Chapter 1: Chapter One: Courage

The gleam of rat eyes moved in the dark. A pointed nose sniffed at the air, taking in a new scent it had never encountered before. Curiosity dug a little deeper into the furry creature, the possibility of food filling its mind.

It moved cautiously through the dark, toward the blissful aroma. Dirt and pebbles shifted under its feet as it scurried over to an edge and sniffed at the air. Ears listened for any predators, but a calm fell over its entire form. Beady eyes looked down, over the edge and a faint glow reflected in its eyes.

The rat watched as its nose twitched, a dim glow at the bottom of a deep pit. It grew brighter and brighter with each small passage of time. The rat didn’t feel a threat, fascinated by the glowing water.

Glowing milky water continued to rise. It rippled against the edges of the wide pit. Before long, it reached the top, just a foot under the inquisitive rat. The creature stared as the milky blue water grew still. The rat held onto the edge, trying to get closer to taste it.

A bubble came up and popped. Drops touched the rat. The furry creature pulled back, lifting one dark pink hand and wiping at its face. The milky blue water moved, like small worms. The rat leapt back, trying to wipe them away. It let out a panicked squeak as the worms dug into the corner of its eyes. The squeaks turned into screeches as the blue worms dug into its body and were absorbed.

The screeches stopped. The rat stared out with blank eyes. It crawled to the edge of the now filled pit and looked down. It heard the song and it wanted more. It felt the calm siren call of warmth and love.

In a blink, the rat leapt into the milky blue water and vanished below the surface. The ripples died down until they were gone. The furry creature didn’t resurface.

The glow of the milky blue pond painted the cave walls in light as silence blanketed the area once again.

***

I pulled into the clearing and slowed to a stop. I shifted into park and simply sat, my gaze drinking in the area. The clearing was surrounded by green, leafy trees. Beyond them, several stony hills stood in the short distance. The sky was a beautiful, clear and sunny day.

My mind drifted, trying to not think about my life, if only for a moment. The serenity of my favorite camping area calmed my nerves, every time. Moments passed along my mind of camping, cooking, and fishing. I was back, ready to reset and clear my spirit of baggage before returning to the chaos of living in a city that truly never sleeps.

I put my hand on the door, ready to exit my truck and start my weekend, when a song played from my pocket. I glanced down at my leg, pondering if I should pick it up. I didn’t want any news, updates, or conversations on what happened. I need my peace or I knew I would go crazy.

Curiosity and duty won out and I cursed under my breath.

I fished out my cellphone from my jean’s pocket and checked the screen. I smiled a little as I saw the name to the number. I clicked accept and put it to my ear.

“Hi Mom,” I said, sounding like I was ten, instead of twenty-seven.

“Is the camp already set up?” she asked.

“Not yet. I just got here. I should be set up in an hour. What’s up?”

“I know this is your private time and don’t like to be disturbed,” she said with a guilt induced tone.

I shook my head. “Mom, stop. I always have time for you and Dad.”

Silence ticked by for two seconds before she continued.

“It’s good to hear, but your father and I have been talking. We think you should stay with us in Southvale for a time. After what happened at your work, maybe you need to come home and let us help you get through this,” she said.

I simply stared out the window as her words sank into me. My parents were only trying to help, but I wasn’t sure if they could help me with what I was going through. You see, I was nearly killed when a battle of superheroes and supervillains crashed into my workplace. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

My name is Quinn Barron. Human Resource Agent for a soulless bank and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

The short of it, I was at work, handing a dispute between two bank employees, one accusing the other of stealing their lunch from the breakroom. Fairly standard stuff in the workplace, but I try to be attentive, measured, and fair when disputes happen. Before I had a chance to try and sort out what happened, a loud crash and rumble shattered the normal day in the banking world. I remembered the fear in the employee’s eyes as I told them to get down and hide under my desk. I leapt over my desk and rushed to the door to see what was happening. The moment I opened the door, my memory gets a little hazy.

“Thank you, Mom, but I think I’ll be okay with some time away,” I said.

“We know you will, but it couldn’t hurt to stay with us, even if for a few days. We know the River Lake Park is your favorite place to unwind, but what you’re going through, is going to take much longer to get through.”

I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. “I know, that’s why I have an appointment with a therapist next week. The bank is paying for it for all the employees who were there, so it should help.”

“That’s good to hear, but you know you can come home. At least come back for a few days, so we can be there to listen,” she said with the same motherly tone when I was going through a difficult time.

I closed my eyes as I spoke, “Thank you, but I just need some time by myself. When I finish my weekend, I’ll give you a call and maybe we can make plans.” I was trying to be diplomatic, but I really just wanted to be alone.

I think my mom heard it in my voice, because I could feel her back off a bit.

“Okay, if you feel that is best. Send us pictures so we know you’re okay and safe. Have fun and we will talk when you get back home. Love you.”

“Love you,” I said as I opened my eyes and smiled.

The cellphone clicked and went silent.

I stuffed my phone back in my jeans, opened the car door and stepped out into the fresh air. Shafts of sunlight touched me from between leafy branches. The air was clean as it filled my lungs. I sighed in relief as I was in my special place. Now, I had to get my campsite ready.

Time fell into small moments. I opened the back of truck and grabbed at packs and equipment. With practiced ease, I set up the tent in the clearing. I spent the next thirty minutes slowly setting up my chair, picking up rocks and making a fire pit, gathered my rations, placing my cooler down, and grabbing my fishing gear. It was nice, almost cathartic, getting my favorite place set up.

This particular clearing in the park was off the beaten trail. I had come here since I was young. When my parents moved to Southvale Harbor, I took over the tradition of camping here. It was the only place I felt any true peace, since living in Spiral City was often too exciting.

Camp set up, I stood before it and looked it over. I instantly started to feel better as I knew I would have a peaceful few days to collect myself.

I looked over at the cooler, a metal water bottle on top of it. The urge for a small hike whispered to me and I was ready. I walked over and snatched up the water bottle. I turned and looked again at the rocky hills past the trees. I mentally plotted my route, one I’ve done at least a dozen times, and started walking.

The moment I reached the trees, I patted myself down, making sure I had my phone, hunting knife, and car keys. I did have everything and continued on a small dirt road between majestic trees.

The tension in my shoulders and neck began to ease. My senses felt alive as I breathed in cool air from shaded trees. Thoughts of the previous week melted away and my mind grew clearer with every step.

Time blended into the background. I didn’t even know how long I walked, because it didn’t seem to matter. There was an energy in the air, one I never seemed to notice before. I had a small thought that I wished my parents were here with me, and made a mental note to bring up camping together as a family again. I think they would be more open to it since it had been so long since we did this.

I smiled to myself as I emerged from the tree edge and looked out at the large, rocky hills that stabbed into the air. I sighed and smiled, like I was seeing old friends. It brought a sense of balance and comfort that I didn’t seem to feel as much as I used to. It was easy to blame my job and living in one of the most exciting and dangerous cities in Tylerica, but honestly, I could only blame myself. I allowed myself to be there and put up with the craziness. Maybe, it was time for a bigger change? One I had been avoiding for a long time.

I turned my head to one of the rocky hills, one I often called the Spear. It stabbed out from the high ground like a simple spear to the sky. It was my favorite to climb, because when I did it as a teenager, I felt like the most skilled climber in the world. It was part of my passion, training to achieve something, anything, so I knew my limitations and how to break them.

I fell the first time I climbed it. For most, that might have been enough to stop them. I didn’t, despite bleeding from my arm where I slammed it across a sharp rock as I fell. I climbed up again, using the pain to fuel me and push me. When I reached the top, I felt nothing could stop me.

I looked down as I stood at the forest edge. I used to believe that in my heart, until recently, where I felt like a normal person in an abnormal world. I didn’t have super powers. I didn’t even have the skills to be a vigilante. I was just a man, trying to live a normal life.

When I was young, like most kids, I dreamed of becoming more. When the sad reality came, that most heroes don’t survive for long because of the hazardous nature of the job, I turned to helping people. I fell into a human resources position, knowing I could help others in a different way.

I shook my head before I took a drink from my metal water bottle. When I finished, I holstered the bottle in its sheath at my belt and cleared my mind. I wasn’t going to spend my time here thinking about parts of life. I came to relax, get some exercise, and enjoy nature and that was what I was going to do.

I turned, ready to hike to The Spear, when a noise stopped me in my tracks.

I became very still and listened. It wasn’t unusual to hear animals this far out, but this was different. As I listened, I made out the sound of a dog barking. No, it was yelping, either in pain, or fear.

There were no other thoughts as I turned and visually scanned the area. The area was filled with all sorts of crags, caves, and odd formations. If a dog did come out here, there was a real danger of coyotes and bobcats. My ears strained to locate the yelping. I took a step forward and the yelping grew higher.

My legs were already moving. I darted around large standing stones. My eyes shifted in all directions, trying to locate the dog. There was no one else for miles, and the thought of some poor, lost animal pushed me with purpose.

I darted between two large boulders and skidded to a halt. I turned to see a cave opening, not twenty feet away. I stared at the foreboding darkness, before a high-pitched yelp echoed out of the very cave I was looking at.

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Without hesitation, I stepped into the dark cave.

My hand moved to pocket and I fished out my cellphone. I turned on the flashlight feature. A wide beam of light stabbed through the darkness and I moved it around. The cave looked very old, but I had been here many times and never found this particular cave before. I stepped in further, hearing the scared yelps and whines. My heart beat with a steady rhythm. In any situation, it was always better to remain calm, cool, and collected.

I walked in further, making sure I swung my light around to catch every dark shadow or corner. The scent of musty air filled my nose, but there was hint of flowers. It was odd to smell flowers in a cave with no light, yet, I still pressed on.

Before long, I emerged from the cave tunnel and into a large cavern. I moved my light, trying to take it all in. While my light touched walls, my eyes gravitated to the pool of glowing blue water in the center. It was milky and still, like a frozen pond. I glanced to my arm, goosebumps rising even though I was not cold. It was odd, but the smell of flowers was overpowering.

A whimpering whine caused me to shift the light to the other side of the glowing pool, a small corgi and her pup whimpering in a stony nook.

The corgi huddled around one puppy, the little guy whimpering with his mother. When my light flashed to them, they whimpered louder.

I turned the light to the ground around the glowing pool. It was about three feet wide and not too treacherous. It had some odd stones, but nothing that would trip me up, unless I was running. I slowly made my way over. I did check my surroundings. There was a reason the momma and her pup would still be cowering here. There was more than enough room for them to run out of here. My first thought was they were running from some predator and hiding in here, but they were so loud, one or both of them could simply be hurt. It didn’t matter, I was going to get them out.

I made my way over, careful not to get tripped up by the stones littering the way. As I slowly approached, the pair trembled and huddled closer.

“Hey, it’s okay. I’m here to help,” I said as I slowly approached them.

The mother corgi eyed me as I stepped closer. She then let out a low growl.

“I promise, I’m not here to hurt you,” I smiled as I put out my left hand.

I always loved animals, especially dogs. I didn’t show my teeth as I smiled, knowing it can be a sign of aggression. Animals can pretty much know if you mean them any harm. I put out my hand so she could smell I wasn’t a threat.

The corgi continued to growl as I slowly knelt down a few feet away. I slowly brought my hand closer so she could get my scent. Her wet nose flexed as she timidly took in my scent. She stared at me with big eyes. Her coat was a golden yellow with patches of dark brown. She looked domesticated and may belong to a family camping in the area.

“I’m here to help,” I said calmly.

The corgi sniffed a little more before she opened her mouth and let her tongue hang out.

“See, we’re all friends here,” I said.

Her puppy buried its head in their mother’s side. But after a few moments, it pulled its head back and looked at me with one eye. Momma simply breathed with her mouth open and tail wagging.

When I looked at her front leg, I saw why she didn’t run. Blood covered one furry leg and she was holding it close to her body. She might have limped out, if not for a little one.

I had a first-aid kit back at camp. I just had to win her trust for me to carry both to them out of here.

“Your leg looks pretty bad. I’m going to carry you both out,” I said, letting my calm voice help her feel at ease.

The corgi simply blinked.

I had to test our new friendship. I put left my hand out so she could smell it. I inched closer and closer. She didn’t growl, or looked defensive. When I touched her head, by her pointed ear, she pushed her head into my palm and licked my wrist.

It was a good sign and a good start. I wouldn’t normally be this bold with an animal I just met, but this was clearly an emergency.

I was about to reach for her and her puppy, when I froze. A sound touched my ears and I turned my gaze to the milky blue pool. Bubbles, big bubbles, began to emerge and pop. The pops echoed along the cavern. The smell of flowers grew with each passing second.

I lived in Spiral City long enough that when something weird is happening, you get the hell out of there.

“We have to go,” I said to the corgi as I reached for her.

The corgi looked past my shoulder and barked. I turned as a chill sank into my spine. A humanoid shape rose out of the water. It had no features, but had a round head, and slender limbs to a thin body. It moved its legs, like it was trying to walk out of mud.

I wasn’t about to stay and find out what it was. My hands darted forward and I scooped the momma corgi and her puppy into my arms. I turned to start running, when a blue arm flashed. I stopped right before the sharp limb stabbed into the stone wall and rocky debris exploded from it. I glanced to the humanoid, its arm blocking my way out.

Instinct took over as I ducked under the sharp arm and ran for the cave tunnel. I leapt over a few foot-sized stones when something slammed into my back hard. I was lifted off my feet and thrown like a rag doll. I curled my body around the corgi and her pup right before I slammed into the cavern wall. My head bounced as I crumpled to the ground.

The dogs barked as the world swam in a dark haziness. My cell phone had fallen, the light from it stabbing upwards. The humanoid thing slowly approached me as its arms turned into a pair of writhing, blue tentacles. Wetness touched my brow. I touched my head and when I pulled it away, it was covered in blood.

The momma corgi tried to limp away as her pup was barking at the watery monster.

I didn’t feel any pain as my bloody hand touched my sheathed hunting knife and I drew it. When the humanoid turned its featureless face to the dogs, my entire spirit exploded into action.

The thing stepped one foot onto the pool edge. I scrambled to my feet and launched myself upwards. I landed between the thing and the dogs, my knife in hand.

“Back off!” I shouted, hoping to scare it off like when encountering a wild bear.

The thing hesitated, its watery body shifted and rippling.

I glanced over my shoulder, the corgi and her pup slowly trying to get away. I turned back to a tentacle wrapping around my neck and squeezing. My eyes bulged as I drove the dagger into the tentacle in quick, successive stabs. I gasped for air as I choked, stabbing with every drop of strength I had. The thing continued to squeeze as it didn’t seem like I was hurting it.

In an act of desperation, I leaned into the creature and drove my dagger into it, just under the shoulder. I was losing oxygen and hoped this was going to work. I used everything I had to slice upwards. To my surprise, the humanoid’s arm was completely sliced off. The tentacle turned into water and fell as I stumbled back and gasped for air.

I turned to the dogs. “Run!” I shouted.

The momma corgi limped away, but turned her head to look at me. Her puppy growled and barked.

I felt the presence of the thing behind me. I broke into a run, ready to scoop up the dogs and charge to freedom. Those thoughts went away when something slashed across my back.

I lost feeling in my legs and I fell. I hit the dirt and began to crawl. Wetness covered my back, I assumed it was my own blood.

“Run,” I hissed, wanting them to get away.

The mother and puppy corgi turned and sat down. They watched me with eyes that seemed too old for them.

The humanoid reached down and grabbed me. I turned my head to see the thing had me by my ankle. It began dragging me toward the milky blue pool.

“Run!” I shouted again at the dogs as I felt my fate was sealed.

Warmth touched my legs, which was strange since I lost all feeling in them. I glanced back again as the humanoid sank down into the blue water. My fingers dug into the dirt and rocks, trying to pull myself away, but the thing had an iron grip on me.

I sank into the warm, milky blue water. I splashed as I tried to grab at anything so I wouldn’t be pulled under. The water touched my chest, and then reached my neck.

I stared with wide eyes at momma dog and her puppy. When the blue water reached my mouth and nose, is spilled into me.

I saw was the two corgis melting before my eyes. They turned into the same milky blue liquid and slithered toward the edge of the pool like alien sea creatures from the deep.

I didn’t know what was happening. I fought to stay above water. I fought with every fiber of my being.

The last thing I saw was being submerged under the milky blue liquid, before everything turned black.

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