Demons

Demons

The Darkness Within

Chapter Four

When I walked out of the room the doors closed behind me, I saw a pegasus mare who was in guard armor, she looked me up and down.

“So you’re the one who needs an escort?” She said in a slightly bored tone.

“That would be me.”

She nodded in confirmation and motioned with her head to follow her, I silently and unconsciously fell in step behind her as I took in the castle scenery to memorise my way to the cafeteria, I noticed the mare looking back at me sometimes.

“You got a question?”

She kept walking a couple more steps before slowing down and facing me.

“I can’t hear your hoofsteps when you walk like that, so I’m making sure you’re still with me.” She said neutrally, but I could hear the edge in her voice, no matter how hard she tried to hide it.

“It’s an old habit, sorry if it bothers you.” I said with no malice.

She just gave me an odd look and then continued on, there was no further conversation between us, that was fine, I liked peace and quiet, we eventually got to the cafeteria and I saw many guards sitting at the tables giving us weird looks, the windows had a nice light shining through them giving the cafeteria a relaxed atmosphere, despite the hostility, she said something about grabbing a seat for us, I just nodded and headed over to the stallion that was serving food, he saw me as I was approaching and his ears perked up.

“Celestia said this is where I could grab some food?” I said.

The stallion nodded. “I made a plate for you already, it’s still fresh so you don’t need to worry about your...meat...being bad.” He said with disgust.

I gave no words as I grabbed my plate and walked over to the pegasus mare and promptly sat down, the room went a bit quieter as they saw what I was eating, it was fish, peas, mashed potatos, and a roll, I just ignored them and ate, I had to admit, it was pretty good, damn better than an MRE, well then again, anything was better than an MRE.

 I could feel the mares uncomfort, she hid it well from her mates, but I could see underneath her calm demeanor and her stone-like features, I finished the meal quickly and looked up to meet her stare.

“You seem oddly disciplined for a creature of your size.” She said suddenly.

“I’m not an ape from the forest, if that’s what you’re asking, I’m just trying not to set anyone off and avoid a headache if at all possible.” I said tiredly.

“What would make you think we’ll snap at you?”

“The fact that everything I do you guys give a glare, and I know you’re trying to act all professional by not being disgusted or hateful towards me, I know your comrades can’t see under your facade, but I can, and I see unreasonable loathing towards me.” I said in a brutally honest tone, she had a slight embarrassed pink tint to her cheeks, it was pretty funny.

“All I want is a soft bed right now, my head fucking hurts, I don’t know how long I’ll be able to keep being friendly if you all aren’t doing the same, and trust me, I’m trying my hardest.”

She shied away from my sailor talk, I had started softly laughing and had to control myself from bursting out, I gave a soft sigh. “Ahhh, you ponies are too innocent for your own good, come on, let’s go.” I said as I got up and walked to the exit, I put the dish on the dirty dishes rack and walked out.

When we walked out I started walking next to her, I noticed that the average pony was at my waist level, there was the occasional taller or shorter pony, Celestia was around my neck while Luna was at my upper chest, including their horns.

“Does this place have a gym?’ I suddenly asked.

She gave me a curious look. “Why do you want to know that?” She said with an eyebrow raised.

“I need something to do in my free time, ya know, to keep my mind busy.” I said as we turned down another hallway.

She just nodded as we passed the rows of paintings and flags draping the hallway, damn this castle is big, I mean it looked big on the outside, but how could anyone remember where to even go in this place, I wouldn’t want to be the sorry sod who had to find a bathroom in the middle of the night.

“We’re almost there, I’ll talk to my CO and have two guards posted outside of your quarters, if you need anything just ask them.”

“Understood.” I said as I stopped in front of the huge double doors, I then pushed them open to find something I haven’t slept on in such a long time.

A soft, comfortable, beautiful bed.

“Help yourself, remember, if you need anything don’t hesitate to ask.” The mare said with an amused smile at my reaction.

“Thanks, by the way, what’s your name?”

She turned and looked at me.

“Private Glider if you want to be formal, Swift Glider if you want to be casual, I never got yours.”

“Ryder, thanks for the escort.”

She nodded and exited the room, closing the doors behind her.

I laid down on the bed and instantly fell into its softness, the shower was amazing and I only had my cargo pants on at the moment, I got up and then immediately tucked myself into the warmthness that was surrounding me.

“Damn, I’ve missed having a soft bed.”

Those were my final words before succumbing to sleep.

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The weather was hot, as usual, the helmet made it even hotter, I looked over to my guard partner and started up idle chatter to pass the time.

“You got anyone back home waitin’ for ya?” I said while keeping an eye out.

The barb wired fence and gate behind us made clanking noises as a wind blew through the outside of the base, we were standing guard outside the war torn towns U.S. Military base in the middle of the small city, keeping watch for any intruders.

The guard to my right just laughed a bit.

“Yeah, I got a baby girl and a wife waiting for me, once this god forsaken war is over I might make another child, if you know what I mean.”

We both just laughed at that, it was genuine laughter too, we talked for a bit and just generally got to know each other.

A kid, maybe around 8 or 9 came around the corner, he had an AK in his hands and he was going to shoot us, the three of us stood there, seemingly forever, he was shaking and he had a fearful look on his face, he faced us down, we didn’t even draw our weapons, hell we couldn’t, we were in such a state of shock that the kid could have easily shot us, he faced us and stared us down like a mouse facing two tigers, suddenly the kid drew back his weapon and ran.

We just stood there, motionless, processing what about happened to us.

Suddenly my partner spoke up.

“Private...would you have shot that kid?”

Back then I was just a rookie, a greenhorn, it was so long ago.

“I...I-I don’t know, he was just a kid, dear god what the hell? He was just a kid.”

We both just stood there, and right then, at that moment.

I knew that this was only the start of Hell.

I shot straight up, my sheets covered in sweat and my hands shaking.

“Fuck, fuck me, all I want is one night of sleep, is that too much to ask?” I said under my breath, I buried my head in my hands and calmed myself down.

Breathing is key, slow and steady breaths, bring the heartbeat down, calm your mind and cleanse yourself of the dark.

After a couple of minutes using mental techniques to calm myself down I got up and out of my bed, I shuffled over to the bathroom and turned on the light before immediately going for the sink, I turned it on and splashed water on my face, I looked up into the mirror and saw myself.

My short hair on the top of my head was dirty, the buzz cut on the back and sides of my head were too short to even worry about, but my face...well, I looked like shit.

I looked away and faced the shower, I took off my pants and my underwear before getting in, I turned on the hot water and washed myself clean, then I just sat inside of the shower, hoping and wishing that the water could somehow wash my brain clean.

There was suddenly a knock on the door.

“Hello? Anypony there?”

I gave out a tired reply “I’ll be there in a second.”

I turned off the shower and got my underwear and pants on, my shirt and other clothes being on the bedside table, I opened up the door and saw a vampiric mare in dark purple armor, the light from the bathroom casting a shadow of myself over her, her partner was a male and he was well built, both of them had the same armor and the same wings.

“What do you need?” I said calmly.

Her and her partner were shocked for a couple of moments before getting it together.

“We heard noises in the room when it suddenly all stopped, we came to check on you, you know, when they briefed us on you they didn’t say you’d be this big.”

“Thanks, I guess, so you know of the situation?”

“Down to the last detail, the Princesses briefed the Night and Day guard about you.” She said truthfully.

“Alright then, do you guys serve alcohol at night? My throat’s dry and I need a drink.”

She looked at me oddly. “Don’t you need to go to bed?”

I shook my head. “I won’t be able to sleep now, and besides, I’ve slept all day.”

“Ok, but why do you want alcohol, especially at this time of night?” The burly stallion asked.

I just shrugged. “I’m not gonna get drunk, I’m probably just going to get a bit tipsy, and then hit the gym, I need something to do.” They both nodded before exiting the room and waiting for me to get ready.

I put on my shirt and grey hoodie and left my tan jacket on the table, I tied my boots on and walked out the door, I brought my smokes and lighter along with my knife, I was ready to roll.

I walked out of the door and saw the duo waiting for me, I just gave a nod and followed them down the maze of hallways.