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"There's not enough room in this forum for the two of us." FM slammed his emptied whisky glass down on the wooden counter. "Step outside, Grix......"
Grix eyed FM carefully. They'd known each other for a long time, but things had been gettin' a little strained lately."
"What's this about, FM," he demanded, making his way through the packed but hushed saloon and pushing the swinging doors outwards as he stepped onto the dusty ground outside.
"Well," replied FM, pushing open the doors again and following Grix outside into the hot, dry air, "You've bushwhacked one of my topics just one time too many. It's time we had this out. Mano a Mano. Poster to Poster."
Grix paused in his stride to think of a witty retort about FM's last comment, then decided that now was probably not the time.
"So, what's it to be? 10 paces, turn and fire?" asked Grix, making sure his gunbelt was fastened properly.
"You know me better than that, Grix. 30 paces." FM checked his gunbelt. The Smith and Wesson 6-shot revolver hung loosely at his right hip.
They stood back to back under the glare of the midday sun, and started to count.....
1....2....3....
The occupants of the saloon were packing the windows trying to get a glimpse of the showdown outside. This was unheard of. The last shootout in the town of Last Chance Reserve had been quite a time ago, when the Er-no posse had cleaned out the Desperate Dans, but this was different. Two equally matched opponents were about to face off.
Insane Bartender was going even more nuts behind the saloon's counter because he was losing good sales whilst all this was going on.
Outside, the count was at 25.... as FM glanced to his right and saw PB on the roof of the Red Splat Hotel and Boarding House, shotgun at hand. PB nodded with a knowing look. FM nodded back.
The count was 26.... as Grix looked across to the SR Saddlery, where he spied Sniper with his trusty Winchester Rifle. Grix gave a brief nod. Sniper returned it.
27....28...29..
Dust whirled up as both men spun to face each other. The blast of PB's shotgun firing both barrels broke the deafening silence that preceeded it, and a cloud of sand flew up at Grix's feet as the buckshot ploughed into the ground.
Grix drew his gun and took aim, FM was still drawing his because he was left handed and his belt was on the wrong way, Sniper fired his rifle, and there was a sharp report, then a clatter as PB dropped his shotgun and swandived off the roof of the hotel and landed in a horse trough.
FM grappled with his pistol, it had snagged in the holster, and he reminded himself to be more careful where he left his chewing gum.
Grix took pity. (No he didn't). Grix fired his gun. Fortunately, FM and done his research and Grix's eyesight wasn't as good as it should have been, and at 30 paces it was like trying to read a Wanted Poster through a mirage. Grix's first bullet flew out of town faster than a newbie Gameaday winner. He wasn't sure if he had hit FM or not, but then he heard FM pull back the hammer of his Smith and Wesson with a
*click*
Grix eyed FM carefully. They'd known each other for a long time, but things had been gettin' a little strained lately."
"What's this about, FM," he demanded, making his way through the packed but hushed saloon and pushing the swinging doors outwards as he stepped onto the dusty ground outside.
"Well," replied FM, pushing open the doors again and following Grix outside into the hot, dry air, "You've bushwhacked one of my topics just one time too many. It's time we had this out. Mano a Mano. Poster to Poster."
Grix paused in his stride to think of a witty retort about FM's last comment, then decided that now was probably not the time.
"So, what's it to be? 10 paces, turn and fire?" asked Grix, making sure his gunbelt was fastened properly.
"You know me better than that, Grix. 30 paces." FM checked his gunbelt. The Smith and Wesson 6-shot revolver hung loosely at his right hip.
They stood back to back under the glare of the midday sun, and started to count.....
1....2....3....
The occupants of the saloon were packing the windows trying to get a glimpse of the showdown outside. This was unheard of. The last shootout in the town of Last Chance Reserve had been quite a time ago, when the Er-no posse had cleaned out the Desperate Dans, but this was different. Two equally matched opponents were about to face off.
Insane Bartender was going even more nuts behind the saloon's counter because he was losing good sales whilst all this was going on.
Outside, the count was at 25.... as FM glanced to his right and saw PB on the roof of the Red Splat Hotel and Boarding House, shotgun at hand. PB nodded with a knowing look. FM nodded back.
The count was 26.... as Grix looked across to the SR Saddlery, where he spied Sniper with his trusty Winchester Rifle. Grix gave a brief nod. Sniper returned it.
27....28...29..
Dust whirled up as both men spun to face each other. The blast of PB's shotgun firing both barrels broke the deafening silence that preceeded it, and a cloud of sand flew up at Grix's feet as the buckshot ploughed into the ground.
Grix drew his gun and took aim, FM was still drawing his because he was left handed and his belt was on the wrong way, Sniper fired his rifle, and there was a sharp report, then a clatter as PB dropped his shotgun and swandived off the roof of the hotel and landed in a horse trough.
FM grappled with his pistol, it had snagged in the holster, and he reminded himself to be more careful where he left his chewing gum.
Grix took pity. (No he didn't). Grix fired his gun. Fortunately, FM and done his research and Grix's eyesight wasn't as good as it should have been, and at 30 paces it was like trying to read a Wanted Poster through a mirage. Grix's first bullet flew out of town faster than a newbie Gameaday winner. He wasn't sure if he had hit FM or not, but then he heard FM pull back the hammer of his Smith and Wesson with a
*click*
Page:
Pb and Ant wondered if anyone back in the town would miss them. Ant was counting so he'd have a rough idea of how far they were from the town.
FM was ready to give up, he'd tried looking everywhere for the two missing companions and still came up with nothing. Venombyte came running back to him with something in his hand. "I found this on a post nearby." he said, out of breath and looking worried.
FM took the piece of paper and saw that it was written in blood. He read it.
'Don't worry about your friends, I had to get them out of the way. Worry for yourself instead, for when I arrive your tiny lives will all be over.'
They looked at each other and then ran back to the saloon to find Grix.
FM was ready to give up, he'd tried looking everywhere for the two missing companions and still came up with nothing. Venombyte came running back to him with something in his hand. "I found this on a post nearby." he said, out of breath and looking worried.
FM took the piece of paper and saw that it was written in blood. He read it.
'Don't worry about your friends, I had to get them out of the way. Worry for yourself instead, for when I arrive your tiny lives will all be over.'
They looked at each other and then ran back to the saloon to find Grix.
The Dark Man was getting fed up with this world. He had been confined here far too long and he needed a fast way out. If only he could do something to get out of this place, but those stupid do-gooders always got in the way of his plans. His last escape had dissapeared into the ground and there weren't even any casualties for him to absorb.
The more he thought about it, the more it was clear that the posse he was fighting had to be taken care of before he could leave. For that he would need backup, it was a simple matter of keeping Grix's mind occupied while planting new subconcious messages in the furthest parts. Bright light always did this quite well, and there was nothing like a fire for light that was easy to manipulate.
Wood was gathered from nearby and the Dark Man found a spot far enough away from the town to disguise the smoke and fire from anyone's sight. He lit the fire with a click of his fingers and sat down, chanting strange words that seemed to awaken something from within the flames. His hands moved over the flames and through them as a smile crept back on to his face. Yes, he'd be able to walk directly in to the town and confront them this time.
------------
Some of the indian warriors were gathering outside of the saloon. If anyone had concentrated on their eyes, they would have seen that they had pure white pupils. They were holding guns that had previously been in sheepy's gunsmiths, sheepy hadn't had much choice in giving them the guns, considering the fact that he found himself looking directly at a sharpened axe and five angry indians.
Someone tapped Ant on the shoulder in the saloon.
"Are those guys with you?" he asked
"uh?" Ant turned and looked at the Indians, now 20 in number. He hadn't given them guns, had he? There was something strange going on here. He looked around for everyone else, but only found Pb, who was sitting at a table talking to an old man about the goldrush.
"Pb, there's something strange going on with the tribe. " Ant quietly said to him. "I don't want to worry the others, do you mind helping me?"
"Yeah. No problem." said Pb as they went to talk to the indians.
They had just shut the Saloon door, when a couple of the indians grabbed them both and cupped a hand over their mouths so they couldn't raise an alarm. Pb and Ant found themselves being tied up and dragged to an old cart, then felt a bump as some of the indians led the horses away from the town and out towards the wilderness.
------
FM was looking around for any of his friends. He saw a hat that he recognised in the corner of the bar and walked up to Venombyte, who had been sampling some of the local brew.
"Hi FM, nice stuff this, fancy some?"
"Look, Venom, I can't find the others anywhere and I'm getting a bit concerned. Grix and Jake have gone off somewhere with a stranger I haven't seen before and Ant and Pb have just dissapeared."
"hm. I wouldn't be too worried, they know their way around and can handle themselves in a fight if it comes to that." He said, but then looked at FM's worried expression. "Well, I did hear gunshots earlier, I suppose we could have a little look for them."
---------------
The more he thought about it, the more it was clear that the posse he was fighting had to be taken care of before he could leave. For that he would need backup, it was a simple matter of keeping Grix's mind occupied while planting new subconcious messages in the furthest parts. Bright light always did this quite well, and there was nothing like a fire for light that was easy to manipulate.
Wood was gathered from nearby and the Dark Man found a spot far enough away from the town to disguise the smoke and fire from anyone's sight. He lit the fire with a click of his fingers and sat down, chanting strange words that seemed to awaken something from within the flames. His hands moved over the flames and through them as a smile crept back on to his face. Yes, he'd be able to walk directly in to the town and confront them this time.
------------
Some of the indian warriors were gathering outside of the saloon. If anyone had concentrated on their eyes, they would have seen that they had pure white pupils. They were holding guns that had previously been in sheepy's gunsmiths, sheepy hadn't had much choice in giving them the guns, considering the fact that he found himself looking directly at a sharpened axe and five angry indians.
Someone tapped Ant on the shoulder in the saloon.
"Are those guys with you?" he asked
"uh?" Ant turned and looked at the Indians, now 20 in number. He hadn't given them guns, had he? There was something strange going on here. He looked around for everyone else, but only found Pb, who was sitting at a table talking to an old man about the goldrush.
"Pb, there's something strange going on with the tribe. " Ant quietly said to him. "I don't want to worry the others, do you mind helping me?"
"Yeah. No problem." said Pb as they went to talk to the indians.
They had just shut the Saloon door, when a couple of the indians grabbed them both and cupped a hand over their mouths so they couldn't raise an alarm. Pb and Ant found themselves being tied up and dragged to an old cart, then felt a bump as some of the indians led the horses away from the town and out towards the wilderness.
------
FM was looking around for any of his friends. He saw a hat that he recognised in the corner of the bar and walked up to Venombyte, who had been sampling some of the local brew.
"Hi FM, nice stuff this, fancy some?"
"Look, Venom, I can't find the others anywhere and I'm getting a bit concerned. Grix and Jake have gone off somewhere with a stranger I haven't seen before and Ant and Pb have just dissapeared."
"hm. I wouldn't be too worried, they know their way around and can handle themselves in a fight if it comes to that." He said, but then looked at FM's worried expression. "Well, I did hear gunshots earlier, I suppose we could have a little look for them."
---------------
Grix looked back up the staircase...
"What?"
Jake smiled and looked at him. "Don't you listen to a word I say? Expect nothing to go as you think."
He walked back up to the door. It opened quickly, and Grix's brain ushered Grix into the room.
"Why are you here?" Grix's brain asked Jake.
Jake's smile faded.
Grix stared at his brain. "He's with me, he knows what's going on, I want him to come in."
"Fair enough." The two men entered, and he closed the door.
"Now..." Grix asked, "Weren't you holding a rifle?"
"Yes." Grix's brain picked up the rifle. "Something's happening... it's hard to tell what's going on sometimes thanks to your voltile mind..."
"Can you remember who you were going to shoot?"
"Yes." He looked down the sight, and pulled up the metal piece which he aimed for. "There he is now..."
Grix looked out the window. A man was riding into town... wearing a poncho...
"There was one more person who entered your mind Grix. Him."
Jake looked outside. He had never seen him before...
Grix however, knew him quite well.
"I wouldn't bother even TRYING to shoot him... That's Sniper."
"I know." Grix's mind said. "That's the whole point."
He fired. Sniper fell off his horse, and landed in a water trough, dead.
"What? Why?"
"You'll see. Come on."
Jake sat and thought for a while.
"What the hell is up with your mind?" Jake asked... "It makes no damn sense at all!"
"Trust me Jake..." Grix's mind replied, "I know what I'm doing."
The three walked down the stairs.
"What?"
Jake smiled and looked at him. "Don't you listen to a word I say? Expect nothing to go as you think."
He walked back up to the door. It opened quickly, and Grix's brain ushered Grix into the room.
"Why are you here?" Grix's brain asked Jake.
Jake's smile faded.
Grix stared at his brain. "He's with me, he knows what's going on, I want him to come in."
"Fair enough." The two men entered, and he closed the door.
"Now..." Grix asked, "Weren't you holding a rifle?"
"Yes." Grix's brain picked up the rifle. "Something's happening... it's hard to tell what's going on sometimes thanks to your voltile mind..."
"Can you remember who you were going to shoot?"
"Yes." He looked down the sight, and pulled up the metal piece which he aimed for. "There he is now..."
Grix looked out the window. A man was riding into town... wearing a poncho...
"There was one more person who entered your mind Grix. Him."
Jake looked outside. He had never seen him before...
Grix however, knew him quite well.
"I wouldn't bother even TRYING to shoot him... That's Sniper."
"I know." Grix's mind said. "That's the whole point."
He fired. Sniper fell off his horse, and landed in a water trough, dead.
"What? Why?"
"You'll see. Come on."
Jake sat and thought for a while.
"What the hell is up with your mind?" Jake asked... "It makes no damn sense at all!"
"Trust me Jake..." Grix's mind replied, "I know what I'm doing."
The three walked down the stairs.
"Soooooo...What's been happening while I was gone??" Ant asked pb, FM and VenomByte.
"It's a long story. I'll tell you later." pb said, sighing. Everyone was very tired, and needed rest.
pb took a small walk, just to clear his head. He, like Grix, began to think about what had happened to his life. He began to think back a couple of months, before none of this had happened. But, he was glad all of this had happened. He'd met new friends, and life finally seemed to have a meaning.
FM went to a saloon for a drink. There he flirted with many women, and portrayed his fighting skills on a normal cowboy, who had asked to look at his gun.
VenomByte meanwhile, wrote a letter to his mother. He told her what he'd been up to, and told here that he hoped to see her again soon. Venom was very close to his mother, and with this being Mothering Sunday, he was very emotional. He finished the letter in tears, and put in his pocket. He then gave it to the local postman, who rode his horse outta there with all the mail.
Venom hoped his mother would reply, but he knew he would probably be gone from this place soon.
Meanwhile, Ant laughed and joked with some of his old friends (now warriors) from his old life in Brazil.
After all this, the 4 met up again, and went off to get Grix and Jake.
"It's a long story. I'll tell you later." pb said, sighing. Everyone was very tired, and needed rest.
pb took a small walk, just to clear his head. He, like Grix, began to think about what had happened to his life. He began to think back a couple of months, before none of this had happened. But, he was glad all of this had happened. He'd met new friends, and life finally seemed to have a meaning.
FM went to a saloon for a drink. There he flirted with many women, and portrayed his fighting skills on a normal cowboy, who had asked to look at his gun.
VenomByte meanwhile, wrote a letter to his mother. He told her what he'd been up to, and told here that he hoped to see her again soon. Venom was very close to his mother, and with this being Mothering Sunday, he was very emotional. He finished the letter in tears, and put in his pocket. He then gave it to the local postman, who rode his horse outta there with all the mail.
Venom hoped his mother would reply, but he knew he would probably be gone from this place soon.
Meanwhile, Ant laughed and joked with some of his old friends (now warriors) from his old life in Brazil.
After all this, the 4 met up again, and went off to get Grix and Jake.
FM glanced about and wondered what was going to happen next. He decided that waiting was perhaps his best option, as if he waited long enough he may be able to better work out what was going on.
He took another quick glance about and then waited patiently with a
*click*
He took another quick glance about and then waited patiently with a
*click*
Grix walked off, towards a bar. Pb, VenomByte and FantasyMeister joined up with Ant... the indians just behind.
Jake followed Grix to the bar, and walked in. He walked up the stairs, and Grix was knocking on a door. The door opened. Grix walked in.
Jake followed Grix in, Grix was sitting on a stool, and another person was looking down the sights of a rifle... Jake walked up behind Grix.
"Who's he?" Jake asked.
"That's my mind."
"Oh... I see. The bloke that wrote the scroll?"
Grix felt uneasy as Jake spoke. "Yeah..."
The man in the chair pulled his hat to cover his face. "Can you keep quite please? I'm trying to concentrate."
Grix sat quiet... Jake asked Grix what was happening with his eyebrows. Grix told him to watch...
Jake followed Grix to the bar, and walked in. He walked up the stairs, and Grix was knocking on a door. The door opened. Grix walked in.
Jake followed Grix in, Grix was sitting on a stool, and another person was looking down the sights of a rifle... Jake walked up behind Grix.
"Who's he?" Jake asked.
"That's my mind."
"Oh... I see. The bloke that wrote the scroll?"
Grix felt uneasy as Jake spoke. "Yeah..."
The man in the chair pulled his hat to cover his face. "Can you keep quite please? I'm trying to concentrate."
Grix sat quiet... Jake asked Grix what was happening with his eyebrows. Grix told him to watch...
Grix closed his eyes...
-----------------------
The flames rose around the gallows... the smoke almost drowning Ali of oxygen. Joe lay coughing and spultering on the ground, as did most of the people up with him.
The fire men could do nothing as the flames built up around the gallows, burning the wood, and terrifying the townsfolk. Some idiot had blown up the water tower, and there was no water to fight the fire with.
Ant looked around, looking for someone to help... When his eyes moved up slightly, and saw a dark man looking from a window... he seemed to look straight at Ant, and then pulled his hat over his eyes... He walked away from the window.
Tony seemed to be fretting worse than everyone now... clutching his head with his hands... Ant looked around... the fire seemed to slow down... the flickering slowed... and then stopped altogether.
Ant looked around. No-one was moving. The whole crowd has stood still... as if time had stopped altogether.
And held out the Staff of the First Water. He closed his eyes...
The snake head on the top of the staff began to glow. The two rubies in the eye sockets began to glow... and the bottom of the staff began to wriggle, as if the staff were alive. The snake like staff hissed... and opened it's mouth, and pointed itself upwards.
Time began to move again.
Ant opened his eyes... and Tony stopped running around, and looked at Ant. His eyes glowed white, with no pupils...
A beam of white light spurted from the snakes mouth, and shot into the sky with a clash of thunder. The townsfolk screamed as strong winds began to form around Ant... blowing his long coat and hair from side to side...
Clouds formed over the town.
Tony blinked, and reached for his nose. A drop of water.
Again.
And then, it began.
Rain poured from the skies like nothing that Tony had ever seen... the fire began to die in the intense pressure of the rain, before dying out altogether.
Ali got up, and wiped his eyes, which had began to sting from the soot. His legs seemed weak, and he began to shake.
He looked around... it wasn't him...
The gallows began to shake. The men and women began to run from the gallows, and the crowd began to back away. Ant, still holding the staff which was still shooting the white beam into the sky, raised one hand, and then lowered it.
The gallows began to sink into the sand. Ali jumped off the gallows, and Joe tumbled off too.
The gallows sank into the soggy sand, leaving no trace of it...
Ant collapsed. The work was done. For now.
Beams of white light began to shine from the sand where the gallows lay, and shot into the sky... it looked beautiful in the heavy rain, the light reflecting off the small drops of water...
The rain eased off. It didn't stop, but it eased off considerably.
Ant pulled himself up, and leaned on his staff... A wagon rolled through the sand towards town...
-----------------------
The flames rose around the gallows... the smoke almost drowning Ali of oxygen. Joe lay coughing and spultering on the ground, as did most of the people up with him.
The fire men could do nothing as the flames built up around the gallows, burning the wood, and terrifying the townsfolk. Some idiot had blown up the water tower, and there was no water to fight the fire with.
Ant looked around, looking for someone to help... When his eyes moved up slightly, and saw a dark man looking from a window... he seemed to look straight at Ant, and then pulled his hat over his eyes... He walked away from the window.
Tony seemed to be fretting worse than everyone now... clutching his head with his hands... Ant looked around... the fire seemed to slow down... the flickering slowed... and then stopped altogether.
Ant looked around. No-one was moving. The whole crowd has stood still... as if time had stopped altogether.
And held out the Staff of the First Water. He closed his eyes...
The snake head on the top of the staff began to glow. The two rubies in the eye sockets began to glow... and the bottom of the staff began to wriggle, as if the staff were alive. The snake like staff hissed... and opened it's mouth, and pointed itself upwards.
Time began to move again.
Ant opened his eyes... and Tony stopped running around, and looked at Ant. His eyes glowed white, with no pupils...
A beam of white light spurted from the snakes mouth, and shot into the sky with a clash of thunder. The townsfolk screamed as strong winds began to form around Ant... blowing his long coat and hair from side to side...
Clouds formed over the town.
Tony blinked, and reached for his nose. A drop of water.
Again.
And then, it began.
Rain poured from the skies like nothing that Tony had ever seen... the fire began to die in the intense pressure of the rain, before dying out altogether.
Ali got up, and wiped his eyes, which had began to sting from the soot. His legs seemed weak, and he began to shake.
He looked around... it wasn't him...
The gallows began to shake. The men and women began to run from the gallows, and the crowd began to back away. Ant, still holding the staff which was still shooting the white beam into the sky, raised one hand, and then lowered it.
The gallows began to sink into the sand. Ali jumped off the gallows, and Joe tumbled off too.
The gallows sank into the soggy sand, leaving no trace of it...
Ant collapsed. The work was done. For now.
Beams of white light began to shine from the sand where the gallows lay, and shot into the sky... it looked beautiful in the heavy rain, the light reflecting off the small drops of water...
The rain eased off. It didn't stop, but it eased off considerably.
Ant pulled himself up, and leaned on his staff... A wagon rolled through the sand towards town...
Back in the town Ant was having a hard time ordering his men to move the townsfolk out of the way.
"Look guys, can't you do anything by yourselves?" he asked as he pulled one of the indians away from a little girl who was hanging on to her mother for dear life.
The indians seemed to be ignoring him now, was the spell that the town seemed to be under affecting them too? If it was he was in big trouble, he only had them and his staff for protection and his memory was shifting in and out of reality all the time. Well, at least he wasn't feeling the affect of the spell, even if he did have problems controlling those flashbacks.
-----------
Tony held a large stick and was waving it in front of him to prevent a couple of the indians from getting close to him. He was never going to have someone else come in to his town and tell him what to do, especially since he'd spent all that money actually getting hold of the rights to the town. He reached for his gun and fired at the floor nex to the indian nearest him. The bullet hit the floor, but a spark also leapt up from the ground and ignited some nearby straw. The flame grew quickly and after stopping to look at where the shot had come from, most of the townsfolk were watching in horror as the flames and smoke quickly rose and formed a ring around the outside of the gallows.
Ali and Joe were still standing on the gallows platform and had no way to escape as the flames reached even higher. A couple of men and some children were also trapped on the platform as they ran back from the flames. The rest of the town watched with panic on their faces, there was nothing they could do.
"Look guys, can't you do anything by yourselves?" he asked as he pulled one of the indians away from a little girl who was hanging on to her mother for dear life.
The indians seemed to be ignoring him now, was the spell that the town seemed to be under affecting them too? If it was he was in big trouble, he only had them and his staff for protection and his memory was shifting in and out of reality all the time. Well, at least he wasn't feeling the affect of the spell, even if he did have problems controlling those flashbacks.
-----------
Tony held a large stick and was waving it in front of him to prevent a couple of the indians from getting close to him. He was never going to have someone else come in to his town and tell him what to do, especially since he'd spent all that money actually getting hold of the rights to the town. He reached for his gun and fired at the floor nex to the indian nearest him. The bullet hit the floor, but a spark also leapt up from the ground and ignited some nearby straw. The flame grew quickly and after stopping to look at where the shot had come from, most of the townsfolk were watching in horror as the flames and smoke quickly rose and formed a ring around the outside of the gallows.
Ali and Joe were still standing on the gallows platform and had no way to escape as the flames reached even higher. A couple of men and some children were also trapped on the platform as they ran back from the flames. The rest of the town watched with panic on their faces, there was nothing they could do.
Grix sat opposite Pb in the wagon, as it bounced it's way back to the town...
Pb looked at Grix. He raised his eyebrows in a simple greeting...
He knew.
Pb seemed quite aware indeed... and tried not to converse with anybody else in the wagon. Grix didn't want to either, but it seemed almost impossible to escape conversation.
"Did you find anything?" Venombyte asked... the indians seemed interested too.
Jake looked at Grix with intense eyes. They didn't know about him yet, not even Pb. It looks like Jake's secret would remain so. Perhaps it was for the best.
Grix told the men of the experience in the shrine, and the trek to the graveyard, obviously missing out several details.
"All the scroll told us was that the next piece of the puzzle would be waiting for us in the town."
"What do you mean, piece?" Asked VenomByte, "Like a person, or an object?"
"A person, yes."
"Who?"
"We'll know when we see him."
Pb climbed across the wagon, and climbed up to sit by FM. Grix wanted to join him, but he didn't want to leave Jake on his own.
On his own... indeed.
Pb looked at Grix. He raised his eyebrows in a simple greeting...
He knew.
Pb seemed quite aware indeed... and tried not to converse with anybody else in the wagon. Grix didn't want to either, but it seemed almost impossible to escape conversation.
"Did you find anything?" Venombyte asked... the indians seemed interested too.
Jake looked at Grix with intense eyes. They didn't know about him yet, not even Pb. It looks like Jake's secret would remain so. Perhaps it was for the best.
Grix told the men of the experience in the shrine, and the trek to the graveyard, obviously missing out several details.
"All the scroll told us was that the next piece of the puzzle would be waiting for us in the town."
"What do you mean, piece?" Asked VenomByte, "Like a person, or an object?"
"A person, yes."
"Who?"
"We'll know when we see him."
Pb climbed across the wagon, and climbed up to sit by FM. Grix wanted to join him, but he didn't want to leave Jake on his own.
On his own... indeed.
Grix stepped out into the sand...
A path formed where he lay, and sand faded away from where he was standing. He looked behind him... as the sand began to vanish into the distance, Jake slept on a small piece of sand...
Grix watched as the vanishing point edged towards Jake...
He jumped, and grabbed Jake's hand, and the sand went beneath him, leaving only air. Grix pulled Jake up, and lay him on the path.
Grix, wearing his black and white waistcoat, and black over-coat, followed the path up to the volcano in the distance... it must have been... five? Six miles?
Grix started to walk, which turned into a jog, and then started running...
Grix started sprinting up the path, heading for the volcano...
He looked behind him. Jake was still lying a few metres behind him.
Grix looked ahead. The base of the volcano lay at his feet.
He began to climb... climbing seemed to take forever... the volcano was so high...
Grix climbed as fast as he could. He needed to reach the peak.
He placed his foot in a small gap... but it slid out, and Grix fell...
He tumbled down the volcano... before suddenly stopping in mid air, and then rolling up the near vertical face.
He rolled all the way to the top. And looked inside the volcano. Lava. Lots of it.
A wave of molten rock crashed onto the side of the rock... it came back... and displaced more lava...
Grix seemed to see a message written in the lava...
"YOU MISS THE FOURTH."
Grix turned around. It was FantasyMeister.
He pushed Grix... and he fell into the lava.
--------------------------
"AHHH!!" He screamed... Grix woke up.
Jake, cooking, stared at Grix for a while, with no expression on his face, and then went back to cooking.
"I had a dream."
Jake shovelled the gruel... or whatever it was... into a bowl. He sat down, and began to eat.
"How can you have a dream within a dream?" Jake said.
Grix thought about this... and then decided not to.
"Do you dream?" Asked Grix.
"...Yes. I do."
Jake handed Grix a bowl.
-----
Dark clouds settled again. It was time to get moving.
Grix carried the equipment over his shoulders. Jake marched onwards... he took the flask from his side, and took a swig. He offered some to Grix. He accepted.
Dark sand was kicked up in the distance. Grix tried to look through the heavy rain...
A wagon... and FM was driving!
Grix ran to the wagon... "Boy am I glad to see you lot! We've been stuck out here for days, I've no idea how we got lost!"
Jake was also pleased to see them, he greeted his former companions.. "Pb. VenomByte."
"Hey."
"Come on." Said FM... "Let's get moving..."
A path formed where he lay, and sand faded away from where he was standing. He looked behind him... as the sand began to vanish into the distance, Jake slept on a small piece of sand...
Grix watched as the vanishing point edged towards Jake...
He jumped, and grabbed Jake's hand, and the sand went beneath him, leaving only air. Grix pulled Jake up, and lay him on the path.
Grix, wearing his black and white waistcoat, and black over-coat, followed the path up to the volcano in the distance... it must have been... five? Six miles?
Grix started to walk, which turned into a jog, and then started running...
Grix started sprinting up the path, heading for the volcano...
He looked behind him. Jake was still lying a few metres behind him.
Grix looked ahead. The base of the volcano lay at his feet.
He began to climb... climbing seemed to take forever... the volcano was so high...
Grix climbed as fast as he could. He needed to reach the peak.
He placed his foot in a small gap... but it slid out, and Grix fell...
He tumbled down the volcano... before suddenly stopping in mid air, and then rolling up the near vertical face.
He rolled all the way to the top. And looked inside the volcano. Lava. Lots of it.
A wave of molten rock crashed onto the side of the rock... it came back... and displaced more lava...
Grix seemed to see a message written in the lava...
"YOU MISS THE FOURTH."
Grix turned around. It was FantasyMeister.
He pushed Grix... and he fell into the lava.
--------------------------
"AHHH!!" He screamed... Grix woke up.
Jake, cooking, stared at Grix for a while, with no expression on his face, and then went back to cooking.
"I had a dream."
Jake shovelled the gruel... or whatever it was... into a bowl. He sat down, and began to eat.
"How can you have a dream within a dream?" Jake said.
Grix thought about this... and then decided not to.
"Do you dream?" Asked Grix.
"...Yes. I do."
Jake handed Grix a bowl.
-----
Dark clouds settled again. It was time to get moving.
Grix carried the equipment over his shoulders. Jake marched onwards... he took the flask from his side, and took a swig. He offered some to Grix. He accepted.
Dark sand was kicked up in the distance. Grix tried to look through the heavy rain...
A wagon... and FM was driving!
Grix ran to the wagon... "Boy am I glad to see you lot! We've been stuck out here for days, I've no idea how we got lost!"
Jake was also pleased to see them, he greeted his former companions.. "Pb. VenomByte."
"Hey."
"Come on." Said FM... "Let's get moving..."
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