Define Normal
Chapter 1: The Boy from the Canal
By: Rydina Black
(Axel)
It was a normal enough day. The sky was clear and the sun was shining. I was walking through the city of Radiant Garden, right along the Bastion Canal, not thinking about anything. I loved not thinking about anything. Thinking is too much work if you ask me. Especially on days like this. Nothing could ruin this day. Suddenly, a woman screamed. I looked in her direction, and saw her pointing at the canal. My gaze followed her finger and saw a small form floating down the canal. It was obviously a child, probably about twelve. Here we go again.
I jumped in, wrapping my long arms around the boy, and threw him onto the sidewalk along the canal. I was about to pull myself out, but no, it couldn't be that easy. A boat suddenly went by and flipped me over. I struggled against the wake, trying desperately to get out of the water. Eventually, I managed to escape the canal. Don't ask me how; let's just say it involved a knife, a ripped shirt, and a rudder. I immediately gave the boy mouth-to-mouth, trying to revive him. I tried again and again, but nothing. Finally, in a fit of rage, I slammed my fist into his chest. It turns out that that was all that was needed, because, all of the sudden, he coughed up a ton of water. He kept coughing, and coughing, and coughing. Finally, once he was done, his eyes fluttered open and I found myself staring into the deepest blue eyes I've ever seen. He opened his mouth to speak, but only a raspy squeak came out. He must be a mute.
"Come on; let's get you out of here." I said as I tried to help him up, but his legs didn't seem to be working. He just crashed back down. I ended up carrying him all the way to my best friend Demyx's house, which was much closer than mine. Plus, he's a doctor, so he might be able to tell me if there's anything wrong. Since I knew the route by heart, I took the time to take in the little boy's appearance. He had deep blue eyes and golden blonde, spiky hair. His clothes were nothing special, a black sweatshirt, a pair of distressed dark blue jeans, a pair of black tennis shoes, and a silver, stylized X pendent necklace. Before I noticed, I was at the small cottage Demyx called home.
"Hello?" I heard a familiar voice call from inside when I knocked on the door.
"Hey, Demyx. It's Axel. Open up." I answered. The door flew open and right in front of me stood Demyx James Kurmo, doctor extraordinaire. His bizarre Mohawk-mullet thing that he called hair was messy and it was obvious the
"Nothing much. What's with the kid?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at the blonde in my arms.
"Found him in the canal. I was wondering if you could tell me if there's anything wrong with him. Hasn't said a word since I pulled him out."
"Well, bring him inside and I'll tell you what I can." The boy looked at me questioningly, then shrugged. I carried him inside and set him on the counter. Demyx came back in carrying a white briefcase with a red cross on both sides. Inside was a mass of medical stuff and such. He did a wide array of tests on the boy, constantly writing down bits of information on a clipboard. He did everything, from looking down his throat, to testing his reflexes, and finally, taking his temperature.
"There isn't wrong with the kid, from what I can see. I don't know why he isn't speaking. His throat is probably just sore from all the coughing. What are you going to do with him?"
"I haven't really thought that far ahead, but I guess I can watch him until we can find his parents."
"Axel, just one piece of advice for you, don't get attached. You will have to give him up eventually."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever."
"I'm serious Axel."
"I get it, now; let's get back to him before he does something stupid." I said right before I slipped past Demyx and back into the kitchen. There, the boy was still sitting on the counter and smiled at me as I entered the room. Together, me carrying the blonde bridal style, we left Demyx's house and began traveling through the city streets towards my home, the massive building that dominated the skyline, Hollow Bastion. On the way, the young boy fell asleep in my arms. He was just so adorable, sleeping in my arms like this.
Anyway, once we made it to the palace, I took him to a guest bedroom and laid him down to sleep. Then, realizing how tired I was from the canal, carrying him to Demyx's house, and carrying him back here, I couldn't stop myself, so I lay down next to him and was asleep within minutes.