The Conductor

“I finished it!”

Tyler held up an un-clothed, bald marionette, embracing his paint-work.
I smiled and took the marionette from him, studying the face – everything was decently painted.

I allowed him to become my assistant so that he may have other things to do instead of studying human anatomy and mathematics every day – that is as far as he knows.

However, it is also to decrease suspicion among the townspeople.

Even though I haven’t let him outside, people still enter here on a daily basis, and they always spot him sitting in a nearby chair, watching with a smile on his face.

Who knows what they think?

“Alright, you can take a break now, Tyler.”

He nodded with a smile on his face, but instead of grabbing a book to read, he pulled a chair to the window and sat down, watching everything that is occurring outside.

“Michael, when am I allowed to go outside?”

I sighed.

“What have I told you about asking me that question, Tyler?”
“But you never told me why.”

“You’re just not ready yet.”
“Once again, why?”

I bit down on my lip.

“Just trust me. I will let you go outside, but not yet.”

I walked over to him and placed a hand onto his shoulder.

“You’re not ready right now. Just trust me. Okay, Tyler?”

He nodded slowly, his bottom lip poking out slightly.

Outside, a young woman spotted Tyler and waved at him.
He smiled and waved back.

However, an older woman – most likely the mother – spotted the two, gave Tyler a cold stare, and dragged her daughter away.

And his smile was gone.

He’s not ready.

I moved my hand to his hair, gently threading my fingers through the locks.

“Is there something wrong with me?”
“Why would you ask that?”

“That woman…she didn’t look pleased to see me. Am I unattractive?”
“No, why—?”

“You locked away your mirror.”

I gently turned his head to look at me.

“You are far from unattractive, Tyler. You really are.”

A small amount of pink appeared on his cheeks.

“What do I look like?”
“Well, you have soft, short, brown hair. Two light blue eyes. A bright smile. Pale, flawless skin.”

“Really?”
I nodded.

“But…that woman…”
“She gives everyone that look. You are fine.”

He nodded and brought his attention back to the window.

| x | x | x |

“April 2nd

Tyler has reached the questioning stage, something that I had feared for a small while.

He cannot be let outside. He doesn’t fully know the workings of civilization.
He’ll be questioned. He’ll be ridiculed.

He cannot manage with that yet.

He cannot see his reflection in the mirror. The skin hasn’t fully regenerated and the stitch marks haven’t fully cleared.

He cannot know that he is pieced together.

He still develops each day. As of now, he has the intelligence of a seventeen-year-old, but the mindset of a twelve-year-old.

To add on: lately, I feel that he needs some sort of mother figure in his life.
I feel that I cannot fully provide him with the aspects of a mother.

Maybe if Elizabeth were still here with me, she could help.

However, if she were still here, Tyler would have not been.

That aside, I vowed that I wouldn’t resent or abandon him.

I will care for him and protect him the best I can, and I hope that will be enough.”

I closed the book and placed the pen next to it on the desk.

Tyler was not in bed, and I heard whispering coming from downstairs.
I stood up from the chair and made my way down.

He was still sitting in the chair. However, the window was open, and I could see the young woman from earlier standing on the other side.

“Do you really help him make marionettes?”
“Yeah. He’s teaching me, and he says that I assemble and paint very well.”

“Does he not terrify you?”
“No, he’s my friend. Why would he?”

“Well…I heard…”

Before she could finish her sentence, I quickly appeared behind Tyler, causing her to gasp in horror and run away.

He turned to look at me, face instantly showing guilt.

“You should be in bed, Tyler. Not conversing with her…”
“But she seemed really nice.”

I shook my head as I slammed the window shut.

“You still have so much to learn…”

I turned to face him again; he was now standing up.

“I’m really disappointed in you right now. You disobeyed me…!”

His lip quivered before he dropped his gaze to the floor.

“I’m sorry…!”
Small hiccups as fists wiped away tears.

“Let’s go to bed, Tyler. You’re starting a new chapter in mathematics tomorrow morning.”

We made our way into the bedroom, but before I could reach the bed, Tyler hugged me from behind.

“Please don’t be angry with me, Michael…I’m sorry…”
I sighed.

“I’m not angry with you. I’m just disappointed.”
“Don’t be that either…!”

I turned to look at him, wiping his tears away.

“Can I still sleep with you…?”
“Have your nightmares returned?”

He hesitated at first, but nodded.

I ignored the hesitation and allowed him to come into bed with me – once again, he was curled up at my side like a child.

“Tyler…I know you’re curious. And I know you want to find so many new things to enjoy in life. But you have to patient. It is very crucial that you are patient. I don’t want anything to happen to you. Do you understand?”

The light snores coming from him showed that he wasn’t even listening.

I bit down on my lip.

I’m just trying to protect you.