Schinx found an alpha in Aiden
1430 Words
Aiden looked on as he retreated to a point where he was sure that he'd outrun the wounded and weakened fellow only he were human and there he stopped. He listened to the grunts and confirmed that he was a man, obviously needing help. He took a step forward and saw that he was still on the floor, hands trying a grip and heaving heavily.
"I prithee to help. Please perform your civic duty and save this old man," his voice cracked and Aiden dithered still. "Now!" he shouted. "I'm dying," he said softly.
"Who are you?" Aiden asked and took another step forward.
"I only have the strength," he paused, "to ask for help, I will tell you all, later," please help me cauterize this wound," the man said and turned to face the sky then returned to his earlier position and began to crawl.
Aiden watched as the man slowly crawled towards a tree and rested his back on it. He exhaled audibly and held his right arm in his left hand.
"How could you drop from the sky?" Aiden asked.
"A long story," the man responded.
"I love stories. Especially mystical ones. So start talking if you need help," Aiden returned and took another step closer.
"Then, I have one too many. I have hundreds of stories. Mystical and historical, you need to hear them, save me, I'm losing much blood," he said.
"Hey, guys. Guys, come back it's safe," Aiden screamed. "Code one, huh, code one - leave no one behind. I'm still at the arena so return," he placed his hands on each side of his mouth and shouted. Afterwards, he walked close to the man, separated by ten feet. "Tell me what to do," Aiden offered.
"What is your name, lad?" the man asked.
"I'm Aiden," Aiden answered immediately. "What about you?"
"I'm Schinx, Schinx Woodwell. Do you know herbs?" the man queried.
"I don't, Mr Woodwell," Aiden answered.
"Who were you beckoning on?" Schinx asked.
"My friends. We were together before you dropped. How could you drop?" Aiden asked and the man stared back. He sniffed and shook his head.
"I thought," Schinx said and paused. "I thought this was a pack. But when I sniffed, I perceived more…"
"What? A pack? Well, that's for movies," Aiden interrupted.
"Movies? Oh, movies. How is the theatre these days? Oh, one thing at a time. I perceive more, a touch of destiny. You are…" he paused when Jacob and Jason and Michelle and Ix rushed into the scene and stood beside Aiden, they all stared dead at the figure before them.
"Who is he?" Ix whispered.
"Mr Schinx Woodwell," Aiden answered.
"That's all? He dropped, didn't he. How? Jacob said in the same manner as Ix.
"He said he'd tell. He needs help, then he will talk. He asked if I knew herbs…"
"Help? I ain't going an inch closer," Michelle said.
"Where is Luke and Rebecca?" Ix questioned.
"I saw them running to the west. Oh, there they are," Michelle answered and pointed.
"What?" Luke said and paused when he sighted the figure as well. Slowly, he and Rebecca joined the league of onlookers, all staring at Schinx. Aiden in the middle, Jacob, Jason and Michelle to the left, Ix Luke and Rebecca to the right.
"Hmm," Schinx hummed, a long one. "As I've said, destiny, a touch of it, even more," he said again and the group looked on. "I'm dying. Who knows herbs?" he questioned again.
"I do. But nothing for you expect I know more of you," Michelle said.
"Hey, you do?" Jacob asked and Michele nodded, without looking onto Jacob's face.
"Healers would do the necessary even if a thief needed it. I'm your prisoner for the night. You want me to talk, you keep me alive. Now, in this forest is a plantation of herbs, I need one called the yeep weed. You'd see it with flooring and taproots. Trace the root's limbs and find the base, at the base will be a seed cup, in the seed cup is a liquid that will heal me, that is what I need," he said and rested his head on the tree.
"Should we?" Aiden asked. He had his ways and it was that he would help. However, he asked to know their choice and he was happy when they nodded.
"You wait," Schinx called out and pointed to Aiden as they all were about to spread out with their torches on.
"Me? Huh, okay," Aiden said and walked close. He felt safe to some degree. Now, there were five feet between him and Schinx and he went down to one kneel, staring at his face. He tried to obtain a picture, but there were blotches of blood dripping from his forehead which made it a hard task to figure out his face. Aiden checked out his clothing and noted that it was a cloak. Then he checked out his feet and saw a shoe design that was from the old world. Stunned, he needed answers.
"Aiden," he called out and grunted. "The world is about to change. The Pandora cell has been breached. Hell was broken into. Hades lost some chained demons in his cabinet. Hence, the world is at risk," he said and paused to inhale.
"I don't understand," Aiden said.
"You won't, because I haven't explained. I will explain so that you understand. You're brave and would…"
"I found it," Michelle came running with a fleshy green ball in her hand. She paused a foot behind Aiden. "So what do I do with it?" she asked.
"Give it to Aiden," Schinx said. "I need three of these," he added and Michelle ran off again.
"Why are you all out here. It may be right yesterday. It may be right last week. It may be, last year, or a decade ago. I bet it would be, centuries ago. But from now onwards, it will never be safe. Trapped souls are free, Aiden. They need to relive their lives. There would be c*****e," Schinx said. "Throw me the seed."
"No! Are you a seer? Are you a wizard? Are you a… just what are you to say such about the world? Tell me, or I throw this away," Aiden threatened.
"Werewolf! Do you know about that? Presently, I am the last of my kind, Aiden. An hour ago, we were twenty and a hundred and one. But now it's just me. Think about it, Aiden. What supersedes in your world right now? Good or evil?" Schinx asked.
With Aiden's answer as evil, he kept quiet.
"In the old world, it's evil. I woke up to see that it's evil all along--"
Aiden was processing his words as he spoke. 'He woke up?' he thought.
"It was as though I slept yesterday. The same way it was back then, it is now. News back then held talks about technology as the answer. That it would bring change. I read it all and wanted to live to see it. When I woke up, it was as I read it. Roads were tarred and are as long as the sea; houses were in levels; I see the sea camped; trees bearing lights for mankind; beasts are tamed; clothing is special; all had changed. However, one thing remains - the devil in humans has never been tamed by technology. Instead, it birthed more craze in them. I wake up to see that evil supersedes still. I am now the last of my kind because I chose to return the order. Throw it away. In other words, kill me and save me from witnessing the world crumble. Please do so, the taker of my life, master Aiden," Schinx said.
Aiden was lost in thought. 'Are these parts of the mystical stories he said he'd tell?" he questioned himself and threw the seed in Schinx's direction. He walked back to the opposite tree and watches Schinx crushing the seed to get the waters in it, applying it to a cut in his armpit and shoulder and finally eating the seed. A lot had been said to him and it was too much to process. He sighed when he checked his cell phone and saw the time. It was quarter past eight.
"I found two more," Michelle returned with the seeds and walked towards Aiden. There he stood with Michelle till the group all showed up and stood together as they watched him tidy up.
"What has he said?" Ix asked.
"We haven't talked yet," Aiden answered.
- Writer
