Chapter One:
On the Verge of Death
I am so sick of this pain, my limbs, they feel…Numb. The feeling of the ruffled sheets touching my burning skin is almost, gone. The cold breeze seeping through the window is a mild comfort, though barely anything is a comfort in this state of health. As I reach for my glasses, I feel a piercing pain stab through my head, as if an arrow had struck me. I could see small glints of reality fading away from me – this was the end; the end everyone dreaded.
Spirits’ P.O.V
All Claude could hear was the high-pitched ringing in his ears – he felt like he was falling. His eyes were as if they had rolled to the back of his head, he could no longer feel the breeze he so craved at this moment, because everything was gone.
Some people say their whole life flashes before their eyes before they die, that they could see themselves as children, playing with toys, or with friends. Some people even believe they can’t go to heaven, without certain purposes for your existence being complete. Though only the dead know what is true or not.
Claude’s P.O.V
“Am I dead?” I murmur to myself, “Where am I?” I was hoping to get a suspicious voice to reply, but, my voice just echoes around this empty space, just like a lost child, trying to find their way home. Out of nowhere, an aggressive flash hits my field of vision, and it goes black again…
****
Finally, I hear a source of noise, but it isn’t echoing, in fact, it’s just the soft sound of an owl, hooting. Gently, I open my eyes and radiant beams of light burst through my windows then I realise, I’m 12 years old again! This is way too odd, though. How can I travel back in time? I’m dead! I died! All of a sudden, my outburst of thoughts are interrupted by my late Ma, running into my room.
“Claude! Claude! Wake up! It’s time to get up!” she shouts, all bubbly and excited (my typical Ma). Just to make sure, I question her about my whereabouts:
“Ma? Where am I?”
“What do you mean, sweetheart? You’re at home, did you bump your head?” she replies, slightly worried.
“No, no, I’m fine…” I assure her.
“Okay, I’ll leave you to get dressed.” Ma says as she exits my room.
Chapter Two:
‘Edmond’
Once she was out of my sight, I take a deep breath and glance around the room, taking everything in. I had almost forgotten how eye-catching my room was, and how I missed the sweet smell of my fresh sheets. Before getting dressed, I turn around and stare intensely out of my glazed window:
*oink, oink*
I hear the pigs outside, oinking, and realise I have to feed the chickens like I used to as a young, country boy. This is all so weird, what business do I have here? Instead of zoning out with my everlasting thoughts, I get dressed – this is probably going to be a monotonous day.
Yawning and stretching, I stroll into the living room, the kitchen.
“Hey Ma?” I ask.
“Yes, Claude?” she replied, putting cutlery into a basket of some sort.
“Why is everyone messing around with stuff?”
“It’s the Golden Jubilee tomorrow, remember?” she stated.
I stare at her blankly, today was the day my sister went missing all those years ago, I regret everything I did that day. Unexpectedly, my Ma turns around and starts styling my messy, raven-black, mop of hair, I try to resist, but she stops me.
“Can you go feed the chickens please? After that, you can go play outside with Edmond and Mary.” She says.
“Okay.” I oblige, not surprised in the slightest. I lived on a farm as a boy, you see, my father was a farmer and I always helped out because, I wanted to own our farm when I was older. I ran towards the door and started to pull on my boots, then my cap, and sprinted outside. Pa had already put out the bucket of chicken feed for me.
“Thanks Pa.” I think to myself.
****
The feeling of the scorching sun hitting my skin rapidly was starting to get overwhelming, so I took off my cap and headed inside. I was surprised to see my undersized, slender younger sister, Mary, run up to me and wrap her arms around my waist.
“Ma ’Ma says we can go outside to play with Edmond, can we? Can we?!” she exclaims, staring up at me with her perky green eyes.
“Sure.” I reply.
“Yay!” and she runs off, with her blonde ringlets bobbing around on her shoulders. I decide to change my flat cap and my shoes while waiting for Mary to come prancing back.
“Ready!!!” Mary shouts as she comes skipping back.
“Okay, let’s go. Bye Ma!” I boom so she can hear me. We open the door and run into town, hoping to find Edmond at the bakery again.
Narrator P.O.V
Edmond was initially Claude’s best friend but Mary insisted on becoming friends with him, too. He had neat, fiery-red hair, and rosy red cheeks, not to mention he had dark, black eyes which you could fall into.
Out of breath and collapsed on the floor, Claude and Mary arrived at the Laxen's Bakery.
“I swear if he’s not here, I’ll cry!” Mary whined. Claude rose and helped Mary up, then entered the local bakery. A sweet, tasteful scent filled their lungs and immediately made them famished.
“I take it you’re looking for Edmond.” The baker blurted, snapping them out of their trance.
“Yes, yes we are” Claude confirmed.
“He’s upstairs, I’ll get him for you.” He replied, wiping his flour-covered hands on his apron, then vanishing up the staircase. A couple awkward minutes later, he emerges from behind the staircase door with Edmond trailing alongside him.
“Eddie!!! I missed youuu!” Mary squeals as she predictably throws her arms around him.
“How many times do I have to tell you? Call me Edmond!” He snaps coldly. Edmond is very adventurous and cheerful, but he can be quite cold at times; especially, when Mary won’t stop throwing her arms around people.
“What are we doing today, then?” Claude asks reluctantly.
“Let’s go to the woods.” Edmond quickly suggested.
A part of Claude wanted to say no, but another regretful part took over.
“Okay let’s go” Claude replied. So off they went, in the direction of the woods, left turns, right turns, until they reached the thickest woods in Blickling.
Chapter Three:
‘Second chance’
I lifted my face, letting the light and shadow dance across my skin. Bees were humming in and out of trees and around each other. Edmond inhaled the refreshing pine smell and lead us deeper into the fantasy-like forest. The tall, menacing trees waved and greeted us as we passed by. I know I’m going through a repeat of my past, so I don’t try to change anything, at least until my sister goes missing. Eventually, we come to a stop.
“This is the perfect place to start a game.” Edmond beamed brightly, “So, shall we play hide and seek?”
“Yes! Yes! YES!” Mary cried.
“Okay, you and Claude can go hide, make sure to come back here if you get lost.” Edmond ordered.
Mary grabbed my hand and Edmond started counting:
“One…two…three…four”
“C’mon! Let’s go hide!” I whisper sharply to my little sister, while she slips a stunning white flower into her silky hair.
“No, I’m hiding on my own!” Mary declared, clenching her petite fists beside her.
“But-“
It was already too late, Mary had took off in the opposite direction. I tried to chase after her, though my legs start to shut down then take me another way. I try to stop, but my legs are acting like they have a mind of their own.
“Stop!” I yell, “I need to catch my little sister!”
****
“Twenty-three- twenty-four- twenty-five!” Edmond shouts.
It took Edmond around fifteen minutes to find me – I didn’t realise I was so bad at this game. Edmond and I decided to pair up to search for Mary, splitting up occasionally, but we couldn’t find her anywhere.
“Lets search until dark.” Edmond professed.
3 hours later…
“I’m getting worried Edmond...” I murmur.
“Me too…” He mutters.
It had been around three solid hours since we saw Mary, and blazing sun looked like it was getting ready to set.
“WOAH-“
Edmond trips over a thick tree root so I kneel down to check if he’s hurt himself. Then I abruptly spot something beside him…
“What’re you looking at?” Edmond questions while spitting out some grass.
I show him a flower, the one Mary had in her hair.
“It’s a flower Mary had in her hair earlier,” I tell him, “I think we’ve lost my little sister Edmond…”
Edmond looked like he had been hit by a horse ‘n carriage, he was utterly speechless. I mean, sure, we both thought my sister was annoying, but imagine the trouble we got in!
“We have to wake up early to find her!” I declared.
“Okay…let’s head home…” Edmond replies, chewing on some ‘authentic Victorian wheat’ from my farm and staring down at the floor, clearly upset.
Chapter Four:
‘Back into the woods’
I wake up, images from last night’s turn of events spinning around in my head. My mothers and fathers expression still lurking, the harrowing pain in her eyes was something I will never forget.
“My gosh, you lost your own sister?!”
I need to get up and go grab Edmond, my sister takes a big part in the Jubilee, despite being ten, and the baking will be a disaster without her help: the bakers can’t afford to lose a member, especially with my sister’s outstanding creativity. I swiftly and quietly chuck on my dungarees, then my flat-cap. I snatch a piece of bread out of the bread box and then all quiet and mouse-like, slip out of the door. As I enter the outside atmosphere, I break out into a run and dart towards the centre of town – its only sunrise.
“I need to find her as quick as I can.” I mutter under my breath.
Narrators P.O.V
Claude arrived at the bakery, perched and panting on the doorstep, he manages to open the door and walk inside. Luckily, the door to the stairs was open and he began to sprint up the staircase. (Edmond lives with his Baker parents above Laxen's Bakery)
“WAKE UP!” Claude screams as he bursts through Edmond's bedroom door.
“AHHHH-! What are you doing here so early you idiot?!” Edmond jumps in shock.
“We need to go find my little sister ‘idiot’!” Claude snaps mockingly.
Claude’s P.O.V
As soon as Edmond got dressed we were straight out of the door, he was just as determined as I was.
“Are you sure we’ll find her?” Edmond breathed as we arrived at the wooded entrance.
“I don’t blooming know!” I snap at him.
We were taking a few moments to catch our breath before we sped into the forest. I am not losing her again. Before I can even think anymore, my legs start taking me as fast as I can into Blickling Woods. Tearing cobwebs, busting my way through bushes: I was on some sort of rampage.
“HEY! WAIT UP!” I hear Edmond's voice shout behind me. I didn’t know how far away he was, neither did I care. I only had one achievement: finding my little sister. The area where we started our game of hide and seek was coming into view, but something was different. There was a red and yellow figure collapsed in the middle of it, could it be Mary? I start sprinting faster.
“Mary!” I yell.
I see the mysterious blur get up lazily, im sure its Mary. As I get closer I see her, my little sister.
“Cl…Claude?” she yawns.
“MARY!” I knock her over with all my strength, she yelps in pain.
“AH! Ow! That hurt!” Mary yelps. I help her up and apologize, though none of us can help pulling each other into a tight, heart-warming hug.
“I missed you, Mary.”
“I missed you too big bro.”
“Can you NOT run off so fast next time?” Edmond pants and splutters, “I’m almost gagging!”
Chapter Five:
The Golden Jubilee (1887)
I'm practically ecstatic after finding my little sister, instead of giving up like I did in the past, I can’t help but smiling brightly. Though one question swims around in my thoughts:
“Is this real?”
Instead of doubting myself I turn around to talk to Mary, she’s been awfully quiet since our little reunion.
“What happened in the woods?” I ask her cautiously.
“Got lost.” She bluntly states.
“But what happened? Your dress! It’s all torn! The fabric Ma bought from the Drapers is very expensive.” I question her again.
“Got stuck.”
Why is she being so blunt and cold? Well she probably is tired, I guess I should give her a break.
“There’s no time to waste you two,” Edmond announces, “Lets get to the bakery, before we mess everything up even more.”
Me and Mary lazily nod and start running with Edmond to the bakery.
Narrators P.O.V
Fatigued after running so much, Mary, Claude and Edmond arrived at the Laxen's Bakery once again.
“Mary! Mary! Come! Come! We are so far behind! We might not even make it in time!” The baker yells, clearly anxious about the Jubilee. Mary rushes off with worry in her doll-like face and Claude and Edmond go home to alert his parents about the news.
On the Verge of Death
I am so sick of this pain, my limbs, they feel…Numb. The feeling of the ruffled sheets touching my burning skin is almost, gone. The cold breeze seeping through the window is a mild comfort, though barely anything is a comfort in this state of health. As I reach for my glasses, I feel a piercing pain stab through my head, as if an arrow had struck me. I could see small glints of reality fading away from me – this was the end; the end everyone dreaded.
Spirits’ P.O.V
All Claude could hear was the high-pitched ringing in his ears – he felt like he was falling. His eyes were as if they had rolled to the back of his head, he could no longer feel the breeze he so craved at this moment, because everything was gone.
Some people say their whole life flashes before their eyes before they die, that they could see themselves as children, playing with toys, or with friends. Some people even believe they can’t go to heaven, without certain purposes for your existence being complete. Though only the dead know what is true or not.
Claude’s P.O.V
“Am I dead?” I murmur to myself, “Where am I?” I was hoping to get a suspicious voice to reply, but, my voice just echoes around this empty space, just like a lost child, trying to find their way home. Out of nowhere, an aggressive flash hits my field of vision, and it goes black again…
****
Finally, I hear a source of noise, but it isn’t echoing, in fact, it’s just the soft sound of an owl, hooting. Gently, I open my eyes and radiant beams of light burst through my windows then I realise, I’m 12 years old again! This is way too odd, though. How can I travel back in time? I’m dead! I died! All of a sudden, my outburst of thoughts are interrupted by my late Ma, running into my room.
“Claude! Claude! Wake up! It’s time to get up!” she shouts, all bubbly and excited (my typical Ma). Just to make sure, I question her about my whereabouts:
“Ma? Where am I?”
“What do you mean, sweetheart? You’re at home, did you bump your head?” she replies, slightly worried.
“No, no, I’m fine…” I assure her.
“Okay, I’ll leave you to get dressed.” Ma says as she exits my room.
Chapter Two:
‘Edmond’
Once she was out of my sight, I take a deep breath and glance around the room, taking everything in. I had almost forgotten how eye-catching my room was, and how I missed the sweet smell of my fresh sheets. Before getting dressed, I turn around and stare intensely out of my glazed window:
*oink, oink*
I hear the pigs outside, oinking, and realise I have to feed the chickens like I used to as a young, country boy. This is all so weird, what business do I have here? Instead of zoning out with my everlasting thoughts, I get dressed – this is probably going to be a monotonous day.
Yawning and stretching, I stroll into the living room, the kitchen.
“Hey Ma?” I ask.
“Yes, Claude?” she replied, putting cutlery into a basket of some sort.
“Why is everyone messing around with stuff?”
“It’s the Golden Jubilee tomorrow, remember?” she stated.
I stare at her blankly, today was the day my sister went missing all those years ago, I regret everything I did that day. Unexpectedly, my Ma turns around and starts styling my messy, raven-black, mop of hair, I try to resist, but she stops me.
“Can you go feed the chickens please? After that, you can go play outside with Edmond and Mary.” She says.
“Okay.” I oblige, not surprised in the slightest. I lived on a farm as a boy, you see, my father was a farmer and I always helped out because, I wanted to own our farm when I was older. I ran towards the door and started to pull on my boots, then my cap, and sprinted outside. Pa had already put out the bucket of chicken feed for me.
“Thanks Pa.” I think to myself.
****
The feeling of the scorching sun hitting my skin rapidly was starting to get overwhelming, so I took off my cap and headed inside. I was surprised to see my undersized, slender younger sister, Mary, run up to me and wrap her arms around my waist.
“Ma ’Ma says we can go outside to play with Edmond, can we? Can we?!” she exclaims, staring up at me with her perky green eyes.
“Sure.” I reply.
“Yay!” and she runs off, with her blonde ringlets bobbing around on her shoulders. I decide to change my flat cap and my shoes while waiting for Mary to come prancing back.
“Ready!!!” Mary shouts as she comes skipping back.
“Okay, let’s go. Bye Ma!” I boom so she can hear me. We open the door and run into town, hoping to find Edmond at the bakery again.
Narrator P.O.V
Edmond was initially Claude’s best friend but Mary insisted on becoming friends with him, too. He had neat, fiery-red hair, and rosy red cheeks, not to mention he had dark, black eyes which you could fall into.
Out of breath and collapsed on the floor, Claude and Mary arrived at the Laxen's Bakery.
“I swear if he’s not here, I’ll cry!” Mary whined. Claude rose and helped Mary up, then entered the local bakery. A sweet, tasteful scent filled their lungs and immediately made them famished.
“I take it you’re looking for Edmond.” The baker blurted, snapping them out of their trance.
“Yes, yes we are” Claude confirmed.
“He’s upstairs, I’ll get him for you.” He replied, wiping his flour-covered hands on his apron, then vanishing up the staircase. A couple awkward minutes later, he emerges from behind the staircase door with Edmond trailing alongside him.
“Eddie!!! I missed youuu!” Mary squeals as she predictably throws her arms around him.
“How many times do I have to tell you? Call me Edmond!” He snaps coldly. Edmond is very adventurous and cheerful, but he can be quite cold at times; especially, when Mary won’t stop throwing her arms around people.
“What are we doing today, then?” Claude asks reluctantly.
“Let’s go to the woods.” Edmond quickly suggested.
A part of Claude wanted to say no, but another regretful part took over.
“Okay let’s go” Claude replied. So off they went, in the direction of the woods, left turns, right turns, until they reached the thickest woods in Blickling.
Chapter Three:
‘Second chance’
I lifted my face, letting the light and shadow dance across my skin. Bees were humming in and out of trees and around each other. Edmond inhaled the refreshing pine smell and lead us deeper into the fantasy-like forest. The tall, menacing trees waved and greeted us as we passed by. I know I’m going through a repeat of my past, so I don’t try to change anything, at least until my sister goes missing. Eventually, we come to a stop.
“This is the perfect place to start a game.” Edmond beamed brightly, “So, shall we play hide and seek?”
“Yes! Yes! YES!” Mary cried.
“Okay, you and Claude can go hide, make sure to come back here if you get lost.” Edmond ordered.
Mary grabbed my hand and Edmond started counting:
“One…two…three…four”
“C’mon! Let’s go hide!” I whisper sharply to my little sister, while she slips a stunning white flower into her silky hair.
“No, I’m hiding on my own!” Mary declared, clenching her petite fists beside her.
“But-“
It was already too late, Mary had took off in the opposite direction. I tried to chase after her, though my legs start to shut down then take me another way. I try to stop, but my legs are acting like they have a mind of their own.
“Stop!” I yell, “I need to catch my little sister!”
****
“Twenty-three- twenty-four- twenty-five!” Edmond shouts.
It took Edmond around fifteen minutes to find me – I didn’t realise I was so bad at this game. Edmond and I decided to pair up to search for Mary, splitting up occasionally, but we couldn’t find her anywhere.
“Lets search until dark.” Edmond professed.
3 hours later…
“I’m getting worried Edmond...” I murmur.
“Me too…” He mutters.
It had been around three solid hours since we saw Mary, and blazing sun looked like it was getting ready to set.
“WOAH-“
Edmond trips over a thick tree root so I kneel down to check if he’s hurt himself. Then I abruptly spot something beside him…
“What’re you looking at?” Edmond questions while spitting out some grass.
I show him a flower, the one Mary had in her hair.
“It’s a flower Mary had in her hair earlier,” I tell him, “I think we’ve lost my little sister Edmond…”
Edmond looked like he had been hit by a horse ‘n carriage, he was utterly speechless. I mean, sure, we both thought my sister was annoying, but imagine the trouble we got in!
“We have to wake up early to find her!” I declared.
“Okay…let’s head home…” Edmond replies, chewing on some ‘authentic Victorian wheat’ from my farm and staring down at the floor, clearly upset.
Chapter Four:
‘Back into the woods’
I wake up, images from last night’s turn of events spinning around in my head. My mothers and fathers expression still lurking, the harrowing pain in her eyes was something I will never forget.
“My gosh, you lost your own sister?!”
I need to get up and go grab Edmond, my sister takes a big part in the Jubilee, despite being ten, and the baking will be a disaster without her help: the bakers can’t afford to lose a member, especially with my sister’s outstanding creativity. I swiftly and quietly chuck on my dungarees, then my flat-cap. I snatch a piece of bread out of the bread box and then all quiet and mouse-like, slip out of the door. As I enter the outside atmosphere, I break out into a run and dart towards the centre of town – its only sunrise.
“I need to find her as quick as I can.” I mutter under my breath.
Narrators P.O.V
Claude arrived at the bakery, perched and panting on the doorstep, he manages to open the door and walk inside. Luckily, the door to the stairs was open and he began to sprint up the staircase. (Edmond lives with his Baker parents above Laxen's Bakery)
“WAKE UP!” Claude screams as he bursts through Edmond's bedroom door.
“AHHHH-! What are you doing here so early you idiot?!” Edmond jumps in shock.
“We need to go find my little sister ‘idiot’!” Claude snaps mockingly.
Claude’s P.O.V
As soon as Edmond got dressed we were straight out of the door, he was just as determined as I was.
“Are you sure we’ll find her?” Edmond breathed as we arrived at the wooded entrance.
“I don’t blooming know!” I snap at him.
We were taking a few moments to catch our breath before we sped into the forest. I am not losing her again. Before I can even think anymore, my legs start taking me as fast as I can into Blickling Woods. Tearing cobwebs, busting my way through bushes: I was on some sort of rampage.
“HEY! WAIT UP!” I hear Edmond's voice shout behind me. I didn’t know how far away he was, neither did I care. I only had one achievement: finding my little sister. The area where we started our game of hide and seek was coming into view, but something was different. There was a red and yellow figure collapsed in the middle of it, could it be Mary? I start sprinting faster.
“Mary!” I yell.
I see the mysterious blur get up lazily, im sure its Mary. As I get closer I see her, my little sister.
“Cl…Claude?” she yawns.
“MARY!” I knock her over with all my strength, she yelps in pain.
“AH! Ow! That hurt!” Mary yelps. I help her up and apologize, though none of us can help pulling each other into a tight, heart-warming hug.
“I missed you, Mary.”
“I missed you too big bro.”
“Can you NOT run off so fast next time?” Edmond pants and splutters, “I’m almost gagging!”
Chapter Five:
The Golden Jubilee (1887)
I'm practically ecstatic after finding my little sister, instead of giving up like I did in the past, I can’t help but smiling brightly. Though one question swims around in my thoughts:
“Is this real?”
Instead of doubting myself I turn around to talk to Mary, she’s been awfully quiet since our little reunion.
“What happened in the woods?” I ask her cautiously.
“Got lost.” She bluntly states.
“But what happened? Your dress! It’s all torn! The fabric Ma bought from the Drapers is very expensive.” I question her again.
“Got stuck.”
Why is she being so blunt and cold? Well she probably is tired, I guess I should give her a break.
“There’s no time to waste you two,” Edmond announces, “Lets get to the bakery, before we mess everything up even more.”
Me and Mary lazily nod and start running with Edmond to the bakery.
Narrators P.O.V
Fatigued after running so much, Mary, Claude and Edmond arrived at the Laxen's Bakery once again.
“Mary! Mary! Come! Come! We are so far behind! We might not even make it in time!” The baker yells, clearly anxious about the Jubilee. Mary rushes off with worry in her doll-like face and Claude and Edmond go home to alert his parents about the news.