What Memory Remains

Chapter 20

 “Who’s there?!” Zenapharr called out as he whipped around. His keen eyes scanned the area, but saw nothing. Whoever made the noise must have taken cover.

“Who would be skilled enough to evade me, let alone sneak up on me?” He thought. “This does not bode well. Then again…I do like a challenge.”

A painstaking minute went by, him standing completely still in the deathly silence of the forest. That’s when the silence made him realize that it had stopped raining.

There was only the minute sound of a single drop of water, one only Zenapharr could perceive. It resounded at a pace, like water from a leaky faucet. It was to his right, and he strafed in that direction as he kept his eyes peeled in front of him. Soon, he found the source of the dripping noise.

A pool of blood stained the grass, the source from the throat of a dead goblin that was strung up on a tree branch.

“Well…they have a taste for theatrics. I’ve got to admit, I kind of like it.” He murmured sardonically.

The slightest sound of a wet footstep started behind him, and he swung his blade around to face the largest man he’d ever seen. The stranger slowly put his gloved hands up, and although Zenapharr could not see the man’s eyes due to an ominous-looking mask, he was sure by the man’s posture that he had caught him off guard.

“My, your reputation precedes you,” the man spoke in a mused, muffled voice.

“Who are you? And why are you trying to sneak up on me like that?”

“My apologies. My name is Luke Everton, but people like to call me the Rainmaker. I caught sight of you from afar, and saw you had a weapon so I hid. Once I got closer I recognized you. You’re Zenapharr. I’ve heard you are legendary in skill, speed, and strength. A very dangerous man, if I am allowed to say so.”

“Well you’re not wrong. I am dangerous. But I do not mean you harm, unless you give me reason. Do you intend to give me reason?”

“No, not at all. I don’t mean to engage in combat. I’m not with any police. I was only very curious. Is it true what they’ve said about what you’ve done to those people?”

“Not entirely. Is it true that you did this to the goblin?” He motioned to the dead goblin.

“I did, as a matter of fact. I’ve found them to be very pesky out here. This seems to be the only way that they get the message. Stubborn creatures…there’s probably another ten dead I threw in a hole.”

“They are a stubborn lot. So what are you doing way out here? Is this where you live? Doesn’t make sense with that wardrobe if you did.”

“This is not my home. I was trying to find someone when I came across you. Oh, that reminds me. I did find something…may I show you?”

Zenapharr narrowed his eyes in suspicion. He was well put off by the mask as he couldn’t  fully read him.

“You may show me, but stay in front. No sudden movements.”

“Understandabe. Many are put off by my appearance. It’s right this way.”

In minutes, he led Zenapharr over to a section of train track. It didn’t take long to figure out what he was referring to. The dirt around the track had a faint outline as if something was over it for some period of time. The shape seemed to be in that of a small train.

“You see what happened?” The Rainmaker explained. “It was parked over this area for a long time while it rained. The ground is less saturated there.”