Man, I really have seen it all, haven’t I?
The creature looked at her warily, cocking its head, its eyes still shining like bright coins.
What am I doing? I can talk to one dog and now I expect every creature in the world to be able to understand and respond to me? Maria, you truly are getting closer and closer to crazy everyday.
“Hello, Maria,” the creature said.
Maria’s stomach flipped.
“I didn’t just imagine that, did I?” she asked herself. She would’ve reached over and pinched her arm if the fit inside the tunnel wasn’t so tight.
“No…at least I don’t think so. Am I imagining this? A human crawling through the pipes? Either you’re mad, or I am growing madder,” the creature said.
“How do you know I’m a human? See, that must be my brain manifesting this mirage, or I’ve finally passed out from the stench down here and am having some weird nightmare while thousands of rats and Raffins crawl over my unconscious body.”
The creature smiled. Two long teeth protruded over its bottom lips. “I assure you, neither of us is dreaming. Anyhow, the reason I know you are human is because I can smell Earth on you as plainly as I can see you. See, us Willens are wonderful at seeing in the dark.”
“Willens?”
“Yes, Maria; that is what I am, much like you are human.”
“Well, I’m actually a witch, but seeing as how I can’t put that on my driver’s license, I’ll probably just stick with telling people I’m human. It might take a while for them to get used to me saying I’m a witch. Hell, I’m not even used to that. Probably never will be. Though, I’ll admit it’s pretty cool to be able to light up all blue like this.”
The Willen chuckled. “I understand.”
“So you’ve been to Earth? I know this isn’t the most ideal time to have a conversation like this, seeing as how I’m currently wading through a river of Ashbourne’s sewage, but I’m honestly curious.”
“Yes, I’ve been to Earth. Quite a few times—I have family in Jersey.”
“New Jersey? You have Willen family in New Jersey?”
“Yes, wonderful Willens. You would quite like them.”
“Hm. I say this a lot, especially lately, but, man, my life just keeps getting weirder and weirder.” Maria shook her head.
She hadn’t pegged the Willen as hostile. At least, not yet...and she was one hundred percent certain that if the creature decided to come after her, she would be able to defend herself by way of magic, despite not being able to reach her sword.
Besides, time was of the essence. The longer she waited, the closer the deaths of her family and the knowledgeable Gnome came.
She wasn’t one to beg people for help, but this Willen wasn’t technically ‘people,’ and she’d do almost anything to get out of this foul-smelling place.
“Well, Mr. Willen—”
“Please, call me Leroy.”
“Leroy?”
“Yes, it is a name I adopted from Earth. I quite like it. If I were to tell you my real name, you would probably have a hard time pronouncing it.”
“Leroy it is,” Maria smiled warmly. “Can you help me? I seem to be lost in here.”
“Ah, trying to hide from the Dark Men who besieged the town, eh? They are vicious ones, I’ll say.”
“Well, not exactly. I’m trying to beat them.”
The Willen nodded. “Admirable.”
“Yeah, they’ve taken a few of my friends, and I aim to get them back before it’s too late.”
“Let’s hope it’s not too late then.”
“Exactly. So can you help me get out of here?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Oh, thank you so—”
“For a price, that is,” Leroy said. His lips turned up in what looked like a smile. Maria thought the Willen was cute in some weird way, despite being hairless and covered in skin folds. Then she remembered the last time she fell for an Oriceran creature’s cuteness—she almost had her face bitten off by a Raffin, about a mile off the ground.
“A price? Don’t tell me it’s a Milkbone. I’m not going down that road again.”
“Milkbone? Bleh. I’m not a purveyor of dog treats. Dogs are such foul creatures. No, I keep my diet strictly to whatever floats through the pipes.”
“Double bleh.”
I feel sorry for his wife, having to kiss that unsanitary mouth. And I thought Sherlock was bad.
“The price isn’t food, Maria. The price is your possessions.”
She eyed the Willen. “My possessions? We’ll see.”
What’s that saying? ‘Never bullshit a bullshitter?’ Gramps has taught me well enough not to fall for this creature’s trap.
But she did need to get out of the sewer and get to her family before it was too late.
“Get me out of here, and we’ll talk. I’m a woman of my word, though. I’ll give you something.” Also sounds a bit inappropriate…
The Willen’s eyes lit up brighter than they had when she had shined her blue light on him.
“Fine, Maria, follow me.”
Leroy’s head disappeared down a hole, and Maria crawled through the muck until she reached the spot where she’d last seen him.
She peered into it, only seeing the faint outlines of a wet and rocky ground. Could be a big risk here, but what are my other options? At least it looks like I can stand down there.
“Come, come!” the Willen urged.
She let out a shaky breath and leaned forward, making sure she had a firm grip on the hole’s edge. She felt weightless for a moment as she toppled over and caught herself.
If my old gym teacher could only see me now, she smirked.
She lowered herself, and the sole of her boot brushed the ground. It was a great feeling, standing up again.
The Willen stood hunched over nearby, his grubby little hands working restlessly as he eyed Maria up and down.
She swiped away some of the muck from her jeans. It didn’t do much besides smear it into the material, but she felt better regardless.
“Thanks,” she said to Leroy, then she lit herself up a little less than before. The muted blue glow carried far in the new tunnel. As she studied the
