Planet Chimera Read Online Free PDF Page A

whispered, my
hands anchored above my head, taking slow steps into the room. “I
just need a few questions to be answered, if you don’t mind.”
    “You are the new guest, right?” he asked,
the fear that once clutched him gone, returning to his desk.
    “Yes, I am just a man passing by,” I
replied, closing the porch door behind me, to stop the cold air
from spreading any further inside his room. “Do you mind if I sit
down?”
    “Do as you like—it’s a free planet,
mister.”
    “I would like to know what you meant by
those words you were chanting in that peculiar song. Just what did
you mean, when you said no one can leave this town? And who will
come for you?”
    “It is exactly as I said, mister, I am
impressed that you caught that, and that you managed to sneak out
of your room, without rousing any suspicions from the outside
guards.”
    “Your words are kind, child, but if you
don’t mind, please reveal to me the message behind those lyrics. I
fear, I am being hunted by something dark and powerful.”
    “Please don’t make me divulge secrets that
could put the both of us in any further danger; for they are always
watching, always waiting to prey on the guests.”
    “I shall not tell another soul, you have my
word, so please tell me something. I promise to protect you with my
life, if harm were to befall you.”
    “Take heed, stranger, not everything in this
town is what it seems. The creatures of the night will come for
you, just like they came for me and other guests, and when they
do—do not struggle.”
    “No, I shall take arms and fend for myself;
they have no idea who they are truly dealing with,” I responded,
laughing after, a feeling of sheer excitement consuming me.
    It would certainly be nice to have something
to take my frustrations on, especially with this unwanted delay
costing me my mission. And like that, something broke through the
window, sending glass, wind, and snow surging through it. I turned
my head around, squinting, covering my chest and face with both of
my arms. The powerful wind howled, the cold air making it hard to
breathe. Something was standing on the porch, with big, glowing
eyes, about seven feet tall, and wearing dark, tattered robes. On
the robe’s cuffs, I saw what looked like a twin set of hook blades,
of black and grey coloring, the hilt of the blades concealed
beneath the ragged clothing.
    “The monsters have come for me,” the boy
cried, reaching for the door, leading to the corridor outside, but
it was also locked. “Please, mister, help me.”
    “I may not be a nice man, young one, but my
word is my bond,” I spoke, standing between the child and the
horrendous monster, both of my fists clenched.
    “Who be ye?” it asked, stretching its arms
out, its talon-like feet sticking out from underneath the robes.
“Stand aside, I only need one of you.”
    “Who be I?” I responding, laughing, “well, I
be the one to take your jaw off.”
    “You talk too much for such a small fry,” it
roared, bolting towards me, all of its blade pointed for my
head.
    The creature swung for my head, its left
foot anchored into the wooden floor, but I ducked down, watching
for any opening to take advantage of. I was a man of my word, but
playing dirty was definitely one thing I was good at. And for the
most part, based on what I could perceive, it wasn’t going to be
easy to get in close, and kill the creature with a quick jab to the
heart. The creature had a beak, like that of a eagle, a metallic
chest armor beneath the robes, a set of gears, shifting components
behind its back, which moved like mechanical wings. I had only seen
something like this once, but……No, I was perhaps mistaken; after
all, he was dead.
    “Run, mister,” the child cried, watching the
blade piece through my left shoulder, his face filled with
terror.
    Swerving left, I parried away the two other
blades, on its right hand, moving back to recuperate. The creature
holstered the red, stained