Submerged into a world completely foreign to theirs, they wonder how they ended up here. As if by magic, the two of them have been transported to this world. The only thing up to exploration is the railway to nowhere. Though Iqbal, as a child, can’t help but feel like this is an exciting event they should use to explore, Florence has to remain calm and rational.
“Don’t let go of my hand, okay Iqbal?”
“But why? I wanna explore!”
“I know but let’s check if it’s safe to do so first, okay?”
Iqbal nods. Reaching a compromise makes keeping Iqbal safe so much easier. As such, the two of them can finally embark on a journey. Though Florence is unsure whether or not this is a good idea, he knows that it will take his mind off other problems that he and Iqbal share.
With ease, the two of them climb off the platform deciding to head to their right to avoid ascending what seems to be a mountain, a place where civilization is unlikely.
Holding onto Iqbal’s hand as he is looking back, he realizes that the station itself has disappeared. The only thing that remains of it are these rails. Believing that they should get out of this forest as soon as possible, he covers one of his eyes unveiling another ability that lies within the key within his possession.
“What are you doing?”, asks Iqbal.
“I’m using magic! Wanna become my disciple and learn the power of magic?”, replies Florence.
A smile brighter than a thousand stars fill Florence with joy. Iqbal, an innocent child, is the perfect catalyst for joy. This day is getting better and better despite the predicament they’re in. He jumps off the rail ready to be taught his first lesson.
“Do as I do and repeat after me: Close one eye!”
“Close one eye,” he repeats in a humorous tone as he does as instructed.
“Cover the closed eye with a hand!”
“Cover the closed eye with a hand!”
“Spin around!”
“Spin around!”
“L’occhio onnivegente!”
“Lokio onivejenté!”
Though he slightly mispronounced the last sentence, Iqbal gets to witness the magic Florence has kept to himself. Now, the two of them see the world from above. With a few finger motions, Florence can control that magical key of his. Commanding it to fly toward the mountain base. There lies a lake with a small hotel not far away.
The hotel seems to have its parking lot and a few cars left empty. A bonus is the unmanned cable cars that could lead them down the mountain at a much faster pace if they knew how to operate them.
“Woah! We can see so much! How did you do that?”, he expresses with wonder.
Playfully, he replies, “Before that, you’ll have to learn more about magic! Until then you’ll have to stay in school and diligently learn to someday surpass me and see that far without this key.”
The rails have disappeared within the time spent mapping out a path toward shelter. Details about this world seem to change whenever they look away and for some reason, only Florence is the one noticing the flaws in this world. To ensure the continued existence of that hotel, he keeps an eye on it. However, to confirm any theories he may have, he has to take risks.
“If I take my eye off that hotel, will it disappear? Will the landscape change?”
He turns off his bird’s-eye view and waits a few seconds before turning it on again.
Nothing has changed.
He turns it off again while sending his key away from the hotel so that it would be out of view. Sending it back again and turning it back on…
Nothing has changed.
He makes a last attempt at changing the landscape: Recalling his key, waiting five minutes, and sending it back into the fray…
Nothing has changed.
“I guess we’re being led towards that hotel. ”
While they walk towards safety, Florence is thinking of a story to tell that child. One that comes to his mind is that of a child that wished for friends.
“Do you want to hear a story?”
He nods.
“There was once a child that wished for friends. Upon witnessing a meteor shower with the power of a THOUSAND falling stars, he prayed for his wish to be fulfilled. Suddenly, he found himself in the land of dreams wherein he could grant his one wish! If he reaches the Tree of Dreams, his wish can be fulfilled.
However, Witches of Greed dragged him into the world of nightmares to steal his wish by reaching the Tree of Dreams before him. Heartbroken and in utter despair, he believed that his wish could never be granted. The Tree of Dreams took pity and upon hearing his pleas, he sent out the Knight of Childhood Dreams. Atop the Knight’s white horse with a golden mane, they rushed towards the Tree of Dreams reaching it just before the witches could.
His wish granted, he lived happily ever after… or did he?”
Though there are inconsistencies within his story, he believes that it is good enough to entertain a child young enough to still indulge in such stories. Adding his own flair, he allows for room for a continuation. Florence would love to be a writer but he cannot see a future wherein he could be one.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
With Iqbal’s hobby of drawing comic characters, he wishes to spur this child he has grown fond of in the last hour to make comics of his own.
Reaching the base of the mountain, they finally come across the parking lot after a rather short descent. Several of them are locked but that seems to be no problem as Florence’s key seems to have no end when it comes to utility. Shifting into the perfect key, it somehow can open the door and start the car.
“This key really can open and turn on anything with a keyhole… But how would it even transmit the right signal?”, he asks himself.
Florence cannot help but wonder just how much power and utility lies within this key and who built it. At least, now that they have a car, they could head back home. There seems to be enough gas to at least get to the next tank station. It’s probably a lot wiser to just pick another car and as such, they move on to the next one.
“You can drive?”, asks Iqbal.
“Yeah. I recently got my driver's license. Though I’m not supposed to drive without my father, I can and will drive without his guidance today. Keep that a secret, okay?”
Out on the road, the two gleefully ride toward, their destination. On their way back home, all they have is each other. A teenage boy that has just learned how to drive, and a seven-year-old in the passenger seat… Signs alone were enough to get the two of them back home as Florence had been in the vicinity to visit family.
Up ahead is a familiar sight. A sight too familiar…
“Isn’t that…”
Upon realizing that they somehow had been led back to the parking lot they stole this car from, Florence slams the brakes as hard as he possibly can in an attempt to come to a stop. A sleeping Iqbal jolts awake in the process.
“Is something wrong?” asks Iqbal confused and a little irritated. He cannot grasp why Florence would react that way.
“We’re somehow back at the hotel. We shouldn’t be back here!”, he expresses with anger.
Trying to turn the car around amounts to nothing as the gas had somehow run out. Something deeply disturbs Florence as he begins to freak out. But he has to remain calm as long as Iqbal is here.
“Everything’s fine,” he lies. “It’s just that we likely won’t make it with this little gas. It’s also turning dark and we probably shouldn’t be driving in the dark. I’m sorry for waking you.”
“Oh, okay…”
Still in the process of waking up, Iqbal isn’t questioning why Florence reacted that way. He’s also just seven and therefore the last person to point out logical fallacies or things that seem out of place.
“That something wants us to head inside the hotel. I don’t know what is inside that hotel and why it is trying to trap us there, but I know that we have to go before the landscape changes again. What if the landscape change becomes so drastic we’ll be in danger? What if I can’t protect him?”
Mentally preparing himself, he pulls his weapon. Iqbal, stunned by the display of a magical key that shrinks and enlarges at will, he’s speechless.
“Stay by my side and don’t let go of me, okay?”
Having Iqbal behind him holding onto his shirt, he’s far less anxious knowing that he at least has someone by his side. Still, that someone needs to be protected.
A black nail descends from the skies. Attentive to his surroundings, Florence instantly shields Iqbal with his body. Obliterating the hotel and crushing the two of them beneath dust and debris.
That alone isn’t enough to stop them. Dragging Iqbal by his arm, Florence runs like the wind. Though he has no idea what just happened and why it happened, he’s certain that it is best to avoid the threat at hand.
“Take the key, run, and head for a car,” he says as he lets go facing the creature emerging from the clouds of dust.
Hesitating, Iqbal is trying to process both shock and panic. This perfect wonderworld that he wanted to explore has turned into the worst nightmare he’s ever seen.
“I told you to fucking run!”
Finally, he took off as Florence comes to the realization that he’s wounded. The only reason why they aren’t dead is the fact that the key shielded them without any commands from Florence. A seemingly broken arm and an injury to the head… The only reason why he’s still standing is his resolve and adrenalin.
In an instant, he’s sent flying by about ten meters straight onto the hood of a car before he rolls off. Rolling off the hood and onto his broken ribs, he’s unable to move. The pain alone is enough to make tears stream down his face while it feels like the world is spinning. Blood is blocking his view as he’s forced to watch Iqbal stumble over and scream in terror and shock.
“I have to make sure he’s safe… I can’t let him get hurt.”
With a complete disregard for his own safety, he somehow manages to get back up and shoulder the pain. Facing whatever has struck him, he’s filled with the need to fulfill just one subjective. His only goal is to keep the kid safe.
The thing walking towards him is a humanoid set on fire. Looking just like a charred child engulfed in flames, it emerged from the black nail and is responsible for the broken bones in Florence. If it weren’t for the incredibly short contact, Florence would likely be dead.
“What are you? What did you-”
Screeching and wailing are enough to shut down any questions Florence may have. Struck by fear, he’s paralyzed and unable to think of any kind of strategy; anything that could help the two of them. Words, an arm, and two legs are all that he has to defend himself. Debating whether or not he wants to risk recalling his key and leaving Iqbal defenseless.
Dashing into the fray he attempts to use his one functioning arm to enlarge and fire his key at the creature. Only moving it by a few feet without even damaging it in the process, he recalls his key and holds onto it, and flies over to Iqbal. His final attempt at keeping the two of them safe is having the two of them fly a few hundred meters away and run for as long as they can.
They don’t make it far up the mountain before another nail descends from the sky blowing the two of them back with the shockwave that followed the impact. Badly landing on a rock, Iqbal is knocked unconscious as Florence lies there completely defeated.
“It’s just two of these monsters! I at least have to keep him safe… I’m absolutely going to keep Iqbal safe!”
Back on his feet, he somehow manages to get back up and tackle one of their pursuers. His clothes set on fire as he starts suffering from severe burning. Still, all he can think of is using that sudden surge in strength to at least attempt to defeat this threat.
Starting to use his broken arm in an attempt to bash in that being’s skull, he somehow stops feeling as much pain. His punches are starting to do damage before he is thrown off by a kick to the stomach.
Climbing on top of him, the monster starts choking Florence. Its short arms and little hands aren’t much of a threat to him as he begins going for the eyes trying to claw them out. He’s starting to feel drowsy as life is squeezed out of him. Florence is starting to lose himself as his vision becomes blurry. His ears ring right before he shuts off. The last thing he sees is a feminine figure standing over Iqbal as his life is cut short.
----------------------------------------
“Prometheia, is he still alive?”, asks the young woman standing over Iqbal.
“Just barely. His left arm is broken. The right half of his ribs have been shattered with pieces piercing one of his lungs. He has suffered severe burns but he’s recovering.”
“Recovering? Maybe he’s just like King and Emma… Though I don’t think he’ll measure up to them in any shape or form.”