The Slave to Destiny

The Story

Every nerve in my body was telling me to turn and run away, yet my feet still began to walk across the bridge. It was a thing of beauty. How something so chilling and ominous could be so beautiful still evades me now. Pearlescent stone pillars lined its edges, with crisp blue waters cascading underneath. At its end sits a carved dragons head, made of the oldest wood I think I’d ever seen. Its once incandescent sheen had obviously faded over the years into a dull glimmer.

I knew that the moment that my foot left the bridge there was no going back. With that thought present I went ahead anyway. My foot left the safety of the bridge and touched the base of the mountain towering above. The final climb. It took me hours to reach the top and when I did the cold really hit me. I pulled my wolf pelt tighter over my shoulders, as I tried to form a barrier between me and the icy touch of the wind.  Through the thick blizzard of snow that swirled around me I saw a large stone arch way. That was my way in. I walk carefully closer till it was looming over me, now I could clearly make out the strong, oak door with light pooling from its depths, guiding my way towards it. I took tentative steps closer; my stomach was churning in fear of what lay beyond the door. 

I reached forwards and yanked at the iron handle, using all my strength to pull the old door open. A loud creak erupts from its hinges as it slowly slides open to reveal a corridor lit with torches that revealed my path forwards. The only sounds I could hear was the crackling coming from the flames surrounding me, and the echo of my shoes on the cobbled floor, highlighting to me the emptiness of this place. It was strange the further I walked forwards the more darkness seemed to surround me. Slowly the fires were dying down and the only light that I could see was a small circle that was projected towards the middle of the room. I stumbled closer; tripping over my feet, and into the circle of light. All I could hear was the thumping of my heart and the blood rushing through my veins. I knew that this moment was it. I wouldn’t leave this place but I knew that before I started, this was my fate. The sound of rock cracking echoes around me. The stone sounded as if it was shifting. Forcing against its self. Pushing away the walls of its previous form. All I could do was stand there and listen to the deafening breaks of rock as my sight; stolen by the bright light that I am stood in.

It stopped; I am once again engulfed in silence. I know the stone has moved, to where and what I don’t know. All I can do is stand here. Stand and wait. Seconds began to fly past turning into minutes; all I had to keep me tethered to reality was the rhythm of my breathing. As I became well-adjusted to every sound and feeling, I felt a shift. A shift in the air around me and with this returned the sound of rock scraping against itself. I’m being circled by something in the darkness. I unsheathed my silver sword from its strong leather casing and held it ready in front of me. I started to frantically twist round searching desperately for any sign as to what lies beyond the darkness. I felt that if I blinked I would miss my chance to see what was out there. 

It began to descend on me. I could feel its approach on me nearing in. I raised my sword high up ready to attack the moment that the beast of the darkness came into view. A thunderous roar began to shake the earth I stood on, and with the roar a bright light shot through the room destroying all forms of darkness. I shield my eyes away to try and avoid the burning that now flamed its way across my retinas. Not a second later my back collided with the floor. A sharp razor like tail had knocked my feet from under me. I briefly stared up at the ceiling trying to regain my breath and focus. I desperately searched my mind for the training I have undertaken my whole life. Blank. I remember nothing from the past 17 years. All I can do is stand here helpless, my impending death hurtling towards me in the shape of dragon made completely of stone.