WONDER ( Twisted Forbidden Tales ) Book Three

Chimney Town

HAKU

“May! May!” my voice sounded hoarse and slightly distressed as I woke up. I had that dream again, this time it was more vivid and contained more detail than before. No matter how I thought about it, I knew it wasn’t a simple dream but instead a memory.

Darkness surrounded me as my eyesight adjusted to the place I fell asleep in. The smell of soot hit my nose bringing fear to my soul as I realized I was no longer in the place that Ian Cap had left me for the night. The haze fog had appeared leaving me no choice but to stay over in Po Mu Village, but someone had played a dirty trick and fog got in right as I was about to rest for the night. My mind did not play tricks on me either as I remember someone clad in a cape and gas mask appeared right before I passed out.

I sat up taking a sharp inhale at the ache in my bones as I steadied myself against the wall taking in my surroundings. As the smell of soot subtly dispersed I am greeted by the musty scent of old wood and neglect. The interior is dimly lit, casting long shadows across the faded wallpaper and worn furnishings. A shabby bed occupies one corner, its threadbare sheets hinting at years of use. Home essentials are scattered haphazardly about, their once vibrant colors muted by time and neglect.

Here in Chimney Town, this place brought back many emotions and memories both of deep happiness and of harrowing despairing sorrow. No one sane ever comes here to Chimney Town anymore a Town that used to thrive in multicolored glory but now festered in everlasting doom.

In the center of the room stands a fireplace, its hearth cold and unlit. Yet despite its outward appearance of disuse, I can sense a latent power within it, a magic that lies dormant until called upon. The chimney above it stands silent and still, its hidden passage leading out into the heart of Chimney Town.

Was he not with the missing? Had he truly left on his own? Why hadn't he said goodbye? And Did he bring back here for a reason? The questions stacked up in my mind one after another, but I had no answers unless he was still here to answer them. This was the safe place I had set up for him to stay without worry. After all, this had belonged to my family when they were alive, when Chimney Town used to be a Happy place and not a source of terror as it is now.

Despite its rundown appearance, there's a certain charm to this hideaway home, a sense of sanctuary amidst the chaos of Chimney Town. All of the citizen's nightmare began with one man’s decision a man we voted for and thought we could entrust the safety and the prosperous future he promised our town would have. That man was none other now known as Mayor Chimney Jr. The son of the previous Mayor, Mayor Chimney Sr.

The two were like Day and night, we were all fooled by his acting facade including his father who died at his son’s hands. Unaware of his son’s true face as the helm of all the rottenness spread here over the years. Mayor Chimney Jr was corrupted, crazy, and unjust. My friend must have felt the safest place was in the most dangerous place for me and not in Po Mu Village. Was I being watched? It would make sense for him to bring me here. Outside, the surroundings are eerily quiet, save for the distant echoes of unseen activity. Though this Town was a hell hole for many, without a good opportunity it would be hard to get out. Not that there weren't ways to move about secretly, but one had to be careful as to not get caught.

Morse and Chester Crow had their claws embedded deep in Chimney Town after all they were could friends of the Town’s Mayor. My family’s old shop had been long off the radar after I took over it on my return. Residing in Sweepers Way just off the main streets leading into Chimney Town.

Luckily as a citizen here I could resist the soot mist pull and keep my mind rational. My being here brought my worries for both my Friend and Manomay. The stopwatch was the first gift she had given me that she made herself, infused with a bit her magic when she first started out learning to control it. The tick was slightly off at the moment, it was a signal that danger was near.

No sooner than the watch alerted me, the sound of footsteps approaching in the distance followed by voices I knew all too well. What I heard next lit a fire in my belly bringing forth a rage I had to control no matter what or the mission the mystery letters wanted me to take on would not succeed and cause Manomay to be harmed and I could not bear for her to be hurt in any shape or form.

I got down low just enough to hide by the wall beneath the window. It was a good thing the windows were tinted. No one could see in but I could definitely see out and also hear their conversation.

“Ouch, this bloody hut of a tore is still an eyesore for my gorgeous eyes!” bellowed Mayor Chimney. The slight smell of burning flesh tinged my nose, bringing a smile to my face. The wards were still strong it seemed and he still couldn’t enter this place after all the times he had tried.

“Give a rest dear friend, we have plenty of time. My eyes have spotted someone coming near this place. They don’t know if they got in, but if they did we could use them.” said Morse Crow.

“Well, be my guess and try to get yourself, it would be good to finally get an up on this crappy place. It's in a prime spot and would be good for business if I could take over it. This would make for a good brothel if I don’t say so myself.”

“You don’t say, Chim, Chim, or is it because of the secret tunnels I heard were hidden underneath this place,” said Morse his voice tinged with amusement.

“What are you going on about? What tunnels? I just thought it be nice to have a place to relax for our VIP guests if you know what I mean.” Mayor Chimney said joking but I could detect the lies in his words.

“I’m not one of your fools Chim! do you think I don’t know when you lie? We even got the Mad Bandit and Dark Rabbit breathing down our backs after the i***t twins in your posse f****d things up by being greedy at the club. All the goods we collected can't be delivered with the portals closed so we need to go manual and that means these tunnels. Humph, you better not be thinking of stabbing me in the back old friend, should I show you a sample of the consequences of playing me?” Morse’s voice squawked with anger.

The air suddenly becomes thick with the acrid scent of sulfur, and a sense of foreboding hangs heavy in the air.

“No No, my brother, I would never dare we are good friends. What’s mine is yours okay, so calm down besides I have yet to meet this friend of yours huh? Wouldn’t it have been nice to welcome him to a nice brothel of pleasure or better yet a hot springs? See I meant no will okay okay okay I promise.” The sound of Mayor Chimney’s blatant ass-kissing was laughable. So he wasn’t so sinister when it came to Morse and Chester Crow. The way he sounded it was as if he was begging at this point.

“That better be the case Brother Chim, or things will get real ugly real quick my friend. However, more importantly, for now, we got hold of the meeting with the Master, and we hit a bit of a snag back at the palace. I swear if Chrissy hadn't said there was great use for her here in Wonder Kingdom, me Mo would have made that little b***h our exclusive plaything many time’s over by now.” Chester Crow said his voice filled with malice.

My skin crawled at his words about Manomay. She must have deterred their plans in some way. Morse and Chester Crow had no gender or magic creature previous to who they played with for their kicks or kinks. Rumors spread throughout the palace that were downright disturbing. Creating the White Knights to protect the queen and other innocents working in the palace was a welcome reprieve from their preying eyes.

“What has the Bloody Queen done now? I told you we should ship her off with the others, but is she so worthy now? We haven’t seen Christine in a long time now. I keep getting the feeling that something big has happened that we don’t know about.” mayor Chimney said as he let out a long sigh.

“If it has or hasn’t is of no importance to us now. We need to come up with another plan. If there are magic tunnels underneath this place we need to confirm it and find a way to access them by getting rid of these wards. You don’t even know who owns this crappy place, that alone would have helped us solve it the easy way. Our second choice would be our Blood Queen, but unfortunately, that’s out.” said Chester. Making me tense at his words. Had something happened to Manomay?

Were there magic tunnels hidden here underneath my feet? My parents never told me about them was this why they were murdered back then? Is this what the letters wanted to show me? Did my friend already know about this? And was our meeting on that day fated or deliberate? I had to find out the truth and if Manomay was okay.

“How is that out? Haven't you two been keeping her under your thumbs? That brat has been our pawn all this time. Has she started a rebellion or something? Don’t tell me you can’t handle a woman now.” said Mayor Chimney with a smirk.

The sound of shrieking sounded after his words followed by a low whimper before Morse spoke.

“I told you to watch yourself, Chim! Now you have to sport a broken nose. How dare you mock us? I admit we let our guard down against her and now our dear Queen has flown her little coup and is currently on the run. It's just a small hiccup and we will find her in time. However, we didn’t get the signed decree from her which leaves us having to get our hands dirty for a while. Keep your eyes on the people I told you to and don’t worry about this place here. There is one more person who could help us, but we have to travel on foot to get there. Run the business as usual Chim and don’t get greedy.”

“Ah, my nose hurts so bad. But I got you okay, don’t you worry.” Mayor Chimney’s muffled response was quite comical as appeared humble and meek in front of the Crow brothers.

“Alright, it's time to get back to the palace now. We got work to do Mo,” said Chester. Shortly after the three sets of footsteps descended away from where I hid by the window. I waited just in case someone came back but there was nothing but silence.

Breathing out a sigh of relief I stood up rubbing my knees and then moving over to the packsack that was left by the shelves near the wall where I awakened. Moving my way around I got changed into normal clothes foregoing my royal knight robe our my alias as the Dark Rabbit.

Manomay had escaped. That meant she must have had no other choice. However, this was good. I knew where she was going, we had planned where to meet up if things came to this and that was Hatter Fields. I would meet her there after I was done with the things on my end. She would be safe there with the old man. After all, he was the original Mad Bandit.

Caught in my thoughts the sudden set of footsteps approaching me inside my old home made me pause, but the familiar scent made me turn around in surprise. He wasn’t missing, it was him who brought me here I knew it!

“It’s you Daxon! You had me worried when I couldn’t find you after a long time.”

“I’m sorry to have made you worry son. But we got bigger fish to fry at the moment. I got a lead on that person and stumbled upon something you may find pretty interesting. Hurry along son, company is coming and not the good kind.” Daxon said as he turned around and headed toward the fireplace climbing inside.

I followed in his footsteps and made a space for myself inside the fireplace as we stood together side by side as if getting ready to go on an adventure. With a simple incantation from Daxon’s mouth, the fireplace was suddenly activated, its chimney serving as a portal to the hidden depths of Chimney Town. Daxon knew more than he was letting on but I trusted him just like I did Alissa. As we headed to the next destination through the fireplace a familiar glow alighted inside Daxon’s jacket pocket as the spell came into play. Another letter had shown up but what secrets would be revealed? How many more had received them let alone the mission each one of us had to fulfill?