FERNANDO E. IRIARTE RIVERA - AN ODD ESCORT

Fernando E. Iriarte Rivera is currently a student at Full Sail university enrolled in the creative writing bachelors program. Iriarte aspires to entertain people through his writing while also improving his craft. A tough road lies ahead of him, but if people come out with a smile then it's worth it.

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​An Odd Escort 

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​A cold wind blew through the night’s sky. In a farm house footsteps echoed. A young man, named Zac, goes to the kitchen.
“Where did I put that bottle?”  Zac said as he limped.
He searches through the cabinets. Cold sweat runs down his forehead.
“There it is! This should help with the pain.”
Zac takes two pills and leans on the kitchen cabinet. A feint footsteps is heard is the distance. Zac walks up the kitchen window and looks around.
“Must be hearing things. My ribs!” Zac groaned in pain. “Come on, could these pills please kick in. I swear that bear barely got the swipe in.”
Zac sits down on the dinner table, lifts his shirt and looks at the bandages.
“Still a bit red, but at least it’s not as bad as earlier. Last time I go hunting alone.”
He hears footsteps just outside the farm. A cold chill runs down Zac’s spine. He stands up and walks to his living room.
“Didn’t think I’d be using this so soon,” Zac said as he picked up the rifle lying on the sofa.
He creeps towards the front door. Looking around for any signs of life. He hears footsteps all around him.
“Who’s there? Come on now, it’s too late and too dam cold for trouble now, you hear!” said Zac.
Zac saw a silhouette resembling a dog in the distance. It creeped towards him.
“What the? A wolf? No, the ears aint right. Can’t be a fox it’s too big for that,” Zac said as he pointed his rifle at the figure.
“I haven’t even growled, and you’re already pointing a gun,” said the creature.
“What? How are you? Just what are you?” said Zac.
“An escort, given the situation at hand,” the creature said as he fades into mist.
“Where did you go?” Zac screams as he looks around. “My ribs!”
“Easy there. No need to push yourself too hard,” the creature says as he appears behind Zac.
“You son of a…What!? But the rifle is loaded,” said Zac.
“Such instruments tend to work in the land of the living” the creature said.
“What are talking about?” said Zac.
“You drew your last breath three hours ago. Look around, young man, is this really your home,” the creature said.
As Zac looked around he realized the farm house had disappeared, his riffle turned to ash. The wind had ceased blowing and the grass had become sand. As he looked down the bandages he had where on the ground.
“The pain, it’s gone,” Zac said.
“Naturally once the truth settles in, all earthly ties fade. Now then let’s get a move on shall we,” the creature said.
“Just what are you?” said Zac.
“Just a jackal doing his job. Don’t worry from the looks of it your heart is quite light,” said the creature.
“My heart? What does that mean?” said Zac.
“You’ll know once we get to the scales, young man,” said the creature.