Chapter 1
Part One
The sun shone yellow light upon Silkwood. Heat seeped into the blacktop streets of Twin Cross, a vast neighborhood with nice residents and magnificent houses. I sat on the porch, sipping black coffee. The rocking chair squeaked while I swayed back and forth. Hard blowing wind brushed against my fair skin. Mornings were a good part of my routine. Well, it used to.
Dad and I moved out of our original home after Mom’s death. She fought a disease, smiling all the way to her last breath. After the funeral, Dad recommended we live in Twin Cross. It sounded good, but there was a catch. We had to live with Luna and Heather, his sisters. They were twins with lazy intent and intimidating heights. My dad stood around five feet and eight inches, an inch taller than me.
His sisters were over the six-foot range. Luna was overweight and Heather was athletically strong. Even though they had the physique to perform simple house chores, the money they got from their father’s inheritance made them unproductive. When we moved in, the aunts targeted me. Kingston, my dad, was their usual target. They bullied him when he was young and those actions were atrocious.
They dung his head in toilet water, made him clean their room, and so on. Dad got older and developed a fear towards large women. I thankfully didn’t get his phobia. I almost argued about their tyrannical attitudes, but I remembered a vital detail. Their names were on the house’s lease. One wrong move will lead to us becoming homeless.
For a few months, I’d cleaned the kitchen, cooked them meals, and shopped for groceries. Meanwhile, I had college to finish. I attended Silkwood University through an online application. My major was writing. I fell in love with fantasy after Mom showed me interesting books during elementary school.
I had few friends, but reading fantasy helped me imagine creative plots. My aunts believed online courses were an excuse. They thought the internet was a scapegoat for young people who wouldn’t work. I’d tried several times to tell them the truth, but they ignored it.
Eventually, I graduated, but Heather forced me to get a job. So, I began working at Allen Constructions. The company built establishments across Silkwood, including its park. Four months in and I hated it. It was because of the section manager, Tyler Puckett. A vain man with a superiority complex.
He piled work on my desk, even after I completed mine. Alongside piling more work on me, he mocked the junior employees. So, not only did I have lazy aunts, but an arrogant boss.
Tuesday, June 11th, 2024
I returned home, back hunched and muscles tightened from work stress. Tyler piled hundreds of documents on my desk. ‘Plain employees can complete this much,’ he said. God, that bastard doesn’t know how much stress he’d put on me. My coworkers felt the same, but couldn’t speak up about it. Tyler’s cousin was Allen Constructions’ CEO. The information made sense in how Tyler became section manager.
While bragging my feet across the carpet floor, loud noises blared from the television. Luna was a couch potato, binging on her favorite shows. Heather followed this example, but unlike her twin, she didn’t become one with the couch. Both sat side by side, watching the latest news tonight.
Dad emailed me how long he’ll be late. His job wasn’t as tiring as mine, but the schedule had longer hours. He always arrived late, almost near midnight. Luna cleared her throat. A lump of ember jelly spat on the television screen. Even the goddamn television got messy from their laziness.
“Nephew? What took ya so long? We’re hungry, and the oven can’t make dinner itself. Get to it!”
“Yes, Aunt Luna.”
If I didn’t call them by ‘Aunt Luna’ and ‘Aunt Heather,’ they would kick me and Dad out. So selfish to the core. I entered the kitchen after dropping my duffle bag on a wooden chair. Minutes in and my hands grown tired from cutting vegetables and marinating the beef roast. I shook them a little, as Luna laughed at a joke from her favorite comedy show. Something about a dysfunctional family doing crazy shenanigans too inhumane to show. That kinda sounded like our family.
After forty minutes of dealing with the aunts’ impatience, I finished dinner. Dad opened the front entrance, a heavy sigh escaped his cracked lips. Compared to me, Dad looked more miserable. He worked at a real estate company. You were thinking, ‘why didn’t your dad buy a house?’
He could’ve, but it cost over a thousand dollars. Then, he reached out to his sisters, leading to our current hell. I’d told Dad why we can’t live with the aunts, yet he felt hesitant. Because he respected them. They were our family, so abandoning them meant cutting ties. I wouldn’t care if we cut ties with those witches! Still, Dad lost his father a long time ago and couldn’t let his sisters struggle on their own. Plus, he had terrible memories of them. Their sizes and the fact their names were on the lease didn’t help his stress.
After dinner and washing dishes, I entered my small bedroom. Upon changing clothes and sitting in front of my monitor, I put on gaming headphones for a special event. Every night, a friend and I played an RPG game. We hung out, accomplished quests, and talked about our days.
My pen name, ‘Degan The Sorcerer Supreme,’ got a few laughs from Sienna. She was the only person who understood my familial frustrations. Her avatar was a cute female gnome; rosy cheeks, pointy hat, and petite stature. Locks of orange hair curled around her face, making the appearance gorgeous. During our latest quest, Sienna asked me about moving out of Twin Cross.
“I tried, but Dad’s too spineless to go against his sisters. They treat us like shit. At work, my boss has an ego the size of Silkwood Park. I’m sorry for complaining, Sienna.”
“No, it’s alright, Degan. I understand the issues you face. That’s why I’m suggesting an alternative. I-If you’re up to it?”
A suggestion from an online friend? I shouldn’t, but Sienna had been trusting. I’d agreed, while saving Sienna from a demonic warthog. We ended the quest, collected three-hundred thousand coins, and visited the lobby to discuss. “I currently live in Upper Hills.”
“Upper Hills? Never heard of that neighborhood.”
“It’s the friendliest neighborhood in Silkwood, but how you find it is…”
She paused. Her avatar made a worrisome frown. Our avatars mimicked our reactions, all thanks to the headphones on our heads. “It’s complicated.”
“How complicated are we talking about? Do I need an identification card?”
“No, it’s not that. Upper Hills is an open community, accepting of all.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
Behind the door, Dad shouted, ‘good night.’ I looked at the clock. Two am and I needed six hours of sleep to recharge my batteries. I apologized to Sienna, then asked if she can return to the lobby tomorrow. She agreed, and we left.
The Next Day
Wednesday, June 12th, 2024
Allen Constructions (7am)
I bit into a buttery croissant, crumbles raining on the white desktop. Seven am and my eyes can’t stay open. Six hours of sleep wasn’t enough time. I needed two more hours. Tyler’s schedule was ridiculous. He wanted us to finish our documents, and if he felt like it, his own documents, before eight pm. My fingertips tensed a little just thinking of the horrible hours ahead.
As always, Tyler smirked while holding an immense pile of documents in his hands. His appearance looked promising. Parted dirty blonde hair, combed and smeared with styling gel. Bright green eyes with a rectangular shape. Fair skin, bulging muscles, slender frame, and height of five-twelve. He looked like a supermodel rather than a section manager.
“Degan? I have more documents for you.” He dropped the pile on the desktop. The impact rocked a pencil cup-holder, a few mugs, and the monitor slightly. I sighed inside my head. Struggling to withstand an eye roll, I nodded and got to work. A few hours later, Tyler arrived with more documents. I joined the few employees who had to take overtime to complete Tyler’s bull-shit.
After submitting the paperwork to the CEO’s mailbox, Tyler walked towards me. Each footstep elevated his ego. My footsteps decreased my likability. An elbow hit my shoulder, and I stumbled forward. “Watch where you’re going, Degan The Plain.”
“Guh!”
‘Degan The Plain’ was a nickname Tyler loved to say. He needed no studying to know how plain I was. Though there were employees with plainer appearances, Tyler harassed me the most. He had no reason to, but as the section manager and CEO’s relative, that didn’t matter.
I left work, took a bus, and returned home. My back hunched lower than usual. Today was absolutely tiring. At least my conversation with Sienna later will lighten my mood. Or so I thought when I entered my bedroom. I dropped the bookbag beside me, eyes widened and lips quivered. There was nothing on the desk. My monitor, headphones, and squishy cushions. Even the wheelie chair was gone. Luna and Heather chuckled from the living room, watching their daily shows. Something bubbled inside me. I knew they hid my game set. Out of spite, I guessed.
I marched out, straight to the living room, and stood near the lover’s sofa. Luna propped her dirty feet on the coffee table, snorting in a disgusting laughter. Heather activated the reclining chair, leaned her sculpted back against its cushions. “Aunt Luna? Aunt Heather? Where’s my game set?”
“If ya mean the computer you keep playing those stupid games on, then we threw it out. Well, Heather did it for me.”
Heather blew air through her lips. A lazy brown eye glanced at me. “We had to throw that shit out. All you do is play nonsensical games. Your sole job is tending our house. Cook breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. Order takeout, if we feel like it, boy.”
She folded her arms behind her curly brown hair. Luna cackled at a joke on television. She wasn’t interested in our discussion anymore. I crossed my arms over my flat chest and growled. “That game set had backup data! It costs over six-hundred dollars! I can’t buy a replacement!”
I still had my phone, but the game set was important. Heather scoffed, her lazy eye directing at the TV. “Who fucking cares? Your dad can buy you another monitor. Just that you know, boy. You and Kingston belong to us. If your mom didn’t die from a stupid disease, you two wouldn’t be with us.”
The bubbling sensation surfaced again, only stronger. Like a volcano about to erupt, I’d let my anger explode. “Fine!”
I couldn’t have the audacity to speak my mind. I marched to my room, shut the door, and panted. Fingers combed through my unkempt chestnut brown hair. Eyes trembled, facing the carpet floor. Tears threatened to leak. Anger turned to sadness. How dare Heather say that? Mom fought hard to recover. We hoped she would leave the hospital. We believed Mom can defeat the disease.
A memory of a doctor coming out of Mom’s room appeared. He announced the terrible news to us. She didn’t make it. My chest sank, stomach developed knots, and skin ran cold. Dad was the most devastated. He couldn’t speak, but sob and choke.
The memory faded. Aunt Luna wanted dinner, a roast beef with mashed potatoes and fried chicken. No vegetables were their only rule around meal preparations. I sighed loud and strolled out the room. Hours went by and Dad arrived. His eyes had thick bags. Dark circles weren’t black at all, but deep purple. I asked him if he needed rest. “Don’t worry about me, Degan. I’m alright.” He coughed into his fist. That cough sounded scratchy. I prepared him a cup of icy water and he gulped three sips. “Thanks, but you shouldn’t worry, Degan.”
“I know, but your job is endangering your health.”
“Same goes for you. I’ve heard your boss has piled more work lately.”
I grunted. My head lowered, and fingers pinched the bridge of my nose. “Of course Tyler’s been adding more work on my ass, Dad.”
“I feel bad, but there’s nothing I can do about that. Also, I saw your monitor and game set in the trash bin.” Dad placed a hand on my shoulder. A gentle frown faced me.
He knew what the aunts did. We stayed silent until Luna asked for a bowl of ice cream with the works. A bowl of vanilla, rocky road, and cookies and cream ice cream with whipped cream, chocolate sprinkles, and caramel sauce. Heather wasn’t a dessert-person, but occasionally she indulged in chocolate fudge pops. Those seemed to be her favorite.
After they tossed my game set away and mocked my mom’s recovery story, I had enough. That was the last straw.
“I’d decided.”
“On what?”
“About Upper Hills. I wish to visit.”
“Oh.”
“Sorry for using my phone to access our RPG game. My aunts threw the game set.”
“That must be depressing.”
“It is.”
“Okay, wait for a few minutes. I’ll email directions to Upper Hills.”
“Okay, Sienna.”
“Degan?”
“Yes?”
“When you get the directions, don’t flip out.”
“Flip out?”
“Uh…”
“I promise not to flip out, Sienna.”
“Thank you.”
Nine Days Later
Friday, June 21st, 2024
Twin Cross Residence (10pm)
“Oh, look, Luna. Our plain nephew is packing his stuff. I guess he has enough of our demands.”
Luna paid no attention to Heather. She laid on the couch, that bed of curly brown hair became a pillow, and watched her shows. Heather snorted while I ignored her rants. I waited nine days, following Sienna’s directions through her email, and withstood the aunts’ demands. Not anymore will I act as their servant. I wished Dad could join me, but his fear persuaded him to stay with his tyrannical sisters.
About work, it was a hard decision. I, too, had enough of Tyler’s demands and superficial quotes. My chest ached whenever I thought about his next pile of documents. So, I resigned from Allen Constructions. Tyler’s last words to me were, ‘Degan The Plain won’t find another job that’ll accept him. He’ll be unemployed forever!’
Heather, after hearing my resignation from the company, scoffed with a cocky smile. I turned over my shoulder; a piercing expression of anger and impatience faced her rigid head. “You won’t last long out there. Eventually, you’ll come crawling back, begging for our forgiveness. For the time being, your father will provide for us.”
I really wished Dad would join me. He shouldn’t follow every demand his sisters gave them. Again, his fear and how horrible his job environment was, Dad refused to leave. But he said, ‘good luck, son. I’ll contact you as best as possible.’
With that, I gave Heather and Luna the middle finger. Opening the door, I stepped out onto the patio. Upon shutting the door with all my might, the angry sensation over my heart lessened. I’d almost felt free, but I had to continue reading Sienna’s directions. “Okay, she said to pack my belongings and say goodbye to my family. Did that with style. Now, the second step is visiting Silkwood Park at night, specifically at midnight. Huh? Was this the complicated part she mentioned?”
I could’ve emailed questions to Sienna, like, ‘why should I go to Silkwood Park at midnight?’ Then again, she was my online friend. I trusted her. So, I marched out of Twin Cross.
Two Hours Later
Silkwood Park (12am)
Silkwood Park was a gorgeous place. People loved the garden, the hedge fences surrounding the area, and the water fountain’s gothic display. I walked on the cobblestone sidewalk, circled the fountain several times, calming my mind. My mind wasn’t over how the aunts treated me, Dad, and Mom. I knew inheritance messed someone up. A family member lost their most important spouse, and the will left sacred items. Money was one of many items the spouse left before dying.
If the money went to Dad, he would’ve made our lives lavish. We could’ve lived in a nice mansion with golden statues, vast flower gardens, and spacious bedrooms. But, my late grandpa gave the money to Heather and Luna, because he had favoritism. He loved the aunts more than Dad. ‘My father wasn’t a pleasant man, Degan. He liked my sisters because he cherished them. When he had me, Father paid little attention to my achievements. Even though I had better grades than Luna and Heather, Father chose them over me.’
His words echoed throughout my head. It was a close call. Grandpa would’ve disliked me if he were alive. The moonlight shone above Silkwood Park. “Oh, that must be the third step in Sienna’s directions. Wait for the full moon to land on Silkwood Park. Fourth step is finding a hidden entrance. She said it’s behind the largest pine tree.”
I knew where the tree was. A twenty-story pine tree shadowed Silkwood Park’s one-quarter area. Butterflies fluttered inside my stomach as I grabbed my duffle bag and jogged to the tree. For years, this tree remained tall and proud. Its earthy scent calmed my vibrating nerves. My spine shook a little while I rounded the tree, finding a mini well. Between its curved roots, the well shared the same cobblestone design as the sidewalks.
‘Degan? Can you hear me?’
“Uh, yes. I’m standing before the well, Sienna. Now what?”
It felt weird to hear Sienna’s voice in my head.
‘The moon should shine its light above the well. Right about… now!’
On cue, the moonlight beamed a narrow trail to the well. Its interior glowed a heavenly white hue. Glitter sparkled within its beam, amazing my eyes. They widened, along with my eyebrows. “What’s going on, Sienna?” I backed up a little.
‘The gateway is open. Degan? Jump.’
“What?”
The response froze me.
‘Trust me. The gateway will transport you to Upper Hills.’
Well, she led me this far. I closed my eyes, heart beats thumping against my ears. Blood heated to volcanic proportions. Sweat caked my forehead. Knees wobbled. Feet sunk into the moist grass. I squealed before jumping into the well. The scorching uproar dwindled to a pleasing warmth. It felt like my body slid into the well, like a water slide.
A thud pounded my back.
“Ouch! What happened?”
I rubbed my lower back, then my upper. The fingertips felt my brown hair. All unkempt to ruffling levels. When I touched my ears, I gasped. I don’t remember them pointing upwards. The ear lobes were smaller. I stood up, brushed dirt off my clothes, but gasped louder. My body shrunk. Gone were my scrawny limbs and in its place were shorter ones. “Ah, what’s going on!? Why is my body short?”
“Oh, Degan!”
A short female jogged towards me. Her orange hair curled around her round face. Those green eyes matched mine, only they were lighter. She chuckled, her rosy cheeks beaming in the semi-dark tunnel. “You made it.”
“W-Who are you?”
She tilted her head. “What are you—Oh, damn! The gateway converted your appearance.”
“Converted?”
The short female scratched the back of her head. She wore a pointy green hat, similar to how garden gnomes showed. Did that gateway turn me into a gnome? Do gnomes exist? Was I talking to an actual gnome? I stepped back, shivers spreading across my skin.
“I see you’re nervous. Allow me to explain. I’m Sienna, your online friend.”
The realization hit me like a train. She looked like Sienna’s avatar. Clever on her part, but shocking to me.
“You’re Sienna? The real her?”
She nodded, a charming smile made her cheeks cuter.
“This is wild. It explains why you sound conflicting in suggesting Upper Hills to me. But why? Why share this information with me?”
“Because I’d sympathized with you, Degan. Though my parents aren’t abusive, nor are my relatives, they couldn’t accept my hobbies. I played RPG games to find friends without revealing my gnome identity.”
It made sense. Gnomes, through the perspective of humans, were cute creatures with average intelligence and powerful earth magic. They believed garden gnomes protected backyards and front yards from critters. I remembered Mom buying a garden gnome and placing it on the porch. The neighbors gave it a stink eye, not liking its porcelain posture.
“Come on, let me show you to Upper Hills.”
Despite becoming a gnome version of myself, I followed Sienna down the tunnel. My stumpy legs didn’t have the stamina of my normal legs. It made jogging difficult, but I caught up to Sienna. The end of the tunnel presented a wonderful neighborhood. Each building looked like a dollhouse. Various colors dimmed above a small hole in the ceiling. The neighborhood lived in a dome-shaped space underneath Silkwood Park.
I’d imagined how humans stomped across the park. The place would rock, if that occurred. Sienna guided me through Upper Hills, greeting the residents. Upon scanning the houses and residents, I’d made a perfect decision. In my heart, however, I’d fretted about Dad. How will he cope with those witches?
“Here we go. You’ll live with me until I find a suitable house.”
I stood in front of a massive purple and orange dollhouse. Its front yard had tiny spruces and moss bushes. The patio was sleek and spotless. Through the windows, I saw homemade furniture. I guessed gnome innovated their furniture by collecting cloth and cotton wads. Wood chips from the pine tree, roots, and grass blades were other materials gnomes used to craft items.
We entered, and I gasped at the interiors. Although the house was suited for girls, it felt like a cozy cabin. Sienna saw my baffled expression and giggled. “I know, being a gnome is complicated.”
“How is this possible? I thought gnomes existed in fairy tales.”
“You’re right, but we exist. Gnomes made the belief of their magic protecting backyards to fool humans.”
We sat on an oval-shaped couch. Its cushions weren’t saggy. They were plump and smelled like linen.
“Garden Gnomes, the porcelain statues you buy at home development stores? We made them up. The belief helped us live underground for centuries.”
“Oh, it’s beginning to make sense to me.”
Sienna sighed, closing those beautiful green eyes. “To be fair, Degan, I hate living underground. Mom, the current ruler of our village, doesn’t want gnomes to visit Silkwood. I found a loophole, discovered technology, and got into video games. That’s when I found our RPG game.”
She leaned against the cushions. Another wave of fresh linen punched my nostrils. “When you shared how your aunts were, I sympathized. I said my family isn’t abusive, but overprotective is a poor trait they have.”
I nodded. A hum tickled my throat, bobbing my Adam’s apple. “Overprotective parents are like helicopters. They monitor your every move and never leave their eyes off. It’s been a stereotype in recent years, so I understand your family’s dilemma.”
“Thank you, Degan. Still, I have to talk to Mom about your presence. The gateway must have notified her and my younger brother.”
“Does that mean…”
Sienna faced me. Our eyes connected. It gave goosebumps to my skin. “Yes, you mustn’t speak about your human identity, Degan.”
“Okay.”
Sienna smiled; a row of teeth shimmered. I carried my miniaturized luggage upstairs. There were two bedrooms, so I took the one next to Sienna’s. Its emptiness felt hollow. But with my belongings, it’ll feel like home. My old home, that is. I was still worried about Dad’s well-being. He should have thought about my decision. I hoped he kept word on his promise.
Part Two
The Next Day
Saturday, June 22nd, 2024
Gnome Village, Phoneixhorn Residence (8:30am)
Breakfast tasted fine, better than good, but Sienna’s furrowed eyebrows concerned me. I remembered our upcoming visit to her parent’s house to discuss my presence last night. We left the house and Upper Hills, following a dirt path to the gnome village. Like most villages, each hut had a straw roof, smooth wooden walls, and circular windows. Some had mushrooms acting as huts.
As we strode across the village, I’d noticed gnomes had various occupations. They weren’t as grand as the ones in Silkwood. Farming vegetables and flowers, tending to chipmunks, and building more huts. Agriculture seemed to be their basic culture. “Wow, the village looks naturalistic.”
“Yes, the village evolved through times. We learned to grow smaller species of flowers and domesticated critters. The chipmunks were the easiest to control.”
I didn’t mind having a chipmunk as a pet. Those wobbly cheeks of theirs were so squishy to pinch. We followed the path to the largest residence I’d ever seen. Similar to the dollhouses, it held a plastic shine. The difference was its material. Molded dirt, hardened from days of sunlight, and designed with carvings and pebbles.
We crossed the pine tree bridge, which was a slab of tree bark, and walked under the gate. The court yard had a bed of mosses. A clay fountain squirted pure water out of its sprout. We trudged around it, still heading towards the flight of stairs. “Are you sure your mom will accept me?”
“As long as you don’t spill your real identity, she’ll accept you.”
“Your mom shouldn’t act too paranoid about us. We accept gnomes as our backyard defenders.”
Sienna chuckled happily. It echoed within a giant corridor we strode into. The picture frames showed a curvy young woman with vibrant orange hair and almond-shaped green eyes. Two double-sided doors pushed inward. Sienna called out her mom’s name. Echoes blared across the vast throne room. The chair held a golden trim display. The right corridor clanked. Footsteps approached, the clanks grew louder. A woman in her early thirties stepped out. The leaf wrapped around her voluminous hips looked like fabric.
She noticed Sienna and I. “Hello, Sienna. Where have you been last night? The gateway opened.”
Sienna inhaled, then exhaled, and spoke. “Mom, a visitor joined our village. Welcome Degan Bennett.” She presented me as if I were royalty.
Her mother, named Mollie, scanned me from head to toe. My gnome appearance shouldn’t raise eyebrows. She hummed while rubbing her dull chin. Man, she looked exactly like the frame I saw earlier. Mollie smiled and nodded curtly. “He looks decent. I scared myself into believing a human found our entrance. That would’ve been bad news for us.”
“Bad news?” I rose an eyebrow. Mollie marched to her throne and sat down. “What do you mean?”
“Ahem, Mr. Bennett? Gnomes were respected by humans centuries ago, but a war divided them. A subspecies of gnomes spread rumors of our kind, causing mayhem upon houses. The rumors became true to humans, and they forced us out of their villages. My great-great-great grandpa let our people live underground, away from human societies.”
The story sounded different from how Sienna told it. Mollie propped a hand on her cheek. “It saddens me to know why we can’t trust humans. Years flew by and we still hid in secrecy.”
“I see.”
“Well, Degan is a part of our village. He’s been dealing with familial issues and wants to live alone.”
“Oh, did his parents disown him?”
“It’s more complicated than that, Mom.”
The left corridor clacked. A young man with burnt orange hair and round green eyes jogged out. He smiled at Sienna, then Mollie, and me. “Who’s the guy? Is he your boyfriend, Sienna?”
Sienna’s cheeks blushed. A crimson shade made them adorable. I hid a smirk while Sienna and the young man argued. Then Mollie cleared her throat, stopping their bickering. “Henry? This is Degan Bennett. He’s moving to our village to simmer his family issues.”
“Oh. My bad, dude. I thought Sienna invited her boyfriend to the castle.”
“Oh, stop it, Henry.” Sienna slapped Henry’s back.
“W-We’re not in a relationship.”
Should I tell Mollie and Henry about my friendship with Sienna? I kept that under wraps, not wanting to reveal my true identity. Henry, who was Sienna’s younger brother, welcomed me. Soon after, Mollie accepted Sienna’s decision to have me live in Upper Hills until I settled my issues with my family. Like that will ever happen.
Eight Hours Later
Boulder Gardens (6pm)
“Boulder Gardens looks amazing.”
“Yes, Mom’s grandma found this magnificent boulder and built a garden around it.”
“I can see her carved signature on its side.”
“We respected this boulder. Some believe it holds dormant powers.”
“Like what?”
“Luck.”
“Good luck?”
“Yes, Degan. If you wish at it, the boulder will grant you luck.”
“Oh, is that so? Then I wish… I wish…”
“You can’t wish?”
“I have one, but I don’t think it’ll come true.”
“Then what’s your wish?”
“... My wish is finding happiness.”
“Happiness?”
“Mom said happiness brings life. Find that happiness and you’ll live prosper. She said that while she waited for treatment.”
“Right, you told me about your mother’s disease. That must’ve been a traumatic experience for her.”
“It was, but Dad suffered worse. Dad thought Mom wouldn’t make it, but she reminded him not to worry.”
“I guess fate had other plans for your mom.”
“You can say that.”
“Is finding happiness your wish?”
“It still is.”
“Then make it.”
“Okay. I wish to find happiness. My happiness.”
“Good, Degan. I’m sure the boulder will grant your wish.”
“Sooner than later?”
“Maybe.”
“Thank you, Sienna.”
Two Weeks Later
Saturday, July 6th 2024
Silkwood, Maryland
Twin Cross Residence (8pm)
Ugh, the house was a mess. A real pigsty. Ever since our plain nephew left the house, our trash piled high. Some reached the damn ceiling. Kingston, that spineless brother of ours, doesn’t clean it up. He complained about his body pains and work, but does that matter to us? No! We told him to clean the living room, our bedrooms, and the kitchen when he got home. As always, he replied with a small nod.
For a week, Kingston tried to scrub, but transparent traces of it remained. Luna never left the couch. It became her secondary bed. She slept on it, which the cushions molded her silhouette. I rolled my eyes over my twin’s laziness. I agreed not to have done chores, but I wouldn’t erase my fabulous muscles.
The second week arrived, and Kingston suffered a panic attack. A client refused to buy a three-story mansion. That mansion cost around three million dollars. What a hefty price for a house built from Allen Constructions. Kingston’s company panicked over the incident. He returned home with saggier bags under his tired eyes. His skin turned pale, sweat coated his face, and odor soured the place.
“This is a disaster. That mansion could’ve saved our company, but now the employees are hopping off the ship.”
“Say it in English, bastard!” I folded my arms behind my head.
“Some employees resigned after our founder announced bankruptcy.”
“Hmph, it’s just a lame mansion. I’m sure that client knew how stupid it looked. Who would buy a three-million dollar mansion?”
Luna giggled. No jokes were spoken, but she reacted to a joke from her usual TV show. We ignored her. “This is serious, Heather. Me and a few coworkers are trying our best to recover the company’s good name.”
“Then do it faster.”
Kingston huffed, a hand clenched over his chest. He wheezed, throat sounding dry. Then, he collapsed on the floor, his cheeks turned blue and foam dribbled from each lip corner. “Ugh, the stress got to him! Luna, I’m calling the hospital. Keep our house occupied for me.”
After calling the damn hospital, I dragged Kingston outside and waited for the ambulance. They arrived, carried my weak brother into their truck, and drove away. What should we do? I knew we had Father’s inheritance, but we spent three-quarters of it on renovating the house’s interiors. That was a year ago.
A few hours later, the hospital called our house number. I picked it up, as the phone was nearest to my couch. “Your brother, Kingston Bennett, has suffered from mental fatigue. He’ll be under our care for a month.”
A month!? I hung up on their stupid asses and sighed. Luna lifted her head off the armrest and groaned. Her wobbly stomach growled for another round of snacks. “What’s up, sis?”
“Kingston will stay at the hospital for a month. That company’s bankruptcy shit, amongst his work stress, almost killed him.”
“Oh, that’s a shame. Too bad Kingston is too weak to withstand anything. Hahahaha, we should have used Daddy’s inheritance to hire a maid.”
“Well, too bad, Luna, because we’re low on Father’s inheritance.”
Luna sat up quickly. Her flabby butt sank into the cushions. “You’re not pulling my leg, are you, sis?”
“I’m not screwing around, Luna. All we have in our debit cards are two-thousand dollars.”
Combine our debit cards and we held four-thousand dollars. Luna’s face was a bright red. Those fatty cheeks bounced. Her double chin flapped. I’d never seen her this upset. “Oh, this is some bull-shit!”
“Yeah, but I have an idea.”
I rubbed my chin while facing the window. With Degan and his weak-ass father out of commission, I thought about borrowing a loan. Father told us not to borrow loans, unless it was an emergency. Our house rent and cleaning expenses were emergencies. “Alright, I’ll go find a loan. How much do we—”
“Two million dollars! No, four million!”
Luna’s eyes bulged. There was no reasoning with her.
“I’ll make sure the loan has that amount. For now, use your two-thousand dollars to buy us a maid. The longer this house fills up with trash, the harder it’ll be for us to live.”
My sister grunted. She got off the couch, almost losing her balance. Her overweight frame was annoying to see. During our high school years, Father spoiled her hunger. I dressed myself in a large leather coat and marched out of the house. Walking was no problem, but if Luna left, it’ll take her hours to reach Silkwood.
Thirty-Three Minutes Later
Jones and Johns Debt Inc. (8:35pm)
I sat in the waiting room of Jones and Johns Debt Inc. People read magazines, most looked sketchy as hell. A young man in his late twenties sat next to me, brushing his parted dirty blonde hair. He muttered about his company not doing alright. Something about a client dismissing a three-million dollar mansion.
That caught my interest. I stared at him, getting his attention. “What do you want, He-Woman?”
I flinched from that god awful insult. “Excuse me, but I’ve heard you talk about a three-million dollar mansion. Is that right?”
“Allen Constructions, the company I work at, got news of a nosy client who refused to buy our latest project.”
“Did the news come from a real estate company?”
“Yes, it did. Who are you, He-Woman?”
Again, flinched from that horrible insult. “I’m Heather Green. My younger brother works at that real estate. He’s currently at the hospital, suffering from mental fatigue.”
The man hummed with arched eyebrows, curiosity glimmered his eyes. “Is your brother’s name Kingston Bennett?”
“Yes, he married a worthless woman years ago, then she died from a pathetic disease. He has a son named—”
“Degan? He used to work at Allen Constructions.”
The man smirked. Pearly white teeth shone from the lampshades. A door squeaked open and a burly man appeared. His tanned skin and black attire paused certain people. Me included, but the man next to me shivered.
“Can Mrs. Green come to the boss’s office?”
“Yes, but I’m inviting this man.”
Without asking a question, I dragged the man’s arm and walked to the office. The burly man stepped aside while closing the door. Behind a wooden desk was a tall but slender man. His wavy blonde hair made him gorgeous, more than that insult-spewing man. Those sunglasses covered a mysterious pair of eyes. I cleared my throat and patted the man’s back. “We’re here to borrow a loan, sir.”
“Are you? Heather Green, you’re here to borrow four-million dollars from our financial aid?”
It seemed Jones and Johns Debt Inc. had four-million dollars under their belt. I nodded before the man faced my unexpected partner. “Tyler Puckett?”
Tyler straightened himself. Sweat caked his forehead, trickling droplets streaked his jawline. A squeal vibrated through his gritted teeth. “Why are you doing here? This is the second time, bro.”
“I-I’m sorry, Sam Jones. I know I already made a payment once, but…”
His face went pale. Sam Jones stood up from his wheelie chair and moved around the desk. His stature was intriguing. Almost to my height, but the slender frame and gangster appeal made him threatening. Physical intimidation oozed from Sam Jones. “Then where is the first payment? A loan of forty-thousand dollars has been delayed for four weeks. You came here to cover up your binging at cabaret clubs.”
“Shhh, not when there’s a He-Woman!” Tyler pointed his thumb at me. I was getting sick of his insults.
“Enough!”
His booming voice echoed within the partially hollow office. Book shelves rocked a little. We stood silent, our spines shaking. “I’ll make a deal with you two. Heather Green?” He slid his glasses down, revealing a pair of vibrant blue eyes. “I’ll provide the four-million dollars to you, but promise you’ll repay it in six months. Alright?”
“Okay.”
“And Tyler Puckett?” He faced Tyler. “Since you haven’t paid back the forty-thousand dollars yet, I’ll add the amount to a hundred-thousand dollars, the price you recommended through our phone call.”
His face got paler. He regretted making that offer. A hundred-thousand dollars? Why would he need that amount? Allen Constructions was one of many prosperous companies in Silkwood, maybe in Maryland. Their salaries weren’t too low. Sam walked backwards, a sigh escaped his thin lips. “Do we have a deal?”
We nodded, spines shivered to massaging chair levels. Sam nodded, too, then went back to his desk. “Good, I’ll notify you two in six months. Prepare yourselves. The punishment for not paying back your loans is not pleasant.”
I’d felt glad to gather money for the house (and ourselves), but how to pay it back? Tyler left, his face slowly recovering from the sudden wave of anxiety. For a man with model-worthy traits, Tyler dropped his confidence around Sam Jones. I pondered if Sam belonged to a gang, but I erased the thought. He probably had connections, but quit. With the loan in our hands, we were fine for six months. We didn’t need Kingston or his plain son for help.
Elsewhere…
“Damn, my cabaret hobbies are getting to me. Over a hundred-thousand dollars in debt? I can’t pay for all that in six months! My salary only covers a quarter. Ugh, I could ask my cousin for help, but she’ll fire me if I do. What to do?”
“Honey, where do you want to spend our honeymoon on?”
“I know this sweet Italian restaurant around the block. Let’s go there.”
“Wait, that’s it! I’ll convince my cousin to start an Italian restaurant project. That’ll improve our success, rack more money, and solve my debt problems. Hah, I’m such a genius.”
‘I was shocked to meet Degan The Plain’s relatives. His father’s a coward, so it’s his fault for injuring himself. I don’t care about the real estate company going bankrupt. My ass is on the line, as well as my next promotion. This idea has to work.’
Upper Hills (9pm)
Sienna and I played our RPG Game, only we lived in the same house. It felt awkward, playing with an online friend, sharing a roof over our heads. But Sienna was trustworthy, patient, and modest. We completed our quests faster and our conversations sounded casual. More than when we played separately.
Living in Upper Hills changed my life. Stress levels decreased as I got to know the gnome village better. I asked a farmer about hiring me as an apprentice, and he agreed. An elderly man close to sixty, he welcomed me to his farmer’s market workplace. For a few days, I carried light cargo boxes to huts. It was a rough occupation, but it felt satisfying. No mean boss to pile work on me or tease my appearance.
Mollie and Henry developed a friendly bond towards me. Henry pestered about my ‘friendship’ with Sienna, believing we were a couple. I kept correcting him by saying ‘we’re just friends,’ but he scoffed it away. “Sienna’s the prettiest gnome in our village. Any gnome would want to date her.”
I understood his reaction. Sienna’s beauty was none other. All gnomes wished to date her, but she turned their offers down. That got me thinking. Does she love me? “Sienna?”
“Yes, Degan?”
“Your brother’s been nagging about our relationship being more than friendly. Is that true?”
She fell silent. “Don’t believe what Henry says, Degan. He’s only saying those words to annoy me.”
“How come?”
“After our dad died, Mom set preferences on us, in case the common folk tried dating us. We can’t date gnomes who don’t have jobs or have criminal history.”
The thought of gnomes committing crimes was baffling. Theft and public nuisances were a couple of crimes I understood. I shook my head and focused on killing a horde of demonic warthogs. Sienna blocked my back, erasing another wave of warthogs. “I see.”
“Why ask? Do you feel like our friendship blossoms into a romantic bond?”
“Uh…”
“I kinda feel the same way.”
“What?”
“When you moved to Upper Hills, my chest fluttered. The sensation lasted for days.”
Heartbeats pounded. It filled my ears, despite me wearing headphones. Sienna’s words were like ocean waves. Each crash made me weak to my bones. “M-Me, too.”
“We’ve been friends for over a year. This feels sudden, but I would like to know you better, Degan.”
That last sentence struck a cord. An arrow pierced through my chest, through my heart, and spread warmth beneath my skin. Love felt amazing. Silence froze our gameplay, but we paused the menu, delaying our quest. “T-That would be nice, Sienna.”
From then on, my bond with Sienna grew. We still played our game, but a lovely connection made our time worthwhile. Sienna taught me how gnomes converted their magic into their occupations. It worried me, as I was human—transformed into a gnome through a magical gateway. But when I used it yesterday morning, it felt easier to carry cargo boxes. Life in the gnome village was sublime. I’d never wanted to leave. However, fate had more plans for me.
One phone call changed everything for the worse.
Five Months Later
Wednesday, December 24th, 2024
Gnome Village, Phoneixhorn Residence (6:30am)
“Mom! Mom!”
“Yes, Henry?”
“My buddies finished their perimeter check around Silkwood Park.”
“And?”
“A construction crew shut the place down.”
“What? A construction crew?”
“I caught a little of their muffled dialogue.”
“What did they say?”
“In two days, Allen Constructions will demolish Silkwood Park to create an Italian restaurant.”
“Oh, god. We… No, we can’t.”
“Were you going to say evacuate everyone?”
“I was, but then a miner informed me about the blocked tunnels. No thanks to dogs stomping around the fields. There’s no way out.”
“Oh…”
“Call your sister, Henry. This is an emergency.”
Part Three
Forty-Five Minutes Later
Henry’s announcement sounded urgent. Sienna and I reached the castle and entered the throne room, where Mollie hung her head low. She groaned with her fingers pinching the bridge of her nose. “Mom, is this true?”
“Yes, sweetie. This construction crew will demolish Silkwood Park. Since the tunnels are blocked, there’s no escape for us. The rubble will crush every gnome. I’m sorry. So, sorry, my children.”
Mollie’s cries echoed across the vast throne room. Henry joined her, his eyes leaking globs of tears. Sienna wasn’t far behind. I, however, felt a great emptiness in my chest. Allen Constructions was the only crew I knew. They were the only company who could approve of demolition, if the park’s owner agreed.
“In two days, we’ll accept our fates. Tomorrow, I’ll announce this to the villagers.”
Her strained eyes faced us. My chest felt emptier. Should I tell her the truth? I shouldn’t keep it in any longer. I cleared my throat and dropped my jaw, but Mollie beat me. “Degan Bennett? You’re not a gnome, are you?”
“Huh?”
“I’d noticed your interactions with Sienna for over five months now. Also, the gateway wouldn’t convert gnomes. They’re unaffected by the gateway’s teleportation magic. Humans, and only they, can pass through it and transform into gnomes.”
Mollie was smarter than I thought. I faced the marbled floor, its shine pointing its beam at me. “That’s correct, ma’am.”
“And I see in your eyes, boy. You’re hiding something. It’s alright. We won’t get angry. Our fates are inevitable.”
I sighed. I’d told Mollie and Henry how I knew about Allen Constructions. They gasped, but their depression refused them to express anger. It was my fault. Well, partially my fault. I don’t know why the company wanted to destroy Silkwood Park.
A memory clicked inside my mind. Or a certain section manager popped inside my head. Anger soured in my stomach, knots twisting and growling. Why that son of a bitch! Tyler was behind this. I knew it!
“Degan?” Sienna extended a hand to my shoulder. Her touch felt too gentle. It soothed my boiling rage. “Are you okay?”
“I think I know who operated the construction. My former boss, Tyler Puckett, is a selfish man. I quit the company before leaving Twin Cross.”
“Is that so?” Mollie dropped her depressed state and glanced at me with curiosity. Henry also dropped his gloomy state and raised his eyebrows at me.
“This may take time, but I’ll try to stop the construction crew from destroying the gnome village.”
“How?”
“You heard me? I used to work there. I know Tyler’s selfish actions without trying.”
“The construction crew will arrive in two days. How can you stop them?”
“Easy. I’m calling a friend for assistance.”
Sienna’s, Mollie’s and Henry’s expressions were silent. Raised eyebrows and titled heads gazed at me. I chuckled to myself. I should have resorted to these months ago.
Upper Hills, Sienna’s Residence (8am)
I immediately got on my computer and typed in a URL to a private detective website. A friend from my college years became a detective. I saw his profile and emailed an appointment. While I waited, I told Sienna to share my plan with her family. First, Mollie will announce to gnomes to remain calm for two days. Second, Henry and his team will continue patrolling the park’s perimeter, monitoring Allen Constructions.
When my friend responded to the email, I notified him about my previous workplace. He agreed to investigate Tyler for me, but it’ll take a few hours to gather evidence. Alongside Tyler’s investigation, he’d also investigated my aunts. Afterward, I heard my cell phone ringing. I picked it up.
“Hi, Degan.”
“Ugh, Aunt Heather. Why are you calling me?”
“One, we’re low on fucking money. The four-million dollars we borrowed has decreased to half. More, if Luna stopped spending it on takeout!”
I rolled my eyes. Of course, the aunts would resort to borrowing money from loan sharks. Their reckless spending habits were horrible. Uncontrollable, considering Luna’s gluttony and Heather’s shopping sprees. “So, you’re calling me for help, is that it?”
“Hell no! We’re completely fine without you.”
“What about my dad?”
Heather giggled behind the line. My spine shuttered from that. “Your dad had a panic attack a few months ago. His company is going to go bankrupt after a client refused to buy a three-million dollar mansion. He’s back, but we forced him to find another job, since his coworkers were resigning.”
My eyes bulged. Sweat soaked my shirt collar. Skin felt goosebumps. The temperature of my bedroom dropped. “Say that again?”
“Your pathetic dad’s company is nearing bankruptcy, and we forced him to find another job to keep us afloat. The maid idea went down the fucking drain, because each one complained too much.”
My hands shook, the fingers gripped the phone. I couldn’t take this anymore! Dad had a panic attack, suffered mental fatigue, and the aunts don’t care! He’s working after recovering? “Just you wait, Aunt Heather. I’m not coming back there again! As a matter of fact, I’m returning to get Dad! He doesn’t deserve to live with you bitches!”
Heather scoffed. She asked a question, but I hung up on her. I threw the phone on the couch, face turning red and blood boiling. The determination to bust my aunts and Tyler were severe. Sienna rushed into the bedroom upon hearing my low grunts. She hugged me, each fingertip massaging my forearms.
She whispered in my ear, saying ‘everything’s okay, Degan. I’m here.’
It soothed the volcanic anger I held inside. No more will I bottle them up. I’ll use them to fight for my freedom. For Dad’s safety. For Mom’s happiness. It was time for me to stand the fuck up!
Two Days Later
Allen Constructions (12pm)
“Alright, it’s noon. The construction crew should plow through Silkwood Park. Sure, I’ll have to delay my hundred and forty-thousand dollar payment, but it’s worth it. That promotion is mine.”
As Tyler marched out of the department office, I stood before him, arms crossed, and a smirk widened. He scoffed with a disappointing frown. “What are you doing here, Degan the Plain?”
“Just mailing documents to the CEO’s mailbox.”
Tyler groaned while crossing his firm arms over his chest. “I thought you resigned.”
“I did, but I forgot a few documents.”
“What documents?”
I chuckled. It gradually increased in volume. Tyler became baffled by my laughter. He growled and clenched my shirt collar, lifting me a few inches off the floor. “What are you laughing at?”
“I’m laughing, because in a few seconds, the CEO will call you to her office.”
“What the hell does that mean!?”
A feminine voice blared from the speakers. From the right corner, the speaker mimicked Tyler’s cousin’s stern voice. “Mr. Puckett and Mr. Bennett, can you two come to my office, please?”
Tyler sighed, then pushed me away. Confidence overwhelmed me. When I was around Tyler, my confidence dwindled. However, what I had prepared for Tyler, it expanded. I strode with pride, while Tyler faced the office door grimly. He opened it and a curvy blonde-haired woman stood behind her desk. “Nice to see you, cousin.”
“Same, but why are you calling us?”
“See these documents?”
She held up a thick packet of documents, the ones I mailed her. My smirk grew as Tyler stepped forward. “Mr. Bennett sent me these documents. I thought he missed a few, but then I studied it.”
Her professional expression shifted. It went from calm to agitated in seconds. Tyler’s face shifted, too. This time, it was fear that replaced his upset look. He shivered in one spot.
“This can’t be.”
“Yes, it is. You’ve been using our company money to visit cabaret clubs, hooking up with hostesses. Some are married, Tyler!”
“I-I can explain!” Tyler held up his hands in defense.
“Don’t. Plus, the documents showed your harassment across the department. Forcing employees to finish your work, mocking their appearances, and physical harm? Not to mention your sexual misconduct on the female employees!”
She slammed the documents on the desk. Her eyes squinted, a red aura coated her voluptuous body. Tyler, who always expressed confidence and self-entitlement, shrunk. Compared to him, his cousin was the dominant relative. “I can’t have an employee or a cousin abusing our coworkers. You’re fired!”
“Wait, consider my plan! An Italian restaurant is being constructed.”
“About that. I canceled the project. Lately, disturbances had been annoying the crew. Their tools stopped working and lunches were stolen.”
I scrunched my laughter in. Henry and his team distracted the crew from prolonging their construction.
“Please, cousin! The loan sharks are up my ass! Help me!”
“No way!”
“WAH-HAH-HAH!”
I’d never seen Tyler cry. He had no one to help him now. His cousin dismissed me with a gentle smile. “Find a pleasant job, Mr. Bennett.” I nodded and dashed out of the office. I’d heard Tyler being lectured by his cousin. Yeah, he deserved it. The gnome village was safe. But I had unfinished business at Twin Cross.
Time to free my dad from those bitches!
Thirty-Five Minutes Later
Twin Cross Residence (1:35pm)
Ah, fuck! Just fuck! Less than a month was upon us. The house, although less messy from five months ago, still looked clustered. Those maids kept complaining about our care, calling it bull-shit and unhealthy. Kingston got released from the hospital, but he refused to find a job. Ugh, none of this would’ve happened if his real estate company fixed the client issue! The door knocked. I stopped pacing around my recliner chair. Luna snorted at the TV. Why do I have a lazier twin?
I marched to the door and opened it. Degan, our plain and useless nephew, returned. I couldn’t help but smirk at his arrival. What perfect timing! “So, you’re back?” I crossed my arms, a smirk widening.
“No, I came to pick up my dad.”
“Your dad’s feeling better, however, he can’t find a proper job.”
“That’s because you overworked him. It’s psychological abuse.”
“Hmph, like you know of our deeds.”
Degan rolled his eyes before pushing me aside. He called out his dad’s name. Kingston leaned against the wall while approaching his son. “Degan? Why are you—”
“I’m here to take you away. You can’t live with your sisters anymore.” He extended his hand. Kingston, the spineless fool, looked away with a frown. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?”
“I’m sorry, Degan. Without me, Heather and Luna won’t survive out there. Our father forced me to take care of them. It was in his will.”
He was right; Father wrote a command for Kingston. ‘The oldest brother must tend to Heather and Luna Green after my passing.’ He had no choice but to follow our commands. He lowered his head, tears dripping onto the carpet floor. I smirked harder. Luna laughed louder. We were winners.
But Degan dropped some information I didn’t want to hear. “Then, would you change your mind if I say you’re the owner of their house?”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“I’m saying the lease you’ve been blackmailing us for months.”
“It’s true! Our names are on the lease. Kingston can’t leave or else he’ll be homeless!”
“It WAS true. I hired a detective, and he researched your activity. Alongside your emotional, physical, and psychological abuse on Dad, you’d made a dumb mistake.”
“What mistake?”
Our nephew pointed his gaze at Luna. The television still distracted her. “Aunt Luna changed the lease. It occurred three days before my departure from this hellhole. Her reason? Since Dad and I were the only residents to have jobs, Luna thought about changing the lease’s ownership. Without you looking, Luna switched out her and your name with Dad’s.”
Eyes widened, I faced the couch Luna was lounging on. “LUNA!”
She jolted from my shouting. “Ugh, what do you—Hey! Our pathetic nephew’s back. Go bring me my sundae special!”
She snapped her fingers, as if none of our conversation mattered! How fucking dumb was she!?
“Luna? Did you change the lease’s ownership?”
“The ownership? Oh, I did.”
“WHY!?”
“Well, Kingston’s job had average salary and Daddy’s will stated his importance to us, so I put two-n-two together. I erased our names and wrote Kingston’s.”
Her smile wasn’t helping us! I used all my strength to lift Luna off the damn couch! “You idiot! Why didn’t you tell me!?”
“Because Aunt Luna thought Dad’s job will keep them afloat, alongside the inheritance you got from Grandpa. Your spending habits and takeout orders drained most of it. Heather?”
The audacity of this boy not calling me ‘Aunt Heather’ was appalling. I pushed Luna back on the couch and stomped to Degan. My height should snap some sense into his plain noggin! “What the fuck is it now!?”
“You borrowed a loan of four-million dollars. Didn’t you?”
“Four-million dollars!?” Kingston straightened himself upon hearing the announcement of my loan.
“It was Luna’s idea!”
“All because my company went bankrupt, and you overworked me to death!?”
Kingston’s voice was wrathful. I’d never heard him express anger before. He walked to me, his back straight and not limping. The stress he endured months ago faded. In its place was pure anger. At us.
“Not only did you abuse me and Degan, but you wasted Dad’s inheritance on selfish needs!”
“Father gave us that money, because he loved us! He never loved you! All he did was give you a purpose to help us!”
My reaction time was slow as Kingston pushed me. Despite being a few inches shorter than me, Kingston pushed me a couple inches backwards. “I don’t want to hear this! For five months, I’d put up with you and Luna’s shit! Degan, my only son, left. He knew living with you two was horrible! I felt regrettable. I should have left with Degan to Upper Hills.”
He hung his head past his shoulders. Back throbbed from his choking. A hand covered his cracked lips. Degan rubbed his father’s back while shooting a serious glare at me. “Getting back to the lease. Since Dad’s name is on it, he decides whether to kick you two out of this house.”
Luna, after hearing Degan’s warning, stood up and faced him. Her chubby face got red and vapors evaporated from her bed of curly brown hair. “What!? You can’t do—”
“Of course he can. You wrote his name, and the lease said a change becomes permanent after three months. It’s been five, so the change is permanent. That means Dad’s the official owner.”
Luna’s reddened face faded. A blue shade covered it. Her round body hunched forward. I followed suit. Not because Kingston would definitely kick us out, but we had to pay Sam Jones four-million dollars. We fell on our knees, a sense of despair and self-regret seeped into our bodies.
“So, Dad? Have you decided?”
“Yes, I do.”
I lifted my head. Tears streaked my cheeks. Maybe Kingston will forgive us and won’t kick us out.
“Heather? Luna?”
“Y-Yes, bro?”
His face wasn’t pleasant. Only rage and disappointment glanced at us. “I don’t want you around me or Degan. Get out!”
He pointed to the front entrance. Luna wailed and bowed her head to the floor. “You can’t! Who will feed me food!?”
“Do that shit yourself! You’re big enough to get real fucking jobs!”
“B-But, we’re the only family you got.”
“No, Degan is! Also, I heard you badmouthing my wife. She was a brave woman, braver than you two! Actually, she’s prettier and smarter than you two!”
“Please, hear us out. We apologize, alright.”
I scooted to Kingston, hands clasped over my chest. Begging was beneath me, but I can’t have Kingston or Degan leave. “Please, Kingston. Think about your family.”
“I am. You and Luna don’t see me as family. You see me as a servant. A worthless servant with a paying job.”
“...”
I had nothing to say. Kingston, who was the new lease owner of our former house, kicked us out. What awaited us was hell. Labor-inducing hell. And it was all Luna’s fault!
“You fucking moron! If you hadn’t changed the lease, none of this would’ve happened!”
I slapped Luna upside the head.
“Grrr, why is it my fault!? It’s yours!”
She pushed my shoulder. We walked along the cobblestone path, then down the sidewalk. “How is this shit my fault!? Your lazy ass got annoying pretty quick!”
“You’re fit, so why couldn’t you get a job!?”
We kept pushing each other, but it didn’t fix our situation. For the first time, I lost. I lost to my younger brother and his nephew!
Three Months Later
Allen Constructions canceled their Italian restaurant project after I submitted evidence of Tyler’s misdeeds to its CEO, aka his cousin. She fired him out of spite and irritation. It turned out she got fed up with Tyler’s pompous behavior. The evidence I showed her must have been the last straw. Since getting fired, Tyler became a grunt to Jones and Johns Debt Inc. He hated being a grunt, saying they were the lowest occupation.
The reason he agreed was because of Sam Jones, a former gangster and owner of Jones and Johns Debt Inc. His appearance was obvious, but Tyler and Heather ignored it. Still, Sam threatened to send Tyler to a fishing boat if he stopped complaining. It sounded satisfying knowing Tyler got a taste of his own medicine.
For the aunts, Dad kicked him out of their house. He sold it and got a new one in Twin Cross. Gave it to a lovely couple he knew. Actually, the husband was the picky client his real estate company dealt with. He said the mansion wasn’t to his liking and the section manager gave him a worthy interview. So, the construction company blamed Tyler for bankrupting a business.
No further details about Allen Constructions suing Tyler were announced, but I expected it to happen. Back to my aunts, Sam found them in an alleyway. Though dirty, Sam gave them a cheap condo to live. Until they paid him four-million dollars for the loan Heather borrowed, Sam appointed them to part-time jobs. Luna hadn’t been active since high school. Or ever, if her body shape had any indication. Working two fast-food restaurants was hard. Luna kept eating the customer’s food out of stress.
Two of the restaurant’s owners fired Luna, which Sam took without irritation. He was irritated, but Sam found an alternative to Luna’s gluttony. Thanks to Dad sharing some information about Luna, Sam put her on a fishing boat, the same one he warned Tyler about.
Dad said Luna had motion sickness, explaining her laziness. The fishing boats left the bay and sailed across the seas for hours. That meant Luna purged over the railings, her face turned green and nausea blurring her vision. Heather’s punishment was less stressful. Her body shape wasn’t bothersome, but her stubbornness and impatience were.
So far, she took the delivery person role at a Chinese restaurant and a janitor from a cleaning company. Her back ached from all the movement. Similar to Luna, Heather suffered physical pain, as well as emotional.
I forgot to mention Dad suing his sisters for the abuse they piled on me and himself. Thirty-five-thousand dollars was the initial amount Dad sued them. Add that to the four-million dollars they borrowed and they won’t be leaving their labor-inducing hell any time. Again, it sounded satisfying to hear their demise.
Jones and Johns Debt Inc.
‘Me, Tyler Puckett, reduced to grunt work. That Degan the Plain! I should have fired him a long time ago!’
“Hey, grunt!”
“Y-Yes, Mr. Jones?”
“You missed a spot. I’d told you not to miss any. Do you want me to call the fishing crew?”
“No! I-I’ll get it!”
“Good. Your one hundred-and-forty-thousand dollar loan is partially complete.”
“H-How much do I have left?”
“Hm, eighty-eight-thousand left until I free you.”
“E-E-Eighty-eight!?”
“Yep, that much. Those cabaret clubs are addictive. Oh, and one more thing?”
“Y-Yes?”
“Five out of the eight hostesses you dated have broken up their marriage. Their husbands are suing you for damages. The total is thirty-thousand.”
“Each or together?”
“Each. I’ll be adding fifteen-hundred-thousand dollars to your current loan payment.”
“AW!”
“Was that a complaint?”
“No, no, no! I wasn’t complaining! Please, spare me!”
“Alright. Once you clean the missed spot, sweep the lobby.”
‘WAH! My life is ruined!’
Silkwood, Maryland
Rundown Condo Residence
‘Three months in and my payment covered one-ninth of our debt. Ugh, I can’t take this shit anymore! Luna’s still fishing for crabs and I’m working my toned ass off. Those bike rides and mopping ached my back. I need my recliner chair!’
RING-RING-RING!
‘At least the kind owner gave me this phone.’
Click!
“Hello?”
“Heather Green?”
“S-Sam Jones!”
“I have good and bad news.”
“G-Good?”
“There’s three-million and thirty-three-thousand dollars in your debt.”
“You’re kidding me?”
“Nope. I’ll start adding your sister’s payment once she leaves the harbor.”
“H-How is Luna? Not like I care for her fat ass.”
“Lately, the fishing boat idea worked. Luna’s appetite decreased the longer she stayed on the boat. Her motion sickness must have tainted her hunger.”
“What’s her total payment?”
“Fishing boats aren’t pricey, so Luna’s payment is five hundred and forty-five dollars.”
“That much?”
“Yeah, so the guys chose another part-time job for her. She’ll be working at the janitorial company.”
“The one I’m working?”
“I can’t wait for the reunion. Luna lost weight from her fishing periods.”
“...”
“If you have nothing to say, I’ll hang up.”
Click!
‘Ugh, it’s her fault! Luna’s dumb brain led us to this hell! When she gets back, I’m going to strangle her saggy neck! I don’t care if she lost weight, she bought that onto ourselves!’
Silkwood Park
Gnome Village (8pm)
“How’s your father doing, Degan?”
“He’s doing fine. I wanted him to come to Upper Hills, but he refused. He said he wanted to live alone, have me live an independent life.”
“Was that wise of him?”
“Since he kicked the aunts out, Dad’s been better. Got a new real estate job and partnered Allen Constructions with his company.”
We walked throughout Boulder Gardens, talking about my accomplishments. What I’d said was true. He thought acting submissive to his twin sisters would help him bring purpose. But once I helped him get out of their abuse, Dad put his foot down.
I, meanwhile, returned to the gnome village. Mollie applauded my efforts to save the village. She celebrated me as a hero. I didn’t need the entire village to acknowledge me as one, but Mollie insisted. Henry also acknowledged me as a hero. He even gave his blessings to my friendship with Sienna.
Speaking of Sienna, it was time I asked a question. “Sienna?”
“Yes, Degan?”
I inhaled, then exhaled. “Will you go out with me?”
“Huh? We’re already out of Upper Hills, enjoying ourselves.”
“Uh, I mean on a date.”
“Date?”
She tilted her head. I chuckled at her reaction. “A date is two people going out. They eat dinner at classy restaurants, visit their favorite places, and talk about their hobbies.”
“Like what we’re doing right now?”
She leaned forward. Her curly orange hair waved a scent of pinewood and rainwater. So earthy and fresh. My nerves calmed from it alone.
“Yes, you can say that.” “Does that mean you love me, Degan? You’ve found your happiness?”
I’d remembered my wish on the boulder months ago. Did I find happiness? I stared at the boulder. A beam of moonlight glistened its dull gray surface.
“I guess so. After defeating the people who rotten my life, confidence swelled within me. Then, you came along.”
Her cheeks reddened.
“Sienna, you helped me realize my purpose, my happiness. Mom was the only person who understood me. My love for fantasy novels, video games, and story-telling. She loved them and never nagged. When she died, me and Dad were sad. Sad to see a wonderful woman leave us.”
I stepped forward and cupped Sienna’s cheek. It felt warm against my palm. “When I played that RPG, I’d found you struggling to defeat a horde of unpossessed warthogs. I joined in and helped. Our quest got completed, and you thanked me. That brief conversation started a relationship I didn’t see coming. Me dating a gnome? How amazing is that?”
“Quite amazing, Degan.” She cupped a hand over my cheek.
Being a gnome felt awkward, but my stay at Sienna’s village and Upper Hills made me accept the change. It was because of her I buried the past behind. Mom would’ve been proud to see me. I guessed her obsession with garden gnomes was a prediction. A prediction of me meeting the love of my life.
“Will you accept my offer?”
“Of course.”
We kissed. Her touch melded to mine. Warmth washed over our bodies, tingling our senses. Love never felt this good. I loved every moment. See, Mom. I’d found love and happiness. Dad found his, too. Hope you enjoy yours.
