She's with my, boys.

Dear little Clarice is currently curled up in the corner humming some nursery rhyme. Come and get her, Jack and Pete.

I was just on the phone with a fed.

They're good. I thought I had shielded my number from them, but whatever. They want me to back off Black Leaf because Fisk wants him for something. Looks like I may need some back-up after all as the fed said they were going to get serious about stopping me from finding him and killing him now.
They weren't serious before when I was laid siege to? Thankfully, I just got a message from The Master. I heard His voice in my head as He said He's found me suitable help. He also said He doesn't want me to reveal who it is until I've met them. So this game of cat and mouse has become a game of war, then. This is going to be fun.

A thought

I'm turning back and heading to Boston. It dawns on me that Leaf can't get any good done just hanging out in the mountains. He'll head to a hot spot where he can get comes leads.

This is supposed to be some kind of April Fool's joke?!

I just got an email from my brother's e-address that said this.

73 74 6f 70

110 111 119

Translated: Stop now.

Two words: the hell?

Where the fuck are you?!

West? Into the mountains?! I should be able to pick up the Traitor's trail! Montana? Colorado? Where is he?! Damn it! I will find you, Traitor. And when I find you I will have your guts for guiter strings!

On the road again.

Hey, Fisk, you need about eleven body bags.

Just a little closer.

Come on, boys. I've never been so bored waiting for some idiots to decide they're tired of waiting for me to come out willingly. Look, I know you guys are reading. It's either come on in and take me by force or leave.

May the rats eat your eyes, Fisk.

Buddy, your goons are interfering with my hunt. I have to hand to you, though. You do mean business. That was quite a leap going from those two chuckleheads in the parking lot to a full on assault team. The ambush and following siege to my current higing place were a nice touch, too.

Yep. You have me pinned perfectly. Now all you have to do is wait me out and either take me in alive and drag in my corpse. Nothing can go wrong at this stage. Nope. Your strategy is absolutely perfe... Look, just take the fucking hint and order your men to stand down. As much as I'd love to send all eleven of them home in body bags, I have other matters to attend to. Understood?

Lastly, no, I require no assistance, Morningstar. I have this handled. I thank you for the offer all the same, though.

Damn vermin!

The Traitor isn't the only one having problems with white vans and the clowns that drive them. I was stepping out of the hotel I stopped for the night in when they tried some funny business. One's now missing his eyes, while the other guy, well... He screams nicely.

I've found your trail, Traitor.

Little pig, little pig, you will let me in,
No matter how much you say, 'No, no, by the hair on my chiny, chin, chin.'
Then I'll hack, and I'll slash, and collapse your ribcage in.

So the word's out on me, eh?

You really think your friends at NAPPA and SMD can stop me, Blake? Think again. I will have your skulls for coffee mugs, you insignificant insects.

That'll be some good fucking coffee.

Enter The Lone Hunter

Miserable rodents, you have slain my brother, Allen. Blake Andrew Fletcher, you are the most guilty of all, traitor. First, I will hunt you, Blake. Then after I'm done with you, I will go after Slice, Core, Pete, and Ron. You will know me as The Lone Hunter, and your worst nightmare since The Master.

Prepare yourselves for Hell. You will all wish you had never been born when my work is done.

-The Lone Hunter

the Black Leaf returns for one final post.

Hmm. Some password. I must really know you inside out, Allen. Allen Smith, "Al(x)ne", is dead. I turned against my former master and helped slay him, myself, in the process of rescuing Ron Foster.

You won't be missed, Smith. You can just rot in the Hell you've made for yourself. Come and get me, Lone Hunter, if you think you can. You won't catch me. You can't catch me. I'm the gingerbread man!

If you want to read any further posting from me, come my new blog, Casting Aside My Sins. Shameless self-advertisements and gloating abound!

-BL

You know what they say about all good things?

Well, it seems I went a bit too far and broke the Hellbeast in a way we couldn't fix. How I will miss his screaming and begging. Oh well, in just two more days, I can hear all new screams. Look on the bright side. Now you only have to rescue one living person.

Regards,
Al(x)ne

Aw, Dead Leaf, you ruined the surprise.

I was going to be the one who announce that I've stabbed the Hellbeast's eyes out. Bad boy. If you hadn't already been cut down to nine, I'd punish you some. Alas, we must wait two more days before we can see what the Master has planned for you.

So, "Pete", you will come on the 20th, eh? Hmm. Well, we will be ready for you, I can assure you of that. As for the identity of the "contact", I call bluff. There is no contact. You're lying to unnerve us and make us search for betrayal where there is none to make it easier for you to try to sneak in some crack. Who in their right mind would turn against the Master? For that matter, who has it ever paid off for? You can't even enter The Ruins without a high level Agent of The Master to lead you in. I don't know what pathetic strategy you have planned, but it isn't going to work, especially not from outside.

Oh dear, it seems like I will have to wrap this up. It looks like the Hellbeast is fading on me. Can't let that happen. I'll keep in touch and let you know how he's recovering.

Regards,
Al(x)ne

Squirming under foot

My my my, how the Hellbeast does squirm and whine when I step on him. Smash his bones, break them, grind them. Let the blood flow. Scream, Hellhound, scream.
He just keeps muttering Clarice's name. How pathetic. Truly it is so.

The fools just keep coming!

Honestly! What is so special about one Ronald Foster? Prey the 2nd now comes to Boston to try his hand at a rescue mission. And the Core and the Slice still offer their services? Is this worm honestly worth risking getting caught and meeting the same fate as him and the Hellhound? Why does this one boy matter so to you all?

It makes absolutely no sense to me that so much fuss is being made over him.

Well, come on then. If you insist. There's more than enough room down here for more. The Master always does enjoy guests. I'll put on some tea.

Regards,
Al(x)ne

So Annoying

After a while, the begging to see Clarice, instead of just screaming like he's supposed to just gets old.

Black Leaf, a traitor? I doubt it. Not if he kows what's good for Lucy.

You know the deal, Black Leaf. Detray us and your wife will be Taken. Just remember that. Oh, and quit badgering me in Clyde's favor. It's grown very old.

The Hellhound falls, yet Slice escapes

You failed. The Hellhound begs for mercy, and Slice flees. I'm sure he'll disclose more details. In the meantime, it's playtime with Clyde.

So those who want to die flock to Boston

It matters not. It will be all the same in the end.I just cannot wait to see you all burn.

Slip in through any cracks you want. It will all end the same, fools. You could have just been happy with Gwen, Slice. You could have just run with Clarice, Clyde. Alas, no, you both throw your lives anyway on this fool's chase. Ronald is beyond saving, but if you feel so strongly about it, just come on, then. Your next task will, of course, be getting him "Unindoctrinated" if by some miracle you can get him out of The Runs, let alone Boston. Good luck with that. It's worked so well for others who have tried, right, Fizzy and Zero?

Regards,
Al(x)ne