Part Fifteen: Spare Parts

	Although Johnny's still startled eyes continued to imagine spectral reapers appearing around each and every bend and corner of the shadowy hall none in the end actually did come out to present themselves. Caleb and Johnny took what was, all things considered, a rather easy rambling stroll down the sparsely illuminated passage. Caleb even began to whistle to himself, seeming to show not a care in the world. For a man so dominated by his passions there did seem to be an odd nonchalance about the old gunfighter, a contrast that allowed him to be both utterly ruthless but still acutely cold and calculating. He may not be bright but he certainly knows what to do in a fight, and his focus never gets altogether blindsided by his blood-lust, no matter how overpowering or persevering his urges may be.

	"This looks promising" Caleb observed, stopping in front of yet another door marked "Storage". Johnny pondered just how much time Caleb must spend stealing from the Cabal's weapon stores, utilizing their own tools against them. Finding the door locked, Caleb growled and put his shoulder into it, his focus commanding him to open the door while his passions dictated that he must do it in the least civilized and dignified way possible. The two really were an unstoppable pair, and the door soon came crashing off its hinges and down onto the floor in a deafening crash. Johnny watched as a platoon of rats came rushing out of the cold dusty storage room, scared off by the sudden burst of life. Caleb swore and danced in the air as the ragged monsters made their way past.

	Once the rats had finally departed and the excitement had ceased, the two men walked inside the storage room and illuminated the area. They found rack after rack of old clothes and costumes, now left to rot after being shown in countless operas and plays. Caleb shoved his way roughly through them, looking for the additional supply of munitions he knew the Cabal must have squirrelled away somewhere in the room. By doing so he sent coats and hats flying every which way through the air, one of which landed neatly on top of Johnny's head as if it were predestined to arrive there. Johnny reached up to the offending object and discovered it to be a black worn cowboy hat much like the one his companion always wore.

	Johnny then felt something leather slap him in the face as yet another fabric was sent flying by Caleb's impertinent grasp. It too was a long leather trench-coat much like the one worn by his compatriot. Johnny decided that it would be best to provide Caleb with some space during this time, and started to explore the rest of the room on his own, discovering that he could now actually assemble an entire ensemble modelled on the one that was currently being so fashionably displayed by his strange friend. Feeling that it was high time for him to cast away his old rags and actually start wearing something that could keep out the cold, Johnny quickly changed while Caleb continued to shove his way through the now almost suffocating racks of apparel.

	When Caleb eventually returned from the fog of fabric his pockets were once again filled with gunpowder, either neatly packed into lead casings or safely contained in shotgun shells, with a few more extra surprises thrown in for good measure. When he finally did see Johnny again it was he that was in for a surprise, however. "Whoa!" Caleb exclaimed startled, initially disturbed by his follower's transformation. Upon actually recognizing who and what it was, his glowing red eyes narrowed and became suspicious. "Am I looking into a mirror, or did I just break one?" he inquired, the shorter form of Johnny now reminding him of the terrible mini apparitions of himself that sometimes spawned when he broke a mirror thanks to the evil machinations of one particular Cultist who was still adept enough in the dark arts to cast a spell over them.

	All of this flew over Johnny's head of course, not yet being familiar with the creations in question. "Did you find what you need?" he asked, the outfit suddenly giving him a strange and altogether unreasonable feeling of bravado. Caleb nodded, before reaching into one of his pockets.

	"I've got a present for ya!" he enthused, tossing a few more flares in his companion's direction. Johnny caught them with more flair than he thought he had in him. He hoped he would not get over confident. "Here, take this as well" Caleb added, handing a can to him. Inside were a multitude of baked beans long past their expiry date. It still seemed like a feast to him.

	"Don't you want some?" he asked, realizing that Caleb had not taken a can for himself. Caleb's eyes narrowed again.

	"No, my hunger comes from... somewhere else..." he answered in a way that made Johnny's skin crawl and his own eyes flash. Johnny decided not to probe the question any further. There were still some things about Caleb that he did not need to know.

Hamish Paul Wilson
June 15, 2014