SEVEN YEARS LATER

Human's were greedy creatures. Ellery never truly understood the depth the meaning held until now.

His sister and mother had just returned from the market, their aprons ladened with ripe apricots and cherries. They were very exotic fruits considering they couldn't be grown in the area. The golden sheen to their surface added to Ellery's suspicion that they had gone to that market, not that the old market existed anymore. The fact that this new market was open every day taunted Ellery every time his mother and sister came home ladened to the fullest.

Frustration poured from him as he eyed his sister's hacked nails and bloody hands. It appeared the deals were beginning to take on a higher demand. How many fruits did the two collect in a week? They probably even sneaked out when Ellery tried to barricade them in. Things took a turn for the worst a few months back forcing Ellery to take immediate action.

His family was addicted, obsessed. Just like everyone else. Everyone but him.

Green eyes watched mother and daughter as they went straight to the kitchen and collapsed onto the wooden chairs, exhausted. Skin sagged into bone, the whiteness looking ghoulish if not for the faint pink hue to their hollow cheeks. The look didn't compare to that of humane.

Then as if someone had flicked a switch inside them, the females idly tossed the fruit onto the table, not caring if they rolled and fell onto the floor, and languidly stretched a skeletal hand towards the fleshy fruit.

Contact was made with the surprisingly loud squelch of teeth sinking into apricots. The sound was enough for Ellery to flinch and continue watching unnoticed as the two consumed the fruit like carnal beasts.

He knew better than to interfere. The mistake last time almost cost him his nails. His gut feeling told him to take over the situation, the one thing he would willingly do, yet the overwhelming feeling of fear crept under his skin.

Coward.

Eliza's last fat apricot was gone in seconds as was their mother's soon after, the smacking of their lips savouring the succulent flesh that dripped down their throats.

He swore that their eyes - though sunken - had a glowing vitality to them. The once green irises were now a foggy, glassy texture compared to the clear and naive gazes they once possessed.

His breath was cut short as a pair of skeletal claws stretched towards the pile of fruits once more, straining to feel the softness of the untouched cherries. Yet, Ellery's hands reacted quicker, quicker than his mind could process his actions. A loud smack echoed across the barren kitchen, a loud squelch proceeding soon after. By the time Ellery could comprehend the crime scene, the enchanted fruit was everywhere on the floor. A decoration of pinkish red flesh upon the ground.

Not so much as a blink did the boy see the rosy cheeks gone, the claws retracted to rounded flesh.

The spell was broken.

But face to face with the hollow expressions, the boy wondered if his choice had been wise. He doubted there would be much change if he let them eat the fruit otherwise, but he hated the idea of watching them tear their way through any more of the hideous fruits.

Blank expressions glowered at him and it seemed they appeared angry. To any person, it was like a scene where a mother and daughter were scolding the youngest child. To Ellery, on the other hand, the scene lacked any emotion or judgement. It was like playing with wooden dolls but having no sense of direction to what was actually happening.

And just like that, the figurines began to move again, this time to the tune of the goblins. Ignorance washed over their stiff demeanours and the two females were positioned to exit the kitchen. Their backs swiftly faced Ellery and soon disappeared from sight. 

He waited until the sound of heavy footsteps on the stairs ceased. He waited as the floorboards creaked above. He waited still as he heard the click of their respective doors close. All until the shuffling overheard ceased altogether.

Only then did he allow his heavy breaths to wash out. Restricted unconsciously.

The silence from the kitchen unnerved him and the ruined collection of cherries even more. Their demise played over and over in his head, their destruction amplifying in noise until the only sound he could hear was their repetitive squelch.

A small gasp was heard, a comforting sound in that moment of time; the most human thing that was heard in a long while. It took a moment to realise that the sound was produced by himself and not from a delirious figment. Ellery's knees gave way as a fresh trail of tears leaked from his eyes.

It lasted a few heartbeats, but the boy thought of the possible humanity that had returned to his family's features, some semblance of the past humans they had been before they were lulled into the wicked tune of goblins. He didn't care if it were mere illusions of the eye. He had yearned for this scenario, yearned for some hope, even if it were false to keep him sanely living in a wooden household.

He missed the warm laughs, the solid hugs, the charismatic voices. He was just a boy who wanted his loving family back.

A loud clang from the grandfather clock hastily brought his mind away from the past. Two slender arms were pointed to mark quarter past eight. Time had apparently become harder to notice.

Knowing nobody would clean the mess, he went on to disposing of the ruined flesh of the fruit, tossing it into the weak fire where it glowed a dazzling gold. 

Ellery knew he wasn't affected, but he wondered how easily he could have been if he had even tried to be swayed by the allure of the fruit a few months back. How easy it would have been to pluck a selection of fruits from the goblins and ignorantly devour them. 

He ignored the bell chimes that elicited after the golden smoke had disappeared, their sweet sound lifting up his spirits and promising for the feeling of happiness to be ever-present.

"I need some fresh air," Ellery sighed, wiping away the last remnant of tears.

The door creaked open, the sound the loudest he had heard in days. He was careful to close it with equal gentleness. Not once did he look back knowing there would be no goodbyes or calls for a safe well-being.

Eyes set forward, he shook his head as he was immediately greeted with the heavy atmosphere of magic. It appeared the village had suffered more than when he had last set foot out. Though everything looked the same, he knew better than to be swept along by the trick of the eye that made people see what they wanted to see.

His green irises scanned the length of the empty street. Believing it to be safe, he cautiously stepped away from the border of his home and stiffly advanced towards the next street.

Similar to his own street, the next settlement of homes were silent, apart from the fluttering of small fey and the few villagers present. They whispered furiously as he ignored them, their murmurs alerting the villagers who were out.

Glazed eyes followed Ellery as he briskly walked into a queer alleyway, his only means to escape the scrutinising expressions. He warranted against it but he found his feet going towards the market, wanting to hear something close to real life than the loud silence.

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It was lively as he entered the grand atmosphere. For a small market, the air was charged with excitement and life. Yet, Ellery couldn't help but notice the sickly pleasure that emanated from the crowd, the feeling of having too much to eat but wanting to eat more or knowing when to stop being curious but still encroaching on the idea.

Like the old market, stalls were set in a circular pattern mimicking that of the stone slabs on the ground that created the area. Though one thing was for sure, the old village market would never have been bold to advertise and express with such an array of gaudy colours and expensive wares.

Plum, peach and luminous green bunting twirled around the exterior of the market, some interwoven between the scarlet and royal indigo bohemian tents to create a chaotic but festival-like scene. Soft yellow lights were propped up in glass lanterns basking the market in a sleepy ambience. Straw baskets with orange ribbons garnered trinkets and mystifying objects such as pocket watches, hair brushes and spoons; normal objects which were no doubt ordinary at first glance but otherwise were not.

A mixture of faces and creatures illuminated in a soft yellow glow entered his field of vision as he stalked near the edge of the social gathering, taking care not to let attention seek him.

The remaining townspeople conversed with the many goblins that perched themselves from their stands. Goblins of many shapes and colours equally glowed with mischief as they sold their wares by the minute. By the time one stall appeared empty, the baskets would find themselves full with luscious items.

Let them entertain and seduce, they will do me no harm if I don't lose my focus, thought Ellery as he passed multiple bohemian tents.

Karma, on the other hand, had a different idea. Instead of letting Ellery carry on being a bystander, the boy's presence became known to the people in the area. A kaleidoscope of eyes fell upon his form who, to the many villagers, appeared as if he was sneaking behind the stall nearest him.

The villagers gave pointed stares of disapproval although it was hard to tell with so many hollow eyes. To Ellery's dismay, the goblins' eyes shone like fireflies, their mirth an inexhaustible fuel building up inside their wrinkled, small bodies.

It was beginning to settle that visiting the market was not a great idea. Somehow he had missed the electric feeling across his skin which was unusual and the way pleasantries were being passed more often. He could have gone to a running stream where noise and safety from fey creatures would have been provided, but his mind was so caught up on reliving something from the past that he ignored the logical route.

The goblins recognised him immediately. Their Cheshire grins widened as they poured forth from their stalls and ushered him to the market centre.

"Mr Thaw, what a pleasure it is to see you here," chuckled a goblin whose skin was like that of bark.

"Indeed," crooned another goblin whose body replicated a wizened tawny owl. "It's always fun to see a favourite customer of ours."

Lies. Ellery hardly stepped foot into the market and he never went near as to touch or stand directly in front of a stand. Lies. He was only a favourite because the goblins knew of his resistance. They truly loved to mock him.

When he made no notion of replying, the goblins pouted.

"It's a common courtesy to acknowledge one who makes an effort to speak to you," crooned a rat-faced goblin, matted clumps of fur sticking from its body.

Sounds of tut-tutting were made between goblins and people. The villagers were finding amusement in the situation.

"Well, we won't force you to reply, but would you ever be so kind as to garner a look at what we have supplied this very fine evening?" suggested a goblin with badger-like qualities.

Murmurs of agreement rang out from the enchanted crowd. Ellery noted that the humans were trying to join in too.

What he had learnt of the villagers' new personas were that when pleasing the goblin's to give them free samples, they would do anything and everything. Ellery especially was a quick and accessible ticket to achieving such a grand feat of free enchanted goods. He was the human favourite of the goblins after all.

"Where your manners, Thaw?" rasped an elderly man who Ellery recognised as Winfrey Fray, the infamous village drunk. Bad enough as he was in the past, his level of annoyance and tenacious ability to squash the very secrets out of you doubled with the effect of the goblin's "Bacchus wine" he regularly purchased.

"Mind your own business." Ellery finally grunted knowing the old geezer would taunt him if he didn't make an effort to reply. His blunt response was met with jeers from the crowd, both human and goblin.

A thrilled gleam took hold in Winfrey's eyes at the support he was amassing. Licking his cracked lip, he continued. "Why don't you try some fruit? Think you too good for seasonal goods?"

He made no effort to stop where he was, his tone turning sugary as if talking to a misbehaved child. "Such a bad boy to you mother and sister. They come and tell us all 'bout you behaviour--"

Ellery felt himself shake.

Winfred continued on putting much emphasis on what he knew and the troubles Ellery had put his family to. There was particular detail on how he declined anything they gave him being in gifts and little treats.

His eyes met the gazes of some Goblins. They shrugged amusedly as the crowd gasped at the news -- like it was all new to them, the villagers always made an effort to make Ellery's life a misery.

"It's not like that. Most of it—"

He was interrupted by the arrogant jest of Aurelia Pike, the village head's daughter. "They even pick the ripest and juiciest treats for you. A waste on such an ungrateful brat."

She was around the same age as him, but even in her new state, it seemed she found no trouble asserting her dominance.

"Don't you get it, you're being manipulated! By the enchanted fruits! The trinkets! The goblins!" Ellery exclaimed only to realise what he had rashly put into the open. Regret prompted him to back away although he knew it was too late to act upon his decision.

With what villagers were left hanging around the market, old and young familiar faces were slowly advancing towards Ellery.

A loud cackle shot from Ellery's left and left him face to face with the shrivelled owl-shaped goblin.

"If I'm not mistaken it is the second day of the week." Sunken eyes latched onto Ellery's green ones. "And if my memory is correct, charities of good nature commence feeding the feeble and the misguided."

"Ah yes, charitable on our part to forget past mistakes and start the road of redemption." The villagers murmured in agreement as if remembering an old tradition. But Ellery knew the tradition did not exist, especially in the human world where such "charitable" movement was marked as overly ambitious.

"But of course you would know," The goblin continued sinisterly. "Since we are fully supportive of your sacrifice, we will appoint you as this year's golden player."

a/n: the chapter turned out longer than I anticipated sooooo it's currently split into two. I might chip away at some paragraphs, especially towards the end >.> The next part will probably be uploaded by Friday if I have time. Anyway, better get back to my driving theory before somebody notices I'm procrastinating...