Chapter 2: Hollows

The night hung still and silent around him. Charlie stirred, the sheets sticking to his skin. Moonlight cut through the curtains, painting odd shapes on his bedroom wall. He blinked once, then again, focusing on a spot near the edge of his nightstand where a purple creature sat, arms folded and a bored look plastered on its face.

He squinted, rubbing his eyes. Maybe he was still dreaming. Maybe it was a trick of the light. The creature kicked its legs back and forth, glancing around the room as if checking out the décor. Charlie pinched himself.

“Ow,” he mumbled, more confused than hurt.

The creature didn’t flinch. Instead, it let out a tiny sigh and tapped a foot on the wood, staring at Charlie with wide, expectant eyes.

“What the heck?” Charlie whispered, leaning in closer.

The creature wasn’t much bigger than a paperback book. Its purple fur glowed faintly, and it wore a pair of bright blue overalls with an odd little patch sewn on the front. Charlie didn’t know whether to laugh, scream, or go back to sleep and hope it disappeared by morning.

“About time you woke up,” the creature said, its voice surprisingly loud for something so small.

Charlie shot up, knocking the lamp with his elbow. He fumbled to catch it before it crashed to the floor. “You can talk?”

The creature rolled its eyes. “Obviously. I’ve been sitting here for ages waiting for you to notice.” It crossed its arms again, looking impatient.

Charlie shook his head, utterly bewildered. “What are you? And what are you doing in my room?” His heart thudded loudly in his chest, the sound echoing in the silence.

The creature leaned back, resting on its palms. “Name’s Iris Pettlesmith,” it announced. “And you must be Charlie. We’ve got a lot to chat about.”

He gaped at it—no, her. Iris seemed pretty sure of herself, sitting there as if she owned the place. “But—” Charlie started, unable to form a complete sentence. His brain felt like it was stuffed with cotton.

“You’ve got a ton of questions, don’t you?” Iris said with a smirk. “Typical.”

“Are you... real?” Charlie finally managed. It was the best he could come up with.

“Touch me and find out,” Iris replied with a shrug.

Charlie hesitated, then reached out a tentative finger, poking Iris lightly on the arm. Her fur was warm and soft, and she felt very real indeed.

“I’m not dreaming, am I?” Charlie asked, pulling his hand back. “You’re real, last night as real?”

“Not unless you’ve got some bizarre imagination.” Iris swung her legs up and sat cross-legged, looking more like a tiny purple Buddha than a mythical creature.

Charlie took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts. “Why are you here?”

Iris tilted her head to one side, considering. “You found something in the woods, didn’t you?”

“How did you—”

“Know?” Iris interrupted. “It’s my job to know. I’m part of the HPCL.” She waited as if this should mean something to him.

“The what?”

“Human, Peculiar Cooperation League,” Iris explained, puffing up with pride. “Haven’t you been paying attention to anything?”

“I don’t even know what a Peculiar is,” Charlie confessed, throwing his hands in the air.

Iris giggled, a sound like wind chimes on a breezy day. “I do love when you humans are clueless. Makes my night more interesting.”

Charlie leaned forward, eager now. “Can you tell me?”

“Oh, I’ll tell you plenty,” Iris said, “just not all at once. Wouldn’t want to fry your little mind, would we?”

Charlie was torn between frustration and fascination. “So you’re a Peculiar?”

“In the flesh.” Iris did a little spin, as if modeling her own body.

“And the thing I found in the woods—”

“That’s why I’m here, smart one.” Iris uncrossed her legs and stood, bouncing a bit on her toes. “You and that little creature are bonded.”

“Bonded?” Charlie repeated. He felt like a parrot, echoing everything Iris said. But this was his life they were talking about. His life, which until now had been perfectly normal and perfectly boring.

“You should check your hand,” Iris said, pointing.

Charlie looked down and almost jumped. The mark had appeared again on the back of his hand, a crescent moon with three tiny dots next to it.

“What is this?” He couldn’t take his eyes off it.

“Proof,” Iris said simply. “That thing in the woods? It marked you. It picked you. Lucky, lucky Charlie.”

The mark tingled, sending a shiver up his arm. “And you’re here to... what? Record it?”

“Bingo.” Iris pretended to shoot him with finger guns. “Got to keep the files in order.”

Charlie shook his head, a million thoughts fighting for space. The sleepy town of Willow Lake, the woods where he'd found that creature, and now this—his hand and Iris, sitting right in front of him. It was too much to take in all at once.

“So,” he said, his voice tinged with excitement and disbelief. “What happens next?”

Iris leaned back, looking far too comfortable for someone who had just turned his world upside down. “We’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we?”

Charlie sat back, letting the events sink in. The mark glowed softly in the moonlight, and for the first time in his life, everything seemed possible. Everything he had ever dreamed was…REAL!

“You, my friend, are about to have your mind blown.” Iris stood on the nightstand like a general addressing her troops. “That Peculiar you found bonded with you. Marked you with magic.” She clapped her hands together. “The start of something big. Really big.”

Charlie leaned in, eager to catch every word. “Magic? Seriously?”

“Very seriously.” Iris nodded, her face solemn for a second before breaking into a grin. “We’re talking more than your little human head can handle.”

Charlie glanced at the mark on his hand. It was still there, glowing faintly in the moonlight. “So, what does it mean? Being bonded?”

“It means your life’s about to get way more exciting.” Iris hopped up, practically dancing with enthusiasm. “Danger, adventure, all the good stuff.”

“Wait.” Charlie paused, trying to wrap his head around everything. “You mean I’m—”

“A Wunderkind,” Iris finished for him. “You got it!”

Wunderkind. Charlie couldn’t help but smile. A week ago, his biggest excitement was the library’s half-off sale on mystery novels. Now…

“What did you say I was?” He asked just to hear it again. It sounded magical. He didn’t know exactly what it meant, but it sounded really good.

“Wunderkind,” Iris said. “Human gifted with Peculiar Magic. 

“Wunderkind. What about the thing I found in the woods?” Charlie asked. “It was different than you.”

Iris chuckled. “We don’t all look the same, you know? Peculiars like to mix it up, not everyone can look as stunningly beautiful as me.” She waved a tiny hand in front of her face as if showing off her flawless complexion.

“And they just pick people? Like, mark them and give them magic?”

“They’ve been doing it for hundreds of years,” Iris explained, stretching out each word like it was a grand revelation. “And lucky you, now it’s your turn.”

Charlie let that sink in. He could hardly believe what Iris was telling him, but the mark on his hand pulsed with a gentle warmth, insisting it was true.

“So I have magic now?” Charlie asked, eyes wide.

“Bingo!” Iris shouted, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “But don’t go trying to fly or anything. It doesn’t work like that.”

Charlie tried to imagine what it did work like. His room felt smaller, the walls closing in with the enormity of Iris’s news. He rubbed the back of his hand again, half expecting the mark to rub off like a temporary tattoo. It didn’t.

“How do you know all this?” Charlie asked, looking at Iris with a mixture of suspicion and admiration.

Iris puffed up, looking very pleased with herself. “I’m part of the HPCL. We’re in charge of keeping track of all things Peculiar.”

“And you’ve done this before?”

“I’ve won multiple unremarkable awards,” Iris replied with a wink. “I’m kind of a big deal.”

Charlie laughed, a light, happy sound. His head spun with questions, but Iris seemed to have all the answers.

“So you found me because I found the creature?”

“I’m like a Peculiar detective,” Iris said. “We track down bonds and record them for the league.”

Charlie sat back, taking it all in. The bond, the magic, Iris’s quirky presence in his room—it felt like he’d stumbled into one of those half-off mystery novels, only a thousand times more incredible.

“And this mark,” Charlie said, pointing to his hand. “That’s because of the bond?”

Iris rolled her eyes. “Haven’t you been listening at all? It’s like your own little badge of honor. It means you’re official.”

Charlie studied it, feeling more and more convinced that this was all real. 

“What about the Peculiar?” Charlie asked, still trying to fit all the pieces together. “The one that marked me?”

“It’s probably watching you right now, trying to decide what form it wants to take,” Iris said with a shrug.

“Watching me?” Charlie repeated, looking around his room nervously.

“Not in a creepy way,” Iris reassured him. “They like to keep an eye on their humans, make sure everything’s cool.”

The thought of being watched by an unseen creature was both thrilling and a little unsettling. Charlie’s curiosity bubbled over, each answer leading to a dozen more questions.

“So, you’re just here to keep records?” Charlie asked, trying to understand Iris’s role.

“Paperwork is the backbone of any good organization,” Iris said. “We’ve got to keep track of every new bond.”

“Is that all?” Charlie challenged, sensing there might be more to it.

“Maybe I wanted to see who’s lucky enough to get picked,” Iris admitted. “Got to say, I’m not disappointed.”

Charlie grinned, feeling the weight of her words. Being bonded, having magic, knowing this was just the beginning—it was like waking up to find the world was a far bigger place than he’d ever imagined.

“I don’t even know where to start,” Charlie said, looking at Iris with wonder.

“Start by getting some sleep,” Iris suggested. “You’re going to need it.”

Charlie couldn’t imagine sleeping, not with his mind whirring at a million miles an hour. But as Iris settled back down on the nightstand, he knew he’d have plenty of time to figure things out.

“And what do we have here?” Iris pointed a long finger at the chain around his neck, her eyes narrowing like a cat spotting a mouse. “A little keepsake, is it?” The intensity in her voice startled Charlie. He didn’t even flinch when she snatched it away.

“Hey!” Charlie gasped, his hand flying up to his throat. Iris’s speed was incredible. One moment she was staring at the necklace; the next, she held it triumphantly in her grasp.

Iris didn’t seem to hear him. She studied the necklace with a fierce concentration, her small hands clenching it tightly. The easygoing creature on the nightstand was gone, replaced by something wild and urgent.

“What are you doing?” Charlie’s voice cracked with disbelief. “That’s mine!”

“Sorry, kid.” Iris looked up, her eyes filled with something close to panic. “Got to take this.”

Before Charlie could respond, she darted to the edge of the nightstand, her movements swift and determined.

“You can’t just—” Charlie started, his mind racing. It was a gift from his father, the only thing he had left to remember him by. He lunged forward, but Iris was already on the move.

She paused at the windowsill, giving Charlie a quick, apologetic glance. “This is bigger than you know.”

Charlie’s heart pounded in his ears. “Give it back!”

“No time to explain.” Iris tucked the necklace under her arm, bracing herself for a leap.

Charlie was frozen, caught between the shock of betrayal and the urge to get it back. The room felt colder without the weight of the necklace around his neck.

“Stop!” he shouted, but Iris was already gone.

With a nimble jump, she disappeared out the window, leaving Charlie standing there, mouth agape and hands uselessly reaching after her. For a moment, all he could do was stand and stare. The night air seeped in through the open window, and Charlie snapped into action, racing to follow her. Barefoot and in his pajamas, he scrambled out of bed, nearly tripping over the tangle of sheets. The mark on his hand seemed to pulse with urgency, driving him forward. The window frame was narrow, and he hesitated, wondering if this was all some elaborate trick. But the memory of the necklace and the determined look on Iris’s face pushed him on. With a grunt, he hoisted himself up, squeezing through the opening. The ledge was lower than he remembered, and he hit the ground with a soft thud, quickly rolling to his feet.

Iris was a small blur against the shadows, darting down the quiet street. Charlie’s breath formed little clouds in the cool night air as he sprinted after her.

“Get back here!” he yelled, the words trailing behind him as he picked up speed.

Iris was fast, much faster than her size suggested. Charlie pumped his legs harder, the pavement cool and unforgiving beneath his bare feet. He could still see her, the necklace catching the light as it swung back and forth in her grip. She didn’t look back, not once, her focus entirely on her escape.

“Why are you doing this?” Charlie called, desperation edging his voice.

Iris didn’t answer, the silence more cutting than any words she could have said. Charlie pushed himself, his heart and mind racing. He couldn’t lose the necklace; it meant too much. And he couldn’t lose Iris, not when she might be the only one with answers. With every step, the town around him seemed to blur. The streets of Willow Lake were empty, the houses dark and quiet, unaware of the chase unfolding in their midst.

Charlie’s breath came in sharp gasps, the cool air burning in his lungs. He wouldn’t give up, not until he caught her. Not until he understood why she’d taken something so precious and run away.

Iris led Charlie through the sleeping town, her small figure darting through the night like a renegade shadow. She twisted around corners, dashed across empty streets, and always stayed maddeningly out of reach. Charlie thought he might finally catch her when she slipped into a concealed building near the train station. He stopped, breathless and stunned..

He hesitated, staring at the door she’d disappeared through. What was inside? Did he really want to know? The answer was simple. Yes. He had to know. With a burst of energy, Charlie flung the door open and charged inside, half expecting to find Iris waiting with some smart remark. Instead, he skidded to a stop, his mouth dropping open in utter disbelief.

A massive purple dragon filled the space, its scales shimmering in the dim light. It dwarfed everything around it, curling its long tail and examining the necklace with a fierce, intense gaze. Charlie’s legs felt like jelly. He blinked, thinking his eyes were playing tricks on him. But no, the dragon was real, its breath hot and slow, misting the air like a living steam engine. He stood frozen, unable to look away. The creature was both terrifying and mesmerizing, its presence so overwhelming that he forgot why he’d come in the first place.

The dragon turned its attention to Charlie for a brief moment, its eyes like polished amethysts. Charlie shivered, half expecting it to eat him whole. Instead, it returned to the necklace, giving a low rumble that shook the floor beneath his feet.

“I see you found us.” Iris’s voice snapped Charlie back to reality. She perched on a stack of crates, looking not the least bit concerned about the giant reptile in the room.

Charlie’s brain struggled to catch up. “That’s a... a dragon,” he said, pointing unnecessarily.

“Observant as ever,” Iris replied, the sarcasm not lost on him.

“What’s it doing with my necklace?”

“It’s not yours,” Iris said, a hint of seriousness in her voice. “Not really.”

Charlie took a step forward, emboldened by Iris’s calmness. “Whose is it then? Yours?”

“It’s... complicated.” Iris exchanged a glance with the dragon, as if they were sharing some secret.

The dragon made a sound that was almost a chuckle, a deep rolling noise that sent vibrations through Charlie’s bones. He stared at them, trying to piece together the mystery. A tiny purple creature, a massive purple dragon, and his necklace at the center of it all. It was more than he could comprehend, more than he’d ever expected.

“So this is why you took it?” Charlie asked, a note of accusation in his voice. “You’re working with—”

“An enormous flying lizard?” Iris finished. “Pretty much.”

The dragon lowered its head, bringing the necklace closer to its eyes. It seemed to study each facet, each detail, like a jeweler inspecting a precious stone. Charlie felt small, insignificant in the presence of such a creature. But he also felt something else—a strange connection, a sense that he was part of this world, however new and frightening it might be.

“Is it going to give it back?” Charlie asked, less demanding now, more curious.

“We’ll see,” Iris said. Her tone was cryptic, but not dismissive.

Charlie watched the dragon, his heart pounding with awe and anticipation. The necklace dangled from its claws, a tiny, glittering promise of the adventure that had only just begun.

“It is what you think it is,” the dragon growled.

Charlie’s legs trembled slightly in the wake of the dragon’s heavy voice.

“What do we do?” Iris asked.

“We?” The dragon questioned. “WE do nothing. I take this information to Him, and you keep this one safe.” The dragon looked at Charlie, seemingly peering into his sole.

Iris didn’t hesitate. She grabbed the necklace, rushed over to Charlie, and began pulling him by the pant leg. Charlie froze as the dragon shifted and then pushed itself up. It turned and bounded through a hole in the abandoned buildings ceiling. Charlie could see the edge of its enormous wing as it took to flight.

Charlie trailed Iris, his head spinning with everything that had happened. The dragon, the chase, the magic—all of it blurred together like a dream he couldn’t shake. It was almost too much to handle. He followed her through the dim streets, lost in thought, until Iris grabbed his leg again. “We’ve got company,” she said, her voice low and urgent. “Get down!”

They’d barely left the dragon’s lair when Iris’s whole demeanor shifted. She moved with a careful precision, her eyes darting to every shadow.

“What is it?” Charlie asked, feeling the pulse of fear in her voice.

Iris pulled him behind a stack of wooden crates, peering out cautiously. “Trouble,” she whispered.

Charlie’s mind raced. What kind of trouble? “What trouble?” Charlie asked, trying to see what Iris was watching.

She pointed, her finger trembling slightly. “Hollows.”

The word meant nothing to Charlie, but the sight of the cloaked figures emerging from the shadows sent a chill through him. The little hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as they moved with a silent, sinister grace, their faces hidden beneath deep hoods.

“Stay here,” Iris commanded, her voice a mix of authority and fear.

“Why?” Charlie protested, but Iris was already taking action.

With a quick gesture, Iris drew a glowing circle in the air. The mark on Charlie’s hand responded, a warm surge spreading up his arm. He felt the world shift around him, and suddenly everything looked different.

“They can’t see you,” Iris explained, her voice barely more than a breath. “But I have to know what they’re up to.”

“Like I’m invisible?”

Iris nodded.

The Hollows spread out, their movements deliberate and menacing. Charlie watched, invisible and bewildered, as they scanned the area with the relentless focus of a lion pursuing its prey.

“What do they want?” Charlie asked, his voice small and distant.

“Same thing we do, but they shouldn’t be here,” Iris replied, her eyes never leaving the Hollows. “They want that piece of the moonstone.”

Charlie’s heart skipped. He thought of the necklace, how the dragon had examined it so closely, and now these cloaked figures were after it.

“They’re dangerous,” Iris warned, inching closer to the Hollows. “Something called them here, something, or someone, let them in.”

The Hollows continued their search, their intent clear and unnerving. Charlie shivered, more from the tension than the cool night air.

“I’ve got to keep them off the trail,” Iris said, her determination hardening. “You stay put.”

“What if they see you?” Charlie asked, the worry creeping into his voice.

“I mean they probably will,” Iris replied. “As soon as I engage, get out of here. Run back to the Book Store as fast as possible.” She didn’t wait for Charlie to respond. She moved with a purpose, her small form filled with defiance.

Charlie watched, his heart thudding, as Iris crept toward the Hollows. She was fearless—or maybe just reckless—darting from shadow to shadow until she was almost on top of them.

Then, all at once, Iris was in motion, a sudden blur that drew the Hollows’ attention. Charlie held his breath as she tossed something bright and sparking into their midst.

A burst of light exploded, and the Hollows staggered back, momentarily blinded. Iris seized the chance, sprinting away from them and leading them in the opposite direction from where Charlie hid.

Panic surged through him. He hesitated for a moment, torn between helping her and following orders. But Iris’s parting words rang in his ears. He had to trust her plan.

His legs finally obeyed, and he took off, weaving through narrow alleys and past darkened shops. As he ran, his body began to materialize, becoming more visible in the night air. When he reached the bookstore, he climbed up to his window, closing it behind him, and plopped down on his bed.

What was he supposed to do now?