Chapter 3 – The Tinman
Keeping up with her own thoughts was annoying, but now Nora had to keep up with a scarecrow that was talking off her ear. She didn't want to be rude, but he really needs to know when to stop.
"…and THAT is the story of the first time I put more straw in by myself!" The scarecrow stopped talking for two seconds. "What did you think of that one?"
"It was a real tearjerker." Nora responded flatly.
"Well that's not right! The story isn't supposed to be sad, that was supposed to make you happy you found me!" He looked down at her. "Why are you crying? Is it something I said?"
"Yes! Now stop!" She stated in an agitated manner.
"MMMMMMMM" Someone nearby groaned. The scarecrow, Nora, and Zwei all stopped in their tracks. Whoever groaned that loudly was close.
"Well, now, did you hear that?" The scarecrow asked. It was obvious he was scared. His legs were shaking so violently Nora was surprised they were still attached.
"Hello? Who's there?" Nora called out into the woods. Another groan came calling down the path. "Come on, this way!" She ushered for the scarecrow to follow her. Zwei yipped as he ran with them. The groaning got louder and louder as they got closer and closer. Finally, they arrived where the groaning was. There was a neat log house in a clearing and beside it was a man made completely of tin. He wasn't moving and was in the position of gardening. "Okay, what."
Nora approached him carefully, hoping that he wasn't the one making the groaning. But he did, and she groaned too. "Thhhhhhhheeeeeeee ccccccaaaaaaaannnnnnnnn."
Nora looked at the scarecrow, but the scarecrow only shrugged. "The what now?" The tinman lowered his eyes towards an oil can just at his feet. "You want me to use this?" His eyes nodded. She picked up the can and pushed it at the joints at his mouth. Clicked it and make sure it could move.
"Oh, thank you! I've been stuck there for days and could only just now hope for someone to hear me. Please oil the rest of my body, I'm so stiff and would like to be relieved of this." He lowered his purple eyes to the rest of his body. "It rained recently and well…I got stuck."
Nora worked around the tinman and oiled the rest of him to get him moving. "There you go, that should work nicely."
The tinman moved around. The creaking of metal was cringeworthy, but he was so happy to finally be able to move. He immediately hugged Nora and thanked her for helping him. "I don't know how I can ever repay you!"
"Well, you could let go of me for one thing…" She squeaked out. "…you're kind of crushing me."
"Oh. OH! Oh, I'm so sorry!" He let go of her right then. "Where are you two…" he noticed Zwei down below, "…where are you three headed to?"
"We're going to the Wizard Oz! I'm going to ask for a brain!" The scarecrow answered for Nora.
"And I'm going to ask to go home." Nora added.
"How splendid! And if it's too much, can I ask to accompany you? I really don't want to stay around here and get stuck again." The tinman looked back at where he once stood. "And I guess I could ask the Wizard for a heart."
"What do you need a heart for?" Nora asked the tinman. "You're made of metal. Not really good use for a heart."
"I need a heart because I don't really feel alive. I'm just kind of, there. Normally, all I do is just absentmindedly walk around and live my life. But if I had a heart, I could be able to do so much more! Like fall in love, or feel it speed up during a scary movie, or even just to give it to someone who needs it!" The tinman kept going. Nora's eyes had glazed over long ago and she wasn't listening to a single thing.
"Well, that's a lot of thinking you've put into this entire idea! You must really have the brains for that." The scarecrow added with a hint of jealousy wafting in the air. "I could do things like that if I only had the capacity. I have straw." The scarecrow patted his body. He was in the middle of complaining about having straw when Zwei turned around and began to growl.
"Zwei! Shut up! Now's not a good time to be growling at a squirrel!" Nora chided him for growling. But she looked back up the path and noticed a man walking towards them. "Uh, guys. There's someone else here."
The scarecrow and tinman both stopped and looked to see who it was. The man had short hair and a magnificent mustache. He was well dressed in an overcoat and a suit and tie. He was certainly the kind of person that would be seen in a clothing store catalog.
He stopped a few feet away from Nora and the others and smiled. "I hope I'm not bothering you all, but I'm looking for someone."
Nora looked at him for a few seconds. Something seemed off about him. "Who are you looking for?"
"A girl. Named Nora Valkyrie." The man responded nicely.
"Why, that's your name isn't it?" The scarecrow asked Nora. She shot him the nastiest glare he had ever seen.
"Ah, it appears I've found you. Now, please come with me. My mistress would like your company." He held out his hand and smiled.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you and Salem." The scarecrow yipped and the tinman cringed at the mention of her name. "…but I will not be going with you…uh"
"My name is Dr. Watts. And you will be coming with me." He pulled out a stick that zapped with electricity. "Easy or hard. You choose." He smiled wickedly.
"No!" She grabbed the other two and they started to run down the path. Zwei ran up to Dr. Watts and tried to buy the others time, but Dr. Watts clubbed Zwei with the stick and the poor dog went unconscious almost immediately. "Zwei! No!" She stopped to look back as Dr. Watts jumped in front of her and nailing her in the chest with a surge of electricity. The scarecrow and tinman looked stunned as Watts hit them both with the baton.
"This was easier than I thought." He sneered.
"Well, you're wrong." Nora stood up, charged to the brim and ready to fight. He took a swing with the baton and Nora ducked. She instantly returned with an uppercut to the jaw and a kick the stomach. Dr. Watts skidded away from Nora and spit some blood onto the pathway.
"You insolent girl. I may not have the ability to beat you, but mark my words. Salem will get you. And your stupid dog, too." With that, Dr. Watts limped away into the forest and vanished from sight.
As soon as she was sure he was gone, Nora went running to make sure Zwei was okay. She knelt down next to him and rubbed his side, he was snoozing softly but woke up at the feeling of her hand on him. He wagged his tail and licked her hand. She smiled down at him and walked back towards the scarecrow and tinman. They were both on opposite sides of the pathway, dazed and confused. She helped them to their feet and explained what happened.
"So, you're wanted by the Wickedest Witch of all?" The scarecrow gulped. Nora nodded grimly. "All because you pocketed a necklace?" Nora nodded again. The scarecrow laughed nervously.
"Hmm…" The tinman voiced.
"Something on your mind, tin?" The scarecrow asked.
"I'm wondering if this necklace has any relations to the recent Grimm attacks in the forest." The tinman thought aloud. "Maybe, just maybe, that necklace has special abilities."
"Well, why would Salem, oh quit your whining," Nora grimaced at the two for reacting cowardly. "Why would Salem want the necklace if it had no magic in it at all? I guess that means I'll have to keep it extra safe." She patted her chest where the necklace laid. She never noticed until now, but the shape of the necklace was a rose. "Even if we're still in the dark forest, we should keep moving. We want to make it out as quickly as possible, right?" The two agreed with her. "Then let's keep moving!"
"Now can we sing, Nora? To get the stress off our minds?" The scarecrow asked her.
"If you hum a single bar, I'm putting you back on that stake." Nora threatened. She looked ahead down the path and hoped nothing else waited to snare them.