Castaway was first published in Darker Times Collection: Volume Two in March 2014, after being named the runner-up in Darker Times Fiction's July 2013 Flash Fiction competition.
Castaway
Being from a small town can be difficult, everyone knows each other and more importantly everyone knows you. Perhaps this wouldn't be so bad if 'you' didn't refer to a thirteen year old boy named James, the youngest member of the community by twenty years. Part of growing up is testing boundaries and breaking rules but that just hasn't been possible for James, whatever he does, good or ill, it's reported directly to his parents.
James finally has a solution.
Being from a fishing village established by the Vikings and being home schooled by a mother with a profusion of books on the subject, James has found just what he's been lusting after for all these years.
A spell.
Well, an incantation, designed to remove those people who impede James' freedom and it only requires the sorcerer to say a few words by the sea. No black cat, no witch's hat, not even the burning of any herbs. So, James does just that, he travels to the ocean and slowly breathes in the sea air, his lungs filing with the impending sense of freedom.
With his antiquated book open in front of him, he stares down at the text. After taking a deep breath as if it might be his last, little James begins to read aloud and thus butcher the ancient Norse language. Secretly half expecting the heavens to open and a thunderous fist to smite him from the sky – he's horribly disappointed. The clouds remain calm and fluffy and the blue ether stays just the way it has been all day. Book in hand and head solemnly lowered to the floor, James trudges home, lies in bed and briskly falls asleep.
He awakens. No call from his mother. He explores the house – no sign of his father. He walks rapidly down his street towards his beloved sea. No one. No one that is except Coal, his neighbour's cat.
James sits in the middle of the road, slowly stroking the friendly feline, acutely aware of the lack of traffic. There's no one. No one to command him, no one to control him, he's free as the waves. They are his first port of call.
Sitting on the pier, for the first time he can go swimming. For years his mother has said 'it's too dangerous', that his grandfather died at sea. She's not here anymore and he takes to swimming like a duck to water.
Only he feels something slimy brush against his leg. Fearful it might be a jellyfish and knowing they're poisonous, he thrusts his head below the surface. He opens his eyes underwater for the first time and begins to choke, his lungs filling with water as he involuntarily gasps at the sight.
Everyone he's ever known, beaten, bloated and bobbing just below the waves.
This isn't what disturbs James most of all though. The thing that chills him to the bone as he reaches the safety of the shore, is that he still has a smile on his face.
James finally has a solution.
Being from a fishing village established by the Vikings and being home schooled by a mother with a profusion of books on the subject, James has found just what he's been lusting after for all these years.
A spell.
Well, an incantation, designed to remove those people who impede James' freedom and it only requires the sorcerer to say a few words by the sea. No black cat, no witch's hat, not even the burning of any herbs. So, James does just that, he travels to the ocean and slowly breathes in the sea air, his lungs filing with the impending sense of freedom.
With his antiquated book open in front of him, he stares down at the text. After taking a deep breath as if it might be his last, little James begins to read aloud and thus butcher the ancient Norse language. Secretly half expecting the heavens to open and a thunderous fist to smite him from the sky – he's horribly disappointed. The clouds remain calm and fluffy and the blue ether stays just the way it has been all day. Book in hand and head solemnly lowered to the floor, James trudges home, lies in bed and briskly falls asleep.
He awakens. No call from his mother. He explores the house – no sign of his father. He walks rapidly down his street towards his beloved sea. No one. No one that is except Coal, his neighbour's cat.
James sits in the middle of the road, slowly stroking the friendly feline, acutely aware of the lack of traffic. There's no one. No one to command him, no one to control him, he's free as the waves. They are his first port of call.
Sitting on the pier, for the first time he can go swimming. For years his mother has said 'it's too dangerous', that his grandfather died at sea. She's not here anymore and he takes to swimming like a duck to water.
Only he feels something slimy brush against his leg. Fearful it might be a jellyfish and knowing they're poisonous, he thrusts his head below the surface. He opens his eyes underwater for the first time and begins to choke, his lungs filling with water as he involuntarily gasps at the sight.
Everyone he's ever known, beaten, bloated and bobbing just below the waves.
This isn't what disturbs James most of all though. The thing that chills him to the bone as he reaches the safety of the shore, is that he still has a smile on his face.
