Mr Fluff Must Die

Ah, earth...

I had been around for about four moons now and I still couldn't get used to the inferior nature of things on this planet. I knew however, that with my godly intellect, I could use this setback to my advantage in the long run.

Once I had adequately convalesced from my fall, nursed my broken bones back to a state of sufferable health, and was able to walk regardless of a slight limp I had in my left leg, I walked into a village on the outskirts of the forest under the guise of a homeless man. I was filthy; it was the best that I could do. I still had absolutely no idea how I was going to get back onto the Forever staircase, therefore anything at that point would've done to help me...

First things first, I needed new living arrangements, seeing as how the forest wasn't working out. When a little girl came to where I was hunched down under the shade of a small little house and offered me some stale bread, I decided that was it. I wasn't going to wait around for another kind soul. Slowly and quietly, I trailed her all the way home and hid in the nearby woods. There I watched and waited as she came out of her tiny grass thatched house every morning to go into the village and came back every evening, visibly tired from a day's work. Humans...

Such predictable creatures.

I had studied her long enough to establish her routine and could have just as easily scared her into submission one sombre evening. She would never have seen me coming. As I thought about it however, it would've been in my better interests to gain her trust as much as possible, because I would need her to help me navigate my way out of this world.

One evening as the little girl came home with her grandmother, I decided I was ready to face them. I slowly emerged from my hiding place in the bushes and approached them. They stopped as I feigned great distress in my voice, crying as I fell to their feet. I had to sell my desperation amply.

"Who goes there?" asked her grandmother.

Confused, I looked up at them. Could these humans not see how I had degraded myself to such extremes as to beg for their mercy? I was Time... they were to worship me. Unfortunately, they did not know that yet. Was I to tell them? Ah, but something else wasn't right. I peered closer at the frail old woman's eyes. Her corneas were a dull grey and she seemed not to move her gaze to look down at me as her granddaughter did.

"Oh," I said, getting back onto my feet.

I grinned mischievously.

The little girl took a step closer to me. Her eyes narrowed into a squint, sensing a familiarity about me.

"Do I know you from somewhere?" she asked.

"You showed me kindness a few days ago," I said, "Though the bread could've tasted better... I came to thank you."

"Yes!" she snapped her fingers with excitement.

"You're the poor man I helped on the street! How did you get here?" she asked, her sentiment quickly turning to concern. She took a step back, shielding her grandmother behind her.

"Poor!" I huffed in disbelief. I was far from it. Betrayed sounded more like it... done up—ruined! This little girl I foresaw, would be a thorn in my side. I held back a sneer as I opened my arms to show I wasn't a threat.

"I need a place to stay. I thought because you were kind you would help me out. It'll just be for a few days," I begged.

She shook her head.

"I don't know you. I'm sorry, but we can't take you in. My grandmother isn't well and she needs all the space that she can get."

Just then, the old woman came forward. The girl tried to hold her back but her grandmother's weak frame proved surprisingly strong as she pushed the girl aside. She clearly stood to say something different.

"You can stay," she said, "As long as you help little miss Missy here around the house, you're welcome to stay."

"But Ma," the girl argued, "I don't think I like him. He followed me home..."

"He might be very arrogant and vain, but I can fix that," she smiled. "I would bet on his good-natured heart if it could bring my sight back!"

I smiled at her remark. It amused me how the blind old woman could see far more in me than her annoying little granddaughter ever would, or anyone for that matter.

"You are too kind. I hope to repay you for everything one day," I said.

"One day, I will be dead," the old woman cackled, "You will start tomorrow!"

..... .....

A few hours later, I was settled into my newfound accommodations. It wasn't the cosiest little place I could hope for—certainly wasn't the house by the lake full of mirrors, but I could live with it just for a little while, just until I knew what the hell I was doing.

As I sat at their quaint little dining table wondering how I was going to tell them I was a god, the old woman began to cook.

I chuckled.

"I don't eat," I said, "But thank you."

She turned around, looking right at me.

"I know. This is for Missy and me. You're overly presumptuous too, I forgot to mention," she smiled and went on with the pans in the sink.

There she was again with the devilishly true remarks. I had to think fast. How was she doing it? I tried to plan out my next words, and decided to go for it.

I asked her the question.

"Have you met any other gods before?"

"Just the one," she said, holding up a spoon.

Missy, who'd just come into the room stood puzzled.

"God?"

"Yes, dear. Your poor stranger here is one of our great deities. Remind me again, which one?"

"Time," I said.

"Ah, yes...the loathsome Time. We can't have enough of you..."

"But how did you know?" I asked.

"I may not possess sight, boy, but I can see far more than you would ever imagine. Also, your lifeblood is far stronger than any human. I should know, I gave birth to one. In fact, you must have met him. He's a troublesome lot; I imagine he is the cause for your current plight."

I wanted to tell her that she was mistaken. Sure she'd gotten the part about me being a god right, but I was yet to meet this alleged son who was the bringer of my fate.

"You mean Mr Fluff?" Missy asked.

"Yes. I had him long before I got you," said her grandmother, "And I think he let you find me," she said, looking back at me.

"I don't understand," I said.

"Well, if you were to guess... who do you think pushed you off the path?" she asked.

What path did she mean? I thought. Could she have meant the immortal path, but there was no way she could've known that.

"I wouldn't know," I replied, hoping she would expand on her vagueness.

"Mr Fluff likes pushing people a lot. He's very big and very strong," said Missy firmly.

"Don't you say..." I said. Why was she telling me this? Pick a time, girl... we're discussing real world problems here. My problems...

"Right, Mr Fluff," the old woman continued.

"Mr Fluff?" I asked, still without a clue.

"The guy who knocked you off the staircase..."

"Oh?"

She nodded.

I winced as flashes of the great fall flooded my memory. It appeared the old woman did know what she was saying after all. I could've done without all the talk in ciphers though...

"Well!" I said feeling a surge of energy, "Mr Fluff did a bad thing and now... Mr Fluff must die!"