The Boy Who Cried Monster

Once upon a time there lived a farmer and his wife. Now this couple wanted a child very much. Unfortunately, they were barren, quite unlike their land. Every year they made a large sum of money from their harvest, and every year they were sad for lack of a child. They were good people; they didn’t lie, cheat, or steal. One day a traveler came to their home. The good farmer and his wife were hospitable. They gave him a warm bed, new clothes, and plenty of food and drink. Before he left, the traveler gave them a bottle of red liquid. He said that if they truly wanted a child the wife must drink the bottle; they would have one the next year. The moment he left, she eagerly downed the bottle. The next year a healthy baby boy was born to the couple. However, this story has nothing to do with him or his parents. This story is about the traveler, Alastair.

Alastair, as you know, is a traveler. He has recently left his parents’ home to find what he wants to do in the world. His father was a wizard who also happened to be a paranoid perfectionist. His mother was clay brought to life by his father, as he could not find his perfect woman. His father sealed away all of Alastair’s powers to prevent anything he wouldn’t want. Right now Alastair is upset with his father for killing his mother because she was unable to be in two places at once. Alastair enjoys pranks, but is deadly when angry. He stole potions and a book from his father’s study and used magic chains to keep him there, setting fire to the study as he left. Alastair is an orphan now.

Although he doesn’t know where he’s going, Alastair does his best to bring justice to people. So far he has met good, kind people. Tonight he knocked on a door of a sheep herder; a frail woman with brown doe eyes answered the door. She seems frightened as she sadly shakes her head and shuts the door. He hears someone yell and the sound of glass shattering. Footsteps approach and the door swings open to reveal a burly man who obviously enjoys his food. Alastair does not like him. The man’s eyes sparkle with deceit as he ushers Alastair inside. He leads him to a small room containing only a bed and shuts the door, Alastair goes to sleep.

The next morning Alastair searches for his book. The man laughs. He says that if Alastair helps him, he will gladly help Alastair find his book. Of course Alastair could take the book back, but where is the justice in that? He agrees. The man gives Alastair charge of one herd of sheep and tells him to call if something dangerous is there. He leaves and Alastair begins his work. He leads the sheep to graze in the pasture and quickly grows bored. Smiling, he calls out, “Monster, monster!” The man comes running with a stick, sweating from the extra weight in his front. He is not pleased by Alastair’s crying, for he sees no monster. Grumbling, he leaves. Alastair brings the flock back and demands he get his book back. The man claims he hasn’t seen it. Confident, they both go to bed.

The next day the man makes the same bargain and Alastair does the same job as before. Again he grows bored and yells, “Monster, monster!” Once again, the man comes running with a stick and is displeased with him. Do not call him unless there is real danger, he scolds Alastair. He walks back home. Alastair once again asks for his book, the smiling man says he does not have it. They both retire to bed. This pattern repeats for the next week. The man grows more and more irritated.

One day the man is incredibly angry. Alastair returns to find the man’s wife bruised and frightened. Nothing happened, she says and scurries away. Calmly, Alastair walks to his room, but he does not sleep. He stays awake deciding exactly what he should do. The next morning the ritual continues as it always does. However, this time when he cries monster, he finds that the man has brought two other men; they look like they would do anything for a gold coin. The man explains to Alastair that he is not happy with his constant prank. Alastair explains that it is not a joke, there is a deadly monster. The two thugs step forward at the man’s command and strike Alastair hard; one hits his stomach, the other his head. A loud crack sounds and Alastair’s skin falls off. A glowing new Alastair rises up, for the first time anger shows in his eyes. He flicks his wrist and the thugs scream in agony as blood pours from every hole in their bodies. The man lets out a furious cry as he runs at Alastair with a club. Alastair grins and grabs the man’s wrist. Pain soars through his arm as Alastair’s glow seeps under his skin. It burns like white fire as it melts away his skin.

The man’s wife can’t find her husband. She searches and searches for if he doesn’t get his dinner, he will be very upset again. She sees Alastair and asks if he’s seen him, he smiles and hands her a drink saying that she looks thirsty. The wife drinks.

Jane awakes to find a handsome young man before her clutching a book and smiling. She can’t remember anything. He comforts her, saying she’ll find a new husband soon. It’s a pity that her last ran off with another woman, but he’s sure she’ll find someone nice. Alastair is happy as he leaves. He believes that he can do a better job with his powers than his father ever could. Alastair knows what he wants to do in the world. He wants to be the Justice Monster of Happiness and Death.