The Forgotten Land: The Return of the Giants

The Sorcerer and the Boy part II

Morning came again for the young boy named Kane, he managed to sneak inside the house of the Sorcerer safely. And the voice inside his head was right. A house but not a home, for it looked like it had been ransacked by a storm. 

Books were scattered everywhere and so were pieces of papers, knick-knacks and whatnots here and there. 

For ten days he was able to remain unseen by the man. He hid under the layers of unwashed clothes, dirty pillows and covers. He even managed to hide himself under the Sorcerer’s bed which was covered with dust. It was terrible. Horrible and suffocating. But he did it, he managed to remain invissible without coughing. 

“Nine o'clock.” Kane whispered to himself. "He will leave at nine o'clock." That’s the time the sorcerer goes on with his day and leaves the small house. That’s the time when Kane can look inside his refrigerator — check what’s inside. There are so many left-overs that the sorcerer doesn’t even notice if a piece of cake disappeared. Nor does he notice if the leftover chicken wings he fried yesterday was nowhere to be found. 

Kane rushed to the table as well because there are some days when the sorcerer comes back home to eat his lunch. 

“There’s only milk here.” He frowned and sighed in dismay.

The boy drank the half full glass and smiled. “At least he left milk for me…” He mused to himself. “...or maybe he thought he left it for the hundred mice and cockroaches hiding in his closet.” 

Kane shivered at the memory. It was the night he first stayed here. He crawled over to the humongous closet which hosted thousands of books, thinking that it was at least cleaned and maintained. But he was proven wrong when he saw a family of mice living on the back of the closet.

“Maybe I should get out of here?” He thought to himself. But then again, why not ask his invisible friend? 

“What do you think, Mr. nobody? Should I leave?” 

No answer. 

It made Kane shake his head. 

Kane grumbled under his breath and placed the empty glass on the table, realizing he had been holding on to it a bit too tightly. 

He was feeling guilty that he had been staying in this place for a bit too long. He was an unwelcome guest after all. And his mother always said that visiting without prior notice is rude. He didn’t want to be unfair to the Sorcerer.  

“Then I will go on my way!” He said to himself with a huge grin. 

He then began to look around, wanting to change his clothes. For he had been wearing it for ten days. He stank so bad he felt like he belonged to this place. Which isn’t completely terrible, but wasn’t good. 

“I’m sorry, mister.” He apologized as he closed eyes. “I’m just going to borrow some of your clothes… I’m going to take something that is yours for the last time.” 

After the youngsters put on his change of clothes, shoes, he carefully threaded towards the door. With a deep sigh he grabbed the knob, turned and stepped out of the dark house. 

Looking left and right, he ran back to the forest to find his way out. Where he will go — he doesn’t know yet. But one thing was clear to his head.

“I'm going to find you, Mom!”

Kane could imagine his mother being harassed and chased by the same thugs who went after him. The little boy wondered if she was safe, if she was crying. And he wondered how his Auntie Cindy was. Where could they be? And if they were alive?

After what happened at their home — the little boy felt a little different. He felt lighter. His eyes were clearer and he was able to see colors that he couldn’t see before. He was able to tell if it was going to rain, if it was going to be sunny or if a storm would come like he was able to the other day.

How he did it? He too doesn’t know. But all he did was close his eyes, feel the wind against the palm of his hand and listen to the voice inside his head. The voice would tell him what’s going on with the weather. If the sorcerer was gone. If it was safe for him to come out, or even where he would sleep.

But there were times when Mr. Nobody — as he calls it — keeps his silence. Just like a few minutes ago. But mostly, whenever he asks about his parents.

It makes him wonder if they had been captured. And his little heart ached as he thought about how much his beloved mother begged for mercy.

With that thought in his mind, Kane ran, running as fast as his little feet could take him. He made his way out of the small wooden house, stared at the smokey chimney and licked his dry lips. 

Finally he was able to make his way to the forest. Kane jumped past the tall thorny bush. The bush rustled as he rushed out of the dark end of the forest. Drizzles of dew from the grass splashed everywhere as he hastily made his way to the middle of the forest. For it was the part he remembered the best. The part of the forest where he could make his escape and find his mother. 

Not only that, but he has to make it out of here before noon. Or else he may bump into the sorcerer. 

“I wouldn’t want that!” He hissed. 

Kane’s shadow reflected against the trimmed grass. He was at the part of the forest where berries and small fruit bearing trees grew. “How odd…” He thought. As the trees were so small, and yet they bear so many fruits. 

And then Kane noticed something he doesn’t see everyday when he was still in the city. Another sun was coming out from the foot of the mountain. As the second sun takes its place in the sky Kane wonders where he really was… what kind of world was he in. 

He stared at the orange rays of the sung, and winced when it stung against his eyes. Kane looked up to the sky and wondered why the moon and stars were still there, still visible and it was bigger than it usually was.

“How odd.” Kane’s jaw dropped at the wonderful sight. “Mommy…” He said then he stopped running. He then pointed up to the sky. “...if only you could see what I see.” 

He smiled and closed his eyes as he lets the soft breeze touch his skin. But as he was enjoying himself, he heard a scream.

“What — hey you, little rat! What do you think you’re doing here?!” The Sorcerer barked impatiently, angry and agitated. “Who are you, you little rat?! Tell me your name!”

Kane gasped and it’s as if his heart had stopped beating. 

The little boy’s face went pale and the grin on his face disappeared. For when he saw the angered face on the sorcerer — he could imagine that he would no longer have a future, for the sorcerer’s face was dark and grim.

“Speak up!” The sorcerer hissed as he raised his staff. “Speak up, I say! If you don’t talk then I’ll turn you into a three feet carrot and cook you for dinner!”

Kane squealed yet he remained as motionless as a stone. “I… I…” He swallowed the lump that built on his throat. “I am… I…” 

“You are what?!” The sorcerer spat. “You have three seconds to answer me, little turd!” The sorcerer warned. “Three.” 

Kane gasped.

“Two —” 

And then he took a deep breath.

“One!”   

“I’m sorry!” Kane closed his eyes and crashed down on his knees. “I’m lost — I didn’t mean to come here!”

The sorcerer looked down at the boy and felt his blood boil. “I hate humans…” He whispered to himself then cursed under his breath. “You’re a little liar, aren’t you?! I deem you purposely found your way here!” 

Kane looked up and his eyes were welling with tears. “I am not lying!” He cried. “My mother did not raise me to be a liar!” 

"All humans are liars!" The sorcerer hissed.

Little Kane's heart was still beating hard against his chest.

He’s nervous, scared. And he feared for his life. The sorcerer in front of him raised the black staff on his hand and let out a blood curdling scream. 

“Please don’t hurt me!” 

With that, Kane pushed himself up — stretched his legs and began to run away from the sorcerer as quickly as he could. 

“While you little —” The sorcerer growled. “How dare you run away from me!”