Deserted

by L. M. McCleary

  “I can’t just leave her here!” A gruffer voice; one I know I’ve heard before.

  “Why? We’re not supposed to interfere, you know that. You can’t help her just because of who she is.” Another male voice, but one I could not place. It was slightly more lucid than the woman’s.

  “It’s not about that. She’ll die if we leave her here. Whether I know her or not, we can’t just pass her by.” That familiar voice…and then I felt fingers touching me, sending pins and needles racing up my arm. I supposed my body was numb, but how was I to know? I could feel – and see – nothing. Was I truly even alive?

  “If we do this, we need to be quick about it. Do you think you can pull it off without the others noticing?” The woman’s voice, sounding soft and gentle under the ripping waves.

  “I don’t even care if we can’t. I won’t let her die.”

  The other man sighed. “Well, it wouldn’t be the first time we broke the rules.” I think I heard laughter in his voice.

  “If anything happens, I’ll take the blame. What’s one more demotion, huh?” The familiar voice was right next to me now. I don’t know who it belonged to, but its presence comforted me.

  Was that even the right conversation? Was I hallucinating? Were those voices even voices at all? I felt as though I was drugged, unable to move and unable to understand my whirling mind. All I did know, however, was that I didn’t care. Come what may.

  *

  My eyes fluttered open, much to my surprise. There was green all around me, and the faint sound of wind blowing nearby. I blinked, surprised by how good I felt. There was no pain anymore, no encumbering weariness. I felt comfortable in the hard bed I must have been lying in; I was no longer hot and cold. My clothes were no longer constricting me. I took a deep breath, expecting to not be able to, but I inhaled the fresh air vehemently; it was a very warm air, but it wasn’t acrid and strong like I had expected. So I was no longer in the wasteland, then. Just where the hell was I?

  A beautiful face suddenly appeared above me, encompassing my view; one I had missed more than I had ever realized. A contagious smile was blazed across Kay’s face. I could barely see the greens of the tent’s opening behind him as my eyes adjusted to my surroundings.

  “Ah, you’re up! We were starting to worry.” He beamed that same, never-ending grin at me; it was as if no time at all had passed.

  I slowly sat up on cot that I had been placed in. I was definitely in a medical tent of some kind; First Aid kits were strewn about and gauze was littered upon the stand next to me. There was another metallic bed on the other side of the room that was piled high with circular canisters and unopened crates. My heavy eyes rested on the sight of a full canister that dripped ever so slightly onto the green cot which made me acutely aware of just how parched I had become. I no longer felt queasy but my head did feel a bit muddy; I must have been heavily sedated.

  I briefly saw Kay from the corner of my eye watching me and he turned his head to follow my gaze. “Oh, you must be thirsty, huh? Let me get you something.” He grabbed something from a crate nearby and rushed towards the dripping canister.

  I tried to watch his movements but my head was still heavy and slow to react. He had appeared next to me with a glass of water before I even felt my head turn slightly. “Kay…?” The words scratched my throat. “Kay Thomes?” I tried so hard not to, but my heart raced at the sight of him.

  He was taken aback at first. “That’s what they call me, anyway.” He chuckled. “How did you know that?” He had set my water down upon a nightstand next to me as he pulled up a grey folding chair to sit on.

  I stared at him a moment in disbelief, my head bobbing as I struggled to keep it aloft. He continued to stare at me with the same smile but unknowing eyes. “…it’s me.” I squinted my eyes at him in confusion. “Don’t you remember?” I was no longer sure if it was my sore throat or the hard words that caused me to scratch out the sentence in a barely audible tone.

  “Hmm…I really don’t think I would forget a pretty little face like yours. You must be mistaking me for someone else, sweetheart; we’ve certainly never met.” He handed me my drink and continued, “Drink this and rest up some more; you’re clearly still groggy.” He tried to stifle a laugh as I gingerly took hold of the cold, clear glass.

  I cradled the drink in my hands and found myself getting lost in its swirling waters. How could he not recognize me? Did the wasteland really rough me up that thoroughly?

  “I bandaged up your shoulder for you. It was a nasty scar but our panacea worked wonders. It might be a little sore to the touch but should be healed up completely soon enough.” Kay pointed towards my right arm and I looked down at it with heavy eyes. My entire shoulder was bandaged up in gauze and felt incredible; I never thought I would see the day.

  My old friend sat for a moment and watched me before he stood up. “You must have heard my name while you were sleeping. Don’t worry too much about it, though,” He started walking towards the slit in the tent, “things will come back to you in time. Come on out when you feel up to it.” He suddenly turned towards me, still beaming the same smile. “Your creature is waiting out here…that white thing that won’t leave you alone. I think it really wants to see you.” He nodded towards the world outside as he left and I saw glimpses of Ponika as the flaps folded shut behind him.

  Kay left before I could say anything but with a mouth so dry I doubted I would have been able to eke out a response anyway. I raised the glass to my lips and cherished the cold water that rushed down my gullet; just how long did I go without it? I chugged the water back, not caring about the streams that escaped the glass and cascaded their way down my chin. It must have been days since my collapse…or maybe even a week? How far gone was I that they had to give me hallucinatory drugs? That would have to have been the answer; I was just imagining Kay, right? It couldn’t be possible that he would not recognize me; that’s absurd, and how could he not know what Ponika is for that matter? Just what happened to him…or what happened to me? No…it wasn’t Kay. It couldn’t have been. I would never forget his face; how could he forget mine?

  I sat on the metallic bed for a few minutes, my mind reeling. I wanted to get up but my head lazed around every time I moved; it felt as though a thousand weights had been added to it. I slowly inched my body back down under the thin sheets and closed my eyes, listening to the wind outside and hearing Ponika’s frantic hooves on the hard ground.

  “Ponika…”I called out meekly. I didn’t expect him to hear me yet a few moments later I saw his head poke in through the exposed slit in the tent.

  “C’mere boy…you don’t have to worry.” I reached my hand out to him and he cautiously came towards me. I wrapped my fingers around his snout when he finally came near and I dragged my fingers slowly up and down his white hair, drawing imaginary pictures in my mind. It was the same thing my mother used to do to me whenever I was sick as a small child; the rare time she noticed me. I found the idea of it comforting and I mimicked it unconsciously. I remember I had closed my eyes and continued to draw on his snout until my energy finally waned and my hand slipped down and lay limp at his side.

  *

  I had finally awoken hours later. I could see the soft light of the moon illuminate the hard sand outside and saw Ponika’s hoofs tap ever so quietly on the ground in a pacing manner. I don’t know why, but my horse was outside again. I managed to sit upright with little issue and found myself feeling better than I had in a long time; a little peckish but energetic overall. As I slid myself out of bed I noticed a few boxes scattered and tipped in a corner of the tent; someone had been here while I was out and I could only assume it was Kay.

  “If that was even Kay at all…” I murmured my thoughts aloud and I noticed Ponika stop abruptly in his walk. “Yeah yeah…I’m coming.” I spoke a little louder this time but Ponika made no sound in reply.

  I stood up slowly, testing my strength. My legs felt a little sore but it was nothing I couldn’t handle
. I stretched briefly and made my way to the tent’s entrance where I was immediately greeted by Ponika nudging me in my arm. Even in the dim moonlight I had to squint my eyes because of the dense darkness that permeated the inside of the tent. There was a clear sky tonight and the moon shone brightly. With another nudge into my arm I turned my attention to Ponika and smiled, putting my arms around his neck and hugging him tight. We had come so far together and I know I owed my life to him; it would break my heart if he had somehow gotten left behind.

  “I’m glad to see you too, Ponika.” I patted him for a few moments, still trying to wake myself up as my mind wandered back to the boy that had tended to me.

  “He doesn’t know either of us...” I had finally whispered sullenly into Ponika’s neck. “That must make you a little sad too, huh?” Kay had always been fascinated by Ponika growing up and treated him like gold. With how much time I spent with both my horse and Kay, they would be hard-pressed not to become friends. They had been very close; Kay would often visit Ponika in the corral long before I woke up…and yet now, Kay wouldn’t even look in Ponika’s direction.

  “I’ll find out what happened…” I eventually whispered, withdrawing from my horse, “I’ll make him remember.”

  “Make who remember?” His voice from behind made me jump. If it wasn’t my Kay then he certainly sounded the same.

  “You…” I started, feeling my heart beat faster in my chest. I was no longer groggy; there would be no excusing this now. I turned hesitantly to face him and was simultaneously disappointed and relieved to see that it was, indeed, Kay Thomes.

  “Me? What exactly am I supposed to be remembering?” He continued to smile at me as though I was trying to play some sort of game with him.

  “You’re supposed to remember me; me and Ponika.” I spoke to him with a straight face, slightly annoyed at his lackadaisical responses.

  “I told you we’ve never met!” He laughed and shook his head.

  “And I’m telling you we have.” We stared at each other for a few moments, him trying and failing to conceal another smile. “Just…think about it. Look at me, square in the face and tell me you don’t remember.”

  “Oh come on…” He tried to wave me off.

  “I’m being serious.” I frowned as he looked everywhere but my direction. “Just…indulge me.”

  He gave me a sideways glance, studying my expression. “Okay…” he finally responded, “if it makes you happy.”

  We stared into each other’s eyes for a few minutes, my heart racing from more than just nerves. It plummeted when he eventually shook his head. “I’m sorry but nothing comes to mind. You sure you’re feeling up to walking around? If you’re still so gung-ho about this then there must be something wrong with you.”

  I flared my nostrils in annoyance. “I could say the same about you.” Kay had never shrugged off my feelings before; what was wrong with him? “What happened to you, Kay? How did you end up here?”

  “Nothing happened to me.” He shifted his tone. “I didn’t end up here; I’ve always been here.”

  “No,” I replied, exasperated, “you haven’t.”

  His brow was furrowed as he stared at me. “Heh,” he eventually sniggered, “you’re awfully feisty for someone who needed my help not that long ago.”

  “I just don’t much appreciate being called a liar.” As frustrated as I was, he was right. There I was, arguing with a man that saved my life. I stared at the ground before me, hoping my face didn’t look as red as I felt.

  “Neither do I.”

  I sighed. “Fair enough,” I said after a brief hesitation, “I apologize.”

  He studied me before finally smiling again and saying, “don’t worry about it; the wasteland can do crazy things to people.”

  I stifled a sigh and held my tongue. Why does he keep insinuating that I’m mad? “What are you doing out at this time of night, anyway?” I focused my gaze elsewhere, trying to suppress my aggravation.

  “Oh you know, just making the rounds; ensuring everything is okay. I don’t sleep much anyway.” He shrugged. “You must be glad I don’t; you’d be wandering the Outpost all night, wondering how you got here.”

  “Outpost?” While I was more interested in Kay than my own trials I was also not interested in arguing all night. Maybe if he slept on it something would come back to him…

  “Yep, this is the Pirates’ Outpost. They’re the ones who found you out in the wasteland in a collapsed heap; they brought you here and asked me to take care of you. Even showed me how.”

  “…Pirates?” I glanced at him skeptically.

  “The Pirates of the Sands; they’re always out in the wasteland, looking for who knows what. Supplies, I assume, as they always seem to have an abundance.”

  He was smiling as he spoke but he didn’t seem to be joking. Why would Pirates bring me here? “Why would they save me?” I asked, “Your book said they were nothing more than bloodthirsty criminals.”

  “My book?” He raised an eyebrow at me before continuing, “I don’t know what ‘book’ you’re talking about but they’re nothing like that. They provide everything we need to survive here and welcome us to the Outpost with open arms; that doesn’t sound very bloodthirsty to me.”

  I rubbed my forehead and shook my head. “But they don’t exist.” I whispered.

  “Well…apparently they do. I’m not really sure what to tell you.”

  The people I met in the desert…so it’s confirmed, then; they were definitely Pirates. Even a young child, though? “They were filling a crate with goods…an abandoned train in the sands. Why would they do that?”

  “I’m not really sure; they don’t talk to us.” He shrugged briefly. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they left random goods in the desert to help out travelers though, as they seemed awfully concerned about you.”

  “Me? Why me?”

  “Again, they don’t talk to us so I don’t know. Maybe you should ask Nathaniel yourself; he’s their representative here and the one that brought you to me.”

  “Nathaniel?” I said his name without meaning to. “Why does he keep popping up...?” I was speaking to myself, staring out into the sands around me but Kay decided to try and answer all the same.

  “I’m not sure what you mean?”

  “Do you think he brought me to you for a reason?” I finally met Kay’s gaze and he smiled as I did so. His piercing look, however, made me feel uncomfortable. If he didn’t know me then why was he staring at me like that?

  “Again…I’m not sure what you mean. Either way I’m glad he did though.” He took a step closer to me and I instinctively backed off, bumping into Ponika’s snout as he stood closely behind me.

  “And why’s that?” I wasn’t sure I even wanted to know the answer.

  “You can never have too many beautiful women in one place.” He chuckled softly as my skin crawled at his aggressiveness. He apparently doesn’t even know me; how could he possibly be flirting? My Kay was never like that.

  “Maybe I should try to get more sleep…” I sputtered the words out as I patted Ponika’s muzzle behind me.

  “Probably not a bad idea. I do have one last question for you, though. It’s actually why I came out this way; I was hoping you might be awake.” I avoided his gaze and nodded briefly; I was no longer enjoying his company.

  “What exactly brought you out to the wasteland? We like to keep an account on everyone who shows up here, see if we can help them any. So…what brings you to the desert? I can spend the night getting some things in order for you.”

  I smirked briefly at the coincidence of the very person I was looking for asking me that question. “I was looking for you,” I said flatly, “…and also my father.”

  “Someone like me, you mean?” I merely stared at him in response. “Hmm…” he eventually continued, “…a missing person is not a motivator we get very often here, but it does happen. I’ll set up a meeting with Chester for the morning, then; he’s heading a movement t
o find missing persons. He should know how to find the people you’re looking for.” I swallowed hard at his words. No longer knowing what to say I nodded curtly. “Get some rest, alright? Things will be better in the morning.” Kay clasped his hand on my shoulder before turning to go. “Oh, your things are in the drawer on the nightstand by the way; I didn’t want anybody seeing it and getting some ideas. Medicine is hard to find you know, even for Pirates.” He beamed another smile at me and walked off into the night.

  I gave Ponika a quick stroke on his mane and then I hurried inside the tent. My heart was beating so fast in my chest that I was afraid my emotions would burst forth at any moment. I was at least glad for one thing that Kay has said so far; I could really use my journal right about now. I scrambled through the drawer to retrieve it and here I am, but…however will I sleep tonight with shaking limbs and a racing heart? I’m still lying in bed, trying to find a way to force my thoughts elsewhere but I know it will do no good; my mind will not rest until morning comes and I find out once and for all if my suspicious are true; could it really be Chester?

  Chester is, after all, my father’s name.

  Journal Entry #10,

  My sleep was brief and fitful but I did manage to nod off every so often. When I finally awoke to the bright sun outside I allowed myself to stay up and I waited patiently for Kay within the medical tent. I had sat on the edge of the bed, tapping my foot nervously on the ground. I could hear various voices outside but no signs of Kay. I eventually stood up and started to pace; I did not have the patience for this. With an aggravated growl I decided to leave the tent and look for Kay myself and with the sun now shining I would finally be able to get a good look at the place I had ended up in.

  The grounds of the Outpost appeared to be ablaze in the warmth of the sun, sending shimmering waves of heat across the land. It was hotter here than the rest of the wasteland and I gasped in the humid air that embraced me as I left the tent; I could scarcely breathe at first. I narrowed my eyes and proceeded to shield them with my hand as I gazed across the Outpost, noticing rows and rows of tents and small mud houses within my distorted view. The wind blew strongly, kicking dust up incessantly and blocking my vision of the people that seemed to freely be coming and going from the few stone buildings that scattered the area. As I scanned the horizon I noticed a sandstorm far in the distance; in fact, I noticed it on all sides of me. The Outpost appeared to be surrounded by a vicious storm. I wasn’t sure if it was a coincidence or not but I didn’t really care, either; I needed to find Kay. I searched the heatwaves for him but I was reminded of a more important friend by a strong prodding into my back. I whirled around and saw Ponika snorting at me, clamouring for my attention.