Star Lost

Chapter 2

Strange. Jesper can feel his body move. No. He’s not moving, he's being moved. What’s going on? Groggily opening his eyes, dim lights being shone on him by the streetlamps. Seeing his feet being dragged on the ground dirtying his bare feet. How long was he out for?

“What’s happening?” he whispered, barely. His throat burning from the two words being said. “Hm? Oh goody you’re up. For someone as small as you, you’re pretty heavy, kid”. Jesper jumped from the voice of a man behind him. He didn’t notice before but he was tied under his arms and was being dragged by a thick giant rope by this man.

“Hey kid since you’re awake. Can you walk?”

“Where are you taking me?”

The man stopped walking and let go of the rope without warning. Jesper landed on his rear with a loud thump. “Oh come on” Jesper groaned, the pain going through his spine. “Oh s**t I’m so sorry. I thought you were standing” the man scrambled, putting Jesper’s arm over his shoulder.

Why on earth would I be standing, you were dragging me not even 5 seconds ago. That’s what he would have said if his throat wasn’t killing him.

He picked Jesper up and helped him walk. Jesper was limping but the man managed to hold his weight with his arm around his waist. “You’re in pretty bad shape”.

Jesper looked at him, raising his eyebrow. He might not have the ability to say the words but he’s sure that with his eyes he was able to convey what he wanted to say: No s**t sherlock. Jesper has been beaten up to a pulp and now this strange guy is taking him somewhere. It could be a shady place for all he knows. He finally managed to leave the house after 17 years and the first thing that happened to him was getting abducted and dragged by a man with a rope. Splendid.

As if he was reading his mind he said “I’m taking you to my place to treat you. It’s a miracle you’re alive honestly”

“Why?” he croaked, he sounded awful as if he just swallowed a bunch of sandpaper.

“I might not be a saint but I’m not cruel enough to see someone half dead. Especially if they’re an elf”

Jesper flinched hearing the word elf. Of course that would be the reason. Everything came for a price, only a fool would think otherwise.

A couple more strides later they have finally arrived. “Alright we’re here”. It was a small house. If you could even call it that. It was more like a hut with its run down walls and its floppy windows. He opened the door revealing inside. Well at least it looks better. A bed at the corner with its bed sheets untucked, a small kitchen at the opposite of it, a table with two chairs, a couch which was covered with dust and another door where he assumes is the bathroom.

The unnamed man brought him to the table and dragged a chair for him to sit. “Hold on let me get you a glass of water” , grabbing a glass and filling it with water from the tap “Here”. Jesper snatched the glass from him and started violently gulping the water, choking along the way. “Jeez kid calm down. It won’t run out” taking back the glass to refill it.

After his fit of coughs start to calm down he asks “Who are you?”.

“Oh right. I forgot to introduce myself, my name’s Ian. You?” he grinned like an i***t who found a nickel on the road.

“Jesper” he was hesitant to answer but he did kind of save him. Even though, the first impression was not the greatest with him being woken up barefoot and getting dragged by a rope. Not to mention, it was pretty suspicious that he picked him up like a stray. Maybe he shouldn’t be telling random strangers his name that easily.

“So how can I repay you?” he asked. Ian walked up to one of the cabinets and pulled out a first aid kit “We can discuss that later but now take that dirty top off so I can see what I’m dealing with”. A blush lightly spread across his cheeks, embarrassed to unclothe himself in front of someone. Button by button he finally took off his shirt revealing his pulped body. “Damn they really got you good huh” Ian eyes wide gazing at each bruise. This was humiliating, exposing himself like this. He felt vulnerable.

Ian got out some ointment and started rubbing it on the bruise on his back. “Ouch ouch that hurts” Jesper hissed, moving away from him. “Well there’s nothing I can do about that when your body is almost the same color as a grape. Now hold still” grabbing his wrist making sure he doesn’t move. And what felt like forever with him treating his bruises and cuts, he was done. “Whew, that was a lot, kid. You’ve really piqued my interest. How did a small elf like you end up like this.”

“I’m not an elf. Just because my ears are shaped differently than others doesn’t automatically mean I’m some magical creature” he grimaced at the word elf. He absolutely hated it, it reminded him that all the beatings he had gotten in the past was because of that word. Just because different equals bad. “It doesn’t matter if you’re not one, as long as you look like one person is going to go after you.”

He was right, that’s just how things work around here. Jesper have overheard mother and father conversations on multiple occasions about how magical creatures were sold, tortured and killed and they were debating if they should sell Jesper for some easy cash.

“So why did you rescue me?”

“Not really rescue per say. Think of it as an investment. I take care of you and you work for me at my bookstore. What do you think?”

“Work for you? That’s it?” his words sounded too good to be true “You’re not going to sell me?”

“Nope. Believe it or not I have no need for that much money. I just thought it would be fun to have a cute elf working the store”

“Nothing else? There’s nothing else you want from me?”

Ian raised his eyebrow, tilting his head slightly “Is there anything else you can offer me? Relax kid I don’t bite”. He walked past Jesper and went towards a pile of clothes. He rummage through them and grabbed what looks like a worn out black beanie and threw it to him “Just because I don’t bite doesn’t mean others won’t. You should cover those things, wear this when you’re outside”

“Thanks” he looked at the beanie, the threads were loosely hanging out in multiple places and there were some stains on it that were left there ages ago. Such a weird guy. “Am I going to live here from now on?” he asked.

“Yup and this is where you’ll be sleeping” he rushed to the couch, patting away the dust that laid there. “You must be hungry right? You look like you haven’t eaten in ages”

His stomach made a loud noise just as he said that and his cheeks flushed. How many times has he felt embarrassed today? He lost count. Ian chuckled “Let me go make you something real quick”.

Just like that, Jesper was able to get a new place to stay, he got a job and now he’s living with the man that abducted him. What a day he thought. So many things happened and he prays to whatever god that may listen to him that nothing weirder happens to him, at least for a while.