I told you so stay away from that fortune-telling crap. And now we re fucked! I hope you re happy now. Gerard threw the first accusation.
Excuse me, but you were the one telling her to- I know! But how the fuck was I supposed to know that this would happen. It s not like I told her to- Just shut up, okay! Mikey pressed his fingers to his temples. After a minute of silence he took a deep breath, So what do we do now? Gerard shrugged, Wait, I suppose Yeah, I guess. Mikey sat back down on the chair. Sit down and close your eyes. Maybe we can reverse this or something. Oh, and you are a magician now? Gerard fell back down on the chair.
Have a better idea, hey? Just try. Mikey scrunched his eyes.
Closing his eyes, Gerard tried to think back around the lines he had earlier. But after a while of intense concentration, he still felt the frigid breeze against his face and he knew that he hadn t moved. He blinked at Mikey, but said Mikey had his forehead creased in focus. It must have been at least twenty minutes later when Mikey finally stirred. Nothing. he announced.
And now we wait. Gerard dug his hands into his pockets. Hey, phone! he shouted excitedly. But no signal Gerard pressed the keys profusely, pressing the phone to his ear every so often. Nothing he muttered dejectedly. Yours? I didn t bring mine. Why the hell not? I thought I d use yours if I needed to. Alicia s is broken and she needed Alicia! Alicia! Gerard chanted. Why is it that I can never detach you from your phone and now- when we need it- Mine probably wouldn t work either if yours don t. So, stop bitching! Mikey seemed to be getting really worried.
Whatever. Half an hour later and it was solid night- and freezing cold. Both Gerard and Mikey had their limbs contacted as much as possible to keep warm. Yet the biting air was merciless. I-I think we s-should try and g-g-get some help, Gerard managed through the clatter of his teeth. Where? I think I saw smoke way over there when the sun was still up, Gerard got to his feet shakily. If nothing happened by now, then nothing is going to. Mikey got up to, We ll fucking freeze to death here. Gerard grabbed Mikey s sleeve and led him in the direction that he thought he had seen the smoke. It was a long, hard walk. Particularly so since they couldn t see much in the pitch dark of the night. Both of them fell down quite a lot and it wasn t long before they were dirty, wet and miserable.
There! There s light. There! I see it, Gerard. Mikey was annoyed.
Sure enough, there was a speck of light in the distance. As they drew closer the saw that they were approaching a large, wooden gate. A push proved to be enough to open it and they found themselves on a dirt path that disappeared into the dark.
This is our best option man, Gerard said as they trudged on in the direction of the light. Soon they could make out some more, less bright lights and the silhouette of a cottage was soon visible. Two lanterns hung from a tree that stood next to the cottage and Gerard noticed that the windows wasn t fitted with glass but instead had drapings covering them from the inside. Coming to a halt in front of the door, Mikey gave Gerard a questioning glace. You knock? Gerard rapped his knuckles on the wooden surface of the door. He could heard scuffling and voices inside, but after he knocked the noises died down immediately. Suddenly, the door was yanked open and Gerard found himself face to face with a scrawny man. Warm air spilled from the inside of the cottage.
What do you want? the man had a strange accent. Hey, man. Sorry to bother you. My brother and I were at a fair and, uh you see, there was this fortune teller and we kinda got transported to here and we don t know where we are or how to get back The look on the man s face made him stop.
The man s features became harsh, We don t have anything! We paid our wages! Get off my land! He stepped forward threateningly. Whoa man, relax! Gerard retreated, We just wanna Go away! The man shouted before slamming the door.
Gerard looked at Mikey in bewilderment, What the- C mon, Gee. Let s just try another. He turned to head back down the path they had come. Gerard followed.
What did I do wrong? Gerard asked, I was getting to the please part.. . It s a fairly strange story, Gee. Can t really blame him. Mikey s voice was low and throaty because of the cold air, Be more subtle next time. Once we re back home I m gonna sue that bloody woman! They exited the gate and resumed walking blindly for what felt like hours. The exercise did little to keep the cold away and their legs grew sore and stiff. Suddenly, Gerard plummeted to the ground in front of him.
Holy fuck.. Mikey bent down and tried pulling Gerard up as best he could, You okay? Yeah, Gerard dusted his pants angrily, I tripped over a he turned to search for the cause of his fall. He squinted in the darkness and made out a round form. He ran his hand the smooth surface.
What is it? Mikey asked, kneeling beside the object.
I dunno Mikey brought his face so close to the object that his nose touched it, It s a melon, he announced.
A melon? As in a fruit? Yeah, genius. Mikey folded his arms around it and lifted it cautiously. Well that s good news, Gerard said in relief, I m pretty hungry anyway. Uh-huh, Mikey confirmed.
I don t think we re gonna get anywhere tonight, Gerard panted, I m f-fucking tired and cold Yeah, lets just Mikey made to sit down.
No, over there. Gerard to something some distance away, A tree, I think. Okay then, Mikey carried their treasure to the tree and sank down against it wearily.
How do you suppose we open it? Gerard inspected the fruit like it was a rubix cube. Throw it on the ground, Mikey answered, Perhaps it will break open. After several attempts the fruit finally burst open. Mikey was the first to brave a bite, but Gerard joined in soon. It tasted great considering the circumstance. Eventually they curled up as best they could, huddled against the tree, and drifted into a fitful doze.
Hoy! Over here! Mikey snapped his eyes open; it took him a moment to orientate himself. Some part of him seemed to refuse to accept that it hadn t been a dream: In the broad daylight the entire fortune-teller story seemed just a bit too fantastical. But his aching limbs and dusty clothing told another story. He didn t have much time to think however- from beneath the tree he could see movement not too far off. He lifted himself on his knees and elbows and stretched out a hand to shake Gerard a few times.
Gee! Gettup! Gerard mumbled something and turned over, heedless of the dirt touching his lips.
Gerard c mon! Mikey shook him again, this time with more urgency, I think we might be in shit! Just then, something small shot past them at a great speed, and into the ground right beside Mikey s foot. Someone s fucking shooting at us! Mikey struggled upright and pulled at Gerard s arm, Get the fuck up! Another shot flew by in close proximity. Gerard s eyes fluttered a few times, but he didn t have much time before he was pulled onto his feet. Another shot crashed into the dirt and Mikey could see that it was a small round stone. Run! C mon! Mikey dragged Gerard out from beneath the tree and started running as fast as his uncooperative legs and his burden allowed him. Gerard finally seemed to realize what was going on and he began running too.
Get back here, you bastards! The voice rang again but this time the steady percussion of horse s hooves accompanied it. Mikey and Gerard increased their speed. They could now see that they must have stumbled onto a farmland: there were neat rows of green pants, studded here and there by another melon like the one they had eaten the previous night.
Mikey glanced over his shoulder and he saw that they were being followed by a man on a horse carrying a slingshot. Soon, he felt a sharp jolt of pain as another stone bulleted into his calf. The man was gaining on them rapidly. Gerard, running beside him, was panting hard and Mikey was sure that his own expression mirrored Gerard s- panic and bewilderment.
Come back here! The voice shouted.
Mikey s longer legs gave him an advantage and it wasn t long before Gerard fell behind. C mon Gee, keep up! Mikey could see the red-brown line of earth must be the road ahead and he pushed himself forward. Just as he began to plan his strategy of jumping over the low fence, he heard a sharp cry and heard something crash into the dust behind him. He swung around and saw Gerard sprawled on the ground, a cloud of dust evidence of his fall.
Shit, Gee! Mikey began running towards him and saw the man on the horse approaching from the other side. When Mikey reached his brother, he felt the terror in his chest come to a climax: Gerard s right ankle was caught in a jackal trap and the blood was seeping through the material of his jeans. Gerard was cursing in pain, his arms flailing uselessly as he tried to move his leg. Mikey fell to his knees beside him, curled his fingers around the jagged hoops of metal and pulled as hard as he could- trying to reopen the jaws of the trap. Gerard s screams only became higher-pitched.
Shit, fuck! Shit, C mon! Mikey concentrated all his strength on pulling as hard as he could and he felt the stinging pain as the teeth of the trap dug into his fingers. The horseman came to a stop in front of them, got off the horse and advanced on the two men.
Look what you ve caused, you asshole! Mikey yelled at the man.
Much to Mikey s disbelief, the man unsheathed a long knife from his belt and pointed it at Mikey; he lifted a boot and placed it onto the trap, causing it to clamp down harder. Gerard s cries became hysterical and he clawed into the ground in front of him.
What the fuck do you think you are doing? Mikey yelled furiously. At last! the man said with a tinge of pride, I finally catch the bastards who have been pilfering from my lands! He leaned forward to place more weight onto the top curve of the mechanism and the spikes sank further into the soft flesh.