Static Reflections: Book 1 of The Mortal Guard Series

Chapter 34 - Nick and Richard: The Wailing

Chapter 34 - Nick and Richard: "The Wailing"

Nick sat on the edge of the hotel bed, slipping his jacket on and sighing. "Man, I feel so well-rested."

Richard was standing with his arms crossed to the hyena's left. "Yeah?"

"Yeah! I feel great."

"Well, we practically rested all day," the raccoon told him. "So it's good you were able to prepare your body for tonight."

"That's what he said," the hyena smirked, sticking his tongue out.

"Who?"

"Oh, haha. Uh, nothing!" answered Nick, grabbing his gravity boots and pulling them on, one by one. "You think we'll hear it tonight?"

"The crying? Perhaps," Richard nodded. "It depends on if this spirit cares if we're there or not. Most likely, it won't."

"Hopefully." Nick stood up and made sure he looked presentable, straightening his yellow tie. "Also, sorry for all that earlier. It was just a little trick called 'Me caring about you'."

The older animal couldn't help but grin just a bit. "Thank you, Nick."

"So . . . back to the Wirey's then?"

"Certainly."

=^.^=

Nick was the one who knocked on the door this time. Instead of Veronica opening it, a different sheep, a male, did. Both Mortal Guard members were taken aback when they saw him. The sheep's eyes were sunk further into his skull than they should be, his wool hung loosely off what was a much too skinny body below. His arms were mere sticks, along with his thin legs. There was no meat on his thighs, either, and his wedding ring looked like it could slip off of his long fingers at any time. The sheep looked like he'd fall over if you simply blew on him.

Nick gulped. "Sir . . . we're here to investigate the weird stuff going on in your house. Uh, are you okay?"

The man's voice came out, softly and quietly. "Yes . . . it's just a little sickness. Come in. Ronnie said you'd be coming." He turned and slowly shuffled out of the way. "Jus' wait in the living room . . . goin' back to bed . . ." And the animal disappeared down the hall, then.

Nick looked at Richard, concernedly, and they both went to sit down in the living room. "What the hell was that? That wasn't normal, right?"

"No . . . it wasn't," Richard told him. "It's very concerning. But how does it play into the crying?"

"Well, I'm sure Veronica knows about it," reasoned Nick. "There's no way she doesn't. Speaking of . . ." He looked around. "Where is she?"

"He said to wait," Richard recalled. "I'm sure she'll be here soon. In the meantime, we can hopefully hear the sounds she mentioned."

"You don't think it was her husband, right?" Nick asked, brushing his hand on his gray pant leg.

"We weren't told what the crying sounded like . . ." said Richard. "I imagine she'd know what her husband sounds like, though. Then we wouldn't be here. But seeing tha? Something's wrong."

Nick nodded and leaned his back against the couch. "You know, you forgot to teach me the memory shift spell."

Richard's ears perked. "Oh. Right."

"Are you gonna?"

"Did your courses not tell you?"

"Yeah. But I haven't seen the actual spell itself," Nick retorted. "I was supposed to be shown by you . . . ."