Page 14 of The Pale Rider
I took a step forward, and it was like black spots started clouding my vision. I was getting dizzy. The walls were closing in on me, and this room was getting even smaller. I needed to get the fuck out of there, but I also needed to find Aeron. My foot felt like lead as I tried to move it forward. My feet wanted to be running out of there, and I was forcing them onward.
There was this pounding in my ears, and the black spots were increasing. I tried to ignore it. What if Aeron was hurt? I needed to know if he was dead. I needed to see it. If he was a Rage Head now, then I needed to give him peace. I just needed to find him.
I saw him through the haze of black spots in my vision. He was alive, and he had this look of panic in his eyes. That was for me, I thought. He went running towards me like he was worried about me instead of me coming in here to check on him.
Aeron caught me right as I passed out.
Chapter 8
S
omething stank, and it differed from the usual rotting apocalypse stank that was in the air now. I heard someone call my name, and then someoneslapped me in the face.I bolted to a sitting position trying to figure out who I needed to punch. I was lying on the sidewalk outside of the grocery store we just looted in Aeron’s lap. And he fucking slapped me.
“What the fuck, Aeron?”
“You tried to come to the pharmacy. You had a panic attack and passed out.”
“I did not!”
I already knew I did, but I was embarrassed as fuck it happened. Maybe if I denied it happened, he would pretend like it didn’t. I didn’t want to be the weakest link in this whole assassination plot. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to take part, but I didn’t want to get dumped before I figured that out because I couldn’t deal with small spaces.
“Ariel, you have serious claustrophobia. You could have helped out better looting the store, and you wouldn’t have had to go through that. Why did you come back there, and why didn’t you leave when you started having a panic attack?”
“I filled my rucksack, and I thought you’d been gone too long. I was checking on you. I got worried when I called your name, and you didn’t answer. I thought you were hurt. What the fuck were you doing, and why didn’t you answer?”
“Because I hit the fucking jackpot in that pharmacy. Everyone was so concerned about the meds, and they didn’t pay any attention to the locked door in the back. It’s an extra storeroom for the grocery store. There are labeled cans, chips, and cookies in there. Dump out your bag. I even found your favorite. They have Cheetos in there!”
Aeron was so excited about his find, but I couldn’t remember a thing about liking Cheetos. Maybe when I ate them, I would have another flash of my past life. This was good. Aeron found a stash we could use, I learned a little about killing Rage Heads, and I discovered I couldn’t handle small spaces at all without fainting. I’d have to get over the whole small spaces shit fast because I was sure I would have to hide in some, eventually.
Aeron helped me to my feet this time and led me back into the store.
“See if you can find more bags. I’ll load everything in the supply closet up. Stand watch and don’t come back in the pharmacy.”
I felt seriously unhelpful as I just stood there and watched the door and a broken window. He spent all the time casing this place and learning the local gang’s raiding schedule. He was the one that found the secret stash. I got a bunch of dented cans. I was pretty lousy at this whole apocalypse thing, but at least I managed to kill one of them. And I found some bags so Aeron could bring more home with us.
Aeron finally came out with both of our rucksacks and two garbage bags full of stuff. He also had this massive smile on his face like he just stopped the apocalypse. He handed me the backpack and one of the garbage bags, and we stepped outside. The horse was standing there waiting for us like he knew we just finished. I knew he wasn’t standing outside when I was watching the window. That wasn’t a normal fucking horse. The horse knew that I knew that too because I swear it just winked at me again.
Aeron tied our haul to the saddle and helped me up a little more gracefully this time. I felt less like a sack of potatoes this time. He climbed up behind me, and I didn’t even react when the horse took off running like a bat out of Hell. I just expected it. The horse was some sort of devil horse, and it answered to Aeron. And I agreed to trust Aeron. Somehow, I got the feeling that wasn’t the dumbest thing I’d ever done in my life. I mean, I had a baby blue baseball bat I named Smurfette. There was a good chance I had been pretty fucking weird before I lost my memories.
The ride back to the cabin was long, and Aeron pushed the horse pretty hard. And I got this weird feeling the horse liked it too. I got this vibe off the horse it enjoyed riding hard and fast into some sort of battle where it got to trample people with those enormous hooves of his.
I got this flash in my head, and I had no idea where it came from. It couldn’t be a memory because it wasn’t possible. I saw Aeron sitting on top of that horse, but he was different. His hair was longer and flowing in waves down his back. The sword he always carried was in flames, but it wasn’t burning him on the horse. The horse’s eyes were glowing red like I’d seen flashes of.
This is where the impossible came in. Aeron’s eyes were glowing white, and there was this white glow that was coming from his body. He also had this huge set of white wings coming from his back like an angel.
I shook my head, and the image went away. Now was not the time to be having sexual fantasies about the crazy conspiracy theory nut who saved my life. He hadn’t shown me a single shred of proof he wasn’t some nutter who thought he was the world’s savior.
Even though Aeron helped me on the horse nicely, he practically threw me on the ground, helping me off. He untied our bag and gave the devil horse another smack on the ass. When he turned to look at me, he seemed as happy as a kindergartner who just got told they could finger paint for the entire day.
“I found chips, Velveeta, and a jar of salsa. We’re having fuckingnachosfor dinner, Speedy.”
I may not remember eating nachos, but I knew only heathens didn’t like nachos. I squealed and jumped up and down. I had this weird urge to hug him, but I had this feeling he wouldn’t like it, and I didn’t want to ruin the moment.
I held my hand up for a fist bump instead.
“Thank god you looked in that closet then! Nachos during the apocalypse!”
“Nachos for dinner. Tomorrow, we rough it and head out to meet Leif in Mexico.”
