CHAPTER 5

Nausea set in as Champ got to his knees. The soft dirt cooled on his hands and shins and it overwhelmed him with joy. He stood up fully and looked at the home that he had missed so very much. The moonlight shone on the front of his house. Soft pale yellow paint coated the exterior and his front door was a soft brown. There were windows on each side of the home that were covered up with deep red curtains.

“Home. I’m finally home.” Champ let out little more than a sigh.

He began to limp wearily to the front door. Champ had never been so happy to hear his feet fall on something other than rock in his entire life. He reached for the handle and opened the door. The interior of his home was modest and very well-kept. He was instantly greeted by the warmth of the fireplace that was currently lit in the living room area. He stepped inside and as he did so he saw his mother and father setting up the dinner table near the kitchen. His mother and father acted as if he hadn't been missing at all. This filled Champs' heart with immense sorrow, confusion, and anger.

“How could they make dinner when I've been gone all this time? How could they be smiling like this when their boy has been gone for so long? What is happening?” Champ thought to himself.

“Oh, there you are sweetheart what snacks did you end up getting?” His mom said to him

“Oh hey son, I heard you got some pretty good sales at the shop today. Great job. Y’know I've been working on this new project that I think- “ Champ’s father's voice faded and droned inaudible in his ears. Tears began to fill Champ’s eyes and stream down his pale cheeks. His face grew rosy with rage and confusion. Boiling and building up until he snapped once more.

“Why haven't you been looking for me?! How can you be so relaxed and not care!? Do you have any idea what I've been through or where I've been? I thought you loved me, you're my parents, aren't you? Then what the hell is this?!”

Champ had never once yelled or rebelled at his parents. All things considered, he was an ideal child. Well behaved, full of love, and just pleasant to be around. The shock and horror on his parents' faces when they heard his tirade was heartbreaking. They both immediately dropped what they were doing and came towards him embracing him.

“What's wrong my son?” Are you hurt, what happened?” Champ's father said to him as he held him.

Champ looked up at his father. Lance Champine, a tall olive-skinned man sporting buzzed black hair and a well-kept beard knelt before Champ with tears in his eyes and worry strewn about his face. Something Champ rarely saw. Lance, Champ's father. was better known as Big Lance in town. Many described him as stoic from afar and beyond jovial if you approached him. A happy man who rarely showed any emotion other than that.

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Lance spoke up. “My son, you've been gone for no more than 5 minutes. What has happened in this time? What can we do?”

Champ's stomach dropped. Tension built in his throat. He swallowed hard

“5 minutes, what are you talking about? It's been months, maybe a year? I've been gone for so long.“ Champ croaked out finally

Exasperation filled Champ's voice and face as he looked at his parents. He saw their look of confusion and concern grow deeper. They led him to the dining table sat him down and handed him a glass of water. Bethany spoke up

“Champ it's been no time at all, I'll get you something to eat you look pale” her voice quivered as she continued to speak.

“You said you were getting snacks and would catch up, right after you left I finished my conversation and I saw you run off for a bit, I headed home right after, and not even 5 minutes later you're here. Here eat this.”

She placed a plate of hot food, Chicken curry, and rice down in front of him. Champ's mouth watered, the smell of the food was intoxicating. He engorged the meal, shoveling it down his throat. He couldn't remember the last time he ate.

“Careful there champ take it easy it's not going anywhere. I swear it's like you haven't eaten in a month, don't want you to choke boy.” Lance said

Champ slowed down and tears began to well up again.

“ I've missed you guys so much, I don't know what's happened and I can barely explain it to you guys.” Champ choked out

“Go ahead and try, we have time” his mother reassured

So, Champ told them the horrors he had been through. He told them of the cave and the whistle. He told them of the choir that sang so beautifully to him and of that blinding light that freed him from his torment. After he finished, his father's forehead was wrinkled with concern and contemplation. Tears fell silently from his mother's eyes. The both of them stepped into the kitchen for a quick conversation. From Champ's point of view, all he saw was his father hanging his head and his mother wiping tears from her eyes. They turned and went back to Champ after a few minutes of talking. Bethany his mother spoke up

“Alright son. You are okay. We believe you. Please don't ever doubt that. But my sweet boy, we think you've been…well we think you have been, branded, you bear the mark.” She said, her voice faltering slightly. Bethany pulled out a pocket mirror and placed it in front of him.

“Open it and look in your mouth. Your tongue more precisely. I noticed it when you began eating“ Bethany continued.

Champ stared into the reflective glass in total shock. There on his tongue, was a marking that hadn't been there before, a brand.