Christmas 2024: A Thief in the Night

Link to the beginning of the story https://atomic-temporary-37778625.wpcomstaging.com/2024/12/12/rescuing-christmas-memories-the-land-of-forgotten-toys/

Scanning the area ahead of them, Vel and the others searched for signs of the memory thief. Vel kept checking the stones for any changes. As they came close to the Blackstone River, the stones began to spin again.

Vel held up her hand and the reindeer went into hovering mode. Glancing from side to side, Vel looked for anything unusual.

“There,” Wyatt shouted, pointing to a dim light at the edge of a waterfall. “There’s something there.”

“Good job, Wyatt,” Grandfather said. “How about we land down river a bit and make our way back here? Keep out of view as best we can?”

“Sounds good, let’s go.” And with a flick of her wrist the reindeer dove to the ground, landing gently next to a huge pine tree and the old Blackstone canal.

Once on the ground, Vel whispered to Simon and Iriel and they disappeared into miniature mode. “I’ll have them hide here in case we need them, but I don’t want anyone to discover them.”

“Good idea,” Levi said. “Now let’s go.”

“Wait,” Grandfather said. “Why are we doing this again?”

Vel, Levi, and Wyatt looked at each other. Whatever the creature had done to their grandfather was getting worse. They had to hurry and find a way to help him.

“We going to find the lost gifts the memory thief stole,” Vel said,

Grandfather scrunched his face. “Of course we are. Why would you say that?”

Another quick glance with Levi and they headed off. As they made their way to the light, Vel whispered to Levi.

“We have to keep an eye on your grandfather. Whatever’s been done to him seems to be getting worse. Soon as we can we have to get him back to Santa.”

“He won’t go, Vel. He’d never leave Wyatt and I.”

“What if we get Wyatt to pretend he’s sick? Think he’d agree to take him back?”

“He might. Yeah, I think he would.”

“Okay, you explain to Wyatt while I distract your grandfather.”

After walking a few more yards, Vel put up her hand to stop. She pointed out a spot just ahead and asked Grandfather to go check it out. Levi used to the moment to fill in Wyatt.

“Nothing there,” Grandfather said. “The light is getting brighter though. Looks like a cave under the dam.”

Wyatt walked over to Grandfather. “I’m not feeling so good.”

“What’s the matter, Wyatt?” Grandfather asked.

“My head hurts, I can’t think. I’m having trouble seeing,” Wyatt said, collapsing to the ground.

“More magic, no doubt,” Vel said, “We have to get him out of here.”

“But how, we can’t give up our quest,” Grandfather said.

Vel paused for a moment as if she were thinking, but she’d already had the plan.

“Okay, we can’t send him alone. One of us has to go with him back to the North Pole. You should take him on Simon. Levi and I will continue on.”

“I don’t know,” Grandfather said. “I don’t like the idea of leaving.”

“Neither do I,” Levi said, “But we have to take care of Wyatt. I’ll be fine, if we need anything we send a message.”

“Okay, I’ll take him back. But be careful. There is powerful magic here.” Grandfather said. “It will steal your memories.”

“I think it affects the old and young more,” Vel said. “Sometimes the older folks forget to hold onto their memories and the young haven’t quite learned how important they are. It may be why the memory thief takes gifts that people thought were special. They hold the best memories.”

Vel snapped her fingers and Simon appeared. Grandfather and Wyatt climbed aboard, and they were soon out of sight.

“I hope they can help my grandfather,” Levi said,

“Oh, they will,” Vel said,” I put a message in Simon’s harness explaining it all. They’ll have him good as new in no time.”

Turning back to the trail, the two companions made their way to the entrance. Clearly this was a huge cave with an equally imposing door blocking the entrance.

“How we gonna get in?” Levi asked.

“I wonder?” Vel said, removing the stones from her pocket. Moving slowly along the wall, they approached the door.

“You look on that side,” Vel said. “I’ll look here.”

“What am I looking for?” Levi asked.

“Something like this,” Vel said, pointing to a spot in the wall the exact shape of the stones.

It took Levi a moment longer, but he found the twin.

Vel handed Levi one of the stones. “Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be,” Levi said, flipping the stone in his hand.

Vel put her stone in the wall then turned to Levi, Levi hesitated, then put the stone in, nothing happened.

“Let’s switch stones,” Vel said.

As soon as the stones went back in, the door swung open.

Levi and Vel took a step back, peering into the dim light..