2: Be'Joke

A Glimmer of Hope (Part 1)

Before we run over to Caiuses, Corin tries to conjure up a glass orb. The best he's gotten to conjuring one is a puff of white smoke. I watch him as I have done for the past decade. I remember when this young boy first came to Abandon…

He was young. Didn't know a Suide from the power of the wand in his hand. The wizard was taking him through the small village at the time. I've seen the wizard before. Merlin. Everyone knew him. He has trained millions of apprentices. He likes to bring the younglings to Abandon and use us as good deeds. The last time this happened, one of us was shattered after the apprentice told him he was no longer needed…

I hated that Merlin. Using us like he did…but then that small blond kid turned to me. I was leaning against the pub, Ever Away in hand. That kid looked at me and ran to me like I was his daddy. Merlin chased after him of course, but it was too late. I was labeled as his good deed.

As soon as the kid learned how to transport, he would spend every chance he got with little ol' me. And when I went off the deep end one night, he was the one to pull me out.

As much as I hate the kid, and I wait for him to up and leave, I enjoy his little visits. And ever since Merlin disappeared…I don't want the kid turning out as one of us. So…I guess I'm his friend.

"Be' Joke, you listening to me?"

I look up at the boy from my toes. "Sorry, Corin. What?"

The boy's eyes mist, "You thinkin' about the past again?"

I look away. Even after a decade, I haven't told him why I am a Suide.

"Something like that. What were you saying?"

Corin shrugs, "Never mind. You hungry?"

"Not for any of your crappy food I'm not."

Corin snorts as I march back toward the square. "I make fine food. You just don't know what food is."

I have only laughed once since Corin joined me. So I just smile weakly.

As we enter the square, we stop. In a circle around the new fountain is a crowd.

"What the…"

Corin runs forward and pushes through the crowd. "What is happening?" I ask another Suide.

The Suide looks at me, tears in their eyes. "We don't know who they are, but listen! His voice! It's beautiful!"

Beautiful? I push forward till I'm at the front of the crowd, standing next to Corin. My eyes bulge.

Outsiders. I know it!

Two green skinned boys are standing on the newly made fountain. Well, one is sitting, watching and trying to sign with the blue masked one, who is singing at the top of his lunges. And, for a five year old, he is good. And that Suide was right.

His voice…it's…it's in my head.

For some reason, it's effecting everyone but Corin. Lucky boy.

Wendy never flew back to that old star

And Neverland never could be the same

I dream and think of brotherly dreams

But never seemed to reach that star

If all the hopes kept by smart John

And all of Michael's wishes were true

I'd take them all back to Neverland

And trade them all for the Lost Boys

Neverland is so far away

Somehow Pan ran away

I think I could find him if I really tried

But maybe I'm just not enough…

When the voice in our heads stops, we seem to wake up. The boy is holding his brother as the red masked boy screams happily. Suides start to wander off, as if the voice never happened. Corin and I stay.

"Aw," Corin coos," Their so cute."

I scowl, "They're green and they're, like, three. They aren't cute ,Corin."

Corin ignores me and nears the kids, "Hello, kids, what's-"

The blue one screams and kicks Corin in the stomach. Corin chokes and doubles over, "Strong…kick."

I roll my eyes while the red boy yells, "STRANGER! DAD!"

The blue boy slaps his hand over his brother's mouth, "Raphie, we're dreaming. Shh."

In the corner of my eye, I see Corin lift his hand.

"Corin, wait-"

Blue boy screams as the floats up into the air, turning circles. The red howls, "LEO!" Then turns on me. He roars then jumps at me.

I spread my wings and the fiver year old grabs onto it. And his grip rips out feather after feather. I yell, "GET OFF ME YOU STUPID CHILD!"

The boy screams in my ear and rips out more feathers. "CORIN!" I howl.

The wizard looks at me and the 'Leo' boy foals into the water. The boy on my wings gasps and runs back to the well. I'm a second too late to move.

"NO!" Coin whirls, water in hand and sprays me wet all over again, missing the boy by a mile.

Corin gasps, "Sorry! I…um…I'm sorry."

I glare at the wizard. He puffs his cheeks, holding back laughter. The two younglings don't even try.

The red boy, ankle deep in water says, "Clown is all wet!"

"I am not a clown!" I hiss.

Leo laughs, "Yes, you are. You've got green hair. You're a clown!"

Corin rubs his chin. "It must be a morgrif spell gone wrong. I'll try to fix it."

"Corin, I don't think-"

Too late again. Corin yells out a spell. Immediately, the two turtle looking boys turn into…well…turtles.

Corin screams. "WHAT DID I DO?!"

"Reverse the spell, you nit wit!" I hiss.

Corin spurts out another spell and the boys return from the turtle form.

The red masked one holds his stomach, "Ugh. I feel sick."

"Wonderful, Corin, now we've got sick boys on our hands."

Corin looks like he's gonna cry, "I did the spell right! Where…why…"

Leo looks over as a Suide walks by, eyeing my sobbing wizard. I know her from seeing her at the pub. She has curly blond hair and a pretty face. Her wings are black with white spots. Self-harm. I can see that from a pretty girl who's been told she ain't good enough way too often.

"Hey," I say.

She nods, "You're friend okay?"

I shrug, "Yeah. Just a little on the wrong side of a wand."

She nods again. The little blue boy looks at her. He stands up in the water and says, "You're pretty. Are you a princess?"

That catches both me and the Suide off guard, "W-what?"

"A princess." He says. "You look nice and kind. That's what a princess is. And that is what an angel is, too. You're an angel princess."

She blushes, "Oh…um…thank you. How old are you?"

The two boys look at each other. One raises a hand while the other raises two fingers. In unison they say, "FIVE!"

The Suide nods, then turns to a group of Suides by the pub and yells, "THESE BOYS ARE FIVE! WHY CAN'T YOU BE NICE LIKE THEM!?"

Then she smiles at me," At least you're decent, Be'Joke."

She walks off, waving to the boy as she goes. "Bye, bye, Honey."

Leo waves after her, "Bye, bye, Princess."

I watch her leave, surprised by her reaction to the boys. She…I don't believe what I'm seeing! One of her spots! They disappeared! That's…that's impossible!

"Be'Joke?" I turn to Corin. He points at the boys. "What are we gonna do with them?"

I stare at the two. That blue boy…he….he made a spot disappear. That never happens.

"Be'Joke?"

I sigh, "Grab them. Tell them your name, so they don't freak out again."

"Where we gonna take them?"

To the only person who might know what's going on in Abandon, but I don't tell Corin that. He would immediately guess I'd go to Merlin. If he was even alive…

I sigh.

"We're taking them to Ciaus."