Chapter 1 – Footprints in the Snow
“Hurry up, slow poke,” happily teased a young woman. “We need to make it to the first marker before dark.” A second woman walked slowly behind her and breathed heavily. “Where are you getting all this energy from,” she questioned breathlessly. “Usually you're the one who follows me. Why do you want to be the leader all of a sudden?” The first woman shrugged her shoulders as she stood on a snow covered stump. Her bright aquamarine eyes looked around, making sure there were no signs of danger. Her lively, shoulder-length dark brown hair stuck out from under her black toque. Her high cheeks glowed red from the winter chill while her thin, pink lips held a smile. Her red winter coat, black ski pants and black boots kept her average build warm. She adjusted her large pack as her thick, black gloves covered her hands. The second woman caught up with her. Her copper red hair was seen from under her dark blue toque. Her deep blue eyes watched her friend intently. She crossed her arms which caused creases in her coat. She also wore black ski pants and boots and carried a large pack with her. “I'm usually waiting for you to catch up.
What has you so hyped up,” she inquired. She giggled and breathed the crisp winter air deeply. She was one of Evelyn's only friends and she was her best. She would have done anything to keep her safe. “Sorry, Paige, I'm just excited to be out with you. It's been forever since we've spent time together,” she explained. She shook her head as she walked ahead of her. “I know. You've been so busy with work and me out on the weekends. It's nice to have more than just a coffee with you.” Evelyn's heart warmed as she agreed wholeheartedly. “Yes it is. We haven't done something like this since we were in high school.” She nodded back. Last time they went hiking was in the summer and both nearly had heat stroke. “You know what, Evelyn, let's quicken the pace. Get a work out from this trip.” She growled at the mention of her full first name. “It's Eve ok, not Evelyn.” Paige nodded after shrugging her shoulders and they walked faster. They continued through the winter wonderland of the Lost Lorne Forest. It was a warmer winter day than what was experienced so far that year. The trees were frosted with the cold of the night, but it melted with the hot sun. The snow sparkled and filled with glitter. The forest itself was silent. The animals were all hibernating or would keep their distance. Snowshoes left a trail of where they had travelled. A good marker in case they got lost. The crunch of their prints and their breathing were the only things to be heard. She breathed out heavily from the exercise. The moisture hung in the air as miniature clouds. It also sparkled in the sunlight like the snow. She slowed and reached out to touch it. Through the haze of her breath, Paige was getting ahead of her. She hurried to catch up. The sun had begun to set behind the mountains that could just be seen over the tree tops. They found the first marker and set up camp. The small clearing was made by Evelyn's grandfather. A large portion of the forest was part of her grandfather's property. Trails covered the woods along with a few camp grounds. It was all made for her to explore the place she loved so much. Once a fire was created, they shared stories about their lives while waiting for their supper to cook.
Akashic records of the bastard magical instructor
Their conversation continued as they ate. It had been too long since their last good chat. When the meal was finished, they cleaned their dishes and packed them away again. They played a card game to pass the time until sleep was near. Soon they tired, and Paige entered the tent to change. Evelyn wasn't being completely honest with her friend. She only wanted company while she got away from her routine of work and sleep. It didn't matter who travelled with her so long as she wasn't alone. The boredom of routine tortured her and needed a change of pace. She also wanted an escape from her increasing nightmares. They would haunt her during the winter and normally would last one or two nights. This year they were constant. It started off with once a week and then progressed to every time she slept. She would awake feeling that the dream was reality and the waking world was a lie. It would make her sick and she'd cry out for help. Her gaze was drawn to the night sky. It had started snowing and the flakes rested lightly on her exposed cheeks. Their tracks would be covered by morning. She dug out her small roll of florescent pink marker and long hunting knife. She tied it to a branch that led to the path they wanted. Getting lost was dangerous, especially with the recent kidnappings and lost bodies. While tying off her marker, a shadow behind one of the trees caught her attention. She stared at it as she knew it to belong to a human. No one had permission to be back there. Her grandfather's land was marked well with trespassing signs, and the roads were blocked by fencing. If anyone were there, they would have broken the fence. It was no secret that the forest within the property held excellent hunting. She couldn't stand those who hunted for sport and not food. She started to make her way forward with her sharp hunting knife positioned to attack when the tent zipper came undone. She called out to say she was finished. She turned back to where the shadow was, but it was gone. What had possessed her to imagine a person there? She shook her head and drowned the fire's flames. After changing, she relaxed in her sleeping bag. The sound of the night wind whistling through the trees was soft. It was calming compared to the snoring that soon ensued from her companion. She sighed tiredly knowing that she needed her sleep, even though it would be a restless one. She rolled onto her side before closing her eyes and allowing her uneasy sleep to take her. Sounds of panic woke her from her deep slumber. She groggily opened her eyes to find that it was morning. Her stomach churned as she gagged. That was a sign that a nightmare had begun to form in her mind when her friend's voice interrupted it. She hurriedly pulled on her boots and coat before leaving the confines of the warm tent. “There you are, Eve,” angrily exclaimed Paige. Her fury was strange for so early in the morning. Evelyn's eyes wandered but found calm. Nothing was taken or out of place. There was no reason for her outburst. Paige hugged herself as a fear was seen in her eyes. “Someone tried to get into our tent last night.” She straightened a little and looked again. Again everything was normal. “Try looking down, genius.”
Evelyn looked to her feet. Still groggy from sleep, she knelt to observe the footprints. Their prints were scattered everywhere. It took a while, but a new set tangled with theirs. They led to the tent, then back to the trees. They were a bit larger than her own feet. Unlike their boots, those prints didn't contain groves; they were smooth. She stood, filled with her own worry. “Definitely not one of our own,” she mumbled. She placed her hands on her hips. “No really? I thought that you were walking around out here in your socks to scare me,” she scoffed. Evelyn wasn't impressed with her remark. Being woken by a scream didn't give her time to fully waken. “Well, sorry for trying figure this out. Not like I have anything better to do, right.?” Evelyn crawled back into the tent. She hated when people judged her thought processes. She talked to herself to try to assess a situation and, being her friend, Paige should know that. As she changed and readied for another day, she thought about the prints. Most modern footwear had some sort of pattern on the sole. The only ones that didn't were ballerina slippers, and no one in their right mind would wear those outside in the dead of winter. Exiting the tent was met with an icy glare. She sighed and began to cook breakfast. That was her friend's normal behavior towards her when she ignored an argument. “Look, Paige, whoever it was is gone now. If there are any crazy people out here, I have my knife, so we won't be unprotected. Just relax, this is supposed to be fun remember.” She snorted and went to change. She rolled her eyes. She wondered if she should have left Paige behind. They ate breakfast in silence. Evelyn was not pleased. Paige should trust that she knows how to survive in the woods. She's always prepared when they go hiking. The only thing that she didn't have was a gun, but they shouldn't need that at all. It was winter. Nothing of great danger was out there except for the snow. It was also private property, no one was supposed to be out there but them. Once they finished their meal, they packed up the site in silence. She was still angry with Paige. The longer the silence, the longer Evelyn wished she would have done the trip alone. Before leaving the small clearing, she took off the small band of marking on the tree. She didn't want to be followed by whoever was at their tent in the night. She wanted to make sure it was hard as possible to be followed. They began to talk to each other again closer to sunset, but it was a quiet discussion and the tension could be felt. The sound of wind picking up through the trees made her shiver slightly. It was going to be a cold night. She carried the forecast of what it should have been for their trip. It was supposed to be warm and sunny. She had a feeling that it had changed. They set up camp at the next check point. It was done carefully, and they packed some snow on the sides of it. She wanted to make sure they were warm and safe in case anything happened. The fire was warm as it cooked their supper. The mood lightened and they began to laugh again. It had been a long time since she enjoyed herself. Her smile continued to grow the longer they joked. Paige entered the tent to change first. Evelyn tied her pink marker to mark the next path. She looked out to the night. It was a lonely sight as the darkness swallowed the trees. It was hard to see past the gloom. The moon hidden by the clouds offered no light. She felt like the moment represented how she felt. She felt lonely amongst the city of people she worked in. Still single, she didn't date much. Not like men approached her anyways. She was the quiet girl who lived in the country. Nothing interesting there. A shadow moved and her eyes darted to it. It was hard to distinguish, but a figure of a person stood next to a tree. She blinked a few times but it remained there. It couldn't have been her imagination. It just couldn't be at that point. No sane person would envision the same thing two days in a row. She took a step forward when the tent unzipped. Paige watched her curiously. Evelyn waved her hand and told Paige nothing was wrong. Looking back, the shadow had gone. The next morning came too soon. The deeper they travelled into the forest, the more her anxiety grew. She felt like something big was going to happen, but it wasn't going to be a pleasant experience. This led her to have a light sleep. Any noise that was made by the outside made her startle awake. By the time dawn came, she felt more exhausted and knew that sleep would not find her. She readied quietly. If she could nap while sitting in the light, she may have more of a chance to make up some sleep. She realized noon marked that their trip was half over. They were to spend three days out there. Time went by so quickly. She shook her head as those thoughts only worsened her mood. It would be best if she waited outside for her friend. Morning was bright as the sun's rays penetrated the thick branches. She started the fire again for breakfast. The wind rattled through the trees. The light reflected off of the falling snow. It was calming. She felt a smile pull at her lips. She always enjoyed the snow. Winter was her favorite season as it held many happy memories for her. She filled a small pot with snow when she noticed that the footprints from the morning before were there. She growled as she put the pot over the fire. They led her into the forest. They were gathered to where the shadow was the night before. The person had been pacing; the footprints crossed each other countless times. A closer look around proved that no one was there. She must have been losing it. People told her that loving the snow would drive people insane. She never believed it until then.
Dungeon ni deai o motomeru no wa machigatte iru darou ka
She returned to the fireside. The snow had melted but had not reached a boil. Oatmeal was that morning's breakfast, and she looked forward to it. It kept her fuller than any other meal. The ability to change the flavor was always a bonus. Once they packed the camp, they headed off again. The day itself was boring to her. The sky was bright and clear, just as the weatherman predicted. There were no conversations between them, not even a question if they were on the right path. There was nothing thrilling to see; it was just the trees and snow. Not even creatures greeted them. It was simply just walking in the cold. Her mind didn't even wander that day, which was odd. Normally she would day dream if something was boring. Once camp was set up, they had their supper. It was the final meal of the trip, one that brought sadness that it was ending. They talked about how they felt free after the hiking. They mentioned the snow and how everything was so peaceful. Throughout it all, never once were the mysterious footprints mentioned. Evelyn didn't even bring up what she had seen that morning. Paige entered the tent first as Evelyn tended to the site. As usual super needed to be stored and the fire extinguished. Her final step was tying the pink marker when a rustling came from the path ahead. It startled her and her body tensed. She looked around tentatively and found the shadow once again. “I'm tired of you following us. You are on private property and I am not afraid to kill you,” she shouted at the shadow. It didn't move. It was more than unsettling. Normal people would have fled; then again, stalkers were not normal. The tent unzipped and Paige crawled out. She was frightened by Evelyn's outburst. “Who are you talking to?” She whispered. Evelyn ignored her and returned to watch the shadow. Unlike before, it still lingered. “There's been a shadow of a person watching us every night. Each morning after I see the shadow, we have those footprints. I've had enough of them following us.” She quickly retrieved a flashlight from her pack. She had had it with being frightened. It was her property and there should have been no one but them. The shadow was still there but altered somehow. Her heartbeat quickened the closer she got. In her other hand was the hunting knife. If it was someone dangerous, she would be ready for them. She aimed the beam at her target. An old, white cloth was blowing in the wind. The ground below it didn't hold any footprints. Her eyebrows furrowed. The cloth shouldn't have been there. Her grandfather didn't have anything like that and it was too small for a sheet. She put her knife away and wiggled it free from the tree. It was big enough to be a cloak as she noticed a clasp that was undone. The material was thick and rough. She returned with the cloth in hand. She sighed and packed it with the rest. Maybe she had been hallucinating the shadow the entire time, but the new object couldn't have just appeared on its own. Perhaps it was left by a trespasser long ago as it was aged by time. Her friend was horrified with the expression still apparent on her face. “It's alright Paige, it's just an old cloth. Knowing grandpa, he may have lost it. Though I've honestly never seen it before.” Paige's shoulders lowered as she breathed out slowly. “Thank goodness, at least it's taken care of. Come and get some sleep. We should get up early so we can get home sooner. I hope your grandma has some cookies left.” Evelyn agreed. She looked forward to being home again. She could sleep in her warm bed and bake cookies for her and her grandfather. Her cheeks warmed at the thought as she dumped large piles of snow onto the fire. When the embers were out, she crawled into the sleeping bag. She was hoping for a good sleep as she felt like she was running on fumes. Soon sleep over took her and she sailed off to dreamland. * * * “Death to all who oppose me,” shouted an enraged deep voice. It was dark and filled with malice. It made her tremble with fear. She wanted to run. She needed to find safety. She felt like the voice was going to take everything that she held dear. It was going to kill everyone. Suddenly, another sound reached her ears. Click. Click. Click. She felt her fear increase to terror. That sound brought death. It was in the legends and told as warnings to never stray from the spirits. “Bugs everywhere! Run boy, save yourself,” yelled a closer male voice. Sadness filled her soul from the sound. That voice was familiar, and she wanted to know whose it was. They were important to her. She always felt safe with him. He would protect her. She couldn't leave him. “But I can't, if I leave you here you'll die.” Her lips reacted on their own. It was her yet not her. Click. Click. Click. Her body trembled from the fear. She wished she could see what have happening. She might be able to figure out how to save that man. She wished she could save him. If anyone was out there, they had to save him. “Leave boy, before they find you,” ordered the voice. He was scared too as his voice quivered. He was never afraid. He was brave and strong. She wanted to cry. “No, I won't leave you.” Click. Click. Click. She heard a maniacal cackle. She wanted the other voice to reach out to her and hold her close. She was always safe with him. He was smart and could always come out of things. He would always say the same thing of her. “Join me and we shall conquer this world and its future,” offered the evil one. She shuddered but felt defiant. “No! If I help you, you'll kill him.” Click. Click. Click. Unbearable sadness and helplessness filled her. She knew she couldn't protect that man. She was useless and weak. What could someone so small do? He gave her so much but she couldn't give anything in return. She couldn't even save him. “Leave him alone,” she cried out. The evil snorted. “A sacrifice must be mde for my domination. You know the prophecy. You of all people should know it.” Click. Click. SCREECH!! Reality left her. Trembling, she let out a long cry. “Daddy!”
What has you so hyped up,” she inquired. She giggled and breathed the crisp winter air deeply. She was one of Evelyn's only friends and she was her best. She would have done anything to keep her safe. “Sorry, Paige, I'm just excited to be out with you. It's been forever since we've spent time together,” she explained. She shook her head as she walked ahead of her. “I know. You've been so busy with work and me out on the weekends. It's nice to have more than just a coffee with you.” Evelyn's heart warmed as she agreed wholeheartedly. “Yes it is. We haven't done something like this since we were in high school.” She nodded back. Last time they went hiking was in the summer and both nearly had heat stroke. “You know what, Evelyn, let's quicken the pace. Get a work out from this trip.” She growled at the mention of her full first name. “It's Eve ok, not Evelyn.” Paige nodded after shrugging her shoulders and they walked faster. They continued through the winter wonderland of the Lost Lorne Forest. It was a warmer winter day than what was experienced so far that year. The trees were frosted with the cold of the night, but it melted with the hot sun. The snow sparkled and filled with glitter. The forest itself was silent. The animals were all hibernating or would keep their distance. Snowshoes left a trail of where they had travelled. A good marker in case they got lost. The crunch of their prints and their breathing were the only things to be heard. She breathed out heavily from the exercise. The moisture hung in the air as miniature clouds. It also sparkled in the sunlight like the snow. She slowed and reached out to touch it. Through the haze of her breath, Paige was getting ahead of her. She hurried to catch up. The sun had begun to set behind the mountains that could just be seen over the tree tops. They found the first marker and set up camp. The small clearing was made by Evelyn's grandfather. A large portion of the forest was part of her grandfather's property. Trails covered the woods along with a few camp grounds. It was all made for her to explore the place she loved so much. Once a fire was created, they shared stories about their lives while waiting for their supper to cook.
Akashic records of the bastard magical instructor
Their conversation continued as they ate. It had been too long since their last good chat. When the meal was finished, they cleaned their dishes and packed them away again. They played a card game to pass the time until sleep was near. Soon they tired, and Paige entered the tent to change. Evelyn wasn't being completely honest with her friend. She only wanted company while she got away from her routine of work and sleep. It didn't matter who travelled with her so long as she wasn't alone. The boredom of routine tortured her and needed a change of pace. She also wanted an escape from her increasing nightmares. They would haunt her during the winter and normally would last one or two nights. This year they were constant. It started off with once a week and then progressed to every time she slept. She would awake feeling that the dream was reality and the waking world was a lie. It would make her sick and she'd cry out for help. Her gaze was drawn to the night sky. It had started snowing and the flakes rested lightly on her exposed cheeks. Their tracks would be covered by morning. She dug out her small roll of florescent pink marker and long hunting knife. She tied it to a branch that led to the path they wanted. Getting lost was dangerous, especially with the recent kidnappings and lost bodies. While tying off her marker, a shadow behind one of the trees caught her attention. She stared at it as she knew it to belong to a human. No one had permission to be back there. Her grandfather's land was marked well with trespassing signs, and the roads were blocked by fencing. If anyone were there, they would have broken the fence. It was no secret that the forest within the property held excellent hunting. She couldn't stand those who hunted for sport and not food. She started to make her way forward with her sharp hunting knife positioned to attack when the tent zipper came undone. She called out to say she was finished. She turned back to where the shadow was, but it was gone. What had possessed her to imagine a person there? She shook her head and drowned the fire's flames. After changing, she relaxed in her sleeping bag. The sound of the night wind whistling through the trees was soft. It was calming compared to the snoring that soon ensued from her companion. She sighed tiredly knowing that she needed her sleep, even though it would be a restless one. She rolled onto her side before closing her eyes and allowing her uneasy sleep to take her. Sounds of panic woke her from her deep slumber. She groggily opened her eyes to find that it was morning. Her stomach churned as she gagged. That was a sign that a nightmare had begun to form in her mind when her friend's voice interrupted it. She hurriedly pulled on her boots and coat before leaving the confines of the warm tent. “There you are, Eve,” angrily exclaimed Paige. Her fury was strange for so early in the morning. Evelyn's eyes wandered but found calm. Nothing was taken or out of place. There was no reason for her outburst. Paige hugged herself as a fear was seen in her eyes. “Someone tried to get into our tent last night.” She straightened a little and looked again. Again everything was normal. “Try looking down, genius.”
Evelyn looked to her feet. Still groggy from sleep, she knelt to observe the footprints. Their prints were scattered everywhere. It took a while, but a new set tangled with theirs. They led to the tent, then back to the trees. They were a bit larger than her own feet. Unlike their boots, those prints didn't contain groves; they were smooth. She stood, filled with her own worry. “Definitely not one of our own,” she mumbled. She placed her hands on her hips. “No really? I thought that you were walking around out here in your socks to scare me,” she scoffed. Evelyn wasn't impressed with her remark. Being woken by a scream didn't give her time to fully waken. “Well, sorry for trying figure this out. Not like I have anything better to do, right.?” Evelyn crawled back into the tent. She hated when people judged her thought processes. She talked to herself to try to assess a situation and, being her friend, Paige should know that. As she changed and readied for another day, she thought about the prints. Most modern footwear had some sort of pattern on the sole. The only ones that didn't were ballerina slippers, and no one in their right mind would wear those outside in the dead of winter. Exiting the tent was met with an icy glare. She sighed and began to cook breakfast. That was her friend's normal behavior towards her when she ignored an argument. “Look, Paige, whoever it was is gone now. If there are any crazy people out here, I have my knife, so we won't be unprotected. Just relax, this is supposed to be fun remember.” She snorted and went to change. She rolled her eyes. She wondered if she should have left Paige behind. They ate breakfast in silence. Evelyn was not pleased. Paige should trust that she knows how to survive in the woods. She's always prepared when they go hiking. The only thing that she didn't have was a gun, but they shouldn't need that at all. It was winter. Nothing of great danger was out there except for the snow. It was also private property, no one was supposed to be out there but them. Once they finished their meal, they packed up the site in silence. She was still angry with Paige. The longer the silence, the longer Evelyn wished she would have done the trip alone. Before leaving the small clearing, she took off the small band of marking on the tree. She didn't want to be followed by whoever was at their tent in the night. She wanted to make sure it was hard as possible to be followed. They began to talk to each other again closer to sunset, but it was a quiet discussion and the tension could be felt. The sound of wind picking up through the trees made her shiver slightly. It was going to be a cold night. She carried the forecast of what it should have been for their trip. It was supposed to be warm and sunny. She had a feeling that it had changed. They set up camp at the next check point. It was done carefully, and they packed some snow on the sides of it. She wanted to make sure they were warm and safe in case anything happened. The fire was warm as it cooked their supper. The mood lightened and they began to laugh again. It had been a long time since she enjoyed herself. Her smile continued to grow the longer they joked. Paige entered the tent to change first. Evelyn tied her pink marker to mark the next path. She looked out to the night. It was a lonely sight as the darkness swallowed the trees. It was hard to see past the gloom. The moon hidden by the clouds offered no light. She felt like the moment represented how she felt. She felt lonely amongst the city of people she worked in. Still single, she didn't date much. Not like men approached her anyways. She was the quiet girl who lived in the country. Nothing interesting there. A shadow moved and her eyes darted to it. It was hard to distinguish, but a figure of a person stood next to a tree. She blinked a few times but it remained there. It couldn't have been her imagination. It just couldn't be at that point. No sane person would envision the same thing two days in a row. She took a step forward when the tent unzipped. Paige watched her curiously. Evelyn waved her hand and told Paige nothing was wrong. Looking back, the shadow had gone. The next morning came too soon. The deeper they travelled into the forest, the more her anxiety grew. She felt like something big was going to happen, but it wasn't going to be a pleasant experience. This led her to have a light sleep. Any noise that was made by the outside made her startle awake. By the time dawn came, she felt more exhausted and knew that sleep would not find her. She readied quietly. If she could nap while sitting in the light, she may have more of a chance to make up some sleep. She realized noon marked that their trip was half over. They were to spend three days out there. Time went by so quickly. She shook her head as those thoughts only worsened her mood. It would be best if she waited outside for her friend. Morning was bright as the sun's rays penetrated the thick branches. She started the fire again for breakfast. The wind rattled through the trees. The light reflected off of the falling snow. It was calming. She felt a smile pull at her lips. She always enjoyed the snow. Winter was her favorite season as it held many happy memories for her. She filled a small pot with snow when she noticed that the footprints from the morning before were there. She growled as she put the pot over the fire. They led her into the forest. They were gathered to where the shadow was the night before. The person had been pacing; the footprints crossed each other countless times. A closer look around proved that no one was there. She must have been losing it. People told her that loving the snow would drive people insane. She never believed it until then.
Dungeon ni deai o motomeru no wa machigatte iru darou ka
She returned to the fireside. The snow had melted but had not reached a boil. Oatmeal was that morning's breakfast, and she looked forward to it. It kept her fuller than any other meal. The ability to change the flavor was always a bonus. Once they packed the camp, they headed off again. The day itself was boring to her. The sky was bright and clear, just as the weatherman predicted. There were no conversations between them, not even a question if they were on the right path. There was nothing thrilling to see; it was just the trees and snow. Not even creatures greeted them. It was simply just walking in the cold. Her mind didn't even wander that day, which was odd. Normally she would day dream if something was boring. Once camp was set up, they had their supper. It was the final meal of the trip, one that brought sadness that it was ending. They talked about how they felt free after the hiking. They mentioned the snow and how everything was so peaceful. Throughout it all, never once were the mysterious footprints mentioned. Evelyn didn't even bring up what she had seen that morning. Paige entered the tent first as Evelyn tended to the site. As usual super needed to be stored and the fire extinguished. Her final step was tying the pink marker when a rustling came from the path ahead. It startled her and her body tensed. She looked around tentatively and found the shadow once again. “I'm tired of you following us. You are on private property and I am not afraid to kill you,” she shouted at the shadow. It didn't move. It was more than unsettling. Normal people would have fled; then again, stalkers were not normal. The tent unzipped and Paige crawled out. She was frightened by Evelyn's outburst. “Who are you talking to?” She whispered. Evelyn ignored her and returned to watch the shadow. Unlike before, it still lingered. “There's been a shadow of a person watching us every night. Each morning after I see the shadow, we have those footprints. I've had enough of them following us.” She quickly retrieved a flashlight from her pack. She had had it with being frightened. It was her property and there should have been no one but them. The shadow was still there but altered somehow. Her heartbeat quickened the closer she got. In her other hand was the hunting knife. If it was someone dangerous, she would be ready for them. She aimed the beam at her target. An old, white cloth was blowing in the wind. The ground below it didn't hold any footprints. Her eyebrows furrowed. The cloth shouldn't have been there. Her grandfather didn't have anything like that and it was too small for a sheet. She put her knife away and wiggled it free from the tree. It was big enough to be a cloak as she noticed a clasp that was undone. The material was thick and rough. She returned with the cloth in hand. She sighed and packed it with the rest. Maybe she had been hallucinating the shadow the entire time, but the new object couldn't have just appeared on its own. Perhaps it was left by a trespasser long ago as it was aged by time. Her friend was horrified with the expression still apparent on her face. “It's alright Paige, it's just an old cloth. Knowing grandpa, he may have lost it. Though I've honestly never seen it before.” Paige's shoulders lowered as she breathed out slowly. “Thank goodness, at least it's taken care of. Come and get some sleep. We should get up early so we can get home sooner. I hope your grandma has some cookies left.” Evelyn agreed. She looked forward to being home again. She could sleep in her warm bed and bake cookies for her and her grandfather. Her cheeks warmed at the thought as she dumped large piles of snow onto the fire. When the embers were out, she crawled into the sleeping bag. She was hoping for a good sleep as she felt like she was running on fumes. Soon sleep over took her and she sailed off to dreamland. * * * “Death to all who oppose me,” shouted an enraged deep voice. It was dark and filled with malice. It made her tremble with fear. She wanted to run. She needed to find safety. She felt like the voice was going to take everything that she held dear. It was going to kill everyone. Suddenly, another sound reached her ears. Click. Click. Click. She felt her fear increase to terror. That sound brought death. It was in the legends and told as warnings to never stray from the spirits. “Bugs everywhere! Run boy, save yourself,” yelled a closer male voice. Sadness filled her soul from the sound. That voice was familiar, and she wanted to know whose it was. They were important to her. She always felt safe with him. He would protect her. She couldn't leave him. “But I can't, if I leave you here you'll die.” Her lips reacted on their own. It was her yet not her. Click. Click. Click. Her body trembled from the fear. She wished she could see what have happening. She might be able to figure out how to save that man. She wished she could save him. If anyone was out there, they had to save him. “Leave boy, before they find you,” ordered the voice. He was scared too as his voice quivered. He was never afraid. He was brave and strong. She wanted to cry. “No, I won't leave you.” Click. Click. Click. She heard a maniacal cackle. She wanted the other voice to reach out to her and hold her close. She was always safe with him. He was smart and could always come out of things. He would always say the same thing of her. “Join me and we shall conquer this world and its future,” offered the evil one. She shuddered but felt defiant. “No! If I help you, you'll kill him.” Click. Click. Click. Unbearable sadness and helplessness filled her. She knew she couldn't protect that man. She was useless and weak. What could someone so small do? He gave her so much but she couldn't give anything in return. She couldn't even save him. “Leave him alone,” she cried out. The evil snorted. “A sacrifice must be mde for my domination. You know the prophecy. You of all people should know it.” Click. Click. SCREECH!! Reality left her. Trembling, she let out a long cry. “Daddy!”
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