Expectations

Casey was the town street rat. Ever since his parents had died he had to survive on his own, stealing food and evading capture by the local constables. Wise beyond his tender 17 years, he had street smarts, as people called them, and plenty of them. He didn’t trust or need anyone, which suited him just fine.

Merlin was the town eccentric, the person others loved to talk about. Little was actually known about him other than he seemed to have been around for as long as anyone could remember. He would be quite congenial when he met folks, but he preferred to be left to himself.

Their lives intersected one day when Casey accidentally acquired Merlin’s watch after the two bumped into each other.

“Sorry mister,” Casey apologized to the older man. “I didn’t see you.” Merlin smiled at the youth. For some odd reason, he was feeling uncharacteristically guilty about stealing the old guy’s watch.

“That’s okay son. Accidents happen.”

Casey nervously fingered the watch in his pocket, trying to make sense of why he should feel so guilt-ridden about what he had done. He never had been bothered by his thievery before so why this time?

“Say son, you don’t look so well. How about coming home with me and I give you something to eat. You look like you haven’t had a good meal in a while. What do you say?” Something about the man set Casey’s defensive instincts off but he couldn’t tell just what it was. Go home with him? He might be some kind of perv or worse. Was it the glint in the old man’s eyes as though he knew something he wasn’t telling Casey? The dude was only trying to be friendly, right? Besides he could take care of himself and this guy was certainly no match for him if it came to that so what did he really have to worry about?

“Yeah, okay, but only for a meal and then I’m gone. Deal?”

“Fine. My name’s Merlin. And you are?”

“Casey.”

“Follow me, Casey. I don’t live too far away.” The two started to walk, Merlin setting a rapid pace that surprised Casey. He certainly was spry for an old guy. They soon arrived at what Merlin called his ‘humble’ abode. Strange thing about the house though: it appeared small on the outside but upon entering Casey was overwhelmed by just how large the interior was. Must be an optical illusion he told himself.

Later that evening after a simple meal, the two sat talking, or more accurately Merlin talked and Casey listened. The old guy could tell tales that sounded as if he had actually lived through them. Time passed swiftly and soon it was deep into the night, time to get some sleep.

“Would you like to spend the night here Casey? I have a bed upstairs you can use and it would be a change from sleeping on the streets.”

“Uh…,” Casey wasn’t too sure if he should stay in Merlin’s house – it hadn’t been part of the deal. He still didn’t trust the guy and there might yet be something else going through Merlin’s mind to make him ask such a question. But then again it would be nice to have a soft bed for a change. “Sure, whatever.”

“Great. Nice, clean, and its own bath.” Casey was quite surprised when Merlin led the lad upstairs to what seemed like a private suite after living on the streets. “Good night Casey. Sleep well and I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Night, Merlin.” Merlin went back downstairs as Casey checked out the room before he hopped into the bed. For the first time in as long as he could remember he was warm, comfortable, and content. He quickly fell into a deep sleep, oblivious to all around him.

Downstairs Merlin smiled to himself. He had plans for the young man if he proved to be the one he had waited for. He had high hopes Casey could help him. He would know better soon. Satisfied all was done for the day he went to his room to wait for morning.

Casey awoke to the tantalizing aroma of bacon and eggs frying and was that fresh coffee he could smell? His stomach started to rumble in anticipation.

“Good morning, sleepy head.” Merlin called from downstairs. “There’s a toothbrush in the bathroom for you and I found some clean clothes that should fit you. Go get yourself cleaned up and come down to breakfast. See you in a while.”

Casey couldn’t believe Merlin was doing all this for him. He hadn’t had a shower in so long and clean clothes were something he could only get by stealing them. As wonderful as all this was, Casey’s wariness of strangers was still holding him back from believing Merlin didn’t have some ulterior motive for the kindness. Still he might as well enjoy it while it lasted.

As he showered the air around him began to grow oppressively hot and dry. His mind drifted until suddenly he found himself dressed in camouflage, propelled into the body of a bad-ass Marine in a desert battle. He had no time to ponder as a shell exploded nearby, forcing him to scramble for cover. He was okay but another soldier lay wounded on the field. Without a second thought that he was risking his life, Casey went after the man. They got safely back to the bunker just as another shell landed where the soldier had been, bright light from the shell blinding Casey momentarily. When his eyes cleared, he could still smell the gunpowder and hear the sounds of the battlefield but he was back in the shower, water running down his body. Had it all been some sort of strange hallucination?

As Casey showered Merlin was busy with the final preparations for breakfast. His guest would be hungry and perhaps that hunger would get Casey to let his guard down just long enough for Merlin to further see if the boy was the one he had been waiting for all this time.

A still confused Casey made his way down the stairs to find Merlin waiting with a huge breakfast all laid out for him.

“Eat.” Merlin commanded him. “Don’t be shy. And if you need more I’ll make it.”

“Aren’t you eating Merlin?”

“I ate earlier. This is for you.”

Casey started to wolf down the food, each piece a delicacy to his pallet that hadn’t had a meal like that in quite some time. Merlin sat and the two talked casually while Casey ate. Feeling somewhat stupid but needing to talk to someone, he opened up to Merlin.

“Something weird happened while I was in the shower. It was all so real, about being a Marine in the desert. I could feel the bullets whizzing by me and the sound of the gunfire was deafening. Shells were exploding all around but I managed to save a wounded soldier.”

“Oh? Probably just your vivid imagination Casey. How could something like that possibly happen?” Merlin arched his brow. Casey had survived, could keep his head under pressure, and contrary to his front, cared about others above himself.

“You’re probably right. Just that I could really feel everything happening. It was kind of cool being a Marine though, even if it was in battle and only for a short while.”

“I seem to have misplaced my watch. Have you seen it per chance?” Casey nearly gagged when Merlin mentioned the watch.

“Uh…don’t be mad at me… I stole it Merlin. I’m really sorry.” Casey contritely handed the watch to Merlin.

Merlin accepted the watch with a warm smile. “Thank you my boy. I appreciate the honesty.” That was what Merlin had wanted to hear. Satisfied Casey was basically a good kid caught in unfortunate circumstances but capable of surviving hardships, there was one final thing he had to do.

The room started to spin around Casey and a wave of nausea hit him. He must have eaten too much too fast. He shut his eyes hoping the feeling would pass quickly. From what seemed like far away he heard Merlin’s voice. “Forgive me, Casey. I must hide you.”

“What is happening to me?” Startled by the strange voice he heard Casey opened his eyes, only to find himself outside with snow falling all around him and a bitter wind biting at his face. “Merlin?” His now accented voice sounded deeper. He looked around but couldn’t recognize anything he saw. He caught a glimpse of a gray sleeve covering his arm, which was impossible because he had been wearing a vest just a second ago. Completely confused, he made his way inside through a nearby door where he would at least be out of the snow and bone-chilling cold.

“Hello? Is anybody here?” No answer. The place was small but it looked comfortable. Without thinking what would happen if the owner came home and found him here, he made his way to another door, stumbling over his work boot clad feet. He opened the door to find himself facing the disheveled bedroom of someone who didn’t have much time or inclination to clean up often. An open door at one end showed the bathroom. Taking it slower this time, he entered, soft light flooding the room when he flipped a switch. He stepped over to a mirror above the sink, totally unprepared for what his reflection showed.

Telling himself to take deep breaths and calm down, Casey managed to get his panic under control. What had Merlin said? He needed to hide him? Hide him from what and why? What had Merlin done to him? He had gotten himself out of tough scrapes before. Why should this be any different? But what if it was different? What if he was stuck here, wherever here was, stuck as somebody he didn’t recognize?

His mind was reeling from all the unanswered questions. The only thing he knew for sure was that he wasn’t himself anymore. He was older, at least in his mid-twenties. Short dark hair that had been shaved on the sides topped a very square masculine face framed by a beard. The heavy clothing he wore did little to hide the muscular body of someone that worked hard for a living. He was a good-looking man but it wasn’t him.

Searching through his clothes he found a wallet. The ID showed his new face with an address and name – Peter Quinn. “Hello, Pete.” Casey said with a slight smirk on his face. “Nice to meet you mate.” It was then that Casey realized he was starting to pick up more of this Peter’s speech and mannerisms. He was starting to remember bits and pieces of his memories. Since he had no idea how to get back to Merlin or to his own body all he could do for now was live as Peter, albeit at least somewhat comfortably and not on the streets, and wait for whatever was to happen next.

A door opening in the other room startled him. Pete… he lived alone and wasn’t expecting company. An unfamiliar voice rang out.

“Hello, Casey.”

Who would know who he really was?

**

Merlin had watched Casey vanish, confident the boy was now tucked safely away until he was needed. Casey would likely be confused at first but Merlin knew he would be fine.

Months went by until one night there was a knock on Merlin’s door.

“I’ve been expecting you.”