Seed

Chapter 5

I hear faint mumbling in a nearby tree. Alfie. I pat the soft white fur on top of his head, which is half the size of my fist, and pick him up like a baby, taking him out of the tree and cradling him in my arms. I walk back into the hut, determined to find a way out of this place. I take a seat on the wooden chair at the desk, and study the map, placing Alfie on my lap. I begin to wonder why he was sleeping outside last night. Did he go somewhere? What could he have been doing? I pull out the drawer underneath the desk, where I find paper, a pen, and a series of notes. I immediately start rummaging through the notes, until I find one that strikes my attention: ENTERING AND EXITING ALLIE'S SEED.

1. Only Allie, Alfie, and I may enter ALLIE'S SEED.

2. Alfie will no longer be a toy upon entering this world.

3. Once Alfie enters this world, he will be forever stuck here until I discover a way to get him out.

4. You have from the time when the seed is colourful until the time when it turns black and white to finalise your decision.

5. This time period is three days and two nights.

6. Once entering this world, you have a choice to either stay forever or leave forever.

7. If you choose to stay, you can never leave this seed.

8. If you choose to leave, you can never return to this seed.

I stare at the note, horrified.

"But how do you leave?" I ask no one in particular, puzzled.

"We need to go back to the riverbank." Alfie says, rubbing his eyes with his little paws.

"How do you know?" I ask him, suspiciously.

"I don't know – I just have a feeling." He says, tiredly. "I couldn't sleep last night so came back to the riverbank. I stared at my reflection in the still water and had a flashback to being in the sewer. You once left me sitting in the workshop, so I began watching your father sketch your bracelet."

"What? Why?"

"Allie, don't you see? The map, the hut, the rules, this world...it was all created for you! You are here because your father wanted you to have this world! This is all yours!" Alfie exclaims.

"But I don't know how to get out! Shouldn't I be able to escape my own world?" I ask, my heart sinking.

"Allie, your father was sketching the bracelet. That surely must have something to do with this place!" Alfie says. "We need to get back to the riverbank. Now. I have a good feeling about this."

Alfie and I take the note and the map and set off through the field of poppies. Almost the entire field of poppies is significantly duller than before, which scares me. We're nearing the end of our time here.

"If we're lucky, we'll probably get to the riverbank before sunset. You know how long it took us yesterday!" Alfie remarks.

We cannot see the forest or riverbank, but follow the path of half squashed poppies, which is the path we took yesterday. The more we walk, the more tired I become. I gaze longingly into the distance. How I wish I was home again.

The dull yellow blob in the sky slowly droops down. The canopy of the forest appears on the horizon and I instantly feel happier. More determined.

The field feels much longer and wider than before – probably because I am exausted. Every step is a struggle for me. Alfie is resting comfortably on my head again.

We reach the edge of the forest at sunset, when we decide that it is time for our final sleep in this world. Hopefully. He climbs a tree and I follow, resting on the fork of the tree where the leaves have settled, forming a soft bed. I stare up at the dull sky, commencing its transformation from daytime to nighttime.

I open my eyes. The tree I am sitting in has now turned grey. It now comes to my attention that Alfie and I are running out of time.

"Alfie!" I call, shaking the little baboon. He remains asleep. My heart skips a beat. Oh no...

"Alfie!" I repeat, poking him with a branch. He's still asleep. "Alfie, come on!"

I jump down from the tree and kneel down next to the riverbank. I touch the lucious, fresh grass with my hand and the grey colour creeps eerily across the ground. The grass beneath my fingers shrivels as it turns grey. I shiver and follow it with my head. I stare into the distance and notice the ocean on the horizon.

I hold my hand up to my head to avoid the sun getting in my eyes. Something catches my eye. I hold my hand out in front of my face, then remove my bracelet. The sun's light is shining through each individual charm and spelling the words 'Sail Away'. Sail away. Sail away!

I look back towards the sun, above the ocean on the horizon. A boat has materialised on the water. Sailing away – a boat.

My eyes rush over to the boat charm on my bracelet. Is this supposed to help me escape?

"ALFIE!" I scream. To my horror, he does not wake up. "ALFIE!" I yell again, rushing over to him. I realise that his eyes are open and he is staring into the distance. "Alfie, we have to go NOW!"

"But we don't even know how to leave." Alfie sighs, rolling over. "We might as well..."

I don't allow him to finish his sentence. I scoop him up and sprint. I dodge the riverbank and run as fast as I can. I eventually catch up with the blackening ground, and pass it completely. I continue sprinting. I feel warm sand between my toes. I reach the water and pull the boat in to the shore. It is rather small, and there is only enough space for one person.

"Come on Alfie! We need to sail on this boat as far as we can! We need to sail away! Sail home!" I say.

"Allie, I can't." Alfie sighs, avoiding eye contact with me. I turn his head to face me and we lock eyes.

"Yes you can. Come on!" I run towards the boat and pull it to the shore.

"No, you don't understand..."

"Come on! They grey is catching up with us!" I pull Alfie's arm, but he pushes me away.

"Remember the rules about leaving?" he asks.

I pull out the map and notes, double checking the rules on exiting the seed. My eyes scan through the document once more and find what Alfie was talking about:

Once Alfie enters this world, he will be forever stuck here until I discover a way to get him out.

I stare up at Alfie. His eyes are filled with hurt. I suddenly feel a pang of guilt.

"You can try and come with me." I suggest, lamely. But Alfie shakes his head. The tears return to my eyes, the lump returns in my throat.

And this time I can't hold them back.

"There's no point, Allie. You have to go home without me." He looks sorrowful.

A tear rolls down my cheek as I reach forward and wrap my arms tightly around Alfie.