Bigfoot

Bigfoot

(Chapter 16)

**

[<<]

"Logs!" Tamar forewarns them. The trio stealthfully moves past the stack of logs, but nothing's there. Out of the blue, there's a giant "THUMP!!!" behind them. The ground tremors beneath their feet and The wind blows them of balance as it whips up a dust storm. Visibility is extremely poor. Tamar puts up a flame, and they behold the face of the giant from the ground. They must be threats 'cause it's bearing it's giant axe at them.

"YOU STILL DARE!"

"Guys, I think we found the Big foot."

"No Sis, the Bigfoot found us."

[>]

[Veteran]

Alexandra rushes out into the hallway and there Mr. Alex is… with Lil' Alex. "Hey there princess."

"*heavy breath*, you scared me. I was worried sick! What took you two?"

"We'll explain later."

"Has he already been attended to?"

"About to. Here she comes." She's holding an ice pouch. "Hello," she says as she hands it to Alex.

"Unfortunately for you, I can't really do anything about the bump on your head. You'll have to ice it out."

"Ow."

"At least you're healthy enough to run a marathon. Your sister here can't even jump a hurdle now."

"True… But if it wasn't for the fact that most of it was forward momentum, I'd be dead. I really got my hands messed up when I cushioned my head."

"It'll heal on its own. As for now, I'm gonna show you to the rooms that you'll sleep in. Hopefully, you'll be able to find a change of clothes.

[Bandits' Hideout]

It's a decent underground bunker, housed by a natural cave. There are a lot of cargo crates here and there. It's illuminated via lamp light and I needn't say that there are a lot of bandits. They seem to be gathered in the meeting room.

Their leader, or better said head troop, is the woman who fought grandpa in the morning. The long hair that adorns her head is a fairly dark shade of purple. She must probably be in her thirties. Not only that, she's practically the only girl there.

"They're all waiting for something… OR SOMEONE. All of them wear grim faces. The tension in the air suggests that something else has transpired, something worse than the death of some of their brothers.

The female has her hands clamped together like she's waiting for some news. Her eyes are closed. Perhaps she's praying. Had it been a duel, there's a chance that she could've defeated Mr. Alexander. It goes to prove that the prettiest ones are also the most dangerous.

A sophisticated looking "brother" emerges from one of the hallways. It's the moment they've all been waiting for. He hands a small glass bottle, containing a green liquid over to her.

"… Is it?"

"It is indeed. I think you should have this one."

"No, you can't be compromised; YOU should have it."

"…"

"Darn it!"—she slams her hand down on the crate on which she sits—"I shouldn't have allowed that idiot Bruce to go with you. I always had the feeling that he'd do something stupid. We could have gotten it."

"Another of the bandits gives his opinion. "You shouldn't talk ill about the dead. I believe he was only trying to make them more willing to give up the cargo and it back fired—"

"Don't give me that! We both know full well what he's capable of."

"So you're admitting that you're falling back to your grudge."

"Seriously? Healthy people died out there!"

"And we know that."

"He's right. Everybody makes mistakes. He messed up, just like YOU let the old fart escape with the greens."

"EXCUSE ME!"—she coughs up blood out of agitation—"Look at that! I didn't go up against him with 30 soldiers behind me! Let me remind you that I'm a woman!"

"CUT IT OUT!" the doctor yells. "We understand that you have a delicate frame and we don't know who's gonna survive through this either. If we want everyone to pull through we'll have to do away with pointing fingers!"

"…I'm sorry Danté. Everything's really getting to me."

"I know. Emerald's in the past. We know what Bruce did to her was unforgivable and he's also history. We have to focus on the future now. We've verified that that old demon managed to trick us somehow. What we have to do now is get it while he stands on one leg."

"No… There's no way in the world that we are going to the Sheriff's house. We've caused enough trouble for ourselves."

"Diane…"

She gets up. "I'm going to b—" he pulls her back.

"Wait… I say all of us have a sip at least. It could prolong our life span. I want you to go first."

"…Al—" Little did she notice that two of the others had flanked her on Danté signal. The first one restrains her neck and the other, her feet so they could drop her to the ground. Danté pounces on her as she resists with all her might.

"NO! I.SAID.NOO!"

"I'm sorry to go against your wishes." His hands find her throat and his fingers slip in between her chitin rings. On his command, the other brother constricts her thorax so that she loses her air, and he starts to choke her hard, such that she's left gasping for air in a matter of seconds. He shoves the neck of the small glass bottle in her mouth and plugs her nose. She has no option but to drink up fast if she wants to live. Right after she's done, they knock her out.

"We're gonna have to do things my way or my way. The choice is only mine Diane."

[Bigfoot]

"Oh my God!" Tamar exclaims.

"Did I just hear it speak?"

"Stay quiet you two!" he demands undertone.

"I come in peace. We just came to certify that you don't pose any harm to the—"

"STOP LYING!"

"*gasp*… I came because I was intrigued. My name's Jedidiah."

The Bigfoot drops the axe. Yes, it's almost like one of our hairy cousins but it's fur pattern is different. It's covered in fur but the bracer and greave regions are bloated. These regions, alongside it's head, spine and tail have hackles. The pecs and abs are bare however. It towers at a height of 8 feet tall and it's muscles are definitely not a joke.

After staring him dead on in the eyes, it drops onto it's butt, "THUMP!". "What do you want?" it asks. This leaves them quite flustered for a long while.

"Wait a moment. That's it. You aren't gonna tell me to prove it or something?"

"Isn't that convenient for you?"

"It doesn't assure safety."

"…Would you believe me if I told you that it's because my name's Solomon too?"

"The fact that you're asking me brews some doubt itself."

"But my name IS Solomon."

"…Interesting."

Jedi means to climb the logs so he can sit closer to it. The Bigfoot is still looking at the spot where he was before.

"Is that all tiny humans?"

"I have a question for you big man. How'd you bulk up your muscles SO much?" Tamar teases.

"???Puzzling question."

"But I thought that you'd be furry and cuddly!" Paz whines.

"Pause!" Everybody looks towards Jedidiah's direction except the Bigfoot. "Can you not see me big fella? I'm sitting atop your log pile."—he waves—"Before, you ambushed us pretty good for someone with poor night-sight. What makes it even more peculiar is the fact that you anticipated our arrival. Elaborate please."

"… I gave myself up so early… I can't see in the dark, so I wasn't relying on my eyesight… I was relying on my foresight."

[Harmonie]

Ms. Laura's still wrapped around him. He notices that he's also starting to float some "Z"s so he'll have to get out of there before the inevitable happens.

"Ms. Laura. You've gotta let me go."

"{She's asleep. Just pry her hands open and stop trying to wake her up!}"

"…Good point."

He slowly and gently slips his way out of her warm embrace and is about on his way when he hears something creak. He turns around to see he didn't imagine it, it's Tina, and she's half-naked. She's rubbing her eyes so she doesn't see him until he announces his presence.

He covers his eyes and says "I'm here Tina."

It's a gasp for her. She turns around, about to flee in embarrassment. She only came out like that because she thought that it was only girls at home and she was too faint to dress up BUT, she turns around again.

"Aren't you gonna go get dressed?"

" It's really hot in here… and you've already seen what there is to see so what's the use. You were about leaving anyway, weren't you?"

"True, but I wanted to check up on you."

"I'm perfectly fine," she smiles.

"Are you sure about that?"

"Well I'm getting my new armor tomorrow and we're about recuperated so we'll be hitting the Guild tomorrow," she says enthusiastically.

"You can't tell me that you're excited about that."

"Not excited. It's like how you feel about paying the clown a visit at the carnival. Waiting to see what the weakest guild member can do."

"Well I don't know how it feels to see the clown but you musta, you circus stripper."

"Papa told me that the clown hides from very ugly people," she rebounds.

"My bad. I almost didn't recognize you without the red circles on your cheeks but you've been sputtering a lot of gibberish. {I was about to go with 'when's the last time you saw your father' but…"

"Ouch! Will you let me have one you ogre?! How could you be so cruel to a girl?" she kicks him hard in the shin.

"Owee! If you cripple me we won't be able to go out tomorrow."

"My bad," she teases.

"Well I know that you're perfectly fine now. Have a good sleep."

"Can't sleep no more. I came out because I'm hungry… Toodles!"

"Tomorrow then." He waves back.

[Veteran]

Bernarda is leading them through the hallway so they can join the Sheriff at the dinner table. They have to go through a few rooms and of course, the house is beautifully furnished. They arrive at the dinner table soon. The sheriff welcomes them.

"Hello there!" he rises from the dinner table.

"Hello!" they all chorus. "Alexander, Alexandra, Alexander"

"Pedro and Marlene; nice to meet you all."

"Nice to meet you too," Mr. Alex takes over.

"Have a seat." They all sit at the feast of a table, Mr. Alex, with the twins at each of his sides. "Bernarda tells me that I forgot to leave a message and it caused you some inconvenience. I'm REALLY sorry. I have no excuse, only my sincerest apologies."

"Well your daughter made up for that so it wasn't a big problem."

"I see. You always seem to receive more praises than me Marlene."

She blushes. "It's only natural for a person who saves lives."

"Not if you aren't as pretty as yourself."

"Stop flattering me dad. Let's share the grace." They do just that. "Bon appetite!" They take a few bites before the conversation reboots. "You aren't gonna eat Mr. Alex?"

"I can't. I'm running on a special diet here. But judging by the aroma, it's to kill for."

"I second that," the twins say simultaneously. "*gg*"

"Wait a second. Are the two of you twins?" the sheriff asks.

"Yes, they are," Mr. Alex says.

"Now isn't that cute? Do you two fight?"

"Why do people always ask that question?" they chorus. It ends up in laughter from everyone else.

"Do they always talk like that," he asks.

"No--" they both start.

"He bumped his head really hard so he's adopting my speech patterns." That's another laugh for everyone.

"Now, about business—" He doesn't even get to finish speaking when the girls shut him down "NO BUSINESS at the dinner table!"

"Ouch! Business is important."

"Yeah. I agree with that."

"Me too," Alexander says.

"Well you can go do it elsewhere," Marlene says.

"Sweetie, have you forgotten why they're here?"

"That's not business. It's alleviating suffering."

"Whatever you wanna call it… This town's known for its fruit export. However, we believe that some Emerged are whipping up a panic in the berry fields. I would've done it myself but I evaluated the probability of success and decided to call in a Raid. We're gonna need one-hit assassinations. The thing is, you're all hurt now."

"It's just a big bird, ain't it? I can handle it alone."

"You aren't getting the picture. Slingshots have missed with no end. We're talking about people who could shoot down a flying bee."

"There are many ways to kill a cat. Poison its preferred berry. That should solve the problem."

"Brilliant deduction for a man," Marlene claps. "Told you so."

"*laugh* and so you got something right, SO what?"

"It means you should listen to me more."

"Listen to you? Aren't you supposed to be a medic? Hmph, talking about poisoning. Besides, we stick to the old fashion values. What happened to a fair fight?"

"I admire that father but need I remind you that the emerged attack helpless women and children?"

"…Touché. You won this one dear."

"Of course."

"Well, you three are obviously injured so we can have someone take care of the rest if you want."

"No. We'll have to decline."

"May I ask why, Alexandra?"

"I want to see the giant bird. That's one of the reasons why I came."

"If that's the case, you better heal up fast."

[Bigfoot]

"Foresight? I feel like when you answer a question, you give me ten more. Let's take it from square one, shall we Solomon?"

"Okay. Three at a time."

"From whence did you come?"

"The East."

"You possess superior intelligence?"

"I'm bigger than you."

"Why aren't you attacking people like the other Emerged?"

"Emerged, that what you're calling us now? Well it isn't entertaining to squash cockroaches, is it?"

"Geez."

"My turn. Do humans still kill 'Emerged'?"

"Pre-emptively."

"So does that mean if I emerged from this forest, I'd be hunted?"

"It really depends on what you do after that. "

"Do you really think humans can kill all of us?"

"…" an ominous wind blows into Jedi's lungs. It's a simple question but there's a serious implication. "{Why… why'd he ask me that? I think I should keep the conversation off that course.}"

"You humans are ever so clueless."

"Let's hold on with that… you mentioned foresight."

"Don't you have visions when you sleep?"

"I see… I'm assuming yours must be more vivid since you have a larger brain."

"Not just that. I'm more powerful in terms of mana injection. I'm tuned precisely to new encounters. That's how I flanked you. I just knew the path you'd take during our first encounter."

"… That's awesome… Say, if there is a war between the Humans and Emerged, would you aid the emerged?"

"Why should I engage in such folly? I'll build my fort here and eliminate anyone who encroaches."

"I guess this is my third question. Objectively speaking… who're the bad guys in this war?"

"Do you have any of the human progenitors' records?"

"No…"

"Does that answer your question?"

"More or less."

"My turn. There's something graceful about your composure. How did you obtain it?"

"Meditation. Hear that Paz?"

"Do we seriously have to sit here and listen to this boring conversation? Even Tamar's half-way gone."

"I plan to stay here as long as possible so you can head back if you're not interested."

"And what if he stomps you?"

"Impossible. I wouln't fall prey to such a gruesome fate"

"Well adios—"

"We'll wait for you brother."

"Tamar!"

"Let me remind you that my brother's knowledge is the power that keeps us safe. The more he knows, the better."

"Kay then. Just hurry up will you?."

Jedi's attention falls back on the Bigfoot. "Next."

"…What is your mission?"

"To protect my little sister."

"What happens when she dies?"

"I wouldn't be alive to see that. How does your colossal size affect your routine?"

"I sleep for twice the amount of time you do."

"Food?"

"Most of my energy comes from freezing water in my intestines." He regurgitates a small ice ball. It's definitely sub-zero in terms of temperature because Paz can feel it from where she stands.

"Wow! Is that why you didn't site near a banana plantation?"

"No. I'd most likely be hunted. Better to stay away from that delectable yellow fruit."

"I understand where you're coming from. What's your mission here?"

"I have no interest in needless bloodshed."

"Lemme make that five. Are you different from the others?"

The Bigfoot laughs. It's not something funny though, he's rather amused by the naïve nature of man. "Do you think your 'emerged' are just overgrown animals or something? Living in a censored society has deluded you. What do you think any of your actions has amounted to? What does the future entail? Have you asked yourself these?"

"If you were to put the Emerged we've eliminated in a percent—?"

"Negative… Definitely over negative 100%"

"What?"

"What do you think the end point of this world is? It starts with the eradication of the human race, and it's gonna happen sooner than you think. You are only prolonging it by a few days."

"That's spooky, but what if we win?"

"Even if you defeat the Emerged, there was one that didn't choose either side. His faction is scarier than ours and yours put together. Even the minotaurs dare not engage him… All the other humans are probably dead by now. No matter what you do, the end remains inevitable. You will be defeated."

"… and do you think I'll get to see the end?"

"People who live to protect others usually don't see old age. Your sister's dozing off. You should take her home."

"You didn't ask your questions?"

"I'll reserve them for tomorrow afternoon. I never had any to begin with."

[Veteran]

Dinner was over before they knew it. Grandpa was the first to excuse himself. In a few minutes, his little admirers follow. It seems like they gave him a different room since he's older. The twins visit him in his room just like he told Alex to do. All three of them sit in the exact middle of the room.

"What's this strange behaviour about?" Alexandra asks.

"Okay sis. I'll explain from my perspective. I woke up under your makeshift foliage. My head was spinning; must've suffered a concussion. Anyways, my head was still working and I understood what it meant for me to be hidden, so I just stayed there."

"Thank God!"

"Why're you reacting when it's already done?"

"'Cause I was worried about you."

"Anyway, Grandpa came for me. I told him that I didn't sustain any threatening injuries so we took a look around town to gather intel on where to submit the cargo. Didn't you think it was stran—?"

"Flow with the storyline Alex!" grandpa demands.

"Fine. Things were different from when you arrived with grandpa. I had no visible injury after all. The townsfolk weren't hospitable in the slightest. Most of them would create a distance and others covered their noses when we talked to them and, some also gave us sharp answers. So we decided to look for a health worker. Apparently, there aren't so many, and the surgeons are even fewer. We weren't getting anything."

"Lemme take over. So we went to a bar and engaged the bartender. We asked him about the bandits and guess what he told us?"

"What?"

"As usual, everybody's afraid to go against them. The few who actually make a move disappear soon after. That tells us that the bandits do come to town. Reports have been filed, but our Guild shoulda been informed at least, don'tcha think?"

[Guillelmus]

The young Harmonie lays sound awake on his bed. It's been such a boring day. The prisoner's in his room. He thinks about everything that's going on like every young man does 'cause sleep is far in the distance.

"{That Blood-Eye. I don't know what he's up to. Feel like he's trying to set me up… Maybe the prisoner knows something about him.}"

"Hey. You awake?"

"Yeah…"

"Your name?"

"Malchus."

"Kay. Do you recall seeing anyone with blood red irises?"

"… No."

"Kay… Good night."

"…"

"{… Hey. Amitha.}"

"{What?}"

"{I haven't heard your voice in a while.}"

"{So what should I do about that? …Well I'm talking now.}"

"{That's not what I meant.}"

"{What's-that?}"

"{I would like it if you sang me to sleep like you used to.}"

"{A lullaby? And what have you done to deserve that?}"

"{Amitha. C'mon. Don't give me that attitude.}"

"{You don't really talk to me like you used to. I feel like I'm being left behind.}"

"{So do something to jog my memory}"

"{Elmus!}"

"{What do you expect me to do? Sing YOU a song?}"

"{For starters.}"

"{Good night then.}"

"{Hey! Elmus! … Say, you're my soulmate, right?}"

"{Until someone else can lay their hands on you… Don't worry. Even if I lost my arms, we'd still be together. That's what fate decided.}"

[Mr. Alex]

Seems like he's sound asleep on his bed. His room's quite dark in fact. Mr. Alex must've stressed himself out a lot earlier. The last time he even had a nap was that morning. This is, or should I say WAS a good opportunity for him to rest and rejuvenate his brain cells. There's a clicking noise at the door and it soon swings open. It's so dark that no one'd be able to see. Maybe it's one of the children? The room's illuminated by a candle light. The dark silhouettes creep up on him and, their identity becomes known. It's the bandits and they're here for the cargo.

-------End of Chapter 16-------------

Chapter 16 Teaser

Some things aren't as they seem.

To be continued…