After the day's tragic events, she struggled over the fact that life could end so quickly; that families could be split apart instantly. Henrick's family, the Floppersnog family – torn in pieces in an instant. Shattered forever.
Was there something wrong with her for wanting to leave her own family in the first place? Why had she been so ungrateful for all that she'd once had? Why couldn't she just enjoy the place she had come from?
She walked on for awhile and was just about to turn back, when a heavy hand clamped over her mouth.
She tried to scream, but to no avail. “It must be Henrick,” she thought, kicking her legs violently and managing, for a moment, to break free from her captor.
“I can't believe you would do that to me…” she started to say as she furiously whirled around to face him.
The man staring back at her was most definitely not Henrick. A scream escaped her lips and the rough hand clamped down on her mouth again.
“Be quiet,” the stranger growled. “I'm not going to hurt you.”
-15-
Where Scorpions Dwell
H
e was about the same age as Henrick, but the young man had something much more wild and threatening about him.
Even under the glow of the moonlight, Radianne could see that his skin was darkened from the desert sun. Long black hair hung to his waist and he was shirtless. In the freezing air! A necklace of what appeared to be animal bones or teeth hung around his neck.
Keeping one hand over her mouth, he began to drag her away. She went back and forth in her mind over whether or not to try kicking him again, but then fear took over. What if she never saw Blink, Henrick, or the Floppersnogs again?! Her family! She stiffened, immobilized.
“I'm not going to hurt you,” the man said again, sensing her distress and trying to reassure her.
She wasn't convinced.
They walked over the darkened, ghostly hills until he came to a stop at the entryway of what appeared to be a sand cave in the desert floor. There were steps descending into a dark hole and it was down those steps the man forced Radianne to walk.
They entered a room lit up by the glow of dim and eerie candlelight.
Radianne looked around uneasily at the sparse surroundings. There was a rickety-looking bed, a few shelves, a cabinet, and a wood stool. The man ordered her to sit on the stool and when she did so, he stared at her with piercing blue eyes as he quickly tied her up with a rope.
His wildness was intimidating. Fear surged through her but she tried not to let it show. What did he want with her, she wondered. Who was he? She wished she had her own dagger right then. She had grown too reliant on Henrick. If she escaped, she vowed she would make sure she could defend herself from that point on.
The man pulled up another stool, moved it in close to her, and smiled. “Time for a proper introduction,” he said. “Hello.”
Radianne frowned at him. She could not believe he actually expected her to talk to him when he'd taken her hostage.
“My name is Thomas Volkenor. But you can also call me the Scorpion Man.”
Radianne scowled more deeply. Great, she thought. A man named after stinging insects. The traumas of the day had been completely draining as it was and she wondered if things could get any worse.
“I have not seen anyone like myself in a very long time.” The man named Thomas moved closer, narrowing his eyes. “Tell me, lovely one, why are you walking in the desert all by yourself? You can't possibly be a Wanderer. Much too soft-looking for that.”
Indignant, Radianne raised her chin. She may not be the bravest Eugladian around, and her self-confidence had certainly taken a beating lately, as was evident in her reasoning for taking the ill-fated night walk. However, she didn’t like his assumptions. As if he were implying only men could be Wanderers.
Suddenly her wounded sense of pride came back full force, when only moments before she'd been berating her shortcomings out there in the cold night air. She didn't like the fact that this stranger had taken her into this unpleasant hole in the ground. She would not give him the satisfaction of conversation.
“How old are you anyway?”
He kept pressing her to talk, but she wouldn't give in.
When he received no response, he began to laugh.
“I see. Well fine. You don't have to say a word. But I will. I haven't talked to anyone in awhile, so this is a great opportunity and happy occasion for me.”
As Radianne sat on the stool, she reluctantly listened as the stranger began to talk about himself and how he had left Eustasia at the age of fifteen, where he and his family had lived like nomads. They'd moved there from Eugladia years prior, when he was eleven years old. Why he was telling her his complete life story, she had no idea. She thought he seemed a little unsteady in the head…
He explained the reasons he had become a Wanderer and how he had been “biding his time.”
“You see,” he said, leaning forward. “When I was fifteen, the Snorgs captured my family. They killed my parents and kept me as a prisoner in their lair, tormenting me. They also tried to brainwash me with some sort of magic potion and turn me dark, like the others they hold hostage.” He lowered his voice. “There were so many others. Foxes, monkeys. Once, I even caught a glimpse of a giant ladybug! But I wouldn't give in. I spit the foul fluid out. I got away. When I did, I didn't stop running.”
Radianne sucked in a breath at his mention of the ladybug. They still lived! Or at least, one had still been living. Her heart sank as she realized that quite a number of years had passed since Thomas's encounter. Miss Lugia would want to know. Radianne blew out the breath, trying to take in all the information and make sense of his rambling. She couldn't help but notice that his story seemed so similar to Henrick's.
“I ran until I came to this cave,” Thomas continued, not the least put off that she wasn't responding to his tale. “I have lived here ever since. That was six years ago. I've lived alone. But the scorpions, well, for some strange reason, they took a liking to me. They don't sting me. They follow me around. And I have a sort of control over them.”
So that's why he called himself the scorpion man, Radianne thought. She bit her lip, on the verge of saying something, but thinking better of it. As she battled internally over whether or not to speak to him, Thomas pointed to the floor and laughed.
“There are a few of my friends now,” he chuckled.
Radianne looked at the ugly, lethal-appearing insects that had gathered in a horde at Thomas's feet. They were nasty little things. They suddenly turned as if they were looking up directly at her, tails poised as if they were going to strike. She screamed.
“No!” Thomas said sharply. “Don't do that! That will definitely make them eager to attack. You have to be calm, and they will be calm also.”
He slowly lowered one arm and patiently allowed the scorpions to crawl up to his shoulders, where they perched like birds on a tree limb. Watching.
Radianne shuddered at the awfulness of what she was seeing. How he could stand it, she didn't know. “How do you let them do that to you?”
“Aha! So you do speak.” Thomas smiled at her. “To be honest, I didn't, and still don't, really like them very much. But they follow me wherever I go and they don't sting me. So why should I be cruel to them? Why should I kill them? Why not live in harmony?”
The creatures slowly retreated back down his body and scampered to a dark corner of the room. Radianne shuddered again.
“So, back to our conversation,” Thomas said, narrowing his eyes. “I brought you here because I saw you wandering around out in the shadows. I was curious to know why a young woman would be all alone in this dangerous wasteland by herself. I thought 'either she's crazy or some foul misdeeds are about.' So tell me… why are you out here?”
Despite her resolve to remain mute, and despite the fact that the man had actually taken her hostage and had the nerve to tie her up, Radianne reluctantly found herself answering him. She supposed aside f
rom the scorpions, Thomas didn't seem as threatening as she'd initially thought. Perhaps it was because his story seemed so similar to Henrick's and she was discovering she had a soft spot for anyone struck by tragedy.
“I'm not alone. My friends are nearby,” she said quietly.
Thomas raised an eyebrow. “Why aren't you with them?”
“I wanted to go for an evening stroll.”
“Going for a stroll out in this frigid air and forsaken desert?” he chuckled. “You are one strange girl.”
“I'm not the only one who's strange,” Radianne retorted. “And you aren't even properly clothed for the elements.” Frowning, she struggled against the rope that held her.
He laughed again. “I'm used to it. But I can give you that.”
“Why am I tied up? What are you planning to do to me?” Radianne demanded. Her thoughts began to race. Though he no longer seemed too threatening, she imagined he must be lonely. Maybe the desert had caused him to slowly lose his mind. Her heart began to pound as she went through all the unpleasant scenarios her captor could have waiting in store for her. Perhaps she'd been wrong to talk to him at all. She had to stop talking to strange men…
“I tied you up because I haven't seen anyone like myself in a long time, and I was curious. Plus, you could be working for them.” Thomas shifted uncomfortably.
Radianne took note. He seemed a tad worried, much to her surprise. “Them? Who are you talking about? The Snorgs? As for not seeing anyone, well, one of my friends passed through here several years ago. And he didn't mention anything about seeing you.”
“I keep a low profile. Don't worry about them at the moment.”
Radianne could see how it would be easy for Thomas to keep a low profile. He did seem like he blended in well with his surroundings. A truly wild man, this sort of Wanderer.
And unfortunately, like Henrick, she suddenly noted there was a definite attractiveness to him. She silently berated herself for taking note of how good-looking her captor was. First Henrick, now Thomas. Who would have thought Wanderers could be so attractive? And why was she thinking such things about a man who had her tied up?! She had to escape!
The scorpions began to circle around Thomas again. Radianne stuck out her tongue in disgust as she watched them gather, hating the way they crept around. She had a strong urge to squash them.
“Can you please untie me now?” she asked, instead.
Thomas nodded. “I suppose. Just don't hit me,” he warned with a wink, as he leaned forward to free her.
“Where did you get that?” she asked, pointing to his necklace as he untied her bindings.
“On my way through Vancor. A jungle cat attacked me so I attacked back.”
Radianne widened her eyes at his words. He changed the subject. “So, now will you tell me what exactly are you and 'your friends' doing out here in the desert? These parts are not for the faint of heart.”
Radianne thought he asked a lot of questions but she explained the whole story to him, surprised again at how easily she was trusting strangers. Perhaps she was foolish, she thought. Perhaps she needed to keep her mouth closed. But, then, she told herself again, Thomas seemed to be harmless enough, despite taking her hostage. And his story was impressive. He seemed impressed with hers as well.
She liked the feeling. Henrick didn't seem too impressed with her most of the time.
“Eugladia is so far away,” Thomas said when she finished speaking. “I remember living there as a child, before my parents became obsessed with moving around.” He stood and stretched.
“I'm sorry about the loss of your family,” Radianne said quietly.
Thomas scowled. “Yes. Well I have not forgotten,” he said angrily, his voice growing grim. "One day I will have my revenge."
He sounded exactly like Henrick. Radianne wondered if perhaps the two should meet. “What are you waiting for?” she asked. “Why don't you leave this desert?”
“I don't have any pressing place to be for the time being,” Thomas shrugged. “But once I figure out precisely how to do it, I will exact my revenge on the Snorgs for ruining my life. There are just too many of them right now.”
Radianne stood up. She hoped he would have justice one day. But at the moment, she she knew she had to get back to camp. Blink and the Floppersnogs needed her. At least she could comfort them in their times of distress. She was good at that. “I hope you do,” she said. “I really should be going. I'm sure my friends are starting to worry about me now.”
Thomas glanced toward the rocky stairs leading up into the desert and his face fell. It had been so long since he'd talked to anyone and he was sad to see her go.
“Well, you can leave now, if you'd like." He gestured toward the exit and bowed. “I'm sorry I gave you a scare and brought you here. I'm really quite the gentleman, despite my animalistic look.”
Radianne eyed her captor thoughtfully. Maybe he could come with her. What would adding another member to their party hurt? By that point, her journey had been full of surprises and this wasn't so different. The adventure was no longer her own, and if truth be told, it hadn't been from the beginning. It was all about Blink's return.
Though she hated to admit it in light of her poor feelings about her own capabilities, she also supposed Thomas would know a thing or two about the desert, which would only prove useful. It would also be nice to listen to someone else other than Henrick.
“Why don't you join me? Meet my friends and travel with us? Perhaps after our present quest is over, we can all come up with a battle plan for the Snorgs.” It was the first time Radianne had such a thought but she kind of liked the idea. She was tired of feeling helpless.
Thomas laughed. “I'm not even sure how to act around others these days," he said, pointing to the rope he'd tied her up with. “Obviously. But you're very kind to offer.”
The massive group of scorpions came out from the shadows and surrounded him then, as if attempting to thwart him from even thinking of leaving.
Radianne frowned and shuddered. Never mind them, she thought. “I'm sure you'd remember how. All you'd have to do is act as you did tonight. Minus kidnapping and the rope, of course.”
Thomas looked at the creatures gathered around his feet. “What about them? They've been with me for quite some time now…”
Radianne shuddered again. She definitely didn't want those things coming along for the journey and could not understand his attachment. Besides, she didn't want anymore injuries from unpleasant creatures.
“You said you can command them. You could tell them to stay put. I'm sure they will be perfectly fine without you…”
Thomas stared at the scorpions with a slightly sorrowful look on his face. “You're probably right,” he said. “Perhaps our time together has come to an end. Though I do know that if I leave, I will most certainly meet up with them again one day. We have a most peculiar connection.”
He looked at Radianne, smiling at her expression of disgust. “I think I'll take you up on your offer,” he said. “It's time to have a new adventure and, more importantly, to face reality again.”
She watched as Thomas crouched low to the ground and spoke in a quiet tone to the stinging insects. “I must move on for now,” he said as the scorpions fixated on him. “You must stay behind. Be on guard. You know from what. But I also know we will meet again one day. Our time together is not complete yet. Goodbye, my loyal companions.”
Radianne thought his words to the scorpions were odd, especially the bit about being on guard, but she brushed them off. He'd had no one to talk to all those years and she supposed the scorpions had truly been his only friends.
With one final look around the cave, Thomas nodded. Then he and Radianne ascended the stairs and headed out into the cold desert night.
-16-
Desert Dogs
“I
can't believe I'm leaving,” Thomas said to Radianne as they walked in the darkness. He smiled at her in the shadows. “But perhaps it was me
ant to be. And I'm very lucky that it's a beautiful woman who's taking me away.”
Heat rushed to Radianne's cheeks at his words. He was turning out to be quite the charmer, this one. Thankfully, it was too dark for him to notice. She thought it was nice to hear compliments – Henrick didn't give them to her – and strangely enough, meeting Thomas had helped brighten her mood and refresh her confidence. Despite the grief she was still feeling over mother Floppersnog, and despite the despair clawing at her again since she'd entered the desert, being taken captive had in some bizarre way sort of improved the situation. It had distracted her and helped her develop a new outlook on things. Maybe she would find her path after Blink found his way home after all, she thought. And she was certainly going to do her part to get him there.
Henrick jumped up as he saw the two approaching.With narrowed eyes and fists clenched at his sides, he first grimaced at Thomas, then at Radianne.
“Where have you been?” he demanded. “You've been gone for hours. And who is this?" He jerked his head at Thomas angrily.
“You're not my father. And I wouldn't say it has been hours…” Radianne chose not to answer his question about her whereabouts at the moment. Instead, she turned to Thomas. “Thomas, meet Henrick. Henrick, Thomas.”
Thomas extended a hand. “Nice to meet you.” When Henrick didn't return the gesture, he pulled his hand back to his side, looking a little uncomfortable.
“Blink and I have been waiting,” Henrick said with a scowl, glancing once more at Radianne.
Radianne thought he was being rude. But she did take note that Blink had woken up and stared over at her with widened eyes. She didn't want to alarm him.
So she told them a slightly different version of the story – saying she simply came across Thomas's path as she was walking.
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