Jonathan Hunter is a Writer from Solihull, UK. He enjoys writing fiction that stretches the imagination and pushes boundaries. Jonathan has had pieces published in the Secret Attic Anthologies, Neuro-Logical Magazine, Bombfire Magazine, Corner Bar Magazine, Arasi Magazine, Written Tales Magazine, Trash to Treasure, Commuter Lit, Pink Heart Magazine, the Serulian Magazine, and the Free Flash Fiction website.

Amongst the Sunflowers

Mark passed through the sunflower field on his way home from work each evening in rural Norfolk. The solitary oak tree in the middle was where he liked sitting alone. The heatwave that began in June had left the ground like dust. With this sun beating away, Mark was in no hurry to leave the shade as he gulped down more water. He had lived with his grandmother for ten years since he was eighteen. Being Tuesday, she would be making dumplings for him tonight.

Mark heard some twigs snap. Maybe it was a fox or rabbit, mad enough to venture out in this heat. Actually, a girl, perhaps about twenty-three years old, was sitting against the same tree as him. Tied in a ponytail, her golden-brown hair blew effortlessly in the slight breeze. Her dark eyeshadow highlighted her beautiful sapphire blue eyes. Mark tightened up with nerves as he admired her lovely grin and slender physique but stared at the ground and said nothing. Mark didn’t want to be lonely, but it was what he was familiar with. There was a popping sound, and something hit his face. He gasped at precisely the same moment as the girl.

“What was that?” he said.

“Who knows?” the girl replied.

“Oh, it’s sunflower seeds,” Mark replied, seeing some on his shirt.

“Really? It’s sweltering today. You have water?”

“Go ahead. I hate this heat, too.”

“Thanks. You have poetry by Wislawa Szymborska. Comes from my town, Kornick.”

“Oh, she’s amazing. I could chat all night about her works.”

“Me too.”

Mark felt more alive with Maria than he had ever done with anyone else. He loved the sound of her Polish accent. Maria was amazed that such a gentle guy here in Norfolk was knowledgeable about Wieslawa’s poems. She felt so comfortable around him. He shared how his social anxiety often held him back from going for things such as promotions in his IT firm. He had been so open, so she told him about how her ex had run off with another woman weeks after they had moved to England. He let her talk unlike anyone else. Despite only meeting him this evening, she felt so close already. What felt like a few minutes of chatter was hours. His mobile ringing broke the harmony. Grandma had the dumplings on the table and was waiting. Standing up, Mark apologized as he walked away.

Staring at Mark with watery, bulging eyes, Maria insisted, “Speak soon,”

“Hopefully,” Mark said, feeling his usual awkward self again. He glanced back and saw her crying.

That evening, while eating some old Jacobs cream crackers in bed, Mark regretted not giving her his number and couldn’t sleep. She was like no one else, and he had messed up the opportunity. There had been an instant spark. Straight away after work the next day, he went to the oak tree and waited patiently, but his only company was the red ants. He did the same every night that week, but there was no sign of her.

By Friday night, Mark couldn’t contain his frustrations anymore and stamped on the ant’s nest in a rage. Hundreds of raging red ants emerged, biting away at him. Cursing the blighters, Mark poured water from his rucksack into their nest to drown them. Regretting his actions, Mark saw a flimsy, creased piece of paper blowing towards him. It had an address for Sweeney’s. Googling the name, it was a fruit farm that employed many seasonal workers from Eastern Europe. Buses were a rarity in Norfolk, and Mark had never passed his driving test, but he thought it should be possible to walk it. He didn’t mind missing Gran’s quiche on a Friday.  

Wadding through nettles, Mark’s arms stung. “This is why I don’t do hiking,” he thought. Following Google Maps, he reached a fence with barbed wire on top. Seeing no alternative, Mark tried his best to climb onto a hedge and throw himself over. Catching his work trousers on the wire, they badly ripped. “Those were my expensive pair from M&S as well,” Mark said.

What Mark thought would be an hour’s walk at his quick pace soon got closer to two. His phone lost its 5G connection regularly, and when he did see Google Maps, he seemed further away than before. Reaching Thetford Forest, Mark was relieved to get shade from the evening sun. Reaching into his bag for a drink, he cursed that he had no water. His throat felt sore; It was so dry. A squirrel ran out of a bush and made him jump. He swore it was laughing at him. Wiping the sweat off his forehead, he had to keep persisting now.

As dusk approached, Mark bemoaned the endless journey. Tired, hungry, and weak, he could have just gone home and had his usual quiche. Just then, a cooing crow in the trees got his attention. He saw a farm behind it. He had made it. Mark’s heart started racing, thinking about what to say to her. He hoped that no one would see him. At the top of the long driveway were at least ten caravans surrounded by fields of what possibly looked like raspberry bushes. Mark could hear swearing coming from one caravan. A sign read private at the bottom of the driveway. Holding his breath, Mark continued and ignored it.  

***

Slumped up in their caravan, some fruit pickers tried to unwind after a back-breaking day. Swigging some vodka temporarily eased the aching limbs of the four girls, who were colleagues, mates, sisters, and everything in between. One girl looked out the window just as the night was announcing its arrival. She saw the dark shape of a man quickly hide behind the caravan opposite theirs. He had been watching her. As she screamed, the other girls came up to the window. Before they could even say anything, a guard dog tore across the farm yard. Seeing him run, she recognized Mark from the sunflower field and felt a lump in her throat.

“You, ok, Maria?” her friend asked. Maria said nothing.

***

Mark was motionless when he saw her. His ability to think melted away quicker than a snowman in August.  He hid, but a guard dog ran towards him, craving death. Mark’s lungs burnt as he fled into the forest. Shaking vigorously, he did not know if his body would keep going. After every breath, he expected the dog’s jaws to tear into his neck. Falling hard into some brambles, he closed his eyes, fearing the end. He heard no footsteps anymore and dared to look. Blood trickled down his leg. He felt as weak as when he had the fever last Christmas. Trying to walk again, everything started spinning around, and he collapsed. Fortunately, the guard dogs had given up the chase

Mark woke up saturated in sweat. He tried to check the time on his phone, but it had run out of charge. Then Maria came to his mind. Swearing to himself, he thumped his fist against the ground. He tried stumbling through the undergrowth and lost count of how many times he fell over. After what felt like a lifetime, Mark reached the oak tree and decided to take a breather and watch the stars.

*****

Maria was restless. A ciggie outside alone may help. Work tormented her, but there was no way out of the eternal hell. She was at no more ease living with her colleagues than a mouse living in a cat cafe. Mark wouldn’t leave her mind. All had been going great when she met him, but then he walked away. Had he been looking for her? Did that mean that he wanted her? Why else was he outside her caravan? There was a rustle from the trees, and Maria was sure she heard someone say her name. “It is just the wind,” she told herself and lit another ciggie. Hearing the sound again, she shivered. Walking backwards slowly towards her caravan, she dared not make a sound. As she hesitated at the foot of the steps, a hand tapped her on the back of the shoulder. She felt something sharp penetrate her skin.

He was at most three feet. Stroking his ashen coal-colored beard, he smiled, revealing crooked, rotten teeth. The moonlight reflected off his bright red coat and pointed hat. Maria felt frozen in a trance. Grandma had always said that Gnomes existed, but she never believed it. Despite his size, his presence was overbearing. Clicking his fingers, he spoke in a quiet but commanding voice.

“Maria, sit,” he said. Maria tried to escape back into the caravan but felt too dizzy to walk. The magic potion had worked, and Maria was now under the gnome’s control. Maria’s fear quickly faded, and she felt utterly relaxed and at ease with herself for the first time in years. Maria pictured carelessly sitting by her grans log fire as a child with no worries. She no longer felt afraid of the gnomes but intrigued. Ten other gnomes emerged from behind the trees. Maria smiled at them, and they joined her on the steps.

“We will take you on a walk,” the leader called Adanc told her. “You will love being with me.”

“Doubt it,” said another gnome. “You haven’t washed in weeks.”

“Enough. You are carrying the ale now,” insisted Adanc. Tying a barrel to his back, the gnomes jeered at the offender.

“He may still develop a muscle yet,” Adanc laughed.

Taking a path into the forest, which was barely noticeable because of the overgrown brambles, Adanc’s deputy Bimble sighed heavily and asked.

“Why take the path? Our tunnels are much quicker.”

“Maria is too big. Your eyesight must be terrible,” Adanc replied.

“At least give me another rabbit pie for this late-night hassle,” Bimble said. Slumping along, eating sandwiches thrown out from the local CO-OP, he would need to indulge himself for at least three days to make up for this exertion. 

Maria felt even more spaced out than after a heavy night of drinking. She couldn’t decide if she was in a dream or not. After what felt like an hour but could have been five, the stocky gnome panting in front of her called Ban blew a whistle and shouted for a drinks break.

“Finally, I have been waiting all night,” groaned Bimble.

While slurping through their ales, Adanc decided to talk to Maria. He took a little wooden box from his pocket with strange inscriptions that Maria did not recognize.

“The ancient Gnomish language,” Adanc said. “A deep magic very few understand.” Opening the box delicately, he blew the dust away and held a necklace in his hand, which had piercing black metal squared beads. “At midnight, you will become one of us, when you will wear this under the magic oak, he said.” Bragging to Bimble, Adanc said, “If we keep turning unsuspecting humans into gnomes every night, our clan will soon become the biggest in Norfolk.”

***

Mark sat under the oak tree, with his floods of tears for company. He would rather wait for the cow to jump over the moon than have to go home. The patter of footsteps startled him. Had the guard dogs followed him? Emerging from behind the sunflowers was Maria. Mark was too tired to contemplate his actions. He ran over to Maria and hugged her. Maria’s heart skipped a beat. The feelings stirred up in her melted away Adanc’s potion.

“I can’t believe it. How did you get here?” Mark asked.

“Feels like I have been dreaming,” Maria replied. Looking into Mark’s eyes, she thought his smile perfectly complimented his dark brown hair. He was her perfect man. She didn’t know how she had got here but didn’t care.

“Dreamt that a gnome gave this to me. I wasn’t even drunk,” she said, showing Mark the necklace.

“Gee, what is that,” Mark replied. He was somewhat perplexed at the strange, dark-shaped beads.

Under the oak tree was the perfect spot for the pair to spend the night together. Maria liked him, but the thought of any commitment put her on edge. She had separated from her childhood sweetheart just over a year ago. As she lay in Mark’s arms, she felt a sharp sting on the back of her neck. She pulled out a tiny arrow, almost like a matchstick. Before she could show it to Mark, another one hit her arm. The sting was at least twice as painful as a bee sting. Adanc walked towards them, and she realized she had not been dreaming.

“Thought you could leave us?” Adanc said. His gnomes circled around Maria and Mark with their bows drawn. “We have ones that will kill you,” he said. “Put on my necklace now and become a gnome.”

Maria looked at Mark for encouragement, but shaking with fear; he said nothing. Maria had to save Mark. Picking the necklace up, she slowly started placing it around her neck. A loud horn suddenly sounded.

“Blast, it is Amorette and her clan,” Adanc said. About twenty gnomes ran out from an underground burrow. Many wore the same pale blue garments as their leader. At the front of the group, Amorette’s angry hazel-colored eyes glistened in the moonlight.

“Clear off, Adanc,” she demanded. “These are my fields. I protect everyone who uses them.” Each member of her clan brandished a little silver pistol. Tansi and Jenna, her deputies, fired some sunflower seed pellets at Ban in his most sensitive spot. As he ran away, yelping in pain, Amorette shouted, “Never return.”

In disbelief, Mark said, “I never knew gnomes existed, let alone rival clans.”

“I think they are trying to save us but hide now,” Maria replied.

Adanc shouted, “Call the crows,” across to Bimble to get some reinforcements. After Bimble banged a drum, a loud squawking noise made everyone’s ears ring. Amorette’s gnomes tried firing at them, but their darting movements in the sky made them impossible to hit. The crows swooped down with ease, laughing. Each peck felt more painful than having a nail hammered into your skin. Mark and Maria hid from the chaos around them, lying among the sunflowers. Hugging each other tightly, they breathed each other’s air as their hearts beat in sync.

The crows did not faze Amorette. Blowing a whistle, the ground rumbled, and many hares emerged from their burrows. Amorette’s gnomes rode on them. The crows couldn’t match the hares for pace. Adanc’s gnomes ran for the forest. A crow took his chance and stole Adanc’s necklace, which Maria had thrown on the ground. Bimble tried climbing down into a burrow, but he got stuck. Adanc ran but was knocked to the ground by a hare. Tansi and Jenna held him down and then tied him up with ropes as they overpowered him.

Adanc was dragged along the ground to Amorette through the thickest nettles Tansi and Jenna could find. Adanc tried to yell, but his mouth was gagged. Hearing his muffled efforts, Jenna and Tansi sweetly smiled at him. Battered and bruised, Adanc was laid down before Amorette. She took a hairy leech from her pouch and placed it on his arm.

“Count yourself lucky,” Amorette said. Wiggling and squirming, Adanc was helpless as the leech worked its magic. Dripping with sweat, Adanc was turned from a proud gnome into a ninety-five-year-old man. Adanc’s joints ached intensely after taking just a few steps.

“Don’t worry, darling. Just tell the humans what some nasty gnomes did to you. They will understand,” Amorette smirked. Cursing and swearing, Adanc slumbered away, never to return.

A strange calmness fell on the field. Mark and Maria emerged from amongst the sunflowers, sighing with relief. Amorette smiled as she watched them.

“You are both great,” she said. “We had to hit you in the face with those sunflower seeds, Mark, to break that awkward silence? We even got Maria’s farm address to blow your way. We were so keen for it to happen with you both.”

“That’s nice,” Mark said. He was at a loss for words as Amorette and Maria looked at him expectantly.

***

Maria had been terrified when she saw the gnomes for the first time, but relationships were scary for her in another way. After her breakup, she vowed never to be with anyone again. What if those memories still resurfaced of her ex having an affair? She might upset Mark terribly if she couldn’t handle it. She waited for him to break the silence.

“Maria…you are great,” he said and paused, lost for words, looking at her lovingly.

Maria could tell he sincerely felt this way about her. His words were limited, but he was so naïve and innocent, which she loved.

“I truly mean it,” Mark said with tears.

Maria hugged Mark and said, “Ever since I was cheated on, my heart has turned cold. You have ignited it again,” and kissed him.

“Why me?” Mark said. “You deserve better. I still live with my Grandma.”

“Well, I live in a caravan that is not mine,” Maria laughed. “My ex spent his life chasing the World. We don’t need the World.”

“I have not even had a girlfriend before,” Mark said. “What do I do?”

“Just be yourself,” Maria replied. “Don’t change now.” 

“Yes, I always knew this would happen,” Amorette applauded. “You can always become a gnome and join my clan,” she joked. “We are always by this tree if you need us.”

“Thanks for everything, Amorette,” Mark said. “If it weren’t for you, we would have never got together.”

Maria thanked Amorette dearly and walked hand in hand with Mark. She thought this night was like one of Grandma’s old folk tales, with a happy ending after an exciting adventure. Only tonight’s new tale was by far the best one.