Armadillo Billy

"Hello there... " A voice pierces the darkness that clouds your eyes. "It looks like you took quite a spell, so take your time and let me help you up!"

Panic starts to set in and you try to stand up, which causes you to almost tip over. The person catches you with their arm on your back and another on your shoulder to steady.

"Now hold there, you're not ready to run a marathon just yet. We are going to have to take it slow." The person softly speaks in a heavy accent. "Not sure what you're doing out here, but we need to move on before the bayou takes a liken to you."

Not sure if it's the concussion, but you noticed that this person's arms feel like they are coated in something scaly and rough.

Maybe I'm being helped by an alligator, you think to yourself.

"If I was a gator, we'd be headed back the other way to the community pond" The voice chuckled as they spoke.

Did they just read my thoughts, or did I speak out loud? You start to get worried as you helplessly follow their guidance.

So many thoughts rush through your mind and it causes you to black out.

Not sure how long you were out, but you find yourself in an empty room except for a metal spring bed with a down mattress. The wallpaper is stained from years of leaks and peeling in some places. The aged wooden walls peeked out where they were exposed.

As you lie there trying to compose yourself and recollect what happened, a slight breeze flows through an open window and carries the sound of crickets, frogs, and a faint banjo noise.

Oh, great! I got captured by some backwoods psycho and he's waiting to hunt me down!

You start trying to figure out how you're going to escape and where you are going to go because it's in the middle of the bayou and even if you're able to get away from them then you have the snakes and alligators to worry about.

A voice breaks your train of thought, "If I were you, I'd deal with the backwoods psycho. At least you got a fighting chance than you would if you stumble in a nest of snakes or congregation of gators."

It was the same voice from earlier. The person who was helping you.

Oh no, they heard me! It's all over now! I can't seem to stop thinking out loud! I might be doing it now! STOP THINKING! STOP IT! Oh god, I can't-

"Now, now, you going to have to calm down before you think yourself to a spell again." The voice sounded closer, but far away at the same time. "Take your time, collect your thoughts, and meet me out on the porch so we can figure out how to overtake this backwoods psycho you're so worried about. Teamwork makes the dream work, or whatever those inspiration posters say."

Before you can respond, the person is gone. Just silence except for the slight breeze and the creaking of the old house.

After some time, you finally feel able to get up and move. You felt a little dizzy when you first stood up but it went away after steadying yourself.

You slowly walk through the old house as you make your way to a living area, where you see a screen door at the front entrance. You hear the banjo music playing outside and the sound of something rocking back and forth on old creaking floorboards.

It's time to find out who helped me here and maybe they can help me find what I came looking for.

The screen door creaked as you opened it and slammed shut with a loud bang as you walked out. The sound seemed to echo throughout the surrounding area.

The sound of the banjo stopped. "Well, good to see you up and about. Wasn't sure how long you were going to be lied up in there. Come sit down and have yourself a drink." The person was hidden in darkness like it was a blanket that the light from the moon couldn't pierce through.

You sit down on an old wooden chair next to an antique table that holds a saucer and a mug. The contents were releasing steam and after a quick whiff, you realized it was coffee.

"Have you a few sips to help you out of that drowsiness," the person spoke before they started playing the banjo again.

The coffee tasted so good. It wasn't too sweet or strong and was hard to take just a couple of sips. Before you knew it, the mug was half full and you were feeling relaxed and alert at the same time.

After some time you began to open your mouth, but the person asked you a question before you could ask them.

"It's been some time since I played for anyone, would you like to hear a song or two? We'll get around to what you want to know afterward. You have my word."

You nod as you eagerly grab your mug of coffee, which seems to be filled again. Instead of being shocked, you were happy to have more of it to drink.

The person started strumming a tune that sounded familiar, but you couldn't quite pinpoint it.

They began to hum along while playing.

That song! I know! I swear I know that song!

Then the person started to sing, "... The World watches me expecting me to transform... "

You freeze up as you hear those words. A cold chill goes up and down your spine. You can't move. You can't speak. Your body feels numb.

The person continues singing, "... Would they trust me with their world just like you did?"

You suddenly feel the urge to join in with the song.

Now both of you sing in unison, "... Or will they betray me, destroy me, just like you did? ABANDONED IT ALL JUST LIKE YOU DIIIIIDDD?"

You both finish the song together and then all goes quiet except for the slight breeze.

"Now, about this backwoods psycho," the person chuckles as you hear the floorboards creak," What is our plan of attack?"

Before you can apologize, a snout slowly starts to emerge out of the darkness along with the worn brim of a hat and two piercing eyes.

"You found me... "