From: alex@fred.net () Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: THE DARKNESS WITHIN p.1 Date: 10 Oct 1995 03:04:28 GMT hello all you people that read this sort of stuff. I am nothing more then a writter looking for a good excuse to write. I have posted things here...or atleast...i started to. At anyrate, this is a new story that i cooked up with my friend Ice. I hope you enjoy it and can follow it...:) As with all my stories...no infringement is intended. I would like to thank my friend Mel for the plot...and my friend Jen for being there through my writter's block. And of course...thanks to Chris Carter and Ten Thirteen Productions for giving me something to work with. I must warn you ppl now...i am NOT a good speller...and, while other people deny it, i feel i am a little dyslexic...so PLEASE don't mind any spelling errors you may find. ALL FLAMES AND/OR PRASIES ARE WELCOME......on with the show..... THE DARKNESS WITHIN WESTEND COFFEE SHOP WASHINGTON D.C. 11:18 a.m. Saturday, February 4,1995 Outside it was sunny, cold and nosiy from Saturday traffic. But inside, Dana Scully sat at a small table, sipping a cup of coffee. She was dressed for a usual Saturday mornin. But so far...the day had been anything but usual. Mulder called her at seven, talking about something important. He had asked her to meet him here. And, like usual, he was not on time. Dana took another sip of coffee and looked impatiently at her watch. He always did this. Not once had he been on time to meet here anywhere. Although, she had to admit, this was one of the better places he had chosen to meet her. It was a quiet little place. Not alot of people...not alot of noise. "Eleven-thirty, Mulder," she mumbled, "and i'm out of here." Mulder opened the door to the smae coffee shop. There was only a few people in the room so it wasn't hard to find his partner. He walked over and sat down. "It's about time." Scully smiled. "Yeah, yeah,yeah." He smiled back. Mulder handed her a file. "Read it." "Tell me what it is," "It's our next case,Scully," Dana read through the file and looked up at her partner. "You're kidding, right?" "The bureau would like us to investigate a few muerders." "In North Dakota? Mulder, isn't that just a little out of our league?" "Not if we're there to help them out," he smiled. "How many are we looking at?" "A few here and there. Nine over the past nine years. But it's the cause of death we're looking at." "Mulder, what are you talking about?" "The people there are very superstitous. For some reason, they won't touch this case. "Now, i've checked intop it a bit and foound out about a nice little legend that has these people scared to death. "There is a beast," he paused and pulled out a claw from his pocket. "With claws this big. Eight of them, there inches long. It is said that with one thrash, you would look like you just stepped out of a shredder." "That sounds nice, Mulder. Why are you telling me this?" "The animal is VERY territorial. It is said that any man that steps on it's land, dies." "And we're going to check it out?" "Yes." "Why do i have the feeling i should re-write my will?" "Come on Scully. The land is beautiful this time of year." "What is your interest in this case Mulder?" "I need a vaction. And from the looks of it, you could use one too." He smiled. "When do we leave?" She aasked. "I've booked us a flight at five." "In the morning? Some vaction, Mulder." =========================================================================== From: alex@fred.net () Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: THE DRAKNESS WITHIN p.2 Date: 11 Oct 1995 01:31:13 GMT Hello...me again. As I said, here is part two. Look to part one for the stuff about my bad spelling and the infringement...or lack there of. I forgot to thatnk my friend Jasmine for helping me through my insane period when i couldn't remember what i was writting. Thanxs Jas...:) I hope all of you can follow the plot. Please keep in mind that i am not in Geography, or maps. Some the placces in this story are FICTIONAL...meaning they don't really exsist. I was just short on time and patience. here it is...part TWO of THE DARKNESS WITHIN....enjoy :) North Dakota Regional Airprt February 5,1995 7:37 a.m. "I still say he was better in Rambo," Mulder said as they stepped out of the airplane termanial. "Give it up, Mulder. Stallone was beeter in Demolision Man. It's a proven fact." Scully laughed. "Says who?" "You're not the only one with secret informants, Mulder," Scully said softly. "Oh...Agent Scully..." Mulder began, but was cut off by the man walking towards them. "Agent Mulder?" "Yes." Mulder saidw ith a smile. "My name is Llyode Randall. We spoke on the phone. I'll be your guide and interpretor." Mulder set his bags down to shake the young man's hand. "This is Special Agent Dana Scully." Dana shoke his hand and took in his features. He was tall with short croped blond hair. His face had not been shven recently, as if he was trying to grow a beard. His handshake was firm but gental. Hmmm...Dana thought, definate possiblities. "Why do we need an interpretor?" Mulder asked. "The people goin with us know the land the best. But they only speak in native tongue. I've looked at the weather graphs. There is a window of time, maybe three or four days, that we can spend on the mountain. So we need to get going. We will be meeting them at the base of the mountain." Randall pointed towards the door. "Shall we go?" Lower Dakotas 81E lat., 29N long. 1:32 p.m. "Okay," Randall said, "thos is as far as we can go in the van. The rest of the team should be waiting just beyond those trees." They got out, unpacked thier things, and hiked up until they met the rest of the team. Once there, they all attached themselves to a security rope, and began their accent. The winds grew harsh half way up to the camp they were to stop at. The natives grew tired and scared. But they made it up. After they had a breif moment of rest, they began to set up camp. Mulder pulled Randall aside while the natives set up two of the six tents. Scully walked around. "I noticed that these people seem a little nervous. Why?" Mulder asked. "It's that damn legend." "The one about the beast?" "That's the one. Ypu have to understand that these poeple are very supertitous. This legend was ahnded down through the family." "Do you believe it?" "Parts of it."Randall said. "Like what?" Scully walkled around the camp. There were no footprints but the ones her team had made. Nothing seemed out of the ordenary. She looked around once more and caught sight of something she hadn't seen before. Dana walked closer, stepping ontop a small sheet of ice. Blood. It looked fresh. She bent closer to it. The ice cracked lightly. One of the natives stood up and began yelling and pointing towards Scully. "Henala!!" Randall yelled back. "Damn!" "What? What's going on?" Mulder asked. "They're afraid. They wanrt to leave. They say that the beast is here now, and ready to attack." Scully bent closer to the smear of blood. This time when the ice cracked, she heard it. But it was too late. Gas spraed up form the ice, right into Scully's face. She screamed and fell backwards, clawing at her face. Mulder jumped up when he heard Scully's scream. He watched her fall backwards then took off towards her. "Randall!!" He yelled. The gas sprayed strightinto the air. He grabbed Scully and pulled her away, slowly dragging her towards the camp. "Randall...we need to get her into the tent!" Mulder panted. He looked down at Scully's unconscious form. Her face red and wet. The area around her eyes already swelling. "It's okay Dana. You're gonna be okay," Mulder said softly. God, he hoped he was right. ============================================================================== From: alex@fred.net () Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: THE DARKNESS WITHIN p.3 Date: 12 Oct 1995 00:25:13 GMT Mulder carried Scully into a tent and placed her in his sleeping bag. He unrolled hers, and covered her. He sat back and watched her. Scully's face was red. Her eyes partially swollen. Her breathing with was quick and shallow. Mulder began to worry. He jad no idea what the gas was. Only that it knocked her out. Randall crawled through the tent door. "Damn," he swore. "They're gone." He sat near Dana. "What do you mean 'they're gone'?" "They natives. They took off down the mountain. Just dropped everything and ran." "Why?" Mulder asked impatiently. "The legend. They're scared." "How do you know that they'll make it down the mountain alive?" "Personally Agent Mulder? I don't. Do you?" "Not anymore then i think we will," Mulder sighed. "How is she?" Randall asked. He looked at the unconscious woman before him. She didn't look good. "I don't know." "Will she live?" "I hope so." Mulder looked up at the top of the tent, stretching his neck. "They said we only had a three day window of time, right?" "Yeah, why?" "We need to get Scully out of here and into a hosptial." "How are we going to get down the mountain?" Randall asked pointing at Scully. "Are you going to carry her?" "No. But we need to think of something. And fast. I have no intentions of ending up like those hikers." SIX HOURS LATER.... Dana rolled over in the sleeping bag. She was hot. Buring up. She felt like she was on fire. And her face...it felt strange. Her cheeks burned. And her eyes felt fuzzy, almost painful. She couldn't remember where she was. Or why she was burning up. Dana opened her eyes. Everything was black. She tried to speak, but her throat hurt. It was as raw as her eyes felt. She kicked out of one of the sleeping bags only to find another. Mulder crawled into the tent. Scully was moving around. He sat still, watching her silently. He heard her try to speak. "M-Mul-," "Scully?" Scully cleared her throat. "Mulder? Where are you?" "I'm here,Scully." "Mulder, turn on a light. I can't see you." Mulder shined a flash light in her face. "Mulder?" "Can you see now?" "No. Everything is black. Turn on a light!" "Dana, there is a flashlight beam in your eyes. Can you see it?" "What? No. Is this one of your jokes?" "Scully, the gas...i think it may have blinded you." Mulder said grimly. "Mulder? Where are you? Why can't i see?" Scully asked in panic. "Calm down Scully..." "NO!! I can't see and you want me to calm down?!" Scully jumped out of the last sleeping bag, made herself squat, and listen closly. "Where are you Mulder?" "I'm by the door." "What happened tome? Why can't i see?" She demanded. "Don't you remember? TYou were sprayed in the face with a gas." Dana heard something moving around outside. "How do i know it's you?" "Scully, it's me." "How do I know!!" "Randall and i were the only one's to come up except for the natives." The noise became louder. She heard someone else come inside the tent. "NO!! I won't leet you take me again. I won't go!" Scully yelled. She pulled out her gun, cocked it, and aimed it at Mulder. "I'll kill you first." ============================================================================== From: alex@fred.net () Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: THE DARKNESS WITHIN p.4 Date: 13 Oct 1995 00:41:58 GMT Me again. Look to part to part one for all the stuff concerning infringement all that good stuff. Please excuse spelling errors and i hope you can follow the plot. E-mail me any questions or comments you might have. I always enjoy constuctive critizsem. see what i mean...i can't spell. anyway...on with the story.... ============================================================================== Part 4 "Dana," Mulder began,"it's me. I'm your partner. Put the gun down." "No! How do I know you aren't lying to me? For all I know, this could be all your fault." Mulder thought long about that. It was his fault. He had brought her up her. It was his fault that she couldn't see. He frowned. "Dana, let's talk about this...without the gun." "No. You see, this is how I stay alive. If I let the gun down, I'm dead." Sculy heard another movement. She held the gun higher. "Don't move!" Mulder saw no other choice. He lunged at her, the full wieght of his body landing hard against hers. They tumbled backwards, and Mulder grabbed the gun from her, throwing it back towards Randall. "No!" Dana yelled in panic. "Get off me. Leave me alone!" "Scully! Stop it! It's me...Mulder," he said. He grabbed one of her hands and placed it on his face. Slowly, she calmed down. "It's me, Scully.' Dana moved her hand around his face. Slowly, she brought her other one up. Her index fingers trailed along his eye browls and down the sides of his face, while her thumbs ran along his bottom lip. "Mulder?" "Yes, Scully. It's me. I'm here." "I-I thought...I didn't know...I thought you were...," she choked out, realizing the mistake she had made. "Shh....it's okay. I understand. You don;t need to explain." "Mulder," she whispered,"I'm blind...I'm blind." Mulder rolled off of her and sat up. "It may only be temperary. You might not be blind." "How do you know?" "Everything will be okay. Just think positive." "Think positive? How the hell can I think positive? I can't see! I'm blind Mulder. And you want me to think positive?" She snapped. "Scully," "No! I have no idea where I am. And I don't know what's going on! For God's sake,Mulder. There is a monster out there, and I'm blind!" "Will you listen for just a second? There is no monster around right now, Scully. All we have to do is get you out of here." "And how do you think you're going to pull that one off,Mulder? It was hard enough getting up here when we could see. Now you have one blind team member. Good luck," she mumbled. Dana sat up and tucked her knees to her chest, rocking slowly back and forth. Mulder looked at her. At first he didn't understand what she was doing. But then he realized that it was her way of calming herself. He scooted over and wrapped his arms around her. "I can't see, Mulder. What are we going to do?" she whispered. "We'll think of something." "Nothing...nothing..."she said, still rocking herself. Outside, and large animal moved around. It's fangs large and ready to kill. It picked up on a sent, and slowly retreaed back into the dense forest, but not forgetting the humans which invaded his land.... ============================================================================== From: alex@fred.net () Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: THE DARKNESS WITHIN p.5 Date: 13 Oct 1995 20:27:39 GMT hey...are you ready for this part. Good. here it is...part 5 of..THE DARKNESS WITHIN.... ============================================================================== Once Mulder had gotten Scully calmed down, they all moved outside to the small camp fire that Randall had built. Dinner was small and quiet. Randall decided to turn in early, btu Mulder and Scully stayed up. Mulder turned to Scully. "Are you okay?" "I'm fine for someone who just realized that death is approaching, and i can't see it coming," Dana smiled ironically. "It's not coming. We'll get out of this one Scully. You'll see. We've been through worse. We've made it out then, and we'll do it again." "Do you remember what you told me back in D.C.? You said that there was something out here that killed anyone that stepped on it's land. Guess where we are, Mulder. I think that just about signs our death certificates," she sighed. "I've never know you to be so negitive,Scully. I can't say I like it. But I can hardly blame you." "Yes well, losing the sense of sight does funny things to a person. Though I don't see how this is funny at all. In fact, I don't see at all." Scully sat still for a longtime. She could tell that night had set in. Along with it came cold winds and a temperature drop. She looked around, and finally sighed again. "Are the stars out?" Mulder looked up and found himself lost in the vast universe above him. It was like looking into the future. "Yeah," he said in total awe. "There's not a cloud in the sky." "You know, my father used to tell me about when he was at sea and feeling lonely. He would look a up at the stars and somehow know that every thing would be alright. He could see my mother and his cholder in the stars. And he never felt lonely then." She closed her eyes not seeing what good it was to have them open at that moment. "He told me that if I ever feel like that, that i couls just look up at the stars. Even after he died, I would look at the stars. And for one brief moment, I thought he was still alive." She paused to take in a ragged breath. "But now...now i can't even do that. I feel so lost, Mulder. And I can't do a damn thing about it." "You're not lost,Scully. And if you were, I would always be there to help you find your way home." Mulder said softly, taking her cold hands in his. "Just because you can't see me, doesn't mean that i don't exist anymore. I'm here, Scully. I always have been, and I always will be." "I just feel so distant. Like the whole has just come crashing down on top of me." "Losing the sense of sight has that effect on people. You have to give it some time, Dana." "We may not have that much time, Mulder." Another gust of wind blew by. Scully shivered, and pulled the blanket a little tighter. "Maybe we should get some sleep. Or atleast try. I want to get you out of here as soon as I can." Dana nodded and, with Mulder's help, found her way to and inside the tent. "Okay Starbuck," Bill Scully said looking down at his daughter. "See that deer over there?" "Yes." Dana smiled. "That's gonna be diner...if you hit it." "How do I do that?" Dana had gone to sleep with no trouble. She was haveinga pleasenet dream. Or what seemed to be one. She was back at her old childhood home in the woods, hunting deer with her father. Though he was a sea man, he like the idea of living off the land too. "Now, you don't want to hit any of the places where the deer is overly muscled,okay?" "okay, daddy," she smiled and aimed to gun t at the deer. "Now, gentally squeeze the triggar." Dana did as she was told, the gun going off. The body of the deer feel. Scully jumped with excitment. "I hit it!" she yelled. When she turned towards her father, she saw that he wasn't behind her anymore. Scully ran towards the body of the deer, jumping over dead fallen trees. When she reached it, she gasped. It was no longer the body of the deer, but instead, the body of her father. "Dad?!" She bent down and rolled the body over to see the face. She jumped back. Mulder! Her eyes filled with tears at the tought of killing her own partner and friend. But how had he gotten there? She bent down to check for the bullet hole, but he grabbed the collar of her shirt. "You're all alone, Scully," he laughed. "Noone can help you now!!" His laughter turned almost insane. "No one can help you!!" =========================================================================== From: alex@fred.net () Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: THE DARKNESS WITHIN p.6 Date: 17 Oct 1995 00:09:27 GMT Hello...well, i haven't gotten any flames, so that must mean that those of you who are reading this happen to like it. That makes me happy. Here is part 6..... ============================================================================== "Oh my God," Scully gasped as she sat up in her sleepingbag. Her face was covered in sweat, as she sat panting for breath. She could feel the tears coming to her eyes, but pushed them aside. Mulder crawled into the tent. "Scully?" Dana opened her eyes. Everything was black. She let out a sigh of frustration and disappointment. "Oh God Mulder, I still can't see." "Nothing?" "Nothing," she confirmed. Mulder sighed to himself. "Don't worry. It'll take some time." "Yeah," she said sarcastically. "Are you okay?" "Yeah," she said nodding. "It was just a bad dream." Mulder went over and sat next to her, taking her hand in his. "About what?" Dana shivered and took in a deep breath. "I was hunting with my father." She stopped to shake off the remaining pieces of the dream from her mind. The images of Mulder's dead body hunted her. "And?" "He handed me a riffle and told me to shot a deer that was maybe four or five hundred meters infront of us. I aimed and fired, but I didn't hit the deer. I ran over to see what I did hit..." Her voice began to trail off. "It wasn't the deer, it was my father. I killed my father," she took a deep breath before continuing. "I went to turn the body over, but it was no longer his body." Dana slowly shook her head. "What? What did you see?" Mulder asked. Scully kicked off her sleeping bag, mad that she had even told Mulder what she had dreamed. She felt around for the zipper and slowly zipped it up. Mulder sat back and watched as she slowly began rolling up her sleeping bag, feeling her way around. He marveled at her inner strength. All she had to do was ask for his help. But instead, she did the job herself. He smiled. But a part of him wanted to know what she had dreamed, why it had scared her so bad. He placed his hand on her forearm to halt her movements. Scully paused for a moment. "We have to get out of here," she whispered. "As fast as we can." :"What happened?" he asked, his hand still on her arm. "I...I can't tell you." There, she'd said it. Maybe now he would leave her alone. "Why not? Why can't you tell me?" Damn, she thought. She should know better. "Look, I just want to get the hell out of here. Before we end up like those hikers." "Okay," Mulder nodded not seeing the point of arguing with her anymore. "Randall has everything packed up. I'll finish up in her, then we'll leave. Okay?" "Okay," she sighed in agreement. After Mulder left, Scully sat down to think for a minute. What had she done so wrong that this would happen to her? Why was she blind? How could she continue to work with no eye sight? Not only did it mean that she would have to resign from the FBI, but she could no longer be a doctor, or a scientist. What was left to live for? She pushed the thoughts aside. Right now, she wanted to make it out alive. She had plenty of time to worry about her future later. Letting uot another sigh, she continued her chore, and left the tent. ============================================================================== From: alex@fred.net () Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: THE DARKNESS WITHIN p.7 Date: 18 Oct 1995 00:41:37 GMT hello again...i'm going to go ahead and post part 7...but i must telll you, i am going away for a while...three days at max, so i won't be posting until the weekend. Enjoy what you can.... ============================================================================== Scull crawled out of the tent and tried to stand up. Not being used to the idea of blindness effected her balence. Before she knew it, she was back on the ground again. "Damn," she sighed. Mulder walked over and helped her up. "Are you okay?" "Yeah. But I don't think I'll ever get used to the prospect of being blind. This is hell." Mulder smiled a bit. "Well, cheer up. From the looks of things, the weather is going to be clear enough for us to get down the mountain." "Mulder?" Scully said a little lighter. "Tell me, what the hell was the point of comeing up here? Oh, except to get me blind." "Look, once you're in a hospital, I'm coming abck up here with another team." "Ah, I see. Or rather, I don't. The point is, that once I'm back in D.C., you're going to come back here and go blind too?" "Chill out, Scully." "Yeah well, in this weather, it won't be hard to do." She smiled. After they packed up the little bit of supplies they had, the three of them began a slow decent of the mountain. Mulder tried to help Scully, but she insisted on using her own skills. "You have to let me help. We can't make it down unless we help eachother." Mulder said in exasperation. "Lets see you go blind and do this. I think I'm doing a damn fine job on my own." But just as Scully finished her sentence, she tripped in a snow drift and went face first into a baby pine. When she rolled to the side, she decided to lay still for a moment. Mulder ran over to help. He look down at Scully and swore silently. "Don't move," he said softly. Dana slowly brought her hand up to her forehead to feel a lump and something warm. Blood. Damn, she thought. He's never gonna let this one go. "Stop moving. Let me see how bad it is." Mulder said in frustration. He looked at her red features. There was a lump on her forehead that was bleeding a little, and a nasty scratch on her left cheek. He took out a first aid kit and handed her a piece of cloth. "Here," he mumbled. Scully pressed it to her cheek, worried more about the scratch then the lump. "I meant it for your forehead." "Yeah well, it doesn't hurt as bad," she groaned. "And if you say I told you so, those hiker's bodies won't be the only ones they find up here." "I wasn't going to say that. I just want to know it you're okay." "Peachy." she mumbled. "I'm blind. I'm cold. And now it looks like I found that beast legend." "It could be worse," he chuckled. "Yeah, it could have knocked my sight back into me. God forbid that ever happen." Randall walked over. "Why don't we stop here for lunch?" "Sounds good to me," Mulder said. "Yeah," Scully agreed. "Okay. I'll go get some firewood. I'll be back soon." "Don't go to far." Mulder said as Randall walked away. Scully sat up and slipped out of her pack. Mulder helped her move over to a small tree stump. "You never told me what happened in your dream." Mulder said, hoping to start a conversation. "I know." "What happened when you turned your father over?" Scully let out a sigh. She knew she wouldn't be able to avoid the topic forever. But she didn't want to face it so soon. "It wasn't my father, Mulder. It was you. I killed you." "What happened after that? Did I do something?" "You grabbed my collar and pulled me down. You told me that no one could help me now. That I was all alone. But you laughed....you laughed insanely." "Dana," he began, but he was interupted by something comeing from the woods. Someone was screaming. Horrible screams of pain. Mulder jumped up. Randall. ============================================================================== From: alex@fred.net () Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: THE DARKNESS WITHIN p.8 Date: 28 Oct 1995 16:41:38 GMT Hello...sorry it's been so long since i've posted. Been kind of busy. Anyway, here is part 8 for all of you who have been keeping up with the story. Thanks for your pateints...:) ============================================================================== Part 8 Mulder grabbed Scully's hand and pulled her up. "What the hell was that, Mulder!" "I think it was Randall." He said. He lead Scully closer to where he heard the screams coming from. After they walked a few yards, he stopped. "What is it?" Scully asked, sensing his tension. "It's a second pair of tracks." "Human?" "No. They're too big to be human. They're animal. Like a bear, I think." Mulder pulled out her gun and handed it to her. "Don't us it unless I say so." "Mulder, I'm blind. I can't fire a gun. I can't see!" "Just keep it handy. And hope that you won't have to use it." Scully cocked her gun and grabbed Mulder's hand again. Mulder slowly began walking again ad following the tracks. Then he spotted something small and red in the snow. Blood. Randalls blood. He followed the trail, leading him to a large pool...then a larger one. By it was one of Randalls hands. Mulder stopped and looked around. "Mulder," Scully began, the smell of blood making her stomach turn. "Mulder, what's going on?" "Scully," he said slowly, looking around at what was left of Randall. His hand by the pool of blood. Pieces of clothe thrown around. And then his mangled torso, still and unmoving, and bleeding. "Be thankful you're blind. Cause you wouldn't want to see this." "He's dead." Scully said grimly. "He's more then dead, Scully. If I didn't know him, I wouldn't be able to tell he was human." "You think it was that beast thing?" "If it wasn't, what was it?" "Mulder, We're stuck here. One of our team members has just been ripped to shreads. I'm blind. And now you're saying that the legend, isn't just a legend. That it's true?" "Do you know of any other animal that could have done this to a man?" "A bear, Mulder. Or a pack of wolves." "One pair of foot prints. And they're too big to be a bear." Mulder lead Sculy to a tree. "Stay here, and don't move." "Where are you going?" "I'm going to look around at Randall's body, and at the prints. Don't move unless I tell you to. OKay?" "How far away willyou be?" Scully asked, unsure about leaving his side. "Not far. Just a few meters away." Dana nodded and leaned against the tree. The full impact with the tree now sinking in. Her face was throbing. The cold didn't help much. But now finding Randall's body made her even more upset. If it happened to Randall, and he could see, what would happen to Mulder and herself. Scully began to wonder what types of career she could take up now that she was blind. She didn't come up with too many. *Stop it! You're not going to be blind forever!*, she told herself. *Yeah, blindness clears up and goes away*. Mulder walked near to the body. Or what was left of it. There were slash marks from what he could tell. *Way to big to be bear*, he thought. Though, he wished it had been. He looked at the snow around the body, how much it had absorbed. Then he saw the prints again. His eyes followed them to the source. Standing in the shade of the trees was a huge animal. Mulder froze. It was huge. It had the face of a wolf, but bigger. It's body was covered in think black hair. It's teeth sharp and ready. Before Mulder could react, it lunged at him, hitting him head on. "Scully!!" Mulder yelled. He threw his arm up to protect his face, but the beast's teeth grabbed hold and locked on. Mulder let out a cry of pain. Scully jumped up and listen to Mulder. Her heart was beating faster. She knew he was being attacked, she could hear him. "Fire the gun!" "I can't!" she yelled, "I don't know where you are." "Damn, Scully! Fire!" Dana held the gun up, listened close for a moment, aimed, and fireed three times. The forest fell silent. ============================================================================== From: alex@fred.net () Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: THE DARKNESS WITHIN p.9 Date: 29 Oct 1995 17:57:18 GMT Hello...me again. Here's part 9...guess i've kept you in suspense long enough...:) Enjoy... ============================================================================== Dana Started to walk towards where she thought Mulder was at. The silence was eating at her, so she quickend her pace. But as she got closer, she tripped over something. Dana felt around for what she tripped over and felt something warm and wet. She sucked a lung full of air to keep her stomach from rolling. It was what was left of Randall. She stood up and stumbled away from the body. "Mulder?" she called in a trembling voice. What if he didn't answer? What if he was dead? What if she had killed him and the beast? She would be all alone. "Mulder, where are you?" "Over here," he said weakly. "Keep talking. I'll follow your voice." Scully said, realizing that she still had no idea where he was. "You have to get this thing off me, Scully. It's locked on my arm." Scully found him and felt around. She could feel the beasts teeth and Knew that Mulder must be in terrible pain. "Hang on,Mulder. It has a tight hold on your arm." "I noticed," he joked weakly. "That was some fancy shooting, partner." "How do you mean?" "He hit the son of a bitch in the head. Remind me not to get on your bad side," he smiled. "This is gonna hurt, Mulder." "Can't hurt anymore then it does now." "You're gonna eat your words,Mulder," She grimmanced as she grabbed hold of the beast's jaws and pulled them apart. "Ahhh!! Damnit, Scully!!" "Don't move!" Scully gentally pulled Mulder's arm out of the beast's mouth. "We need to get you back to camp." "What...what about the beats? We can't just leave it here." "Mulder, you're hardly in shape to drag something like this back to where our stuff is. It's dead? It's not going anywhere." They slowly walked back to the lpace they had stopped for lunch and sat down. "OW! Becareful!" Mulder snapped. "Oh, stop it. I haven't even touched you yet." Scully said. She felt along his arm. The jacket sleave was ripped and she could feel the blood even through the fabric. "Look through your bag for someold clean fabric that we can cut up." Mulder did as he was told and found an old flannal shirt. Scully felt through it for any buttons or hard objects. She then went through her own bag and found a small roll of medical gauze and some medical tape. She pulled out her pocket knife. Together, they pulled off Mulder's jacket and rolled the sleave up. Scully felt along the wound and sucked in air through her teeth. "How does it look?" she asked. "It looks like hell. And it looks painful." "Mulder, I need to know so I can treat it." "It's not too deep, but it's bleeding heavily." "Alright."She sighed. "This is gonna hurt a bit, but I need you to hold your arm out." Scully wrapped the gauze around his arm. Then she wrapped the medical tape around. Mulder didn't stop complaining, and it was annoying the hell out of her. "Ow...not so hard!" he snapped. "Damnit, Mulder! I'm doing the best I can! If you don't like it, you do it. Because I'd sure as hell like to see you try to tie off this knot with only one hand!" She snapped back. Scully took a deep breath and sighed. When she finished tieing the knot, she took the flannel and Wrapped it around his arm. "Mulder, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that." "No, it's okay. I deserverd it. You were doing the best you could under the circumstances. I'm the one who's sorry." There was a long silence. "Do you think we'll make it out of here alive?" Scully asked. "Lets hope for the best." Scully sat back and thought. They didn't know what the thing was. They didn't know where it came from. But an autopsy... That's it! An autopsy! Sghe couldn't see, but Mulder could. "Mulder, Have you eaten yet?" "No. Why?" "Because I know how you get when you see an autopsy." "What?" "We're gonna do an autopsy." "Scully, I'm no doctor, and you're blind." Scully was silent for a moment, absorbing what Mulder had said. She was blind. Simple as that. "Mulder, you can see. I'll gide you through it." "You're kidding, right?" When she didn't answer, he let out a sigh. "What are we going to use?" Scully held up he pocket knife, and smiled. "I can't believe this," he groaned. ============================================================================== From: alex@fred.net () Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: THE DARKNESS WITHIN p.10 Date: 30 Oct 1995 22:07:28 GMT Part 10.... ============================================================================== Scully and Mulder slowly walked back to where the body of the beast lay still and unmoving. Scully was worried. She didn't know what type of animal this thing was, or what dieases it may have been carrying. She hoped it was nothing so Mulder could have a little bit of reassurence that his arm wouldn't fall off. But still, part of her wondered what this thing could be. She had felt Mulder's arm. True, a bear could have done that. But Mulder said it wasn't a bear. That it couldn't be. She let out a soft sigh of frustration. Once there, the both knelt done infront of the animal. Scully pulled out a pair of latex gloves and slide them on. She felt along the length of the body. "Ummm, Scully," Mulder began ina small chuckle. "What is it, Mulder?" "You're a...you're not feeling the head." Scully growled at him and leaned back on her heels. "I'm trying to detirmine what sex it is." "They're easier ways of doing that." "Alright Doctor Mulder. You do it." She placed her hands back onto the animal's body to begin her exploration after Mulder laughed at her. "It's male." She concluded. "I knew that Scully. It's plain as day." he smiled. "Only if you're in the sun. You can't see too much in the dark, Mulder." she sighed. Mulder thought about her words. Had it come out sounding like he was making fun of her blindness? He was simply trying to lighten the mood. As Scully moved her hands through the dark mass of hair, Mulder's eye caught sight of something. "Hold on," "What? What is it?" "I don't knoow yet. Don't move your hand. I'll try to cut it out." Mulder pulled out the knife and began cutting away at hair and flesh while mumbling the words, "Sweet revenge," and smiling. He pulled something out of the skin by the right paw and cleaned it in the snow. He held it up to the sky and looked at it with intense eyes. "Mulder?" "Scully, I think we've stumbled on something big." "Why? What is it?" Mulder looked at it again. It was a small metal cuff. Still shiney and almost new looking. On it were small words. 'U.S. Sci.Dep.Speci.project 668495' Mulder looked at Scully and sighed. "It's a government tag. They knew what was here. They knew..." ============================================================================== From: alex@fred.net () Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: THE DRAKNESS WITHIN p.11 Date: 31 Oct 1995 23:39:15 GMT Okay,,,here it is...part 11. Hope you like the way the story is chaning...hell, i hope you can recognize that the story is chaning...:) it's no fun posting if you don't. I just wanted to re-thank my friends Jen and especially Mel for working on the plot. And especially Chris Carter, For giving me something to work with. Thanks Chris. Part 11.... ============================================================================== Scully let out a troubled sigh. Had they really known what was up here? Or was Mulder just playing some cruel joke on her because she couldn't see? She couldn't understand why Skinner would give them an assignment he knew they might not return from. But, she was learning more and more about what she didn't understand about the governement she worked for. "Is this a joke?" she asked unsteadily. "A joke? Why would it be a joke?" "I don't know. But somehow, part of me doesn't think that Skinner would send us on an assignment wouldn't return from." "Yeah, well, maybe that was the point, Scully. No, this isn't a joke. That beast isn't a joke. When it attacked me, that wasn't a joke. And your loss of eyes sight isnt' a joke." Scully sat still, unmoving, almost not breathing. Mulder looked at her for a long minute and then said, "Scully?" "What does it look like?" "What?" "The beast." "I told you. It looks like a bear, but bigger. And it kind of has this wolve like appearence to it. Big claws and very sharp teeth." He mumbled. "Mulder, we have to do an internal examination." "Fine. Tell me where to start." Mulder slipped the cuff into his pants pocket. Scully felt around, stopping at the base of the animal's throat. "Start here. Press hard and cut down about seven or eight times. Stop here." She pointed to the animal's groin. "Thanks," he mumbled. He did as he was told, groaning all the way. When the carcuss was finally open, Scully took Mulder's arm. "What do you see?" She asked. "Something I'd rather not." "Mulder." "I see, a heart. Someintestines, what it had for lunch. Oh wait, that's just part of me." he joked slightly. He heard Scully mumble something like, "Be glad it wasn't all of you." "But..is it me, or do most animals have only one set of lungs, and one stomach?" "Yes, they do. Why? What do you see?" "I see two sets of lungs and two stomachs. Scully, this thing wasn't made in nature." "You can't be so sure of that." Wait a second," he said softly. Scully heard him grunt and pull on something. "This might prove it, Scully." he said, holding up another shinny silver thing. But, it wasn't a cuff. "What is it?" "If I didn't know any better, I'd say it was a tracking device, Scully." "How big is the heart?" "About six times as big as my fist." "That's not possible, Mulder." "Yeah well, it is now." Mulder looked around and then at the sky. "Scully, it looks like it's going to start snowing again. We better get going." "What about the body? And Randall's?" "We'll send someone back for them later." "If we ever make it out of here alive." she said softly. "We will," he said. "We will." They walked quietly back to the camop and started daown the hill again. The snow came fatser and harded, driving them to look for shelter fromk the harsh conditions. They found a small cave. Warm, and empty. They set up a small camp inside. That night, Scully had another nightmare. She was back with her father. Anf like last time, she had shot her father and ran to him. But this time, a beats jumped her and smiled, saying exactly what Mulder had said. "You're all alone. Noone, not even your partner can help you! You're alone!" Dana woke up crying, still her dream continued. She tried to shake it from her thoughts. But the beats stayed on her, it's breath wram and moist. "No!" She cried hugging her legs to her chest. "No, please, just leave me alone!" "You are alone," A small voice said in the back of her mind. "Stop," she sobbed softy. Mulder woke and crawled over to her, wrapping his arms around her. "Stop. Go away. Please, go away and leave me alone," she cried. The dream had not stopped, and the beast still laughed in the insane laughter. Mulder rocked her and whispered softly in her ear. "It's okay, Scully. It's justa dream. You're okay." "No, it's not going away, Mulder."She cried. It's not going away." Mulder thought she was talking more about her blindness then the dream. But he wasn't sure. And that worried him. Outside, the heavy snow turned into a blizard. And a l;arge animal prowled around it's home. Waiting, and watching..... ============================================================================== From: alex@fred.net () Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: THE DARKNESS WITHIN p.12 Date: 2 Nov 1995 02:33:53 GMT Hello. I just re-read what i wrote yesterday, and I realized that i still can't spell. So, fair warning to anyone who never saw the first warning...: I can't spell! so please don't hold me responsible for my little problem. Enjoy part 12.... there's more to come... ============================================================================== Dana's sobs slowly turned into pained whimpers. She clutched at Mulder's shirt as the nightmare faded, leaving her terrified and feeling lonely. "Shh," he whispered. "You're alright now. Nothing will hurt you." Scully let out a shaky sigh. "I don't know if I can go on with nightmares like that," she whispered. "It's okay. I'll help you through them." "Not when we get back. If we get back,"she added. "You'll go back to work, and..." She choked back a cry of frustration. Swallowing against a now dry throat, she continued. "And I'll have to quit my job with the bureau." "You won't be blind forever. You have no way to prove that this is permenant." "No, Mulder. Blindness just doesn't go away." "What about surgery?" "I don't know. Right now, I just want this damn nightmare to stop." Mulder held her tightly, willing the nightmare away with his presence. Before he knew it, she had fallen back to sleep. He bundled her into her sleepingbag and and went back to his own bag. 7:37 a.m...... Mulder jumped awake when he heard something bashing together. He looked around. Scully wasn't in her sleeping bag. He jumped up and glanced outside. Scully was out there shaking her hand in pain and swearing. "What the hell are you doing?" "I'm making coffee. Or atleast," she probed her soar hand, "I was until I burned myself." "You built a fire?" "I'm not totally without means, Mulder." "Why are you doing this?" "I needed something to do. Since i can't see, writting is useless. I thought I'd start the day with a nice warm fire." "Yeah, and a nice second degree burn. Let me see that." "I don't need you to doctor me Mulder." She said sharply. She let out a sigh and shook her head. "I'm sorry." "It's okay." "No, it's not. I don't have the right to yell at you everytime I'm in a bad mood." "No, but given the circumstances, I think I could give you some room." He gentally grabbed her hand and looked at it. "It doesn't look too bad. Put it in the snow for a while." "Mulder, I'm the doctor, remember?" "Yes, but doctors are the worst patients." He smiled at her. He heard her sigh again. "What's wrong now?" "Nothing. I'm just coming to terms with the fact that my job is shot to hell." "Everything will be okay, Scully." "You know, Mulder. You keep saying that. Well everything won't! Let's face it, I'm blind! We've both been trying to avoid it, but it's true. I'm never going to see again, and you'll get stuck with a new partner." Mulder stood infront of her and placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her down. Dana let out a sigh. "There's a few flurries falling now,. I'm gonna go find some wood. You stay here. I won't be too far away. If you need anything, just yell." Scully nodded. As Mulder walked away, he saw something that bothered him greatly. A fresh set of tracks. They led into the woods. And there was a small trickle of blood.... ============================================================================== From: alex@fred.net () Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: THE DARKNESS WITHIN p.13 Date: 3 Nov 1995 03:14:03 GMT Hello...I'm having some problems...I might be losing my account soon...and my computer, so I'll try to post all of this before it happens...enjoy what you can while it's still there.... ============================================================================== Mulder followed the trail a little ways only to find a small animal, or what used to be a small animal, laying in a pool of blood. It worried him. What if there was a mate? Or more like a pack? He tried not to focus on these questions and instead look for wood. He spent only fifteen minutes looking around, then headed back to camp. Scully was no longer outside. But as he got closer, he smelled something. Something he hadn't noticed before. Mulder walked into the cave and looked at Scully for a minute. "Did you find any wood?" She asked conversationally. "What? Did you hear me come in?" "Yeah. It's not that hard. You walk heavy." Mulder stood still for a minute. There it was again. He walked closer to her. The smell grew stronger. "Scully, do you smell that?" "Smell what? The only thing I smell is what used to live in this cave." "No. It's something else. It wasn't here before. I never smelled it until..." he cut himself off. Until he left. It was Scully. The smell was coming from Scully, he thought wildly. What type of deoderent does she use? he asked himself jokingly. "Until I left to find wood," he finished. "And that means what?" "That I didn't notice it until I left you." "So, you're saying a smell?" "In a way, yes. But I'm not sure why. The only thing I can think of, is when you were sprayed with that gas." "Great. I'm in the middle of the woods and I smell." "There's something else you should know." "What is it?" "There's another beast." "What!" Scully said jumping up. She lost her balence momentarily and sat back down. "I found freash tracks, and blood. There is something out there that is hunting around this cave." "But that makes no sense. If it was another beast, why didn't it come in here lastnight to eat us?" "I'm not sure." "Unless it doesn't like the way I smell." Scully joked. "Maybe your onto something." "I was kidding, Mulder." "Think about it though. If the smell that I'm detecting is from the gas that sprayed you, maybe it is acting as a repelent to the beast." "So. It keeps the beast away from me. But that wouldn't work. I was with you when it attacked you." "You weren't right beside me, Scully. I hadn't been around you long enough to pick up the scent." "And now? The minute we leave this cave, we're gonna be attacked." "I left. I wasn't attacked. I think I've picked up your scent." "So, we can make it down the mountain safely now?", she asked, excitment in her tone. "Maybe." "Maybe? Why maybe?" Mulder turned and looked outside. "Because, we're snowed in." Scullly let out a small groan. Even if they could get away from the beasts...the couldn't get away from the cold. One way or another, they would die on the mountain. Scully said a silent prayer. At this point, she didn't care if she died. But Mulder couldn't. Someone had to be there for the X-Files. Someone had to contiune the investigations. It had to be Mulder. If she died, he could still continue. He had to. The wind changed and a cold draft entered the cave. A shiver ran up Scully's spine. The fear of death slowly receded. Now all that was left was the exceptance, and the loneliness that somehow filled her heart. She would never have childern as she one day hoped she would. She would never have a husband or a true love. She would never have a family. And right now, she would never get to say good-bye to the one she had. If they died, Mulder would never find his truth. *Stop it! You're not going to die!* she said to herself. But the tiny voice was back. *You're all alone. You'll live alone, and you'll die alone.* Scully couldn't argue with that. So she left it alone. "Mulder, we have to try to get out of here." "We will," he said calmly. "But we can't right now. We'll wait til later when the snow isn't so harsh." Scully had the feeling that there might be a later, but didn't say a word. Grey clouds covered the sky. Harsh winds blew across the lands. Animals ran and hid in any shelter they could find. Something was going to happen. Something that even the animals in nature feared. Something that Mother Earth herself feared...... ============================================================================== From: alex@fred.net () Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: THE DARKNESS WITHIN p.14 Date: 29 Nov 1995 01:43:43 GMT HELLO!!! It's me..sorry it has been soooo long since i've posted. I've been in hiding from the feds...:) no, not really, i've just been busy doing some other things and worrying if i would have an account to post with. But i do, that's the good thing. The bad thing is, in all the time i have been gone from this lovely news group, i'm speeling has not been any better :) soory, but it's the truth. You'll just have to put up with it til the end of this story...which i promise will come soon..:) Thank you Ice- for that lovely little comment you put into one of your stories about me...i'll have to read it one day...then, it's pay back time...:) So here it is...the long awaited...PART 14!!!! ============================================================================== February 8, 1995 1:39 p.m...... "How does it look," Scully asked Mulder as she pulled off his bandage. "You know, even though you can't see, you're still a damn good doctor," he smiled warmly at her. "A doctors work is never done. Now tell me how it looks." "It looks fine. The skin is a little puffy and still red, but I'll live." "No infection?" "No, ma'am," he smiled. Scully mumbled something under her breath that he couldn't make out. He helped her bandage it back up. When they were finished, she sat back and sighed. "What was that for?" "Nothing. I was just coming to terms with the fact that my career has just been shot to hell. And, it's not even that fact that I'm blind now. But, that I'll have to give up my medical degree, my work with the X-Files, and being a scientist," Scully said in a calm voice that unnevered Mulder. "You'll see again," he said in reassurence. "No, I don't think so, Mulder. It's been too long." "These things take time." "And when did you become a doctor, Agent Mulder?" she asked teasingly. "Scully..." "No, it's okay. I've accepted it." Mulder smiled and patted her on the shoulder. "You're alot stronger then I think even you realize. But you're also stubborn as hell. You have to relax, give it some time. You'll see." Mulder paused and looked outside. "Feel like something to eat before we leave?" Scully's stomach gave her answer before she could. She smiled and nodded. The small lunch consisted of half a sandwhich for each of them, a can of fruit and a bottle of water. They didn't talk until they were both finished. "Scully, we have to chance the mountain. We don't have enough food left for one person, let alone two. We'll freeze to death if we don't move soon." "I know." Dana swallowed convulsively. "I had another dream last- night." "Did I die again?" "No. No, for the first time sinve we've been here, you didn't die. But we were wlking together. Trying to get down from here. Then, this thing jumped infromt of us. You fell to the side and hit your head on a rock. And the thing..the beast, it stood over me, pinning my arms down with his paws. I couldn't move." Scully paused to take a deep breath. "Did he say you were alone?" "No. It didn't have to. I already knew what it was thinking." "I've had dreams like that before." "I just want to get out of here. However, I would like it best if it wasn't in a body bag." "It won't be easy. The snow has gotten deep from the two days we've been in here." "I know. But I think, as long as you don't ditch me, we'll be okay." Mulder nodded, and began to pack. Before long, they were out in the snow, trying to find a way off the mountain. Hours had past. They finally made it to a small forest. It was dark towards the middle and Mulder thought it best to go around. So, Grabbing Scully's hand, the went around the less dense area of the forest, falling into a deep snow bank. Or so they thought. A snowbank would've been a blessing. It was the start of a steep hill. They both plunged for the bottom, rolling over and over in the snow. Mulder's pack slipped off him sometime during the fall, and his grip on Scully was gone. When he hit bottom, he stood dizzily and looked around. "Scully!" he yelled. No response. "Scully, where are you? Damnit, answer me!" But the only thing to answer, was a deafening silence that terrified him. He looked around, but there was no sign of her. Mulder's heart nearly stopped beating. ============================================================================== From: alex@fred.net () Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: THE DARKNESS WITHIN p.15 Date: 29 Nov 1995 23:53:56 GMT Hey...we're getting towards the ending of this story...it's going to get into a topic that many of us love to discuss, so stay tuned, and enjoy what's coming...on with the show Part 15.... ============================================================================== Mulder's heart was punding so loud he could hear it in his ears. Where was she? He looked around, then up the hill, following and uneven path of snow down to the base. Scully was laying there, facedown in the snow, unmoving. Mulder yelled to her, but she didn't move. He started towards her in the hip knee deep snow. Scully tumbled down the hill. She felt Mulder's hand slipping and grabbed for it. She missed. Now everything was darker then before. It was a cold dark. She began to wonder if she would die now. The snow was cold, pressing against her face, but she didn't mind it right now. She was numb all over. Her mind was numb. Even if she wanted to get up, she couldn't get the strength for her cold limps to work. So instead, she lay face down in the dark snow and prayed, hoping the Mulder was still alive and that he atleast would make it out of here in one peice. Then she heard something. Warm arms came around her waist and she was lifted out of the snow. When she stopped moving, she was laying something warm. Her body went still, fear taking over. Mulder ran towards her and lifted her out of the snow. She didn't protest. She didn't move. He found a small clearing the woods and carried her to a small fallen tree where he sat with her in his lap. Slowly, she opened her eyes and he gave a shakey sigh of relief. "Scully?" Mulder! Of course. He wouldn't let her die. He had promised to get her out of here. And she intened to keep him to it. "Scully? Are you alright?" he asked, concern making his voice crack. "I-I'm j-just..a-a little c-cold," she whispered. Mulder laughed. She was freezing, and all she could say was that she was a little cold? "But are you okay?" he smilde. Scully nodded. She could feel Mulder rubbing her numb limbs to get the blood going again. She smilde and tried to move. God, she was cold! Almost an hour later, Scully started feeling almost human again. Both she and Mulder sat by trees and rested. "Now what?" "What?" Mulder asked. "I lost my pack. So if one of us gets hurt, we're in big trouble." Mulder sat silent. "What are you thinking about?" "I'm thinking about that beast." "Why?" "Something doesn't sit right with me, Scully." "What is it?" "You remember how I told you that the tag we pulled out was a goveren- ment tag?" "Yeah..." "I was just thinking, what if that was the reason they sent us up here?" "Mulder. Do you really think that Skinner would send us on a mission that would ultimately end with our deaths?" "Think of it, Scully. What is ther best way to kill us without looking so obvious? Killing us while we are working on a case. That way they can close it due to danger." "Mulder, there is still a matter of how that thing got up here to begin with." "I've thought about that too," he smiled. "Scully, are you familiar with genetic manipulation?" "Yes, who isn't?" "That is how. The tags are from OUR goverenment. They must have been working on a project that would creat an animal like the one we've encountered up here. Chances are though, that they wanted a feild test. It got out of control and they denied having created it. Now, think of this. This was an old legend. What we killed back there was older then we are. My guess is, they were trying some new experiment that would ultimately end with the creation of a human alien." "Mulder...what are you talking about? Who are THEY. And what does this have to do with aliens?" "Rosewell! The crash in Rosewell, that's what. If they were testing some new technology that would creat this beast, they must have had other plans. As far as 'they' go, I'm talking about our goverenment. All this ends in the smae way, Scully, think about it." Suddenly, the words of a song flashed through her mind...'both equal partners in a mystery.' Scully smiled. "What?" "Oh, nothing. I was thinking of a song." "What song?" "Oh, it's by the Indigo girls." "Who?" "Nevermind. I see what your point is Mulder. I just can't see that happeneing." "Well, I hardly think nature crated something with two stomaches and two pair of lungs." "What proff do you have, Mulder? Did your pack stay on you when you fell?" "No." "Then how will you convince Skinner of yout theory when we get back, IF we get back?" Mulder pulled out a shiny cuff from his pocket. "Because, I kept the cuff." Scully let out a sigh. She wished she had just stayed in bed that Saturday. The feeling of impending doom fell over her, and she couldn't help but shudder. ============================================================================== From: alex@fred.net () Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: THE DARKNESS WITHIN p.16 Date: 30 Nov 1995 23:59:23 GMT Hello...i'm back again...i think there will only be one or MAYBE tow more parts to this story...then you can all breath a sigh of reilef that it is over..>:) oh yeah...thanks for the warm welcoming back...those of you who sent me a warm response to the story know who you are...thanks...encourage ment always helps a writter...:) and now.....part 16.... ============================================================================== Scully pushed her feelings aside to concentrate on the problem at hand. "So you have the tag. So what. Do you honestly think that Skinner is going to go for that?" "It has the tag number, Scully. What more proof do you need?" "A body. A piece of real, hard evidence. That's what I need," Scully said in exasperation. "You should know by now that they won't go for that, Mulder. They'll cover it up like they do everything else." Mulder sat still for a moment, allowing her words to sink into his numb brain. "Then what was it that attacked me, Scully? If you won't except that it was some type of genetically enhanced mutant, then kindly tell me just what the hell it was." "You know I can't do that, Mulder." "Why not?" "Because I'm blind." she ground out between gritted teeth. Mulder didn't realize what he had said until he heard her response. He picked up the pian in her voice. No matter how many times she told him she was fine or that she was able to accept it, he knew she never would. Not fully anyway. He shivered as a breeze went past. "Scully, we aren't gonna make it if we keep sitting here doing nothing. We have to keep moving, to keep our blood going." Scully let out a sigh. He was right. But her muscles were so damn sore and very cold. She could barely feel her feet. But, she pushed herslef up and latched onto Mulder's good arm. They began to walk slowly through the forest. Time seemed to slip by fast, taking daylight with it. Mulder didn't like the fact that they would soon be in the dark with no shelter. But in the little bit of daylight that was left, he had to get her out of here. A twig snapped. Mulder stopped. He knew it was not from him or Scully. Something was coming up from behind. Mulder turned and stood in shock. Scully turned with him and felt him stiffen. "What's wrong?" "Shhh! It's one of the beasts," he whispered. He felt Scully tense. The beast looked at them for a long unmoving moment. Then, with speed and anger, she jumped at Mulder, knocking him to the side. His head hit hard against a rock, knocking him out of a few moments. She turned her gave to Scully who had also fallen. The woman sat still, breathing hard and uneven. The beast lunged at her, pinning her arms against the ground. The beast stood ontop of Scully, her warm breath covering Scully's face. Dana panicked. She could feel something heavy on her. Something breathing on her cheeks. Something bit into the flesh on her arms. She let out a strangled cry of help. The weight shifted. Dana was trapped beneath the beast. Mulder could not help her this time... ============================================================================== From: alex@fred.net () Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: THE DARKNESS WITH p.17 Date: 3 Dec 1995 05:48:09 GMT okay you all...here it is...it's coming down to the wire...:) this is part 17...i don't know how you'll like it, i only know that i was in a rush for an ending when i did the ending...ask Ice-, she'll tell you the same... the original ending sucked, so i'll try to make this one better for you. Look for the rest of this story, then what i started of MIND OVER MATTER. you might enjoy that one as well...:) ============================================================================== Scully was pinned. There was noone who could help her. Oh, god, she thought. The dreams were true. Something warm and wet made it's way diown her neck. She could feel the breath of the beast against her face and throat. I'm dead, she thought. I'm going to die here on this mountain in the worst way possible. Fear rose in her, overpowering her other senses. "No!" she cried out. "Get the hell off me!" Mulder rolled over on the ground. His thoughts were fuzzy and he couldn't hear anything but a dull buzzing sound. Until he heard her. A cry broke through the haze. Mulder looked over at the beast. Oh God, no! It had Scully. "No, please...get off!" Scully struggled under the beast. It growled at her, more drool made a slimy path down her neck. Its' breath reeked of death. She struggled harder until the beast shifted her weight. The new position shoot waves of pain up and down Scully's arms. She could no longer move her fingers. "Mulder!" she cried out, tears slipping down her cheeks. "Mulder! Help me, please!" Mulder didn't move. He watched the beats do her inspection on Scully. He knew that she was in pain, and that she was terrified. But he couldn't do anything. If he made a noise, the beast would attack him, then go after Scully. But if her didn't do something, what would the beast do to them. Scully had an advatage right now though, he thought. She couldn't see what was on her body right now. "Mulder!" Scully screamed. She never screamed, except in cases where she was in great pain, or terrified beyond return. She needed to get this thing off her, before it broke her arms. She could feel her should pop out of socket. The loud noise made her insides turn. She cried out again, then silenced herself. Something was about to happen. She could feel it. The beats moved again. Scully held back her cry of agony. Then, the weight was gone. Scully lay on the ground, arms spread wide, tears flowing down her face. Mulder watched as the beast moved off Scully. Slowly, she retreated to the woods. Mulder was still fior a moment, not understanding why she had done that. As he watched her, he saw something flicker in her eyes. Perhaps it was compassion, or a blessing. Allowing them on her land. Whatever it was, Mulder nodded to her. She turned around and ran. Mulder still didn't move, lost deep in thought. It was Scully's whimper that brought him back. He crawled over to her. "Scully?" She didn't move. She couldn't. Her entire arm hurt. Her mind was clouded with fear. Tears washed over her cheeks, unable to be stopped. "Scully? Are you alright?" Mulder asked, growing more and more concerned. Scully heard his voice. Through all the haze and fear, she heard the concern in his voice. She shook her head in the snow. It took everything she had to get words to form. "...God," she whispered. "Oh my God," "Scully," mulder said softly,"it's okay. I'm here." When Dana moved to sit up, her shoulder popped. She cried out. Mulder heard the pop and wondered what had happened. When he looked at the pain etched in her features, he didn't need to know. He pulled her into hios arms and held her tight while she cried. "Shhh, it's okay now. You're okay." But she wasn't. She wanted to yell at him. To scream at him for not helping her. But she couldn't. She was thankful that he was here with her now. "I thought I was going to die, Mulder," she said once she had calmed down enough. "I thought I was..." "I know. Shhh, I know." Mulder rocked her back and forth, lightly stroking her hair. "But you're not. You're alive. We're alive. And we're going home now." "How can you be sure? How can you know that that thing won't come back?" "I just know." "You can't know for sure, Mulder." She was thinking better now. If only she could get rid of the pain... "We have to keep moving, Scully." "I can't," she whispered. "Yes, you can. You have to. "I can't. I'm too cold, and i can't move my arm. You have to go alone. I'll only slow you down," she said softly. "No! I'm not leaving you, Dana." "God damnit, Fox!" she yelled. "Don't you see? Don't you understand? You have too much work to do. If you leave now, you might make it out of here alive! You have to leave me!" "I can't leave you! And I won't leave you. Now get up, *we* have to go." Why was he being so damn stubborn, she thought. Must be his time of the month, she answered herself. ============================================================================== From: alex@fred.net () Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: THE DARKNESS WITHIN p.18 Date: 4 Dec 1995 23:04:48 GMT Hey there. I'm back...me and I ce- were hiding from feds again...they're getting better and playing this cat and mouse game...:) anyway...i wanted to thatnk Ice- for thanking me for thanking her for thanking me. If you can understand that then...well...we won't get into my logic...:) it's better for you sane people. Thank you to all of you who have encouraged me to finish this damn story...all the e-mail i have recieved from you has helped me alot in understandinmg what the reader likes and dislikes..>:) My apologies to any of the males out there who may have read this last part...i seem to recall me saying something along the lines of it being Mulder's time of the month. I'm sorry if i trampled any sensitive toes..>:) Being a female...i just had to get it in...:) Enjoy this next part...it may be the last...(i hope)...:) ============================================================================== Mulder helped Scully to stand up and slowly they made their way down the mountain. Harsh winds began to blow again, light snow fell. Darkness accended on them. Soon, there would be no light to see. But to Dana, it was nothing new. Scully tripped in the snow and landed softly on her side. Mulder knelt beside her and tried to help her up. She curled into something of a ball. "Scully...we..have to...keep...going. I-If...we don't...we'll...we'll f-f-freeze to...d-d-death." Mulder said slowly through chattering teeth. "I-I c-c-can't. I-I'm t-to cold." "You have...to...try." Scully shook her head. Suddenly, a warming calm swept over her. She stopped shivereing and looked at Mulder. Her eyes wide open, she could see a light outline of his cold features. She smiled. "W-w-what?" "You were right," she whispered. "It's only too bad that now that I can see again, I can't stay awake." With that, Scully closed her eyes and fell into unconsciousness. Mulder shook her. "Scully?" No response. "Damn it Scully! Stay awake! We have to go. You can't leave me, not now." No response. Mulder picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. He slowly began the rough trip down. An hour later, Mulder laid Scully on the ground by a tree and sat across from her. He shook his head and sighed. "I'm sorry, Dana. I thought I could get us down. I thought I could. But I can't. I'm too cold, and you're heavier then I thought. With a bad arm, I can't carry you," he smiled loppsided at her. "I shouoldn't have brought you here. I shouldn't have involved you in this case." Mulder closed his eyes for a moment. He opened them when he heard a noise coming from below them. He stood slowly and looked around. He could see flashlights! Someone must have come for them. "I see them!" someone yelled. "Overe here!" another said. A medical team ran overe to them. One man looked at Mulder while another looked at his unconscious partner. "She's gone into shock!" One man yelled. "Lets get some blankets over her, now!" "Get me an oxygen mask!" Mulder stood back and watched all the commotion they made over Scully. He couldn't helop but feel guilty for her condition. "Call in for a chopper. If we don't get her out of here now, we're going to lose her!" F.B.I Headquaters Monday, February 13,1995 6:37 a.m. Mulder's office was qiuet. He walked around his desk and Scully's, looking at all they had done. Or maybe, he was looking at all they still had to do. He stopped at his desk and read the report he had written for Skinner. After being transported to a hospital in North Dakota, Special Agent Dana Scully was placed in the intensive care unit, where, two hours later she regained full consciousness. On February 11, she was then transportaed to D.C. General Hospital. Through the treatment of antibotics and intensive therapy, Agent Scully Has regained her sight. She is expected to be back at work in little less then a month. She is, however, unable to give an exact explaination for the events following the loss of her sight. The bodies of four of the natives and Llyode Randall, as well as the body of the beast on which an autopsy was preformed, were never found. Little blood was found at the site of Randall's death. The autposy performed by Agent Scully and myself is at best inconclusive. The only evidence remaining is a small metal tag which was pulled off the beast's body. It is my believe, however, that the animals discovered by Agent Scully and myself were an experiment performed by the United States Goverenment. How or why remains an unknown mystery. ONe which, I hope, For the good of mankind, is never known. Although the evidence collect was never found, what I saw still remains. However, without further investigation into this area, case no.31527694-C is open for further explainations. Agents of record, Dana Scully, and Fox Mulder ============================================================================== okay...what's you think? was it good enough for your liking. That was it...nice little ending...with an unexplained ending...or somehtingv like that. Let me kow if you'd like to see more of my postings...such as Mind Over Matter and Inner Strengths... saGe-