Static Reflections: Book 1 of The M... - Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Richard let go of Nick's hand and sat back, looking at Iwai. His heart was fluttering, and he still felt like leaving, but he knew that he would have to see it through. "Alright. What's the next instruction?"
"Well," Iwai said, placing his hands on the desk and never discarding that pesky grin. "It's pretty typical that we do what every Mortal Guard member does when they get a new partner."
Richard's face dropped along with his tail. "Okay." He already knew the answer, and it was the last thing he wanted.
Nick's ears perked, and he leaned forward. "What's that?"
The deer chuckled. "Get to know each other, of course! You'll have ten minutes alone here to talk and—what do the kids say these days? 'Catch each other's vibes?'"
Nick rolled his eyes playfully as Richard looked on. "You're so cool now, Iwai."
"Isn't that what you kids say? Been a while since I've been to the Mortal Realm, but I've caught what the newbies say. Weird slang these days, I'll tell you."
The hyena placed his arms along the tops of the chair's components, leaning his back against it. "Yeah. It's pretty wack these days."
"Wack?"
"That's a slang I use."
"Other kids use it?"
"First of all, I'm twenty-one," Nick chuckled. "Not a kid. Second, I like to use older terms. Picked it up from my friend Tyler. I also say 'radical.'"
Tyler, Richard repeated in his mind.
Iwai laughed quite hard. "Funny guy! Alright, alright. Business comes first. I'll leave you to it," the old buck grinned, standing up. He groaned while doing so, then made his way to the door.
"Are you certain it's ten minutes?" Richard asked, trying to communicate with his eyes that he wasn't ready.
Iwai just winked at him and then opened the door, stepping out and shutting it behind him.
Richard was left staring, alone in the room with another animal he wasn't quite prepared to face. Damn you, Iwai.
Nick's voice sounded from behind him. "What was he winking at you for?"
Richard slowly turned in his seat and settled, looking forward. ". . . I'm not sure, myself." Next time we're alone, I'll have some words for him, though.
Nick snickered. "Well, whatever. So you're my Mentor, huh?"
"Yes," Richard answered simply. "I am." He continued to stare at the empty chair behind the desk where the stag previously sat.
"Alright, then. What's up?" Nick asked, surely looking at him.
Richard tilted his head the other way, not wanting to see those innocent eyes on him but feeling them anyway. "Up?"
"Yeah. How are you?" Nick continued.
The question made Richard's ear twitch. How could he answer honestly? That he was anxious and terrified to be taking an animal under his wing? That he wasn't confident that he could do anything for him? In the end, all he said was, "I'm doing fine."
Nick was silent for a moment. ". . . What's going on?"
Richard knew Nick caught him, then. "What do you mean?"
"Why won't you look at me?"
"I . . ." Richard turned his head and looked down at his lap. You can do this. Why are you still hiding? Are you going to look away forever? "I apologize."
Nick made some sort of motion in the corner of his eye. The raccoon assumed it was a head shake. "I get it," Nick said. "I mean, I don't really get it, but I understand."
"What do you understand?" Richard asked.
". . . I think it's bullshit to hide it from you, so I'm just gonna say. Iwai told me that you're troubled."
Richard felt his throat go dry. "Did he?"
"Yeah. But I also want to tell you that I'm not gonna do anything," Nick remarked.
"What?" Now, Richard focused his gaze on him, the hyena wearing a face of stone.
"It's all a means to an end," Nick said. "I plan on listening to everything you have to say and teach, remember it, and become one of the best creature hunters there is."
Richard blinked. "You're looking for greatness?"
"I'm looking for strength," the hyena answered, standing up. Richard's head moved along with his body. "I'm not gonna do shit for my friend Boris if I don't become stronger. I don't care if all the eyes in Prostasia are on me. I just want it over with." He walked around the large desk and sat in the big chair, using his foot to swivel left and right.
"Over?" Richard continued to look at him. "What's the matter with him?"
"He's possessed," Nick said. "We both don't really understand what it is, just that we want it out of him." His face gained a hint of sadness. "The things he's making him do . . . I have to stop it."
Richard blinked. "And what is it that he's making him do?"
"He's making him kill innocent animals!"
"He's turning him into a killer?" Richard frowned.
"No, he already is one," Nick sighed. He slid a claw along the length of the desk. "He killed my friend, and our band manager, Astrid, backstage. Multiple animals saw it, and then he knocked me out, and the Mortal Guard came, and I found my chance."
Richard listened to his words carefully, noting his mannerisms and hand gestures as he spoke.
"You see, I already knew that Boris was possessed before anyone. He came to me first for help. Thanks to his past, he had no one else. But I was there. And now I'm here."
Richard nodded. No one had been there to save him back in the alternate timeline he was stuck in when that group took him, and . . . No. Now was the last time to think about that and spiral. He needed to remain calm. This was already a big step he was taking.
Though he had to admit: The story touched him. Of course, it would most likely be touching to any animal, but especially him. He could relate to Nick's friend. All alone, in need of a savior when things were dire. In some way, he felt compelled to help the hyena, hoping it might help himself, somehow.
"I understand what you're saying," Richard answered with a slight nod. "I'm going to do my best to teach you properly, Nicholas, but do keep in mind that I'm not the best Mentor . . . ."
"Shh!" Nick held a finger to his dark lips. "I haven't seen that yet so I don't know that yet!" he whispered.
The raccoon kept his eyes on him. "I mean it, though. I just don't want you to be upset with me if something happens."
Nick wiggled his head this way and that, rolling the chair and bumping the back of it against the wall. "Oof. I won't be upset. Promise. Time works differently here, right? I'm not in a rush. I can be patient."
Richard stared at him, pursing his lips. "Yes, certainly." He figured he might as well break the ice some more if he were genuinely going to be working with this animal for a while. "So, what was your life like before you came here?"
Nick's eyes changed, then, and he opened his mouth to speak, then shut it. ". . ."
"Sorry if I encroached on any painful memories," Richard said, fumbling with his hands in his lap. "I don't want to offend you."
"Hey, who's the student here?" Nick smiled. "No, it's not that. It's just hard. I've been thinking about it ever since I got here and, like, now I'm not gonna be talking about it to a robot and to someone who actually listens."
Richard wanted to respond because he was sort of like a robot in the way that it was hard for him to show emotion or help out with advice, but he just nodded. "Certainly."
"My life was pretty average, for a mortal," the hyena began, once again swiveling in the dark gray chair. "My parents were cool and nice and all. I wasn't going to college or anything, but I was in a band called Water on Fire with a group of my friends."
"Oh? So you play an instrument?" Richard asked, simply trying to make conversation as the seconds wasted away. How long could ten minutes be?
"Yeah. I play guitar and sing. I also wrote all the music and everything for the band. It doesn't look like there's music here, though, and I guess my Double has my guitar now. I hope I don't forget how to play it."
Richard felt sorry for this animal, who lost his passion, family, and friends. "Well . . . there are other things to practice now. You'll get good at that."
"I know I will," Nick retorted, scratching the desk again and again with a rather uncomfortable sound. "You know, I honestly couldn't believe it when Boris showed up at my house and told me something supernatural was happening to him.
"I've always thought that shit like that was interesting songwriting material, but reality? You can never tell if all the ghost sightings and paranormal stories are real. You just basically choose a side.
"My best friend Tyler and my friend Boris and I never believed that stuff, but Nora was always sure the ghost of her mom visited her sometimes. Of course, the supernatural world is way more than just ghosts. I guess you call it the Other Side, huh?
"But it was always hard to believe that stuff was out there," Nick rambled on. "Until Boris showed up while I was writing a song and drowning in a sea of papers that had lyric ideas on them. He told me that the only thing he was certain he knew was that his name was Absalom."
Then, Nick's face went cold, and he stared at Richard for a moment. He stood up quickly and thrust himself over the desk. "Holy fuck, I'm so sorry. Oh my god, what the fuck is wrong with me?! Why did I . . . shit!!!" He gripped the table tightly, his arms shaking.
Richard leaned back in terror at the sudden outburst, shielding his face. "What is it?! What happened?!"
Nick put a hand to his forehead, pacing behind the desk. "I just fucked you over."
Not liking those words and knowing the fragile position that Iwai was in, Richard felt his stomach drop. ". . . Why?"
"I said his name out loud," Nick despaired, moving to the wall and leaning against it. "I fucking cursed you!"
Richard stood up now, his chair launching back. "What?! Am I in danger?!" This meeting wasn't at all going like how he hoped. He regretted ever regretting saying no. He wanted to be away from this animal, and he wanted to be home.
". . . It's complicated," Nick sighed, dragging his hand down the wall. "You can't be affected by him, and they can't erase your memory of him now, but . . . you're connected to him thanks to me, which isn't a good thing. I'm so sorry . . . I'm so fucking sorry. I was talking too fast and not thinking, and I . . . ."
Richard let the reality set in that he was now dragged into something, certainly clawing and screaming if he could emote such reactions. He shook his head. "Please continue your story."
"Huh?"
"Please just continue your story and let's forget about this topic," Richard demanded. "Your friend Boris told you the name, then what?"
Nick blinked, then slowly sunk back down into the office chair, reclining his back. "Then he showed me his reflection in the mirror and . . . well, I just couldn't even imagine what I was seeing. He was wearing different clothes than he was actually wearing and covered in blood, and it was terrible. It is terrible.
"Then, the night of our last concert happened and, from what they told me, Boris murdered Astrid and then escaped with Tyler. Where are they now? I wish I knew. I wanna be out there with them, but if I quit, they'll erase my memories of the supernatural, and I'll be back to square one. I know that the Guard is going after him, but I wanna be the one."
Richard rubbed his cheek, sighing and placing himself back in his chair after pulling it forward. "I understand how you're feeling . . . I'll do my best."
"Thank you, sir."
The back of Richard's neck tingled and he began bouncing his knee. "Please, just Richard is fine. I don't care about the niceties and such just because I'm your Mentor. You're clearly mature enough to handle yourself, so I won't be treating you like a child."
"Thank you," Nick smiled genuinely. "Richard."
The raccoon felt nervous at that answer for some frustrating reason, but he kept steady. "Of course."
"So what about you?" Nick tilted his head, black tail hanging behind the chair.
"What?"
"What about your life before?"
Richard froze. His breathing grew faster, and the room felt hotter around him. "My . . . life . . . I . . . ." His chest began heaving as his heart rate increased.
Nick put his hands up, noticing that his question sent the tender animal into overdrive. "Hey, hey! Relax, relax . . . Breathe . . . I was just asking the same question you did."
Breathe . . . Richard told himself. He remembered Iwai saying that on the phone before. He inhaled and exhaled, closing his eyes. You are calm. Calm. Slow down and just breathe.
The hyena just gave him time, observing to make sure he was alright. Despite Richard being his Mentor, Nick felt like he might be the one taking care of another animal. Nonetheless, he needed to know the answer to the following question he asked. "Are you sure about this? They can find me another Mentor."
". . . " Richard didn't know what to say. He wanted to say both yes and no.
"But you know what I want?" Nick added.
Richard kept his eyes shut, focusing on his breathing. "W-what?"
"I want it to be you. I know that you're having a hard time and everything, but I can see that we both need help. You know, it's no problem for me that you have anxiety. Tyler used to get panic attacks all the time. I have experience with it."
Richard opened his eyes, slowly, his tail moving behind him. "That isn't what I expected you to say, Nicholas."
The hyena shook his head. "I'm a wild card; what can I say? But I mean it, Richard. I know that I'm the student or whatever, but you can do this. It'll only get easier."
It'll only get easier, Richard said in his mind. He wrote that down in the mental notebook of "Things to Tell Myself When I'm Feeling Stressed".
"And I'll still become the best creature hunter there is under you," Nick smiled. "Promise."
Richard opened his mouth to speak, but the door opened, and the large old buck returned, spouting loudly, "I hope that was a productive meeting for you both and that you're excited to work together. What are you doing in my chair, son?"
Nick looked down at the seat, then looked up. "Where's your name? It's not even on the desk."
Iwai blinked.
"Did you . . . did you buy this chair with your own money from the Plaza?" Nick asked. "Do they even sell furniture there? Where can I get one?"
Iwai just burst out laughing and chuffing. "Ahahaha! Alright, kid! You got good energy. I like you! Unfortunately, Mr. Seife and I have business to attend to, so I'd like you to kindly exit the room and return with Victor to your dorm."
Nick stood up. "Alright, I'll skedaddle." He looked at Richard's nervous brown eyes one more time with his sharp green ones, then waved to Iwai as he walked past and out the door.
The stag shut it and began making his way to his seat. "So . . ." He sat down with a grunt, noticing some scratch marks on the table. "How'd it go?"
Richard finally let his tension go and leaned back, crossing one leg over the other. He shook his head. "It was humiliating."
"Humiliating? Why's that?! Did he make fun of you?!" Iwai sounded like he was ready to fight.
"No," Richard answered. "But he's a lot more mature than I first thought when I looked at him. I do have a question, though. Have you told him he's—"
"Not yet," Iwai cut him off. "We're on standby to give him that info. Just let him get certified first, at least. Alright?"
Richard nodded. "Yes. But something else happened that has me worried."
"And what is that?"
"He cursed me," the raccoon said, looking up with begging eyes as if the buck might know some way to take it away.
"Cursed?! Excuse me?! But he hasn't learned any . . . ."
"It was the name of whatever is possessing his friend," Richard reported. "It holds a curse. He also told me that I wouldn't be able to be affected by him now that I know it."
"Like Rumplestiltskin rules?" The deer raised a brow. "Fascinating . . . I won't say the name here, my friend, but I already know it."
"You do?" Richard gawked.
"Of course, I know all of the creatures that we're sending members out to hunt. This one's a big deal."
"Aren't you afraid of it?" Richard questioned.
Iwai placed his hands on the desk, tracing the new claw marks with his supple fingers. "Richie . . . I'm already cursed to die any time that I close my eyes for a good night's rest. Never knowing if you're going to wake up in the morning was terrifying at first, like I told you, but over time, you learn to meet Death and not run from them but shake their hand. I've already done the latter. I can't afford to live a life with fear now. I just need to make every day count."
Richard felt horrible at those words. He already knew that Iwai's Sleep Death Curse would take his only friend away from him any day now, yet here the stag was, facing death head-on with no tears in his eyes.
Why? Why couldn't Richard do the same? Why did he want to run from everything? Why couldn't he get over it? But even as these questions played in his head, he knew for a fact that he wasn't ready to die. And maybe he never would be.
Responding to the saddening words from the Sect Leader, Richard just nodded his head slowly. "I understand."