It's here, it's finally here!
He’d been wandering around for hours, days. They let him go without a word. Just as he had no idea why they let him go, he didn’t know who they were, where he was, or why he was even with them. The little boy pressed his hand to his temple. A dull ache throbbed in his head and the world around him swam. Something was wrong.
Vertigo overtook him and his thin legs gave out. He fell to the ground, unable to catch himself or even care. He slept.
A sharp pain in his side woke him. He stirred, opening his eyes slowly to see a person looming over him. He reared his leg back to kick the boy again, but the child sat up.
“Hey, kid,” the person muttered. “Shouldn’t you be at home?”
“My name’s Max. And yeah, I should. And I would be too, but I don’t remember where that is.”
The person, an older man, sneered at Max as he passed, mumbling about kids refusing advice of their elders. Max pouted but toddled after the man, his legs still weak. “Do you know where my house is?”
“No. Kid—”
“Max.”
“Max. Get outta here. You don’t wanna be out here this time o’ night.” The man's eyes shifted back and forth. He peered at the young boy urgently. It was the first time Max got a good look at his face: bloodshot eyes sunk back in dark circles, gaunt cheeks, rotting teeth. The boy shrunk back for a moment but refused to be intimidated.
“Why is that?”
“Didn’t nobody teach you manners? Don’t question your elders, boy,” the man barked.
“Sorry. I just—never mind.” Max shrugged and walked away, desperately trying to find his house.
He couldn’t remember for the life of him where he was before. He didn’t know his name until he spat it out. Other memories trickled back to him, like his parents’ names, and his hometown, and his seventh birthday, but nothing important about the Grey Men.
He just remembered them setting him free. He frowned, an inexplicable feeling of fright trickling down his spine. He shook his head in an effort to clear the thoughts of the men. He walked down a side street, shivering in the cold.
Max’s stomach rumbled. He looked at his tummy and frowned. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d eaten. The boy looked around, quickly spotting a bakery. He licked his lips as he thought of a piece of cake, complete with melting chocolate frosting and sprinkles. His stomach growled again. He marched into the bakery, knowing he had no money.
The baker looked down at him and wrinkled his nose. Max remembered he probably hadn’t seen a bathtub in the entire time he was with the Grey Men.
“What do you want?” the baker asked sharply.
“Um...I’m just looking,” Max said.
The baker only harrumphed in response. The boy smiled again, unperturbed, and examined the loaves of bread. The baker left to the back room and a woman, short and plump, walked out. “Can I help you?”
Max's eyes widened as he looked up innocently at the woman. “Miss lady, I’m really, really hungry. And I can’t find my mommy and daddy. I don’t have any money...so I should probably go. I’m sorry to bother you, miss lady.”
The older woman frowned. “You can’t find them, sweetie?”
“I haven’t seen them in three days.” Max lied. He knew it was actually longer, but he didn’t know how much she’d believe.
“Here, let’s not tell my husband about this, okay?” She smiled. “You poor thing.” She doddered over to a smaller cabinet, away from the general goods, and began pulling items out: breads, pastries, a tiny chocolate cake. She placed them in a basket and brought it over to Max.
“I wish I could help, but you wouldn't be okay here; the Catchers begin their rounds soon. Good luck, little one. I hope you find a place to stay for the night.” She smiled kindly. “I hope you find your parents, too.”
“Thank you so much,” Max said, completely in earnest for the first time since meeting the woman. He felt tiny pricks of tears springing up behind his eyes, but didn’t know why he was so moved. It was just a little food, only enough for a day or two.
He left soon after, finding a quiet place to eat by a garbage bin in a back alley. He ate the cake, crying in confusion. He was happy to have food, but he wished he had his parents. He feared the worst. He wanted so desperately to remember.
After eating, he curled up by the bin and tried to sleep.
“Hey, you, kid. Why are you crying in front of a garbage bin? You lose something? It’s pretty easy to get it back, you simply—”
“No. I’m not stupid. And I wasn’t crying.” Max crossed his arms.
“Sure looks like it to me.”
“No, it was just…raining.” The boy tried to joke, sitting up and facing the voice, which belonged to an older boy who stared down at Max.
The older kid snorted. “Raining---on your face?”
“Yeah. Exactly,” Max began, standing up and brushing himself off. He pushed the glasses up his nose with his right hand. “It was definitely raining…on my face. It didn’t rain long, ‘cause the ground isn’t wet.”
The boy shook his head. “Okay then. Well um, why were you all curled up?”
The younger boy shrugged. “Um…it’s nice there? I dunno.”
“Yes you do.”
“Nuh-uh.”
“Oh no, we are not about to do this. Tell me why.” The bigger kid insisted, crossing his arms.
“Why should I? What’s in it for me?” Max retorted, matching the other’s posture.
“I can tell you where to find food, and show you a place to sleep that’s a lot better than where you were.”
Max considered the offer. “I…I can’t find my mom and dad. One day, I came home from school, and blam! They were gone.”
“When was this?” the boy asked, brows furrowing.
“A while ago.” Max shrugged again. “I can’t stay in that house anymore---I don’t know where it is.”
“Wait, really?” At this point, the older boy was more incredulous than anything.
“Yeah. I’ve spent the last...long time wandering around, trying to find my house. Except, I don’t remember what it looks like, either.”
Older Boy pressed his palm to his forehead. “Look, kid---”
“It’s Max.”
“Okay, Max--”
“Sir Max, actually.”
“There is no way I am calling you ‘Sir Max.’” The other boy shook his head. “Max, you should probably come with me. I and some of my friends can help you, if you’d like.”
Max seemed to think it over. He lolled his head around, making a huge show of his decision making, holding his chin between his thumb and index finger, murmuring some “Hmmmms.” The older kid tried not to laugh.
“Let's go!” Max said, jogging to meet up with his new friend.
Gender:
Points: 15813
Reviews: 213