by Carrow Brown
The Outer One turned, his voice screaming in my mind.
“Come and stop me, asshole!” I yelled back. I moved as if to go for Sasha, making the creature scream in fury before it charged.
Turning, I ran back down the hall with it crashing after me. In the distance, I heard the clicks and chirps from the pack of murder chickens keeping close to me and my pursuer.
Fighter said, What is Walker doing? Why does he not just control it and send it back?
Leader said, Because she can’t.
“I don’t need a fucking peanut gallery!” I ducked through a doorway with the Outer One crashing through it seconds later. As long as it was after me, it wasn’t eating anyone. And the longer I could distract it, the more time Sasha had to make sure everyone escaped. My eyes picked out light—daylight! A way outside! Turning toward it, I sped through another doorway and into a hangar. I sprinted past planes parked along the walls in neat little rows on either side of me.
The doors were open, showing a cloudy day and a tree line.
Racing out onto a runway, I looked around and saw the ocean on my left, my right, and in front of me.
“It’s a fucking island,” I panted.
The creature along with my miniature horde of hunters erupted from the building and right for me.
There’s no guarantee that will work.
Throwing off one of the smaller ones, it turned its head toward me and charged. I adjusted my feet and rolled to the side just as it would have collided with me. It tripped over itself in the attempt to swipe at me, and I leaped onto its back to scramble toward the magic binding it. Wrapping my Silence-hand around it, I started to pull at the bindings when it rocked its head back and knocked me off.
You think you’d learn to not do that after the first time.
I rolled to my feet and away from the creature’s snapping jaws.
A metal pole stabbed right through the top of its mouth as a female voice cried, “Draugrrökkr!”
I looked up in time to see Sasha land next to me. She held up another pole with a twisted end on the top. “Everyone is safe. A way into the Under opened and many of the prisoners have escaped.” Her baby blues went back to the Outer One, still clawing at its face. “But that does not fix this problem.”
“Nope, sure doesn’t. We have to keep it on the island. I’m confident it’ll swim to the mainland if not detained.”
She nodded and twirled the metal pipe in her hand. “Then we will detain it.” She took up an attack position, and I took up one similar beside her.
The Outer One managed to get the pipe out of its mouth and jerked its head to us. The tentacle under its mouth writhed about as its roar vibrated my bones.
We charged as one unit, heading for a frontal collision with the creature. At the last moment, we split, darting to either side of it. It turned to follow me, leaving itself open for Sasha to stab it in the side repeatedly. When it turned to round on her, I grabbed its tail and threw myself back, yanking it back with me, so its claws missed her.
Its tail lifted up and slammed me onto the ground. I heard something snap, pain erupting in my side—a broken rib or two. It would heal, but not fast enough for the fight. I staggered to my feet in time to see it swiping a claw at me, until a small utility truck rammed into its side.
The creature staggered away from the impact, roaring. The doors flew open and two men—one with a duffle bag and the other a long staff—jumped out just before the Outer One lashed out at the truck. It sank its teeth into it and shook the automobile around.
I stared as David righted himself. “We came to rescue you, but you appear to have that part covered.”
“I didnae come tae save ye!” Aaron shouted, holding his staff between him and the Outer One. “Da fuckin’ edict said I had tae be here! And that puck who came with wouldn’t shut it.”
“Goodfellow?” I looked at David. “Where is he?”
“He’s helping the others get into the Under.”
Sasha’s voice boomed over the scream of metal tearing. “Less talking! More fighting!”
David pulled out a machine gun and aimed it at the creature. “Yes, ma’am.”
As a group, we fought together and closed in on the creature. I kept its attention while Sasha flanked it, David unloaded clips, and Aaron used his magic to throw the creature off balance. Our blows struck home, but rather than become weaker, it simply got angrier even as it bled everywhere
This isn’t working. We need to—
“No,” I said, watching the creature maneuver away from us. “It’s working. We have it on the run.”
Leader’s words surfaced in my mind. Are you Walker or not? Assist your flock.
My eyes went first to David and then Aaron. Both were panting, but Aaron looked pale. I knew he only had a limited amount of magic left to use before he couldn’t go any more. David’s magazines were running low. The Outer One was tiring, but we would become exhausted before it did. I pressed in and lifted up my arm to—
The creature whined and lowered its head to the ground.
I hesitated at its words. All around me the smaller creatures shifted restlessly, their cries filling the air. Looking at the wounded monster, I felt disgusted with myself. A thing of horror, sure, but it didn’t ask to be dragged into my plane and enslaved. I brought my arm down and gripped the magic embedded in the creature’s flesh. Silence hummed, and I watched the magic shudder and swirl into the metal.
“What are ye waitin’ for?” Aaron cried. “Kill it!”
Sasha’s voice sounded from behind me, “What are you doing?”
Instead of responding, I remained at the creature’s side and felt its relief as the last of the magic left it. It continued to lay on the ground but let out a deep rumble as I ran my hand along its neck.
“There you go,” I murmured. “Easy now.”
“What are ye doin’?” Aaron stormed toward me. “We need tae—”
One of the smaller creatures leaped between Aaron and me with a hiss. Many others lowered their heads and stepped closer to us.
I lifted my chin and pushed my shoulder back as I turned to look at the pack. “Stop.”
The group as a whole froze in place at my command. I waited as everyone turned to me. Watching. Waiting.
Guilt continued to weight heavy on me, something I hadn’t felt when I helped kill the previous Outer One in Oaken Staff. Did it have something to do with the connection or the marble I’d swallowed?
I pointed to the wounded creature at my side. “He’s hurt and angry. Don’t let him attack anyone else.”
Sasha’s mouth dropped open as she watched the seven bipeds—I needed to find a better name for them—gather around the larger creature. “How are you doing that? Why are they listening to you?”
I opened my mouth to answer as the world swam around me.
Hrm, Mender said. Seems Walker is overexerted.
Something hard pressed up against my side and someone shook me. Somehow, I’d gone from standing to lying on the ground, and Sasha was yelling at me.
“I want a nap,” I mumbled. “Just five minutes.”
Darkness tinged the outside of my vision
as I heard.
“Not food. You no eat friends,” I slurred. “I wanna go home....”
When the darkness swallowed me once more, I welcomed it and the arms of Dreamer, whose fingers combed strands of hair from my face.
“Poor Walker,” she said. “Such a long day for you.”
Dreamer’s touch continued to soothe and comfort me. I felt safe in her arms. Not in the way a child was with a mother, but safe in the fact I knew someone was there for me. I turned and curled myself around her and dreamed of snow-capped mountains and chilled vodka.
EPILOGUE
Thank You Baskets
Iwoke up in pain. A lot of it.
My head hurt. My neck hurt. My eyeballs hurt. The smallest movement caused my shoulders, back, hips, and legs to protest. Even the hair on my toes hurt. As much as I would have liked to say I remained stoic and bore the pain, I didn’t. I cussed up a storm.
If you’re cursing, then you’re doing fine.
I opened my eyes, expecting to see the blue sky above me, but wooden beams met my gaze. The scent of sandalwood and aged paper filled my nose instead of gunpowder and seawater.
“I’m home?” I asked the empty space in front of me. With a grunt, I attempted to push myself up, but couldn’t gain an inch from where I lay. Something pressed against my back, and I remained limp while the floor under me shifted and moved to bring me to a sitting position. Something fuzzy turned in my arm and I froze when I saw the teddy bear sandwiched between my arm and side.
“Oh, you’re here as well.”
It lifted its button eyes in my direction before looking back off into the distance and snuggling closer.
Yeah, that guy stuck around, too, Silence muttered.
I frowned at his words, or rather the lack of sensation I felt from him. My eyes inspected where he was still attached to my arm, part of me, but he’d never felt so far mentally. Almost as if he were only remaining close because he had to.
My mouth opened to ask the cause of his distance when the answer made itself clear in a sultry purr in the back of my mind, Walker is awake!
We noticed, Mender said in dry tones.
Am I the only one pleased to have Walker connected again?
The chatter continued, but I didn’t listen. Instead, I watched my metal arm and felt Silence pull even further away.
With my good hand, I traced the lines of Silence-arm. Memories of the last few days filtered through my mind as I stared down at the dull metal. I pictured Silence’s fear when we’d entered the warehouse of wine, his preference to remain at the bottom of the ocean rather than giving me answers, and even his reluctance to help at certain times. “I’m sorry. I did the one thing you didn’t want me to do, didn’t I?”
My friend remained quiet, though I pictured a toddler peeking up at me through lashes. I didn’t know what to say to put him at ease, though I longed to console my closest companion.
You did, but I understand why.
I nodded and lowered my arm as I recalled his frantic state in my first encounter with Dreamer. I started to speak once more, but Silence’s words filled my mind in a rush.
I like that you make me do poetry. And I like it when we go for runs and learn new words. I like our talks and how you explain stuff I don’t get. I want that to stay the same. I want to keep growing and being with you even if means they are involved.
The corners of my mouth turned up, and I placed my good hand over my Silence-arm. “You thought it would go back to how it was before?” When he didn’t respond I gave him another pat. “I get it. We’ll figure it out one step at a time.”
Mender’s voice said, Fascinating.
Closing my eyes, I growled, “Could you all piss off? I am trying to have a moment with Silence, here.”
No, Leader said. Now that the connection is re-forged, it is permanent.
“Great. All I needed was more voices in my head.”
A small weight rested on my leg, and I opened my eyes to see Ratatoskr looking down at me. “You’re awake!”
“Regretfully so,” I muttered. “What happened? How did I get here?”
“After you collapsed, the creatures brought you here. The one you named Fred carried you.”
I told them how to get you home, though it wasn’t easy with Sasha and Aaron constantly screaming.
“Where is the pack? Did they go back into the tear?”
“They are outside,” Ratatoskr said again as he scampered off my leg and darted toward the wall leading outside. It rippled to create a double doorway leading into the dark and misty forest. With a lot more cussing, I climbed to my feet and hobbled to the doorway. The drooping branches of Grave Wood met my eyes along with Snowdrop’s cocoon. I took another step out, peering into the darkness to spot anything different.
A rustle in the underbrush sounded to my left, and I turned in time to see Fred trotting toward me. He turned and let out a series of chirps and squeaks and within seconds, six more showed up to form a semi-circle around me. Moments later, the much larger Outer One appeared and rested down on his side behind the group. Multiple sets of yellow eyes rested on me as I stared back.
“Yeeeeaaaaah, I can’t see Vainya being happy with this at all. I should talk to him.”
The journey from my bedroom to the main foyer took an eternity with my aches and pains. Peaches shuffled alongside me while the squirrel god kept his perch on my shoulder. A persistent itch tormented my body while it continued to heal. My arm hadn’t regenerated outside of sealing my wound. I wasn’t sure if I needed to eat more people for it grow back, or if I’d permanently lost the limb since I’d cut it off with Silence. Time would tell.
Vainya’s looked up when I hobbled into the room. “Are you sure you should be walking around?” He gave the squirrel a pointed look, who leaped off me and climbed his way up one of the bookshelves.
“I’m not dead, so I can move. And what if we have a visitor? You can’t keep sending them away because I’m not there to answer the door.” I stopped at the sight of multiple baskets in various sizes lined up along the edges of the room. Some were full of mason jars with contents ranging from trail mix to handcrafted candles. “What’s this?”
“Goodfellow has been bringing them for the last few days.” His tail pointed to a basket next to me. “There are cards as well.”
“I don’t understand. What are these for?”
Vainya’s eyes crinkled up. “They are thank you gifts for you.”
I hobbled to a basket and knelt to pluck the card from inside. Opening it, it read,
Dear Ghost, thank you for finding my daughter and freeing her. I know these meager offerings cannot express the true extent of my gratitude…
My eyes blurred too much to make out the rest of the message. I blinked them rapidly and glanced around to the rest of the baskets full of small items—one full of clay bottles of mead. It took several swallows before I said, “The food won’t do me any good.” I looked to Vainya. “Would you like it?”
He rose and came to my side, tail wiping at my cheeks. “I have already eaten the chocolate truffles for you.”
A laugh left my lips, but combined with my welling tears, it sounded more like a blubber. “You would.”
I felt his warmth before a large paw rubbed my cheeks. “Why are you crying?”
I rubbed the edge of my hand against the corner of my eye. “Am I not allowed to?”
“You do not typically do so in front of me.” His tail trailed over my side and lifted up the arm with Silence attached. “What is this?”
Worrying my bottom lip, I explained everything that happened with the magi using my wards against me and the removal of my arm.
“It’ll grow back,” I said hesitantly. “But the ward—”
“Is gone,” Vainya finished, his eyes thoughtful. “With one rune destroyed, the rest have no pattern to fall into. Which means you are free. I always wondered how long it would take.”
“Yeah, I’m sure—wait.
” I faced Vainya. “You expected this to happen?”
Vainya’s head canted to the side. “Things are not meant to remain in a stagnant state. It was inevitable you would be freed someday. The question is what will you do with your freedom?”
“I dunno…basket weaving?” I lowered my gaze to my Silence-arm. “Or maybe not.”
Vainya snorted. “Do you wish to leave here?”
I gazed at the floor-to-ceiling shelves, taking in the countless books, antique art, and handmade tapestries. After so many centuries, I still couldn’t imagine living anywhere but my home.
“No.” I looked up at him. “I’d rather stay with you if you are okay with that. Besides, it would take you decades to train someone to cook food the way you want it.”
His eyes crinkled up at the corners. “Since you offered, I would like a snack while you explain how you plan to control the possessed doll and those bird monstrosities outside.”
* * *
Several days passed while I recovered. I rested and kept to the Manor as the aches and pains of my injuries turned into minor annoyances. Once I became used to their presence, I started to see my pack of murder chickens more like wolves. They established a pecking order amongst themselves and regularly patrolled Grave Wood. When I was recovered enough, I joined the group patrol to get the stiffness out of my limbs. I even taught the pack how to play fetch.
My arm showed signs of regeneration, but it was painfully slow. It would likely be weeks, maybe months before it was fully formed again. Not that Silence minded; he enjoyed being attached and causing my hand to make rude gestures.
Outside of the gift boxes, I didn’t get any visitors until a week later when someone knocked on the front door. I opened it to see David and Sasha.
“What are you two doing here?”
David held up his hand to show me a bottle of Zyr vodka with a grin. “Get well gift from Badb.”
Sasha held up a basket. “I brought mead and ingredients for stew. You do not eat, but you can drink the mead while David and I eat?”
My grin felt as if it would split my face in two. “You know how to appeal to the alcoholic in me,” I said, opening the door wider to allow them inside. They followed me to the sunroom, and I helped Sasha prepare the stew before we settled and waited for the food to cook.
