The Underground

The land that is called The Underground

London in early 1832
It was a very cold day and it was snowing heavily. All the people in the street were trying to finish their work as soon as possible and go to their warm homes. Amidst the crowd of these people, a little boy named Vladimir was crawling in a corner to protect himself from the cold, and he was asking the same question to those who passed by him: "Sir? Can you give me a place to spend tonight until morning?" And he heard a common answer from everyone: "No, I have nowhere"
Some of the nobles nervously pushed him away with their wands, and others were heartbroken for the boy, but for whatever reason, they did not help.
Unable to get help from others, Vladimir sat in another corner next to the chimney of an underground house and rubbed his hands to get warm. He pulled his long patchwork gray jacket over his knees and hugged them. He did not remember anything about his parents, he only knew that when he was two years old, a woman who may have been his mother brought him from Russia to London and left him in the back alleys of this city for reasons he does not know, and a bully man named John found him and sold him to an English woman for a few pounds.
When Vladimir was ten years old, that woman died due to the disease that had plagued her for years, and once again Vladimir was left alone, but with the difference that he had a small house at his disposal, which John took over, and Vladimir, who was twelve years old, he was permanently displaced in London. Vladimir rubbed his hands together and wished that this painful winter would end soon. Winter is an example of hell for refugees! Even if he could bear the cold, what would he do with the hunger that was hitting him?
While he was resting his head on his knees; He was looking at the white ground, when suddenly a red apple fell near him, in the snow with a thud. The boy stared at it and thought that God was aware of the greediness of people's hearts and now he has thrown an apple from the sky for him!
He whisper thanked the merciful God and stretched his hand towards it; But before his fingers could touch that tempting apple...
- " don't touch it!"
A voice behind him said.
But Vladimir didn't pay attention. Hunger had disturbed his mind, and after he took the apple in his arms...
-"Give it back!"
He heard again! Vladimir turned towards the source of the sound, which he guessed was standing behind him. A boy of his own age was standing in the clothes of nobles.
-" who are you?"
Vladimir said. The noble boy had a smile on his thin lips that didn't disappear even for a moment, and this showed him in a mad calm!
- "You can definitely have another apple for yourself! But I can't because I don't have any money."
Hearing these words, the unknown boy didn't even have a heartache and kept smiling and was completely at peace. He approached Vladimir and extended his hand to him.
-" I can take care of you. Many colorful apples are waiting for you in my house!"
He said.
-" You must be very rich! who are you?"
Vladimir stood up and asked.
-" My name is Charlie, Vladimir!"
-"How do you know my name?"
Vladimir asked in surprise.
-"We are going to be friends! Don't we?
But he didn't receive an answer from Vladimir.
-"come with me!"
He said once again, Then started walking and went to his brougham and sat in it; But Vladimir didn't move. Charlie leaned out of the window and looked at him.
-"Come! my good friend, trust me! I will save you from this cold and hunger!
He said with his smile that had not disappeared from his thin lips.
Vladimir went to him and sat in Charlie's personal brougham,
- "To the house; William!"
Charlie ordered the coachman, who was not visible to Vladimir.
The brougham started. Charlie held out his hand to Vladimir and pointed to the apple. Vladimir understood his meant very well and although he was reluctant, but he returned the apple; Then he closed his eyes. During these two years that he was completely homeless; Charlie's brougham was the only place he felt warm and soft, so he felt extremely sleepy.
***
He opened his eyes when a man's hand gently patted his back three times, only to realize. He was resting his head on the legs of a young man. He looked up and down, he was sitting right where Charlie was. An aristocratic man in a black tailcoat and light brown breeches! And of course, a pair of boots and leather gloves and finally a tall hat; They formed his style! He was also holding his noble wand in his left hand. He was a man with light and wavy brown hair and big dark green eyes! If we don't consider his handlebar mustaches, he was looked like the one who had invited Vladimir!
Vladimir looked at this man who was sitting right in Charlie's place with surprised eyes. The young man was also looking at Vladimir with a smile of peace.
-" We have arrived Vladimir!"
Suddenly he said and got off the brougham
- Get off son!
He said to his little guest, and Obeying his words, Vladimir got off and looked around. How much the temperature had changed! It was no longer cold and there was no snow! From the amount of light prevailing in the space, he realized that the invisible sun was setting, and he wondered how much time he had spent sleeping?
The man, with his wand under his arm, was walking along a paved path towards a stone house, ignoring him.
It was as if he had stepped in an abandoned and uninhabited city where he didn't even see a single bird!
Now he was deeply regretting that he had let sleep overcome him and the dimension of space and time slip out of his hands, but the thought that Charlie had promised him food was a little comforting. He was following the unknown man
-" So where is Charlie?" Vladimir asked.
The man turned to him and Vladimir could see his broad smile.
-" You are my guest!"
The man answered and turned his back to him and reached the door of his house with a few more steps.
-"But someone else invited me." Vladimir said.
The man put his hand on the solid wooden door and muttered something, then the door of the house opened for him. He showed Vladimir the way so he could enter first. The boy entered hesitantly and heard the sound of the door closing.
- "Can I be your friend just like Charlie?" The young man asked.
-"But I hadn't yet met Charlie completely!" Vladimir answered.
The man lit the torches one by one, and Vladimir noticed something strange as he stepped forward!
It was a very big and rectangular hall with twenty stairs! But it wasn't really something that made him wonder! The main issue that he hadn't even seen in his childhood dreams and that made him dry like a statue for a moment, was that the house was full of the strangest creatures!
From costumed moving skeletons to giant insects such as cockroaches, ladybugs and spiders; Of course, they were also wearing ridiculous clothes and each of them was hurrying to a direction! The skeletons were in such a hurry that they collided with each other and scattered on the ground. They would get up to do their work quickly, and strangely, their members were exchanged with each other willingly or unwillingly!!
Ants and small spiders were also seen everywhere in that hall. so that Vladimir was worried that he might crush one of them under his feet! Although he was scared of the house, he was also worried about those small creatures! His eyes were bulging and yet he was trying his best not to squeal like a little girl, but suddenly a spider that was slightly larger than its normal size - so that its facial features were fully visible - hung from the ceiling and she stood right in front of Vladimir's nose!
- "Welcome Vladimir!" She said in a very small voice!
The poor boy could no longer control himself after seeing this scene; So he screamed as hard as he could. The young man who was standing behind him, seeing the fear of his little guest.
-" stop!" He shouted to his crew.
After his shouting, a very heavy silence filled the whole house and the house was completely deserted. Even tiny ants cling to the walls and small spiders cling to the roof of the house. The man took a deep breath and regained his composure and smile once again. Turning to Vladimir, who was clinging to the door of the house in fear.
-" Oh my dear friend! I'm really sorry for this unpleasant welcome!" He said.
-"Reception please! For me and my precious guest." He shouted to an unknown audience this time!
He looked at Vladimir to ask him to come with him; But he found the little boy struggling with the handle of the door to open it, and of course, no matter what he tried, he was unsuccessful.
-"It doesn't open in this way!
The young man stood with his hands on his chest and said!