Artful Dream, Nightly Nightmare

“Just a simple art lesson. A chance for lettin’ inspiration flow and learnin’ somethin’ new.” He explained.

“Oh, that sounds fun!” April exclaimed, ears perking up.

“Dat it be, Ms. Briggs. Ye be amazed what talent others have when given da chance.” Rory looked at Texas. “So, ye be interested? It be a relaxin’ change of pace for ye.”

The sheriff thought about this. Still skeptical, it would be an opportunity to gauge how some of the town thought of the newcomer. Looking at her deputy, April’s eyes had some excitement in them, almost begging to accept the invitation. Relenting, she sighed and looked at the artist.

“Alright. If it ain’t busy, we’ll accept.” She answered.

April smiled in joy while Rory’s grin brightened and clapped his hands together.

“Just Grand! Come by ‘round five and ‘round da back. Me assistant will let ye in.” He spoke.

“Assistant? What assistant?” She blinked, both girls looking around the store.

“Settlin’ affairs up north, they be here tomorrow. Ye can’t miss them. Though be warned, they be a bit…eccentric.”

Texas tilted her head before shaking it. Saying their goodbyes, the two law women walked out as the artist waved after them.

“See Tex, told you he wasn’t so bad?” April said, nudging the weasel with an elbow.

“Ah suppose, though ah’m still wonderin’ about that story he told us.”

“About what happened in Annabelle’s saloon?” The deputy guessed.

Texas nodded. “We didn’t see and ah question if he ain’t a silver-tongued snake or simply came in after the damage. Ah just don’t know.”

“Well…come tomorrow we can get a better idea on him. You’ll see.” April reassured.

Texas on that and agreed. While the lesson could be fun, learning more about Rory Gilligan was more important. Glancing over her shoulder, she eyed the store as the black fox on the sign looked back at her.

“Yeah, tomorrow.”

Nighttime had fallen, the moon casting a gentle blanket over the mining town. Most of the residents had already been lulled to slumber with only a few night owls still petering about the place.

Two individuals had more nefarious intentions in mind. The individuals in question were none other than the Longhorn brothers, Carson and Bill, with Carson wearing bandages over his nose. After the events at The Crushed Weasel, the two were basically thrown out due to the raucous they pretty much instigated. They weren’t banned outright, mostly because the owner was suspiciously giddy for some reason, but they were on suspension for a few days.

Needless to say, both were pissed off to no end and knew that one thing was the cause of it.

“Where is this damn place?!” Bill snarled as the brothers stomped down the main road.

“Ah think it’s on the right somewhere?” Carson replied, motioning with his lantern. His voice had a nasal tone due to the bandages.

The two kept looking before spotting their destination. Without the sun, Emerald Horizons seemed to meld into the darkness if you weren’t purposely looking for the gallery. The two bulls marched towards it, dark grins on their faces.

“Hope the fox doesn’t mind late-night customers.” Bill chuckled darkly as he stomped up the stairs, Carson following in step behind him. Reaching the door, the bull grabbed the handle and turned it, finding it locked.

“Oh dear, it seems this establishment is closed for the day, dear brother.” He spoke, faking a high society attitude.

“Such a shame, ah was hoping to have my picture done in time for the mayor’s gala next week. Ah had my best suit tailored for the occasion.” Carson replied in the same manner. The two then laughed at the quick performance.

“Stand back.” Bill walked down the steps and a couple of feet away. Turning back around, he dropped his posture, getting into a tackling stance and eyeing the door. Thoughts on the payback they would use, he pushed off and charged forward. Shoulder in front he neared the door and-

*BANG*

“FUCK!” He cried out, stumbling back and clutching his shoulder in pain.

“What happened?!” Carson exclaimed, jumping back in shock.

Bill eyed the door, searing in anger and pain, and lashed his leg out. A solid thud sounded out as his foot made contact, barely leaving a mark. Getting madder, the bull repeatedly kicked the door and still it didn’t budge.

“Bill! Bill, calm down! You’re makin’ too much noise!” Carson called out, grabbing his brother’s uninjured shoulder.

The irate bull shrugged off the hand violently and eyed the window next to the door. Balling his fist, he brought his arm up and launched his fist at the glass-

*BANG*

-only for it to bounce off.

Growing even more angered, Bill growled and kept punching the glass window. Ignoring the growing pain in his hand and continuing punching the barely flinching object. He only stopped when his brother pulled him back.

“Stop! You’ll wake the whole damn town at this rate!” Carson exclaimed, his unoccupied hand grabbing the back of his brother’s jacket.

Taking quick, deep breaths to calm himself, the angry yet calmer bull looked at the door again. Walking over and getting to his knees, he eyed the lock and reached into his inner pocket.

“Carson, go ‘round back and try and find another way in.” He spoke. Pulling out a small black pouch.

“What for?” Carson questioned, watching Bill place the pouch on the ground and opened it.

“Just do it! Leave the lantern, ah need the light to work.” He ordered, pulling out his lock picks from the pouch.

The other brother scoffed but followed his lead. Setting the lantern down, he left the small porch while Bill went about picking the lock. Going around the side, the bull looked for another entrance: a window, a second door, anything at this rate.

“Damn, this fox!” He growled, hand consciously going to his bandaged nose.

When he came to, all he felt was pain. His nose ring ripped off, his back landing on the table. Everything that happened made him angry, and the last thing he saw was that damn, stupid-speaking fox!

‘When ah get my hands on him, ah’m getting’ a new belt.’

Reaching the back of the building, Carson looked about and saw nothing. Growing irritated, he got close and placed his hands on the structure. Trying to feel for anything at this point, and still, he found nothing!

“Grrrrrr, damn this place!” He shouted, kicking the building to vent his frustration.

*CRRREEEAAAKKK*

Jumping back in shock, the bull glanced right and saw what looked like a hidden door popped open.

“What the…”

“Come on, come on, come o-”

*SNAP*

“Fuck!” Bill snarled, tossing another broken pick onto a growing pile of them.

Grabbing one more, he attempted to pick it again. For the past couple of minutes, he has tried and failed to break the lock if he couldn’t break the door down. Unfortunately, just like the window, this too proved to be wasted energy!

*SNAP*

“Ah, fuck it!” He shouted, throwing the broken tools away, standing up and grabbing the handle, furiously shaking it. “What kind of black magic bullshit is this?!”

Smoke literally came out of his ears, he boiled in anger as he reached for his gun. Not caring if he woke the town, he pulled it out and aimed at the door. Cocking the hammer, he squeezed the trigger before stopping. Not out of sound he’d make but of something else.

Carson had been gone for a while and hadn’t come back.

“Sonuvabitch!” He snarled. Bending down, he snatched the lantern up and stormed around the building.

“Carson, ah swear if you’re just pissin’ about back here, ah’m kicking your ass!”

Turning the corner, Bill was ready to chew his brother out, only to be met with empty space. Blinking, he looked around but saw no trace of him.

‘Where the hell is he?!’ Looking around, Bill found no trace of his brother. Turning back to the building, he noticed that a section of the building jutted outward. Narrowing his eyes, he got close and saw a crack in the wall. Using his gun, he nudged the hidden door open to show pure darkness. Bringing the lantern up did little to illuminate the inside but it was an entrance inside.

“Carson! You in there?” He called out.

No response.

Clicking his tongue, he readied himself and walked through the threshold. It was pitch black as he walked, the light from the lantern barely brightening up the area. In fact, it almost seemed like the light was being devoured.

“Carson!” He shouted as he walked deeper in. “Damnit Carson, ah’m not in the mood for this. You damn well better be in here otherwise ah’m gon-”

*CRRREEEAAAKKK* *CLICK*

“The fuck?!” Bill spun around and looked for the source of the sound. He couldn’t see the entrance anymore. Swinging the lantern franticly around him, all he saw was darkness.

“Calm down Bill, calm down.” Trying to get his breathing down, he slowly walked backward. “It’s your mind playing with ya. Just find Carson and ge-Woah!”

The bull shouted in surprise as he slipped and fell. The lantern hit the ground and the flame barely stayed lit. Groaning, he sat up after falling on his ass. Reaching up to rub his head, he pulled it away after feeling something wet. Looking at his hand, what he thought was blood was something else.

“The hell is this?”

“Mmmmmmmmmm.” A low moaning sound echoed around the room. Bill stood up, gun facing forward. The moaning sounded again, and the bull franticly looked around, trying to find the source.

“Mmmmmmmmmm.” The noise sounded close, but the bull didn’t know where. Stepping back, his foot stepped on something, and the moaning increased, as if in pain. Freezing on the spot, Bill looked behind him and down. What he saw caused his eyes to bulge out.

“…Carson?” On the ground, almost smeared into the floor was the missing Longhorn brother. His form had been mashed and flattened until he resembled a thick liquid. Only his eyes were visible, and they looked at him both pleading for help and terrified in fear.

“What in the-”

*TAP* *TAP* *TAP*

“Well, well, well. What be dis, I see…” A deep, teasing voice echoed around the room. Carson moaned even louder while Bill spun around in circles. Gun shaking as his whole body shook in fear. Turning around once more, he stood stock straight and stared ahead.

As dark green eyes glowed in the darkness, staring right at him. A large, predatory, and mocking grin soon appeared under them.

“Thieves, wandering da abyss, coming. Just. For. Me~.”

A gunshot, Bill Longhorn’s scream, and mocking laughter were the last things heard that night.