The unexpected town
The journey to the unknown land was quite tedious. He had hoped it was another city where the Internet ruled but no… it was after the third day of being in the car did it occur to Aaron. Wherever his parents were taking him must be a hidden yet a gem filled place.
A place closed from the online world and whose people aren't familiar with the Internet world and… He was right. The rest of the journey was on a camel and at night, he had arrived at his destination.
He wasn't sure what his role was in this new place, he thought quietly placing his hands on his head as if pushing off the ache in his bone. Letting out a huge sigh, Aaron raised his face up and for a slight moment, he was left speechless. He was taken aback by the beauty that surrounded him. The light that surrounded the village was beautiful. Lanterns scattered around like it was a Chinese festival. The road was adorned with gold which transformed the light emitted from the lantern into glorious beauties.
“This is no doubt a paradise” he whispered quietly as if afraid his voice would be heard. He saw how each house was adorned with gold and his jaw dropped. He almost drooled at the houses he passed by before closing his mouth and watched the women around him.
He watched people around with their silk fine atires made with gold, and so did they watched his every move. He was a foreigner in a foreign land afteral. Before he could feed his eyes with more beauties, the camel came to a halt then, he saw his parents…
No, that can't be…
“Welcome our son!” His father chirped happily like a damned soul that he is.
He tried to guess how they had arrived before him and then, it hits him. His mother must have gone to the airport when she had gone with another car.
Carefully coming down from the camel, his body stiffened as his mother hugged him. He didn't let his emotions show. He just stood there calmly as he was shown his room.
Settling into the gold wooden bed, a knock came on the door and with no answer from him, the door swung open revealing his parents.
“You could have at least smiled and waved to people around,” his father spoke in a rough tone, staring at him before holding his hands as if stopping himself from punishing him.
Shutting the door behind her, he watched his mom walk toward what looked like a wardrobe before she opened it and brought what seemed like gold armor.
“This is your wedding coat. You'll be getting married tomorrow night. You'll have some men help you dress by noon.” his mother said casually like she was speaking about the weather.
And, Aaron stared at her like she has two heads. His eyes moved toward his father also as if by miracle, he expected laughter from them. But, none came and he wasn't surprised. His parents never joked around… ever!
“You'll thank us, boy. You are marrying from a very respected family. They are from the King's blood and we made a pact with them 8 years ago. You will marry your bride and stay here with her and we get what we want. Those signs you've been learning all these years. That is their language, so you'll do exactly as we tell you.” his father added.
Still not speaking, Aaron looked at his parents with utter disgust though he tamed his emotions from showing on his face.
They both stood as if expecting him to speak but Aaron had nothing to say to them so, he nodded at them both like an obedient dumb child with no voice of his own.
Well come to think of it… he hasn't spoken for a very long time. He isn't even sure he remembers the sound of his own voice.
Just for a moment, Aaron saw a look of disbelief on their faces before it was replaced with the usual look of disgust.
His response must have been unexpected, he thought with a smile after they left.
Changing his position on the bed, Aaron recalled his parents' words… eight years ago? What happened eight years ago? He thought. But before he could think long, it hit him.
It was the year they had locked him underground for his disobedience as usual only that it was a bit different from other times. That was the only year… three or was it four months he was locked in with no one checking up on him. They had only packed the dirty unkempt room with canned food and Aaron had been glad. To him, there was food and no beating. It was the only normal few months in his life of not being beaten to a pulp on a daily basis before the white room incident.
Aaron had lost track of time. At first, he had counted in seconds, minutes and hours but as time painstakingly passed with him in darkness and with no thought but only dreams of when the next leash would strike like a hot rod on his skin, he had forgotten the need to count.
But then, they had come back when he least expected and from that moment on, he had been learning those symbols and they have become part of him.
He wondered how they must have found this place. Surely from those old cruel looking books, he thought. He wanted to worry or atleast get the slightest clue what the pact was and why they had chosen the village but… instead, he let sleep take hold of his tired body.
***
A loud sound vibrated through the room he slept in like an old rickety train whistle. Placing his hands on his ear drum, Aaron opened his eyes to find the room lit like he was close to the sun, only that the light wasn't hot. Rather, it was warm and friendly.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Aaron placed both hands on his eardrum again before letting out a huge sigh. Opening his eyes again, he looked around his room and almost bathed in the beauty before a knock was heard.
At first, he thought it was his parents but after the second knock, he stood up from his bed and opened the door and standing before him were two girls… ladies.
“S£▪︎yhiok!” (Your bath is ready) one of them had said and for some strange reasons, Aaron understood.
Nodding his head, he had wanted to thank them but his mouth could not form a word or was it sound? He couldn't tell. Before he could close the door, the second lady gestured her hand forward as if asking him to follow them or basically her because the second lady didn't follow suit. Instead, she had gone into his room while the second one led him toward his bath.
“Bath?”Aaron whispered the moment they got to what looks like a giant gold waterfall. He couldn't believe his eyes. This would make a good story…
Books? his mind mocked. Swallowing the painful lump that filled his throat at the mention of books, Aaron looked down.
He couldn't believe it. He had almost forgotten himself, how he came to be here and most especially, that dreadful night. His eyes got heavy with tears as he pulled off his clothes and stepped into the cave that leads to the waterfall and for a brief moment, the thought of drowning crossed his mind.
“No, no…that is a cowardly way to die” he whispered underneath the water before closing his eyes and letting the waters in his eyes let loose.
Aaron stood there, with tears streaming down his face uncontrollably. He remembered that night again and again as if on replay and every moment the replay button was pressed, he felt a sharp pain like a knife cutting into his skin and twisting every cell in his body.
And… that was exactly how his bath went. In painful reminder of his past life and what his future now holds.
***
After his bath, Aaron had worn the cloth that was carefully placed at the entrance of the waterfall.
The cloth as expected was clad in pure gold with a little design. His mind flashed to the one his mother showed him last night and if he could remember vividly, he'd say the cloth was filled with intense design.
Again, Aaron tried to push away the thoughts on what pact was made between his parents and the family of the girl he knows nothing of but he pushed it off. He didn't want to get married, especially not to someone his parents wanted. Besides, he didn't deserve to be happy. His whole existence was the perfect reminder of that. Not now, not ever.
The moment he walked out of the cave, he was met with the two ladies. The same ladies. They handed him what looks like a stem adorned in… silver? He couldn't tell on a platter of gold.
Picking up the stem because well, that was the reasonable thing to hold, not like he could use the gold tray for anything. He faced the ladies.
“D¥◇sb}¤frt”( to brush your teeth). The lady who had gone into his room said and the other pointed him toward the place or rather the room where he'll do that.
Just a few legs away, he walked into the room which was as usual adorned with gold nature filled trees and beside each tree were white stains.
The girl that speaks followed him in and showed him how to brush his teeth which was exactly how it is widely done. Though, he could have sworn he could taste mint in the stem and the white or was it silver stuff around it became foamy as he brushed on before he was handed a bowl of water to wash his mouth.
The moment he finished brushing his teeth, Aaron was led out of the cave toward another gold cave where people chatters were heard. As he followed the ladies, everyone stopped bowed then gawked at him like he was some rare food. It was the same look his mother had given him at the hospital…like he was a priceless jewel.
Slightly looking around, he saw that they were fewer men to the women he has seen so far.
It looked … no. It mostly feels like women dominated the village.
****
