Chapter 2: Second life.
My eyes flutter open.
First thing I noticed was the discomfort. My bed wasn't the best but it surely wasn't this bad, why is it wet? And cold?
My mind begins to catch up, I felt exhausted beyond measure and bursting with energy simultaneously. Turning on my side, there's a squelchy sound. I stare at the substance for a few seconds, my brain trying and failing to process what I was looking at.
It took me a few more seconds to snap back into reality. It was mud. Mixed with blood. Lots of blood.
With the realization comes adrenaline. I bolt upright, ready to make a run for it. My lethargy forgotten as my mind kicks into overdrive.
"Calm yourself, boy! I mean you no harm." I turn towards the voice, it was old man Roy. He looked older than usual. More tired. Frail even. "What's your name?"
"You stabbed me!" I scream at him. Surprising myself with the outburst. I know I should be terrified of him, he could kill me easily as swatting a fly, but my anger overruled my trepidation. "You cock sucking, worm eating, ugly looking ape... " I dig up every cuss word I've heard, which was sadly still lacking polish --- cut me some slack, I'm just nine years old. "You killed me!"
"You don't sound dead to me, the dead usually don't talk this much." His nonchalance ticks me off.
I prepare to launch into another tirade.
The sound of a small bell tinkling draws my attention.
It was a girl. There's a small bell attached to her feet. Probably younger than me, not by much though. Maybe a year or two. She wore a white kimono, which was covered in mud from the waist down. Her hair white as snow, currently loosed and cascading down her small body in rivulets, big red eyes set in a delicate oval face, her nose is small. She reminds me of a pretty doll I saw once.
My anger forgotten, I take a gander about the place. It was a proper mess, the only thing less standing was the stone well about fifty paces from the destroyed hut.
"What happened? Who were all these people?"
He ignores my questions.
Something about seeing the little girl standing at ease within all this carnage helps relax my fraying nerves. That was when I remember I was indeed stabbed through the chest.
I prod and fuss at the wound but there was no pain. Not even a twinge. Roy watches me like a hawk, his spear rests by his side; I have no delusions about his ability to honor me with a swift and brutal end. But so far he hasn't.
"Catch." He tosses me an object, it lands just shy of my feet. I pick it up, it was a mirror. Not a big one, set inside a wooden frame. I angle the mirror to peer at the area he ran me through.
There was no wound. Not even a hint of a scar, my skin unblemished. But...
"How did that get there?" I say out loud. Eyeing the tattoo of a black and silver snake with blood red eyes like solid gems, coiled right above my heart.
"I'll explain everything, In time. But first... " He drawls, it was a lazy sound. "We need to dispose of the bodies, and make this place look, well... Less like a natural disaster swept through."
"Why would I help you?" I ask, knowing I didn't really have a choice. I needed answers. I was sure I was dead, now I'm alive...
My mind reels with the one thing that could explain it all; magic!
And I very well want a piece of that. He's my ticket to getting it.
He doesn't answer, just trudges to his feet and start gathering pieces of limbs, torsos and heads into a pile. I give the dead bodies a wide berth, clearing debris and detritus instead.
I don't know how long we toiled, but we worked in silence. It was like an unspoken agreement between us, I take care of the the broken pieces of his hut while he takes care of the bodies.
The soft tinkling of bells catches my attention. The little girl was standing besides me, holding a wooden doll that looks like it crawled through hell to get here.
"Hello there. My name is Heron, what's yours?" She just stares at me, not saying anything. It was eerie. Then I think maybe she's mute.
Is she old man Roy's child?
I start rambling, about my life and the village, the orphanage and my friends there. I feel a sudden pang at the mention of the orphanage, I'll be late for dinner. I hope Annabelle doesn't come looking for me.
Then I remember the bundle I was supposed to deliver. I make my way over to where I dropped it, the girl keeps pace with me, seeming to enjoy listening to me rant.
I find the bundle, untouched. "Here, Annabelle sent me to deliver this. That's what brought me here." I toss it to him.
He catches it without even looking. His eyes firmly on the little girl by my side. I can't tell if he's upset.
"Annabelle." Finally he pierces me with his gaze. "She's a nice girl. If I remember correctly, she's a steward at the orphanage, yes?" I nod.
He continues, while unwrapping the bundle. "We will be leaving this village soon, and I plan on taking you with me. There is nothing here for you, the world outside is vast. It is a dangerous one, full of perils and monsters. But it is also filled with beauty. And power." The last he says as he snaps his finger and the pile of mutilated bodies burst into blue flames. The unnatural fire eats through flesh and bones with ease, nothing but ashes was left behind in seconds.
I stare in awe.
The bundle was a small box. I could not see what's inside, and his expression gave nothing away.
"I will start preparing you for what's to come. Be here at first light tomorrow." He raises his hand to forestall whatever I have to say. "I will answer your questions, in time. No one, I do mean no one, is to hear of what happened today. You may leave. See you tomorrow." With that he motions to the girl then turns around and starts walking away.
I stare at him. A giddy feeling in my guts.
There a light touch on my left hand. It was the little girl. She places something in my hands and follows in his wake.
I stare after them until they disappear into the woods.
She left me a piece of ribbon from her kimono. That was when I noticed the ring on my index finger. It was made of iron.
A scarce material here, we don't have much in terms of metal. The one mine we have doesn't produce much. Hence the whole village was built using woods.
On my way back, I stop by the creek and wash. My garment was ruined, but it'll do for now.
The events of the day left me drained, I felt like I could sleep for years. I died today.
I felt alive. I am alive.
Magic is real!
It's not just a story you read in books.
I wish I could tell my friends about this. But oh well, I can keep a secret.
Lost in thought, I didn't see Matron Tess sitting by the door on a wooden rocking chair. Until she spoke. "You look a fright my child, where have you been?" She may be old, but her voice is still strong.
Looking at her I smile despite myself. Her hair has gone completely gray in recent years, her cane of oakwood held across her legs. Her garment was pristine, as always.
"Hello mother." I stride to give her a hug.
She wrinkles her nose, and I remember the state of my attire and stop short. Instead kissing her hands in greeting.
"You smell dreadful. Did you play in a pigsty?" She clucks her tongue.
"I fell." She laughs.
"Go take a bath. Annabelle has been worried, you should go see her afterwards. She kept some dinner for you." I thank her and head to the baths.
I shunt my dead clothes, relaxing in the tub. The water was hot but not scalding, I find it relaxing. I think about the crazy day I had and could barely believe it. Magic! Who would've thought?
After my bath I head to the kitchen and wolf down a plate of cold ham and cheese.
I find Annabelle sitting alone under an old oak tree out back. I join her, resting my head on her shoulder. We sit quietly for a while. It was dark out already, most of the kids already asleep in their bunks. Though I could hear Garrett and Brent arguing about the finer details of smoked ham and cheese.
"Can I ask you something?" I tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ears.
"Shoot."
"What was inside the bundle you had me deliver?" I ask. "It was for the girl, wasn't it?"
She smiles. "You saw her?" Now she looks at me, obviously excited. "Sweet's. And yes, they were for her. Nobody knows about her, he keeps her a secret. Speaking of, I'm surprised he let you anywhere near her." Her brows furrow. "What happened?"
"Well..." I drawl lazily, and fall silent.
She pinches my cheeks.
"She doesn't talk?" I inquire.
"No. Roy wouldn't say why?"
We fall into silence again. Then I blurt out. "Roy agreed to train me." She stares at me in shock.
"How did you manage that?" I shrug. Wondering the same thing. What happened to me today?
I didn't feel any different. Nothing obvious at any rate.
"Asked me to come by at first light tomorrow. I'm pretty excited." I wanted so badly to tell her about the magic, but I stay me tongue.
"Did he also happen to give you that ring you're wearing?" Only then I notice she's been staring at it.
I nod.
"Can I see it?" Her hand outstretched, palm out.
I try to take it off. It won't budge. Not even an inch. She notices my struggle and tries to help. We fuss at it for a long minute before finally giving up.
She examines it from my outstretched hand, turning it this way and that. "It is pretty, I wonder where he got it. Probably from the outworld." She lets out a heavy sigh and drops my hand. "I would love to see the outworld one day, maybe even explore the whole thing."
I almost tell her I'll be leaving with Roy then and there. She is my best friend here afterall. I keep quiet.
We sit there for a time. Talking about what we think the outworld is like.
I drift off to sleep, one thought on my mind.
Tomorrow, I start my second life.