The windows were open freeing the pent up body temperature inside welcoming any breeze that may sweep by. Summer was mild outside but inside with thirty students clumped into one classroom, it was edging between uncomfortable and unbearable. Mr Harold himself only wore a shirt and shorts showcasing his lanky limbs. Gone were the long pants and the tie that restricted his breathing. He spoke about wars eager to teach the consequences of violence, reminding his pupils that fighting is never the answer. The children were agitated, fidgeting around in their seats charged to the brim with energy. They all received the death punishment of recess detention that bounded them to chairs.
Mr Harold spoke over the student's pencils that struck against their books, "In the past 3400 years, we have only seen peace for 268 years. Does anyone know the percentage of how long peace has reigned for?"
Jacob answered whilst fanning himself with a book, "8% sir."
"Correct thank you, Jacob. Children and adults have lived in times of chaos, but your generation is very lucky. Do any of you know why that is?"
Stacey raised her hand, the other attempting to cover the black eye that stood behind her fingers. "Because we have peace treaties."
Mr Harold nodded at the answer but hoped for another idea that was out of the box. He swooped his gaze around seeking for anyone too shy to answer and saw Glenn scribbling on paper with his head down focused. Mr Harold sighed hoping his efforts weren't being wasted, as he raised his tone. "Glenn, would you like to answer the question?"
The boy stopped his hand in its track, noticing the eyes that glanced towards him. He used his hands to hide the drawing of a nude woman that wore a witch hat. Everyone giggled seeing his confusion, while Stacey glimpsed at the hidden art wondering how to treat the boy in a world of misery for the black eye she received. Glenn blushed asking, "Sorry Mr Harold, what was the question again?"
The teacher shook his head in displeasure and repeated the question waiting for Glenn's answer. It had better be good, Mr Harold thought ready to confiscate the boy's book to see whatever he was scribbling.
Glenn scratched his head peering into the depths of his mind and said, "Because we have more nuclear weapons?"
Stacey chuckled, tearing the boy's words apart like a lion feasting on his prey. "Wouldn't that be a sign for more war."
Her pack of Hyena-friends laughed until Mr Harold motioned for them to be quiet, and said, "Yes indeed Glenn."
The room was silent, listening to the man that flaunted his hands about mirroring a Concertmaster of an orchestra. "My father had fought in World War two students, and he said bombs were the scariest weapons in his times. They could paint the floors red faster than you could blink, now imagine a world where bombs could lay waste to entire countries. Who would be crazy enough to launch a major attack on another country when in return theirs would be destroyed as well? It's an eye for an eye trade."
Boys and girls gasped at the idea of nuclear weapons, finally realising how deadly they could be, and their paradox use of shielding the world from a global war. Mr Harold nodded to Glenn and smiled saying, "That was a good answer, but hold off drawing for home Glenn."
Glenn's cheeks glowed scarlet meeting the teachers piercing stare. The bell rang, signalling the end of school for today, many rushing to pack up to head home. Just before Glenn left, Mr Harold placed a hand on the boy's shoulder hinting for him to stay back. Alone now with the teacher that sat behind his desk empty on energy from teaching, Glenn scratched his wrist anxiously. He pondered if he was in trouble for drawing in most of the classes and was about to be lectured. Instead, Mr Harold offered a cookie he assumed. Glenn took the lightly brown cookie in hand and thanked the teacher, nibbling at the crunchy delight. It was sweet and had the taste of coconut roaming through his taste buds, never had Glenn eaten such a cookie in New York. The boy asked, "What are these cookies? They're so delicious."
Glenn drooled from the mouth at the sight of more, in Mr Harold's drawer and the teacher laughed offering a handful.
"They're Anzac Biscuits. My father had first tasted them in the war when he traded one of his rations with a fellow Australian soldier. He fought for what was right, against German soldiers that came to invade even though he was German himself in World War Two."
Glenn continued to stuff his mouth of Anzac Biscuits, letting words fly by his ears, as the food flew into his mouth. Mr Harold smirked handing a tissue for the boy to sweep away the crumbs resting onto his still bruised cheeks. The teacher called for Glenn to listen and so he did, more seriously no longer distracted by the biscuits, since they had all been devoured by him. "Glenn l want you to understand, the incident that happened yesterday. I don't want it to ever happen again, can you promise me you'll try to endure Stacey's rude behaviour."
It was a large promise to Glenn. The boy didn't know if he could do it till Mr Harold said, "Look, l didn't want to tell you this but if it'll keep you out of trouble than listen. Stacey's brother went missing two years ago and it changed her dramatically. The pain she must've felt to lose someone that close, as a teacher l wished l could've snatched some of her pain away. You must understand how painful it is to lose someone."
Glenn nodded in silence, memories of his father were revived. Mr Harold yawned, stretching in his chair cracking the bones in his back. "Good, know that violence is never the answer neither is war. My father once told me, War is a cruel instrument that plays the tunes of death, singing for an empty audience."
The teacher halted his words seeing there were no more Anzac Biscuits in his first drawer. "...You can go now Glenn, l don't want you to gulp down all my stash of biscuits."
The teacher laughed seeing Glenn quietly stood beside him and said, "Oh fine you win. Here's another now go home you little thief, before you steal all my Anzac Biscuits."
He pulled from his second drawer, throwing another Anzac Biscuit into the boy's hand. Mr Harold had many hidden away into each drawer, but he dreaded the boy would nibble away at all of them if given the opportunity. Glenn skipped away in glee savouring the flavour that was unique to him. Exiting the gates of Meadows Ridge, Glenn saw four girls and one boy loitering around. They pretended to talk to each other, but Glenn could sense mischief at play here. He ran off earning the attention of the group before he was tripped, rolling onto the floor. Hidden behind a wall of children from the rest of the town, Glenn looked up to see a flicker of night sky hair. The nightmare of his dreams, how could he ever forget the girl he first met, Stacey. She loomed over him, standing as straight as a knight, hands at the hips not masking the black eye fresh from yesterday. The girl pointed to the injury inflicted onto her by Glenn and cracked a wicked smile. "You see this. I'm going to get my revenge today twerp whether you like it or not."
A figure wrapped in layers of muscles walked by the gates to see the wall of children far away. In the middle sat Glenn laying on the ground restrained. They met eyes for a moment, and the boy hinted to Jacob with his stare for help, but the ginger boy left. He walked beyond the schools ground to home, ignoring the pleading eyes fixed onto him. Glenn did not give up though. Never would he resort to violence again, recalling the promise he made to Mr Harold. Running away appeared to be his only alternative left.
Glenn tried standing back up only to meet the hands of a strong boy that held him down, laughing at how weak he was. His hair was rough, dirty blonde and he said, "You might as well be a girl Glenn, my younger sister is stronger than ya."
The boy looked at Stacey giggling at his words and grew crimson, Glenn could recognise the gaze anywhere. It was one of love, the same he had when he first saw Stacey's smile. Now it gave him the urge to gag at the sight. Another broken heart for the girl to swallow up, Glenn thought. He prayed for the lost soul of the boy that dug his knee into his ribcage, on second thought Glenn wished him to hell. Stacey unleashed a command onto her hounds, "Search through all his books."
Glenn spoke trying to negotiate, only for them to fall on deaf ears, "Look Stacey l don't want this to become a big problem. I've given you a black eye and I'm covered in bruises what more do you want from me?"
Stacey neglected him until the last sentence grinning, "I want what you drew in class."
The words faltered Glenn for but a moment, "l don't know what you're on about."
The girl cackled like a witch before replying, "Please, l saw what you were drawing. A nude woman, l wonder who that is"
Blushing redder than the flames that were birthed from coal, Glenn spoke irritated now scratching at his wrist, "That's none of your business."
Her pact of wolves continued to hunt for the drawing, lunging books out onto the ground and eventually found it. Elegantly drawn with curves and features of a goddess, Glenn flushed more than ever in his life. A hat of what witches donned in the tales of fantasy was placed onto the beauty that stood up from streams of water.
"Give it back!" Glenn cried out.
The dirty blonde haired boy covered Glenn's mouth telling him to shut up in fear of alerting any adults nearby. Stacey shifted closer to Glenn, who was held down and questioned, "Do you promise not to scream."
Hearing the words Glenn could only nod, feeling the boy behind him jerk his arm high up. The pain vanished after his nod, no longer placed at an unnatural angle. Stacey traced the woman on the paper with her fingertips smiling more by the second. "You believe in witches, don't you? The intelligent girl fell for Mr Harold's lies about forgotten witches, who knew that you were just an idiot."
"I'm not an idiot," Glenn replied.
"So you think witches are real then? Have you ever seen a witch you twerp?"
"Yes, l have," Glenn muttered under his breath.
"Speak louder," Stacey taunted.
"I HAVE!" The group searched around with their eyes in case anyone heard the shout, relaxing when they noticed no one coming towards them.
Stacey was playing Glenn into her trap, deliberately luring him into his doom, "You're a liar."
Glenn could no longer be bothered to lend his ear to the words of insults neglecting the group of bullies. The girl of mischief noticed him playing hard to get and said, "You're mum's a filthy liar, that's probably why you're one as well."
"Don't talk about my mum like that," Glenn uttered the words. He stared with frenzy eyes ready to kill, ignorant of the hands that held him down.
"Prove it then, show us where you found the witch or else you're mums a liar just like you." Stacey had captured her prey, but unfortunately for the girl, fate was something you shouldn't gamble with. The future had entailed other plans for the group and Glenn that was unknown to them, larger in scale than whatever they could imagine.
Glenn replied, "Fine, I'll prove to you neither I or my mum are liars."
Stacey called out to the boy holding Glenn down, "Jonas, let him go. We'll see if he is telling the truth."
The group of girls trailed behind Glenn, who was held by the shoulder by Jonas the dirty blonde-haired child. Following Glenn, he led them to the path to his home. Glenn halted halfway to meet the place where he had exited from Yesterday night. The boy had promised the woman that hid within the woods that he would never come back, yet here he was strolling close to the cave. Looking back, he was shouted at by Stacey, "Come on move along, l don't have all day you know for your lies."
His mother raised no liar and Glenn was going to prove it, whether it costed his relationship with the witch. It seemed promises were made to be broken, as the boy felt remorse but had no choice except to move forward. Marching through the woods, the girls cowered beside Stacey nervous at the surrounding noises of nature. Ominous winds calling to them, brushing against branches and bushes in harmony. Jonas confidently stepped forwards and garnered their attention after noticing a bird in mid-flight.
"Hey look at this girls, l bet you l can hit that bird." He pointed speaking with his chest out in arrogance.
One of the girls said, "No way you can, I'll bet you two bucks if you can."
"You're on. Be ready to prepare them two bucks you hear me." Jonas reached to the floor grabbing a throwable rock. Lifting it to beside his ear, he focused on the bird searching for the right moment. Jonas was about to throw until Glenn latched onto his arm, clutching for dear life to keep it down.
"What are you doing brat?" Jonas called out to Glenn.
Pushing the weak boy to the dirt floor, he was scared of losing his prey and rushed his throw. Jonas sidestepped forward propelling his arm like a whip. The rock launched into the sky, gliding towards the bird's travel of path and clashed. Struck fiercely, the sound of a shrieking bird soaring to the ground could be heard throughout the woods. It plummeted to the trees now lost to its witnesses and executioner.
"Where're my two bucks?" Jonas smirked at the girl who made a bet with him.
The girl said, "You lucky punk. You'll get your lousy two bucks tomorrow, l didn't need it anyway."
Jonas looked over to Stacey flexing his arm, "Wasn't that cool Stacey?"
The girl simply rolled her eyes, ignoring the boy's attempts to woo her over. Glenn sat on the floor digging nails into his palms. He cowered in the dirt seeking forgiveness from the bird for not restraining Jonas. Nevertheless, he was too weak as usual to do anything. His height shorter than Stacey, Arms skinnier than an average boy, sometimes Glenn wished he was already a man.
"C'mon hurry up girl." Stacey's pack of wolves urged Glenn onwards to see the lair of the witch but hidden in the woods it seemed they were being hunted instead. A war mask carved from the skin of trees, holes for the mouth and eyes that peered through. Pure golden hair flew in the wind dancing with the air behind the sea of wood, as it's owner crouched in the branches concealed by leaves. The mystic figure held a wooden staff made of twisting woods that reached her height. It was a lost relic once possessed by a powerful sister that spoke words of truth before being hung to death. The woods shielded her from the eyes of children that inched further with every step. She had been alerted of intruders by the shriek of a bird plummeting into the woods and sprinted across to meet the mysterious boy once again. Her heart raced at the uncanny face, a replica of Bela he was to the girl. She found herself enchanted by the boy's hair and the way he carried himself, a duplicate of Bela's timid mannerism. Her heart slowed down, becoming colder than the snows of winter that fell once upon a time. She had told the boy to never come back into these woods, yet he brought companions with him or enemies so it appeared.
A boy held onto her visiter of last night in a firm grip, as girls behind threw insults at him continuously. No matter the situation, her trust had been broken again and rage from centuries ago flared once more in the name of hatred. The flames of anger hesitated, reminiscing an old man who earned her trust decades ago. Words that grew grey by the years in memory, 'Young ladies shouldn't be so angry, you'll get wrinkles like me, see.' The image of a friend pretending to frown spreading wrinkles wider on his forehead.
She needed more discipline with her emotions the girl thought. The girl decided a light punishment was in order, for the children below. Reaching out for herbs hidden in pockets, sewed onto the loose green dress she wore. The hems of her clothes never got caught on the branches of trees, slithering past any thorns. Pupils bleached in black darker than night itself. She spoke in an ancient language calling upon nature and darkness, shifting the balance of reality to bring every child's dream to life, magic.
Glenn's well-trained ears noticed the abrupt absence of sound first within the woods. It was eerie to hear a lack of birds chirping, wind sweeping past or the noises of insects. Only their footsteps resounded within the woods and it was being caught onto by the girls.
"Why is it so silent?"
"l don't like this."
"We should run back Stacey."
Their complaints were annoying the girl that skipped in a happy mood at the anticipation of revenge. Stacey couldn't endure the whining any more. "Shut your traps. We'll go back in ten minutes if we don't see any witch. Twerp, you got ten minutes or else you are a liar and your mum's a filthy liar."
Glenn shouted, "You can insult me, but not my mother or else!"
The dirty blonde-haired boy Jonas smirked pulling Glenn's arm behind his back, raising it high. "Or else what sissy."
The boy could only grumble in pain before the rustling sound of bushes echoed around them. Jonas released Glenn startled by the noises whilst Stacey's pack of followers huddled together in fear.
One of the girls trembling said stumbling over her words, "Stacey we should go. What happens if we go missing like... your brother."
"Don't mention my brother you wimp." Stacey glared with a stare that would've murdered the girl a dozen times over if looks could kill. The shaking of bushes grew closer. Birds screaming wildly, as hundreds flocked together escaping the woods. The sight was clear to the girls already weak on their legs. They darted away leaving Stacey, Jonas and Glenn behind.
Stacey shouted for them to come back, but they were long gone from their gazes. The three children searched around to see what was the menace causing the ruckus of sounds. They found nothing and stood in the quiet woods. Impending doom was awaiting them charging forth by the seconds reaching closer.
"Wimps," Stacey remarked kicking at pebbles on the floor in frustration.
Jonas came over to his crush, puffing his chest out. "Don't worry Stacey. I'll protect you l promise."
The bushes shook once more together as one. Doom had arrived in the forms of boars flowing out of the rustling bushes. They gave chase to the boy who had just made a promise before screaming and running away with strings of curses flying out his mouth. Stacey's legs reacted faster than her eyes witnessing more of the boars pouring out of the bushes. It had been a horde of wild boars now flooding the dirt ground with their bodies. Only Glenn was now left in the woods hanging on the branch of a tree like a sloth. A fast sloth he was, as he reached the highest branch away from the sea of boars chasing Jonas and Stacey. Sighing in relief, Glenn laughed and said, "That's what you get for calling me and my mum a lair."
The boy poked his tongue out in the direction of where Stacey ran away, not noticing the silhouette that lurked behind him. He turned his head around seeing most of the boars were gone and was met with eyes of the abyss.
"AHHHHHHH," Glenn yelled at the top of his lungs, losing balance on the branch he was on. Plummeting like the bird that was struck by Jonas to the floor, he wondered am l going to die. The boy closed his eyes for a few seconds, which gradually turned to minutes and finally opened them recognising he had not met death yet. He was on the ground unscathed by injuries except for his old bruises. Standing tall, towering over the boy, Glenn met his saviour once again.
A demon was what he observed in front of him, eyes of the devil and a mask carved in the embodiments of fury with a staff made of twirling wood. Fear overtook Glenn's body similar to his nightmares, he could not move. The boy could feel an unknown pressure weighing him down heavily. His saviour spoke, masked in a monster's tone of demonic nature, "I told you to never enter these woods again."
Glenn wished to speak, but the words were stuck in his throat. He could not move or utter a single sound, not even blink as darkness shrouded over the woods. The sun was high in the sky, yet it seemed night befell onto the lands where Glenn's grave would lie.
An angel and demon she was, still beautiful with golden hair. She said, "Come near my abode again and death shall meet you."
Glenn tried to nod fiercely, but his head was kept in place onto the dirt floor. The force restricting his movement was released suddenly, and immediately Glenn stood up trying to say sorry before being interrupted.
"Run, before l change my mind."
Glenn stood stiffly still wanting to apologise.
"l said run." Her tone went deeper than any sound the boy had ever heard. Glenn had seen many instruments play at low tunes but this sound was unnatural. Inhuman it was, as he ran off escaping the black aura that coated the girl. Legs sprinting across the woods, Glenn reached the path that lay outside the woods. Footprints of boars mixed with shoe tracks covered the grounds. No one was here, Glenn hoped the others were safe even if they had bullied him. Breathing deeply he pushed forward to home still wanting to say sorry to the horrifying girl.
The boy thought about magic and the possible existence of dragons, wizards and monsters. If whatever his saviour was, could exist in this current world than what other legends were true. None of it mattered though, Glenn remembered the anger on the mysterious person's face. Such hatred arose from a promise being broken, why did he break it, couldn't he just say no to Stacey. Weak rang through his mind, that was all he was a pathetic stupid boy easy to provoke. Glenn's vision blurred, as he cried silently.
In his journey to home, a bird was sprawled on the path scathed in many wounds. Its wings had taken the brunt of injuries. Glenn wiped away the dried tears and stepped forward noticing a blunt strike on the animal's abdomen. He gasped in the realisation that this was the bird Jonas had attacked. Gently lifting the bird to his chest, it shrieked crying in pain.
"I'm sorry for being so weak...l couldn't save you, and now you're hurt."
The bird bellowed back in reply with shrieks not understanding the boy. Glenn sobbed marching forwards careful to not hurt the creature, cradling it.
"l promise... no. What good are promises for if they can be broken? l will try my best to save you, little fella."