The Voicing Tree

By Rami Qattea

Matthew’s life was normal. He finally got a break from school and homework (which he never did anyway).

“My name is Matthew Edwards.”

Suddenly his life is transformed when he meets a treelike boy who sends him on a mysterious quest.

“Well, my name is Ouron Jackson.”

However, the young boy has been trapped as a tree for as long as time. Matthew runs into wild creatures and adventures as he tries to obtain the five mystical items the boy had requested.

“Welcome, my old friend,” Ouron said bitterly.

Matthew is faced with tribulations along the way while meeting new friends and enemies. During his quest, he meets a girl who catches his eye. She wore a smile that filled his heart with joy, and her hair was brown with blonde running down the tips. Her eyes were purple. But she’s a vampire.

“My mother stepped forward and bit me on my arm. Now I am here. If I look at someone and press my eyes shut, I can erase someone’s mind.”

Sea dragons, magical swords, and dream-stating take over Matthew’s new “normal” life.

He screamed wildly as he charged. Their weapons clanged together. Blue sparks flew from both. Matthew quickly looked and saw that some of the tree warriors climbed up to the black pulsing square in the sky.

Matthew even faces Death, literally. Betrayal, love, and sacrifice are intertwined in this story. Can Matthew save the world and everyone he loves?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9781662436017

Book preview

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The Voicing Tree

Rami Qattea

Copyright © 2021 Rami Qattea

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2021

ISBN 978-1-6624-3600-0 (hc)

ISBN 978-1-6624-3601-7 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

The Beginning

Before

Barrybog

The School

Finding Jason’s Sister

The Unexpected Tournament Day

Death and His Minions

Jason’s Death

KJ Is the Key

Meutide the Sea Dragon

Maximus

The River of Pitch

The Staff of Elders

Amy’s Capture

Fire Island

Deadlock Island

The Storm Cave

Cristal Avalon: Part 1

Cristal Avalon: Part 2

The Moonglobe

The Choice

Back to Barrybog

Lin’s Story

The Dam Village

The Battle: Part 1

The Battle: Part 2

KJ’s Funeral

Peter and Addie

Knightwood High

Vanessa’s Memory Loss

Twin Problems

Matthew’s Dream

One More Damn Problem

To my mom, who told me to let my imagination run wild. To my sister and conversational buddy, Amyra, who helped me expand on my ideas and select the unique names of the characters you all get to meet. A big thank you to my teacher, Mrs. Widhalm, who told me I should write a book. And to my wonderful friend, Desiray Burnley, who helped me edit this story. To the person reading this book, I hope you love and enjoy each of the characters created. There may be times when you are content with the story and others where you remain frustrated, but it is all part of the journey. I am thrilled to have you dive deep into my world of imagination and read the words that I have placed on paper for you.

Much Love,

Rami

Act 1

Chapter 1

The Beginning

It was finally summer break, and Matthew was riding his bike to his friend’s house. It was his first year in high school, and the year has finally come to an end, thank goodness for that. As he rode his bike to his friend’s house, he heard a voice coming from the forest. Matthew stopped and listened to what the voice was saying. The voice said, Help me. It sounded like it was gasping for breath. He thought that someone was in trouble, so he peddled toward the forest as fast as he could.

That day, Matthew was wearing his favorite red shirt and his lucky beat-up blue jeans. He had beat-up black shoes and long black hair. On his face, he wore blue round glasses. His eyes were a seaweed green, and his hair covered them so people couldn’t see them. He turned fourteen this year. His birthday was going to be next year in May.

As he approached the forest, the voice kept him on a path leading to a tree. Around the tree, in a circle, bushes and weeds grew around it. Matthew stopped; the wind blew his hair in his face. He had a hair tie around his wrist. He always carried a hair tie around so that he could tie up his hair whenever the wind blew it around. Most people would call him a girl, but he didn’t care; he liked how he was. He tied his hair up in a ponytail and looked around.

Matthew glanced down at the ground and saw something moving. At first, he didn’t want to look, but his mind was twitching and edging his eyes to look up. The tree in front of him was forming a face. It looked like someone was trying to get out. Matthew stumbled backward as the tree face became part of the bark on the trunk. The tree spoke to Matthew.

I brought you here to help me because I am in desperate need of help. The tree’s voice sounded like a fourteen-year-old boy. When it spoke, it sounded like twigs snapping. What’s your name?

Inside Matthew’s body, warmth flooded his gut. He debated on telling the tree his name but decided to do so anyway.

My name is Matthew Edwards, why do you want my help? Matthew asked nervously.

He couldn’t believe that he was talking to a tree. Matthew’s heart beamed with excitement, nervousness, and curiosity.

I need you to get five items in order for me to be free. The first item is a bracelet. It is located on an island, the tree said. In order to become human, I must tell you a story. I need you to sit down so I can tell you.

Matthew sat down on the ground next to the bushes and weeds and let the tree tell its story.

Long ago I was a human boy just like you. When I turned fourteen, I turned into a tree. I didn’t know how long I was going to be a tree. But later months passed and then years. I started to realize that I was going to be a tree forever. In my village, Efac, the elders explained to me that the day when I turned fourteen, I would become a tree. Now here I am as a tree, bringing whoever here to help me. I have one question for you, will you help me?

Sure, I’ll help you. I don’t have anything else to do on my summer break, Matthew said, thinking about his mother.

His mother was a little strict on him being away for more than a couple of days. Not to mention that Matthew had three months of summer break.

Oh yeah, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Ouron Jackson. Now back to business! The bracelet. Ouron said as his eyes were shifting back and forth like he was thinking about something.

Where is the bracelet located? Matthew asked.

Okay, pay attention, Ouron said demandingly. The bracelet is on an island called Minacove Island… Um, what are you doing?

Matthew pulled out a notebook that he had from his backpack. Matthew always carried a notebook everywhere he went. It was more of a sketch pad than a notebook. Matthew had a secret that he hated to admit, but he liked drawing nature. And he couldn’t bring himself to tell this tree that.

I am, um, uh, drawing you. You wanna see? Matthew stumbled on his words.

Ouron started to get angry, and Matthew didn’t want to see an angry tree, so he put the notebook away. As Matthew put the notebook away, Ouron, started to explain again where the bracelet was located.

"Okay, like I was saying before I got interrupted, the bracelet is in a room, in that room has an alarm. If you step into the room, the alarm will be set off. The alarm is connected to a fire safe button. That button will go off and cause a fire. There are guards that are on the island that will hear the alarm go off. That gives you about five minutes to get out of the room and off the island,’’ the tree said.

Wait, what? Five minutes to get off the island? What if I don’t make it off the island in time?

You might die. Oh, I also have this for you, he said, lifting his branches and pulling out a car.

The car looked new, like it hadn’t been used in years. The brand of the car was a Mercedes, and Matthew’s eyes twinkled with delight.

Where did you get the car, and it’s new, I love cars, Matthew said, feeling nervously excited.

Ouron started to get irritated with Matthew. He was about to tell him what to do when Matthew got inside the car and started it up. To be honest, Matthew had never driven a car by himself. He was learning to drive with his mom. His mom was back home at a village called The Dam Village. The village was called that because of the beaver dams around it. Matthew hated the name of the village. Why couldn’t they name the village, The River Village? His perfect village would be known as The River Village where no beavers would build their dams.

Feeling anxious, Matthew started driving toward Minacove Island. Inside the car, the GPS was set to go to the island. The cool thing about it was that it had an auto drive; he didn’t even have to press any of the pedals of the car. Soon he was going to get to the island. He passed mountains and villages until he came to a cliff. Matthew knew that it was Minacove Island. Matthew started thinking of his father, and that made him want to cry.

His father was stabbed in the chest because they wanted his ring and watch.

Matthew wiped his eyes and said to himself, I should’ve done something to save him.

After a couple of minutes, he straightened up, looked out the window, and saw a prison on Minacove Island. The island had fire glowing around it, and it reminded Matthew of a monster. The island’s trees waved at him in the wind. He saw a door open, and two people came out, holding a person in their hands. They looked like they were going to kill the person. The people wore a protected suit that reflected in the fire and made it glow red. Matthew got out of the car, and the car drove itself back and forward into the island. Great, I should’ve stayed inside the car if I knew that it was going to do that, Matthew thought.

He got closer to the building that the people were coming out of. He heard a door open, and he dove into the nearest bushes. He watched as a boy and a girl came out. Matthew overheard them talking about the object that they collected and found in the fire.

Man, I wonder what it does? Maybe it’s magic? the boy on the left said, jumping up and down.

He had a blond, sandy color to his hair, and he had brown eyes. His smile looked like it could light up any room that he walked into. His appearance looked young and lively.

Control yourself! If you want to stay on this project, then I suggest you behave, the girl said sternly.

The girl had red hair, and her face was covered with freckles, like someone splashed her in the face. Her lip quivered like she hated working with younger kids.

Matthew got up. He was about to go to another bush when he heard something behind him. Matthew quickly glanced and saw someone in a reflective suit, the ones that the boy and the girl had on. He turned his body around and got hit with a silver stick on the head. His eyes fluttered open, and the last thing Matthew saw was someone in the reflective suit taking his body toward the building.

Moments later, Matthew awoke. His hands were tied behind his back, and he was in a building. Inside the building they were doing research on a glowing blue object that was on the middle of the floor, in a bubble.

Where am I? Matthew asked in a pained voice.

His head still hurt him from someone hitting him over the head.

Quiet! someone said, their voice sounded hateful.

Matthew recognized her. She was the redhead girl that he saw with the sandy-blond kid.

Some of the kids were a little older. There was a boy who had yellow teeth and bushy eyebrows. The other kid was a girl who took all the busy out of the room. She gazed at Matthew and then looked away. The youngest out of all of them was the blond-haired boy who stood in the back, watching everyone work.

You, come here! the red-haired girl ordered.

The blond-haired kid walked up to her, and she handed him a set of keys and told him to take Matthew and lock him up with the others. The boy took the keys and walked over to Matthew. He freed Matthew’s hands from the pole that they were tied to, and then he marched Matthew down to the prison.

As they walked to the prison, Matthew saw what the object was that was inside the bubble. The object was the bracelet. It was glowing blue because of the experiments that they were doing on it. It looked like a clasped bracelet, the ones that girls normally wore. Matthew couldn’t let them keep experimenting on it. He had to act fast.

So do you know what that thing does? Matthew asked the boy.

The boy didn’t respond. He poked at Matthew’s back and told him to keep moving.

When they got to the prison, which was at the other end of the research lab, he forced Matthew inside. The other prisoners were boys and girls who came to Minacove Island. The door shut behind Matthew, and he picked a spot in the corner next to a black-haired kid. His eyes were blue, and his face showed fear. He was wearing a white T-shirt and faded blue jeans. On his feet, he was wearing black-and-white running shoes.

What’s your name? the boy asked Matthew, his hands shaking nervously.

Matthew, and you are…

Jason…

Why are you here? Matthew asked.

Before Matthew could get an answer, he heard a ringing sound and knew that it was a phone nearby. One of the researchers stopped what they were doing and started going to the phone. She was about to pick it up when the red-haired girl yelled at her, saying that it was for her.

She picked up the phone and spoke softly into it. The phone was behind Matthew, facing his back. After talking on the phone, she walked over to the cage.

The one named Matthew Edwards, stand up and hold out your hands.

Matthew did as he was told, and the girl put cuffs onto his hands. The girl pushed him toward a bookshelf toward the courier of the cage. She pulled off one of the books, and the bookshelf went in and revealed a door. She pushed him inside.

Lights illuminated on the walls of the hallway. A door was at the end of the hallway, and Matthew could see someone was moving inside. The girl pushed him toward the door, and Matthew walked like his life depended on it. He didn’t know what was on the other side of the door, and he was not going to find out. The girl stopped him in front of the door and knocked.

Yes, come in, a man’s voice said.

She opened the door, and blue-and-white light shone in Matthew’s eyes. The girl handed Matthew off to the man, and the man placed him in a chair. Before he got placed in the chair, Matthew saw a machine that had a chair connected to it. The machine looked like it was used to kill people or used to hurt them. It looked like octopus legs hanging from the ceiling.

The man turned to the girl with red hair and asked her to get the green vile from the cabinet. The man put Matthew’s hands and feet in the straps that were on the chair. Matthew didn’t struggle. The girl came forth with the vile in her hand, and Matthew knew what was in it. Inside the vile was poison.

Another chair came down from the machine, and a little needle was stationed in the air. The man wore glasses, and he had a white lab coat on. He had white hair that had patches of brown at the top. He wore a crooked smile like he was about to enjoy what he was going to do to Matthew. The door opened, and Matthew saw Jason come on in. He sat down and was strapped to the seat.

Now, you’re going to tell me how you guys made it here because it’s no coincidence that you both showed up at the same time, the man said as he stood up from tying Jason down. Hand me the vile!

The girl handed him the vile. As she did, she smiled like she knew what was going to happen.

Matthew, Jason, you know each other because you both sat together, the man said. Now I am going to give you thirty seconds, and one of you has to talk. If you don’t, this vile has poison in it. You decide.

Matthew didn’t want to speak because he had never met or seen Jason in his life. He turned his head to Jason, and the boy’s eyes were wide, like he was scared of dying.

Times up, who is it going to be? the man said.

Matthew already knew that the man wanted to kill him, so the man nodded to Matthew.

They placed a wire inside Matthew’s arm, and it stung. The man took a little drop of the poison and dropped it onto the needle that was in the air. The needle, now weighed with the poison, went down and touched the wire on Matthew’s arm. The man carefully dug the needle into the wire, and Matthew felt a sharp pain in his arm. The pain felt like someone was jabbing a knife into his gut. He started to wheeze. The air in his lungs felt like someone was drowning him.

Matthew started to black out, but before he did, he heard the man speak to Jason. The man told Jason, in order to save Matthew, he needed to tell him if he and Matthew came together or not, but Jason couldn’t speak.

Tell me how you came here! the man yelled.

Matthew could barely hear what they were saying. It sounded muffled and like rats squeaking. A burning sensation started in Matthew’s head, and he let out a scream. He saw a blur of a silhouette, and Matthew thought that it was Jason, but then he heard the girl’s voice.

Look, Doctor, if you don’t give him the…

Shut up! I need answers, the man yelled at the girl. He was waving his hands in the air.

All righty, doctor, she said softly.

The door opened, and someone came in. Matthew strained his eyesight to see who it was, but all he could see was red. He could feel his lungs slowing down, causing him to gasp. Only a couple more seconds, and he would die. He heard Jason speak.

I don’t know him. I came here to get the object that you guys are working on. That’s it, I swear! he yelled.

His voice was gruff, probably from crying from underneath all the stress that the doctor was putting him through.

The doctor sighed in defeat.

He walked over to Matthew, who was choking on getting air, and gave him the antidote. Instantly Matthew’s body started to fight off the poison. His eyesight came back to normal, and the burning stopped. He looked around the room, and the person that came into the room was the sandy-blond-haired boy.

Doctor, I think we found a way to get the object to give us it’s magic, the sandy-blond-haired boy said in his childlike voice.

Take them back to the prisons, I need to have a look for myself, the doctor ordered.

Both the boy and the girl picked up Matthew and Jason and marched them down the hallway and into the prison. As they sat down, the doctor opened the bubble, and the air hissed from the inside, deflating it. A black-haired boy was holding onto the object, and the doctor yanked it out of his hands to study it. He turned it around, and it started to glow white. Matthew knew that if he looked, he would be blind.

He turned to Jason and told him to cover his eyes. He told all the boys and girls to close their eyes, and as soon as he did, the white light poured in. He heard an alarm go off and the doctor screaming. Matthew opened his eyes and saw that the white light had melted the cage doors.

Come on! Matthew yelled, and he bolted for the exit, knowing that everyone was behind him.

The girl that yelled at the blond-sandy-haired boy followed them too. They ran across the building and came to a big metal door. Matthew could smell smoke. He turned around, and the equipment around them started to burn. He saw the doctor gripping his face as it started to melt between his fingers. It hit Matthew—he had to get the bracelet.

He turned to the girl in front of him, and he told her to get the doors open. He turned and pushed everyone out of the way. He ran toward the doctor and stopped. He saw a smoking object on the floor. He grabbed a pair of gloves that someone had thrown onto the floor and quickly put them on. He rushed over to the bracelet and picked it up. He could feel the heat in his hands.

He turned around and saw that the girl had gotten the door open. He ran outside, and the building started to collapse. He turned around, and the boys and girls were okay. He looked around for Jason, and he was laying on the ground, taking deep breaths.

I haven’t been outside in almost three years, he said as Matthew approached.

Wow, what… I mean… How did you come to this place? Matthew asked.

I thought he came before me? Matthew thought. The doctor must’ve been mistaken.

Jason sat up. He looked at Matthew and was about to say something when a dart hit him in the neck. Matthew stood up, but he wasn’t lucky; he got hit with a dart in his knee. Matthew staggered around for a bit, and then he hit the ground. The last glimpse that Matthew saw before he hit the ground—pointy ears.

Chapter 2

Before

Before Matthew went on the quest for Ouron, he was happy. He got to lounge around and do