Do you think all creatures are equal? If they were, why would humans have planes and cars and buildings? Animals don't have any of that stuff. Soon enough, humans will even inhabit the ocean and maybe underground too. Some of you might roll your eyes and say that, because we are on the top of the food chain, we are supposed to have this stuff. On earth, this is just how it is. Humans always want to be above others whether they’re other humans or not.
This is a story about someone who is not human. But he couldn’t be anything else. He is a Watcher. A creature born from human experimentation. Truly a cruel way to be born into this world. This young Watcher is named #029. Two-Nine for short. He is one of the last Watchers to be created before the Wipeout. Only 26 Watchers are currently known. #029 is off the list.
Two-Nine wanted a name. When he was about eight years old, he asked his mothers for one. They just avoided the question. His mothers had names so why not him? He was just three sad numbers. The other people in his village had names too. He thought that it was very strange. How did he even get his numbers? His parents wouldn’t do that to him. He knew that he wasn’t their real child and he wasn’t very interested in finding his real parents. They left him here anyway so why bother?
By the time Two-Nine was ten years old, he wanted to explore the surrounding mountains and forests. His mothers only let him stay around the village. Close enough for anyone to see him. One day, he went further through the forest. He went far enough until the village disappeared. On the other side of this forest was a pond. The pond was quite red and seemed murky…. As he walked closer, he noticed the trees were leaning towards the pond, like hands grabbing greedily at the last bread rolls in a basket, letting in very little light. The pond didn't reflect anything. Shadows couldn’t be seen on the surface. He heard something rustling the bushes behind him. He twirled around, assuming it was a large animal of sorts. It was the butcher from the village. Two-Nine’s parents must have noticed he was missing and informed the citizens. The moment the butcher looked at him, his eyes widened. He looked between Two-Nine and the pond. “Boy…. You come here right this instant!” Two-Nine followed Kevin the butcher back through the forest.
When they got back to the village, the moon was peeping out from the clouds. It must have been a long walk. Kevin walked him back to his house and jogged away. Perhaps he went away so fast because he was scared. Or he ran because he needed to find Two-Nine’s mothers…. This was the end of his exploring. His parents did everything to stop him from leaving the village. Sunday was the only day that he could go to the forest. But only with at least one of his mothers close behind him.
Two-Nine was 15 now. Five years of missing the forest. Five years since the pond. If he could go back in time then he would collect a cup of the red water. Only to look at of course. Maybe. Yeah, no. He might drink it as a part of his “experiments.” One day, after going to the butcher, he took a detour through the various shops of the village. He never knew the name of the village, he just knew that it was off the grid. No one from the outside even knew it was here. There were never any visitors. Except for his aunt. She was the only one who ever came to and from the village. He didn’t have any money to buy things at the moment but soon he would but he was planning to do chores for people for a little coin. His mothers, Sif and Isis, would never approve of his plan.
Two-Nine was going to the pond soon. He didn’t remember much about it, just that Kevin was scared of it and that it was red and shadowy. He knew nothing about the scenery around it or any wildlife nearby. Two-Nine had decided a while ago to name it “Poppy Pond”. It wasn’t very fitting considering the pond was like blood and not at all like the flower. He was going to camp near the pond so he can get samples of it and do small experiments like if he can drink it or if it can boil. A year later he might have enough money to buy the supplies he needed.
Two-Nine was done with the village and done with the forest. He didn’t know what to do and he didn’t know where to go. He could go back to Poppy Pond like he said he would a year ago but he didn’t feel like it anymore. His mother, Sif, has died. It was only recently as well. Two-Nine’s goal of exploring the pond was gone. He had no reason to go anymore.
No one knows how Sif died. Isis probably did but then she would tell him, right? It wasn’t old age though. She was young and healthy. She was very energetic too. The villagers made a grave for her and it was large enough to make it seem like she was the most important person in the whole village. Two-Nine often stayed at her grave. He took naps there. Sometimes he would stay the night under a tree near the graveyard. Isis loved her very dearly, though she pretended like nothing ever happened. Two-Nine didn’t know why. How could she just act as if nothing happened? Something clearly did. It was her own wife that had died. If anyone else had died like a sister or a brother, would she still pretend to not care?
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After many days of sitting at the grave, he had decided to go to Poppy Pond. He had enough money for supplies. He didn’t think about when he would get time to go. When he got home from Sif’s grave Isis was sitting at their dinner table sipping on a cup of tea. Completely normal. He thought that she must have a really good poker face to be sitting so peacefully like her wife didn’t just die. Two-Nine was quite annoyed at this. He walked right past her and into his room but she didn’t even give him a second glance.
He had to think of a way to get to the pond. Maybe on Sunday when he could go outside. No, Sunday was not good, he might not be allowed out. Besides, he was always supervised when he explored. He could say that he was going to the butcher…. That's not good either. Isis might ask the butcher if he bought anything and if not she would ask which direction he went.
He had to prepare first. He had to spread his shopping trip over a couple of days because he didn’t want to cause much suspicion and tomorrow, he would go to a couple of shops and get necessities like a tarp, rope, and a knife. He’ll have to get food at the last moment though. He didn’t want it to go downhill before he even left the village.
The next morning, about dawn, he asked if he could visit his mother’s grave. Isis thought for a bit but reluctantly let him go. He walked out of the house and straight to the Prepare Hare. The Prepare Hare was a shop with everything you need in order to go camping. Since the village was located in a forest, the shop was a very smart and easy way for the owner to earn money. He greeted the owner and started to look for supplies.
When he was ready to leave, he walked to the counter where the owner was reading a book. Two-Nine had a large number of items in his arms. He paid and left, leaving Cornelious the owner with a confused look on his face.
Two-Nine did go to Sif’s grave. However, he walked right past it and over to a tree. This was the same tree he often spent the night at. He sat for a while under the tree with his stuff piled next to him. Then he started to dig a hole under the tree. This hole would store his goods and be completely hidden until it was time for him to leave.
He went back home after a nap at the tree. His mother was sitting at the table again. She didn’t have a cup of tea this time but she was saying something. He couldn’t hear what she was saying. He walked a couple of steps closer. She didn’t even notice. She was saying something over and over again. He had to move closer.
“Find the Watcher, Watch the mirror, find the Watcher, Watch the mirror….”
Two-Nine went to the tree. He wasn’t going to delay any further. He was going to the pond whether Isis was insane or Sif was dead. He dug up his supplies and started walking towards the direction of the pond. He didn’t remember exactly where he found it last time. He did know that he passed the Prepare Hare. So, he went in that general direction.
Isis has finally gone insane. She must have finally realized that Sif wasn’t coming back. Two-Nine walked through the forest for a while. It was about an hour since he walked through the village and he was starting to get hungry. He looked through the canopy of leaves. The sky was a red-orange color. How was the sun setting already? He left around lunch! He must have been walking for far more than an hour.
He decided to camp out so he can eat and rest. He would have to find a place to sleep for the night. After finding a nice spot in front of a tree, he set his stuff down and looked for four very tall sticks. He had to climb a tree for one of them. When he had them, he stuck them in the ground. The two shortest sticks were in the back while the other two were in the front. He then laid his tarp on top of the four sticks and tied them together with a rope.
He didn’t have much but he did swipe some stuff from his house before leaving. He unpacked the things and brought out a sleeping bag, a matchbox, and a knife. He laid out the sleeping bag and put the matchbox next to it. He held onto the knife as he looked for good firewood.
Once he had a large enough stack, he began to collect large rocks. He placed the rocks he found in a circle and placed the sticks inside. He grabbed his matchbox and lit a fire. It took him a couple of tries because he couldn’t figure out the right way to light the matches.
Crickets started to chirp as he looked through his bag again. He forgot to pack food. He might as well starve. “Well, I'm dead.” His voice was hoarse. He didn’t even have water. “Half a day and I might as well be DEAD!” He started to shout at the canopy of leaves, making his voice sound worse and worse. He ended up sitting down under the tarp again with his throat hurting and started to think. Sif was dead and Isis was insane. Isis…. What did she mean by ‘Find the Watcher’ and ‘Watch the mirror?’ What is a Watcher and why would you watch a mirror? Is it an actual mirror? How could he not have reached the pond yet? If he were to actually sleep, how much more time would pass? Might as well try…. He climbed into his sleeping bag and laid down. The forest was quite dark and creepy at this time. After a while of sitting in silence, he fell asleep. He didn’t dream. Even in his sleep, it seemed like time was slipping away.