I Remember {MJ FANFICTION}

Chapter 2

The next morning, I took the darn bucket left behind from my unwanted guests the night before, filled it with water, hauled it home, and had my first bath in days. Then I set out on a new mission.

To find out about the witch along the Nile.

I covered my head in its wrap and travelled off back to the place I'd landed in the sand all those days ago, then further still to the hut ahead of it.

I heard splashing water in the vicinity and crept around the back of the house. There, crouched on the ground was Abraxas, his head bent over a filled bucket, washing his hair in the warm weather. Ahead of him in the distance, his brother and sister hung clothing. I decided I would try to get his attention.

"Abraxas." I whispered his name for the first time. He didn't so much as flinch as he scooped handful after handful of water over his already soaking wet hair. "Pssst! Abraxas! Ab..."

He heard not a word.

I scoured the ground at my feet and found a small pebble. I flicked it at him with superb aim.

"Ow!" His head flew over his shoulder and his eyes widened. "Michael-!" I hushed him frantically and waved him over. He neglected his bucket and came alone, and on his approach I noticed he was biting a twig incessantly.

"Hey Abraxas, what are you eating?" I asked with mild concern.

"I'm not eating, it's my chew stick." He said.

"Chew stick?" I echoed, thinking it may have been a vice for him, like how some people might suck their thumb as a child to gain a sense of comfort.

"Yes, you know, to keep my teeth clean?" He said with a concerned gaze back at me.

"Oh! Yeah yeah...right, perfect. How can I get one?" I asked and he shrugged,

"There is a man who makes them in town." He said and I let my head shake as I got off the side topic and recalled the reason I'd come here.

"Right, anyway I can't stay but listen, I need to ask you something. Do you know anything about a witch living by the Nile?" I searched his eyes as he nodded almost immediately.

"Oh yeah, there are a lot of rumours about that old evil woman." He said nonchalantly. I felt a sigh of relief leave me.

"Great, do you have any idea about how I can get to her?"

"Haha, no. It is a myth! Nobody really knows if she's out there. But if the myths are true, rumour has it you will either need a horse or camel to get there. With a horse at running speed, it might take you about 3 sunrises." I felt my shoulders deflate.

"You're kidding..." he looked at me oddly.

"You're not planning to go there are you?" he said, his eyes now brimming with excitement. I sighed.

"Not unless you know where I can get a horse." I mumbled defeatedly. He smiled and looked thoughtful for a moment.

"I know! There is a place-"

"Abraxas!" his mother called. His shoulders deflated as much as mine had then.

"My mother is calling me, I must go." He said and took steps back towards the bucket again. "but if you ever go, I want to know everything!" he left me standing there, no closer to my goal. I stared at the crops in the soil beside the house and locked eyes onto the surplus of onions, many of which had fallen to the ground and were rotting. I felt my stomach growl violently. I got lost in my own train of hungry thought for a few seconds before my feet led me to the front entrance of the home.