The View in New Orleans

Promise (Reprise)

The horses hooves clamped onto the dirt road, the midnight sky shining high as the beautiful dark red horse dug his feet into the ground with every step, sinking into the worn, muddy roads that lined the Bayou. Crickets sounded past the trees, echoing upon the old bark.

The trip was taking hours on horseback, nevertheless if he had gone on foot from the casino. A car wouldn't have worked here, either, due to the narrow back roads he had to travel upon. Orion looked upon himself in a dimly lit mirror he kept in his side-pocket, adjusting his hair a bit, the bangs falling into his piercing red eyes. The lantern on his belt flickered with every step he had made, the old oily joints creaking along with it.

Tonight was the night of the hunt, he faintly remembered. That was why nobody was out, the roads, even up to here were quieter than normal. The hunt was an annual event where the monsters of the Bayou came out to feast on unprepared individuals. Those who survived, however, were given the Blessing of the Swamp, a small coin that should be kept on ones person to ward off evil spirits.

Orion did not need one of these, however. He was more terrifying than any of those who lurked in the yellow-red moon. After all, he was not scared of anything. Though he was careful, looking around him at every turn of the way, though finding himself resting his eyes aimlessly on the endless shrubbery.

He needed to focus, however, as he had a very important task in front of him, to take care of that pink-haired girl that Eden insisted on being kept alive. He saw no importance in the girl, but he would follow orders for his friend regardless, as he cared deeply for his work, and the people he had the fortune of living with.

Over the dim horizon, he started to see the outline of the shack he had been directed to, the roof peaking out over the stars. It was illuminated by a poorly-lit candle, sitting on a table a few feet away from the home. He picked up his speed, ramming his foot into the side of the horse, urging it to pick up the pace.

A few, long minutes later, he arrived, tying up the old horse in front, before scrambling to get the keys out of his shirt pocket. The man was anything but graceful as he rammed them into the keyhole, failing twice to open the door, before giving himself a moment. The door creaked open, the cabin interior being none the more impressive than the outside was.

Inside, the living room was decorated with a sickly green color, a fireplace adorned on the wall with an old box TV. The windows were completely boarded up with poorly nailed boards, and the kitchen was no better, a messy state as things were flung from cupboards and cabinets.

Next to the kitchen was a hallway, with 3 doors. The one on the left was slightly ajar. Orion edged himself to the door, before peaking inside. There slept a girl, handcuffs clamped around her wrists, bright pink hair spilling all around her. It looked like a painting, Orion thought to himself, admiring the sleeping woman.

He stepped forward, before slapping her awake, then staring her down. She woke with a scream, before trembling under him, watching his reddened eyes look her up and down.

"You. Get away from me.. you-you monster!" She screamed, attempting to kick at the man. He did not budge, instead walking away from the woman, keeping his eyes on hers.

"I mean no harm to you... yet. I understand that your name is Amora?" He muttered, his emotionless face emitting nothing as he flicked on the lights, causing her to close her eyes again.

"Yes, but who are you? Where am I? Why am I here?"

He chuckled, before smiling, a devious grin appearing on his face. Evil.

"My dear, curiosity is not something you can afford right now. You will eat, sleep, and drink by my hand for the time being, do you understand?" He dropped his smile, piercing into her soul as she stifled a cry, as he stepped closer.

"You. Will. Obey. Whether I have to break it out of you or not, girl! And trust me, I will." Orion half-whispered, growling at the end, bearing his teeth.

"Y-you. You're that boogeyman guy! The one that the swamp folk always told me about. Why me?! What are you going to do with me?"

"What did I say!?" He slapped her again, this time with more force. She cried out, sobbing, tears hitting her bedside as she wept, the pain stinging ever more rapidly. He stepped forward, putting his hands on her head, almost a comforting motion, before he jerked her head to look at him, their faces barely inches apart.

"I will do whatever it takes to break you, girl. No matter what."

She sobbed, and he let go, before walking to the door. He turned around again, grinning to her.

"I don't suppose you're hungry, after all of that....your face is scarred, however. What a shame, how beautiful you once were. You would still have that perfect face if it wasn't for your own incompetence. I will be back shortly. Do not try anything."

With that, he left, off to find a bathroom. It was under his orders not to harm the girl, yet she was already bleeding. He frantically searched for band aids, wound wash, anything. The only thing he could find was a washcloth, which he wet with warm water, before going back to her room. She was sobbing, her face buried into her arms, and her hair draped over.

He frowned, before snapping. She glanced up, angry, yet compliant, as he handed her the cloth.

"For your face. Do you need anything else?" He said, already turning back around.

"No. I don't want your charity, you motherfucker."

He flipped around, clearly angry.

"Listen here girl! I will be the only one showing you a little bit of compassion! Do you rather have the needle girl come back to take care of you? Or the man that runs this all? No. You don't. You are foolish to insult me, knowing that I could kill you at any time. I chose to be kinder to you than anybody else. If you listened to me, this wouldn't have even happened!"

She stared into his red eyes, before his face softened. What was wrong with the once threatening man? What about this girl caused him to go softer than usual?

"I apologize for screaming. Goodnight. Yell if you need me."

With that, he left.