Part Two: The Other Man
The familiar man appeared again, and I knew I wouldn't be able to tell anyone. I would never be able to clear his name in the eyes of my family or anyone else, but there he was. Proctor Mortimer, my great grandfather. An honorable man who died a horrifically gruesome death unknown to his family. I got the feeling that I would see him frequently in the future. I wasn't sure if it had something to do with the clearing. I had been there plenty of times since the last vision, but when I arrived I wasn’t alone. He was with me, and I was instantly terrified. I wasn’t scared of him, but of what he would show me. Surely something awful had happened to him prior to him finding the mental institution. He was skinny, dirty and lines of worry cluttered his face.
While I worried how he got this way, he was in the process of showing me. I was no longer in the clearing, and I assumed things would go just as they did last time. No interaction with anything or anyone. I think I preferred it that way. At least I couldn’t get hurt-- physically. When I saw him he looked just as bad as he did at the entrance to the abandoned mental institution. The other man with him looked just as rough. I guessed he was one of the buddies Mom mentioned in passing. They looked like they went through something awful.
“I can’t find the others, but we don’t have time to wait or search for them. We have to keep going. We must find food and shelter.” My great grandfather spoke to the man next to him.
“I can’t go on much further,” the other man said, shaking.
“You can make it Basil, we’ll find food soon. Just hang in there.” Proctor Mortimer looked just as weak as the other man, but he tried to stay strong for his friend.
“I’m not long for this world, Proc. Promise me you’ll go on and save yourself if I don’t make it. You’ve got Elizabeth waiting back home for you. Promise me.”
Proctor looked gloomy, but said, “You have my word, Basil. I can’t wait to get back to my sweet Elizabeth. I wish I’d never come on this trip with you guys. Who ever knew it would turn out like this?” The two men embraced each other, fearful of the end.
“I want you to know you are my dearest friend in the world, Proc. I'm proud to spend my final time on this earth with you.” He helped his friend back to his feet.
“I hope this isn’t the end, but it has been a pleasure knowing you. I only wish I could say goodbye to Elizabeth. To tell her I love her, one last time, that I will love her always. She is my world.” He mustered a small smile for Elizabeth. They continued walking, desperate to find food, water, and shelter.
I trailed behind them for what must have been two painstaking miles. It didn't tire me out because I wasn't covering space, I was covering time. I have the ability to move around, but my range is limited.
Each breath came out as an airy gasp and their shoulders were slumped with exhaustion. I can only be so far away from Proctor before some invisible force urges me to move on. I wished I could lead them to food, or provide them with some water, but that's not how it works. I am forced to be a helpless spectator.
A form headed in our direction from a great distance away. I couldn’t tell if it was friend or foe, human or monster. I wished for the figure to be a friendly traveler with enough fares to go around. I knew the ending to this story, and it wasn’t a happy one. With every step we grew closer to the outline, and fear festered in my empty stomach. Proctor and Basil finally noticed the person drawing nearer to them, and they were momentarily hopeful. Unfortunately my hopes dashed when they finally saw the man. He was thinner than they were, sickly with a few sores on his body, not a stitch of clothes on him.
“Are you lost, too?” Proctor Mortimer called out. The man replied with an unintelligible whispery growl, quickening his pace. Clenched in his hand was a switchblade, but they weren’t aware of it until it was plunged deep within Basil. The stab brought Basil to his knees, and as the life drained out of him he said one thing.
“Go, Proc. I’m done for, but you can still get back to Elizabeth. I love…” and that was the last anyone ever heard of Basil. When the creature retrieved his blade he licked the sticky blood from it. This sent him in frenzy and he frantically stole as much of Basil’s blood as he could.
Proctor could stand by no longer as the devil desecrated his best friend’s body. He tackled the beast to the ground, until the demon moved no longer. He didn’t revel in taking the life of another, but he couldn’t let it live after it killed his best friend in the world. Taking the switchblade for protection, he set off in hopes to find help. I took one last look back at Basil who died a horrible death, my great grandfather’s truest friend. Little did Proctor know, he was doomed to the same horrible fate as his friend. Never again would he see the smiling face of Elizabeth or their child on the way. The creatures would make short work of him once he arrived at the old abandoned mental institution.
Proctor Mortimer survived for another full day before he made it to the institution. My feet were compelled to keep moving, but I refused to look. I would not witness the death of my great grandfather a second time. Once was far more than enough. I couldn’t keep the barrage of tears in any longer; they poured out. I felt so much more connected to the familiar man this time. Now it really was like losing someone close to me. I cried for him, I cried for Basil, and I cried for their sullied names.
When I opened my eyes I was back in the clearing alone, shaking from the terror and injustice of it all. Why was I forced to see the brutal death of two good men, and the brutality that led to those creatures? I wasn’t sure how many more visits I could take from the familiar man before I shut down emotionally. It was draining. I made it home, though I’m not sure how. Mom asked me what was wrong, but I couldn’t answer. I wouldn’t. This was my burden to bear, and as horrible as it was, I would do it. At least that way someone knew the virtuous man that was Proctor Mortimer.
I am proud to call him my flesh and blood.
About The Familiar Man:
This two-part short story is now forever free in anticipation of the full-length novel, expected sometime in 2014. The reader will learn more about Alice, Proctor, Basil, and characters that have yet to be introduced. Proctor Mortimer was my great-grandfather’s name, and the rest of the story shaped around that.
Author Bio:
T.R. Stoddard is the author of her own wild imagination. Psychological thrillers and unique young adult fiction are her forte, but she hopes to one day make a contribution to each major genre. Stoddard has two novels and one short story currently in circulation, and spends her free time creating more. She lives in Orlando, Fl with her boyfriend and their rescue dog Harry PAWter.
Where to Find T.R. Stoddard:
Facebook Author Page: www.facebook.com/T.R.Stoddard
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/TRStoddard
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5754345.T_R_Stoddard
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