Short Stories

Shadows of Mystic

"Have you guys signed them, great! Way to sign your life away young fools. Now go on, you lame brains! You better be worth my wild." Ordered proctor 43.

So off they went, deep into the Forest of Death, hoping to find a clear path that may lead to their demise. A nomad with red hair tiptoed by the hissing trees, and scuttled for cover when she heard a thump come out of nowhere.

It was a three-headed cobra, much more dangerous than she feared. The redhead went into full survival mode, and jetted off into the bushes, in a futile attempt to escape. As she fled the scene, the nomad ran into someone less treacherous, a young man with a strange look in his eye.

"Watch it, you redheaded cretin! We are all in a hurry, but please refrain from slowing me down." Yelled the testy stranger.

"I will apologize, that is when you watch your mouth! Sorry sir dummy, but I cannot just sit and chat. Camie over here, has got a beast on her hands!" Screeched the sweaty redhead.

She pointed back behind where the cobra grew near, and waved the stranger goodbye. Without a second to waste, Camie sped off into the plain side of the forest, leaving the mysterious man in the dust.

"Hey come back here Camie! I see through your scheme, trying to dump your problems on me. Well the joke is on you, no way am I sticking around here!" Cried sir dummy. 

The one known as sir dummy, chased after her, in an attempt to escape the clutches of the three-headed cobra. Although, neither Camie nor the hot-headed stranger were in luck, as the slimy creature creeped closer and closer to them. Thus, once again, the nomad embarked on her mission to one, stay alive, and two get through the Forest of Death.

The redhead zoomed past the trees, headed up north, climbing up to higher ground. She cackled all the way up, thinking she had outsmarted the young fool. Only to hear the cries of the stranger, finally caught by the foul beast she had dumped on him. A wave of guilt crashed over Camie, so she snatched some bark off a tree, and slid back down to save sir dummy.

Sir dummy hid himself up in a tree, but was not so lucky with his head all out of ideas, and the three-headed cobra hissing at his feet. A certain nomad transformed the bark sled into a spear, and flung it right between the eyes of the snake, with all her might.

The lethal creature shrieked in agony, and went limp hanging from the tree. At last, it was finally over for Camie and sir dummy, that is until they both journeyed back uphill, only to find another potential threat.

"You know, I applaud your bravery, but that stupid nickname is not gonna to fly!" Cried the hot-head in frustration.

"Alright fine, you killjoy. What else is there to call you? Because you seem rather young to be my age." Camie taunted with a smirk.

"Just call me Kenny, ok? Kenny is my name, you foolish harpy!" Kenny retorted in a rage.

"Ooo those are fighting words Kenny boy. Show me what you got! You, me, race up the cliff starting.... right now!" Camie challenged as she began a fierce sprint.

Gasping in disbelief, Kenny rushed up the cliff, causing the two examinees to be neck-in-neck. Neither challenger was willing to give up now, so they pulled out all the stops, dashing higher and higher. Finally both Camie and Kenny grabbed the edge of the cliff in unison, shouting out their own victory screech.

Only to realize that there was no winner of the race, meaning their efforts were futile. Thus, they sighed in defeat and sprawled out on the ground to catch a breath, only to find yet another hurdle to face, wading in the marshes of the ominous swamp.

The swamp seemed shallow, but neither Kenny or Camie could shake the tense feeling hanging in the air. Sticking to their senses, both parties used the signs of fewer forestry, that they were closing in on the end of the Forest of Death.

Since they were in this together, they formed a truce, then crept on the embankment of the green pools below. Although, their attempt of stealth was all in vain, once the waters cleared, and out emerged a creature like none other before.

"Who dares to cross paths in my swamp?" Bellowed the mushy monster.

"No one worth eating your mushiness!" Kenny whimpered in shaking fear.

"Ha ha, I kid you fools! You humans are just so interesting." Snickered the mysterious Sludge.

Jaws dropped to the floor, Camie and Kenny gawked at him, then looked at each other in awe. Neither sorcerer had ever met a creature living in a swamp before, and were reluctant to stick around. Whispering in a subtle manner, the two parties hatched a plan to high tail their way out of the swamp, and into the other side of the forest. Camie threw a stick at Sludge, while Kenny taunted him from behind shrub, they took off running for dear life.

Poor old Sludge was left to pout alone in the marshes of the swamp. At once, he came up with an idea to befriend the examinees, and prove himself to be worthy of their trust. He sped off in a flash, gaining on their trail, and splat! The slimy creature ran into a tree, and slid down painfully.

In the midst of the pain, this gave Sludge an idea. Thus, he caught up to Kenny and Camie, clutched onto each shoulder, and tumbled his way right out the Forest of Death! Round and round they went, rolling through bush after bush. In the nick of time, just before test time was up, they bombarded their way to the finish line, and passed at the sound of the last whistle.