CHAPTER 2
The place never stopped shaking, the once thought to be a sturdy well-built stable seemed more like a building made of matchsticks. Looking around I could see flames licking about the wood and slowly consuming the whole place. I choked, trying to find a way out only to notice that all exits were blocked. I thought it would be the end of my life when the ceiling started to fall. Holding on tightly to Alta and shutting my eyes, it felt like I was getting claustrophobic as the space around us grew smaller and smaller. Funny thing was that I didn’t feel anything besides that. No hits on the head by falling wood, no heat from the fire. Was I just too numb from fear?
Compressed so much until what felt like being a giant in a tin can, a strong breeze blew. Curious, I looked around and was shocked to see that everything was a blur. I couldn’t even make sense of what was what. Colours seen in the stable were all mixed up like someone has splashed water over a paint canvas and messed it all up. A sudden bright blue then blinded me and I soon began to realise that we were out of the stable and in the sky. What? The sky? What in the world is happening?
The world began to shift and it all seemed somewhat normal again. Still grasping on to Alta, feet dangling, I could see the burning stable below as we flew further away from it. Yes, flying. A few feet away from the stable, we landed.
“Wh-wh-what just ha-happened?” I manage to stutter. What was left of the stable was just the blackened pieces of wood, ashes drifting off and smoke darkening the sky. All the times of fun and laughter we had in the stable now only exist as a memory. Staring in disbelief was all I could do.
“Come on, we have to go. We can’t sit here. What happened there was no accident” said Alta, taking my hand and pulling me up to my feet.
“But one minute we were in there about to die and now we’re out here. How did that happen?”
“It does not matter for now. Let’s move!”
“Why are we not hurt? Wait, not an accident? You mean we were attacked? Why? Who?!”
“There are many things that I need to tell you, but not now! Whoever that did that will not be very happy to find out we’re still alive. So get moving!” Alta said those words with so much fear in her voice that I could not fight anymore. We started walking off into the forest behind us away from all things familiar, and without words, I knew that we were not going anywhere near home.
“I’m sorry that I have to tell you this only now Teri, but you and I are not what you think we are.” Taking a small pause, she unchained her necklace and shoved it into my hands.
“Whatever happens, do not lose the pendant. It will guide you to places and people that you can trust. They too will have the same engraved pattern” I hold up the pendant in my hand to see an hour glass on the bronze pendant with unfamiliar words that said Tempore Dicam.
We continued to run through the dark and old forest trying our best to avoid hitting trees or stumbling over the large roots. It was all silent except for our breaths, the rustle of leaves beneath our feet and distant calls of birds. I jumped at the sudden interruption of silence; shouting. Turning my head back I could see shadows coming at us, chasing us!
Not looking where I was going, I missed a step and we started falling into the ground dropping into a huge hole big enough to fit an elephant. Alta and I landed in a tangled heap with promises of bruises and scratches. With me underneath her, I could only look up to see that the hole we dropped through was slowly covering up. Roots and vines from inside the hole snaked over us to plaster the top like a ceiling and then everything was dark.
Listening to my heartbeat, I let out a breath. We were safe for the moment; until I saw glowing eyes of swirling colours.
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