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he managed to pick it up.  He planned to bury it with him. As he ventured on with his deceased pal trenched in his arms, Joel thought he heard something further out in the woods.  He stopped, listened.  Was that a scream?  He turned his ear to the direction, trying to aim his ear where he thought it had come from.  The wind drifted across him, making the thick green leaves on the branches sigh.  He could hear, albeit faintly, the sputtering of a chainsaw.  
    He shrugged. As he entered the woods, he thought he heard it again, but this time he ignored it.
     
    (III)
     
    Dawn raced through the woods.  She was saturated with sweat, her eyes burned from it.  She slapped away low hanging branches that reached out like skeletal hands.  Stealing a look over her shoulder, she saw the large man wasn’t far behind, even though he moved much slower due to his bulky size.  That meant she was traveling at a pace she needed to quicken.  The tree limbs looked to be giving him the same trouble, but he was able to cut a path through them with his chainsaw.
    Dawn wished she had something like that, or better yet, some wheels.  She pictured her car sitting alone in the field where they’d left it.  She had no idea how far away she was from it, so it was best to pretend it wasn’t there at all.  If she focused on the car, she’d just become depressed.
    A thicker plot of woods came into view from up ahead.  Bending forward, she charged through them, hanging an immediate left, and left him behind.
     
    ****
     
    When he stomped down the hill, he realized that he’d lost her. He stopped running and scoped out the land.  She couldn’t have gone far.  With dedicated patience, he’d find her.  His dark eyes darted back and forth intuitively, as if watching a tennis match. His mouth was drooped open and panting.  All he saw were hills and trees.  No girl.  
     
    ****
     
    Thankfully, he hadn’t noticed Dawn looming behind him, holding a bulky rock above her head with both hands. The coughing motor of the chainsaw silenced her approach. 
    The wafting exhaust squeezed her throat, and the burning tang of gasoline and oil singed her nostrils, bringing tears to her eyes.  She blinked to clear them.  Almost there.  Just a few more steps.  His back was like a thick wall, a giant compared to her.  Dawn had never been one who was known for her height, but this guy was ridiculously huge.  Like a bear.  Standing on the tips of her toes, and stretching her legs and arms, she brought the rock higher.
    If he moves, I’m cooked.  She held her breath. 
    What are you waiting for?  She heard a voice say.  It sounded like Kevin’s.  He’s going to catch you.  Do it, now!!! 
    Dawn lashed the rock back, and as she brought the rock forward, she aimed for the back of his neck…
    He whipped around, the chainsaw roaring and struck the rock.  Sparks showered as the rock was flung from Dawn’s hands.  She screamed.  She’d walked straight into a trap!  He revved the saw again, then lunged at her.  The spinning chain was a blur.  Dawn avoided its whirling points, just barely, but felt a blast of air knock the sweat beads off her sleek skin. She ran for the rock, scooping it up without slowing down. As she spun around, she swung the rock blindly, and managed to crack the rock against his jaw while he was moving in on her. 
    He staggered a couple of steps back. 
    Her moment had come.    
    Dawn charged, mouth shrieking, and slammed the rock bluntly against his forehead.  The solid blow resounded above the chainsaw’s racket. His head tilted first, torso following, and then raising his left leg into the air, he fell on his back, a cloud of dust puffed out from under him.  The chainsaw slammed the ground beside him, idling, with his hand still clutched firmly around the handle. 
    Going for the saw would be risky, but she wanted— needed —to finish him off.  She could bash his skull with the rock, but would have to