Warning: angst; death; mentions of fire; people die; really angsty; for god’s sake why did I write this much angst.
The sound of childish giggling was heard as the front door opened. A young blond boy, no more than seven, ran into the house in a fit of giggles. He looked out of the doorway.
“Bye Sydney! Bye Mrs. Lowe!” He waved to the pair and closed the door. He continued to giggle to himself as he made his way farther into the quiet home. “Mum!” Jamison shouted, bouncing his way into the kitchen. “I’m home!”
His mother looked away from the dishes she was cleaning and smiled when she saw her son. Her hair was a dark brown color with seemingly uncontrollable curls (opposed to her son’s straight and spiky blond hair; he does look like father) and her eyes were a bright auburn.
She chuckled at her son and bent down to his level. She grinned at his mud caked face and used her thumb to wipe away some mud under his eye. “Looks like you and Sid had fun.”
Jamison nodded vigorously. “Loads! We played in the mud!”
“I can tell,” she giggled. His mother stood and grabbed a clean rag before putting soap and water on it. She knelt down and pressed the rag to his face. She started to clean off the drying mud when Jamison began to pout. She gave him a knowing look. “Jami, do you know wha’ your father would say at dinner if your face wasn’ clean?”
“A clean face is one less thing to wash ‘fore bed.” Jamison mumbled.
“You’re so like your father.” She laughed and kissed his clean forehead. Jamison cracked a smile and stood still as his mother finished cleaning his face.
As she finished they heard the door open.
“Sara! Jamison! I’m home!” Jamison’s father shouted from the entrance. He closed the door and traveled into the kitchen where his family was. He was greeted by Jamison running up and hugging his leg.
The grown man looked down at his son and laughed before patting his son’s head.
“Mundy Fawkes, you’re jus’ as messy as your son!” Sara exclaimed at the sight of her husband. Mundy looked down at his body. His hands, shirt, and pants where coated in a thing layer of flour; his shirt had dried dough on it and his hair was slightly singed.
Mundy shrugged and walked over to embrace his wife. He kissed her cheek and chuckled when he heard his son make a gagging noise. He reached over to ruffle Jamison’s hair.
“So, love—” Mundy looked back at his wife, “—what’s for supper?”
Sara hummed and looked into her husband’s dark yellow eyes. “Chicken and vegetables. Sound good?”
Jamison nodded and bounced on his heels. “With biscuits?”
Sara nodded. “With biscuits.”
Mundy smiled. “I’ll help.”
Sara looked down at Jamison. “Jami, go tell Mako we’re getting supper ready.” The small boy nodded and ran out the back door to the farm behind the house.
Jamison stopped at the wooden fence and rested his arms against it for a moment to catch his breath. After a minute he climbed over the fence and landed on the grass of the farm. He jogged over to a large brown barn. Next to it was a coop for chicken, and right in front of the barn was the pig pen. Jamison walked up to the pen and looked through the railing at the biggest pig.
“Hey, Bessie!” The pig looked up at him. Jamison pulled an apple out of his pocket and tossed it to her. Bessie nibbled it happily. “Bessie, have you seen my uncle?”
“Jamison!” Called a voice from the barn. Jamison frowned as the large man exited the barn. His white hair was pulled back into a ponytail and his clothes had mud and grass on them.
“Uncle Mako! There you are!”
Mako walked over to his Godson and picked the boy up before sitting him on the railing. “You know you aren’t supposed to be here.”
“Mum wanted me to tell you that they’re makin’ supper!” Jamison swung his legs. “We’re havin’ chicken an’ veggies an’ bread!” Mako chuckled—more like snorted—and smiled. His sharp bottom teeth protruded through his smile.
“That sounds delicious, Jami.”
The walk back to the barn was full of Jamison’s giggles and chatter as he told Mako about his day.
They reached the house and Mako brought the young boy inside. Jamison sat on Mako’s shoulder’s, and much to the pair’s amusement Jamison’s head almost touched the ceiling.
“Mako!” Sara gasped at the sight of her small son on the shoulders of her giant friend. “He could fall.” Her tone had a light trace of amusement, and Mundy didn’t even attempt to hide his grin.
Dinner started and the four sat the the dinning table. Jamison put his chicken and vegetables between two slices of bread and ate it as sandwich. He ate it messily as he told his mother and father about his day between bites.
“An’ then Sid an’ I made a swing an’ played on the branches! An’ we went into the forest! It was loads fun, mum!” Jamison rambled out quickly before stuffing his face.
“Jamison, the forest is dangerous! I thought I told you not to go in there,” his mother scolded. Jamison hung his head for a moment.
Mundy scoffed. “Love, you don’ ‘ave to worry. I went into the forest loads when I was Jami’s age. It’s jus’ curiosity.” He shifted the topic of conversation. “Sara, you’ll neva guess who came into the bakery today!”
“Who?” She asked as she ate a spoonful of corn and peas.
Jamison listened intently to the conversation. He’s heard that name and a few others mentioned in the house before. They were “important people” according to his father.
Sara looked up from her plate. “What would he be doing in our town?”
Mundy shrugged and took a sip of his wine. “Dunno. Said he had important business here for King Merlin.”
“What’dya think it is?” Sara asked.
He shrugged. “Didn’t ask. ‘Sides; it’s not our business.”
“Stay away from Reyes,” Mako spoke up. Sara and Mundy looked at their friend in surprise. Jamison glanced up at his Godfather. They all found it strange; Mako usually stayed silent during supper. “He’s bad news. Last thing I need is for him to drag you into trouble.” He spoke directly to Mundy but glanced at Jamison as he gave the warning. The young boy couldn’t help but feel the instructions were for him too.
Mundy scoffed. “He can’t be that bad. The kingdom seems to trust him.”
Sara put a hand on Mundy’s shoulder. “If Mako says to stay away from Reyes then you stay away from him.” She looked at Mako. “How do you know Reyes is bad news?”
Mako sighed and looked at Jamison. “How about you go upstairs to your room? You have to finish your book for school.”
Jamison nodded and got out of his chair. He picked up his cup of water and ran up the stairs leaving the adults to their conversation.
It was late when his parents came to put him to bed. Mako can in and said goodnight to him before going to his own room. Sara and Mundy walked in after Mako left. Jamison was jumping up and down on his bed. Mundy caught his son mid-jump and laid him on the bed. Sara giggled as Mundy tickled Jamison to the point he was dying of laughter. When the young Pyromancer was tuckered out enough. Sara approached him with a stuffed pig.
“Squeally! Jamison cheered and took the stuffed animal from his mother. He laid on his back and smiled tiredly at his parents.
“Do you want to sleep with me and your dad tonight? Or with Mako?” Sara asked. She sat down on the bed and ran her head through his hair. Jamison shook his head. “Are you sure, Jami?”
“I’ll be alright, mum.” Jamison smiled at her. Sara beamed down and kissed his forehead.
“Do you remember what tomorrow is?” She asked him.
His eyes lit up. “Uncle Mako’s birthday!”
“That’s right, my little spark,” she kissed his cheek. “G’night Jami.”
“G’night Jami.” Mundy said as he walked over and kissed Jamison’s forehead.
They left Jamison’s room and the candle beside his bed went out. His parents went to bed slightly worried about their son.
Jamison sat up quickly, tears running down his cheeks. It was another nightmare.
He took in his surroundings and realized everything was on fire. “Mum! Dad!” He screamed and ran for his door. He opened it and the hallway was on fire. He ran to his parents’ room, the flames parting for him as he ran. When he reached the room Jamison opened the door and was horrified to find his parents engulfed in flames.
“No!” He ran over and the fire disappeared for a second to reveal their bodies before igniting once more. He was about to run out of the room but before he did Jamison spotted his dad’s wand on the dresser. He grabbed it then ran down to his Uncle’s room. Unfortunately, he was met with the same results. He cried.
Jamison ran out of the back of the flaming house. He heard some people from the town.
“Quick! Put out the fire!”
“We have to get them outta there!”
He stopped for a second. He could stay with Sidney and his family. They’d take him in. He couldn’t just leave his home.
No, he thought to himself. I killed mum and dad and Uncle Mako. They’d all hate me.
Jamison ran again. He ran into the forest.
He never stopped running.
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