot of acres, here.”

Then, as Mike eyed the front yard, he said to himself, “Boy, look at these woods in the front; they appears to be so square like if the Lord, got a guardian angel to carve it so perfect for Ted. Also, that long driveway makes my red Cadillac stand out. And that enormous front yard of Ted’s with all those trees makes all those hills on the street, appear to fit right in with his house and all these woods across the street.”

Mike is eager to go deer hunting with Ted in these enormous woods in back of Ted’s house. However, he, first, wanted to check out Ted’s big and beautiful front yard. As he approached the front of the house, he’s surprised at how beautiful the front door looks being its half stained glass which to him makes the house appear even more beautiful.

Mike thought while walking around Ted’s front yard, “Hey, this stained glass is reaching out to me with loving hands. And that pink porch with its two pink pillars seems, as though, it is staring right at me, like if it has these huge eyes.”

As Mike is through walking around on the grass, he has felt, he’s seen enough for now; that there’s plenty to see around here. So, he, then, said to himself.

“In some way, this loving house is trying to engulf my world like if I’m being surrounded by high society. This makes me; feel, as though, I should, only, enter it with the grace of a millionaire. And this house of Ted’s is acting, unusually, friendly to me. Its love can’t, possibly, match the love, which Ted and I have for hunting.”

Jus as Mike arrived at the front door, he’s, almost, afraid to ring the doorbell because he jus didn’t feel right to enter such an expensive place.

But he, finally, gathered enough courage inside, and, very tenderly, rang the doorbell. As he did, he could hear Ted’s dogs, barking, which shrill barking tended to scare him for a minute?

However, as Ted answered his front door after peeking through the eye hole of the door to see who’s there, he said to his dogs.

“Hey, get away from this door, Sparky and Choo Choo. You know darn well who’s at the door. So, if you dogs don’t go mind your manners, neither of you will get a milk bone. Okay, you two jus lay by the couch and pout. It’s not going to get you two dogs, a treat.”

“Your dogs are acting, as though, neither of them remembers me. However, I know darn well, that they do.”

‘Oh, those dogs of mine. They’ve been something else, since, I’ve moved into this house. They tend to walk around like if this house is being spooked. These dogs should be used to their new surroundings by now.”

“Is it alright if I come inside now? For a minute, there, you were giving me, the feeling, like if you forgot about me being here at the door.”

“C’mon right inside. And make yourself at home. It might feel strange in here at first. However you’ll get used to it. By the way, you didn’t forget your hunting gear, this time, did you?”

“Oh no, I took my time in getting ready, this time. It’s, only, whenever I’m in a big hurry, that I tend to forget things. I even found time to polish up my gun before leaving my house, this morning. Well, do you have some coffee made? I could use some waking up.”

”Jus come over here. Being that the kitchen, dining room, and living room appear as one big room, this might be a little hard to get used to at first. Also, don’t be surprised, if you get somewhat lost inside this house. You’re jus not used being in such a big house.”

So, as Mike set his things down in the living room area on the floor, he, then, walked over to the kitchen area. And he got himself, some coffee along with some sugar and cream too. He jus couldn’t drink coffee without the extras, being he jus was used to drinking coffee, that way.

Then, Ted got himself, some black coffee, and joined Mike at the dining area table. As they were drinking their coffee, Mike said to Ted, “So how have you liked living here in the country? What do you think of the country? Is it better than living in the city?”

Ted isn’t surprised, that Mike is popping questions to him. He kind of expected it, since; Mike tends to get very inquisitive at times. He’s been like that, ever since, the two met when Ted lived in Ypsilanti.

Mike jus has this inquisitive habit about him jus because he, usually, does it jus to get attention like when he’s tired, and doesn’t feel like talking. Or instead, of being inquisitive, Mike will bring up jokes or even funny stories from time to time.

So, then, Ted said to Mike, “I couldn’t love it out in the country any better. Ever since, I’ve been living in Metamora, it’s as if I belong here. And it’s a lot more exciting than city life, though; it does cost a pretty penny to live out in the country in a house like this one. The only reason, I can afford living in this house, is because I’ve been making it good as a rock star.”

I can’t believe it. That you, still, are making it good as a rock star out here in the country. Do you get many offers out here for concerts? How about this neighborhood? Has anyone been friendly to you yet, or do your neighbors tend to be sort of offish?”

“In fact, I’ve had people from all walks of life, want to stop over here jus to get my autograph; or jus to hear me sing and play my guitar. So, I’ve become very popular as a rock singer in this neighborhood. If any of my fans ever write a good song for me which becomes a hit, then, that writer gets paid a good penny for it.”

“Well, Mike, do you have all packed what you do need for our hunting trip? I think if we are going to be doing any hunting until dusk that we should get a move on. Its’, already, going on the middle of the afternoon, and we’ll be lucky if we can find plenty of deer to hunt at this time of day.”

“Oh, yeah, Ted, I’ve finished my energy drink, and am all ready to head out into these woods. I’ve hired one of my neighbors to be a dog sitter, and I pay him, pretty well.”

“Was that your doorbell, Ted? I know I jus heard some weird sounds, which sound like some unusual music to my ears.”

“Oh, yeah, sit tight for a minute. I’d better answer that front door. That’s my neighbor, now.”

So, Mike jus sat at the table for now being that he never did trust the dogs. “They might go crazy if they aren’t familiar with Ted’s neighbor, “he’s thinking, “so, I’ll jus stay put here until those darn dogs settle down again.”

As Ted answered the front door, his neighbor is there jus like he thought. And so, Ted said to him, “Oh, hi, Bruce, c’mon right inside. And you dogs better behave while I’m gone. You Sparky and Choo Choo go lie down, and Bruce will give you two a milk bone.”

So, as the two dogs lay down over beside the black leather couch, then, Ted said to Bruce, “C’mon inside and meet my good friend, Mike. He’s a lover of hunting jus like I am. In fact, he’s the one who taught me all about hunting.”

As Mike and Bruce walked over to Ted, Ted reached out his hand, and shook his neighbor’s hand. He isn’t at all surprised because Ted does this whenever Bruce visits him.

So, then, Ted said to Mike with urgency in his voice, “Okay, Mike, let’s get going. And Bruce, if the dogs get out of hand, jus make them go into their cages for about an hour or so. Bye, for now, Bruce. Oh, yes, jus help yourself to some coffee, and anything you want from the fridge.”

Then, Mike followed Ted out the back door after they both made sure; they had everything which they were going to need for hunting. And as they reached the woods, Ted said to Mike.

“Jus follow the trail, and whenever you think, you see a deer within range, jus yell out to me, ‘Stop, there’s a deer,’ so I jus don’t keep on walking. That’s because if you don’t say something, one of us is bound to get lost in these woods.”

So, the two were walking side by side on the trail, trying to stay close together, even though, it would be harder to spot a deer, that way. And who knows what could happen if Mike got lost in these woods.

After walking about an hour, Ted jus happen to spot a few deer around, so, he yelled out to Mike, “Okay, buddy, hold it. There are a few deer around in this area. And be very careful like always. Don’t aim and shoot at any of them until you’re sure of the whites of their eyes.”

So, Ted took a good aim at a buck with his rifle, and the next thing before he realized what is happening, he took a couple of shots at the buck. And the next thing, he knew, he thought, he saw the buck go down.

Ted said to Mike, “C’mon and follow me. I’ve got to check out to see if I got that buck or not. Didn’t see him, run away. So, I think, I might have shot him dead.”

Making sure that Mike stayed close to him, they both walked a couple of feet over to where Ted is sure, he saw the buck. As they both arrived near the buck, sure enough, the buck is down. So, while Mike jus stood there, Ted bent over the buck, and felt it. And for sure, they knew that it’s dead.

So, both Mike and Ted weren’t far from Ted’s house, so, they both took a hold on the buck’s legs, and pulled it over right into Ted’s back yard. And in arriving there, they jus left the buck, lying on the grass.

Then, Ted said to Mike, “Look, quickly, there’s one right over there,” as he’s pointing to the other side of the yard where there’s woods on three sides of the backyard. So, then, they both made sure, that the deer is jus standing there on the grass. Then, they both took an aim at it, and fired some shots.

Suddenly, neither one of them saw it, and walked over to that part of the yard; but there was a male turkey, lying on the grass, and no deer. But, since, it wasn’t legal in this part of the country to shoot at turkeys; they both walked over to the edge of the woods, and dug out a big hole.

As they were, Ted said to Mike with urgency in his voice, “I don’t think this is such a good idea. What if one of the neighbors or somebody catches us, burying this turkey? We could get into deep trouble if we’re reported to the authorities.”

“What else are we going to do? If we jus allow the turkey to lie here, we could get into even more trouble, if someone finds its carcass on the grass.”

So, then, the two jus carried the turkey to the hole, and since, dusk was coming close, no one would be able to see them there in the woods. So, then, after closing up the hole, the two jus walked back to where the deer is, still, lying on the grass.


Then, the two dragged the deer into the garage onto some newspaper. After they cleaned the carcass, and placed the meat into the freezer, they, then, carried the carcass over to Ted’s blue Chevy truck.

Then, Ted said to Mike, “I know of a place not far from here where we can get the deer stuffed.”

So, then, Ted and Mike hopped into Ted’s truck, and they were off on their way. As they arrived at a neighbor’s house, Mike waited inside the truck while Ted took the deer carcass inside the neighbor’s garage.

Upon Ted spotting his neighbor, he, then, said to him, “would you stuff this deer carcass for us? I’ll give you, let’s say, one-hundred bucks more for it than I, usually, do.”

Then, Ted’s neighbor said to him, “It’s a deal, then. Do you have the money with you right now? If you do, I’ll give you a receipt for it. So, you know you paid for it. And don’t forget to pick it up tomorrow or the next day or whenever you have the chance.”

After Ted gave him, the money, he said to his neighbor, “Thanks for doing this for us. And here’s a hundred from Mike too because we both found the deer.”

Then, Mike and Ted happed back into the truck, and headed on their way back to Ted’s house. As they arrived there, the two walked inside the house through the back door after taking their shoes off. Then, the two had some beer to drink to celebrate, finding a deer on their first hunt of the season. And the dog sitter joined them for this celebration.

The next morning, the dog sitter came over about seven o’clock in the morning, and then, both Ted and Mike headed over to where they had buried the turkey, the night before. However, as they arrived near that edge of woods, the turkey is lying next to the hole, which is, still, covered up.

So, Ted said to Mike, in an unsettled voice, “Something’s weird here. Why is the turkey lying over here, not rotted up? And why is the hole, still, covered up like we left it, yesterday?”

Mike responded, “That’s what I’d like to know. Something jus isn’t right. That turkey should be starting to rot by now; also, you’d think that it would appear, that some birds have been eating it too. Birds, usually, have no trouble, hunting down a dead turkey right away.”

Even though, they both felt quite uneasy inside, they headed into the woods onto the same trail, they were on yesterday when they were on the hunt for deer.

And about an hour later, as Ted and Mike walked through the woods while the sun isn’t shining, so brightly, Ted said to Mike, “Seems like I jus saw a reflection of that turkey in this woods. It’s an eerie feeling to me. Did you happen to notice that reflection jus now?”

“No, I’ve been looking towards the sun and in the direction in which you, usually, tend to keep your eyes fixed for deer. And I haven’t seen any reflection or shadow of anything for that matter.”

“Guess we might as well keep looking for deer. It, probably, is jus a hallucination, I’m having. Maybe, I’m starting to see things jus because I noticed a ghost on your front porch, yesterday, when I jus came to your house.”

“Did you say a ghost? So, maybe, you aren’t hallucinating. Maybe, what you jus saw, is that same ghost, trying to pull something on you.”

“Hey, I jus saw a deer nearby, and it doesn’t seem to be running away either. So, don’t get close to it. You might scare it away.”

Mike jus wandered away from Ted. He even is walking towards to where Ted saw that deer in the clearing. So, as Mike walked into the clearing, a buck appeared again, that same one. And Mike is heading for a tree, trying to hide from the buck. However, Ted is jus assuming that Mike, still, is with him on the trail.

Then, Ted took a couple of shots at the buck, and saw it fall to the ground. But during these shots, one backfired towards a tree, and, actually, hit Mike in the shoulder. So, suddenly, Ted’s hearing him, groaning, so, he looked around for him. And jus noticed that his friend isn’t with him.















CHAPTER II


As Ted arrived near the tree, he jus happened to spot Mike,
lying on the ground. So, feeling very desperate, Ted felt Mike’s pulse, which isn’t very good right now.

So, Ted’s in deep thought, “What am I going to do now? Mike’s got a bullet in his right shoulder. And I can feel it underneath his shirt while I’m bending over him. And there doesn’t seem to be anyone around to help us.”

Since, Ted didn’t know what else to do, he used whatever strength, he possesses. And he tried to drag Mike back over to where he can see his house.

As Ted arrived over at the grass on his property, he has to let Mike, lie there for a couple of minutes while he tried to get his breath. Then, he dragged Mike real close to his own house, and then, he ran into his house, and found the dog sitter at the kitchen table.

Then, Ted said to the dog sitter in a desperate voice, “My friend has been shot. And don’t know who shot him. Please call an ambulance for him right away. He’s lying in my backyard. In the meantime, I’ll go get an old shirt of mine and my first aid kit, which is inside my backpack in the backyard. I’ll do what I can for him until the paramedics arrive.”

The dog sitter is lost as to what to tell him to do, so, he jus walked over to the phone in the kitchen area, and called 911. Upon a guy answering the phone, the dog sitter, Bruce, said to him.

“I need an ambulance right away over here on Medford Hill Street at property number seven in Metamora, and am very close to Okemos. A guy’s friend has been shot in the shoulder while the two were hunting, and is in very bad shape. As I look at the window, I can see that he’s placing his shirt around the guy’s shoulder, and making a tourniquet, trying to stop the bleeding.”

So, the guy told him, “That’s all he can do for now. The ambulance will be there, shortly.”

In the meantime, Ted has walked back to where Mike is lying on the grass, still, groaning in pain while Ted is trying his best to stop Mike’s wound from bleeding. Then, he’s able to pull the bullet out of Mike’s shoulder, and has the bleeding under control. However, his friend needed a tetanus shot, and needed to be checked out, thoroughly, by the paramedics.

Before he realizes it, the ambulance pulled into the driveway, and the paramedics are running into the backyard with a black box and a stretcher. So in being in tears, maybe, having to face realization that his friend is going to have to fight hard to make it, Ted said to the paramedics.

“I managed to get the bullet out of his right shoulder, and was able to get it out. However I can’t seem to get a good pulse out of him; I’m afraid he might be bleeding, eternally, from the bullet wound.”

Then, one of the paramedics said to the other one, “Quickly, get an IV from the ambulance. Also, since, the bullet is out of the guy’s shoulder, get the tetanus vaccine from there too. In the meantime, I’ll stay here with the guy; however the tourniquet doesn’t seem to be stopping the bleeding.”

So, the other paramedic ran as fast as his feet could carry him. And hopped inside the ambulance, and found the tetanus vaccine. And then, as he arrived back to where Mike, still, seemed to be lifeless on the grass, he administered the vaccine along with some morphine for the pain. Then, along with Ted’s help being the bleeding, finally, stopped, the paramedics pushed Mike onto the stretcher and into the ambulance.

Although, Ted is concerned for Mike’s well being, and very worried if he’s going to make it or not, he wanted to go along with Mike. However he couldn’t be that Mike is in so bad a condition.

So, one of the paramedics said to Mike jus before the ambulance left, “All you can do is sit tight. And keep praying for him; that he makes it. We are going to do all we can until your friend reaches the hospital. Will have the doctor or a nurse call you after he’s checked out, thoroughly.”

In knowing his friend, Mike could be dying, and because he’s feeling very distraught and guilty being he could have shot Mike, accidentally, said to himself on the way back inside the house.

“Oh, Mike, don’t fade away from me. I didn’t mean to shoot at you if I did. I should have been more cautious at making sure, you stayed at my side. Hold on, my friend. You’re strong. You can make it through all of this.”

So, then, as Ted walked back inside his house through the back porch, he said to the dog sitter, “Here’s your money. Thank you for watching and taking care of the dogs for me while I had been hunting. As far as I know, I think I, accidentally, shot at my friend because he was near the tree when one of my shots backfired on me. So, I think that had been when one of them had hit him in the right shoulder.”

Then, the dog sitter said to Ted, “Don’t keep your hopes up. It’ll be quite hard for your friend to survive a bullet wound. Although, you were able to get the bullet out, he, still, could be bleeding eternally from the bullet having penetrated his shoulder. And I’ll pray hard for him, and you do the same.”

So, about an hour later, a doctor called over at Ted’s house, and said to him, “I’m sorry. I and another doctor did all we could to try to save your friend’s life. However we operated on him, and he had been bleeding eternally. So, we weren’t able to do much for him being that he had lost too much blood during his operation. So, we couldn’t save his life. I know this is hard to take.”

That wasn’t any consolation for Ted, so, he went to bed being it is getting late at night. And as he lay in his bed unable to fall asleep right away, he thought, “My dear friend, why did this have to happen to you? You were my good friend. And we have been good buddies for some time. Jus hope you made it to Heaven.”

Then, Ted prayed like crazy, so that his friend would be sure to go to Heaven. But what he didn’t know was that Mike didn’t make it to Heaven. He knew his friend, Ted, took his death very hard. So, he stayed in between two worlds. This is so he could keep supporting his friend, Ted, until he could get over all this grieving.

But, although, ever since, the night before, Ted has been mourning over his friend’s death, he went hunting the next morning, anyways. And at least for now, stayed away from the area where his friend had been shot. Ted’s afraid that his friend might turn into a ghost.

So, while on the lookout for some bucks, Ted thought to himself, “Something’s not right. I’ve heard, many times, that when a loved one dies in the woods, that strange things can happen. In fact, I think I’m hearing Mike’s voice out here in the wild. And it doesn’t sound the least bit soothing to me. He’s calling out to me for help, and I can’t seem to make out what he’s trying to tell me.”

So, Ted tried to avoid the feeling, that something is about to happen out in the woods. And he jus kept hunting, being on the lookout for some bucks.

As he reached his backyard near where tree is where his friend got shot, he, actually, felt a wind around him.

And Ted, then, is in deep thought, “What’s happening to me? Can feel some strange wind, spinning around me. And feel like these woods are closing in around me.”

Ted felt like he blacked out; however a couple minutes later, when he came out of his daze; however he’s aware, that he’s on the ground. And that the strange wind, once, around him, has been what, actually, pushed down to the ground. So, he jus lay there for a few minutes, and tried to catch his breath as the wind has been knocked out of him.

Then, as he got up onto his feet, and brushed all the leaves and stuff off his fatigues, he walked away from that area, and proceeded further into the woods. However, he found a trail and stayed on it, so, that he would be able to find his way back to his house.

And as he’s walking in a steady pace, he said to himself, “I wonder how Mike, feels about me, shooting him to death. I bet he doesn’t like me at all for doing it. I can jus see his eyes, glaring at me, and wanting to do away with me now. I shouldn’t be talking like this; it could drive me crazy in these woods.”

About a half hour later, he noticed some turkeys around in the woods, and wondered if he should take a chance, and try to shoot at one. So, he jus brought his rifle out in front of him, and aimed at one. He fired a few shots, however the turkeys jus ran away, instead, of staying in his firing range.

So, as he, still, followed the trail, it was taking him around in a circle. So, he figured he must be heading back to his house again. And as he stayed on the trail, some storm clouds are what he spotted in the distance. So, he ran as fast as he could without stumbling on his feet.

Then, he stopped, suddenly, and felt as if he’s being pushed towards the area where his friend was shot down. However, he couldn’t find whatever is trying to drive him over there to that area. And as he reached that area, some storm funnel came down, and settled itself on top of a tree.

Now, he is scared, so, he said to himself, “Boy that voice of Mike’s has become an echo. And can make out what he’s saying to me, ‘Ted, Ted, can you hear me, can you hear me. I know, I know, you didn’t mean, you didn’t mean, to hit me, to hit me. So, my buddy, so, my buddy, come over here to the tree, come over here to the tree.”

Then, the echo stopped, however he, still, could hear Mike saying, “Help.” So, Ted said to him, “You know, buddy. I, really, miss you. Right now, can feel you right by my side. You’re walking the trails with me again.”

So, Mike said to him, “Buddy, I’ll, always, be at your side to protect you whenever you’re hunting. Think of me as your guardian angel because that’s what I am to you now. Jus feel me near you, every time, you go into these woods. Some day, I’ll take you down to the swamps. Remember the swamps? We used to cool off in them whenever we were hot.”

Ted knew he’s hearing the spirit of the wild around him. It’s an eerie feeling to him. He seems to know that Mike isn’t in Heaven yet. He’s stuck between two worlds. So, that’s why Ted can hear his voice in the woods. And he will, every time, Ted goes hunting until Ted’s over his mourning over Mike’s sudden death.

So upon hearing Mike’s voice, it, again, turned into an echo. It became so loud, that Ted, literally, got carried up into a tree.

So, Ted thought, “Oh no, what’s going on. How did I arrive in this tree? And how will I get down to the ground again?”

Ted, again, heard Mike’s voice in the wild, “Sit tight. I sent my ghost to carry you to the tree. I did this so you wouldn’t forget how much I had been a friend to you when I had been alive. Don’t get scared now. I’ll have you down to the ground in no time at all.”

Then, although, Ted became scared, that he is going to fall to the ground, Mike’s ghost put Ted into his arms, and, actually, flew to the grass. Upon Ted landing on the grass, he is in a state of shock at first. But a couple of minutes later, he realizes that it, actually, had been Mike’s ghost, carrying him out of the tree.

However as Ted got up onto his feet, he heard a guy out in the woods, calling out to a buck. This buck got away from him, so, this guy cursed at the buck. And then, he’s so mad, that he’s running back to a clearing. But Ted doesn’t know where that guy is heading. So, upon seeing a buck near the clearance, he didn’t see the guy around anywhere. Then, being the buck wouldn’t move, Ted fired a few shots at the buck.

Then, as Ted headed towards that clearing, he heard a guy yell out, “Oh no, what has happened to me? I can feel that bullet in my chest. It hurts. Someone if you’re out there, head towards the clearing and help me. C’mon over here by the willow tree. I’m starting to crouch over from the pain.”

So, then, Ted followed the guy’s voice, and as he arrived at the clearing, he couldn’t believe his eyes. This is the second time that he’s seen a guy, get shot while he’s hunting. And this is, unusual, to happen to him. Usually, he’s careful before shooting at a deer. But he has this feeling; something’s been rotten in Denmark out in these woods ever since, he’s been hunting, this season.

Then, Ted said to the guy upon approaching him, “Where are you hurting, my friend?”

“It’s my chest. I’ve got a bullet in my chest. Tear off my shirt, and you’ll see it. Then, if you can, pull the bullet out of my chest. Then, wrap my shirt around my chest to stop the bleeding. I’m sure, I’ll be alright. The bullet didn’t penetrate my heart.”

So, Ted tried to be patient as he did what the guy told him to do. Then, upon taking the bullet out of him, he tied the guy’s shirt around him real tight. In the meantime, he pulled out some tetanus vaccine out of his backpack, and gave it to the guy. Then, he placed this tube inside the guy’s mouth, and administered an antibiotic, full strength.












CHAPTER II



All Ted could do was waiting and hope that the guy wasn’t bleeding eternally. However, since, he is close to his house; he dragged the guy into his yard onto the grass. And then, had to leave him, lie there, while took out his cell phone, and called 911.

While waiting for the paramedics to come, he said to himself, “I hope this guy survives, because it was terrible to watch my good friend die.”

The paramedics arrived, shortly, and one got the guy, an IV, while the other one got some tetanus vaccine plus an anticoagulant to give to the guy along with penicillin.

So, upon arriving back at where the guy’s, still, alive, the other paramedic gave whatever he got from the ambulance cabinet to the guy. Then, the paramedics took the guy to the hospital, and then, Ted waited inside his house for a word from the doctor.

Then, a doctor called from the hospital, and said to Ted, “Well, it’s a good thing, you acted fast. Because this guy is okay, and is going to recover from his bullet wound. It jus missed his heart and the guy has been put on pills to help his blood pill together over the wound. Also, he’s been administered penicillin which is keeping infection out of the wound.”

While Ted is watching television, and praying for his friend, Mike, someone, unexpected, showed up. And as Ted heard the doorbell ring, someone is at the door from a special society for hunters. And right there at the front door, Ted’s ready to cry, as he can hear Mike’s voice echo in the woods in the front yard. And at the same time, Edward Cole, the head of the society told Ted.

“You, my young man have jus become eligible for this award for saving a hunter’s life. So, here, I am very proud to present this award to you. If it hadn’t been for you, this hunter, probably, would have been dead by now. Some people from the television station, right here in Metamora, soon, will be here to take some video pictures of you. I bet it’s going to feel great and special to be on television.”

Ted felt flabbergasted, however he let the guy inside, and said to him, “Boy, I never dreamed I would get an award for saving a guy’s life while hunting. See this award says, ‘official member of the hunters’ society’. What a pleasure to me to be a society member. Jus wish my friend, Mike was, still, alive. He would have been very proud to see me, get this award.”

As the guy sat down along with Ted in Ted’s black leather couch in the living room area, Edward said to him, “Bet you’re very pleased to receive this award. May I please have something to drink?”

“Would you like some beer? I have a few cans of it in the fridge. I’m an avid beer drinker, myself, most of the time, jus into one beer a day. Is there anything else you would like while I’m waiting for the television station people to get here?”

“Oh yes, I’ll take one, however jus one beer because I don’t ever want to get hooked on it.”

As the two men were drinking their beers, Ted heard the doorbell again. And as he walked to the door and opened it, one of the cameramen said to Ted, “We’re here to take a video of you, and the editor of the local paper would like to ask you some questions if you don’t mind. And you’re going to make the headlines in the local paper, tomorrow.”

So, as they all came inside, Ted sat back down on the black leather couch along with the editor, Robert Leno. And while the cameramen were taking a video of Ted, the editor asked him, “What is it, which, actually, took place, here, tonight, that led to you, earning your hunting award?”

“Well, I had been out hunting before in the woods in back of my house, and was going to hunt after some turkeys when they all took off. Then, I happened to see a buck and assuming that no one else was around, took an aim at the buck but missed the buck, anyways. Then, right after that, I happened to overhear a guy out there in the clearing, yelling for help.”

The new editor then asked Ted, “What did you do, then, when the guy had been yelling for help?”

“Then, I followed the guy’s voice, and upon walking over there, noticed him, all crunched up on the grass. So, it’s a good thing, I had my first aid kit with me. I, then, stripped off his shirt, and took the bullet out of his chest. Then, after, once more, tying the shirt around the guy’s chest, I dragged him to my backyard. There I gave him; the tetanus shot, and then, ran into the house and called 911.”

“That was, really, courageous of you, my young man because that took a lot of strength and patience to take care of that guy. You, actually, saved the guy’s life before the paramedics took him to the hospital. Okay, allow the cameramen to take one more picture of you and the other guy, here, for the newspaper.”

Then, after the people from the television station were done, they left along with the other guy, who had given Ted, the special award. And once, he saw them all out the front door, he had to let his dogs out. After that, since, he wanted to relax some more yet, he sat back down on the couch.

There, he watched one of his favorite programs, the geographical program, which brought up the part where Ted, actually, saw himself on television. While enjoying the program, Ted said to himself.

“No kidding. That’s me out in my backyard with that wounded guy. One of the neighbors must have called over at the television station. I wish I had known, who it did this for me. That’s because I want to thank, whoever got me this special award for saving that guy’s life in the woods. Whoever contacted that hunter’s society deserves special thanks for doing so.”

So, then, as he happened to be watching that program, he heard the doorbell ring. As he walked up to the front door, and looked out the eyehole, he is very surprised. It’s his neighbor who lives next door to him.

Then, as Ted opened the front door, his neighbor, Tom, said to him, “I bet you’re surprised tonight, aren’t you? In fact, on the geographical program, I jus happened to noticed you on it. Want to know, who contacted that hunter’s society, and enrolled you as a member? That had been me.”

As Ted invited him into his house, he said to his neighbor, “Would you like anything? I’ve got some beer here in the refrigerator. Also, if you’re in the snacking mood like I am right now, I have some diet food, yogurt.”

As his neighbor joined him over at the kitchen table, he said to Ted, “I’ll have jus one beer. Also, I’ll take a yogurt while I’m at it. I’m not keeping you up am I? It’s going on ten o’clock. Aren’t you a bit tired from hunting?”

“I am, however you can stay over about a half hour or so. And if it wasn’t getting late, I’d take you out for dinner. However, the restaurant is, usually, closed by now. And there aren’t too many restaurants around here that stay opened late. I feel I owe you, a dinner, jus because if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have received this special award.”

As Ted got his beer and yogurt out of the refrigerator, and sat down next to him in the kitchen, the guy said to him, “That’s nice of you to want to take me out to dinner. However you don’t have to go to that extreme. Even a fast food place would jus be alright for me. There’s one, we could go to jus down the street from here, in fact.”

Upon setting down his beer, Ted replied, “C’mon now. I feel that I, at least, should treat you to dinner or something. This special award means that I’ve, already, got a special appearance on television; and check the local paper, tomorrow. I’m going to make the headlines, and, actually, am going to get paid for it, too.”

Then, after finishing his yogurt and beer, the guy decided to get going, so, the two bade each other, goodbye. And as Ted saw him out the front door, he had a weird feeling inside. Upon closing and locking the door, he thought, he saw a ghost inside his house.

Looking around, once more, he saw a vision of Mike in white, lying on the black leather couch. So, as Ted walked over there, then, it was as if Mike came back to life. Ted jus couldn’t believe his eyes; the guy is wearing the same clothes, he had on when he had been hunting that one day. Also, he appeared to be very well alive.

Then, hoping Mike could hear him, talk, Ted said to him, “Hey there, buddy. Where did you come from?”

“Believe it or not, I, actually, came away from my grave. I never had been dead when these people were getting ready in the mortuary to perform some autopsy on me. It’s a good thing; I got out of there when I did. I shocked every one of them in the mortuary at that time by walking right out of there, and then, renting a car to take me, back here.”

“Are you experiencing any pain anymore? Are you in the condition to have something to eat and drink now? If you’re alive again, as I, always, believed in life after death, then, you need food and drink to get yourself back to normal.”

“In fact, I can’t believe it. I must have come from the dead or something. But am not in any more pain. My bullet wound has healed completely. It’s like if it’s a miracle. I am my normal self again. Thanks to your prayers, Ted. You, actually, saved my life. I wasn’t ready to die, yet. It wasn’t my time yet.”

“It’s, really, you then. You mean I’m not seeing jus a vision of you? This is something. What is happening to me? I can’t believe it’s you in front of me. I’ll get you something from the refrigerator. And then, take it home with you, and get some sleep, tonight. Lord knows how long you have been without sleep and food and water.”

So, feeling weird inside, Ted went to his refrigerator, a pulled out a Hungry Man’s TV dinner along with some perogies, and, he, also got his friend, an energy drink because he felt, that Mike, really, needed one at this time. So, while Ted is heating up the dinner, and the perogies, Mike tried to get up off the couch.

However noticing this, Ted said to him, “Oh no, Mike, don’t try to get up off that couch. You’re, probably, too weak from lack of food in your body, and lack of water too, so, if you try to stand up, you jus might fall down on the floor, so take it easy for now. Also, you need some rest, badly.”

So, then, as soon as Mike’s dinner and coffee is ready, Ted set up a folding tray right in front of him. Then, he placed Mike’s food on the try as he said to Mike, “Now, be careful because the food jus has come out of the microwave, and could be kind of hot right now. Maybe, you should give it a few minutes to cool off.”

However he jus went ahead, and gulped everything down including his coffee. And upon drinking his coffee along with his energy drink, he, suddenly, became very peppy. And he is so full of energy that he, actually, leaped out of the couch to Ted’s surprise.

As he did so, Ted is shocked, so, he said to him, “What in the world are you doing, Mike? Shouldn’t have eaten your food so fast, drunk down your coffee and energy drink like that. Could have brought you to choking to death.”

“Don’t worry, I’m alright, it’s jus that I was very thirsty, and hungry during all that time, I had been forced to wait to be taken to the mortuary. It’s a good thing that I had been able to get out of that mortuary before any autopsy was performed on me. If I would have ended up there, it, probably, would have been impossible for me to get my life back. And it would have turned out to be sheer torture for me, too.”

“This surprises me because no one from the hospital, ever called me, and told me, anything, about your body ending in the mortuary for that matter. And if you, still, showed any signs of life, then, that means, that whoever had been taking care of you at that time, you were inside the hospital.” “

“Those doctors or nurses or whoever had been taking care of me, were irresponsible. One of them should have checked me out, more thoroughly, before announcing my death. Being that I had been in a coma from loss of blood during my operation, I can remember every surgeon who had been in the surgery room.”


“So, do have the name of your attorney in mind?”

“No, I’m afraid, I don’t. So, don’t know, exactly, how I’m going to go about it being I have turned into a ghost; however I’m asking you to please refer me to your attorney. That will be the first step towards suing all these people.”

“Okay, I’ll take care of that matter, tomorrow. However, I think you should go to sleep now, because nothing can be done until tomorrow. And my attorney’s office is closed by now. However, if you can’t fall asleep, this early, then, I’ll keep you, some company until you think, you can fall asleep.”

“By the way, that energy drink, you gave me, Ted, jus might keep me awake half the night.”

“I’ll take care of that,” Ted said as he walked over to the bathroom, and got him one of his own sleeping pills which were harmless, and only, would make him sleep until tomorrow morning.

And as he walked back into the living room area, he offered it to Mike; however Mike said to him, “What’s that you’ve got in your hand?”

“It’s just a natural sleep aid. It’s not one of those prescription pills or any sleeping pill which can be habit forming. Also, it’ll go with any medication, you’re taking at the present, and you’ll be asleep in no time at all. In fact, I’ll go over to the kitchen, and make you, some hot chocolate. That, also, will help you relax, and get sleepy, because right now, you need your sleep, badly.”

So, jus after Mike took the sleeping pill, he fell right asleep on the couch to Ted’s surprise. Then, Mike plugged some ear phones into the television, so, that he could watch television without waking Mike up. As he wanted to watch his geographical program; he, also, wanted Mike to watch it. However he has fallen asleep, and has gone out like a light.

So, as Ted is watching his program, he, suddenly, can’t believe his eyes, because it seemed, as though, Mike has disappeared from the couch. And he’s very alarmed over the whole thing, and can’t figure out where he could have gone.



As Ted looked around for him, he yelled out, “Hey, Mike, where are you?--Are you feeling alright?--I can’t seem to find you. - -So, wherever you are, jus yell out my name.--I’ve got to watch over you for awhile.--You’re not ready to even take a trip back home yet.-- So, I hope, that isn’t where you’ve decided to go.—“

Ted walked through the whole house, and still, couldn’t find Mike. So, he peeked out the front window, and sure enough, his car, still, is there. Then, he said to himself, “Something’s weird around her. I wonder if Mike turned into a ghost which doesn’t seem right. Maybe, he’ll be back by tomorrow morning. He, probably, snuck out a door, and wasn’t aware of where he was.”

So, Ted walked outside with a flashlight being that dusk was coming in; however he couldn’t find him around the neighborhood. Then, Ted walked back inside his house, in tears, and had to grab a sleeping pill, he, assuming that his friend, really, had died, this time. So, he tried to sleep on the couch, himself, and didn’t want to go to his bedroom, jus in case, Mike came back inside the house, any time during the night or morning.

So, in the morning, when he woke up, Mike wasn’t around on the first floor, no matter where he looked, so, he said to himself, “Whenever Mike ever needed help, and he was over my house, he would look for me. And then, he would get me out of my sleep. However I hope that Mike will show up soon. Because this is jus tearing me apart inside, not knowing where he could be.”

However Ted jus had to go about his way, and get him some breakfast, hoping that Mike would show up soon. But he didn’t, so, Ted jus sat down in front of his television, and ate his breakfast while watching some favorite program of his.

While he watched the tube, he heard a weird noise, so, he got up off the couch, and followed the noise which has been coming from the front door. In approaching the front door, he opened the door, and there was Mike, dressed in the same clothes yet. However the guy, who’s supposed to be Ted’s good friend, appeared to him as being very desperate.

So, Ted let him inside, and said to him, “Where in the world have you been, buddy? Did you get any sleep last night? And if you did, where in the world were you sleeping?”

But Mike jus stared at him, and then, fell down on the floor. Mike didn’t know what to do, being his friend is having a seizure. So, he got a couple of his own medications for seizures. Then, he forced them down Mike’s mouth.

The guy’s seizures stopped, but then, he seemed to fall asleep, so, Ted, carefully, picked him up into his arms. Then, he walked over to the couch, and laid him there on the couch. Also, his friend seemed to be in a coma. So, he called one of his neighbors, who are, also, experienced in medicine at being a doctor for a few years, who is jus about ready to go on his shift.

So, he came over, and Ted is in tears, as he let his neighbor come in. As he did, he said to his neighbor, “I don’t know what to do with him. First, he came to me last night, and told me, that he had come back from the mortuary, and almost, ended up getting buried underground. Then, he disappeared last night, and this morning, he came back and went into a seizure, upon coming inside my house. Now, he seems, as though, he’s in a coma.”

Then, Ted’s neighbor went right over to where Mike’s lying on a couch, and felt his pulse. It’s very faint, so then, he felt Mike’s skin, and it felt cold. So, the neighbor said to him, “I’m afraid your friend’s dead. There’s no life left to him at all. And he had a faint pulse; however, he went, quickly. So, that bullet would he had, literally, whipped life away from him.”

Jus as his neighbor told him all this, suddenly, Mike jumped out of the couch, and scared both Ted and his neighbor. He has the appearance of someone, who has jus seen death, but his skin has a rubbery appearance. Then, Mike showed his teeth, teeth of a vampire, and told Ted and his neighbor.

”I’m really hungry right now. Need some good food and something that will really fill me up like a gallon of you, Ted?”

Ted thought, Mike was kidding at first, however, he leaped at Ted, showing claws like a cat. However, this caused Ted to back up, and fall onto the floor in a state of shock.

Upon his neighbor feeling his pulse, he became rigid. So, then, he figured, that Ted had a seizure, himself. So, quickly, he gave him, some of his own seizure medicine which is setting on the television.

And, quickly, he came right out of it, and said to his neighbor, “I think, you jus saved my life. I blacked out, and upon coming to, thought, this was it for me. Thought I was going to slip into a coma myself which I might have just now.”

Then, knowing that Ted, still, is in a state of shock, Mike, actually, came over to Ted, “Oh boy, I’m jus so hungry inside, that I can’t resist you. I jus want some of your blood. That will satisfy me, greatly.”

So, Mike leaped at Ted, and bit his arm. Before his neighbor could do anything, blood jus poured out of his wound, and then, Mike, actually, drank his blood, hungrily.

Ted’s neighbor said to himself, “What’s going on? Must give Ted, some morphine. He must be in some excruciating pain. He must be knocked out, or else he could go into a coma.”

So, then, Ted’s neighbor applied a tourniquet, and did whatever he thought, needed to be done. Upon noticing this, then, Ted’s neighbor applied a tourniquet as soon as he gave Mike, some medicine, some morphine to knock him out.

“For one thing, don’t believe in vampires. So why would Mike do such a gross thing as to bite Ted like he did. Now I have to shoot Mike because he’s a danger to himself and anyone else he could encounter, especially, me and Ted. Oh my gosh, the guy jus exploded to pieces.”

Upon seeing all this happen right inside Ted’s house, the neighbor couldn’t believe his eyes. And he went into a state of shock as he dropped Ted’s gun onto the living room floor. Then, only moments later, both he and Ted turned stone dead.

So, upon another neighbor, who happened to be walking down the street, heard strange noises, and said to him as he approached Ted’s house.

“Something is going on inside Ted’s house. It jus now sounded like there was some type of explosion inside. However can’t figure out why the house isn’t going to pieces from it. Oh, no, through this front window, I can see gore and skin all over the place. And this skin appears to be so coarse, that it couldn’t have been from a human being.”

Then, on his cell phone, he called the police, and told the Captain. “Something weird jus happened around here on Medford Hill Street in Ted Madison’s house, 5577 Medford Hill jus near Okemos. Please send some cops here right away. This case has to be investigated. I jus noticed skin and gore inside this house. I think that someone had been shot to death, and came back as a vampire. This house has to be burned down.”

So, the cops arrived, quickly, and as they went inside the house, they, indeed, found gore, blood, and skin all over the living room area along with two dead bodies of identified as Ted Madison and Cliff Corey. After taking pictures of the whole first floor, and collecting evidence of some of the gore, one of the cops, then, didn’t take any chances.

Since, he started to feel, as though, something was overpowering him inside the house, he, immediately, left the house with the other cops. Then, they got some dynamite out of the cop car, and threw it inside the house. It blew the house to pieces, and again, they took more pictures of the house. And then, they reported this case as the weirdest and unusual case reported in the history of Metamora as having been invaded by a vampire.