Chapter 4

I had been running for nearly two hours with an injured body and a fractured state of mind. My legs felt as if they were about to give out but I still kept going. I finally spotted a house that had been abandoned for years, still it was worth a try to see if there was anything here. I looked around and sure enough it was abandoned, no one in sight. Ever since I stepped foot in the prison, I had no clothes to keep me warm at night or even to cover me up. I only had underwear on! That would be so embarrassing if I found someone while I had just underwear on. I opened the door to find that the owners had left everything here: furniture, dishes, food, and clothes. I went to a laundry hamper to see if these clothes would even fit me and sure enough they looked to be my size. I quickly change into some sweatpants and a dark long sleeve shirt, not the best clothes but at least I am comfy now. It wasn’t until my stomach growled that I didn’t stop looking around. “We need food.” The voice says.

“I agree.” I say aloud. I searched the cabinets for any food that wasn’t expired or rotten but no luck! “Dammit!” I slam a cabinet door as I look outside to see some Lotus Fruit growing. I go outside to grab some of it while also finding a freshly dead crane that had been on the ground for nearly a day. “Well how about that, I’m one lucky son of a bitch.” I say aloud. I hope I’m not going crazy because I am talking to myself a lot!

I managed to start a fire, cooking the bird meat while eating some fruit to kill my appetite. I don’t remember much about my past but I knew that I must have been a farmer or a hunter based on what I knew about nature. Maybe once I find a village or something, I could find a job being a farmer. Maybe start a business of my own? But what I do wish right now is that I wasn’t alone. As far as I knew, I didn’t have a family or friends. I only knew that I had enemies. Ugh! Why can’t I remember anything about my past? I have to have a family! Everyone has a family! Right? I sighed to myself as I pinched the bridge of my nose. “You have me.”

“Oh thanks! Maybe I am crazy after all. I mean I hear you all the time.” I say, thinking aloud.

“Nonsense! I am real, you just don’t know what I am!” The voice says.

I chuckled. “Okay then. Enlighten me. What are you?” I asked.

“That is for you to find out. Damian I know you, I’ve been a part of you all your life. I’ve watched you grow up as a boy with a phenomenal mother and father. Our mother and father. But I am in the same boat as you, I don’t know what we are. Just that we are a great pair. I am not of this plane of existence but you are and right now I need you to find out what we are so that we can be stronger than we ever have before.” The voice says sympathetically.

“If I find out what we are, who we are, and how we are here then will you reveal everything?” I asked.

“I can give you my name if it helps."

“Ok what’s your name?”

"My name is Dragodeus.”

“Dragodeus? Hmm, that’s a cool name but how about Drago?”

“Yeah, I’m fine with that.” I smile at my new found friend. Even though I haven’t seen his face, it’s still nice to talk to him.

I woke up early this morning. I needed to get a drink of water or else I was gonna lose it! I walked only a few miles to find a small stream. Perfect! I take small sips of this water enjoying the cold liquid running down my throat. It’s been a while since I drank anything but dirty water from prison. After I felt hydrated I decided to abandon the little home that I had to find a village or town. I got up and continued to walk for a few more hours. You’d think I would have found civilization at this point but nothing! Nothing but trees, birds and animals! But as I walked, my stomach started to churn. At first it was nothing but then it started to hurt like my insides wanted to burst out of me! “Argh!” I growled out of agony. “What the hell?”

“Parasite.” Drago answers.

“WHAT!??”

“We shouldn’t have drank from that stream. Either that or we ate that bird too late last night.” Oh great! First I’m in prison, then we get injured, almost starve to death and now we have a fucking parasite! This is the worst fucking day of my life! “It could be worse.”

“How?”

“Well we could be burning to death or drowning or eaten alive or…”

“Yeah yeah I get it! Fuck you, Drago!”

“Not my fault you’re a pathetic bitch of a man!”

“Oh now we’re calling each other names? You are the worst friend in the history of wherever the hell we are!”

“Never said I was your friend.”

“You know what I oughta kick your ass!”

“Do it!” Suddenly things started to get worse as my vision blurred. The last thing I remember is collapsing on a log as things go black.

*Ember*

"EMBER IM GOING TO MURDER YOU!!!!!" The sound of my cat screeching reaches my ears as I run through the woods with him hot on my tail. Let's just say I may or may not have accidentally knocked him into a stream.

"IN YOUR DREAMS BINX!!" I leap over a downed log only to have something hit me in the back. Thump! I hit the ground.

"VICTORY IS MINE BITCH!" The weight on my back disappears as a black shadow with bright yellow eyes appears in front of me.

"Lay off the extra food would you." I sit up, rubbing my back. "I don't think you could get any heavier." I pluck a leaf out of my hair.

Binx rolls his eyes at me. "I'll have you know I am a very healthy weight for a cat of my size."

I go to respond when something crashes nearby. I hold up a finger to silence Binx as I get up slowly. Once I'm on my feet, a small fireball forms in my hand. Taking slow and cautious steps, I move towards the source of the sound with Binx trailing behind. Peering around a tree, I spot a man that appears to be in his early twenties or so, laying on a log. He's bleeding heavily and appears to have broken bones. A wave of empathy washes over me as I slowly move closer, not taking any chances.

"I think he's dead." Binx says as he pokes the guy with his paw. I do a double take. Wasn't he just behind me!?

"BINX GET BACK OVER HERE!" I hiss, gritting my teeth.

"But I want to play with the dead animal." I face palm.

"Binx. That's a person and he isn’t dead!" I growl as I stomp over and snatch him up. "How I ever got you as a companion I'll never know. I think they left some of your brain cells back at the academy."

"Eh but you love me anyways." He looks down at the man again. "So what are we gonna do with the klutz?"

"We're gonna take him home and heal him. And once he's healed, we'll send him on his way."

“Aw man can’t we just dump him in the river?”

"No!" I glare at Binx. "Now shut up and behave." I set him on the ground again.

"Fine." He huffs in annoyance. Ignoring him, I focus on the guy in front of me, lifting my hand and watch as his body starts to lift. Thank the lord for telekinesis. I turn away, my hand still suspended in the air as I use my powers to help me get him back to my home.

"Come Binx. We got healing to do."

Binx grumbles before he comes trotting up beside me.

20 minutes later we finally made it back to my family's property. I head towards my cabin, using my powers to open the door. I walk to my bedroom where I lower the man's body onto my bed. "Binx!"

"What now!"

"Get me the healing salve from the workroom and I'll get some supplies from the kitchen." I make my way to the kitchen, passing the remains of my 21st birthday party that happened a few weeks ago. "I'll have to clean that up later. Might become a hazard." I think to myself as I grab the supplies, heading back to my room. I light a lantern using a fireball before hanging it above the bed. I look over his wounds, noticing that the bleeding has slowed. Binx hops up beside me, dropping the salve onto the guy. "BINX!"

"You never said where to put it." I roll my eyes as I turn away and use my powers to pull water out of a jug nearby to wash his wounds. When I turn back around, I see Binx with his mouth hanging open.

"Binx?"

"L-l-look!" He points his paw at the guy. I look at him and see his wounds have disappeared. No scars or anything remain. Even his broken bones appear to have mended themselves.

"WHAT THE HELL!?" I scream, the water that was suspended in mid air hitting the ground. "BINX GET OVER HERE NOW!" I didn't have to tell him twice. He practically flies across the room, landing on my shoulder where he hides under my hair. I hold my rapidly beating heart as I stare at this man. What the hell is he?!