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Part III
Chapter 4:
Home Coming part 2
Kritzia stared at the house she used to “live” in. It used to look so big, when she was younger. But now, it seemed so small. Inside, she noticed her father sitting at the table for a late evening meal. But why was her father’s pistol at the table, next to the bible? He couldn’t be expecting anyone. He thinks she’s dead, unless… Marcus.
Kritzia walked up to the window, looking in. Her father pushed his plate away barely able to finish; not because it was too much food, but rather, too much emotion to handle. He put his head in his hands and sat.
Kritzia opened the door to her old home, and stepped in. Her father didn’t move. She was nervous to see him after all these years. For him to hear and see what she became would have been truly devastating, had he not made peace with his God all those years ago.
Kritzia’s hands were trembling in fear, nervousness, and excitement. Her emotions were constantly changing. She feared she might do something rash.
Taking a deep breath, Kritzia tried to call out confidently, but it came out sounding more like a cry, “Daddy?”
***
Marcus stirred in his bed waking up to darkness. He flashed back to the cave and the darkness. Looking around, he recognized his surroundings. He was home. Where was his father? Where were Johan and Margaretta? How long was he asleep? He looked at the bed. Where was Gideon?
Marcus stepped out of the bed, only glad to feel that familiar cold, quick, sting of the old, wooden floor. He lit the candle on the chest of drawers looking around as he walked down the steps to the main living area. The fire had long gone out. It was cold. Looking around, Marcus grabbed a few logs and placed them in the fireplace. Striking another match on the mantle, he lit the fire for light and comfort.
His shoulder hurt. It began to itch, as his arm started twitching. Marcus knew he was infected. He tried to shake it off, but that only seemed to aggravate it more. His arm began to spasm. Marcus drew a log from the fire with his ‘normal’ hand, and smacked his shoulder with the burning log. The twitching stopped.
A low chuckling sound came from under the loft. Marcus turned with a start to see who or what made that noise.
“I wiiiish I would havvve thought of that when I wassss infected.”
Marcus looked over at the outline of a beast; its eyes reflecting the fire light, the way a dog or a cat’s might reflect green in certain light, these reflected a burning orange-red.
The beast stood on all fours moving toward Marcus as he stumbled back looking for a weapon of sorts.
“Youuu don’t neeed to dooo that. I’m not heere to feeed.”
“What have you done with my father?? Where’s Gideon??”
“Yourrre Fatherrrr,” the beast began to change human, “iisssssss….. With the others, the one you call Gideon, however, is cowering in the corner, behind you.”
Marcus turned behind him to notice his little friend. Sure enough, he was cowering in the corner.
“Some friend you are…”
“I swear,” the man began to say as he walked into the light, he looked familiar. It was the man from the cave; Mister… Locke, “I never touched him, nor, did I touch your father. I was told to stay here, until you woke…”
“Then what?? Take me to Kritzia?”
“Yes, but…” He looked at Marcus with an expression of hope. “I’ll make you a deal.”
Shocked, Marcus answered, “I’m listening.”
***
Marcus had a moment with Gideon. It was time to let his little friend go. Things were about to get bad.
“Thank you for the companionship, my friend, but it’s time to let you go. Things are going to get dangerous. I’m not sure what will happen. You and I both know what happened to me. And what I might become. It’s time for you to go and be with your family. Go on. Go.”
Gideon trotted off and looked back at his friend.
*** |
