This is elseworld, p.16
This is Elseworld, page 16
It was just too bad it was such a rare occurrence for Zack to get to see all Tucker had to offer in the size department. Especially nowadays. Tucker only ever really gave Zack any attention when the girls had had enough of Tucker’s big boy energy and the only one who could take it was Zack. Zack didn't get the time of day otherwise.
“Welcome to the party, Tucker. I’m glad to see you. How are you?” Zack sounded a bit too eager, but he didn’t care.
Tucker didn’t reply. He just nodded, barely acknowledging Zack. That wasn’t Tucker being particularly rude, it was his typical greeting.
“You're a bit late,” Liam said.
“If I wanted to stick to a vegetarian diet, I wouldn’t have left the valley. I was out on a hunting expedition. The animals seemed a bit spooked today. I had to travel out a lot farther than I expected to track anything worthwhile,” Tucker’s gravelly voice tumbled throatily. His eyes half shut, part tough guy disinterest and part naïve farm boy arrogance.
Or maybe he was just really tired. Zack imagined himself falling asleep staring into those sleepy doe eyes. His lyrical mind tried to come up with a smutty love poem, but Zack kept getting distracted staring at Tucker’s muscles.
“You catch anything good?” Liam asked.
“Let's just say finally the pantry is stocked with more than just rice, nuts, and beans.”
“Appreciate you for that. If I had to eat one more pecan stew, I feel like I would go crazy.”
“Wait until you see what I nabbed,” Tucker said.
Liam raised an eyebrow. “How far did you say you had to go to catch something?”
Tucker didn’t reply right away. He maintained his stone-faced expression, but if you looked closely at his lips—and Zack was indeed looking closely—you would notice Tucker’s mouth curled slightly at the edges like he knew a secret no one else did. “Really far,” he finally said.
Liam rubbed his chin beard and spoke slowly. “Something tells me I don't want to know what you caught.”
“Of course you'd say that, but I bet you’ll eat it, regardless.”
“I guess you're right.” Liam thought about it for a second. “Just promise me it’s not something with more than one head.”
“I make no such promises. Like I said, you’ll eat it regardless. You don’t want to know how the sausage is made, but you're always the first in line to get seconds.”
Liam laughed. “You know me too well.”
“I do. Speaking of which, old buddy, old friend, ol’ pal of mine.”
Liam shook his head. “No way. I know what you're going to ask me. And don’t ask Zack either. He’s still in training and not ready to do a patrol shift alone.”
“Oh, come on. I know you got nothing better to do, Mr. Workaholic. Cover my shift for me. Just this once.”
“I have plenty to do.”
“Like what?”
“I was hoping to catch up with Zoe on her jog.”
“Oh, really now? Brother, you need to either shit or get off the pot. Have you even told that lady how you feel yet?”
“No, he hasn't.”
Liam glared at Zack. “You two going to gang up on me now?”
If Liam only knew the sordid image that statement put into my mind…
Zack readjusted his pants awkwardly, then ran his hands through his shirt to wipe away any stray bugs that were still on his bare skin. He needed something to distract his mind, but he was bored, horny, and these two hunks in front of him were making it hard for him to think of anything else.
They kept up their bickering, but Zack’s thoughts were lost in lusty daydreaming. That was until he finally heard something that caught his interest.
“I need you guys to stop worrying about my sex life.”
“I’m just saying, you really should get over that lady. I’m not even sure if Zoe is into men.”
“She doesn't know what she’s missing,” Zack interrupted. “Unlike Zoe, I love wieners, and unlike Liam, I’m not afraid of a little strange, and would absolutely love to know more about how the sausage is made.”
Tucker’s eyes were half open, as if they were too heavy to lift, but the secret curl of his lips reappeared. “I see at least one of you guys knows how to have a little fun. Zack, how about this: If you can convince Liam to cover my shift, I'll make sure you have more sausage than you could ever handle.”
Liam went to argue, but Zack shouted over him. “Give us a minute,” he said to Tucker.
Tucker nodded. “Sure thing.” He walked off.
“Don’t go far!” Liam yelled.
“I’m calling in a huge favor here,” Zack said. “You have to cover the next shift.”
“I most certainly do not.”
“Come on, man, do me a solid here. No offense, but we both know you won't be getting laid tonight, but maybe I will. Don't fuck this up for me.”
“When did I become your wingman?” Liam’s voice was sharp, filled with annoyance as he spoke. “I don’t care if you get laid tonight and it’s none of your damn business whether or not I do.”
“Look, I didn't want to bring this up, but you know you're the reason why I'm here.”
“I’m not picking on you. It was just your turn. For this, what we’re building, for it to work, everyone has to chip in. I know it may have sounded like I was insulting your poetry earlier; there will come a time when the arts are important again, but now isn’t it.”
“Forget about that for a second. What I meant was you’re the reason we’re here. Here in this…this…whatever this place is.”
“Our new home,” Liam stated proudly. “In time it'll be the next great city.”
“Whatever. What I’m saying is a lot of us are here because of you.”
“Okay. And your point?”
“It’s kind of your duty to make sure we’re enjoying ourselves.”
“Are you kidding me right now?”
“No.” At first Zack tried to make his face look stern, but he couldn’t help himself and burst out with laughter. “Oh, come on, I’m begging you here. Please? You can still catch up with Zoe on her jog. You two can keep a lookout while jogging around the grounds. Just this once do a different path. Who’s it going to hurt? Please? Please?”
“Fine, whatever. Go.”
Zack hastened away before Liam had a chance to reconsider. He was shocked Liam had finally recognized, albeit indirectly, the potential value of his poetry to their community. It should have been a meaningful moment for Zack, but he had nonchalantly dismissed it, failing to appreciate its significance. This realization brought Zack face to face with the stark awareness of his intense desperation to get laid.
Tucker didn’t bother asking what Liam said, it was written all over Zack’s face. Tucker turned to leave, and Zack walked alongside him. “We heading to your spot or mine?”
“Neither.”
Zack looked confused. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t have time for you today. Fuck off.”
“What do you mean you don’t have time for me. I just got you out of your patrol shift.”
Tucker glared at him quickly, but then his face smoothed. “If you must know, I’m seeing Holly tonight.”
“Oh. I see.” Zack didn’t know what to think about that. Tucker had led him on, so he was disappointed, but he didn’t feel he had a right to be angry. “You’ve been seeing a lot of Holly lately.”
“Yup.”
“Is it serious?”
“Yup.” A second later Tucker added, “we live together now.”
“I see.”
“A new house? Is it the same place we—”
“Yup.”
After a long pause, Tucker spoke again. “It’s nothing against you. I appreciate you going to bat back there for me, but I don't mess around anymore like I used to. Not with anyone. I don't even see other girls anymore.”
“That’s cool. I hope you two are happy together.” Zack meant it. He enjoyed a good lay as much as the next guy, but he wasn't one to stand in the way of true love. It’s not like he was ready to settle down any time soon. Tucker had Holly, and Zack had many, many others. A big meaty sausage was nice, but he had a voracious appetite, and sometimes a whole bunch of smaller ones were just as fulfilling. Especially when it was more than one at the same time.
Damn, I’m such a pervert.
Zack laughed out loud.
“Quiet,” Tucker said. “Listen. Do you hear that?”
They both stood quietly, and then Zack heard it too.
“It’s coming from the forest,” Tucker said.
Zack shrugged indifferently. “It's probably just an animal looking for food.”
“That doesn’t sound like an animal.” Tucker’s body stiffened, his eyes on alert. “We need to go investigate.”
“Do whatever you want.” Zack turned to leave. “I’m not on duty anymore.”
“Don’t be a pussy. We got this.”
Just then they heard screaming.
Tucker took off running in the direction of the voice. There was a moment of hesitation as Zack wasn’t sure if he should be running toward the screaming or away from it.
In the end, he did as he always did. He followed.
Chapter twenty-one
Cold Fear
Zack
Zack often found himself following others, but it was usually those who shared his goals. However, this time he found himself trailing after someone into a place he wasn't certain he wanted to venture, and he was already in too deep to turn back.
In the race for survival, Tucker was a force to be reckoned with. His massive frame belied the nimbleness with which he moved. Zack was much smaller and probably faster in shorter sprints, but he lacked the endurance to match Tucker's relentless pace over a prolonged period. Zack was forced to slow down, gasping for air as Tucker powered ahead, leaving him in the gritty, unforgiving dust.
Zack crisscrossed through trees, attempting to catch up, and he barely noticed when forest turned into jungle, and he was faced with areas of heavy vegetation that were impossible to see through. The broken branches and trampled vegetation formed a convenient path, and he followed it as best he could, until the sudden sound of gunfire brought him to a halt.
Cold fear poured through his veins. Zack froze momentarily. Half-formed curses gurgled in his throat. Slowly, he retrieved the shotgun he never anticipated needing, still clinging to hope he wouldn't have to use it.
The chill of terror coursed through my veins,
A fleeting moment of paralysis in my brain.
Curses tried to escape my quivering lips,
As I slowly retrieved the gun at my fingertips.
A shotgun I never expected to use,
Still hopeful I wouldn't have to choose.
But fate had other plans in store,
As the gunfire echoed through the jungle's core.
Thank the gods, the shooting ceased,
Whatever had happened, the outcome was released.
Tucker must have taken the beast down,
But what creature could take so many rounds?
I readied myself for whatever lay ahead,
My heart still racing with unbridled dread.
For the dangers that lurked in this foreign land,
Were far beyond what I could understand.
The mystery that lies ahead,
A creature, or creatures instead?
Tucker, with eagerness in his eyes,
Ventured in, alone and unwise.
He should have heeded my call,
And waited for me, after all.
What if he's now lying still,
And I, with him, in death's chill?
I must go back, to see what's there,
But fear holds me, it's unfair.
I cannot go, without knowing the truth,
My heart aches, in my quest for proof.
Zack called out for Tucker, starting with a whispered yell, then escalating to a loud scream. There was no response. It was possible Tucker was too far away to hear Zack's calls.
He tried again. “Tucker, where are you?” Still no response. “Tucker! Are you out there?”
Zack crept forward, his movements deliberate and calculated. But as he progressed, he realized the racket he had made with his frantic calls. He inwardly berated himself, knowing that if Tucker was alive, he would have heard the commotion. And if he was dead, then whatever had claimed him would have been alerted to Zack's presence. The thought was enough to send a shiver down his back, and the fear it stirred within him left a lingering trail.
It wasn't just creatures in the wild the Elders had warned the villagers of. There were also men out in the wild that one had to be on the lookout for. Men who were dangerous and unpredictable.
These men were not as physically strong as those from the valleys, nor were they as quick. Their bones were brittle and their bodies fragile, and it was said their vision was limited, as if the world was constantly shrouded in smoke. They lived in fortress cities, relying on technology and bright lights to illuminate the darkness their eyesight couldn’t pierce. These primitive men didn’t have a connection with the spirit world like the Elders did and they couldn’t draw power from the Old Gods like the witches.
They had no abilities out of the ordinary. What they had was technology, and lots of it. The brick houses that Liam was so proud to live in were built by people like this. Perhaps these obsolete men saw the world as covered in black smoke because all they brought to the world was the darkness of their hearts and the smoke and fire of their technology.
The more he thought about it, the more Zack was convinced it was the men the Elders had warned them of who had captured or killed Tucker. It was urgent he go back and warn the rest of his people. They needed to abandon the brick houses, with their tubes that pumped water from the ground, and their machines connected to wires and giant batteries on the roofs. They would have to leave it all.
He turned to go but then he heard something. There was something coming. He backed up, keeping his shotgun aimed forward. He backed up until he was against a tree, and he had no choice but to stand there and wait for whatever it was that was coming. With a crisp snap, Zack cocked the hammer on his shotgun.
The metallic click echoed through the air, reverberating in Zack's ears, and intensifying the gravity of the situation. Somehow, the act of cocking the hammer made everything feel more tangible, more immediate. Time seemed to slow down, adrenaline coursing through his veins, anticipation building with each passing second. As he stood there, his senses sharpened. The cool breeze brushed against his skin, carrying with it a hint of moisture and the earthy scent of the jungle. The anticipation gnawed at his gut, mingling with the fear and determination that had taken hold of him.
In that moment, every detail seemed magnified. The shadows danced between the dense foliage, creating an eerie interplay of light and darkness. The distant sounds of nature grew distant, fading into the background as Zack's focus narrowed to the immediate present. Time hung suspended, as if the world held its breath, waiting to see what would unfold.
Every fiber of his being urged him to take action, to forge ahead and confront the unknown. Yet, buried deep within, a voice of self-preservation whispered, urging him to consider an alternative course. The two conflicting voices waged a relentless battle within his mind.
He didn’t want to fight, he wanted to run.
But he couldn’t run because he wasn’t a coward.
But if he didn't run, he could possibly die.
But if he did run, he could never live with himself.
But he really wanted to run.
But he wouldn’t run.
But he really, really wanted to run.
And then he realized he couldn’t run.
Not now, not when the footsteps sounded so close, they were right on top of him.
Not when he saw just up ahead tree branches were parting and whatever was out there was now here. The pivotal moment had arrived and whatever was going to happen was going to happen now. His life, his death, everything hung in the balance of what happened in the next moment, and without thinking Zack closed his eyes and pulled the trigger.
Chapter twenty-two
Nothing But Air
Siona
We were side by side, nothing under our feet but air. The last time I saw Siona she said she would meet up with me in the real world, but this world was as real to me as anywhere else. It was just the two of us, she and I, and we were traveling at a remarkable speed. Yet somehow our feet weren’t moving. They were doing what could only be described as hovering. We were gliding both above and within the clouds, yet I didn’t think any of this was weird—it felt natural.
In the distance above was a shimmering light, as bright as the sun and all the stars combined. The light stretched as wide as the sky would allow and its radiance beamed in all directions. We stared directly at it. The translucent glow that beamed outward did not blind us, but it may as well have since we could not see inside of it nor anything beyond.
Normally, when I was with Siona, she was all I could think about, but this time was different. Something beyond the light was calling out for me. It beckoned to me with the warmth of its song, and I smiled as I listened to it. This was a foreign emotion to me. It was like nothing I had ever felt before.
The song had no lyrics—there was no music. At least not any sort of music I had ever heard. It was a complex sequence of noises that were enormously pleasing to my ears. Unconsciously, I allowed my body to pulsate to the tune of the strange melody. This was something I had never done before. I was dancing. Me. Dancing in the sky. Me. Can you believe that? I reached out toward the light, and without even trying, my body floated higher into the air.
“No. Come back!”
Siona’s voice snapped Asher out of his trance. He looked down and noticed she wasn’t flying with him. She was still hovering in place exactly where he had left her. There was no way he could leave without her, she was a part of him, and always would be. A part he didn’t quite understand, but she was as much a part of him as any one of his organs or limbs.
