SWNOVELS Chapter Alex VIII
“Come, Alexander, there is something you must see.”
Alex followed Omdrus obediently. It was strange to him, to be following the orders of a wolf that came up to his shoulders in height. He brought the boy to a cliff. It was tall, soaring near the skies, and they stood at the bottom of it.
He couldn’t help but feel the awe that crept in. He was amazed that all of it was real, the land, the creatures, all of it. It wall amazed him. At waist level, a sword stuck out of the wall. It shone like diamonds, glittering in the sun.
“They call it Caliburn,” Omdrus started. “It has been in this wall since the beginning of time. It’s destined to be pulled by its true wielder and this wielder is destined to be a great king.” he paused and looked up at Alex. “I believe that you are this great king.”
“No,” Alex choked his reply out. “I can’t be a king. I’m just a kid. I’m only Alex Hayes. I’m... I’m just some loser from Woolton.” Alex inhaled. “And besides, you don’t know me all that well, I could be... I could be a horrible person.”
“You’re Alexander Hayes, of 4 Beaconsfield Road, brother to Octavia,” Omdrus stated. “And if you were truly horrible, you’d never have come here.” he paused. “If you weren’t who I thought you were, I doubt we’d stand here together today.”
“I’m sorry, Omdrus, sir,” Alex apologized. “But Octavia and I have to home. We have our lives there.”
“Do you know how you got here, Alexander?” the great wolf questioned. The black-haired boy struggled with a response.
“Well, no, I don’t,” he answered. “But I was told that you could get us back.”
The wolf sighed. “Oh, dear,”
“What is it, sir?” the boy inquired.
“I’m afraid that I can’t send you back,” the wolf spoke solemnly. “I can do many things, but I cannot bring back the dead.”
Alex’s breathing became heavy. He felt like ripping his hair out of his skull. He paced back and forth for many moments.
“So, what are you saying? Are you saying that I’ve died? That Octavia’s died?” he questioned. “I can’t be dead. I... how can I be dead?”
“I’m truly very sorry, Alexander,” Omdrus spoke. “If it helps you any, you’ve not died here. Your death lingers only in the world of Man.”
“Yes, but I’m dead all the same.” Alex breathed. “There’s no way that we died. And if we did, how?”
“That, I cannot say, my boy,” The wolf told him. “That is a question that can be answered by your mind alone.”
Alex’s heart hammered in his chest and his breathing became heavier and he paced more and more as the seconds passed. He couldn’t fathom the idea.
Dead? He and Octavia, dead? Eddie as well?
The questions attacked his mind viciously. How had they died? When had they died? Does anyone miss them?
“I shall leave you to process this, Alexander,” Omdrus told him. “And when the time is right, we shall speak again.”
His mind could not be put at ease. The idea was unfathomable. Impossible.
They simply couldn’t be dead.