Reverse 1999 Fanfiction : Wild West Arcanist (English Version)

11. Railroad Rampage

     Jebediah and Grace driving their truck out from the junkyard, they followed the train tracks on their left to follow the safer path to the town. The sun slowly goes down behind the mountains, the sky went red as if a sign of an evil will come. Tennant and Ernesto sitting side by side in silence, she didn't see any movements or any words come from his mouth. He's just sitting there like a statue, as if sunk into the ocean of thoughts. 
"Are you...alright?" Tennant ask him.

"Oh, Im okay." He said, "Sorry, Im just...don't know what to say."

"Its alright." Tennant hold Ernesto's hand, "I will be with you."

He then see the wounds on her hand, the healing powder's not working.
"You don't feel anything odd?" He ask.

"Odd? What kind of...odd?"

"Hunger? Fever?"

Tennant smiles at him, "Im still okay. Don't worry about me."

His eyes shows concern, he keep looking at the wounds.
"Whatever happened, don't let yourself lose conscious. Wendigo's curse is no bueno."

"How about you?" Tennant asks him, "What troubles you?"

Ernesto looking down to his boots, "In this time of doubts, I always have these thoughts...of the stories people told about me. Saying that I killed so many, made hundreds of outlaws run in fear...calling myself a Devil incarnate or something..."

Ernesto scuffs awkwardly, choking to his own words. "Im just lying to myself. Pretending to be someone feared by many, in truth...Im just as scared as them...and now, I lost my friend because of it."

"False beliefs..." Tennant said, "I know what you mean. Sometimes, self-deception can satisfy your own thoughts. Make you stronger, its empowering. But when all else fails, you'll see its just another self harm." 

Ernesto's eyes looking at Tennant, while she can only smile patheticly. "I've been there. Done that. Even in the lowest low of my life, until...Vertin came. Give me purpose, a second chance. That's why, I cannot fail her. I promise to take you alive."

During their conversation, their truck tremble and somehow going even faster. Jebediah hits the pedal and tell Grace to holding on.

"Hold on, Grace! We got monster on our assess!"

Tennant and Ernesto goes to the back of the truck, and they can see a Wendigo running towards them. Noises of a heavy thudding from its feet slowly closing in, its claws dug a hole to the ground for each step. Wendigo is on the hunt, and Jebediah had to keep the vehicle in one piece. 

"Ready for action?" Tennant prepare her Diamond.

Ernesto also loaded his gun, "Hell yeah."

Tennant and Ernesto all shooting at the Wendigo to keep it at bay, occasionally moving to left and right to avoid their shots. The Diamond bullet manage to keep the Wendigo slowing down, but it wont freeze for long, the Wendigo's strength are capable of minimalize the effects. Ernesto riddled the Wendigo with his guns, but it wont stop it at all.

"We need a bigger firepower!" Ernesto exclaims, "Jeb! Where are the dynamites?"

"On the back seat. Just lift it!"

The Wendigo suddenly jump at them, with its two claws readied to tear them appart. Luckily, Tennant's shield fend off its attack, stopping it temporarily while Ernesto rummage the backseat for a fistfull Dynamites. 

"Gah...why are you bringing this much junk!?" Ernesto pull out three Dynamites among the scraps, "Jeb? Are you smoking?"

"Yeah."