The Splintered

The Joke That Isn't Funny

After eating, I got about half an hour of sleep before my eyes opened back up. I haven't been able to sleep much more than that these days. Taking the rest of the night, I practiced my stance kicks then finally out the katana down to punch my punching bags. It was quiet in the camp, but the good kind. Once dawn started to take the sky, I showered then changed back into my samurai armor. OJ was at the door, he was my rations manager.

"Permission to enter commander?"

"Permission granted."

I replied cut snips of my hair in the mirror, OJ asked.

"Are you going on a supply run soon?"

"Yes. I just have to deal with the civilian I brought in first. He has secrets, I need to unravel them."

"Aye, sir. Be careful though alright?"

OJ and I locked eyes as I gave him a tight smile and retorted.

"I will."

It may have just been my imagination, but my warriors were getting more and more concerned about me. Grateful and honored but concerned. I wasn't sure always how to respond to it.

"Greene."

I said adjusting Hera's reins, Ezra was nose deep in some food before pushing the bowl aside and scrambling to his feet. OJ and Stitch were by my side with defensive looks but I nodded he was alright.

"So you finally have time for-"

"Before you finish that sentence and make a lot of people your enemy, climb on the horse."

I replied slight chuckle, others lightly laughed as Ezra climbed onto Hera. OJ and Stitch followed me up until the camp entrance then I rode off towards Ezra's ship. Ezra started talking again then which was annoying.

"What was up with those two jocks? Are you that afraid of me?"

"I'm not afraid of you Ezra, you could be flattened by a tent right now without putting up much of a fight. What I am concerned about is the danger you might bring to my doorstep."

Tying Hera up to the tree once again, I climbed off and reached to pet her but hesitated. Something felt off, again I might add, but in the nausea type way.

"What-"

"Shh."

Unsheathing my katana, I crouched down took a deep breath. Then used my echolocation. Three abominations we're surrounding Ezra's ship, no, they were eating it.

"Stay with Hera, she dies you die."

I said pointing at Ezra who just nodded. Using my speed I blinked up the barn roof, looking down through a hole I cut out to get a better angle. One abomination was mutated skunk, the other two were ravenous deers with large horns. That will hurt I can already tell. Gazing into the ship, the alien virus, but in a neon blue liquid form was what they were after. The one thing I couldn't explain was the pulse it made earlier, why did Ezra and I share new memories?

"Hey!"

Ezra yelled out from a few feet from the entrance of the barn. I face palmed as the skunk started to run after him, I blinked over and cut it in half from the mouth to its tail. Of course the smell blood and guts got on me. Only a little bit on Ezra and he was acting like a baby.

"Oh that's gross, ugh oh my god-"

"Be useful and make sure your ship is completely harmless."

I glared at Ezra who ran off as the two abomination deer charged after me. Taking them into the woods, I used the trees to my advantage since they were mostly just trying to ram me with their horns. Eventually a shattered trunk fell on the first deer pinning it to the mud. Standing on it, I relieved the first deer of its head then rolled out of the way of the second deer completely fine with ramming his friends corpse. Throwing my katana, with a bit of lightning help, it slashed through its heart and lungs as the deer slid to a dead stop on the ground. My sword lodged into a tree up ahead, I pulled it out surprised the second deer was getting up . Matter a fact, the skunk and first deer were regenerating at a rapid pace.

"Fuck."

I muttered charging my katana with lightning till it glowed yellow, I took a stance as all three abominations surrounded me. I waited till they all took a step, to blink over and cut all three of them into very gross sushi. Then lit them on fire, for you know extra measure. And maybe buried them in a very large hole. Don't judge me I want to be thorough. Walking back up to the barn where this all started at, I found Hera heavily injured under a tree pressed on her chest, a branch skewing through her ribs. She was neighing at me in pain, but it's not like there was much to do than just put her out of her misery.

"Mason-"

Holding out my hand Ezra stopped talking, as I pulled out a small knife. Petting the mane of Hera's head, I swiftly ended it as her cries fell silent.

"I didn't mean for any of this to happen I swear."

Though Ezra said that, I didn't have much to reply with other than.

"Of course not. It is what it is."

"Wait what did you just say?"

Rolling my eyes, I got up and started to walk back to camp but Ezra gripped my arm. I ripped it away, glared at him and declared.

"Don't. We're done."

"Don't say that-"

"It all makes sense now doesn't it?!"

I yelled shoving Ezra back as it started to rain.

"The aliens sent you here as a test run. They wanted to see if abominations could evolve, and if the last of humanity could survive. No..."

Trailing off I scoffed clenching my jaw I finished.

"They sent you to kill me. Not with your own hands; you are the cause and effect that kills us all."

"What do you want me to do-"

"Stop talking and start walking. Keep going till an abomination eats you alive. If I see you again I will kill you."

Ezra shuddered as a devilish smile grew on my face. I couldn't stop it and I didn't want to. Ironic that the feeling I got back was pure malice. Suddenly I heard rumblings like ships entering the atmosphere, about five or so that I could count as I made a swift run back to camp.