I don’t know how to begin. It is odd, considering I used to write for a living. I have been an outsider most of the time, but I wouldn’t dare say I never got emotionally involved in a story. People gravitate towards subjectivism and though I always strived to refrain from it, I never faulted myself in the few instances when it was „personal”. For posterities’ sake I will try to remain objective. Honestly I will do all I can, but you will soon understand why calling it an uphill battle is not even scratching the surface.
On the 7th of February, 2011, Lester Gordon, local industrialist left with a party of four local huntsmen, Gabriel Mosier, Theodore “Teddy” Jenkins, Edward Wayans, and Thomas Edwards. They established contact upon arriving at the Gordon family cabin a few miles east of Quiver Valley, and made several calls to family and friends. Their last transmission ended with them leaving for the woods, citing frequent movement and good chances of a successful hunt, despite the noise they were making. No call was received thereafter, and worries only arose on the evening of the 8th, as the group did not carry substantial provisions, and would have had to return by early afternoon the latest. Though state regulations require a full 24 hours before a person be deemed missing, probably in large part due to the Gordon families’ ties in Town Hall, a search began at 6 P.M. on the same day, just before nightfall, with local authorities joined by volunteer groups.
The original plan was to cover the vicinity of the cabin, hopefully finding the men passed out from excessive drinking. According to witnesses the cabin door was found bashed in, with claw marks readily apparent on the outside of the structure. The mauled corpse of Ed Wayans was found inside, and police believed a bear-attack the most likely, probably roused by the commotion caused by the careless group. This was all corroborated by several sets of footprints in the snow, leading away from the cabin, drops of blood in them. Fear had set in that some of the survivors were in need of medical attention and got lost on their way back to town. Local ranger Michael Boon however made sure there was a note in the official report that there were more than four sets of tracks, and bear attacks in this part of the woods, situated relatively closely to the town, were highly unlikely. The search was soon called off for the night however; as visibility was getting worse due to the fog and snow, and losing more people would not have helped. It was hoped that the group would manage to make its way back to town, with the search continuing after sunrise in any other case.
The following information is based purely on interviews conducted after-the-fact, but it seems the Jenkins boy, Riley set off after the tracks himself, concerned for his father. Friends believe he had still not yet recovered from the loss of his mother in a prior car accident, causing his reckless behavior. Official records pick up at 2 A.M. on the 9th. According to Alchemmillia Hospital staff, the boy was brought in by local storeowners Edna and James Lewinson. Riley had apparently been attacked while out searching, but details of the assault remain unclear as the boy passed out soon after being admitted. Diagnosis was fever induced loss of consciousness, heavy blood loss and early signs of immune reaction to an unknown viral infection. Jenkins was placed in the ICU, and was monitored by several nurses. What exactly happened in the next few hours remains a mystery, but based on the events that transpired in the next few days, an educated guess can easily be made.
More to follow…
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