Chapter 53: Castle on a Cloud

He took the broom out of its place and went to sweep. He didn't know why he was there, or anything else. His first memory was hiding outside of the bed and breakfast, huddling for warmth. Now, the Radcliffe's had him. He twisted his wrist and a small ball of light came.

"Stop that, freak!" screamed Mrs. Radcliffe, "That's not normal! Now, sweep!"

He ran across the hall to the dining room, humming as he went.

"There is a castle on a cloud. I like to go there in my sleep. Aren't any floors for me to sweep, not in my castle on a cloud. There is a room that's full of toys. There are a hundred boys and girls. Nobody shouts or talks too loud, not on a castle on a cloud. There is a lady all in white who holds me and sings a lullaby. She's nice to see, and she's soft to touch. And she says, 'My boy, I love you very much.'" He swept, wondering if other little kids did the same.

"I know a place where no one's lost. I know a place where no one cries. Crying at all is not aloud, not in my castle on a cloud."

Tonight was the night, he decided. He was going to go and find the castle, and he wouldn't leave. He dropped the broom and ran out the door. He ran until he bumped into someone.

"Hello there," the person said, "Where are you going?"

"Please, don't send me back!" he said, "They'll kill me if I go back!" He began to sob, imagining his punishment. The man looked down at him.

"What's your name?"

"I-I don't think I have one," he said feebly.

"Well, that won't do. What name would you like?"

"I don't know any," he told the man.

"What about the name Keith? Keith Watson?" He rolled the name over his tongue.

"I like it, sir, but where will I go?" The man furrowed his brow.

"Well, with me. I can make it look like you were my son. We can go together."

"Where are you going?"

"New York City. Come on, Keith." Keith followed the man, stopping only to pick up a piece of string with a cork on it. He tied it around his neck. Later that night, he drew a mark on it.

Thirteen years later, Jessica and Keith were hugging when Jessica felt something strange.

"Keith, what's under your shirt?" she asked. He paled.

"I'll tell you, at my place." They ran to the apartment, tears welling up at old memories. When they got into his room, he locked the door.

"Keith, what's wrong?" she asked him. He sighed.

"I never told anyone. Dad made me swear not to tell anyone." From under his shirt, he pulled out the makeshift necklace.

"This is from the night I ran away," he told her, "I don't know how I got there, but I ended up in a place where the people weren't… very nice to me. I ran, and Dad found me. He created an identity, and we came here. I grabbed this that night, and put a mark on it for every year."

Jessica couldn't believe it. Keith: her best friend, the sweetest person on Earth; had been hurt. She didn't want to think about it, so she hugged him. He felt all of her compassion in that hug. All at once, he felt a sudden surge of relief, that he'd told someone his lifelong secret.