Chapter 1: A Foggy Beginning

I followed a shadow in the alley as it raced across the streets until I reached a dead end and nobody was there. I heard a noise as if someone had thrown a bottle out of one of the windows above me but nothing was there. I realized that I was under a ladder but thought nothing of it because I’m not a silly superstitious girl like that 20% of silly Americans. I walked back and retraced my steps but could not remember where I came from or where I was going. The fog surrounding me was as thick as that which invaded my mind just then, or maybe it was only a feeling resulting from the thick fog itself. I couldn’t remember anything, not even who I was… and then, it was dark.

“What are you doing standing over there like a dufus!? Come here and help me with this!” A short chubby red headed middle aged woman spoke to me with a soft yet commanding voice… who is she? I realized that I was standing in front of a mirror with a soapy sponge in my hand but could not remember what I was doing, or even who I was! The image in the mirror was not familiar to me. The face in the mirror was gloomy and pale with long unkempt black and purple hair. Her eyes were grey and empty and she wore a pair of glasses without lenses. What is she trying to do! Make a statement? How can this stranger be me? I felt like something really weird had just happened, but then, that feeling disappeared just as a bad dream would; the grasp I had on it had vanished just as a feeling you would have after experiencing deja vu. “Come on! Get over here! You’ve been scrubbing down that mirror for hours!” The red headed woman stood there waving her hand to tell me to come towards her. As the foggy feeling of confusion lifted, I noticed that I was in an old mansion… or so it seemed. It looked like we were restoring the living room to a somewhat habitable state. Although the mansion seemed old and decrepit, there was a familiar feeling of antiquity and comfort. I don’t know why…

We picked up the buckets full of dirty water and walked up the stairs to the 2nd floor. “Where is this?” The words came out of my mouth without me even realizing it. “Liz? Are you ok? You’ve been in a daze all day! This is the Semdroise Mansion. Your father bought this piece of junk thinking we could fix it up. You remember his company wen’t bankrupt right? And we’re selling the house…” I stared in confusion and for a moment thought I knew what she was talking about but then it all escaped me “Uh, my father. Hm… I see, well then. I’m kinda tired though. Can we continue later?” the red headed lady leered in apprehension but then relaxed and said “You do look more pathetic than your usual self today. I think it would be good for you to lay down on the bed in the guest room upstairs. It’s the only room that was completely clean and in order when we got here. It makes no sense, it is like time never passed in that room. Some people think it’s creepy. I just find it convenient! One less room to clean up don’t you think?” To me all that registered at that moment were the words ‘bed’ and ‘lay down’, nothing else mattered. I gave her my buckets and continued upstairs to the room. For some reason I didn’t need to ask where this particular room was but instead instinctively walked up to the door and laid down on the bed. It was the most comfortable bed I’ve ever laid on but then again, I was dead tired. Soon after, it all faded away…

I found myself running as tree branches whipped and scratched my body. I tried avoiding them but something told me that the branches were the least of my worries. I tried to run faster and stumbled but managed to regain my balance and continue on. Nothing else mattered… I had to get out of that forest. I saw a light ahead and realized I was near my home. I dashed towards it when something grabbed a hold of me. I tried to scream but a cold hand covered my mouth shut. Immediately, my immense fear subsided and was replaced by a comforted sob as the scent of the only person that could help me at that time… came over me. He let go of me. I turned around and with a smile that most likely stretched from one ear to the other I said “Bartholomyew! How did you find me!?” his delicate visage hidden by his black hood welcomed me with his deep blue eyes. “I only had to follow your gum wrappers… I jest. I happened to hear your screams as I rode through the forest to come visit you, but it was lucky that on this day I did decide to come visit unexpected, otherwise you could have been…” I gulped in fear “Yes… but it is not the first time that the Beast has found and chased me this far… it seems to be gaining strenght and approaching closer to my home…” Bartholomyew rested his hand on my cheek as he looked down at me “Little one… you are too important to put yourself in such peril…” I immediately felt a wave of anger flow throughout my body “What do you mean?? Is THAT the only reason why you saved me??? Do you not care for me at all!??” I turned around in disgust and began walking toward my home. “Diana… that is not true. But my task is that of protecting the…” “I DON’T CARE! If that’s all I am to you then, farewe…” not watching where I was going, I tripped over a tree root and fell flat on my face. Bartholomyew began to laugh but immediately tried to quiet himself. I felt so embarrassed and frustrated I screamed in tears “I HATE YOU!”. All of a sudden I could hear birds nervously flying away and a rustling of branches behind me. “DIANA! GET…” All I remember was a bloodbath… a neverending chain of teeth digging in to his elegant body dragging him as he attempted to fight back. I saw a bright light… I couldn’t see anything. The Beast had left… and left his limp body resting on the dry leaves and grass. I walked up to him and couldn’t help to think it was all my fault… my fault for being a selfish child; my fault for wanting attention; my fault for being… and suddenly I saw him move. He tried to reach for me; his blue eyes now weak and nearly soulless. I kneeled down next to him with tears flowing from my eyes and touched his cheek just as he did to me. I held his hand as he tried to speak, but no sound was heard. His breathing was shallow and weak and all I could do was watch as he rested in a bloody mess… and more blood. He found the strenght to reach into his cloak and pull out a pendant. It looked familiar, in fact… I think this is what my mother use to wear around her neck before she died. He tried to speak once again so I put my ear to his lips and tried to listen to his whispers “Dear child… I’m sorry I cannot protect you any… any longer… all I can do is… is give you this… you are no longer safe here… please follow the route at the north of this town and find the monastery… you will be safe the… there… I…” his last breath emanated from his body as he dropped the pendant and his head fell to one side… his eyes now empty. I couldn’t believe what had just happened. It had to be a dream, but it was in fact, not. It was as vivid as day even if it was all blurred by the tears that filled my eyes. And then, all of a sudden, as if nothing mattered anymore, the tears stopped… something had changed. I bent down, kissed him, closed his eyes and covered his body with his cloak. I stood up and I knew what to do. I whistled for his horse and he arrived and so I mounted him and galloped away into the dense forest knowing very well what perils I had to face.

It was the 13th day of the 13th month in the land of Veraluna and all I knew was that I was the cursed one: the 13th. Soon before sundown I reached the town of Lidymouch where all children had dissapeared about 13 moons ago… all I cared about was to get rest and to feed His horse. I found a tavern and tied up the horse to the feed and water. I walked inside and of course, it was filled with whores and men with no scruples. I walked up to the tavern owner and requested a room to stay for the night “What is such a lovely young lady doing here all alone without a man? Aren’t ye looking fer trouble… such a sweet thing” he roughly caressed my hair under my hood. I immediately grabbed his hand from under my hood and pulled it away “Get me a room. I do not want any trouble.” The owner snickered “Feisty aren’t we? Well then… it seems you can manage on your own but I would be careful to lock your door tonight!” He walked me up to my room and gave me a rusty old key “It seems that all we have is room 13… I don’t think…” “I’ll take it” “From what parts do you come from child! Do you not know the meaning of this?” “I do not care. I’m tired and need to sleep” I very well knew that if I stayed in that room nobody would dare to bother me… supersticious brainless mules! “Well then! Suit yourself but don’t say I didn’t warn yeh” I ripped the key out of his hand “Thanks…” and slammed the door locking it. I was tired… very tired. All of a sudden I felt a rush of feelings and memories of all that had happened up till now. I rested my face in the dusty pillow to muffle my screams and sobs of desperation. And after a while, I cried myself to sleep… and it all faded away.

“GET OUT HERE NOW! THERE’S A DAMN RAT UNDER THE DESK!!!” A loud familiar scream woke me up from what seemed quite a deep sleep. I rushed toward the sound into a library where the red headed lady stood on a stool with a broom in her hand ready to strike something. I stared cluelessly as she said “WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR! DO SOMETHING! YOU ALWAYS PLAY WITH THESE THINGS… SO GET IT OUTA HERE OR BETTER YET, KILL IT!” I walked toward the desk and looked under it. “Rat? This isn’t a rat… it’s a mouse and he’s scared stiff!” ” I DON’T CARE WHAT EVER THE HELL IT IS JUST KILL IT!” I reached under the desk gently and called it towards me. It slowly crawled toward me shivvering in fear. “It’s ok little one… nobody’s gonna hurt you” “HURT IT?? SURE! IF IT’S A QUICK IN PAINLESS DEATH MAYBE!!!” “Leave him alone, he hasn’t hurt anyone…” the little mouse crawled into my hand and I pulled it out of under the desk but at it’s sight the red headed lady panicked and swung the broom at me “GET IT OUT OF HERE…” She stumbled and fell off the stool scaring the mouse who in fear bit me and jumped off into a hole in the wall “GEEZ! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO GO AND DO THAT! Look at this… now I’m bleeding…” “Ack! My hip!” “What do you mean your hip…” “MY HIP! I’VE FALLEN AND I CAN’T GET UP TYPE OF OW MY HIP YOU KNOW!” “Uh… oh shit” “YEAH OH SHIT IS RIGHT CALL AN AMBULANCE” “Could you please stop yelling…” “Fine, but call the damn ambulance”… I pulled out my cellphone from my pocket and started dialing 911. All of a sudden I was head over heels rolling down the stairs and all I could think about was “Which way to Gardernshire?”… It all became dark.