I was still laying on the floor in the bakery, and it felt as if my heart was beating out of my chest. Sweat dripped to the ground and I had the gun in my right hand. I heard some noises coming from the back. I grabbed the gun with both my hands and removed the safety. Alice walked in, and I fired the gun, thinking a zombie was about to walk in.
Alice screamed, “For fuck’s sake, Steve!”
Blood dripped to the ground and I had to chuckle, “Sorry, did I kill you?”
“No, I am still talking, you idiot, your bullet scratched the right side of my head. If I had not moved, you would have put that bullet clean through my brain.”
I smiled, “Then I would at least have been alive if it were a zombie.”
Lorraine looked around the corner, “Is it safe? No more bullets?”
I slowly got up, “Lorraine?” She started walking to me, but I stopped her. “I am not certain if I will infect you.”
Lorraine nodded, “How are you feeling?”
“A bit better, I shot Alice, didn’t I?”
Alice sat down while grumbling, “My head hurts. I am not certain how bullets do against magic, but I would rather not find out.”
I leaned forward, “I know how to use a gun Alice, if I was not feeling this woozy, you would be dead. Magic or not, if your brain is soup, you are dead.”
Lorraine nodded, “We even have magic guns in the fairy kingdom.”
“Lory?”
She looked at me, “What did you call me?”
“Lory, do you like it?”
She smiled, “Yes, but are you about to die?”
“How should I know? I am feeling better, I think.”
Then I started vomiting and Alice got ready to shoot an energy beam. As I looked at the floor, the parasites were already dead. I kept on vomiting and a few of the parasites twitched, but they sure as hell did not like being inside of me. After I stopped vomiting, I looked down, “Yeah take that you assholes! Go find another host, oh wait, you can’t, you are dead!”
Lory looked at me, “Are you done with talking down the dead zombie parasites?”
I looked at her, “Yes, I am, and I am feeling much better. I am going to check if the water is still running. That way I can clean up.”
Alice sighed, “Why don’t you leave that gun with me?”
I looked at her, “That does not seem like a good idea.”
I made my way to the bathroom after grabbing my extra set of clothes still hidden in my office. After checking if the water still worked, I started cleaning myself up. Through the small window, I heard grunting from a zombie outside. I ignored it and continued cleaning up. I left my shredded and banged up clothes here and put on the jeans with a white shirt and a black blazer. Then I looked in the mirror, “Hello, handsome.”
I walked back towards the entrance and looked at Lory, “How do I look?”
She came over and hugged me, “You look much better. You look pretty stylish in these clothes.”
“Thanks, Lory,” I gave her a kiss. “Don’t worry, I cleaned up.”
She giggled, “I expected as much.”
Alice sighed, “Are you guys done, or what?”
I looked at her, “It is getting dark outside, I think it is unwise to leave with those zombies. They will be more active. We should do something stupid and make a small fire in this room. We can’t exactly go outside.”
Alice nodded, “I can use some energy to create a barrier to make sure the fire does not escape.”
Lory nodded, “I will clean up those dead parasites. Alright, we still got our magic inventory, but I will get some water for all of us, and check the back exit.”
I walked to the back, I felt a bit woozy while trying to think about what I went through, it seems perfectly normal that I feel woozy. I think the parasites were not ready for a magical being. The back exit has been boarded up pretty well. When I looked through a little crack, I saw many zombies nearby. As if they are investigating something. Maybe the loud noise of the gunshot woke them up? As I glanced over my shoulder, I saw my shadow move again.
I shrugged and ignored it. As I walked over towards my old office, I grabbed a couple of glasses and brought them to the bathroom. That is when I bumped into Alice. She looked at me, “The water in the ladies bathroom is not working.”
“No worries, Alice, sorry for almost killing you.”
She giggled, “I think it takes more to kill me, but it was frightening as hell, seeing that bullet come that close.”
I filled the water glasses and I saw Alice glance at me, “What is it Alice?”
Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
“I am just glad, you are not dead.”
I chuckled, “I agree with you.”
“Steve?”
“Yes?”
“Does the name Lilith mean anything to you?”
After a moment of thinking, I shook my head, “I have never heard of her, why do you ask?”
Alice shook her head, “Forget I asked about it,” she took one water glass and walked away.
The voice in my head spoke up, “Lilith is someone from her past, you don't know her.”
I sighed, “That was strange, especially if I don't know her.” I took two glasses and followed her. Like, who the hell is Lilith? Just someone from her past, if she were just a someone, she would not ask. When I walked back to the front side of the bakery, Lory had made a small fire. I handed her some water, she smiled at me. I sat down on the floor and leaned back.
Lory sat down on my lap, “I am glad to see you are safe and sound.”
Alice sat down on the other side of the fire, “Are you guys going to keep this icky thing going?”
Lory laughed, “If it bothers you, leave us alone.”
Alice sighed, “Just tell me something.”
Lory looked at me and gasped, “I can tell you guys something scary.”
I smiled at her, “Do that, see if you can shake my boots!”
Lory rubbed her hands together. “Alright, there is a legend from a long time ago, I am talking thousands of years ago. When this reality was formed. Along with this reality, others were formed, this includes the fairy kingdom. It is said, this reality already had a Brickton, and Adam, the first man, had an affair. The name of that woman is unknown, but she had children. However, they were eaten by Lucifer, a menacing demon. One of those children escaped when this woman was not looking at the horror. He got lost in the fairy kingdom, just a small baby.”
I took a sip from my water glass and stared intensely at Lory, wondering what was going to happen to that baby.
Lory continued her story, “This boy got raised by the first fairy’s of the Fairy kingdom, and a great wizard that has lived in the fairy kingdom since it was formed. This baby grew into a man, and he became a hunter of the supernatural. Thinking he had the power to face the god of death that ruled the fairy kingdom, he challenged him to a bloody duel. If he were to win, that god would have brought back his lost sisters and brothers. But if he were to lose. Then this god would have one wish that he could wield over this man. The hunter and death faced off in battle, but ultimately, this man lost.”
I frowned, “Well, hot potatoes, that sounds badly.”
Lory nodded, “Let me go on, Death stood over his bloody and beat up body. And then Death said, you will from now on reap the souls of the fairy kingdom with me, may your name carry along the winds and spread despair. You are now Ankou, a reaper of souls. And now, when the wind stands to the north in the fairy kingdom, which doesn’t happen naturally, people know that Ankou is coming, to claim someone’s soul. At least that is what the legend says.”
I looked at Alice, “Are you crying?” She got up and walked away.
Lory looked at me, “Did I say something wrong?”
“To be honest, I am not certain, Lory. She looked really upset, as in, I did not know Alice could get that upset. It might be better to check on her.” When I kept looking at Lory, she seemed to be hiding a smile that was about to erupt, more like a smile filled with pride, I am probably imagining things.
Lory nodded and sat down next to me. I got up, “I will be right back, my love. Oh, sorry, that just blurted out.”
Lory smiled, “Go check on Alice, my love.” I smiled and walked away.
I found the men’s bathroom and I saw Alice crying loudly. After knocking, I walked in, “Hey, what is the matter?”
Alice looked at me, “Nothing is wrong.”
“Alice?”
“Yes?”
“You are basically crying your eyeballs out. Does that story mean anything to you?”
She sighed but did not respond. I grabbed a cloth towel and handed it to her. “Look Alice, we might not be an item, but we can be friends, what is going on?”
As she did not answer, I started guessing. “Did Ankou take someone you love?”
Alice shook her head, I kept guessing, “Do you know the person Ankou, like met him or something?” She nodded.
“Alright, we are getting closer to the truth. In your almost thirty years of life, when did you meet him?”
Alice laughed, “You understand nothing, Steve. You cannot comprehend what is going on.”
“Can I at least get points for trying?”
Alice giggled while still crying her eyes out. “Yes, you can get some points for trying.”
“Have you been to the fairy kingdom, Alice?”
She shook her head. “It is too complicated, Steve.”
“Alright, but I am here for you if you want to talk about Ankou.”
Alice nodded, and we suddenly looked at a dark portal appear in the mirror. I looked at it, “Oh fuck, what is going to happen this time?”