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Short Stories Up:
"Shadow People" is a five part short story that is now completed! "Fred Wishaway" is now up! |
I leaned my head against the weeping willow tree. Our willow tree. It used to be ours anyway. Now, it’s nothing more than a memory for her. To Miriam, it’s from another world, and that world is fading.
Which means I am fading.
I can still vividly remember my first moments with her. She was so little then, and her huge green eyes were gazing at me imploringly. Two red pigtails were sticking up out of her head, and her freckled face was smudged with dirt.
“Are you Fred?” she whispered urgently.
“I-“
"Shhhhhh!”
I had been a kid then too, so I had listened to her, my eyes darting around for our unseen enemy. “I’m Fred.” I murmured as quietly as I could.
Not quietly enough.
I remember hearing a loud rustling in the trees near us, and a deep throaty growl. Her breath caught and she squeezed her eyes tightly shut. When she opened them again, a great silver sword was in her hands, and she was clad in armor from head to toe. Shoving her helmet visor up, she stared at me, fear in her eyes.
“Fred.” She said steadily. “I am the Warrior Princess and you got here just in time. There’s a ferocious beast coming towards us right now at this very single minute, and he plans to kill my people who live just over there.” She had
gestured vaguely into the little woods behind us. “My dad the king is a lousy ruler, and my mom died from the great sickness that the evil dragons have spread. I’ve killed almost all of them with my own bare hands” Here she showed me her tiny little fingers. “But the chief of the dragons is still here and he wants to eat me. You can save me Fred, but you have to be brave, okay? He can breathe fire, so you have to avoid the front of him. I’ll give you a sword too, but what I want you to do is climb up this willow tree and then when he comes stomping to get me, jump on his back and slice his head off!” she twirled
around with her sword, growling menacingly. I ducked down as the blade came my way, wondering what in the world I had gotten myself into. “Now go warrior, go!” she commanded me.
“I need a sword, Warrior Princess.” I pointed out.
She smacked her forehead in exasperation. “Oh! Duh. Wait just a sec.” she squeezed her eyes shut again, and a white sword was heavy in my hands. “Okay, now go!”
I saluted, figuring that was the right thing to do, and scaled up the tree, hiding myself in the green branches. Keeping my eyes focused in the area where I had last heard the dragon, I poised for a jump. The beast didn’t keep me waiting long, and the horrible thing came marching towards me, foaming at the mouth.
It was black, green, and ugly orange. The dragon was impossibly big, and almost every part of his back was covered in spikes, except for a tiny spot right behind his neck.
“That’s where she wants me to jump?” I thought incredulously. Shaking my head, I was about to climb back down, when she let out a terrified scream. I wheeled back up and watched in horror as the great dragon reared his head and smoke poured out of his mouth. With not a minute to lose, I sprang down from my branch, staring at the spot where I needed to land. With a slight “oof”, I made the jump perfectly, and I swung my white sword back and then brought it violently down, cleaving the monster’s head off in one clean swipe.
I leapt off him, and ran to where the girl stood watching, a crazy grin on her face.
“Ar-Are you okay?” I panted.
“That. Was. Awesome!” she shouted, doing some weird little jig. “Look at all the guts!”
I just looked at her, wondering what on this earth was possessing her to be so happy when we had both nearly died trying to get rid of that thing.
“Oh, I love my adventures!” she chuckled, watching the dragons headless body twitch a little. Then she looked at me, a smile still on her face. “You saved me Fred! I knew you would. You deserve to be knighted I think. Kneel down.” She said abruptly, shoving me to the ground. “Okay, let me think.” She screwed her face up tightly and span in a circle, her sword still clanging wildly around. “Oh I know!” she cried, grabbing her sword up and dangerously jabbing it at me. “I dub thee Sir Fred Wishaway. Now get up and follow me.” She added unceremoniously.
I meekly trotted after her as she marched determinedly towards the woods.
“Um, Warrior Princess?”
She stared at me like I was nuts. “Who?”
“You told me you were a princess-“
“Oh! I was, but now I’m a peasant. My name is Miriam. I mean that’s my real name, and I like it most days, but there are some where I wanna be a Cassandra or something. Here we are!” she turned around and grabbed my shoulders. “Now listen up Fred Wishaway! I’m about to show you my people! You have to be nice because you’re my main person, and I want them to like you, so behave!”
I nodded rapidly, and let her tug me into the trees.
All sorts of sights and sounds met me head on. There were houses and shops all over the place. Hundreds of people, most of them kids my age, were running around yelling and laughing. All of them grinned at Miriam and nodded to me, as they jogged past.
“C’mon Fred. I’ll show you your house.” Miriam had yelled over her shoulder. “Welcome to your new home.”
I stare at the branch where I had jumped from to save my friend from a dragon so long ago. It had seemed to grow smaller as the years had passed, and now if I stood tall, I could touch the branch. At least the tree is still here. Everything else, all the town, all the people, all my friends, my home… they were gone. Only Miriam is left, and even she seems to have forgotten me.
I don’t know why I haven’t disappeared yet. I know that someday I will, and I almost welcome it, because my world is gone. If I ever had Miriam back, I would be okay, but she grew up, and she forgot that I grew up along with her.
She forgot Fred Wishaway.
It happened gradually. The first two years with Miriam were brimming with adventures and walks, and I lived in the town of her people. I knew them all so well. There were dances and fairs and happy things. Sometimes, we would be called to arms by Miriam when she warned us that an enemy was coming. We got to where we enjoyed the fights because it made our life exciting. It was always something new and exciting when Miriam was involved.
Then one day she came running up to me, anger flashing in her eyes. “Fred!” she grumbled, stomping her foot. “They’re making me go! I knew they would try, but now they’re forcing me.”
“What’s happening? Do I need to go fix it?” I asked, starting for my sword.
She waved her hand around in disdain. “You can’t fix everything Fred. Not this time.” She sighed and rummaged through my kitchen cupboards. “The thing is, they decided that they’re going to send me away.”
I gaped at her. “What?”
She scowled and grabbed my snack jar. “Yeah. To some lady school where you wear dresses all day. It’s dumb.” She added as she stuffed a cookie in her mouth.
“You can stay here with me.” I offered.
“No.” she said sadly. “I can’t. I don’t want mom and dad finding my town. They already think I’m…”
“You’re what?”
She grimaced. “They already think I’m sort of crazy. I stopped telling them about our adventures Fred. They would get this weird look on their faces, and I’m like one thousand percent sure that’s why they’re sending me away.” She tossed the
jar back in my cabinets and flopped down on the couch beside me. “I’m eleven now, which means you’re eleven. We’re going to be grown-ups soon you know.”
I nodded understandingly. “Yeah.”
She sniffed. “I’m leaving tomorrow Fred, and you won’t see me until the summertime. Since you are nearly a grown up, I’m going to put you in charge of my people. There will always be food, but giants will attack in the spring, so you have to
be ready, okay?’
“Okay.”
She stood back up, and brushed her hands on her jeans. “Bye Fred. I’ll see you soon.”
I nodded and watched from the window as she ran away and out of the woods. I turned away thoughtfully, wondering why I felt so empty now that my friend was gone.
Miriam had been right about the giants. They did attack us, but we won as we always did. As spring fell away, we had all eagerly awaited her return. We planned a great the celebration for the day summer began, but she wasn’t there, nor the next day. Every day we watched, longing for her to come back, and eventually, towards the end of the season, she
did.
She looked different. A lot different. She was taller for one thing, and her face was calmer. She didn’t have that crazy twinkle in her eyes anymore or that wide smile. Her hair wasn’t sticking up everywhere, and her eyes were cast down.
“Miriam?” I asked quietly, not sure what I was seeing.
She glanced up at me. “Hi Fred.” She whispered.
I looked over at my shoulder at the others. They had stopped cheering and they were silent, standing with their hands in their pockets staring at Miriam.
“I- hi.” I answered scratching my head. “You’re back!” I added, trying for a smile.
She just stared down at her feet.
“Miriam, what’s wrong?” I asked leaning closer so the others won’t hear.
Miriam bit her lip and looked sadly at me. “Please send them back into the woods, Fred. I need to talk to you.”
My forehead wrinkled in confusion, but I did as she asked. The people whispered amongst each other as the trudged slowly back to their homes.
“Let’s go to the willow tree.” She muttered, taking my hand.
It would have felt like old times, with her tugging me along, if it weren’t for the heavy sense of foreboding that seemed to follow us.
The willow tree stood just as steady as it had always been, with the thick moss providing seats, and a little creek rushing along beside it.
Miriam glanced around carefully, and then kicked off her shoes with a sigh of relief. She studied the water for a moment, then shrugged, and flopped down dipping her feet in the cool stream.
Some of the weight eased off of me because this was a little of the old Miriam. Just the quieter version.
She glanced up at me, and patted a spot beside her. “Come and sit with me. We need to talk about… things.”
I complied and sat down along with her, and swished my feet through the water too.
She studied her hands quietly for a minute and then took a deep breath. “Fred… Fred, people think I’m… not normal. It’s not just my parents either. It’s everyone I talk too. All the girls at that school, all the teachers… they made me go see a
doctor for people who aren’t right in the head.”
“Miriam! What? Are you okay?” I demanded, gripping her shoulders.
She smiled, and gently put my hand back at my side. “Yes, I’m all right. I really am!” she laughed a little at the look on my face. “I just wonder…”
“Yeah?”
She looked me in the eye. “I wonder if maybe I am crazy.”
“No you’re not!”
“No listen to me Fred! Listen!” she rubbed her forehead miserably. “When people see me talking to you, they don’t see you. They see a girl laughing and saying things to herself. They don’t see anyone else! They don’t know you’re here beside me. When I was little I could get away with it. I could have friends that I only I could see, but now...” she sighed tiredly. “Now, I’m supposed to be more… grown up. I’m supposed to… I have to give up on you and all my people. I can’t be with you anymore.”
I stared at her angrily, wondering if I should say exactly what I thought about what she had just told me. “So you’re going to leave the people behind again. You’re going to forget me. We’re your friends. Not the people who say you
don’t know what’s going on in the world around you. It’s okay to have us. It’s okay to be with us. It’s okay for you to have adventures because you are not one of the boring people. You have an exciting life with us. You would give
all that up just to please people who think you’re insane?”
She rubbed her arm anxiously and looked guiltily at me. “I don’t want people to think I’m… I don’t want to be an outcast.”
I stood up and looked at the willow thoughtfully. “Weird is okay.” I quietly said.
“Not in the real world.”
“Don’t give up on us. Not yet. One more summer with us.”
She shakes her head. “No Fred. I have to leave tomorrow.”
I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. “Then why did you come? Just to disappoint us? We have been waiting for you all year and you’re just going to go again.”
Miriam’s green eyes started to shine with tears and she got to her feet slowly. “Fred I’m sorry. I just… I couldn’t go without saying goodbye to you… and to warn you. Your friends, I mean, our friends… they won’t last much longer.”
“You’re going to take them away from me?” I whispered in disbelief.
Tears started to stream down her cheeks. “Haven’t you seen that they have started to fade a little? That they aren’t the same? I don’t remember most of their names or where they live, and soon I will forget all of them. You’ll wake up one day,
and they won’t be there. You would be gone too but… I can’t forget you and everything we did together. How can I forget my best friend?”
I shook my head, not believing her, not wanting to believe her. My mouth was dry and as I turned away from her tear stained face, overwhelming sadness came over me, and then I ran for it. I ran from her. I ran from our past, and I ran from our present. I didn’t know where I was going but I just knew I couldn’t be near Miriam. She just wasn’t the fiery girl I had known for three whole years. She was weak and sad, and acted like she had nothing left, and maybe she didn’t. She had let her real-life giants beat her, and there was nothing I could do.
Miriam the Warrior Princess was gone.
I shuddered when the memories of the past three years came flooding through me. My home, my people, they faded slowly away. One by one, my friends disappeared. The shops were gone. The homes were no more. Those who were left,
walked with their eyes cast down, their faces gray. Gone were the children I had known to laugh and play. The warriors who had fought by my side against armies and beats were no more, and in their place there was… nothing.
Miriam had been right. One morning I had woken up and everything I had known and loved was just gone. There was nothing, nothing left for me, but I still stayed right where I was. I built a small little cabin under the trees, and I lived quietly and alone. All I had was the trees and the birds to keep me company. I don’t think I even spoke a word for months on end. Who was there to speak to?
My days got longer and darker. I grew pale and thin, no matter how much I ate or slept. It got to a point where I wouldn’t look into my reflection because I was afraid the mirror would be empty. And yet, at the same time, I usually fell asleep wishing on a star that I wouldn’t wake up. That I would just stop being. Because who wants to live like this? Who wants this sort of life?
I shook my head, and glanced to the darkening sky with a scowl. Night was creeping up, and I needed to build campfire. I shoved away from our willow tree with unneeded force. I trudged back towards the woods, hoodie thrown over my head,
and hands deep in my pocket.
My campfire had died down, and even though I fought it, I welcomed the uneasy rest granted to me, fully expecting nightmares and tossing and turning, but this time, I slept deeply and dreamlessly. I rested better than I’d ever been able to
since Miriam left, and it was strange. Then… something happened.
I’ve always had good reflexes, and they had saved mine and Miriam’s life countless times, so when I woke up in a different world, my body immediately tensed and my eyes were alert. The trees were not the same, and the ground was smoother then what I had been sleeping on. Even the darkness and the feel of the air around me was different. I think it was all the unfamiliarity that had woken me.
I tried to steady my heavy breathing as I slowly sat up, feeling much more alive than I had in three years. I looked around me at the sky, at the forest, listening for anything that I could use to help me figure out what was going on.
Rustle. Rustle. Rustle.
I licked my lips, unwillingly letting my mind travel back to the first dragon I had defeated with Miriam. He’d made the grass move like that as he had moved to attack, but this noise was smaller and gentler. Now that I was used to it, I realized that it had to be a human taking a night walk. I stood calmly, knowing I had no need to hide since no one could ever see me.
Whoever it was came closer, but she was whispering to herself. Sad, crazy whisperings mingled with crying. As she stepped into view, my mouth fell open.
“Miriam!” I hissed.
She walked straight pass me, not noticing, but I heard a catch in her whispers.
“Miriam!” I called again in a louder voice.
She stopped and looked back and into my eyes, something I had longed for once the day she’d said goodbye.
Her once vibrant green eyes had paled, and she was small and frail. Her skin was white and her face sallow. Her hair was terribly thin and her hands kept working nervously.
“No.” she sighed “Oh no.”
I stepped towards her hesitantly. “Miriam? Miriam, it’s me It’s Fred. Fred Wishaway.”
She shook her head wildly. “They’ll lock me up again. No, go away. You can’t be here.” Her hands started to shake violently and her eyes rolled back in her head, and with a shout I dived for her as her knees buckled beneath her.
“Oh Miriam.” I whispered as she went limp in my arms. “What have they done to you?”
I took off my long cloak and wrapped her in it, wishing she would stop trembling. I sat back against a tree holding my best friend close my eyes never leaving her face.
After a long hour, just when the sun was coming up, she woke slowly up and stared into my eyes.
“I- what in the world? Fred?” She murmured reaching up to touch my face.
I smiled tiredly at her. “Hey.”
She managed a weak grin. “Hey there.” She glanced around us, her brow furrowing. “What are we doing out in the woods Fred? How are you even here?”
I tipped my head in confusion. “You don’t remember?”
“Um, no?”
I grimaced, not wanting to tell her what she had been like the night before. “You… I don’t know how I’m here actually. I fell asleep and woke up here and then I-“ I stopped short.
“You can tell me.” She assured me quietly.
“I saw you. And you were…”
“Acting like a mad woman?”
“I- yeah.”
She rubbed her forehead in exhaustion, and sat up slipping out of my arms. “My nightmares happen a lot now, but I’ve never slept walk. The counselor said that this could happen. It’s been a long illness.”
I stared at her. “You’re sick?”
She gave me a comforting but sad look. “Not in the way you’re thinking, but yes. I haven’t been doing very well.”
“What happened?”
She opened her mouth to speak and then shut it again. “We need to get back to the school.”
“The boarding school? You still have to be there?”
She smiled a sad little smile. “Yes Fred. We have a lot to talk about.”
I walked after her through the sterile white hallways, with the morning sunlight only just beginning to peek in. There were numbered doors on each side of the corridor, some decorated with cards from home, and others depressingly bare.
Miriam glanced back at me a little apprehensively, as if she knew all the thoughts that were storming through my head.
What happened to her?
Why is she here?
Why am I here?
We reached the very end and a sad feeling grew inside me as I realized her door was one of the bare ones. I reached for the door knob slowly, but she stopped me with her hand.
“No, not yet.” She murmured. “Fred, my room may seem a little strange. I am still bonkers after all.” She added with a humorless smile.
“Don’t say things like that.” I whispered.
“I’m sorry…” she entwined her fingers with mine, and reached for the door knob. “We’ll do this together, okay?”
I squeezed her hand, and nodded, all sorts of emotions raging inside me. She turned the cold handle, and we stepped
inside.
Though the door had been bare, her room was a different story all together. A huge window with yellow drapes hung at the end, a comfortable window seat under it. It faced the sunrise, and so golden light came dancing in, illuminating her walls.
Her walls.
They were covered in some of the most beautiful paintings I had ever seen. Even from where I stood in the middle of the room, the workmanship seemed to thrive and somehow live.
“Step closer to them.” Miriam told me softly.
I obeyed her cautiously, coming hesitantly forward. You couldn’t even tell what color her walls were, there were so many paintings. As I studied them, I realized that there weren’t only pieces of artwork, but also several pieces of notebook paper, some clipped together into thick bundles. Tiny writing covered their surfaces, and I could see my name written on almost all of the pieces. And those paintings… each one was familiar to me, not because I had seen them before, but because I had lived out the scenes committed to each canvas.
“It’s us.” I whispered sadly, but a smile on my lips.
“Yes.”
“The dragons… the people… everyone we were with.” I looked to her, watching as her huge green eyes filled with tears. “But… I thought… I thought you forgot them?”
She bit her lip, and looked down at her feet as a single tear traced its way down her cheek. “I did. Once. But then…” she sighed. “Come and sit with me by the window. I’ll tell you as much as I can.”
Crossing over, I sat, and looked to her expectantly.
She took a deep breath, and then she began to speak quietly. “They say I have a wild imagination. One that can get away with me to easily. They said it was my escape, the world I live in with you, and that escape wasn’t healthy. When I was little, it was normal and cute for me to talk about my friends that I made in the woods. I thought that since you and all our people were so real and vivid to me, then… then everyone else could understand that you exist. I was wrong, because as I grew older, I started getting strange looks whenever I talked about our quests and adventures. People thought I was weird. My parents especially, but you knew all of that already.”
She sighed again, and worked her hands together nervously. “Oh Fred… I never talked about it with you when I was younger, because I just didn’t want to think about it, but my parents were always fighting and tearing at each other’s throats. I don’t have one memory of them getting along. So… maybe the doctors are right. Maybe I did use our world as an escape. Anyway, my parents got divorced when I was twelve and that tore me up inside. Somehow I blamed myself for all of it.
“I lived with my mother after that and she’s… undyingly practical. She told me I had to stop being in such a dream state all the time, and that a kid my age should be living in the real world. That was the day I said goodbye to you, because she had decided to send me to this boarding school.” She stared into my eyes. “Fred, I didn’t want to hurt you, but I know I did. I’m so sorry.”
I took her hand back into mine and tried for a smile. “Well, I’m here now, but why are you having to see doctors?”
Her eyes dimmed even more, and she squeezed my hand again. “Depression. I would have spells where I’d just start mumbling and rocking back and forth. Mom… she couldn’t handle it. She never contacts me anymore or even sends me birthday cards, and Dad I haven’t heard from since the divorce. The only one in my family who cares is my aunt. She’s been visiting and calling me, and she encouraged me to remember my people. She’s the one who convinced me that it was all right for me to remember my imaginary friends from when I was still a little kid.”
“But what about me?”
She laughed. “I never forgot you Fred. I never will, but the others I did forget.”
“Then, why aren’t they back?”
She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “I haven’t wished them back. They’re only a memory, but you have always been real.”
I had mixed feelings at that particular statement. “Do I have to go away again?”
Miriam grew thoughtful, and turned her gaze to the view of the morning. After several minutes of silence, she said, “No… no. I think I need you here.”
“Why?”
“I need you to help heal me. I think you’re the answer I’ve been waiting for.”
I did stay. I stayed for several weeks, watching over Miriam at night, and spending time with her in the day. It wasn’t like how it used to be, fighting dragons all the time, and great feasts in the evening. No, it was a quieter sort of adventure. I read with her, and watched as she made blank sheets of paper come to life. She began to laugh a little more each day, and that old wild twinkle started to shine out of her eyes again. She told me the counselor was astounded at her progress, and that she was too.
But I wasn’t. I knew my Miriam, and I knew that who she really was, was in there someplace. I knew she was strong enough to fight her way out, because she had that fighting spirit that I’d always loved.
It was the old sort of love, the one that always exists between two comrades except this was stronger. It was a refreshed sense of friendship and loyalty. Something that made me always want to be with her.
There were times that I hated that feeling because I knew there would come a time where we would have to say goodbye, but right then, in those moments, I had her. We were together again, and when I was listening to her, I could imagine we’d never be apart.
Deep down, I knew I was wrong.
I knew when I woke up, that the day had arrived. It just felt different, like there was something weighing me down. Miriam, on the other hand, was as bright and happy as she usually was nowadays, and when she went off to her appointment, I knew something was going to happen.
I was right.
She came bursting in the room, waving a pink slip of paper around exuberantly.
“Fred! FRED!” she shouted gleefully. “You’ll never guess! Guess! Oh, you won’t, so I’ll just tell you.” She grabbed my hand and tugged me after her out into the courtyard of the school. We sat down on a stone bench under a… a willow
tree, and she began to talk again in her old rapid way. “Fred, he said I’m clear! That I’m okay now! Oh and not only that, but he personally delivered a letter from my aunt saying she’s officially adopted me! She says that I have a home with her where I can just be me. I can be who I am and have a place to go home to every night. A home.”
I was trying to be happy for her sake, I really was. If it hadn’t been for the fact that I knew what words had to be said, I would’ve been laughing and crying right along with her.
“I’ll go to a private school there and I want to be a writer and an artist and make the world a better place and maybe even fund a charity called The Imagination Foundation and-” she stopped short and stared at me. “Fred?”
I realized I was scowling at my feet, lost in my thoughts. “Oh, I’m sorry.” I said quickly. “I’m listening.”
“No you weren’t. Don’t you lie to me Fred, I know you. What is it?”
I hesitated, not wanting to say it. “It’s just… Miriam, you’re growing up. No, don’t deny it, you are! You’re not a little girl anymore, and… Miriam, I think you know what I’m trying to say.”
She shook her head stubbornly. “No, no I don’t want to hear it. No.”
I made her look me in the eye. “Miriam, after this, all I will do is hold you back. There are real people-“
“You’re real!”
“Only to you!” I took a shaking breath. “Miriam… Miriam, I want you to live your life out to its fullest potential. I want you to make friends and someday I want you to be able to…” I licked my lips. “To get married, and have kids, and a home… you can’t do that all with me. You know I’m right!”
“Fred, why are you doing this?” she demanded, tears already in her eyes.
“Because I love you! You’re my best friend! Do you think I want to say this? Do you think I want to go? I always want to be by your side Miriam, but I just can’t.”
Tears were falling freely down her face, and she choked out “There’s no way I can do what you want me to do.”
“Miriam, I don’t think you want me to go back to being just alone with only memories for company.”
“But you could stay with me!”
I took her by the shoulders. “No, I couldn’t. That’s the point.” I leaned towards her, my eyes begging her to do what I was about to ask. “Miriam, you have to wish me away. I need to become a memory.”
She shook her head, crying, and rested her forehead against mine. “Oh Fred…” she whispered.
I took her in my arms and tried to comfort her one last time, and at that moment, I couldn’t help hoping I would always have a heart to keep her in. “Listen to me. I will never forget that you are Miriam the Warrior Princess. Whether I be non-existent, or gone in another world when you wish me away, I will never, ever forget you. You were my best friend, my partner, the soldier fighting by my side, and the one who I will never regret spending most of the life I had here with. I will not forget the way you laugh or the way you cry. I will not forget your voice or your face. I will remember every single day we
spent together and every moment that made us stronger, and I will always, always, always be wanting the very best for you.” I tried to ignore the fact that my voice was thick with raw emotion, and that tears were trickling out of my eyes. “Please Miriam.” I whispered.
She sighed, and very quietly whispered. “I- I know you’re right. Just let me… let me tell you that you made my life... worth it.” she entwined her fingers with mine and murmured softly. “Goodbye Fred.”
And as everything is fading, I keep my eyes on her, hoping she’ll never, ever forget.
A red headed woman with huge green eyes, kneeled down to kiss the forehead of a little girl who could only be her daughter. The little one reached up to hug her and pleaded loudly for just one more bedtime story.
With a loving smile, the woman sat down and smoothed the bed covers around her little girl, obviously thinking for a moment. Then, with a bittersweet look in her eyes, she said;
“Once I knew a boy named Fred Wishaway…”
Which means I am fading.
I can still vividly remember my first moments with her. She was so little then, and her huge green eyes were gazing at me imploringly. Two red pigtails were sticking up out of her head, and her freckled face was smudged with dirt.
“Are you Fred?” she whispered urgently.
“I-“
"Shhhhhh!”
I had been a kid then too, so I had listened to her, my eyes darting around for our unseen enemy. “I’m Fred.” I murmured as quietly as I could.
Not quietly enough.
I remember hearing a loud rustling in the trees near us, and a deep throaty growl. Her breath caught and she squeezed her eyes tightly shut. When she opened them again, a great silver sword was in her hands, and she was clad in armor from head to toe. Shoving her helmet visor up, she stared at me, fear in her eyes.
“Fred.” She said steadily. “I am the Warrior Princess and you got here just in time. There’s a ferocious beast coming towards us right now at this very single minute, and he plans to kill my people who live just over there.” She had
gestured vaguely into the little woods behind us. “My dad the king is a lousy ruler, and my mom died from the great sickness that the evil dragons have spread. I’ve killed almost all of them with my own bare hands” Here she showed me her tiny little fingers. “But the chief of the dragons is still here and he wants to eat me. You can save me Fred, but you have to be brave, okay? He can breathe fire, so you have to avoid the front of him. I’ll give you a sword too, but what I want you to do is climb up this willow tree and then when he comes stomping to get me, jump on his back and slice his head off!” she twirled
around with her sword, growling menacingly. I ducked down as the blade came my way, wondering what in the world I had gotten myself into. “Now go warrior, go!” she commanded me.
“I need a sword, Warrior Princess.” I pointed out.
She smacked her forehead in exasperation. “Oh! Duh. Wait just a sec.” she squeezed her eyes shut again, and a white sword was heavy in my hands. “Okay, now go!”
I saluted, figuring that was the right thing to do, and scaled up the tree, hiding myself in the green branches. Keeping my eyes focused in the area where I had last heard the dragon, I poised for a jump. The beast didn’t keep me waiting long, and the horrible thing came marching towards me, foaming at the mouth.
It was black, green, and ugly orange. The dragon was impossibly big, and almost every part of his back was covered in spikes, except for a tiny spot right behind his neck.
“That’s where she wants me to jump?” I thought incredulously. Shaking my head, I was about to climb back down, when she let out a terrified scream. I wheeled back up and watched in horror as the great dragon reared his head and smoke poured out of his mouth. With not a minute to lose, I sprang down from my branch, staring at the spot where I needed to land. With a slight “oof”, I made the jump perfectly, and I swung my white sword back and then brought it violently down, cleaving the monster’s head off in one clean swipe.
I leapt off him, and ran to where the girl stood watching, a crazy grin on her face.
“Ar-Are you okay?” I panted.
“That. Was. Awesome!” she shouted, doing some weird little jig. “Look at all the guts!”
I just looked at her, wondering what on this earth was possessing her to be so happy when we had both nearly died trying to get rid of that thing.
“Oh, I love my adventures!” she chuckled, watching the dragons headless body twitch a little. Then she looked at me, a smile still on her face. “You saved me Fred! I knew you would. You deserve to be knighted I think. Kneel down.” She said abruptly, shoving me to the ground. “Okay, let me think.” She screwed her face up tightly and span in a circle, her sword still clanging wildly around. “Oh I know!” she cried, grabbing her sword up and dangerously jabbing it at me. “I dub thee Sir Fred Wishaway. Now get up and follow me.” She added unceremoniously.
I meekly trotted after her as she marched determinedly towards the woods.
“Um, Warrior Princess?”
She stared at me like I was nuts. “Who?”
“You told me you were a princess-“
“Oh! I was, but now I’m a peasant. My name is Miriam. I mean that’s my real name, and I like it most days, but there are some where I wanna be a Cassandra or something. Here we are!” she turned around and grabbed my shoulders. “Now listen up Fred Wishaway! I’m about to show you my people! You have to be nice because you’re my main person, and I want them to like you, so behave!”
I nodded rapidly, and let her tug me into the trees.
All sorts of sights and sounds met me head on. There were houses and shops all over the place. Hundreds of people, most of them kids my age, were running around yelling and laughing. All of them grinned at Miriam and nodded to me, as they jogged past.
“C’mon Fred. I’ll show you your house.” Miriam had yelled over her shoulder. “Welcome to your new home.”
I stare at the branch where I had jumped from to save my friend from a dragon so long ago. It had seemed to grow smaller as the years had passed, and now if I stood tall, I could touch the branch. At least the tree is still here. Everything else, all the town, all the people, all my friends, my home… they were gone. Only Miriam is left, and even she seems to have forgotten me.
I don’t know why I haven’t disappeared yet. I know that someday I will, and I almost welcome it, because my world is gone. If I ever had Miriam back, I would be okay, but she grew up, and she forgot that I grew up along with her.
She forgot Fred Wishaway.
It happened gradually. The first two years with Miriam were brimming with adventures and walks, and I lived in the town of her people. I knew them all so well. There were dances and fairs and happy things. Sometimes, we would be called to arms by Miriam when she warned us that an enemy was coming. We got to where we enjoyed the fights because it made our life exciting. It was always something new and exciting when Miriam was involved.
Then one day she came running up to me, anger flashing in her eyes. “Fred!” she grumbled, stomping her foot. “They’re making me go! I knew they would try, but now they’re forcing me.”
“What’s happening? Do I need to go fix it?” I asked, starting for my sword.
She waved her hand around in disdain. “You can’t fix everything Fred. Not this time.” She sighed and rummaged through my kitchen cupboards. “The thing is, they decided that they’re going to send me away.”
I gaped at her. “What?”
She scowled and grabbed my snack jar. “Yeah. To some lady school where you wear dresses all day. It’s dumb.” She added as she stuffed a cookie in her mouth.
“You can stay here with me.” I offered.
“No.” she said sadly. “I can’t. I don’t want mom and dad finding my town. They already think I’m…”
“You’re what?”
She grimaced. “They already think I’m sort of crazy. I stopped telling them about our adventures Fred. They would get this weird look on their faces, and I’m like one thousand percent sure that’s why they’re sending me away.” She tossed the
jar back in my cabinets and flopped down on the couch beside me. “I’m eleven now, which means you’re eleven. We’re going to be grown-ups soon you know.”
I nodded understandingly. “Yeah.”
She sniffed. “I’m leaving tomorrow Fred, and you won’t see me until the summertime. Since you are nearly a grown up, I’m going to put you in charge of my people. There will always be food, but giants will attack in the spring, so you have to
be ready, okay?’
“Okay.”
She stood back up, and brushed her hands on her jeans. “Bye Fred. I’ll see you soon.”
I nodded and watched from the window as she ran away and out of the woods. I turned away thoughtfully, wondering why I felt so empty now that my friend was gone.
Miriam had been right about the giants. They did attack us, but we won as we always did. As spring fell away, we had all eagerly awaited her return. We planned a great the celebration for the day summer began, but she wasn’t there, nor the next day. Every day we watched, longing for her to come back, and eventually, towards the end of the season, she
did.
She looked different. A lot different. She was taller for one thing, and her face was calmer. She didn’t have that crazy twinkle in her eyes anymore or that wide smile. Her hair wasn’t sticking up everywhere, and her eyes were cast down.
“Miriam?” I asked quietly, not sure what I was seeing.
She glanced up at me. “Hi Fred.” She whispered.
I looked over at my shoulder at the others. They had stopped cheering and they were silent, standing with their hands in their pockets staring at Miriam.
“I- hi.” I answered scratching my head. “You’re back!” I added, trying for a smile.
She just stared down at her feet.
“Miriam, what’s wrong?” I asked leaning closer so the others won’t hear.
Miriam bit her lip and looked sadly at me. “Please send them back into the woods, Fred. I need to talk to you.”
My forehead wrinkled in confusion, but I did as she asked. The people whispered amongst each other as the trudged slowly back to their homes.
“Let’s go to the willow tree.” She muttered, taking my hand.
It would have felt like old times, with her tugging me along, if it weren’t for the heavy sense of foreboding that seemed to follow us.
The willow tree stood just as steady as it had always been, with the thick moss providing seats, and a little creek rushing along beside it.
Miriam glanced around carefully, and then kicked off her shoes with a sigh of relief. She studied the water for a moment, then shrugged, and flopped down dipping her feet in the cool stream.
Some of the weight eased off of me because this was a little of the old Miriam. Just the quieter version.
She glanced up at me, and patted a spot beside her. “Come and sit with me. We need to talk about… things.”
I complied and sat down along with her, and swished my feet through the water too.
She studied her hands quietly for a minute and then took a deep breath. “Fred… Fred, people think I’m… not normal. It’s not just my parents either. It’s everyone I talk too. All the girls at that school, all the teachers… they made me go see a
doctor for people who aren’t right in the head.”
“Miriam! What? Are you okay?” I demanded, gripping her shoulders.
She smiled, and gently put my hand back at my side. “Yes, I’m all right. I really am!” she laughed a little at the look on my face. “I just wonder…”
“Yeah?”
She looked me in the eye. “I wonder if maybe I am crazy.”
“No you’re not!”
“No listen to me Fred! Listen!” she rubbed her forehead miserably. “When people see me talking to you, they don’t see you. They see a girl laughing and saying things to herself. They don’t see anyone else! They don’t know you’re here beside me. When I was little I could get away with it. I could have friends that I only I could see, but now...” she sighed tiredly. “Now, I’m supposed to be more… grown up. I’m supposed to… I have to give up on you and all my people. I can’t be with you anymore.”
I stared at her angrily, wondering if I should say exactly what I thought about what she had just told me. “So you’re going to leave the people behind again. You’re going to forget me. We’re your friends. Not the people who say you
don’t know what’s going on in the world around you. It’s okay to have us. It’s okay to be with us. It’s okay for you to have adventures because you are not one of the boring people. You have an exciting life with us. You would give
all that up just to please people who think you’re insane?”
She rubbed her arm anxiously and looked guiltily at me. “I don’t want people to think I’m… I don’t want to be an outcast.”
I stood up and looked at the willow thoughtfully. “Weird is okay.” I quietly said.
“Not in the real world.”
“Don’t give up on us. Not yet. One more summer with us.”
She shakes her head. “No Fred. I have to leave tomorrow.”
I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. “Then why did you come? Just to disappoint us? We have been waiting for you all year and you’re just going to go again.”
Miriam’s green eyes started to shine with tears and she got to her feet slowly. “Fred I’m sorry. I just… I couldn’t go without saying goodbye to you… and to warn you. Your friends, I mean, our friends… they won’t last much longer.”
“You’re going to take them away from me?” I whispered in disbelief.
Tears started to stream down her cheeks. “Haven’t you seen that they have started to fade a little? That they aren’t the same? I don’t remember most of their names or where they live, and soon I will forget all of them. You’ll wake up one day,
and they won’t be there. You would be gone too but… I can’t forget you and everything we did together. How can I forget my best friend?”
I shook my head, not believing her, not wanting to believe her. My mouth was dry and as I turned away from her tear stained face, overwhelming sadness came over me, and then I ran for it. I ran from her. I ran from our past, and I ran from our present. I didn’t know where I was going but I just knew I couldn’t be near Miriam. She just wasn’t the fiery girl I had known for three whole years. She was weak and sad, and acted like she had nothing left, and maybe she didn’t. She had let her real-life giants beat her, and there was nothing I could do.
Miriam the Warrior Princess was gone.
I shuddered when the memories of the past three years came flooding through me. My home, my people, they faded slowly away. One by one, my friends disappeared. The shops were gone. The homes were no more. Those who were left,
walked with their eyes cast down, their faces gray. Gone were the children I had known to laugh and play. The warriors who had fought by my side against armies and beats were no more, and in their place there was… nothing.
Miriam had been right. One morning I had woken up and everything I had known and loved was just gone. There was nothing, nothing left for me, but I still stayed right where I was. I built a small little cabin under the trees, and I lived quietly and alone. All I had was the trees and the birds to keep me company. I don’t think I even spoke a word for months on end. Who was there to speak to?
My days got longer and darker. I grew pale and thin, no matter how much I ate or slept. It got to a point where I wouldn’t look into my reflection because I was afraid the mirror would be empty. And yet, at the same time, I usually fell asleep wishing on a star that I wouldn’t wake up. That I would just stop being. Because who wants to live like this? Who wants this sort of life?
I shook my head, and glanced to the darkening sky with a scowl. Night was creeping up, and I needed to build campfire. I shoved away from our willow tree with unneeded force. I trudged back towards the woods, hoodie thrown over my head,
and hands deep in my pocket.
My campfire had died down, and even though I fought it, I welcomed the uneasy rest granted to me, fully expecting nightmares and tossing and turning, but this time, I slept deeply and dreamlessly. I rested better than I’d ever been able to
since Miriam left, and it was strange. Then… something happened.
I’ve always had good reflexes, and they had saved mine and Miriam’s life countless times, so when I woke up in a different world, my body immediately tensed and my eyes were alert. The trees were not the same, and the ground was smoother then what I had been sleeping on. Even the darkness and the feel of the air around me was different. I think it was all the unfamiliarity that had woken me.
I tried to steady my heavy breathing as I slowly sat up, feeling much more alive than I had in three years. I looked around me at the sky, at the forest, listening for anything that I could use to help me figure out what was going on.
Rustle. Rustle. Rustle.
I licked my lips, unwillingly letting my mind travel back to the first dragon I had defeated with Miriam. He’d made the grass move like that as he had moved to attack, but this noise was smaller and gentler. Now that I was used to it, I realized that it had to be a human taking a night walk. I stood calmly, knowing I had no need to hide since no one could ever see me.
Whoever it was came closer, but she was whispering to herself. Sad, crazy whisperings mingled with crying. As she stepped into view, my mouth fell open.
“Miriam!” I hissed.
She walked straight pass me, not noticing, but I heard a catch in her whispers.
“Miriam!” I called again in a louder voice.
She stopped and looked back and into my eyes, something I had longed for once the day she’d said goodbye.
Her once vibrant green eyes had paled, and she was small and frail. Her skin was white and her face sallow. Her hair was terribly thin and her hands kept working nervously.
“No.” she sighed “Oh no.”
I stepped towards her hesitantly. “Miriam? Miriam, it’s me It’s Fred. Fred Wishaway.”
She shook her head wildly. “They’ll lock me up again. No, go away. You can’t be here.” Her hands started to shake violently and her eyes rolled back in her head, and with a shout I dived for her as her knees buckled beneath her.
“Oh Miriam.” I whispered as she went limp in my arms. “What have they done to you?”
I took off my long cloak and wrapped her in it, wishing she would stop trembling. I sat back against a tree holding my best friend close my eyes never leaving her face.
After a long hour, just when the sun was coming up, she woke slowly up and stared into my eyes.
“I- what in the world? Fred?” She murmured reaching up to touch my face.
I smiled tiredly at her. “Hey.”
She managed a weak grin. “Hey there.” She glanced around us, her brow furrowing. “What are we doing out in the woods Fred? How are you even here?”
I tipped my head in confusion. “You don’t remember?”
“Um, no?”
I grimaced, not wanting to tell her what she had been like the night before. “You… I don’t know how I’m here actually. I fell asleep and woke up here and then I-“ I stopped short.
“You can tell me.” She assured me quietly.
“I saw you. And you were…”
“Acting like a mad woman?”
“I- yeah.”
She rubbed her forehead in exhaustion, and sat up slipping out of my arms. “My nightmares happen a lot now, but I’ve never slept walk. The counselor said that this could happen. It’s been a long illness.”
I stared at her. “You’re sick?”
She gave me a comforting but sad look. “Not in the way you’re thinking, but yes. I haven’t been doing very well.”
“What happened?”
She opened her mouth to speak and then shut it again. “We need to get back to the school.”
“The boarding school? You still have to be there?”
She smiled a sad little smile. “Yes Fred. We have a lot to talk about.”
I walked after her through the sterile white hallways, with the morning sunlight only just beginning to peek in. There were numbered doors on each side of the corridor, some decorated with cards from home, and others depressingly bare.
Miriam glanced back at me a little apprehensively, as if she knew all the thoughts that were storming through my head.
What happened to her?
Why is she here?
Why am I here?
We reached the very end and a sad feeling grew inside me as I realized her door was one of the bare ones. I reached for the door knob slowly, but she stopped me with her hand.
“No, not yet.” She murmured. “Fred, my room may seem a little strange. I am still bonkers after all.” She added with a humorless smile.
“Don’t say things like that.” I whispered.
“I’m sorry…” she entwined her fingers with mine, and reached for the door knob. “We’ll do this together, okay?”
I squeezed her hand, and nodded, all sorts of emotions raging inside me. She turned the cold handle, and we stepped
inside.
Though the door had been bare, her room was a different story all together. A huge window with yellow drapes hung at the end, a comfortable window seat under it. It faced the sunrise, and so golden light came dancing in, illuminating her walls.
Her walls.
They were covered in some of the most beautiful paintings I had ever seen. Even from where I stood in the middle of the room, the workmanship seemed to thrive and somehow live.
“Step closer to them.” Miriam told me softly.
I obeyed her cautiously, coming hesitantly forward. You couldn’t even tell what color her walls were, there were so many paintings. As I studied them, I realized that there weren’t only pieces of artwork, but also several pieces of notebook paper, some clipped together into thick bundles. Tiny writing covered their surfaces, and I could see my name written on almost all of the pieces. And those paintings… each one was familiar to me, not because I had seen them before, but because I had lived out the scenes committed to each canvas.
“It’s us.” I whispered sadly, but a smile on my lips.
“Yes.”
“The dragons… the people… everyone we were with.” I looked to her, watching as her huge green eyes filled with tears. “But… I thought… I thought you forgot them?”
She bit her lip, and looked down at her feet as a single tear traced its way down her cheek. “I did. Once. But then…” she sighed. “Come and sit with me by the window. I’ll tell you as much as I can.”
Crossing over, I sat, and looked to her expectantly.
She took a deep breath, and then she began to speak quietly. “They say I have a wild imagination. One that can get away with me to easily. They said it was my escape, the world I live in with you, and that escape wasn’t healthy. When I was little, it was normal and cute for me to talk about my friends that I made in the woods. I thought that since you and all our people were so real and vivid to me, then… then everyone else could understand that you exist. I was wrong, because as I grew older, I started getting strange looks whenever I talked about our quests and adventures. People thought I was weird. My parents especially, but you knew all of that already.”
She sighed again, and worked her hands together nervously. “Oh Fred… I never talked about it with you when I was younger, because I just didn’t want to think about it, but my parents were always fighting and tearing at each other’s throats. I don’t have one memory of them getting along. So… maybe the doctors are right. Maybe I did use our world as an escape. Anyway, my parents got divorced when I was twelve and that tore me up inside. Somehow I blamed myself for all of it.
“I lived with my mother after that and she’s… undyingly practical. She told me I had to stop being in such a dream state all the time, and that a kid my age should be living in the real world. That was the day I said goodbye to you, because she had decided to send me to this boarding school.” She stared into my eyes. “Fred, I didn’t want to hurt you, but I know I did. I’m so sorry.”
I took her hand back into mine and tried for a smile. “Well, I’m here now, but why are you having to see doctors?”
Her eyes dimmed even more, and she squeezed my hand again. “Depression. I would have spells where I’d just start mumbling and rocking back and forth. Mom… she couldn’t handle it. She never contacts me anymore or even sends me birthday cards, and Dad I haven’t heard from since the divorce. The only one in my family who cares is my aunt. She’s been visiting and calling me, and she encouraged me to remember my people. She’s the one who convinced me that it was all right for me to remember my imaginary friends from when I was still a little kid.”
“But what about me?”
She laughed. “I never forgot you Fred. I never will, but the others I did forget.”
“Then, why aren’t they back?”
She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “I haven’t wished them back. They’re only a memory, but you have always been real.”
I had mixed feelings at that particular statement. “Do I have to go away again?”
Miriam grew thoughtful, and turned her gaze to the view of the morning. After several minutes of silence, she said, “No… no. I think I need you here.”
“Why?”
“I need you to help heal me. I think you’re the answer I’ve been waiting for.”
I did stay. I stayed for several weeks, watching over Miriam at night, and spending time with her in the day. It wasn’t like how it used to be, fighting dragons all the time, and great feasts in the evening. No, it was a quieter sort of adventure. I read with her, and watched as she made blank sheets of paper come to life. She began to laugh a little more each day, and that old wild twinkle started to shine out of her eyes again. She told me the counselor was astounded at her progress, and that she was too.
But I wasn’t. I knew my Miriam, and I knew that who she really was, was in there someplace. I knew she was strong enough to fight her way out, because she had that fighting spirit that I’d always loved.
It was the old sort of love, the one that always exists between two comrades except this was stronger. It was a refreshed sense of friendship and loyalty. Something that made me always want to be with her.
There were times that I hated that feeling because I knew there would come a time where we would have to say goodbye, but right then, in those moments, I had her. We were together again, and when I was listening to her, I could imagine we’d never be apart.
Deep down, I knew I was wrong.
I knew when I woke up, that the day had arrived. It just felt different, like there was something weighing me down. Miriam, on the other hand, was as bright and happy as she usually was nowadays, and when she went off to her appointment, I knew something was going to happen.
I was right.
She came bursting in the room, waving a pink slip of paper around exuberantly.
“Fred! FRED!” she shouted gleefully. “You’ll never guess! Guess! Oh, you won’t, so I’ll just tell you.” She grabbed my hand and tugged me after her out into the courtyard of the school. We sat down on a stone bench under a… a willow
tree, and she began to talk again in her old rapid way. “Fred, he said I’m clear! That I’m okay now! Oh and not only that, but he personally delivered a letter from my aunt saying she’s officially adopted me! She says that I have a home with her where I can just be me. I can be who I am and have a place to go home to every night. A home.”
I was trying to be happy for her sake, I really was. If it hadn’t been for the fact that I knew what words had to be said, I would’ve been laughing and crying right along with her.
“I’ll go to a private school there and I want to be a writer and an artist and make the world a better place and maybe even fund a charity called The Imagination Foundation and-” she stopped short and stared at me. “Fred?”
I realized I was scowling at my feet, lost in my thoughts. “Oh, I’m sorry.” I said quickly. “I’m listening.”
“No you weren’t. Don’t you lie to me Fred, I know you. What is it?”
I hesitated, not wanting to say it. “It’s just… Miriam, you’re growing up. No, don’t deny it, you are! You’re not a little girl anymore, and… Miriam, I think you know what I’m trying to say.”
She shook her head stubbornly. “No, no I don’t want to hear it. No.”
I made her look me in the eye. “Miriam, after this, all I will do is hold you back. There are real people-“
“You’re real!”
“Only to you!” I took a shaking breath. “Miriam… Miriam, I want you to live your life out to its fullest potential. I want you to make friends and someday I want you to be able to…” I licked my lips. “To get married, and have kids, and a home… you can’t do that all with me. You know I’m right!”
“Fred, why are you doing this?” she demanded, tears already in her eyes.
“Because I love you! You’re my best friend! Do you think I want to say this? Do you think I want to go? I always want to be by your side Miriam, but I just can’t.”
Tears were falling freely down her face, and she choked out “There’s no way I can do what you want me to do.”
“Miriam, I don’t think you want me to go back to being just alone with only memories for company.”
“But you could stay with me!”
I took her by the shoulders. “No, I couldn’t. That’s the point.” I leaned towards her, my eyes begging her to do what I was about to ask. “Miriam, you have to wish me away. I need to become a memory.”
She shook her head, crying, and rested her forehead against mine. “Oh Fred…” she whispered.
I took her in my arms and tried to comfort her one last time, and at that moment, I couldn’t help hoping I would always have a heart to keep her in. “Listen to me. I will never forget that you are Miriam the Warrior Princess. Whether I be non-existent, or gone in another world when you wish me away, I will never, ever forget you. You were my best friend, my partner, the soldier fighting by my side, and the one who I will never regret spending most of the life I had here with. I will not forget the way you laugh or the way you cry. I will not forget your voice or your face. I will remember every single day we
spent together and every moment that made us stronger, and I will always, always, always be wanting the very best for you.” I tried to ignore the fact that my voice was thick with raw emotion, and that tears were trickling out of my eyes. “Please Miriam.” I whispered.
She sighed, and very quietly whispered. “I- I know you’re right. Just let me… let me tell you that you made my life... worth it.” she entwined her fingers with mine and murmured softly. “Goodbye Fred.”
And as everything is fading, I keep my eyes on her, hoping she’ll never, ever forget.
A red headed woman with huge green eyes, kneeled down to kiss the forehead of a little girl who could only be her daughter. The little one reached up to hug her and pleaded loudly for just one more bedtime story.
With a loving smile, the woman sat down and smoothed the bed covers around her little girl, obviously thinking for a moment. Then, with a bittersweet look in her eyes, she said;
“Once I knew a boy named Fred Wishaway…”
Shadow People: Part 5
“He will be all right, won’t he sir?”
“The battle inside him has taken its toll. We see this far too often, Derik. Has he lost consciousness often after a struggle with the demons?”
“Yes, I’m afraid I’ve noticed that. I have had to intervene more and more. He mainly struggles with Rage and that’s one of the reasons-“
“They keep returning.”
“Yes sir.”
“He does not have my Father’s strength guiding him.”
I shake my head, trying to clear it. The voice seem loud and hollow, and as the memories of the last encounter with my demons come flooding in, the aching in my head grows.
“He’s waking up! Prince, he’s coming to.” Derik whispers hurriedly.
A calming, gentle hand strokes my forehead, and suddenly all the pain vanishes.
I open my eyes and look into the face of the man who rescued me. The man who had shouted “This is my Father’s son!”
“You… you’re the one who saved me.” I croak.
The Prince smiles and nods.
“He has saved you more than once.” Derik murmurs quietly.
“I… what?"
The Prince shakes his head. “It is not time for us to go over this. We will soon though, do not worry.” He adds when I open my mouth to protest. “My servants will attend you so that you will be prepared for my Father’s courtroom. You have no need to fear, for he loves you Jay.” And with another kind smile, the Prince leaves the room.
I do not see the servants, but suddenly a set of white robes is in my hands. A door opens, and I can see from my cot that it’s a bathroom.
“Get cleaned up Jay.” Derik says, patting me on the back.
I swallow with difficulty. “I… why does the King want to see me? Have I done something or thought something wrong?”
Derik sighs a little. “The Prince said not to be afraid. If you have any wits about you at all, you would listen. I nod, still not thoroughly convinced. Then another thought occurs to me as I walk towards the bathroom.
“Derik?”
"Hm?"
“Can… can they get me here? Because I’m just not strong enough to..."
“No they won’t be able to get to you here. In the Kings palace, you’re safe from them”
Safe. Safe for a little while.
My hands are shaking violently as we’re lead along the airy and light passageway. I can see the great doors looming ahead of me, and I get the instant urge to run for it.
The Guardian who is taking us to the King gives me a knowing look. With a grimace, I abandon the idea of trying to escape and instead try to figure out what I’m supposed to say to the King or what I’m supposed to do once I am in his presence.
I break into a nervous sweat once we reach the doors and I look to Derik for reassurance. He gives me a squeeze on the shoulder, and steps back.
“Aren’t you-“ I lick my dry lips. “You’re coming in with me, right?"
The Guardian speaks up. “The King requests a private audience with you.”
Of course.
“Oh.” I murmur in a small voice.
The Guardian nods to two warriors who seem to be guarding the doors. At his signal they salute, and slowly open them.
I cannot see much of the King’s throne room because the doors lead in sideways.
Taking a deep breath, I slowly walk after the Guardian, wishing I were still asleep. I stop when he motions for me to halt, just outside the opening into the huge room.
I can feel power in this place. I know that someone or something mighty is sitting just outside my line of vision. I lick my lips again, watching as the Guardian bows respectfully to who I guess is the King.
“Jay awaits your permission to come forward, Your Majesty.”
There is no answer that I can hear, but the Guardian bows again and walks back towards me.
“You may go forward to the Kings now.” He whispers. “But you must take off your sandals. This is a sacred place.”
I glance down at my shoes, and nod. Quickly, I slip them off my feet, and look back at the Guardian for his approval. He nods and motions me forward, and meekly I tread into the room and turn slowly around.
The first thing that hits me is the size of this place. It’s like five football stadiums one after the other, but even that great a distance cannot diminish the huge throne I see at the end.
It’s very difficult to decide what that throne is made of. It seems like… like all the precious stones in the world in one large beautiful stone and that’s what the King's throne is made of. I know, I know. That makes no sense. I just… I can’t describe it. Honestly, I can barely think when I’m hit in the face with all this majesty.
“Come.” The King says in a deep, clear voice.
Keeping my head down, I begin to walk towards that great throne, dimly wondering how long it will take me to go that far a
distance.
“Look up my child.” The voice says, and this time, it’s very near.
I start, and glance wildly around me. I am right in front of the King’s throne. “I- how did I-?” I mutter.
“Jay, look up at me.” The King says again.
This time I obey, and I raise my bowed head to stare into the King's face.
To me it seems that he is holding back on what his true form really is. It’s like… like if he was in his true Kingly form, I would not be able to withstand the glory of it. So instead he has allowed himself to look human.
His face is stern and wise, but I can see laughing lines around his gray eyes. That makes me feel a little better for some reason, just knowing that the King has a sense of humor. He is muscular and tall and he looks as if he could handle any weapon without a problem. That should scare me, but the Prince's words resound in my ears;
“You have no need to fear, for he loves you Jay.”
I attempt a smile at the King, even if my knees are shaking with tension.
The King smiles back at me and then he leads forward, folding his huge hands together. “Do you know why you are here today Jay?” he asks me.
I shake my head.
He nods quietly. “I see.” And then nothing more.
I shift from one foot to the other, as the long silence continues.
“Actually sir…” I begin. He nods for me to go on, so with a shaky breath I speak again. “Sir, I’ve been attacked by… by these monsters. I used to be able to fend them off sir, but with every battle lately I… I’ve been weakening sir and there’s this one demon who’s the worst of them all sir… he’s-“
“Rage.” The King finishes.
I look up at him, and I can see a great sadness in his eyes. “Yes sir. That’s him. Rage.”
“Why is he the worst Jay?”
I rub my arm thoughtfully. “I suppose it’s because… because I let myself give into him so easily.” I blink at how easily I’d spoken the horrible truth in the King’s presence.
He remains quiet for a moment and then he asks “Why do you do that?”
“I win battles when I let him inside me sir. I…” and then I realize something. “I want to let Rage in.”
Another terrible thing. Another glimpse inside me and my demons.
“Let me talk this out Jay. You allow Rage inside you because you win that way, yes?” when I agree, he continues. “And you think that’s the only way?”
I gulp and shake my head. “No.” I whisper.
The King looks at me in the eyes. “Tell me the other way.”
I take a deep breath. “Derik always says that the true way to defeat the monsters is through you and your strength.”
“Yes, Derik is correct, though he forgot to tell you something important.”
I wrinkle my brow and look at the King, an unspoken question in my eyes.
There was a definite grief in his face, as if he was about to go over something he would rather never think about again.
“I have always been, Jay. Always. There was never a beginning of me, and nor will there ever be an end. Now do not try to understand that, because you cannot, but you can understand this. I am your Creator, Jay. I made you. I planned you. I thought you out, and…” he hesitates. “I sent my only son to die for you."
I blink at him in disbelief. “You… what?”
The King passes a hand over his eyes. “I have always known what my son would have to do. You see, I allowed the first humans a choice. They could choose righteousness or sin, and… they made their decision. Since Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, the world has fallen into darkness. It had grown so evil, that I wished to wipe it out and start it anew, but… my son agreed to go down to the world and become one of you so that he might sacrifice himself for
those of you who were my chosen people. He was born to a virgin, and he was the perfect man. He spent his life there spreading his message, and there were so many who rejected him. They could not believe that he was the Messiah whom I had given them. And eventually… they killed my son.”
My eyes filled with tears as I watched the King look away into the past that he did not want to re-live.
“They killed him on a cross in the most brutal way possible. I had to turn my back on my own son as all the sins of the chosen people were cast upon him. He cried out to me…” the King paused, and looked back at me. “He did this for you Jay.”
“Why?” I cry out as tears stream freely down my face. “I am nothing! I win my battles by sinning, King! Why would he suffer for me?”
“Because he loves you, and because I love you. We chose you. You belong to my family. You are my son as well.”
I shake my head, trying not to crumple on the floor and sob. “How can you love me? How can you have chosen me?” I
whisper.
“I do what I will, Jay. I do what I will. Now don’t you see why you are so weary, my son? By winning, if you can even call it that, those battles using Rage, you leave your spirit exhausted. He takes and does not give back. There is only one way, and that is through my son. He opened the way for you to come to me forgiven and loved."
Then something hits me.
“He’s… he’s the one who saved me from the demons last time! He’s alive!”
“He rose again! After three days in a stone tomb, he rose again, and he came back to me. And he will always save you from your demons. He will return one day to take my people into my home where they will dwell forever in peace. The Prince will defeat the Dark Enemy and cast him into hell along with the sinners who would not see. You do not need to be afraid of the Shadow People Jay. They will be eternally defeated when the time comes, and if you will lean on me, I will help you win your
battles with your demons, for I will never leave you nor will I forsake you.”
“You… you forgive me?”
“The old you is gone, Jay, and you are made new. You are a Warrior of the King.”
I stare at the King, wondering what to say, what to feel… “Thank you… Father.”
The King smiles at me. “Life won’t be easy Jay, but with this gift, you will be guided.” He hands me a black book. “Use this Jay, for I have written it to help my children. Now go and never forget that I am always there to protect you.”
I bow low, and turn. I feel as if I could leap and sing for joy for the rest of my days, and as I run down to see Derik, I wonder; what was it the King had said?
“You do not need to be afraid of the Shadow People Jay. They will be eternally defeated when the time comes, and if you will lean on me, I will help you win your battles with your demons, for I will never leave you nor will I forsake you.”
I do not need to be afraid.
“The battle inside him has taken its toll. We see this far too often, Derik. Has he lost consciousness often after a struggle with the demons?”
“Yes, I’m afraid I’ve noticed that. I have had to intervene more and more. He mainly struggles with Rage and that’s one of the reasons-“
“They keep returning.”
“Yes sir.”
“He does not have my Father’s strength guiding him.”
I shake my head, trying to clear it. The voice seem loud and hollow, and as the memories of the last encounter with my demons come flooding in, the aching in my head grows.
“He’s waking up! Prince, he’s coming to.” Derik whispers hurriedly.
A calming, gentle hand strokes my forehead, and suddenly all the pain vanishes.
I open my eyes and look into the face of the man who rescued me. The man who had shouted “This is my Father’s son!”
“You… you’re the one who saved me.” I croak.
The Prince smiles and nods.
“He has saved you more than once.” Derik murmurs quietly.
“I… what?"
The Prince shakes his head. “It is not time for us to go over this. We will soon though, do not worry.” He adds when I open my mouth to protest. “My servants will attend you so that you will be prepared for my Father’s courtroom. You have no need to fear, for he loves you Jay.” And with another kind smile, the Prince leaves the room.
I do not see the servants, but suddenly a set of white robes is in my hands. A door opens, and I can see from my cot that it’s a bathroom.
“Get cleaned up Jay.” Derik says, patting me on the back.
I swallow with difficulty. “I… why does the King want to see me? Have I done something or thought something wrong?”
Derik sighs a little. “The Prince said not to be afraid. If you have any wits about you at all, you would listen. I nod, still not thoroughly convinced. Then another thought occurs to me as I walk towards the bathroom.
“Derik?”
"Hm?"
“Can… can they get me here? Because I’m just not strong enough to..."
“No they won’t be able to get to you here. In the Kings palace, you’re safe from them”
Safe. Safe for a little while.
My hands are shaking violently as we’re lead along the airy and light passageway. I can see the great doors looming ahead of me, and I get the instant urge to run for it.
The Guardian who is taking us to the King gives me a knowing look. With a grimace, I abandon the idea of trying to escape and instead try to figure out what I’m supposed to say to the King or what I’m supposed to do once I am in his presence.
I break into a nervous sweat once we reach the doors and I look to Derik for reassurance. He gives me a squeeze on the shoulder, and steps back.
“Aren’t you-“ I lick my dry lips. “You’re coming in with me, right?"
The Guardian speaks up. “The King requests a private audience with you.”
Of course.
“Oh.” I murmur in a small voice.
The Guardian nods to two warriors who seem to be guarding the doors. At his signal they salute, and slowly open them.
I cannot see much of the King’s throne room because the doors lead in sideways.
Taking a deep breath, I slowly walk after the Guardian, wishing I were still asleep. I stop when he motions for me to halt, just outside the opening into the huge room.
I can feel power in this place. I know that someone or something mighty is sitting just outside my line of vision. I lick my lips again, watching as the Guardian bows respectfully to who I guess is the King.
“Jay awaits your permission to come forward, Your Majesty.”
There is no answer that I can hear, but the Guardian bows again and walks back towards me.
“You may go forward to the Kings now.” He whispers. “But you must take off your sandals. This is a sacred place.”
I glance down at my shoes, and nod. Quickly, I slip them off my feet, and look back at the Guardian for his approval. He nods and motions me forward, and meekly I tread into the room and turn slowly around.
The first thing that hits me is the size of this place. It’s like five football stadiums one after the other, but even that great a distance cannot diminish the huge throne I see at the end.
It’s very difficult to decide what that throne is made of. It seems like… like all the precious stones in the world in one large beautiful stone and that’s what the King's throne is made of. I know, I know. That makes no sense. I just… I can’t describe it. Honestly, I can barely think when I’m hit in the face with all this majesty.
“Come.” The King says in a deep, clear voice.
Keeping my head down, I begin to walk towards that great throne, dimly wondering how long it will take me to go that far a
distance.
“Look up my child.” The voice says, and this time, it’s very near.
I start, and glance wildly around me. I am right in front of the King’s throne. “I- how did I-?” I mutter.
“Jay, look up at me.” The King says again.
This time I obey, and I raise my bowed head to stare into the King's face.
To me it seems that he is holding back on what his true form really is. It’s like… like if he was in his true Kingly form, I would not be able to withstand the glory of it. So instead he has allowed himself to look human.
His face is stern and wise, but I can see laughing lines around his gray eyes. That makes me feel a little better for some reason, just knowing that the King has a sense of humor. He is muscular and tall and he looks as if he could handle any weapon without a problem. That should scare me, but the Prince's words resound in my ears;
“You have no need to fear, for he loves you Jay.”
I attempt a smile at the King, even if my knees are shaking with tension.
The King smiles back at me and then he leads forward, folding his huge hands together. “Do you know why you are here today Jay?” he asks me.
I shake my head.
He nods quietly. “I see.” And then nothing more.
I shift from one foot to the other, as the long silence continues.
“Actually sir…” I begin. He nods for me to go on, so with a shaky breath I speak again. “Sir, I’ve been attacked by… by these monsters. I used to be able to fend them off sir, but with every battle lately I… I’ve been weakening sir and there’s this one demon who’s the worst of them all sir… he’s-“
“Rage.” The King finishes.
I look up at him, and I can see a great sadness in his eyes. “Yes sir. That’s him. Rage.”
“Why is he the worst Jay?”
I rub my arm thoughtfully. “I suppose it’s because… because I let myself give into him so easily.” I blink at how easily I’d spoken the horrible truth in the King’s presence.
He remains quiet for a moment and then he asks “Why do you do that?”
“I win battles when I let him inside me sir. I…” and then I realize something. “I want to let Rage in.”
Another terrible thing. Another glimpse inside me and my demons.
“Let me talk this out Jay. You allow Rage inside you because you win that way, yes?” when I agree, he continues. “And you think that’s the only way?”
I gulp and shake my head. “No.” I whisper.
The King looks at me in the eyes. “Tell me the other way.”
I take a deep breath. “Derik always says that the true way to defeat the monsters is through you and your strength.”
“Yes, Derik is correct, though he forgot to tell you something important.”
I wrinkle my brow and look at the King, an unspoken question in my eyes.
There was a definite grief in his face, as if he was about to go over something he would rather never think about again.
“I have always been, Jay. Always. There was never a beginning of me, and nor will there ever be an end. Now do not try to understand that, because you cannot, but you can understand this. I am your Creator, Jay. I made you. I planned you. I thought you out, and…” he hesitates. “I sent my only son to die for you."
I blink at him in disbelief. “You… what?”
The King passes a hand over his eyes. “I have always known what my son would have to do. You see, I allowed the first humans a choice. They could choose righteousness or sin, and… they made their decision. Since Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, the world has fallen into darkness. It had grown so evil, that I wished to wipe it out and start it anew, but… my son agreed to go down to the world and become one of you so that he might sacrifice himself for
those of you who were my chosen people. He was born to a virgin, and he was the perfect man. He spent his life there spreading his message, and there were so many who rejected him. They could not believe that he was the Messiah whom I had given them. And eventually… they killed my son.”
My eyes filled with tears as I watched the King look away into the past that he did not want to re-live.
“They killed him on a cross in the most brutal way possible. I had to turn my back on my own son as all the sins of the chosen people were cast upon him. He cried out to me…” the King paused, and looked back at me. “He did this for you Jay.”
“Why?” I cry out as tears stream freely down my face. “I am nothing! I win my battles by sinning, King! Why would he suffer for me?”
“Because he loves you, and because I love you. We chose you. You belong to my family. You are my son as well.”
I shake my head, trying not to crumple on the floor and sob. “How can you love me? How can you have chosen me?” I
whisper.
“I do what I will, Jay. I do what I will. Now don’t you see why you are so weary, my son? By winning, if you can even call it that, those battles using Rage, you leave your spirit exhausted. He takes and does not give back. There is only one way, and that is through my son. He opened the way for you to come to me forgiven and loved."
Then something hits me.
“He’s… he’s the one who saved me from the demons last time! He’s alive!”
“He rose again! After three days in a stone tomb, he rose again, and he came back to me. And he will always save you from your demons. He will return one day to take my people into my home where they will dwell forever in peace. The Prince will defeat the Dark Enemy and cast him into hell along with the sinners who would not see. You do not need to be afraid of the Shadow People Jay. They will be eternally defeated when the time comes, and if you will lean on me, I will help you win your
battles with your demons, for I will never leave you nor will I forsake you.”
“You… you forgive me?”
“The old you is gone, Jay, and you are made new. You are a Warrior of the King.”
I stare at the King, wondering what to say, what to feel… “Thank you… Father.”
The King smiles at me. “Life won’t be easy Jay, but with this gift, you will be guided.” He hands me a black book. “Use this Jay, for I have written it to help my children. Now go and never forget that I am always there to protect you.”
I bow low, and turn. I feel as if I could leap and sing for joy for the rest of my days, and as I run down to see Derik, I wonder; what was it the King had said?
“You do not need to be afraid of the Shadow People Jay. They will be eternally defeated when the time comes, and if you will lean on me, I will help you win your battles with your demons, for I will never leave you nor will I forsake you.”
I do not need to be afraid.
Shadow People: Part 4
I huddle in my cloak, and wish for the thousandth time we could have taken a taxi or something. That was impossible apparently, because the way to the Kings castle was hard and not everyone can come. The King requested our presence there, however, and so therefore we were to be allowed in.
Derik glances at me. “You look tired.” He says.
I simply nod because honestly, I’m too exhausted to speak.
Derik pauses and looks around at our surroundings. Chewing his lip thoughtfully he says “Well, I guess we can camp here for the night. I’ll just send a message up to the castle saying we’re pausing for a rest.”
I manage a few words. “Won’t the king be mad or something?”
“No. He’s a kind man and he always looks after us.”
“But… he doesn’t even know me.” I say bewildered.
Derik chuckles. “Oh yes he does. You just don’t know him.”
“That clears everything up.”
“You’ll understand it someday, Jay.”
He’s leading me closer to the woods now, shrugging off his backpack as he does so. We never go far into the woods on our journeys, but always at the edge. I used to think this was incredibly stupid, but that was before I met them.
Oh right. You haven’t heard about these guys.
The Guardians.
Whenever we stop somewhere that could be potentially dangerous, five men show up. They aren’t just any men either. Some wield mighty swords, others bows and arrows. Each carries a dagger at his side. They do not laugh, but remain deadly
serious and ever watchful as we rest for the night. Usually, they bring us food and sometimes a tent. Then they go on with their duty.
What’s their duty?
They fight off the Night Monsters. See, not all the demons come from inside us. They can be sent by the Enemy to attack. Derik has never told me exactly why they do this, but if I am to become a Warrior I guess I’ll know someday. Anyway, the Guardians fight them off throughout the night. They keep most of them away, but if one gets through, we’re guaranteed a nightmare that’ll leave us exhausted. They’re rare occasion, nightmares, but they do happen.
The Guardians appear out of nowhere. One moment they’re not to be seen, and the next they’re right beside you. They have the power to be invisible granted to them by the King. They use it against the enemies and sometimes they hides themselves from us.
Calmly, one of them comes forward and hands a scroll to Derik. With a nod of thanks, Derik unfurls it and reads quietly to
himself.
“We have been granted nine hours of respite and then we are asked to speed to the castle. The matter with the king is an urgent one.” He says to me.
I would never had admitted it, but there is a continually growing knot in my stomach. At the words “urgent matter” it tightens
never met the king and somehow I know that something, something, is going to happen in the morrow.
Derik tosses a bed roll to me calmly, however, and says;
“Get some sleep Jay. We’ll have a long road tomorrow, and you need to get some rest.”
With a smothered sigh, I slip into the thin blanket, bitterly wishing tomorrow wouldn’t come.
Sometimes, I hate the King for thrusting this duty on me when I…
When I never asked.
“We’re almost there Jay.” Derik says as he cuts way vegetation that blocks our pathway.
I wipe the sweat away from my brow. “We’ll look like a mess when we’re in front of the King.”
Derik chuckles. “We’ve always looked like messes to the King.”
“But… won’t he be offended if we show up all dirty and smelly?”
Derik stopped for a moment, a thoughtful look on his face. “Jay..” he began “The King is a good man. A powerful man, and… well he loves us no matter what.”
I stopped short. “Love? How can the King love me when I have
never met him?”
Derik smiled. “Ah, now there’s a question.” He turned so that he was looking me straight in the eye. “Look Jay. You may not have met the King yet, but… He’s met you. He knows exactly who you are and what you’ve done. He even knows your thought and the secrets of your heart.”
I flinched at that, and Derik saw.
“Makes you wonder how he could love us when he knows all that, yeah?”
I nod a little shamefully.
Derik suddenly tenses. “Jay… Jay get your dagger… be calm, but get ready.”
They were coming.
I feel them crawling and scratching inside me. “Derik…” I gasp, doubling over. “Derik, I can’t fight them. Not after last time.”
Derik takes me by the shoulders. “You can Jay! You’ve got to!”
I shake my head rapidly, tired all ready. “No more monsters… no more demons…”
“Fight them Jay!”
"No more strength… no more demons… no more…” My mind is swirling into oblivion as dark shapes transform in front of me. There are so many. So many laughing faces, so many red eyes, so many… too many.
“Jay! JAY!” Derik’s voice seems to float to me from across a wide expansion. A dark lakes with more demons and more monsters. I can hear myself screaming, and I don’t know what’s going on when suddenly…
A white warrior who shines with the light of the sun breaks through all the blackness, nearly blinding me with his brilliancy.
I can see a mighty sword cleaving away the monsters that haunt me, the ones who attack me. As I lay shuddering and useless on the cold ground, a great voice rings out;
“BE GONE OH DARK ONES AND RETURN NO MORE! THIS BOY IS MY FATHER’S SON AND YOU WILL HARM HIM
NOT.”
And as the world seems to fall away, I can distantly see Derik leaning over me, and beside him is the most beautiful face I had ever seen.
“It’s okay Jay! The Prince of the King has come.”
Derik glances at me. “You look tired.” He says.
I simply nod because honestly, I’m too exhausted to speak.
Derik pauses and looks around at our surroundings. Chewing his lip thoughtfully he says “Well, I guess we can camp here for the night. I’ll just send a message up to the castle saying we’re pausing for a rest.”
I manage a few words. “Won’t the king be mad or something?”
“No. He’s a kind man and he always looks after us.”
“But… he doesn’t even know me.” I say bewildered.
Derik chuckles. “Oh yes he does. You just don’t know him.”
“That clears everything up.”
“You’ll understand it someday, Jay.”
He’s leading me closer to the woods now, shrugging off his backpack as he does so. We never go far into the woods on our journeys, but always at the edge. I used to think this was incredibly stupid, but that was before I met them.
Oh right. You haven’t heard about these guys.
The Guardians.
Whenever we stop somewhere that could be potentially dangerous, five men show up. They aren’t just any men either. Some wield mighty swords, others bows and arrows. Each carries a dagger at his side. They do not laugh, but remain deadly
serious and ever watchful as we rest for the night. Usually, they bring us food and sometimes a tent. Then they go on with their duty.
What’s their duty?
They fight off the Night Monsters. See, not all the demons come from inside us. They can be sent by the Enemy to attack. Derik has never told me exactly why they do this, but if I am to become a Warrior I guess I’ll know someday. Anyway, the Guardians fight them off throughout the night. They keep most of them away, but if one gets through, we’re guaranteed a nightmare that’ll leave us exhausted. They’re rare occasion, nightmares, but they do happen.
The Guardians appear out of nowhere. One moment they’re not to be seen, and the next they’re right beside you. They have the power to be invisible granted to them by the King. They use it against the enemies and sometimes they hides themselves from us.
Calmly, one of them comes forward and hands a scroll to Derik. With a nod of thanks, Derik unfurls it and reads quietly to
himself.
“We have been granted nine hours of respite and then we are asked to speed to the castle. The matter with the king is an urgent one.” He says to me.
I would never had admitted it, but there is a continually growing knot in my stomach. At the words “urgent matter” it tightens
never met the king and somehow I know that something, something, is going to happen in the morrow.
Derik tosses a bed roll to me calmly, however, and says;
“Get some sleep Jay. We’ll have a long road tomorrow, and you need to get some rest.”
With a smothered sigh, I slip into the thin blanket, bitterly wishing tomorrow wouldn’t come.
Sometimes, I hate the King for thrusting this duty on me when I…
When I never asked.
“We’re almost there Jay.” Derik says as he cuts way vegetation that blocks our pathway.
I wipe the sweat away from my brow. “We’ll look like a mess when we’re in front of the King.”
Derik chuckles. “We’ve always looked like messes to the King.”
“But… won’t he be offended if we show up all dirty and smelly?”
Derik stopped for a moment, a thoughtful look on his face. “Jay..” he began “The King is a good man. A powerful man, and… well he loves us no matter what.”
I stopped short. “Love? How can the King love me when I have
never met him?”
Derik smiled. “Ah, now there’s a question.” He turned so that he was looking me straight in the eye. “Look Jay. You may not have met the King yet, but… He’s met you. He knows exactly who you are and what you’ve done. He even knows your thought and the secrets of your heart.”
I flinched at that, and Derik saw.
“Makes you wonder how he could love us when he knows all that, yeah?”
I nod a little shamefully.
Derik suddenly tenses. “Jay… Jay get your dagger… be calm, but get ready.”
They were coming.
I feel them crawling and scratching inside me. “Derik…” I gasp, doubling over. “Derik, I can’t fight them. Not after last time.”
Derik takes me by the shoulders. “You can Jay! You’ve got to!”
I shake my head rapidly, tired all ready. “No more monsters… no more demons…”
“Fight them Jay!”
"No more strength… no more demons… no more…” My mind is swirling into oblivion as dark shapes transform in front of me. There are so many. So many laughing faces, so many red eyes, so many… too many.
“Jay! JAY!” Derik’s voice seems to float to me from across a wide expansion. A dark lakes with more demons and more monsters. I can hear myself screaming, and I don’t know what’s going on when suddenly…
A white warrior who shines with the light of the sun breaks through all the blackness, nearly blinding me with his brilliancy.
I can see a mighty sword cleaving away the monsters that haunt me, the ones who attack me. As I lay shuddering and useless on the cold ground, a great voice rings out;
“BE GONE OH DARK ONES AND RETURN NO MORE! THIS BOY IS MY FATHER’S SON AND YOU WILL HARM HIM
NOT.”
And as the world seems to fall away, I can distantly see Derik leaning over me, and beside him is the most beautiful face I had ever seen.
“It’s okay Jay! The Prince of the King has come.”
Shadow People: Part 3
I struggle back to consciousness slowly. My eyes flicker lazily open, and my fuzzy brain attempts to sharpen and focus. It takes a few moments, but I see that I'm lying on a cot with a thick crazy quilt engulfing me. Mom used to make those things all the time. She said it was because her grandmother taught her when she was really small, and then she'd died suddenly.
Weird how that works, huh? The people we love best have this tendency to be wrenched away from us.
I blink around, noting the fact that I'm in a small log cabin, it's very dark outside the windows, a fire is burning in the little hearth, and...
I'm not alone.
Derik is sprawled in his chair, calmly smoking his pipe. His hood to his cloak is thrown back, and he's staring steadily into the fire. His face is young, but his eyes are very old and his hair is speckled with gray. He's never told me his age, and I've given up on asking.
"Need water?" Derik asks quietly.
I don't even start. The way he just knew what I was thinking or feeling used to freak me out, but now I'm used to it.
I'm used to a lot of things.
"Yeah." I croak, and he gets calmly up and strides over to a cooler in the corner. He fishes out one of those mini water bottle things out and tosses it to me. My reflexes are all right thanks to his training, and so I catch it easily. Unfortunately, its slick from sitting in a ice, so naturally I drop it on my face.
I glance apprehensively over at Derik, waiting for him to laugh at me. When he doesn't, I know he's mad at me. He tends to not miss a chance to point out my deficiencies. Apparently he's helping me and he expects me to be tough and blah, blah, blah, but he enjoys cracking a joke at my expense.
Its one of his favorite pastimes.
So when he sits back down and goes back to his pipe without so much as a glance, I know it's bad. Besides that whole show, the air is practically crackling with all the tension.
I twitch a little, wondering if I dare speak up. I don't get this way around many people, not with all I go through. People have no idea, and my dark looks freak them out. The whole shaggy hair thing, pale face, and black eyes. Yeah... people like to sit
on the opposite side of the room from me.
Weirdo. Freak.
"No." I whisper, holding my head in my hands.
Derik grimaces and glances over. "Fight it Jay." he says.
"What do you think I'm trying to do?" I snap through gritted teeth.
He shakes his head. "Not with anger. You know what happens when you start that."
I sigh, hating that he's right. "No other way works Derik. I know that better then you would."
Derik snorts. "Yeah, okay."
I roll my eyes and throw the crazy quilt off suddenly hot. I sit up, and try and pat down my rumpled hair. I attempt
to get up, but a pain in my thigh makes me sit down with a small grunt.
"Wound hasn't fully healed yet." Derik states, stoking the fire.
"No, really?"
Derik completely ignores my snide remark, and settles back in his chair with his pipe.
"Okay so... what's up?" I ask tentatively, hating the coolness.
He says nothing.
"Seriously Derik. I know you. You're mad at me or whatever. What'd I do?"
Still nothing.
I roll my eyes again, and squirm uncomfortably because I know exactly what's wrong. "I mean... its not my fault I've got demons inside me. Its not my fault I was attacked. I did the best I could, and in the end I did defeat them."
Now he just looks at me.
"Well I mean... with... Rage."
He gets up again and puts his hand on the back of his neck like he does when he's deciding between a lecture or a scolding. Then he drags his chair to my bedside, sits calmly down, and folds his hands in front of him.
Yeah. It's going to be a lecture.
"Jay." he begins.
Definitely a lecture.
"Jay, why are you here? Why do you have demons inside you?"
Oh yay, question and answer time. I sigh, and recite "Demons are the servant of the Enemy. He
sends them to hurt those who serve our king."
Derik is obviously not satisfied, but he doesn't push me. "Jay, we all have demons inside us. You're aren't the only one who knows what this is like. We all have to fight them and..." he hesitates for a moment. "Not everyone succeeds."
I stare down at my feet. "But... but I will."
Derik rubs his neck again. "Yeah. Yeah I hope so."
I look at him curiously. There is obviously something he isn't telling me. "What's bothering you?" I ask.
He sighs. "You are progressing. You're learning to be a warrior, but you've still got a major problem."
I know exactly what he's going to say before he says it.
"You take down the demons with another demon, and Jay... Jay that doesn't work. They will never leave you alone if you
keep giving into Rage. You can never destroy evil with more evil."
"I know, I know. I have to think about our king. I have to have his strength."
Derik sighs again. "Jay... Jay I have to tell you something."
Something about his tone makes my stomach turns to knots. "Ah... yeah?"
He looks into my eyes. "The king requests an audience with you."
Weird how that works, huh? The people we love best have this tendency to be wrenched away from us.
I blink around, noting the fact that I'm in a small log cabin, it's very dark outside the windows, a fire is burning in the little hearth, and...
I'm not alone.
Derik is sprawled in his chair, calmly smoking his pipe. His hood to his cloak is thrown back, and he's staring steadily into the fire. His face is young, but his eyes are very old and his hair is speckled with gray. He's never told me his age, and I've given up on asking.
"Need water?" Derik asks quietly.
I don't even start. The way he just knew what I was thinking or feeling used to freak me out, but now I'm used to it.
I'm used to a lot of things.
"Yeah." I croak, and he gets calmly up and strides over to a cooler in the corner. He fishes out one of those mini water bottle things out and tosses it to me. My reflexes are all right thanks to his training, and so I catch it easily. Unfortunately, its slick from sitting in a ice, so naturally I drop it on my face.
I glance apprehensively over at Derik, waiting for him to laugh at me. When he doesn't, I know he's mad at me. He tends to not miss a chance to point out my deficiencies. Apparently he's helping me and he expects me to be tough and blah, blah, blah, but he enjoys cracking a joke at my expense.
Its one of his favorite pastimes.
So when he sits back down and goes back to his pipe without so much as a glance, I know it's bad. Besides that whole show, the air is practically crackling with all the tension.
I twitch a little, wondering if I dare speak up. I don't get this way around many people, not with all I go through. People have no idea, and my dark looks freak them out. The whole shaggy hair thing, pale face, and black eyes. Yeah... people like to sit
on the opposite side of the room from me.
Weirdo. Freak.
"No." I whisper, holding my head in my hands.
Derik grimaces and glances over. "Fight it Jay." he says.
"What do you think I'm trying to do?" I snap through gritted teeth.
He shakes his head. "Not with anger. You know what happens when you start that."
I sigh, hating that he's right. "No other way works Derik. I know that better then you would."
Derik snorts. "Yeah, okay."
I roll my eyes and throw the crazy quilt off suddenly hot. I sit up, and try and pat down my rumpled hair. I attempt
to get up, but a pain in my thigh makes me sit down with a small grunt.
"Wound hasn't fully healed yet." Derik states, stoking the fire.
"No, really?"
Derik completely ignores my snide remark, and settles back in his chair with his pipe.
"Okay so... what's up?" I ask tentatively, hating the coolness.
He says nothing.
"Seriously Derik. I know you. You're mad at me or whatever. What'd I do?"
Still nothing.
I roll my eyes again, and squirm uncomfortably because I know exactly what's wrong. "I mean... its not my fault I've got demons inside me. Its not my fault I was attacked. I did the best I could, and in the end I did defeat them."
Now he just looks at me.
"Well I mean... with... Rage."
He gets up again and puts his hand on the back of his neck like he does when he's deciding between a lecture or a scolding. Then he drags his chair to my bedside, sits calmly down, and folds his hands in front of him.
Yeah. It's going to be a lecture.
"Jay." he begins.
Definitely a lecture.
"Jay, why are you here? Why do you have demons inside you?"
Oh yay, question and answer time. I sigh, and recite "Demons are the servant of the Enemy. He
sends them to hurt those who serve our king."
Derik is obviously not satisfied, but he doesn't push me. "Jay, we all have demons inside us. You're aren't the only one who knows what this is like. We all have to fight them and..." he hesitates for a moment. "Not everyone succeeds."
I stare down at my feet. "But... but I will."
Derik rubs his neck again. "Yeah. Yeah I hope so."
I look at him curiously. There is obviously something he isn't telling me. "What's bothering you?" I ask.
He sighs. "You are progressing. You're learning to be a warrior, but you've still got a major problem."
I know exactly what he's going to say before he says it.
"You take down the demons with another demon, and Jay... Jay that doesn't work. They will never leave you alone if you
keep giving into Rage. You can never destroy evil with more evil."
"I know, I know. I have to think about our king. I have to have his strength."
Derik sighs again. "Jay... Jay I have to tell you something."
Something about his tone makes my stomach turns to knots. "Ah... yeah?"
He looks into my eyes. "The king requests an audience with you."
Shadow People: Part 2
I feel a searing pain. It's almost like claws climbing up inside me. No, scratch that. They are claws. This won't be pretty so you may want to go. There's always a pretty good chance I could die.
No? You want to stick with me?
Your funeral.
I double over, wincing, as I feel the first monster come out of me so that he might face me with his weapons. Which one is it? I blink the sweat out of my eyes, but still I cannot see him. He has to be somewhere. They are always somewhere.
I give a low cry of pain as something sharp hits me and I think it's a dart. I look down at my side hesitantly and yes there it is, jutting out. It's not too big really. It's about the size of a doctor's shot. The problem is that it works the same way as a doctor's needle. It contains some sort of poison, some sort of... oh what does Derik call it?
Oh yeah. Temptation.
The only up side to this, is that I'll know what I'm fighting now. All I have to do is wait for that horrible urge to run through me. At least it’s only a dart this time and not horrible words whispered in my ear.
Not yet anyway.
Suddenly, I long for cash, and lots of it. I don't care how I get it. I'd kill a man for it, I'd betray everyone without the blink of an eye...
"Greed." I whisper hoarsely, fighting the poison.
A smooth, oily voice answers just as it always does.
"Oh, why hello Jay. I didn't see you there."
I don't waste time answering. I learned the consequences of that the first time I really faced Greed alone. Instead, I push in the jewel that decorates my silver ring. A shield comes spiraling out just as three more darts come flying at me. Two, I manage to deflect, but one grazes my thigh.
Another wave of longing for beautiful things come washing over me, stronger then the last one. I want a nice car. I need that sports car I saw last week. Why don't I have it? Why does my life have to be so horrible? Why did my mother have to die? I don’t deserve that…
"SELF PITY!" I bellow in frustration. I didn't even feel him come out of me. I should have known better of course. He always comes right behind Greed. I should have known that after so many years of fighting these guys.
"Now, don't fight me. I'm your friend you know. I always allow you a small piece of comfort, unlike that Shadow King of yours." Self-Pity croons.
"No!" I groan still trying to deflect the flying darts of Greed. They like to attack me together. It seems to be just a game for them. That is, until he comes.
I take a deep breath, and consider getting out my dagger. Most of you are probably calling me an idiot for not have taking it out already. I don't care, because you don't know the whole story. You don't know what happens when I touch that dagger.
"He's getting so tired. Oh Jay." Self-Pity says gently. "You don't have to fight us Jay."
Greed smirks and flings about five more of his darts my way.
Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud.
I grunt at the impact of them. He's using bigger ones now, like he always does when his first few don't get through my
defense.
"Great." I growl.
No! No, I have to be calm. Calm and steady, Derik told me. Calm and steady.
Self-Pity whispers something to Greed that seems to amuse them both. That tactic won't work though. It did once before but
now I'm aware of it.
"Jay, someone else is coming to join us!" Laughs Self-Pity. "Poor you! You won't be able to defeat all of us at once." Then his
whole demeanor changes. "Oh Jay... Oh Jay.... we could be your friends. You know that don't you? We would welcome you with open arms Jay." He looks at me like he's hurt that I won't accept his words.
Maybe... maybe I could. Maybe...
I double over again as I feel another monster coming out of me. This time I'm determined to see him.
Sadly, I don't really have a choice.
This guy is big, dark, and intimidating. He changes a lot, this one. Sometimes he's colorful and inviting. He likes to fluctuate so that he might draw different people in. He also likes to try and read my mind so that he'll know what will work best on me.
Unfortunately, he's good at it.
He is after all, The World.
Taunting faces of his many demons start floating around in my mind. Laughter, horrible laughter, rings in my ears.
"You're a weirdo! A freak! You can't do anything right! You're all alone in the world! You have only shadows and demons for company! Weirdo! Freak! Where's your mommy huh? Did she leave you? Did she abandon you?”
I can feel it coming. I can feel him coming. I have to fight it or…
“WEIRDO! FREAK!”
"NO!" I scream. "NO!" I snatch my dagger out of its sheath. I am done with this. Calm and steady, he says. No more of that. I'll kill them all.
I dive for Greed first and stab him straight in his cold heart. He'll be back of course, but for now he's gone.
"You think you can mess with me?" I bellow. "You think I'm weak?"
I bring Self-Pity down with a swipe of my dagger. He's laughing, and I know that should bother me, but he's the one who's getting stabbed.
I look at The World and he simply laughs at me, and before I can stab the monster he comes at me, making his smaller demons form into the shape of a razor sharp knife. I don't care. I despise this one, and he will die. There isn't a doubt about that. All he does is taunt me… hurt me… scream at me for what I believe in.
He's twenty feet away from me, so I sprint towards him at full speed, desperate to close the distance, to stab him in his horrible, dark, rotten heart.
Fifteen feet away.
Ten feet.
Five.
"NO!" A new voice shouts. "No Jay, no!"
But I am not listening. I don't want to listen. I want to kill this demon, and my fury will help me do that.
I don't get the chance.
The World suddenly gives a cry of pain as a gleaming white arrow flies into him. Three more follow, one after the other, until The World dissolves into a dark, ashy dust.
I scream, my vision tinted with red, and I am ready to murder who ever took my chance. Whoever got in the way, he's going to die as well.
"Jay calm down! Jay, its Derik! Don't give into him!"
Nothing is registering with me except the hot anger boiling inside. My dagger is still in my hand. I can...
Then I realize.
I'm being possessed by another demon.
By Rage.
The fact that I'm aware I'm being possessed makes him weaken his hold on my mind just slightly. I still feel all the anger, and I still feel the longing to do terrible things.
Derik is racing towards me shouting something incoherent. Why wasn't he here before? Why am I so alone all the time? He should have been here with me! This wouldn't be happening if he hadn't abandoned me! Like my mother did.
Oh. Rage shouldn't have done that.
If there is anything that makes me calm down, it's the image of my mother singing a gentle lullaby. That image always come along with the mention of her, no matter who says it.
I have never thought she abandoned me. She did not ask to die. She did not leave me by choice.
Rage seeps out of my mind as her lullaby takes its place.
When Rage leaves, I feel exhausted. I know I'm falling down, but I never hit the ground. Someone caught me... someone always catches me.
I sink into slumber, knowing that I'm safe there.
Even if it’s only for a little while.
No? You want to stick with me?
Your funeral.
I double over, wincing, as I feel the first monster come out of me so that he might face me with his weapons. Which one is it? I blink the sweat out of my eyes, but still I cannot see him. He has to be somewhere. They are always somewhere.
I give a low cry of pain as something sharp hits me and I think it's a dart. I look down at my side hesitantly and yes there it is, jutting out. It's not too big really. It's about the size of a doctor's shot. The problem is that it works the same way as a doctor's needle. It contains some sort of poison, some sort of... oh what does Derik call it?
Oh yeah. Temptation.
The only up side to this, is that I'll know what I'm fighting now. All I have to do is wait for that horrible urge to run through me. At least it’s only a dart this time and not horrible words whispered in my ear.
Not yet anyway.
Suddenly, I long for cash, and lots of it. I don't care how I get it. I'd kill a man for it, I'd betray everyone without the blink of an eye...
"Greed." I whisper hoarsely, fighting the poison.
A smooth, oily voice answers just as it always does.
"Oh, why hello Jay. I didn't see you there."
I don't waste time answering. I learned the consequences of that the first time I really faced Greed alone. Instead, I push in the jewel that decorates my silver ring. A shield comes spiraling out just as three more darts come flying at me. Two, I manage to deflect, but one grazes my thigh.
Another wave of longing for beautiful things come washing over me, stronger then the last one. I want a nice car. I need that sports car I saw last week. Why don't I have it? Why does my life have to be so horrible? Why did my mother have to die? I don’t deserve that…
"SELF PITY!" I bellow in frustration. I didn't even feel him come out of me. I should have known better of course. He always comes right behind Greed. I should have known that after so many years of fighting these guys.
"Now, don't fight me. I'm your friend you know. I always allow you a small piece of comfort, unlike that Shadow King of yours." Self-Pity croons.
"No!" I groan still trying to deflect the flying darts of Greed. They like to attack me together. It seems to be just a game for them. That is, until he comes.
I take a deep breath, and consider getting out my dagger. Most of you are probably calling me an idiot for not have taking it out already. I don't care, because you don't know the whole story. You don't know what happens when I touch that dagger.
"He's getting so tired. Oh Jay." Self-Pity says gently. "You don't have to fight us Jay."
Greed smirks and flings about five more of his darts my way.
Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud.
I grunt at the impact of them. He's using bigger ones now, like he always does when his first few don't get through my
defense.
"Great." I growl.
No! No, I have to be calm. Calm and steady, Derik told me. Calm and steady.
Self-Pity whispers something to Greed that seems to amuse them both. That tactic won't work though. It did once before but
now I'm aware of it.
"Jay, someone else is coming to join us!" Laughs Self-Pity. "Poor you! You won't be able to defeat all of us at once." Then his
whole demeanor changes. "Oh Jay... Oh Jay.... we could be your friends. You know that don't you? We would welcome you with open arms Jay." He looks at me like he's hurt that I won't accept his words.
Maybe... maybe I could. Maybe...
I double over again as I feel another monster coming out of me. This time I'm determined to see him.
Sadly, I don't really have a choice.
This guy is big, dark, and intimidating. He changes a lot, this one. Sometimes he's colorful and inviting. He likes to fluctuate so that he might draw different people in. He also likes to try and read my mind so that he'll know what will work best on me.
Unfortunately, he's good at it.
He is after all, The World.
Taunting faces of his many demons start floating around in my mind. Laughter, horrible laughter, rings in my ears.
"You're a weirdo! A freak! You can't do anything right! You're all alone in the world! You have only shadows and demons for company! Weirdo! Freak! Where's your mommy huh? Did she leave you? Did she abandon you?”
I can feel it coming. I can feel him coming. I have to fight it or…
“WEIRDO! FREAK!”
"NO!" I scream. "NO!" I snatch my dagger out of its sheath. I am done with this. Calm and steady, he says. No more of that. I'll kill them all.
I dive for Greed first and stab him straight in his cold heart. He'll be back of course, but for now he's gone.
"You think you can mess with me?" I bellow. "You think I'm weak?"
I bring Self-Pity down with a swipe of my dagger. He's laughing, and I know that should bother me, but he's the one who's getting stabbed.
I look at The World and he simply laughs at me, and before I can stab the monster he comes at me, making his smaller demons form into the shape of a razor sharp knife. I don't care. I despise this one, and he will die. There isn't a doubt about that. All he does is taunt me… hurt me… scream at me for what I believe in.
He's twenty feet away from me, so I sprint towards him at full speed, desperate to close the distance, to stab him in his horrible, dark, rotten heart.
Fifteen feet away.
Ten feet.
Five.
"NO!" A new voice shouts. "No Jay, no!"
But I am not listening. I don't want to listen. I want to kill this demon, and my fury will help me do that.
I don't get the chance.
The World suddenly gives a cry of pain as a gleaming white arrow flies into him. Three more follow, one after the other, until The World dissolves into a dark, ashy dust.
I scream, my vision tinted with red, and I am ready to murder who ever took my chance. Whoever got in the way, he's going to die as well.
"Jay calm down! Jay, its Derik! Don't give into him!"
Nothing is registering with me except the hot anger boiling inside. My dagger is still in my hand. I can...
Then I realize.
I'm being possessed by another demon.
By Rage.
The fact that I'm aware I'm being possessed makes him weaken his hold on my mind just slightly. I still feel all the anger, and I still feel the longing to do terrible things.
Derik is racing towards me shouting something incoherent. Why wasn't he here before? Why am I so alone all the time? He should have been here with me! This wouldn't be happening if he hadn't abandoned me! Like my mother did.
Oh. Rage shouldn't have done that.
If there is anything that makes me calm down, it's the image of my mother singing a gentle lullaby. That image always come along with the mention of her, no matter who says it.
I have never thought she abandoned me. She did not ask to die. She did not leave me by choice.
Rage seeps out of my mind as her lullaby takes its place.
When Rage leaves, I feel exhausted. I know I'm falling down, but I never hit the ground. Someone caught me... someone always catches me.
I sink into slumber, knowing that I'm safe there.
Even if it’s only for a little while.
Shadow People: Part 1
Not many people know. Not many suspect. And if they did, they’d think I was crazy. They may be right. Maybe I am insane. I don’t really know. All I know for certain is that only I can see them. My Shadow People.
You probably think that this is some work of fiction. Something someone typed up because they were bored. You’re wrong. This is real. I am real.
And I am dangerous.
I doubt that you’ll ever meet me. That you’ll ever lay eyes on me. Even if you do, you won’t remember. I can promise you that. I always have managed to not be noticed. My mother said it was because I had a gift. My teachers claimed I was just a special case. My peers… well, they said I was strange. A weirdo. A freak.
They were spot on.
You want to know about my Shadow People don’t you? I’ll tell you. You won’t believe what I say, but I’ll tell you. They are the ones who taught me. Nurtured me. Had my back. Some people may call them my friends.
Problem with that is, I don’t have “friends”.
I know I’m gloomy. It happens when you’re alone in the world with only shadows for company.
“What about your mother?” people ask.
I may as well inform you that she’s dead. Has been for a long time. I prefer not to talk about it, so that’s all you need to know.
About my Shadow People. They are very, very real. Most people cannot see them, but I can, and there is a reason for that. I’ve always been able to, and when I was little I thought others could too.
Wrong. As usual.
Guess you can picture what you would have thought if some little boy babbled to you about his “dark guys”. That’s what I used to call them. The Dark Guys. When I was tiny, people excused it.
“Kids will be kids.” They laughed. “He’s got a roaring imagination, that one.”
That confused me a little. I knew that imagination meant that you were pretending. I wasn’t pretending. Only my mom took me seriously, and I used to think that was because she was patronizing me.
Now I’m not so sure.
It was when I went to pre-school when I finally got that other kids were not like me. They simply gave me blank stares when I pointed out Derik to them.
Who’s Derik?
Oh, that’s right, you’re new to my whole messed up life. Sorry. Allow me to enlighten you.
Derik is my Master. No, he doesn’t possess me or anything like that. He teaches me. The arts of the Shadow People. He says I may as well be one, and never explains further. That’s just the way Derik is. Of course I have my suspicions about my past, but I’m usually wrong.
Derik was always around. Not so much anymore though. Back when I was a little kid, he barely left my side. I was fine with that. He did protect me from the monsters with those arrows of his.
We’ll talk about the monsters soon enough. Don’t you worry. In fact you’ll probably meet them sooner than you’d like, as I’m running from them.
Well, pretty soon I learned to keep my mouth shut about the Shadow People. Too late though. I’ve been in the same school my entire life, with the same kids. It’s a tiny little private school, so no escape. The kids knew me, and they remembered.
"There goes the freak!" they'd yell. "Where's the Dark Guys, Jay?"
That's right. I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Jay. I've got sixteen miserable years under my belt. Most people know me as Freak.
Needless to say, I got tired of hiding in the back of the class room in my hoodie. Like I said, Derik hasn't been around. It's part of your training, he says. You'll become a warrior, he says.
Ha.
I'll probably be dead in no time at all. The monsters are coming... I cannot see them... I can feel them.
They are inside me.
I said Derik didn't possess me. I just sort of forgot to mention that I've got monsters living inside me. Lot's of them. They come in all shapes and sizes and I know them well.
There's Greed, and he isn't pretty. He's got some moves. I've got a dagger that can take him down though, if I hit him in just the right spot. Then there's The World, and he's crazy freaky. He's one huge demon made up of all sorts of tiny ones and they've got these darts... a few hits aren't fatal, but if I don't have my shield around... the sight won't be pretty. Next comes Everlasting
Sorrow. She's... strangely beautiful in a sick way. She calls to you in this... this voice. Tells me she's comforting. She'll take my hurt away. I've only recently learned how to wound her. Not kill her. Wound her. She's still there.
Then.
My worst enemy.
The one I will someday be murdered by.
Rage.