Rocky Prompts, Tennessee - 11. Prompt 119 - Troubled Path

"Aaron!"

Hearing the fast-food employee call my name, I dragged my feet to the crowded counter. It was a wonder I made it out of bed today. Grunting my thanks, I grabbed my usual order: a bland biscuit sandwich and a large coffee. I blindly pinched a plastic spoon, a tiny container of creamer, and several packets of sugar before miraculously finding a seat.

After I doctored my coffee, I peeled open the wrap on the spoon and stirred. The inky darkness lightened, and I barely smiled. I needed one sip, then I could enjoy my breakfast. The liquid graced my lips, scalding them. I managed to get a trace down my throat before I stirred. Hopefully, the coffee would cool before I had to leave for work.

The restaurant was oddly quiet. I scanned the lobby, concerned to see no one. Beeping alarms came from the kitchen, but no voices. I peered and noticed soulless workstations. The cashier was gone, and so was the horde of hungry patrons.

My grip on the spoon and cup loosened, but as my fingers slipped, I found something odd. The spoon was metal. Upon further inspection, it was black with ruby etchings. At the tip of the handle was a pearl with a weird gray swirl. The longer I gazed at it, the more fearful I grew. I had never seen anything like it!

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

I jolted in my seat. Across from me was a tall and burly man. His shiny, black hair dangled in his caucasian face, nearly obscuring the silver Venetian mask he wore. His taut and black, elegant clothing unnerved me. "Wh-who are you?"

"I crafted that one myself," he said, ignoring me. "It rings true in your grasp."

The man was abnormal! His stare was devious, and despite him being devilishly handsome, I wanted to run. My body, however, kept me frozen in place.

Something flashed in place to my left, and I flinched.

"Aaron," the new person muttered. "Leave."

I gasped. It was a clone of myself! Sporting a shorter haircut, he looked exactly like me, minus the glasses. "What the—"

My doppelganger snapped, and memories came flooding my mind. Murr's. The angry sea of people. My time guardian. I breathed heavily, confused as to what was going on.

"Ah," the masked man cooed, "this one has a guardian?"

"Leave this place," my protector warned.

"Not without him."

My clone snapped again, and time seemed to freeze. He turned to me and grasped my shoulder. "I'm giving you strict instructions, Aaron. Do not continue your daily routine."

"What the fuck is going on?" Frantic, I hyperventilated.

His grip tightened. "This hellfiend won't stay stunned for long. Do everything in your power to disrupt your schedule. It'll send alerts to my headquarters, forcing the system to order back-up guardians."

The masked man grunted, and his eyes glowed crimson. I was kicked from the booth. "Go," my guardian ordered. An obsidian knife slid from the fiend's sleeve, and my clone latched onto the incoming strike, slicing his hand.

I scrambled from the floor. Desperate for escape, I fled to the front door and fumbled for my truck keys. Glass shattering surprised me, and I pivoted. The two men were duking it out on the parking lot pavement. My guardian's eyes were shining white as he punched the enemy, cratering him into the restaurant wall. "Not the truck! Do things you would never do!"

My heart raced, and I was on the edge of having a panic attack. I quivered, glanced at the keys in my hand, and chucked them onto the business' roof. Just as I looked to my guardian for guidance, he was tossed violently into the drive-thru menu board from several yards away.

The fiend glared at me and sauntered closer. He held out the metal spoon. "Take it. Be free from this world's hindrances."

I fell backwards, landing on my ass. The two bodies flew over me, and I shielded my head in a fetal position. Getting to my knees, I could only watch as my clone was pummeled viciously. In a moment of clarity, I unclipped the box cutter from my belt. Shakily, I advanced.

The crimson eyes peered at me, stopping me in my tracks. "A mere human believes he can act against the likes of me. How charming." He rose and flicked a bloody fist. "Your guardian warns you to perform the unpredictable, and you do."

"Sh-shut the fuck up," I stammer, clutching my makeshift weapon.

He neared, and I backpedaled. "Come," he murmured with an outstretched hand. "You and I have much to—"

The fiend grunted, and a blue spike protruded from his gut. "Run, Aaron!"

Hearing my own voice, I knew my guardian was still alive. I had to act differently from how I normally would. Running away was my first thought. So I sprinted forward and raised my armed hand. I saw the look of fear on my clone's face, but I knew what had to be done.

I swung downward and plunged my blade with all my might, connecting to the fiend's skull. The head fell back, and I barely noticed the gushing blood. The blue spear receded, causing more to spill in front of me.

The man fell, and my guardian limped toward me angrily. "What the fuck was that?" He pushed me, then grabbed my shirt collar. "You were supposed to run!"

Shaken, I looked at the fallen figure. "B-but… That's what I was supposed to do." We were quiet for a few seconds before I assessed my guardian. He was bleeding from the head, and his left arm was nearly blackened from fire. "You're hurt."

He scoffed, turned, and swiped at the fiend's neck with the mysterious weapon. "It's not often I'm wrong. You're right… Running would've gotten us killed."

Remembering the fact if either of us died, the other would perish, I swallowed. "Who is that guy?"

"Why ask?" He glared at me, clearly annoyed with himself. "I'm about to wipe your memory."

I drop my knife and rub my temple. "Then why restore it in the first place?"

"I needed you to remember me and what I am."

"Then you should explain some shit to me!" Irritation and fury broiled within me. "If this shit's going to happen to me, then I deserve to know what else is out there."

He rolled his eyes. "Your race doesn't need to know anything."

My anger spiked. I stepped forward, prepared to punch my guardian in the face. He raised an arm and snapped his fingers.

***

"Aaron!"

Hearing the fast-food worker call my name, I waded through the waiting people. With coffee and bag of food in hand, I retreated to the drink station. It wasn't often I woke up peacefully and full of energy. Still, I had to stop and get my usual order before work.

Sniffing my doctored beverage, I sighed happily. It was going to be a great day.