(Continued from here with @archerwhiterp !)
Strange things had been happening around the farm the last few months. He always swore he saw something out of the corner of his eye. Or things around the chicken coop would be moved or rustled.
He had thought perhaps it was a bobcat or some sort of coyote? A rouge raccoon feeling curious or the chickens hunting snakes? A modern man would have set up cameras everywhere to watch but Archer hadn't thought of it.
He had just checked on the birds in bed. Smiling pleased that all were counted for and happily nestled in their coop. With his trusty hound Ulysses at his side, he began to walk back to the house with his flashlight in hand when he heard a pained shriek.
He startled up and so did the pup. They stared out into the dark of night trying to hear the source of the sound. Quietly stalked towards his shed in the back.
He held the flashlight tight in his hand, wishing he had some sort of weapon but feeling safe enough with his guard dog. "H-hello?" He called quietly, feeling his palms start to sweat with nerves.
He leaned against the door. Listening inside as his core raced.
Linast's breaths were coming in sharp, shuddering gasps, as much from shock and fear as anything else.
He could handle pain; or at least he always had, if only because he'd never had any choice. He wasn’t sure he could handle what Clemcy had just done, or knowing that Clemcy could do it again any time he felt like it.
Someone was calling at the structure door. His yelp must have drawn their attention, which had probably been Clemcy's goal. "G-go away," Linast growled through clenched teeth, hissing as he rolled painfully upright.
He... maybe shouldn't have pulled out the tool. That was. Bleeding pretty badly, even past his hand clenched over the wound. Shit.
Linast shuddered. Fine. Fine. "W-wait," he said, and only now realized how thin and breathless his voice sounded. He forced a deeper breath and raised his voice. "Hi. Um. I'm s-ssorry."
Sorry for telling them to leave (had they even heard)? For breaking into the shed? For whatever Clemcy had planned? Linast honestly wasn't sure, but it seemed like a safe thing to say.
"I'm n-nnot -- dangerous. You... you can open the door."
He spent so much of his time lying, these days.
