Act 6: Rest for the wicked

“And they deserved it.”

“That’s not the question Bill.”

Bill sat on a stone at the top of the mossy face talking to a vision of his son James.

“The question is why?”

“You know why, dammit you just told me.”

“Why didn’t you cry Bill? Why did you get angry?”

“Look at what they did! Look at what happened to me, TO THEM!”

“You and I both know you’d be just fine if that deputy didn’t provoke you. You could have had peace, but the universe had a different plan.”

Bill looked up towards the brilliant moon.

“Why me then? Was everything happened to us part of the plan?”

“That was inevitable Bill. All I know is you were supposed to leave that day.”

“And why didn’t I?”

“Because you’re a good man.”

Bill stands angrily and growls at the child.

“No I ain’t! A good man doesn’t do that, a good man doesn’t get called a ‘butcher’, a good man-”

“Would do anything for his family.”

Bill mentally stammers backwards. The young boy lays back and stares at the stars.

“The world is a terrible place with terrible people that resigned their fate long ago. We that turn the clocks can’t interfere directly, but occasionally we get lucky with a man like you. You didn’t butcher an honest town, you did a service, but I am sorry how they pushed you there.”

“So what’s gonna happen?”

James sits up and stands towards Bill.

“Now you rest Bill.”

James motions and Bill gets on his knees. James gently unfurls the scarf around Bill’s neck.

“Is it my time?”

“That it is Bill. There’s nothing left. The bad people are gone, and the good people are waiting.”

Bill turned towards James with a shaky voice, “But I’m not a good person anymore.”

“It’s okay Bill, they’re still waiting.”

“But what if they don’t want me? You know what I’ve done, I’m not the man they knew. Because you know what? I’d do it again. I’d do it all again until I couldn’t.”

“But that is the man they knew. The man that would give anything for his family, you just need to rest.”

“How do I rest?”

“You take my hand Bill.”

Bill grabs the hand of his son James and immediately falls asleep. He wakes on a hill near Black River.

“What the?”

Bill looks at the rushing river, the endless blue sky, and the golden grass.

“Bill?”

He turns to see his wife Jess, as beautiful as the day he lost her.

“Jess? Is that really you?”

“What are you asking Bill?”

“Are you m-my Jess? The one from-”

Jess reaches down and places a gentle finger on Bill’s lips.

“I am Bill, you’ll understand.”

Jess smiles and sheds a small tear of her own.

“And is this?”

Bill stands and turns to find the whole town of Black River has disappeared.

“Where’s Black River?"

“It’s not a problem anymore Bill.”

Jess reaches out her hand.

“Come on Bill, I need you and James to set the table.”

Jess walks him off the hill. He leans over and places a teary kiss on her head.

“What’s for dinner then?”

Bill never returned to the town of Asphodel. They found his horse, cold and emaciated, still in waiting. The creatures returned to the valley, and life returned to the town. Somehow Bill had slain the beast, but somehow the beast had slain Bill. Some say he was eaten, some say he froze, but those that knew him say he’s at peace.