The Royal Contract

When she tilted her head to the growing darkness, she wondered if the moon and the stars still lingered above the sky tonight. The clouds or the city smog have covered most of the world above them. She could not see anything beyond, only the spreading shadows.

“I better head home. It had been nice to meet you, Claire.” The boy stood before her in the busy street under a dimly lit streetlight. “And thanks for the meal and this.” He pointed to the jacket she bought at a flea market at a low discounted price to keep him warm on a cold night.

She was impressed with Neil. The boy was intelligent, if that was even his real name, as he wiggled his way around the city without difficulty and haggled prices with merchants with ease.

“Wait!” She called to him. “Where are you staying? Let me walk you home.” Serena knew she should let him go. The boy was not her responsibility.

She was not supposed to trust him and like him. But here she was, wanting to save him. She did not even know him, except for the lies he kept telling her. At least, she believed that most of what he said was not true, like having parents waiting for him.

“Claire, you don’t have to do that. It is getting dark. You should also get back from where you came from.” Neil answered her as he kept staring at her face. “Don’t worry. I would not tell a soul about who you are.”

.....

“What do you mean?” She asked, but somehow she already knew what he meant by it. Then, he gestured with his hand for her to bend down until her face was inches from him.

“I am a fan.” He whispered, stretching his hand until he touched her cheeks and tapped it gently. “And this is the best day of my life.” He continued. “Thanks.” Then, he took her hand and grazed it with a delicate kiss before walking away, waving his hands in the air before disappearing into the corner.

She knew it was for the best that they part ways. It was time for her to go home too. It was not safe for her to loiter on the streets at this hour unprotected. She did not even know how to defend herself if needed.

She could act tough and brave in front of the camera, holding weapons and performing action scenes. But in real life, she had no clue how he would fend off a criminal face-to-face. She could not even defend herself from her boyfriend.

However, something about the boy forced her feet to move in the direction he went. Quickly, she followed him into the dark alley where he ran off and hoped she could catch up with him.

“Neil, where are you?” She asked more to herself when fear crept into her skin, and a shiver went through her spine as she walked further away from the crowded street.

But as she stared at the smeared walls and smelled the stench-filled narrow path, she knew this was the last place she needed to be, but she had to find the boy. She did not understand what obsession possessed her, but she felt obligated to help him.

However, she did not see any signs of where he went. In truth, she could barely see anything, but her ears could hear clanking noise and shouting, probably coming from the buildings nearby.

When she moved deeper into the darkness, swallowing her fear over her crazy idea of finding the boy, she found two paths that would lead in opposite directions. Neil could have turned left or right on the other end of what seemed to be more alleyways.

“Neil?” She tried calling him when something moved in the shadows on the left path. She hoped it was him because the other options were frightening.

She could almost hear her heartbeat as it drummed across her chest. A little faster, it might finally explode out of her ribcage. Now, she understood fear as she stared at a tattered-clothed man approaching her with a crooked smile.

She had only seen men like him in the movies. They were usually actors dressed up, with prosthetics and makeup on their faces. But this man was missing several tooths, and his face had stains either from a bruise or the dirt he acquired in this dirty stench of a place.

“What do you want, lady?” The man asked when he was closed enough.

She knew she should run, but fear had her feet planted on the filthy, damped floor.

“I am looking for Neil.” Serena took a chance that the man might know the boy, but she knew that was not likely.

Her eyes kept darting left and right, hoping help was on her way. But who would come to her rescue when nobody knew where she was? She had ignored all her calls all day, knowing it would be her manager wanting to get hold of her.

“I am Neil.” The man slyly answered as he spat on his palms, pressing them together before rubbing them on both sides of his thinning hair as if he was trying to fix it in its place. “What is it that you want?”

“I am looking for a different Neil, a child.” She quickly answered, fixing her hat to cover her face as she finally forced her feet to step backward. “I am sorry if I disturb you, but I think I came to the wrong place.” She added, hoping that the man would take the hint and leave her alone as she made her escape.

“Leaving so soon, but we are just getting acquainted.” The man looked disappointed, which only heightened her fear. “I have a good wine back there if you care to join me.” He even offered, pointing in the direction he came.

“No!” She quickly shrieked out of fright. “It is getting late.” She said calmer this time. “I...” She was about to decline when she heard another voice coming from the other path.

“What are you doing here? I thought I told you to go home.” At least the voice sounded familiar, even if it had an edge of irritation in it.

She quickly turned around and found the boy walking towards them. She had never felt so much relief from seeing him. But still, what could he do against this man? The creepy man was still bigger with the two of them combined.

“Neil, I was looking for you. Where did you go?” She could still feel her hands shaking as she stared at her young friend and the man on her other side.

“I went to check on something. But you should not be here.” The boy answered. “You should go home.”

“I think you should go home with me.” She said as she kept looking at the man who stood on the other side, just watching them. “This is not a good place for a child like you.”

“I think something is wrong with your head. I am not your problem to save. I can take care of myself.” The boy looked at her, shaking his head in disbelief.

“And you can drop the tough act, Neil. Claire is my friend.” The boy reprimanded the man, who seemed to know the boy quite well.

“I was just having some fun.” The man said as he turned to face her. “I am leaving now. I am sorry. Did not mean to scare you.” He said as he walked away.

“If he was Neil, then who are you?” She asked, knowing she was at a disadvantage. The boy discovered who she was, but she still had no clue who she had spoken with all this time.

“Kenneth, but most of my friends call me Ken.” The boy finally introduced himself.

“Did you know the man who snatched my purse earlier?” That was the only explanation for why he had retrieved it effortlessly from him.

“Yes, we worked these streets together. I recognized who you are. Or at least, I think you resembled someone I know.” He finally confessed, telling her something that was possibly true.

“Do you mind if you come with me back to my place? I want to talk where I don’t have to keep looking behind my shoulder. After, if you want to leave, I will not stop you.” She promised as she waited for his answer.

She wished there was something she could do for him. It was like, after all the wrong things happening in her life. She wanted something positive to come out of it.

She had no idea if what she was doing was right. In her heart, it felt good to see the boy again. It would be nice to have a second chance to help him.

“Will you promise not to seek me again after I do what you ask?” Ken seemed impatient as he waited for her answer. “But honestly, nothing you will say would change a thing.” He answered, probably guessing what she wanted to do.

“I only want to help. But yes, I will stop looking for you if you come with me.” She only wished to give him options. A child like him had a better future off the street. He should be at school, acquiring a good education, not pickpocketing to earn a living.

“I am not going back to a foster home. I am better off living in the street with my pals.” He continued as if answering a question she had never even thought about, at least, not yet.