the Target

44

(44)

It was a small farming town about an hour from the city of Edmonton, in Alberta, Canada.
Caleb, Liz, and I had ghosted there with Zara and about a hundred soldiers, including the Royal Guard.

We were standing in the middle of the main street.

“This can’t be good,” I said as I took a pistol from my waistband.
It was noon and even in a small town, there should have been someone on the street, but there was not a soul to be seen.

“Mutants and humans have been living in Harmony for many years,” Zara informed us.

“So they have been getting along?”

Zara looked a little confused.
“The town’s name is Harmony, Sir James.”

Now I was confused.
“So the humans and mutants do not get along?

Zara smiled.
“Of course they do. That is why they named the town Harmony.”

I shook my head.
Liz was laughing.

“Fucking smart-asses,” I muttered under my breath.

“Sir James?” Zara asked, “Did you say something?”

I was about to say something else sarcastic just as Caleb and several soldiers joined us.

Caleb was shaking his head.
“Nothing. Not a one. There’s not a single person here.”

I might not have the nose of a hound dog, but I could smell that something was wrong here.

Liz looked at me.
“Jimmy, where do you come up with this shit?”

I playfully pushed her.
“Get out of my head, Liz.”

Art and the Royal Guards appeared immediately.

“Really?” I snipped.

Art laughed slightly.
“You know the code, Sir James.”

I nodded.
“Actually, I am glad you are here. Stay with Liz and keep her our of trouble.”

“Excuse me?” Liz barked.
“May I remind you who is in charge here?”

“Really, Liz? Are we going down that road? May I remind you of how you got to be Queen?”

Art just shook his head.
“Majesties? Shall we remain here?”

“No.”
“Yes.”
Liz and I both responded at the same time.

Art looked at Caleb,

Caleb took a deep breath.
“Stay near both of them so they don’t kill each other.”

In spite of everything, I had to smile.
“We sound like an old married couple.”

Liz agreed, as a smile spread across her face.

Another soldier came up to us.
“Excuse me, your Majesties, but we have found something just outside of town.”

We ghosted to the spot where the soldier had been.
It was a small pond just off the main road out of Harmony.

I had seen many things in my life, but this was something I had ever expected to see.

Liz walked up to my side.
“By all that is evil in the world…”

There were dozens of bodies floating in the pond, with more scattered along the shoreline.
The bodies of men, women, and even children… All dead.