Peculiar Escort

"Those business meetings are always such a bore!"

"Madame, you surely understand their importance?"

"Sure, but must we have them every day!? Ah! Look, Clark! They finally have the merry-go-round built!"

The woman previously walking beside me pulls ahead down the path of colourful bricks. Children and parents of the lively amusement park pass by in all directions. I almost have to jog to keep up with that flowing red dress.

"This one is quite nice, if I do say so myself!"

"It certainly has a kind of novelty to it."

I adjust my suit tie and wipe the sweat from my forehead as I catch up with the woman. Her long blonde hair waves in the summer rays with each earnest swing of her head. The target of her affection is a structure normally shaped as a perfect circle. There are horses for sure, but they aren't beautiful mares pulling fantasy carriages. Instead, they wear masks and dash around the artificial turf.

"A merry-go-round that simulates horse racing. Only you could have come up with such an idea."

"You think so too, right!?"

She triumphantly puffs out her chest as the ride takes off with the next group of visitors. Her less than elegant stance isn't befitting of the expensive purse and jewelry that adorn her form.

"Madame, we should be returning to the hotel soon."

"Not yet, Clark! I have to at least ride my creation."

"But your father—"

"He can wait!"

The lady leaves me with no room to refuse her desires. As a lowly bodyguard, I don't have too much influence on the daughter of a rich business owner.

We march to the entrance of the attraction and she makes an obvious abuse of power to rush us to the front of the line. Other passengers are being fed onto the line of horses, but not without leaving just enough room for two.

"Hopefully I get a fast one!"

"I will wait here until you are satisfied."

"What are you talking about? You have to always be at my side, so you're coming too!"

The annoying young woman tugs on my arm and drags me past the queue. Families that have been waiting in line for half an hour at least simply watch as we take their place in line. One individual among them isn't all that happy about our cutting.

"Wait…"

I feel a light tug against the pants of my suit. Normally this act would be met with a kick or a bullet, but there is little threat in being stopped by a child.

"I wanted to…ride the white one…"

Tears fill the young girl's eyes as only one of the two remaining horses is a white steed.

"Don't be like that. We still have to wait our turn."

Her father pats the girl on the head and pulls her away from us. He's about to apologise, but the one whom I pretend to be employed by steps back.

"No, you two should go."

She crouches down and brings herself before the small child.

"This ride is for kids like you to have a blast. So, I'll let you go on one condition."

"Condition?"

The girl tilts her head to the side. The woman shows a brilliant smile that dries up whatever tears are running down that small face.

"Have a whole lot of fun!"

"O-Okay!"

A pair of gates open and allow the girl and her father to board the ride, leaving the two of us standing off to the side. Even as horns blare and mechanical horses take off, the woman beside me watches them.

"Will you ride after?"

"No, I think I'm fine."

I can't tell exactly what's running through her mind, not now and especially not when she dreams up these grand attractions. I've been with her for several weeks as part of my mission, yet she is still a mystery.

"Still not enough…"

Her mumbling almost drowns within the screams and laughter of children. The entire area is filled with energy that she seems completely out of sync with. A hand reaches up to rest under her chin.

"Tell me, Clark. How can I make something that this world has never seen?"

"We're only human, Madame. We can't make something that we can't possibly see?"

"I see…"

My response may seem as if it lacks tact, but I simply do not have a satisfying answer. If I give some textbook definition of creativity, she would simply be angry. I could never have predicted that my pragmatic statement would only push her curiosity further.

"This is why I like you, Clark. Won't you join our marketing team?"

"Please, I'm just your bodyguard."

Even if it were in my best interests, our time together is almost over. By this point, there is nothing in the way of our plan. Within the next few days, our target will meet his end. However, part of me wants to see just how far this eccentric woman can go, to see the creation that she dreams of.

"Let's head back."

"If that is what you wish."

"So serious!"

She elbows me in the hip and pulls ahead. After a couple of steps, she turns back and holds out an arm to me.

"Will you not escort me, Clark?"

Those eyes filled with ambition stare back at me accompanied by a cheeky grin. Her dress, her hair, her demeanour, my mind is reminded of it all as the world fades to white.

* * * * *

My eyes open to a bright flash of sunlight. Unlike the one from my dreams, this sun is not on Earth.

"Ah, good afternoon Mr. Clark."

Bailey turns back from her seat at the front of the wagon. I try to gauge the time with the position of the sun, but my vision becomes obstructed by the waving of sandy hair.

"How did I end up here…"

The back of my head feels the soft surface of Peo's thighs while my eyes have a perfect view of the young beast's face. She still has her silver wrapped around her mouth, but that doesn't stop me from seeing every last detail on her skin.

"C was…very tired."

"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised."

Unfortunately, I'm only human. We've spent every day since Peo's arrival sleeping only about half of the night. When given the opportunity to obtain reasonable rest, our bodies will take complete advantage. This has the unintended side effect of making us particularly difficult to wake up.

"I assume that nothing of note occurred?"

The young beast nods as I lean up on the rough wooden bench. At least half of the day seems to have passed, meaning that we've been able to travel a fair distance. We've reached another forested area with a wide and winding path, but that isn't what catches my eye. To my surprise, the cliffs and peaks of the mountain range are already well within view.

"How much further until we reach your village?"

"We should be able to arrive just before night falls. We just have one more stop at a nearby village at the base of the mountain."

Bailey doesn't need to even look at the terrain to make the estimation. My initial instincts think her words to be lies, but the approaching walls of jagged rocks make that theory appear senseless.

"That's quite impressive. I was informed that this trip would take three days at least."

"Perhaps if we had a walking escort. Since you all are simply riding along, Apricot can get us there nice and quick!"

The way she speaks should be unfamiliar to me given how little time we've spent together. However, the lingering remains of my dream continue to draw meaningless connections. It must be the effect of my accumulated fatigue and the usual grogginess that accompanies sleep.

"What is…"

Bailey's stunned voice precedes the wagon's abrupt stop. Just down the path is a clearing where a village should be situated. The village is there, but I'm certain that the many stacks of flames are not supposed to be present.