“Dan! Where are you?!”

“I’m here…”

“Run, Dan, run!”

“I don’t want to!”

“Why won’t run, run damnit!”

“But I want to save you!”

“Dan… take care of yourself.”

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”



“Kid… up… kid wa… up you…” I woke up, gasping for fresh, cold air. “Hey kid, wake up, you okay? You were mumbling in your sleep again. Looks like you were about burst out screaming, need water? What about a sandwich?” I was drenched in warm sweat, one hand clenching my chest, the other reaching out in front of me searching for an invisible figure.

“No thanks, Ryan,” I whispered hoarsely. “It happened, I’ve got to learn to deal with this myself.” Ryan grunted.

“Well if you need someone to talk to, just ask.” He spoke softly, comfort expressed in each syllable.



Sorry about that, got a bit mixed up for a second. Here is my introduction- I’m Dan Fenix. I wouldn’t want to bore you to sleep with the details, so I’ll cut right to the chase- my parents died in an arson blaze. What? Did you want me to be a little subtler? Well, it’s not like I’m glad they’re dead, just… it happened. Why break down in a pool of tears if my parents wanted me to live? That’s a good parent, one that takes extra measures for their child’s safety and manners. Anyway, enough of that, if you haven’t guessed, I’m about to take off back to London to live with my grandpa. Ryan Cooper, or just Ryan, is a good friend of my grandpa, raced straight to California once he heard the bad news. He has a gruff demeanour, but I assure you, this jokester with sixty years under his belt has done quite a bit for my family, I knew him ever since I was born. His chin coated in a thin, grey beard that is surprisingly pleasant to the touch. Now, where were we?



A soft rumble emitted under the suitcase wheels grinding against the uneven street, it was midday when we arrived at the antique shop my grandpappy did his usual business in. Sneaking across the sky was a shade of brilliant royal blue, accompanied by the occasional fluffy cloud or two. London was transitioning into the summer, so bustle was usual business too. Ryan decided to buy some nutrition to maintain my physical form, but this wasn’t London to me, it was home. The sight, the smell, the feeling, it all was too perfect- if only my parents could be here too. I could have saved them. If only I did…

“Now, now, don’t drift off yet,” laughed Ryan. “Grandpa Toby is up ahead, go. I will be there in a bit, just going to get some food.” He cracked a smile. I return a smile. I suddenly feel light-headed, perhaps my parents are smiling above me too. It wasn’t meant to last.



Staring through the window, I register all the new antiques Grandpa collected. However, my focus shifts to sign on the chestnut door.

“Closed?!” I exclaim, “It’s the middle of a working day!” Reaching out for the shiny, silver handle, I curiously try to open the door. It unlocks, creaking inside, the same chime of bells ring above me. Big beady eyes of timeworn, wooden owls, or other woodland animals, pierced the tense expectation I envisioned clean in two halves. Disappointment and horror. “Grandpa?” I ask tentatively. “Are you there?” No response. Was gramps too ill to come to work? No… was this a put-on? Was Ryan is on… no, they wouldn’t joke with me, especially not now. “Where are you, this isn’t funny!?” A blatant tone of desperation washed over my words. Hesitantly, I shuffled my way into the dark depths of the shop. Across the antique-filled shelves, behind the counter, and… I pause before entering the ‘manager room’. It was a manger only area, and although there were no employees, I never knew what it was for, hence the ‘manager room’. “Hold on…” I whispered. Sounds emitted through the door, from another language, not intelligible, but not human. My breathing quickened, my hands moistening from the new layer sweat emerging. Unpleasant, freezing sweat. Signals delivered from my brain stopped functioning. Hammering against my ribcage, my heart thudded at the prospect of trespassing into unknown land. Soon enough, my entire body trembled, an uncertain decision to be made. Luckily, a decision that quickly resolved, if resolved is considered the right word. Thud. Eerie silence follows… It happened too fast. Rooting my body to the ground, the door crashed open, a split second of unbearable screeching engulfed my ears, vibrant green light spilling into the open, shadows dancing along the marble walls unable to assume any form or shape. This wasn't usual business. Finally, peace settled. Peace, but one that didn’t agree with me. In accordance with my judgement, the peace departed as swift as it arrived. But…

“Come back!” Mom? Dad? “Come back to us! We miss you!” There was no mistake. It was them.

“I’m coming, where are you?!” I panicked. There was no other objective to accomplish other than this one, one that I would fulfil, risk or no.

“Here! Here!” They replied… on the inside of the room. Standing in the doorway, I finally received of an image of the inside of the room. Squeezed into the middle of the room was a bright, shining light- no visible source of where the light came from, and no parents. Concluding the voice came from the light, I sprinted for it, leaving no time to spare. Nothing mattered, nothing mattered except them. I will save them. I want to save them. I need to save them.

*



To be continued…