Chapter Three

The noise of wheels against gravel startled Alis awake, as it was nothing he was familiar with. Human machines weren’t allowed in his forest, so carriages were alien to him. He was laid on the bench across from the human, and he had the human’s jacket sprawled over him like a blanket.

“What is this?”

The human explained, “This is a carriage; it’s taking us to a new place.”

“A new place?”

The human nodded, and then Alis asked, “Mommy and Daddy will be at this place?”

The human said, “Don’t worry. They will. Why don’t you sleep some more? By the time you wake up, we’ll be at the new place.”

Alis laid back down and listened to the sound of gravel cracking under him, and he thought it sounded a little like a waterfall if he covered his ears and closed his eyes. Alis transported himself back in time, to when he stood under a waterfall. It was harsh, and it hurt, but it was somewhat soothing as it massaged his muscles. Then, he heard the sound of the spirits song, and he walked outside of the waterfall. He hadn’t remembered this part. The song grew louder, and the melody turned violent. He felt his body quake as the ground shook and the air grew thin. And then, he saw in his reflection his parents turning around and leaving him behind. Suddenly, Alis shot awake with tears streaming from his eyes.

“They’re not coming to the new place,” Alis said with shock.

Alis was in a bed, in a room far more extravagant than anything he had ever seen. The roof was high, and a chandelier was hung on the ceiling. It was made out of crystals that Alis had sworn he found in geodes. The bed he was in was so large it could fit dozens of him. He swiftly jumped out of bed and dashed to the door, of which he opened and wandered out into the hallway. He looked down the railing at a warm fireplace, and he saw the human reading on a rocking chair. Alis crept down the staircase and came up to the human, and the human looked at him with shock.

“Why are you crying? Did you have a nightmare?”

Alis clenched at his pants and asked, “Why did you lie to me?”

The human asked, “What do you mean? How did I lie to you?”

Alis sobbed and cried, “Mommy and Daddy aren’t coming here!”

The human’s eye twitched, and Alis felt his breath hitch, and his sobbing quieted instantly. He felt as though if he were to make a single peep, he would get hurt.

“Your Mommy and Daddy didn’t want you anymore,” the human explained.

“What? Why?”

The human said, “They needed money for their farm.”

Tears dripped heavily from Alis’ eyes, and the human got up from his chair and knelt down to embrace him. Once captured in this embrace, Alis wasn’t sure if he felt comforted or not.

“Don’t worry, Alis. Mr. Keller will take care of you.”

Alis pushed Mr. Keller away and yelled, “No! I don’t want him to! I want my Mommy and Daddy!”

Alis wailed loudly, and then Mr. Keller’s palm crashed against his cheek, halting his breath.

Mr. Keller demanded loudly, “Quiet!”

Alis couldn’t stop himself from crying even harder, and he dropped to the floor. Mr. Keller picked him up by the arm and dragged him to his feet. Alis tried to pry the hand off of him, and he kicked and flailed around.

“Let me go! Let me go! Take me back to Mommy and Daddy!”

Mr. Keller threw Alis into a room and slammed the door, and he said, “I will let you out once you decide to behave yourself!”

The room was dark, and there was a single bed wrapped in dust that wasn’t nearly the same size as the one he found himself in prior. There was a window that let in the cold moonlight, and Alis walked toward it. He couldn’t stop the tears from falling, and his whole body trembled. He tried to find solace in the moon and stars above, but the uncertainty of his future kept him on guard, forbidding his anxiety from dying out. 

Alis watched the sun rise over the horizon, lighting the sky up like it was on fire. Mr. Keller knocked on his door, and he asked, “Are you ready to be a good boy now?”

Alis felt like his eyelids weighed a thousand pounds, and slowly he made his way to the door.

“I am,” he whimpered.