enemy. I am your nightmare, I am your best friend. I am you…

------------------------

“Jenna, don’t lie to me. I know you just want to make her happy, but that’s the end! You can’t cover her like this! I thought you are wiser…”

“Don’t talk to me like this. How many times she wanted you to go with her? And how many times you went? I don’t want to have a quarell with you, but…”

“Well, then let’s find her. Just tell me where she is.”

“I will go with you…” Jenna`s eyes dropped, “It`s my fault… you are right, dear.”

---------------------

“Mum, I tried to find him, but I didn`t…. no no no, wait… Mum, I found him and he is the most wicked… that wouldn’t do it. Mum, Steele’s dead. He he he, no… of course.” Clay tried to find out what he would say his old mum. Well, she wasn’t that old. About 8 or 9 years. But he didn`t want to dissapoint her.

He was on road to Nome. He couldn’t think clearly when there were a lot of others around him, but now he gave it up. He was near Nome when he saw Balto and Jenna running down the forrest. They sounded desperate and he heard something about missing Aleu, so he followed them, unseen.

----------------

Morning broke still. Cage was opened and Aleu was gone. Patrick didn’t know what happened, but he knew Aleu was gone, she managed to escape. And what was the strangest, Steele and Ryan and Connie were missing. They probably left to catch that wolf pup. He sighed, took his rifle and followed their tracks.

----------------

Aleu ran as fast as she could. She didn’t believe it. She woke up and cage was opened! Somebody set her free, but she didn’t know who. She ran the shortest way to Nome. She remembered the way where she was carried, when she was in the trap.

About two hundred meters behind her was Steele. He knew she would take him to Balto, who was probably running towards her. That suits him the best. Balto would find his end in the middle of the wilderness and he, Steele, would be out of suspicion. No witnesses.

But there were more dogs he didn’t counted on. His enemy, his love, his former love and his brother.

----------------

Balto was lead perfectly not only by weak Aleu’s scent, but with his instincts. He just knew Aleu is somewhere there. He ran as fastest he could. Jenna was not so fast, but she kept up. And Clay was right behind them.

It was great run. They all took but short rests and it was about 4 pm when was Balto passing little cave on the cliff that was rising above river. And he saw something familiar in the far that was advancing towards him. Just few steps… yes, there was no mistake…

“Aleu!” He yelled

“Dad!”

“I have a talk with you,” Balto was nearly exhausted, but happy. “Mum will arrive soon... oh, here she is.”

“Mum!”

“Aleu! I was terribly scared.” Jenna had tears in her eyes.

“Let’s rest here. In that cave. Like the other day.” He smiled.

Jenna’s here, too. That’s not good. I will have to take care of her, too.

WHAT THE HELL YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING TO DO?

…

YOU WANT TO KILL THEM ALL?

…

SAY SOMETHING WHEN I AM TALKING WITH YOU

…

Yes, yes, I got it. But admit it – you won’t do this. You have lived in the lies and you were even lying to yourself. I know your true feelings. You won’t do this.

… Are you sure?

----------------------

CHAPTER 11: ARE YOU CRYING?

Balto, Jenna and Aleu were about entering the cave. It was warm and dry inside. Jenna was happy and relieved, so Balto and Aleu. And it would be perfect day for them, if…

“Oh, how nice family trip…”

That voice was dreadfully familiar. Balto turned and saw Steele.

“What… are … you... doing… here?” he growled.

“Me? Nothing at all, I was going around and I thought I should pay you a visit.”

“So you saw us, and now go…” Jenna thundered.

“Ah, Jenna, Jenna… sweet and hearty as always.” He came closer and that was great fault. Balto growled and jumped on Steele. But he was prepared. He knocked Balto off and threw him against solid rock. Balto hit it, but although the pain, he stood up: “Get off… Jenna and Aleu…” he hissed, but Steele didn’t pay attention to him.

“And what a beautiful kid you have. She served me well. I know when somebody is the wolf bred, like… that pathetic thing…”

Balto, blinded by anger, leapt once more, but Steele expected it. He just stood aside and Balto fell on the ground right in front of him. Steele pressed Balto’s neck with paw.

“So… should we end it? Everything I need is right here. Under my paw.”

“Ahem… that’s little bit cowardly in my opinion. Killing someone who can’t defend himself.”

Steele turned his head in surprise. Jenna had a sigh of relief and for Aleu: Her fear was replaced by joy and relief. The one, who stood behind Steele, was Clay.

“Who are you? Don’t you see I have bussines, here?”

“Well, actually I see. But what are you doing right now is very bad, so I suppose you are sorry for this and you are leaving them alone.”

“Don’t make me laugh.”

Clay came near Steele. His eyes were no longer friendly and full of joy. They were same as Steele’s.

“Let him be…”

“Or what? You are a friend of this half wolf scum?”

“Well, I don’t know if he calls me a friend, but I know him.”

Steele put his paw down from Balto’s neck, who gasped.

“So, who you are, you…”

“You can call me Clay.”

Steele hit him without warning and knocked him down. Clay stood up quickly. “Nothing less from you.”

“And that’s only beginning!”

-------------------

Connie was frightened. Because of Steele. He left such quickly and he didn’t tell her. She followed his scent. ‘Please, Steele, love… don’t do anything stupid… I don’t want to lose you.’

------------------

Steele was much stronger than Clay, who was bleeding from wounds Steele caused him.

“Just a flesh wound…”

Aleu whispered to Jenna: “Mum… why Clay doesn’t fight?”

“I don’t know, love, but it seems he has some plan or what.”

Balto stood up. He had broken rib or what. “Jenna, Aleu, run away. He wants me.”

Jenna just shook her head: “No, dear, I won’t leave you, so do Aleu. You are my husband and.. I can’t abandon you just like this and…”

Loud noise interrupted her. Steele was standing above Clay, who lain on his back. And Steele’s fangs were dangerously near Clay’s neck.

“Just… tell me… one reason, why I shouldn’t kill you.” Steele grownled, prepared for delivering final bite.

“Yeah, mum says hello, little brother!”

Steele turned into stone for a moment: “WHAT?!”

“Oh, come on, you wouldn’t kill your own brother, would you?”

“He is right, Steele,” Jenna shouted. “He is-“

“Shut up!”

“Should I tell them when did you wet your bed last time?” Clay asked.

“That would be… very interesting…” Another dog entered their little party. Aleu and Steele recognized Ryan.

“Steele… you did just one… mistake… you was born… and you don’t deserve to live.

Now, I am your opponent. I will kill you this time for all you have done to Connie… to Balto… to me…”

Steele got of from his brother. “You… I thought you had enough. And I was wrong…”

He pushed Ryan to the edge of the cliff.

“Maybe… Connie wants to say… something to you.”

“Steele?”

Oh great.

Yes, great indeed. All is lost. Just for your pathetic revenge. But… not all. You can stop while you can.

“Shall we tell her who you really are, Steele?” Ryan asked growling.

Steele looked he would give everything for not to tell her for a moment, but then he shouted: “Fine, do so! Do you think she is important to me?”

Yes. All is lost right NOW!

Connie gasped and she hardly believed her ears. She began to cry and hugged the nearest dog.

“Uh, would you mind to… well… you will get dirty because of all that blood.” Clay looked helplessly.

“You needn’t to tell me. I know everything… Aleu and Ryan told me about him. But I… I thought I could change him… and I loved him, despite of all he had done. I thought everybody deserve one more chance… ” Her cry was louder nad louder.

“I warned you… hurt her… and I will kill you. You did your part, so then it’s my turn!”

Steele was surprised. He had been planning to betray her, but when he did it, he felt terribly.

Now he saw how much Connie loved him, although she knew him only for a short time.

Hey, isn’t it regret what you feel right now?

Ryan attacked. But his anger was cold. He didn`t any mistake and perfectly hit Steele without being scratched. Ryan knocked Steele down and now he looked like a demon of the revenge.

“Take a good breath… because it will be your last…”

“Ryan… stop!” Balto shouted. He hated