Forward towards the unknown…

He’s back, and they back to the same. Screams and shouts, then smacks, cracks, and whacks. A tear rolls down my eye. My body shakes, guess that’s from fear. No maybe that’s what they call rage.

Part of me want to run out there. He’d launch me to the wall. Make me taste my own blood, the same as before. They took a way the blade me and my nephew had found out back. Boy was that a beauty. Could have carved’em up real good, but they had to go take that from me too.

She yelps and hollas, agony to her tone. The warm stream down my leg, that must be pee. The warmth comforts me, but grosses me out the same.

My heart wants to run, but there’s no where to go. The shouts get louder now. For a moment my movements don’t feel my own. Toys fly about, as my old wooden chest becomes empty. Ever feel you been turned to a puppet. That’s me, possessed, as someone controls my arms and legs.

Soon there’s darkness and black. The top to the old chest comes down, and a loud creak echoes out. The smell of mold burns my nose. My tears don’t taste that bad. Why’d he come back, why would she open the door. She should have known better, we been here before.

The shouts and screams are all one now. My eyes close so hard they hurt. “Anywhere but here, please God, just let me be anywhere but here!”.

A human yarn ball, held together by my toy chest. My pants are too cold and wet for me to get some rest and there’s a sharp ache from under my breast.

Then once more my body acts alone. Feet and arms fly forward towards the dark. There’s an empty space. A gap just large enough for me to fall through.

Faster than a baseball headed towards a batter, the toy chest almost evaporates and the ground below grows closer every second. Before my heart even catches up to my body, the mossy patch below smacks my face. Wet and damp, there’s a pleasantness to the taste.

My body aches from the fall, but the flavor and scent of the grass actually make me gleam joyfully.

Well at least God got me out that house. My thought cut short by a scamper up ahead. My body doesn’t cooperate, but somehow manages to get back up. Don’t freak out. My new thought that turns to self commentary.

Come on you must be here for a reason. My next words of self encouragement, as my feet step forward over the grassy moss. “Hello”

My word echoed out and hung through the empty space. Then hoofs approached. A beast that resembled a half dragon half horse approached.

A loud snarl escaped the beasts nose. The warmth of my pee found me once more. Small steps backwards sent me to the wet grass once more. The beast let out a load half roar half laugh.

“Fear me not human. You have been summoned here.” The beast words equal parts scary and equal parts tender. “Wha what are you..” My response a murmur.

“My name happens to be Peroneus. Keeper of the realms. You have been summoned here to locate your courage. You need your courage, then the realms need you.”

One cold glance at the beast and my fear took hold of me, and further back on the wet grass my body scooted. “Peroneus what ? What do you mean?” My eyes opened hard lost to amazement.

“You heard me. The realm you have entered here has been a mythos of sorts. We are here when realms need a hero. You must locate your courage ahead, and save your realm and ours.

Go north past the forest of dread and enter the cavern of strength there somewhere beneath ruble lay your courage. When you encounter your courage you shall know what to do.”

Tears flooded my eyes once more. Doubts flooded my head and for the moment my thoughts were the paper that plugged up a lavatory.

“Go” The beast cackled and roared, and my thoughts were no more. My body sprung up and snapped me forward. A steady jog lead me to a dark forest.

At the trees border, my body froze once more. Tense from pressure and fears. Paralyzed my eyes glared at the darkness before me and there was no way to move.

“Rawk, don’t stop now. Peroneus has a plan for you. Don’t anger or delay the keeper of the realms.”

The strange sound came from atop a tree. There an even stranger beast stared down upon me. A head of a frog sat atop the body of an eagle.

“Crawk worry not. The names Spence. Reckon they sent me to be your mentor. Help you jump through realms and show you the ropes. You, well we actually, are about to embark on lots of crazy travels. So better buckle up lad.”

“No what’s happened. How and why me? Don’t you see, Ten that’s how old-“

My words cut short by the creature. “Rawk age don’t matter here lad. You been chosen. The realms need you. Here and your mammys land need you. Your mammy needs you boy. So you need to push on.

Ahead be the darkness. You won’t be able to see too well. But alas there be a dragon fly. He’s your answer. Follow the glow and you’ll know where to go. That’s really all Spence can say or do for now, but worry not. Good old Spence shall see you once you leave the forest of dread. From there we on.”

A deep breath and short breaths led me forward. “Well guesss you guys don’t want me to have a say. Gotta do what we gotta do.” My words short and exasperated.

“Now that’s a good ol lad. Go make Spence proud.” The strange creatures words faded, as my feet pushed forward and darkness began to envelope me. For a moment my head told me that nature was gonna bury me. Then the buzz caught my ear. From the corner of my eye a soft glow. Deep down my heart told me there was no way back only forward. Short gasp of breaths and smaller steps led me towards the glow and the unknown.