Part 1
“I’m sorry James, this is all I can give you.” the Shopkeeper said sadly, as he handed the scrawny boy 2 half-rotten apples. “I wish I could do more for you, but I’m barely making it myself. Try asking the baker, he might have some stale bread.”
“No, I understand. Thank you, though.” James replied, taking the apples and immediately taking a big bite out of one of them. “I’ll see you in a few days if I’m not dead.” James started to leave, waving at the shopkeeper as he did so. He ducked into an alley, and made his way to the next street over. Noticing a loaf of bread laying in the street, he quickly scooped it up and kept walking, ducking to the next alley. “Nobody will miss this.” he said out loud to no one in particular. After a few more minutes of walking streets and alleys, constant twists and turns as if trying to shake off a pursuer, he stopped at a ruined house. The windows were boarded up, and the front door was nailed shut. Hopping the fence, he made his way to the back door, which was slightly ajar.
“An orphan?” a voice asked. James jumped.
“Who’s there? It may look abandoned but this is still my family’s house! The Mayor said so!” James yelled, pulling a knife.
A grey-robed woman with raven black hair stepped out from behind a bookcase in the house, her bare feet leaving frost on the ground. “Relax, you are in no danger, not yet at least.”
“Who are you?” James asked, voice quivering slightly. “Why are you here?”
“I saw your exchange with the shopkeeper awhile ago and grew curious. A boy with tattered yet regal clothes begging? So I followed and found this house.” she sat down at the long dining table and frowned. “Something is not right. This was not supposed to happen.”
James, seeing that the strange woman didn’t appear to mean any harm, walked over to the table and sat down at the other end. He kept his knife out though, and sliced off a piece of bread. “What wasn’t supposed to happen?” he asked, stuffing a piece of bread in his mouth.
“Something unexpected happened. This is curious. How old are you James?”
“I’m turning 12 after the festival next month. Why?”
“In that case, I will leave you with a birthday gift while I am gone. Look inside your Father’s trunk after I leave. This may seem strange, but you must not leave the district until I return. Do you understand?”
“Why?” James asked, finishing off one of the apples. “Who are you?”
“You will understand one day. Consider me a friend.” with that, she rose and vanished into thin air, shocking James.
“What the hell?” James nearly yelled. Then he remembered her words, and ran to his Father’s bedroom. In the closet, he found his old trunk, covered in years of dust. He carefully opened the lid and his eyes grew wide. It was filled with food! There was a note attached to the inside of the lid. He carefully read the note, grateful for the education that he received before his parent’s deaths.
James,
I have enchanted this trunk. Whenever you open the lid, 3 times a day, it will be full of food for you to eat. You should have never had to beg for food, much less steal it. I will return shortly after your birthday, be ready to leave when I do come.
-A friend
“Be ready to leave?” James asked out loud. Well no matter, he had a genuine source of fresh food for now! Just like his mother used to make. He smiled at this, before digging in to the scrumptious feast.