The Soul Stealer

by Alex Archer

  Annja ducked back around the trunk to where Gregor waited for them. He handed her his water bottle, and she readily accepted it. “Thanks.”

  Bob wiped his mouth as he came back. He took a bit of his own water and then shook his head. “Is that what this thing does to its victims? I can’t imagine it. I just can’t imagine doing that to someone else. It’s utterly barbaric.”

  Gregor shook his head. “There is no reasoning for such depravity. Only the foulest creatures of hell can be capable of such things.”

  Annja frowned. “Nowhere in the legends you guys told me did it say anything about this Khosadam thing disemboweling anyone. Remember? She’s supposed to sit on tombstones and suck the souls out of people.”

  “Yeah, but she can also kill people and get their souls that way,” Bob said. “And it certainly looks like that’s what this beast has been doing.”

  “I don’t know,” Annja said.

  “What is your concern?” Gregor asked.

  “Just that it doesn’t seem like the actions of a supernatural creature to rip someone open like that. I mean, short of a werewolf tearing into a person—and we’re not dealing with a werewolf here, are we? It just doesn’t seem like the kind of thing a deity wearing some kind of torture device is going to do.”

  Gregor said nothing for a moment. Then he took a sip of his water. “You may be right.”

  Bob looked up. “About what?”

  Gregor pointed. “Perhaps there is no Khosadam, after all.”

  “Just because she doesn’t think it would kill like that? Then what the hell did do that?” Bob asked.

  Gregor smirked. “We replace one problem with another. Maybe there’s nothing supernatural about this. But there is something hunting around here. And killing.”

  “Wonderful,” Bob said. “So, we’re still in trouble.”

  Annja nodded. “But we love trouble.”

  “I love digs,” Bob said. “And so far, this trip certainly hasn’t lived up to my expectations.”

  “We should go,” Gregor said. “We still have much to climb before night.”

  Annja and Bob followed him farther up the slope. Annja leaned into the hill, trying to carry the weight of her pack on her lower back and upper thighs. She was tired, but she knew she had to keep going. There was no sense stopping yet, not when they needed a better perspective than the one they had.

  As they climbed, Annja looked around. The cold mountain air wafted around them. A few lone bird cries sounded high up in the trees. But otherwise, there seemed nothing out of the ordinary. She felt uneasy, though.

  Bob came up behind her. “Am I the only one getting tired here?”

  “We can’t stop yet. Gregor will want to find a place with a good degree of protection. We need to be able to see from as many vantage points as possible,” she said.

  She glanced around again, studying the landscape and listening for anything unusual. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. She looked back over her shoulder. “I’m getting the feeling that we’re being watched,” she said to the others.

  Gregor’s eyes narrowed. “For how long have you had this feeling?”

  She thought about it. “Maybe forty minutes now.”

  Gregor waved them up behind some rocks. “I, too, have had the sensation that someone is watching us.”

  “You didn’t say anything,” Annja said.

  “Neither did you.”

  The three hikers huddled behind the boulders.

  “This is a good place to watch the trail. If anything is coming, we will see it before it gets too close.”

  They didn’t have long to wait. As they crouched behind the outcropping, Gregor suddenly pointed back down the mountain, his voice a harsh whisper. “There!”

  Annja looked. Making their way up the trail were Yuri and Oleg.

  Gone was any of the friendly demeanor they’d shown the night before over dinner and vodka. In its place, a cloak of lethal danger hung over them both.

  “So much for being businessmen,” Bob said.

  Yuri and Oleg weren’t carrying briefcases.

  They carried AK-47s.

  14

  “So much for our new friends being vacationing businessmen,” Annja said. “I can’t remember the last time I saw that kind of firepower for a simple hike.”

  Gregor frowned and looked up the trail. “We need to put distance between us and them.”

  “You think they’re after us?” Bob asked. “They could be out hunting.”

  Annja glared at him. “That gun fires 7.62 mm rounds, Bob. One of those hits you, it’ll take an arm completely off. That’s not the sort of gear hunters use.”

  “Well, maybe they’re looking for Khosadam, too.”

  Gregor frowned. “I think it would be much better if we were not around when they get up here. I don’t want to take the chance that they are after us. Guns like that do not leave a lot of room for talking.”

  Gregor scrambled up the trail, waving for Annja and Bob to follow. Annja crept up the trail carefully, trying not to make much noise. Bob was behind her and Annja could hear his breathing.

  It seemed strange to her that someone like Bob, so used to adrenaline rushes at dig sites and riding his bike through remote areas, would suddenly turn so timid at the thought of danger. But she supposed facing armed gunmen was something new for a lot of people.

  Unfortunately, it was all-too-familiar ground for Annja.

  Ahead of her, Gregor turned right and motioned for her to follow. As she came up on his position, Annja could see that he had located a huge boulder jutting out of the side of the mountain. It appeared to sit flush against the mountain, but in reality, there was a small amount of space that would just hold the three of them if they squeezed in close. The wind had blown the snow off the trail, so there were no footprints to betray their hidden position.

  “Here,” Gregor said. “We will wait until they pass. Give them the trail and then move up behind them.”

  Annja got herself into the space and waited for Bob to join them. “But where are we going?” she asked.

  Gregor pointed. “There.”

  Annja could just make out a dark patch hidden a few yards up the trail, covered almost entirely behind pine trees. “Is that what I think it is?”

  Gregor nodded. “A cave.”

  Bob squeezed in. “You think that might be where Khosadam lives?”

  Gregor smiled. “We’ll find out.”

  Annja watched as he poked his head out from the side of the rock and then jerked it back in, holding a finger to his lips to quiet them both. Annja strained her ears and could hear bits of conversation as Yuri and Oleg made their way up the trail.

  Gregor seemed to be listening intently. Annja watched his face crease into a frown.

  He’s probably thinking the same thing I am, she thought. Yuri and Oleg don’t seem to be very concerned about things.

  Their voices carried up the trail now. Annja pressed herself closer to the rock, willing Yuri and Oleg not to see them. She could feel Bob’s body trembling next to her. Gregor remained completely still, and it reminded Annja of a pit viper she’d seen one time, coiled and ready to strike.

  Annja closed her eyes and visualized her sword. It hovered in front of her, but when she tried to push her hands forward to grab it, she ran into a wall. She frowned. Stuck in such a tight, confined space, she didn’t have enough room to pull the sword out. If they were discovered, she’d have to launch herself out of the space as fast as possible and then pull the sword free once she was clear.

  The odds, she decided, were not good at being able to do so before Yuri and Oleg pumped her full of hot lead.

  Bob’s body continued to tremble. Gregor looked at Annja, and his eyes had a cold look that Annja had seen many times before. Whoever Gregor was, he knew how to kill and he’d done it before. That much Annja felt sure of. She was glad he was with them. But she wasn’t sure how much she trusted him.

  At lea
st not yet.

  Annja knew that Yuri and Oleg were within a few feet of them. They didn’t slow down, and kept speaking at almost normal volume.

  Why would they talk so freely? she wondered. If they were hunting us, wouldn’t they try to be quiet? Wouldn’t they want to catch us unawares?

  The sounds of the conversation died away as they continued up the trail. Gregor waited another three minutes before risking a look out from their hiding place.

  Annja halfway expected to hear Yuri shout, “Don’t move!” as soon as he did so, but Gregor brought his head in and gave them the all-clear signal, although he still put a finger to his lips, warning them to stay silent.

  Bob moved out of the hiding place after Gregor got out. Annja came out last, tapping Gregor on his shoulder as she did to let him know she was clear. Gregor moved off, crouched low and headed up the trail to the dark place hidden by pine trees.

  Bob followed and Annja brought up the rear. Gregor crossed the trail and hunkered down near the pine trees, well concealed in their branches. He waved Bob across and the cyclist took three quick steps and sneaked into the branches, as well.

  Annja checked up the trail, but all was silent.

  Gregor waved her across.

  Am I going to get drilled as I cross the trail? she wondered. But there was little choice. She had to get across and with Gregor waving her on, she sprinted the short distance and threaded her way into the grove of pine trees.

  Bob leaned against a trunk, breathing deeply. He looked terrified. Annja tried to reassure him with a grin, but Bob just shook his head.

  Annja looked at the cave and then back at the trail. Their choice was Khosadam or Yuri and Oleg. Bob’s day wasn’t going to get any better.

  Gregor ducked back inside the grove and then headed right for the cave opening. Pausing at the entrance, he tossed a rock inside and waited.

  Nothing happened.

  Gregor looked at Annja and nodded. She followed him into the inky darkness. Behind her, she heard Bob stumble once near the opening but then regain his footing.

  The interior of the cave drooped and Annja could tell by the air that the ceiling would be low. She stayed in her crouch until Gregor signaled she could stand.

  She hadn’t noticed it before, but Gregor had a red-lensed flashlight in his hand that threw decent light around the cave without sacrificing the onset of their night vision.

  Annja leaned in close. “Is it safe to speak?”

  “I think so,” Gregor said. “We’re inside now and while we should not speak at regular volume, I believe we are able to whisper without worry.”

  Bob sighed. “I thought I was going to piss all over myself out there when they came past our hiding place.”

  Gregor nodded. “Everyone feels that way when they are hunted.”

  “You know what that’s like?” Annja asked.

  Gregor smiled as shadows danced across his face. “When I was with the military, we had an exercise. Each one of us would go off on their own and there was a hunter force after us. For four weeks we had to elude them and survive on our own in the middle of winter. Horrible cold. Deep snows. And always, they had dogs.” Gregor shook his head. “It was a challenge.”

  “There’s an understatement,” Annja said. “How did you do?”

  Gregor shrugged. “I was only one not captured.”

  “Wow,” Bob said. “You never told me that.”

  “Was not important,” Gregor said. “Just another experience in life.”

  Annja watched him move deeper into the cave. “Real interesting guy you got yourself there, Bob.”

  Bob shook his head. “Sometimes I feel like I don’t even know him.”

  Gregor led them down into the cave. Annja could hear the dripping of condensation higher up on the cave walls. Perhaps there were stalactites overhead. She couldn’t tell since Gregor had the only flashlight and he was using it to light up the ground. A misstep could mean a broken bone.

  And a possible audience with Yuri and Oleg.

  As they moved deeper into the cave, Gregor pointed at places on the ground. “It is softer here. And there are depressions in the soil.”

  “What does that mean?” Bob asked.

  Gregor looked back. “We are not the only ones to use this cave.”

  “Is it Khosadam?”

  Gregor shrugged. “I do not know. There is water damage on the track and it is tough to feel the details.”

  Annja frowned. “Feel?”

  “Yes. I can read tracks with just my hands. I do not need to see usually.”

  “Where did you learn that?”

  Gregor shrugged. “An American Indian.”

  “In Russia?”

  Gregor chuckled. “No. In Arizona.”

  Just what the hell kind of guy is this? Annja wondered. A trained killer who could track in the dark and seem as nonchalant as ever. Weird, she decided. Definitely weird. Still, she was glad he was on their side. At least as far as she could tell.

  Gregor pointed ahead of them. “Do you see it?”

  Annja came up next to him and then Bob stood next to her. “See what?” he asked.

  “A fork. The cave branches into two different directions.” Gregor sighed. “We could split up.”

  “No way,” Bob said. “I’d much rather that we all stuck together. It’s safer that way, anyway.”

  “We can cover more ground if we split up,” Gregor said. “And if we encounter anything, we can always shout for help.”

  Annja wondered if she’d even be able to pull her sword out in the cave. She didn’t think it would work.

  “I don’t know.” Bob sighed. “What do you think, Annja?”

  “Well, Gregor’s right that we could cover more ground. But then again, if there’s something in here, am I really crazy about confronting it alone? No way.”

  “You wouldn’t be alone,” said Gregor.

  “I wouldn’t?” Annja asked.

  “No. Bob would be with you.”

  “And you’re taking off? Fat chance of that.” Annja glanced at Bob. “No offense, old friend, but Gregor here seems a bit more adept at handling adversity than you do.”

  “No offense taken,” Bob said. “I’d rather have Gregor here, too.”

  The Russian sighed. “All right. If that is what you want. You are the boss. And I work for you.”

  “Thankfully,” Bob said.

  “We should continue on,” Gregor said. “We just need to pick a direction.” He smiled. “Annja, would you like to make the decision?”

  “Why me?”

  Gregor shrugged. “I trust your instincts.”

  “Thanks for the pressure,” Annja said. She sighed and closed her eyes. How could Gregor trust her instincts when she wasn’t sure she did? She knew she needed to trust her instincts. She imagined herself walking down the cave passageway that went to the left. She felt a dull ache in her stomach. She took a deep breath then she switched it and imagined herself walking down the right side instead. This time her stomach stayed relaxed.

  Annja opened her eyes. “I think we should take the right passageway.”

  Gregor eyed her. “You’re sure?”

  “I think so,” she said.

  “All right, then. I will lead.”

  “You will stop,” said a voice from the darkness.

  They turned around. Yuri stood ten yards away. Oleg flanked him on the left. Both of them were aiming their assault rifles at the group.

  Annja sighed again. “Great, more people crashing the party.”

  Yuri smiled, but there was nothing friendly about it. “Sit down, all of you. We have much to discuss. And if you try anything funny, we will shoot you dead and leave you here to rot in this cave as a sacrifice to Khosadam.”

  15

  Oleg turned on a big black flashlight, which instantly bounced bright beams of light across the interior of the cave. Annja was grateful for the light since she could at least pick a safe spot to sit.

  “Yo
u two,” Yuri said, pointing at Bob and Gregor.

  “You sit over there away from the woman.”

  “Woman?” Annja scowled. “Last night we were on a first-name basis and now you’re calling me woman?”

  “Be quiet,” Oleg said. “And listen.”

  Yuri shouldered his rifle and sat, as well, but he kept some distance from the group. “Why don’t we start by having you tell us exactly what you’re doing here and what you hope to achieve.”

  Bob looked at Annja and then back at Yuri. “We are archaeologists.”

  Yuri smiled. “Go on.”

  “There’s nothing to go on about,” Annja said. “Like we explained last night, Bob here rides around looking for cool places to research. I came along on this trip and we got caught up dealing with this whole Khosadam thing. That’s it, plain and simple. No embellishments.”

  Oleg rattled off something quick in Russian.

  Yuri nodded but Gregor shook his head. “They are not lying,” he said.

  “And why would we believe you?” Yuri asked.

  Gregor shrugged. “I have nothing to hide.”

  “And just how long have you known about these two?”

  “I was hired by Bob to act as a guide and protector of sorts. I have known him for a number of years.”

  “Of course you have,” Yuri said. “You have been trying to recruit him.”

  Annja perked up. “What?”

  Bob looked amazed. “Recruit me? For what?”

  “For Russian intelligence,” Yuri said. “Gregor is an agent with the SVR, what you used to know as the KGB.”

  Bob smirked. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  Yuri shrugged. “I have no reason to lie. Gregor, on the other hand, has every reason to. He is an experienced agent used to recruiting Americans to spy for the Russian government.”

  “So much for the Cold War being over,” Annja said. “This stuff sounds more like it belongs in a movie somewhere else in time.”

  “Yeah, and why would he bother with me?” Bob asked. “I don’t have any access to anything even remotely classified. What use am I to him?”

  Yuri smiled. “You have a brother who works in the Department of Defense.”