“Why not?” Silver demands.

“Because it’s dangerous.” The cowboy said to Silver while looking through a microscope.

“She’s not dangerous! She’s a little girl who can barely walk!” Almost shouting at the cowboy.

“A dangerous seventy-year-old little girl. That could break your bones like they were made of twigs.” The cowboy said, still focused on his work.

Silver lost his temper, furious about how the girl was treated. “I’ve been in her cage a lot! She isn’t aggressive or like the others! No one checks on her! She just lies in her prison, in her own filth! Too weak to eat! She looked almost dead when I found her! If you looked at her as a person, you wouldn’t be so cruel.”

The cowboy stopped his work and looked at Silver. He then approached the boy, his crimson helmet reflecting the boy’s face. “Do you have any idea what you’ve said?!” Pinning Silver up against the wall. “We aren’t dealing with people here. These things EAT people. Sometimes whole, just for fun, to strike fear and hopelessness in its victims. These things are natural-born hunters! If I let one out, it wouldn’t hesitate to kill everyone here!” His grip tightened around Silver’s shoulder. “My key priority is keeping everyone here safe! Not to pity every sad little creature out there in existence! I can’t believe I have to tell you this! The moment you let your guard down against a monster, you’re better off dead.”

With tears in his eyes, Silver weakly said, “What about me?” Lifting his head upwards to face the cowboy. “I was lying in a ditch when you found me... What made me different from every other kid you might have passed by...? What made me special?!” Tears are pouring down his face now. “You could have easily left me to die like everyone else... but you didn’t... So why? Why did you take pity on this sad little creature in front of you?”

The cowboy sighs, releasing his grip on Silver. “You’re such a smart young lad, but so naïve at the same time.” Turning away from Silver. “There is still so much in this world you have yet to learn.”

Silver interrupted, “So let me learn. Let me watch over her.”

“No.” The cowboy bluntly said. “It’s not just for everyone’s safety, but for yours as well. I can’t just let a creature we captured run free. Or hurt yourself seeing something that isn’t there.”

“Please! You must have seen her eyes when you first saw hers! Her eyes were full of curiosity! She called me mama, so she sees me as a friend!” Silver now on his knees begging.

“Sigh..." The cowboy knew there was no changing Silver's mind. “I can’t stop you. Even if I tried to prevent you.” Turning back to Silver, “You need to learn when to give up.”

“But you said never to give up.”

“There is a difference between being sedulous and stubborn.”

Silver jumped up from his knees to thank him before being interrupted.

“There are some conditions. First, you must always know where she is at all times.” He handed Silver a tracking watch. “Second, any problems she causes are on your hands. “Third,” He gave Silver a vial of medicine, “you need to make sure she takes these sedatives daily.” He paused for a second, looking away from Silver, then looking back. “Finally, you must be willing to kill her if she gets out of control.” Handing a crimson dagger.

“Ok.” Silver said, grabbing the dagger with interest. The dagger’s blade was sharp and narrow. The tip of the blade was a light crimson color and got darker near the base. Its handle was featherlike silver-red, near the base of the blade had a shape that looked like a crying child. Near the end of the blade was a green emerald. When he turns it a little, the emerald bleeds, then disappears. “What’s this?” He asked, flinging the knife around, trying to make it bleed again.

“They call it a blood crystal. You’ll have to figure out what to do with it.” The cowboy looked directly into Silver’s eyes. “Just a few pointers. Watch out for its four pincers, it’s four wings that double as blades and long-range weapons, and if a mouth appears on its stomach; you’re pretty much fucked. Underneath that little girl, there’s a parasitical creature that’s only desire is to eat. You still want to watch her?”

“Yes!” Silver said with determination.

“You sure? We’ll be selling them to our buyers.” The cowboy stares.

“Think of it like this. If you have someone who can get along with them, they will have an easier time with them! Which means you can charge more!”

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“That is a fair point. There is more value in that. So you are saying you’ll be willing to sell yourself just to see her ‘happy’?” The cowboy tests Silver’s determination.

“Yes!” Silver said without hesitation.

“Hmm... so you would really sell your own freedom for her? You know, the other one has killed seven people with the palm of its hands. How do you know she can’t do that?”

“I’ll take my chances.” Silver smiled.

“But what if she goes on a murderous rampage?” The cowboy questioned.

Without a second thought, Silver answered, “You can use me as collateral.”

“Very well. I’ll agree to these terms.” The cowboy went back to looking through the microscope. “Fuck off, I’ve got work to do.”

“Yes, sir!” Silver said with great enthusiasm, then marched out of the room.

“Well, you had a change of heart, Gunnar.” A girl’s voice echoed throughout the room.

“Who said I did?” Replied the cowboy. “Maybe I wanted it to happen.”

“What would you gain from letting a wild beast out on this train? Let alone, that child.”

“What would I–”

The echo interrupted him, “oooo... are you playing love maker, or is it, matchmaker?” The echo’s voice twirled with glee, “Young love is so cute!! Though...” A dark cloud appeared out of nowhere and took the shape of a young woman. “She may not be of... what’s called? Procreation age, or whatever you species call it.” The cloud spun around. Creating circles and spirals that turned into hearts. “Imagine the sound of little pitter-patters across the floor!! I could see it now. You, a... grandfather?”

Gunnar interrupted the dancing smoke cloud, “I’m no one’s father.”

“What about Silver?” The cloud pressing up against Gunnar, invading his personal space. “You’re kinda like his father. You raised him.”

“No, it was because I have a use for him. Would you kindly back off you toxin.”

“Keep telling yourself that,” She huffed. The cloud then backed off him.

“Thank you.”

“So... If not for children. Why else would you let him release her? Does that mean you’ll let me out well? I bite.” Questioned the cloud.

“Will you interrupt me?” Gunnar sarcastically responded.

“No, by all means, continue.” It giggled.

“To teach her tricks and put her in a circus.”

“Aww... You don’t trust me.” The cloud whined.

“Bye-bye.” Gunnar flicked a switch on his desk and the cloud disappeared. “That annoying prick.” Groaned Gunnar as he opened a cyan notebook. He drew some symbols into the journal.

“I hate this planet and its stupid magical inhabitants. What a pain. I wish they had access to higher technology. Writing these circles is a pain.” Gunnar finally completed the symbols. “What was it again,” he flipped some pages and wrote down the words.

“Sound is nature’s heart. Though shall respect Echo who provides the calling of the past. The sound that binds us, the music that consumes the rast. Now disturb the sound of silence.”

The circles glowed bright green as they melded together into what looked like sound waves. Gunnar spoke to the green lines “I have two of the four parasytes.”

The green lights fluxed as it responded, “Where are the other two?”

“A creature R.O. White hypothesizes as the mythical Flower of the Forest or what we are now calling it...” Gunnar sighed, “The Licker... Icky... Chompy Eater... or LICE.”

The green light was silent for a minute before it talked. “You lost THE PARASYTES!!!” Shouts the voice. The green light turns red.

“Yes. We’re working on it. There have been many casualties. I’m now working with half of what I had.”

The green light was still glowing red. “There will be no payment if all the parasytes aren’t present!! And ALIVE!!”

“Shut the Fuck up. I said I’m working on it. I’ll need to be reimbursed for the trouble though.” Gunnar commanded.

“Sigh... How much?” The light turned back to green.

“Twice our original agreement.”

The voice raised its voice again, “Twice!?”

“I’m bringing you a boy who one of the parasytes has grown attached to. He also has exceptional healing magic and self-regenerative magic. I know how hard it is to find someone who can deal with the parasites, let alone have the guts to.” Gunnar stated.

“Very well. So it’s done?” The green light questioned.

“But...” Gunnar’s tone changed, “I know your true purpose for this and there are those willing to pay twice what I asked for. It would be such a shame if they got their hands on the parasytes. So what will it be.”

“We’ll pay six times the original price. Is that to your satisfaction?” The green light was furious.

“Pleasure doing business with you. Give us two or three Terra months. You’ll have the parasytes and I’ll be off of this god awful planet.” Gunnar lit the paper on fire and went back to work.

----------------------------------------

"Don't you know, I will guide you through the dark,

as you reach up towards the sky."