by N. I. Rojas
“This one is different. I believe you have noticed this already, unless you're more idiotic than what you appear.” -The man taunted Mackenzie.
“Then I bet all the seedlings from my Dulcè garden that you can do it yourself and I can go home now.” -Mackenzie snapped back.
“Then risk yourself to disappear with your dreamt land and abandon your pretty redhead friend to perdition. You choose but do it wisely. If you don’t do what I ask, the girl will destroy you and your lovely land. Poor of your mermaid friend! She’ll suffer more than any other. I’ll give you a hint and two night’s time to choose what you are going to do. I’ll care for your land until then, but delay your decision a minute longer and you’ll be doomed and what you care for the most will be condemned to fatality.” -The man stood up, his silhouette was now illuminated by a bright light, so powerful that blinded Mackenzie and threw him against the closest wall.
“A dance you must attend
in order to do things right,
to earn what you want,
you’ll learn to give the fight.
Your mind you must change
see, is ringing the clock.
Your time is running out.
Hurry by, tic- toc, tic- toc.
To doom or to choose,
that’s all up to you.
Make the wisest decision
to save more than two.”
Mackenzie opened his eyes again after few seconds passed. The verses still ricocheted against the walls while faded away as a whisper. He was all alone again, but a rain of papers began in the long hallway. Papers of each and every color of the rainbow were falling down as huge rain of confetti. One of them felt right on Mackenzie’s lap. Without knowing how, he knew exactly what the paper said. The ball. The girl. Everything had been in front of his eyes all this time, but he had been too enthralled by her to even notice.
“Kyra Sussanette Elizabeth Marin!” -Kyra turned around at listening to her father’s extra mad voice. The little concentration Kyra had earned while devouring a book of Egypt history was now broken. - “I think I made it clear about you being grounded. The library was included as a no-go place.”
Kyra looked at her watch and it said three minutes beyond one in the afternoon. Her father was supposed to be in the office until six.
“How did you find me?” -Ashamed and surprised, Kyra dared to ask.
“Really, Kyra? I went home ‘cause nobody answered the phone, and I discovered you had left. Where else to search for you if not in here?” -Her father answered, convinced that he knew his daughter more than herself.
“I don’t know. Maybe Miss Rose knows a place or two… where she could have sent you after me.” -Kyra said sarcastically.
“Don’t be mad at me. I just want what’s best for you. Everything will change soon. Your life and mine, too. I’m missing you already, Kyra.” -She didn’t understand the meaning of those words, but her father’s sorrow was carved in the expression lines of his face.
“You don’t have to miss me. I’m still the same girl, just with a whole new bunch of situations to deal with.” -She answered back reaching for his hand.
Now was her father’s turn to wonder what Kyra was talking about. He had always been clever. That’s why he recognized his daughter had a superior knowledge, maybe it was in her blood after all. Her legacy, her birth rights, everything was developing too soon and this poor man knew that the time to let his daughter go was about to come. Even so, he wanted to know what Kyra was talking about.
“Then tell me so I can help you.” -Kyra’s father said while sitting in a chair right in front of her. Kyra knew her father was too pious to be mad at her for more than twenty-four hours. His heart was bigger than the biggest galaxy she had read about.
“Well, believe me or not, Miss Rose is lying. I just defended myself for the first time after a year or more that this Irving has been bullying me. It has been plenty of times when he had thrown his food over me, making me fall in mud or hit me with the soccer ball in PE class. Mackenzie defended me the other day after Irving embarrassed me in front of the whole school at lunch time. He got in trouble too. They do nothing to Irving even with all the reports against him, but I defended myself once and I ended up suspended and with a long list of invented lies against me. How to defend myself when my own father, who knows me better than anyone, doesn’t trust me?” -Kyra felt relieved after saying what was happening to her. She only hoped for her father to believe her. That was what only mattered to her. If she could win his trust back, nothing would stop her.
“Let's go home. We have plenty to do.” -Her father said, standing from the seat. He didn’t say anything about Kyra’s confession, but it was obvious he believed her words. He took Kyra’s backpack and placed the book she was reading back to where it belonged. He knew there was no reason to doubt his daughter. With all he knew of her, with the secrets and mysteries he had to live all these years, he should have known better to understand that these things were coming sooner or later. He just wasn’t prepared to end up the fight for her yet. Kyra followed him silently through the halls knowing there was no reason for arguing. - “I can’t see why you like the history section so much when the health section is better equipped and updated more often than this?”
Kyra laughed silently while her father tucked her under his protective arm. They were so alike, yet so different, but that was what made them so happy together.
“We’ll stop by the candy shop to get a brownie milk shake, meanwhile you can tell me about this boyfriend of yours.” -Her father said.
“There is nothing to tell about him, dad!” -Kyra protested while blushing. - “And he is NOT my boyfriend.”
“Yeah, right.” -Her father snapped back, mocking her. - “As if I didn’t know better!”
Chapter 9: Friends out of Fairy Tales
Saturday
A week has passed by since Mackenzie set foot in Green Garden Middle School. During the whole week Mackenzie found a way to sneak into the school to spend the night. Every night he dreamed about going back to Alter Land. The first conversation with the man that sent him there was now just a dream. A crazy dream. Everything has been in his imagination, nothing has been real. Just the gift cards. Well, and the strange visit of the same man the previous day.
Every time he was convinced that going back home was the only right thing to do, he just told himself: One more day . One more day to see Kyra… to smell the sweet aroma of her hair and her skin and her breath… she was sweet as nothing he had smelled before. One more day to hear her laughing. One more day to hear about her crazy dreams of loneliness. One more day of feeling that he was aging. One more day to feel as any other normal boy.
The whole week has been strange, but the last Tuesday has been crazy for Mackenzie. Kyra never reached the lake and he spent the evening waiting for her, but she never came. Soon he knew Kyra was hiding from him. But why? He didn’t know. He just felt it. Walking to the tall building located in front of the park, Mackenzie knew Kyra would be there. That was beyond obvious. She would be there escaping from reality with her head immersed in ancient history, which she preferred instead of creating her own.
Hiding behind trees, Mackenzie waited until he saw the most beautiful redhead leaving the library with her hands full of old, dusty books. For Mackenzie is was unexplainable what Kyra was expecting to find in a place that only spoke of dead. How to find solace in stinky stained pages when caressing them will cause a broken book? A broken book will ever be like a butterfly with broken wings? A book so old like those Kyra enjoy so bad could be wiser than the oldest mahogany tree planted in Alter Land? A story of those could be as fair and kind as the Mer people and their always well-hidden queen?
For Mackenzie, a library meant nothing apart from what he had listened from other boys. A dusty place full of people with their heads bent over a book, trying to memorize and learn things when they just have to go outside and explore the world. Kyra had showed Mackenzie he was right.
She was one of those people who sank their heads in a book and could be there, lost and mesmerized until transported to another place just with the power of those words. He could do that to her, take her to a place she had never been; carry her to a world beyond her imagination and much more fascinating than what she reads in books. He could prove it to her, only if she let him. But he won’t force another human girl to go with him to Alter Land. He had forced himself to stick to that promise. She must want it, ask him to, maybe beg him to let her know his true world.
As soon as Kyra left the library that Tuesday, Mackenzie sneaked inside. He needed to discover with own eyes what kept Kyra so fascinated for long hours, and that she preferred rather than spending time having fun with him. From first impression the library didn’t meant anything to Mackenzie. He wandered through the long halls looking at long rows of books, all of them indistinct to him as he never learned to read. He was about to turn around to leave when he heard a voice talking from a room nearby. The echoes of wonder of at least a dozen of children reached Mackenzie’s great hearing. He walked guided by the voices… they were bewitching him, hugging him under a spell of mystery and amazement too hard to resist.
He stood in the frame of the door just in time to hear a summary of the story that was previously read by the small group of boys. A lady was telling the boys about a child that never aged and lived happy being young for eternity. The kids were laughing and joking about it, but it was no fun at all to Mackenzie.
“I’ll be happy forever if I can fly and spend the day playing.” -One of the boys said.
“I’ll be the leader of all you guys, and we’ll discover worlds and have so many adventures together.” -Said another.
“It sound so pretty now kids, but believe me, you’ll get bored to death if you have to fight forever with the same old gal without a hand, having to hear his fears when any clock rings, and the girls will always run away from you, as girls always want to grow old.” -Mackenzie found himself interrupting the reunion, but it was hard for him as he felt these people were intruders, spying his own hard life.
“Excuse me, young boy.” -The old lady said. - “You’re being too harsh to these kids. They are just babies enjoying fairy tales.”
Mackenzie knew she was right, but he was not in the mood to be crushed by a granny.
“So, you find it entertaining?” -Mackenzie asked her.
“Yes, young boy. This is quite a story. A classic as none other.” -The woman said proudly.
“A classic you say! And it’s as old as you are?” -Mackenzie asked without caring his words. - “You are a classic, too!” -There it was… his mocking attitude, cruelty accompanied with his hateful childish laughter.
“One day you’ll learn. One day you’ll be the boy of this book, a boy with so much to live, with so much to learn. Perhaps that is the reason why he never gets old, because his time is short anyway, and he enjoys wasting his time on trifles, just as you do.”
“Too late, Gran. Too late!”
******
Mackenzie shook his head fast, expelling those memories out of his mind. After the old dirty man visited Mackenzie early on Friday, he had known what to do. This was the day to do things right. To be free from spells and wizards and witches and everything else that stood between him and his dream. But he wasn’t sure if he truly wanted to ever go back again. This place, school, was totally different to Alter Land. This place, so feared for other kids, was pleasant to Mackenzie. Everything, every situation, every smell, every inch of his aching body, helped him to create new memories to summon later to feel again what he was living now.
In so many ways he felt he was growing. His body said otherwise, of course, but his mind and soul felt somewhat different. This feeling of renewed life urged Mackenzie to hurry up and find the objects he was supposed to collect. Of course he forgot everything during the days he had been in this place. Until now, the old man’s words were just a soft echo mumbled in the back of his memories, but it has been there, bothering in a way. Now everything was clear to him. Kyra was the girl he was supposed to find. That’s why he found her so fast, because the rest of the time has been just a waste. It was his fault Alter Land was sick. He could have finished the entrusted job already. He just couldn’t see it before because Kyra had been bewitching him with her sweetness and vulnerability. What a powerful witch Kyra was! It has to be , Mackenzie thought. Maybe too powerful for him to defeat or even have war with, but he had to try if he wanted to be free.
Saturday came faster than what Kyra would have hoped. In fact, she wanted Saturday to never come, but when the alarm of the clock rang that early in the morning, she remembered she had to go to the school to take a test for advanced classes. It was optional, but better take it to be on top of the next school schedule and not stuck between dummies that were learning how to add and subtract at this age. High School was just a summer away and College depended on each and every good grade Kyra could achieve. She won’t settle for less than honor scholarships and the best universities.
Jumping out of bed, Kyra went to her own bathroom -the only thing apart from her room- that belonged to her. She saw her reflection in the mirror and thought about something she looked alike. Her hair was like a palm tree- she thought- but red. Orange red. Her face was dull in each and every aspect of its definition. Her lips were full, fuller than what she wanted them to be and some freckles were sprinkled on her pink cheeks like if a painter had shaken a fine brush all over, leaving tiny droplets here and there. Kyra looked at her reflection in detail. To be honest with herself, Kyra had to recognize she had freckles all over her body, reason why she decided not to look in the mirror ever again. Truth was, she didn’t care about her physical appearance. The appearance of face and body should be a matter of concern only if she wanted boys to be attracted to her. - “That’s not what I want.” -Kyra said to herself. But deep within she knew she was trying to lie to herself, unsuccessfully.
After washing her mouth and her face, Kyra went to her closet to find some nice clothes to wear. She could run away this day, but her father would find her no matter what. So, it was better just to face it. She was a year older today and the party was going to be a reality no matter her rages and tantrums.
None of those clothes were striking for the birthday girl, after all half of the school already knew about it. “Thanks dad” -Kyra muttered, not happy for it. Slyly, Kyra entered her stepsister’s room to borrow some clothes. Zoe always had something nice, flashy and new, contrary to Kyra who always wears the same clothes. There was no one in the room; Thanks mercy! Her flawless stepsister had left her room tidy to perfection. Her bed seemed to be freshly ironed to avoid any wrinkles. Kyra took a small colorful strapless dress Zoe had never used, and some black booties to finish. Returning to her room, she dressed as fast as she could, put some correction makeup over her thousand freckles -but she chose to give up as it was impossible to cover any of them- and ran down the stairs to left the house in a rush. Kyra hurried to escape the house earlier than usual to avoid been escorted to school as her father had threatened to do. She heard her father yelling back:
“Remember the party. Come back early today, Kyra. No wandering in the mall today, okay?”
What was that supposed to mean? Her father was spying on her all this time, long before the suspension? Kyra couldn’t believe the little trust he had on her. Instantly she felt mad. Angry, ashamed and upset for been followed like if she was the black sheep of the family. She blushed… her cheeks as hot as the time Mackenzie kissed her hand in front of her house. Now, that same warm blush of cheeks didn’t allow Kyra to confront her father. At least he didn’t stop her and force her to get into the car to take the shameful tour to school. Because certainly he’ll make the moment bad and appalling, as he’ll take her right inside the school, as far as the car can go.
At school, Kyra was happy to see her friend Ash recovered from the flu. Kyra had been extra lonely this week. Mackenzie was always with her, like a shadow
to her own, not that he enjoyed being indoors just as much as she does, but he seemed out of options. Since Wednesday he rarely talked, just sat there watching her for endless hours. Having Ash back was very refreshing. She could be of help with Mackenzie and with his weirdness and strange attitude. In fact, maybe Ash and Mackenzie would get along better than Kyra and Mackenzie. Ash and the boy were two lunatic dreamers, and both were different to any other person Kyra had known, they were like taken from fairy tales.
Kyra introduced Ash and Mackenzie. Yeah, she was right. They were perfect for each other. That idea made Kyra a little jealous as her friend wasn’t a perfect princess or anything alike, but she couldn’t deny her friend had a charm. If it wasn’t because Ash already had a boyfriend, Kyra would have played cupid with arrows of love and everything to put this two fairy tale’s lovers together.
“Are you coming to the party, Mack?” -Ash asked after the test sessions ended. It was natural of Ash to shorten the names to give new people cool new nicknames. At least she had started that bad habit with herself. Ashley- Ash. Mackenzie- Mack. Kyra Sussanette- Ky- KySu.
“What party?” -He asked back playing dumb.