An Alternate Universe

Chapter 2: An Odd Encounter

       12th August 2014

Tapping away at the stairs when he saw the butler's room. The door cracked half open with all the lights on. He was snoring loudly and he had no blanket. It was far too cold in the kingdom to be having a rest with no blanket. He was far too heavy for a little boy to carry to his bed but the most he could do is drape the blanket as he slept soundly on the couch. He placed the blanket on him and turned off the lights to return tapping his way up to his room. He loved his butler, Wonce more than anything ever. He is his best friend, almost like his parents entirely and it didn't bother Harvey even one bit who he was before this job. He can't just let his best friend ever sleep in the shivering cold like that. Anyhow, as planned, his mother would come soon and sing him goodnight, and then, he could roam the streets with nothing to worry about. Harvey opened his bedroom and shot straight to his closet. He changed his clothes into something more suitable for a late-night stroll. As he predicted, he heard his mother's footsteps approaching his room.

"Harvey darling! - she shouted exhaustedly.

"I am aware, mother. You may go and take your time." He sighed.

The door was locked shut and his mother wouldn't be able to see his attire.

"Harvey, you don't have to talk formally to me." She begged.

"You got rather upset when I didn't last time." He whispered.

"Alright, I should go then." She said loudly, capturing Harvey's attention.

"What about my nightly song?" He asked, very keen to know an answer.

"Oh alright. My sweet firefly, you guide me through the night sky. My firefly, you shine amongst the night, oh, you are my sweet sweet firefly."

These exact words are sung to Harvey every single night. It's a very quick song but it makes Harvey so amazingly happy and feel safe. He grinned wide and happily and then his mother scurried away as his smile faded. Ah, how rare it is to even get a hug from his parents. He doesn't have any siblings, well he does, he just doesn't like them very much. He rules a far more superior city than he will grow up to lead and he envies him for it. His name is Prince Julius Alder Of Hasenberg The II. He has such a long name and it means great power and success. While his name was just Prince Harvey. See the difference and imagine how embarrassing it must be to have a more popular, more powerful, more successful, and more important older brother who is stronger than his birth givers. The front door slammed shut and he knew that he could finally go outside in his very un-royal clothes. He sat on the stairsteps and hallucinated choking his brother. He would smush his brain if he could, he would kill him without hesitation if asked to.

He got up off the stairs and attempted his sneaky mission. He was never allowed to set foot into the city alone, he always had his mother or his butler, Wonce. He peeped out of the large window and could hear his mother's very faint voice talking to the stupid council. He called him stupid because he always seemed to come when his mother wasn't busy and finally free. It almost felt planned at times. It was concerning how many times he rang the doorbell and Harvey knew instantly who it was. He ran down the stairs and stood in front of the gigantic metal bolted door, it loomed over him and his heart started pacing. It was clear what he was doing was out of order but, his mother was doing something out of line too. She was supposed to be there for her kid, her child, and yet here she was, talking to the council outside past curfew. He took deep breaths, fidgeted with his hands, and at the count of three, he twisted the knob. 

He tripped and fell with a huge crash outside.  Everyone and anyone would've heard that, it echoed through the air, and Harvey's chest tighten. He could feel his mother's head turning right and left rapidly and searching in fear. It didn't matter who you are when it comes to city curfew, you better be in your homes by midnight. They don't like the idea of being out anyways during the day, but it is especially bad to go past midnight. Some story occurred and someone got kidnapped so they are locked down forever. It wasn't like the population of the cities even so slightly mattered, the government doesn't care! Harvey got up off his knees and ran behind a building alleyway. As he panted, he heard the heels clack their way across. And then, Harvey saw his mother in full view. Tiptoeing like a thief in France, with her head turning right and left with a hand over her eyes. Even as The Queen, she acted like a 20-year-old mother.

"Hello? Where are you? Come out now!" She yelled as she tapped her feet on the concrete.

"This is a punishable act, I will find you." She screamed and then whispered.

Harvey couldn't move now. As said before, no matter who you are, or what your reason is, you are doomed after 12. He didn't even breathe, slight inhales and exhales. It didn't matter if you get oxygen now when you won't later. The town is especially known for its terrible and brutal punishments. You could get killed for stealing a stale piece of bread, it isn't a joke. He covered his mouth with his sweaty palms and jittered as his mother finally turned around and searched the other fifty alleys. Harvey sighed and slowly backed away from entering the alley, small steps moving backward. Something crunched, though he stayed put and didn't step on anything at all. What was that sound? What was that crunch? Was there someone there? Is he going to be in danger if he doesn't bolt now? Harvey stayed still and looked at his mother, staring at the alleys carefully. He stepped back and something grabbed him. His instinct was to scream, but he didn't. Both the person holding him and himself would get in such terrible trouble. A warm hand with a leather glove wrapped around Harvey's waist and mouth. Harvey turned to see and saw a masked face, with curly brown hair, sunglasses, and no other features visible. He went along with it and became silent on his own.

A mouth smacked open and whispered in Harvey's ears, "Shush, stay quiet." 

"You shush! Let go and move along." He whispery yelled.

"Queen will check this alley and when she does, you do exactly as I say." He muttered.

"Ah, sure?" Confused but answered a straight yes.

The Queen strutted to the alley right beside them, she screeched names of previous kidnappers and flashed the torch deep inside. The walls were so thin, they could feel the light and warmth through the walls. The boy gripped tighter onto Harvey's clothes and let go of his mouth. He tapped Harvey on the shoulder, counted to three using his fingers, and held each other's hands tightly. They dashed out of the narrow streets and behind the castle walls. Harvey covered his face and tried to see better at his.

"You won't see my face, no  chance." He scoffed at his attempt to even try.

"Who even are you?" He asked, in slight anger and confusion.

"My name is Franklyn, and you?" He hesitated to say but alas spat it out.

"I do not need to tell you." That sounded cocky.

"I saved your life." Franklyn used it as an excuse.

"Harvey." He stuttered, was this safe?

"Nice, well, good night and be safe." He said his goodbyes and hopped away.

Franklyn threw his hood back on and ran into the shadows, waiting for a new shadow to disguise himself in. What did he just witness? A boy like him, out at the time of night? That made Harvey realize, no one follows the rules and the world is better than that. Seeing the boy dissipate in the foggy darkness, the moon glistened in his eyes and he turned around. He was behind the castle and all he had to do was go back to the front door and slide back in. He ran like a ninja and unlocked the door easily, slide his slim body through, and silently locked the door again. It seemed as if nothing happened, or changed. He could hear his mother talking to the council, the butlers snoring, and the palace quiet just as it was. Harvey took off his shoes and went to his room, he was tired and needed time to process what happened.

As he opened his bedroom door, closed it, and switched off the lights, his eyes grew teary from the sleep. He skipped to his bed and hid under the covers. The light of the street lamps shone through his glass window and pierced his eyes. The pale moonlight, owls cooing, his mother screaming laughing, doves singing and the wind pounding on his window. That didn't matter, what mattered was, he had to find that boy again, Franklyn. A goal, an achievement, a wish, a desire, he will find Franklyn.

I will find Franklyn.

AUTHORS NOTE : 

hello! JHE has posted another chapter. 

-Franklyn's story will be posted soon too.

-Estimated at 22/9/2022.

-good night babies.