Polaris (11 page)

“Yes, well, my actual name is Maximilian, but that’s entirely too long to say, don’t you think?” His jowls turned upward into a toothless grin.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not sure how I arrived in your home,” Aaron said. “I was looking for an object and came in through the closet marked Alrescha.”

“Interesting,” Max said.

“Yes. It was part of the clue for the object I have to find in an odd game that I’m playing that you wouldn’t believe if I told you.”

Max smiled. “Oh, really?” He chuckled.

Aaron looked at his oversized jolly new friend and thought it did sound silly since he was having a conversation with a manatee. “Well, there is this evil alien kid named Nakal, and somehow I was chosen for a
game.
I didn’t want to play, but they kidnapped my mother and best friend so I’m forced to find three out of five objects while Nakal tries to stop me or I will lose my life or something weird like that but I’m still unsure how I can be zapped into some place call
nothingness
and they will get away with it,” Aaron said, without pausing to take a breath.

Max’s jowls hung downward, and his eyes softened. “You are in a pickle indeed, my little friend.”

Aaron’s shoulders slumped. “Yeah,” he answered weakly.

Max straightened up as much as his massive gelatinous mass would allow. “Well, if you think the object is hidden within my home, feel free to look around.”

Aaron’s eyes perked up. “Oh, thank you,” he said and offered Max a smile. “That kid Nakal that I mentioned will probably show up. He does when I get close to the object. Could you yell if you see him?”

“Certainly.” Max winked.

“I’m not exactly sure what I’m looking for. The clue said my answer lies within the ties that bind,” Aaron thought aloud as he looked around the small bedroom of the home. There was not much more besides a huge bed, a small dresser, and a nightstand. His eyes scanned the area before he left the room and found himself in a short hallway. Aaron wondered how Max could maneuver down such a narrow space.

Next, he entered a large living room, neatly decorated with only two large recliner chairs, a flat screen TV, a few paintings on the wall, and a bear rug. Nestled in the corner was a small kitchen.

A sudden ruckus coming from Max’s bedroom startled Aaron.

“Back out of here, you,” Max’s voice roared through the house. “I’ve been warned about you.”

Aaron ran back to the bedroom and found Max squirming around and holding Nakal tightly within his massive arms. Nakal’s eyes flickered with amber sparks when he saw Aaron.

“Oh, no, you don’t,” Max continued to yell. “Aaron, did you find what you were looking for?”

“Not yet,” Aaron answered.

“Well, keep looking.” Max looked down at Nakal. “He’s not going anywhere.”

Aaron nodded and rushed back into the living room where he continued to search for anything strange. He searched around the recliners and felt around in the storage compartments on the sides of the chairs. He looked inside the kitchen cabinets and checked behind the TV.

“Stop squirming around,” Max yelled from the other room. “I’m not letting you go.”

Aaron continued to search, when his eyes stopped on one of the paintings that hung on the wall. It was of a stream with a man rowing a boat. He moved closer to the painting to get a better look. Hanging from the side of the boat were two fish, whose tails were bound together with a small cord—Alrescha. The smell of water grew strong as Aaron leaned in. He reached up and touched the boat, and it surprisingly rocked back and forth.

“Hey!” shouted the small fisherman in the painting. “Take it easy before you cause me to sink.”

Aaron quickly removed his hand. The cord between the two fish glowed slightly, and he slowly moved his hand to touch it. The cord and the fish fell into the water and immediately the fish swam in opposite directions, stretching out the cord that had them bound.

Aaron gently plucked it out of the water. “Got it,” he whispered. He hurried back to Max. “I’ve got it.” He waved the object around.

Max showed his toothless grin, and Nakal frowned. This one here is a frisky little thing. I don’t know how much longer I can hold him. You better go.”

Aaron nodded then sighed. “I’m not sure how to get back out.” His eyes frantically searched the room until he noticed the small symbol from the meteor. “I’ve got it figured out. Thanks for your help, Max. I owe you.”

Aaron waved goodbye to his friend before he disappeared inside the wall. He was once again standing within the small shack near the paper mill. A flicker of light appeared in front of him before the board came into sight. A check mark appeared under his name.
Nakal—1 Aaron—1

Aaron left the shack and headed back to where he’d left the truck. Unsure of what he would next encounter, he was happy to have at least tied up the game. He stopped in his tracks when he realized the truck was missing.

He ran to the spot where the truck had been parked and looked at the ground for any clue as to who may have taken it. He sat on the ground and sulked. “Now what?” he mumbled.

He felt them before he saw them. The ominous thump had returned. He scrambled to his feet and ran to the mill. He tried the doors on the side of the building and tried to open several of the windows from the outside. None worked. The thumping sounds came nearer.

He looked up and saw a partially open window and determined the quickest way to reach it was by climbing up on the piles of logs that lay against the building. He climbed the logs and reached for the window, but he was still a few inches too short. He looked down on the log he stood on and wiggled around to make sure it was sturdy. He lifted his arms and hopped up, catching the edge of the windowsill just as the pile of logs collapsed. Bracing his feet against the wall, he pulled himself up and through the window.

He landed on a shelf that held large rolls of paper. Although he no longer could hear the thumping sound, he felt strongly that Nakal was near. He climbed down from the shelf and had a look around the paper mill. His second grade class had gone on a tour of the mill, complete with a hardhat and goggles. Parker convinced him to sneak away from the group to get a closer look at a machine that seemed to maul anything that came near it. After they were discovered, they were both forced to hold the teacher’s hands for the remainder of their time within the mill.

Although he’d only been inside the mill a few times, Aaron navigated easily through the heavy equipment. He’d even remembered some of the machines and their roles. He wondered if the mauling machine was still in the back and if another object for the game was located within the mill, since Nakal and his annihilators were still in the area.

Aaron’s senses were on high alert, and he expected Nakal to pop out at him at any moment. There was still a fair amount of sunlight shining through the windows of the mill, but there were a lot of spooky shadows. He followed the path of the wall, carefully checking for anything out of the ordinary.

“Psst,” came a voice. “It’s me, Aaron. I’m back behind the machine you’re standing near.”

“Mr. Kessler?” Aaron whispered as he made his way around the machine. “What are you doing here?” he asked, although he was relieved to see Mr. Kessler.

“You’re doing well, Aaron,” Mr. Kessler said. “The game is now tied.”

“Were you in the room?” Aaron asked. “Did you see what happened?”

Mr. Kessler shook his head. “No, I’ve just arrived.”

“Well, I have a feeling that there is another object somewhere around here.”

Mr. Kessler’s eyebrows rose. “What makes you think that?”

Aaron shrugged. “I dunno, just makes sense to think that, since Nakal is still creeping around here somewhere. Have you seen him?”

“No, I have not,” Mr. Kessler answered. “However, I don’t think the object you are looking for is here. I think it’s on the outside near the stream, if you go south.”

“How do you know that?”

Mr. Kessler winked. “Oh, I have my ways of finding out things. I will walk with you.”

Aaron brushed the dust from his clothes. “Okay, let’s go.”

Aaron followed Mr. Kessler out of the mill through a small delivery door. The truck was still missing, and there was nothing out of the ordinary as he scanned the area. They walked for a few moments until they reached the stream. Mr. Kessler led him to a lush deep embankment where the water flowed swiftly.

Mr. Kessler pointed with his cane. “I saw something along this area.”

Aaron scanned the embankment, looking for anything unusual.

“I think I may know of a way to help you,” Mr. Kessler said.

Aaron slid down part of the slippery embankment before going into a seated position and scooting himself closer to the water.

“I don’t know about that,” Aaron answered as he thought back to the warning that had been given to him earlier. “You told me, when we first met, that you were unable to help me, that you had to follow the rules. What’s changed?” he asked as he looked back at Mr. Kessler.

“Well, we all know rules were meant to be broken,” Mr. Kessler answered.

Aaron’s attention was diverted to the stream. Someone was laughing, and it reminded him of hyenas. He turned to ask Mr. Kessler if he heard them when he saw Mr. Kessler’s eyes. They sparkled amber as he smiled.

Before Aaron had a chance to pull himself back up, he felt several pairs of hands grab his feet and legs and begin pulling him into the water. He desperately tried to grab anything to prevent himself from being pulled into the rapids. The wicked laughter got louder. He turned to look at his assailants and discovered they were little hairless monkey-type creatures. He counted at least five of them. He used his feet to kick at them to try and free himself from their grasp. They hissed at him, but he managed to free himself far enough to pull himself up onto the embankment.

“Mr. Kessler, help me, please!” Aaron yelled as his feet continued to slide on the embankment.

Mr. Kessler stared down at him. “I will help you, but you must do something for me. It’s a way to put an end to all of this, and quickly.”

The creatures grabbed Aaron once again, and he kicked back at them frantically.

Aaron’s heart raced as he continued to fight back. His eyes stung from the beads of sweat trickling into them. “You said not to trust you!” he yelled.

“Very well,” Mr. Kessler said as he turned to leave. “But not everyone is who they claim themselves to be. Just ask your beautiful and debonair hosts.”

“What do you mean?” Aaron’s voice screeched out. “Come back.”

Mr. Kessler stopped, turned around, and nodded at the creatures. “They’re relentless little boogers, and they have ravenous appetites for little boys. It’s your choice. Either way you will lose, but let’s just say one choice won’t be quite so painful.”

“No!” Aaron yelled out, but this time he managed to hold on to a tree root with one arm while he reached inside his shirt and pulled out the necklace. He held the charm in his hand and thought on the falcons. Within mere seconds, he heard screeching and looked up to see the falcons in V formation, rapidly descending. One with a tiny gold medallion led the charge. Zimmare. The falcons pecked and tore at the small animals with their talons. The creatures knocked several of the falcons into the water, but Zimmare continued the onslaught, until the creatures loosened their grip enough for Aaron to wiggle from their grasp.

Aaron quickly scrambled up the embankment just in time to see Mr. Kessler leaning on his cane, hobbling quickly back toward the mill.

“Hey,” Aaron called out.

Mr. Kessler briefly turned around and grinned. His eyes glowed.

Aaron chased him back into the mill, but he was nowhere to be found. As he ran through the mill looking for anything that caught his eye, he thought he saw Mr. Kessler go around the corner. He followed. Near one of the huge concrete pits where the pulp was mixed, silver light shone.

Aaron slowly approached it and peered inside. A constant flicker of silver light shone from the bottom. Aaron continued to stare into the light as the area around him dimmed, and he felt his eyelids getting heavier. He tried to stop himself from leaning toward the opening, but the light seemed to draw him, and he felt helpless as he fell over into the pit.

He landed in mushy pile of pulp. As he paddled his way to the side of the wall, he continued to sink. His eyes searched for a way out.

Mr. Kessler appeared above at the opening.

“Help me!” Aaron yelled.

“Of course,” Mr. Kessler answered as he reached over and pulled a lever.

A liquid substance poured quickly into the pit. Aaron struggled to find a way out as the water reached up beneath his chin and continued to rise. His sneaker touched something hard. He kicked at it and felt something turn. He kicked once again and felt a pull beneath him as the water that surrounded him lowered. He continued to kick at the valve until the hatch opened and he was pulled down inside the pipes flowing with the water through several connectors.

Aaron gasped as he tried to take in as much air as he could before he was pulled beneath the water. Ahead he saw two openings. The one on the right glowed. He shifted his body as he neared so the current would take him to the right. Once inside the tunnel, he saw a light glowing near the end. He was pulled beneath the water again, and he quickly gulped for air before he was immersed. A few seconds later he found himself floating in a shallow pond. He stood and waded his way out before collapsing against a tree.