Aiden doesn't believe in Magic. He believes in science and facts. Although he's not a nerd for science, he's smart involving Anatomy and Biology. He's not a bad student at school.
Since he doesn't know anything that his father does about magic or CornMabel, he's a pretty normal kid. School's a bit tough for him, since he's constantly bullied by Zach and others. They mostly poke fun at how Aidens mom is dead, and how Aidens dad is never home.
And Aiden is alright with it, considering his dad got a butler/babysitter to take care of Aiden when he's not home, which is almost all the time.
Aiden doesn't really get in trouble, he doesn't have many friends, and he seems pretty responsible. He recently got his learners permit too.
But recently, Aidens dad has been home more often, and Caesar, the butler, began acting a bit unusual after Aidens dad was spending more time at home. Aiden ignored Caesars odd behavior, thinking it was because Caesar was scared of his dad for some reason.
It was for a month after Daniel has been spending more time at home, when Daniel got extremely sick. Coughing, throwing up, bleeding from his nose, and other things that made it look like he had a horrible disease.
But he didn't go to the hospital when it started, not believing they could help cure him from whatever he has for some reason. He decided to stay at home, with Aiden.
Days after the sickness began, he's gotten worse. Turning more pale each and every day, throwing up more, and constantly. Until one day he stopped throwing up. Long enough for him and Aiden to talk, at least. " Aiden, listen. I have to give you something, a key." Daniel said, coughing a bit after. " A key?" Aiden asked. "For what?"
"Where did you think I was every time I wasn't home?" Daniel asks. "Oh sorry that's right, I forgot you don't know." He quickly added. "Don't know about what? What's going on dad?" Aiden asks.
"CornMabel" Daniel replies.
"What's that?" Aiden asked. " Something for work?" "No, it's where I've been going to almost everyday for the past couple of years since before you were born" "What are you talking about?" Aiden asked.
"When I was 14 years old," Daniel looks at Caesar in the back, and motions Aiden to get closer for him to whisper, "When I was 14, someone gave me a key. Told me it was special, and that it unlocked something bigger than you can imagine. But they never told me how to get to the thing it entrapped. And so, I tried to see if I could find what lock the key could open. Eventually, on my first try, I put the key in a big rusty safe that my family had kept hidden under the house. And it worked. A portal opened when I opened the door. It just appeared as if it was always there, just waiting for me-"
"Dad what are you talking about?"
"Listen, Aiden," Daniel stares deeply into Aidens eyes, and Aiden notices veins getting darker around his fathers eyes. "I know it sounds crazy, I wouldn't have believed it either, but, you have to trust me on this."
" Ok so what does the key lead to?" Aiden asked with a trace of disbelief in his voice.
"CornMabel. It's a whole other world. Listen son, Earth is just one of many, and CornMabel is just a different reality than one you know. I know it really sounds crazy, but it's not fake, I'm not joking. This is serious."
"Yeah sure dad. And I'm actually mom disguised as your son." Aiden said sarcastically.
"Don't bring your mother into this, I know you don't believe me right now but there's no reason to drag her into it." Daniel said a bit harshly, coughing a bit after.
"Dad you've gotten worse since mom died, I know I was young when she did but you just seem more delusional now that she's been gone. It's like you isolate yourself from me and get more delusional every time. And now what? Now you believe in some imaginary world called CornMabel or some crap?" Aiden said, as his tone became a little more furious.
"I know you don't believe me but just please, the key's in the wardrobe in my room, just if something happens to me, please-"
"No dad, that's it. I'm calling the hospital. They should be able to help you with this Corn Maple whatever stuff in your head and your sickness"
"No ple-"
"Caesar," Aiden gets up. "Call for the hospital to come get my dad please."
"Aiden, don't...... don't forget...get the...the mask too" Daniel falls back asleep.
"I love you dad, I hope the hospital makes you better" Aiden says, shedding a tear as he walks away.
A couple days after Daniel gets admitted into the hospital and not letting Aiden know his well-being through the time he was there, he was pronounced dead.
As soon as Aiden got the call, he informed Caesar.
Caesar stood up straight. Fixed up his collar. Reached for his pocket. Pulled out a kitchen knife, and sliced his own throat.
