A Series Of Sorrowful Stories by Duane Harvey (summer reading list .TXT) 📕

that called something like, stalkism?"

Zaroff said, "There is no such thing. Would you like to hunt with me tomorrow?"
Rainsford said, "Yea, what are we going to hunt?"

Zaroff smiled and said, "An animal that can, of course, reason."
Rainsford said, "But, there ain't no animal that can...wait...you can't mean...no."

Zaroff said, "Yes, we are going to hunt a human."

Rainsford said, "That is called murder!"

Zaroff said, "No. It's hunting, not murder." Rainsford stood up. Ivan pulled up the gun and pointed it at him. "If you don't hunt, then Ivan will proudly kill you."
Rainsford put up his hands and said, "Okay, I will hunt with you."

Chapter 18 * Zaroff's Story
An half hour later, Rainsford was on his new bed. He couldn't sleep. He couldn't believe what Zaroff had told him. The morning wasn't good. Rainsford woke up to the sound of a gun. He walked to the kitchen window. He saw Zaroff and Ivan chasing a man. Rainsford walked to the kitchen table. He picked up a knife. He walked to the basement door. He opened it and walked in. Then he shut the door and walked down the stairs in the darkness.
He pulled a string, which he thought was connected to a light bulb. It was indeed connected to a light bulb. The basement lit up. Rainsford saw four human bodies in the corner. He looked closer and covered his mouth. He knew one of the bodies. It was Harry.
Rainsford dropped to the ground. Tears filled his eyes. It came to him that Zaroff doesn't want to hunt with him, but to...to hunt him. Suddenly he heard walking on the floor above him. He whispered, "Oh, no." He turned off the lights and ran to the basement door. It wouldn't open. The other basement door opened. Rainsford ran into another chamber. He heard footsteps on the stairs. Rainsford held the knife tightly as though it were his only way out, which it was.

A big man walked appeared in the chamber which Rainsford was in. Rainsford stabbed the big man several times. When the big man fell, Rainsford realized that the big man was...was...was...Whitney.

A voice said, "Congrats. It looks like you are very good at hunting, or in your words, murder." It was Zaroff.

Rainsford said, "I thought he was Ivan. I can't believe that...that I killed my own brother!" He fell on to his knees.

Whitney looked at Rainsford and said, "I...I killed the...the big man."
Rainsford said, "I am sorry, Whitney."

Whitney said, "I am...am sorry that...that I pushed you."

Rainsford picked up a bannana and smacked Whitney with it, until Whitney's eyes closed. "That's for pushing me off of the boat, you complete idiot!"

Zaroff said, "Hot Dogs!" That was the word that makes the dogs go crazy and chase people. The dog's jumped over the backyard fence. They ran into the house and into the basement. They jumped at Rainsford. Rainsford pulled out his knife and killed one of the dogs.
Zaroff walked out of the basement and closed the door behind him. He walked to the restroom. He took a shower and walked up to his room. Rainsford closed the door behind him.
Zaroff turned around and said, "Mr. Rainsford? You have survived?"
Rainsford said, "Yes. They are attacking the dead bodies. I fooled them. That proves how dumb your dogs are."

Zaroff smiled and said, "Mr. Rainsford, you have won."

Rainsford stabbed Zaroff many times, until Zaroff fell to the ground. Rainsford picked Zaroff over his shoulders and walked to a cleft. It started to rain. Rainsford said, "Good bye." He tossed Zaroff over the cleft. He fell and fell and fell, until he landed in the salty ocean. Rainsford walked back to Zaroff's house and laid in Zaroff's wonderful bed. Zaroff opened his eyes and swam up so he could breathe. He saw land that seemed familiar. It was indeed familiar, to him. That land was where his sister and nephew were living. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pop can. He said, "Tell my sister and nephew that I have a quest for them."

The pop can opened its eyes and said, "Okay."

Chapter 19 * Mat's Story

Zaroff tossed the pop can up. It was headed towards Carmichaels. The pop can rolled to Zaroff's sister's house. It went in the door, up the stairs, and into Zaroff's nephew's room. It climbed up on a book self and watched Zaroff's nephew sleep. Mr. Coke said, "Yo, wake up!"

Mat woke up and said, "Mr. Coke? I haven't seen you for so long!" He got out of bed and rushed to Rose.

Rose said, "What is our adventure this time, Mr. Coke?"

Mr. Coke said, "To kill Rainsford."

The next morning Rainsford woke up in Zaroff's excellent bed. He got out of the bed and put a pair of clean clothes on. He walked down stairs and made himself breakfast. He sat at the kitchen table. He stared out of the window. He saw the crystal blue sea. Suddenly he heard the sound of barking. He then heard a familiar sound. It was indeed, familiar. It was the sound of a boat's whistle. Rainsford said, "New comers? What will I ever do? Do I hunt them down, or do I steal their boat and escape?"
He heard knocking on the door. Rainsford picked up his knife and walked slowly to the door. When he opened it, he saw a woman and a little boy holding a pop can. Rainsford said, "Who are you? Why are you here?"

The woman said, "Howdy, I am Brooke, but please call me, Rose. And this is Mat."
Rainsford said, "Hello, and why is that pop can being held so calmly? It's like the boy is worshiping it!"

Mat said, "Worshiping a pop can? I am sorry to pop your little bubble, but I only worship cows."

Rainsford said, "Cows? Really. At least it's something that can breathe and reason."

The pop can opened his eyes and saw the man in front of him. The pop can yelled, "Hey, who ordered big bird to come to the island? Yea, I am talking to you large pig. You look like you ate a million cookies or something."

Rainsford said, "A talking pop can? That is impossible!"

Rose said, "Now you know how I felt when I met Trantrex."

Rainsford said, "Who is Trantrex?"

Rose said, "Trantrex is a dragon that we met in England."

Mat said, "Yea, it was a interesting trip. Oh, this is Mr. Coke." He held Mr. Coke up to Rainsford's face.

Mr. Coke said, "Hey, now, I don't want to get eaten by this hog. Put me down! I can't stand looking at him!"

Rainsford smiled and said, "Dragons? Where can I find one?"

Mat said, "All of the dragons disappeared."

Rainsford said, "Tardersauce, I was going to kill them so I can be the richest man alive!"

Mat gasped and said, "If they were still here, I wouldn't let you around any of them!"

Rainsford said, "Oh, really? Would you like to play a game?"

Rose said, "I love to play games! What game is it? Please tell me it's Moriah Vs. Spiderman! I loved that game!"

Suddenly a woman ran over and jumped on Rainsford. The woman got off of Rainsford and said, "Sorry about that. I am Mrs. Willis. And over there is my cousin, Baleigh."

Mat said, "Baleigh?"

Baleigh walked over to Rainsford and said, "I love your long hair, it looks like an ice cream cone."

Rainsford said, "I am stuck on this island with complete morons."

Mr. Coke jumped out of Mat's hands and rolled to Rainsford and said, "You have no idea, big bird."

Rainsford said, "Anyways, the game is, the most dangerous dog hunt."

Chapter 20 * Mat's Story

Mr. Coke said, "I don't get along with dogs. I got peed on by two when I lived on Mountain St."

Rainsford said, "If you win, you get to live with me in my new house, and if I win, you will become my slaves!"

Mat said, "Really? I can't do this slave stuff. That is Duane's job. He enjoys being bossed around, surprising isn't it?"

Rainsford said, "Sure. Now, let’s play the game!"

Mr. Coke said, "I don't see any hot dogs."

Rainsford said, "Hot dogs?" Rainsford turned his head and saw three dogs charging towards him. He turned around and started to run. Then he saw a puppy on the porch. The puppy jumped off of the porch and landed on Rainsford. The force was so strong that it knocked Rainsford to the ground. Rainsford got up and ran to the cleft where he had tossed Zaroff into the ocean. He jumped off. He fell...and fell...and fell...and fell, until he slammed against something hard. He realized that it was the boat, which the new comers have arrived in. Suddenly he saw another boat out in the distance.

He heard gun shots from above. He looked up and saw Mrs. Willis shooting at him. A bullet went into his skull. He walked backwards, until he fell overboard. He landed in the water.

When the boat arrived, Rose realized that it was Zaroff. Six minutes later, Zaroff said, "You have completed my quest. You may now return home." Rose, Mat, and Mr. Coke got onto the boat. They were on their way back to Carmichaels.

When they got to their house, Mr. Coke went to the rest room. When he came out, he was in a hula skirt. He said, "Lets party!" They partied until they fell asleep. When Mat and Rose woke up the next morning, they realized that Mr. Coke was gone.

A few hours later Mat and Rose walked to the physiologist's office. Mat said, "I need help."

The physiologist said, "If you tell me everything I may help you." They walked up to the waiting room. The physiologist said, "Ma'am, you will wait here until, we are done talking." Rose sat down.

Mat and the physiologist went to a dark room with a large window. The physiologist said, "Okay, I am ready to listen to your story."

Mat started, "Last night, I looked outside of the window and saw my reflection. I forgot who I was. I forgot where I was. I forgot how I got here. The only thing in my mind was that one image of that girl, Autumn. I closed my eyes tightly and remembered that day at the lake. The sun was low. The wind was calm. The water was still. The world was silent. Autumn was smiling. Autumn grabbed my hand and looked in my eyes. She said, "I think it's time to move a step higher in our relationship."
I said,