Author´s Note: This is the chapter, the story many have longed for and here it is, dear ones. Pity I´m having a crazy day, all morning in the hospital but do not worry cuz I´m here again to tell you more! YAY! You´ll be warned that not all answers are given but some are to be told.
Lyrics belong to me.
Let´s go!
5. Hangman´s Tree
20 Years Before
The sound of the Freak´s laugh still echoed in their minds as the Enigma Machine drove towards town. None of them spoke. How could they? The night was just getting darker around them. Brad finally stopped before the sign of the entrance, he wasn´t going to take it any more.
"We can´t just leave our homes because some weirdo tells us to" he grabbed tight the steering wheel.
"Brad, if we don´t do it, our families..." spoke Cassidy.
"How do we know that those documents were not false?"
"Brad´s right, we can´t let this happen" Judy sided with his fiancé.
"Yes, we can" said a voice from the corner of the van. All the heads turned to Ricky who has curled there, muttering to himself and touching time after time the shoulder where Pericles used to be. "We have no reason to stay"
"Speak for yourself, Owens!" barked Brad and Cass gave him a glare. "I know that Pericles´ betrayal has gotten into you, but it also involves us"
"He was my best friend" he whispered.
"Ricky" Cassidy sat near him. "I´m sure we can work this out. Just pull yourself together and we´re ready to take the world!"
"No"
"But"
"I said no" he curled again, hiding his face between his legs.
"Guys..."
"…" both Brad and Judy were speechless.
"We must face the facts, Mystery Incorporated is dead" spoke Ricky again. "If we go home now, our families will pay the duck. If we try catch that freak, he will destroy us one after another"
"I hate to say this but, Ricky has a point" Judy sighed sadly.
"So, what do we do?"
"Leave town. I have no reason to stay anyway" Ricky opened the back door and started to walk away.
"RICKY!" Cassidy went after him and was finally able to catch him up. "Are you mad?"
"I…"
"You still have me. Pericles was jealous and you know that. We can be together. No matter if we have to leave town"
"You would?"
"Of course, silly. We are in this together"
"…No"
"What? Are you...?"
"Cass, we can´t go together. You could get hurt. If we are separated, then you´ll be safe"
"U don´t love..."
"Course I do, but you can´t come with me this time. Am sorry, dude. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me"
"Ricky, I…" she went quiet and finally said nothing. "So, this is it. Break up"
"For real, I..."
"You said it yourself, u have no reason to stay" she walked away.
"Cass, wait, hey!" no use. Ricky tried to catch her up but Cassidy finally left him behind. The young man went back to the van and found it empty. He was alone and there was no way home for him. With a sigh, he sat down and drove for a long while until he reached a far away part of the cliffs. Once there, Ricky got down and walked towards the edge. The night was cold and the rain was getting into his bones. The young sleuth glanced at the roaring sea. Perhaps there was one way for him to take, where he would cause no more pain. After all, he was the one who found the scroll, he hadn´t been brave enough to put peace between Pericles and Cassidy, and now he was alone because some freak had kicked them out of town. He gulped, closing his eyes and when he opened he saw a hangman´s tree like staring at him. Ricky shouted, lost his balance and began to fall down towards the roaring ocean. This was his end but, he was not going to meet it because before he could crash, the young man landed on a soft surface that came out of the blue. He opened his eyes. The surface was clean white, scaly and full of little feathers. Confused, he looked around and saw two big yellow eyes staring at him. Ricky screamed. He had landed in some gigantic monster! The beast snorted and lifted up his head, dropping the young man on the ledge.
"Well, well, a visitor. One I was hoping to see but not tonight and not with a dying wish" smiled the creature. A large white feathered snake with a scar on his lip, a missing tooth and as big as a mountain. "You must be Ricky"
"Yes, sir, madam" the creature´s gender wasn´t clear.
"I´ve been watching you closely, my child, and I see that something bad has happened to you"
"…" he looked down.
"You´re alone, love?"
"…" slow nod.
"That bird broke your heart, didn´t he? Bad bird, yes he is. And that freak, so mean of him to make you lose your home. That girl does not understand that you love her so, while those two lovebirds only think in themselves" the snake spoke in a sympathetic and convincing way. "Nobody cares for poor little Ricky, but I do"
"You do?"
"Of course, love. I shall make all your dreams come true. That if you don´t mind doing a few things in exchange"
"I will, for real. I will do them"
"That´s a good boy. But we must leave now, before they realize you are gone. Here let me help you" the snake put the pan on the back of his large head and Ricky stepped on the muzzle. "We shall be victorious, love. Yes, we will"
"But I dunno your name"
"Jormungard, my pet. Gard for my friends. And now, I shall lead you somewhere where you can put yourself together for the triumph that awaits, my pet" they both disappeared into the fog.
"Today, is the day just for us two,
Today will weave the great snake.
My voice calls, it arises fierce
With its feathers stained
And pleasure will be born with the cries
Of the distressed murderer in pain
While it whispers in his ear.
Oh, let´s dance with the Death.
Oh, now Gray Lady shall take you then
To Kaa´s dance.
Today, is the day just for us two,
Today will weave the great snake.
Your bones prison will yield
In the cool and silky rings
Slowly surrounding you.
Now talk and tell me, villain,
Who whispers in your ears?
Oh, let´s dance with the Death.
Oh, now Gray Lady shall take you then
To Kaa´s dance.
Oh, always remember
The walking Death,
The Dancing Death."
Why would Cassidy lie about that night?
What was the relation between Ricky and Jormungard?
How did the snake knew all this?
Next Clue: Dust of Gods