The Wanderers tale -- (Author) Fireband

[llsadmin]

############################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################
Author: Fireband
Timestamp: Oct 29, 2019 at 8:50 PM
Content: Chapter 1 The Real Lone Ranger:
Another day, another walk through the hot Arizona desert. X didn't know how long he had been running, but it was for so long he forgot his own name. The only thing X remembered was that he ticked of some very powerful people, and now the whole country wanted him dead. To X, death would be a blessing. He felt as if he was living as somebody already dead: barely eating or sleeping and stopping only to relieve himself. He was truly alone. He didn't even know who he was at this point. The only worldly possessions he owned were the cloths on his back, his mask to cover his face and identity, and his canteen. To passerby he looked like a cowboy outlaw from those old western films.

X continued to walk through the desert valley. Besides the lone vulture or rattlesnake, there was no one else out here. He stopped when he found the entrance to a cave at the end of the valley. As he entered the cave, X's vision began to blur. It was another broken flashback. A piece to his old life.

"You can't testify...it's to dangerous...you'll make a lot of enemies doing this! What about us?!"

A beautiful girl, presumably X's girlfriend or sister, was shouting and crying. His name (as always in these flashbacks) was lost to mental static. The image of this girl always made X sad. She had fire red hair, and the bluest eyes possible.

"You saw what that man and his cronies did to...I have to testify at...it's for the best. If anything happens meet me at our special place. We will be safe there!"

X really hated these flashbacks. Details where always missing, and they hurt his head. Where was this special place? Would it have answers? That is why X was wandering: to find this special place. Hopefully the girl would give him answers. Something else bothered him about the flashbacks. Why couldn't he see anything below the neck. The cave was nice and cool. The rocks were a beautiful lime green with a hint of grey. The sound of moisture seemed to put X at ease. Maybe he could sleep. X can't remember the last time he found some place safe enough to sleep. X decided to venture further into the cave.

It was odd how well lit the cave was, or maybe it was X's top notch vision. He had to walk through blizzards, sandstorms, the dead of night, and many more vision blurring conditions. It's a wonder he could still see at all, especially with the mask he wore. As he ventured further, he saw a stream flowing through the ground at the center of the chamber he was in. He decided to fill his canteen. As we was filling his lifeline, he took off his mask and saw his face. Dirty blonde hair, green eyes, and a thin layer of scruff that couldn't be called a beard. What stood out the most was the scar on his face running near his eye. The reason he wore the mask.

Every time X would see somebody without the mask, they would start shouting, and before you know it sirens were blaring and X was on the run once again. For some reason people either feared him, hated him, or both. It was sad having to be alone all the time. He never got to talk to anyone. As he would wander, he would see so many people together. Through his mask he saw couples kissing, children playing, a mother hugging her child. Everything made X feel more discarded. He wondered why he even bothered hiding. Maybe the people after him would end his misery quick. But, the mystery that was his past kept X going.

After X finished filling his canteen, he put his mask on and decided to sleep. As he drifted off, he just saw black. He never dreamed. Sleep left him alone with his thoughts. Many mysteries flooded his head. Who am I? What did I do to become so hated? Why do I have this scar? These questions would flood though X's head until he eventually woke up, barely rested and ready to wander some more.

This time when X awoke, he felt rested and relaxed. All of a sudden he heard the most beautiful singing coming from over the other side of the underground stream. It was so beautiful, it moved X for the first time in ages. He had to find the source. As he got closer, the words got clearer. It was a lullaby. It sounded familiar. X could feel it tugging at his heart.

When he got to the next clearing, X couldn't believe his eyes. A young woman was holding another younger woman. The woman being held was dressed like an over sized baby girl. As X approached the singing stopped and the older woman turned to face him. Se looked so young yet so motherly.

"Hello there stranger." She said warmly. "I didn't think anyone else knew of this place."

This got X curious. This woman clearly knew about this cave. It would probably be best to gather as much info as possible. X cleared he throat, and for the first time in ages he spoke.

"Where am I?" X asked. "What is this place."

"You are in the entrance to paradise." She said. "I was just taking little Amy here out for some explore time. That always tires her out when she can't sleep. Why don't you take off that mask, Halloween was six months ago."

"I don't think that's a good idea ma'am." X replied "Every time I take off this mask, I cause panic."

"Whatever are you talking about?" The woman asked as she placed the sleeping girl into a stroller. "If you won't take it off I will"

As the woman took off the mask. He eyes changed from annoyance to sadness. But something in her lit up like a light. As if she saw an old friend. She ran forward and embraced X in a hug: the first contact he had in a long time. It felt good. The woman stepped back a grabbed X's face.

"What happened to you Walter?" She asked. "Sarah and I have been looking for you!"

"Who the heck is Walter?" X asked. "Is that supposed to be me? Because I don't even know my own name."

"It's worse than I thought." The woman said. "You are coming with me at once"

The woman than grabbed a cell phone like device and spoke into it. She then sat Walter down. Suddenly Walter the formerly nameless, felt a prick in his shoulder and everything began to fade. Walter tried to fight it, but it felt so good. It felt like all the good feelings Walter hadn't felt in ages.

"You will be safe now. Sarah is waiting for you."

-------------------------------------------------------------