Chapter Three

The loud, insistent rattling of the alarm clock on the ledge above his head jolted Callisto from a deep slumber. He reached for the clock, turned it off, and carefully sprang out of bed as he didn't want to disturb anyone.

After what happened yesterday, he knew his parents were exhausted. He was relieved that his father no longer had to endure days and nights in that poorly equipped hospital, which lacked even a comfortable bed. Staying there would have only worsened his condition rather than aiding his recovery.

Callisto walked into the kitchen. He switched on the lights, illuminating the empty table at the center, surrounded by dining chairs. He made his way to the refrigerator, opened it, and found the fresh vegetables he had picked yesterday.

He decided to cook something healthy for his father. Being able to do that without buying vegetables, as they had plenty growing outside the house, was a relief to him. Their backyard was ideal for planting. In this town, vegetables and plants weren't just a staple food but also a primary source of income.

After chopping and washing the vegetables, Callisto lit the furnace with dried wood, which crackled as the fire took hold, spreading warmth through the kitchen. He poured water into a pot, tossed in the vegetables, sprinkled in some seasonings, and waited for them to boil.

The pale, full moon shone brightly outside as clouds drifted across the sky, like milk swirling in Callisto's favorite café latte. In the distance, roosters crowed while the earth slowly turned to face the rising sun.

A few moments later, Sebastian woke up and made his way to the kitchen. He was surprised to find his son sitting at the table, scrolling through his phone. The warmth from the furnace filled the room, and the aroma of vegetable soup drifted to his nostrils.

"You woke up early?" Sebastian asked, knowing that his son seldom did this when they were in the city.

Callisto often woke up late, especially if his mother wouldn't wake him up. He was such a deep sleeper that it'd usually take a loud alarm for him to come out of bed.

Sebastian walked towards the refrigerator. He opened it and noticed the vegetables were gone. He smiled at the thought that perhaps his son used them to make a soup. He picked a sachet of powdered coffee and boiled some water in the old kettle. The smoke spiraled in the air.

Callisto's attention drifted away from his phone. "I've cooked something healthy for you, Dad," he said, trying not to sound so caring because he knew that his father would be surprised by the sudden change in his behavior.

"I'm glad you did," Sebastian replied. "Your mother will be happy seeing you've grown to be an independent guy. You should take care of her when I'm gone."

"Dad," Callisto sighed. "It's still early for your drama. You still have a long life ahead of you, so please don't say that."

"Son, we must understand that our time on earth is limited, and if you're right, I'll still lose all my memories, and if that happens, I want you to promise me to take care of your mother," Sebastian said.

From the door, Dorothy heard her husband and son talking about the reality of existence. She burst into tears, thinking that her son had grown up just as fast as her husband had grown old. She wiped her tears and entered the kitchen.

"That's enough, guys. We should have breakfast together," Dorothy said. She took the plates, cutlery, and bowls from the pantry and put them on the table.

Callisto filled the bowls with hot vegetable soup. He carefully put them on the table. Then, his mother asked him to call his younger sister so that they could have breakfast together. Callisto left the kitchen and went inside Ruth's room.

"Breakfast's ready," Callisto said, shaking his little sister.

Ruth grumpily jumped from her bed. She followed her brother inside the kitchen. She hasn't combed her hair yet nor washed her face. She went to the sink, took a toothbrush, and brushed her teeth.

After having their breakfast, Callisto thought of going to the mountain. However, it was cold outside. It felt like winter in this place while the rest of the world was experiencing hot weather. Callisto went to his parents' room and asked his father if he could borrow his coat.

"I'm sorry, son, but my coats are wet. It'd take them days to dry," Sebastian said. "But you can check the closet upstairs. Perhaps you can find something there."

The woods were clicking as Callisto stepped on the stairs. The door clattered as he opened it, revealing the room that once belonged to his grandparents, but because they already passed away, nobody had been using it for too long, and it was already covered in dust.

Callisto could smell the unpleasant odor of dead cockroaches and geckos. He covered his nose and continued inside. He also encountered spiderwebs around, blocking his way as he carefully walked towards the old closet. Every step he took was making a horrible sound.

"Woods are really not that long-lasting," Callisto thought, seeing the closet in bad shape. He opened it and found a pair of maroon shoes, a white tank top, and a duster with black pants. He was confused to see them untouched despite many years having gone by.

Callisto stayed there for a while, holding his chin, thinking if he should take them. Then, he eventually decided to try because it seemed like nobody owned them anymore. He took the clothes and shoes out to see if they fit.

But before he could move, Callisto was pulled by a strong force coming from the old closet. He held the door tightly, but the portal sucked him in with it. He screamed so loud as everything turned black.

As the surroundings became clear, Callisto found himself standing in the middle of a grassland where the air was crisp and fresh. There were giant trees behind him, and birds were flying freely in the sky.

Callisto had no idea that he had turned into a tiny human being, like the size of his little finger. He started walking and found that the grassland was so vast, like an ocean, that he couldn't reach its end. Fifty years later, he discovered a huge castle with red rooftops.

"Where am I?" Callisto asked, confused. His hair turned gray. He did his best to survive until now, eating anything he could find along the way, drinking water from the river, and hunting rabbits and deer.

Callisto walked on the concrete road and reached the entrance of the castle. There were some tiny guards standing there, wearing silver armor and holding pointed spears.

"Who is it?" One of the guards asked, his tone firm, and it frightened Callisto.

"Um, hi, I'm Callisto, from the world of humans," Callisto replied.

"From the world of humans?" the guard asked, confused. "I haven't heard of such a place before. I'm sorry, but we don't allow strangers to enter this place. You should go back to where you came from."

"Yeah, go back, old man! You don't belong here!" The guards pointed their spears at Callisto.

Callisto was forced to step back as he didn't want to be skewered by them like meat. Soon, he ran back to the hill when two wolves chased after him.

The wolves were so fast, and one of them bit his leg. Blood trickled from the wound. He felt an excruciating pain and fell to the ground. Suddenly, another wolf jumped to his face, and everything turned black.

"No!" Callisto exclaimed as he opened his eyes. He was relieved that everything was just a dream, and he wasn't dead yet, but he fell asleep on his grandfather's bed. He stood up and said, "What a weird dream."

Callisto went inside his room. He wore the clothes and shoes he got from the closet upstairs. He looked at the tall mirror and realized they fit him perfectly, as if they were made exactly for him.

"Are you sure you're going to wear that outside?" Dorothy asked worriedly. "The weather is cold. You better stay at home today instead of going out."

"But, Mom, I want to go hiking," Callisto insisted.

"It seems like nothing can change your mind anymore. Just use this instead." Dorothy showed him a thick, black parka. "Be careful, okay?"

"Thanks, Mom." Callisto kissed his mother's cheeks.

Callisto went outside and breathed the cold, thick air. He sneezed several times as the air entered his lungs. He knew that going to the mountain in this kind of weather was a bad idea, but he would do it anyway.

"Good morning, my dear brother," Ruth greeted Callisto as he opened the door. She waited for him outside. She wanted to go with him to the forest even without the consent of their parents.

"What are you doing here, Ruth?" Callisto asked. "You should get inside, or Mom and Dad will be mad. It's cold here."

Ruth didn't say anything but looked at her brother with teary eyes, a kind of look that begged him to bring her. Callisto couldn't resist his sister's cuteness, so he ended up letting her join.

Callisto didn't want accidents to happen or his parents to scold him. He decided to stay at the foot of the mountain and have a picnic there with his younger sister. His plan to go hiking was ruined. However, he enjoyed listening to the relaxing chirping of birds and the flowing water in the rippling brook nearby.