Walking the underworld

There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. At least, that is what most people believe. That’s the story that they tell.

The story that they tell.

Stories? Where do they come from? Why are they told? Have they changed over time to be more well suited to what society believes? How can we know?

What do I believe?

Well, I’ll tell you… er, I’ll show you. It’s kind of complicated actually, it requires the ability to see, hear, and believe all at the same time.

It all started the day that I discovered magic.

Yes, magic.

I discovered it (this magic of sorts), but I did not know it yet. And, once you know something, you cannot unknow it, you can’t unsee it, or unhear it. It just is.

(I feel like I should say this: fyi, that IS the disclaimer)

If you are still with me, you have been officially warned. This story gets crazy.

Dear Diary,

Let me introduce myself. I am an investigative journalist. I am also a photographer and a writer. I find myself here at the beginning of a new journey. A journey into the unknown and the unseen. A journey into the underworld and hidden realms. A journey (I am told) that is not for the faint of heart. Am I ready to begin?

Yes. Yes, I do believe I am.

Xo- To be continued…

*****

4:36 am

The message arrived.

*****

It was a fairly normal evening. She had watched the sunset as she liked to do. It sometimes spoke to her. Tonight, it had not. However; this was more common than not, and she went about her night as she normally would. The only thing different about this evening, was a conversation. That was the moment in time, where she would later look back on as the ‘moment of foreshadowing’.

She did all the normal nighttime things. And at the end of the night, right before bed. She spoke to them. She had been in the habit of speaking to them now for as long as she could remember and maybe even further back. She spoke often and sometimes she would get upset when she did not hear them. Tonight, she heard them loud and clear. Tonight, they brought a warning. Tonight, they told her…

They told her something… something she dare not repeat, but she had to, she had to warn the others. But how? The world does not believe in dragons, and; therefore, they do not exist. Or do they?

June 6th, 2022

9:23pm

Dear Diary,

The time is now. They have arrived. They sent a message, and it was received. I don’t have time to explain, but I do need you to remember the clues.

‘look up”

“What is written in blood, is written forever, even after it is washed away.”

I am currently preparing for an assignment. I know that it will be challenging, and at times possibly dangerous, but I know that they are here.

They are with me.

I am not afraid.

What is fear anyways? And how do we overcome it?

That is the secret right there.

What do you believe?

Are there dragons in the Valley? Do dragons exist at all?

If at any time I go silent. Please active the contingency plan. You know where to find me.

This will be the last entry before I walk the shadow world.

*Remember the conversation we had about reality.

*THE ANSWERS ARE IN THE QUESTION

*Do NOT trust anyone.

*There is a hidden room…

Xo- I’ll see you on the other side.

10:01 pm

She ripped out what she had just written from her journal, reached inside the pocket of her waist coat and retrieved a lighter, with one flick she lit it and set the entry on flames. She watched as the ash and tiny embers fell to the ground and fizzed out.

It was time. She was most definitely ready.