“Pumkin, we need to go now. We can’t stay here.” Cain insisted.
“I agree. Let’s leave.” Pumkin agreed.
Pumkin sprinted through the town, heading for the outskirts. He passed the church, the post office, and the school. At last, he reached the edge of town. He slowed down, panting heavily. He turned around to look back, and saw a crowd gathering around the injured man. Someone was screaming. People were shouting. Police sirens wailed in the distance.
“■■■■.” He cursed under his breath.
He ran as fast as his legs could carry him. The trees and shrubs flew by in a blur. He stumbled over roots and rocks, but he didn’t stop.
“Keep going, Pumkin. We can’t afford to lose any more time. They’re after us.” Cain urged.
Pumkin kept running. His lungs burned, his muscles ached, his vision blurred. He pushed himself harder. He was determined to survive.
“Where should we go?” He gasped.
“Anywhere.” Answered Cain.
“But-”
“Trust me. Follow my lead.”
Pumkin nodded and kept going for many hours.
The sun began to set. The sky darkened. Night fell. The stars twinkled above. The moon shone brightly. Pumkin’s breath came out in white puffs. His face stung from the cold. His fingers were numb. Suddenly, the path split in two. He followed the path to the right, until he reached a clearing. In the center stood a tall oak tree. Its leaves rustled softly in the breeze. It was beautiful. Pumkin sat down under the tree. He leaned his head against its trunk and closed his eyes. He tried to catch his breath. He tried to calm himself. He was exhausted, but he had to keep moving. He couldn’t speak. His throat was dry, and his mouth tasted sour. He coughed violently, spitting out a glob of saliva.
Cain was nowhere to be found. The puddles had all dried up by now. There was no source of light other than the moon and the stars.
Pumkin lay awake, listening to the sounds of the night. The owls hooted. The crickets chirped. The coyotes howled. The wind whistled through the branches. He shivered and wrapped his arms around himself. He was freezing. He needed warmth. He needed shelter. But there was nothing. No houses, no cabins, no tents, no caves. Nothing.
“Cain,” He called out. “Where are you? Come back.”
Silence.
Pumkin waited a few more minutes. Still, nothing.
“Please.”
He waited some more. Still, nothing.
He sighed deeply. He knew what he had to do. He knelt down on the grass, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He began to pray.
“Dear God,” He whispered. “Forgive me for what I have done. I know it’s wrong, but I have no choice. Please forgive me.”
He opened his eyes.
The forest was gone.
Pumkin was surrounded by darkness.
A voice spoke.
“Hungry.”
Pumkin turned his head and saw a large black shape standing next to him. It had no eyes, no mouth, no nose, no ears. It was just a silhouette. Pumkin swallowed nervously. “Nobody calls me by my first name.” He remarked.
The black figure reached out and touched Pumkin’s cheek. Its touch was cold and soft. It felt like silk.
“What are you?” Pumkin asked.
“I am the darkness,” the creature replied. “I am your shadow.”
“My shadow?”
“Yes. I’ve been waiting for you.”
“For what?”
“To take me away from this world. To free me.”
“What do you mean?”
“You have already met my brother, your reflection. I believe you named him Cain. I wish to be free like him.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You will.”
The creature took hold of Pumkin’s hand and led him into the darkness. They walked through the blackness until they reached a pool of water.
“Is this a dream?” Pumkin asked.
“Yes.” The shadow replied. “Just like Cain, I am confined to the restraints of your own mind. You must name me and accept me as you did for him. I wish to truly live, Hungry.”
“Name you?”
“Yes. You must name me, and I will be free.”
Pumkin peered into the water. Cain appeared in its rippling surface, and pulled himself up to meet them. “I have missed you, brother.” He remarked. The shadow said nothing.
Pumkin turned to the shadow. “If you want to be free, then so be it. I will grant your freedom.”
“Thank you,” the creature replied.
Pumkin looked up. “I name you… Abel.”
“Very well,” Abel agreed. "Thank you, Hungry. I look forward to meeting in the waking world.”
Pumkin woke with a start, shivering from the cold. He stood up, brushing dirt and leaves off his clothes. He looked around and realised he was alone.
“Cain?” He called out.
No answer.
“Where are you?”
Silence.
He sighed.
Rays of sunlight began pouring from the sky as morning came. Pumkin shielded his eyes as the blinding light shone over him, casting a shadow back onto the oak tree.
“Good morning, Hungry.” Said Abel.
Pumkin looked over and saw his shadow looming figure behind him.
"Why have you only come to me now, Abel?” Pumkin asked.
“I saw no reason to show myself to you before. My brother was doing a fine job of taking care of you while in that house, and there was no point in interfering. But out in this wilderness there’s very few reflective surfaces, and Cain has often been unable to talk to you. As your shadow, I can be with you when Cain can’t.”
Pumkin nodded.
“How are we going to survive?” He asked.
“With your help.” Replied Abel.
“How?”
“We will build a shelter.”
Pumkin followed his shadow back through the forest until they reached the road. They walked along the pavement for several miles until they came upon an old abandoned car. The paint was faded and the windows were broken. There was no sign of life inside.
“Here we are,” said Abel. “This will make a suitable home.”
Pumkin looked at the vehicle dubiously. “How exactly are we going to live here?” He asked.
“Simple. We will remove the interior and use the steel frame as a base for our dwelling.”
“What about the glass?”
“We’ll remove the doors and reuse their materials elsewhere.”
“But what if someone comes looking for us? Won’t they see us inside?”
“Don’t worry about that,” assured Abel. “We’ll move this car back into the forest to make sure nobody comes near us.”
“What about food and water?”
“That’s what the woods are for. Plenty of deer and birds for hunting.”
“You’ve thought of everything,” said Pumkin, impressed.
“I try,” replied Abel.
They set to work dismantling the car. Abel showed Pumkin how to use a knife to cut the upholstery. Soon, they had removed the seats and stripped away the carpeting. Next, they lifted the steering wheel and pulled out the dashboard. Finally, they pried off the door panels.
“That’s enough,” declared Abel. "Now let’s move this back to the tree.”
Pumkin spent the rest of the day dragging the dismembered vehicle back to their home site. By nightfall, they finally returned to the tree.
“What now?” Pumkin asked.
“Now we begin construction.”
Pumkin worked throughout the night. He laid the metal skeleton on the ground and covered it with branches. He used the upholstery to make a roof. He covered the gaps between the branches with moss and mud. Then he made a fire pit in the centre and placed stones around it. He built a bed frame from pieces of wood and lined it with more moss.
“I think that’s good enough,” said Abel.
“But it’s not finished yet,” objected Pumkin.
“You must rest, Hungry. You can continue working tomorrow.”
Pumkin climbed inside the makeshift house and lay down on the bed. He fell asleep almost immediately.
In the morning, Pumkin awoke to the sound of birds singing. Sunlight filtered through the leaves and illuminated his new home. He looked around and saw that everything was still intact.
“Good morning,” said Abel.
“Hey,” replied Pumkin.
“How’d you sleep?”
“Pretty well.”
“Good. Are you ready for breakfast?”
“Yes.”
“Come on, then.”
Abel led Pumkin out of the shelter. They walked through the woods until they came to a clearing. In the middle of the clearing stood a deer.
“This should feed you for a few days,” said Abel.
Pumkin nodded and readied his gun. He aimed carefully and fired. The deer fell dead.
“Excellent shot,” said Abel. “Let’s drag it back home.”
“Okay.”
Pumkin carried the carcass back to their campsite and hung it up on a tree branch. He cut away the hide and prepared the meat for cooking.
“You did well,” said Abel. “That deer is big enough to feed you for quite a while.”
“Thanks,” replied Pumkin.
He cooked the venison and ate it. It tasted delicious.
“So,” said Abel. “How do you feel about spending the rest of your life here?”
“Fine,” replied Pumkin. “Why?”
“I thought you would desire to return to your real home.”
“My real home?” Pumkin queried.
“Yes. Don’t you remember?”
Pumkin hesitated. “I don’t remember. I don’t remember anything. There are certain people I meet who I immediately recognise, like Theo and that man I saw in the newspaper. I know that they’re not lying, and I know that they were a part of my life before. But for some reason, I don’t remember them. I knew Theo’s name before he even told me, but I can’t recall ever seeing him before at any point in my entire life. The only thing I can remember is that I needed salt for my Christmas cookies. I don’t know who the cookies are for. I don’t even know the recipe!”
“Interesting,” observed Abel.
“What is?”
“You are experiencing memory loss, yet you are aware of the fact that you are missing memories. It is curious.”
"How did this happen?”
“I don’t know,” replied Abel. “Perhaps the trauma of your recent experience has caused your mind to block certain information.”
“That’s exactly what Cain told me.”
“My brother is very intelligent. I’m sure he is correct.”
Pumkin nodded.
“What are you planning on doing now?” Abel asked.
"I need to finish building the house.”
Pumkin got up and grabbed one of the car door’s he’d removed. He hammered it to the outside of the house. He repeated this action until he had sealed all the cracks.
“That looks good,” said Abel. “Nice and secure.”
“Thanks.”
Pumkin worked throughout the day, repairing and improving his shelter. When the sun began to set, he went hunting.
“You’re getting better,” said Abel. “Your aim is much more accurate.”
“Thanks.”
They walked back to the tree and prepared a meal of roasted deer meat.
“I could get used to this,” said Pumkin.
“Indeed. And once you’ve finished eating, I suggest we turn in for the night.”
Pumkin agreed, and settled into bed as the sun set and Abel disappeared.
“Pumkin!” Cain said suddenly. Pumkin jolted upright and turned to see Cain reflected in the broken glass.
“I need to talk to you. Go down to the river so I can see you better.”
Pumkin got up and walked towards the river. Cain appeared in the water.
“What is it?” Asked Pumkin.
“My brother means well, but he’s incredibly naive. We can’t stay here forever. Did you forget that the police are still looking for you? They’ll find this place eventually. We have to keep moving!”
“Where will we go?”
“Anywhere but here. The police are searching every town and village in the area. This place is right next to a road. If we stay here, they’ll find us. We need to leave.”
“When?”
“Right now. Grab the food you bought from the shop and follow me.”
Pumkin returned to his house and packed his belongings. Then he followed the river through the woods, as Cain strode alongside him on the water’s surface. They walked for hours until they came across another road. Pumkin looked up and spotted a patrol car about to pass over the bridge.
“There,” said Cain. “Hide under the bridge.”
Pumkin crawled underneath the overpass and waited. The car roared overhead, and Pumkin snuck back out again.
“Let me see your gun.” Cain demanded. Pumkin showed it to him. “Take out the magazine.” Cain instructed.
Pumkin did as he was told.
“You’ve been wasting bullets.” Cain remarked.
“What do you mean?” Pumkin asked.
“This pistol only has capacity for 15 rounds. You need to be smart about how you use them! I know you used two to take out the bailiff and that man at the shop, but why are six more missing?”
“I shot Theo four times.”
“And the other two?”
“I used them when I was hunting with Abel.”
Cain looked disappointed. “You’ve got to think more about how you spend these. You’ve only got seven shots left! Use them wisely.”
Pumkin nodded.
“We need to find a car,” said Cain. “There’s no way we’ll be able to escape the police on foot.”
“How?”
“We’ll walk along the road until we see one. We’ll kill the driver if we have to.”
“Okay.”
They walked for miles along the road. The sky was murky and dark, completely engulfed in clouds. They saw no sign of life. Suddenly, Cain stopped.
“There!” He cried. “Look! Up ahead.”
Pumkin squinted and saw a pair of headlights coming towards them.
“Quick,” Cain urged. Pumkin leapt out in front of the car and readied his weapon. The driver screeched to a halt. The driver rolled down the window and stuck his head out. He was an older man.
“What are you doing?” The man yelled.
“Give me your car,” said Pumkin.
“I beg your pardon?”
“You heard me.”
“You’re crazy. Go away before I call the cops.”
Pumkin pointed the gun at the man’s head.
“I won’t ask you again,” Pumkin warned. “Give me your keys. Now.”
“Alright,” the man said, trembling. “Just don’t hurt me.”
He tossed the keys at Pumkin and stepped out of the vehicle.
“Get in the passenger seat,” ordered Pumkin. “Keep your hands where I can see them.”
The man obeyed. He sat down and held his hands in the air. Pumkin opened the driver’s side door and climbed inside. They drove along the road until they reached the main highway.
“Where are you taking me?” Asked the man.
“I couldn’t leave you there. You would’ve called the police. I need to keep an eye on you.”
“I won’t tell anyone what happened,” promised the man. “I swear.”
“I’ll believe that when I see it,” said Pumkin.
“Where are we going?” The man asked.
“Away from here.”
The man didn’t respond.
“What now, Cain?” Pumkin asked.
Cain appeared in the rear view mirror.
“We’re going straight through all night. We need to get as far away from here as we can.”
Pumkin nodded and kept driving.
“Who are you talking to?” The man asked.
“No one. Forget it.”
They drove in silence for several minutes until the man spoke again.
“I’m sorry,” said the man. “I shouldn’t have threatened to call the police. It was a mistake. Please forgive me.”
“You better pray I do.”
The man looked away and stared out the window. They drove along the highway for several hours. Suddenly, a red light appeared on the dashboard.
“Looks like we’re low on fuel.” Cain remarked.
Pumkin pulled off the road and drove into the next town. He parked the car in front of a gas station.
“Stay here,” he commanded the man. He stepped out of the vehicle and began filling up the gas tank. Once he was done, he went inside the store and paid with the man’s credit card, also purchasing four huge cans of fuel to take with him.
“Good work, Pumkin.” Cain said as Pumkin returned to the car with the cans. “With these cans we won’t have to make another stop like this for a long while.”
Pumkin placed the cans into the trunk and resumed his journey.
The man turned to Pumkin. “Can we stop somewhere and eat?”
“No.”
“But I’m starving.”
“I don’t care. You’re not important to me.”
“Please,” the man begged.
“Forget it.”
The man sulked in silence.
Pumkin drove all night long. In the morning, he pulled over and parked the car behind a large boulder. The sky was still grey, and the sun was completely covered.
“Wake up,” he said to the man.
The man awoke with a start. He blinked groggily and looked around. “Where are we?”
“I’ve had enough of you.” Pumkin said. “It’ll take ages for them to find your body all the way out here.”
“What do you mean?” The man asked, panicked.
Pumkin raised the gun.
“No, please,” the man begged.
Pumkin pulled the trigger and shot the man through the head.
“There. That should do it.”
Pumkin stepped out of the car, climbed up the boulder and looked out across the landscape. In the distance, he saw a town.
“Perfect,” said Pumkin. “We can get more food from there.”
He climbed back down again, before removing the man’s body from the car and leaving against the back of the boulder. He returned to the vehicle and continued his journey.
The town was small, but it had a grocery store and a gas station. He parked the car outside and entered the store. He purchased food and drinks and took them back to the vehicle.
“That should be enough,” said Cain. “We can keep going for a while.”
Pumkin nodded.
He started the car and drove towards the edge of town.
Suddenly, he saw flashing lights in the rear view mirror.
“Oh no,” groaned Pumkin. “We’ve got company.”
Pumkin drove faster, trying to lose the police car, but it was no use. The cops gained ground, closing in on him.
“There’s nowhere else to go,” said Cain.
“■■■■.”
“Don’t panic,” said Cain. “Stay calm and pull over. Maybe they won’t recognise you. We’re miles away from Waverley now.”
Pumkin obeyed. He slowed down and pulled over. The cop car pulled up behind him and parked. Two policemen got out and walked towards him.
“Stay calm,” Cain repeated.
“Sir, can I ask you to step out of the car?” One of the officers asked.
Pumkin nodded. He got out of the vehicle and stood facing the cops.
The officer proceeded to open the trunk of the car.
“Sir, what are these?” The cop asked, holding up the cans of fuel.
“Fuel.” Pumkin answered.
“I can see that,” said the cop. “Why are you carrying so much fuel?”
“In case my car runs out.”
“Sir, please answer the question.”
“It’s because I’m a survivalist. I like to be prepared.”
The officer looked at his partner and frowned.
“I’m gonna need you to come with me,” said the second officer.
Pumkin sighed. He knew he was caught.
“Am I under arrest?”
“No, not yet. We just want to ask you some questions.”
Stealthily, Pumkin reached for his pistol.
“Sir, keep your hands where I can see them.”
Pumkin withdrew his hand.
“Sir, step away from the vehicle. Keep your hands in the air.”
“Yes, sir.”
Pumkin complied.
“What’s your name, sir?”
“Hungry Pumkin.”
“I need to see some ID.”
Pumkin produced his driver’s license.
The officer examined it closely.
“Sir, please wait here. Do not move.”
Pumkin nodded. The officers walked back to their car. He could see one of them pull out a walkie-talkie.
Pumkin reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a knife. He gripped the handle tightly. He took a deep breath and exhaled.
“You’ve got to do it now, Pumkin. If you don’t, they’ll arrest you.” Cain urged.
Pumkin didn’t reply.
“It’s now or never.”
Pumkin closed his eyes and lunged forward, stabbing the first cop in the neck. He pulled the blade out and stabbed the second officer in the chest. The men fell to the ground, dead. Pumkin dragged the bodies into the bushes and wiped his knife clean.
“Great job, Pumkin. Let’s go.”
Pumkin hurried back to his car and got inside. He started the engine and sped away.
“Well done,” said Cain.
“Thanks,” replied Pumkin.
They continued driving towards the horizon.
“You have a new problem.” Cain informed Pumkin.
“What is it?”
“One of those officers called for backup right before you stabbed them. They know we’re in this area now.”
“■■■■. What should I do?”
“Head west. The forest is dense there, and the roads are narrow. If we’re lucky, we’ll get away.”
Pumkin nodded, and made a sharp turn onto a dirt road. He followed it for miles, taking notice of the road signs he passed.
“Pumkin, watch out!” Cain shouted.
Pumkin looked up and saw a tree trunk lying across the road. He swerved to the left and narrowly avoided hitting the tree. He continued driving and eventually reached the edge of the forest.
“Now what?” He asked.
“Take this path,” Cain instructed. “It’s narrow and winding, but there’s no way anyone will be able to follow us.”
“Alright.”
They drove through the trees, dodging branches and rocks.
“Do you think they’re behind us?”
“Could be. They’ll be looking for your car.”
“■■■■ it.”
“Don’t worry, Pumkin. Just keep driving. I’ll warn you if we’re being followed.”
They drove for hours until they reached a clearing.
“Stop,” Cain ordered.
Pumkin braked and came to a halt. He got out of the car and surveyed the area. It was getting darker again, but the clouds hadn’t yet parted.
“What is it?” Pumkin asked.
“It looks safe enough.”
“So why are we stopping?”
“Because you need to rest. You’ve been driving nonstop for almost twenty-four hours.”
“What about the cops?”
“They can’t possibly follow us all the way out here.”
Pumkin yawned and stretched.
“I guess you’re right,” he said. Pumkin got back in the car, reclined his seat and lay down to rest.
“Pumkin.” Cain said softly. Pumkin opened his eyes and saw Cain in the mirror.
“Yeah?”
“Do you still have that knife?”
“Yes.”
"Good.”