Chapter One: Questions without answers

“Calin!!! Wake up! There is nothing there. Wake up. You are not falling!”

Calin’s eyes flashed open. Cold sweat dripped from his brow. His throat was dry like paper, and coughing only made it worse.

“That was a dream? Is it possible? No...” The words almost stuck to his throat. But that was the least of his worries. No matter what he tried, he couldn’t shake the memory of the feeling of what he had just lived through.

He had felt everything, from the wind on his skin, to the pain of the wounds. How the claw had sunk into his flesh.

His hands were shaking as he reached for his leg. It surprised him to find no wound.

He shook his head, not sure what to think about what just happened. His hands rubbed at the dull throb in his temples.

Again a voice hammered into his already aching head.

“You gave me a right fright there, shouting like a mad man. You could have woken up an entire street! Small wonder you didn’t wake Misses T—”

Shocked out of his daze, Calin spun his head with apprehension toward the door expecting the worst to happen, staring at the doorway with an unflinching gaze.

But nothing happened. To his side, the tall lean boy with sandy brown hair and a sly smile on his face was looming over him. Jerry Jake, his best friend for the last seven years.

Jerry reached for the light switch and Calin scrambled to try to stop him, but the light flashed on with a blinding effect. A groan escaped Calin’s lips at the sudden shift from dark to light, but he said, “Okay, Okay I’m awake and Misses T is not coming, so you don’t have to be so in my face about it, like I’m going to run off.”

Jerry snorted.

“Well after all you were saying in your sleep, I’m starting to wonder if you won’t jump up and run through the door disappearing into thin air.” Jerry laughed and flicked Calin on the forehead with his finger, the slight pain only lingering for a moment. It was Calin’s intension to reprimand his younger compatriot, but it was clear of Jerry’s immediate change in attitude that something was said that he regretted.

Calin frowned, but then realized his roommate felt guilty of saying the word ‘disappeared’— Calin just dropped his own shoulders. If Jerry had just not reacted to his own words, nothing would have happened. Now the memories of what happened at the strange Ruins of Mesa Versee were back to haunt him.

Mesa Versee... how he wish he could forget that day.

It was hard. The memories threatened to come to the forefront, but he shook it off and shrugged, waving Jerry off, he was okay.

To lessen the tension that had suddenly materialized in the room Calin said, “You’re looking for trouble you know. If you don’t stop flicking me I’ll throw a whole bucket of ice cold water over you next time when you don’t expect it!”

Relief washed over Jerry’s face and then he smiled as he jumped away in mock horror. “Oooh and now I’m supposed to be afraid? I’m a master of the senses, I’m always watching.”

“Hah! That’s debatable,” Calin said, “But who knows, maybe I’ll get my chance. You can’t watch me forever. So don’t push your luck… oh and Jerry, don’t forget about the mill and all the other sources of water around us.”

The boy’s eyes narrowed in a ‘you wouldn’t dare look’. But without a second to spare Jerry burst out laughing and moved away from Calin back toward the other wooden framed bed in the room. The bed’s posts creaked as Jerry asked, “So are you going to tell me what that dream was about? I’m quite curious, you were shouting … freaked me out that one, but I’m still curious, this seemed different than the ones of the past two weeks.”

Calin paused while lifting an eyebrow. Jerry was glancing his way in anticipation, but he wasn’t going to say anything.

“Oh, come on. Tell me! It’s not like I’ll go tell Misses Talsen all about your nightmares, now am I?”

It was all true, Jerry wouldn’t dare!. The guy wasn’t that brave, not nearly enough. A smile crept onto his face in agreement.

Looking at the ceiling, thoughts of what he could remember about the dream flitted through his mind. The whole thing was crystal clear until he had seen that grey sky. Everything seemed so real...

It couldn’t have been real. There were strange barriers, forests disappearing into thin air. Definitely not to mention the scaled, talking monster he had fought. Calin closed his eyes, the vivid images flashing before his eyes, the feel of the things that happened. Those things do not exist. But I had a father there? …I wish... I wish it could’ve been real. He shook his head, and after realizing his line of thought he snorted and chuckled to himself. I must SERIOUSLY be going crazy, but still—

“Earth to Calin!” Jerry exclaimed, waving his hands. “Wow, welcome back Shorty, what were you laughing about?”

Calin jerked at the intrusion to his unsettling thoughts. Sitting up, he glanced at Jerry, but then dropped his eyes to the cold stone floor in a frown.

“Nothing… Or rather at how strange a dream I had. You are right. It was different from the dreams of falling. It was… like I was really there. Seeing the forest and mountains disappear behind me, wishing I could go back. Even more strange was when I fought; it ... it was like I was really swinging the blade. It even felt like the swings were making my muscles tired. The blows I took were agonizing and yet it felt like I was not there, you understand what I mean, don’t you?”

Calin’s eyes fell back on Jerry, and for some reason he was surprised to see a bewildered look on the boy’s face. “Gosh you are going crazy mate, I think you swallowed too much sea water diving for rock lobsters.”

“Yeah right!” Calin said as he grabbed his black shoe, aimed and threw it at Jerry. The shoe barely missed the dodging boy, but Jerry quickly shouted back.

“Hey! Watch it!”

Even with the miss, a smile spread Calin’s lips as he replied smugly.

“Cold water mate, you know it is coming!”

Jerry pulled a nasty face at him, but the last few years living with his roommate was enough to know that as he turned on his side and closed his eyes that Jerry was also smiling. The game was on.

***

Waking up the next morning, a great yawn forced itself out. He had slept dreamless the rest of the night, which was more than a small blessing, Thursdays always promised the most work.

After a few moments of staring at the jutting stones that came out of the wall, he slowly got out of bed. His eyes were still heavy with sleep as he made his way over to the small crude bathroom. He dragged his hand over his face in an attempt to wipe the sleep away, though achieving none of it.

One look in the mirror made him cringe. The frozen storm in his blue eyes was rimmed with red veins from the rough night. It made him wonder if he got any real sleep at all.

A frustrated groan escaped him. The day was going to be a long one. But there was no real helping it. Instead, he dipped his hands in the cold water and splashed his face, enjoying the cool effect hitting his face.

Almost eighteen, he mused, remembering the date. He still didn’t know what he would think when he actually turned eighteen, though his short length never showed that he was already getting to such an age.

Somehow the fact that he was an orphan always made important dates like that seem inconsequential. Maybe eighteen would mean he would actually catch a girl’s eyes. A chuckle burst forth. What a ridiculous thought. He was who he was; short and an orphan. Nothing I can do about that. With a small shake, he dropped all thoughts of a life that had never been his.

With his hands wet, he moistened his hair, trying in vain to sort out all the strands standing up. But instead of forcing it to submit, it sprung up into the air again. Frustration flared up in him and he scrambled his hair in some serious coaxing, but it was a hard won battle as the minutes ticked by.

Somewhat satisfied, he walked to his drawer and quickly donned a slate coloured shirt over his developing shoulders, cussing at the tight fitting long-sleeved shirt as he struggled into it.

He was still growing, not much in the height section, but at the rate his muscles were filling out he would be forced to go buy new clothes with the little money he could scrape together. Working at the docks and the electricians shop at least helped out. Though, it was just a minor inconvenience. At least his pants still fitted probably as he buttoned up the slim cargo pants. He had scored two pairs from one of the richer kids who had outgrown theirs.

There was a moment, when he passed his bed that he wanted to jump back in. Yet just the thought of sleeping reminded him of the insane rollercoaster ride of a dream he had. For once his bed didn’t look so appealing.

Normally he would classify a night’s dream as either good or bad and then forgotten quickly as his day started.

But the dream from the night before was different. It was far too vivid.

In fact, it had been downright scary how real it had been. It stuck to his mind without mercy.

Each and every night since that day two weeks ago had been filled with dreams of falling, but the dream he had the night before... that one frightened him the most of all the dreams he had ever had. Something didn’t sit right after it.

And an old yearning, a painful one, had resurfaced. To belong to a real family tugged at his heart. A deep sigh forced its way out. Why him, why did he of all people have to dream about having a family.

It was still unfair that a child should go through his life without knowing his real parents; a cruel joke, he mused.

Even though the dream was his mind’s working, there was curiosity, if the people in it were somehow the true family he had lost, what would that mean? It was an almost impossible thought to process.

But finally a chuckle slipped out for day dreaming after a fantastical world where he lived with his family, a world of mysteries. Jerry would mock him for weeks if he could read his thoughts. The boy popped into his mind then and he dismissed his own musings.

Somehow being mocked would be better than handling the renewed pain alone, like everything else.

***

Within moments Calin spotted Jerry sleeping and smiled. It only took a few steps to reach the boy’s bed.

He didn’t have a bucket for cold water, this time. But a good fright would go miles too. Calin stood ready at the drooling unsuspecting kid, who was sleeping peacefully, totally happy with his lot. And then leaped on the part of the bed next to him shaking his roommate wildly and shouted urgently.

“Jerry! Jerry!! Get up!! You’re late for work! Mr. Brans will have your hide if you don’t get up now!”

It had the desired effect. Jerry started up in surprise. Bewildered, the boy grabbed at his closest clothes, jumping up and down trying to get the long pants over his hips. All the while heading for the door, but before reaching it, Calin was already rolling on the bed laughing.

The frantic struggle seized without a second to spare. Calin tried to calm his breathing as he glanced up, only to see Jerry casting him a suspicious glare before the boy looked at the clock. The con dawned slowly on Jerry’s face, and his eyes narrowed with intent.

Calin just shrugged his shoulders with a broad smile. It would have been smart to have gained some distance before the boy had realized, but Jerry was at the only door. The tall boy spoke with a harsh tone back at him, but there was a smile touching his lips as he said, “You little... bugger! I can’t believe you did that. I’m not even working there this week.”

Not able to help himself, Calin laughed all the harder. But after a moment he tried to compose himself a bit to reply, “I couldn’t resist buddy.”

His compatriot jumped at him, but Calin dodged to the side throwing a shirt lying on the floor at Jerry.

He was wrestling with the boy before too long, but the sounds of footsteps and a voice down the small tiled hallway stopped him and Jerry in their tracks.

“Boys! What’s with the commotion? Are you two ready for work? You better be, or I will send you both to work at Mr. Brans for a week.”

Fear welled up in Calin and as he cast his gaze at Jerry. It was clear the same was happening to him, before he jerked away from his counterpart, he and Jerry both trying to look like they were ready as the small rounded woman’s heals clicked closer. Calin was sure his cheeks were red from the wrestling, no doubt about it. He tried to smooth his shirt, but there was nothing he could do about it now.

He held his breath as the woman in her early forties entered their room. She wore her yellow flowered dress that made him always think she was stuck back in the sixties with her fashion, but he would never tell her that.

Even though she took him and Jerry both in out of the kindness of her heart, she was downright scary half the other times. Even so, she had shown him something he never would have known on the streets. As always, he was grateful for everything she gave them. But at moments like these, he wished he could disappear.

Before he could ponder the thought further, he remembered to breathe and the air gushed out without his permission.

“Got something to tell me Calin? You look all flushed.” Talsen asked.

Swallowing hard, he glanced fearfully around the room seeing Jerry’s head hung low as if to hide his mirth, but there was no time for that now and he replied almost with a stutter.

“No...Misses T...T, I splashed my face with hot water a minute ago.” It was the truth, but there was more, the wrestling and he did not want to be rebuked by Mr. Brans at the docks if she suspected he was hiding something important.

True Talsen scolded with words at times, but Hugo Brans had a wicked cane he was not scared to use on wayward boys when he wasn’t looking for the bottom of his rum bottle.

The man was a good man under that rough exterior, but he had a brutal swing to his arm. Calin almost groaned at the thought, but Talsen quickly spoke her line of thought. “Good to hear you have the sense to wash, unlike your friend here, eh Jerry Jake?”

Calin almost was sorry for the boy, but then again it was certain she won’t be too hard on him. Jerry had come to the house a couple of years ago to live with them, even though Jerry’s now deceased parents left him enough money to keep him happy for many years.

It was hard not to remember the surprise when he had first discovered the fact and that Jerry was using some of it to help Misses Talsen out at times. He always wanted to ask Jerry why he chose to live such a simple life, but always forgot. Then again, it was a guess, but Jerry always loved the adventure of things over a comfortable lonely life.

The boy’s expression spoke of his confidence in the fact that she won’t rebuke him overly much. Yet they were both wrong a moment later as she scolded at Jerry’s smile and said in a testy tone. “Better wipe that smile of your face Jerry, and wash it while you’re at it! You want to come help me at the launders?”

Shocked, Calin glanced to see Jerry’s frown and not surprisingly, the boy recovered quickly and protested.

“Come on Misses T! I hate working there, those ladies pinch my cheeks every time I pass them!”

Desperately Calin tried to contain a bubble of laughter that was surging forward, but only succeeded when he spotted the woman lifting a stern eyebrow at Jerry. “Eh? Or would you rather go work at Mr. Brans for a week?”

Calin was sure that Jerry had realized his error. The boy jumped a little next to him, but quickly responded with an adamant denial. “No Misses T! I will go to the shop and launders with you today.”

Even standing so close to Jerry, Calin could only barely make out a resigned groan from the boy.

With that, the lady of the house left the room and Calin tried to pinch Jerry’s cheek, but his roommate swatted him away and said, “I don’t know about you, Shorty... But you will be late if you don’t go now.”

Not taking offence from the all too common nickname, that so pronounced his short stature, he gave a quick salute to Jerry and hurried off out of the room.

On his way out, while he wrapped a thermal scarf around his neck, the giggling form of Kelly ran into him. The seven year old girl of Misses Talsen was probably running away from her sibling. Calin swept her up in his arms and tickling her before setting the out of breath girl down again. Still huffing, she smiled but pointed a stern little finger at him.

“Caaaalin. No fair. I didn’t see you!”

Calin just laughed and ruffled her hair as he walked to the door and said, “Sorry Kelly, but you know me, I’m the tickling monster in the morning.” In a fast spin, he turned to her and wiggled his fingers at her. The girl’s eyes got big and she squealed with laughter as she ran off through the house. Calin stood up and chuckled good-heartedly. He had a soft spot for the two kids of the house.

But as he reached for the door, his smile faded slightly. His thoughts returned to the conversation in the room, he couldn’t help but again notice how Misses Talsen was still soft on him after that event two weeks ago. Everybody was soft on him, even Jerry. They were all so infuriatingly accepting; ‘You couldn’t have done anything’ ‘You were unconscious when it happened’. But he was there in the midst of the Ruins of Mesa Versee, right where it happened.

There had been time to have done something...