The Tower

Prologue

From the rock, Jack could see the large tower which held the remnants of the what the world was once like. He had heard stories from his grandfather of the tower, which his grandfather had been told years before by his grandfather. Not even he was alive before the world fell though. The tower apparently held wonders, unimagined by Jack's tiny manufacturing settlement, and felt like the world when it was whole.

This tower held many wonders unknown to most, they donned nice clothing, they ate nice foods, and most importantly they were taught what the world was like. Jack had never cared though, being the imaginative boy he was he had made his rock his very own tower. He had put his chair there, a simple fold out chair, but one he thought of as his throne. Not only that, but he had found a stuffed dog, and though it was mostly rotten moldy cloth, he knew it as his pet.

He had made miracles happen on his rock, he led men in war games, his friends were treated like nobles in the stories his late father told, and when he wasn't a king, he was a soldier. The most valiant soldier to ever live. Saving men from monsters, and the boogeyman alike.

Occasionally from this rock he got to see the shipment lines and ships that flew over him. It happened late, and often he would fall asleep before they even reached his rock. When he was up for it though, the experience was unmatched. It was the most wonderful of shows for the young boy, and his eight-year-old brain wanted to think he was on one of those ships.

Even he knew it was impossible though, his mother was sick, and had little to speak of other than the small shack his dad had built years before. She had fallen into a never-ending sadness since the death of her husband, that she had forgotten Jack was there. His brother had become a bear ranger in the great-out-there, so he had never known him, so Jack was alone.

Except for his rock, and his dog. Not to mention his many friends. Still, all that would never add up to be near enough to be a part of the great shipments, and the tower itself.

Though as he sat there falling asleep in the great large bomber jacket that used to be his dad's he dreamed of it. In those dreams, his wish came true. He was older, in his father's bomber jacket which now perfectly fit him. He led great war parties. He flew one of the ships that shipped goods made by the thunderous machines that were in the middle of his town. He was everything he had ever wanted to be.

The dream was interrupted though, by the large ships that usually flew over his rock, but this one was different. It was continuously flying over him, and a hatch opened, letting down a latter that had people from the tower climbing out. A couple it seemed were before him in an instant.

"Harold, I think this is the one. Just look at him, he is strong but just needs saving." The young woman said to her husband. Jack was scared by the sudden intrusion, so he didn't hear this. All he knew is he was now being picked up and brought into the ship by the man. The woman followed, having grabbed the bomber jacket from the rock.

As Jack's eyes adjusted to the light, a blanket was wrapped around him by the man who just took him. Jack had woken up by now, as the man started to ask questions.

"Now son, what may your name be?" The man named Harold asked.

"Jack. Named after my father." He said. The woman smiled at that.

"What a cute name, I love it." She said.

"Can you read? Have you been to a school?" Harold asked.

"Read? School? What are those?"

"Something you will learn soon. Do you know where we are going?" Harold asked enthusiastically.

"The tower, only the most wonderful-est place in the whole world!" Jack said, already forgetting about his home. "Except for my rock of course."

Harold and his wife just smiled, and hugged Jack. "My name is Harold Yu, and my wife is Maryanne. Would you like us to be your mommy and daddy?"

Jack nodded, and they hugged him tighter. They put him in a shower, and then into a proper bed, one Jack would have never known. He fell asleep fast and had dreams of his new home. The tower.