The Twelve - A Zodiac Story

The Ram

Since childhood, I've always known there was something wrong with me-I saw it in the way my parents held their breath every time I looked them in the eye, as if there was some monster within me only waiting to be unleashed. In that small town where they raised me, I was the ostracized, the other, the kid no child nor adult dared approach. They watched from a distance, eyes wide with fear, murmuring that I was too quick, too strong-an unnatural blur of movement, a creature from a nightmare. I had been the anomaly in a world craving normalcy, the shadowy stain on a sunlit playground, and even then, they knew I was a danger to them. In the times we live in, to trust a suspicious outsider-even if just a pudgy child-could lead to dangers unimaginable. But they let me stay.

I think my Da always sensed it-that I was Aries, the eldest of the Zodiac. The first to flee the world and the first to return. But with that return came the inevitable hunt, the relentless pursuit by... them. Every shadow lurking in the corners of my eyes was a reminder of them, always watching, always there. Waiting for their turn to strike.

I was only a child when they came for me. I heard their heavy footsteps echoing in the night, and watched the flames of their torches burning the night sky. And I knew they had found me. And in their cries for vengeance, I learned what I was. Who I was. I had to act quickly to save my family. I needed to be the brave son, the warrior my father had raised. But I was frozen in my bed, terrified with the knowledge of who I had been. Who I was now. Not a real kid. Not a real person. Aries.

And I was too busy grappling with being one of the Zodiac. And I didn't smell the burning until my bed was on fire. And only then could I move. And I was too late to wake my parents. And I wasn't strong enough to save them. And I watched the whole town burn. And nobody survived. And all of it was my fault.

And they've been hunting me down since.

But I can't lose myself in such... thoughts right now. I'm so exhausted I could close my eyes and collapse where I stand, but I can't afford that luxury. If I let my guard down tonight, the consequences could be deadly. And I must reach the border by sunrise because Aries is only a mortal boy now. And this time, if my past catches up to me, I can't use the powers of the Zodiac to save myself.

The air tonight is unsettling. There's something sinister in the formation of the stars, the howling wind roaring in my hears. Perhaps this sinister cacophony of desperate screams is all in my head. Perhaps it isn't. Hurry. I'm running out of time. Every gust seems to echo a silent threat, and I can't shake the feeling that something is following me.

A twig snaps a few yards behind me. I spin around to see what could have made that noise-but there is nothing. These woods are empty. All the animals are dead, or escaped long ago. I should be alone. Yet I know I'm not. I draw the knife at my belt, hands shaking.

"Reveal yourself." Shit shit shit. I shouldn't have done that. I'm alone, and out in the open. And I probably just gave away any element of surprise I might have had. It's a miracle I haven't gotten myself killed so far. I'd better not end my streak here. Even if this mysterious presence isn't them, this world is merciless. If the wrong people get ahold of me, I could be enslaved, or dead...or something worse than even that. Anyways, I must be exhausted to the point of losing my grip on reality, because nobody responds.

I keep walking, the silence deafening, broken only by the distant rustle of leaves and the frantic beating of my heart. Every shadow seems to shift, every whisper of the wind is warning that I'm not alone. I scan the darkness, straining to catch any sign of movement, but the night is still as the dead. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a flash of color. I freeze. My heart pounds like a war drum. I can almost sense the creature's hunger, its desire to drag me into the abyss. I know I'm not fast enough to outrun my second shadow. I'll have to defend myself, and die if I lose. But I'm not letting whatever this is take me alive. Not today.

I grip my knife. It's not particularly large, nor is it particularly intimidating. But it's gotten me through enough fights before to earn my trust. I bend my knees and prepare for this mysterious monster to jump me. There. A rustling in the bushes reveals the location of my stalker. I know I'm not waiting for it to prepare for its attack. I leap into the air, landing on top of what must be a dangerous assassin attempting to take my life. We roll over the mess of roots and sharp rocks, battling like the spirits of the land must have done in primitive times. I win. Immediately my knife it at his throat. And it's just some dirty kid.

I can't kill this kid, even though he must want me dead. Besides, I know I can take him. So I step back. He gasps for air, wheezing choked breaths in a way that makes me feel almost embarrassed for him. I wait for him to stop, so I can help him up. He's tall and skinny, with black eyes and brown skin. His hair is boyish; his gaze innocent and naive. He doesn't belong here. Why is this amateur in these dangerous woods?

"Who are you?" the boy asks, standing now and holding my gaze as if searching for something deeper within me. He's shaking like a leaf.

"Who am I? You're the one following me, stupid." He maintains eye contact, and I see genuine fear in his eyes.

"I had to know." He closes his eyes, hugging himself to stop his trembling.

This kid must be clinically insane to follow a stranger through the wilderness alone. He might be brave, but clearly has no survival instincts whatsoever. I'm about to walk away, but something about what he said bothers me. I turn back.

"Hey, kid."

He scowls. "I'm not a kid. I must be at least your age. And I'm taller than you."

I manage to suppress a laugh, but I have my own agenda to return to. "What did you have to know about me?"

He stands up, nerves creeping back in. I see him ball his hands into fists and take a deep breath, as if willing himself to say whatever it is he needs to say. "A few weeks ago, I started having the strangest dreams... about a bull." He looks up at me, sheepish. "I don't know... I thought... I'm sorry for bothering you."

Wait. I grab his arm before he can leave. "Tell me about the bull."

"I've hunted bison all my life, yet I've never seen such a majestic beast. It called my name." He pauses. "Well, it wasn't my name. It was someone else's, but it felt like mine."

And suddenly, I know who he is. I lean closer. "Did anyone follow you here?"

He nods. "There were things coming after me."

No. There's no way he's this much of an idiot.

"Awful things with no faces, and-well, I knew I had to be hallucinating."

A howl echoes in the distance, and suddenly I hear the thunder of a thousand footsteps. We're out of time-Taurus and I.