After these first episodes of Dustin's life, he has seen tremendous growth in the modern world. Technology, "slang", and even entertainment. All these wonders are just few that he has seen, and yet have to encounter. All things…are endless. But even now in the present, it doesn't hide him from the past. He still has to recover from his shellshock, and bury his past once and for all. However, it won't be easy. So many atrocities he committed during his past lives. Memories turned tumors in his mind, and nightmares turned hell on his conscience. Sometimes, he wonders if there's even a way to get rid of all this weight. If, possibly speaking, there is a way to…redeem?
Well…now's his chance.
Somewhere over the humble city of Brisbane, lies a lovely park. Grass spread for many acres, a runway that goes on for many miles, and trees that could cover a whole bus from the view of the sky. Additionally, it was huge in space, it wasn't crowded, but neither too empty. With a few canines walking around here and there every now and then. The ambience surrounded the park with a calm vibe and relaxing atmosphere.
And amidst this environment, sat Dustin on a nearby bench. He just happened to find this park recently, feeling the atmosphere and the nature presented. He wanted a place for some peace, and he got this. After all, he had to go to work soon and had to endure all the pain that would be presented to him. So before his job would start, he looked for an area of peace, somewhere in Brisbane. And well…he found this. Worth the walk, too.
Dustin inhaled deeply, smelling the aromatics of the trees and air. Giving it a good while, he exhaled, feeling relieved from his breathing action. He gazed around, switching his head in many directions and admiring the sights he watched. Joggers ran their exercises on the runway, whilst children played their games throughout the fields and would frolic in it. Kites flew overhead, and a balloon crossed lonesome around the sky. Levitating by the millisecond. Dustin felt true peace in his surroundings.
He proceeds to take a glance at an object currently in his hand. A German cross medal, somewhat rusty and broken by one edge, given by Jakob before he departed from him. Dustin smiles upon seeing this, knowing well that his friends would've also wanted to see the modern world and its beauties.
"They should be the ones alive…they should," Dustin says to himself, nodding slowly whilst looking at his palm. He clenches the object back, and gets up from the peaceful bench he was in. Looking around for a last time, he deeply sighs and memorizes the path for another visit. Dustin starts walking on the path to leave, reflecting on his past decisions. He also stares blankly at the ground while walking down the path.
But, just as he takes his first few steps, two dogs pass by him. An elder and a young adult lady. The two appeared to be an Eskimo-type breed, the elder of a white color, and the lady of a white/gray color. The elder also seemed to be slightly shorter than Dustin, going up to an inch beneath Dustin's shoulders.
Once crossing paths, Dustin paid not much attention and kept on walking, while on the other hand…the elder recognized him. He paused his movement, suddenly stopping and continuing staring at Dustin in complete confusion and disarray. He alerted the lady beside him, whereas she just stares at the elder for his sudden stop.
"Is something wrong, pops?" The lady Eskimo questioned the elder, wearing a face of worry and holding tight his arm to her side.
Nonetheless, the elder continued to stare at Dustin as he slowly took his steps away from them. He just couldn't believe his eyes. How is he alive? How the HELL is he alive? It passed around over and over again inside his mind, making him question if this was a hallucination or reality. But even so, he had to do something about this. He had to confirm if this was the same dog who sent him to the camps as a POW. He had to see if this was the same dog who wore a literal Nazi uniform, and yet spoke a perfect English accent.
He had to see if this…was Dustin Sable Spitz, the traitor of his own people and a coward of a dog.
This episode of Dustin is called "Never Forgotten".
"Impossible," the elder spoke out, eyes bug-wide and his body stood slightly shaking.
The Eskimo looked at him with curiosity, asking him worryingly, "What's impossible?"
However, the elder doesn't respond to her question and proceeds to walk away from her, letting himself go in the moment. He walked cautiously at the familiar dog and yelled to him, "Hey!"
On the other hand, Dustin hears the command and turns around immediately, seeing the rapidly walking Eskimo elder heading in his direction. Approaching Dustin, the elder kept on going and observed him with careful attention. Checking every detail of his face and his fur, to which each part matched with the picture he carried of that dog. His lips quivered, whilst his eyebrows went down in anger.
He shouted at Dustin, "Are you…we'r…were you a
Nazi?"
Dustin's eyes widened at the sudden exclamation. Meanwhile his daughter rushed over and shouted "pops!" at the elder.
She apologizes, "I'm sorry. My grandpops isn't too well. Y'see he was…well, more like he participated in World War 2."
"Oh, I see," Dustin answered, trying to see if he can recognize the man from somewhere. Sadly, no luck.
Unfortunately, the elder didn't hold back and continued watching him with disgust. He added on to his shouting, "Your…how…how are you alive?"
Dustin only watched as the elder pointed at him with his finger, whereas the lady only looked at her pops in confusion and questioned.
"What are you talking about, pops?"
Her grandfather, standing shocked and surprised, responded to her, still pointing at Dustin shakingly, "He…he sent me to camps. He…is a Tommy Nazi. He fucked my life."
"Pops! Don't say that! That dog is most likely long dead," his granddaughter said to him, to which Dustin slightly frowned, knowing damn well it is him.
Nonetheless, the elder kept on going, shouting at Dustin, "It is him! You ruined my life! My friends died in those camps! My body became frail! Nazi fuckin-"
But before he could keep on going, his head became light, and his body started losing balance. He began breathing heavily, sweat running down his forehead and cheeks.
"Woah, woah. Calm down pops, calm down," she said to her grandfather, grabbing him by the waist and holding him tight. She proceeded to lightly sit him down on a bench near the group. Sadly, all the yelling had caused him to start remembering horrible things, and make muttering noises. Hands covering his face and slightly rocking back and forth on the bench. Taking caution, the granddaughter came to comfort him and slowly rub his fur, repeating two phrases through his ear. "It's okay" and "You're here". Whispering them over and over.
Although it's going bad for the elder, Dustin only watches and even begins tearing up from just looking. He knew what this pain truly felt. Having friends you get used to, only for you to lose them because of some stupid reason, like war. Emilien, Jakob, Alastor, Walmund, Lennox, Klaus. So many good friends who gave their lives trying to socialize with Dustin, a plague of Death and an advocate for the Devil. He would remember them, and feel pity for what they got in their shoes. But mostly remembering the Nazi phase is what made him feel like a scumbag. He'd forgotten what his friends died for. Not to see him as a Nazi, but to live another day, and gain another dollar. Yet he didn't care, and would forget it all. He would do horrible things, like support the Nazi regime, help kill thousands of people, and even send a pilot named Tay-
He lifted his head up in shock, he had forgotten once more. The pilot he had sent during his officer reign. Of course, he is still alive, and right there in that moment. Dustin gazed at the elder, and couldn't shake the shock off him. His breathing became heavy, and his thoughts clouded with regret. Yet all he could do…was just watch Taylor have his breakdown on the bench.
Or…he could help.
But how? I don't have anyth-
Dustin's hand touches an object within his pocket, circling it around in there. A solid object, pointy edges and made of steel. He pulls it out, and finds the cross given by Jakob. He stares at it attentively, and then looks back at Taylor.
He knew what he had to do, and he wanted to do it. He wanted to redeem himself in at least one aspect. He wanted to, for once, make something right. Dustin walked over to Taylor, cautiously taking each step and assessing what he would say to him. Once in front of him, he squatted and lightly tapped Taylor's shoulder.
As Taylor slowly unraveled his eyes, Dustin leaned in and took a deep breath, wearing a face of empathy before speaking. He started by saying, "I can imagine how you feel. The pain of losing friends that you just got to know. The heartache of being a captive and used for torture constantly. It all just…hurts, doesn't it?"
Taylor watched how he spoke to him, seeing him carry an authentic German cross in his palm of the hand. He gazed with attention and tears on his face, almost feeling the sympathy that Dustin is sharing.
Dustin continues, "But y'know what helped? For me…I moved on. Well, part of me did. There is still a gap of me stuck in the past, and it doesn't want to let go. But even so, I try my best to come up with the present. I try everything to push myself forward and live another day. I use all my strengths left to, maybe, inspire someone else to make a change. To prove that, whatever cause they find just, is considered right. Well, d-e-p-e-n-d-i-n-g."
With this slight joke, Taylor mildly coughed a laugh, barely being noticeable. For Dustin however, it was an accomplishment. He smiled seeing this, and wanted to let the elder know one more thing.
"So…push for whatever you can. You may be an elder, but you got the heart of a 20-year old man. Or rather said, the spirit of one. So whatever you do now…do it with pride. And remember this…Yesterday is a mystery, and tomorrow is a mystery. However, today is a gift. A beautiful gift to cherish. That's why it is called the "present"."
Dustin let Taylor process what he had told him, anticipating for the right emotion and outcome. Thankfully, Taylor only looked away thoughtfully, meditating on what he had just heard. He doesn't know what to react with…but knows that it helped him. He feels calmer, like a 20-pound item had just been lifted from his back. Additionally, it also calmed him to see that Dustin was trying to be sympathetic. This all comforted Taylor, leading him to forgive Dustin in the end.
Taylor looked back at Dustin and smiled, to which Dustin asked, "Understood?"
"Yes, sir," Taylor responded, smiling greatly at Dustin and his granddaughter. Adding on, Dustin proceeded to salute Taylor, to which Taylor responded back with a salute as well.
Dustin stood up, and began to walk away from the scene. But just as he took 3 steps, the Eskimo lady halted him by pulling his arm, alerting Dustin's attention.
The lady proceeded to speak, "Wait, you can't just go like that! Not after you helped with my grandpops! Please, to thank you, join us on a walk. We were starting anyway."
"Oh, well…" Dustin didn't know what to say. He was never offered anything after doing a friendly thing for another. But even so, he imagined it would be rude to deny such an offer. He said, "Alright, I guess it's okay. I'm not busy anyway."
"Fuck yeah its okay," the Eskimo responds vulgarly.
In response, Taylor scolded with a raised eyebrow, "Stefany?"
Stefany froze and turned to Taylor, apologizing softly, "Sorry pops. Just the habit."
"Stefany, huh? The name's nice," Dustin clears out, slightly wagging his tail.
"Not as nice as you are, boy," Stefany says suspiciously, as if in a form of flirting.
Dustin smiles, brushing off the weird expression thrown at him. Following up, Stefany asked, "And what's your name?"
"Dustin. Dustin Sable Spitz," answers the polite canine, putting a hand over his chest and slightly bowing his head.
Stefany only smiled, and told Dustin, "Come on, me and Pops'll show you more better spots in this park."
Once said, Stefany and Dustin assisted Taylor in his walk, and the trio had a good chat along the trail. They had laughs, and had discussions. They talked about different things and opinions, whilst Dustin didn't know shite of what they were talking about. Nonetheless, he tried to cooperate somehow. And after the 20-minute walk, they departed and went about their business. Dustin had enjoyed that moment and the walk itself. He learned a bit more about forgetting the past and on moving on. He even got to learn more about the entertainment of this modern world, which in overall…What in the Sam hell? He didn't understand it, but eventually would get to it. For now, it's one step at a time. And well, so far, friend list is good. He expanded with Stefany being added to the list, as well as Taylor, too.
But with Stefany added…what would this mean…for Calypso?
P.S - Thanks for reading chapter 8, hope you enjoyed it very much. Looks like Dustin has expanded his friend list by a few people, and we'll see how it goes with them. Also, thanks for being patient. Just a heads-up, although it is somewhat early, I might not get to write a lot during the summer break, all due to family matters. So, if a chapter takes a while, not me, just my family.
Now, besides that, you may be wondering if Dustin will ever meet some sort of modern event besides technology stores or huge estates. Well, what happens when Dustin gets invited to a festival. But not just any festival…how about…a pride festival.
Good luck, Dustin!