WalkingDead

EXT. TRAIL-DAY

The whistling breeze whips through and around the trees, blowing small amounts of snow, sending them twirling into the air. No footsteps brake the peaceful untouched path. Not only are there no humans, but no animal prints. The woods are dead, and eerily calm. Off in the distance some faint voices become louder as each step brings them closer. As this time they are too far to understand any words they are saying, but it is clear that there are two males and a female. As they become in view, their mindless speech becomes clearer.

HIKER #1
…All I am saying, is that we are just stupid to come out here, in the middle of no where, and freeze are nuts off…sorry Laurie, but you know what I mean.

LAURIE
Steve just shut-up for one minute and enjoy the beauty of nature. Besides it was work that sent us on this nice vacation.

STEVE
Oh don’t let me forget to thank the lovely people at work. Please this is a lousy ploy to build team skills.

LAURIE
I don’t know why you just cant enjoy this free trip and forget the fucking team management shit.

STEVE
Like I said, I don’t have to freeze to “enjoy” it… right Chris… Chris, you alive in there or did you freeze up.

CHRIS
Yea I am here, just trying to do what Laurie recommends; it’s really a lot of fun if you try it.

STEVE
Oh great now I got to listen to both of you, about how we should love nature and really appreciate it in winter when it is more open. Hey you two enjoy that, I’m gonna go on up a head

CHRIS
Don’t get to far, we wouldn’t want to lose you and the charming personality of yours.

Steve turns and gives a sarcastic smile and walks fast ahead leaving the two behind to talk and enjoy the surroundings.

CHRIS
Great teamwork we got going here, jackass up a head just can’t enjoy this free vacation.

LAURIE
Leave it Chris, you really didn’t expect anything on this free vacation anyway so what’s the loss?

CHRIS
Yea I guess you’re right, still the shit he says just gets me down, distracts me, you know what I’m saying

LAURIE
Yea I get what your saying, just don’t let this shit get to you ok?

CHRIS
Yea I-

A distant scream rings out. Quickly Chris and Laurie remember their distant friend and run along the path to a downed Steve. He holds his leg, which rests in a patch of stained snow. Blood pours from open wounds found on his ankle. A steel bear trap is still wrapped around his leg tearing deeper for every inch he squirms. He screams out calling for his friends.

STEVE
Ah fuck, help me guys, AH, this fucking hurts. Get it off me!

CHRIS
Don’t worry man we’ll get you out of this thing

LAUIRE
Who leaves a fucking bear trap in the middle of a hiking trail?

STEVE
Who cares!? Just get this fucking thing off me…AH!

Chris bends down and tries to pry the metal tearing into his friend’s ankle. Screams pour out, as frustration and pain builds. Just then a man steps from the tree line and onto the path, like a ghost from no where. He is dressed like a hunter, with a big, thick plaid coat, gun slung over his right shoulder. His face looks clean, close save and only a couple small scars.

HUNTER
Can I help you folks, I heard your friend screaming from way back?

CHRIS
Yea we need some help getting this thing off his ankle.

Chris gives the hunter a strange look, and glances at his rifle-

HUNTER
Oh don’t worry about that, just hunting some deer. Now lets get your friend out of this thing shall we?

CHRIS
Didn’t know it was deer season.

STEVE
Just help the fucking man before I bleed to death!

Both Chris and the hunter bend down to look at the bloodied ankle. They both try to snap the trap back, but it won’t budge. For a couple minutes of screaming both men sit back frustrated that they cant free Steve.

HUNTER
Chris is it? (Chris nods)…Give it another shot, I need a break, you know not as young as I used to.

Chris sends a cold glare towards the hunter, before leaning forward to pry at the mangled ankle and rusted metal. While Chris struggles the hunter reaches into his jacket unseen to anyone. A slight “click” and the hunter now draws a large knife. Looking over at Chris, he shots his hand out and grabs his shoulder, jolting him away from his friend. Chris just looks at the hunter, confused-

HUNTER
I ain’t hunting deer son.

With that the knife is plunged deep into Chris’s stomach, completely surprising the others, sending shock their way. Gargling on blood Chris can only gaze at his wound as it grows. The hunter drags the sharp blade up ward, then shoots it to the right hard tearing at his innards. Soon death comes for the man, and the hunter lets the limp body slide off the blade and fall dead on to the chilling ground. A pool gathers quickly around him, as the hunter stands glancing at the man still trapped, and the women parlayed by fear. Turning toward Steve, the hunter cleans the blade on snow he gathered while leaned down. Tossing the frozen waste to the ground, the hunter moves forward, only to twist fast around as Laurie darts into the snow.

HUNTER
One moment Steve; it seems we have a runner.

The hunter takes the rifle; that once rest on his back. Raising it to his shoulder he peers through the large scope and moves the barrel at a fast speed, following Laurie’s movements. Bang; the rifle fires and in the distance something falls into the deep snow, with a muffled thud. Now the hunter turns back to Steve still trapped, but not with out some sort of struggle. Chris lies in front of him, entrails seeping onto the snow. The hunter walks over to the trap and looks down at it, covered in blood, tearing at Steve’s flesh. He places his foot on the metal trap and begins to press down harder and harder. Soon he bores and lifts his foot up into the air, only to throw in down hard, cutting threw the bone and severing Steve’s foot. Screaming in extreme pain Steve brings the bloody stump close to him, curling up in a ball. He looks up, tears in his eyes, and decides to try and crawl away. Lying down on his stomach he begins to struggle against the snow, but he manages to gain some speed, only to have the hunters foot brought back down on him again, this time on his back. It drops Steve flat to his gut, face left in the snow. Pulling another weapon from his coat, the hunter just stares at the hatchet blade, and glances at the back of Steve’s bald head. Giving no thought he drives the wedge into the back of his skull. Blood runs from the wound, as the hatchet is wrenched from the gaping wound.