The Garland Mystery

It all started on February the 19th when young Alan Grey was going through a box of photographs in the attic. 

A few days earlier:

Alan's mother was doing her spring cleaning and asked Alan to tidy the attic. He was currently reading a Sherlock Holmes book and was feeling very much like a detective. He agreed to clean the attic and was soon going through boxes of old stuff. In one box, he found a photograph of his mother and father. "They were a handsome couple," he thought. On the back of the picture, it said George and Marie. He had lost his dad when he was a baby and felt an empty feeling in his heart. 

As he continued to go through the photographs, he found one that dated back to 1884. The picture was very old and it was difficult to see who was in the picture. He decided to look at it later but then he found another one that was also dated back to 1884. When he turned it over, he read, " Curse thee that has done this." Alan quickly ran down the attic stairs to his mother and showed her the picture. He could feel the suspense in the air as his mother stared at the picture. Then she said, "Alan, sit down, there is something I have to tell you. 

When I married your father, I knew what the consequences were. I knew that he was cursed since birth and I knew that my children would be cursed as well. Father was not an ordinary man; he was a wizard but he didn't know that. He realized that he wasn't normal when the man in this photograph," Alan's mother points at a man in the picture, "started visiting him often. The man's name is Gustav Leon and he is still alive but Father trapped him in this picture so that you would be safe. 

Gustav was a magic thief. His plan was to steal all the magic from the world and then become the greatest wizard. He tried to persuade Father into stealing magic from Garland. When I first heard the name Garland, I was puzzled but then later I found out that Garland was where Father was from. It is a world for immortal beings. 

Gustav was enraged when Father said no to his proposal and vowed that he would curse our first child. And so Father trapped him in this picture. A few years later, you were born. Father was thrilled to have a son, but he was worried of Gustav's threat. He was afraid that somehow Gustav would be able to curse you. And he did curse you, but Father being a wizard, was able to transfer the curse to himself. He then decided to go to Garland and see if he could lift the curse and to see Gustav's criminal records. 

It's been 11 years, and he still has not sent one word. I cannot be certain if he is dead or if he has just forgotten us". Alan stared at his mother for a long time, wondering why she didn't tell him earlier and why his father didn't come back. Suddenly an idea popped in his head, "Mum, I'm the son of a wizard which means that I am half immortal. I can find Garland and solve this mystery." His mother thought about it then replied, "Alan, I am willing to let you do this but I want you to remember that this is very dangerous. I know I can trust you to make the right decision."

As soon as he got his mother's consent and a bone crushing hug, he took the picture and stepped out of the house. He didn't know where to look first so he examined the picture closely. The first thing that caught his eye was the street name behind Gustav. It was the very name of the street that he was living on: Walers St.

Alan was excited about his first clue. He then started looking around him and saw one of the elderly neighbors, Mrs. Larsen, watching him. He waved and then continued searching around. Soon Mrs. Larsen came out and asked him what he was doing. "I was just looking around for some worms. Mother and I are going fishing," said Alan. Mrs. Larsen sighed, "You're just like your father. But you can trust me, I know that your father disappeared and that Gustav is trapped in that picture. I also know the way to Garland." Alan nearly shrieked in excitement and forgot to be worried. "Do you really? Ohh, this is very exciting, when can we go, please tell me we can go now!" Alan gushed. Mrs. Larsen smiled and said, "We can go now my dear boy. Right now."

Mrs. Larsen's house was warm and smelled like cinnamon. Alan's stomach started grumbling so loud that Mrs. Larsen heard and made him sit down to eat some of her delicious cinnamon cake. After Alan finished eating, Mrs. Larsen led him to the basement of her house. When reaching the cellar door, she knocked thrice and the door magically opened as though someone on the inside opened it. As soon as Alan stepped through the doorway, everything around him changed. The cold concrete walls turned into soft moss covered trees, the hard floor turned into soil, and the sun was shining through the trees making the whole forest look golden. Alan was intrigued; he pinched himself to make sure he wasn't in a dream. 

A few days later when Alan was visiting Mrs. Larsen to find out more about his father:

"Alan! Come here quickly!" yelled Mrs. Larsen. Alan came bounding down the stairs. He stopped short when he saw that the picture of Gustav was glowing a green misty light. He started towards the picture. When he got close to it, suddenly the picture pulled him right into it. He heard Mrs. Larsen screaming his name but he knew that it was no use. They were dealing with magic.

Alan woke and found himself hanging upside down from wooden rafters. He looked around and saw that he was in a cottage on a hill. Then he heard squeaking and felt himself being lowered. When he looked at the person lowering him, he gasped. It was none other than Gustav Leon. Gustav smiled wickedly and said, "My precious, you have finally arrived. I've been waiting years for this moment." Alan started squirming only to feel an icy cold hand on his shoulder. He yelped at the sudden touch and then glared at Gustav. "It was all your fault I had to grow up without a father. If you didn't have that pride and greed, I might have had a happy life with both my parents," Alan said angrily. He felt hot tears threatening to pour out. Gustav put on a sympathetic face as he untied Alan's feet and put him in a chair. "If your rebellious father had not declined my proposal, none of this would have happened. Your entire family could have been happy, but… your father was stubborn and selfish." Now Alan could not stop the tears and they streamed down his face as he said, "My father was not rebellious and he was not obliged to accept your proposal. You had no right to meddle with my family." Gustav's smile faded and he yelled, "I had and have every right because I'm your damned father! That man named George came and thought he could take you from me! He said that he would pay me back and that his firstborn didn't make it and he didn't want his wife to die, so he would give you to her and tell her that you were her child!" Everything became silent; the only that could be heard was Gustav's heavy breathing. When Alan looked at Gustav's face, he saw that it was wet with tears. Gustav knelt down and looked Alan in the eyes, "I'm sorry kid, I didn't mean to rage out like that. It's just not easy to have your kid taken away from you. When I told your mother what happened, she left because she thought I was a coward and that I couldn't even protect my own family. A year and a half later I asked your father for you back, but he said no, so I cursed him." They were both quiet for a minute before Alan asked, "Who was my mother?" "Your mother was Agatha Leon," replied Gustav, "And believe it or not, I am your father."

It then hit Alan that his supposed mother had lied to him. She had told him that Gustav was a magic thief and that he cursed him. Alan started crying again, but this time they were angry tears. He felt this weird feeling of betrayal. He couldn't accept that George and Marie were not his actual birth parents. He couldn't accept that his father, George, had stolen him from his real family. Thinking about it only made him cry harder.

Gustav gently wiped Alan's face and hugged him tight. Then he said, " Hey kid, you're my son, and I love you even though I wasn't the father that you knew. But, if you want to go back to your mother who took care of you all these years, I will let you go. She has a right over you because she clothed you, fed you, and kept you safe. I wanted you to know the truth so that if George ever came back, you wouldn't be deceived by his lies. Don't blame Marie, she never lied to you, she only told you what she knew." Gustav stopped hugging Alan and helped him stand up. He led Alan to a door and then hugged him one last time before pushing him through the doorway. 

When Alan opened his eyes, he was back in Mrs. Larsen's house in Garland. He smelled that familiar smell of cinnamon, but there was another familiar smell. It was the smell of his mother's favorite perfume. He sat up straight and saw Mrs. Larsen and his mother drinking tea and talking quietly. He wondered how his mother came here and then realized that probably Mrs. Larsen called her here when the picture pulled him in. Then it all came crashing back. Marie was not his mother and George was not his father. Gustav had told him everything. He felt that sour feeling of betrayal and decided that he would talk to Marie about the whole situation.

Later that day:

"Mum!" called Alan. It stung to call her his mother but if he called her Marie, she would be hurt because she didn't know about any of this. 

He needed to talk to her privately but ever since Mrs. Larsen saw that he was awake, she and Marie had been fussing over him. "Mum, I need to talk to you! Privately!" Alan tried again. His mother finally came in and sat on the bed. "Sorry sweetie, Mrs. Larsen was just showing me her mushroom garden. What is it?" Alan sat up straighter, and then said, "Remember you told me about that picture, the one that Gustav Leon was trapped in? Well, that was the picture that pulled me in." Marie gasped, Mrs. Larsen had not told her which picture had taken him. "Oh honey, I'm so sorry this had to happen to you. It's okay now, you're safe." She smiled at him but he didn't feel like smiling back. Instead he grabbed the picture and showed it to her again. He then asked, "Do you see anything different from last time?" At first she was puzzled but then slowly her eyes widened as she said, "His face, Gustav's face. It changed. He looked so sour but now he looks like he is sadly smiling. What in heavens could this magic thief be sad about?" She looked at Alan and saw that he was staring at her. He had a grave expression on his face and his fingers were trembling. She gently touched his hand but he flinched away. "Where did you get the information about Gustav? he asked. Marie looked at him strangely and replied, "Your father told me. Alan what is this about? Why are you asking me about Gustav?" 

"I'm just curious, you know, I need information," Alan replied nervously. 

One week later:

Alan and Marie went back to their home on Walers St. Everything was going okay between Alan and Marie but then one day, she got a letter that had a leaf seal. She read it and then excitedly gave it to Alan to read. It said:

Dearest Marie,

I hope that you and Alan are in good health. I am terribly sorry that I have not once written to you in 11 years. I feel very ashamed of myself. I hope you will forgive me. The reason my absence has been so long was that I was able to find a way to lift the curse but in return I had to stay 11 years and 2 months and work for the wizard. But today the curse has been lifted and today was finally the last day and I cannot wait to come home to my beautiful wife and son. As I write this letter, I am sitting in a wagon on my way home. Give Alan a hug for me. 

Yours always,

George