Roxi's Mountain

Roxi’s Mountain

Chapter two

 

“This is us,” says O’Malley. “As for the rest of these symbols, I have no idea.”

“What about those arrows,” asks Benny. O’Malley tells him, “My guess is us choosing between walking east or west. I’m thinking west.”

Follow the path of the sun makes its way in, each nodding in agreement.

 

Leading the band of four across the carnage of skull and bone, O’Malley feels the whitecoats tinkering with him again. Thinking this is not a good time, the funny-looking whitecoat says, just a minute more. A kaleidoscope of colors bloom only to fade. Why are you messing with my eyes? Just a little fine tuning. Blink once, and then one more time. Good. Alright then, we made some improvements to the optic nerve. Relax your stare. He does.

Wondering what is next to be improved upon, what seen is a horde of odd-looking beetles crawling towards them. Focusing on the one leading the charge, its razor teeth and opaque eyes gives reason why many have tried and failed.

“There’s an army of beetles marching this way.”

“Did you say beetles?

“There’s close to a million and each one looks hungry. So, unless you want to be reduced to skull and bone, we better go back to the obelisk.”

 

There is no doubt in his mind those whitecoats messed with O’Malley again. Changed the way he see things.

She walks up then and after looking out his eyes, without a word, she walks away.

 

Standing before the obelisk, the stench is gut retching, and thinking this is what death smells like, Vincent and Benny stare at each other, their eyes doing all the talking of saying goodbye and how nice it has been to know you. There are no tears, each knowing they will fight to the bitter end. Running out of options, Lewis asks her for help, but she won’t come forward. “Talk to me, O’Malley.”

He thought east west but after studying the two arrows pointing in opposite directions, O’Malley tells Lewis, “Wait.” Pressing his fingertips on each arrow, O’Malley spreads the arrows apart and in doing so, the ground swallows them up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He has waited a thousand centuries and now that his wait is over, with a wave of his hand, the horde of beetles return from whence they came. The book of rules says he has to tell her the good news. Pushing himself out of the stuffed chair, he has never had to do this before, his pets failing him when he needed them the most. Walking to, there amongst the jars and wax candles is a jewelry box. Opening its lid, sets aside a cloth overlapping a tiny glass bottle. There she is. It won’t be long before she calls him king. And she, his queen. “Are you awake?”

“I am now.”

“All four passed the first challenge.”

“You sound surprised.”

“Somewhat. Alright, in you go.”

“Wait.”

“Ready to give up?”

“Never. Mind my words, wizard. You will be brought before the king for all you have done.”

“You say that every time. It’s ok, I won’t hold this against you. I promise.”

“You’re scared because the four made it through, aren’t you. I can see it in your eyes.”

“This time will be no different from the last time the two of us spoke.”

“That rattle in your voice tells a different story. Got a cold?”

“Off you go.”

Covering the bottle, and after the lid is closed, for a moment he stares at the jewelry box. So, the four made it through. Let’s see how they fare with their next trial. Walking back to the stuffed chair positioned just so in front of the hearth, he captures his image in the mirror. Aged he looks, the book of rules telling of the consequences. Seated in his chair, stares into the fire while his mind takes to imagining how his life is going to be in the near future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gravity is pulling him down, and with nothing to grasp onto, his world is slipping away. Alone in the moment, the burning desire to choke the life out of Henry Bennett surfaces. Drunk off his a*s, Bennett drove his ‘64 Lincoln right through the front window of Marty’s grocery. Mary was working that day and by the time he got to her, the light had left her eyes. Picturing her face, eyelids flutter open. There’s Benny looking down at him. “Are you okay?”

 

It takes a minute before recalling the ground opening up. “I think so.”

 

Lewis takes a knee beside Vincent, “You gave us quite a scare. Can you stand?”

“Yeah.” Helping him, Benny and Lewis tug the giant of a man to his feet.

 

Looking around to where he is, Vincent asks more to Benny than Lewis, “Where are we?”

Benny looks at the lit torches aligning the walls, “In a passageway. No telling what’s waiting for us on the other side. How about it, ready to go find out?”

“Can’t let you have all the fun.”

Benny looks at Lewis, “He says he’s ready.” Lewis nods, “Alright, let’s see where this tunnel leads to.”

 

 

 

Vincent can’t clear his mind of Mary, her lifeless face pulling him down to the sad realization he will never again feel the touch of her lips or smell the scent of her skin. Controlling the anger building within him, finding Jane smooths out his tormented soul. With them going about it in a weird way, O’Malley talked as though he was reading from a fairy tale book. This had him telling O’Malley he didn’t believe in that stuff but now he is not so sure. Brushing a hand over the back of his head, there is some tenderness. Thinking if those beetles got a hold of him, what tenderness felt pales to the thought of being dinner for a million beetles. With this comes the desire to thank O’Malley by buying him a beer. Picturing the two of them sitting around having a few laughs, Benny and Jane will show, maybe Lewis as well. Mary would be missed, that odd break in the conversation as all listen to Jane talk about that one time. All he wanted was to grow old with her and that’s how it should have been, but no, that scumbag Henry Bennett ruined that from happening. Now all he has are vague frames collected throughout the years. Bits and pieces of a time long ago. Feeling empty, what noticed is that the slight breeze has picked up to where it is running its warm fingers against his face. Lewis and Benny feel it too, O’Malley saying, “We’re coming to an opening.”