Peter and Lucky

Where am I?

I looked around, I am inside a cardboard box.

Why am I inside a cardboard box?

I tried to wrap my mind around the reason, however, I failed to recall recent events. I leaped out of the box using my hind legs and shook the dirt out of my body.

“Woof! Wooof! Woof!” A pack of dogs surrounded me as I came out of the cardboard box, their animosity was evident.

How dare you, don’t they know I am the prince of Annelex?

I tried to communicate to them, however, all they did was bark. I raised my paw, determined to use my power, nothing came out. The pack looked baffled by my action, I raised my paw again with more concentration. Nothing.

Did I lose my power? How is this possible?

I scanned my opponents, there were four of them, two of them were significantly larger than me physically. They had dirty fur and battered claws, it was evident that they were more experienced in physical fighting than me. As a royal born I was never trained in physical fighting we relied heavily on our magical power, I looked at the four nervously, wishing that I was more trained in physical fighting. They attacked at once, coordinated, soon we were on the ground twisting and biting each other. They had the advantage; I was beaten back to the wall.

         “Hey! Shoo! Shoo!” A creature appeared riding something with two wheels, he chased the four dogs off with rocks.

         This creature had a funny appearance and it was walking on two legs only.

         “Are you ok?” the creature held me up in his arms but I resisted and jumped back to the ground.

         I tried to communicate with the creature to thank him but he wanted to pet me.

         I am the prince of Annelex, who are you?

         “ I will be right back,” the creature sped away with his ride.

         He came back with two bowls, one of them held water and the other one some sort of biscuit. I accepted his generous offer due to my growing hunger.

         “Here is water and some dog food,” the creature said while petting me again “ do you not like the dog food?”

         It tastes horrible, I spat out the dog food and avoided the creature’s hand which was coming for my head again.

         If you did not save my earlier, I would have you killed with my spells, I said or rather thought since the creature could not understand me.

         “Come on,” the creature said “ come home with me, someone probably abandoned you.”

         He hummed a tune, it was a sweet tune.

         *

        I learned a lot in the time I spent with the creature… or the boy.The boy had a name, his name was Peter. I had a new name too, he referred to me as Lucky. Peter’s mom was not happy when he brought me home, but after a lot of tears from the boy I was finally accepted. They were nice people except they gave me those disgusting food every day. They wanted to play this stupid game where I was expected to run after a ball/stick when I first came but they gave up after receiving no response from me everytime

         “Lucky? Where are you?” Peter called my name.

         I used to explore a lot about this new world on my own but it worried Peter if I am gone for too long. I met a couple of my own kind but they did not possess intelligence like me or magical powers. I came to a conclusion these creatures that Peter referred to them as “dogs” although they were anatomically similar to me but they were not the same species as me.

         I am right here you goof head, like always he did not understand me.

He lean closer to hug me, I slipped through his small hands like always.

         He did not mind my reaction instead he picked up a ball and smiled his foolish smile: “Wanna go play some catch, Lucky?”

         One of the many stupid games they expected me to play, I turned away and walked off like usual.

         *

         I missed home.

         I sat in a cushion over watching the driveway by the window, for the past few days I could not help but think about home. I guess this was what Peter meant by homesick, someone entered the house. It was Peter, I was glad to see Peter home. He distracted me from my sadness, he grew taller and bigger in the past couple years, his voice was also remarkably deeper.

         “How’ve you been, Lucky?” Peter swooped down for a hug, this time I did not avoid him.

         The warmth of his arms made me feel home, just a tiny bit. I resumed back to my position, staring at the distance.

         “Are you sad?” Peter said.

         Peter can read my mind sometimes and I can read his after all these years, I could tell he wasn't happy either.

         “Well, I had a s****y day too,” Peter said “ My girlfriend, you know?”

         Peter’s girlfriend was Heather, they’ve been dating since the beginning of High school. I’ve heard lots about her over the years.

         “ She just broke up with me in school today,” Peter sighed “ as if the last five years together was nothing but a dream.”

         I snuggled up against him, this would make him feel better.

         I felt better with Peter beside me also, at least I was not alone in this world. Peter started to hum the sweet tune, his voice echoed in the empty house.

*

         “Well, I have to go,” Peter looked at me sadly as he hugged his mother.

         Peter told me he had to go somewhere far, far away, to a place called Vietnam. He was sad when he announced the news to me, he said he did not know when he will be back or if he will be back at all.

         “Goodbye, buddy, be good ok?” Peter looked at me sadly, almost as if this was our last meeting “ I might not be able to see you when I get back.”

         He was gone for a couple of years. When he came back, he was never the same person. He smoked a lot and drank alcohol on many occasions. Peter never questioned about my incredible lifespan for a “dog”, I enjoyed his companionship and he enjoyed mine.

         *

         You have three month, make it count

         That was the ultimatum that Jessie received from the older gentleman after his decision, in three month he will be non-existence, to his friends and family.

         “Are you ok?” Kate asked.

         “Yeah, yeah I’m fine,” Jessie returned to the present world.

         It was a hot morning; the warmth and sound of early summer distracted Jessie from the older gentleman for a second. It was just another ordinary day, walking the same path to school with the same person, it has been like this for the past five years. Jessie felt a bolt of pain when he realized all these would be gone in three months’ time.

         “Hey, say why don't we skip the afternoon today and go do something fun?” Kate asked.

         “Yea, yea sure,” Jessie said.

         “So I heard there is a new… “ Kate blabbered on as usual.

         The cafeteria was crowded at lunch as usual but Andy pushed through the crowd with his seniority power.

         “So, wanna hang in the afternoon? I don’t want to go to chemistry today,” Andy asked.

         “Uhh, sorry I already have something planned,” Jessie said.

         “Is that so?” Andy grabbed the last two burgers on the rack “ let me guess, another date with Kate?”

         “For the last time Andy, we are not dating, we are just good friends,” Jessie said.

         “Pssh,” Andy tossed me one of the burgers.

         In the end, Kate and I arrived at the gates of the biggest amusement park in the city. In the weekend this place was always packed with people, coming here during weekdays was a smart move. After three rides, Jessie felt like his stomach was turned upside down while Kate was laughing from the excitement.

         “Here, drink some water, I will be right back,” Kate passed Jessie a bottle of water.

         Jessie waited patiently as Kate went to the restroom, trying hard to hold his stomach contents within his stomach. The noise of the amusement was interrupted by the vibrations from Jessie’s cellphone. It was an unknown number.

         “Hello?”

         “Hi, Jessie.”

         Jessie was confused by the mystery voice of the caller before remembering that the voice belonged to the older gentleman. Scenes from that unbelievable night flashed before his eyes.

         “How did you get my cellphone number?”

         Jessie realized that was a stupid question, this man could bend space and time.

         “That does not matter, I need you now, meet me at the General Hospital now,”

         “What? I am in the middle of something right now.”

         “I said, NOW or else…”

         The phone was dead before Jessie could open any arguments.

         “Who are you calling,” Kate surprised Jessie.

         “Oh, oh Hi,” Jessie dropped the phone on the ground “ you scared me.”

         “Are you ok?”

         “Yeah, yeah… Hey Kate listen, I am really sorry but something popped up and I really need to go right now.”

         “Is everything alright?”

         “Yes,” Jessie handed the water back to Kate.

         “Hey, I just want to say thank you… for all these,” Jessie said before running off.

         Kate smiled and mouthed some inaudible words as Jessie ran off. Jessie ran full speed to catch the next available bus to the general hospital. The Central general hospital was the biggest hospital in the city and like all others it was filled with patients and the smell of rubbing alcohol. Jessie found the older gentleman sitting in an isolated spot with his crane lying against the wall beside him.

         “Good, let’s get to business,” the older gentleman said “ We’ve got a, I guess what you would call a demon here, today.”

         The older gentleman got up from his chair and walked towards the intensive care unit with Jessie following right behind.

         “Wait a minute, Where are you going? We can’t just walk in there,” Jessie said.

         “I really like this country but it really needs to spend more money in healthcare,” the older gentleman said “ this hospital is always over-crowded and short staffed.”

The older gentleman was proven correct when the two slipped through easily after a nurse.

        “Here’s our person,” the older gentleman said as he opened the door to one of the rooms.

         The person was older, a lot older than the older gentleman. He was lying on a hospital bed attached to many tubes that were probably essential for his survival.

         “Jesus, this is our guy? I mean he looks half dead,” Jessie said “ no one can even visit him here probably, I don't see how he would be a problem.”

         “That’s not our guy,” the older gentleman said as he reached under the hospital bed “ this is our guy.”

         The older gentleman pulled out a small dog that was resisting his grip. Jessie knew the dog wouldn't be able to escape through the older gentleman’s iron grip from first-hand experience.

         “The dog?” Jessie asked.

         “The fact that it is able to sneak in here by itself is a good evidence that he is no ordinary dog,” the older gentleman said “ Am I right? Prince of Annelex.”

         The dog squirmed at older gentleman’s words, it raised its paw as if trying to attack.

“Go back to where you belong,” the older gentleman tapped his crane three times and the white flash caused Jessie to black out for almost five minutes.

         “how was that?” the old gentleman said.

         “What was that?” Jessie knew everything now.

         The old man on the hospital bed was Peter, the dog’s name was Lucky, their stories and memories flow inside his head.

         “It’s a flash back of the person’s event, it happens when you send someone to another parallel universe,” the older gentleman said.

         The older gentleman as if worn out, used his crane to support half of his weight.

         “Now, the man’s got to go also,” the older gentleman said.

         “Wait… Wait a minute,” Jessie said “ the old man couldn’t communicate with the dog at all, I meant even if he could he is dying already, I don't think he will be able to affect anything, I mean look at him.”

         “You are right,” the older gentleman said “ but a rule is a rule, if you had interaction with anything from another universe.”

         The older gentleman reached for a switch on the complex machine that was maintaining Peter’s life, one little tap would end this fragile life.

         “You made an expectation for me, why can’t you make an expectation for him? You don't have to kill him, just send him to the place you sent me,” Jessie said.

         The older gentleman’s hesitated for a brief moment, a groan came from Peter on the bed.

         “Lucky…?” Peter managed to open his eyes but his head movement was restricted by his life support.

         “Did you guys come for Lucky?” Peter noticed Jessie and the older gentleman in his peripheral vision, he was neither surprised or angry.

         “I always knew he is special, he must be some sort of you know angel or something out of this world,” Peter tried to laugh but it became a cough “ iss he at a better place now? he would often stare out the window at something in the distance, something I can never see.”

         “Yes,” Jessie teared up a little “ he is at a better place now.”

         Peter started humming a sweet tune and as if satisfied went back to his sleep or unconscious state. The older gentleman reached for the switch again.

         “You may exit the room if you don’t want see this,” the older gentleman said.

         Jessie obeyed this time and waited for the older gentleman outside the room, the older gentleman was out in seconds.

         “Let’s get out of here,” the older gentleman said “ hold me.”

         “It consumes great energy to bend space,” the older gentleman said “ that’s why I need you here to help me and that is also the reason why I sent the older gentleman to death instead of sending him to a non-existent universe, it was necessary. ”

         Jessie wanted to object but believed it was wise to remain silent. The older gentleman handed Jessie a set of car keys.

         “I can’t drive,” Jessie said.

         “You better start learning now, “ the older gentleman said.

         The two hobbled into the parking lot

of the hospital and looked for their escape vehicle.