One of the real people walked up to him. He was limping, and had a<\/p>\n
my<\/em><\/p>\n gun in his off-hand.\u00a0 There was a big stick in the other.<\/p>\n \u201dIt\u2019s time to go home, Dad,\u201d the young man said.<\/p>\n Steven looked up at his face, with its hurt eyes, and frowned.<\/p>\n \u201dI think that he will stay here.\u201d Churkk\u2019s voice was the same as always.<\/p>\n The real person glared. \u201cHis choice, not yours.\u201d<\/p>\n Churrk grinned. “Or yours.\u201d<\/p>\n The man scowled at this, but nodded. Steven could feel Churkk\u2019s surprise that he<\/p>\n Sean?<\/em><\/p>\n understood that much; that he \u2013<\/p>\n \u201dDad?\u201d<\/p>\n Steven looked up.<\/p>\n \u201dI\u2019m here.”<\/p>\n is he?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201dCan we go?\u201d<\/p>\n Do you dare?<\/em><\/p>\n Steven shook his head; a tiny movement that seemed to pull the strength out of the younger man.<\/p>\n Churkk chuckled into the silence. It sounded like someone with a collapsed lung. \u201cSeems \u2018e might stay with me.\u201d<\/p>\n The man glared again, his hand squeezing knuckle-white on the club. \u201cHe can do what he likes, but I\u2019ll still cave your fucking head in.\u201d<\/p>\n “The end result\u2018s the same,\u201d Churkk wheezed. \u201cWhat d\u2019you think, Stevn?\u201d<\/p>\n Churkk was doing more than asking. Steven could feel the needles pulling.<\/p>\n But the man, the real person, reacted to it too, stepping forward and starting to lift the club. \u201dYou let him –\u201d<\/p>\n “Sean.\u201d His voice sounded<\/p>\n like Churrk<\/em><\/p>\n tired. Unused.<\/p>\n The man jumped. \u201cDad?\u00a0 Are you–\u201d<\/p>\n \u201dGive me that stick.\u201d Steven\u2019s head was very heavy. The weight of the needles pulled at him.<\/p>\n Silence.<\/p>\n “Give it to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Sean did. Steven accepted it, and let it hang at his side, dragging in the dirt. One of the other people behind Sean make a noise… not even a word.<\/p>\n It was Churkk that finally spoke. \u201cHe understands, Sean.\u201d There was a dry rasping sound as it licked its lips. \u201cYou\u2019ll understand too, someday, I think. Heh.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201dDamned if I will.\u201d Sean said flatly.<\/p>\n Steven\u2019s head came up.<\/p>\n Damned if I will.<\/em><\/p>\n Steven swung as he turned, hard as he could.<\/p>\n Sean almost killed a cow with this goddamned stick one time, when he was fifteen; s\u2019why he only got to use it around the bulls after that.<\/em><\/p>\n He only swung once.<\/p>\n After that, everything was quiet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ~ The Fall ~ One of the real people walked up to him. He was limping, and had a my gun in his off-hand.\u00a0 There was a big stick in the other. \u201dIt\u2019s time to go home, Dad,\u201d the young man said. Steven looked up at his face, with its hurt eyes, and frowned. \u201dI … <\/p>\n