The Faceless Storyteller (Part 3)

 

Part 3.

Glenn was already shocked enough that his brain probably stopped working. A glass of water presented in front of him, ‘It’s going to take some time’ said Father Kino smiling. “why can’t I wake up a” asked Glenn and as he hold the glass, he noticed something, his hand is of a full grown man. He ran off to mirror to see his face, there was a full grown man standing in front of him. “I am a grown up, what is this, I have some hairs on my face” Glenn screamed! “wait a second, how old are you?” asked Father confusingly. “I am 13 yea” “He’s 12” interrupted Chico as he enters the house. “Father, here "He passed some food and groceries. “Chico, you look little bit old too” Glenn said. “I know this confusing but I’ll explain everything later.” Said Chico with a gravelly voice “But the most important matter” Chico continued.

‘You ever heard about Garduna, Father?’. ‘Yes’ father Kino replied but his face was already telling Chico the remaining answers. “Garduna is an undercover gang, operating under the order of inquisition”.  Father Kino continued ‘they are kind of myth but some proves suggest they exist’.

“They are against anti-Christians right?” said Glenn with an interruptive voice.

“Yes, but they do not understand the true meaning of god” said father Kino.

Chico was impressed and confused as he saw Glenn, he was confused and scared few minutes ago, now he’s all focused. “that’s why he looks old” thought Chico.

‘There is a good news though, we got a location’  said Chico. ‘so, we got a lead’ asked father Kino. ‘yes’ said Chico with a smirk. ‘Now can you tell me, what is happening?’ Glenn interrupted.

Chico looked at Glenn and continued “he’s here looking for ancient machine part, the faceless storyteller also recruited father kino because he knows the inside out of the church and he’s also a good astronomer’ ‘Wait a second, you are a priest right?’ asked Glenn. ‘Yes, my child but I am also good with stars and math’ said father Kino smiling. ‘So, anyways’ Chico interrupted ‘That’s the reason Father Kino is staying here in Cadiz in search of that machine and he’s also working on the comet trajectory” said Chico while looking at the Telescope. ‘It’s been 2 days and 2 priest died mysteriously by an unknown man. I guess he is the same man about whom I’ve been heard of. If my sources are right, he is a member of Garduna’ Chico sighed as he finished his short summary. ‘So why are we old in age?’ asked Glenn with a questioning face. ‘Your age shows the emotional maturity” said Chico also adding “From what I know, the hooded man, I meant the faceless storyteller is a god but he is mysterious in his own way.”. “Chico, we just met this morning at school” said Glenn “Oh, I am not that Chico” replied Chico. Glenn stared confused “I am Chico, but from different time, just bear with me, everything will be cleared.”

Midnight.

Meanwhile Father Kino, Glenn and Chico went to the informed location. It was a hidden route right below the old ruins of “ Theatrum Balbi” The Old Roman theatre of Cadiz. As they were hiding outside. They saw a group of men entering from the backdoors, all of them were hooded. ‘we shouldn’t be here’ whispered Glenn. “That’s the box” said father looking pointing at a huge man. “It must be the machine part we were looking for.” That means as Chico was about to say something. They got captured as someone from the hooded cult noticed them and Glenn got hit on his head.

It was pitch black dark; Glenn woke up to the sound of some kind of chanting outside. He was inside a room with Chico but father Kino was nowhere to be found. “Chico! Chico!” Glenn Called him whispering. Chico somehow gained consciousness. Chico opened his eyes and saw a terrified Glenn. “Where is father?” asked Chico. ‘I don’t know’ Glenn answered with a terrified voice. Glenn tried to untie his rope but as he was weeping and pulling his handoff the ropes, Chico was already untied his rope. Glenn looked at him and whispered ‘wait, someone’s coming’ Chico got back on his chair and acted unconscious. A tall hooded man entered the room, as he approached Glenn. A chair came thundering on his head from the back. It was Chico he strokes him with his chair with all the force he got. The man went blank and fall on top of Glenn. Luckily no one heard the sound. They untied themselves and went outside in search of Father Kino. They were in the theatre’s balcony and saw from upstairs. Father Kino was tied up to a pole and they were preparing for some kind of sacrifice. ‘we need to save him’ Chico whispered intensely. Glenn had an idea, he whispered the plan to Chico. Chico was against it but it was their only chance to retrieve the box and save father Kino. Few Moments later, as the winter night was coming to an end They were preparing the Pyre to burn father Kino. As they went ahead with their plans. A random hooded man came forward the Pyre and took one huge wooden log and swing it across the group of men. It was such a sudden distraction they felt to notice which one of them did that but the fire got spread out. Meanwhile Chico came up from behind and untied the ropes of Father Kino. ‘The box’ Father Kino whispered

Chico picked up the box and his eyes remained open “it was empty”. Among all the rush a mysterious hooded man came forward and picked up Chico by his neck choking him up in the process. Father Kino screamed Glenn. Glenn wearing that hooded cloth rushed towards Chico as he was being choked. He kicked the man from the side and the man fell down. Chico was breathing heavily “We need to get out of here” Glenn screamed.  The man stood up from behind and pulled Glenn from the back and dragged him near the fire. Chico found an old dagger from the ground, he took it and ran towards the mysterious man.

As he was dragging Glenn towards the broken pyre, chico found no option and jumped up from behind and stabbed him in the chest. The man didn’t even screamed and through Chico off ground.

The man breathed heavily as Chico, Glenn and Father Kino stared with disbelieve.

The Man pulled out the knife out of his chest struggled but unharmed and his hood fell off revealing. He is the machine; it was never inside the box.