Chapter 17

Part 1

Our room was spacious, even with four guys setting up in it. “Damn Chester, I can’t believe you got us this place!” I dropped my bag on the bed, next to Bramble, who’d burrowed deep into the comforters. The dogman’s dense furry body was as difficult to move aside as a cinderblock filled with sandbags. “Bramble, you’re making yourself heavier, aren’t you?” Innocently with his shar pei face, he smirked.

“Welp, normally we don’t get no city folk out here! ‘Specially ones with an internet presence, so we’re hoping you can get us some good press.” The owner laughed as he helped carry a bag of ours into the room, possibly filled with expensive camera equipment, and dropped it with a thud onto the hard wooden floor. Perry nearly exploded with rage but was held back as Chester pulled our smaller friend away from the rotund old man. “We normally don’t allow dogs either…but, ah! What the hell! You kids heading for the factory?”

“Factory?” My explorer’s ear burned.

“Yessir! Not something we talk about too much on the internet, since most people only care about that there swamp, but a lot of science folk had worked over there years ago!”

“Oh! Maybe we will have to check that out too.” He laughed, closing the door behind him while I scribbled down a few notes into my phone. Teddy had taken a bed for himself, laying out, spread over the immaculate sheets, which contrasted to the overly rustic building. Creaking wooden stairs down the corridors from stone walls, warmly lit by small candle lamps, and so few outlets, every inch bled old fashioned design. “Very homey, yeah?” Gradually dimming sun rays broke through our blinds, dithering on the brown floor as the sun set, managing to further lull me into the feeling of vacation.

“Yes. I must admit, I planned this for months, but never once had I imagined such a sight!” Chester pulled open the window and took a deep breath. “The smell of the swamp is quite foreboding, though. I feel such a need for adventure! I wish to capture footage tonight! What say you, men!” Despite Chester’s insistence on being as verbose as always, I was so excited! Perry also seemed to reciprocate as he’d already gathered up the recording gear and his tablet from one of our numerous bags. “Teddy, will you join us?”

“Hmm…” He pondered for a second. “W-Will the girls be c-coming too?” A good question. Since we moved into our room, I hadn’t heard anything from Anesha, Demica or Erna. They were in the next room over and with the wooden walls, I’d have expected to hear something.

“Maybe we should go and check on them. Last thing I need is for Anesha to get into another fight with Erna.” My gut told me something was wrong. It was far too quiet in their room, so me and the boys all walked over to their door. One of the housekeepers walked down the hall and gave a lovely smile, a wave, then descended back to the first floor leaving us alone. The others waved back to her as I place my ear against the door. Not a single sound. “Okay…I’m really scared now.” Gathering what little courage I could, I knocked. “Uh…Anesha…you there? Demica? Erna?” No reply. Sharing glances of confusion, a voice faintly growled beyond the other side, shocking us.

“Enter.” Anesha spoke up. She seemed calm, but past experience would prove calmness wasn’t always the best thing for people around her. I pulled open the door, not sure what I was expecting, but it sure as hell wasn’t what I got! Anesha held in one hand, a flat, purple glyph, emanating energy with a strange writing orbiting the magic. The words fed in and out of the magic circle, as her eyes remained fixated on it. She sat crossed legged atop the bed, engaged deeply with whatever spell was being manipulated…meanwhile; the right gripped tightly onto a cascaded of luminous yellow ribbons running up to the ceiling, draped along a wooden beam and running down… binding the hands, feet, and body of Erna, who swung helplessly from the magical ribbons! She attempted to cry for aid but with the bands wrapping around her mouth, she was unable to reach more than a murmur. “I’m oh so preoccupied with something at this minute, meaning, lest you wish to end up punished like this little pet here, I’d suggest making yourselves scarce.”

“…” I took a moment and considered my position, being nothing more than a tool to Anesha, and eyed Erna who was all but begging to be freed with a tearful look of desperation. Bound at the small, pale wrists, ribbons encircled not only her forearms, but her chest and triceps too. The bottoms of her black slip-on shoes were pulled so far up that they’d nearly rested on the top of her fringed, pink highlighted black hair, wrenching the small woman into a sideways ‘C’ shape! “Uh…where’s Demica?”

“Over here! Hiding!” A hand shot up, hidden behind one of the bedframes in response!

“W-Well…we’re going to head out…and get some footage…so…”

“Really?! I’ll join you guys, let’s go!” Demica ran over and began pushing us all out the door!

Erna whimpered pitifully, thrashing about as tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. Scared, but knowing she needed my help, I asked Anesha…“We could actually use Erna’s help for this…Anesha…so please…”

“Erna…?” She said, quizzically raising an eyebrow. “Ah! This one…I’d forgotten her name. Hahaha!” Anesha let out a snarky laugh, her demeaning gaze directed at the struggling Erna. “Fine. Take her with you. I believe she understands her place now.” Anesha whipped her hand and the ribbons swung in my direction as Erna’s bound form flew into my arms, barely catching her!

“Th-thanks!” We shut the door and quickly entered the hall! Gradually, the magical ribbons binding Erna became undone. I let her down and she groaned loudly as her limbs unfolded. “Holy crap…what did you two argue about now?”

“…N-Nothing…that…bitch just started doing magic stuff and I told her…that if someone saw…it’d be bad…next thing…I know…I am hanging from the ceiling like a pinata!” Erna rubbed her back as she remained doubled over on the floor.

“Good thing you’re flexible. Otherwise, that would have probably been crazy painful.”

“I’m not!” That was the most animated I’d ever seen Erna’s face. “Huhuhu…that bitch…that witch…I’ll get her back…I swear…”

“…Lucky…” I ignored that hushed word from Teddy and pushed the group to head outside.

Part 2

“Man…” Beautiful in its mystique, murky and humid air, the swampland’s darkness stretched outward expanding into nothingness before our eyes! The lights of Jasontown couldn’t pierce the shadows cast by the myriad of cypress trees dipping leafs into the thick marsh. “Guys, this is awesome! What should we…?”

“I wished we could film some b-roll or even a vlog, however…” As Chester said and pointed out, some of our contemporaries were preoccupied. Demica and Perry were discussing something in secret and Erna was busy murmuring to herself, scribbling in the dirt on the ground. “Hm…how about you, Teddy and I all do a short intro video? We can explain some of the legends of the swampland, go into the history and maybe just talk back and forth?”

“I-I’ll film it!” Teddy picked up the camera excitedly, then Chester and I started to get together.

“We just winging it? It’s been a bit since I’ve hosted.” With the document on my phone that the club and I had constructed, filled with information about Jasontown and its legends, the preparations for our trip were beginning to pay off right away. Overly detailed and well-organized, no surprise, since Demica had spent the extra time to fix the information dump into a legible file. “Hmm…the Songstress of the swamp, melonheads, skinwalkers and the Lizard King. Want to go over all of that?”

“Indubitably! I shall expand onto such information. You will act as my assistant in this case. You do recall the discussions held in the clubroom, yes?”

“Yeah, of course. Let’s get rolling, then. Teddy, everything set?” He gave us the thumbs up, and we moved under the light of the post hanging overhead, for the best, because a slight unease still chilled me under any darkness. “I’m ready.”

“…Good evening everyone, it is I, Chester Ramos of the Occult Research and Study club alongside member and compatriot, Fate Isley! As you can see, we’ve reached our destination, Jasontown! Yes! Muhahaha!”

“Chester, keep it down a little.” It was late and even though there weren’t many people out, it was obvious we were being watched from their windows. “Anyway…the songstress of the swamp, steeped in mystery, starting just over the last two years. Believed originally to be winds cutting through the cypress trees, or swamp gas even, but many accounts of those who’ve visited Jasontown having had bared witness firsthand, have noted the song holds an alluring power, almost pulling people toward the swamp.” It was as I let those words exit my mouth that Anesha’s words played back in my head. Something primal and hungry, she said. My senses had gotten sharper since I started training with the witch, and as the seed grew more powerful even the slightest things being off around me were noticeable. Turning back, peering into the near endless darkness just elicited my usual anxiety, though I didn’t feel anything off. (I’m going to have to ask Anesha about what she sensed.)

“Yes, yes. Follow us as we dive even deeper into the occult, into mystery! And maybe, we shall uncover the truth behind all of these stories…!” Chester struck a flamboyant pose, then Teddy raised his thumb, and we breathed a sigh of relief as the take was done. “My, my, done in a single take? We certainly are getting quite good at this.”

“Yeah. I’ll just call it dumb luck. Something that this whole club seems to exclusively run on.” I pulled up more of my notes as Teddy and Chester chatted. It was then that the wind carried Demica and Perry’s conversation over to my ear.

“Demica, you didn’t tell me!” They spoke in a hushed tone, but with how good my hearing had become, being over 20 feet away was still like standing right next to them!

“Because I know you. Mom and Dad have been really busy with everything and…it’s not like anything bad happened.” By then, I completely stopped looking through my notes and just listened. “I was with Gabby most of the time. She looked out for me.”

“…Those guys are creeps, okay? Please, don’t go with them again!”

“Fuck’s sake! What are you, Dad? I’m the big sister here, remember? Can we please stop with this line of questioning now and actually get some work done?” Perry seemed to comply and the siblings walked towards us.

“Fate…” Was whispered in my ear.

“Ahh!” Erna, who seemed to have gotten over her fit of moping, shocked me! “Wh-what is it…?”

“…” She got onto the tips of her toes and leaned in close, trying to whisper something. “Tonight…I want to…test something…on you…”

“Okay.” A bit of a weird way to put it, but I knew what Erna was hinting at.

“Fate, comrade, come along! We’ve a few more pieces to film.” Chester called out as Erna, and I joined the finally completed group. “Hmm…Erna, would you care to help us with filming?”

“Huh?! How…would I do that…?” The offer sent Erna retreating into that belt jacket like a mouse back to its hole.

“Would be a simple task! It will consist of aiding Demica in record keeping and notation of anything we come across for our website to be edited in later. She, Fate and I will mostly focus our hosting duties, young Perry shall run our second camera and deal with the technology, then Teddy is our main cameraman. We’ve needed a person assisting in the documentation process for quite some time, and especially now, since we’re here on the college’s money and time.”

“…” She snuck a look to me, and I smiled. “Okay…I’ll try my best.”

“Marvelous! Then shall we film the last portion for the evening and then return to the inn?” The next half hour was just trying to film some b-roll and a few monologues, but ultimately failed with people from the town exiting and entering shots, kids wanting to ask questions, and our general tendency to get sidetracked.

“Welp…at least we got the first part done.” We were all exhausted. I could tell just looking at everyone dragging their heels. “Let’s call it a night. Maybe in the morning we can visit some of the places we’ve got written down. I’d like to see the abandoned factory nearby.”

“Factory, you say?” I showed Chester the notes I’d written down and a smile slinked across his face. “Agreed! A great amount of effort for the day, team. It would appear we have a stupendous site to research tomorrow.” Chester called the filming to a close and the others started for the motel.

Erna grabbed the sleeve of my shirt and pulled me to the side, away from any lights, almost down a hill! My sneakers slid on the moss and dirt, but my heel caught rocks conveniently placed near the swamp’s edge, keeping me from tumbling headfirst into the mossy water! “Holy crap, Erna! Be more careful!”

“Sorry…I didn’t mean to.” On the inclined hill we sat, having managed to break from the team, with shadows cast overhead cloaking us in enough darkness to remain hidden.

From that black doctor’s bag, Erna produced a scalpel. Her eyes tracked my collarbone, which I picked up on immediately, covering up! “What are you planning on doing? Let me know first.”

“…You’ve mentioned in texts…that the seed entered…your throat. Which is where…the scar comes from.” It’d been there for so long by that point the scar’s persistence had slipped my mind. “I remember you…having a scar across your nose from the fight…with that warlock. It’s healed up though.” My neck, was in fact, the only wound not healed by the seed’s power; looking like tree roots burrowing through my throat. Each tendril extending outward, leaving torn skin spread down onto my collarbone and winding around the sides of my neck, even going up to the bottom of my jaw. “Can I…touch it…”

“…Sure, I guess so…” Erna’s fingers grazing my scar elicited a strangely pleasurable sensation. I didn’t feel like throwing up, which in my head must’ve come from getting stronger, more adept to the seed.

“It feels…normal.”

“Yeah? It’s probably the weirdest wound I have ever had though. Pretty much every time I get hurt or feel sick, it clears up quick. I had a stomachache the other day, and it went away before I even knew it! The seed heals just about everything, except this scar.”

“Which is…why I want to test something…if you trust me enough.” With a determined look in her eyes, I couldn’t decline. “I…want to make a small incision in your hand and one in your neck.”

“Uh…” I was a bit hesitant even though I kind of guess what she was going to ask. “…F-Fine. Do you have any numbing medication though? Even if it heals up quick, it still hurts.”

“No…sorry…I forgot them.”

“Great…just be fast about it, please.” I closed my eyes and tensed up a bit.

“Don’t tense up…” Easy for her to say. The instant the knife cut into my outstretched palm, I winced. Despite all the pain I’d suffered since my ordeal with Anesha began, I still wasn’t used to such things. Having my face slashed by knife-like nails, my fingers chomped by a deranged homunculus, my arm snapped by Anesha, and even after super-hot brass quills were shot into my ribs, I hadn’t toughened up much. “Okay, now your neck.” Erna moved onto my neck after applying a bandage to my hand. “I’m going to…cut a place…the scar isn’t, okay?” She did just that, and it was a toe-curling kind of tingle. Worse than any bee sting, I felt the cold blade enter my neck, cutting in as if my skin were just cooked meat. “Alright, done. Here…a bandage.” Erna quickly wrapped my wound and got up. “We’ll check in the morning…for now, we should hurry back before the others…mainly…Anesha get worried.”

The both of us climbed the hill and made for the motel, but stopped when I noticed Teddy, staring off into the darkness of the swamp. “Teddy?” I must’ve caught the big guy off guard because he flinched.

“Oh, F-Fate…there you a-are.” He chuckled.

“Were you looking for me and Erna?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. That’s right!”

“I sort of fell and scrapped myself up. Erna, being a doctor-in-training, patched me up good!” I said, showing off my covered cuts.

“Co-cool…then let’s get back inside! Chester was wondering where y-you were. Hey F-Fate, Erna…do you guys…h-hear that?” Teddy turned to face the swamp again.

“That? What?” Both Erna and I listened in. With my hearing, I expected just about any noises being made, I could pick up on. The only sounds piercing the myriad of bugs buzzing, frogs crooking, and the occasional snake hissing were probably a crocodile or two groaning. “You mean all the animals?”

“N-No…never mind. L-Let’s get inside…” Teddy just walked back inside, dejected. Erna turned to me and shrugged her shoulders, then followed suit.

I tried once more but didn’t hear anything odd. “…huh…”

Part 3

“…Ugh…get this bowling ball off of me…” I awoke the next morning with what felt like the densest watermelon in the world crushing my chest. “Bramble…move…” The old dogman slept on top of me. His stout dog frame was as forgiving as a cannonball. I rolled over sending Bramble to the floor with a thud, not even waking him. “How?” I got up, ambling out of the room, leaving the others who remained asleep, making for the bathroom. After handling my business and washing my face in the sink, a message came through from Mom.

[Hey, you forgot to call! Is everything alright?] A worried message. Last thing I wanted to receive first thing in the morning.

[Sorry Mom. I just got busy almost immediately. We’re all good.] Even though her message came through an hour prior, she replied right away, of course.

[Oh, thank goodness! Make sure to take lots of pictures and stay in contact! I won’t bother you any more than that, okay?]

(Won’t bother me any more than that? Yet you want me to take pictures and stay in contact…geez, Mom.) I sent out a reply and left the bathroom. [Got ya’. We’re heading somewhere cool today, so I’ll send you a picture when we get there.] The morning sun was beginning to break in through the curtains in the hallway, meaning the day was really getting started. Chester entered the corridor, looking like a Japanese water ghost, as his long black hair obscured his pale face. “Sup man. When we headed for the factory?”

“Hmm? Oh…likely once we’ve gotten the plans together for the day, gathered our equipment properly and had enough to eat. This may be a business trip, but we shouldn’t remain all business, wouldn’t you agree?” He chuckled in that low, creepy way. “Now that I think about it, how are the ladies? Nary a sound is escaping their room…” We both stood there and remembered what we came across last night.

“Maybe…don’t disturb Anesha?”

“Remarkable idea, my friend!” We decided to just go about our business.

Chester and I sat down at a table in the dining room of the motel. The nice, old housekeepers served us an exorbitant breakfast. From pancakes, bacon and sausages to grits, orange juice and eggs, both me and my fairly thin friend eyed each other, questioning if we were meant to ingest a football teams’ worth of food alone! The old women just beamed with happiness at the mountain of food. Fortunately, as we prepared to dig in, Teddy and Perry stumbled into the room, to which I breathed a sigh of relief.

We all teamed up and downed the most we could, leaving about a fourth for the girls. Demica eventually came down and joined us, slouching into her seat. “Holy…is this all for us?”

“Affirmative! Alongside me and the others, we’ve quelled the massive meal’s imposing form.” Chester boasted. I checked to see if that line had bothered the housekeepers, but they seemed to have found Chester’s manner of speech to be entertaining. “We left you all an acceptable amount, wouldn’t you agree? Where are Anesha and Erna?”

“Oh…haha…maybe let them finish what they’re…doing…” Bags under her eyes and that downcast gaze, whatever was happening, it was good we didn’t intervene.

“Oh, there you youngin’s are!” The owner walked up, his smile peeking out from beneath the whiskers of a push broom moustache.

“Ah, Mr. Sander! Exceptional timing. Might we perchance trouble you and request assistance in making our venture to the decommissioned factory?” The owner, Mr. Sander, just squinted his eyes and stared at Chester, clearly trying to make sense of my longwinded friend.

“What he means is, will you take us to the factory you mentioned before?” I clarified.

“Okay! Absolutely! You kids want to head there once you’re done with breakfast?”

“If that’s not too much trouble.”

“Sounds good! Oh and…” Mr. Sander leaned in close. “Keep that one in check. He seems a bit weird, you know?” Cutting a glance over in Chester’s direction. I laughed and agreed.

We finished eating and with Demica, returned to the ‘boys’ room. “Welp, let’s get some of this together! The abandoned factory…”

“Wait! Perry, get out the camera. Let’s film this! It works for our vlog.” Demica took point as she elected to follow us to our room, avoiding whatever unspeakable chaos was unfolding in the ‘girls’ room. Quickly though, ducking behind Perry, Demica shielded her face. “Only film me from behind!”

“Honestly? How unbecoming!” In his usual blunt way of putting things, Chester scoffed at Demica’s actions. “To think, you’d avoid the camera in such a way, simply because of those socialites whom you’ve begun to court have damaged your self-worth! Your personality far supersedes the need to look physically appealing for our rampant viewer base who simply watch to enjoy your good looks!”

“…” I expected Demica to get upset, but she just smiled, playfully poking the side of Chester’s face with her finger. “Aw…was that actually a compliment from Chester ‘all women cannot see my value’ Ramos? Are you trying to make me feel better? That’s so sweet! Thanks, Chester!” Demica gave Chester an uncharacteristically big hug, as he began to immediately squirm away.

“Blasted-woman, release me! Fate, Perry, Teddy, pull this harpy’s talons from me!”

“Perry, you’re filming, right?” I asked, stiffing laughter. Perry gave a thumbs up as he and Teddy both openly belly-laughed. “All right, all right. Let’s go over what we’re doing today. Since we’re within driving distance, I’ve elected to visiting the abandoned factory! I’ve found some info on it, and it sounds kind of interesting.” In my absolute best on-camera voice I explained our plan for the day. Chester finally escaped Demica’s clutches and jumped into frame. “The melonheads are often said to take residence in the surrounding area, and though they are believed to be dangerous…” It hit me again. If there was anything dangerous or otherworldly, it’d likely be drawn to me. “…We plan to do some investigations into the facilities.”

“Exactly! According to sources the factories were made to house and develop…” Chester trailed off reciting historical facts. The whole time though, I was justifying in my head bringing my friends along to a treacherous place like that.

(Should we even be doing this? The melonheads are said to be cannibals, but they’re supposed to be pretty human like, so I can probably protect everyone. Regardless, I should get Anesha to go with us, just to be safe.) I resolved. We finished filming the introduction and I left the others to speak with Anesha alone, or at least I planned to, but Bramble came along.

“Young Fate, what bothers you so?” At least Bramble knew when and where not to speak. The two of us stood in the corridor, right outside of the girls’ room with none of the non-club members around, and more fortunately, no motel workers.

“I’m a bit worried about being around my friends. Since I have the seed, lots of monsters and stuff are going to come after me, right?”

“Hmm…that’s true.”

“I’ll ask Anesha if she’ll at least come with us. Hopefully she won’t just turn me down and tell me to buzz off.”

“My lady, Anesha, certainly has become far more calloused over the years. Though she seems to have taken a liking to your group…even if only as tools that belong to her.”

“Over the years? How long have you been with Anesha?”

“Since her birth. I was in fact, crafted by my lady’s mother.”

“…Really? I can’t even imagine Anesha’s mom.” Picturing an older, more violent and dominating Anesha, rocked me. A sight I wished to never behold was someone who could’ve raised a bitch like her.

“Hmm…a story for another time, should My Lady permit it. I know that as a rather…sensitive subject for her.” That surprised me. Bramble was very forward with information up to that point but clammed up.

“Well, whatever. Guess it’s time to…” Before I could even knock, the door swung open and Erna fell out, collapsing in my arms. “What the…Erna, are you alright?!” Just a bunch of semi- coherent rambling accompanied by twitching was given as my response from the limp, exhausted little woman in my arms.

“Ahh…you’re an absolutely commendable stress reliever! Should I ever feel such worries again, I shall endeavor to use your newly achieved flexibility to its fullest again! Maybe we shall even find new positions for you! Oh, what fun! Hm, Fate…good morning.” It was like Anesha had become a new person! Her normally beautiful, yet fierce gaze was replaced with one of gleeful tranquility. Even her skin beamed, like she’d reached a state of happiness not achieved before.

“Good…morning.” Anesha being in a good mood was scary, as it was obvious whatever caused it was probably at the expense of Erna. (I’ll apologize to Erna again later…) I pulled the still twitching girl onto my back as she didn’t seem to want to walk on her own…or even be able to. “Uh…Anesha…I need to ask you to help me with something.”

“Oh?” She tilted her head and placed her cheek onto her fist playfully, but to me, every little movement was still sinister.

“Could you come along with us to a site for filming? I know you probably have better things to do, but I feel like…”

“Fine.” She answered without a second thought. “I assume you’re worried about the others, no? Then you’d like to use my strength as well. How presumptuous of you. Thinking that you have any right to make requests of me despite all I’ve given you to this point…” With her elegant fingers, she reached out and stroked my cheek, but stopped and quickly retracted them. “…Even now…still I cannot…” I heard her say that but had no idea what she meant. “As I said, that is fine. I will accompany your group to this filming, or what have you. For now, off with you, as I make preparations. Oh, and do take care of my stress reliever, she worked hard…all night long…and will likely work hard again tonight…” Anesha leaned in and whispered that last part into Erna’s ear directly, which I could feel Erna tense up at, making her arms wrapped around my neck, chock me.

Part 4

Riding for the site in a van, flush with a prickly atmosphere so palpable one would rather draw blood from the thorns of a rose bush, did worse for my anxiety than any dark room. Erna gripped tightly behind my seat, using me as a barricade from the ever-glowing Anesha, who leisurely rested her punk boots atop Teddy’s shoulder in the front seat. Somehow, we were able to convince the cooks to make another meal for Anesha to eat while we traveled. She enjoyed the eggs, veggies and fruit, again, with a surprisingly happy face.

“Uh…Fate, was it necessary to bring along Mr. Bramble? He’s…heavy…” Demica struggled with the old dogman seated atop her lap.

“Bramble is likely tired.” Anesha spoke up. “When he’s tired, it becomes difficult for him to maintain his weight displacement magic. He’s always been a fat one.” She jeered whilst poking her heel into Teddy from behind. A smirk crept across his face, not even attempting to mask it.

“Everyone, we’ve arrived!” Chester called to the back, and we exited the van as the innkeeper trailed in behind. “Ahh, yes! Take a deep breath, team! That murky air, stupendous!” We’d all but left the swamp behind us. A set of small facilities, each covered in moss, with broken windows, cracked foundations, and some little more than piles of rubble, awaited us. Going from the mushy, unstable ground of the swamp to the hard concrete of the manmade road we walked along was reassuring; somewhat. I no longer had to fear Chester’s van sinking into the swamp but the possibly brittle ground of the warn factory site! In through the cypress trees, howling winds carried bitter, pungent aromas emanating from deep within the bog, reminding me we were only a mere drive from the expansive morass.

“There are a bunch of mosquitos here today! I’m hoping you kids brought some bug spray! Hahah!” Mr. Sander laughed at the swarm of bugs blanketing the already humid swamp air. He exited his pickup, smiling, at ease, without a care in the world. Tons pestered me, for what I assumed was wanting a taste of the seed’s mana.

“Hmhmhm! Perry let’s begin getting some shots! B-roll of this location is going to be gorgeous! Yes! Woman, you come too! With your make up now in place, you shouldn’t have any reservations about being on camera, correct?”

“One of these days, I’m going to punch you for calling me ‘woman’, Chester.” Demica followed, still applying some make up underneath her eyes, nearly slipping on a mossy step leading downward. “Don’t say it! I’ll put on my damn glasses, but I am absolutely not being filmed with them on.” I was so going to say something but left it at an insinuating snicker.

A faint tug by the collar turned me around to Erna, who I’d forgotten was hiding in my shadow. “…I need…to see your neck.” Another thing that’d slipped my mind, the cuts on my hand and neck. Anesha was stretching and doing some kind of meditation while Mr. Sander, who seemed to have taken a liking to her, was talking her ear off. Meanwhile, Bramble was still sleeping in the back of the car.

The two of us snuck off to the side, just out of sight, hidden alongside broken walls. “Make it quick.” Erna pulled bandages from both spots and studied them, looking confused. “What? I can’t see what’s wrong with my neck, but…my hand looks like it healed up.” In fact, the cut from the night before had closed leaving not even a scar behind. It wasn’t surprising that a small cut would be closed by the seed in just a few hours. (Am I…healing faster than before?)

“…Here. Cover up!” Erna hurriedly replaced my bandage. “Your neck didn’t heal…not at all.”

“…” My heart sank. I didn’t know what to think. My body healed from most small injuries, bigger ones took time, but cuts no bigger than a cat’s scratch should’ve disappeared overnight. “Let’s…go back to the group.” Erna pushed me from behind, as I hollowly shambled back to the others, who’d found a location for filming.

“My comrade! Come, join us in this introduction video!” Chester proclaimed, though I was rapt with thoughts of my neck. “Hm, yes! This is spectacular. The mystique of these dilapidated truly reminds me of our days urban spelunking!” We stood in an open pathway surrounded by rubble of either side and with the largest standing building to our backs. Sun light passed in between the trees creating an illusion of godrays shining down into the shot. My mind was pulled out of the quickly widening slump by the gloriously demolished architecture. “Perry, prepare the camera! woma-” Chester’s cry was cut short by a gut shaking punch to the side! Demica had followed through on her promise, earlier than I’d thought, but deservedly! “Damn…it…” He spouted while doubling over.

“I warned you.” She handed the lethargic Bramble off to Erna, as we all snickered at the sight of our pseudo-leader clutching his abdomen. “I dug up as much history of these factories as I could. If you guys didn’t read through it, it’s fine though, I guess. Do we have a script for this…or…oh come on, I didn’t even hit you that hard!”

“My…life has ended…for I have been attacked…this…this coup d'etat shall not…soon be forgotten!” Chester staggered to his feet, breathing like he’d run multiple marathons. His thin hair sat splayed out across his head, looking even more wild and frantic than usual. “There is…no script…we will… adlib!” Springing back to life, Chester jumped up!

“See, despite looking like an anemic scarecrow, he’s at least tough enough to take a punch.”

“Hmhmhm! I am not one to faulter under such attacks wo-!” A slight cringe was evident in Chester’s demeanor. “D-Demica…”

She smiled in response to hearing her name. “Oh, you do learn! Applause, everyone!” Mr. Sander actually went along with Demica and clapped, while Anesha’s eyes glazed over at the sight of my friends acting silly.

Perry set up a tripod and readied the camera as Demica continued to poke fun at the ever shortening patience of Chester. Teddy, Mr. Sander, Erna and I all stayed out of the shot. Anesha, however, wandered around right in front of the camera, following something with her eyes. She suddenly stopped, silently, eyes closed without saying anything.

“Uh…Anesha, we’re about to film.” Very cautiously Demica approached.

“Shush!” We all did as instructed, even Mr. Sander seemed to reciprocate. The air gradually went from being dry to have a moldy grime.

“Anesha, we’re trying to film! You need to move!” That statement and demand from Perry caught Anesha off guard, and by the widening of her eyes and souring of her expression, I expected he was about to be put in his place.

“You insolent…I haven’t the time for this. Fate, come!” Anesha stormed off, leaving the group, as I trailed behind.

“Anesha, everything okay?”

“No.”

“If it’s Perry, I’m sorry! He’s been a little…on edge lately.” She kept walking, finally stopping so far from the group I couldn’t even hear them speaking anymore.

“Your impudent friend’s remarks shall be dealt with another time. Before, I made mention of a feeling I was sensing, the primal hunger, yes?” I nodded. “’Lo, my senses are becoming more muddied as we traverse this area, something has held rigidly, again and again, within my scans of the marsh. Something different.” With a snap of the fingers, Anesha’s broom suddenly flew in through the trees! “I will need to do some checking in on this matter, personally. Remain within range of Bramble until I return, he will be creating a barrier, and though keeping one from a distance is tiresome, I will hopefully not come across anything too dangerous.” Anesha hopped aboard her broom and zoomed off, back into the swamp, vanishing from sight.

“…” Many pits began forming in my stomach again. One of doubt, one of fear, one of despair, though similar, they all assuredly could be traced back to one major issue, the seed.

End of chapter 17