SPLASH!

Loud coughing and spluttering could be heard.

Dylan abruptly stopped swinging and he turned around. Suddenly, he sprang up in confusion, nobody ever came around to Faerie Garden because a girl who was kidnapped long ago was killed and then everyone became scared of this place, but that was perfect for Dylan, he practically bathed in solitude.

“Hello…?”

No answer.

He tried repeatedly but only silence echoed.

Again…the same coughing.

“Hello?I know you’re here there’s no need to hide; I’m harmless.”

No sound…

“I promise.”

A little head popped out the corner of his eye and soon a whole figure was standing right in front of him.

She was beautiful… drenched ,but beautiful. Her slender figure was perfectly fitting inside a cute, cozy white dress and her hair was a strawberry blonde colour, her eyes were innocent, pure and a pretty pastel blue. Her fair complexion made her dazzle in the sunlight, and her sweet smile was the cherry on top. It was as if she came straight from a fairytale…

“Hello sir” spoke the girl shyly.

“Sir? No need, call me Dylan”

The girl’s face became florid all of a sudden and Dylan smiled sweetly.

“What’s the matter, don’t worry you’re safe here, nobody ever comes here anyway” Dylan reassured.

“Dylan… that’s a cute name” the girl said with her hand on her chin.

He laughed and thought to himself “how cute”.

“May I ask your name, my lady?” He replied.

“Oh my name is… Ayaka”

“Ayaka… what a pretty name” He paused. “For a pretty girl too”

They both made eye contact for a few seconds then burst into laughter.

“Where did you even come from Ayaka… you seemed to be coughing earlier and you’re quite drenched might I add”

Dylan said with his qualms. He gave her his black coat which had a warm and fuzzy inner layer.

“Thank you Dylan, and where I came from…”

She paused for a while and gave a little sigh before answering.

“Your sister”

“I’m sorry?”

“Indeed, your sister.”

Dylan was stupefied and by this little girl?

“Surely, my lady you are mistaken, my sister is a minor..”

Dylan panicked and he started getting agitated.

Ayaka sniggered and started cackling, which was an unexpected laugh for a petite body like hers.

“Noooo, she DREW me, I am her creation come to life”

“Wait… my sister did draw characters” Dylan whispered to himself.

The realisation hit him, Ayaka was his sister’s creation. The drawings from the story she was inventing up about little fairies changing the world and defeating the evil masters of some town called Plitzen. He remembered everything now, everything came rushing down like an avalanche and he was too stunned to speak.

“How in heavens name? No wonder you’re so heavenly-like” Dylan stuttered.

She chuckled a bit. “Your sister has a great talent and I must say it’s helping her very well.”

Dylan had never been so garrulous before, so inquiring and so curious, his senses were numb, as if pins and needles had just struck him like daggers.

Ayaka looked around in satisfaction, her gaze so mischievous and delightful. Her hair was flowing with the fresh breeze, as the sun let its golden streams come down on the patches of green grass; everything was so oddly perfect right now.

“You see Dylan..” Ayaka turned around smiling softly.

“Your sister sent me down here so that you weren’t lonely, she cares about you lots.”

She held Dylan’s hands as he looked down in embarrassment.

“Are you saying she’s the controller of the story we are living in…”

Dylan asked.

“Yes.. she is, I’m sorry ,I know your family situation and that this is your getaway”

Ayaka replied calmly.

Dylan was touched, he knew his sister and him had a very good relationship but this was so far ahead in his life. He was lonely. This was his getaway. He had many scars, some mentally, some physically, and he did need this. Very much. But how was it possible? The controller of this world? The controller of his story? As much as he loved his sister, the thought of having her control him by writing disturbed him deeply, it seemed so psychotic.

Dylan chuckled ,hiding his confusion and panic, as he looked up and straight into Ayaka’s eyes. Right now he was happy. He needed this moment, he had to spend it as wisely as possible. Dylan squeezed Ayaka’s hands tightly and said “Let’s go” with some sort of interest.

“Come on then I’ll take you to the swing. My favourite” Dylan said.

Ayaka followed Dylan as they went through the bushy and thorny forest. Beauty can be dangerous. The roses were spectacular and the contrasting spring cherry blossoms that still hung on their long,brown branches. It was like two sides of a story: the villains and the heroes. A light. This dark passage was long, but the light was gigantic at the end. In the spotlight you could see two ropes hanging from their tree branches with a little piece of wood attached to it with flowers twisting themselves around the ropes.

“Be careful, the swing dangles near a cliff edge so don’t fall off.” Dylan warned.

Ayaka nodded in silence as she looked around with a hint of mesmerisation on her small, round face. As they got closer, Ayaka started from a little smile to a large beam on her face, the swing was so fantastic ,all of Earth was, and she jumped right on.

“Whooaaaaaaa” she screamed looking down at the river below her and the stupendous height she could fall from.

Dylan slowed the swing down and pushed her lightly while laughing a bit.

“What’s so funny Dylan?”

“You”

In the end they were both pushing each other on the swing, messing around like little kids and just enjoying themselves. Dylan felt his loneliness slowly starting to slither away as he was lost in the moment and just …having fun.