A Fantasy Tale Ch. 1

      The dream was beginning again. Through a blanket of night a small village laid undisturbed by the crickets and chirping of birds, besides the slight drizzle of rain that pelted the village, huts and some assorted stone buildings. The small fire located at the village center was still burning brightly into the night, smoke could still be seen coming from it, behind the forest enclosing the village, signaling all the wildlife to stay clear of the village, although some still did.

      This did not however, sway the soon to be invaders, like the sudden blanket of clouds over the moon, so too did these monsters cut through the forest, letting nothing natural stop them and their brigade. The black silhouettes soon, like the forest, encircle the village, closing the gap between it and the darkness, and with a douse of the fire, nothing was left in the light.

A sudden gasp, a sudden start, a small furry creature screamed and belted towards the agape doorway. The figure in bed was clutching his face, fingers locked into his brown hair, dampened with sweat, mouth opened in quick hesitant gasps for air, pupils dilated like so many other mornings, this one was starting out the same. A minute passed before a gulp, a deep breathe, and a voice called from the hall.

"Skev,  poor Ayus is scared to death, did ye have that dream again?" a woman kicked the door further open, it banging on a small desk in the room's corner. Her hands busy with a pot and long wooden ladle, some of it's contents soiled her apron.

"Sorry Mum..." Skev replied, trailing off. His mother sighed.

"Don't apologize, you go get ready for work and we'll figure what to do about these dreams later on," and with that she left Skev alone. Grabbing his work clothes, he finished tying the apron on while shuffling down the stairs. The room he stepped into was filled with the fresh smell of rising bread and he took a moment to enjoy it. Putting a hand on the counter, he started breathing deeply to calm himself for a few extra moments.

"Don't just stand there, we've got customers,"  his Mother snapped, bringing him back to reality. The ringing from the door stopped as three people found seats at a nearby table. Three youngsters, a little more than Skev's age, looked in his direction, each with a smile, and one wave, that didn't show kindness. Skev returned it as best he could, albeit a bit awkward looking and a sort of look in his eye, as if he wouldn't mind the building being burned to the ground.

"Oi, Skev! We're hungry over here man!" one of them was waving Skev over.

Skev sighed, walking towards the three regulars - every morning they came. Even after the dream ended, his days felt dragged out now, as if a day on a calender never passed.  Predictably, the  men ordered the same meals as if on cue. Didn't these men have anything better to do?  Military men at that. A few more men and women came in, although these were more general people – not so much regular.

With a tray of ale, he headed to the three men, mind still wondering through the cloudy yet poignant dream. His foot caught on something then, falling, mugs of ale doing the same. Yelling from above as someone picked him up from off the floor, followed by a push.

"This is the third time Skev, someone's getting a bit too clumsy nowadays." the man behind him scolded in a smugly manner.

"Skev, did ye mess up again? This is the third time this month, now get back in here and give those men some free rum for your mistake." his mother scolded in an angry manner from the kitchen. "If ye weren't me son, I'd fire you by now, you best be grateful." the men snickered at this, and enjoyed there rum.

The men left later, and the rest of the day was monotonous, customers came and went, 'thank ye kindly's were dropped from Skev's Mum to the men who looked important.

The end of the day came, aprons were put on a rack, the stove was cooling, and the trash was to be put somewhere outside the house. Skev grabbed a shovel and walked into the alley between their store and the next. Stopping, he started shoveling some dirt away, the trash resting in a bag nearby. The waste would make good fertilizer for the plants, is what his Mum always told him, although it might be an excuse as to why they never used the Incinerator uptown.

"It's illegal to litter, don't ye know?" Skev turned at this, and was met with a fist and toppled over. The three men from earlier were standing their, now in uniform. The darkness of the alleyway made them seem almost like silhouettes, there usual white outfits darkened by the night sky. The one on the left was punching a fist into a palm, smiling.

Skev's feelings from the morning returned, and he gulped. The men stepped towards him now, and at this Skev took a hesitating moment and grabbed the shovel, flailing it in front of him with one hand. He banged one of them on the shins, the middle man yelped.

"We were gonna avoid yer face, but now ye can forget that!" and with that he did just that, his foot careening into Skev's face, dispatching the shovel from his hand, the others joined in then. Minutes of this went on, Skev's abuse was great, blood seeped from his forehead, bruises were already forming on his gut and extremities. The men chuckled as if they just enjoyed a good laugh and walked off, leaving Skev laying there, breathing heavily at what had just happened.

The figure leaning up against a wall in the alleyway finally stopped, and walked towards him slowly.