Chapter 11 Silence of the Dogs

Nami vaguely remembered stumbling into the inn late that night after her harrowing experience. She barely remembered Ruby asking if anything was wrong. Nami had mumbled something and made her way for the stairs, but had fallen on her face before reaching them. Time came over and helped her up the stairs to her room where he left her to sleep. When she first opened her eyes that morning and glimpsed daylight her first thoughts were what would she tell Tim and Ruby?

They had become almost like her parents to her ever since she had first come here, and she knew she had to at least tell them. Nami rose from her bed and began dressing herself. But what could she say? That a magical girl had popped up from the swamp and that a psychopathic killer had just murdered Takakura and thrown his body into the swamp? Nami finished dressing before marching down the stairs for breakfast.

"Morning Nami," Ruby said, placing a pile of pancakes before Nami. "How did you sleep?"

Nami couldn't help but smile at Ruby's attempts to cheer her up.

"Are you feeling better?"

Nami frowned and looked at the ground.

"Ruby..." she murmured. "There's something that I need to tell you."

"What's that pumpkin?" Ruby asked.

"Theres uh... there's uh..."

"Don't try too hard honey," Ruby flashed a grin. "I'll go get you some more pancakes."

Ruby then turned and walked off to the kitchen. Nami rolled her eyes and glanced after her.

"Good morning sunshine!" Tim said, walking down the stairs. "Are you feeling any better today?"

It was an exact repeat of what had happened with Ruby.

"I need to tell you something Tim," Nami said. "You see... last night... I saw..."

"The new guy? That's great! You should go talk to him sometime. I think he'd make a good friend! He ran off early this morning to do something in the forest. You should go talk to him. Is Ruby in the kitchen? I'll go see her, see ya when I see ya."

With that Tim waltzed into the kitchen, singing to himself.

"Good morning! Good morning! Its great to stay up late. Good morning! Good morning to you!"

Nami rolled her eyes and pushed her plate aside. Without a word she turned and walked out of the inn.

llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

Celia didn't call me in the morning as she had said. I waited until noon without receiving a call. But that was only the beginning of my worries, for Takakura had not returned last night. I walked down to Vesta's farm to see why Celia hadn't called me. When I arrived I found Marlin sitting on the porch with a worried look in his eye. He shot me a glare when I approached.

"What do you want?" he asked.

"Where is Celia?" I asked, looking around the farm for her.

"Leave her alone," Marlin said.

I glowered.

"Hey," I protested. "Just because she likes me doesn't give you a right to..."

Marlin fixed me with a cold stare.

"She said she'd call me in the morning," I said. "Are you preventing her from..."

Marlin looked at the ground and closed his eyes. Slowly a faint tear rolled down his cheek. Shock took me as I began to realize that something horrible must have happened.

"Where is she?" I demanded.

Marlin looked up at me suddenly, his eyes filled with tears. I ran by him, tore open the door to his home and ran inside.

"Josh!" Marlin called after me.

But I didn't stop. I ran up the stairs to where Celia's room was and threw the door open. I saw her laying on her bed, covered with a light sheet. Her chest rose and fell slowly, as she breathed in the air of life. I leaned against the door frame and let out a relieved sigh.

"She's okay," I said aloud.

"No she's not," I turned to see Marlin walk up behind me.

"What happened to her?" I asked.

Marlin looked at the ground, his eyes clouded over with doubt, fear, unwillingness to answer.

"During the night..." Marlin struggled for words, "Celia was attacked."

"Attacked?" I raised an eyebrow.

"A man wearing a leather mask and a wide brimmed cowboy hat," he replied. "I came into the room just in time."

"What did this guy want?" I lowered my gaze.

"I don't know," Marlin replied. "But I know he wasn't after money, and I'm sure it wasn't personal. I... I think that Celia just was unlucky enough to be his chosen victim."

llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

"We will do as you say mother," Nappy said, his eyes filled with loyalty.

"We are your servants," Aqua nodded.

Timid just nodded.

Thandrana smiled.

'Wield my power and bring me many converts.'

lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

After seeing Celia I realized that something horrible was happening to this town, but why was it that no one else could see it? It was time to make a stand. I didn't know where I stood morally or spiritually, but I knew that this killer had to be somehow connected with the town's new cult. It was time to visit the forest again, to speak with the Harvest Sprites.

When I arrived I found the three elves talking to a ragged looking boy. His eyes were cold, sad, as if he'd suffered more than anyone else in the world. It was then that I realized that he was the boy who Nami had found floating in the sea.

"Hey," I smiled, and walked into the clearing slowly.

Flak looked up at me, and nodded, but did not smile.

"Josh," he said, "this is Cliff. He comes from Mineral Island."

"Mineral Town," I said. "That's where my cousin lives!"

Cliff looked up suddenly.

"Your cousin?"

I nodded.

"Yeah, his name is Zach, did you know him?"

Cliff turned and looked at the ground sorrowfully before nodding slowly.

"What's up?" I asked. "You look like you just won second place in the lottery."

Cliff was silent for a little while before he began speaking.

"I left it all behind," he said. "Yes, I knew Zach, he was my best friend on that island, but I just had to leave."

"Why?" I looked at him quizzically.

Cliff just looked up at me, and then looked away.

"He's told me his story," Flak said. "And I believe that the evil that is now working on our island came from Mineral Town."

"Why is that?" I asked.

"Similar events plagued Mineral Town about a month ago," Flak said.

I then remembered the radio announcements about all the strange stuff that was happening on Mineral Island.

"What happened on Mineral Island?" I asked.

Cliff didn't respond.

"I don't know if he's ready to tell us," Flak said.

"What?" I looked up. "But we need to know!"

Flak shot me a stern gaze, and I fell silent.

"I've suffered to much to speak," Cliff slowly stood up, and walked out towards town.

"Leave him be," Flak said. "He isn't ready to reveal the truth. Perhaps you should go to Mineral Island and find out what happened there."

I nodded slowly, as I watched Cliff walk off.

"But what about Celia?" I thought aloud.

"What about Celia?" Flak looked at me suddenly. "Is something wrong?"

I nodded. "She got attacked last night by a murderer."

Flak's face paled, and he looked back at both of his brothers.

"Call the Bobbys!" Nic shouted, before Nak slapped a hand over his mouth.

"Bobbys are in England you silly goose," Nak corrected him.

Flak rolled his eyes.

"I'm afraid with the small amount of Police in this area you'll have to receive aid from another island," Flak said. "The closest is Mineral Island, but they only have one cop for the whole town."

"Ooooo," Nak said. "Where did you learn that?"

"Because I pay attention," Flak sighed impatiently.

"Who runs this dang island anyways?" I asked, looking around. "I mean, there's no mayor, no government, no..."

"This island is part of the Aprachi Island chain," Flak said. "There are so many small islands like this with natives that local governments are significantly limited. Especially for an island such as this."

"Oh," I said. "Right. And you think I should go to Mineral Town?"

"Why not?" Flak asked. "I could send Nic with you, and Nak and I could watch over your farm until you return."

I nodded.

"But what about Celia?" I asked. "Someone needs to..."

"Marlin will take care of her," Flak said. "And we will pop in every now and then to make sure everything is okay."

A twinge of jealousy shot through me.

"What's wrong," Flak asked. "You don't approve?"

"No," I shook my head, "I approve. Its just..."

"Just what?"

I decided to change the subject.

"Do any of you know where Takakura is? I haven't seen him since yesterday."

The Harvest Sprites looked at each other.

"Maybe he went to the port," Nic suggested.

I shrugged my shoulders.

"Alright," I said. "I'll go to Mineral Island and see if I can find out what's going on. Nic, you can come with me."

"Yay!" Nic ran over and hugged my leg.

llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

Cliff walked out of the forest with his head hung low and his spirits sinking within him. The memories were too much, for Mineral Island had taken everything from him. His guardian, and his Goddess had both turned out to be false. He could no longer face his best friend without feeling the pain of it all. And Ann. His best friend was now marrying the only girl he'd ever loved. Cliff had always hid this inside of him, but ever since Ann and Zach had started dating Cliff's heart had been broken inside of him. But now it was to late. His life had collapsed around him, and there was nothing he could do but pick up the pieces. He stepped out onto the beach, and tripped suddenly on a rock. He tumbled to the ground, bashing his arm painfully against the hard sand.

"You okay?" Cliff looked up to see a beautiful redhead girl looking down at him.

Cliff looked up at her as if an angel had shot down from heaven and now stood before him. For a while he just stared, and she just stared back at him. Then slowly, he nodded, and rose to his feet.

"You must be Cliff," the girl said. "My name is Nami."

Cliff slowly lifted a shaky hand and held it out to the girl. Nami looked at it, as if contemplating whether to shake hands or not. Then slowly, she took it in her own and shook.

"Are you the person who..." Cliff began, "...who saved my life."

Nami looked away.

"I... guess..." she said, before looking back at him. "What happened?"

Cliff turned and looked out onto the gray waves which rose and fell against the shore.

"Nothing," he said, his voice cracking slightly as he tried to hold in his sorrow. "Nothing at all."

Then slowly, he walked to the edge of the water and stared out into the open sea.

"Where you on a ship?" Nami asked. "The ship that was supposed to arrive here?"

"I was going to Australia," Cliff said.

"Why?"

Cliff turned and looked at Nami.

"I..." he stuttered. "I lost... someone..."

"Oh," Nami looked at the ground. "So did I."

lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

Marlin looked briefly in at Celia before shutting her door and sitting down in front of it. In one hand he held his walking stick, and in the other he held an old six shot revolver. Vesta was off with Galen's gang doing something spiritual again, he hadn't been able to tell her about Celia yet. And now with everything that was happening he didn't know if he'd ever get a chance. He crossed himself and began to pray.