Sleeping Giant

Kenneth awaited with a small band of guardsmen by the entrance. Spotlights cast against a figure coming over the hill, the cocking of weapons filled the silence. The old guard gestured the light’s direction as it slowly shifted over. Alejandro staggered forward, carrying Billy in his arms. The wanderer’s pain lingered with each step, constantly reminded of the drawn-out experience. Kenneth’s exasperated gasp let out before he paced toward them.

“B—Billy?” he uttered as he took his son off the wanderer’s arms.

“Don’t worry,” Alejandro said. “He passed out from excitement.”

“What happened out there?”

“We stumbled upon some scavengers upstream. It didn’t go over too well.”

“Why the hell did you go that far? Did he get hurt?”

“He’s fine,” the wanderer cleared his throat. “In fact, he’s the one that saved my life.”

Billy’s father looked upon his son, clutching him close.

“I’m sure he’ll tell you everything when he wakes up.”

Alejandro took another step, faltering with the grit of his teeth when a sharp pain surged throughout his abdomen. Age had made him more vulnerable, and he felt his time was coming to an end. If he were in better shape, he wouldn’t have needed the young man’s help. Kenneth sized up the wanderer’s miserable state, reminded of what happened at the mine shaft.

“Easy there, Al,” the guard insisted. “Look, I’mma take Billy home, but you need to get to a nurse.”

“Fine,” he nodded.

He watched him carry his son off toward the entrance while the guard dispersed. Alejandro engrossed himself in the peaceful atmosphere; Dim overhead lights dotted the narrow city streets over the passerby taking their nightly strolls. Gardenia’s history flooded his thoughts of what was said and unsaid. Everything felt like a dream, a glimpse of the past of when life wasn’t fight or flight. While his mind wandered, he glimpsed the hospital’s well-lit cross.

Entered the lobby, the nurse he met before sat behind the counter; Her stoic expression carried a particular air of mystery. Her plum plaid button-down revealed cleavage at the unbuttoned segments at the top with her black denim fitting her curvaceous figure, not a typical nurse’s presentation. He awaited her acknowledgment as she engrossed herself in her withered novel. After waiting a few moments, he cleared his throat, being met with her green, apathetic eyes.

“Hey there, it’s me again,” he said.

“And how can I help you?” she responded.

“I—Uh, need a healer, I’ve been hurt—"

“I’m not sure what I look like to you, but there’s a woman down the street that offers what you’re asking for.”

“I meant injury-wise.”

“Oh? Why didn’t you say that to begin with?”

“How did you conflate sex work with medical help?”

“Ah, it’s this romance novel I’m reading,” she admitted after glimpsing her open book. “It’s so easy for me to get so invested.”

“A flight of fantasy?” he responded.

“Well—unfortunately, we don’t have any nurses available, but I can help.”

“Don’t get any ideas from your book.”

The wanderer waited a while in a room down the hall before she arrived. She seemed more lively in her movement with a change in personality with a tinge of phoniness. The pain dulled every time he repositioned himself in his seat. The receptionist bit her lip, having examined his physique and overall presentation, also failing to notice his masked scrutiny.

“Sorry for the wait,” she apologized.

“You know how to use mana?” he asked with an involuntarily raised eyebrow.

“Is there a problem?”

“No…I just still find it hard to believe this hospital’s nurses use mana.”

“Better believe it then. Now can you lie down?”

The receptionist gestured the cold bed; He laid down, shivering initially as he fixated upon the lightbulb casting its dull warmth. His body tensed upon seeing her devious woman grin.

“Uh, you’ll have to take off your shirt, um—"

“Alejandro, and taking off my shirt won’t be necessary. Mana goes through most materials, but I’m sure you knew that.”

“Alejandro? Well, we use mana at a lower energy output.”

Like you're being right now, she thought.

She could tell he wasn’t going to comply with her whims, proceeding as he closed his eyes. He felt the glacial pace she was going. He’d be dead if this was an actual emergency. A tired sigh left his lips before he grabbed her hand; His touch delivered a cold touch, making her shutter.

“I’ll comply if it makes your job a little easier,” he said.

“Oh, uh—” she responded.

The woman flushed, watching as he struggled to take off his shirt. She gasped at his bruised and bloodied state before meeting his cold glance. His eyes cast shame after setting his bloodied shirt to the side.

“W—What happened?” she asked.

“A fight,” he replied.

“R—Right. Must’ve had a hell of a bar fight! N—Now lay back down so I could start.”

“You never gave me your name?”

“It’s Griselda or Grissy, for short. Whichever you like.”

Griselda examined his body as he eased his tenseness; His eyes closed once he became relaxed enough. Her slow-waving hands became enveloped by translucent energy, healing the cuts and bruises within minutes. She couldn’t avert her eyes from his horrific state. The wanderer felt her soothing energy course through him as his internal injuries healed.

“So, uh,” she spoke. “How do you like the city so far?”

“It’s swell,” he answered. “I’ve traveled for years, and it’s a real gem to come across a place like this.”

“Most people that come here say the same. I guess we’re really blessed.”

“How long has your family been in Gardenia?”

“All the way back to my great-great-great-grandparents. I’ve known nothing but this place since. There’s not much beyond here I heard.”

“That’s not entirely true. There are some places worth visiting, but it’s all far in-between. California was okay, but that was a hundred years ago.

“You’ve been there? That’s where my family is from. W—Wait…You’re as old as Enne and her brother?”

“You don’t know much about us wanderers, do you?”

“No, I don’t. But then, wow—Your physique—"

“I thought you were a bit enthusiastic about taking off my shirt. Isn’t that like an ethical breach of some sort?”

Griselda fell silent, prompting his sly smirk. She continued healing in silence, thinking about questions regarding his travels. What did he see? What did he do for over the hundreds of years he lived? She wondered about his tales of romance. The bookworm could only imagine what his stories were like. Her face was reddened by her curiosity, which didn’t go without his notice.

“Uh, Alejandro?”

“Shoot.”

“I want to know about your romances! No, no! I shouldn’t have asked that.”

“Of all things?”

Though Griselda redacted, Alejandro considered her question. There was only one person who came to mind, but such feelings he couldn’t allow himself to indulge. He believed it hindered his intellectual and spiritual growth. Or that’s what he’d tell himself to deflect from how he really felt. The sudden door crack froze the nurse as her head turned to see Kenneth poking his head through the door. The nurse’s face flushed as he looked at both of them with a tight lip. With a tip of his hat, he assessed the scene.

“I thought no one had to take off their shirts,” he asked.

“I, uh, Eh—It makes it easier?” her voice trembled.

“Right…I’ll be waiting outside, Al.”

“Got it,” Alejandro answered.

“You free tomorrow?” he asked Griselda while slipping on his shirt.

“Um, yeah!” she stuttered. “Why?”

“Meet me at the café at noon, and you can ask me all the questions you want.”

“Really?”

“Thanks again.”

Her eyes lit up after meeting his wink. After he closed the door, the old guard chuckled, overhearing their strange exchange. Kenneth led him out of the hospital toward the other end of the city. The peaceful silence amplified their footsteps.

“I just wanted to be discreet as possible,” the old guard whispered. “Things just keep piling on.”

“What happened?” Alejandro probed.

“Someone came from the woods, claiming to have a bigger group with him.”

“There weren’t many when we ran off.”

“Then this guy is playing us for a fiddle because he said he was the only survivor.”

“He’s bluffing. Did he say anything else?”

“Well, that’s the other reason we need to talk.”

“Eh, great.”

They arrived at the mayor’s HQ, passing through heavy security. The guards’ frosty gaze left the wanderer as they reached the elevators. Its rackety descent ended abruptly when they reached the lowest levels. Kenneth guided the wanderer through the dark corridor's housing; The holding cells they saw were empty except for the final one. The old guard gestured toward the lanky figure staring back from the shadows. Clement emerged, bloodied and haggard after hours of isolation.

“You survived?” he winced.

“McKinley didn’t survive the encounter with you,” he questioned. “Explain to me how someone who killed several wanderers gets done in by someone like you?”

“He got cocky.”

“There are more of us out there and when they see what happened to our people, you’re fucked.”

“How many of you are out there?”

“You’ll see when the time comes.”

“Is there any way we can talk this out?”

The rat-face man laughed into the wanderer’s unflinching face; Alejandro grabbed his ragged shirt, slamming him multiple times into the metal bars. Kenneth pulled him away, only after he showed fatigue. The prisoner clenched his bloodied nose as he collapsed against the cold concrete wall. He glared at them while blood gushed between his fingers; The wanderer sighed, maintaining his indifference.

“That’s a human rights violation!” he howled.

“My bad,” the wanderer said. “This moron annoyed me.”

Kenneth’s heavy eyes reflected on everything happening in their silence as they exited HQ. There were too many variables at play as the looming threat to the city’s stability bubbled. There weren’t enough resources to address them all, as Enne warned days ago. He resigned his racing thoughts for the evening after glimpsing the night sky.

“We can talk to him tomorrow,” he suggested.

“We’ll pull through this,” Alejandro uttered words of comfort, although his expression betrayed.

The wanderer leaned against the wall, seeing the visible distress on the old guard. Would Rita make the right call, or fumble the opportunity? Her leadership evoked mixed feelings, but as the head of the Guard, he wanted to believe she knew what she was doing.

“Have you told Rita?” he asked, seeing Kenneth glance away.

“I—Haven’t,” he nodded. “This is a lot to take.”

“Worrying about it won’t change a thing. I suggest you let her know, like soon. Until then, get some rest, we can meet tomorrow afternoon.”

“Right,” Kenneth conceded. “But—They can get the drop on us anytime.”

“If they have a sizeable force, they’ll likely survey the town first. Of course, we’ll see them coming.”

“The guard is thin—Even if we account for all the guns, we only have so much ammo. There’s a lot of ifs and not a lot of options.”

“Sleep on it and we’ll get everything together tomorrow.”

They exchanged silent nods before parting ways. Alejandro walked a few blocks down before disappearing around the corner. The seasoned guard went his way, feeling the days would grow longer for the next few days. He worried for his son the most, as he could be embroiled in the coming conflict. And these lingering thoughts made it harder for him to sleep.

Trouble lurks with each chapter...
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Since these are self-edits I do miss a lot...
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