Sharkyshark
Just chillin'
Swiftie coughed and choked again, letting out a mechanical rattle as its engine revved. Blood continued to seep from the hole in its engine block as it rolled itself in a slow circle. It lurched forward in fits and starts, taking a moment to gain its confidence in its wheels before rolling its way over to Milo and flickering its light. The growl of the engine was weak, stuttering and grinding as gears and belts struggled to work through the mud. Every cough of the motor brought black mud out of the exhaust pipe and every movement seemed slow and tentative. If Milo had spent any time at all around animals, two things would become immediately clear. His bike was alive, and it was in pain.
“I have brought life to the unliving,” said the backwards man, wiping his blade off with a silk handkerchief. “Brought breath to the unbreathing. Sensation to the unfeeling. My sword is quite useless in a duel, but it really is quite handy. I suppose you might call me a healer? But oh, I’m so much better than that.”
The bike’s engine let out a sudden, high-pitched screech as it seized up and toppled over onto its side. The whole frame seemed to convulse, front tire twisting back and forth as it thrashed around in the dirt. The headlight flashed rapidly, twisting around to shine directly into Milo’s face.
“A strange thing, pain,” continued the backwards man. “I believe there’s no sensation more universal across living beings. How strange it must be, to suddenly become aware only to be beset by an agony of which it was physically impossible for you to imagine just moments before.”
“I have brought life to the unliving,” said the backwards man, wiping his blade off with a silk handkerchief. “Brought breath to the unbreathing. Sensation to the unfeeling. My sword is quite useless in a duel, but it really is quite handy. I suppose you might call me a healer? But oh, I’m so much better than that.”
The bike’s engine let out a sudden, high-pitched screech as it seized up and toppled over onto its side. The whole frame seemed to convulse, front tire twisting back and forth as it thrashed around in the dirt. The headlight flashed rapidly, twisting around to shine directly into Milo’s face.
“A strange thing, pain,” continued the backwards man. “I believe there’s no sensation more universal across living beings. How strange it must be, to suddenly become aware only to be beset by an agony of which it was physically impossible for you to imagine just moments before.”