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CONROY

Everything is super quiet. I’m all by myself.

No castles guys, no crazy giants, no screaming people.

Just me.

I wipe at my eyes. They’re watering. A lot.

“Hello?” I call out into the empty hallway. My voice echoes.

It’s dark in here. I don’t like it.

Where is everybody?

“Miss Val? Mr. Abirami? Is anyone here?” I cry more desperately.

I don’t want to be alone. It’s so dark.

My eyes water even more. Is there anybody here? Please, let there be someone!

I whimper and curl up against the wall.

It’s so dark. So quiet. So empty. Dark. Quiet. Empty. Dark. Quiet. Emp-

Someone coughs.

I bolt up.

Someone is crouched next to a looming door. He’s carrying a lamp in his hand. He coughs again.

He’s an old man. His hair is white. His face is wrinkly. He has glasses on.

He straightens himself with a groan. He holds up the lamp and searches the room.

I stand frozen.

His eyes land on me. He smiles. “What are you doing way back there? Come here,” he croaks.

I obediently walk forward.

The old man shines the lamp in my face. “Where’s your mom and dad? You’re not here by yourself, are you?”

“I don’t know where they are,” I answer.

“I’m so-,” he stops and stares hard at me. “What’s your name?”

I take a small step back. “Conroy Flinston.” I don’t bother lying.

“Conroy-?” He begins to laugh.

I stand uncertainly. Is he crazy?

“I guess you don’t know who I am, do you?” he chuckles.

“No.”

“I’m Conroy Flinston too,” he says with a grin.

“But I’m-,” I stop. “You’re a different guy.”

“That’s a reasonable answer, but in this case, no. I’m you.”

“Oh.”

“How old are you right now?” he asks.

“I’m nine.”

He nods thoughtfully. “Are you still in the city?”

“Uh huh.”

He shakes his head. “That’s right. And if you’re nine that means he’s…dead.”

“Yes,” I whisper. “He is.”

We stand there in silence.

Finally, he clears his throat. “I’m supposed to give you some advice, but I don’t know what to say. I wouldn’t change anything.”

“I would.”

He sighs. “When I look back, there are things I regret doing, but I’ve seen how, in the end, those things were used for good. If I were to change anything, I don’t know how different things would be now.”

“Oh, that’s cool, I guess.”

“It is. So, do you have any questions? Anything you want to know?”

“Um, not really. Actually, yeah. How old are you?”

He laughs again and pats me on the back. “I’m seventy-one years old.”

I give a weak laugh. “You’re old!”

“Well, thank you very much.” he says dryly.

“You’re welco-” my voice gives out.

He’s gone.

“Bye.” I whisper.

I turn toward the door and swing it open.

People!

I shut the door behind me and step into the beautiful people filled room.

But the door immediately swings open, slamming into my back. I yelp and scramble back.

A man and woman walk through the doors.

I glare at them. That door hurt.

“Excuse me!” the lady yells. “Would someone please tell us where we are and what this place is?”

I look around. No one seems to notice them.

I limp forward, trying to feel friendly towards these people. “You’re in a castle.”

She glances down at me. “I see.”

“It’s a magical castle, and it’s not…very nice.” I explain.

 

@mamaauthoress

Would you like for Eve and Calix to interact further with Conroy? (I hope you don’t mind me changing the door scene a little bit 🙂 )