Chapter 13

The Hidden Village

Zelly stared in disbelief, her mouth agape, as an improbable figure approached. The entity was petite, scarcely measuring up to her kneecaps. Its miniscule stature, however, was only the start of the unexpected. More startling was its complexion, a striking robin's egg blue that seemed to glow ethereally in the midday sun. The creature's eyes were a stark white, pupil-less and unblinking, as if crafted from the finest porcelain. A slender tail flicked behind it, betraying an eerie similarity to a cat's.

"Pray tell, what manner of creature might you be?" the diminutive figure queried, his voice a high-pitched croon that floated through the air like a dandelion seed on the breeze.

Taken aback by the question, Zelly stuttered over her words. "I'm, uh...I'm a girl. A human girl." She shook her head slightly as if to convince herself that she wasn't dreaming. Everything felt surreal, like she had wandered into a fantasy realm conjured up by her imagination, but of course, everyone once in a while, she had to remind herself that it was a game. A game that her parents created. A game that she was locked in. A game so real it was easy to forget.

The creature's albino eyes narrowed skeptically, scrutinizing her as if she were an unknown specimen under a microscope. "A hyooman girl you say? I have never heard of such a being. From whence do you hail?"

Zelly paused, unsure of how to respond. The conversation already felt absurd. How could she explain that she came from a different reality entirely? How could she explain that she was locked in a game and that the entire village, including him, was unreal.

"Look," she began slowly, "I know this all seems strange, but there's no time to get into the details right now. I'm kind of in an emergency situation at the moment."

Her eyes darted down to the creature's crude tunic, noticing for the first time a name tag stitched onto the roughspun fabric. 'Thomas' it read, in simple block letters.

"Thomas, please listen to me," she implored, urgency seizing her voice. "I need you to take me to Doctor Zort immediately. My friend is badly hurt and needs urgent medical care. Please, he is dying as we speak!"

Thomas regarded her calmly as she spilled forth her desperate plea. Once her torrent of words had ceased, he nodded slowly. "Doctor Zort you say? Hmm, I regret to inform you that he is away from the village presently. But tell me, what dire misfortune has befallen your companion?"

Zelly recounted the horrific troll attack, her voice halting and strained with distress. She blinked rapidly to hold back the tears that welled up unbidden as the vivid memory flooded her mind. Thomas listened silently, though she noticed his initial wariness softening into evident concern the longer she spoke.

When her tale finally reached its end, he shook his head gravely.

"Attacked by trolls you say? Most unfortunate indeed. But do not despair just yet. We shall do what we can to render assistance."

Relief washed over Zelly at his words. As Thomas beckoned for her to follow him outside, she felt the smallest spark of hope flicker in her heart.

Emerging into the village square, however, extinguished that flicker. A murmuring crowd had already gathered, pointing and gawking at the bizarre spectacle presented by the colossal girl and her pint-sized companion. Their eyes were wide with unrestrained curiosity tinged by suspicion as if Zelly were a mythical creature sprung from the pages of a fantastical tome.

"It's a human! And why does she have a squirrel on her shoulder? Strange,” one villager exclaimed in an awed hush. Her proclamation sent ripples of nervous excitement through the crowd. They pressed closer, transfixed by Zelly's unprecedented presence.

“How do you know it’s a human?” asked another, her voice quivering with incredulity.

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“My grandmother used to read me the tale ‘The Tale of Evil Humanity’,” replied the woman, her voice filled with a mix of awe and fear.

Zelly felt their intense scrutiny like a thousand pinpricks on her skin. Desperation clawed at her heart.

"Please listen!" she cried out, her voice strained and urgent. "I promise I mean you no harm. I just need to find Doctor Zort right away to help my friend who's been badly injured. Please believe me, he could be dying as we speak!"

Her impassioned pleas seemed to fall on skeptical ears. The crowd merely inched nearer, their doubts plain on their faces. Suddenly, a rock whizzed dangerously past Zelly's head, followed swiftly by another.

"Stone her!" a gruff voice rang out. More hands snatched up rocks from the ground, poised to turn their collective unease into violence.

But before chaos could erupt, a sharp, authoritative voice pierced the tension.

"Cease this reprehensible brutality at once!"

The crowd reluctantly parted to allow a stately elderly woman passage. Her snowy hair peeked out from under an intricate lace cap that stood in stark contrast to the plain garb of the other villagers. Her long blue silky robe swiftly blew in the wind. Drawing herself up to her full height of three feet, she leveled a stern gaze at Zelly.

"I am Mayor Hollows," she announced, her voice brimming with authority. "You shall explain yourself this instant, outsider. What purpose or dark magic brings you to our hidden village?"

Zelly's mouth went dry under the mayor's scrutiny. She licked her lips nervously as she struggled to steady her voice.

"Mayor Hollows, I mean no dark purpose at all, I swear it. I've come here in search of Doctor Zort. I desperately need his help. My friend, Biggie, is gravely injured and...and he could be dying. He’s lost a lot of blood.” Her voice broke on the last word and she had to pause to collect herself before continuing.

"We were attacked by trolls in the forest. Biggie fought them off bravely but is now badly hurt. He told me I must find Doctor Zort in this village before it's too late. So please, I implore you, take me to him straight away!"

A fresh wave of dismay rippled through the crowd at the mention of trolls. But it was her reference to Biggie that truly rattled them.

"Did you say your companion is a giant?" Mayor Hollows questioned sharply, her eyes narrowing.

Zelly's heart sank, but she gave a small nod. "Yes, but he is kind and means you no harm, I swear it! Please..."

But the mayor cut her off with a swift chop of her hand.

"Enough! It is not our custom to provide assistance to giants. Many moons ago, they brought great devastation upon our city, Azariah, which caused us to abandon it and create this hidden village that we call Baylark. We neither forget nor forgive such offenses."

Zelly felt the tendrils of despair creeping upon her but forced herself to make one last desperate appeal.

"I implore you to look beyond the ancient actions of some giants and show compassion now! Biggie is good and peaceful; he would never intentionally bring harm to your village. Surely you must see that it would be unjust to blame him for others’ wrongdoings? Maybe he was cast away because he was different than the other giants, which I can relate to; I was treated the same way back at my school on Earth!”

“School? What’s that? And earth?” Said someone from the crowd with furrowed brow.

Even though Zelly had just poured her heart out, Mayor Hollows remained unmoved, her stony expression never wavering. As the last flickers of hope drained from Zelly's heart, Thomas stepped forward and gently but firmly grasped her arm. His reassuring touch helped anchor her amidst the chilling indifference she now faced.

"Mayor Hollows," he began humbly, "this young stranger came to us in a time of utmost need, placing her full trust in the collective goodness of our people. Must we repay that trust with callous indifference to her plight? I solemnly beseech you to search your heart and reflect deeply on this matter. What if it were one of our own in dire straits?"

Thomas's courageous appeal resonated with the crowd, hanging in the thoughtful silence that followed. The villagers exchanged conflicted but increasingly sympathetic looks as their initial hostility gradually dissipated.

Mayor Hollows pressed her lips together pensively. After a long silence, she finally spoke.

"Yours is a wise counsel, Thomas. We shall render what humble aid we may to the afflicted giant until my husband the doctor returns."

Profound relief broke over Zelly like a cleansing rain. Overcome with gratitude, she graciously embraced the mayor.

"Bless you, bless you all!" As she pulled back, fresh anxiety creased her features. "But how will we be able to bring poor Biggie here? He's much too large for me to move alone. And there is no way possible any of you can lift him and carry him back here, right?”

Thomas offered her a reassuring smile. "Fret not, we may be small of stature, but when our strength is combined, no task is insurmountable. We are The Hidden Ones. Together we shall find a way to convey even a giant. I sure you, we will get him back safely no matter what.”

Thomas's steadfast words kindled a small but meaningful flame of hope in Zelly's heart. The Hidden Ones would help bring Biggie to safety. Though the path ahead remained fraught with uncertainty, she felt less alone. Dangerous though this world was, perhaps shadows of kindness could be found even in the most unlikely places.

"Thank you all from the bottom of my heart," she said fervently, unshed tears glazing her eyes. "However can I repay your great generosity?"

As they prepared for their journey to save Biggie, Zelly couldn't help but feel a surge of hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could save him.