Catlepuck Chapter 1 Part A Alex, the skull kid.

Chapter 1 Part A
Alex, the Skull Kid

By Alexander Holsey
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Somewhere and sometime there was a boy named Anthony Arejan.

Anthony was a 14 years old, medium height, quite skinny, with brown eyes and black hair.  He was a loner, serious, and nobody really knew what made him tick; sometimes, he behaved very maturely for his age, at other times, the complete opposite.

He had spent nearly all his life in the boarding school "Frederick Williams", which was a strict, religious institute for boys. Nothing very interesting ever happened and everybody was always in a bad mood.

He was there because his mother had died the moment he saw light and he'd not seen his father in person since he was 6 years old.  Apparently, he'd been put in the school because his father was just too busy to take care of him.  In reality, he never wanted to see him again because he blamed him for his mother's death. But because his father was one of the most important businessmen in the country, Anthony constantly saw him on the news or in some magazine.

Anthony had never had friends because all the other boys thought he was weird and unfriendly.  That's why he didn't share his dormitory room with anyone and he spent most of his time reading, watching television, or doing homework, which helped him unwind a little from the stress caused by the school and his classmates.  But he was generally tired and bored of his life.

Day after day, time passed by.  Anthony woke up, put on his uniform, brushed his teeth, grabbed his backpack, and went to class—among other boring activities included in his daily routine.

He didn't have a good reason to get out of bed everyday and exit through the same door, but he did it.  He took boring classes, classes taught by professors that didn't even want to be there.  He avoided anyone who tried to bully him; he did so simply because he wanted to continue living life in this way because just maybe he would actually find a reason to keep doing it.

It was a day like any other.  Anthony got up and did what he always did.  But walking through the halls of the school, something was different.  The elderly secretary of the director, whose name Anthony could not remember, was waiting for him, standing in the middle of the hallway.  

"About time you show up, little boy," said the secretary in her nasal voice.

"I do not know why, but the director has asked me to look for you and take you to his office as soon as possible—as if I don't have anything better to do than run around playing nanny," the secretary reproached him with a scornful look.

Anthony didn't really care about her attitude—he was quite accustomed to everyone's grumpy mood, always screaming in the building.  Quickly, they passed through the school to the small, dusty office of the director—the same office where he'd been punished so often that he should have had a frequent guest card.

The secretary pushed him inside.  Anthony could see the director of the school with his usual brown suit, his thick mustache, his bald spot, and his chubby figure, which together reminded one of an old walrus.  Also present was another boy,  20 or 24 years old—he had long red hair that he pulled back in a ponytail and hypnotizing green eyes—he was dressed in a green polo shirt with blue jeans.

"Hello, Anthony!  It's great to meet you," said the redheaded boy, offering his hand.

"Excuse me, Mr. Hymnosion, but please just tell me the reason of your visit," the director inquired, brusquely interrupting.  

The boy looked sadly at Anthony.   "Unfortunately, I am forced to bring bad news, but I'm afraid your father has passed away.  I'm truly sorry."

Anthony knew that he should act sad or something, but, since he never saw his father and never really got to know him, the only thing on his mind at the moment was what would become of him now.

"Your father was a passenger in the experimental airplane K10 which did a test flight to attract new investors before going into mass production.  But in mid-flight, flying over the Cold Countries, the plane was caught in the middle of several strange, severe weather conditions.  The plane was destroyed and there were no survivors.   Honestly, I'm very sorry," said the redheaded boy, putting his hand on Anthony's shoulder.

"So, the boy will be taken to children's services, "dictated the director as he picked up the telephone with his fingers that were as fat as hotdog wieners.  

"No!" the redhead boy cried with a look of disapproval.  "That is the reason for my visit.  Children's services was looking for a family member or close friend of Mr. Arejan in order to avoid his son's being placed in an orphanage.  But it seemed that nobody could be found and children's services was just about to give up when they found my client, Gizel Holsey, who is a distant relative of his.  She is happy to be Anthony's tutor, although she would prefer, if accepted, that he leave to live with her," explained the redheaded boy, looking at Anthony.  

"Well, yes, I guess," responded Anthony, thinking to himself that living with this Gizel might actually be worse than the boarding school.  But he didn't want to stay in this school either.  For years he'd observed the other boys at the start of vacations.  Their parents came running to take them away.  But Anthony never escaped--his father actually paid extra so that he could remain in the school during vacation time.  

He could gaze out the windows for hours, asking himself what else was out there beyond the gates that encircled the school.   How were the people and the places?  What was waiting for him out there.  This could be the opportunity to discover it—he'd better take advantage of it.  

Gizel said "you could take all the time you need to tell everyone goodbye," said the redheaded boy, bringing Anthony back to reality.

Anthony looked out the window at the school grounds, trying to remember all of the great moments he'd had with his friends.  Oh, wait!  There were none to remember.

"No, that's OK," responded Anthony, turning.

"Sure?", asked the redheaded boy, surprised.

"Very," replied Anthony, smiling.

"OK, why don't you go and pack your things while I get the paperwork in order with your dear director," proposed the redheaded boy, looking at the director who for some reason had an amused face.

"Yes, Anthony, go and pack up while we handle this tedious paperwork and anything you can't carry we'll gladly deliver at our expense," said the director, smiling.  To see the director being nice was so unusual that Anthony felt terrified, but he really didn't care—things rarely turn out as we hope so why complain?

"OK, as you'll see, Sir, all of the paperwork is in order," Anthony was just able to hear as he went out the door.

After leaving the office of the director and taking a short walk, Anthony entered his quarters.  It was a small gray room with windows in the back, an old, worn-out television, a bookshelf, and a bed.  It had the appearance of a cheap motel, quite depressing.

Anthony didn't have many possessions, principally, for two reason:  first, his father rarely sent him money, and second, there really wasn't much to buy within the school.  He had his uniform and four changes of clothes (which he'd won at the school's festivals), some books, that the library had thrown to the garbage and he dug out, and a backpack that he'd found and repaired himself, and then put mad eyes and sharp teeth on.  He stuffed everything he considered valuable into the backpack and the rest he threw in the trash.

When Anthony returned neather the director nor the secretary were there, only the redheaded boy who shook his hand, "Ready to go?"

"Yes, OK," responded Anthony, smiling.  He was really excited—he never thought he'd be leaving this school before he was 18 years old.

"Oh, I never even introduced myself.  My name is Jake Hymnosion, at your service."

The left through the front door of the school and got in a metallic blue convertible that was parked on the corner.  It was a sunny day, perhaps a good sign that everything was about to improve, or at least that's what Anthony liked to think.

"OK, let's go to Mystery Rock," announced Jake, turning the key in the ignition.  

"Mystery rock?" asked Anthony.

"You haven't heard of it?  You need to get out more often.  It's a famous town, just a few miles from Dirall City," explained Jake, visibly surprised.

"And why is it famous?" Anthony wanted to know.

"Because there's an enormous rock in the middle of the town with strange markings—until now, nobody has been able to figure out where it came from, or what its meaning or function are.  Plus the town is a picturesque vacation spot where people go to relax," Jake kindly responded.

"Oh!  How fascinating," said Anthony, sarcastically.

Anthony spent most of the trip in silence, looking out the window.  He'd been closed up in the boarding school for years without knowing that so many things happened outside—he didn't want to miss anything.  They passed a field full of purple roses, a ranch with albino cows, and some factories.  Until, little by little, you could see an enormous city in the distance, but just as they were about to enter it, they made a turn and detoured it.

"That's Dirall City.  The biggest and most populated city in the world," Jake commented.

"And that?" asked Anthony, pointing to a wall with hundreds of "lost" posters with black and white photos of children.  It was impressive to know that so many people had disappeared.  They continued driving and the posters continued too—there were just too many.

"You have to be very careful.  Children between 7 and 16 have been disappearing all over the country, but the authorities haven't been able to figure out anything or if there's any relationship," said Jake, somewhat preoccupied.

Anthony asked him what could have happened to all these kids.  This gave him chills down his spine.

Later they passed by numerous farms with white pumpkins, blue apples, and such things.  But then they entered a large desert, and Anthony got bored and decided to make conversation to pass the time.

"Tell me, Jake, what exactly is your relationship with Gizel?" Anthony asked, not really curious, just sick of watching the desert.

"She's an old friend—sometimes I feel like I've known her for ages. She's one of my most important clients.  Plus, she pays very well," Jake responded, smiling.

"And you?  What is it that you do?" Anthony continued questioning.

"I'm a lawyer.  The best there's ever been.  I haven't lost even one case—but I only take cases that I find interesting.  But just for fun, I have other work."

"Like what?"

"That's a surprise," Jake responding, laughing.

"Ooh, of course, perfect.  And what does Gizel do?"

"She's the owner of various businesses—she owns like half of Mystery Rock, including the Museum of Art, Science, and General History of Mystery Rock.  She's also a prestigious designer, but she doesn't design more that 10 outfits per year, that's why they're highly valued.  In fact, she's really excited that you're coming and she's made some things just for you," said Jake, pensively.  

"Look!" exclaimed Jake, pointing out a big sign that read:

"Welcome to Mystery Rock,
Donde los caminos se cruzan"

"Sounds interesting, no?" said Jake, smiling again.

"Don't you think you smile too much?"

"No.  Why?"

The sun was just setting.  There were trees and green pastures everywhere and Anthony noticed that all the buildings were different.  Some looked as if they'd been asleep for thousands of years—others were ultra-modern.  The people even looked differently, as if they were from all over the world.  Mystery Rock was not really a town nor a city, but then who knew what it was.

They passed by many houses and establishments before arriving to a zone where the homes were much larger and elegant.  There was a white mansion with a blonde headed boy playing tennis, another with an enormous roundabout with palm trees growing on the roof. It was definitely a strange place. They continued and arrived where there were no longer any houses, only lawns, and then, moving farther along, they saw an enormous stone wall with indigo flowers outside and a purple iron gate in the middle, which opened up as they came closer.

"Well, this is Gizel's home, and from today on, yours too," said Jake as they walked through a grand garden full of flowers and trees.  Anthony had never seen anything like it.  

Just as the last ray of sunshine was almost extinguished Anthony heard an explosion and looked around to see what had caused it—but he couldn't find anything.

"Look at the sky!" said Jake, pointing upward while driving.  … continue Part B

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