Wonder Never (The Fairytale Diaries #2) (11 page)

Chapter 20

A
lan rumbled into Enchantica with Samuel in a beaten up pick up that sounded as though it would die forever at any moment. He sat plastered against the passenger door, his arms crossed over his chest, and face set in an angry frown.

"What's your problem, man?" Samuel said, breaking the icy silence when they reached the center of town.

"No problem," Alan claimed.

"Really? Because you haven't said a word to me."

Alan shrugged. "I don't know you."

Samuel sent a seething sideways look at Alan. "I'm your father's brother.
That's
who I am," he snarled.

Alan gave him an equally hateful stare, refusing to back down. Everything about the guy set his nerves on edge. "So what?"

Samuel returned his attention to the road and traveled on in silence. Alan wanted to know where they were going but refused to speak to the man if he didn't have to.

His question was soon answered anyway.

The truck rolled into the worst part of Enchantica; the area everyone's mother told them never to go. Alan stared at the window at the slums, a busy neighborhood that never slept, just on the edge of town. Once they were almost clear through the town and ready to drive out the other side, Samuel pulled into a gravel drive that led to an old warehouse that had been abandoned for years. He slowed to a crawl as they crossed the debris covered parking lot. The last streaks of daylight splayed across the darkening sky behind the tall building.

Samuel pulled right up to the place's door which was boarded up. He killed the engine and hopped out. He grabbed a crowbar out of the truck bed then went straight to work prying boards off the door.

Alan became nervous as the sound of his uncle working the old rotten wood filled the otherwise quiet lot.

"What are you doing?" Alan demanded.

Samuel paused his work and turned back toward Alan, mopping sweat from his brow. "Get over here and help me," Samuel growled.

"Tell me what you're doing first. Are you allowed to be here?"

Samuel thrust the crowbar to the ground and stomped the few steps to the truck. He jerked open the door and yanked Alan out by the shirt collar. Taken by surprise, Alan stumbled toward the door.

"Do what I tell you, punk!" Samuel bellowed.

Alan hated himself for shaking. A life time of work on the farm had made him strong. But he didn't have a mean bone in his body unlike his uncle, who was clearly a criminal. He didn't know if he could handle himself if he were attacked. Despite the fact he was certain they were breaking and entering, he decided he needed to cooperate.

Soon, Samuel led him inside into an empty corridor. Alan followed him through a door that hung crudely from one broken hinge. It let an ugly shriek of protest as Samuel shoved it open.

Alan found himself standing inside a huge, filthy space. There was a smell of dust and something rotten hanging on the torrid air. There were a few old pieces of machinery left, and a broken down forklift, but the place was mostly just filled with trash. He could see the twilight sky high overhead through gaping holes in the ceiling. Water could be heard dripping somewhere nearby, likely from the recent rain storms.

"Somewhere in this hell hole is my pay from a job I done yeeeeeaaaars ago," Samuel grumbled. "And you need to help me find it."

"What?" Alan said, chuckling at the absurdity. "Your pay for a job? Here? Why in the world would your pay be here?"

"Because my partner back then stashed it here, then he up and died! I had to wait all this time to come for it, and now it's gonna be all mine!"

"That makes no sense."

Samuel flinched angrily as he moved to grab Alan again, but Alan jumped out of his grasp.

"Alright alright!" Alan cried, throwing his hands up. "I'll help you look!"

"Good," Samuel spat. "Get to work. You'll know it if you find it."

Alan roamed further into the warehouse. He concentrated more on keeping an eye on Samuel than searching for some elusive pay. If the opportunity presented itself to bolt, he intended to do so. But Samuel seemed to be keeping himself between Alan and the exit.

Alan sifted through trash and grime for what seemed like eternity. He grew filthy as the moon rose high in the sky casting an eerie light through the holey ceiling. He made his way to a side wall where there was a series of doors. Wandering through the first doorway, he came to find himself in utter darkness. He felt around on the wall, finding a switch and flipping it on. To his surprise, a naked bulb suspended from the ceiling came on.

It had once been an office but all that remained was an old metal desk shoved crookedly in a corner. The room was small, windowless, and stifling hot. He briefly wondered about who once worked in this depressing place.

Alan ambled over to the desk and pulled open a drawer, expecting it to be empty of anything except perhaps mouse droppings. Once again he was surprised, finding a black gym bag shoved inside. He tugged on it, pulling it out and placing it on his desk.

When he unzipped the bag, he found it stuffed full of banded stacks of one hundred dollar bills.

Alan gasped, staring down at the money. This was so much more than "pay" for a "job." This was without a doubt, bank robbery loot. There was no other possible explanation. He wondered about Samuel's dead partner and exactly what his cause of death may have been. A million thoughts raced through his mind.

Such as the fact that even just one of those stacks of cash could solve all his family's problems.

"I found it, Samuel!" Alan called excitedly.

The sound of running footsteps preceded Samuel's entrance into the office. Alan stood clutching the heavy satchel against his chest.

"I don't think ten dollars is going to be enough pay for this job," Alan said smugly. Access to an obscene amount of cash had increased his confidence exponentially while diminishing his moral compass.

Samuel's eyes narrowed with the malevolent glare he cast upon Alan. "Hand it over, punk."

Alan smirked. "Oh, I'm the punk? I'm not the bank robber here sooo… Listen, you said you wanted to help my mom, and that's what I want too. I don't want much, not even enough that you'll miss it. Uncle." He spoke earnestly, feeling certain his father's brother would understand.

Instead, with lightning quickness, Samuel raised the crow bar in his hand and connected it with Alan's temple.

***

Alan woke in blinding pain. Dizziness accompanied him to consciousness leaving him confused and briefly forgetful. He lifted his hand and gingerly touched the source of the pain. Wincing, his fingers came away bloody. Then he remembered his uncle's brutal attack.

The sudden memory provoked him to sit up way too quickly and he cried out with the pain. He found himself still in the office with no sign of the money or his uncle. He struggled to his feet and went to the door. The knob turned, but the door wouldn't open. He began yelling and throwing himself against the door, forgetting the pain in the urgency of the moment. It was no use. The door seemed to be padlocked on the other side.

After near exhaustion from his effort, Alan slid to the floor where he buried his face in his hands. He thought of his so called uncle. Any man in possession of what had to be a million dollars or more, who would hit someone in the head with a crow bar, wasn't planning on returning. He could be certain of that. He was locked inside a place nobody ever came to and no matter how much he pounded at the door of walls, he wasn't going to escape. Even if Samuel returned to finish the job, or if Alan was left alone to starve, the ending for him would not be a happy one. Overwhelmed with the crashing realizations, he began to weep.

Roxan Richelieu played through his mind then. He wished… He wished… He wished so many things.

***

Eventually, Alan slept, curled up on the desk. But a metallic clink and then a clatter woke him. When he noted the door knob turning, he instinctually leapt from the desk and ran to cower in a corner.

To his intense relief, it was not his uncle who came through the door.

The man stood only about five feet tall. He wore a simple uniform of blue slacks with a blue button down shirt, and black bow tie; not unlike the Maytag Man from the old television commercials. His head was perfectly smoothed bald, and he wore golden hoop earrings in both ears. His odd appearance might've been comical, except Alan was still on high alert that the guy could've been dispatched by Samuel.

"Who are you?" Alan asked.

The man smiled. "I'm Gene Fay. Caretaker here."

Alan glanced around.
Wow, dude, you suck at your job,
he thought.

"Are you alright, son?" Gene asked.

Something about the man's crystal clear voice and calm demeanor put Alan at ease. His shoulders relaxed slightly and he stepped out of the corner.

"I've been attacked," Alan admitted pitifully.

Gene nodded. "I see that. Should we notify the authorities?"

"I'd really like to get home and check on my family. Could you please give me a ride?"

"Of course, any help I can offer," said the kindly man.

***

Gene drove an impossibly tiny gold car. Once inside it, Alan felt safe. There was no way this odd character could be affiliated with his evil uncle.

"Sir, I am so grateful to you. I don't know how I'll ever repay you," Alan said as they pulled out of the parking lot of the nightmarish place he never wanted to see again.

"No repayment necessary, glad to help," Gene said jovially.

"Seriously. I thought I was going to die in there. Had some time to think about my life. You have no idea how much I wished for help to come."

Gene momentarily took his eyes from the road to give Alan a penetrating stare. "Oh? What other wishes have you, son?"

Despite the strangeness of the question, Alan found Gene incredibly easy to talk to. Something made him want to confide in the man. "Well, actually, funny you should ask. I thought a lot about my girlfriend, Roxan. I love her so much," Alan admitted. "But, she's rich, and I'm poor. Her father hates me. He calls me a street rat. I know in the end, we won't end up together, and I wish beyond measure that wasn't true."

Gene gave a small mysterious smile. "What would you say if I told you I could make that wish come true, son?"

By the time the short trip to Alan's farm was made, Gene told a tale of a city where Alan and Roxan could be together and have the life they wanted and deserved. Alan could be somebody special and important. No one would ever judge or separate them. They could be happy. Forever. "How does that sound, son?"

Alan didn't even have to think twice about a life with Roxan. If she agreed, he would leave with her in a heartbeat. "Yes! That sounds wonderful!"

"Lovely! Why don't you bring Roxan to meet me for breakfast at Java Enchantica at ten a.m. and we'll chat. My treat."

"Thank you, thank you so much!" Alan exclaimed excitedly as he climbed out of the car.

"My pleasure. See you in the morning, Alan."

He was so excited walking up the front path; he didn't stop to think that he hadn't told the odd man his name.

Chapter 21

A
lan led Roxan hand in hand onto Java Enchantica's patio where Gene Fay already waited for them. He could feel his palm sweating and hoped Roxan didn't notice. He was incredibly nervous to present the idea of running away to her. Why on Earth would she say yes? After all, she had the whole world at her fingertips. But he loved her so much; he felt he had to ask.

He introduced her to the little man dressed in blue. As always when she met someone new, Roxan greeted Gene warmly and gave him one of her gorgeous smiles. She was the sort of person who never met a stranger. She always seemed relaxed and content in social situations and made others feel that way too.

Alan didn't offer any specific explanation as to who Gene was. He had no idea who the man was, truthfully, but that thought had somehow failed to cross his mind. Instead he got straight to the point.

"Roxan," Alan said timidly, regarding her with wide dark eyes.

Her smile faded slightly. "What is it, Alan?" she asked softly, her brow furrowed with sudden worry.

"Oh, nothing bad, my love," Alan said with a quick, reassuring smile. "It's just that, I… Have an important question. Extremely important… To me."

He looked to Gene for help. Taking his cue, Gene began his tale of a lovely place where Alan could be whatever he wanted; a person her father could be proud of. A place with both color and darkness. He managed to describe a new life in an intriguingly vague way, while offering no specifics. However, Roxan was drawn into his words and gazed enraptured at him as he spoke.

When Gene finished, Roxan finally tore her eyes from him to study Alan. Alan stared down at the table, his cheeks blazing with embarrassment.
She must think I'm such a fool
, he thought gloomily.

Returning her attention to Gene, Roxan had a few questions. Gene gave a charming smile, and vague responses that really didn't answer a thing. Alan felt certain Roxan would soon get up and walk away. Maybe forever. His heart plummeted.

Roxan sat there silently, lost in thought for so long that the end of all his hopes and dreams flashed through his mind. But then she spoke.

"Can we leave right now?"

Alan leapt to his feet, reached for her, and swept her into his arms. He spun her around and kissed her to the tune of Gene Fay's deep rumble of laughter.

***

"Wait. We're walking?" Roxan said, pausing.

Alan too was surprised when Gene led them in the direction of the street's dead end instead of toward his car. In fact, it occurred to him he didn't see the little gold car anywhere.

Gene paused as well, giving them a cordial smile. "Yes. It's just a short trek through those woods up ahead."

Alan exchanged a perplexed glance with Roxan. There's a city in those woods?" Alan asked incredulously.

Gene chuckled and nodded. "That there is, my friends. It's really little known in these parts for as close as it is."

Roxan squealed and gave a little clap. "Even better! Once we get settled and give my dad some time to cool down over running off, he'll be so close to visit!"

Gene said nothing, giving only a mysterious smile as response. He turned again toward the trees and briskly led them on.

***

By the time Gene Fay had led them all the way to the willow tree, neither Roxan nor Alan were as excited as they'd been back in Enchantica. When they broke into the clearing and saw the tree seeming to glitter in the morning light, Alan felt like there was a heavy cloud over his mind. He wasn't sure he was thinking straight. Something seemed off but he couldn't figure out what it may be. He decided to continue following the strange man in blue because he didn't know what else to do.

Under the boughs of the willow, amid the unearthly quiet, Gene revealed the secret stash of candies and drinks. Alan and Roxan clung to each other, their eyes full of uncertainty.

All the same, they did just as they were told.

***

Gene Fay's pleasant demeanor changed entirely as he harshly demanded Alan and Roxan pick up the pace as they traversed the winding checkered path toward Wondernever.

Alan was still thoroughly shaken by the events that had brought them to the strange land with the patchwork moonlit sky. The horrifying sensations, darkness, and spinning colors. Being submerged in water, yet coming out dry. And being cloaked in darkness of night when he fully well knew it was daytime. He'd made a mistake and he feared he'd put Roxan in danger. Yet still, they hurried behind Gene as he did not know what other choice they had.

Soon they entered a small village that looked like something out of a child's storybook. Roxan had begun to cry as she pelted Gene with questions that he ignored. Gene led them up a path made of stones that were painted every color of the rainbow that led to the door of a cottage that stood crookedly on its foundation.

"We've arrived," Gene said curtly, giving a sharp rap on the purple door.

When the door swung open, Alan found himself face to face with the leering grin of his Uncle Samuel.

Alan drew a terrified gasp and tightened his grip on Roxan's hand. "RUN!" he screamed, dragging her back the way they'd just come.

***

He found some relief as they dashed through the village of Wondernever among its bizarre looking occupants, and nobody followed them. He would lead Roxan to safety and get her as far from this place as possible.

"Here! This way!" Alan cried, crashing through some bushes that dripped heavily with fragrant white blossoms. He ran into a misty forest. "Let's find our way back to the gate through here. Stay out of sight!"

Roxan followed him without a word, only responding with the sound of stifled sobbing.

The mist shaking amongst tall black trees was disorienting. He kept glancing up at the wicked looking moon, slivers of which were visible high above the tangle of tossing leaves and limbs. He hoped they were going the right way but he wasn't certain.

When a figure stepped out from a tree in front of them, Alan jerked Roxan to abrupt halt.

"Well, hello there!"

The person who spoke was a short plump man wearing the ugliest suit Alan had ever seen. It appeared to be fur and striped like an old tom cat. Just as ugly was the man's inhumanly wide grin, bearing rows of uneven yellowed teeth and gums. Whenever a person showed gums with a smile, it unnerved Alan. He braced himself for a fight.

"I am Chessy Heart," said the man with a deep, theatric bow. "Might I be of assistance?"

"We're just leaving," Alan said ominously. "We don't need any help from you."

"Oh?" said the man, giving a frown that was just as disturbing as his grin. "But why?"

"We don't want to be in this crazy place! With you crazy people!" Roxan shouted angrily.

"Oh you can't help that," Chessy said as though it wasn't up for debate. "We're all a little nutty here," he giggled, swirling one finger around his temple. "I'm nuts, your nuts! Nuts nuts nuts!"

"What do you know about us?" Alan growled.

"Right!" Roxan added. "As if you could possibly know anything about our mental health!"

Chessy tittered. "You must be nuts! Otherwise you wouldn't have come here!"

The sheer rightness of the man's comment fractured the last of Roxan's strength and she began to wail. Alan drew her into a hug without taking his eyes off the grinning man.

"There there," Chessy quipped. "Come on then, I'll show you out."

Not knowing what else to do, Alan and Roxan followed the man deeper into the mist. He had no idea then if they were headed in the right direction.

But after a few moments, a figure appeared before them and he found it didn't matter. The figure was tall and cloaked in tattered brown robes. Where its face should've been was only black nothingness.

"There you go," Chessy Heart said to the thing. Then he turned and ran away.

A deafening roar permeated the woods, shaking the ground beneath their feet. Alan realized too late that absolutely nothing would matter ever again.