'Samson' Chapter 18 'Akecheta'

Chapter 18 ‘Akecheta’

 

The Mexican had spotted a movement in the corner of his eye; his attention was now turned from the one remaining wounded wolf, for he had a new battle now!  The wounded wolf was yelping louder as the Mexican stood above it, its face snarling at the demon and the evil within the human body it possessed.  The Mexican walked away from the wolf, he stepped to the middle of the clearing, then he fiercely ripped the t-shirt from his body, his face contorted into rage and anger, his voice loud and deep boomed around the clearing.

‘You show up again…..you and the old man, who thinks he can aid you from up above’ he laughed loudly ‘I hope you have enjoyed your life Indian man, because today is the last day you will ever feel the clean air that surrounds you!’ The Mexican held the gun in his hand, feeling the steel trigger ‘you come with your ancient weapons to a twenty first century fight, you come to die!’

Akecheta shook his head ‘today is a good day and whatever the outcome, tomorrow will also be a good day, I do not fear the death that you bring only the life that you give!’

The Mexican raised the pistol and pointed it directly at Akecheta’s head, he laughed loudly as he pulled the trigger ‘fuckin fool.’

Samson held his breath as he watched the slow pull of the Mexican as he squeezed the trigger oh God noooooo but no sound came, no shot, just the empty click, click, click as the Mexican squeezed again and again.  Samson squeezed the stick he was holding tighter, he was afraid but he was determined to help these wounded animals and the Indian man named Akecheta, his allies.

Akecheta pulled his vest from over his head and threw it to the ground next he pulled out the large Bowie knife ‘your guns do not work, here, evil one’ he looked around the clearing.  He could see hundreds of Indian braves, his people all lined around the perimeter watching, he was not alone in his fight Wakatanka was with him ‘now you will have to fight the old way!’

The Mexican fired off two more clicks, two more empty shots then slung the useless gun toward the injured wolf, and it connected with the wolf’s head side on, hitting it on the side of the head sending a loud yelp around the clearing.   Samson winced with pain at the thought of the injured wolf, he immediately ran over to the beast which had now stopped moving as it lay helpless on its side.  The wolf’s chest rose and fell in soft steady rasps as Samson crouched down and began gently stroking its soft fur.  It whimpered softly as Samson continued stroking its head where the pistol had just connected ‘its ok boy’ he whispered softly as he watched the Mexican and Akecheta circle around the clearing, both of them holding knives outstretched at the ready.  Both of them waiting to see who would make the first move?

Akecheta pounced his knife which he held in his right hand slashed out towards the Mexican’s midriff, slicing across his taught muscle, just another scar to go with the many he already possessed, voices could be heard coming from the Mexican’s mouth, different voices and in many forms and sounds.  Akecheta glanced at the silent army of Lakota Sioux warriors who stood armed and watching around the clearing, like the Chinese army of the dead???? Each and every one of them carrying no emotion as they stared at the battle now being waged in the clearing in front of them.  The Mexican stepped to the side as Akecheta pounced once more, in one fluid movement the Mexican swung out with his right foot, connected with Akecheta’s knee.  Akecheta fell instantly to the floor, and rolled away as the Mexican followed through with a downward stabbing movement, the voices inside him giggled and taunted.  Akecheta was now back onto his feet swinging his knife around just as the Mexicans arm swiped downward, the two knives blocking each other with a loud clink.

The Mexican again swung out with his left fist and it caught Akecheta on the side of the head, the Mexicans face was contorting around; his features, bubbling and raging like a pool of lava ‘come on Indian boy, is that the best you’ve got?’

It was Akecheta now who swung out with his right hand, the movement of his arm just missed the Mexicans stomach, Akecheta tried to pull his arm away but now it was between the Mexicans side and his forearm, the Mexican pulled his arm into his side trapping Akecheta’s arm instantly.  The force of strength that the Mexican used to hold Akecheta trapped was unlike any strength Akecheta had ever felt in his life, he tried to pull his arm away but it held firmly stuck, the Mexican head-butted Akecheta, their heads were close to one another.  Akecheta could smell the Mexican’s breath, a stale, deathly, fleshy smell almost rotten ‘fuckin Indian boy’ he head-butted Akecheta again.  It would have been so easy for the Mexican to end it, but Akecheta knew he was toying with him let him play the longer he plays the more chance I have!

Akecheta felt his eyebrow explode open, blood shot over the Mexicans face I’ve got to do something before he ends it and stabs me with his free arm? He tried once again to pull his arm away, but it was no use, next using his left hand he punched the Mexican twice in the solar plexus, then again harder this time, he heard the wind coming out of the Mexicans stomach come on.  He punched again, then followed this up by head-butting the Mexican, his forehead caught the Mexican directly on his nose, Akecheta felt buoyed as he saw the split appear across the bridge of the Mexicans nose.

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The Killdeer Mountains, North Dakota:  

Annawan, danced around the fire, his aged old body doused in sweat, he sang quietly an old Lakota Sioux battle song, all the time he stared into the fire as it raged bluer and bluer in colour.  He could see the battle through the eyes of the hawk, he could see his ancestors all stood around the clearing, he could see the boy gently stroking the wolf as it took its last breaths, slow gentle breaths its helpless chest rising and falling in an almost rhythmic pattern.  Annawan summoned the spirits in the song, to give the power of the wolf to the losing Akecheta; his eyes were glazed and pained as part of his mind thought about Akecheta. The man his daughter was destined to marry, the man who was like a son to him and the man who would die in the clearing if he could not find some way to help him!  Again he sang to the spirits as he saw the wolf’s chest stop moving! 

*          *          *          *          *

 

The Rocky Mountains: 

Samson was gently stroking the wounded wolf as its breathing slowed; each breath it took lasted longer as though its lungs could no longer take any more air.  Samson knew that any moment the wolf would take its last breath, so it came as no surprise when eventually the wolf’s chest moved no more.  Samson had tears in his eyes, they burned his cheeks as they rolled down his cheek onto his neck so much death, so much cruelty, it’s all so hopeless, so needless, why God, why do you allow this evil to thrive? 

Suddenly Samson felt the wolf’s body stiffen, then he felt a kind of vibration as though the spirit of the wolf had passed through Samson in some strange kind of way Samson felt hope rise inside him, hope and fight.  He could see the clearing surrounded by Indian warriors and then as the spirit of the wolf passed through him, they disappeared from his view.  Samson knew he had seen them but now they were gone, he blinked several times, sometimes he saw them and sometimes he didn’t, but still he found heart and hope, he saw Akecheta suddenly stiffen, his arm which was trapped between the Mexicans side and forearm suddenly turned into a claw! 

Akecheta felt unusual as though some thing, some kind of force had entered his body, he felt liberated, he felt….strange but most of all he felt strength, a strength he had never felt before in his life.   His muscles rippled like they had never done before, his arm was still trapped by the side of the demon.  His hand felt different….his fingers felt like claws, as they dug into the demons side, the demon let go slightly with his grip, enabling Akecheta to withdraw his arm instantly.  As his arm pulled free Akecheta could make out that it was covered in fur what the….The demon turned its face contorted with pain as its eyes looked down to its side, where the claw hand of Akecheta had sliced through his skin.  The painful expression turned to anger as it lunged forward at Akecheta, who immediately dodged to his right.  As the demon drew level the left hand of Akecheta lashed out, hitting the demon on the temple, sending the creature rolling to its side, Akecheta made to dive, but the demon was already up on its feet.

Akecheta’s body had already left the floor and was now landing at the spot where the demon had previously lain, as he hit the floor the demon pounced on top of his back.  With the last attack the demon had dropped the knife but now the demons hands clamped around Akecheta’s throat, starving his windpipe of the vital air needed to keep him alive, the demon pulled his hands together tighter and tighter ‘come then little Indian man’ his voice was a loud rasp.

 

Samson had now left the wolf and reaching down he picked up the large stick he had carried earlier, he was heading to where the demon was battling Samson’s one hope of survival.  As he approached Samson could feel his heartbeat getting stronger, he was stood next to the grappling pair with fear that his heart would pound out of his chest.  The Mexican demon was atop of Akecheta his hands tightening more and more around the Indian man’s windpipe he’s going to kill him without any hesitation and with his heart pounding like a jackhammer Samson raised the thick stick high above his head, then with all the strength he could muster he brought the stick down to bare.  It connected with a loud thud on the back of the demons head, instantly drawing blood as it spurted through the air just missing Samson who had now stepped sideways on, bringing the stick back he swung it like a baseball bat.  As he swung his mind thought back to his old P.E teacher at school “always focus on the ball, picture its route and swing” and that’s exactly what he did he swung with all his might, his eyes totally focussed on the head of the demon.  Then he watched and felt the connection as his stick hit the demon on its right hand ear.  The demon was instantly forced to let go of its grip on Akecheta as it was knocked sideways off its foe, Samson swung the stick again hitting the demon on its back, then once more.  He was aware of Akecheta who had rolled onto his side gasping desperately for oxygen, and then Samson swung again.

The stick came down with speed but the demon had already rolled to the side and swept its foot around sweeping both Samson’s legs from under him.  It all happened in slow motion as Samson felt himself swept up in the air then he fell to earth with a loud thud.  As soon as he landed he felt the air leave his stomach and chest and pain shot through every muscle, just as time returned to normal again…..then he felt the weight of the demon on top him, he knew then that he was about to die please God.

There was a loud deep laugh ‘does he hear you boy….does he help?’ his hands closed around Samson’s throat.

 Samson’s mind replayed his whole life in seconds as he felt the life being crushed from him, and he thought he could see a light like the opening of the cave he had hidden in, but not dark, bright.  Samson looked toward the light his mind thought he could see his father and mother and Candice and in the distance he could hear the hearty laugh of the devil.

*          *          *          *          *

 

The Killdeer Mountains, North Dakota:  

Annawan watched as Akecheta started to get the upper hand, then as soon as he had felt hope, the demon had bettered him once again.  He had to do something….then he saw the boy go to the aid of Akecheta, saw the boy hitting the demon.  In slow motion it happened, all so slow the demon was now atop of the boy named Samson, the boy was about to die we must do something to help, oh great Wakatanka we cannot let evil prevail.

*          *          *          *          *

 

The Rocky Mountains: 

Samson caught a movement out the corner of his eye as he felt the last breath leave his body, but instantly he thought his eyes must be deceiving him?  An Indian brave ran through the clearing and entered the body of the demon, who instantly released its grip on Samson’s throat and was then flung backwards to the floor.  The demon rolled around arms flailing, and then suddenly Samson saw the shape of the Indian brave exit the demons body and then slump to the floor at its feet.

The demon let out a laugh as it stamped its boot into the spirit at its feet, then it roared as it looked around the clearing seeing the Indian spirits that had come to defeat him ‘this is it, you send these’ he stamped his foot into the spirit at its feet once again.

Akecheta had regained his breath and now rose to his feet once more, he saw the demon stamp onto the spirit and threw the bowie knife, it spun through the air, connecting with the demons thigh, where it entered right to the hilt.

The demon screamed and spun around to face Akecheta ‘enough of these silly games Indian it is time you die’ he pulled the bowie knife from his leg and licked his tongue down the blade ‘you think these spirits can help you defeat me!’  Then in an almost speed of sound movement he threw the bowie knife at Akecheta, then followed by charging right at him.

Akecheta did not see the knife leave the demons hand, his attention had been drawn to the spirits of his ancestors, then suddenly he felt the knife enter his right shoulder, he was flung back and onto his knees.  He turned his head just in time to register the demon as it launched its attack, Akecheta rolled to the side and at the same time sprang to his feet, his feet sweeping round high in the air in an arc it connected with the demons head, knocking it sideways.  With his left hand Akecheta pulled the tomahawk free from his belt as the demon moved in toward him once again, he stepped to the side and dropped to his knee swinging the tomahawk low along the ground it connected with the demon at the back of its knee joint on its right leg.  Akecheta felt the tomahawk enter the leg, cutting through its cruciate ligament, stopping as it hit bone.  He yanked with all his strength as he pulled the weapon free.  The demon had dropped to one knee and Akecheta had risen in a spin, still clutching the tomahawk he swung it high in an arc and downward to the demons neck.

The demon saw the tomahawk sweep down toward it and at the same time reached its arm upwards to the Indians shoulder, grabbing the bowie knife he pulled it free and drove it toward the Indians stomach, but before he connected he felt a pain rip through his body.  It was a pain unlike any he had ever felt before; his arm stopped its outward thrust toward the Indian as he looked down at the cause of his pain.  He blinked as he saw the tip burst through his chest, then he felt the tomahawk connect with his neck, he coughed blood as he dropped to his other knee, still looking down at the spear that had skewered him.  

Samson pushed harder and harder until his hand-made spear exited the demons chest; his teeth were clenched tight as he made one last final push, at the same time Akecheta connected with the tomahawk sending plumes of blood spurting high into the air.  Samson wasn’t bothered about the blood he was more concerned about Akecheta who had now let go of the tomahawk and stood swaying on the spot as he looked down at the Mexican demon.  Akecheta blinked twice and then he began falling backward, with instincts like an animal Samson dived to where Akecheta was falling throwing himself to the ground to help cushion the blow.  Akecheta landed atop of Samson forcing the air out of Samson’s lungs, Samson lay under him until he could breathe again and then he slowly slid from under his ally.  Samson then rose onto his knees, he glanced over to the Mexican demon that was still kneeling his eyes white, he rocked back and forth, his breathing slow and hoarse, blood pouring from his neck, chest and leg.

Voices came from his mouth, they seemed distant and quiet, but Samson did not care about that he had to get Akecheta’s wound under control.  He leapt to his feet and pulled the t-shirt from over his head, he folded it into a tight wad and pushed it into Akecheta’s shoulder wound, then he untied his boots and using the laces he tied the t-shirt into place, securing it tight into Akecheta’s shoulder.  He heard a noise and turned to see the Mexican devil roll onto his side, the body hit the floor and began to spasm, Samson watched, movement caught his eye and his sight was instantly drawn to the Indian braves surrounding the clearing.  As one they began walking towards Samson and Akecheta, where once they arrived the turned and formed a perimeter wall two, three maybe four braves thick around the two living souls.

The body of the Mexican demon convulsed several times and then slowly a black shape exited through his mouth, the shape rose into the air and began circling above Samson and Akecheta, it swooped downwards several times.  On each ascent the Indian braves fought the shadow away until eventually it gave up and soared into the sky and then turning it sped away.

*          *          *          *          *

 

            The Killdeer Mountains, North Dakota: 

            Annawan stood looking into the fire, his body drained of energy and soaked in sweat, his skin looked more haggard than it had previously, he could find no voice.  Turning he faced northwards where he stood staring.  After some time he could make out a shape, travelling at exceptional speed, he nodded and spread his arms open wide, closing his eyes Wakatanka the one true spirit aid me in my hour of need!

   The dark shape sped toward the Killdeer Mountains, towards Annawan where as soon as it reached it entered the waiting Sioux warrior.  Annawan stood upright and felt the spirit enter him, his body battled within itself like a person having an epileptic fit.  Eventually Annawan brought his hands upto his head; his palms either side of his scull he squeezed tightly then he sprinted forward, with seconds he reached the two hundred metre drop and he leapt from the side!  A smile played his face as he fell ground ward!

*          *          *          *          *

 

            The Calcone Residence, Kansas City: 

            Marco Calcone rose from his chair and walked toward the French doors leading to the garden, he had a strange feeling, the kind of feeling that he was being watched.  He reached the doors and looked out upon the grounds; he was unaware of the shadows as they began closing in upon him!  Slowly they crept down the room toward him, from under the pictures that hung from the walls, from under the table that spread the length of the room, from the chairs that lined the table.  The shadows began to descend upon their prey!

*          *          *          *          *

 

            The Rocky Mountains: 

            Samson sat and watched as Akecheta opened his eyes ‘hi’ Samson whispered.

            Akecheta blinked ‘is it over?’

            Nodding Samson spoke ‘yes’ tears began forming in the corners of his eyes ‘what will happen now, what will happen to me?’

            Akecheta slowly rolled onto his side and then onto all fours and lastly up onto his feet, he looked at his shoulder and nodded ‘we have to get to civilisation and then tell the authorities what has happened here, about your parents and the evil that came upon us!’

            ‘Will they believe us?’

            ‘Maybe, we won’t quite tell them everything……..we have a long walk and that gives us plenty of time to sort out our story!’

            Samson looked to Akecheta ‘but you haven’t answered my question!’

            ‘I know, and that is because I do not know the answer……..someone sent those creatures after you and your family, they were sent to kill you all but one of you is still alive………will they give up knowing that?  Or will they try to eliminate all loose ends?’

            ‘Can we not go to the authorities, can I not stay with you, I feel……. I’ll be safer with you, safer until I’m ready!’

            Akecheta looked at Samson ‘ready for what?’

            Samson looked at him like the answer was obvious ‘to go after whoever sent them, the person or persons that had my family killed!’

            Akecheta shook his head ‘whoever that person may be, he or she has friends in very bad places……sometimes it pays to let things be my little friend!’

            Samson looked at him and swallowed ‘I will get vengeance for my family…….if it’s the last thing I do!’ 

 

The End

I hope you enjoyed the final chapter of Samson and I hope you enjoyed his adventures through the Rocky Mountains........a place I have not ever been but would one day like to attend!!  If you enjoyed Samson why not download 'The Semiotic Networks' to your kindle its free on some sites :-) happy reading folks.......

Dean Horton