Dead Time Series

by Jason Wilcox

  Curious about herself, Bridget looked down at her skin, but nothing appeared different. Her skin glowed just the same, however, she did see a slight increase in the glow she already had.

  Wanting more, Bridget held her hands out and looked up at Blec. The cracks in his skin began to glow as he drank the juice. With a shove, Merz got his attention for Bridget, making him spill some of the glowing juice.

  “That’s good stuff isn’t it?” Raestal spoke from behind her. She ignored him for the moment, waiting for more juice to rejuvenate her dehydrated body. The giant pulled up the cactus and squeezed juice into her hands once again. This time he waited to see if she would want more. Once she was done, she politely held out her hands, only to follow up the action three more times before she felt satisfied.

  “How do I tell them, thanks?” Bridget turned to Raestal, rubbing her hands together to try to get rid of the remaining sticky juice.

  “If I remember right, it’s either gresta or grempa, but I would probably try gresta. Grempa doesn’t sound right now that I say it out loud.” As Raestal finished speaking, he followed Bridget’s lead and held his hands out to get his fill of juice.

  “Gresta,” Bridget shouted. Both the giants smiled and bowed their heads. Once Raestal got his fill, they sat down and relaxed. The giants were talking to each other and joking around while they worked on getting their fill of the juice.

  “I’ve never had anything close to that stuff,” Bridget yawned as she spoke. She hadn’t been able to get much sleep the night before, and she was feeling drained. The juice wasn’t only thirst quenching, it was also very filling.

  “Definitely good. In all the years I had lived on this planet, I never knew it existed,” Raestal responded. Bridget looked over at him, feeling grateful to have him as her guardian. His veins, tattoos, and such were all still a glow. Bridget even noticed that his fingernails were glowing.

  “What’s our next step in your plan?” Bridget spoke quieter in case the giants could understand her.

  “For now, I think laying low with the giants is a pretty good plan.”

  “How long is ‘for now’ because I don’t want to get stuck here,” Bridget snapped under her breath.

  Raestal gave her a grimace. “Just, for now.”

  Bridget could feel her heart rate go up and her muscles tense. “I’m not going to get stuck here,” her voice was getting louder, “If Caden is still alive, I want to get back to that city and help find him.” The giants were talking amongst themselves, laughing and having a good time, completely oblivious to their bickering.

  “Going back there is going to get us killed,” Raestal growled. “I’m not one for hiding away, but I’m not up for suicide either. We need time to figure out how to get back into the city and through the gate. These giants might be able to help us. So, we wait here for now.” He growled again, showing off his sharp teeth along with glowing gums and tongue.

  “I know but if we could just get closer to the city…” Bridget softened her tone. “If Caden is still alive and summons me like he did before, I’ll go right to him.”

  “Summons you?” Raestal looked confused. “What do you mean?”

  Raising an eyebrow, Bridget looked at the demon, confused by how he didn’t know what happened. She thought everyone did. That was the point of her coming, or so she thought. “You know. Like he did before.”

  Raestal shook his head and gave a confused look while lowering his eyebrows.

  “Back when Azgiel first brought me back. When Caden was locked up with the dark souls,” Bridget kept explaining, thinking he just needed a reminder, but no luck, he still looked confused. “When he was in the dark soul’s prison, he somehow summoned me. One minute I was with the Witch, the next I was in the dark soul’s cave. I found myself in a ghost like form standing in front of a large rock door. Inside I could literally feel Caden’s presence, and I knew he was in there.”

  “What did you do?” Raestal leaned forward, intrigued by the story.

  “The only thing I thought might work,” Bridget continued. “I lifted my hands that were translucent and touched the boulder. It blasted inward with my touch. Caden was on the other side, but in terrible condition. At that moment, I could sense a tremendous evil and knew we had to run. So, I told him to follow me and began heading out of the cavern. A dark soul tried to attack me, but as soon as he touched me he was blasted backwards.”

  “Really?” Raestal sat back and looked at her hands. “Was it something the Witch taught you?”

  “No,” Bridget explained. “But she did mention that she feels the connection between us gave him the ability to summon me.”

  Bridget became aware of the silence around them. The giants were no longer drinking and talking. They were just staring at Bridget and Raestal. With her pause, Merz said something to Blec and pointed down one of the tunnels.

  “So…what happened next?” Raestal asked, ignoring the giants.

  “Oh, um…” Bridget brought her thoughts back to the story but was distracted with trying to figure out what the giants were going to do. “When I got outside there was a strange tunnel that seemed to call for me. I moved towards it and it pulled me in. There was white light everywhere. I still don’t quite know where I was exactly or even how to describe it fully. It felt like I was returning to my body, but I could still feel Caden. There was something worse, I could feel something terribly evil coming, and I just knew it was coming for Caden.” She took a ragged breath, passionate about her story. “Even though I couldn’t see him, I knew the danger he was about to face. With all the energy I could muster, I screamed out for him to run. And then I was pulled into a strange spiritual like place where everything around me was in a spiritual form including the rocks, and trees.”

  “I had no idea that ever happened,” Raestal let out a deep breath and looked out of the cave as if thinking about something.

  “Raestal,” Merz spoke up. The trembling of Blec coming back, shook the table. “Es glabble laken ploctlo.” Raestal furrowed his brow and looked down at the table. “Plocta…plocta,” Merz spoke again.

  “Do you know what he’s saying?” Bridget asked, trying to be polite.

  “All I understand is safety, the rest doesn’t make much sense.” He looked at her with a slight frown.

  Blec walked in with a rolled cloth in his hands. Merz took it and placed it on the table, rolling it out. It was an old map. Using his large hand, Merz pointed to everyone, “Es.” Then he pointed to a barren part of the map, which looked like a desert.

  “I think he’s telling us, we’re there,” Raestal spoke up while walking onto the map.

  “I understand that part,” Bridget said sarcastically as she followed Raestal.

  Not lifting his finger, Raestal dragged his finger along a line, which Bridget assumed was the cliff wall that towered outside. He stopped at a green area. Just past where he pointed, was a fire icon and some writing.

  “Plocta,” Merz spoke while tapping the spot.

  Raestal looked up at Bridget. “I think he wants us to go there for safety.”

  “Does plocta mean safety?” She asked trying to get a better understanding of what was being spoken.

  “Yes.” Raestal stepped closer to where the giant was pointing. “But I’m not exactly sure what it is he’s pointing at, or where it is.” He then turned and walked back over to the desert portion of the map. The cloth was still rolled at the end. Using his foot, Raestal pushed the cloth to unroll more.

  “I don’t get what happened.” Raestal just stood there while the end of the cloth rolled off to the ground.

  Curious, Bridget walked over to him. She could see where the city was. It was one large circle with desert all around, except on the opposite side of the city where the ocean began. One line came out from it and headed straight down. Not knowing what the line was, Bridget could only guess it was some type of a road.

  “The city was never in a desert, nor by the ocean. There wasn’t even one close
by,” Raestal mumbled. “Did Triaad move the city?” he paced as he spoke. “I wish I could let Azgiel know about this.”

  Merz placed his hand over the city. “Plocta fec,” he shook his head as he spoke, and then gently pushed both of them back towards the forest area with the fire. “Plocta,” he said again while pointing.

  “Okay, okay. Yes, we’ll go there,” Raestal said loudly while nodding at Merz. With a smile, Merz let out a loud sigh.

  “Es glabble ploctlo blankte,” Merz said as he pointed up, and then whistled while he slowly brought his hand down as if showing the sun setting.

  “If I understand him right, I think they’re going to take us tonight, or at least when the sun is lower,” Raestal said as he turned to Bridget. “So, I’m guessing we’ll be here for a while, and I can tell you’re exhausted, so maybe we can find a place for you to lie down.”

  Bridget smiled. “Thanks, Raestal. That would be nice.”

  CHAPTER 14

  The room was getting stale, and Tagen was going stir crazy. Mauldrin and he had been sitting in his room all afternoon. Only once were they disturbed when two guards brought them a meal. Even Mauldrin looked frustrated lying on his bed rubbing his forehead. He had tried to leave earlier, but the guards told him to stay put for now.

  Tagen was still trying to get used to Mauldrin in the same uniform as the rest of the guards in the facility. He liked him better with his torn and dirty clothes.

  Knowing he could walk right through any of the walls was driving Tagen crazy. He was ordered to stay or else. Even though he wasn’t sure what they could do to him, they had proven they could at least capture him.

  “I need out.” Tagen hopped off the dresser. “I feel like a prisoner.” He turned to Mauldrin. “They’re never going to let us out. We have to get out of here.”

  “Tagen, calm down. Everything will be fine.”

  Twisting to stretch, Tagen looked away from Mauldrin, and tightened his lips. “If only I could go into shadow form,” he mumbled to himself. A smile grew on his face and he turned to Mauldrin. “If you were able to talk them into letting me stay with you, do you think that you could talk them into letting me stay outside of the city. I swear I would stay right outside the dome and wait for you. I wouldn’t run away.”

  “Dome?” Mauldrin leaned forward. “What do you mean?”

  “Were you still knocked out when they brought you in?” Tagen was surprised to hear that Mauldrin hadn’t seen the dome.

  “Yes. I didn’t wake up until they got me in here.” Mauldrin scratched at his nose.

  “They must’ve drugged you or something for you to have stayed asleep through that long road trip we took to get here.”

  “They may have,” Mauldrin started. “But tell me about this dome. I need the details,” he paused looking over his shoulder and then back to Tagen, “if we’re going to figure out how to get out of here.”

  “That’s about it,” Tagen began. “We were in the middle of nowhere, between mountains and in buildings that looked like an old military base. They set up some type of dome over it as their boundary. That’s all I know.” It was music to Tagen’s ears that he wasn’t the only one wanting to get out.

  “Interesting…” Mauldrin’s voice faded even though his lips kept moving. Tagen grabbed at one of his ears, but still nothing. The room felt as if it were spinning.

  “I…” Tagen tried to speak, but his vision began to blur, and he saw the floor quickly approaching before everything went completely black.

  “You’re home early,” a woman’s voice spoke with a mocking tone. Tagen looked around and saw he was in someone’s home. A very beautiful, dark haired woman sat at a table in a large dining room. She had paper and a writing quill in hand. Her dark brown hair, soft skin, and dark eyes were strangely breathtaking to Tagen, especially with the soft light of the candle on the table. He never paid any interest to humans. As far as he was concerned, all humans were grotesque, but this one was different.

  Unable to control his body, Tagen walked forward into the room against his will. It was like someone or something was controlling him, like he was looking through someone’s eyes but unable to control what was happening.

  “Why are you home late?” The woman pushed everything to the side and focused on Tagen. “Come, sit down, and talk to me. You don’t look happy.” She patted a chair next to her.

  “I can’t talk right now,” a voice came from him, but it wasn’t his voice. However, the voice was strangely familiar. He had heard the voice before but was uncertain where.

  The woman stood and walked over to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “What’s going on? I’ve never seen you act this way before.”

  “If I tell you, I’m worried it will put your life in jeopardy.” His hands moved outwards and embraced the woman. Tagen saw his fingers, and they were human. He was shocked, and tried to pull them up, to look at them, but couldn’t. “I shouldn’t even tell you that much.” He pushed her away, once again, but not by his choice. “Listen carefully to me. I’m only home for a moment. There are some serious things going on and war is inevitable. However, I’ve stumbled on to something, and think I found out who the traitor is, but I have to get more evidence. There’s a court tonight that we all have to be at, and I’m going to try and let Azgiel know.” Tagen felt like he was watching a horrible play through the actor’s eyes. He couldn’t figure out why in the world the guy was telling her information, especially when he had just made it clear he wasn’t going to tell her anything.

  “Wait. What?” She pulled away from him. Her eyes were stern. “What traitor? What war?” The woman let go of him and ran her hand through her hair.

  “I have to be careful with what I tell you. But I will tell you enough in hopes it will keep you safe.” He turned and looked out a circular window on to an empty dirt road. Letting out a deep breath, he turned back around and stepped closer to her. “The war is what’s been building between Azgiel and the rest of the six planets. The traitor is behind the rising conflict, and his name is too high up for me to tell you who it is.”

  “Will you be coming home tonight?”

  “As soon as I’m done talking with Azgiel.”

  The woman nodded, and threw her arms around him. “I’ve become accustomed to your job requirements. But this time worries me a little more than the other times. I don’t want to lose you.”

  “It’ll all be okay, I give you my word.” Before he could say more, she pulled him in and began kissing him vigorously. Tagen tried to stop everything, but he still had no control. Kissing a woman was repulsive, or so he thought. He began giving in and with each passionate kiss, Tagen began to feel what humans call love. It was affectionate and made his heart race. It was a feeling Tagen had never felt as a dark soul.

  Something creaked in the back of the house, and Tagen pushed the woman behind him. Moving his right hand towards his left hip, Tagen felt the handle of a sword. Tagen was confused about what was going on. He wasn’t making the choices, but somehow felt interconnected with them, and found there was nothing he could do to change what was happening.

  “I’m sure it’s nothing,” the woman whispered in his ear.

  Without responding, Tagen drew his sword and walked towards the back of the house. The candle’s light only reached a limited area, and quickly Tagen found himself in darkness. The only light came from the dim moon that shown through a few windows.

  Coming around a corner, Tagen saw their bedroom window slightly open and papers on the floor. There was a soft breeze coming from outside. Tagen felt the body relax, the sword was put back in its place.

  “Everything’s okay. It was just wind from outside.”

  The woman came in from behind and chuckled. “All of this over a breeze.”

  “Maybe, this time.” Tagen turned around to face her. “But I need you to be watchful. There are some very serious things going on. Now, I’m only here until Jeders gets here. He should arrive soon to keep an eye on you
until I get back.”

  “You’re having someone come to watch me?” She took a step back in frustration.

  “Yes, as a guard, just while I get things secured with Azgiel,” he held his hand out as he spoke.

  “You know I don’t like people over this late in the evening. I’m sure I’ll be fine by myself.” She walked back towards the candle in the dining room.

  “I’m not going to argue with you about it.” Tagen followed her. “If you knew all the details you would agree with me. It’s only for tonight, until I can get Azgiel to hear me out.”

  The woman stopped and looked back at him. Light from the candle, which was now behind her, made her glow. “If you say, but can I stay in the room and away from him?”

  “That’s fine,” Tagen responded. She turned and picked up the candle, walking past him back to the room they had just come from. A knock came from the front door. “That should be him. Let me get my judicial robe and I’ll get going.” He quickly walked past her and into the room. The soft candlelight followed him in.

  On a wooden box was a dark purple robe, which he picked up and began putting on. The knock came at the door again. Leaning to the right, Tagen kissed the woman again, or at least the man that he was looking through did.

  “I promise I won’t be gone long.” He looked into her loving dark brown eyes. “You won’t even notice my absence, it will be so quick.”

  With a jolt, Tagen jumped up and threw himself backwards, taking in a huge breath and slamming up against the wall. Mauldrin looked up at him, kneeling on the floor where Tagen had collapsed.

  “You okay?” Mauldrin asked with an eyebrow raised. He slowly stood up and eyeballed Tagen.

  Tagen looked down at his body and held his black hands out. “I’m me again.” He smiled while feeling his face and baldhead.

  “What are you going on about? One minute you’re telling me about what you saw with the city and the next you’re collapsed on the floor. What’s going on?”

  “I’m not sure.” He rubbed his fingers up and down his arms, taking in the wonderful feeling of his oily skin, happy he wasn’t in a fleshy human body any longer. “I keep having these strange dreams, visions, or whatever you would call them. It’s like I’m looking through someone else’s eyes while they do different things. In this one, I was talking with some human woman telling her to be safe, and that I had some important errand to take care of.”