Ryan couldn’t stand the Australian heat, even though he was born during a Texas summer. Marching alongside the reptile through the bush, he complained to himself about the scorching sun. Shit is worse than Phoenix! He would think to himself. Ryan hated how the red earth would stick to his boots, it even smelt odd to him.
An hour before they stopped just north of Kalgoorlie, and after they hid their armoured car behind bushes and branches, they headed off to find the Witch’s cave. Yet Ryan couldn’t help to wonder as to how Jackson was moving through the bush, to him, it was like the reptile knew the place well in advance. The reptile was silent during their march, not because of his usual blank and non-existent emotional state. But because Ryan believed the reptile was upset, he couldn’t figure out why.
‘Tell me, my reptilian friend. What do you think will happen with Nick?’ Ryan asked Jackson.
‘Don’t know,’ Jackson coldly replied.
He was surprised, but Ryan groaned, annoyed that Jackson was impossible to start a conversation with. He didn’t appreciate that he and the reptile were sent on a mission straight after dealing with the monster in Cue. The wound on Jackson’s face was still healing, and his left jawbone was exposed to the outside world.
‘Well,’ Ryan continued. ‘What about the Order making us do more work? Surely you should spend some time resting?’
Jackson ignored Ryan, not caring what he had to say. Which irritated him, Ryan wanted to talk to someone to at least put light on the situation. Yet he was paired with the most stonewall person within the Order. Truly, this has to be torture!
Eventually, the two men arrived at the entrance of the cave near the side of a cliff. Ryan noticed paintings on the wall, made by a community long ago and long dead. Some paintings depicted local animals, spirits, and the history of the people who once had ownership of the land. Ryan chuckled and pointed out the paintings to the reptile. ‘Hey, it seems like someone was here before us.’
Jackson ignored what he said, instead he walked over to the paintings, focused on a particular one. A lonesome red handprint, one that is separated from a group of hands that are surrounded by white handprints. The reptile kneeled and hovered his left hand over it for a moment before retracting it.
‘Know something about this wall?’ Ryan asked, his voice soft as he noticed Jackson wasn’t silent for no reason. He could tell the reptile had a connection to the wall and its significance.
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The reptile stood back up to face the young American. ‘I was there…’ Before Jackson could continue, he turned to his right. Aiming his AA12 at what seemed to be nothing to Ryan. Ryan wasted no time in aiming his Mark 39 Enhanced Battle rifle at what seemed to be nothing. ‘Show yourself!’ The reptile demanded.
A blinding light appeared in front of the two men, then it died down to appear as a human made of pure light. The reptile frowned at the creature that phased through a few objects. Making it clear to the two that the creature of light was indeed a spirit.
‘Speak!’ Jackson shouted at the spirit, aiming his automatic shotgun at it. Even though he knew he and Ryan had no way of hurting the spirit.
The spirit changed its form, making itself appear as a young man in his twenties with short black hair and brown eyes. While it looked human, it gave off a glowing aura. A walking flashlight, Ryan thought to himself. The spirit didn’t speak, instead, it smiled at the two men. Making its intentions clear, it didn’t come for a fight.
‘What the fuck even is that thing?’ Ryan asked Jackson.
‘Language!’ The reptile hissed back, ‘and no, I’m not sure what it is.’
Ryan chuckled, ‘well, it is a spirit.’
Jackson nodded, he approached the spirit after lowering his weapon. ‘State your intentions.’ The reptile asked, his tone flat and harsh. In response, the spirit pointed at the cave.
Ryan couldn’t help but laugh, ‘looks like we got a travel buddy.’
The reptile glared at the spirit before looking at the cave. ‘Or a threat.’ He replied as he walked into the cave.
‘Ah, so we are going to trust the glowing dude? Won’t he, or it, kill us?’ Ryan questioned.
‘If it wanted to, they would’ve done it already.’ Jackson marched into the cave with his gun at the ready with the spirit following behind him.
After a sigh and a roll of his eyes, Ryan followed the two, hating the idea that they had to travel with a potential threat. Yet he hoped, deep down, that the spirit was either harmless and just a useless creature that follows others, or a potential ally. Ryan smiled at the idea that his ideal ally would be someone who could do magic tricks and print unlimited money.