Left Alone

      Before any of this happened, you had a brother and a sister. That was the last thing you knew for certain, because they were life. It seems it was just a moment ago when you were content, and had everything you needed, hardly aware of your surroundings, and taking just about everything for granted. You would get up in the morning, and go downstairs for breakfast, walking in your socks on the cold, marble floor of the kitchen, with the smell of eggs and spiced meat in the air. There your mother and father would usually be, talking over the sinks as they prepared the morning meal. Your brother and sister would come at different times, also in their socks, and either help in the kitchen, or take a seat at the table.

      Your brother had been your close friend of many years, who often helped you study, and would always make everyone laugh. Your sister, though a much nicer person, had been somewhat estranged from you two. Past times had caused you and your brother to grow apart from her, and leave her on her own, but you could feel inside that all she really wanted was to be your friend, if only she were given a chance.

      Then there were your parents; your dad, a doctor who had an office on the first floor of the house, and your mom, who helped him in all things, but never seemed to be around for anyone else. Though they were both far less available than your siblings, seemingly absorbed in their own, private life together, at least they were there where you wanted them.

      But the next thing you knew, those you loved - whether you had cherished them or not - were gone, and your life was suddenly plunged into a dark storm of grief and despair. All of the comforts that you once took for granted suddenly crumbled into ash, and you were left with absolutely nothing but your own nerve-wracked body and tears. As you recalled all that you once had, you began to see life from a new perspective, understanding for the first time, when it was all but too late, the immense value of what you had. You now felt like you needed those people in your life so badly, but they were suddenly nowhere to be found.

      After approaching the gates of your home, like a stranger, your face drenched in tears under a dark hood, you clench the black, metal bars of the gate in both hands, and look into the dark, gloomy property, wanting back in to the place you always called home. As you glance up at the empty windows and balconies three stories high, and the pointed roof above them, covered in dark, wooden shingles, you notice how the once lively place now seems so dark and deserted. You sigh, and look back down at your feet - at your soft, leather moccasins sunken in the grass - as you fade into thought, feeling lost and abandoned... just trying to grasp what's happened.

      There's a lack in the air - something gone missing - a terrible feeling of pain and grief that sinks your emotions and subverts your thoughts. You can't think clearly, and have trouble controlling your mind. Every thought transforms into painful torments, and you see imaginary scenes of what might have happened to your family. Since you don't know what became of them, your mind makes up the worst possible scenarios. Over and over you have to give up thought, and strain to move on to something else... but the pain draws you right back to it, and there's almost nothing you can do to distract yourself.

      As you stare at the house, feeling so numb and helpless, you aren't even sure if you're alive or not. Every waking moment feels like a terrible death, as the worst moments of your life pass you by. If you could grasp your thoughts and emotions right now, you would say that you've blinked... or closed your eyes in this last period of time, as if not paying attention or keeping track of life anymore, as it passed. It seems like the last time your eyes were open - the last thing you can remember being certain - was that you were at home, and everyone was there with you, the way you wanted things to be. You were happier, and smiled more, because everything was comfortably in place.

      At least you remember it as being happy, because even a terrible day back then was far better than what you have now. After that, you can't even remember what happened, or what separated then from now. The change was so sudden, like a trap sprung in the night, giving you no time to prepare or understand; not until it's all over, and you find yourself lying in the cold dirt, drowning in grief for those you lost. That's how sudden it is that you find yourself here, with nothing left but tears and suffering.

      Day by day, you had lived as though the things in your life were eternal, and would always be there. But suddenly, when you least expected it, your brother was kidnapped from your home, and you realized, with painful force, that the impossible could happen. But he wasn't the only one who would be lost before that night was over. Shortly after he went missing, the kidnapper returned, and took both of your parents.

      In terror, you fled with your sister, taking shelter with the family next door, while the local guards began searching the area. Finding nothing, they told you that you could return home after staying a night with your neighbors, and that they would keep watch at every entrance to the house, should the kidnapper return... and he did, but somehow must've entered through an upstairs window.

      You were lying in bed, hours past midnight, and heard your sister, Tessa, scream from the balcony, sounding as though her mouth were covered. You burst through the balcony door, just in time to see a dark figure leap off the rails, carrying your sister with one arm, and using the other to cover her mouth. The moment he jumped, your sister saw you, and reached out to you for help, but you couldn't even react. You leaned over the balcony, in horror, and watched helplessly as the dark figure hurried to the high fence, and scaled it in seconds, using only one arm.

      You screamed after her, "Tessaaaa!" but it was already too late. The last straws of life you had left were taken, and you were left with a bleeding heart and unbearable grief... and a last memory of your sister that burns your mind like fire.

      With an aching heart, and red, wet face, you ran downstairs for the nearest guard, looking for help and answers. One of them saw you, and took you by the shoulders, sadly gazing into your eyes, and told you, with great regret, that there was nothing they could do now, and that you needed to run away and hide, until the kidnapper was found... making yourself unseen from everyone - even the guards - for as as long as it took to find him.

      He had just been informed that the kidnapper had gotten into a guard station, and read from the housing book, where each person in the city is carefully kept track of. The book had been left open on the page where it said that you and your sister would be returning home to stay in your own beds that night, and that your house would be guarded. The kidnapper must've come back the night before, and, realizing that the City Watch had relocated you and your sister, went to check the housing records, to see where you would be staying.

      The guard said that he thought someone from the City Watch must've been responsible, because nobody else could get to a housing book in an occupied guard station. He also said that if the kidnapper had connections, he could find out where you were staying if anyone ever logged it in the future, and so you needed to keep your whereabouts a secret.

      Despite what he said, your memory of what happened made you question whether someone from City Watch could have been responsible. You saw the kidnapper leap off the third-floor balcony, and flee in the direction of the woods on a night the Gora came. You couldn't imagine someone from the City Watch doing either of those things. It made you wonder...

      When the Goras come, at random times throughout the year, most of the people take shelter at Gora Parties. There, they wait out the night, so that they don't have to hear the Goras' screaming and howling, as they hunt for small animals and pets. The kidnapper was out fearlessly during those nights, and had to carry your family members to someplace where people wouldn't find them, like the woods, where he seemed to be headed.

      That night, before he came, your family had returned home from a Gora party at a neighbor's house - not minding the Goras so much - so that you could sleep in your own beds. Normally, a few hours after dinner, at a Gora Party, everyone goes to sleep on a bed or couch, until morning. Once the sun has risen, and the Goras are gone, most people either return home and let their pets out, or stay to share a large breakfast,... but, staying the night was a less comfortable routine for your family, so you all decided to sleep in your own home that night... which you now regret, since that was when the kidnapper first came.

      As you recall these things, the sorrow of having your entire family stripped from you becomes overwhelming, and you begin to break down, just wanting them back so badly. You squeeze the bars of your front gates, and whisper, while shouting in your mind, "Come back! Where are you?!" At the point of tears, you hopelessly look around for answers, searching for anyone who may have seen or heard anything. There has to be someone out there who could tell you where to find your family,... but all you see is emptiness; the leaf-covered paths before you, the calm lake and dense woods on the other side, and a few people in the distance, walking by it, who seem completely unaware that anything has happened. They walk happily, arm-in-arm, without a worry in the world, while you helplessly watch them, wishing they'd come and tell you everything you want to hear.

      Realizing there's nothing you can do, and feeling the hopelessness of never being able to see your family again, you fall to your knees, letting your hands slide down the metal bars, and scream in your head, desperately calling those you loved, "Jeremy!... Tessa!... Mom!... Dad!" Struggling to control your emotions, you whisper to them, "I don't know what to do,... but I'm going to find you, no matter what."

      The pain of feeling so helpless is unbearable. Your mind swirls, desperately trying to think of what to do to get them back, but there's nothing you can think of. You have no clue how to begin searching for them, or where. You could wander out in woods, but searching there would be like trying to find a needle in an endless, monster-inhabited haystack.

      As you ponder this, you wonder if your family is even alive, or if every second is coming closer to their deaths. All you know is that you can't give up while there's even the slightest chance of saving them. If every second does indeed count, and there is any hope at all, then you know that you have to give it every ounce of energy you have, so that you don't find them only to realize you were a moment too late.

      As you try to think about where to begin, the one clear thought you have left comes before you: the fact that you'll surely be the last to go missing, if you don't find some way to remain hidden. Otherwise, if you search openly, it seems almost certain that you'll join the fate of your family.

-     After taking a short walk past a few of your neighbor's houses, while trying to get hold of yourself and calm your thoughts, you make your way back to your house, slowly walking down the lane that crosses the front of your home. Moving down the leaf-covered path, you stare at the ground, slowly walking through the leaves that the trees drop all around. The cold air reaches through your hood, and brushes your face, making you squint to keep your eyes moist.

      As you approach your house, you slowly begin to turn off the path, then stop behind a small bush, beside your front gates. You turn and glance behind you, down the path you came from, seeing the lake and the woods on the other side. You look back at your house, and up at the third floor balcony where your room is. From there, you could see some of the lake, through the trees and large houses that partially blocked the view. Above and just beyond the lake, you could see the woods; a vast, mostly unexplored forest, filled with legend and creatures that kept most people from wandering into it.

      Peering through the bush, up at the balcony, you look down at the front of the house, and see that there are a few guards and officials around, looking for evidence of you and your sister's disappearance. They think you've both been taken, so you don't want them to see you. Apparently, the guard who told you to go into hiding never told anybody what really happened, so, if they see you, and spread the word, you don't know who might hear it.

      You see two guards talking by the gates, so you casually walk out into the open, pretending to be a curious neighbor. You stand with your back partially turned, not looking at them, so you can't tell who's saying what, but you listen.

      The first words you catch are, "...but we couldn't see anything from up there. We were out early, when it was still all foggy, so we couldn't see the lake. We mostly just looked in the yards, for anything, while the morning team searched the house."

      The guard next to him says, "Well, we followed the trail between the fence and the lake, looking for prints, but we couldn't find anything. If you ask me, though, I say we should look harder on that path. Tomorrow morning, while my team moves toward the lake, I recommend you go back up there and do some searching."

      You hear the other guard mumble, "Yeah, okay. And also, Robert had a good suggestion: he was wondering if the old couple saw anything."

      "Which old couple?"

      "Oh, it's just some weird couple that takes walks around the lake, at night. Anyway, the guards who were watching the house said the kidnapper went toward the lake, so, uh... Robert said that if he was moving in that direction, he would have had to either turn left or right, as soon as he got to it. That means there's a possibility that someone could have seen him going in either direction, which would focus our search a lot better if we had any idea which way he went. Robert and I think we should ask that old couple if they saw anything."

      The other guard thinks a moment, and says, "Hmm, yeah. Well, I doubt they were walking out there in the middle of the night."

      "Well, no, I see them out there pretty late sometimes. But, even if they didn't see anything, I think we need to ask them and everyone around the lake if they saw or heard anything on either of those nights. I mean, we shouldn't distress the whole neighborhood for no reason - we aren't allowed to do that - but we can ask a few people if they saw anything suspicious, without telling them exactly why we're asking. They'll think we're looking for someone's pet or something, that went missing when the Goras came."

      "Well, I think if anyone saw them, they would have said something. I mean, the kidnapper was carrying two people. You know... How can you miss a sight like that?"

      The guard sighs, "Yeah... Well, if the kidnapper had like a bag or something, they could have thought he was just carrying something. But also, even if they just heard something, that would help. It would show us which way he went."

      "Yeah."

      "But, what I'd like to know is how he got over the fence. The gates were locked shut, and the fences are way too high to throw someone over."

      You turn around and look at the gates that tower about four feet over your head.

      "Well, some of the guys from the morning crew suggested that he might have locked the gate on the way out, himself."

      "Ummm..."

      "I told them it was a little hard to believe, because that would suggest that the kidnapper knew the family, and knew where they kept the keys to the gate. I mean, it's a possibility, but unlikely."

      You rub the side of your face with a hand... trying hard not to call to mind what you saw. You wish you could tell them how he did it.

      You shut your eyes and turn your head, trying to forget. Part of you wants to tell the guards,... the other part wants to drop onto your face and give up on life. But you can't give up yet; the image of your sister, still alive, keeps a fire burning in your heart. A desire... an urgency... a desperate hope of saving her and the rest of your family, in whatever way possible.

      Not knowing what to do or think about how to get them back, you glance back toward the guards, and their words get your attention again.

      "Well, we never found any of the bodies, and we have no clues yet, so, as soon as the morning team gets here tomorrow, we're gonna have a meeting inside, and talk about it over breakfast. I heard someone saying that they wanna spy on a few suspicious houses in the hills, but they don't have much reason to. So, they'll be talking about it tomorrow, but I don't think there'll be much else to talk about, because we have no leads yet. If we found the bodies, that would be a good way to start, but... I doubt we'll ever find anything on this one."

      "Yeah," the other guard looks at the ground, and softly kicks a leaf, "I just hope they have cake at the meeting."

      They both laugh, and turn to walk toward the house. One of them glances at you briefly, but keeps on going.

      You think about what they said; how none your family members' bodies were found. All you know is that whoever did this took your sister away alive. The others were most likely the same, so at least there's the possibility that they're still alive.

      You look at the front door, then up at the balcony on the third floor, thinking that sooner or later you'll have to find a way to get inside, so you can get some money and clothes. There seems to be too much activity today, but you hope that tomorrow there will be less of them, and you'll be able to come back.

      You look back down at the guards and officials who are walking about, some talking, and some carefully searching the yard. Hopefully it'll be easier tomorrow to find your way to the third floor, without being seen. Once there, you hope to find more warm, concealing clothes, like the ones you're wearing, and a blanket to sleep in. You can't recall if you have any other clothes like this, but you know of a few blankets that are sturdy enough to be used outside.

      While you're up there, you'll need to find some money, so that you can eat. You have enough for one more day, but then you'll be out, and won't be able to ask City Hall for any more, because they'll have to look up your records.

      For now, you just need to head to town and find a place where you can sleep every night. Last, you'll need to eat; you haven't had a scrap of food all day, and your empty stomach aches with hunger.

-     The next morning, you wake up all wrapped up in your cloak, and pull it down to look around. It's still very early, and everything is foggy. You can hear the clamor of nearby shopkeepers who work to get their stores open in time for the morning crowds who come to town for breakfast. You look up into the gray sky and rub your eyes, then raise yourself to a sitting position. The air is freezing, and you quickly get your cloak on over the shirt and pants you're already wearing. The cloak is dark grey, almost black, and comfortable to wear in the cold like this. You wrap up in it, and fasten it, then pull your hood up over your head and to the sides of your face so that nobody can see who you are. You stand up and put your hands inside you cloak.

      It's important to not be seen here too often, because of the way homeless people are treated. If you are seen sleeping outside too often, the local guards will bring you to the City Hall, find you a job, and build you a house.

      Because of that, you've found this quiet spot off to the side of the town square, in the grass, in between the side wall of a small, stone bridge, and a decorative concrete block meant for sitting on, with lots of flowers in the middle. The block prevents people in the square from seeing you behind it, but even if someone were to see you asleep at night, you would be all wrapped up in a dark blanket, and they wouldn’t think much about it.

      In this area, it isn't uncommon for people to sleep outside on warmer nights, in various places around town, just to out lie under the stars, and do something different. Fortunately, bugs aren't a problem for anyone who ever sleeps outside; years ago, the city built many huge, scented bug-lamps in the surrounding hills - each about fifteen feet tall - which attract and burn insects from miles around. Spiders were never attracted by them, but still died off when they were built, because their food left for the hills, and left them nothing to eat.

      Now, the outdoors is a pleasant place to be, especially for those who ever sleep outside. Every corner of the city is kept clean, and it seems like the only insects who stayed were the ones who make sounds in the night and are never seen. Because of them, it's a lot easier to sleep at night.

      You begin approaching the marketplace, and run your hands over the flowers as you slowly pass by. You look into the square as you prepare to enter the fast-growing crowds. People are beginning to arrive from all over, lured by the smell of fresh bread and soups, and the presence of friends and family to have breakfast with.

      Today you want to go back to your property and see what else you can learn. Other than that, you really don't know what to do to find your family. You slowly stroll through the busy marketplace, looking around at the people's faces from beneath your hood. Ahead of you, at the end of the open square, begins the path that passes by the side of the lake and goes into your neighborhood. To your left, the marketplace ends abruptly, where a grassy field begins, which goes out to the edge of the woods. Many people like to eat breakfast out in the soft grass. You glance to your left, through the people and the shops, out into the field where a few groups of people are already eating and enjoying the cool morning air. You turn to look ahead, and walk straight, slowly weaving around people, and finally pass the last breakfast shop, and step off the pavement, onto the stone, lake-side path that runs near your house.

      You see many people walking together toward town, all talking amongst themselves with great morning energy, laughing and joking, with children running and skipping, and going to say hello to this group and that. Some couples walk quietly, hand-in-hand. They'll probably get a soup and eat together on the patio of a restaurant in town, just talking to each other quietly, while the larger families around them make noise and bustle with energy as the day begins.

      A few people on the path are done eating and taking walks, walking in the same direction as you, taking in the morning air and the singing birds.

      An old couple passes by, but they look at you without saying anything. You quietly say, "Hello," as you pass, and they answer just as softly, "Hello."

      To your left, about thirty feet from the edge of the path is the edge of the lake, which you can see between the trunks of scattered trees that shade the path on both sides. Across the lake is the dark forest. Nobody seems to ever go there, except the few who like to walk around the entire lake, on the path. Up ahead, another path branches off to the right, heading away from the lake, leading into the side of your neighborhood, filled with large, three-storey houses, a bit larger than the normal two-storey homes found behind town, and on the other side of it. All the homes are built among large oak trees and leaf-covered roads, lined with black spiked fences and gates,... normally it's very beautiful, but this morning it appears to be the home of death itself. Maybe recent events cloud your image of the place, but it appears to be dead; it's the half-bare autumn trees, the paths covered with leaves, the spiked gates that resemble that of a graveyard... seeing this, you feel a desire for spring to come, and the sun to come out. But now, you have to go back... back to the place where you grew up, and search for an explanation; a reason why your life is suddenly so empty and full of painful sorrow. And you just hope, that by some miracle, you'll find something that can bring your family back... or your sister, or anyone at all.

      Finally, you see the front gates of your mansion, that now seems more like a graveyard. And beside the long fences and gates are those of your neighbors, who have homes similar to yours. There's a group of guards at your gates, talking among themselves, and it looks like the authorities are back this morning, investigating and talking with one another, as they search the property.

      As you approach your next-door neighbor's house - the one you and your sister fled to and stayed at on the first night of the kidnappings - you hear their front door open, so you cautiously glance, trying not to expose your face under your hood. You see ten year-old Mikey walk out to the gate, with a concentrating look on his face, as he stares nervously at your house.

      He arrives at the front gate just as you pass, and asks you, "Why are there so many guards at the Peters' house?"

      You stop, and turn to look at him, and ask softly, "Nobody told you?"

      "Oh. Revin, it's you," he says, recognizing your voice, "No. What happened?"

      "Well,..." you pause, thinking about what to say, knowing that his older sister, Charlotte, obviously doesn't want him to know yet, since she didn't tell him, "They're trying to find, umm..." you pause, not knowing what to say.

      He looks at you uneasily, probably noticing that you're covered in black, and having a hard time telling him.

      You sigh, and say softly, feeling defeated, "You might wanna ask Charlotte."

      He nods slowly, then glances down with a worried work, nervously holding his hands together.

      You look at him sympathetically, and say, "Don't worry about it, though. She'll tell you what it is."

      He glances at you, and nods silently, then looks over at your house again.

      As you wonder how to get inside, you glance at Mikey's house, and remember that both your houses share a wine cellar. If he lets you in, you could get into your house through the kitchen, and have a better chance of getting upstairs unnoticed.

      You look at Mikey, and ask, "Mikey,... is anyone downstairs?"

      "Charlotte is," he says softly, "How' come?"

      You take a deep breath, and say, "I need to go into the cellar."

      He asks, sounding slightly worried, "What are you going to do in there?"

      "I just need to go to my house," you say casually, trying to calm his suspicion, "I have to get some things from my room, but I don't want the guards to start asking questions right now."

      "Oh," he says softly, scratching his head, "Okay."

      He turns to lead you into the house, but you stop him, saying, "Mikey... Can you make sure that nobody sees me?"

      He stands still a moment, and asks weakly, looking slightly pale, "Are they... Are they looking for you?"

      You glance down, and say softly, realizing that he's getting to suspicious, "No... My family was kidnapped by someone." He stands still as a statue for a long moment, and you add, "I'm the only one left, so I don't want anyone to know where I am. I need to get some blankets, and some money, and things from my room, because I have to sleep outside now."

      "Revin," he asks in a troubled voice, "is that true?"

      You reluctantly nod, and step up to him, putting a hand on his shoulder, "Yeah. Don't worry about it, though. Charlotte will tell you what happened."

      "Okay," he whispers, then glances away with a sigh.

      You look up at the house, and ask, "Can you try to bring Charlotte upstairs, while I go into the cellar?"

      "Yeah," he says softly, and turns around to lead you into the house.

      He opens the door wide, and you immediately jump to the side, out of view, incase anyone's there.

      He says quietly, "No one's here," then calls into the house, "Chaaarlotte!"

      You hear her answer from upstairs, "Yeah?"

      He shouts, "Is anyone downstairs?"

      "Ummm, no," she says, sounding closer.

      "Okay, just checking," he says, then turns to you, and motions to follow.

      You quickly follow him, taking little time to notice the beautiful kitchen, or the hanging fruit and garlic clusters that nearly brush your head as you pass under them. At the far end of the kitchen, under a bright, wide window, with the sun shining in, he steps down a few stairs, to the cellar entrance. He opens the arched, polished wooden door, with patterns carved in the front, then steps to the side, holding it for you.

      "Thanks, Mikey," you say, stepping down into the arched doorframe, and glancing up at the grapes hanging above it, as you step under them. You turn to him, holding onto the sides of the doorframe, and say softly, "Remember, don't tell anyone I was here. I can't let anyone see me until I know who the kidnapper is, because he might be a guard."

      "Okay," he says with a shaky whisper.

      "Thanks, Mikey," you say with a light smile.

      He nods without emotion, and slowly begins closing the door.

      You turn toward the dark interior of the cellar, and sigh, then carefully begin stepping down into it. After about five steps, when you've reached the bottom, the door latches shut behind you, leaving you in the dark. All you can see are the small, blue flames of the pipe-fed torches, beginning on the walls near you, and continuing on, all the way down your side of the cellar. You carefully step up to the nearest one, and feel around the base for the small knob, and twist it, increasing the size of the flame.

      Behind you, in the kitchen, you hear the voice of Charlotte ask, "What were you doing?"

      You glance down at the base of the silent, controlled flame, listening closely, as it warms your face, giving off a steady, motionless light.

      "Nothing," Mikey says softly.

      You hear one of them take a few steps, then Charlotte asks softly, "Why were you asking if anyone's downstairs?"

      Instead of answering, he asks, sounding like he's coming to tears, "Charlotte... what happened at the Peters' house?"

      You look down, waiting for her to answer, and after a pause, she says softly, "They're trying to find them." You hear him sniff, and she says warmly, "Come here," probably hugging him.

      You close your eyes and rub them, taking a deep breath, then put your hand on the torch knob, and turn it back down to a small, blue flame. You look up ahead, in the darkness, taking sight of the other blue torch-flames, then slowly begin walking forward, through the drums of wine, and boxes of food. Since nobody will be here to turn off the torches, you leave them all off, and continue on in the darkness, keeping your hands on the walls, and holding onto things.

      When you pass the last torches, and finally touch your hand on your cellar door, you stop, and listen carefully. You press your ear against the door, and listen for anyone in the kitchen. It's all quiet, so you very carefully open the door, and squeeze through, watching and listening carefully. When you're sure it's clear up in the kitchen, you climb the steps, until you reach the floor. You stop to look around the kitchen you remember so well, still smelling like fresh bread and ripe fruit, though everything has been taken down, and boxed up. You sigh, glancing at the boxes stacked up against the counters, and slowly walk past them.

      You carefully sneak into the dining room, and look at the long, wooden table, remembering the last time you were here, with your family. Just after dinner, Jeremy said something mean to Tessa, making her go up into her room, to cry. Dad was angry with him, and told him to come into the office, so he reluctantly went to have a talk with him. While they went into his office, just off the entry room, you followed Tessa upstairs, to tell her you didn't like what Jeremy said.

      After a while of waiting for him to come say sorry, you both began to wonder if something was wrong, so you went down to check on him. Your mom was standing in the dining room, looking toward the window in the study that had been left open, with the drapes blowing in the wind. It was at that moment you first realized something had happened.

      You look down and sigh, rubbing your face, then slowly walk over to the stairs, in the entry room, keeping an ear out for anyone walking on the marble floors. You glance up the stairs, and at the high ceiling,... Just then, you hear someone approaching from inside the office, under the other end of the stairs, ahead of you, so you quickly jump on the steps, and begin climbing as fast as you can.

      Realizing you can't climb fast enough to get away, you stop and hold still, and quickly pull your hood down, trying not to look suspicious.

      A guard steps out into the open, and sees you, and stops. He rubs his forehead, and says casually, "Oh," then pauses a moment, thinking, as he studies you. He asks, "Are you a neighbor?"

      You nod, and say softly, "Yeah."

      He glances at your black clothes, and asks, "Is there a memorial or something today?"

      You glance down at your clothes, and shake your head, "No."

      He nods, and says, glancing up the stairs, "Well, if you're going up there, make sure you don't touch anything, especially in the bedrooms."

      "Okay," you nod.

      "What are you gonna do up there?"

      "Umm..." you think a second, "I have to get something of mine."

      "What is it?"

      "A sword... that I lent."

      He nods, and says softly, "Okay."

      You turn, and make your way up the stairs.

      When you reach the top, you step around into the short, dead-end hallway in front of the bathroom, where the curved, wooden staircase to the third floor begins.

       You take each step very slowly, knowing that the staircase creaks, putting your feet only on the sides of each step, where they make the least noise. Once you've reached the top, you step out into the empty central room, where all the bedrooms connect, which was once used as a sparring room, back when you and your brother used to take fighting lessons. As you head to your door, at the end of the left side, you remember the time you spent in here, practicing with your brother, and even your sister, who would help you often.

      There are four bedrooms on the third floor; two on each side of the central hall. From where you're standing, your brother's room is near you, on the left wall, while yours is next to it, on the far end, where the balcony is. On the right wall, the guest room is nearest to you, while your sister's room is just across from yours, on the far end. After glancing at each room, you step up to your door, and stop, grasping the handle with a sigh, then quietly enter.

      Everything is just as you remember it, untouched; your bed is the way it was when you last jumped out of it, hearing your sister's muffled screams. On the desk by the door, there are a few papers and metal drawing utensils. In the back-right corner, various books and charts still sit on your school desk.

[insert image of house interior]

 Across from it, along the same wall as the door you entered from, is the balcony door, where your room sticks out past the edge of the house; a polished, wooden door, centered by a tall, glass window, with colorful, decorative patterns on it, making it slightly difficult to see through.

      Afraid of the memories, you try to stop yourself from approaching the balcony, but you're unable to. You slowly step up to the door, looking down, with your hands slightly trembling, and put your hand on the gold-plated doorknob. Outside, the seven foot-long balcony stretches between yours and your sister's rooms, with the balcony doors at each end, facing each other. You slowly glance up, looking through the colored, shaped glass, holding your breath as the memory of seeing your sister for the last time comes to you vividly, though you try desperately to stop it.

      You squeeze your eyes shut, and slowly open the door, and step out onto the balcony. You lean on the rails looking over the normally beautiful, but now gray and dreary property, remembering. As you see your sister being carried away in your mind, you try to control your emotion, and put your hand on your face. You look down at the rails, with a tear running down your cheek, and, seeing them, wonder how the kidnapper could have jumped such a distance, with your sister in his arm.

      Closing your eyes, you remember the pain of that night, seeing your sister go, and being left all alone. You open your eyes, and bend down, sniffing the rail one more time, and sigh. The smell and the jump both make you think that the kidnapper may not be a regular person.

      You sigh, and turn to Tessa's room, with watery eyes, and enter quietly. You take a look around, glancing first at her unraveled bed, where she probably was before she was taken, then at her school desk, across from the balcony door, and the small sofa between them, against the back wall. Everything but the unmade bed is spotless and clean, and there's even the light, flowery scent of freshly washed clothes, barely lingering in the air.

      You look again at her unmade bed and walk up to it. You gently sit on it, looking down at the blankets and sheets, then pull the blankets down the rest of the way. Her sheets are white, and blankets peach, with light flower patterns embroidered in them. You look carefully for anything unusual, trying to see if you can find any clues, but they seem clean and normal. You get up and walk out toward the balcony door, looking at the ground carefully, then open the door, and continue out to the rails. There still isn't anything unusual, so you sigh, and go back inside, and sit on the bed again, gently rubbing the sheets with your hand.

      As you look down at the bed, hopelessly, you notice a tiny rip in the sheet, with a faint, dirty smudge on it. Maybe it has always been there, but you look at it with interest, and start fiddling with it, wondering how this could have been made if it's from the other night. You bend over and sniff it, and notice that it smells almost like a dirty animal, but fairly light. A little shaken, you smell it again, taking in a big whiff of the unfamiliar stench, then begin sniffing around it, but only the small rip itself smells unusual.

      You pause and think... wondering if the floor, where the kidnapper walked, smells like it too. You quickly get up, and get down on your knees, to smell the floor by the bed. The floor smells too. You smell in different places, but only notice it in a few spots that lead to the balcony.

      When you reach the balcony door, you stand up, you slowly bend over to smell the rail, and take small sniffs in different spots... and you find a spot that lightly smells like some kind of dirty animal.

      Your heart aches as you stand up straight and look out over the yard... remembering what happened, and now thinking of the kidnapper as some filthy person, or, even worse, some creature from the woods. As you look down in the yard, you remember him carrying your sister, and jumping the high, spiked fence, like some kind of animal. You begin to wonder what a filthy, rotten thing like that would want with people... or your family.

      You grab the rails with both hands, and squeeze, with painful memories in your head. You shake the rails, burning in agony, then look up, and close your eyes, trying to relax yourself... before looking back down over the lake, and into the woods.

      Feelings of anxiety and depression begin to overtake you. Who knows if it isn't already too late? And yet, here you are, trying hard to figure out what to do with whatever time you may have left,... without a clue, or even a hint of help in figuring out what to do. Tears begin running down your cheeks, as you close your eyes and lower your head. More than anything, you know that you'll have to act soon, before it's too late... if it isn't already.

      You see all their smiling faces, and inside you die. With tears on your cheeks, and blurry vision, you turn and look to your right, at the door to your sister's room. Both you and your sister's rooms connected to the same balcony; your door on one side, and hers on the other, both facing each other. After a long, sad gaze, you turn to your room, on the left. You put your hand on the knob and look inside, through the glass, then open it and step in.

      Here it is; your room... loaded with as much memory as the desire for life to return to the way it was. Everything is just as you remember. You can almost hear Tessa calling you from the other room, and Jeremy's energetic voice resounding through the walls, as he shouts some humorous comment. It's almost like a dream. You feel like you're home, in the place you grew up... exactly where you're supposed to be right now. You feel like just crashing down on your bed and forgetting everything that happened. You want to find yourself being shaken awake, and hear Tessa's voice say, "Wake up, Revin. The bad dream is over now." You want to remove the covers from your face and find Tessa and Jeremy looking down at you, saying, "Wake up, Revin." "I made breakfast. Hurry, let's go downstairs and eat." Of course you'll just smile and fall back to sleep, then feel the usual big bounce as Jeremy crashes down on the side of the bed, launching you almost a foot off the mattress as he shouts playfully, "Wake up, Revin!" The next thing you know, you're being dragged out onto the floor, hands and feet, laughing and giggling as your eyes finally open.

      As you step through your room, you can't help but be overtaken by emotion. Everything was so perfect and inviting. This is where life happened, when all was well, and here it is now, before you... but you can't have it.

      Tears run down your cheeks silently, and you turn around and close your eyes, grasping the handle of your door that leads into the hallway. Even with your eyes closed, you know exactly where it is, and slowly twist it open.

      You hear the voice of someone say casually, "What the?"

      You open your eyes and see a guard who was walking by Tessa's door, which is directly across from yours. You think you'll probably just have to tell him who you are, so you slowly walk out into the open, closing the door behind you, with your head still slightly down, and tears visible on your cheeks.

      He draws his sword, raising it toward you, and says "Up."

      You slowly raise your hands over your head, holding one wrist, and say softly, "I live here."

      He tilts his head to the side, slowly stepping closer, and asks with interest, "What do you mean? You do?"

      "Yeah," you say calmly, "This is my room."

      He studies your face a moment, looking at your red eyes and wet cheeks, then asks, "Are you Revin?"

      You nod, and hear someone coming up the stairs to your right.

      The guard puts his sword away, and you lower your hands. Another guard emerges from the stairs, and sees you, all dressed in black, and shouts, "Whoa!"

      You look at him, without moving or looking afraid, as he cautiously steps over to the other guard, and asks, "What's going on?"

      You answer before the other guard, "I'm just looking around. I live here."

      He glances at the other guard, who still doesn't know what to do or say, then looks back at you, and says in a loud whisper, "Oh. Are you Revin?"

      "Yeah," you nod.

      He says in a loud whisper, scratching his head, "You're alive."

      You smile a little, and lightly nod.

      The other guard, standing at Tessa's door, asks, "How did you get in?"

      Instead of answering, you say softly, but sternly, "You can't let anyone know I'm here."

      The other guard asks, "Why?"

      You look at him, and say, "Because the kidnapper can't know where I am. I don't know who he is, and I don't want him to find me."

      He raises his eyebrows, and says, "Ohhh, I see. And how did you get away from him?"

      "He never got me - only my sister."

      The guard at the door says to the other, "Shouldn't we tell the Chief, so we can protect him?"

      He looks at him with a slightly annoyed look, and says, "What? No, no. We don't even know who the kidnapper is. It could be risky making it public. What if the kidnapper finds out?"

      He looks at the ground, "Well, yeah, but," he looks up at you, "What are you going to do otherwise?"

      You shake your head slowly, "I don't know, but I've made up my mind to just hide, as long as I can.... and try to figure out what to do, and if I can get my family back."

      The guard at the door asks, "By doing what?"

      "Well," you glance down at the carpet, then back up at him, "I don't know yet... but they might still be alive."

      The other guard sighs, and says, "Well, we haven't found a single clue, so... It looks like you may have to be in hiding for some time." He scratches his face, and looks down thoughtfully.

      "Yeah," you say softly, feeling more helpless since they haven't found anything. You remember about the trail in Tessa's room, and decide to tell them, so you point at her door, and say, "Well, I found something in my sister's room. There's a rip on the bottom sheet of the bed that smells like a dirty animal, or something. And, there's a trail on the ground that also smells like it, going all the way out to the rails on the balcony. The night it happened, I saw someone jump off the balcony, carrying my sister."

      The guards look surprised, and they both say, one after the other, "Off the balcony?" "Jump off... the balcony?"

      "Yeah," you nod lightly, understanding their disbelief.

      The guard by the door opens it, and hurries into the room, heading for the balcony, and the other guard follows.

      You stop him, saying, "Wait!"

      "Yeah?" he asks, turning to you.

      You sigh, thinking of a way to leave, before the other guards come. You look at him, and say, "I'm gonna leave. I have to go think somewhere. Can you help me get out, without anyone seeing me?"

      He pauses a moment, and says, "Sure," then rubs his chin, "Let's see..."

      In the other room, you hear the guard shout, "He's right! There's a bad smell!"

      He looks back into the room, then turns to you, looking like he has an idea, and says, "Okay, I know. You said you saw the kidnapper jump off the balcony, right?"

      "Yeah."

      "Okay, so, I'll go make a commotion in the yard, if I can figure out where he landed, and when everyone else comes to start looking around, you slip out, alright?"

      "Yeah, okay," you nod with a light smile.

      "Okay, okay," he mumbles to himself, deep in thought, then looks at you with a concerned look, and says, "Wait. Tomorrow is a Gora night. Where are you gonna sleep?"

      You think a moment, and say softly, rubbing your face, "I guess I'll just stay awake."

      He glances down, then looks up at you with a thoughtful look, "You know, the kidnapper came with the Goras... Did you notice?" You nod, and he continues, "So, you might want to lay low tomorrow night, because he might come back. It seems strange that they're coming back so soon. This will be the second time in one week."

      You nod and glance down, rubbing your forehead.

      "So, are you gonna keep a look-out? I know we will."

      "Yeah," you nod, beginning to feel a little shaky at the thought of him coming after you.

      "Where will you be? If he finds you, we won't be able to help, if we don't know where you are."

      Your eyes water a little, afraid to answer... but you begin to trust him, remembering the clues you found. You say, trying to sound a little confident, "I'll probably be in the square, watching the woods and the lake."

      "The woods and the lake? Is that where you think he'll come from?"

      You nod, remembering the last night he came, and say, "When he took my sister, he went out toward the lake. I think he must have gone into the woods."

      He looks at you, eyes open wide, and head slightly turned, trying to imagine, "Hmmm... Into the woods?" he almost whispers, "And then it's no wonder he comes with the Goras."

      You nod lightly, and swallow, full of mixed emotions, "Yeah."

      "I'll have a look around the yard, and between here and the lake, and, even if I don't find anything, I'll put a word in with the Chief of Guards. I'll mention, at tonight's meeting, that the kidnapper might come back tomorrow night with the Goras. And, if I were you, I'd hide around here somewhere, where there are lots of guards."

      You shake your head, and say insistently, "Not here. The town square, where I can see the woods clearly. I don't wanna be anywhere near this house tomorrow night."

      "Hmm," he nods, "You're probably right." He thinks a second, and says, "Yeah. Put a large, open space between you and the woods, where you can see clearly, without being seen yourself. And then, if you see anyone suspicious, you’ll have plenty of time to run to the guard station."

      You nod, and look down, as anxiety begins to build. You say softly, "Then, you can arrest him,... so I can find my family."

      He nods silently.

      The other guard comes out, looking excited, and says, "Even the rails stink in this one spot. Come see, Charles!"

      "Hold on, Pete," he says, glancing at you, "I have to help Revin get out... And then there's something we need to talk about, with everyone else."

      Realizing they have names, you tilt your head slightly, and begin to see them more like people, and less like guards.

      Pete says, "Alright."

      Charles looks at him, and says, "Come with me. You need to help me make a distraction, so he can leave. We need to draw everyone under the balcony, and start looking around there for clues. Footprints, maybe."

      Pete thinks a moment, then nods, and says, "Yeah, okay. That's a good idea."

      They both turn and head for the stairs, but you stop them, saying, "Wait. I need to get some clothes and blankets, so I can sleep outside."

      "Okay," Charles says, turning back around, "We'll wait for you."

-

      Once in town, you sit in the shadows under a large torch, facing the woods, while holding your knees and resting your chin on them. You can hear the eerie screams of animals, far away in the woods, and they get louder and louder with each passing hour, as they approach the city. A large torch above you lights the square, but you sit in the dark shadow just beneath it. Your eyes are glued to the edge of the woods, scanning left and right, just across the grassy field that begins at the edge of the square, and goes along the shores of the lake, where the woods begin.

      Your mind races, making up imaginary scenarios of what might happen if the kidnapper appears. You imagine the kidnapper stepping out of the trees, just ahead of you, a hundred yards away, at the edge of the field. Of course, he's already watching you, and sprints out into the open, heading right for you, at top speed, leaving you no chance of getting away.

      You shake your head, and get rid of the thought. Terrible, imaginary scenes keep plaguing you, and you just want to focus, and be relaxed.

      You turn your head to your left, trying to distract yourself, and look over the square. You can see guards on the tops of some buildings, at the edges of the square, pacing back and forth, as if waiting for something to happen. You feel a bit more secure, knowing that they're looking over the area where you are, and will catch anything that happens.

      You look back out, and suddenly catch sight of something moving across the field. You jump, and take a second to focus and see it clearly. It's a Gora that came out into the open, while you were looking away. It emerged from the trees, and is quickly moving toward the lake, to your right.

      It looks like a dog, with short legs, and horns like a goat. It has eyes like a bird on the sides of its head, and a natural, mean expression, like that of a hawk. It moves with aggressive speed, across the field, as if trying to be the first to get to any small pets that may be still outside.

      A few more emerge from the trees, heading in different directions toward town; one of them heading right for the square. You stand up nervously, and wait, and hear a shout behind you, as the guards alert each other. Your mind quickly starts imagining what to do if a Gora gets too close... and suddenly you realize that you didn’t get a sword at the house. Goras aren't known to attack, but if the kidnapper shows up, you might need it.

      You jump up, hoping you can make it to your house and back before the kidnapper should show up, since the Goras are already beginning to arrive. You begin running to your right, toward your house - the same direction the Gora is heading. You sprint as fast as you can, and run off the pavement, onto the path by the lake, hearing the leaves crunching under your feet with each step, and your fast breathing.

      To your left, about 30 yards away, you see the Gora heading for the path in front of you. It slows down as you pass, and slinks onto the path behind you, heading for the houses off to the right. About a hundred yards ahead is where the path to your home begins, cutting off the main one.

      You turn right, onto the path, and run hard, surrounded by trees on both sides. Most of the houses are dark, and vacant, since everybody is at Gora Parties. To your right, a lone, bright house comes into view, among the many darkened ones, and you look. Every window is brightly lit from inside, and you can hear the laughter and noise coming from inside, as all your old neighbors socialize and have a good time with each other.

      The lights appear and disappear through the branches of the trees as you pass, and the thought of not being able to be there - having a simple joy like that stripped from you - brings you pain. You sorrowfully look straight ahead and squint, focusing on the gate of your dark, barren property further down the path. More than anything, you wish you could be at the party right now, carefree, and with your family. That's how everything should be tonight. This running, hiding, and suffering burdens you heart with bitter wanting.

      You stare at your front gate as it gets closer, trying to hold back the thoughts and tears,... wishing you could be there, away from all this fear and suffering.

      The one thing you can't get over is how much has been taken from you. You could enter that house now where the party is and reveal yourself... but what would be the point without your family? The four treasures of your life have been taken from you, and there's nothing left.

      You arrive at the large front gate, and crash into it for support, hanging onto it while trying to control your emotions. You cover your eyes with one hand, and grip the bars with the other, slowly sliding down, as you begin to weep silently.

      A guard sees you, having heard you slam into the gate, and begins hurrying over to you, asking, "Are you alright?"

      Covering your eyes, in tears, you say desperately, "I might as well just let him take me! I can't live like this... I have to see them!"

      He slows down as he steps up to the gate, and says softly, "Uh, I'm sorry. Are you... are you mourning?"

      You look up at him, trying to hold back your emotion, and say weakly, shaking your head, "No." You wipe your face, and ask, "Is... Is Charles here?"

      "Charles? No, he’s not here. He’s on watch in the square. Are you a friend of the family?"

      "No," you shake your head, then ask, "Uh, can I go inside? I need to get some stuff in my room."

      "You live here?" he asks with interest.

      "Yeah, but don’t tell anybody."

      He asks quietly, with a concentrated look, "Are you Revin?"

      "Yeah," you nod, and glancing around cautiously, making sure nobody else can hear.

      He begins opening the gate, and asks, "So, uh... Did you get away? From the kidnapper?"

      You shake your head, "No. He never got me. I ran away when he got my sister, so he wouldn't come back for me. I didn’t want anyone to know where I was, incase he found out. He read a housing book the night he kidnapped my sister."

      "Oh, I see," he says, rubbing his chin, then laughs a little, "Smart. So, you need some stuff from your house?"

      "Just a sword... incase the kidnapper comes after me tonight... since the Gora are here."

      He looks out into the trees, toward the lake, "Ohhh, right."

      You also look into the trees, feeling the anxiety. "I need to hurry."

      "Right. Let’s go," he says, picking up the pace, and heading for the front door.

He bursts through the doors, and you follow behind him. As you enter, you aren’t able to help but slow down and look around the tall entry room, which seems so familiar, yet estranged. As you head to the staircase, you pass by a few guards and authorities, who turn and glance at you, but don’t ask any questions. The guard stops at the bottom of the staircase, and says, "Okay, I’ll wait here."

"Okay," you nod, and start climbing the stairs quickly... The staircase goes up the side of the room across from the door, and you look around as you climb, remembering the house. As you near the top of the staircase you look down at the guards below through the crystal chandelier, and they look up at you. When you get to the top you stop, and gaze into the darkness. All the lights up here are off. Your stomach tightens a bit, and you begin walking forward, slowly, keeping a hand on the wall, as you remember the nights the kidnapper struck. At the end of the hall is an open window, slowly swaying in the wind, and you hear the distant sound of the Goras coming through. Halfway between you and the window begins the other staircase that leads to the third floor.

You slowly approach it, putting your hand on the rails, and look up, then glance to your sides, and slowly begin climbing. You can hear the stairs creaking beneath your feet, and the tremors run all the way up the curving stairs to where you cannot see.

Each step is in terror, as you remember those nights that people went missing. Your imagination is very loud, and images of a terrifying kidnapper flash in your head, as you imagine that he could be up there now, looking for you.

Finally you have to stop, in the middle of the stairs. You can’t see the top yet around the bend, but you’re too afraid. You just pause for a moment and stare into the darkness, trying to calm yourself, as you feel your heart beating in your ears.

You wait, listening hard... for any sound at all that comes from upstairs. From the window behind you, you faintly hear the screams of Goras, but it seems all quiet up there.

You slowly take a step with your left foot, then raise your right foot onto the next step, lifting your body over it. You keep your eyes fixed on the top of the stairs, trying hard to listen for anything. You take another step, and another. You wish someone was here with you.

The last stair comes into view around the bend, and you keep your eyes glued to it. You step closer, and closer, as the wide, dark hall comes into view. You stop and stare.

...Nothing that you can see.

You ever so slowly approach the top step, your eyes darting to and from each door on the walls. There are two doors on each side; all closed. Jeremy’s and your door on the left... the guest room and Tessa’s on the right.

You reach the top and stand still, your hand resting on the rail. You wait... After a moment of silence, you eye Jeremy’s door closest to you, and begin taking tiny steps toward it. You’re scared to death that the kidnapper is going to burst through one of the doors.

As you get closer, you reach out for the doorknob, but avoiding touching it as not to alert anyone who may be inside. You’re afraid that if you touch door, you’ll hear some shuffling in there. You step up to the door and wait, constantly glancing over your shoulder at the other doors.

Finally, you put your hand on the knob and slowly turn it. It turns without making much noise, thankfully, and you open it slowly. At first you just look through the widening crack, into the room as the door opens, then you stick your head through and look around. As you knew it would be, it’s empty and silent.

You quickly enter, and quietly push the door almost all the way closed behind you, without latching it, because of the noise it would make. You turn and look around at the room. Some moonlight shines in through the windows onto the neatly made bed and lights up the room enough to see. You head for the bed and crouch down... You rest one hand on the covers, and without looking, reach your other hand under the bed, through the blankets that hang down to the floor. You’re nervous putting your hand in the dark, under the bed, but you quickly snag the sword handle and pull it out.

As you pull it out, the sword knocks the leg of the bed, making a loud clang, and you jump. Your eyes quickly dart to the door, and you listen carefully to see if you hear anything out there. You listen... ...but it’s quiet.

You quickly pull off the soft, leather sheath, letting it drop on the floor, and hold the sword up in your hands, in a defensive position, and stare at the door. Noticing the blade wavering from your trembling hands, you glance down at it, seeing the engraved patterns running up the center of the blade, shining in the moonlight. It’s a beautiful, miniature sword that Jeremy made himself, only two feet long, that's very maneuverable and light, and easy to carry. Jeremy would bring it out with him, back when you both used to go spy on people that might have been criminals, or try breaking into the places where they lived, to find something against them. You each had a small, lightweight sword that you would carry in a leather sheath, in case you had to use it. Yours was nice, and almost as light; easy to swing around and run with. But Jeremy’s was nicer, and well polished, so this is the one you decided to take.

You carefully slide it into your thin, cloth belt, into the sheath rolled up inside. The sheath unfolds and falls out onto your legs, as the sword slides into it and straightens it, until it’s in nicely and snugly.

      You quietly stand up, and face the door, with your heart still racing. With one hand on the handle of the sword, you reach for the doorknob, and carefully twist it open. As the door slowly swings open, you look into the dark sparring room, with wide eyes, looking for anything suspicious. You tighten your grip on your sword, with both hands. Though you know a few basic things about using a sword, you're afraid that all your knowledge will go out the window if the kidnapper appears, and all you'll find yourself doing is swinging frantically.

Beginning to doubt your ability to fight, you take a deep breath, and slowly step out into the hall, looking at each door, with your sword held tightly in front of you. You carefully side-step over to the stairs, and reach out to grab the rail with one hand. You quickly glance down the stairs, then back onto the top step, facing the doors, and begin backing down the steps, one by one. Before the doors are out of view, you stop to listen, just making sure... then turn to your side, and back down the rest of the stairs sideways, ready to turn in either direction, should anything appear.

When you reach the bottom, you peek to your right, to the end of the hall, and look at the open window. You feel the need to hurry, as the sound of the Goras increases, and more and more of them enter the city. You glance at the closed bathroom door in front of you, then at the first-floor staircase, to your left, where there’s light. You turn to it, and quickly head for it. When you reach it, you grab onto the rail, with one hand, and spin around nervously, just making sure nothing is behind you. Seeing nothing, you glance to your right, down the short side hall to your parents' room door, and sigh with relief. You turn back toward the stairs, and begin stepping down them, putting your sword back in your belt as you go.

The guards below watch as you descend, and an official that you didn’t see before asks the guard who’s waiting for you, "Who's that?"

He answers wisely, "Just a neighbor. He needed to get something of his."

When you reach the last few stairs you say, "Got it," and pat your sword handle, trying to look satisfied.

He smiles back, and says, "Okay, good. If that’s all you needed, I’ll walk you out."

You nod, "Yeah. That's all."

"Okay, great," he says with a light smile, and begins walking to the door.

A few other guards look on quietly, as you follow him out to the porch.

Just as you close the door behind you, the guard shouts, "Whoa!"

You gasp, and whip around, seeing his hand almost in your face, to keep you back. You hear a growling sound, and duck under his hand, to see what it is, and spot a Gora near the fence, in the yard, showing it’s teeth. You close your eyes with relief, and take a deep breath, as the guard takes a few steps forward. As you look on, as the Gora slowly walks sideways, toward the side of the yard.

Behind you, the door bursts open, and several guards rush out to see why he shouted.

"What is it?" "What?" they ask excitedly. They see the Gora, and one of them says, "Oh," and draws his sword. The others do the same, and slowly walk forward, to scare the Gora away.

You’re relieved it wasn't the kidnapper, and sigh, a bit shaken. You look down and rub your face, while they step up to the edge of the porch as the Gora growls, moving off to the side. You look back up, and wait patiently for them to do something, or let it pass. It’s making it’s way over to the area under the dining room windows, and the guards begin walking out toward the gate, facing it, to force it along further.

You follow, staying partially behind them, and make your way to the gate. The guard who let you in puts his sword away, and begins unlocking the gate, as the Gora disappears into the darkness around the side of the house. He opens the gate, and he lets you through.

Once you're outside the gate, you turn to him and say, "Thanks," and adjust your hood.

He smiles, and says, "No problem. You take care of yourself now. And..." he glances at the other guards, who aren’t paying attention, "If you’re ever in trouble, you know where to find us."

You nod and sigh, "Yeah," then look down, and repeat softly, "Yeah."

He closes the gate, and begins to lock it, and you thoughtfully watch his hands, as he works the lock. When he's done, you glance toward the lake, and take a deep breath, then begin walking toward it.

After a few steps, you stop, realizing you should go the opposite way, around the back. This is certainly not the road you want to take back to town, right along the lake, in plain sight of the woods on the other side.

-

      You had to stay up all night, watching the woods from your spot under the big torch, while holding onto your knees, and resting your chin on them. Finally, as the light emerged in the sky, and the first shopkeepers came out into the morning fog, you dropped onto your side, and fell asleep in the square.

      You soon wake up, extremely tired, with hardly enough energy to keep your eyes open. The morning crowds are here, talking and eating, all around you, in the freezing morning air. Many of them are bundled up in warm clothes, drinking warm milk or soup as they begin the day.

      You slowly sit up and rub your eyes, then look at the people around you. You manage to stand up and stretch, then turn toward your sleeping spot on the other side of the square, in the back, between the sitting block with flowers and the small, stone walking bridge. Looking at the ground, you sleepily stumble through the marketplace, slowly weaving around the people. You reach the stone block and run your hand over the flowers as you pass, then collapse onto your knees when you reach your spot, unfold the blanket, and crash down onto it. Before you know it you're sound asleep.

 &nbs