Chapter 3: Escape
The morning after that fateful meeting, I returned to the forest.
It was early in the morning when I went back. Last night, my parents scolded me for returning home so late. I worried them so much that they ground me for a week.
But I was a naturally naughty kid so I snuck out at the stroke of dawn.
I really wanted to see Her again. And possibly Mr. Wizard, too.
This time, I was smart. Even if I didn't exactly know how to find my way to her, I made sure I'd be able to go back. I brought with me candy beans and dropped one every few feet as I walked into the forest so I could find my way back home.
See? I wasn't that stupid.
Like magic, I found myself in the clearing once again. I smiled excitedly and ran towards the Tree of Life, dropping the candy beans.
I could tell she was happy as well since her branches and roots shook as if in laughter.
"Heya, Tree of Life," I greeted with a grin. "I'm back! Hope you don't mind. Don't worry, I brought candy beans this time so I can find my way back home."
Just then, one of her thinner branches extended down to me and caressed my cheek. Surprisingly, they weren't rough. I chuckled as she continued to cuddle me with her branches, snow falling every time she moved.
"Is Mr. Wizard around?" I asked, looking around.
Suddenly, one of her branches reached towards me, its tip touching my forehead. Before I could react, I heard a voice.
"I can call him for you, if you'd like, child."
I jumped back in surprise. The voice sounded female but it didn't sound real. Like it was just an echo in my head. That's when I realized. "Was that you, Tree of Life?" I asked.
The voice chuckled. "You may call me Vita, child," she said.
I stared at her in awe, mouth wide open. "You're so cool, Vita," I said. "My name's Shiro Amy Lin, by the way. You can call me Shiro. Or Amy. Whichever you like." I grinned wide.
Vita simply chuckled. She sounded like a mom. "Alright. I'll call you Shiro."
I smiled. "Hey, Vita, wanna play a game?" I asked as I rummaged through my sachel.
She laughed. "I would love to, Shiro. But I know someone else who could play with you."
Just as she said that, a figure emerged from behind. He had a bored and somewhat annoyed look to his face. The same one I saw last night.
"Mr. Wizard!" I yelled in excitement.
He turned to the tree with an accusing look. "You called me for this? I'm not a nanny or babysitter, you damned tree."
"I told you, it's vital you watch over her," Vita spoke to the wizard with a resolute tone. "I already explained to you why. You must understand by now. You're the only one who can do it, Axel."
The wizard, Axel, only rolled his eyes but I could tell even then that he couldn't refuse. As only a seven-year-old that time, I didn't understand their conversation and what it meant for me. All I understood was that Vita asked Mr. Wizard to play with me.
"Fine," he said in defeat, walking over to me with a not so fond expression.
"So what do you wanna do, kid?"
I looked up at his blank eyes and smiled. "Wanna play chess?" I asked as I held out a chess board.
"Hold up," he said with a confused expression. "You came here in hopes of playing chess with her?" he asked, pointing a thumb to Vita.
I nodded. "I just thought... Well, it's the only game I know how to play. Everyone else at home doesn't know how to play."
"Then how'd you learn how to play chess?"
"I go to town with dad sometimes. When he's busy buying food and supplies, I go to the local market and watch old men play," I explained. "One of the old men who was selling his stuff there gave me this chessboard after seeing me watch them play sometimes. He told me--"
"Alright, alright, I get it," Mr. Wizard said, uninterested in whatever else I had to say. "Let's play then."
Then he suddenly snapped his fingers and three large stones appeared. They all had flat surfaces, the one at the center being the biggest among the three. I gasped in awe.
"Come on," he ushered me as he sat on one of the stones.
I smiled and put my chessboard down on the biggest stone's surface. Then I sat on the other stone. Then we began playing.
***
"You've got to be kidding me," he spoke in disbelief, clutching his forehead. "Checkmate?!"
Behind me, Vita laughed. "What smart child. To think you've outwitted the great wizard Axel himself," she said. "I'm impressed, little one. Do you play often?"
I shook my head. "Since nobody knows how to play at home, I just play by myself," I said. Then I turned to the shocked man in front of me and chuckled. "Want to play another game, Mr. Wizard?"
He shot me an annoyed look then. "Alright. This time, I'll definitely win this time," he grumbled.
But, before we could rearrange the pieces, I heard a loud explosion.
BOOM!
"What was that?" I asked in surprise, turning to the direction of the sound.
"They're here..." I heard Vita mumble. "Axel. Take Shiro to safety."
I turned to Mr. Wizard who had a dark look to his face. He was looking at the direction where the sound came from.
That's when I heard the shouts and distant blasts. They were getting louder.
"What was that, Vita?" I asked, fear slowly creeping inside me. "Whose voices are those?"
Mr. Wizard then whipped his head to face me, a curious and cautious look on his face. "You..."
"You can hear them, Shiro?" she asked, her voice laced with surprise.
I nodded. "They're getting louder," I said. "They're coming this way, aren't they?" Then that's when I realized it. My mistake. "The candy beans..."
Even with my seven-year-old mind, I knew those sounds and voices only meant trouble and danger. And because I left those candy beans, it meant that they could find their way here, to the Tree of Life, whoever they were.
Mr. Wizard cursed beside me and stood up. "There's no helping it then," I heard him say.
"Axel, both of you leave now," Vita said, her tone cautious yet calm. "They're after Shiro. If they find her, if they find YOU, then you'll both--"
"I know," he interrupted her. "I KNOW."
Without another word, he turned to me and carried me in his arms. "Time to go, kid," he said.
"But where are we going?" I asked.
"Somewhere safe," he answered, his eyes never leaving the direction of the sound.
"Stay safe, Shiro," Vita said just before Mr. Wizard snapped his fingers and we were gone.
What was happening?
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imoMama78
imoMama78 ooooh, what's happening I wonder? so many secrets and mysteries. don't worry though! they'll all be revealed in due time ;)
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