This is going to be one of two characters I am going to focus on with this blog. Pahhur's story will be published eventually, and I will from time to time post excerpts from her story. However these side stories are only going to exist online, and will cover most of the events that are to occur in the main story. So, without further ado, enjoy!
Beep! Beep! Beep! Slam!
I woke to a low hanging sun, flitting through my shades. 7:30. My body ached, a feeling I sometimes get, like my body knows today is going to be a bad day. Usually I'm right, though the last time it felt close to this bad my brother wound up diagnosed with cancer. I realized I only had work later tonight, so I decided to roll over a sleep a bit longer.
I tossed and turned in bed until the clock read 8 and decided to get moving. I was stiff, sore, and uppity; so I went to get breakfast. My mother was in the other room, cleaning up from my brother, Anatos' meal. He had probably gone to lay back down, it looked like he hadn't eaten much again. I wasn't in a particularly good mood, but I still said good morning and gave mom a hug. I got some cereal together and ate slowly, sizing up my day. I had work at 5, and pretty much nothing before that. So I decided to hang with a few friends until 3 then get ready for work. My plans set I cleaned myself up a little and headed off to Marcus' house.
His house was fairly deserted as usual, his parents both worked, and so other than him the house was empty. He already had a few other friends over, enough to crowd the one Xbox, so we took turns.
As it approached noon I was sitting out one round, so I was watching and drinking the last can of Dew.
“Oy! Metudo! Can you grab the soda cans from the fridge?” Marcus called over to me.
“Sure! Code Red or Regular?”
“Either one, I think we're almost out of Code Red.” I starting checking off who's turn it would be to get refills in my mind as I went to the other room. I bent into the fridge, and everything seemed to shift up. I backed up, and the earth heaved again, like a breathing creature. Immediately I ducked under the nearest table, earthquakes were very rare in Illinois, but they did happen. I don't think I remember a single one occurring in my lifetime. Guess there's a first time for everything. The whole house shook, thankfully not much fell, then it stopped. Darkness filled my senses.
I awoke, breathing heavily, I looked around. Half the kitchen was missing, replaced literally with what looked like an Amazonian forest. Once again I felt something, like a shiver down my spine. It was telling me not to move. I very slowly shifted myself to get a better vantage point, I could just barely see the other room through the hallway. Marcus was leaning against the wall. He looked asleep. I began creeping steadily towards the hall. Then I heard a rattling noise approaching, like the sound metal plates make when they hit each other. My breath caught in my throat. I could just barely see what looked like the barrel of a gun peaking around the corner before my ears began ringing. From my vantage point, I spotted a small spray of bullets and a sudden gushing of blood. I then heard other shots go off in the other room.
I turned around again. There was a thin purple line separating the house from the forest. My impulse kicked in again. I situated myself carefully trying not to make a sound. I looked back one more time, to see no one there. Confident, I bolted into the forest. I heard yelling break out and some gunfire, but I was already sprinting deep into the new forests.
Finally I couldn't hear the gunfire anymore, which was good. The humidity had hit me like a sheet. I looked around at this so called forest, and noted several plants that looked like they only belonged in the Amazons. I began moving carefully, I wasn't sure of anything at the moment, and was very much willing to believe I was in the actual Amazonian forests. I heard something move behind me and jumped. An old man hobbled out of the brush, his walking stick bracing him against each step.
“Who... Who are you?” He lifted his palm to me.
“Ask not questions with your mouth, but find answers with your mind.” I just stared at him. My first instinct was to laugh at this movie reject. But I couldn't find the heart to, given that he did seem almost cripplingly old. “An old willow holds much knowledge.” He spoke suddenly, making me jump again. Was he completely off his rocker? I looked over to him again and noticed he had already sat down and seemed to be preparing food and shelter with alarming strength given his age.
“Uh, do you need any help?” I asked, once again feeling bad.
“Strength in age, strength in the mind. Come, sit. Gain strength for the coming days.” As he spoke he sat, everything around him seemed to just fall into place, including a small cloth and a bowl of soup set opposite from him. I was already sick of the crappy wise words act, but he probably needed help, doubly so if he was this far gone. So I sat and took the bowl he offered.
“Thank you for the food.” I said, and began eating. He seemed to watch me the entire time.
“So, you think what I say has no meaning?” He asked suddenly as I finished.
“What! I...”
“As well you think I'm crazy?” He stood up, I suddenly felt very small. “You have no respect for your elders! I should beat you for those insulting thoughts!” I began backing away, as he seemed to fill my view. Then he smiled and sat down. “Haha! Man I never thought I'd get to use that.”
“Wait...”
“Calm down, it's just a trick. My master played it on me when he was teaching me too.” I felt like I had survived a heart attack.
“But... How did you?”
“Read your thoughts? Simple. Well, simple for me... Hmm... The closest thing you would refer it to is magic.”
“So... You're like some sort of magician? Or a Psychic?”
“Haa, That is quite the insult. I certainly do not deal in parlor tricks, or pandering. Besides, my powers are a bit beyond what you are thinking of.” Frustrated I sat up.
“Okay, so. What are you doing in a place like this?”
“Looking for you.”
“What? Why?”
“I wonder...”
“Oh don't start that. I know its an act now.”
“Fair enough, but those are questions you will have to answer for yourself. For now, call me Master.”
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