Preface to an Unknown Story

Preface

The forest ended abruptly. Breathing heavily, her heart racing, the girl halted at the tree line and stared at the expanse of the familiar open field before her. Two more steps eastward would have her completely exposed, vulnerable prey to the predator that stalked her - not to capture her but rather to seize what she possessed. She looked urgently, first to the left along the tree line and then to the right. Whatever her decision, she knew it needed to be made quickly. On her left, the tree line veered in an arc to the northeast, but she knew that cutting across the field and attempting to re-enter the forest in time was impossible. She had only one option; she needed to find the Portal. Mustering her courage into action, she continued to flee to the east, running through the open field, desperate to find what see sought over the crest that lay ahead.

Weary and fatigued, heart still pounding, she forced herself to move swiftly through the tall, yellow grass, leaving behind her a trail of trodden straw that betrayed her path. She knew her father counted on her, or would count on her if he was still alive, she corrected herself. He is alive. She could feel him with her. The grass soon stood taller than she was, providing her a moment of deceptive relief as she permitted herself to believe she was hidden. She wasn't. The forest creatures she had called for help while fleeing through the woods didn't respond for their own fear. She bore no malice - this trial was almost too great for her to bear, much more so for the innocents. "I must do it," she reminded herself. "I will do it!" And she knew that this latest trial among many might be her last. She looked forward to being with her father again.

As she reached the crest on the field, the dark figure emerged from the forest. Her powers were useless against the entity. Attempts to fight it over the last several days had weakened her. Yet despite knowing it to be futile, she continued to resist. Her escape from its clutches had been miraculous, a fortuitous series of actions that permitted her to flee. "The Mothers are with you," she imagined hearing the Elders say. They must be. She felt the foreboding sense of destruction rise within her soul and wondered why, why would the way be open for her escape if only to die here at its hands, if it even had hands at all?

Running over the crest she saw what she needed. A well. Without breaking her pace, she shifted her direction slightly towards it and consider her final efforts. She glanced back over her shoulder. The imposing darkness charged swiftly in her direction. Bolting, she stumbled, rolled to her feet, and focused her attention on getting to the well. She gasped for air when she reached it, her lungs aching for more breath, and realized it was what she anticipated. "A Portal," she thought. "It is a portal!" As high as her waist, she scrambled to the top of the stone and mortar wall, from which she could see tracks not twenty yards further, signs left by the barrows and carts that travelled on the secluded nearby road from time to time. She hoped that none would have the misfortune of using it in the next moments.

Glancing into the well, she could see the daylight reflected on the water. Looking deeper, beyond the water's surface and into the Unknown Realm, she also saw what would come to pass. She reached into a fold in her cloak, withdrew a satchel held between the palms of her hands, and drew it to her breast, eyes closed, muttering something under her breath. In an instant she thrust it with both hands into the well and jumped down to the ground from the wall. With all her effort, with all her concentration, she faced the well, raised her arms, and lifted her head to the heavens. So intent was she on her purpose that she didn't notice the darkness creep around her until she was completely enveloped in it. In an instant her eyes opened wide, she gasped, and was gone.

The dark figure looked to where the girl had been facing. It saw nothing. Neither did it see the young boy lying fearfully in the grass but only fifty yards away. The boy had seen everything vanish - the girl, the satchel, and the well. Only Darkness remained.