"So…This place is called Fallen Kingdom, right? Is there a reason for that?" I tried to break the awkward silence that was remaining in the carriage. "I have no idea." Enora said.
"Neither of you two know?" Nychibi looked at us incredulously. "Whatever…This place is called the Fallen Kingdom because long ago it was said that a giant rock fell from the sky. It created a large crater as well as the surrounding mountains. That is why Kalameet's domain is called The Fallen Rock Mountains."
Was it a meteorite? I didn't know, and Nychibi didn't say anything else as she looked out the window. Soon the carriage came to a stop again as Ethora opened the shutter. "Break time."
With those two words spoken we all hopped out of the carriage. We helped Ethora get the crate of ingredients and food for the Piris, but I was conflicted while looking at the same food. "We really don't have anything else?" I wasn't a picky eater, but I didn't want the same food again. "I want meat."
"I agree." Nychibi looked over the food with a dissatisfied expression. "Something is coming." Enora said, peering through the undergrowth. No sooner than she said that a large bear the size of a grizzly came out. The only difference was that this bear had a beak, and it had large brown wings coming from its back. Nychibi smirked as she looked at the intruder. "An owlbear…" What part of this thing was an owl? The beak didn't even resemble an owl and those wings were far too big. "...The meat has come to us."
Nychibi didn't hesitate. As the owl bear began to flap its large wings, growling at us, Nychibi moved. "Oh no you don't."
She took off from the ground like a bolt of lightning, before the owlbear could take to the air. "Nychibi watch out!"
The creature that was neither owl nor bear tried to swipe its gigantic paw at her. Nychibi simply twisted midair avoiding it with ease. She twisted around its massive head, digging her clawed talons into it. "CRAWWWW!" The owlbear let out a shrill shriek as it tried to swipe its paws at the green harpy who dug into the back of its neck. Before I could muster another word the fight was over. A crunch was heard as she twisted its neck, severing the life from the poor thing. I turned my head away from the now lifeless monster as it landed on the ground with a sickening thud.
"Lunch is served~." I felt light headed. I couldn't bring myself to look at the carnage as Enora grabbed my hand. "Are you alright?"
"I think I need a breather." I felt nauseous, the world spinning as I walked away from the scene to the other side of the carriage. Enora held onto my hand, and then I flopped onto the grass, releasing a breath I was holding in. "Haah…"
"Just breathe." Enora said as she started to run a hand on my back. I did as she said, taking deep breaths to calm myself. I had never seen an animal die right before my eyes. Even if this was a monster it still felt terrible to watch. The eyes of the owlbear becoming lifeless played in my head. "Just breathe…"
—-----
"Dear, we really can't accept this…" I smiled as my mother tried to hand me back the 50 dollars I had given her. "It's fine! You both are always doing so much for me that I wanted to pay you back, so go enjoy yourselves!"
"But this is too much…" My mother frowned. "Hey, aren't you always telling me it is rude to not accept gifts?"
"But…"
"Shouldn't we just accept it? Melle is becoming a full adult. I am sure she worked hard to save this up." My father ruffled up my hair. "Hey! I am not a kid anymore, you know? You are messing up my hair!"
"Haha! You will always be a kid to me. Even if you become gray and old you will still be my kid." My face went red as a tomato. My father was just too much. "Sh-shut up and go already!"
"She really is cute! Even at this age…" My mother said, joining my father in embarrassing me. "I hate you both…"
""We love you too~.""
I grabbed the front door for them as I tried to usher them out. "Just go already! Or you will be late…"
"Alright. Alright, make sure you finish your school work." My mom said as she grabbed her coat from the rack. "She always does." My father grabbed his own coat from the hanger as well as his trusty hat. "We will be back in a few hours. Goodbye, Melle, we love you." She kissed my cheek before walking out the front door. When they reached the car I opened the front door, yelling at them.
"Make sure to tell me all about the movie!" My father was already in the driver seat, but my mother waved back at me. "We will!" She proclaimed before climbing into the passenger seat.
After they pulled away, I shut the door to the house. I made sure to lock it before going to my room. The only assignment I had left was math. I wasn't the brightest, but I made sure to work hard. My sleeping giant delusions wouldn't stop me from making good grades, so I made sure to read the textbook carefully. An hour later the assignment was finished, so I texted my parents on my small flip phone.
"I hope you are enjoying the movie! My assignments are done."
1 hour later….
I looked over at my bedside alarm clock that read 9:43 PM. I opened my flip phone again making sure I didn't receive any texts. There weren't any. The only reason I had a phone in the first place was so I could talk to my parents. It was kind of lame, but I didn't have any friends at school. At least there were none that I was close enough to have their number. I sat down at the edge of my bed, pulling one of the small stuffed animals into my lap. Of course, it was a cute brown teddy bear. Afterwards, I texted my mom.
"I hope you enjoyed the movie. I am going to sleep soon, but tomorrow I want to hear all about it."
With that out of the way I changed into my pajamas, brushed my teeth, and laid in bed. The alarm clock read 9:57 PM. It was normal for me to be asleep by 10:00 PM, but for some reason on this night I found sleep impossible.
10:47PM
"What is taking you both so long? Did you also stop somewhere else?"
I was beginning to become worried. The movie should have been finished by now, but there was no text from them. And they had yet to show up. It wasn't like them to not respond to my text.
11:26PM
"Okay. Now I'm worried. Where are you?"
"Seriously, what is taking you both so long?" I closed my eyes again trying to get some sleep. Eventually I was able to fall asleep despite my own worry.
03:13AM
My eyes shot open to the big red numbers on the alarm clock. The first thing I did was open my phone, but there were no texts. The anxiety I was feeling made my brain forget I was tired as I ran out the door to my room. "Mom, Dad!"
I called out as I ran across the hallway and opened their door. Even with the lights off I could tell their bed was empty. I flipped the switch bathing the room in light to make sure, but there were no lumps in the bed. It sat there cleanly made, like they always had it. I ran out of their room, and turned on the lights of the stairway. "Mom! Dad!"
Nobody called out to me from the dark living room below, so I ran down. Before long all the lights in the house were on, and when I looked out of the window next to the front door there were no headlights. No car. I flipped my phone open again.
03:22AM
"I am seriously worried! Where are you two? Did you get lost on the way home?"
I flopped onto the couch waiting for a response. Even though I was beyond worried, I fell asleep again.
09:51AM
*Bang* *Bang* *Bang* *Bang*
My eyes shot open to a loud knock on the door. Despite being in my pajamas I ran and opened the door. "Mo…" I expected to see my mother or father. It was possible they had forgotten their keys, but instead, standing there was a police officer in his black uniform.
"Are you Melle Garnsey?"
"Y-yes, sir. What's wrong? Am I in trouble?" I knew that wasn't the answer. I had never done anything to be in trouble with the law, and his eyes looked forlorn. "Ma'am, there has been an accident…"
"An accident?"
"Your parents, Miss Emily Garnsey and Mister Johnathon Garnsey, were in a car accident. Neither of them survived the impact…"
"Huh? Huh? No. No…" I shook my head as a lump caught in my throat. 'Neither of them survived the impact'. It was a lie right? They were alive right? "I-I am terribly sorry, but it is true…"
"No…NO!..." I felt the tears building in my eyes as I fell onto my knees. "It's a lie right!? You're lying right!? They wouldn't! They can't! It isn't nice to lie to people! You are an officer right?" I looked up into his eyes, but he shook his head. "I am terribly sorry…" The dam broke as I broke. Holding in the emotion was impossible. As I wailed, the officer bent down and hugged me.