James Scotson - Planets Falling

“Nothing can go wrong with that plan,” I say hoarsely, trying to be sarcastic but sounding sickly. The men continue talking as I drift back to sleep. I open my eyes to a ghastly brown haze. The men have disappeared and I realize that I must be dreaming again. But this feels strange to me, like I’m really awake. I’m hovering about fifteen feet above the ground and am so very famished. I look to my right and see one of the grubs next to me. Curiously, I’m not frightened. Rather, I feel nothing but cold, lifeless need. I look down and see a gnarled claw where my hand should be, a chunk of grey meat writhing with black beetles in its clutch. I bring the lump to my mouth and savor the rubbery flesh between my teeth, juices coursing down my throat. I should feel revulsion. Instead, my hunger’s replaced by satisfaction and release.

I drift back into darkness and find myself inside the tent I was in last night. Bets is there. I’m talking but it’s not me forming the words.

“Bets, I know how angry you must feel,” the person who isn’t me is saying. Bets is drinking shine and looking flush. “Have another drink, dear. Tell me about your companions and why they don’t appreciate you.”

Bets rolls her eyes. “Thresh, I’m only traveling with them because of Theo. He saved me years ago and I owe him. The woman, Marksman, is unappreciative. I’ve no idea what he sees in her.”

This isn’t a dream. I’m apparently inside of Thresh. The feeling I get from Thresh is strangely similar to that of the grub. Thresh is empty, desperately seeking a balm to soothe her. Bets intrigues Thresh, and Thresh wants her.

Thresh shakes her head, “Bets, you owe them nothing. Stay with me. I can see it in your eyes. You belong here.”

“Thresh, why’d I stay with you? You’re a killer. How much blood do you have on your hands?”

“Does that really matter Bets? I’m going to open a door to something wonderful that makes death inconsequential. I’ll be able to bring all those people back into a world where there is no pain, no toil. They will serve us. Worship us.”

“How’s that possible? You must be as drunk as me.”

“You’ve seen what I can do. I control the grubs. I make the dead walk. You’d be a welcome commander in my army.”

“An army of freaks and deadmen. That sounds delightful, Thresh.”

I feel anger welling up inside of Thresh. She wants to throw her cup at Bets, beat her into submission with her staff. It seems that Thresh has no sense that I’m eavesdropping. I’ve no idea how I got here, so I guess I’m sticking around until I wake up.

Thresh struggles to calm her voice. “Bets, we’re sisters. I feel it. Can you tell me where you got those weapons? I’ve only seen those powerful things in my dreams, when the grubs show them to me. With those in my possession, I’d be unstoppable.”

“We found the guns and explosives in the uplands to the east. They were hidden in a cave.”

“Can you lead me to the cache?”

Bets stands up. “Thresh, I’ve got to rest. I’ll be happy to lead you to the weapons, later.”

Thresh points at a mat on the floor and walks out of the tent into waning daylight. A thick woman and a skinny man with ironwood staffs step in front of the entrance. The grubs turn toward Thresh and kneel. She motions, palms upward, and five of the creatures lumber toward the south side of the camp. This isn’t good. Samuel and English will be pummeled when they attack. I try to pull away from Thresh to warn them, but the more I think about escaping, the more I’m trapped inside of her squirrely mind.

Thresh walks toward two of her men eating something that looks like woodchuck. “Expect them to attack any time now. Drop your food and get on guard.” They both throw their meat in the fire and grab large swords.

Thresh feels different now. Perhaps elation? She’s excited about killing, fighting, conflict. These emotions fill the void in her soul. I shudder at the sensation and something compelling happens — Thresh trembles slightly. I concentrate on lifting my left arm and Thresh’s left arm rises nearly imperceptibly. With some practice, I might be able to really mess with this woman.

Night’s arrived. The men should be attacking soon. Thresh stands in the center of the clearing, surveying her crew. I’m assuming Bets is still in her tent under guard, although the tent isn’t visible from where Thresh is standing. The air implodes and Thresh falls backwards. Smoke curls in from the south part of camp. Two rockets fly in from the woods and hit one of the grubs in the mouth. Rather than exploding, the rockets disappear with a wet, sucking sound. Moist, snot-like goo drips from the holes as they close up. Thresh stands up, dusts off her dress, and smiles. She yells, “Concentrate your effort to the south. Move.”

This means doom for Samuel, English, and Bets, but should allow Theo to easily reach Eliza. More explosions and screams punctuate the night. Thresh rushes for the tent where Bets is being held. She’s about to pull back the flap when a sinewy arm wraps around her neck and forces her to the ground. “You’ll not hold me captive,” Bets growls, as she grinds her foot into Thresh’s chest and then disappears into the dark. I feel myself lifting out of Thresh and I’m back in the tan haze of one of the grub’s minds. It’s lunging at English, who’s on his back looking befuddled. If I could control Thresh, I certainly should be able direct this thing. I tell it to back off, causing it to pause and then step back. English snaps out of his confusion, rolls, and rushes back into the wood line. I then order the thing to turn toward the nearest grub and attack. It obliges, tearing at the creature with its sharp claws. The other grub is clearly surprised, falling back. I tell it to bite the other grub’s neck. It tears out its fellow grub’s throat and the beast disintegrates into a pool of muddy slime. I guide the creature toward the next grub when I feel a strong tug and a painful throb in my head. For a moment, Thresh’s angry face hovers before me and then I’m back in my own body, with Theo shaking me awake.

“Amy, wake up. We’ve got to move. Now.” He looks terrified, worse than the day the town was destroyed. Grunts and howls surround us. Trees snap like twigs. Bets, Samuel, and English are already atop their horses. I search frantically in my haze for any sign of Eliza. She’s not here.

“Theo, where’s Eliza?”

“Amy, I’m so, so sorry. She wasn’t there.” He yanks me onto Phineus, both my head and leg shrieking in protest. We’re surrounded. I’m certain that we aren’t going to make it out of our camp.

“Theo, listen to me,” I groan. “You have to knock me out.”

“Amy, what’s wrong with you?”

“Trust me. I can’t explain now. But this is our only chance.”

He pauses. I scream at him and the last thing I see is Bets swinging a staff at my head.

I regain consciousness in the head of a grub in the dark forest. It takes me a minute to gain my bearings. The grub I’m possessing is a few hundred feet away from our camp. Three other grubs and five men are about to attack us. I see Theo and Bets arguing over my limp body. It seems to me that they have more pressing issues than my welfare. I command the grub to attack its brothers and it lunges forward, leaving large puddles of brown ooze in its wake.

The grub’s actions have caught Samuel’s attention. He motions to the others and they advance toward the gap I created. Thresh’s men, obviously confused by the grub, regain their focus and run toward my companions, which includes Phineus and my body. I tell the grub to defend us. It grabs one of the men between its rock-like teeth and crushes him instantly. I’m about to push the grub forward when a painful tug pulls me out of its mind. I expect to emerge in my broken body, but instead I’m floating in a void.