This stupid huge black bull was starting to really annoy me. Beef Cake should have died almost 2 weeks ago when I trapped it inside a pizza furnace ovan and set it on fire. It should have died last week when I ran over it with a police car in Perth. And it definitely should have died in the old castle ruins in Rosyth yesterday. I topled an old ruin wall on it. I did feel slightly guilty for that, and now the Police were angry and after me, too. Apparently the local people did not take kindly to a kid ruining and vandalizing their old ancient ruins.

I was hoping the stupid bull would die now and stay dead. I had evaded the police and the bull for the night, but I think my luck was starting to run out. I made it to a loading dock. The train was supposed to be taking off in a minute. And I could hear the bellowing of the bull as the train started to whistle.

I ducked out from behind the stack of cargo and ran towards the train as it started to move. I ran and leapt, grabbing the ladder and climbed up onto the rough. I saw the cop cars come speeding into the train yard, but the train was moving. At least I'd have a few more minutes, an hour at most without cops on my tail. But I'm sure they would radio ahead to the next town. I guess towns and cities were a no from now on. Too many eyes. I'd have to stick to the country and hills. Which would make the bulls life a lot easier. Not too many places to hide in the wide open country.

I laid down on the rough if the train. And closed my eyes. I was exhausted. I got about a 10 minute cat nap. My eyes shot open as I heard the bull and the shaking of the bridge.

"You gotta be kidding me." I grumbled.

I picked my head up and saw the stupid Beef Brains thundering after the train. I laid down, hoping the train would speed up and we could out run it. No such luck. I was never that lucky. With a groan and a few muttered curses at the gods, I got up a s jumped off the train, landing lightly on the tracks. I glanced of my shoulder as the train speed away. The bull was about a quarter way across the bridge and I stood in the middle. The train was now long gone.

If I could figure out how to crack the bridge, I might be able to seperate myself from the monster. I had an odd feeling like I had done it before. Possibly with someone else's help. I frowned. I didn't remember how I did it, but there was no cracks in the bridge. But I felt a warm tingle in my chest- different then the weird magnetic pull I felt when I was following the old Roman road or when I was at the Roman statue in Elgin.

I pulled out both knives as my arms and hands grew hotter and more tingly. I didn't know what was happening, but I trust my insticts- they had always been right so far. I gripped each knife tighter. I brought them up, holding them above my head, I sent a silent prayer up to any of the gods, if anyone was listening.

As the bull charged closer, I saw the police running and men in black tactical outfights.

"Great. I have the swat team and bomb squade after me." I grumbled.

As the bull bellowed I screamed back. I couldn't let the mortal police distract me. This stupid bull needed to die. It stormed closer. I could now see the redness of its glowing evil eyes. The clouds broke apart for a brief moment, letting some bright sunshine down. I felt like I was struck by lightning. The intense burning that suddenly flowed through my veins was incredible. I felt power and strength surge through me. I slammed my knives down into the tracks. And instantly there was an explosion, and fire was everywhere. I heard the horrified bellowing moo from the bull as it disintegrated into smoke. Fire raged and the bridge groaned. I felt the tremers and cracks. Metal started to melt and give way, parts of the suspension started to crash into the Forth estuary. I backed up. I couldn't see the law enforcement or the bomb squad. But after this...they were absolutely going to be after me.

I spun on my heel as more of the bridge started to collapse into the water under us. And I sprinted as fast as I could away from the explosion. If I could get away, maybe I'd have a few more hours. Get to the other side of this bridge. Steel a car and then drive out if town to the country. From there I'd have to try find the Old Roman road.

🔆

The bull definitely should have died three days ago when I somehow exploded the Forth Bridge at Queensferry in the United Kingdom.

But no matter how many times I killed the Bull and watched it crumble to powder, it just kept re-forming like a huge evil dust bunny. I couldn't even seem to outrun the stupid thing.

I stand at the top of yet another hill in the middle of nowhere. My legs protested as I kept going, dragging my feet, down the old path of the Roman road. How long since I'd last killed it? Maybe two hours. It never seemed to stay dead longer than a few hours.

The past two weeks I'd hardly slept. I'd eaten whatever I could scrounge- vending machine gummi bears, I had snitches a few apples and baked pastries from a farmers market I had come across. But since I blew the bridge three days ago, I had kept to the country now, avoiding big towns and cities, easier to stay hidden from police. But harder to find food and shelter to hide.

I stumbled upon a farm house last night, and felt incredibly guilty, but my stomach got the better of me and I took the fresh baked bread the old lady had set out to cool. I had left some money - from the first time I stumbled into Elgin and they thought I was some street performer. I felt ashamed for stealing, but I hadn't eaten in 48 hours and I had been running for most of that time. My body needed something.

My clothes were torn, burned, and splattered with monster slime- the bull wasn't the only thing that had decided to try to stop me, other monsters had formed out of shadows and fog. The bull however, seemed to be the only one dumb enough to keep following me. All the other monsters would poof into dust and leave me alone.

I'd only survived this long because the beast couldn't seem to kill me either. Its horns didn't cut or pierce my skin. Its rather sharp teeth broke whenever it tried to bite me. I hadn't figured out how to explode anything again. But I didn't seem to have the energy for it. But I couldn't keep going much longer. Soon I'd collapse from exhaustion, and then- as hard as I was to kill, I was pretty sure the bull would find a way.

Where to run? The bull bellowed behind me. It had picked up my scent again. I had done everything I could think of to get ride of whatever scent it was following. I rolled in mud, waded through creeks and rivers. I had slept a few hours in a barn with some animals once, but this bull kept finding me.

I scanned my surroundings. Under different circumstances, I might've enjoyed the view. To my left, golden hills rolled inland, dotted with fields and sheep grazing, I spotted a small little sleepy village way off in the distance, and a few herds of cows. To my right, the highway heading across the country to the next big town. The motorists probably did not want their morning interrupted by a bull the size of an elephant and a filthy demigod fighting to the death.

I had been following the somewhat invisible Roman road as best as I could. I had stopped at a gas station a few days ago, it was a good place to ditch the stolen car. It was out of gas anyways. This place acted as a look out on the highway as well, a nice little picnic spot for travelers.

I had read on a sign near the look out, I was informed that this section of highway was called Dere Street or Deere Street. And it was a modern designation of the Roman military road which used to run north from Eboracum (York) and continuing into Scotland. Where I had started following the old Roman military road.

So here I was now, standing at the top of another random hill in the back country of The United Kingdom somewhere with something that looked like an old stone wall running along the crest. I had felt a pull this way the last few days. It had been progressively getting stronger, like a magnet. And now my internal radar was going off the charts. The burning in my chest was constant- though I wasn't sure if that was the anxiety and exhaustion or the pull of this old Roman road I had been following... on the advice of a bronze statue.

I was definitely losing it. I took advice from a whispered voice in my head, which I swore came from an old bronze statue in the middle of a city in Scotland more than 2 weeks ago.

I stood at the top, the wind whipped my tangled and dirty hair. The quiet little village looked inviting and cozy. A heavy sadness weiged on me. I felt like maybe I had a conversation about going to school and growing old with someone... probably Raph. At the rate I was going, I didn't think I'd be able to grow old in a quiet life with him. I'd probably be dead soon.

The wind changed. I caught the harsh cattle scent of angry Beef Cake. A hundred yards down the slope behind me, something rustled through the underbrush- snapping branches, crunching leaves, and the loud huffs and puffs of heavy breathing.

The bull came stampeding out of the bushes.

"How many times do I have to kill you for you to stay dead you stupid hamburger?!" I cried.

I had angry exhausted frustrated tears in my eyes. I didn't know if I could fend it off again. I could hardly lift my arms. Maybe it was time to just let it maul me until I died. I was so tired. I tipped my head back and screamed.

"Can anyone help?! You dumped me here! The lest you could do is help!"

Nothing. Nothing happened. Not even the wind changed.

"Ya, thanks for nothing!" I screamed up at the empty cloudy sky.

The bull charged. I turned on my heel and ran. Running down the hill I just about stumbled and fell. Standing on either side of the crumbling wall were two tall buff guys. Each dressed in bronze armour. One looked like he was dressed as a traditional Roman soldier with the sandals, Roman battle skirt and helmet. The other looked like he was wearing a World war 2 military outfit with a bronze brest plate and helmet on. I swear they weren't there a second ago when I looked down the path.

I blinked and shook my head. I definitely needed sleep because now there was a third man. He stood on top of the short wall. He was wearing a tight fitting olive green shirt and green camo pants, combat boots and a matching camo hat. Dog tags hung around his neck. As I ran towards them, I saw the huge man on top of the wall pull his aviator sunglasses down his nose and look me dead in the eye and then up to the bull charging behind me. He jammed his glasses back up onto his face and leapt off the wall. A long spire held in his hand. The ground shook as he landed. The other two men didn't move.

"Hey!" I yelled with what little breath I had. "Help!"

"It's behind you." One world war 2 guy called.

I wanted to slap the guy. Seriously? That was the help, it's behind me. Wow. Helpful. I had no idea it was behind me.

I dove to the side, I knew it was coming. I felt it's wet breath on my neck. I rolled a few times almost slamming I to the crumbling ruin if the wall. I came up on my knees, both knives in each hand. The bull veered off in the direction I rolled, completely ignoring the three huge military men at the bottom of the hill.

I had to shake my head trying to clear my exhausted fuzzy eyes. I couldn't see properly now. My vision had spots in it. My limbs burned and screamed at me in protest. My stomach felt like it was eating itself I was so hungry. I was panting hard, I was shaking from exhaustion and the need for food.

I struggled to my feet, as the bulls horns slashed at me. I spun out of the way, cutting one of them like butter with my silver knife and stabbed up into its chin with my bronze one. The bulls angry bellow was cut off. It went poof into dust again. I was left covered in gold monster dust.

Standing behind it, his spear with a bronze tip held in his hand like he also stabbed the beast, was the huge military general. He was chewing a huge wade of gum as he looked at me with interest.

"That's some skills you got, little flower." He said. His voice was rough deep and gravelly. Like he had spent his whole life yelling at new recruits in the cool British air.

"Survival." I coughed, some monster dust from my lungs, "It won't stay dead for long. 3 hours has been my max..."

"What?! How many times have you killed it?" He cried. He lowered his sunglasses again and his dark eyes looked me up and down, not in a creepy way, more of he was analyzing me and my skills with his Magor General Army eyes and knowledge.

"I ... I dunno." I glanced down at my arm. It was now covered with rings from the bull. Each time it poofed into dust, the nose ring was left behind. I saw it again, laying in the grass was another ring. I bent down and picked it up. When I stood up, I swayed, my vision went dark and I felt dizzy. I grabbed my head and stumbled sideways.

"You don't look so good, little Blossom."

"Whoa... Ya...don't - don't feel so good..."

I think my knees finally gave out because I felt something solid collide with them. I felt a huge hand on my shoulder.

"Help me...please." I whispered and my eyes rolled into my head and I was pulled into darkness.

🔆

Some cool info about the Roman road

The Old Roman Road/wall

Dere Street or Deere Street is a modern designation of a Roman road which ran north from Eboracum (York), crossing the Stanegate at Corbridge (Hadrian's Wall was crossed at the Portgate, just to the north) and continuing beyond into what is now Scotland, later at least as far as the Antonine Wall. It was the Romans' major route for communications and supplies to the north and to Scotland. Portions of its route are still followed by modern roads, including the A1(M) (south of the River Tees), the B6275 road through Piercebridge, where Dere Street crosses the River Tees, and the A68 north of Corbridge in Northumberland.