by J. G. Massie
Just how old was this creature anyway? And during that time, just how many “chosen” had he exposed as frauds? And by exposed...of course I mean killed like bugs and shrunk their heads just for fun. And of those, how many had come of their own free will? Had they really been arrogant enough to believe they were somehow destined to solve all the world’s problems? Or were they like me, just dragging their feet down the path of events that seemed to be forced on them, one after another just leading to the next without any real chance to refuse or say no?
“I have no idea,” I admitted, much to his amusement. I could only imagine how much my lack of confidence only encouraged the beast to end this quickly. “I never knew any of them, so how would I know what makes my situation any different?”
“Then you already know you are certain to share their fate.” He cracked his knuckles and stretched above his head while trying to stifle a yawn.
“No, that’s not going to happen.” He stopped in mid-stretch and cocked his head, curious, as if just seeing me for the first time. “I refuse to accept that.” Why did I say that? It was almost as if someone else were speaking through me. My voice was so calm that I hardly even recognized it.
“Maybe that’s the difference?” I continued, still having no idea why any of these words were coming out of my mouth. “Perhaps they really believed they were special, which in turn meant they felt invincible. Power does that to people. I’ve seen it before. Being told over and over that you’re better than other people can do funny things to your mind. Maybe that’s why they failed.”
I looked down and kicked one of the skulls at my feet, sending it bouncing across the sand. “As I already said, I did not know them. But I don’t feel any connection with them either. I can’t be sure, but I think that’s significant in some way. You said they believed they were the chosen, that they were special. Well, I can’t relate because I don’t feel that way at all.”
I clutched my opposite shoulder and drew in on myself. “I already know there is nothing special about me. I’ve always known that. So you see, we can’t be the same. You’ve never faced anyone like me.”
At first, this ancient creature had completely dismissed me. He would dispose of me quickly just as he had with all the others, then go back to sleep and wait for the next fool to come strolling in. But now he was openly staring at me, his eyes filled with intrigue and wonder. “If you don’t believe you are special, then why are you here?”
“I am here because the world is counting on me.”
“And what makes you think you can win?”
“The same reason.” I shrugged.
I’m not stupid. I knew I was overmatched in every way, but it didn’t matter. I was just a regular person doing what anyone would do if they were in my shoes. There was nothing special about that. If it cost me my life, then so be it. Given what was at stake, it seemed like a small price to pay.
With a final snort, the minotaur bowed his head in a sign of respect. “It will be an honor to take your life.”
“I take no joy in what I am about to do,” I replied calmly. Seriously, who keeps putting words in my mouth? “I must walk this path whether I like it or not, and you are simply the poor soul standing in my way. It’s nothing personal.”
“No offense taken.” He chuckled. “My only hope is that your feeble efforts might stave off my boredom for a time.”
Dropping down to all fours, he lowered his head and charged. The giant was a blur of movement. A single step became twenty before I could blink. I dove out of the way at the last possible second. The mad bull just barely missed me as he roared past like a freight train. Man, this dude was fast. Those powerful leg muscles weren’t just for show.
Rolling back up to my feet, I spun back to face him. I never even got my feet set... Pain exploded through my body as the top of his bony head crashed into my chest. How he ever managed to stop, turn around, and recharge me in under a second was a mystery for the ages. “Fast” wasn’t even the word. His movements were superhuman.
Air whistled past my ears as I cartwheeled through the air. Mercifully, the soft sand cushioned my landing several feet away. Small mercies, but the damage was done. Unable to move, I lay face up in the sand with my arms sprawled out to my sides. My lungs contracted, pulling feebly as they searched for air that just couldn’t be drawn.
They contracted once, thrice, each hard pull managing to draw in just the tiniest fraction of oxygen. Finally, as if someone’s clasped hands released my mouth, I gasped before rolling over to my side. My whole body was on fire. Coughing uncontrollably, I couldn’t tell if I just got my bell rung like never before, or if every bone in my body was shattered. Either was possible.
The minotaur slowly stepped around me, hands clasped behind his back as he sighed. “How disappointing.” He made a series of tsk sounds, as if I were the most pathetic thing he had ever seen. “I have to admit, you actually had my hopes up for a minute there. There was just something about you, something different. Something...” He waved off his own words, knowing that none of it mattered now. “Let’s just end this, shall we? Any last words?”
I knew now that this was over before it started. Overmatched was the understatement of the century. Resigned to my fate, I lay there like a wounded animal waiting for the end. I could only hope he might be merciful and grant me a quick death. It was the least he could do, not that he owed me anything. Lungs finally drawing air at a normal pace, I snorted out a sob as a tear rolled down my cheek.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my quiet apology swallowed up by the blackness engulfing me. I had failed them... I failed them all. I deserve this, so go on and finish it.
Get up...Tessa, you must get up.
“Mandla?” I knew that slow drawl anywhere, but how did he get inside my head? “I’m sorry, big guy, but it’s over.”
You heard the man. You’re not done here yet...
“But Margie, I can’t beat him. Can’t you see that?”
Lie there like an invalid and you’ve only beaten yourself...
“But Lindsey, he is so much stronger than me. I can’t win.”
What does that matter? I’ve lost to men who possess half my physical strength.
“Marco, I’m not sure this is the same thing. He is ten times bigger than me.
You call yourself a Keeper?
“Turner, that isn’t fair. No other Keeper has beaten this guy either.”
Their voices were crystal clear, as if they were lying next to me, whispering right in my ear. Delusions from the blow, perhaps? Still, their comments hurt all the same. I already knew I had let them down, but to hear them voice their displeasure was just throwing salt on the wound. But when I opened my tear-filled eyes, Isaac was straddling me. Another illusion? With that unmistakable grin, he reached down and offered me his hand.
“We believe in you, Tessa. You’ve come too far to give up now. So if you’re done with all the petty excuses”—he winked at me—“I think you have a job to do.”
I took his hand, then suddenly flashed up to my feet with no memory of how I got there. He was gone, and I was downright pissed! He was right! I had used every excuse in the book just so I could give up without a fight. I was pissed all right, pissed at myself for throwing in the towel so easily. If I was about to die, I would at least go out on my shield.
The advancing minotaur stopped and blinked. “Oh?” There was a twinkle of hope in his eyes. “Could it be, was I right the first time? Perhaps there is a bit more to you than meets the eye. Few would have gotten up from that, and that alone makes you...different. Special...”
My body ached from head to toe, the dull throb in the back of my head beating like distant drum. And still I couldn’t help but bark out a laugh.
Eyeing me curiously, he seemed more intrigued than entertained.
“Fool of a mutant,” I growled under my breath. “You still think this is about me?” I pointed towards the sealed door. “This has never been about me, it’s about them.
Heck, if you ask me, I’d say I’m the least important piece of this puzzle. A hammer may hit a nail a thousand times, but it will never get credit for building the house. It is a tool, a means to an end, and that is exactly what I am!
“Make no mistake, I am a tool, a means to an end. None of this is personal. And I certainly won’t deserve any recognition or a participation trophy after I take you down. This has nothing to do with me, or you for that matter.” His smile returned, and I could hear his heavy breathing with each rise and fall of his massive chest. He was actually getting excited. “You’re just in the way, nothing more, nothing less. I’m the hammer and you’re the nail!”
“Yes!” he roared, raising his fists high above his head. “After so many centuries, finally a human worth killing.” His charge was more like a flinch, a sudden tensing of his muscles, and he was instantly at full speed. Oh, he was fast all right, but I was ready this time. Having already seen his freakish speed, my eyes were now adjusted to it.
I bent straight back, contorting my body as his horns whistled just over my chin. I could see them clearly, a sickly combination of dirty yellow splotched with dull brown. These could only be old blood stains from who knew how long ago. Springing off my hands, my knee rose and caught him flush in the jaw.
I could feel the full weight of his massive head when I followed through, completing the backward handspring as his body soared over the top of me. Stunned, he skidded across the sand face first. Pushing up on all fours, he spit out a red glob and shook his head. With a roar, he attempted to get back up, but like a pouncing tiger I crashed down on his back. He was down. He was down! And now I needed to capitalize.
Legs locked around his neck, I rained down rights and lefts as I pummeled the sides of his head. Ears, temple, cheeks, I strung together a long, vicious combo. I must have landed a good twenty blows or so before he finally bucked me off with a rear hip thrust. I went sailing through the air, but still managed to keep my wits about me. Tucking my chin, I grabbed my knees and completed the double flip before landing a good twenty feet away.
I landed softly before turning back to face him. Fists up and ready, I was feeling more confident than at any other point. I could do this. I had to believe that. Still down on all fours, his broad back began to shake with laughter. Rubbing his sore jaw, he pushed back up to his feet and wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand.
“I see now,” he murmured into the back of his hand. “I owe you an apology.”
“For what?” I snarled, cautious about getting caught up in any of his mind games.
As he clenched his fists and rolled his neck with a series of cracks and crunches, a sort of aura outlined the minotaur. Radiant, nearly glowing with energy, his body appeared to grow right before my eyes. Already-massive muscles swelled to the point of bursting as his stature expanded by at least a foot. I held my ground, but it was all I could do not to faint. How much more frightening could this guy get?
“I apologize...for holding back,” he explained. “I see now that you are not one of them.” He gestured toward the scattering of skulls. “You have earned the right to die a warrior’s death. I shall not disrespect again.”
Oh, God, disrespect me please. Honestly, I won’t be the slightest bit offended if you take it easy on me!
I barely had time to blink before he was on me again. It was really more of a flinch than a dodge when my body twitched and rolled with the charge. Still, managing to roll with the blow only modestly lessened the impact. Fire flared across my shoulder as I tumbled aside.
As I rolled along the ground, bits of sand caked the bloody gash. He hadn’t caught me flush, but it was enough to damage my shoulder pretty good. Ignoring the pain, I scrambled back to my feet. How was I going to handle this guy? Not only had he increased in size and strength, but he seemed to be even faster than before.
He charged again, only this time I managed to evade it completely. Leaping straight back, I threw a probing jab as I danced to the side. More a feeler punch than anything else, it connected lightly as he rumbled past. The fly bite did little more than kiss his cheek, but it proved that I could hit him without getting hit myself.
Mmm...
I back flipped back the other way, hands to feet, hands to feet. The pain in my shoulder made me want to scream, but I had to push through it. I could definitely see a pattern forming here, and I needed to stay alive long enough to test it. Flipping along at a dizzying pace, I somehow managed to still keep an eye on him. Watching, measuring his body pivot with me as I moved, he wasn’t charging in.
No? So let’s see what happens when I...
Completing one last flip before landing on my feet, I stopped and braced for what I suspected was coming. And then it came...
Head down, he closed the distance between us in a flash. And even though I was ready for it, he still almost got me. Such speed! I tumbled aside, the wind from his rush washing over me even after he blazed past. Although his charge was powerful, and deceptively fast, his attack was always the same. He was a one-trick pony, and now I knew it for sure. Furthermore, it seemed like he had no maneuverability once he committed to his charge. His path was as straight as an arrow.
Springing back to my feet, I began sprinting to his left while giving him the Bruce Lee finger taunt. “Is that really all you’ve got? My grandmother is faster than that. Man, you must have killed these Keepers in their sleep or something.”
“It is true that I am quite old,” he said, galloping sideways while trying to cut off my path. “Ancient, in fact. I have no doubt that times have changed, the world is a much different place than I once remember.” He reversed direction just when I did, mirroring my movements perfectly as if he were my shadow. “So tell me if you will, when did it become acceptable to display such confident arrogance...while running away from your opponent?”
Touché...
Okay, so he had a point. But my taunting had nothing to do with being overconfident. I just wanted to get under his skin, to make him reckless if possible.
“I’m not running, you’re running.” I cringed at how stupid that sounded. But hey, I had to say something back, right? “So why don’t you...you know...stop running...chicken...running chicken.” Man, even I can’t believe how bad I am at bullying.
I skidded to a halt and raised my fists. My shoulder was on fire, and my body was still all pins and needles from the first time he nailed me. Another blow like that and I wasn’t likely to survive it. But this was the only plan I had, so it was now or never.
Hands dropping down to rake the sand, his eyes flared with a demonic bloodlust. “I must give you credit. You’ve lived longer than any other opponent I’ve faced, albeit by taking flight like a frightened bird.”
“I prefer the term ‘tactical retreat,’” I politely pointed out.
“Call it what you wish, but it ends right now.”
Like a sprinter off the line, he pushed off his toes and was speeding toward me, as predictable as he was dangerous. I was ready. No diving out of the way this time, no evading certain death as he came barreling down on me, I held my ground as my perception ripped reality in half.
Time slowed as I zeroed in on my target. It was strange how fast I could do it these days, and not a moment too soon. I planted my foot and returned the charge. Time seeping like cool honey, I could see his expression clearly as his eyes went wide. The ancient warrior was not stupid, and had undoubtedly anticipated I would not just stand there and eat the brunt of his charge. I would dive left or right. If I became indecisive, and he guessed correctly, he just might be able to intercept me.
But he never guessed I might charge him back.
Feet pounding the sand, I launched myself into the air. I could see those horns of his shifting to intercept me in midflight, their sharp points gleaming like little diamonds. The right adjustment would account for an easy kill. Two inches left, lowering slightly as they lined up perfectly, he had me dead to rights. It was like watching my own death w
ash over me in slow motion.
I twisted in midair, completing a lightning-quick back flip as time flashed back to normal speed. We hammered together like two thunderclaps, my raised knee driving straight into his teeth with all the force of both charges combined. Had his teeth not given out, I would have likely shattered my kneecap. Lucky for me, they exploded like shards of crystal.
The cloud of broken teeth and blood bloomed outward like a shattered window. The impact was so great that it whipped his head to the side, snapping his neck back before he hit the sand. Stunned, he twitched in the sand like a fish. My knee numb and bloody, I quickly hobbled over and jumped on the back of his neck.
Raining down punches with everything I had, I pummeled the sides of his face. After landing ten clean blows with no real resistance from the shuddering beast, I wrapped my hands around his neck and squeezed with all my strength. His lower jaw felt wet and soft, wrecked beyond anything he had ever suffered in combat before. Wickedly fractured and practically toothless, it now had the consistency of a damp sponge.
I screamed, pulling back with all my might. I deepened the hold by wrapping my legs around his chest. Fully committed to the chokehold, there was no plan B in the works. Arms going numb from strain, my gas tank emptying fast, I screamed again as I threw my head back to get any added leverage I could.
Gurgling through his blood-filled throat, he brought up a mighty hand and pounded the sand once. Twice. The third more of a drop with no real force behind it.
I released my grip and rolled to my back as I gasped for air. I was spent, and all I could do was lie there and look up into the black void overhead. Side by side, the two of us lay still for several minutes. Although the idea of giving him time to recover was nothing short of madness, I somehow knew it would be fine. Even from the start I had sensed a kind of honor from this ancient warrior. It was over. I had won, and that was the end of it.
He had given up, and I knew he would not attack me again.
Chapter 16
“I don’t believe it,” the minotaur groaned from his back. As both of us lay there staring up at nothing, I could see that he looked as exhausted as I felt. No easy feat for sure.