Sagasy

Sagasy

Zoie Johnson
1.

I was sent to Alan Elaster’s children home when the war in Orlando started. The houses were torn down, and street tar was plied off streets when the helicopters landed. I had to share a room with two other kids. One was eleven; the same as me, and the other was eight, as old as my sister, Isabelle, who was still on her train. The one whom was eleven was named Kristy. She had chocolate brown hair and a coat with leopard spots on it. She had reading glasses that she needed, too. They were decorated with beads and jewels, mostly in pink and aqua. The eight year old was named Violet. She had blonde hair that hung down to her elbows. She had bright shimmery blue eyes, and a big bottom lip that was colored magenta. I like Kristy best though. She was just like me. Friendly, happy, and never hurt other’s feelings. We enjoyed the sentence, “Think before you say.” A lot. Violet is a bit shy to show her feelings, and blurts out everything out like mad.
“Guys, look,” I said to the girls playing monopoly on the twin sized bed.
It was a closet. But not just a closet. It had a rubber handle on it, and a square outline around it.
“Wow. I’ve been here...three weeks, and I don’t think I know anybody else who has a closet. They only have large dressers. We must be having luck.” Violet said in her squeaky high pitched voice.
“Yes. Must be. Look, Maggie. Turn the handle there. See what it does.” Kristy said, pointing to the grey handle on the wall.
I turned the small handle. It took a moment or two, because it was about the length of my thumb. The small door opened slowly, to find a... curtain. I pushed it out of the way. A land! The crisp fall leaves fell into my hair.

“Oh my gosh! Where the heck are we?” Violet screamed.
A half cat half fish growled, and said,
“Sagasy. The land of literacy. Don’t say, literally unless you are willing to pay a quite difficult price.”
“It’s a catfish!” Violet whispered. I laughed. It must’ve been a dream.
“I guess I’ll just have to say... Make me a PB&J!” I laughed. There must have been cameras somewhere, or I was out cold.
“You are sentenced to the Fire Prophecy. No complaints or regrets shall be said. I was very clear, and I say I am a good man, but children such as you...make...my mind go absolutely blank.” The odd animal pointed to the left.
“But sir! What is the Fire prophecy? I haven’t heard of a thing as that.” I begged.
“Neither man nor creature in Sagasy dares to meet the Fire prophecy. Why, the king has been nearly killed thanks to the Fire prophecy. Every four years, the prophecy gathers around the lava rock, and thinks out a plan to...to.... Your mother and father would disapprove my speech I have given you, my child. If I were to tell you the rest, when you went back to your village, you would be unable to sleep. If this speech were to be a movie of some kind, it would not end like the Cinderella story. I mustn’t tell you what the Fire Prophecy plans to do. Four years ago, is when the last mark was made of the crew. None know what they are to do this year.” The catfish said, twisting his whisker.
“You must tell us, so we have a good idea where to hide.”
“Hiding is no good,” He took his sword he was holding, and stuffed it into his holder.
“There is no place that they will not find you. I know an old friend of mine, who said his goodbye’s to Sagasy because of his hiding idea he had given me and another friend. Neither I or the other friend chose to hide, because if you hid they would...”
“Kill?” I asked.
The catfish nodded his head.
“Kill,” He looked sorrow. “Although I told you clearly, I suppose I must tell you what their act in our village is.” He said. “If they find you, wherever you are, whatever you are doing, they will take your hands, tie them behind your back, and hook a chain to your neck, the other side on a tree. Then, they would chop off your legs, and boil you until you were not within Sagasy or any other village.” His eyes were filling with tears. “Whether you choose to hide or face your fate, the Fire Prophecy will kill. Although, if they enjoy your company being, they will give you another option. They will say, ‘I will give you the choice. Join me and the prophecy, or die.”” The catfish had made a very long speech that I wasn’t sure that I grasped onto. All I remembered was that the Fire prophecy killed, hidden or not.

2.
The King’s accident

“We must get you home now, child.” The catfish said, stepping south of where I was standing.
“My name is Maggie, catfish, Maggie.” I convinced the man. “I don’t live around here, either. I live in Alan Elaster’s children apartment.”
“Where? We are in Sagasy, not Pluto, Maggie. This is the only land from within miles. And, my name is Lake. Not Catfish, although, that is my species.”
“You know. In Wisconsin. Near the Crash Cram gas station.”
“You are from the CRASH PROPHECY!?” Lake roared.
“What is the ‘Crash Prophecy’?”
“Don’t play with me, Maggie. They are worse than the Fire. They will cut off your head, rip open your chest and pull out your bloody heart, and make you see your heart bleeding before you die. Then, they will force you to cut apart their bodies, and burn the parts. If you don’t do the job they give you, you will be the one dying. Never, EVER talk about, or even mention the crash prophecy. Do you understand?” I nodded, because there was nothing to say or do besides nod.
Violet and Kristy waved to Lake, and said goodbye.
“You mustn’t sleep here. Come with me to the village.” He roared.
“But we’ve got nowhere to go, mighty one.” Violet said quietly. I smiled when she said mighty one.
“My point exactly. Come with me and sleep in my home for a while. It is getting quite dark soon. Who are your friends?” Lake said altogether.
“This is Kristy, over on my right,” I said, with a sparkle in my eye. “And this is Violet on my left. Oh, Lake, and where exactly do you live?” I asked, staring at the tall figure.
“Up on the third hill, across from the sea of birds.” He said. Sea of birds? What exactly did he mean by, Sea of birds?
“What, Sea of birds?” I asked. He smiled only slightly.
“Why, Flying fish of course, my dear. Now, we must get to my home if we intend to stay warm. Come along.” He was very kind saying this. He had but just a whine, no roar, or meow, but a whine. He brushed back his fur and turned around to his scaly fins. We all walked behind him if we were hoping to see his house.

* * *

His home was a dream come true. It happened that he was living in the head of the village, and continent. Lake knelt in front of the royalty.
“How may I be of service?” Lake asked after kneeling very professional. The king was a spider monkey, who had not eight legs, but seven. It must have been an accident in the category of royal ness though. The kind coughed, and spoke.
“Ah, Lakster, my best warrior, my decree would be if you would join me at lunch. Maybe dinner, if you like.” He coughed four times in a row. “One more request, your honor, may you tell me who the children amongst you are? Haven’t I seen them before? I think I might have been mistaken for another group of guppy girls. But please, do tell.” The spider monkey coughed again, and this time clutched his hairy throat.
“My, my. Sore, red, and coughs. I really must tell the nurse.” The king was quite the talkative one. Lake took his sword case, and stuffed it back in his backpack.
“The little one is Violet. On the right is Kristy, and last but not least, Maggie.” He said.
“Maggie has been quite the company. Not that the other two weren’t as...you know... energetic.” He finished, as Violet scrunched up her face.
“My mom had a Mocha Latte when I was born, and trust me; I really was doing back flips.
My mom even said that I was upside down. So I am energic.”
“Energetic, Violet. That is how you pronounce it. And, call the police...” The spider monkey coughed so many times that I couldn’t count it. Then, I saw his eyes start to close. He fell over, and coughed while he was there.
“Get the nurse!” Shouted a bull frog. A dog fish came running up to the king, and started mouth to mouth.