The Endless Night

Chapter Two: The Desert Crocodile

Flashback – 16 years earlier –

            Steely blue eyes peered over the ruins of a long-abandoned adobe house, one hand lodged in a deep crevice within the remnants of the wall, the other clutching a crude wooden dagger. It looked to be more of a play-sword for a child than a weapon intended to kill. But for the little girl clutching the weapon in her trembling hand, it was no less a weapon than the gun that her father carried.

            Sand stirred around her bare feet, the soles burning a bright red. She didn’t like the feel of the sandals on her skin, and would undoubtedly suffer for that that night when her skin peeled. Messy blonde curls fell over her shoulders in wild disarray, and she wore what looked to have once been a pretty green dress. Now, it was tattered and dirty – her father wouldn’t be pleased with her.

            Suddenly, a scraping sound disturbed the silence. Her hand clenched around the dagger. Her target was on the move, and she wasn’t about to let him get away. Taking one step back, she launched her tiny body over the wall. After a close-call with her feet, she let out a triumphant war-cry. It had taken a lot of practice, but it had paid off. She had nailed her entrance to perfection.

            Her mark calmly closed his book, setting it down on the ground beside him. Seconds later, she landed in his lap rather unceremoniously. Sitting up as quickly as her dress allowed her, she thrust her dagger at the older boy. The boy raised his hands in a show of innocence, offering the tiny girl a cocky smirk. He was perhaps twelve or thirteen-years-old, making his attacker six.

            “Did I do it?” She asked cheerfully. A smile lit up her dirty face, her teeth glaringly white in comparison. “Did I scare you?”

            “Oh, yes. I’m absolutely terrified. I’m shaking in my breeches, I’m so scared.” His smirk never faltered. “But, next time, maybe you should wait until after you attack to let out a war-cry.”

            Her smile fell as she considered what the boy had said. “Darn it.”

            He patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, ol’ girl. You’re gettin’ better at it.  Maybe one of these times you’ll actually be able to handle a real dagger.”

            “Like the one that Daddy has?” That earlier excitement suddenly returned.

            “No, silly.” With a groan, the older boy rose to his feet, stretching momentarily before offering the little girl his hand. “That’s a sword. You only get one of those if you’re the captain.”

            She nodded, her curls falling messily over her shoulders, before a thought suddenly occurred to her. “But what if I hurt you with a real dagger? I don’t want to hurt you, Kennedy.”

            Kennedy only laughed. “You won’t hurt me, princess. I’m invincible, remember?”

            Invincible was a strong word, and an even more reckless promise. Especially to a six-year-old child. But Kennedy Royale was of a special breed. The little girl had watched him fight alongside their father, had seen him take down fully-grown men with a single blow… and she believed every word that came out of his mouth, even if she didn’t fully understand what it was he was saying.

            As the two started to walk, her burned feet started to blister and bleed. She sniffled, lagging further and further behind, feeling pain overtake her body in a violent wave. When she finally came to a complete stop, Kennedy felt his arm tug a little. He stopped as well, releasing his sister’s arm and watching as she plopped down on the sand, looking at her bloody feet with teary eyes.