Beyonders: A World Without Heroes or Heroines (ON HOLD)

Chapter 14-Heads and Tails

Disclaimer: I own nothing except Alexis Creed, her backstory and flashbacks. Everything belongs to Brandon Mull.

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We strolled down a side street in the town. Rachel had the crossbow held casually at her side but when we got closer to the edge of town she hid under her cloak. Jason kept a hand on his small dagger as if we're about to be caught.  Ferrin signaled for the three of us to duck into a small stable. A horse snorted and stomped at our sudden entrance.

"Have you three ridden before?" Ferrin whispered as he held a finger to his lips, making sure we knew to stay quiet.

"Um, yeah?" Jason whispered back uncomfortably lip it wasn't the whole truth.

Rachel replied smugly. "Actually I have ridden quit a bit." I see Jason roll his eyes at her response.

"Yeah, I spent a whole summer at a large stable for a summer job." I piped up. Rachel scowled at me, still thinking that she would be better at something than me but instead it was the other way around.

Ferrin forced the rickety door closed and walked over to the wall where all the saddles were. Ferrin saddled up a large grey horse for Jason and a smaller white mare for Rachel. Ferrin led the first horse out of it's stall and handed the reins to Jason. Jason took the reins and started to pet the horse gently. I could tell he wasn't used to being around horses so walked over to his and pet the horse as well.

Next, Ferrin led the mare out of the stall and hands the reins to Rachel who gripped the reins loosely in her hands. She smiled as she led the horse out of the way of the third stall.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" a loud gruff voice exclaimed. I whipped my head around to see a man entering the stable holding a garden hoe as a weapon. Jason grabs my arm tightly, startled.

'Fuck, we're screwed'

I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. Ferrin stepped out of a stall, literally holding his head in his hands. "Beware the boy and his companion." the head said in a really creepy voice. "They took my head. Yours will be next."

The man backed away, waving the garden hoe protectively. Ferrin's body set his head down on a box, then grabbed a pitchfork from the corner of the room. Ferrin's body charged at the startled man. The frightened man threw down his makeshift weapon and ran blindly to the exit.

Ferrin practically body slammed the poor stable owner, knocking him over on to the hard ground. In one swift blow to the head, Ferrin knocks the man on the head and he slumps to the floor out cold. Ferrin's body points to his head which said. "Hey, would you mind tossing me my head?"

Jason shrugged. "Um okay?' he replied, slightly creeped out. Rachel also looked disgusted at the sight of a cleanly severed head.

'Well, it looks like it's not only my eating habits that Rachel gets disgusted by'

Ferrin caught his head and placed it back on to his shoulders. I stared, awed and grossed out at the same time. I turned away as Ferrin caught me staring at him. Rachel climbed expertly onto her horse as Jason struggled to get on his. Once he got on, Ferrin climbed on behind him.

'Great, looks like we're sharing- note the sarcasm there'

I swung myself up onto the white mare in front Rachel. Rachel looked down at the unconscious form of the stable owner with a look of pity on her face.

"You okay there Rachel?" Ferrin called over to her.

"Now we're real criminals." Rachel replied, sadly.