The Willows - A Collection of Fantastical Short Stories and Poems

The Time Giant--Short Story

A knock! echoed through the corridor, awakening the Time Giant from sleep. It came again: Knock! Knock! Knock! The Giant swiftly arose from his sleeping chambers and swept across the hall to the door. Outside could be heard crashes of thunder like the beat of a war drum, crackling through the sky over and over, interspersed with the sound of falling rain. This ensemble, nearly deafening, still didn't manage to drown out a small, slight sound. Muffled sobs came through the wooden door as the pounding continued, trying to blend in but failing to do so.

The door swung open, revealing a small child, a girl, standing at the door, shoulder-length brown hair soaked, cloak wrapped around her like a chrysalis around a butterfly. It was obviously the cries came from her, for upon her face tears mixed with raindrops, and fright was evident in her eyes. With a dubious look and a calculating stare at the Giant, she rushed into the stone hall, deciding that he was less of a danger than what pursued her.

The Time Giant looked down at this child, confused, for he had not seen a human child in many a year. "Child, what frightens you?" he managed to get out in a deep, rough voice. Emotions crept upon him, for Time Giants are creatures of feeling, and this particular one felt quite the portion of pity for this small, helpless being.

The girl whimpered, but a courageous expression overcame her frightened one, and she managed to get out in an unwavering voice, "The creatures, mister. The demons. The beasts of the night, their deathly howls and fierce eyes. I caught a glimpse of one, yes, and he had fur like pitch, eyes like smoldering flame, and bared teeth like daggers. Mister, they're out there right now, I think you'd better close the door. No disrespect, sir."

    The old giant merely gave her a friendly smile, eyes wrinkling. "None taken, child." He gripped the unpolished wood of the door and closed it gently, clearing his throat. "If I may, why were they pursuing you, in partik-ee-ular?"

    "I'm not sure, sir. I can't think like those demented beasts. I've got nothing special, not that I know of." She shook her as she said this, sending water droplets flying through the air.

    "Ah. Anyhoo, I am the Time Giant. And who might you be?"

    The girl ignored the question, asking her own. "Time Giant?"

    He nodded. "You can refer to me as Time, eh? And again, who might you be? Do you come from the village down yonder?" The Giant pointed a huge finger towards the window, from where a speck of light was visible beyond the woods, a village.

    "Yessir. My name is Elainne Lewis, and that village is Windsborough, if you didn't know."

    The Giant nodded. "Well, Elainne Lewis, I've got a little something to show you. Here," he said, and picked up the girl, placing her on his shoulder. The huge man set off at a brisk walk, navy blue overcoat trailing behind him. He put a hand up to his pitch black top hat to prevent it from flying off in the wind of his run. He made his way down the corridor he had originally come down to reveal Elainne behind the door.

    He went his way down the hall, which was plain stone interspersed with dark, polished wood planks for support and decoration. The occasional potted fern dotted the hall, giving it a homely feel, a glow of warmth and welcome. Dark doors sat at regular intervals along the walls, all with a different design etched into the wood. As the two progressed, the end of the hall came to view, a magnificent door with a soft golden light beaming from beneath its dark ebony structure. Into this particular door was carved a beautiful, looming apple tree, but as they came closer, it became apparent that the fruit was not apples at all, but small steampunk clocks, all of different design, and in the middle of the tree was a huge clock of Roman numerals and gears encircling it. To Elainne, it was the most beautiful design of architecture she had ever seen, albeit she hadn't seen much, living in a small village.