A short chapter today, tomorrow will be back to normal length. We're approaching the end my friends. Huge thank you for sticking around for so long. Over 1000 visitors, over 2000 views! I'm immensely thankful.
Nicky stumbled along the water; eyes fixed on the ground. He couldn't do this much longer. During the nights he still saw the two women but no sign of Joe. Death didn't bring him any peace, every time he woke up, he felt the pain, in his legs, in his stomach, in his head. His feet bumped into another stone, making him fall to his knees. he lifted his gaze seeing movement on the horizon. A small blackish point moving towards him. Another hallucination or a real person? or god himself? He couldn't distinguish anymore. The point seemed to get closer, shaped like person. He tried to get back to his feet, falling back down. His mind was playing tricks on him surely. Whoever it was, they quickly came closer. Nicky fumbled with the scabbard of his sword. Danger, his delusional mind screamed. The person screamed something, the same thing over and over again. Nicky couldn't hear it clearly, the noise of the braking waves beside him dominated. Finally, he got his sword out as the person running towards him came an abrupt halt. The person looked like Joe. 'No not this again. I can't take anymore of these mind tricks.' Nicky started crying. 'GO AWAY. STOP TORTURING ME.'
The ghost of Joe before him stood still, unmoving looking down at him. After a few moments it moved forward, towards him. 'I said stop.' Nicky sobbed. He held his sword higher, pointing it at the ghost. The ghost didn't stop, grabbing the sword with his right hand. The hand started bleeding, blood running down the wrist and sword.
'He doesn't see me'. The man Joe had before him reminded him of a scarred, wounded animal. He had been barely able to lift the sword. Joe had to show him that he was real. He had to wake him up. 'Slowly' he thought. He had cut himself and was now slowly taking his hand from the blade, showing Nicky that he was bleeding and healing. 'I am real Nicolo. I'm right here.' Slowly he motioned to take the blade out of Nicky's hand who seemed indecisive. He didn't put up much of a fight as Joe took the sword by its handle and laid it down beside them.
Tears were still running down Nicky's face. 'Make it stop please. Please make it stop.' he pressed out between subs.
Joe gently lay a hand on Nicky's cheek, his heart breaking as he saw who hopeless Nicky was. 'He must have been through hell.' Joe slowly took the sword, placing it in his bag he had hanging on his hip. Then he slid his arms under Nicky's knees and back, lifting him of the ground. Nicky seemed disoriented, not sure why he wasn't on the ground anymore he trying to get out of Joe's arms. Joe had to hold him even closer.
'It's ok. It's me. I'm getting you out of here.' Joe said over and over again. The soft voice of Joe seemed to calm Nicky down. He stopped struggling.
Joe started walking back towards the city he had left his morning. It was already late afternoon by the time he had found Nicky. His lover was not heavy by any accounts but Joe knew that he would need even more time getting back, so he started walking, holding Nicky close.