Shifting Problems

by Jason Paul Rice

  Too much responsibility for me. How could I solve this tangled mess? My head was weary of all this and consciousness, and I fell asleep, under the bridge, on a chilly, late October night.

  The nightmares returned. The same ones from yesterday. The hideous demons were ripping my skin away with their mangled, bloody hands. Piece by tiny piece they plucked it away, digging deep into my epidermal layers. I screamed for them to stop, only to be laughed at and prodded again.

  I woke up in a cold sweat and ripped my hood back. The cold breeze mingled with the sheen of sweat on my forehead, slowly turning it to a salty crust. My heart pounded, and the gruesome images of the demons danced in my head.

  I looked around and all the people were gone. All alone in the dark, I stood up and stretched out. I heard a twig snap from behind. I spun around, ready for another fight, and Alayna met my eyes.

  I smiled. “Look, I said I was sorry and I’ll say it again. As soon as I get the money, I’ll get everything fixed. I’m sorry.” I walked toward her, intending to give her a hug.

  “I’m sorry too, Mike.”

  As I neared her, I could see tears running down her flushed cheeks. She nodded and I felt an incredible wave of magic from behind. She cried, and swallowed deeply, lips trembling. “Don’t fight it or it will kill you.”

  I took her advice because I knew I didn’t have the power to counteract the magic coming from behind me. It was a rare blend of external, internal and mind magic. Powerfully paralyzing. They called it the Magic Trinity and it was hitting me hard, just as advertised.

  The magic caused me to drop. I looked up at Alayna and viewed her as my Brute or Brutus depending on your preferred version of the Shakespeare classic. She was no longer the cute little faerie in a purple dress. She had betrayed me, and her personal disdain for Julius Caesar did not bode well for my metaphor or me.

  I lay there, motionless, unable to even bat my eyes. Two big men, whom I recognized slightly from the Deep Burrow, wrapped me in a blanket and everything went dark. Then we started moving. The gentlemen were a bit rough, dropping and dragging me some of the way.

  Rolled in the blanket, I had no idea where these people were dragging me off to in the dead of night. Common sense hit my head and permeated my skull, finally seeping into my brain. The murder. Alayna had found out about the murder. I hadn’t a chance to explain before her goons hit me with the magic that still seized all my movement capabilities.

  A woozy sensation kicked in and it forced my eyelids to close. More darkness. Total darkness.

  I woke up at what I assumed to be dusk, although I was unsure how long I had been out. I was standing, tied to an oak post in a cave chamber in Clara Spiritus. My wrists and ankles were bound to the round wooden post behind me.

  My mouth was dry. I had an aching body and my head still pounded. The coarse rope had been tied extremely tight and almost cut the circulation off to my hands.

  Remember when I said I hit rock bottom earlier? Cancel that. Many adjectives could describe the Gods. Nice, calm, at times funny, embracing, wise and loving.

  However, Alayna had warned me early in my training that the Gods were Gods because they carried out the business that others were incapable of. They were merciful and merciless at the same time. The Gods strictly adhered to the words and laws of the Sacred Pages, and didn’t deviate depending on whether they were friendly with the accused.

  I knew my friendship with them meant nothing now. I had been accused of murder on earth, and that didn’t take long to get to the Deep Burrow and subsequently, Clara Spiritus. If the Jersey Devil had framed me well on earth, it would be hard to defend myself against facts from the police. I could try to tell the truth, but the outlook appeared bleak.

  They’d heard all the excuses before. My petty pleas about the Jersey Devil will only make me sound delusional and willing to lie. Redridge entered the room and approached me. His dark eyes were glossy and red. Even the peryton knew I was in deep trouble.

  The corners of my mouth came up but my lips never separated. In fact, they tightened. He gently rubbed his antlers on my belly and chest. The hybrid animal carefully nestled his soft shoulder against me and I could feel the mighty thumping of his heartbeat. It gave me foolish hope just feeling the vibrant life coursing through the majestic animal.

  Redridge stayed with me until my head dropped and I passed out from exhaustion again. I hadn’t any dreams this time. Only darkness. Loneliness.

  Firelight filled my opening eyes. I could feel the heat as the flames moved closer. I looked down at a blurry Alayna who slowly came into focus. Her face was flushed and filled with sadness.

  She pulled up a tiny stool and sat down in front of me. “I thought I should be the one to tell you.”

  “Tell me what?”

  Her high-pitched voice that was usually soothing now chafed against my eardrums. She informed me, “Unless some miracle, last minute evidence is found, it doesn’t look good for you.”

  “So I don’t even get to defend myself?”

  “No. You do. But your guilt is overwhelming.”

  “I didn’t do anything. The Jersey Devil set me up. Just like he set up Mabon. Wait, where’s my necklace?” I felt naked without it. I can’t believe they took my most valuable possession.

  She continued without answering my question. “I’d love to believe that, but you admitted to the murder while the cops were hauling you away. That right there is plenty even without the nonsense at the police station.”

  What the what? “Police station? I never went to a police station. It can’t be.”

  She played nervously with her alternating black and blond braids. “I’ve heard those words too many times. I thought you were one of the good ones. A true white hat. You shared the blood of Merlin, and you threw it all away.”

  “So nobody is going to believe me?” I asked, flabbergasted.

  “It’s a question of taking a man’s word against his actions. There is video evidence of you confessing. How can we take your word now? You’ve already spoken.”

  “What video are you talking about?” This was all too much. Panic plucked at my heartstrings.

  She snapped, “Micheal Merlino. I suggest you tell the truth and cleanse your soul before your next journey. It might be a long one. I tried to help you. Sometimes magic can overcome a person’s better instincts. I can’t say you’re the first, but I surely hope you are the last.”

  I snapped back at her. “You’re the one that dragged me into this, remember? I didn’t want to take magic lessons, but you kept egging me on. You wouldn’t leave me alone. Now I try to save the city and some world leaders and get caught up in some demonic web. This is as much your fault as mine.”

  Her tone softened. “I feel a heavy burden. I do. But you took an oath. You didn’t have to do that. You made a choice and now you have to live with it. There will be a trial tomorrow and you will have ample opportunity to speak. I beg that you tell the truth and confess. It will be taken into consideration.”

  “Consideration. I thought death was the only punishment for murder.”

  She sighed. “It is. But I can push for it to be painless if you just admit to everything.”

  “That’s quite a deal you’re offering. I admit to something I didn’t do and I get put to death in a humane way. Pass. I won’t lie. You taught me better than that.” I broke down and some tears gushed out of their ducts. “My mother taught me better than that.”

  She said, “I’d love nothing more than those words to be true.”

  “They are. Who is arguing against me? Maybe you can talk to them. You know I wouldn’t do this. I know you don’t think it’s true.”

  She lowered her head. “I don’t want it to be true. That is certain. I love you like a son, but there’s nothing I can do. I do blame myself. I left you when you needed my help the most it seems. I left and this happened. I don’t want this as much as you.”

  I pleaded, “Can you talk to them? Talk to whoever is arguing again
st me?”

  She lowered her head. “It won’t help.”

  “Why not?”

  She took a few deep breaths. “I am presenting the case against you. It’s my duty as your mentor. I will take your words into consideration, but I also have to bring the facts to light.”

  Et tu, Alayna. I argued, “They are manufactured facts, as silly as that sounds.”

  “Mike, my hands are tied on this. I would say make peace with the Gods before you go.”

  I laughed. “Make peace with the people who are going to unjustly persecute me? Because that makes sense.”

  She stood up and grabbed the torch from against the wall. “Sometimes magic can cloud our brains, make us forget things that we have done. A young wizard such as yourself might have been a little reckless. I fear that you don’t remember these hideous things you are accused of, but nonetheless, they still happened and people are dead.”

  “People? I thought it was just one person?”

  She sniffled and wiped her nose with the sleeve of her purple dress. “That’s what I am talking about. You thought you only killed one person because you don’t remember the rest.”

  “All right. You’re going to have to tell me the rest then.”

  “Tomorrow. I don’t want to recant the grisly details right now.”

  Grisly details? The Jersey Devil had really put me behind the 8 ball on this one. A calm anger surged through my body, almost as if I was accepting my fate. “I thought you loved me.”

  She paused for a moment. “I did. I do. But I have a duty to carry out. That comes above all else, including people I love.”

  “Just so you know. Everything I’ve been doing was to fulfil my oath to keep the world safe of dark spirts and black magic. Now I get my first opportunity, and I’ve been given a death sentence. I did everything by the rules and now I have to hope that the fake evidence is exposed before tomorrow. Not exactly the thank you I was looking for.”

  She dropped the torch and picked it up carefully. “Again. I blame myself. I let you dive right into the ocean of magic without testing the waves. If the verdict carries, a big piece of me is going to die with you.”

  “Sure. You’ll forget about me in a fortnight. You’ll find a new student whose life you can wreck. I want to be alone. Thanks for nothing.”

  She stared at me and wept for about a minute. Alayna briefly touched my knee before turning and leaving the room. And that was it. Nothing could save me now. I didn’t know what to think about. My mom? My new life? My magic? I really hadn’t had much of a life to reflect on.

  20

  One of the dim wall torches burnt out and I took it to portend the upcoming day. Twenty-three-years-dead. Oddly enough, I still tried to piece together the G20 murder plot. I couldn’t get it out of my mind. I still felt responsibility to solve the case and stop the Jersey Devil even on the eve of my execution.

  I decided I wouldn’t plead with or beg the Gods for mercy. I was going to tell the truth, stand tall, and take my punishment. I understood Alayna’s position. I’d seen many criminals insist innocence when I knew they were guilty. I was one of them now. I’d never believed their innocence at the time, but I started to now.

  Redridge entered the dim cave and sauntered up to me. He rubbed the tip of his elongated chin on my belly, being careful not to poke me with his antlers. I wanted to reach out and stroke the back of the animal’s neck, but I couldn’t feel my bound hands.

  Redridge seemed to understand what was going to happen to me. Probably even better than I did. The peryton moseyed around behind me and licked my hands. It tickled. I stretched my fingers out and played with his thick red collar.

  His wet nose hit my palm and I smiled. It reminded me of Colossus. At least someone believed me. I felt Redridge’s nose on my forearm, bobbing up and down. The animal kept tapping away at my raw wrists. I couldn’t tell what he was doing until my bleeding wrist felt a cool breeze circulating through the cave.

  A spark jolted my chest and restarted my broken heart. The animal kept chewing away at the rope around my wrists. It took the peryton about two minutes to get my arms completely free. Redridge and I worked together to get the ropes around my ankles and thighs off.

  Circulation rushed through my system again and my limp limbs started to slowly regain life. I was out of bondage, but still had a perilous journey to get back to Pittsburgh. Most of the Gods didn’t sleep in the valley but I would still have to sneak past a lot of people. I walked to the entrance of the room and poked my head out.

  Complete darkness. No torches. No lights.

  I steeled my nerves, but I really had no choice. It was either stay and get executed or try to escape. If I were to be caught, it would be an instant death for me, no trial required. I needed to get back to Pittsburgh and somehow use my connection to Gretchen to clear up all this nonsense.

  The peryton walked out of the cave and I followed closely behind, leaning down to hide myself. Redridge walked straight through the valley. I peeked up over his body occasionally to make sure we hadn’t been spotted.

  The flying animal stopped and lowered his body for me to get on. I got on and tried to lie flat to hide behind Redridge’s massive head and rack. We walked for about a minute and the peryton increased the speed gradually until I could feel the sharp wind blowing through my hair and drying the blood on my wrists.

  The mythological creature beat his wings, and we lifted off the ground. Hurtling through the dark night, I worried that someone would be guarding the portal in the Deep Burrow to make sure I couldn’t escape.

  My breathing became labored and I started to have a panic attack. Being crushed by fear as you sail through the air on the back of a winged creature isn’t a great place to be in. Fair warning for next time you’re flying on a mythical animal.

  My vision started swirling and closing my eyes didn’t provide much help. We cut through the web of tree roots and soared into the Deep Burrow. I couldn’t see anyone as we neared the ground. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat knowing that I couldn’t even fight anyone to escape.

  If someone found me, I would go right back to Clara Spiritus, and there would be no escape this time. Redridge landed on the soft grass and I craned my neck to look around in every direction.

  Nothing. At least, I couldn’t detect anything.

  I got down from Redridge’s back and wrapped my arms around his neck for a big hug. I stroked his back, realizing that if the Gods found out what he had done, it would be his life on the line too. Rules were rules. I kissed the top of my savior’s head and continued the escape mission.

  I crept along the grassy landscape toward the little patch of woods where the portal elevator was located. I tried to walk silently on air as I neared the bushes. I tracked along the tree line to check for an ambush and didn’t hear a peep other than the normal sounds of a forest.

  I found a small stick and tossed it into the woods. No voices. I trampled into the woods, making much more noise than I would have preferred, and quickly encountered the portal.

  Even at night, the rectangular door emitted an argent shine. I stood in front of the portal wondering if someone had adjusted the magic door to make it go somewhere else. The realization that this was my only hope quickly entered my mind and refused to leave.

  I closed my eyes and walked forward. The tight air pressure squeezed my body, threw me into the elevator car, and the upward movement started. The elevator built up speed and zoomed upward causing my stomach to tie in knots. I got the normal queasy feeling during this ride and it suddenly came to a stop.

  I exited the elevator car and entered the dark tunnel. I held my arms out to feel both sides of the tunnel walls. I walked the dark, but familiar path to Pittsburgh. I popped the wooden door open and came out near the rushing river in Blawnox. I was met by a dreary night sky with an almost full moon.

  I let out a monumental sigh of relief. Then I realized I was a wanted man by the Pittsburgh Police too. Before too long, the Gods
will also realize I’ve escaped. I was now running from the Police, the Jersey Devil, and the Gods. That wasn’t the trinity I was hoping for.

  My phone buzzed in my pocket and I ripped it out as I kicked dirt over the door to the Deep Burrow. I hoped for some good news. Perhaps they had located the real murderer and wanted to drop the charges.

  Message from Gretchen. My heart skipped a few beats and a positive buzz ran through my body. I held down the number 1 to get to my messages and pressed the earpiece to my ear.

  “First New Message.” Gretchen’s voice came in. “Merlino, you need to stop this right now. You need to turn yourself in. We are going to find you, so you can stop running right now. Look, if you give yourself up, I might be able to have them lift the death penalty. You’d still face life in jail, but that’s a light sentence considering you killed two cops.”

  I dropped the phone and had to listen to the message two more times. Apparently, there was video footage of me in the police station. She informed me that I had escaped and killed two cops in the process. How could they have video footage?

  I rubbed the stitches on my forehead and it hit me. When I had woken up naked on the bathroom floor, there was a tape measure next to me. It was different from the one I owned. Had the Jersey Devil instructed his cronies to measure me so they could replicate my body?

  I brushed it aside because it didn’t matter anymore. I had a mission to get back to my house. With the crooked cops and hitman stopping by for a visit, I wanted to make sure the box was still safe. Along the walk, I thought about waking up Reg so I could make sure Colossus was still with him. I scratched it because I didn’t trust Ronald to keep my secret if he were home.

  I noticed headlights coming toward me, and immediately veered right and nonchalantly walked up the walkway to someone’s house until the car passed. Luckily, the owners didn’t detect me and the car never even slowed down.