Page 5 of Orange Town
“The Skull Cave,” he murmured.
“Yes, there were many skulls. I honestly did not know they were there when I passed them.”
It surprised me when he stood up and sat again, only inches away from me. I scooted up a bit for personal space but did not get far.
“Do you not have a sense of smell? How can you trample on the skulls of our ancestors?” he said in a deceptively soft voice.
“Look Roqs, you have to understand. I’m not the same as you and everyone else on this planet. I don’t have superior strength, nor hearing, nor smell something far away or from long ago! And how come you people can smell skulls? They are supposed to be long dead.”
“And yet you are standing here. It is said that for someone who stepped on the skulls in the Skull Cave, he will have bad luck for years!”
I stared incredulously at this guy. He’s young, maybe a few years younger than Zirc, fit and more than capable of killing monsters with his many weapons underneath his cloak. But he’s afraid of a hearsay?
I do not know whether I wanted to cry or laugh. I was about to cry because of the way he is judging me. Judging my race! But this. This guy.
I can’t help it. I laughed and laughed.
It was a belly laugh. I folded myself in half and laughed so hard.
It did not surprise me that tears sprang into my eyes. Maybe I’m finally, finally going to go crazy. After what I've been through, what I experienced, knowing I’m stuck on this planet until my dying breath, it’s good that I can still laugh.
“Are you laughing at me?”
And I laughed harder. More tears ran down my face. It felt good. At least people on this planet know what laughter is.
“I am not joking, Brynn! On this planet, we heed what our ancestors tell us. It’s how we survive. Are you sure you’re not a spy from the Purple Tribe? They look down from their noses on most of this planet’s culture, I should whip them on their asses.”
I was now down to giggles and briefly glanced at him through the gaps in my hair. He looked seriously pissed off.
I wonder how someone like him ended up as a friend to Zirc? Though judging from his reaction, he looked like someone very close to Zirc. Maybe they are lovers? Or ex-lovers?
“If you are done laughing Brynn Anderson, answer my question. This Ist person, why did he kidnap you?”
I tried to control my giggle. “Well,” a pause. “He.” I straightened and looked at him. “He” then I laughed again when he looked so pissed, he looked a bit constipated. Then I heard his smirk and soon we were both laughing.
When we could finally stop, I looked at him and told him about Ist. How he kidnapped me. I also described the other persons we met in that cave. The enemies whom Ist betrayed us. How he’s dead.
“How long have you known Ist?”
“Barely a day. Or two, because I think I spent one night in that cave with him. I just heard him mention the Silver Beast. I refused to believe them when they said Zirc turned into that beast! How can someone grow that tall and be different looking?”
He looked at me as if I’m going to judge Zirc’s beast. I wonder if others were afraid and disgusted with Zirc’s grotesque looks?
“But when he got near and took me in his claws, I knew then it was him. He smelled like Zirc. Though stronger.”
“You smelled him?” he queried, raising one eyebrow.
“He was really near. Unlike you right now. We were really much closer.”
“His beast did not bite you?”
“No! But I thought he was going to. I mean, he has those enormous claws, those huge teeth like pointed knives. What was I to think?” I gestured with my hands as if explaining to a jury. “Then I smelled him. Beyond the dirt and the blood, I can smell him.”
“He was bleeding?”
“No, that was me. I don't think he bled. There was blood from the enemies. Then everything was a blur. He was running too fast to get us out of that cave.”
“He took you here?”
