D:L&L - Part 16 | Lion: Turning Tale

Lanny stood staring at me as I hung up the telephone receiver. “Sir? Are you alright?” He inquired of me.

I stared at the handset, trying to wrap my mind around the message. “Uh, yeah, yeah I’m fine. Just some unexpected news. I need to get to Bright Lettins to meet somebody. Find Cu’, tell him to get the heliwhomper ready.”

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea, Sir,” he sputtered.

“Why can’t you people just let the past be the past? What happened before, well, it was an accident. No one was supposed to get hurt, damn it!” I bellowed.

“No, Sir. I mean yes, I know what happened was an accident. But that isn’t why I’m stopping you. Turn on the tele, Sir. It seems a strange purple fog has descended over Bright Lettins. I was informed that any who come in contact with it become spellbound and put into a zombie-like state. I don’t think it’s safe to go.”

I clicked my remote and tuned in MLN15, the 24 hour Munchkinland news station- “No one knows where the fog is coming from. Authorities are urging all Munchkinlanders to evacuate Bright Lettins as the strange purple fog descends over the township. Do not, I repeat do not attempt to pass through the fog for any reason. The purple mass seems to be affecting any living being it comes in contact with turning them into a zombie-like trance. Stay tuned to MLN15 for updates every half hour.”

“Trouble, Lanny. This can only mean trouble.” I sat heavily in my chair as memories of her came back to me. How I was so enamored by her, and how I grew to despise her.

We were all made murderers that day. The first of many kills for me, for her. Poor Elphalba never had a chance. Hind sight is 20/20; if only we weren’t so foolish then. If only we had been able to see the true evil glimmering in a sparkling gown behind an angelic face and a tight ass. I have to give credit to Glinda. She pulled our strings to get her way. Now that psycho bitch rules Emerald City and all the lands. Taking the throne from straw face was easy for her. She had spun her lies so they were easily believed. If only we could go back, maybe things would have turned out differently. Now the psychotic witch is up to her tricks again. What the hell does she want?

Perhaps this is best left alone. I don’t need trouble at my door again. I’m a king now, a king of my world, just as a lion should be. I’m not risking myself again. This is my life, fuck her! I sure don’t need Glinda breathing down my neck either. Although I do have something I’d like her to breath down.

“Nothing but trouble, Lanny.” I repeated, the only words I could muster about the situation, “that’s what this is. Keep me posted on any news. Now leave me and find Cu’, tell him I want to talk to him.”

Lanny scurried out the door, perplexed by my mood swing. I leaned my head back on my chair and closed my eyes letting images of her fill my mind. How lovely she was, so very lovely with her bright eyes and creamy skin. “I could have rocked your world, lovely. Rocked it hard. They say once you go lion, the rest will leave you cryin’.” I’d become quite fond of having opposable thumbs. They’re good for things, for moments when a lion just wants to be alone with his thoughts. “Ahhh yes, you little tramp, come back to me, baby. I got something for you.”
She’s only going to use you, treat you like a scared little cub. The bitch!! Stop thinking about it, you’re ruining the mood here. What the hell is going on? Shit! I can’t just sit here!
I stormed out the office door, moving on all fours sending the secretaries papers flying again. They’ll learn what paper weights are for some day.

“Cu’!” I called as I ran down the corridor. “Cu’, damn it, where are you?”

“He went to the lower levels, sir. It seems a group of zombie munchkins managed to breach the first floor,” Lanny shouted as he stepped through his office doorway. “Come look on the monitors.”

I entered Lanny’s office and went around his desk to view the screens. “A group? You call that a group? There’s got to be at least forty of those freaky little dudes there. What are they doing?” I asked watching as three zombiekins grabbed one of the security guards, tackled him down and started dragging him through the shattered glass strewn on the floor. Obviously where they managed to break the glass and enter the building. There was no sound from the screens, but I could see the terrified look of the guard’s face as he was pulled kicking and fighting into the fog. Moments later he returned with the three who assaulted him. His eyes were glazed over and drool was stringing from his mouth. “Fuck me, Lanny! I have to get down there. Did Cu’ see this?”

“Uhhh no Sir. He just saw them break through the glass.” Lanny stammered.

“I’ve got to get to him.” I tore out of Lanny’s office and into the stairwell, bounding landing to landing. Being a lion has its advantages. At the bottom floor I slowed, carefully opening the stairwell door to assess the situation. Zombiekins were all over the place. I saw Cu’ in the middle of a hoard of them, gnashing his teeth and clawing them down like bits of kibble. The marble floor beneath him covered in blood and gore.

I let out a ferocious roar and slammed through the door. The attack was immediate. I felt little hands grabbing at my fur trying to pull me down. I reared up striking out with my paw, claws fully extended and took the heads cleanly off two of them.

I made my way to Cu’. “This is pointless,” I said to him as I watched more and more zombiekins enter through the opening, the purple fog trundling its way in behind. I turned to look at Cu’, but he had moved on viciously slaughtering anything in his path, disappearing into the purple mass.

“Cu’!” I screamed, “No!” I watched in horror as my dearest friend reappeared with a blank gaze, frothing drool hanging from his mouth. “Oh shit, Cu’. Oh shit!” He took a leaping bound towards me. I turned tail and made a beeline for the stairwell door.

“Boss, Boss! Wake up!” I startled awake with Cu’ standing over me, still dazed. ”You fell asleep, Boss. You must have been snoozing heavily; you were drooling. Did you have another of those dreams?”

I ran my right paw across my chin wiping away the saliva that had trickled out of my mouth. “Yeah, yeah it was a bad one too. You were coming after me.” Cu’ chuckled glancing down at my left paw and where it still was. “Gosh Boss, I never knew you cared for me that much!” I growled at him. He stepped back still laughing. I wondered what the dreams were trying to tell me? They’d been happening more frequently. Were they prophetic? Or was my guilt manifesting itself after all these years? I stood up and smacked Cu’ on the ass as I passed him, I couldn't let him see I was unnerved. “You are kind of cute, for a dog. Now let’s get out of here.”