MagiStream

“I am going to kill that serpent… I’m going to kill it if it’s the last thing I do.”

The man trudged along the forest floor, muttering those two sentences to himself over and over. He wielded a branch that he swung to the rhythm of his chants, as if to reinforce those words in mind even more.

“I’m going to kill it…”

The shine from the full moon could barely break through the thick cover of trees overhead. A normal person would be too afraid to travel deeper into the woods. Hidden roots, chilly gusts, and eerie howls from mysterious creatures threaten a sudden end to anyone who dared to venture further.

But this man was no ordinary man. He was fueled by the fire of vengeance. No danger could deter him from his mission.

“I’m going to kill the serpent…”

It wasn’t actually a serpent. Unless serpents had scales that shone like black jewels and a mane of fire. He could recall every detail of the beast, clear as day. After all, he first saw the serpent arching its neck over his dead children. It was a scene he couldn’t forget, even if he wanted to.

Joseph and Katarina. His son and daughter. Joseph was the younger of the two but got into trouble the most. He was always getting into places where he was not allowed. The sweets jar after dinner, the stables after dark… He loved animals just as much as he loved mischief. He convinced his father to get a duckit for a pet after falling head over heels over a fluffy yellow baby at the market. And his sister loved that little thing too. Katarina, being the older sibling, was naturally bossy and headstrong. When the duckit ran into the forest next to their house, she ran in after it while her brother cried. It was only after his father grabbed his travelling cloak that he stopped his tears and decided to join the hunt.

Ah, if he hadn’t bought that duckit, he wouldn’t have to see his children lying on the ground with blood stained clothes and a glassy stare. But he only wanted to make them happy at the time. He had no idea how a simple pet would do so much harm in the future. Instead of being angry at his past self, he turned his rage into more fuel for vengeance against the serpent.

(He did wonder briefly if the duckit was still alive, however. How ironic it would be if it managed to live through this ordeal while his children have not.)

The man continued his march through the woods. Everything was pitch black. The earth and trees blended together into one shadowy landscape. Even if he could no longer see where he was going, he could see in his mind the serpent bleeding like Joseph and Katarina. His violent mindset guided him when his normal senses could not. It also protected him from feeling fear when he heard a ghostly cry, or from pain when he tripped over a rock. His fingers were now frozen in place around the stick, from cold and from how long he had tightly gripped it. He abandoned his cloak long ago when it got caught in a prickly bush.

“I’m going to kill-” He stopped mid-sentence when something fiery flashed in the darkness. That must be the serpent. There’s nothing else that it could be. His legs took a mind of their own and dash towards the speck of fire dancing in the distance. Sometimes he fell, or bumped into something, but his body refused to let the serpent escape.

The fire grew bigger as the man got closer. But then suddenly, it vanished! He scanned his surroundings frantically while letting out a cry of anguish. There is was again, to the east. He chased after it, his heart pounding furiously in his chest. He can’t let it disappear again. At least, not for good.

Several times the flame blinked away. Several times the man collided into trees and boulders. These obstacles seemed to spring out of the ground right before him. There was no explanation for this trickery other than dark magic from the serpent. But even when magic was being used against him the man would not give up. Sheer willpower kept him hot on the serpent's trail and soon he caught up with the monster in a moonlit clearing.

“I found you.” He sneer, and then lunged. He swung his stick down on the serpent’s head, only to slash at nothing. The snake had dodged the attack so quickly, it was like he was fighting the wind. The man turned and rush at it again, but this time he tripped over something on the ground. As he was pulling himself back up he took a look at what he fell over and his blood ran cold at the sight of…

“Me?” The man stared at his cold hard body, which stared back with lifeless eyes. Rage consumed his vision again as he let out a ferocious roar and ran at the serpent. It avoided his strike once more, and the strike after that. The man lashed out over and over again, even though the serpent continued to dodge effortlessly. Only after what felt like forever did a chill seep into his arms and he stopped in his endless barrage.

Was that really him on the ground? Was he really dead? Then who was the man that tried to kill the serpent? He turned his attention from the oily black snake to his hands, which were icy white from the cold. Or was it because he was no longer alive? He held his hands up towards the shining moon and to his surprise found that light streamed through them. And vapor was dissipating away from them. From his entire body, even. If he looked at himself long enough, the signs were clear. He was no longer among the living. He shouldn’t even be in this world. And yet here he was…

The man has heard stories of ghosts and spirits. He figured that he was still in the waking world because of his blazing desire for vengeance. If he gave up his quest to kill the serpent, he would be able to pass into the afterlife. But he couldn’t. The serpent killed his children. He couldn’t pass on, knowing that the beast that extinguished their lives still lived.

It was still here too. The black snake watched the man contemplate his choices, displaying no anger or pity. Was it allowing the man to strike a fatal blow so that he could peacefully move on? He approached the serpent with stick in hand, raising it to pierce its heart. But as he stared at the glowing spot on its chest, he heard voices. Voices he recognized.

Joseph and Katarina.

“Come on, papa! If we don’t hurry, we won’t find Buttercup before sunset!” A girly voice shrilled.

“For the last time, his name isn’t Buttercup. It’s Mister Quackers…” A quiet voice murmured.

“Yeah well I’m the one that has to clean up after him, so his name is Buttercup!” The girly voice said, louder than before.

“Katarina, please. Keep your voice down. You’ll scare off Buttercup if you keep on shouting.”

That was his voice. The longer he stared at the serpent’s glowing chest, the more he could remember of what happened before they died.

“There he is!” Katarina pointed to a rustling bush. She dashed off to inspect what was in it and her brother followed. They were so busy parting the leaves and branches that they did not notice the growling behind them.

But their father did. He whirled around to face a giant wolf, one that stood as tall as he. Its fangs glistened with saliva and its face was contorted into a fierce snarl. But as scary as it was to look a giant wolf in the eye, he was glad that it was focused on him and not on Joseph and Katarina.

He saw them shrink back from the corners of his eyes. He slowly bent down to grab a stick, never taking his eyes off of the wolf, and held it in front of him.

“Run. Run home. And don’t look back!” The man shouted as he lunged at the wolf. He could hear children screaming and little feet stomping away before sharp teeth dug into his neck.

And then darkness. When he opened his eyes again, he was back in the clearing with the serpent. The glow still shone brightly, however, and if he listened closely he could still hear his children.

He had hoped that his foolish attack brought them enough time to escape. But it was apparently too much to hope for. And by lingering in this world so he could exact vengeance on this serpent… Joseph would be bawling his eyes out. And Katarina would be asking why is papa so stupid to not know that it was an innocent creature? It was just passing by when he stumbled upon their bodies?

No. It wasn’t just passing by. The man could distinguish two spheres of light, bobbing up and down in the serpent’s body. The voices weren’t just from his mind. They were actually there, to help quench his bloodlust and regain his sanity.

The stick fell from his hand as he crouched down and met the serpent at eye level. “Can I… can I see them again?”

It nodded.

The man smiled and placed his hand into the fiery cavity. He felt warmth in what felt like the first time in forever. And then an overwhelming light blinded him, until he could see nothing but the faces of his children.