A Stormy Night

"Go see the sights, they told me. You just have to see the bridge, they said." Jessie had been coerced by his peers at the work convention to go see the famous bridge from that one movie. Turned out there was no movie, the bridge was a dump, and the second he got there a thunderstorm started. Jessie looked up at the only thing between him and the rain. 

“Some beauty this turned out to be.”

His black suit was drenched, adding an extra ten pounds to his thin frame. His briefcase was soaked, but he didn’t care. He hated coming to these work conferences, but at least they were slightly less monotonous than most things in his life. His life was boring, or whatever word that means more boring than boring, His umbrella hadn't done him a lick of good. Jessie had always been afraid of using an umbrella when there's lightning. He didn't feel like tempting the sky, and an umbrella was like candy for a child. Hard to resist. 

A sharp exhale to his left made him jump. A creature stood ten feet away from him, watching him with human-like eyes. At first glance, it seemed to be a deer, but it was scaled like a snake. Its scales caught the light, creating rainbow streaks that danced across them. Its face was at once animal and human. A slew of arrows protruded from the creature's hindquarters.

The creature shook itself, rain water and blood flying off of it in arcs. It's eyes never left Jessie's. He hadn't breathed since the thing had approached, and he did so now. The creature walked closer, its antlers twisting and sharpening, moving to point forward, towards Jessie.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Jessie said, taking a step back. “I'm not going to hurt you."

"You humans, you are all the same,” the creature said, its voice low and gravelly. 

"You talk?"

"Only when I am not singing. Why should I not kill you?

"I'm sorry someone shot you. I would never do that." Jessie took a step towards the creature. "I could take the arrows out for you."

The creature's antlers grew longer and sharper. "Those I have known who have trusted humans have proven to have short lifespans. I am far too old, and far too wise to trust one of your ilk."

"Thats fine. I'm not asking you to trust me. I'm asking you to let me take the arrows out. What do you think I'm going to do? Push them further in? You could kill me if you want."

The deer blew air loudly through its nose. "Fine. Approach.”

Jessie walked up to the deer. It was bigger than he had thought. It could kill him in a heartbeat. He placed his hand on the strange deer. The creature bristled, but eventually settled. His scales were cool to the touch.

“My name’s Jessie.” 

The creature scowled. “You may call me Agamemnon.” 

Five crossbow bolts formed a constellation of blood on the creature’s backside. Jessie gingerly grabbed one of the bolts.

“This will hurt,” he said.

“It already does,” Agamemnon said. “Proceed.” 

Jessie yanked on the bolt hard. At first there was resistance, but then the bolt slid out, slick with blood. Agamemnon let out a cry and stomped one of his hooves to the ground. He cracked the asphalt. 

“Don’t move,” Jessie said, grabbing hold of the second bolt. “Who…what are you?” he hoped the question would distract the creature from the coming pain. One wrong move of its head, and Jessie would be taking an antler to the face.

“A steward, of all things green. Stems, leaves, flowers, and vine, all are mine.” Jessie pulled out the second bolt. Agamemnon screamed.  

“My people used to walk these lands, tending the forests. Cutting what needed cutting. Helping things to grow. Your kind vanquished mine long ago, in their desperate attempt to destroy that which beget them.” Jessie pulled out the next bolt. This time, Agamemnon did not scream.

“So despite being a gardener at heart,” he resumed, “I have adapted through the ages by becoming more like your people, as much as it sickens me. I learned to take what I needed to take. I learned to use my power to my own ends, and that is why I am the last of my kind. Because I looked out for me and myself.”

Jessie yanked out the fourth bolt. “Almost done.”

The last bolt wouldn’t budge. No matter how he pulled, it wouldn’t come out. Tears streamed down Agamemnon’s human face. 

“There’s some sort of barb in you. Pulling it out will only hurt you more.”

“That bastard,” Agamemnon said. 

“Who did this to you?”

“A hunter of…rare beasts. He will be here soon.”  

No sooner had Agamemnon spoken then a man in a black trench coat broke through the wall of rain into the clearing under the bridge. He had short red hair and pale skin. He had on black gloves, in which rested a large crossbow. 

Jessie moved between the man and Agamemnon. 

“Easy now,” the man said. “That’s a dangerous creature you’ve got behind you. I’d step away from it if I were you. Could kill you if you’re not careful. You’ve seen those antlers.” 

“You’re the only one here with a weapon.”

The hunter smiled and raised the crossbow. “You’re right. So move. Now.” 

“Or what?”

“Do you even know what that thing is?”

“No, but he spoke to me, and the last time I checked, you’re not supposed to hunt intelligent life.”

The man smiled. A sharp snap was the only cue that he had pulled the trigger. Jessie jumped back, barely evading a crossbow bolt to the foot. 

“You couldn’t be more wrong,” the man said. “Intelligent life is the best kind of life to hunt. It’s the only kind that puts up a proper fight. I do hope you’ll put up a proper fight. You don’t look like much, but a cornered creature is capable of remarkable things.”

Jessie turned to Agamemnon. “What do I do?”

“I would not have you die for me. Leave me to my fate.” 

“You have two choices,” the hunter said. “You can leave this place and go back to your family. I’m sure a young, handsome fella like yourself has a wife to return to. You can still go back to her. Forget my face. Forget this creature. Chalk it up to a bad dream.”

“And the other choice?”

“I gut you, and hang your head on my wall. Two trophies for the price of one. I know which option I’m hoping you’ll choose.”

Jessie looked into the man’s eyes and he knew he wasn’t lying. He bit the inside of his cheek. He’d always hated bullies. He held his hands up. “Okay, okay. I choose option one. I came to the bridge, sheltered the storm, and I was by myself the whole time. If anyone asks, I saw nothing because there was nothing to see.” 

The hunter smiled at him. “Smart fella. Good choice. That thing ain’t worth dying over.”

Jessie walked past the man. The man watched him go, crossbow aimed at Jessie. The second the hunter turned around Jessie dropped down and grabbed a rock from the ground. He threw the rock at the hunter, aiming for his head, but the rock was wet and slipped, missing his mark by a long-shot. 

The hunter stared at him. “Wow, you’re as dumb as you look.” He leveled the crossbow at Jessie and fired. Jessie narrowly avoided it and charged towards the hunter as he reloaded. Jessie swung his fist at the hunter, but he dodged the blow. 

Jessie managed to elbow the man in the face. He scrambled around on top of him, trying to wrest the crossbow from his hands. A pop rang out, shortly followed by a blossoming pain in Jessie’s stomach. He looked down. A bolt projected from his stomach. Already, blood traveled down it, staining the feathers of the crossbow bolt. 

“You shot me.” 

“Those are some next level observation skills.”

Jessie clutched at his wound, feeling it absently, his pain filtered through the adrenaline surging through his body.

“You shot me.”

“You sound like a broken record.” The hunter raised his crossbow at Agamemnon and loaded another bolt. Jessie dove for him, grabbing onto the crossbow with both hands. He fought the man for control of it, slowly tilting it towards himself. Another snap. For a moment, Jessie thought he had been hit again, but the hunter howled, a bolt sticking out of his leg. In his pain he released the crossbow, and Jessie took it, hobbling to stand next to Agamemnon.

He felt the pain now, worse than anything he could have ever imagined. His insides were on fire, and he could feel the bolt grinding against bone as he walked. 

“We must go,” Agamemnon said. 

Agamemnon bent his head low, one prong of his antlers touching the ground. He etched a rectangle into the dirt. When the fourth line touched the fourth corner, the rectangle began to glow. Jessie could see through the rectangle into another place entirely. A place with a pond and trees. 

“Come,” Agamemnon said. “I can heal your wound, but you must come with me.” With that, he leaped through the hole and was gone. 

Jessie looked down at the crossbow in his hand, then at the sad man who sat clutching his leg. He stared back at Jessie, venom in his eyes. 

“Go on,” the hunter said. “Go down the rabbit hole.” He spat at Jessie. “Just know I’ll find you. I’m like a dog with a bone. Once I’ve set sights on a prey, I don’t stop till they’re dead. You might as well use that crossbow on me. You’d be doing yourself a favor. Be sort of poetic in a way, to get killed by my own weapon.”

Jessie slowly raised the crossbow. 

“That’s the spirit,” the hunter said. “Just make sure to breathe put when you squeeze the trigger. That’ll make it less messy for you. I hope you’re not squeamish. There will be a lot of blood.” 

Jessie lowered the crossbow. 

“I didn’t think so. Run along now. I’ll be seeing you and your friend very soon.”

Jessie turned and leaped through the hole in the ground. He landed in a tuft of grass. He was on the edge of a large pond in a clearing of trees. Agamemnon sat nearby, licking his wounds. Jessie looked up. Suspended in the air was the door he had fallen through. He could see the underside of the bride and a pale face, contorted in rage. 

“Close the door,” Jessie screamed. 

The hunter had thrust his hand through the doorway. Agamemnon let out a sharp exhale, and the door shut, severing his hand. The hand fell down and landed in Jessie’s lap. He yelped and jumped up. 

“Where are we,” Jessie said. 

“Somewhere else entirely. You have done me a great favor by saving my life. I aim to repay it.” Agamemnon gestured at the pond with his antlers. “Drink.” 

Jessie was not fond of heeding the orders of strange animals that spoke, but the pain in his leg was throbbing, and if the water could help, then he would drink it. He dropped to his knees at the edge of the pond. He cupped his hands and dipped them below the water. The water was cold and clear. He brought it to his lips. It smelled of peppermint and was thick like honey. 

“What is this,” Jessie asked. 

“Drink.” 

Jessie drank the strange water. It filled him with a warmth. The bolt in his gut was slowly pushed out. He could feel his muscles and tendons knitting themselves back together. The pain faded, and then eventually disappeared. He stood, not only feeling physically healed, but also spiritually healed. There was something about this place that spoke to his soul. He was used to a life where every new day looked shockingly similar to the one that came before it, but here there was wonder. Here there was magic. 

“The hunter will be back,” Agamemnon said. “He has done something to me. The waters do not heal my wounds. I can take you home. You have already done enough. You have shown more kindness than I would ever afford one of your kind. 

Jessie shook his head. “I’ll stay with you. Until I know you’re safe. I don’t really have much of a place to return to, and I think you need the help.” Jessie knew he should be panicking. He should be trying to get home. Instead, he reveled in not knowing where he was or what was happening. The world had turned itself upside down, but Jessie realized that he quite liked not knowing what was going to happen next.