In a place nobody knows, there's a person. What does he do? Find out.


.:Rated general, despite some:.
>Bad Table Manners


Word Count: 3469

If you enjoyed the story, feel free to comment and fave, I'd really appreciate it.

---

Just a Letter

There is a place you’ve never known, because it’s a place you’ve never been to. If you have… my condolences. It’s a dead land of miles upon miles of dried red ground, laced with a network of fissures that ran through the arid ground like a network of ley lines. If life had ever existed here, then it did a damn good job of leaving no evidence. Heat rose from the ground in heated vents, rising up as scorching clouds. Not even plants seemed to stir in this ruined domain, one that was once home to a profitable mine; that is, until it was deemed no longer profitable. If you were to look around, you would find nothing but a quiet emptiness… and a shack. Once originally housing for short stays, much of the original building had collapsed, leaving only a few rooms left. For years this structure housed nothing but the dust of the ages… until someone else had taken up residence.

It was late in the afternoon, and the resident was performing his usual task of sunning himself in the hot sun. Lying prone across a pair of linked wooden pool chairs, the enormously tall Komodo Dragon hid his amber eyes behind a pair of sunglasses as he lazed in the warm sun. The barest of breezes blew, ruffling his shirt, if you could even call it a shirt. Eyesore sounded better, really. For whatever reason that was beyond basic comprehension, the hefty beast wore the gaudiest Hawaiian shirt in existence. The bright red fabric burned a hole in your eyes, while none of the white flowers even matched each other in design or size. It was worth reiterating as to why he wore the thing, but, when you’re in the middle of nowhere who did he even have to subject it to? Maybe he was doing a service to the world by owning it, just in case someone’s dad might have worn it instead. Perhaps he could be considered heroic for doing that; granted, he could also be considered fashion challenged as well, as sometimes the two aren’t mutually exclusive. It’s all about perspective, y’know? Thankfully, his taste in shorts was better in moderation, as they were simple beige, and very loose and baggy, as he liked the airiness of them. His tail hung from the backside, sliding off the chair and laying on the dry ground.

The resident was quietly humming to himself as his sandaled foot bounced along to the tune only he could hear, his clawed toes digging into the cheap material as his reptilian lips moved ever so slightly. As his tune picked up an index finger joined in, the claw bouncing in the air as the crescendo of his mind began to pick up, reaching a heavenly pinnacle. The world could only guess as to what miracle was playing in this being’s mind. “I’ve got a lovely bunch of coconuts, there they are all standing in a row.” …poetry, sheer… poetry….

The resident continued singing to himself until the music stopped, and he seemed unsettled. Gazing towards the sun, his mind set to work trying to figure out the time. It was quite late in the day now, but the sky had not turned its gentle orange or its fading pink, so, there was still time. With a loud groan the lizard hefted himself up, the chairs groaning with him from the tragic combination of his weight and movement. The chairs bitterly wished they weren’t made of plastic, and had instead been made of wood. At least that way they could break much more easily. The resident sighed loudly as he stretched, his body groaning as his entire length of 7”1 was pulled as far as it could go. His body tingled from the stretch, his aching spine pulling itself straight as he stood on the very tips of his toes. With the force of a rubber band he snapped back into place, his body settling down as he smacked his lips loudly. He sniffed delicately as he ceremoniously scratched his behind, his morose gaze scanning the distance. Naturally, there was no one around. Why would there be? He was in the middle of nowhere, after all. Though, he did have to laugh. He mused how funny it was that the middle of nowhere was the easiest place in the world to find, yet it was always hardest to leave it.

He chuckled again, that was a funny thought he concluded as he lumbered off in a seemingly random direction. His feet stomped loudly across the dry earth, the hard soil cracking from each step. The heat was quite glorious today, in fact, it was the hottest it had ever been in a while, which was nice. Winter was always the hardest on him, when the temperature dropped well below zero, but nothing could beat how amazing the summer heat was. The resident breathed in the dry air with gusto, a content sigh escaping his maw as he continued to lumber in silence. Another slight breeze blew, catching the collar of his shirt as time passed through the hourglass. Honestly he never knew how long the journey took, only that it felt like a short while. Where was this journey to? Quite simple, really. The destination was to a slight incline, leading down to a closed and heavy gate.

This was the entrance to the abandoned mine, a mine he technically owned as the owner of this useless hunk of land. Staring at the gate, the resident snorted with determination as he gripped the bottom of the gate, his body heaving with all its might as the heavy metal grating rose. He grunted and snorted loudly as his powerful arm muscles tensed up, fighting against the heavy metal as boldly as they could. The gate rose with every loud grunt and shudder, the mechanism protesting loudly as he raised the gate above his head, slipping through the open space. Taking care to mind his tail and feet, the resident allowed the gate to drop, slamming to the ground with a tremendous crash. The sound of the smashing metal echoed through the tunnel, the screams of the gate bouncing off the walls and far into the distance. He didn’t honestly need to force the thing open, as there was a chain to hoist it up, but he just liked the challenge. And so, with no regard for what he had done, the beast continued onwards, shirking his sunglasses as the light grew dim in the tunnel.

The earlier parts of the mine were quite warm, being so close to the surface. However, the temperature would begin to drop quite quickly as you went on, an unusual noise filling the air as you went deeper. The rushing and the crashing would only increase in volume, until you finally came to the source. Once upon a time this mine had been used for valuable ores, but due to some poor planning, the engineers had allowed one specific wall to weaken. When it crumbled, it unleashed the floodwaters of the underground river it had been guarding. All of the lower areas were flooded by the tides, and the mine was closed due to the sheer volume of loss suffered that day. That same river continued to run through the mine, even to this day, and it was the same river the resident now stared into. The water was a crystal clear, visible only through the lights of the mine. After obtaining the land, the resident had paid a pretty penny to have a hydroelectric generator set up in the mine, in order to power the many lights in the tunnels, and some amenities in his shack.

Watching the flowing water always filled him with a strange spiritual energy. He always felt as if he could do anything, much like the rushing water did as he powered through the enormous pit. He shared a special relationship with this river, as the pure water provided a remarkable combination of fresh drinking water, food from the fish that swam through it, and a place to clean his clothes. Speaking of clothes, he quickly undid the buttons on his shirt and shorts, shirking them away without a care. Though those clothes left little to the imagination, without them you could see how solid his body was. His body was a powerful, bulky tube of muscle and fat, all sealed tied behind his dusty and faded scales. Left in just an embarrassing pair of bright yellow briefs, he also remembered to remove his shoes, leaving his large feet free to wiggle his chubby piggies. Standing above the precipice, the resident held his arms out carefully, taking a deep breath before diving into the river. He landed with a loud splash, the force of the current trying to drag him with it. However, he fought against the current, thanks to his powerful limbs, and his tail. He fought stubbornly against the water, piercing through it like a torpedo as he headed towards an opening in the stony wall.

Swimming into it, the water immediately calmed as the reptile lazily swam through the shaft, the tunnel curving upwards with a faint light staring down. His pace increased as swiftly as it could, the Komodo breaching the surface as his air supply became sparse. He gasped loudly as water cascaded down his bald head, joining the water as he swam to the edge of the pool he was in. Hefting his bulk from the water, the resident lay on his back in the dimly lit cavern he found himself in. Whatever this particular space had been used for, it was more or less useless now due to the only way out having collapsed god knows how long ago. The lizard shivered audibly, the coldness of the room chilling him as he gazed up at the roof high above. The only source of light came from several cracks in the roof, where sunlight barely beamed through. It was funny to him, that even with all his searching, he never did find where those cracks were on the surface. He had searched and searched, but had never found them. It was quite the remarkable little enigma, when he thought about it. He chuckled to himself as he dragged his body to one of those beams, his form drinking up the weak sunlight as he lay in it.

His entire body was heaving loudly from the combination of swimming through that deadly current, and having to hold his breath for so long. Boy, it had taken him a while to get that down. Though he had strengthened his body in that river, he had taken every opportunity he had to learn how to hold his breath for the time needed to even reach this place. But, it was well worth the effort for such an oddly serene little place. The sound of the river never pierced the room, leaving it quiet save for the gentle lapping of the water against the shore. The solitude of the cavern filled him with strength, allowing him to get into a seated position as he quietly meditated in the cavern. There was nothing he really needed to meditate about, it was just his flippant want.

---

He would sit and mediate in that cavern for hours, or at least until he caught his breath back. But, eventually, he would leave before dusk. Though it was cold in there during the day, it was downright arctic once the sun went away. So with quiet grace he had left, returning to the surface once more, still wet as he put his clothes back on. It was almost sundown as he made his return journey, the land going from red to orange as the sun drifted lazily towards the horizon. The resident liked to watch the sunset, as each of them felt unique in their own special way. They were never the same, and he could feel his heart flutter on the breeze as the orb of incandescent gas embraced the horizon. His pace increased, almost reaching a run as his shack came into view. His pounding steps fractured the ground as he ran, hoping to beat the sun as he raced towards his chairs. His lungs were on fire, his breaths shallow rasps as he made it back in time to watch the sun descend, the land turning dark as a coolness overtook it. The resident smiled as serenely as he could while the sun went away, leaving him in total darkness as his raspy breaths died down.

Without the sun around, he was alone now beneath a blanket of stars. Each of them gently twinkling in their sublime beauty, an entire sea of the twinkling lights. This was one of the true benefits to living out here, as the resident could appreciate the stars in all their beauty. There were so many out, and each of them shone in their own special way. The coy little devils all winked at him, and the Komodo couldn’t help but wink back to them. It was a silly act, but it brought such a smile to his face as he bid the stars farewell, returning to his humble abode.

Flipping the switch, the kitchen lit up. It was a drab and dismal place, filled with antiquated appliances and a thick layer of dirt on the ground. The stove was a large coffee pot, with only one plate and a large slot for the wood fire meant to burn in it. He never really used it for cooking, though it made for a wonderful friend in the winter. There was also a large tub for dishes, although he hadn’t really used a proper dish in a very long time. So, it was used to collect dirt and dust instead, truly a nobler task. The only part of the kitchen that was kept even remotely clean was the enormous wooden table, with two equally enormous chairs. The resident always favoured the chair that sat opposite the cupboard that hummed, for some peculiar reason. He would sit with his head in his hands, his elbows quite rudely on the table. Why did he do that? Most likely so he could chair at the seat opposite to him. The chair was very empty, and had been for a long time. The resident smiled weakly at it, but, he couldn’t help but let out a despondent sigh at just how empty it was. But then, that was the price of isolation.

The resident’s belly rumbled modestly, a polite and quiet little gurgle requesting to be filled. Rising from his chair, the resident’s smile was now a frown as he opened up the cupboard, revealing it to be a fully functioning fridge. This was the only true appliance he owned, and aside from the lights it was the specific reason he even had that generator hooked up from the mine to here. There was not much choice, as the chilly machine only contained piles upon piles of fish, all caught fresh from the river. Umming and ahhing as a matter of habit, the resident chose one particularly large fish from the lot. He closed the door with a churlish slam, returning to his table with his prize. The fish had been a proper whopper, and had taken forever to catch. But, it was clearly well worth the effort as his lips peeled back, revealing a large array of razor sharp teeth. With a feral roar he tore into the fish, tearing scale and flesh away with his beastly bites. What little blood the thing had was drained out of it, greedily slurped up by the feral animal. He chewed the pale flesh only sparingly, as he swallowed them in enormous lumps. He belched loudly as the piles of meat reached his stomach, and he was only hungry for more as he tore it apart like a savage. The fish never stood a chance as it was reduced to just a tail and the bone. He had smashed the head, skull and all in his powerful jaws, enjoying the pleasure of the hard and rigid matter sailing down his thick oesophagus.

The Komodo belched loudly, flinging what remained of his meal out the window without a care. Despite the impression this gave, this was all he needed for dinner, as he had a tendency to continuously snack throughout the day to sate his needs. This one meal was just the thing he needed to tide himself over until tomorrow, where it would be fish all day again. The resident sighed in sated contentment as his body straightened out, his rump barely hanging on to his seat as he rubbed his scaly belly. Unlike his hide, his belly scales were quite soft and tender, and at times very sensitive as well. He always enjoyed a good belly rub, when he could get one, but, again, that was so long ago. His content smile became another frown, his fingers pausing on his gut as he mulled that over. Yes… it truly had been a while, hadn’t it? What had though? Only he knew as he slumped over his table, listlessly tapping on the faded wood as his mind seemed to be focused intently on something. His amber eyes glazed over as his mind appeared preoccupied, but, whatever it was, it seemed to be a passing through as he got up from the table.

Leaving through the only opening, the lizard entered what had probably been the common room of the miners, and the only other room in the shack. What had most likely been the bedrooms were long gone, collapsed and destroyed. The vacant doorway was now just part of the wall, hiding a large and well-used mattress from the elements. A blanket lay bundled up next to the dusty thing, but it was still a warm night, and he had no need of it. The resident stared listlessly at the mattress, his lip being lightly nipped by his fangs as he was thinking something over again. With a sudden movement, he decided to distract himself with a pair of frames that sat atop an empty and blocked-up fireplace. The first photo was taken here in the shack, during the time of the visitor.

The lizard held the picture gently as he gazed into the picture, which was of the kitchen. There was he, smiling like a goon with his fingers in the peace symbol as he sat at the table. And there with him was a Hamster or Squirrel-like thing. Honestly, it was hard to tell what he was at times. Either way, the two were smiling quite happily, despite the squalor of the place. Though it was hard to admit it, the shack had been that much brighter when the little bugger had been around. “Sawn….”

It had been a gentle whisper, and a fond one too as a tear ran down his scaly face, striking the frame like a raindrop. The resident swallowed a bitter lump as he sniffled loudly, his claw wiping away another tear as he replaced the frame, replacing it with the other one. This was of a different time, when he had gone away for a while. While away he had met a rather nice Raccoon, and his very attractive Bull friend. The three were grinning intently, although the Raccoon was giving him a rather wary look. That wasn’t too shocking, in hindsight, given the “experience” they had all “shared”. The Komodo chuckled fondly, despite another tear rolling down his face. This one missed the frame, disturbing only the dust as the memory was returned to its spot alongside its partner.

The resident eyed the frames fondly, before turning his back on them. Breathing the musty air deeply, the lizard collapsed onto the worn mattress. Tossing the nearby blanket aside, it was revealed that hidden beneath it was a notepad, and several pens. Acquiring the tools, the Komodo lay on his back as he stared at the lifeless paper. Several times he would bring the tip of the pen to the pad, and several times he was retreat. It was as if the paper was mocking him, although, he knew he was mocking himself, really. Sighing loudly, he just couldn’t work up the energy to write a single thing. Not anywhere within him could he find a single shred of desire or intent. In the end, he decided to he would try again tomorrow. And with that, the tools of writing were hid beneath the blanket as the resident turned the light off. The mattress groaned in protest beneath him as his eyes gently closed.

After all, for N… tomorrow was always another day.