A World Apart

by Loui Downing

  “!ekawa…ekawA” cried Agot, holding the doll tight.

  “This is utter nonsense!” shouted Alexandra, making Agot lose his concentration and the stone fell of the doll.

  “Please, I need quietness to perform this!” replied Agot calmly. Alexandra refrained from adding anymore upset to the situation and bottled up her beliefs.

  “Right everyone shut your eyes!” instructed Agot, watching them all close their eyes straight away, apart from Alexandra who opened and closed rapidly to see what he was up to. Agot threw the smaller stone held in his hand right at Neville. It hit the much larger stone, which was now red and glowing. It crashed and made an almighty bang. Puffs of smoke fluctuated vertically and sparks flew around the room; crackling and vanishing as they swirled. The group all opened their eyes and moved away from Neville. Neville’s eyes emerged out of the swamping of white that floated.

  “Neville!” said Edward, as they both hugged each other. Neville didn’t question the hug as he was half asleep still and wondered where he was.

  “Agot thank you!” cried Edward, holding Neville with all his might. Agot shrugged and noticed Alexandra cancel out her congratulation at being a magical gangloi; she saw right through his tricks, but remained thankful anyhow. The two stayed in an embrace of gratitude. The others felt unsure how to react to the situation so they just smiled and stayed silent.

  Agot ran into the kitchen as if he had remembered something highly important he had to do.

  “Agot, where are you going? You need to help us!” announced Edward, now free from his brother’s arms that were draped over him.

  “I cannot help you. You want to go in the secret door. I cannot allow this. There are things happening in there now that no-one has ever seen before” cried Agot; his voice weakened as he jogged through the kitchen and back into Henry’s bedroom.

  “I can’t believe this, why did he help us earlier and now he cannot help?” said Alexandra, outraged at Agot’s collateral effect on everyone’s morale.

  “I think there is more that is known by people of this place…this room…the creatures…especially ‘that door’. I’ve seen letters, photos, tools and even notes from our parents that sound vague” detailed Neville, as though he had been dying to divulge the information for a long time.

  “Wow…. that is a lot of information to take in at a time Neville!” said Francesca, trying to lighten the mood.

  “What letter?” enquired Edward; looking up at Neville like a towering tree. Neville shuffled himself whilst looking for the piece of paper. He straightened it out so it was readable and passed it over to Edward who read it to himself.

  “Well?” said Alexandra impatiently.

  “It sounds as though they were being forced not to say anything!” replied Edward; folding the letter and giving it back to Neville.

  “Why would you say that?!” piped up Francesca, sounding nervous.

  “I’m unsure, but from the way the letter is written it’s as though our father knows something about our past” replied Neville, speaking over Edward. Edward nodded with agreement to what Neville was saying. He too was wondering what it could have been that his father knew.

  The thought of mentioning Zoom at this point in time was surely too risky. Neville almost told them where he had seen the letter but stopped the words from leaving the tip of his tongue. The group was looking very distressed by the events leading up to now; it was as though someone has emptied their souls. They stood for a while, all wondering and questioning what had happened; only to be faced with barriers to their answers.

  “Agot, we need you!” shouted Alexandra, watching him walk of promptly trying to avoid detection. Despite her efforts, Agot continued to walk away; his footsteps short and sharp as they bashed against each step of the stairs.

  “You’re our only hope!” added Francesca, bursting into life and shocking everyone in the process. The group seemed to give up and resort to conjuring up a plan themselves.

  “Come on, we must find him. He knows more than he says he knows. If only we could find out what happened to our families!” wished Edward; his eyes drifting with the slithering cloud that dared to cross the moon light sky.

  “Look, Agot helped us before. I don’t see why he would be against us now. He was brought here by someone, so he must feel the same way as we do” said Alexandra, assessing the gloomy expressions all around her. Agot paused as his final foot was about to be plonked down. He stared down towards the floor, as though he was addressing them below. He regrettably placed his foot down and briskly walked into Henry’s room and slammed the door shut.

  “Where are you going?” asked Edward, as Alexandra made for the landing.

  “I think he is escaping! Follow me!” replied Alexandra, short of breath. Everyone looked at each other for a reaction, only to find that everyone’s reactions were impaired. Francesca was the first to dash for the stairs, soon to be followed by the rest. They got to the top of the landing only to see Alexandra struggling to open the door.

  “He must have enchanted it!” cried Francesca, as they all pushed as hard as they could against the door. Neville took charge of the situation and bashed the door as they all watched in astonishment as the brown bullied wood spread across the Henry’s bedroom; leaving nothing put a trail of chippings in its path. The room was dim and dark. Too dark to even make out everyday objects. Neville was a few footsteps in the room when a single round light immerged from the bitter blackness. An outline of a figure around the light stood behind a table whispering at a rapid rate. The group stood in silence as they anticipated their actions.

  Behind Agot was a blue so bright that it made everyone squint. A webbed concoction of weaving blues and whites swirled around in the centre of the mysterious object as though it was liquid. The spirals continued as far as the eye could see, as the group realised it was three-dimensional. The figure’s face came into view with a flash from the object nearby. Agot stood looking evil at the children. He checked his timepiece and moved towards the gaping hole.

  “Where are you going?” Edward demanded, outraged at Agot’s urge to vacate them all so suddenly. Alexandra grabbed Edward’s arm prudently in an attempt to halt his seamless questioning. She felt a tittering twinge of guilt as she began commending his morality. Edward had not noticed the firm warm fingers latched onto his arm; for he was too tense and fully emerged in what the object near Agot. Agot leaped into life as they all watched his body vanish into the centre of the object. The group battled their beliefs on what had just occurred. Their discussions culled by the appearance of the shiny object. A single piece of paper blew out of the centre and floated to the floor.

  “‘Dear friend, I apologise sincerely for the abundant scatterings around Agot’s room. He really is one of a kind, or should I say two. My name is Vandalle Etren Flouc-ret, I am from Illen and I have a small task to ask of you. You will find out more in time; simply join me here in Illen. VeF, Head of Trolls’” read Edward aloud; slowing towards the end in a trance at the meaning of the note.

  “Van-dee flock-o whatever! Sounds more like a girl to me” said Neville under miming the notes integrity. The appearance of the note came as no surprise, just like the words that left Edward’s mouth soon after. Troublesome groans circled the group as they pondered their decisions. Blue sparks flew out of the centre of the object, crashing and scraping against Francesca’s cranium unnoticeably to her. Edward’s food rocked on the wooden floor like a propelled swing and a smooth glide in the breeze. He was so sure of his actions that he saw no remorse for what he was about to do.

  He ceased the note and launched head first towards the object, arms stretched, and just like Agot he disappeared with a thickening of smoke and a clattering bang.

  

  A weary picture came into Jessica’s sleepy vision. It was not one that she had hoped for. A small green creature starred into her eyes. Jessica halted her reaction and pretended to be asleep still to avoid him noticing.

  “Awake
Then!” screamed the leafy creature. Jessica pounced forward and accidentally bumped heads with the creature. The creature’s eyes crossed and he fell in a heap. She was anticipating the worst of what her actions may have caused, although nothing happened. Her vision was still impaired but she could make out the various objects around her. She appeared to be in a kitchen of some sort as she noticed cooking utensils on a table in the middle of the room. There was something odd about the smell; it was very earthy and rich.

  Majtak had been hurtled over a chair in an uncomfortable position.

  “Majtak…Majtak, wake up!” said Jessica carefully checking that no-one was around in her desperate attempt to wake him. Still he lay there in a tranquil state dreaming. Jessica spotted several creatures outside of the window walking towards the door. She panicked and stayed still; closing her eyes as she watched the creatures through the tiny gap between her eyelashes. Flex appeared behind the horrid green creatures trying to attract her attention. She was unsure whether he was aiming his efforts at her but soon realised he was after a prompt from the awoken Majtak. Flex waggled his stick around and instructed for them to follow him out of the propped door where he resides. The creatures were gathered around what Majtak thought of as a baby toy table and chairs. An older creature with shorter hair than the rest was giving some instructions using whatever he could find. Majtak slipped past Flex as he kept a still eye on the creatures and urged Jessica to make a dash as the creatures looked as though they were finishing their talks. Jessica hobbled to the door; her leg partly sedated from laying in the same position for too long. They exited the room and Flex reached for the inner suit pocket where he extracted a large golden coin. He flipped it and to Jessica and Majtak the surroundings changed completely.

  “This where you two will be spending the evening, courtesy of my family of course!” said Flex, removing his jacket and placing it onto a nearby stool, revealing his shiny ginger fur. A lady fox entered the room, thin and very garrulous; offering Jessica and Majtak many nibbles and comforts, which they refused politely.

  “Come on dear, don’t trouble the guests!” said Flex to his wife Deakin, placing his empty pipe down and taking a stool for himself.

  “Where are we?” said Majtak nervously.

  “Why this is my home! This is where you shall be staying, for now that is. How else to you get around the place!” replied Flex, shaking his head and looking to Deakin; mockingly creating spirals in midair close to his head as though their question was of sheer stupidity.

  “I think you both need some rest. Those gremlins are a new breed of nasty I say” said Flex; chuckling to himself. Jessica and Majtak were battered and bruised and to comfort them Flex arranged that his wife Deakin ran them baths and fattened their stomachs, even if there was too much rabbit on the menu.

  Flex as he escorted them after they could eat no more to a tiny room that housed two small beds made from twigs, straw and leaves. They thanked Flex and began to lie down for the night as the great moon powered through a tiny hole above their heads.

  “See you yesterday!” said Flex as he started to unravel a wooden sheeting to cover the archway to the room. Majtak’s eyes widened as he rapidly looked at Jessica.

  “Flex” said Jessica before Flex had chance to leave.

  “Yes” replied Flex, collecting the wooden slats together and clipping back above the archway.

  “Those creatures tonight, did you say they were goblins?” enquired Jessica, as she sat upright on the painful arrangement of wilderness.

  “Ah, no I was just erm-joking of course, you both get some rest now you’ll need it for today!” replied Flex, unravelling the slats down as they crashed to the hard mud ground.

  “This is crazy. This place is far too strange!” said Majtak; standing up and wiping his clothes down.

  “Yes I know, but at the moment they are all we have of finding our way back from this place!” replied Jessica, reasoning with Majtak.

  “You make it seem like talking to animals and sleeping on a bed of sticks is normal. I don’t want any of this all I want is to go home and I’m not staying here to find out!” said Majtak, reddening in the face with outrage.

  “Majtak they can help us I’m sure of it!” replied Jessica; her efforts making no difference whatsoever as Majtak lifted the slats that covered the archway and headed out into the main living area. The moon had dimmed its brightness which made it difficult for Majtak to recognise objects. He fumbled around before noticing something outside. He tiptoed over to the large hole above that he assumed was a window. There he saw two goblins gawping down at him waiting, their eyes bloodshot as their long golden hair flapped uncontrollably. Majtak yelped and looked away. A great shiver ran from the bottom of his back to the tip of his head. He stood still as he felt a breath behind him. A hand was placed on his shoulder as he screamed aloud and pushed over the breathing figure behind him.

  “What’s wrong with you! It’s me!” assured Jessica as she assessed the muddy palms of her hands and rose.

  “I thought you were one of them!” replied Majtak; panting heavily.

  “One of what?” questioned Jessica.

  “A goblin. I just saw one just then above me” continued Majtak; his voice becoming more reckless than ever. Majtak ushered Jessica to below the window as they both looked up and were astonished to find that all that was visible was a middle-aged tree gloating back down at them.

  “It’s gone! It was right there just a minute ago!” cried Majtak, trying to prove his sanity when a voice was heard that made them feel safe again.

  “I have heard about human curiosity and it is never always a good thing!” said Flex; sat cross-legged in an armchair near a tiny fire wearing a nightcap and gown.

  “Come, sit. If I have read correctly about you creatures I can help prevent your minds from wondering” instructed Flex; offering a stool and a glass of milk to them both. Jessica walked over right away and sat close to Flex. Majtak approached cautiously and sat a distance away from the fox as though his faith was spiraling down a never-ending well.

  “What has happened to us? Why are we here?” asked Majtak, scarily remembering the bulging red eyes of the goblin outside.

  “Personally, I can say that I thought your kind was a myth. This is the first time I have met a human” replied Flex, showing them both a book from the nearside shelf. ‘The Human Kind’ by E.J.Slade, read the title. Childlike pictures of humans scattered across the book, causing Jessica to undermine the rest of Flexs’ jingling jabbering. Flex flicked through the nine-hundred and fifty-seven paged book, locating the chapter, ‘A Human’s Philosophy and Lifestyle’.

  “This section is really intriguing. I know some of your basic needs, especially after reading ‘Generous assumptions’ book; a novel for young adults. It is quite humorous.

  “That’s all very well but I’m merely concerned with getting back home! This place is odd; I mean why does it say ‘written by a beetle for an earthworm’ on this book. It’s like a dream!” concluded Majtak; poking his rather nobbly thin fingers at a dusty old hardback book.

  “You should never insult an eartworm! You would regret it for the rest of the life you would have!” threw Flex as the words cannoned over Majtak and Jessica. Jessica watched over the conversation, struggling to get a word in. Majtak’s continuous bombardment towards Flex was irritating just to watch.

  “Why, what’s an earthworm to do, he has no arms and legs for a start!” mocked Majtak; totally unhindered by Flexs’ warnings.

  “Right you are. This is the very reason why their work is scribed by young beetles who have the talent” explained Flex.

  “An earthworm has many hearts even though they are just one. I find your questioning offensive and contradicting. Something with such a great number of hearts is surely to be blessed. For one heart to be lonely is an agonising drain. I doubt that one human could ever feel that pain” rattled Flex, now comfortably sat at his desk with his legs propped up high; placing a pipe in his shar
p mouth.

  “So, you want to know what you are doing here do you?!” said Flex after carefully deliberation.

  “Yes of course!” replied Majtak; agitated and tired of the lack of information he was being given.

  “It all began a long time ago in 1946 just after the second world war that was going on I believe. A future researcher named Rochento Fubelinos Mussio, a student at the University of Cambridge; aged twenty and approaching his final exams. A group formed after class one week early November where Rochento and three other classmates would carry of experiments too dangerous for university labs. They used to sneek out of their houses and all meet up, never the same time or same place twice. One particular dark night on the sixth of January 1947 at 11:52pm was to go down in history forever. A physicist named Mary Gorgia Hemming was invited to participate in one experiment named ‘the foure’s’. Rochento’s friends turned up in their usual cloaks with books under their arms. Andrew Port was an outrageous character, excited by the smallest of successes. Angus Marshall was more reserved in comparison to Andrew, always finishing his work early and his kindness won over his stunning girlfriend, which the more boisterous boys in the class would envy over. Finally, there’s Sharon Rig; a vegan from Norwich. Sharon despises most people and controversial views, making her the least person to agree on a particular danger in one of their experiments. Their experiments were usually carried out at a random location to avoid conspiracy and detection. That night Mary was getting ready to meet them all after arranging so I class earlier that day. “Seven-o’clock, the old warehouse, Dinglery Avenue, Cambridge” recalled Mary; Rochento’s voice making her feel sleepy. She looked deep into her desk mirrors and brushed her short brunette hair. Her parents were away on vacation in the Maldives, so she was being overlooked by Maggie; her sleepy Scottish grandmother. The sound of her gradmother’s loud crackling snore came slithering into her bedroom. She packed her rucksack as she pushed the door shut. Test tubes, funnels and other scientific equipments were lying on the desk waiting to be put in her rucksack. Unlike other parents, hers despise her relentless experiments and they dissuade her from taking part, although she has acquired cunning ways around their disapproval. Her father is a traditionalist and has always liked his job at the bank. Her mother enjoyed being a housewife most of the time, although she does occasionally peer at the neighbour’s gardener with jealousy. The floorboards groaned as she crept downstairs. Maggie’s head was visible as she was sat on the settee in the lounge. A news bulletin had just finished on the wireless and now some young child was talking enthusiastically about some canned meat. Her house door closed almost silently as she left trying to avoid detection.