Chapter Three: Chandler's Guardian Angel
When it began to get late, Chandler finally left the park for home. As he walked, he thought. It didn't make sense. He had never really told anyone about his dreams, after all they were just dreams. But something had gone wrong. Chandler just couldn't figure out what.
Chandler was so engrossed in his own contemplations that he didn't realize he was being followed until it was too late. The boy heard a few whispered words as he passed the dark alley where he had first seen the dog and suddenly his world stopped. Or rather, he stopped. Something was wrong, he couldn't move! Inside, the boy was panicking, but it didn't do any good, he was completely paralyzed.
There were more words that Chandler didn't understand and then he was moving, nay, flying into the alleyway. There were people there, all dressed in dark robes. Chandler was confused. What was going on? Why couldn't he move? Who were these people? Was he dreaming?
Eventually, Chandler realized that now he could understand what was being said. ".the one, Tonley. The Dark Lord wouldn't have made a mistake." "I'm not going to tell the Dark Lord that he screwed up, but really, Bantor, this was too easy. Where is the boy's protection? Mrs. Black wouldn't have-" "Shut up! Both of you! Get to work!"
There were grumbles, but nothing more was said. Chandler closed his eyes. It seemed he had that much control. What was going to happen to him? And where was his dog, who had always protected him? Was that just a dream? Chandler was slowly beginning to wonder if he didn't have his world confused. He was no longer sure what was real and what wasn't. Alone and helpless, Chandler despaired.
So lost in his despair was the boy that he didn't even hear the newcomer approaching the alleyway. But then, the grownups didn't hear it either until a snarl and a flash of light pierced the afternoon air. Snapping his eyes open, Chandler strained to see. It worked. Somehow, Chandler was able to break his paralysis and he collapsed to the ground, shaking. Taking deep breaths, Chandler looked up, towards the light.
There at the end of the alley were the three men who had been talking, the men who had tried to do. something to him. They were backed against the fence at the far end of the alleyway, looking terrified. And no wonder. Snarling at them a few feet away from Chandler was his dog. No. No, it wasn't the same dog. Or it had changed. This creature was the same size and shape as Chandler's stray, but everything else was different. For one thing, it was no longer black. It was shining brilliant silver, the silver of moonbeams from a full moon.
The shining silver beast snarled a last time and then one of the men said something about not facing a patron, or some such, and the men disappeared before Chandler's very eyes.
Chandler stood there, staring at the place where they had been for several moments. This was a dream! There was no other explanation. Finally, a quiet bark from behind him broke Chandler out of his thoughts. He turned around and spotted his dog, once again looking black-furred and normal. The dog was paused at the entrance to the alley, looking back at him. As Chandler turned to face it, the dog took a few steps forward into the snowy sidewalk, and then looked back at Chandler again. The boy blinked. He wanted him to follow! Without a second thought, Chandler took off after the dog. He didn't even pause when the stray turned down the street in the opposite direction of Chandler's home. Something was going on and the boy was determined to find out what!
When it began to get late, Chandler finally left the park for home. As he walked, he thought. It didn't make sense. He had never really told anyone about his dreams, after all they were just dreams. But something had gone wrong. Chandler just couldn't figure out what.
Chandler was so engrossed in his own contemplations that he didn't realize he was being followed until it was too late. The boy heard a few whispered words as he passed the dark alley where he had first seen the dog and suddenly his world stopped. Or rather, he stopped. Something was wrong, he couldn't move! Inside, the boy was panicking, but it didn't do any good, he was completely paralyzed.
There were more words that Chandler didn't understand and then he was moving, nay, flying into the alleyway. There were people there, all dressed in dark robes. Chandler was confused. What was going on? Why couldn't he move? Who were these people? Was he dreaming?
Eventually, Chandler realized that now he could understand what was being said. ".the one, Tonley. The Dark Lord wouldn't have made a mistake." "I'm not going to tell the Dark Lord that he screwed up, but really, Bantor, this was too easy. Where is the boy's protection? Mrs. Black wouldn't have-" "Shut up! Both of you! Get to work!"
There were grumbles, but nothing more was said. Chandler closed his eyes. It seemed he had that much control. What was going to happen to him? And where was his dog, who had always protected him? Was that just a dream? Chandler was slowly beginning to wonder if he didn't have his world confused. He was no longer sure what was real and what wasn't. Alone and helpless, Chandler despaired.
So lost in his despair was the boy that he didn't even hear the newcomer approaching the alleyway. But then, the grownups didn't hear it either until a snarl and a flash of light pierced the afternoon air. Snapping his eyes open, Chandler strained to see. It worked. Somehow, Chandler was able to break his paralysis and he collapsed to the ground, shaking. Taking deep breaths, Chandler looked up, towards the light.
There at the end of the alley were the three men who had been talking, the men who had tried to do. something to him. They were backed against the fence at the far end of the alleyway, looking terrified. And no wonder. Snarling at them a few feet away from Chandler was his dog. No. No, it wasn't the same dog. Or it had changed. This creature was the same size and shape as Chandler's stray, but everything else was different. For one thing, it was no longer black. It was shining brilliant silver, the silver of moonbeams from a full moon.
The shining silver beast snarled a last time and then one of the men said something about not facing a patron, or some such, and the men disappeared before Chandler's very eyes.
Chandler stood there, staring at the place where they had been for several moments. This was a dream! There was no other explanation. Finally, a quiet bark from behind him broke Chandler out of his thoughts. He turned around and spotted his dog, once again looking black-furred and normal. The dog was paused at the entrance to the alley, looking back at him. As Chandler turned to face it, the dog took a few steps forward into the snowy sidewalk, and then looked back at Chandler again. The boy blinked. He wanted him to follow! Without a second thought, Chandler took off after the dog. He didn't even pause when the stray turned down the street in the opposite direction of Chandler's home. Something was going on and the boy was determined to find out what!
