Off in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by scant vegitation, a young woman with dark brown skin dressed in a white night gown scratches at the bleached dirt under an oppresive sun. Her nails are chipped and bloody, yet she continues to tenatiously pick at the rough earth with a somewhat deranged look on her face.
She delicately unearths an object, a curiously carved stone, and holds it with the significance of a new-born baby. The woman traces the pattern with her finger, her face showing violent glee as she slowly, and deliberately saunters towards the three bodies she'd layed under one of the few emaciated trees present.
She looks over the bodies mentally deciding on her cut of meat. As soon as she decides, she nonchalantly picks up a knife from beside the bodies and begins to carve into one. Her actions trace the tempo of a tarantula as she cuts and digs into the flesh. Slow, yet unrelenting, she proceeds as if driven by muscle memory while vultures circle above, waiting for her to share her bounty.
[[Her name is Emmeline]]
In a dusty town, behind the saloon, a shadow cast by the afternoon sun shielded a secret meeting between business partners. An old man with peppered gray hair stood beside a young woman with brown skin, and on the opposite side, a young man leaned lazily against the rotted wood making up the backside of the saloon.
The young man reaked of sweat, and wore a tattered dress shirt only half tucked into his worn blue jeans. His lazy demeanor and smug smirk looked incredibly out of place on his aged face, as if he were an old man past his prime trying to rekindle his youth.
"Emmeline?" He asked.
"Looks like a Pablo to me," he snorts.
"We don't pay you to make assumptions about our family, Mister Nickle," The elderly gentleman places his hand on the young woman's shoulder.
"Yeah, Whatever. What'd you need this time Ray? More supplies?" Nickle asks, shrugging.
"I know you've spent much of your own time and money providing for us, but I'm here today to ask something a little more personal of you," Ray stares deeply at Nickle, who shuffles uncomfortably.
"It's imperative to us that we protect this young girl for the next three weeks," He continues, "She carries something very important to us, and it seems as if you might not be a stranger to <i>protecting things</i>," Ray gestures towards the handgun resting tightly in a holster on Nickel's hip.
Nickel <i>was</i> infact a stranger to protecting tings; Robbing things? Sure, that was familiar territory, but if anything he definitely wasn't a stranger to money. Nickel briefly studies the timid girl, the way she carries herself didn't seem right, but regardless he wanted to hear a price.
"How much?" he asks.
"Eighteen dollars a week," Ray states, matter-of-factly, "And you'll be staying at our Church for the durration."
Nickle struggles to swollow his shock and attempts to appear modest as he shifts his demeanor to one more respectable.
"Yeah. Uh - sure. Sounds good."
"Good!" The older man claps his hands together, "Emmeline say hello to Mister Nickle, He's going to be watching you from now on."
The young woman drowzily fixes her gaze on Nickel as if she'd been elsewhere through the durration of the conversation.
"Hello, Mister Nickle," She says.
"Eh, you can call me Eddie, Ma'am."
Ray smiles, and pats the young woman on the back again, "Now, let's get going, I'd like to be back before night -- "
"Uh -- I need to -- Let me get my orders in affair first," Eddie blurts out, holding his hands out infront of him as if he'd physically stopped the conversation, "Three weeks is a long time."
Ray stares at Eddie inquisitively, but ultimately nods, "Alright, but please be quick about it Mister Nickel."
"It'll take an hour or two, tops!"
[["I went to the store."]]
Many people have accused Eddie Nickel of not being a very bright man, but even broken light bulbs can catch light when the sun shines. The fact that he was traveling with two people he didn't <i>really</i> know into the middle of nowhere made the whole thing shine especially bright in Nickel's mind.
"How much farther is this <i>Church</i>?" Eddie asks peaking outside the back of the covered wagon trying to confirm that his Nate <i>was</i> indeed following his instructions.
"We'll be there in time Mister Nickle," Ray leans back in his seat, "Please allow me to preface our arrival with something of a disclaimer."
"... Yeah," Nickle agrees, having trouble following the Ray's proper speech.
"Our family believes in something different than what others find acceptable," The old man clears his throat, "Our deity has unjustly been removed from his rightful place as the rule in this world. We believe in trying to provide spiritual power to him through rituals in order to be seated with him as he brings about a sort of rapture, casting out non believers from our realm. It is our truth."
Eddie stares blankly at the old man, "Huh..."
"We think differently Mister Nickel, and I want you to keep your opinions of our ways to yourself or we will find someone else to take your place. Is that clear?"
"Yeah. Got it," Eddie nods, "I can keep my mouth shut," He states proudly.
"Thank you," The old man looks ahead at the vast nothingness.
"She must stay <i>inside</i> Mister Nickel. You cannot let her roam around un-protected, and you must'nt ever harm her, is that clear?"
Eddie looked over the young woman once more, where he expected to see the disappointed look of a coddled teenager, he saw an alarmingly eager face staring right back at him.
"Uh - Yeah, Sure."
[[The wagon came to a stop...]]
Inside what looks to be an old quarry now drained of its nectar, a jarring hole in one of the rock walls gives way to a cavern which proceeds to descend. Ray leads the two inside, eventually reaching a large clearing within the cavern which houses an extravagant, completely furnished structure.
Ray stretches both his arms out to his side, presenting the structure to Eddie, "This is one the first churches of the Partisans of Eohra. We rarely reach out to people outside of our family. Not everyone is as descrete as you are Mister Nickel."
As Eddie enters the structure, he's blinded by the pale white walls. One look around and you can tell there was serious money behind the place, yet anything that might be worth stealing was literally bolted down. As soon as Eddie turned around to take in the extravigance of the place, he spotted a sigil carved into a solid gold plate hanging above the front door.
Ray notices Eddie eyeing the thing, "The architect that built this place was <i>not</i> a descrete man, Mister Nickel. Wanted his work known. <i>Artists</i>," Ray scoffs, "He now lies below the structure, joining us in the empowerment of Eohra."
"... Glad you guys worked things out," Eddie comments, Ray's meaning completely lost on him.
Ray begins slowly walking down the entrance hall of the structure, pointing at the paintings of generally old, fair skinned men.
"Ministers of our organization's past, all great men, they oversaw quite a few of our most prominant rituals, some of them even participating."
Ray saunters along the line of portraits leading to the main room, while Emmeline traces the paintings with her fingers. The two stop at the last portrat, admiring it.
"This is our current minister, you'll be seeing him here in three weeks to perform Emmeline's ritual."
Eddie studies the picture frame containing the Minister's portrait, trying to figure out if it might be worth anything.
"Now, follow me, you must see the sactuary here in the church."
Ray proceeds to the end of the hall, throwing open a set of doors and emerging himself in the vast red auditorium. The place was similar to the types of christian churches that Eddie was familiar with, but instead of the pews facing the altar, they instead faced a stone pool in the center of the room. On the back wall above the alter, a large portrait of a mutant beast with a horse's head stood tall on its hind legs. The beast was carrying a scythe in one hand and a lantern in the other, caressing them tightly inside of its long slender fingers. The imagery was enough to finally begin to cast real fear inside of Eddie's mind.
Ray places his hand in Eddie's shoulder, startling him "Eohra is so majestic, isn't he?"
"Yeah. It's - uh - <i>Two</i> weeks?"
"Three weeks, Mister Nickel."
"Right..." Eddie clears his throat, his voice cracks a bit, "So where am I going to sleep?"
[[The three ascended the steps to the second floor of the church ...]]
The stairs led to something of a relaxation room, where five other members sat reading mysterious leather bound books. Ray led Eddie down a hall past a few rooms and eventually came to a stop outside of one of the closed doors.
"This is where you'll sleep," Ray announces, swinging the door open to a small, pristine room.
Eddie couldn't remember the last time he slept on a bed that didn't hurt, and the idea comforted him some.
"Right next door is where Emmeline is staying," Ray opens Emmeline's room which she quickly enters and flops down on the bed, looking up at the two with a toothy smile, somewhat proud of her living space.
Her demeanor was a stark juxtoposition to the state of the room, however. The walls were covered in writing, and various books were scattered across the floor including that same leather bound book the people from the relaxation room were reading.
"She's incredibly tenatious in her studies. She can practically recite our family's history from top to bottom,"
"Huh..." Eddie stares blankly at the mess in front of him, his eyes not quite sure what to settle on.
"Hey - uh, Ray?" Eddie turns, "I need to get some fresh air."
"Oh, uh... Yeah, I suppose it takes a while to get used to the air down here."
[[The young boy's eyes widened as he starred into the cavern.]]
Somewhat isolated from the town, a small, one-room school house sat on a hill, basking in the evening glow.
"And what Tense is the verb in?" The middle aged teacher stared expectantly at the student at the front of the class.
"Past, Mrs. Clark," The student answers.
"How would you change it to be in the present Tense?"
The student thinks for a moment, "I go to the store."
"Hm," The teacher adjusts her glasses, "while this is gramatically correct, it's not what you would use in this instance."
"Here's an example," The teacher scans the classroom, "Nathan Lewis is always late to school."
A young boy near the back of the class stirs uncomfortably in his seat while his peers giggle at him, the teacher smirks, "So every morning I see him <i>running</i> to make it on time."
"Much like you would say 'I go to the store', 'Nathan runs to school'."
"But that's what we call the Indicative form of the verb. I'm sure if you asked Nathan what he was doing, while he was doing it, he wouldn't say 'I run to school.'"
"What we need in this case is the progressive, or continuous, form of the verb,"
"Am going, Am running."
"I am running to school. I am going to the store. I <i>am</i> teaching, and I hope you <i>are</i> learning."
"Because no matter how fast Nathan thinks he can run, he can't just be here in an instant; And when we're talking about the present tense, we're talking about things <i>while they're happening.</i> Which makes them continuous."
[["Where were you?"]]
The one room schoolhouse had seen one too many generations, the place was filled with the sweet smell of mildew, and you'd be hard pressed to find a board that didn't creak; Nathan teetered back and forth on one of those boards, standing before Mrs. Clark. His eyes were locked to the floor in shame, he didn't want to admit he'd been playing hookie for the first half of school.
"I went to the store," He says, annoyed.
"I'm serious, Where were you?"
"Why does it matter? I got here didn't I?"
Mrs. Clark sighs, leaning back in her chair.
"You were hanging around with Eddie Nickel weren't you?"
Nathan's eyes snap right back to his feet.
"You can't let him take away your education," Mrs Clark shakes her head, "You're a bright kid, but you don't even know what you have."
"I started out with nothing. I've been all over, and the only thing I learned is that the world could stand to have a little more education."
"People like Eddie Nickel just want to live in chaos because chaos doesn't require you to think," Mrs. Clark catches herself in her anger, and takes a deep breath.
"When was the last time you spoke with your father?" She asks.
Nathan stands in silence for a moment before spitting on the floor and turning to leave.
Mrs. Clark calls after him, but the boy doesn't listenen, disappearing out the door of the school house.
"Damn it," Mrs. Clark slams her desk with her fist before resting her head in her left hand.
[[Nickel was grinning ear to ear.]]
He'd been waiting impatiently for Nathan to meet him at the usual spot under the overhang outside of the general store.
"How was school Nate?"
"Doesn't matter," Nate shakes his head.
Nathan gives Eddie a bewildered look while Eddie stares at him still with that large grin, "Why're you looking at me like that?" He asks.
"it's time to put the Money Boys on the map. Just got a job. eighteen dollars a week."
"Doing what?!"
"Watching some mexican for the guys I've been stealing stuff for, doesn't matter. Only thing that matters is this guy is loaded, and I'm planning on taking some souvenirs."
"Well damn, where and when?"
"We're going right now, but I don't know where it is. That's where you come in. I need you to tail me to this place cause I might get into some trouble. It'll be just like the Jefferson job."
Nate began to feel stones accumulate in his stomach. Despite the Jefferson Job netting them the most money they've ever gotten out of one of these capers, it was a Job Nate would want nothing more than to forget.
"You might also need to stay there as long as I am, so pack a bedroll."
"... How long?"
"Three weeks."
Nate tosses his options around in his head. Time away from the town sounded like a nice getaway, and if the guy is as rich as Eddie seems to think Nate dreamed of what might be possible. In his deepest fantasies he imagines earning enough money that he wouldn't have to deal with any of it anymore. He wouldn't have to hang around his father, or Nickel, or the School. He'd be set, and that was the dream.
"... Okay. Let's go."
[[The Church was miles away, in the middle of nowhere.]]
Nate hadn't ever really been this far away from town, and was beginning to feel reluctant to follow through when Eddie emerged from the cavern frantically glancing behind him as he quickly walked towards Nate.
"Alright, so there's probably not too much I could carry out of there, but there is this thing -- a solid gold plate above the door."
"Gold?"
"Yeah the thing's probably worth a lot. With that money we could get a pretty cool hideout for the Money Boys."
"Don't gangs usually take their hideouts."
"That's what we're doing. We're taking the gold, and using to get our hideout."
"Just shut your smart mouth and stick to the job, boy."
[[For three weeks ... ]]
For three weeks Nate stayed in the quarry, watching. Occasionally, Eddie would emerge from the cavern with food, but not nearly enough for Nate to keep any of his provisions. Sometimes other men would come from outside of the cavern, and Nate would have to scramble to hide his gear; But these instances were few and far between.
For Nickel, watching Emmeline was nothing more than completely boring. She would look at him with her piercing eyes and smile while she told him about the history of the Partisans of Eohra, and Eddie would just sit there drinking water as if drinking it faster would turn into booze. Occasionally, he would get his hands on actual booze, in which case their roles would be flipped, and he would attempt to regale the young lady with tales of daring capers before vomiting and passing out. On one occasion, the girl asked Eddie if she could shoot his gun, to which Eddie couldn't see the problem with, so he sneaked her out of the cavern. Emmeline cradled the gun in her hands, Eddie showed her how it worked, and she gripped the gun properly, pointing it in the distance.
Nate looked on, confused, trying to stay hidden. For a brief moment, he saw her glowing eyes knowingly glance in his direction; Did Eddie tell her about him? Did she see him? There was no way she saw him as he'd made sure the rocks he was hiding behind were large enough to hide him while he was lying down. Shortly after Nate's scare Emmeline pivoted, and began slowly firing rounds. Each round got closer and closer to Nate as he crept away from the impatcts. Emmeline ditched her usual toothy smile for one of extreme curiocity as she pressed on, firing one after another towards Nate until she'd spent all six rounds in he revolver.
"Isn't that fun?" Eddie remarked, chuckling.
[[On the final night ... ]]
On the final night Eddie hears a knock at his door, as he opens it, Ray steps in closing the door behind him.
"About tomorrow. You remember the details of the ritual right?"
"Uhh," Eddie strugles to remember a single thing Ray had told him.
"The girl has an artifact in her, a Ruby of sorts."
"The incubation period is over and we need to retrieve it for Eohra. Doing that will kill her."
Eddie thinks for a moment. He'd bonded with the girl a bit, and while it does sadden him somewhat, he ultimately stews in silence for a few moments before speaking up.
"I thought you guys needed someone who would kill if it came down to it."
"That was you Mister Nickel," Ray replies, "We became worried about Emmeline's behavior, but she seems to be okay now."
"Yeah, but you're going to kill her."
"That's different, it's a ritual."
Eddie squints eyes raising his eyebrows, "Killing is killing."
"No it's -- "Ray rubs his eyes, frustrated, "Look. I'm just letting you know, okay?"
Eddie shrugs, "Alright, just wake me up when it's done."
Ray sighs, and turns to leave.
"Do I get the Ruby?" Eddie calls out after him.
Ray glares back at Eddie incredulously.
"You'll get your money, and then you'll be out of here forever," He says before slamming the door.
Eddie shrugs once more before crawling into his comfortable bed, and snuggling up with the pillow he'd grown more attached to in this journey than anything else.
[[Once again Eddie is awoken by a noise.]]
This time it was from the sharp banging of repeated shots of a revolver. He jumps up, reaching for his holster only to find the revolver had been removed from it.
Emmeline stood in a pool of blood, dressed in her white gown. Members of the church cowered before her as she spun in a circle staring up at the ceiling of the sanctuary.
"Eohra... This is mine," She calls out.
The current minister lay on the floor, his skull erupted by the bullet that had passed through it.
Eddie bursts through the door, "What the hell is goin --"
Another shot rings out this time striking the wall right next to Eddie's head as he quickly backs out of the double doors into the main hall and hides behind the wall.
"What's going on?!" He asks, his voice muffled by the wall between him and Emmeline.
"Emmeline is mistaken, Right Emmeline?" Ray asks, slowly creeping towards her.
"Eohra is a weak god. You need one stronger."
"Emmeline... We provide power through rituals like the one you're preventing right now!"
"Where is this power?" She asks.
Emmeline holds a piece of parchment in her left hand, she raises the paper which seems to be something of a map.
"Here? burried in the dirt?"
"The power within me has given me abilities beyond a mortal. I intend to gain more."
Ray's eyes widen, "Those are sacred artifacts, a mortal can't draw power."
One of the church members raises his head, "She could if she was -- "
Emmeline shoots the man in the face, "I am not Eohra, I am your new god," She gives her usual toothy smile.
Emmeline proceeds to execute the five remaining Church members one by one until she finally reaches Ray.
"Are you ready to accept me as your god?" She asks, as Ray lowers his head.
"Eohra will save us!" He yells, and Emmeline immediately pulls the trigger.
Emmeline inhales deeply as she tip toes towards the exit, she pushes open the double doors and walks through. Suddenly Eddie throws a punch directly into her face which forces her head to turn but her body to remain stationary. She slowly turns her head back and faces Eddie, her soul stealing eyes glaring at him, ever widening. She cocks the gun and preses it against Eddie's stomach, still staring at him deeply. The sight petrifies Eddie, as he begins to breathe heavily unable to look away.
"Isn't that fun?" She turns her head, looking at him inquisitively as blood trickles from her newly busted lip. She slowly lifts her hand as if she were a marionette and moves her chipped nails ever slowly towards Eddie's face. In a slow swift movement, her finger nails were inserted into Eddie's right eyeball. He screams in pain as she pins him against the wall, twisting and turning. Eventually she pulls a chunk of his eye out and tosses it aside. Eddie falls to the floor screaming in pain, holding his eye. Emmeline chuckles beginning to skip outside of the church.
Shortly after Eddie screams in pain, "Fucking bitch!"
He slowly stumbles, following Emmeline out of the church, she skips backwards beconing for him, laughing, and playing with her the parchment paper as if it were a fan. Growing disinterested in mocking Eddie who seems too weak to give chase, Emmeline lets go of the paper and heads out of the cavern.
Eddie continues to crawl after her gasping for air and holding his ruptured eye; he begins his slow and painful journey back to town, his money earned in exchange for half of his vision.
[[The mid-day sun felt especially hot ... ]]
Nate arose from behind his rock expecting to be woken up by Eddie, but instead he was greated by the blinding sun.
Unsure of exactly how long he'd have to wait for Eddie's business to finish, he sat until late evening hoping he would pop his goofy face outside of the cavern any moment with gold in each arm. Eventually, Nate grew tired of waiting, and built up the courage to convince himself to descend below.
The cavern was bathed in an eerie silence, as Nate creeped further in he felt his stomach drop deeper and deeper as well. Eventually he came to the clearing with the Church, and couldn't believe his eyes. He spots the parchment paper on the ground and picks it up and studies it, realizing it's a map with various places marked with ex's. Nate's eyes widened as he remembered what Eddie said about the gold above the door, and slowly crept into the church.
Noticing blood strewn across the floor he hesitated. The blood led to the two doors at the end of the main hallway, and the sight petrified Nate; As he turned to leave, however, he saw it: The solid gold plate. He looked back towards the doors at the far end of the hall, and began leaping trying to push the plate off of the hook. Eventually the plate came falling down into Nate's arms as his eyes glowed. He gave the doors at the end of the hall one last glance as he ran out of the Church with the plate under his right arm, and in his left hand what he could only assume was a Treasure Map.