Superstitions

A guide to befriending fictional bandits

As Michael had said, he was all night on the lookout. Here and there he heard some noises in the darkness. Each time the demon perked up and gazed into the dark veil of trees, but each time it was just an animal, a fast opossum, searching for food, or loud bats, screaming in the dead of night. One small badger, taking all of its bravery, even came right to the travelers’ camp, sniffing the air. Michael stroked the little animal on the head, earning himself soft growl. 

"Are you hungry?"

The badger made another sound, which Michael took as yes. It took a piece of rabbit and gave the food to the animal. Gladly accepting the gift, the badger began eating, and from multiple throat sounds, it liked the dinner. Or was it breakfast?

"Do you know any settlements nearby?" Michael asked. Great, now he was talking with a badger. That's how bored he was. At the moments like this he wished to be able to create things out of thin air. But that was a far stretch. 

"I could use some company here, ya know.”

In response the badger turned on its back. Michael chuckled and stroked its belly. What he liked about animals more? Well, they didn’t talk. 

The demon looked at his sleeping companion. Michael watched Sam's chest slowly rise and fall and noticed how the moonlight was shining in her slightly dirty hair. Glossy, raven black hair and green eyes — they made a beautiful combination, especially on her. Flames, he got himself a nice catch.

Sam woke up in the morning, sniffing the air. It was filled with a delicious smell, and for a moment she was confused as to why such smell had made it to her prison cell. Then Sam started to recall the events of yesterday, the unsuccessful execution, the escape and the one who helped her to run away. She rubbed her eyes and soon opened them. Michael was currently making breakfast, smirking slightly at the waking girl. 

"Looks like I found a way to wake you up," he said. There was a little pile of wood, with a smooth stone on it. Michael was frying eggs he collected on this improvised frying pan, "There are still some mushrooms and berries."

Sam got up and popped some wild strawberries into her mouth.

"How long exactly will it take for us to get to your grandmother?" Michael asked, using the sharp stick as fork. 

"Depends. A lot of time, maybe," Sam answered, "If nothing will happen, that is," 

The demon immediately facepalmed, surprising her.

"You just had to say that," he grumbled and shook his head. 

"Why, is something wrong?" 

"Well, now it is. NOW I'm sure that something will happen. Stupid Murphy's law, why can't you just leave me alone..."

"What is Murphy's law?" Sam asked, stopping his rant.

"It says: 'If something can go wrong, it WILL go wrong', some think it's just a superstition, like walking under ladder or breaking the mirror. But I know better, my whole life follows this rule," it raised another question in her head.

"How old this life is exactly? You have old man hair in your...other appearance." 

Michael snorted. 

"I'm twenty," he said, "Plus, white hair doesn’t mean old age. Some people are born like that, but I am not amongst them, I just have white hair."

"Your speech is odd.”

"In our world there are no races or separate cultures, everyone is being tortured, it all blends together, and we involuntarily pick up some thing, " Michael took another piece of scrambled egg, “Hell is a place without a concept of time. Thus, Caligula would be sharing a pot with Hitler. And the latter is yet to be born. By torturing them we get an information about the future. It is our way of learning about it. Upstairs there is the omniscient being.”

Michael smiled and took out the golden coin. 

"Let me explain how this stuff works. Look at the coin. It has two sides, right?" Sam nodded, her attention fully on his tale, "The same with both worlds. It's like two sides of the coin, you can't have one without another. Hell and Human World are connected, usually it's hard to get from one world to another. But sometimes, they come too close, creating gaps..."

"And you came through one of them?" Sam asked, Michael nodded.

"Yes, however, such gaps are very tricky and unpredictable, you never know what's on the other side, where you will be...and when. That's why I'm here.”

“And…where is Heaven in your structure?”

Michael smirked, “It’s quite easy to get in Hell. You just sin and fall into the pit. Heaven…well…it’s even harder to get there, obviously. Angels come down themselves to take the righteous. Those feathered buffoons have the means necessary. Anyways, chop chop, time for us to go," he said and got up.

Relatively little changed afterwards. It was the same dusty road, the same uncomfortable seat, namely the horse’s spine. However, Michael was getting too twitchy all of a sudden.

"What's wrong, Michael?" Sam asked.

"Something is moving behind the trees. Has been for half an hour. Be it an animal, we would have been attacked already.”

The lady’s eyes widened.

"Robbers?"

 Michael shrugged. 

"Maybe. But it's not like we should be afraid," he smiled reassuringly. 

Sam tried to smile as well.

Soon after, the people started to jump from bushes and prepared hideouts. They were dressed in different pieces of clothing, that they most possibly stole from passing people. Probably that’s why they were dressed so horrendously. Each had a weapon in hand: a dagger, a sword or an axe, whatever they were able to get a hold on. 

Then one man stepped ahead, Michael and Sam supposed it was the leader. He wore red and black clothes and green hat with black feather. He had auburn hair and brown eyes. There was a scar on his chin, left after claw, Michael guessed. The man was grinning widely. 

"Well, well, boys, who do we have here?" He said. 

"You have two strangers with no money, except one coin, and without anything expensive," Michael grinned innocently. Gang members stared at him, besides the leader, who laughed.

"Oh, he is not lying, judging from the looks. But there is still something you can give us," he glanced at Sam. And Michael noticed that. 

"Touch her, and say goodbye to your hands before your ass greets them,” Michael threatened. The leader looked at him in surprise.

"Oh, I was merely joking good sir. My little gang would never rob a poor. My treat, your lady sure needs something to eat!" Sam blushed brightly.

“Yes, would never rob a person who has nothing, how noble,” Michael rolled his eyes.

“You are mistaken, I’m afraid,” said Sam, “He is my...bodyguard.”

"Really?" Both the leader and the demon looked really confused, "You sure look like a couple. So, what d'ya say?" 

"See, Sammy?" Michael looked at her, "Murphy's law in action, they lure us in and try to kill before leaving us to the dogs.”

She nudged him slightly. 

"Don't call me that," Sam mumbled. 

Robbers built a little village deep in the woods. Small houses were scattered around the cave entrance. The leader, whose name was Robin, explained a few things. The cave was split in three parts: the room, where rogue leader lived, common dining room and treasury, where they kept everything they had stolen. And, as Michael duly noted, were not in the poor folks’ pockets. Everyone sat in the dining room. Michael wasn't hungry, but Sam needed more than just a handful of berries. 

"So," Robin asked, taking a chicken leg, "What brings you in our forest?" 

"Sam wants to visit her grandmother," said Michael, biting an apple and putting his legs on the table, "She asked me to protect her during the trip."

"Hm, and why you?" The leader smirked.

"I'm an old friend..."

"No, no, no, that's not what I meant. Are you any good with weapon?" 

Michael put down the goblet, a tiny smirk crawling up his face. 

"I dare say there are few who wave the sword just as good. You want to check?”

No discussion followed. Robin gave out orders to prepare everything. They went to the open ground in the middle of the improvised village belonging to the Merry Men, or what was their name. The crowd had already formed around Michael and Robin, who were preparing for a fight.

"Hey, kiddo," Michael turned to the bandit, "It may be a bit boring just like that. How about we make a bet?" 

"Hm, what's your offer?" The demon asked, twirling the most fitting sword for him. 

"If you win, you get some nice gold coins. If me, then you will go without a horse."

"Oh, I’m satisfied with conditions," Michael grinned. 

The judge dropped his hand and the clash instantly began.

Robin immediately tried to figure out Michael's fighting style. It was confusing, to say the least. Every warrior knows that you need all the strength in your legs and you must stand with your whole feet on the ground, but Michael didn't do that. Instead, he was standing on the balls or socks of his feet, and Robin had to admit, this kid was hard to get to. Make a swing, he would be already behind you, try to stab, he would block you and counterattack in a mere second. 

Everyone else was staring in awe at the kid in front of them, including Sam. She knew that he was strong just because of what he was, but that was a clear skill, besides Michael's supernatural reaction. Suddenly someone nudged her slightly. Sam turned around and saw a girl sitting nearby.

"Looks like you got quite a catch," the girl said, making Sam blush. The teasing scoundrel laughed upon seeing such reaction.

"We aren't a couple," Sam said quietly, but still was looking at the fight, "Who are you, anyway?"

"Loraine Gray," she answered with raised eyebrows, "Why are you denying it so fiercely?"

"It's...complicated. He...isn't from around here," Sam said.

"So? The distance shouldn't be a problem, if you like him. Oh, don't deny that," Valerie noticed, that Sam was about to say something, "The mere fact that you blushed tells everything"

"Would you stop making assumptions? Just seeing a lady with a man doesn’t make them a couple, get it?”

"What, typical 'noble and peasant' problem?" 

"DAMN IT!" They heard the Robin shouting. 

This guy was already losing his patience and stamina. Michael, however wasn't even sweating. He currently was blocking another Robin's hit, maintaining his proud composure. While the bandit had a light cut on his arm, left by the sword in a severe state of disrepair. 

"Too much force in one hit, Robin," Michael said, pushing the man back easily, “Do we have to begin a lecture here? On the simplest basics, no less?” 

The young demon was totally unharmed, being in the same condition he had been in before. 

“I propose a draw, if you wish.”

“Huh...even if you can win?” 

“Our goals are different. Yours is to win, mine — not to lose. A draw seems like a good enough compromise. So, are you interested?” 

“You are an odd lad...”

Robin was not stupid, the lad was overwhelming him. If the battle continued any longer, he would surely be beaten. 

“Fine, I agree.”