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It was the stuff of nightmares. A compilation of every creature that had ever lurked under his bed, hidden in his closet, or chased him through the dark woods behind his uncle's barn, late at night.
As the thing approached, he saw that it had no eyes. There was a nose, human in shape, and a jaw that stretched down low, to accommodate long, needle-shaped teeth. In one hand was a bow, in the other, several arrows tipped with very small crystals of fire. There were strips of cloth hanging around its grey, leathery body, but whether they were clothes or purely ornamental, Daniel couldn't tell.
What had caught his heart in his throat were the thing’s ears. They were massive appendages, easily five times the size of its head, and stuck out away from the side of the gruesome face on thick stubs of grey flesh and muscle. As it moved carefully and slowly toward them, it tilted its head to the left and right, moving each ear independently to hone in on even the slightest of sounds.
Daniel was sure those ears would have been able to detect a heartbeat, or the taking in of air, and would surely have found him by now had his heart not stopped beating. Jammed into his throat as it was, it kept him from breathing, or making a move, as he stared at the creature trying to locate them in the darkness.
A dry throat screamed for moisture, but Daniel was certain even the simple act of swallowing would be heard by the thing searching for them. He knew, without looking up, that Ian and Beth could see the thing as well, and had frozen in place, either out of fear or a hope they may go undetected.
The thing was ten feet away now, and stepping slowly closer. Its bare feet ended in human-like toes, but the tips were more claw than nail. They scraped along the wood planks as it moved, tilting its head this way, then that.
Five feet away, and Daniel could see a crude belt holding some of the rags in place around its waist. There were items hanging from it, dangling down on bits of leather like a tribal necklace of sorts. He recognized a worm's tooth, like the one around his own neck, some gold coins, a woman's bracelet, a man's comb, and something else all too familiar, small and copper in shape.
It had a key.
Daniel wanted to scream. He wanted to faint, shake uncontrollably, turn and run, and possibly soil himself, and he probably would have, if he could have moved.
Three feet away and he could smell it. A strange, sickly mix of leather and rotting fruit. Its head suddenly snapped around, and he was sure they'd been found.
Moments later, the creature let out a clicking sound, something akin to locating sonar, and a scream pierced the silence from outside the ship. It spun around and ran back the way it had come, as Stefan's screams repeated a cry for help in terrified desperation.
Without a word, Beth put her feet in Daniel's hand, and he launched her up and through the open doorway. Ian was next, then Daniel leapt up, grasping the edge of the doorway as Ian grabbed for his belt to haul him up.
They turned and reached back through the opening to try and pull the door up and shut. Daniel caught the handle and started to pull.
There was movement in the corridor, behind the open door, shapes rushing toward them. With one great heave, he hauled the door up high enough for Ian to catch part of the handle and help him.
It clicked into place, and Daniel reached into his pocket for the key.
"Hurry!" Beth hissed.
With coordination numbed by fear, he fumbled with the key in the lock, but before he could slip it through, the wood was pierced by a sharp blade, inches from his face.
"Look out!" Ian pulled Daniel back as another blade splintered the door in half.
Shocked, Daniel stared at the pieces of wood falling back into the corridor. He saw a head, then another, as the hallway filled with grey bodies now fully aware of their presence.
"Over here!" Beth shouted, no longer trying to stay quiet.
Daniel looked up and found her pointing to the washroom door, now lying sideways along the wall to their left. He jumped up and ran to it, forcing the key into the space below the knob without a second thought.
Behind them, the door crumbled.
He turned the key, pulled the door open, and shoved Beth through. Ian was right behind him as he pulled the key from the door and started through, as were four of the grey creatures.
He hit the floor of his uncle's kitchen and rolled to the left, barely aware of Beth a few feet away.
Ian came through immediately behind him, falling to the linoleum floor as Otherworld twisted them back from a sideways entrance.
"Shut the door!" Ian shouted as he kicked at the open doorway.
Daniel rushed forward just as a creature began climbing through. It was sideways, clawing at the door frame, most of it still inside the Myst.
Ian hit the door with both feet, bracing his back against the far cabinet wall.
Daniel pushed from behind, desperately trying to push the door closed while avoiding the sharp clawed fingers ripping through the paint and into the old wood.
They managed two feet closer, then a second body began clamoring through, trying to climb over the first and get into the kitchen.
"They're getting in!" Daniel shouted. He thought to grab his gun, but that would mean taking one hand from the door and possibly losing his grip altogether.
Ian was straining against the door, his free hands grabbing for his weapon, but he was unable to pull it out and keep his balance at the same time.
Beth dashed passed, into the living room, and Daniel hoped she could at least make it to safety. She'd have to run further than the house if these creatures got through.
Further than town if the door stayed open.
Suddenly she was back, and holding a canister out in front of her.
Daniel couldn't see it clearly, but she brought it close to the open door, then pushed a button on the top.
Both creatures screamed out in pain when the air horn sounded. They clutched at their massive ears, letting go of the door long enough for Daniel and Ian to slam it shut.
Beth screamed, then dropped the small air horn and fell into Daniel's arms.
"They're gone," Ian sighed as he fell back against the floor, exhausted.
"Are they?" Beth asked. She looked up at Daniel. "Are we sure they're gone?"
He nodded, completely unsure. "Yeah, the door's closed." He held up his hand and showed her the key, nearly embedded into the palm of his hand. "They're still in the fog, not here."
Slowly, she nodded and pulled out of his arms, then retrieved the can she'd dropped and set it on the counter. "It was in my purse, the one I left on your couch. I bought that in college, for rapists and such." Beth laughed shortly. "Never used it once."
"I don't think they'll be putting this in their ads," Daniel replied.
"But you're sure they're gone?" She looked at the closed bathroom door. "Because, I need to, um . . ."
"Use the one upstairs," Ian offered.
She gave a nod and started up the steps quickly.
Daniel pulled the key out of his palm, then shoved it back into his pocket with shaking hands. "That was too close," he said as he made his way into the kitchen. Uncle Frank didn't drink heavily, but there had always been a bottle or to of whisky in the pantry. He pulled open the door and his heart leapt into his throat when a bag of noodles fell to the floor. "Shit!"
"They're gone," Ian said as he slowly got to his feet.
"Yeah, they're gone." He reached in and pulled out a half empty bottle of scotch, twisting off the cap and taking a drink. The burning did nothing for his parched throat other than to send it into a coughing spasm. He handed Ian the bottle.
"Are you happy now?"
Daniel had to swallow a few times before he found his voice again. "Excuse me?"
"You're the one who wanted to know what was in that fog," Ian replied. He took a long swig from the bottle, then handed it back, unfazed by the burning liquor. "Not me."
"How in the hell did the Myst get there?" He asked, setting the bottle on the counter.
Ian shrugged. "Wilcox, no doubt. I left it anchored in a field. Wilcox could easily have gone to it, flown it to the center of the fog, then used the key to get off." He glanced at Beth who'd just rejoined them in the kitchen. "Stefan must have put it there as his ace in the hole, until he could figure out what we were planning."
"He sent me through to Otherworld, again," Beth replied with a huff. She spotted the bottle and picked it up, taking a drink. "I don't know where, it was just a warehouse some place. He came through right after me, then we were on the Myst, over the fog." She handed Daniel the bottle. "He knew Ian would come, and probably expected Murphy as well."
Daniel eyed the bottle. He was going to have to get the hang of drinking that stuff without losing his dignity. "So he was just going to leave you there and escape back through Otherworld?" He put the cap back on the bottle. "Then what?"
Beth shrugged. "Go back and reclaim his throne, I assume. I wouldn't be there to argue the point."
"He's the one who fired into the balloon," Ian added. "Got off two shots to alert -- whatever those things were -- then started for the door right when you came through."
"What were they?" Beth looked from Ian to Daniel. "They weren't human."
"You're asking me?" Daniel laughed shortly. "Your world has giant worms, trees that hunt people, and God knows what else, and you're asking me what those things were?"
Beth huffed. "Don't get smart. I never expected to see anything like that." She turned to look at the bathroom door. "You're sure they're gone?"
Ian sighed, then marched to the door and pulled it open before anyone could protest.
Beth started, and Daniel nearly jumped out of his shoes when he caught his reflection in the mirror.
"See? They're gone," Ian replied. He closed the door. "We should get back, let Murphy know Beth's fine. She's got a throne to manage now."
"What about Stefan?" She asked quietly. "That was him screaming, wasn't it?"
Ian nodded.
"It must have been," Daniel replied. "He was on the deck when we went down, probably survived the impact just like we did, but wasn't in the corridor."
"I'd guess he was thrown off the ship," Ian added. "Probably making his way back to us when they heard him."
"So he's gone then." She looked at Daniel. "He can't ever come back and try to hurt any of us again?"
Daniel shook his head. "I don't see how. Even if he somehow managed to find that key he had, there's no way he made it to a door. Not with those things."
Beth nodded, letting out a huge sigh of relief. "Let's go home then." She turned toward the bathroom door again, then caught herself and turned back to Daniel. "I mean, back to Ether. You're coming, aren't you?"
"Yeah," Daniel replied, then realized what he was saying. He shook himself and nodded. "Yes, I'm coming. I can always come back, right?"
Beth smiled widely. "Yes, you can."
Ian huffed, but said nothing.
Daniel opened the door and they all stepped back into the crowded main room, out of the cramped little cloak closet.
"There you are!" Murphy rushed over as soon as he saw them. "Good God, what happened? You've been gone almost an hour. Where's Stefan?"
"Long story," Ian replied.
"And you two can explain it all, just make sure no one hears you," Beth commanded. "I have a Royal Court meeting to attend to."
Daniel looked up and saw the twelve robbed men, hoods down over their shoulders now, waiting patiently for their new Queen.
Ian whispered something into her ear, and Beth nodded, then snapped her fingers at two guards near the entrance. She pointed toward Wilcox, and they marched to him immediately, taking him by the arms and escorting him out of the room.
"What are you going to do with him?" Daniel asked, watching the shocked man as he was led away.
"I'll decide later," Beth replied. "Maybe the cloister will be enough punishment for him."
"He has no key," Murphy shrugged. "You could send him anywhere and he'll be no more threat to you."
Beth waved to the Royal Court, then stepped closer to Daniel. "You'll stay here, at least for a while, won't you? I'll be with them for a few hours, then there's going to be a coronation, and a nice big party in my honor."
"He'll stick around, Your Highness," Murphy replied. "I'll see to it. At least for a few days, anyway."
Daniel laughed. "Yeah, I guess." He thought of Uncle Frank, and Jonathan, and the key once again in his pocket. "I can always go back later."
Beth smiled, leaned in and kissed his cheek, then hurried off to meet with the Royal Court.
"Ten years older," Ian said with a shake of his head.
Murphy laughed. "Come on, boys, I need a drink and you two need to explain what happened."
__________________________
"My God," Murphy shook his head in wonder. "They had no eyes, you say?"
"Not that I could see," Ian replied.
They were sitting at table in the sun, outside a café in the village, enjoying a moment of quiet away from the hubbub and excitement in the castle as a royal reception was hastily being put together.
"They were like something out of a really bad horror flick." Daniel felt a chill rush through him despite the warm sun on his back. He raised his glass of a liquor Murphy had likened to vodka and took a drink. There was no choking burn like the whisky, just an easy sensation of heat and the promise of numbed thinking soon to follow. "Man Bats take Manhattan or something. Straight to cable." He noticed both men looking at him, then laughed. "That's right. Cable's after your time, isn't it, Murphy?"
"I think I get your point," the older man replied with a smile. "What about Stefan? You're positive he couldn’t have made it out of there?"
Ian shook his head. "I can't see how," he replied. "He'd dropped his key, somewhere on deck, and he wasn't in the cabin when we hit bottom. We heard him screaming, and so did that creature hunting for us. I just can't see him making it away from them and onto the Myst."
"Even then, he'd have to find a door," Daniel added. "Those things were right on us inside the ship, and most of the doors were shattered already. No, the odds are just too high. No way he made it out of there."
Murphy nodded. "Thank goodness. Though I might have preferred to have my key back."
Daniel set his glass on the table and leaned forward. "That's what I'm worried about." He looked at Ian. "Did you see it? On that thing's belt?"
Ian nodded. "It had a key, but that doesn't mean it has any idea what it is, or how to use it."
"Could that have been Stefan's key?" Murphy asked.
Ian shrugged. "Doubt it. The thing looked like it had been tied on that belt for a while, like all the other trinkets."
"But it has a key," Daniel said. "And who knows how many."
"It won't matter how many, so long as they never use one." Murphy finished the contents of his glass in one swallow. "I'd say the chances of that are right up there with a dog learning how to drive a car."
"They use arrows," Ian interjected. "It might not be such a stretch."
"And there's nothing I can do about it," Daniel replied. As terrifying a thought as it was, he truly was helpless. If those creatures managed to open a door with that key, there was no telling where it would step out. Anywhere on the planet was fair game, he assumed. And if a door was left open, could they all get through? He shook himself and finished his drink.
"What's next for Daniel Harper, then?" Murphy asked. "Now that your world has been turned on its side, eh?" He leaned back, letting the sun hit him full in the face, and smiled. "Ian's without a ship, Ether has a new Queen, and you haven't even met one of our healers yet. There's a lot you could learn here. A lot you could offer."
"Me?" Daniel laughed shortly, but couldn't meet Murphy's gaze.
"Forget him," Ian huffed. "What the hell am I going to do without a ship?"
"No Sheriff of Ether has need of a ship, you fool," Murphy replied.
Daniel looked up.
Murphy reached underneath his jacket and pulled a badge from his shirt pocket. He tossed it across the table at Ian. "I'm needed here, as Personal Advisor to the Queen. So you, Ian Foster, are Ether's new Sheriff." He pointed a finger at the stunned man. "Just remember I'll be keeping an eye on you."
Ian picked up the badge and stared at it. "Sheriff, me?"
Murphy shrugged. "Why the hell not? You're not a wanted man anymore." He turned to Daniel. "And you. I've arranged for the castle's chief healer to show you how things are done here. You've got a lot to learn, and a lot to teach. The healers here use completely different methods than they do back home. You'll both benefit, learning from each other."
"What?" Daniel blinked. "Hang on, I've got my lawyer looking for a building. I need to set up a private practice--"
"In a small town growing so fast, you'll be one of a hundred doctors by the end of this season? Fighting with insurance companies and malpractice suits?" Murphy gave a snort. "You're far more valuable here, in Ether, where folk need you."
"I--"
"Besides, with that key, you can go back to Otherworld at any time," he added. "To, anytime."
To anytime. Daniel thought back to his uncle's letter. "Is that what Frank meant? That he'd lived two full lives at once?"
Murphy nodded. "Basically, yes. You can revisit, if you time things right, and no one will realize you've been gone. Or, if you want, you can quietly vanish from Otherworld altogether." He pushed his chair so that it tipped back on just the two rear legs and rocked slightly, in time with a gentle nodded of his head. "Ether's not a bad place to live. Plenty of friendly people, fresh air. I hear the Sheriff is a reasonable man." He gave Ian a wink, then laughed at the man's inability to respond through his surprise. "Besides," Murphy added as he let his chair back down. "There's a woman here -- a very powerful and influential young woman -- who I believe has taken a shine to you."
Daniel stared at Murphy, barely noticing the waitress as she refilled their glasses. He looked at Ian, who was still turning the badge over in his hands, looking at it in disbelief.
"What do you say?" Murphy raised his glass and looked at Ian, who slowly lifted his.
"I say here's to Ether's new Sheriff," Ian replied. "And the Queen's Personal Advisor."
Daniel felt for the letter inside the pocket of his borrowed trench coat and pictured his uncle sitting at the kitchen table, pen in hand, writing out the last words for his nephew to read.
He raised his glass. "Here's to not needing all the answers." He touched his glass to the other two, then smiled. "And Ether's newest Healer."
- END -
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