by Hoyt, Joshua
John pushed him again. “Run for the car. Now!”
Tom came to his senses enough to start moving toward the car. Glancing over his shoulder he saw the door to the orphanage open. He stopped, wondering who would be stupid enough to come out into this mayhem.
The headmaster stepped out, armed with a shotgun. He shrank when he saw the chaos around the orphanage and beholding the light and fire that was spitting from the woman’s hands. His face went white and he lowered the weapon. He frantically turned and a bullet hit him in the arm. He went down with a thud and crept back into the orphanage.
John pushed Tom yet again. “Tom, move!”
As Tom approached the car he saw perspiration and blood on the woman’s face. Her eyes were no longer blue, but had turned to a swirling dark gray. She was leaning on the car for support. John threw Tom into the car with one hand while firing his gun with the other. He then helped the woman in and yelled at the driver to go.
The car started with a lurch, John jumped in slamming the door closed. Tom lay on the car floor looking up at the woman who was slumped against the wall. She looked back and studied him for a moment. “I hope you’re worth it, I'm Kristiana and this is John” she said.
The car rumbled down the graveled road and Tom dragged himself up to the seat facing Kristiana. John wiped at the blood that was running down his face with the rag that Kristiana handed to him. “Thanks Kris.”
Kristiana said to Tom, “You don’t seem to be hurt too bad.”
The adrenaline wore off and Tom began to shake as he realized how close to death he had come. He struggled to speak, “W-w-w-who are you?”
Laughing slightly the woman looked at John, then back to Tom. “Why, we are your new family.” Kristiana then closed her eyes and was soon asleep.
John, on the other hand, stayed attentive as he reloaded his gun and cleaned his sword. Tom watched him clean his sword, wondering where they were headed and if he had really made the right choice last night.
Chapter 5:
The car never slowed as it swung around corners and up hills. It was different from other cars Tom had seen. It was spacious and the seats were soft and comfortable. He looked through the dark windows wondering at the changing landscape that flew by. He sat alone on one bench that faced Kristiana and John. He couldn’t see the driver because of a dark glass wall that separated them. He found to his surprise that there were drinks in a small fridge which John told him he could have.
He opened the small fridge staring at the strange bottle that had some sort of liquid in it. John must have noticed his hesitation and grabbed the bottle from him. With a quick jerk of his knife he popped the lid off and handed the bottle back. Tom tilted the bottle back and the cold liquid ran down his throat. He smiled and then drank greedily. John only smiled.
Tom finished the drink then looked up at John. “Where’re we going?”
John stopped sharpening his blade. “We’re going to the mansion of Archelaus. You’ll go to school there and learn how to fight.”
Tom looked out the window and saw that the trees were different and that it was no longer snowing. The sun had come out and warmed his face. He looked back at John. “Is Archelaus a good man?”
John looked down for a second then back to Tom. “You’ll have little to worry about. He is a rich man and he has much power.”
Tom’s eyebrows wrinkled, then deciding he wouldn’t get any other answer, asked, “Who were those men at the orphanage?”
Putting his sword and whetstone down, John rubbed his legs. “They belong to the Red Dragon Clan.” He leaned forward and put his hand on Tom’s knee. “Kris and I are here to protect you. You don’t need to worry about them.” He leaned back and continued sharpening his sword.
Tom sat back in the seat and looked out the window again. The fear began to ebb and was replaced with exhaustion. Breathing slower, he fell into a deep sleep.
He dreamed he was in a beautiful meadow with a small pond. The meadow was surrounded by aspens whose leaves rustled in the warm breeze. It tickled his skin and the smell of spring reminded him of home. The birds sang and a fawn with its mother was drinking peacefully from the pond.
The sun slowly made its way across the meadow and began to set. The fish jumped at the insects and birds flew overhead. The sun was nearly down and the shadows cast by the trees began to cover the small meadow. Quietness grew and his heart began to beat faster, his breathing became shallow.
To his horror the pond had turned red and the trees were black and charred. There was no longer green grass spotted with white flowers but only hard black ground that was cracked and scorched by heat. He looked up, seeing only blackness. The howling wind rushed through the lifeless limbs of the trees bringing a bitter chill. A man’s shadow was creeping slowly across the dead meadow toward Tom. A dreadful howl chilled him to the center of his bones. Shaking uncontrollably, he cried out for help.
Someone grabbed his arms. He tried to run, but his legs were stuck. He looked down and saw that they had become part of the ground. He screamed again hoping that someone could save him from this nightmare. He heard his name and felt someone shaking him but couldn’t see anyone.
Tom watched as his legs slowly turned to hard, cold, earth.
“Tom, wake up.” The voice sounded so far away.
He tried to focus on the voice. The earth quickened its climb up his body. The voice came again this time much closer, as if it was just outside the clearing. The ground was now just past his midsection and ascending rapidly.
His mind was telling him to do something, anything, but there was nothing he could do to stop it. The voice that was now next to him, chanted strange words. He struggled to breathe as the earth moved past his chest and to his throat.
A light appeared around him and the earth ran off him like water. Tom turned to face the one who had saved him. The face was familiar, but as hard as he tried he could not tell who it was. Just as he was about to remember he was shaken and the dream was gone.
“Tom, Tom, are you ok?” John asked.
Trembling and feeling a cold sweat streaming down his face, Tom opened his eyes. He sat up and grabbed his legs expecting to feel dirt. He sighed with relief and lay back. He stared at John not daring to close his eyes.
“Its ok, it was just a dream,” John said.
For the first time in many years Tom saw compassion for him as John comforted him.
“You can tell me about the dream,” John said.
“I-I don’t know what it was, i-i-it was just a dream about a meadow, I-I can’t remember,” Tom said.
John looked at Kristiana, concern on his face and then back to Tom.
“It’s important that you remember your dreams.” Kristiana leaned toward Tom and whispered, “It’s ok, you can tell us about it. We are just worried about you and want to help you.”
Tom looked into Kristiana’s blue eyes and a peculiar sensation came over him. He told her about the beautiful meadow and how he had felt so much peace there, more than any other place in his life. How it had gotten dark and everything seemed to be burned. How the dark shadow appeared and he trembled from the memory. He rubbed his legs as he told her about his body turning to dirt. He started to tell her about the whispering voice but couldn’t. He tried again with no success.
“Tom, is that all you saw?” Kristiana asked.
Tom looked into the mesmerizing eyes a split second longer then looked out the window. “Yeah, that was all.”
Kristiana pulled on Tom’s shoulder. “It’s very important that you tell me everything.”
He looked back to her not knowing what to say. The car stopped. Tom fell back hard against the seat and shook his head as if coming out of a daze.
Kristiana smiled at him and said, “It was just a nightmare, nothing more than that.”
He wasn’t so sure about that.
John opened the door and got out of the car. The dream left as he faced the new wonders ahead.
Tom stared
at the mansion. “This place is huge!”
John smiled at Tom. “Let’s go, time to see your new home.”
They walked up stone stairs that led to two double doors that stood open. The two men that stood in front of the doors had black suits on with high boots that came up to their knees. One had a huge axe strapped to his back while the other looked to be unarmed. They stood with their backs to the wall and looked off into space as if they were the only ones around.
Tom turned looking at the graveled driveway circling around a fountain. The fountain was of a maiden holding a bow at the ready standing on a ball. Water splashed into the pond beneath.
John beckoned. “This way.”
Tom staggered up the stairs following John and Kristiana. A huge balcony overlooked the stairs. The railing was made of granite and looked as smooth as glass. Two flags, stuck into the side of the balcony, were waving softly on the cool breeze. The flags were white with a golden crown and two crossed swords in the center. Four pillars held the balcony up, each made of grey granite, and around the bases roaring lions had been carved. Tom felt as if the lions were warning him that he had to be on his best behavior.
Tom looked closer at the lions and their eyes seemed to study him intently. He felt as if they could see right through him, into his very soul. He hurried past.
The guards paid him little heed and he entered through the double doors into the entryway. His feet slid on the black marble. Looking up at the walls he wondered who the paintings were of. Looking to the right and left he saw two huge rooms that appeared to be sitting rooms. The staircase leading up in front of him went up about ten feet then split to join again at the landing above.
Tom was surprised to see a painting of the young man he had met in the alley. Tom felt a renewed trust in the man. In the painting he wore a white suit and a crown that looked similar to the one on the flag outside. Tom pointed at the picture and asked, “Who’s that?”
Kristiana looked up at the painting and with a small smile, replied, “That’s Archelaus.” She bounded up the stairs.
John looked at the painting. “You must remember one rule if you wish to survive this house. What he tells you to do, you do, no questions, no ifs, ands, or buts, just do it,” John said.
Tom nodded and started up the stairs but stopped when John grabbed his shoulder. He turned and John pointed to one of the side rooms. “This way.”
Tom stepped off the staircase, looking over his shoulder one last time at the painting of Archelaus. He followed John into the sitting room and then toward an oak door which swung open on its own. He jumped and John snickered. Tom blushed and looked at the ground.
John looked over at him and hit him in the shoulder. “Don’t worry about it, it catches all the new comers off guard.”
The two went through the door and down a long hallway that was lined with more oak doors smaller than the automatic door. As they walked down the long hall he wondered how big the house was. Finally, they came to a closed door at the end of the hallway.
John looked at Tom and motioned for him to enter. Tom opened the heavy oak door and looked inside. A man was sitting at a desk busily writing something in a book.
“Come in and close the door,” the man said in a brusque voice. He continued writing as Tom entered the large room. “Sit down.”
Tom hurried to the only other chair in the room that sat in front of the large wooden desk. There were papers piled all over the desk in haphazard stacks.
“What’s your name?”
“My name is Tom, sir.”
“How old are you?”
“Thirteen, sir.”
The man scratched the answers down in his book without even a glance at Tom, “When is your birthday?”
“January first, sir.”
“You will be bunking with Cody in room 53. Make sure that you check into the supply room before going up to your room.”
He then motioned for Tom to leave still making scratching noises with his pen and still bent over his books. Tom slowly got up and headed for the door. As he reached the door it opened and a man rushed in, almost knocking Tom to the ground. He rushed up to the man at the desk and slammed a stack of papers on to the desk. The man at the desk continued writing in his books as the newcomer stood impatiently in front of him.
The newcomer leaned over, putting his hands on the desk to support his weight. “Hansen, we have a problem. There’s something wrong with our calculations. We need to meet tonight with the council.” He leaned in closer. “Hansen, are you listening to me?”
Hansen finished writing a line or two then slowly looked up at the other man. “We will meet tonight at seven. Bring your calculations, we’ll go over them together and find the problem.” Almost as an after thought he added, “We will present it to them at eight.”
With that the man named Hansen continued to write, heeding the other man no more. The man turned on his heels, his face was red with anger and he pushed past Tom out the door. Tom looked down at the papers and before Hansen could pull them away he read, “THE BOMB.” Tom had never seen that word before.
John started down the hallway and motioned for Tom to follow. He began following. “What does Bomb mean?”
John stopped. “Where did you hear about that?”
Tom wrenched his hands. “I saw it on Hansen’s desk.”
John looked back at the room briefly then continued down the hall. “I’m not sure, but you don’t need to worry about it.”
“So, who are you going to be bunking with?” John asked.
“Someone named Cody, in room 53. Hansen said that I needed to stop at the supply room before going to my room.”
“I’ll take you to the supply room first and then I’ll introduce you to Cody. He’ll be an excellent roommate. He’s a good teacher and always performs at the top of his class.”
“So, is this some sort of school or what is this place exactly?”
“This is both a school and a base of operations. This is where you will train to protect yourself and learn how to be a good citizen for the new order.” John paused and turned toward Tom. “This is a good place for you right now. Work hard, learn all you can and follow the rules.”
John looked at Tom for a few more moments then started walking again. I hope Cody’s nicer than Jacob. I hope the classes aren’t as boring as the ones at the orphanage. I can’t believe that guy in the alley is real. I hope he’s as kind as Thaddeus.
“Is Archelaus kind?” Tom asked.
John’s eyes clouded. “Archelaus is Archelaus. You will need to make up your own mind as to what he is. If you do as you are told, you will see him as a kind person but if not, well then that is a different matter entirely.”
He seems nice to me. I wonder why John is so concerned. They continued down the hall and through the huge oak door that opened on its own. Tom expected it this time. As they entered the next room Tom heard more cars pulling into the yard outside. He looked out the front doors seeing cars like the one he arrived in. Boys were getting out of the cars and heading up the steps.
John quickened his pace. This room looked to be an exact duplicate of the last room with the same huge oak door that opened on its own. When the door opened though, it was a different picture entirely.
Tom and John entered a huge room that had dark wood flooring and a vaulted ceiling. There was a huge fireplace at the back of the room that looked as if it could fit an entire tree. John headed across the room and pushed a red velvet curtain aside that went from ceiling to floor.
John opened a door that was hidden behind the curtain. Tom passed through the door and it closed on its own with a thud. Tom was surprised to be outside. Two guards stood on either side. Tom and John’s feet crunched on the graveled courtyard as they walked toward a building as big as the one they had just left.
John pointed at the building. “This is the dorms, you will not be allowed into the main home again unless specifically invited.”
They passed two mo
re guards standing by the entrance to the dorm. John opened the door between the two guards. “I will take you to the supply room and then to your room. Watch where we go and how we get there, you need to learn to find your way on your own.”
Many boys were lounging around in the room that the door opened into. Tom guessed that it must be a common room. Some of the boys were playing board games others were talking and some were reading. There were several doors that led off in different directions and some stairs going up. John started for the door that went to the right. There was a short hallway that led to a counter. Above the counter was a sign that read “Supplies.”
John reached the counter and said, “Hi Sam, we have a new kid that just arrived today.”
Sam was behind the counter. “That’s the third one this week, why you guys bringing so many in lately?”
“I’m not sure, to tell you the truth but if I did I probably wouldn’t be able to tell you anyway,” John said with a smile.
Sam was a big man with an even bigger waist. He had a beard that went to the middle of his chest that was neatly braided into two parts. His hair was black but Tom could see the grey starting to come in. He wore a loose fitting shirt that was tucked into jeans that were held up by a thick black belt.
Sam studied Tom for about two minutes, turned and walked toward some shelves. He looked at several tags that were on bags and finding the one that he liked, grabbed it. Sam put the bag on the counter. He pulled out a clipboard and wrote down the numbers that were on the tag. Handing the pen to Tom, he said, “Sign here, son.”
Sam patted the bag. “This is not your stuff, it belongs to me. If there is a problem report it as soon as possible. As you grow you must return the contents to get it traded for a larger set.”
Sam’s voice was kind but firm and Tom felt safe around the older man.
“Do you have any questions?” Sam asked.
Tom signed the clipboard and grabbed the bag. “No, sir.” He grunted as he lifted it off the counter and onto his shoulder. What’s in this?
Sam snorted. “Looks like you need to spend more time lifting swords and less time studying books.”
