Early in the morning, the Wagner family butler made his way down to the shed outside. The door creaked slightly as he opened it.
"Young Tokitō."
He knelt down by the child, and unbound his hands and feet, gently shaking him awake.
"Are you feeling alright? The men who brought you will be here in less than half an hour to take you away."
Muichirō sat up slowly, holding himself under the ribs. He coughed, and blood spilled from his mouth and onto the floor.
"Oh dear. Hold on, I'll clean that up." The butler stood up to leave. "Oh. I brought you some water, right there," he pointed to a tray on which a single bottle of water stood. It looked funny all by itself.
"I'll be back."
The butler rushed into the mansion through the servants' entrance, and quickly got a cold, wet rag. He walked back to the shed, and cleaned up the bloody mess.
"Heeeey! Papa, where's the Muichirō kid?" Frankie's voice pierced through the still air. Muichirō shuddered.
"Stop yelling! You'll see him before he leaves." Wagner's voice echoed from outside.
"He's leaving? Whyyyyy!?"
"I have to go assist the children in getting ready," the butler murmured. "If you need anything...well, I suppose you can leave here if you want to."
He stood up and left the shed. Muichirō watched his back as his figure shrank. Then the butler disappeared inside the house.
Muichirō stood up carefully, and walked out of the shed. The wet grass underfoot squeaked when he walked. Muichirō wished he had shoes on. His feet wouldn't be so cold, and then, maybe he wouldn't be shivering so bad. He blew into his palms, trying to warm them.
"Hey, good morning!"
Michael pranced out of the forest, waving to him. In the other hand, he held a fishing pole.
"Hey Muichirō! Come over here!"
When the younger boy didn't move, Michael hopped over to him, and grabbed him by the hand.
"Come with me. I have something to show you."
He pulled Muichirō into the forest from which he'd come, and ran through the brush, until they stopped at a small river. The clear water sparkled in the sunlight, and little fish swam at the bottom. A scatter of rocks sat in the water.
"Pretty, isn't it? Come on, I'll help you cross."
He pushed Muichirō towards the river, without waiting for a response, and jumped on the nearest rock. "Here. Follow me."
Muichirō glanced at him, and followed suit. Michael grinned, and jumped onto another rock. "Here, now grab my hand."
Muichirō reached out to him, and Michael clutched him by the hand, heaving him onto the next rock. "See? We're almost there."
He leapt onto the next rock, then the next, and the next, until he'd reached dry ground. He grinned excitedly, clapping his hands.
"Now you."
Muichirō stared at him.
So he just left me here...I shouldn't have expected anything less.
He reached over to the next stone with his foot. It was hard to get a good grip with bare feet. Muichirō repeated the step, reaching for the next rock. The events of the previous night had exhausted the poor boy, and each rock seemed farther than the last one. He sprang off the rock he'd been standing on, and slipped.
YOU ARE READING
The monster under my bed
FanfictionEvery young child has a monster living in their closet or under their bed at some point. But they all grow out of it at some point. Muichirō is known to have a hyperactive imagination. So when he thinks there's a monster under his bed that also live...
