《Ballad of Cassidy》3:10 to Cimarron Chapter 6
Advertisement
At the hitching post, he studied the tracks, though kept an eye on the saloon. Something had spooked the horses. A few others had slipped away, along with his faithful mustang. Those who escaped capture had fled in different directions. He followed the plurality of them, swore to return for his constant companion. Through the streets he followed, trail easy to see. So chaotic was the hoof prints, he expected to see a local on the ground, with brains kicked out.
"No wonder they don't keep horses," Cassidy marveled, but felt icy claws trail his back, hot blade in the guts.
It struck him; a bloody stench over a low rot. Buzz of flies crawled into the ears, and the bounty hunter jerked back. Over pressed lips he pulled the bandanna. Lightning fell to the earth like an angel expelled from Heaven; calamitous thunder followed in its wake as condemnation. A knot held the door to the barn closed, intricate and sturdy, but he cut it with his well-honed blade. It swung wide and easy, a whine of hinges low. The locals of Lamp light had savaged the horses, tore the beasts asunder. "Insane, inbred maniacs," he coughed and saw teeth marks, where the townsfolk had partially eaten them alive. He shook his head, for no man or beast should suffer such a fate.
Again, the whistle pierced the night, cry raised goosebumps. Rain drops fell, bloated and crimson in lantern's light, heralded by the shrill call of the train. Flash of lightning lit the night, and Cassidy drew his gun, faithful in war and hunt. Travelers must be warned, he swore, and ran to the saloon.
Unruly tumult of the feast had grown. Through the open doors he charged, halted, and nearly tripped. The locals had fallen upon the weary travelers. Four held a man, who still ate with eyes wide. They'd broken off part of a lamp, which wiggled in the hands, freshly hatched. The pudgy larvae latched onto the man at the base of the neck, between the shoulder blades. It was where the townsfolk had their grotesque humps, groaned Cassidy. In the man's voracious eyes there was an immediate shift, and to Cassidy's horror, it shifted to be like Leviticus Woodbine. Deep in a mind numbed horror, the bounty hunter saw the wayfarers devoured or converted.
Advertisement
Cassidy's stomach revolted, and once again thanked whatever grace there was above that he'd eaten nothing. Townsfolk of Lamp Light turned, hissed in a high whistle, though buzzed and clicked underneath. Vestigial wings spread, delicate. They thrummed to cast off black scales that the bounty hunger mistook as dander. Back he staggered a step, gun rose in his hand. As the train blew its scabrous call, he fired. Their heads were ruins from the nose up.
Out into the street he retreated. Other townsfolk were too busy with their meals, or the conversion of the unfortunate travelers. Rain beat against this slouch hat, deafened him, yet he could still hear the sound of teeth on flesh, felt munch of bone. He staggered away, focused on Matilda. They would have to flee to the coming train, which would arrive at any moment. As he ran, he reloaded the revolver, a trick well-learned.
Through the storm he ran. Flash of lightning turned every shadow monstrous, just to be swallowed by darkness. Head down, he plowed through rain, searched for any pursuer. Only a flick of pallid white, ivory flesh, but it was gone in an instant. Deep in the town, angry clicks buzzed out to be echoed through streets, beaten down flat by the torrential rain. At least I can no longer taste it, Cassidy counted the hollow blessing in bitter gratitude. Small fists of droplets struck, sound filled his ears, as it soaked down to skin. Sticks of dynamite were in an oiled cloth, so they wouldn't be wet.
To the house he flew, where Matilda waited. She held up the large revolver, though it was steady. Seeing it was Cassidy, she lowered it, "You look like someone danced on your grave."
"We must go," he said, although his chest heaved, but tried to calm himself. Her children hid behind her at his words, and the wild gaze. "The train," he said as another shrill blow from the whistle cut the air, all jerked at the curdled note, "it's nearly here."
Advertisement
"Okay," she nodded, "but a moment." Matilda left for a minute, but returned in a man's garb. "I found it. I run and ride better in breeches."
Cassidy smiled, "I'll get you to the train."
Back into the storm they hurled themselves, swallowed by the chaos. The bounty hunter held up his revolver with Matilda at his side. Rain blinded in its fury, but at this Cassidy smiled. Under such an assault, anyone trying to track them would find it impossible. Before them, others ran to the station having secreted them away. Caught in flashes of light, shadows lurched through the streets, lamps held high. The crimson glow caught in their eyes. He cursed, swore an oath, and pleaded for whatever listened to intercede on their behalf. They reached the station, harried travelers held guns up, as the train drew into sight.
"Oh God," Cassidy breathed, though a dark part laughed uproariously.
Lightning dazzled the scrub brush desert, fire danced up to be smothered down. In the brief revelations of light, the 3:10 to Cimarron was revealed. Front was a skull of the black matter, though this one had two glowing, gimlet beams, which burned in the night like the eyes of Lord Split Foot, the Devil. An abomination of steel, wood and dark secretion, it blew through the darkness, as if it sought to devour the town along with its people. Thick smoke flecked with black scales, billowed from the nasal cavities. Miquipapalotl's grave likeness was painted on the face in a pallid white of a waxen corpse. Its spine trailed down the carts, ribs gripped it. So horrific was its visage, all those who fled Lamp Light only stood in stupefied awe of the malevolent locomotive. Even Cassidy was struck by the scene before him into inaction.
Advertisement
- In Serial202 Chapters
Falling For Miss Captain : LOVE Vs DUTY
Fight your war and I will fight mine. If I ever fall, you will help me up and I will do the same for you.
8 833 - In Serial28 Chapters
James of Galendar
The brain tumour was slowly killing him. For James, his only hope for survival lay beneath the surgeon’s knife. On the operating table, he counted down from ten and waited for what might be the end… When he awakes, he finds himself in another world poised on the brink of catastrophe. With the age of the magician long since dead, a supernatural force threatens to engulf the land and enslave its people. With the help of a local Lord’s feisty daughter, Leander, James must brave the forests of the Gelding in search of the only man who holds the key to their salvation. It is no longer only his life in the balance, but the fate of an entire world.
8 215 - In Serial34 Chapters
The Order of Sekhmet
Meet Rowan who may or may not be really enthusiastic about telling you how his life is with the goddess of war. It is naturally far from being peaceful, but the blade-wielding, fourth-wall-breaking protagonist certainly wouldn't have it any other way. Egyptian deities? Check. Sword fights? Check. Demonic arts? Check. Burning passion? Check. After all, blood is a good moisturizer. Please note that I have flagged my content. There is and will be content that may trigger you, particularly if you've been through toxic relationships. While I do my best not to paint these moments in the best light, they exist and are crucial parts of my story. Things are kicked up a notch beginning with chapters named 'The Old World'. Everything before is (nearly) vanilla. Update schedule is every Thursday/Friday, varying times!
8 247 - In Serial19 Chapters
Two And A Half Deadmen
Silver-Spruce is a very strange and very haunted town. Ghosts inhabit its buildings and walk its streets. Some of them friendly and sane. Some of them not so much. Alder helps ghosts. Helps them fulfill their last requests so they can move on to whatever comes next. Sometimes the ghosts aren't so friendly and have to be moved on by force. Alder does that as well. And he's gotten rather good at it too. After a particularly rough exorcism, he finds himself following a strange ghost to a local tourist attraction. And while Alder never means to find himself caught up in chaos, monsters, magic, and mayhem always seem to have a way of finding him. You want more specifics for what you're reading? Here you go: This is Urban-fantasy but a little bit of a different spin. Often the protagonists in such stories tend to be the bigger fish in their world, or at least far from small fry. Be they legendary boogie men or badass wizards (which is in no way a bad thing, I love a lot of those stories.) But I thought it would be fun to have a protagonist who's far closer to the bottom end of the scale. He has some magic, and it's potent in its own way. But he isn't the big dog or a fighting machine. Outside of his bubble of influence, our protagonist is essentially a normal human as far as powers are concerned. And while you should be warned that this story will get dark in some places it's (hopefully) balanced out by humor and the lighter stuff. I'm not sure how to end this synopsis section so I'll just say bye. Bye!
8 109 - In Serial15 Chapters
Waterbrand (completed)
Larry was a med student on the verge of graduation when he is transported to another Earth. After losing what he loves the most, will he prove to this new world that those who keep death at the gates can also usher him inside unexpectedly? ************** This is my first story and it has no editor, so please keep that in mind. It is only 14 chapters, so probably expect it to be finished posting after a week or so.
8 203 - In Serial50 Chapters
Fine Apple | ✓
❝HELP HELP HELLLP!❞❝Hello, this is the Fine Apple market, and no, we are not an Apple knockoff store; how may I help you?❞❝Well, someone just stole my phone.❞❝Sorry, what?❞❝You asked how you could help me.❞❝...Oh.❞◽︎◾︎◽︎in which a jittery workaholic who realizes she needs help and an antisocial beach bum who doesn't realize he needs help both find help.short story #22copyright © 2016 by rosecoloredsoul. all rights reserved.cover by @robinwithouthoodie
8 208