The Bard

Chapter 11: Stray Memories

The two of them made their way to the garage, where a sizable machine lies inactive. 

"Ain't it a beauty" Vincent said with a wide smile

"Yeah... so, how does it work?" Grayton asked "You know, I'm not really knowledgeable about these things"

"There's a clamp here..." Vincent signalled towards a part of the machine "And you put wood or metal in the clamp, and then use the rest of the machine to shape it... it's a bit hard to explain why don't I just show you"

Vincent turns on the machine

"So, what do you want me to make?" 

Grayton wasn't prepared for this question so he took a moment to think. He thought of what he needed at the moment but to no avail. Grayton didn't need anything the lathe could create, right? That is until he realised the recent incidents he's been experiencing. Now that he had the time to really process it, Grayton realised he's been in more danger than he thought this past few days.

"Let's try a weapon" Grayton suggested

Vincent frowns "Eh, I don't think I can make a sharp sword or anything with an edge, I can try though..."

"Nah, I think I'd like something like a metal bat" 

"That, I can do" Vincent said as he inserted a rectangular metal rod into the clamp "Now go back upstairs, this machine is only for big boys" Vincent teased

"Fuck right off" Grayton scoffed

The guest spent the next few hours watching Vincent tinker with the machine before growing bored and wandering back into the house. This time, to examine the house more precisely. He hadn't been here ever since the accident that took Vincent's eye 3 years ago. 

Though so far, everything was how Grayton remembered it. The wallpaper, the lack of furniture, the old console in the living room, it filled Grayton with a sense of nostalgia. The guest took a dusty book off a shelf and skimmed through it. Inside were drawings, notes, diary-esque reports, and many more made by Vincent, Grayton, and lots of other friends that they lost. 

Grayton's soft expression quickly changed to an annoyed one however, after realising that Vincent hasn't been treating this book with care, leaving it deep inside a bookshelf, dirty and forgotten. The guest however, could not find it in him to blame Vincent for it. He could understand why Vincent didn't want to remind himself of it. 

Grayton then walked into the bathroom, spotting a strange box behind the shower curtain.

"This wasn't here back then..." Grayton eyed the box suspiciously "I mean, it has been 3 years, of course something would change"

The box seemed to be made of plastic and fully sealed. 

"Waterproof, huh?" 

Grayton then tried to open the box, and he felt a surprising amount of friction on the handle. It was as if it was made so that anyone could open them easily even with wet hands. 

The contents of the box however, saddened Grayton greatly: 

It was a gun, clear as day.

Grayton didn't know what type of pistol it was but it was definitely a gun. Grayton wasn't surprised by this however and only felt a saddening weight on his heart. After what happened, it wouldn't be that strange for someone to not feel scared when they are vulnerable. 

The guest continued to look around the house and found knives, switchblades, and tasers hidden within the nook and crannies of the house. With each one he found, Grayton felt even worse about himself.