“Wait here.”

Drake turned and walked toward the door.

“Drake stop.” Gemeni said.

Drake stopped and turned.

“What… what if he’s just late?” Gemeni asked. “Maybe we should look for him at Ramsey’s first.”

“That will take too long.” Drake said. “Speed of action may be important now. If Jason said he’d be home by ten, he would’ve been. He’s never just outright disobeyed us. Now, I’m going to talk to Balto.”

Drake walked out of the old mill.

“This isn’t good.” Gemeni thought. “This isn’t good at all…”

Chapter 4:

Balto was awakened from his sleep by a crash in the other room.

He stood up quickly, instantly awake.

“Wonder what that was?” Balto thought, walking toward the door. “Better check it out.”

Balto was surprised to see Drake standing in the kitchen, shattered glass that had until a moment before, been the kitchen window scattered around him.

“What are you doing Drake!” Balto yelled.

“Where is he.” Drake asked, a look of steady determination on his face.

“Who?” Balto asked.

“You know who.” Drake said. “Don’t be stupid with me Balto, now is not the time.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Balto said. “You just broke into my home and start demanding things, what’s wrong with you!”

Drake stared at Balto a moment before he responded. “I’ll ask you one more time, and then this is going to get ugly, where is he?”

Balto growled at Drake. “I don’t know who you’re talking about, but I think you should leave, now Drake.”

“Alright, I’ll humor you.” Drake said. “Jason, where is he?”

“Jason?” Balto said. “I haven’t seen him.”

“No?” Drake said. “Then where else could he be.”

“I don’t know.” Balto said. “Is he missing?”

“Balto, I told you not to play dumb with me.” Drake said, growling back at him. “Jenna tried to kill him and couldn’t finish it. You said then that you weren’t involved, but I am beginning to question that now. I think you knew.”

“Drake, you are making no sense whatsoever.” Balto said. “Now, I’ll ask you one more time, leave my home.”

Drake shook his head. “Not without my son.”

Balto laughed. “Then you’re going to be waiting here a long time. He’s not freakin here!”

“That’s it Balto.” Drake said. “I tried to do this nicely, now I’m not going to be so nice.”

“Is this about Jenna?” Balto asked, anger beginning to creep into his voice. “What are you trying to prove?”

“I’m not trying to prove anything Balto, but I think the time has come for us to settle this, I am through talking. Jason could be hurt, for all I know, you killed him already.”

“You want to fight, is that what this is about?” Balto asked.

“You’ve left me no choice Balto.” Drake said.

“I’m not going to fight you Drake.” Balto said.

“Then you’re going to die.” Drake said. Then he leapt at Balto.

Balto was surprised at his attack, and

Drake knocked him to the ground.

Balto stood up and growled. “Fine then Drake, if it’s a fight you want, you’ve got it.”

He ran at Drake, and the husky hit him in the side of the head, throwing him into the table, breaking one of the chairs.

Balto was barely back to his paws when Drake tackled him, and the two went rolling across the floor, slashing, biting, growling and barking.”

Drake rolled Balto into the wall and Balto felt the world start to spin.

Drake jumped on top of him and bit the back of his neck, drawing a yip from Balto as his teeth penetrated Balto’s skin.

Balto threw drake off him, but Drake jumped him again.

This time, Balto was much weaker, and his legs folded, as he dropped to the floor.

Drake stood over him, and Balto knew it was over. Drake had won. It would all be over soon.

“What did I do?” Balto thought. “What happened to Jason?”

Bap!

Balto felt Drake lifted off him, and turned, puzzled at the source of the sound that had saved his life.

Luke stood half-way down the stairs, the still smoking .45 held steadily in his hands.

Balto looked over at Drake to see a rapidly spreading puddle of dark red blood spreading across the wooden floor.

Drake’s eyes were open wide, shocked at this sudden turn of events. He looked at Balto, and then sagged to the floor, motionless.

“He’s dead.” Balto thought.

Luke walked slowly down the stairs to Balto’s side. Once there, he knelt down and patted Balto on the head.

“Rough night eh boy?” Luke said. “Wonder what prompted him to jump through the window like that.”

Balto sighed and looked at Drake, lying on the floor.

“I might’ve been mad at him,” Balto thought. “...but I didn’t want him to die.”

He sighed.

“Gemeni… how am I going to explain this to her?”

“You alright boy?” Luke asked, as he noticed the blood oozing from the back of his neck, where Drake had bit him. “We need to go see Doc?” Luke asked.

Balto whined.

Luke laughed. “Alright boy, I suppose you know if you’re hurt or not. I’ll let you be.”

He patted Balto on the head. “I’m proud of you boy. You did your best to defend our home, me, you did good.”

Balto licked his hand.

“Alright boy.” Luke said, standing. “I think it’s time for both of us to get back to sleep.”

Luke yawned and scratched Balto behind the ears. “If that bite looks bad in the morning, I’m taking you to see Doc.”

Luke stood and walked back up stairs.

Balto looked over at the body of Drake, which still lay in the kitchen floor.

“I have to be the one to tell her…” Balto thought.

He stood and walked slowly toward the door.

It didn’t take Balto long to make it to the old mill. He walked up and scratched on the door.

There was no answer.

“Probably asleep.” Balto thought. “It is late after all.”

Balto looked up and spotted an open window near a rusty old fire escape.

He climbed the stairs and jumped through the window, then walked down another set of stairs, these inside, to the cutting floor below.

Gemeni was asleep near one of the large machines.

Balto walked over to her.

“How can I tell her this?” Balto thought.

He nudged her with his nose, and Gemeni’s eyes fluttered open.

She yawned. “Balto?”

Balto nodded, and Gemeni sat up. “Do you have any idea what time it is?”

Balto nodded again.

“Have you seen Drake?” Gemeni asked. “He left for your home almost an hour ago.”

Balto nodded again.

“Balto, is there something wrong?” Gemeni asked. “You don’t look so good.”

Balto nodded again. “Gemeni, Drake is… he’s… he’s dead.”

Gemeni’s eyes widened. “Then he was right! You are going to hurt me!”

“What?” Balto asked. “I’d never hurt you. Drake showed up at my house, broke through a window and challenged me to a fight. At first I tried to refuse, but he just kept at me… eventually I fought back. He had me, would’ve probably killed me, but… Luke came down the stairs then, and shot him.”

Gemeni inhaled sharply.

Balto hung his head. “I’m sorry.”

A tear welled up in Gemeni’s eye and dripped down her face, falling to the hard wooden floor below. “It’s… It’s not your fault.” She responded. “Drake left hot headed… God, I should have stopped him.”

Balto sighed. “If it makes it any easier, it was very fast. He probably didn’t even feel it.”

Gemeni nodded.

“Are you alright?” Balto asked.

“I don’t think so.” Gemeni said. “…but I’d like to be alone right now… if you don’t mind Balto?”

Balto nodded and stepped back.

As he was leaving, Gemeni’s soft voice stopped him.

“Balto?”

“What is it Gemeni?” Balto asked.

Gemeni sighed. “Balto, lets keep the cause of his death a secret, let’s say he was killed while trying to track down that thief or something. Otherwise… otherwise Jason might go through his life feeling responsible for his father’s death, and I don’t want that.”

Balto nodded. “I can do that.”

“Thank you Balto.” Gemeni said.

“Is there anything I can do?” Balto asked.

Gemeni shook her head. “I’d rather just be alone right now Balto.”

Balto nodded and turned, walking out of the old shed. As he exited the shed he heard Gemeni start sobbing, finally losing control of the emotions she’d been letting pile up inside her during their conversation.

Balto sighed.

“Drake, what were you thinking?”

He shook his head and