The Quest

I can't sleep. My mind was racing with ideas of what it could possibly be. Tomorrow was the most important day of the year. On everyone's 14th birthday, each person has to complete one quest in the time span of a week. If you don’t, you are forced to go and stay in Neverdale. Neverdale is where the failures go to live. In this place, you are given a curse which you are stuck with for your entire life. I had heard stories of many people. Some of which are people who have been cursed with two left feet, a cloud that follows and rains on them wherever they go, and some who have been forced to have slightly more unfortunate things happen to them which no one talks about. You find out your quest by standing on a stage and judges hand you an envelope and a pearl. The judges give a pearl so when you throw the pearl down at the end of your quest (or if you quit), it brings you to a judges office and they then decide if you passed or failed. If you pass, normally you have a party and live a great life. If you fail… you know what happens. The envelope reveals your quest. Besides Neverdale, I couldn’t stop thinking about the random storms that had been happening for millions of years. People talked about it on the news everyday. Suddenly, my head hit my soft pillow and a second later when I opened my eyes, it’s morning.

“Happy birthday, Ashvi! Are you sure you’re ready for today?” my mom asks, as she steps into my room. As I flutter my eyes open, I see a few light pink and white balloons dancing around in the corner of my bedroom. I slowly push the blanket away from myself and instantly regret it as I put my feet into my slippers and a gust of cold air runs at me at lightning speed, almost pushing me down. My mom was holding a gift that said in capital letters, ‘ASHVI’. “Thanks, and yes, I'm ready. I always was,” I replied groggily. “Great, come down. Three fluffy pancakes with maple syrup drizzled just the way you like it on top, are calling your name,” she said, smiling. I quickly did my morning routine, and then ran downstairs, almost falling flat on my face. “Happy birthday!” my dad said to me as I walked over to the table. “Thanks,” I replied. “You should be very happy. I postponed all your birthday calls until next week, after you finish your quest.” mom adds. “Hopefully,” I mutter quietly under my breath. 20 minutes passes and my plate stares at me as my mom closes the dishwasher. “Gift time!” my mom sings out. 5 gifts lay on the carpet waiting to be opened. I open it all excitedly and after that I thank my parents a hundred times. Right after, I slip on my favorite shoes, and my family heads out to the car. I open the car door and sit down. The familiar sound of seatbelts buckling happens again and the engine starts and we leave the house. I think about what could happen nervously wondering.

Minutes later, I jump out of the car. “All parents and guardians please be seated in the chairs behind me,” a judge said. I read her name tag. ‘Judge Malsater’ it said. The kids took their place on the stage in a straight line and the parents sat in their seats. The chatter quiets down as the judges stand up. They walk to the stage with envelopes in their hand. One at a time, they pass envelopes and pearls into the awaiting hands of the new Questers. Questers are what they call us. I took my envelope and lifted up the sticky flap and opened the card that was inside.

Journey to Whispering Hollows. Find the man they call Rain Caller. Collect the tears that stream down to stop the storm.

I close the envelope. I think about the task I was given again and again as they called people off the stage. My name gets called and I freeze in place. They say it again. I snap back into focus and I run down. I find my parents and give them the envelope. “You never know if a quest is easy or hard. But if they gave you an easy quest, then what’s the point of this,” my dad says, smiling. We get into the car and then drive home.

When we reached, I grabbed a backpack and shoved things I thought I needed inside and then I zipped it up. I ran downstairs, where my parents stood waiting for me to get in the car. We went in the car to the ocean. When we got out, I gave my parents a tight hug. “Good luck!” They said together. We turned away and I ran to the salty sea.

A man stood still next to a boat. “How much for the boat and how much for a round trip to Whispering Hollows?” I ask. “60 dollars in all. Includes food and water,” he replies. I give him the money and hop on the boat. I flip a switch, and before I know it, I’m gliding across the water, the ship driving itself to Neverdale.

I wake up feeling a wave of salt water splash onto my blue jeans. I sit up and look around. Suddenly a jolt of energy strikes my brain and I immediately remember what had happened the day before. I look ahead and in the mist there’s a broken sign with lights flickering on and off and block letters saying Neverdale with Whispering Hollows written in smaller font below it.

The boat starts to slow down as it reaches the dock. I hesitantly step off the boat and look around. I see a grocer selling fruits at a stall. A woman reaches over the stall to take a couple peaches and strawberries. She pulls 10 dollars out of her pocket and then winces as if something bad was going to happen when she handed it over. I was right. An electric shot hits her hard and she shoots into the air. I could hear her sigh from above the stall as she then landed on the ground with two feet and a painful look on her face. I was shocked by what had just happened but since I needed to fit in, I just looked away and walked leisurely up the road. As I walked, I saw people with different curses, all looking sad and depressed. I walked up to a man who seemed nice enough. “Hi, may I ask you a question?” I quickly asked, trying to sound as politely as I possibly could. “One,” he says in a gruff voice. He had a plain blue shirt and a pair of green jeans on. “Do you know where a man who is called the Raincaller lives?” I ask. “Between the forest, beyond the maple trees, and into the place where he feels the breeze,” the man disappears from sight and I try to run after him. He’s not anywhere near here. “What now?” I say, anger bubbling inside of me.

As I ran up the road, I came to an abrupt stop. In a patch of dirt, the words Hollows Forest was written in cursive. Finally, I thought. I stepped inside and my quest had begun.

Suddenly, I heard a deep growl coming from behind me. I stopped and looked back anxiously. I heard another. I started to pick up my pace which eventually turned into a run. The growls started to become louder so I started to run faster. For a split second my legs decided to stop so I fell onto the dirt and woodchips. Something large loomed over me. I closed my eyes and knew what was going to happen. I winced, but the only thing I heard was footsteps going away. I

sat up against a tree and saw a figure moving back into the trees. I didn’t want to take my chances so I grabbed my backpack which looked crushed and dirty, and then ran as far away as I could.

As I slowed down into a walk, I heard a crash from the sky. Lightning ran down and then heavy rain joined the party. “Of course,” I said aloud, frustrated. I was too tired from running the whole time before, so I tried to look for somewhere to stay for the time being. I started to walk forward, pushing my legs. As I walked I slowly noticed how the bushes started to disappear one by one. I looked at a certain one up ahead, but when I reached it, it disappeared. I had the vivid image in my mind of that bush. It had little roses on it and thorns that looked like if you touched it you would never be the same. The image started to fade away and into the man I had met earlier in the day. I remembered the exact words he had said. “Between the forest, beyond the maple trees, and into the place where he feels the breeze,” he had said. I looked back into the bush picture that was seared into my brain. I looked a little farther and realized that there was something behind it. Something that is known as a maple tree. As the rain hit my back harder than it ever had, I picked up my pace and went as fast as I could.

Suddenly, I saw something in the back behind an array of bushes. I started to creep closer to it. My wet hair flung in all directions as I made my way to the bushes. I found a clearing and went through that path instead of running through the bushes. I moved a tree branch away from my face and saw a little cottage. It was the color cream and had matcha colored blinds that covered the windows. The door was an ivory color and the porch had small flower pots with intricate ruffles on them. I stepped to the doorway and knocked softly. “Hello? Is anyone here?” I asked softly. A shadow stepped up to the window as if seeing if I was worthy to come in. A moment later, the door swung open and a man stepped out. Rain streamed down his face and a cloud hovered above him. “Come sit,” he said gruffly. I thanked him and stepped inside. I removed my shoes and sat down on an arm chair. He went into what seemed to be a kitchen and then came out holding a steaming cup of hot chocolate and a towel.

I took a proper look at him and realized that he looked quite familiar. I just couldn’t put my finger on it. “Thank you,” I said. “Nobody ever takes the time to visit me, so why are you here?” he questioned. “I’m sorry about that. I am actually here on a quest,” I reply quickly. “You know what, it's okay. Just that when you get no company your attitude gets worse and worse. My name is Michael, by the way.” he said. “I’m Ashvi. I’m sorry if I'm not supposed to say this but, do you mind telling me what your quest was?” I ask. He winces. “It was something,” “I’m sorry, I should probably just change the topic,” I say. “No,” he says quickly, “you ask, so I should tell. After all, you are my first guest in ages,”. “My quest was to journey to Whispering Hollows, find the man they call Rain Caller, and then collect the tears that stream down to stop the storm,” he said. I almost spit out my hot chocolate. I reached into my backpack and gave him the soaking envelope. He read the words carefully. “Of course, I should have known,” he said quietly. Slowly my mind clicked the puzzle pieces together. “You, it was you! I met you before in the streets!” I shouted. “That’s right,” he said, nodding his head. “When you collect a Rain Callers' tears, they disappear for, forever,” he said slowly. I stood there, shocked. “I can’t take it,” I said. The storm won’t stop if you don’t, you need to take it,” he replied. “I already said, I can’t,” I immediately replied. I’ve had an amazing life. I’m 90 already,” With that, he grabbed a jar from a wooden shelf and handed it to me. “Thank you for everything,” I said. I closed my eyes as the rain drops poured down his face and into the jar. He disappeared from sight. Why, I thought. What did I just do?

I ran outside and threw my pearl on the floor, shocked at what had happened. Amazed at what had happened.