(Let it begin...)
?
*TICK! * *TICK! * *TICK*
The sound of the clock saturates the room, as if it were counting down to something. Though it feels as if we've got all the time in the world, it's obvious that it's only finite, a small fraction of our lives...
One of which I've been needing desperately for a while now.
Especially since the storm has been basically...relentless!
I swear, there was like, almost an earthquake earlier!
The wind, the lightning, it was stronger than ever I'd ever experienced before!
I almost got blown back, people had to take shelter, but it seemed to only happen for about half a minute...
Despite that...it was making me think the world was going to end for a second there...
All of this...has done nothing for me...especially with what I've been going through...
"I had that dream again...it was so vivid this time." I say.
"Perhaps your upcoming job assignment played a part in that?"
"Maybe...but why that dream? I haven't had it in so long...it was just...so unexpected" I reply, looking up at the ceiling, soon getting up to face the other soul in the room. "It was like reliving the whole thing."
I try everything in my power to not have a mental breakdown from having to reminisce about this...
"And bringing back all those memories..." I utter, now staring at the old lady. "I mean, I've been stressed out lately but...I've never had that dream so suddenly..."
She finally speaks up once more as I can't help but glance at the grandfather clock.
"Well dear, it sounds to me like-"
"Oh! Oh my god, I'm late!" I exclaim, darting over to the woman and shaking her hand almost violently. "Thank you so, so, so much for listening Mrs. Winkler!"
I run over to the nearby table with my purse, flinging it over my shoulders and holding tightly as I speed out the door.
"Wish me luck!" I say as the last words to my therapist, soon emerging to the rainy, stormy, outside world.
Surprised the city hasn't been shut down after that 'hurricane' episode...
I try not to get myself wet as I attempt to flag down a cab.
"TAXI!" I wave my hand trying to get its attention.
However, it seems I failed to realize, as I'm running haphazardly into the street-
"MA'AM!"
VROOOM-HONK!
In the next half second, I realize my fault, suddenly feeling myself stopped in my tracks. Two arms wrapped around my torso, and yanking out of the way in a semicircle fashion, by someone, just nearly being saved by a giant semitruck swerving around me...of which would've ran me over because I wasn't paying attention...
I take a second to breathe in and out, trying to keep my life from flashing before my eyes. After the spontaneous adrenaline rush comes down, I myself come to the realization someone saved my life. I don't even know what the person looks like, but I know I'm still not alone here.
When I finally compose myself, I turn to see the face...
Of a young man.
He looks to be... around my age if I'm assuming properly.
He has short, kind of dirty blonde, hair. Slightly tan skin on his face, like he's been in the sun recently, and 6 ft tall. I look up and down his entire form, can't really see much due to the dark red poncho around his body, seemingly keeping him dry.
"Miss, are you okay?" He asks me, despite the fact I almost died, but not unwelcome.
"Uh...y-yeah...thank you...sir..." I utter, my anxiety finally managing to settle down.
He exhales.
For some reason...his breath smells citrusy...like oranges.
"You...you know that you're supposed to-"
"Look left and right before I cross..." I reply, knowing this, but the fact that I forgot about it is embarrassing, to say the least.
"Right." He says. "Look before you leap."
I nod, still agreeing with his assessment.
"Well, sir, thank you so much for saving my life, but I'm late for an appointment. I can't afford to miss it." I say, about to turn away to find another taxi.
"Hey, I know you might not get this offer very much, but would you mind it if I escorted you there? I wouldn't want to see you turned into roadkill." He suggests amicably.
"Well-" I reply, looking to my watch.
"I got a bike." He says, confusing me.
I find him gesturing to...
Whoa...
I...I don't think I've ever seen a motorcycle this...
Beautiful...
It looks high tech, yet somehow elegant at the same time.
Red, white, blue stripes near the seat, gold saturating the entire form...
I saw this online; I think...because the news was all over it.
The model looks like a Lotus C-O1, yet seemingly with custom tires on it.
How does one even afford, much less acquire something like this?!
I'm pretty sure this is still in the prototype stages...
"Ma'am?" He asks, snapping me out of it. "You okay?"
"Uh...yeah...I'd...be open to you taking me there. But I'll have to let you know where we're going." I say.
"No problem. Also, you might want to put this on." He says, pulling out a plastic poncho pack from...
Somewhere...
"Why?" I ask, confused.
He only gives a raised eyebrow and gestures upwards.
Oh...
I didn't realize we've been standing in the rain for a minute now.
My blonde hair and gray clothes are soaked right now, pressing up against me in an uncomfortable manner.
"T-Thank you." I say, taking the package and the poncho out of it, slipping my body into it so I don't get drenched any more than I already have.
While I basically make myself look like a gas station sandwich, the kind gentleman brings his bike over and revs it up.
It's not loud...so it must be electric!
He looks over to me, revving it up again.
"Let's go. Fate waits for no one." He says.
I take his advice and leap on, finding the seat rather comfortable, soon grabbing safety handles on the side so I don't fly off.
After revving it once more, and causing water to fly off from behind us, within a few seconds we're speeding down the road.
I've never ridden on a motorcycle before...is it supposed to be this smooth?
The only rough thing is the water brushing up against my face when we speed through the rain, but because of the poncho, the wound is kind of sweetened at this point.
With my directions, and his motorcycle's speed, I'm legitimately shocked at how soon we're at my appointment location.
"This the place?" He asks me.
"Uh...y-yeah! It is!" I say, soon getting off and he parks his bike off to the side.
I turn to him.
"Um, thank you, sir! Especially for saving my life..." I say, remembering the Good Samaritan's deed.
"Not exactly keen on anyone dying today." He reassures me, soon looking to the office building. "So what's this appointment you were talking about?"
"I...I don't have time to explain, you can just come on in outside of the rain." I offer.
"Should I accompany you into your appointment?" He asks. "Or is it to where volatile information is being shared?"
Uh...
Not sure...
Kind of divided on that...
I just met this guy...I know he saved me...
But that's all I know about him beyond his bike...
"It's not like we're sharing nuclear codes...but considering you saved me, I wouldn't object to it." I say. "Honestly nice to have someone to look out for me...for once..."
He nods.
"Much appreciated." He says.
Though I'm not sure if he's referring to me not objecting to him coming along, or that someone's looking out for me...
When we get inside, I ask the receptionist for my appointment.
He goes on a speaker.
"Ms. Kaycee. The 12 o'clock is here, early, surprisingly..."
"Send her in." I hear the sound of the woman come through it.
The gentleman and I, despite the raised eyebrow from the receptionist, prepare to walk into Ms. Kaycee's office.
"Come in." She says as we open the door, me taking off my poncho and giving it to my friend to hold
"Hello! Is this the place of the interview? Sorry if I seem a little damp." I try to excuse my lack of etiquette, me still somewhat dripping from earlier.
"It's quite-" The woman begins to reassure me, but when she looks up to see me, and the man who accompanied me, she hesitates. "Alright..."
I can't help but notice the man's eyes almost instantly narrowing at Ms. Kaycee, yet holding back from doing anything.
I decide to break the rapidly growing tension.
"It's, heh...r-raining outside..." I say.
"Take a seat please." The white-haired woman behind her desk orders me, and I do. "So we can begin to discuss your placement with this program."
Meanwhile, the gentleman remains standing by my side, eyes still locked on the woman.
"Again, sorry for not being more presentable, didn't have an umbrella." I apologize, trying to dry myself off a little more.
"It's alright." She assures me.
Soon, as I await for the interview to be conducted, I can't help but notice when the woman isn't staring at my...well...I guess you could say savior...
She's staring daggers at me...seemingly itching something in the back of my mind...
As if...
"Do...I know you from some-"
"Yes." The woman finishes for me.
She looks closer at me, almost into my soul...
And it might be just me...
But am I hallucinating that her eyes are glowing?
Almost like searchlights straight into my face.
She glances to my friend, but soon to a clipboard, prompted to do so after he stares swords straight into her.
"Well, looking at your report and resumé, I wasn't able to find a suitable position for you. We don't seem to have a vacant job here with need of your skills..."
No...no...no...
"I'm afraid there is not much I could do-"
"Please! I really need this job! I have been waiting for an assignment for so long, there has to be something!" I exclaim, holding my hands together, begging her for there to be a job I can get.
As I finish my little emotional episode...
A crack of lightning goes off in the window behind Kaycee, as she looks to her clipboard again.
"Well...you do have a degree in counseling, do you not?" She asks me.
"Yes! I do!" I nod, going back to my begging position in front of her again. "I'll take it! Please!"
"It's a transfer position, it would require relocation." She warns me.
"I'll take it! Wherever it is, I'll take it!" I get up, almost in a manic way, making eye contact with her.
She sighs.
"Very well then." She says, seemingly checking something off her clipboard. "A private jet will take you from this building on Thursday 9:00 AM. I suggest you pack ALL your things."
"YES! OH YES, THANK YOU!" I exclaim, literally hugging the woman, much to her surprise, but then chagrin.
"Don't be late." She orders me.
I let go of her as I get my purse.
"Oh, I won't!" I assure her. "Thank you so much!"
"You are quite welcome, Ms. Walden." She says to me, holding an apple.
"Oh! Call me Cameron! Thanks again!" I call to her as I begin to go out the door, but my friend seems to lag behind, still staring at the woman, much to her discomfort. "Hey, the interview's over, come on!"
He soon slowly, yet stoically, walks to the exit, but before he closes the door, I can just about make out him giving Ms. Kaycee the two-finger gesture of...
'I'm watching you'
Little do I realize, as he closes the door, some not-laughs are soon past the door.
It's more of just dead silence in place of laughter.
The woman grips her apple, looking at it as it creates a hypnosis swirl on it, all the while her eyes turn from white to orange and brown layers. Her hair goes white, and almost becomes aura-like, and her teeth go sharp.
All with a literal aura of power surrounding her.
Accompanying not a smile...but a look of concern...whereas if things went differently, she'd be laughing like a clown prince of crime.
She looks back at where we once were.
"Hmm...this could be a problem..."
Meanwhile, back with us, I've already put my poncho back on and gone back outside with my friend. Of whom, again, offers to take me back home, to which I accept, considering I'm in a good mood after I've finally managed to land a job after so long.
After yet again directing him where to go, back to my apartment, he drops me off at the front door.
"Thank you so much for helping me!" I say to him, shaking his hand.
"You're welcome, Cameron Walden." He assures me.
Suddenly, I get a bit of a dramatic realization at him knowing who I am from Ms. Kaycee.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! I've known you all this time and I've never asked your name!" I exclaim, gesturing to him.
He raises his hand in reassurance.
"Kai." He says. "It's okay."
"Thank you, um, Kai. I greatly appreciate it, though I don't know how I can repay you..." I say, unable to think of anything.
"It's alright. It's what I do. Though, your day of departure is Thursday, right?" He asks.
"Yeah, two days. Why?" I reply, confused.
He raises an eyebrow, and grins.
Thursday, 8:55 AM
This is the airstrip I was told to get to the private jet. I approach the aircraft with my bags, soon witnessing who I can only assume to be the pilot hanging out under the wings.
I approach her.
"Uh, hello?"
"Ye? You Miss Walden?" The woman asks me with a slight southerner accent.
"Yeah, I'm here for the transfer position? I'm told you would be taking me there?" I ask.
"Unfortunately..." She dismissively says, puffing her cigarette.
"I've never been on a private j-"
"Plane."
"-before...are you the pilot, Miss...?"
"Snake."
"Snake?"
"Interesting name, does it mean anything?" I smile at the green lady with her aviator goggles. "Because I have never heard of someone naming a child something like that."
"Save the jaw flappin' fer later hunny." She says as she smokes again. "I don't wanna fly with a headache."
"Oh! I-I'm sorry! I'm just a bit anxious..." I apologize. "Going to a new place...and everything, yunno?"
"Sure." She dismissively says. "Just put a sock in it till we get there."
As I'm about to board the plane alongside Miss...Snake...
VMMMMM!
I just about hear the sound of...
Revving?
No...not your traditional revving...
Electric revving.
I look down the stairs to witness...
So THIS is what he meant?
How...how did he get here?
Did he track me somehow?
I was wondering about what he was thinking when he gave me that look...
More importantly...why is he here?
It's been 2 days since we last saw each other.
I mean, I've been spending these days getting ready and getting things situated before my relocation to my new job, but I didn't know where Kai was going to stay, I offered to let him sleep on the couch, but he insisted not to be a burden unless he had his own place, even though he was the one who saved me.
But what took me back is that he said he's slept in worse...
He's currently approaching us on his high-tech motorcycle again, for some reason still wearing that red poncho from back then, he gets off of his vehicle as he smiles.
"Not exactly a jet, huh? More of a biplane." He comments.
"Glad someone got it right..." Snake utters, but eyes him up. "Who're ya?"
"Kai."
"Why're ya here?" She interrogates him.
"Felt as if Miss Walden needed someone to accompany her. I mean, Cameron, do you even know where you're going?" He asks me.
"N...not really. I'd have to assume it's another country. But I don't have a choice. No other place here will hire. I'm willing to make this sacrifice." I assure him.
He suddenly looks to the ground.
"Some may say there is no sacrifice too great...but no matter how hard you try not to believe it...there's always a sacrifice too great." He says.
Did...did he say that from experience?
"Uh...then..." I sigh. "Do...you really want to come along?"
"If you want it to be, you can think of it as you repaying me for saving your life." He says.
I sigh again.
"You can cash in that favor later; you can come along. But can I at least ask, why?"
"You could say it's my job." He says.
Okay, that's not ambiguous at all.
I'll at least give him the benefit of the doubt...
"We gonna screw around all day or we gonna leave? We're boutta be late." Snake interjects.
"We're...we're gonna leave." I say. "Come on, Kai."
"Thank you, Cameron." He nods his head in thanks.
"Ah'll open up the back and you can put your bike in there." Snake says, going up the stairs and into the cockpit.
"Thank you, much appreciated." Kai nods his head as he gets back on his bike, parking it on the plane after Snake opens up the cargo bay.
Soon, after Kai gets his vehicle secured, and joins me in the passenger seats on the plane, Snake starts the engine, and despite a rocky start, we soon take flight.
My friend is looking out the window on the opposite side of the row, seemingly taking in the sights of my soon-to-be old home known as the city.
Meanwhile, as I'm doing the same, the only thing going through my mind is contemplation...
I'm still watching as the city gets smaller, and smaller, and smaller, until eventually, we're over the forest that surrounds the town.
All that goes through my mind is...
"There's no going back now..."
Hours fly by, and the plane gets slightly toasty from the sun...
I don't know if there's AC or not here...
Regardless, the only thing that saturates my mind right now the being blown away at how long we've been over this sea of green trees.
I don't even know if the Amazon can hold a candle to it...
"Wow! I didn't know this forest is this big...we've been flying over it for hours! It's like...endless!"
"Yeah...why ya think it's called the f*cking "Oceanica" forest, hm? Cause it's big. What I say about talking?" She berates me.
"Sorry." I apologize.
"You know, biplanes, if we're talking about fast ones, can go on average about 121 miles per hour. We've been flying, I'd have to say, about 5 hours. If we're being generous on how fast we're going, we've flown approximately 605 miles." My friend says, taking me aback with those random numbers, yet seemingly fast calculations.
"That...feels oddly accurate..." I say. "Are you a mathematician?"
"More like a nerd." Snake rudely comments, but we ignore her.
"I'm what the British people would call a 'clever clogs'." He replies.
"So I'm assuming you're smart, considering you whipped out some brains a second ago." I comment.
"You could say that." He says. "So, what's your story?"
"Well, as you already know, I'm trying to find a job. I've got my counseling degree, but surprisingly, or unsurprisingly, there's quite enough of them in this world, except to where we're going." I explain.
"Counseling's good. Not many people realize how important it is, like a cousin for therapy." He says.
"Funnily enough, I was literally leaving a therapy session before you, well, saved me." I say.
"Would I be intruding on sensitive territory on asking what it was about?" He asks.
But before I can answer-
HONK!
I react to the spontaneous sound, looking outside the window to see the source...
"Oh...my..."
It's some kind of 4-eyed, blue and black...bird...
"SNA-KAI!" I exclaim, unbuckling myself and unintentionally running to squeeze my savior, pointing outside. "T-There's a giant bird outside the window!"
"Kid, what're you on about?!" Snake frustratingly calls from the cockpit.
"G-Giant bird! It was huge-giant-! What if it attacks the plane?!" I run up to the green woman, continuing to ask her.
"Get back to yer seat!" She orders me.
"Cameron, it's okay." I hear my friend assuring me.
Albeit hesitantly, I go back to the passenger area to see Kai...
Looking out the window I was...
As I witness him doing it, I see him giving a death glare to...I'd have to assume the bird or whatever it was outside...
When he does...I feel something...weird...
I don't know what it is, but as soon as I take notice, it disappears as he turns to me.
"No bird there." He says, going back to his seat.
I dart over to the window to confirm, sure enough, the animal is absent, much to my confusion.
'Great...now I'm seeing things...'
Or...was there actually something there, but did Kai scare it off?
I don't know...
Either way, the way he phrased it, he wouldn't've been lying...
I guess I'm too stressed about this...or anything for that matter.
I semi-relax, hoping to dismiss my fears as truly my imagination.
Soon, I hear my friend speak up again.
"Would I be intrusive in asking that was what you were getting therapy for?" He asks, circling back to what we were talking about.
"You kind of would be, but I'll at least say...yes..." I say.
He holds his hand up in assurance.
"I won't probe if you don't want to talk about it."
"Thank you..." I reply.
"Hey, how about we have a little contingency plan in case this ever happens again?" He suggests.
"What...do you mean?" I ask.
"Like, to calm yourself down, something you can quickly do to make yourself relax?"
"Okay...?" I ask sheepishly.
"How about...hmm..." He puts his hand to his chin, thinking intensely. "If this happens again, say to yourself 'This isn't the end. Hold your breath, and count to ten.' As you say it, you remind yourself of it, and you do the breath holding technique."
"Don't kids do that nowadays?"
"Maybe, but that doesn't shy away from the fact that it works." He insists. "Do it now, see if it'll work for you. Close your eyes."
"A-Alright..." I hesitantly say as I shut my eyelids.
Okay...deep breath.
'This isn't the end'
*Inhale*
One...
Two...
Three...
Four...
Five...
Six...
Seven...
Eight...
Nine...
...
Ten...
*Exhale*
I remain in this...admittedly relaxed state for a good ten seconds more, my whole form is warm in a good way, and I even get a little chill that compliments it, all until I open my eyes to see my friend with an anticipating look.
"So?" He asks.
I nod, contently, and he smiles.
"And there we have it. A way for you to relax, should you ever feel as if you're losing yourself again." He announces.
"Yeah...I didn't expect that to work...thanks...Kai." I reply.
"It's what I'm here for. Also, on another note..." He starts.
"Yeah?"
"What do you like?" He asks.
"Well...I guess you could say I like the ocean. Fish, mostly." I say.
"What about fish do you like?" He asks.
"Everything, really. The way they move, if you look at them underwater, they almost look like they're just flying, being free to go wherever they want, not defined by gravity, it's incredible!" She summarizes, smiling.
Fish are one of the few creatures in this world that legitimately brings me peace...I just find the topic fascinating...
"You know that a Whale Shark is a fish, right?"
"Yeah, the biggest, technically fish, in the world. Far as we know..." I say. "Are you at all interested in fish?"
"I've had experience with them, but mostly it's just fishing." He replies honestly.
"Oh...have you...caught anything?" I ask, intrigued.
"I've caught a range of them. Seabass, trout, tuna, salmon, sturgeon, you name it, but sometimes if I feel like a challenge, and also to get some cardio in, I can catch them by hand." He says, surprising me.
"Isn't that insanely difficult?" I ask. "You'd need to train for a long time to do that, and even then, it's not guaranteed."
"Don't tell me what I can't do." He replies, giving an amusing grin and raising an eyebrow.
"So, can you really do it?" I ask.
"It's one of my skills, if you would ask. But speaking of skills, what're your skills beyond counseling?" He asks.
"Well, I guess I'm a people person?" I suggest.
"That's kind of encapsulated by counseling." He says bluntly.
"Then...not really much, if I'm to be honest." I admit.
"Okay...then, random trait...are you any good at self-defense?" He asks.
"How so?"
"Any martial arts experience? Previous drills on how to escape certain situations, maybe even carrying weapons on you, anything?" He asks.
I shake my head in embarrassment at my lack of skills.
"No. Never even took classes, even if I tried, I couldn't, because I couldn't afford them." I say.
"Well..." He says, reaching under his poncho and pulling out...
He has to shush me to make sure Snake doesn't hear.
Is that-?!
"Why do you have a gun?!" I whisper-exclaim at the revolver.
"I believe in everyone learning how to at least use these. Weapons are the ultimate equalizer for those who can't fight hand-to-hand. I'd only like to ask, would you be open to having a brief lesson in how to use one? I'm not saying you're absolutely going to need it, but it's better to have it and not need it, then not have it and need it." He advises me.
"Yeah, but..."
"It's just showing you how, nothing more, nothing less." He adds.
I sigh, looking outside and thinking about how much longer we'll be on this plane.
Sighing again, harder, I just give the 'screw it' routine.
"Okay. So, how does this work?" I ask.
"First things first, let me go over the rules of firearms. Rule number 1, never point the end of a gun, the barrel, at anything you don't want to destroy. All other rules stem from it. Got it? If you don't want to destroy anything, don't point this at it." He says, pointing to the end of the weapon.
I nod.
He quietly unbuckles himself and approaches me, getting on his knees so he can show me better on how to use the gun.
"So this, specifically, is what is known as a handgun. To be specific, is a heavily, HEAVILY custom made LeMat Mark III. Double action, of my own design. In fact, revolvers are among the most reliable in terms of handguns. This is unique, especially among them, but it's still the same in terms of basic functionality."
"Of your own design? Are you an engineer?" I ask, confused at him mentioning 'design'.
"You could say that, it's a versatile skill to have." He explains.
"So why is this one unique?" I ask, gesturing to the weapon.
"I'll get to that in a moment. So, for revolvers, most of them are loaded by putting bullets into the cylinders." He presses down a small switch on the side and pushes the 'cylinder' out, revealing 6 sizeable 'bullets' if I remember properly. But what takes me aback is the big one in the center, probably explaining why this thing is 'unique'. "On average, most revolvers range from five to maybe even 7 shots, but that has its own issues with variations. We'll just stick to this thing being a six-shooter, for the most part."
"What's that big one in the center?" I ask, pointing to it.
"Again, this is based on the LeMat revolver design, favored by the confederacy back in the Civil War. Not a fan of them, just surprised that the technology that was ahead of its time. This is unique, because in addition to the 6 shots, in this one, I've made it to where it can now fire this 20-gauge shotgun shell. You can switch between the bullets and the shell via this little pin on the hammer." He explains pointing to the specific parts, he flicks a small pin up and down. "For the bullets, you pull the tiny pin back, the shell, you push it forward. The pin will hit the igniter, spark some powder, and cause the bullet to fly faster than the speed of sound."
Whoa...
He takes the bullets and the shell out and puts them in his pocket.
He puts the cylinder back in the gun and he holds the weapon to me...
"Remember, don't point it at anyone, and never look down the barrel as long as it's attached to the gun." He advises me.
"Okay..."
Albeit hesitantly, I take hold of the mechanical masterpiece in front of me, feeling its weight for the first time.
"Kind of heavy, to be honest..." I comment.
"That's just to compensate for the recoil, or the kickback after the round is fired." He assures me. "Now, this is a double action, so you don't have to worry about anything beyond just pointing and shooting."
He lifts my hand in front of me, making it as if I were pointing it at an assailant.
"Make sure you have a strong grip on it, but not to where you're squeezing it and shaking. Accuracy is important. You look down the top, see the notches?" He asks me.
I notice two closer to me, and one in the dead center at the end of the gun.
I nod.
"That is where you'll be aiming. You close one eye, look down the sights, make sure they're aligned. When your target is in your sights, stay calm, take a deep breathe, breathe halfway out, and squeeze the trigger."
Okay...look down the sights, one eye closed, it's like I'm aiming at what I want to destroy...
"Remember, don't hesitate."
I squeeze the trigger.
Click!
Though there is no bullet that comes out, I flinch regardless.
Never handled anything like this before.
"Okay, again." He says.
I go through the process again, making sure I stay calm, and not hesitate when I do.
We go through again, making sure I know the process.
"Okay, good. You can at least do that. I recommend you practice, even if it's imaginary, to simulate what it's like so you can do it better." He says. "Last thing I'd say, is for you to know how to reload. I know this is a bit of a crash course, but again, better safe than sorry."
"Didn't you say it was literally just putting the bullets in?" I ask.
"Yes, but there's a thing with ejecting the shells first, but you saw me do that, right?"
I nod.
"Okay, so here's the bullets and the shell." He hands me the little shiny pieces and the plastic-looking bigger piece. "It's as simple as putting a puzzle together, just put the small ones in the small one, and the big one in the big one."
So...it's literally just that?
I take a small bullet, and insert it into the designated hole, as it just slides in soon doing the same for the next one, and then the other, I eventually end up with the 6 bullets in their respective places once more. I'm soon gestured to put the shell back where it's supposed to go, and I slip it in like changing a battery, the weapon is soon reloaded.
"Now you just put the cylinder back in, and you're ready to go." He says.
I push the ammunition cylinder back into the weapon, and soon, I'm given a silent round of applause from Kai.
"Well done, Cameron! You now know how to utilize a revolver. Well, at least mine." He says, putting away his weapon and soon going back to his seat. "How do you feel?"
I shrug my shoulders.
"Educated, I guess?" I sheepishly chuckle.
"We can always learn more, if you're up for it." He offers.
"I'll...take you up on that, maybe..." I say, unsure.
"Well, if you do make that decision, I look forward to teaching you even more." He says.
"Thanks, Kai."
"Anytime." He smiles.
Soon, accompanied by silence, and the miniature stress and lesson I've been through, has both taken a lot out of me.
As dusk falls upon us, so does my conscience, and I find myself dozing off.
Soon unaware at what's going on, or what's to come...
Kai, later
Whereas my new friend is now sleeping, I'm more or less just half-asleep, keeping guard while I'm at it.
The Snake woman seems to be doing good at her job flying us, but I wanted us to whisper so she wouldn't be badgering us while I was teaching Cameron.
Within what seems like another eternity or two, I can't help but feel as if...
We've passed...no...entered something.
Feels vibrant...yet isolated...strange...
It's not even a half hour more before I feel us landing, me pulling myself out of my semi-sleep to observe what's going on.
The windows have seemingly automatically closed, only allowing beams of light to seep through the cracks.
In the silence, I hear Snake getting up from her seat, taking a few moments to stretch and breathing deeply in and out, obviously from piloting for so long.
I get up from my seat, watching Snake as she seemingly doesn't notice I'm awake.
She opens up the plane door and leaves before I call out to her.
Knowing her so far, she doesn't really seem to be the type to say, 'Good afternoon, passengers, we've arrived at our destination'.
Wait, there's one, two, three...lots of...outside...
A miniature crowd, if I'm estimating.
Hmm...
I pull out my revolver, checking the ammunition once more...should I need it.
I also rub my right arm, feeling the little thing I have right underneath it.
Seems ready.
I walk closer to the door as the miniature crowd is, without a doubt right outside.
Readying myself, my hand ready to fly to my now-holstered gun, should I need take drastic measures, I open the door to see...
"SURPRISE!"
A welcoming party...
Least I'm not being shot at...yet...
The voices all come from...
Animals?
Lots of animals...
On the left I can just about make out a giant cheetah, canines of multiple colors, an elderly blue turtle (I'd have to assume), some weird, grey-skinned woman with yellow hair, and a few more animals I don't have the time to recognize until, when I make it down the stairs cautiously-
"Welcome to the zoo, Cameron Walden!" The red canine with a top hat and a manic look on his face comes up to mine, greeting me, and soon putting his 'hand' over me. "Well-hah! Of course it isn't really a zoo! Sorta ironic that I just called it that, really! Hahahahaha!"
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance, my dear!" The elderly turtle shakes my hand.
"He sure is...built like a tank! Damn! Must've been crushing that five-by-five, hasn't he?" The grey-skinned woman comments on my size, and feeling me up despite my poncho.
She doesn't comment on the more solid parts on the exterior, though...
"Aw. Well, Carrie, here I was hoping to meet a lovely young woman...however, I've never been one to shy away from a new friend." A red fox with a French accent and a round blue medallion says, slightly disappointed.
"Same, Fabian!" A green creature with black hair and white irises rests his head atop the one named Fabian. "Good evening! Morning? Day!"
Seems to be blind...
They don't have any malicious intents, so that's good...
However, the one thing that catches my attention...
Is that I doubt they were given all the details on who exactly Cameron Walden was...
I merely smile, and put my hand in between my eyes, trying my hardest not to burst out into laughter, yet some chuckles break through despite it.
"What'cha laughing about, boy?" The woman named Carrie interrogates me.
I walk closer to the plane, resting my shoulder on the staircase.
I take a deep breath.
"I hate to burst your bubble...but this seems to be a case of mistaken identity, as I'm not Cameron Walden." I bluntly say.
The anthropomorphic animals all glance to each other in confusion.
"But, we were told someone by that name would be here today." The red fox named Fabian comments.
"Yes, but I don't think they were taking into account me coming." I say.
"If you're not Cameron Walden, who are ya?" The woman named Carrie asks me, coming face to face with me.
"Kai. I'm her friend." I say, Fabian's ears perking up.
"So Cameron is, indeed a lady? Is she lovely?" He asks, seemingly wanting to flirt with her.
"Why don't you ask her yourself?" I say, confusing him, looking to the opening of the plane.
"Uh...Kai? Where are you?" I hear my friend call out.
"I'm at the bottom of the staircase. I know it's bright but follow the sound of my voice." I say, meeting her halfway and guiding her down, her eyes closed due to the spontaneous brightness she's exposed to.
"Thank you, was starting to think you were a figment of my imagina-" She says, soon managing to open her eyes. "-tion..."
Her pupils are suddenly shrunk to almost microscopic levels, like a deer in the headlights, she's now frozen.
This only seems to fuel my earlier thought on what exactly is going on with her...
Fabian approaches us, looking closer to the frozen Cameron, her fear radiating off her.
"Well, a lovely lady indee-"
He nearly instantly gets cut off by my friend.
"EEEEIIIIAHHHHHEEE!" She screams so loud nearly everyone in the immediate vicinity backs off.
I don't react, mainly because...
I've taken worse.
She instantly runs right behind me for cover, me almost chuckling at her, despite knowing this is terrifying for her.
"S-Stay back! A-All of you!" She orders them, unintentionally pulling me back as a shield. "Don't come any closer!"
I don't really think she's able to do her little calming technique as of right now...
As she's having her freakout, I can't help but notice the giant cheetah giving us a highly observing look.
"Hmm..." I just about hear him utter.
Meanwhile, Cameron is still having a semi-breakdown.
"I m-mean it! Stay away from me! Stay away!" She screams again. "D-D-Don't come any closer!"
"Calm down dearie..." The red top-hat wearing canine tries to calm her down.
"Look! What's that over there!?" She points behind them, trying to distract them, though it works only for the top-hat one, everyone else just keeps staring at her.
She suddenly darts away, leaving a trail of dust in her wake.
"AHHHHH!" She screams.
Wait...looking in front of her...and around us...
This is a landing platform...
In front of us...
There's a-
"CAMERON!" I shout, sprinting after her, realizing that...
She's running to the edge
She tries to stop, realizing where she's going, but...
She slips.
"(GASP)!" She exclaims as she tumbles off.
I can just about hear the fear-stricken gasps of all the anthropomorphic animals behind us as she falls off.
Managing to catch up to her in the moments as she did, I, without hesitation, leap off right after her, seizing her and extending the little thing I had up my sleeves.
SHING!
A spearhead-like blade attached to the underside of my wrist, extending and rotating to where I can grip it like a dagger, of which I just stabbed into the edge of the landing platform in the split second before Cameron fell to her doom.
Something else of my design.
Her eyes are glued to the heights below, and around us, revealing an admittedly bizarre urban setting.
Like a perfect fusion between city, alien nature, and earth nature.
Meanwhile, as a strange brachiosaurus-like creature makes shocked eye contact with us, Cameron lets out some utterings.
"This is not happening...I'm dreaming this..." She utters in her fear as she looms over the abyss.
Meanwhile, her entire weight is focused on my right arm, and my left arm supports both of us.
I am not having her die today!
Having her as priority number 1, I swing ourselves to get momentum, switching my grip to her arm, much to her horror, but I don't relent any more than that. Eventually I manage to get enough to where I can fling her right back onto the platform, me soon climbing back up much easier now that she's safe.
I take a deep breath, not for my sake, but for the fact that I saved Cameron twice in the same week now.
I hear her hyperventilating as she gets up from her laying position after I threw her up here.
"You okay?" I manage to ask her, she barely nods, but soon finds herself resting on the form of...
That same giant cheetah from earlier.
"Is there something wrong, Miss?" The cheetah asks in a transatlantic accent.
Given the fact that she had an emotional episode of fear and literally almost died, despite me pulling her aside...
"Uhhh..." She faints in my arm as the cheetah sighs, me retracting my hidden blade gadget as I lift up Cameron bridal style.
I look to the giant animal in front of me.
Giant is maybe stretching it...probably large...so to say.
We run into these situations a little more than I think we do, it's weird.
But it's not alien to me, that much I'll say.
"Second time I've saved her now." I comment.
"I see you're adept at that. Didn't even hesitate." The large animal says.
"I never do." I say, remembering the lesson that's been grinded into my being.
"Kai? Was it?" He asks.
"Yes."
"My name is Zechariah. I wish to thank you officially for saving Miss Walden, or as you say, twice." He says, bowing his head. "You are very brave for that. Not many people would risk falling to their doom the way you did."
"True bravery for most people is being scared in the face of danger, yet still managing to do what's right, or necessary." I say.
"Wise words, sir." He says, nodding. "If you can, would you be okay with bringing Miss Cameron to her workplace? We have a nurse's office where she can rest at."
"Depends on who's there." I say.
"There's the nurse, and her assistant. No one else, as far as I know." He assures me.
"Alright."
After an albeit somewhat awkward 30 minutes of getting Cameron's things from the plane, as well as my bike, and making the journey, we reach our destination.
It looks reminiscent of the earth, but as a semicircle dome-like structure. As Zechariah directs me inside, I park my bike outside, putting a lock and miniature tarp I had on it so nobody steals it. He leads me to the med room, and orders me to set down Cameron on a bed. I can't help but notice a slightly manic assistant.
"I need to speak with you." Zechariah says as he's right outside.
On my way out, I give the same death glare I gave to the bird to that assistant, basically saying 'Don't you dare do anything to her'. He instantly seems to get the message and drops any ideas he may have had.
I follow the cheetah, seemingly to his office.
"Sit down, please." He tells me.
I rest myself on the chair in front of his desk, noticing a familiar alien-like creature on the side profusely drooling.
I raise an eyebrow at that.
"This is Principal Winston. Don't worry, he's not hostile." He assures me with a gentle smile.
"Wasn't worried." I calmly say.
He narrows his eyes at me, and takes a deep breath.
"So, Kai. It seems there was a lack of communication here. I know that Cameron was meant to be arriving today, to be hired as a guidance counselor here, but I was not told she wouldn't be alone." He says. "Why are you here, and why did you accompany her? Much less how you convinced the pilot to let you on..."
"Felt as if she needed someone to look out for her." I say. "Also, I doubt the pilot was paid enough to care."
"Did you know Cameron would freak out like that when she saw us?" He asks.
"Wasn't a hundred percent sure. She had a miniature freakout when she saw a weird bird outside our plane. Didn't know if she was afraid of the size of the bird or the bird itself." I say.
"That's the problem. Your respective reactions are vastly different. You speak to us as if you've seen us before, and her as if she was surrounded by violent aliens." He says.
"I guess I just react differently." I say.
He gives me a look that just screams 'You're dodging the question'.
Despite this, he relents.
"Regardless, I'm glad you were there. I don't know what would've happened if you weren't...given she ran off like that." He says.
"Thank you, same. However, I feel as if she's got the same question as I do. When she wakes up, she's bound to be asking it as well, what is this place?"
"This is the Zoo Phoenix Academy. This is where she is to work." He explains.
"Guessing there's more species like you and Winston out there?" I ask. "Out in this interspecies society?"
"Yes, your assessment of this society is spot-on, in fact."
"What creatures are out there?"
"Many of whom you would consider as 'mythical beings'. Vampires, mermaids, ghosts, mammals, reptilians-"
"What? Do aliens exist too?"
"No, not as far as I know. But you didn't let me finish, there's also Demons here."
Every fiber of my being instantly goes off, and it takes virtually all my willpower to not react at that.
"What kind of Demons?" I ask just barely calmly.
Though he seems to notice my immensely suppressed reaction, he doesn't comment on it.
"We have an underworld here. One of our students is one of them. He may be the Antichrist, and he's more or less been a...troublemaker...so to say...but we've been in an agreement with his caretakers to allow him to stay here."
"Hell exists here? Or is it for the rest of the world?" I ask.
"For this world." He says.
Okay...guess we're not talking about the same thing...
I'm still early...hopefully.
"But I feel as if you are here beyond just looking out for Cameron."
"If I'm to open up, at least to an authority figure here, yes, I am here for another reason. One that even preceded me helping Cameron, until I came across her." I admit.
"And what would that be?" He interrogates me.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." I say.
"Try me." He dares me.
Winston hears something on a little radio he has, and suddenly starts sputtering randomly, seemingly trying to let Zechariah know something.
"Miss Cameron's awake." The cheetah says. "We'll discuss more later."
We both get up from our seats and we depart, making the short distance from Zechariah's office to the med room once more.
The manic assistant seems to have taken my advice, and is standing like a statue with a weird drill in his hands, away from the currently disturbed Cameron.
I walk in first.
"Cameron?" I ask, she turns to me.
"Kai!" She exclaims, running up to me and hugging me.
Okay...didn't expect this...but not unwelcome.
I return the gesture.
"Oh my gosh, I had a dream where I was faced by a talking fox, and I nearly fell off a building, and you saved me-" She rambles, but soon comes face to face with Zechariah.
"Wasn't entirely nonfictional, Cameron." I tell her, she freezes once more, only soon backing up to be side-by-side with me again.
The cheetah sighs.
"Are you feeling better, Miss Walden?" He asks her.
She begins squeezing my arm.
"N-No..." She utters as she resumes trembling, and soon goes to start shaking her head. "Okay...o-kay! T-T-This is just big crazy dream! Wake up! Wake up Cameron! Wake u-!"
I grab her hands to stop her from her freakout as the assistant hums a weird 'wake up' tune.
"Cameron." I say to her as I look her in the eyes. "I know you're scared right now. It's obvious. But rest assured, I will be here to help you through this. Okay? I won't let anything bad happen to you on my watch."
Fortunately, with this, and considering that I'm the only 'normal' and 'sane' one around her, she seems to take my advice to heart.
"Remember: This isn't the end..." I start, hoping she remembers despite her overwhelming fear.
"Hold your breath and count to ten..." She continues, confirming it.
After 10 seconds of her keeping her breath in, her whole form relaxes, and exhales, looking me in the eye as soon as she does.
"Better?" I ask.
She smiles contently.
"Yes..."
She breathes in and out again to calm herself further.
"There you go." I say, smiling to her.
"Are you finished?" Zechariah asks, Cameron unintentionally makes eye contact with him again.
Meanwhile I shoot him a death glare from his rudeness.
He gives me an apologetic look as Cameron soon relents.
"Okay...I give up...w-what's going on?" She asks, soon letting me go.
"Were you not informed abou-" He starts to ask, but gets cut off.
"About what?! Informed about what?!" She exclaims, throwing her hands up in the air.
"You were not informed about this place before being sent here?" He asks, confused.
"SENT WHERE?! WHERE AM...WHERE ARE WE?!" She asks loudly, soon looking to me as well.
"This is your soon-to-be place of work, Cameron." I say.
"What?!" She exclaims again.
"Kai, would you be open to letting me speak with Miss Cameron again? I need to bring her up to speed on what I told you." He turns to me.
"I'll accompany her, if that's alright with you."
"That's fine." He says, turning to lead us back. "Follow me."
On our way back to his office, Cameron comments at Zechariah.
"So...you're a giant cheetah." She utters, close to me and her arms crossed.
"Yes." He says bluntly.
"Just checking." She says as we soon make it back to the office.
Soon, after a little explanation from Zechariah about Winston to Cameron, the former gives her the laydown.
"Well, my dear miss Cameron, I have some news for you. My name is Zechariah, and I regret to inform you, and your friend, that there seems to have been some sort of mistake with the company that employed you, specifically. You were hired to be a guidance counselor, correct?" He asks her.
"Y-Yes..."
"Well. All humans employed or chosen to be sent here are given strict details about this world, and it is their chose to be transferred." He explains.
He soon leans in to emphasize what he's to say next.
"Whoever sent you, did an incredibly dishonest thing...for once here, you can not return to the outside world you once knew." He reveals.
"Why's that?" I ask him, he turns to me.
"That's classified." He says. "You wouldn't believe it."
"Try me."
Zechariah instantly gets a sense of 'you receive on what you give', and admittedly, so did I right there.
Didn't disclose any information, so I didn't get any in return.
"S-So...I'm stuck in a crazy magical world of oversized talking animals?" Cameron asks.
"I'm afraid so Miss." Zechariah says.
"Also, this is an interspecies society, there are more creatures beyond just animals." I say. "And before you ask, ghosts, mermaids, vampires, and...Demons...all exist."
Zechariah, and even Cameron, briefly, look at me when I put that absentminded emphasis on 'Demons'...
"And aliens have not been confirmed yet." I finish for her. "Is that all the questions about that you would've asked?"
"Y-yeah...that's about right...but...where are we now?" She asks.
"The Zoo Phoenix Academy. Your soon-to-be workplace. After you fainted, Zechariah had me bring you here."
"Yes, and thank you for that, Kai. Miss Walden, would you like a tour?" The cheetah asks.
"O-Okay...?" Cameron asks, still unsure.
"Jackie, can you come into my office, please?" He asks via an apparent communicator watch attached around his elongated tail.
"Absolutely!" The sound of an energetic young woman emerges from the device.
"WHO'S JACKIE?!" Cameron darts up to Zechariah, holding his tail in fear and anticipation.
Nearly instantly...
The presence at the door...
"Hey, hey, hey!" The same sound from the communicator makes itself known behind us.
A woman with brown skin and freckles, light blue, green and yellow hair approaches us. She wears a yellow and blue dress with yellow slippers.
She nearly instantly goes up to Cameron to greet her, shaking her hands.
"Well, hello, hello! I'm Jackie, drama instructor, so you're the new girl everyone's talking about? What's your name?" She asks.
"Cameron." My friend sheepishly replies.
"You caused quite a scene, huh Cam?"
"Cameron." She reiterates.
The energetic lady soon turns her attention to me.
"Oh, wow! And you must be that awesome guy who saved her!" She walks up to me, shaking my hand.
"Yes I am." I say, smiling.
"Haven't even been here a few hours and you're already being heroic! Not many have the courage to risk falling off a height like that, I know my students would just love you!" She smiles.
I chuckle.
"I wouldn't doubt they would." I reply.
"Jackie, Miss Walden is in need of a tour."
"Not another word, Zech, I got this!" She replies enthusiastically.
"Kai, would you by chance like to go along?" Zechariah offers.
"Yes, but before I go, I need to ask something." I say.
"What is it?" He replies.
"You girls go on ahead, where do you think I should meet you?" I ask them.
"Meet us at the auditorium! It's down the hall, down the stairs, go right and it's a straight shot at the end!" Jackie tells me, pushing Cameron out to give her the tour.
I give my friend a 'You can do this' look, she nods in hesitant acceptance.
Soon, I turn back to Zechariah.
"Considering that Cameron's going to be working here, and I do plan on being here for a while, it only seems fair that I contribute just as much as she does. Would there be any job openings?" I ask.
"Hmm." The cheetah utters as he looks under his desk, using his tail to out a clipboard of potential positions and looking through it thoroughly. "Nothing immediate..."
"Could there be one I could...so to say...create?" I suggest.
"How would you propose that?" He asks.
"I've got what you would call, a very particular set of skills. Skills that would make me a nightmare against those who would attempt to hurt the citizens of this place, and skills that I hope to pass on to the next generation known as these students." I explain.
After hearing my mini-speech, and raising an eyebrow, he looks back at his clipboard, continuing to think.
"Are you insinuating you have combat experience?" He asks.
"You could say that."
"Well...there have been developments on the other side of the city as of recently, namely the districts..." He utters, soon locating a file and pushing it forward. "How about as a precautionary measure, with your skills, you may work as security here?"
"That'd be perfect." I nod, filling out the necessary information.
"And if you're truly wanting to go forth with your 'teaching' aspect, we have very flexible aspects of clubs. If you wish to found something like that, we're always open to that. What would you, by chance call it, should we get an opening?"
After finishing filing out the information, I lean in, being more enthusiastic about this than anything else so far.
"I think I have an idea..."
Chapter End
(Yep, I did it. I joined the Vivienne Medrano gang. This is the first chapter, so input is appreciated. Please leave a vote, comment, and a follow if you can. Thank you all for everything.)
