Chapter 5
5
P erplexed, Anna stared at the giant, unable to move. He stared back, seemingly amazed, until he started to twitch and then squinted as his eyes appeared to become watery. A tear the size of a tennis ball formed and traveled down his cheek.
"I thought I'd never see you again." He wiped the tear from his chin with his finger before it splashed on the ground. He reached out to Anna, and her eyes widened as the hairy hand came toward her slowly and carefully. Her heart was beating faster than if she'd just finished a sprint. Run, run away , everything inside her screamed, but her feet were cemented in place.
She raised her arms to defend herself but the giant had already grabbed her. He gently picked her up, placed her in his other hand, and brought her to his face. Did he want to eat her?! She wanted to jump down immediately, but the ground was too far away. Her heart was pounding again, but she couldn’t tell if it was because of her fear of heights or the monster.
As the giant lifted her, she stretched her arms out to the sides and tried to find her balance. What should she hold on to? She swayed momentarily, but he immediately repositioned his thumb to steady her, placing it against her like a backrest. His movements were so slow that she barely even rocked back and forth. Holding her close to his face, he looked at her so kindly that Anna gave an involuntary smile. And, strangely enough, her panic immediately subsided.
Curious, she peered at him. "Do we know each other?"
The giant man's gaze softened and he stroked her back with his thumb. "I knew if you did show up again, I would meet you here." His voice was deep and he spoke unhurriedly, as if he was afraid she wouldn't understand him. "I… Wait. What did you ask me? If we know each other?" His facial expressions reflected the disappointment that coursed through his heart, which was why Anna shrugged apologetically.
"I'm sorry. I… don't remember, but…" She wanted to add that she found it unlikely that she'd ever met a giant, but he looked so heartbroken that she choked on the words. "Could it be that you've mistaken me for someone else?"
"Mistaken… you? I'd more likely mistake myself."
A small chuckle escaped her. How could a creature so frighteningly large and powerful be so friendly?
He slowly leaned his head closer. "You really don't remember? Have you forgotten everything? Me? Our entire world?"
Our entire world? "What do you mean by our entire world? Where am I?"
His huge mouth curved into a broad smile. "Well, home!"
"Home? No, no, no, that can't be right. I… I… I'll tell you what happened. I was on my couch relaxing and I must have dozed off, when suddenly pirates came and abducted me in a flying ship. A flying ship! Can you imagine that?"
She expected an incredulous laugh, but then again, who was she talking to? It wasn't every day that she encountered a giant, after all.
Furious, the giant furrowed his bushy eyebrows. "Did he abduct you?"
"He? Who is he? It was a band of pirates, definitely more than five. It was dark, so I couldn't see everyone. Apparently, they'd stolen the ship because as soon as we landed, the captain and his crew showed up and took the ship back. He seemed to know me, but another pirate with a key ring under his shirt, who supposedly knew me too, freed me from my chains and told me to get away as quickly as possible."
The giant nodded as she spoke. When she mentioned the captain, his eyes hardened, but as soon as she mentioned the one who'd come to her aide, his facial features softened again. "Dear Freddy. At least you can rely on him."
"Freddy?"
"The one who helped you." He looked at her thoughtfully. "It seems you really have forgotten everything."
"What am I supposed to have forgotten? Tell me."
"First, we should get going. I don't mind taking on a horde of pirates, but you shouldn't get too close to the captain even if I'm with you."
"The captain? Why? How does he know me?"
The giant's face darkened. "If you can't remember, I certainly won't tell you. It's better if you forget that dishonorable scoundrel."
"Why…"
"No, Anemone, that's my final answer."
Anna listened. "Why do you call me Anemone?"
"Well, that's your name." Straightening up, the giant laughed as if she had been joking. Still holding her in the palm of his hand, he made certain she didn't lose her balance as he rose. By the time he got to his feet, she was at least as high as a church spire. A sinking feeling moved through her stomach as she nervously peeked over his fingers at the ground. Goodness, that was high!
The giant set off slowly, putting one gigantic foot in front of the other, and with each step, the landscape trembled beneath his feet and the sound of thunder traveled across the meadow. It was wobbly, but the giant was cautious about her safety, so she relaxed a little and returned to their conversation. "My name is not Anemone, it is Anna."
"Similar, but your real name is Anemone."
Should she believe a strange giant who claimed to know her? But how could such a friendly face lie?
"What is your name?"
His sad smile made her want to hug him. "My name is Anton and I am your best friend, even if you seem to have forgotten. You always called me Toni."
Tilting her head, she studied the giant. She inspected his fur clothing, which appeared to be greenish gray, almost like rocks covered in grass and moss. As she marveled at his broad figure and felt the warmth of his hand and of his eyes, she knew he was speaking the truth. He was her friend. Even though all the events of the past few hours had been unbelievable, she couldn't help but believe this friendly giant. How crazy was that? But no matter how much her mind wanted to dismiss these ideas as irrational, her heart insisted she could trust Anton. Since she didn't know what was going on anyway, she certainly wouldn't offend him or doubt him again.
"I'm pleased to meet you, Toni. I'm sure if any memories return, you'll be the first one I remember."
He smiled contentedly at her as he trudged onward. With every step, Anna grew more accustomed to the altitude and the unusual means of transport, and before long her head was filled with questions again. He knew her, as did that captain and the pirate who had helped her. Freddy. If all of this was true and she was from this world, then that might be why she had been abducted. So, why couldn't she remember anything about this world? When was she supposed to have been there? All of her memories took place in the… normal world. And she had never spent a semester abroad or taken an exotic vacation in a faraway country — and there were no memory gaps either. For example, she could still recall in vivid detail what it had been like learning to ride a bike as a child. Her aunt had taught her and she had worn a floral dress and heels, which had greatly amused her uncle. As the memory resurfaced, it blurred as if it were merely part of a dream. Strange. So had it really not happened? Had she simply imagined her past?
Wait, how had she come up with this idea? She had to get out of this strange place as quickly as possible before her mind went completely blank. Would the giant help her return? She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. No, he was adamant that she belonged in this world — he would never obtain such a glittery ship to take her home. However, maybe she didn't need a flying ship. Perhaps there was a land route. She just needed to learn enough about the location. Any information could be valuable. It would be best if she first listened to what he thought had happened back then. Whenever back then was…
"Can you please tell me about before? When we were friends? Maybe then the memories will come back and I'll know where I am again."
"All right, where to start?"
"I'm not really from this… country. I'm human and I come from…" How could she convey that there were no giants where she came from? "… from the normal, non-magical world. So, when did I get here?"
"You weren't just visiting, Anemone. This is your home. You were born in this country and lived here."
As Anton spoke, Anna's gaze wandered over the meadow, which was only faintly illuminated by the moon. She could see rolling hills, but that was all she could make out in the darkness. So she supposedly came from this country and had forgotten it? If this was true, why hadn't her parents ever told her?
"And where did I live? Why didn't my parents tell me that I was born somewhere else?" There had to be a logical explanation for all of this. Anna was curious about it!
Anton slowly shook his head. "I can't believe you've forgotten everything. That you have forgotten who you are. Then again, after what happened back then…"
What? What was he talking about? "What happened back then?"
The giant sighed heavily. "Oh, Anemone, if only I knew how to explain it to you. I think it's best if I take you to your family. They'll find the right words."
"To my family?" Skeptical, Anna frowned. Her family lived in the… other world. A memory resurfaced. Her fifth birthday. Her mother had baked a strawberry cake and blown up lots of balloons. One of them had burst and the pieces landed in the middle of the bowl full of whipped cream. Everyone had laughed. She paused as the images merged and grew hazy, as if they too were only part of a dream.
Strange… when was the last time she'd thought about her parents? When was the last time she had visited them? She couldn't recall. Suddenly, everything became strangely blurry, as if her entire past had been imaginary.
Anton scratched his head. "You were missing for many years. They'll be happy to finally see you again."
At these words, a warm feeling enveloped her heart and it almost seemed to beat faster. Joyful. Expectant, as if it knew the giant was speaking the truth. But, how could that be?
It would be best to wait and see where he took her and what her supposed family said. She had to make sure they weren't crazy relatives who did drugs. Wait — had the pirates perhaps given her some? Was she tripping? Then why was she thinking so much? No, she didn't think that drugs were responsible for all of this.
A thought popped into her mind that wouldn't leave her alone. If it was true that she was actually from this place, why hadn't she stayed? She peered at Anton questioningly. "Why did I leave, then?"
A sad expression crossed his face. "Back then… you disappeared overnight. Nowhere to be found."
"But I was in a world where there was no magic. How did I get there if I'm actually from here?"
"I can't tell you, but I know one thing for sure, it wasn't voluntary."
Not voluntary? Even though it was all beyond her imagination, she was dying to know what had supposedly happened back then. If only Toni would finally loosen his tongue! No matter what questions Anna asked, he said nothing about what had allegedly happened. She needed a different approach.
"If I disappeared overnight — and not voluntarily, as you say — my family must have been worried sick. Why didn't my parents search for me? Or did they leave with me?" That would explain it all, of course. They had erased her memories because… Oh dear, now she was inventing outrageous explanations.
"Your parents?" After that, he remained silent for some time. He didn't say anything for so long that Anna was about to ask the next question when he finally took a breath and continued. "How could you forget all that? If I weren't such a kind fellow, I would twist off the captain's head for what he did to you."
"Wha…"
"Your family should tell you everything. That would be best. Until then, you should close your eyes a little. I know you're not a night owl. Curl up in my hand. Here, take my handkerchief as a blanket, just like before. Take a break. Sleep will do you good and provide you with the strength for what comes tomorrow." He pulled a red-checkered hanky from his breast pocket and spread it across her legs. Then he trudged onward.
Anna looked hesitantly at his handkerchief, which was spot-free and smelled fresh. Her limbs grew heavy at the mere thought of sleep. How could that be the case after such a wildly eventful day? Her mind was sluggish and she could barely keep her eyes open.
Without any further hesitation, she decided to trust the giant. She spread the makeshift blanket over her, snuggled up with her head on the heel of Anton's hand, and turned her sleepy gaze to the endless starry sky. After all, she did have to spend the night somewhere before she searched for a phone tomorrow.
She did manage to stay awake, though it took great effort. She still had to clarify a few things before falling asleep — in particular, the matter of where exactly they were. Although it was unlikely, she still hoped to take a land route back home.
"Tony?"
"Yes, Anemone?"
"There is no… magic in my memory. But this land… is full of it, right?"
"That it is."
Deep in thought, she played with the sun-shaped pendant on her necklace before tucking it under her sweater. How could she ask him about the circumstances and the magical creatures without hurting him? "Well, here, there aren't just people, but also pirates, whose ships fly through the air with glitter dust, and giants and…" She paused, thinking.
He smiled as if he had guessed her thoughts. "I can tell you about that. You've always enjoyed hearing a bedtime story. So… Our world is divided into four kingdoms. There is the Kingdom of the Sea, which is dominated by pirates. They are the masters of the sea and the masters of the water.
"And the skies, considering they can fly their ships."
"Normally, they can't do that. But our world… well… it's a little disjointed. The balance of power is no longer defined, as was the case before and as it must be again. But now that you're back, everything will balance out — I'm sure of it."
He smiled confidently at her. His moss-green eyes sparkled like the stars in the sky and Anna glanced uncertainly to the side. What kind of expectations did he have of her? Even if all these amazing things he said were true, how could she restore balance in a land full of magic that was foreign to her, and without having any magical powers herself?
In any case, she had to learn as much as possible about this world. She tried desperately to fight off sleep. "What other realms are there?"
"There is also the Kingdom of Rocks. That's where the giants rule."
"There are others like you?" she blurted without thinking.
"Of course, there are a lot of giants, but… let's put it this way, I'm a bit atypical for my race."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Most giants are rather simple. They sleep a lot, like to argue, and always know everything better."
"No, you're not like that." Strangely, she did know this…in her heart.
"I also sleep a lot, but I'm neither argumentative nor a know-it-all. Besides, I love reading and you, well, that's how we met. It was you who helped me write my first books."
"Me?" Anna stared at him wide-eyed. "How? Did I used to work in a library?" This was finally something she could imagine.
Anton laughed, his body vibrating so that she wobbled in his hand. "No, but… You'll understand tomorrow. Have your family explain it to you."
"Can't you at least tell me how we met?"
"Tomorrow, when you know more."
Unfortunately, she could tell he wasn't going to say more about it — but why not? That was the real question. At least he'd revealed a few things about this country. She had to build on that. A loud yawn escaped her lips and her eyes almost closed, but she managed to keep them open. Had someone slipped her a sleeping pill? She'd never liked being awake when it was dark outside — and liked rising before the sun. But this extreme fatigue was highly suspicious.
"You spoke of four kingdoms. What others are there besides the kingdoms of the sea and rocks?"
"The third is the Kingdom of Winter. The Snow Queen rules there."
Goosebumps appeared on her arms. But they disappeared as soon as they'd come. "The Snow Queen? That sounds like a fairytale. Does she have magical powers?"
"Yes, and she knows how to use them. She's definitely someone to watch out for."
That sounded exciting. "I will keep that in mind. What is the fourth kingdom?"
"That's where we are right now. It is the Kingdom of Flowers — your home, mind you."
"The Kingdom of Flowers? How romantic. It sounds like a nice place to live. Who lives in this realm other than humans? And who governs it? A flower queen?"
"No, there are…" He looked at her uncertainly. "Fairies live here."
"Fairies?" Her eyes sparkled and she quickly straightened up. "How adorable. Are they tiny glittery creatures with wings?"
"Kind of, yeah."
Anna leaned back and then forward and then to the sides, but she didn't see anything magical flashing in the darkness. "I don't see any."
"They go to sleep as soon as the sun goes down and get up with the first rays of light."
"Too bad. So I'll get to see them tomorrow. What time is it anyway?" She yawned again and stretched.
"It should be shortly after midnight. Have sweet dreams, little Anemone, I'll take care of you. And when you wake, we'll have reached your home."
His words comforted her, as if she hadn't been home in a while. He called her little Anemone even though she was a grown woman. But she did feel small compared to him, so it didn't bother her.
She hoped he wasn't taking her further from her home than she already was. But what else could she do but trust him? Without anyone to guide her, she wasn't particularly keen on wandering through the night and possibly falling back into the hands of her captors. At least she knew — yes, as strange as it sounded — that Anton posed no threat.
She snuggled up comfortably on the unfamiliar bed. Even though there were hundreds of questions on the tip of her tongue and she wondered how she could trust a giant so readily, she was asleep a moment later.