SummerSnows> When we left off, Blaire Dahmer had disappeared in a puff of smoke after falling into the fireplace/oven. Did you say something about an inhuman smell? ;)

SummerSnows> The agents had left the house, and are now lost in the woods.

Brandi> Scully: Mulder...

Brandi> Mulder is distracted... they've been walking for hours and he can't stop talking about what they left behind

Brandi> Mulder: I still think we should go back Scully... get proof. There's residue in the oven, I know it.

SummerSnows> LOL. That's so Mulder :)

Brandi> Scully: Mulder the only thing we need to concentrate on is getting out of these God forsaken woods. Aren't you worried at all about what happened to Kyle?

Brandi> Mulder: Scully, are you missing time? You didn't see what was back there? His shirt, the watch... He's baked in a pound cake, Scully, as I was, almost.

Brandi> Scully rolls her eyes, stopping to stretch a minute. She has no idea where they are.

SummerSnows> You've been, as you say, walking for hours. You must be sleepy... so sleepy. Poor Scully has been up since the crack of dawn, kneading bread, mixing marinades, and stirring stews. And Mulder, thinking that his days were numbered and that that number was one, hasn't slept well anyway.

Brandi> Scully: Mulder, I've already told you, I became dizzy, I was disoriented... I think she drugged me..

Brandi> Mulder: Scully, you just don't get it, do you? What we were a part of back there was real. What the hell do you think she had me tied up for? Why were you playing Betty Crocker? She was gonna eat me, Scully. She's a witch! A real witch and the proof is back there, deduced to ashes. Now get some latex on, we're turning back...

Brandi> Scully looks at him sternly. There's no way she's going back there

Brandi> Scully: We're not going anywhere. I'm exhausted, Mulder, we both are. We need to rest. No matter what her motives, the woman was deranged. Now help me find a safe place to lie down, we need our strength.

Brandi> Mulder looks at her, knows she's right and relents. They find a not-so-damp clearing and are soon both out like a light.

SummerSnows> OC-just letting you know I heard a lightning strike. In case I get disconnected, you know what happened :)

Brandi> Oh my gosh! Nancy! That's so terrible. I hope it will be all right. Same for me, LOL... it's still raining :-/

Brandi> Scully's sleep is light and restless... what if Mulder is right? There *is* some evidence to support him, but...

Brandi> There isn't enough proof to tag this on a "witch." She remains softened but unconvinced to Mulder's theory.

SummerSnows> There is a sound of rustling leaves.

SummerSnows> It is very dark, but for the moonlight.

Brandi> Mulder awakes with a start, as he does most nights. Deep sleep is not second nature to him, anyway. He reaches for his empty holster, producing air. Dahmer had taken their weapons at the house.

Brandi> Mulder: "Scully!" he whispers, nudging her slightly. "Scully!" It's louder this time, and she awakes full aware, as if she hadn't slept at all.

Brandi> Mulder: There's something out there Scully... I can feel it... watching us...

SummerSnows> . *rustle, rustle*

Brandi> Scully: Mulder, you're exhausted. It's a wild animal, it's nothing. Dahmer is dead, I saw it with my own eyes.

Brandi> This time Scully heard it too.

Brandi> Scully: Ok... that's no animal.

Brandi> They spring to their feet, flailing blindly in the dark, their backs against each other, covering all directions with their lack of vision.

Brandi> Scully: Who's there!? she calls out into the night.

Brandi> Mulder: We're federal agents, come out with your hands up!

SummerSnows> "Okay, okay, don't shoot!" The voice sounds hoarse.

Brandi> Scully: Show yourself! (her voice is higher, impatient and edged with fatigue)

Brandi> Mulder and Scully wait until the figure becomes apparent in the pool of moonlight just before them...

SummerSnows> A figure comes out from the dark shadows into the lighter shadows. "My name is Kyle. Kyle Weisler."

SummerSnows> He's wearing torn blue jeans, a Creed shirt, and a watch.

SummerSnows> But he's missing a sneaker.

Brandi> Though it's dark, Mulder and Scully look as though they've seen a ghost.

SummerSnows> One foot is covered only by a very dirty sock.

SummerSnows> Don't shoot! I didn't do nothing! I'm just lost.

Brandi> Mulder: Kyle Weisler? he feels Scully's tension soften, her relief, but he's not convinced. "Are you injured?" he finally asks.

SummerSnows> Yeah, but I'm okay. Just some scratches on my leg is all.

Brandi> Scully approaches Kyle, doing a brief once over to make sure he's not more seriously injured. She bends down to take a look at his dirty leg, squinting in the pale moonlight for a better look.

SummerSnows> A big smile covers Kyle's face.

SummerSnows> Dudes, like what are you doing out here?

Brandi> Mulder: I was just about to ask you the same question. You realize how many people are worried about you? (Scully stands from her squatting position, brushing dirt off her hands and appraising Kyle's rough worn appearance)

Brandi> Scully: We've been looking for you, Kyle... and we nearly got killed in the first place. What do you know about an old woman that lives out here?

SummerSnows> Me? Oh, sorry, man.

Brandi> Mulder notices her slip, and corrects it: LIVED out here, more like it.

Brandi> Mulder: And she may not be a woman so much as a witch.

Brandi> Scully rolls her eyes, thinking "not this again... "

SummerSnows> I've heard stories, you know? Stupid stories. You don't believe that stuff, do you?

Brandi> Scully: Well you must, why else are you out here?

SummerSnows> Man, I musta fallen asleep or something. Have you seen my shoe?

Brandi> Mulder: You don't remember losing it?

Brandi> Mulder looks down, unconvinced. Something isn't adding up...

SummerSnows> Well, I lost it when that barracuda attacked me - did you say you nearly got killed? Bummer, dude.

Brandi> Scully chortles: Barracuda? I don't think so, Kyle, not in these woods.

Brandi> Mulder: Did you happen to get a look at this "barracuda?"

Brandi> Mulder cont: Did it have gray hair and gnarled wrinkled skin?

Brandi> That earned him a slap on the arm from Scully.

SummerSnows> Nah, man, it's a fish. It had teeth. You know, I musta dreamed that too.

Brandi> Mulder: Kyle, there's an old crone in these woods that tried to eat us... now whether you know about it or not, it's not safe here.

Brandi> Scully: Well do you think you could dream your way out of here, Kyle? Because we may be the rescue crew, but we're as lost as you are.

SummerSnows> Tried to eat you? Man, that's weird, I had the same dream. *He laughs* Awesome, dude.

SummerSnows> You hear the sound of dogs barking.

Brandi> Mulder looks at Scully and she apparently hears it too.

SummerSnows> You hear many footsteps in the soft forest floor too.

SummerSnows> It sounds like Skinner's voice:

SummerSnows> Agent Mulder! Agent Scully!

Brandi> Scully: Sir?!

Brandi> Mulder: Sounds like the cavalry to me... Assistant Director?

SummerSnows> Kyle: Dude! Over here!

SummerSnows> A moment after you see flashlight lights, Skinner appears. So does Adam.

Brandi> Scully squints through the forest, trying to find the direction of what sounds like Skinner...

SummerSnows> Dude!

SummerSnows> Dude!

SummerSnows> Adam: What happened?

Brandi> Mulder: I'm wondering the same thing...

SummerSnows> Kyle: Nothin', man, I just fell asleep. I told you there was nothing out here.

SummerSnows> Kyle, laughing: "You owe me a beer, man."

Brandi> Scully to Skinner: Sir, how did you find us?

SummerSnows> Skinner: Just followed the trail. *points over there* Are you all right?

Brandi> Mulder sees a soap box opportunity and claims it: There is *definitely* something out here, or was, and I intend to prove it. (he begins rattling off orders for a search team and a second unit to go back and search the house)

Brandi> Scully: Yes, sir, we are. A little hungry and dirty, maybe a few cuts and bruises. Nothing that can't be fixed.

SummerSnows> Hold on, Agent Mulder. *What* is out there?

Brandi> Scully looks to Mulder, then over to the trail again: Mulder... where did those pebbles come from?

SummerSnows> He probably gives M a dirty look :)

Brandi> (OC I know that look.. furrowed brow, real evil, LOL)

SummerSnows> LOL Poor Mulder :)

Brandi> Mulder looks at Skinner, staring at the throbbing vein above his temple: Sir, Agent Scully and I were held against our will by a...

Brandi> Scully: Cannibal (Scully interrupts)

SummerSnows> (OC-throbbing vein, LOL)

Brandi> Mulder looks at her, obviously pissed. She eyes him with a "we'll get into this later" stare.

SummerSnows> Skinner looks back and forth between M&S. "A cannibal."

Brandi> Scully steps up, notoriously better at dealing with Skinner than Mulder: Yes, sir, we were held hostage and preparations for our ingestion were made by an old woman...

Brandi> Scully: I know it sounds preposterous, sir, but I will bear witness to what I've seen.

Brandi> Mulder thinks to himself, still disgusted (of course you will, Scully, but you won't bear witness to what I *know*)

SummerSnows> Kyle: Dude, that's awesome. I had the same dream, man. Something about these woods.

Brandi> Mulder turns his attention to Kyle and Adam: I want separate statements from both of you as soon as we get back.

SummerSnows> Skinner: When did all this happen?

SummerSnows> Kyle: Tonight, dude. What the-?

Brandi> Mulder has been quiet long enough: Yesterday we woke up to discover a house, in which an old woman lived... but the story doesn't end there, in fact it begins much earlier, with the pebbles..

Brandi> Scully: Mulder...

SummerSnows> Skinner: Yesterday? *he looks around, then back at Mulder* You've only been gone less than 12 hours.

Brandi> Mulder turns to Scully, tired and angry: Scully, you saw it! You were there! You can't deny that.

Brandi> Scully to Skinner: Excuse me sir, but what did you say?

SummerSnows> Skinner: Look, you're tired, thirsty, and hungry. You're probably delirious.

SummerSnows> Let's go.

SummerSnows> The search team starts leading the way to the trail, and out of the woods.

Brandi> Scully, Mulder follow the rest, resolving to make sense of it later, if at all...

SummerSnows> As you leave...

SummerSnows> Behind you...

SummerSnows> Quietly, silently, stealthy as a hunter, a hand with withered skin rises above the foliage at the forest floor...

SummerSnows> It examines the top of a tree stump, the fingernails on the end of the gnarled fingers sliding against the exposed rings.

Brandi> (OC *gulp*)

SummerSnows> Finding no pebble, the hand recedes.

SummerSnows> The End