15 years ago

The boot made a deep thud as it slammed into Ran’s curled stomach, causing him to cry out in pain. Ran had curled up in an attempted fetal position on the floor. Above him stood two other boys, both only slightly older, but much bigger.

“That’s what you get for making us look stupid in front of Master Oliver!”, one of the boys spat out between grunts. Each word was accompanied with another swift kick to the stomach. 

By now, Ran’s stomach had long since emptied it’s contents, and at the moment, it was all he could do to stay conscious

“Listen here, Rat.” said the other boy, “I don’ care if yer new. There’s a higher- a hier-”, he trailed off.

“A hierarchy, Sim!” the boy with his foot in Ran’s stomach excitedly exclaimed.

“Don’ int’rupt, Bert! I knew that!”, the first boy, Sim, turned on his partner in crime with an angry look. Bert’s eyes widened as he took a step back,

“I didn’t mean anything by it boss!”, he quickly backtracked, “I- I- I was jus’ tryna help”, he managed to get out. Sim seemed to calm down at Bert’s scared response.

“I don’ need yer help, I’m der boss here”, Sim smiled at Bert’s appropriately cowed reaction, before turning his attention back to Ran, who had used this time to scramble away on the floor.

“Where do you think yer-” Sim was cut off as brisk, heavy footsteps could be heard coming down the corridor. Before anyone could react, a man dressed in a brown robe strode through the open door. The man was around six foot even, with pale skin, judging from his hands, but his face couldn’t be made out from underneath his hood.

Taking in the scene played out before him, the Monk’s shadowed face went straight to the older boys. With a voice like cold iron, he said,

“Explain.”

The one word was enough to have the two brutes quaking in their boots, and Bert quickly took a step back and looked at Sim. 

Sim’s eyes were saucers and his voice quivered and shook, 

“We were- we were playing a game-”

“Stop. That’s enough. You two will wait in the Sanctuary.”

The Monk then turned to face Ran, and he felt a surge of hope rise inside him. 

Maybe not everyone here is out to get me?

Looking up and down, the Monk seemed to size him up, as if choosing a piece of meat in a market. Satisfied, the Monk nodded. Then spat on him.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“Weak blood. Wonderful.”

As Monk seemed to turn to leave, the breeze changed direction and he suddenly stilled. A complete stillness, Ran noticed. The Monk didn’t move at all. Then the Monk’s head tilted and Ran could hear a sniff. Suddenly the cloaked figure turn back on Ran, moving his face so close that their noses almost touched. Ran felt terrified. 

Gazing into the Monk’s eyes, Ran couldn’t move his body. Not even an inch. He felt his soul being bared to the Monk, everything available to be examined at will. Whilst in return, Ran was gazing up into endless voids, reflecting nothing about their host.

The Monk snorted. And just like that, the spell was broken. Ran could move again, think again, breathe again.

“It’s your lucky day, 101.” A sinister, full toothed grin appeared in the shadow of the monk’s hood. White contrasting sharply with the endless darkness. “You get to participate.”

“Participate?” It was the first time Ran had spoken since he had arrived at the Abbey, and his voice broke halfway through.

“You’ll see”, the grin still hadn’t left the Monk’s face, and Ran could feel a strange pressure gathering, before the strange man uttered a single word,

“Sleep”. 

Ran didn’t even get to protest before his body slumped on the floor.

Now terrified, the two bullies were literally quaking, they had never seen magic before, it was something forbidden and despised in regular society. The smaller of the two, Bert, let out a small noise as the Monk turned to them.

“As for you two…” The Monk paused, as if weighing his options. Then he shrugged and said, “Forget”, then once again, “Sleep”. The Monk had considered simply killing the two, but hiding the bodies and waiting out the investigation, however brief, would be annoying. Besides, he had orders to only kill when necessary. He simply hoped no one would probe the two children’s minds, as his tampering would be clearly evident. He had never been the most subtle practitioner of the Art. His Imagining couldn’t compare to his Will.

Arranging the two bullies in a corner, as to appear they were trying to hide, and simply fell asleep, the Monk picked up the unconscious Ran and walked back through the door he entered by.

———————————————————————

As Ran slept, he dreamed.

As far as he could tell it was a normal dream. It was a beautiful day, with only a few clouds in the sky. Looking around, Ran could tell he was in a wheat field, but for some reason, he could smell the sea. Ran didn’t mind. He knew dreams were strange.

Running his hands through with wheat stalks, Ran allowed himself to just enjoy this dream. He lay down and closed his eyes, just soaking up the sun.

Just as Ran started to get comfortable, shade fell over his face, darkening the light under his eyelids.

“Did you really think I would let you sleep the whole day?” said a warm voice.

Opening his eyes he saw a young woman, with brown hair and kind, green eyes. She looked to be in her late twenties or early thirties, and was wearing a checkered apron over a billowy shirt and hardened leather trousers.

Ran immediately recognised her as his Mother.

But… Wait..? Isn’t she..-

It’s just a dream. Ran reminded himself. He looked up at his mother with sadness overflowing in his heart. 

She must have seen something though, because, before Ran could say anything she had wrapped her arms around him in a monstrous hug.

“Shhh. My poor baby, is everything okay?”, her heartfelt whispers did nothing to soothe Ran’s sorrow. He could only nod in return, tears threatening to spill over.

“I just miss you, Ma.” Ran choked out.

“Miss me, hunny? I’m right here.” she replied, a slightly confused tone in her voice. Ran just looked at her and nodded as the warm sea breeze turned cold. Icy cold.

“Now, Ranfield, it’s polite to answer when asked a question.” She admonished, but her voice didn’t hold the same warmth. Ran looked up at her in confusion,

Have I done something wrong? He thought, disturbed. This was meant to be a nice dream. 

“Answer me. Ranfield.” she said, more forcefully. “Tell me why you miss me.” she smiled again. But it was not the warm, kindly smile that she wore before, this smile spoke of malice and hatred.

Ran was scared now, she was still holding him close to her, but her body had turned cold, almost frosty. The sea breeze had been replaced too, now all Ran could smell was decay and rot. Gazing around, he saw that the wheat field had transformed into something much more sinister. Gone was the golden plant, but in it’s place lay scores upon scores of bodies. Piled high in piles, dripping rivers of blood, each flowing towards Ran.

Feeling sickened, Ran tried to escape his Mother’s grasp, but she was monstrously strong. Without expending any visible effort, she tightened her hold on the boy. Ran couldn’t move.

Her face had changed completely. Gone was the loving woman he knew. Her lips had been cut off, jaggedly, as if with a rusty blade. There were still strips of flesh hanging loose above and below her mouth. Bits of her cheek seemed to die and fall right in front of Ran’s eyes, leaving patches of tissue exposed to the air. Her eyelids were removed completely, and strange, glowing red symbols were carved into her forehead. Blood covered her entire face, dripping from every orifice.

He felt his Mother’s putrid breath on his neck as she leaned into his ear.

“Tell me why you killed me.”