No One Left

If you look to your left, you will see a very thick bush and the same thing when you look to your right. Up front looks like an endless path screaming silently in the ears of those coming towards it.

'run! run'

The path is most creepy at night. When the insects and night agents are at full strength and the shadows up front forming into different creepy things that reminds you of those horror movies you've seen before.

The same can't be said for these two knights who have known the name this path bears and can walk about it at any time of the day.

They are coming from one of their knighthood adventures. Returning like proud warriors. Legends!. As they recount the tales and all that happened on this great adventure.

"I killed Dave but he keeps standing back up". One of the Knights lamented as they continue their journey back to their kingdom.

" I'm not even going to engage them in battle again" reported the other. "They never keep to rules" the knight concluded.

The journey back to the kingdom was a quiet one. Guess the Knights lost this time but due to the other party breaking the rules.

They soon arrive at their kingdom, let's call it home this time. But as they approached home, they began to slow down their pace. It is time to account for the days' adventure most likely by force. They know any mistake will sell them off so they decide to device an excuse. They whispered some indecipherable words to each other and started running as fast as they never had.

"Mase!"

Someone called as they approach an old building. They keep running as fast as they can but the person in the the building hasn't finished their rant.

"This is the time you are returning home". The person shouted in a questioning tone.

It is a she and that's Mase' mother. Mase ran straight into the old house as the other knight ran past it, to her own destination. I guess.

The inside of the house is surprisingly more beautiful than the outer side tends to show. The house seems to be well arranged. Television and some home appliances neatly arranged at a side, two single-seater chairs and one two-seater chair arranged at different angles of the room and some picture frames hung on different sides of the wall. One seems to have Mase in them with a man and woman that seems most likely to be his parents. It is the sitting room.

That voice calls from another part of the house again and Mase ran in the direction the voice came from. He opens a door and enters where he thinks he had heard the voice. It was the kitchen. Standing in the kitchen is a woman that looks most likely to be in her late thirties. She is tall, elegant and looking at her from behind, you will notice how endowed she is and certainly too beautiful for her age.

When she turned to face Mase, her beautiful eyes scanned his dirty clothes up to down.

"So tell me, who ask you to leave this house. I told you not to ever walk that road alone again but..."

"It was not just me" he interrupted "Jane was with me". He thought that would be enough but the lashings didn't stop.

"Even at that, you both are still kids and that path, I do hear, is becoming more dangerous these days. Do you want to be kidnapped or killed or something and make us worry?" She didn't wait for him to answer the question.

"I'm sure you didn't do your homework before you went to play. You are becoming more and more stubborn these days and you have to be disciplined. You must..."

Mase stopped listening to all his mother was saying as the aroma of what she's cooking blocks his ears. His stomach is growling and he's almost drooling from the aroma of the food alone. He is a foodie. Though he never gets fat but he eats everything and anything that comes across his path.

When he looked at his mother again, he noticed she was still talking and she didn't even realize the person she was talking to wasn't listening.

"I'm coming to see the principal of your school tomorrow" she said as she finally ceased to talk.

Mase was glad he heard that last part.

'If she is going to see Principal Godfrey tomorrow, then I need to start looking for excuses to make up for everything' Mase thought.

But he didn't realize he had missed the most important information when he was drooling on a meal. A great knight of Takumi kingdom will soon fall in the deep sea of... let's see!.

Mrs Henshaw, Mase's mother told him to go have his bath and change into new clothes. The clothes he was putting has become a mini rag. 'The battle of the knights is not a battle for the faint-hearted'.

Mase ran inside his room at the back end of the building so he can bath before the food gets ready. He can't afford to miss them hot. Mase's room is a small room, though big enough for little Mase. It has in it his bed, a study table that he probably have never used, then his wardrobe and different toys, mostly toy guns and paper swords all over. The room is a total mess.

Mase quickly took his bath and head out to get his food. He wish to devour the meal as fast as possible. When it comes to food, he is always in a rush.

He met his father when he got downstairs. He seems to just be returning from the day's work. He looks happy talking with his wife but had a slight change of emotion when Mase walked in.

"Welcome Dad" he greeted

"How are you my boy. How was school today, and I hope you are fine..." he bombarded him with series of questions without waiting for him to answer.

This is his usual way. He is known to be a disciplinarian and an intelligent man, some say that's because he had lived abroad for a long time.

Mase has a hunch that something fishy is behind those questions. Unfortunately he is right.

"Your mum told me she asked you to complete your homework before I return from work. Where is it, I want to see it now". Mr Henshaw demanded for his homework.

Sadly for Mase he has not done it but he began to wonder when his mother told him to do his homework before his father returns. Then he remembered when he had stopped listening to his mother ranting and shouting and only concentrated on the aroma of the food.

'That must be when she told me' he thought.

His mother had told him to do his assignment but he was not listening. That day became worse for Mase. A true knight was beaten.

In the next house, just behind the Henshaws house, a sound of crying was heard as a child seems to be receiving some sort of punishment. It is Jane.

She too had faced her own problems when she returned home and now in this situation. Another knight on her knees. Our true Knights have been defeated but this time no foul-play involved and they can't complain on this field.

Mase could not eat that night. I guess for the first time in his life.