Forever and Always.

Hero's Journey.

Hi :) Just a short story I wrote at the beginning of the school year for a AP World Literature paper.

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The luminous brick walls were encased by darkness. There were a few lit up torches that passed by. Dexter was having a hard time grasping the face of the person who was holding onto him. Being only 6 months old did not have very many advantages.  The man looked to be around his early sixties and stared down into his deep brown eyes. Dexter was crying and kicked his little feet up and down trying to escape from the elderly man’s tight grasp. He was demanding attention until he saw what they were running away from. It was a blurry shadow behind the old man that scared Dexter. The speed that the old man was moving at was unbelievable. It’s like they trying to run away from this shadow as fast as they could. He was scared, terrified as to why the old man was running so fast. Whatever this shadow wanted, it was definitely not giving up. Dexter felt chills run down his tiny spine as the shadow seemed to get closer and closer.

Dexter awoke with beads of sweat dripping down his neck that ended up at the curve of his t-shirt. It was all a dream yet it had felt all so familiar. Dexter looked at the alarm clock and nearly stumbled over his bed post. He was late for his Volleyball Match again! He quickly dodged the clothes on the ground and ran to the closet. Where was that white t-shirt again? He searched all his shelves and right when he was about to give up hope, he saw it hanging on a hook by his window. Success! Dodging some more clothing items and shoes on the ground, he grabbed the shirt. As he slid his arms and head through, he glanced out the window. There was his beautiful neighbor getting their mail. What Dexter loved about her was that she was a pure girl. Always so strong and was able to keep herself together. Her name was Isabella and it seemed to be like magic off the tip of his tongue. They had been best friends ever since they met each other in class in Third Grade. Out of his trance, Dexter quickly ran down the stairs and greeted his mother in the kitchen. He ran out the door and outside with an apple in hand and his volleyball in the other. Isabella smiled and waved him over. He quickly obliged.

 Never did he know that what she said next would shatter his heart into millions of pieces. He stared at the cement ground as she waved goodbye and entered her house. Isabella was leaving. Isabella was actually leaving him. He couldn’t deal with all this pain! They had known each other ever since they were little, how could she abandon him like this? Why did she just randomly get accepted? When did she even apply to colleges? They promised they would apply together that way they could figure out when and what college they could go to together. Something was wrong and Dexter was going to find out.

At the end of the Volleyball Match, Dexter and his team had made it to the Finals! The only distraction on his mind though was Isabella. He quickly rushed home, showered and went over to his window. He knew she was studying on her balcony as she always did on Saturday evenings. She was reading a book yet packing at the same time. He could see into her room and saw it was near to being empty. That sickening feeling returned to his stomach. She glanced at him and smiled. Oh how he would miss that breath-taking smile of hers. She went back inside and packed up the last of her things. He saw the U- Haul truck in the front of her house. She was already moving! Was she even going to say bye? He saw her enter the truck and glance back once more at his house. Oh no. Dexter wasn’t thinking when he got into his white Honda Civic. He only did what was on instinct. He drove after the truck and after what seemed like years, it had been a two day drive.

It was a long narrow road to a deserted island. Off in the distance Dexter could see a castle form. This did not look like a university at all. What with all the guards surrounding the grasslands and surveying the area. The truck passed through the large rusted metal gates with ease. He pulled up next to the ancient intercom and saw a video camera poking from behind the bars. The lens focused on his face and the gates immediately opened. He was surprised at this but didn’t think about it twice. He drove through the gates and entered through the wooden door. Three servants were immediately there and bowed down to him. The servants told Dexter to follow them and he did as he was told. As he was following the servants he glanced into what looked like a ballroom.

That’s when he saw them. It was the King and Queen. The Queen’s eyes suddenly brightened at his appearance and she sprinted towards him, engulfing him in a great bear hug. As he was hugging the Queen, the King was just simply smiling as if he had been waiting for this day. Dexter was confused. First of all, why was the Queen hugging him and why was the King filled with joy? That’s when it all clicked. The Kings broad shoulders and thin lips resembled to Dexter as the Queens chocolate brown eyes and cherry nose belonged to him. What was going on?

An old man with a cane slowly came walking through the west doors. The Queen was crying with joy as the King tried to pry her off of Dexter. Dexter had always wondered why he never looked like his siblings or his parents. His parents had blond hair and green eyes and his siblings shared the same trait as their parents. He just thought he was different and now he really knew the truth. They were not his real family. This castle.  This castle was his home! As the old man finally stopped in front of Dexter he knew from that moment that this was the old man from his dream. The one where they were running from the horrid creeping shadow that was close to closing in on them. Was that a dream? Puzzled, the old man sat him down and explained everything.

            He was a prince, Prince Dexter to be exact. This was all so much. First of all, his best friend leaves and disappears somewhere in this castle and next thing he knew, he was a prince! The old man was my Grandfather and the King and Queen were Dexter’s actual parents. They had given him away to an American family because the castle was in danger. Dexter coming back home to the castle was a sign. There were shadows that lurked the outside of the castle. They were said to instantly kill and or enter a body. The force field around the castle was getting weaker as more and more shadows seemed to appear. The King knew that it was from his evil step brother, King Vern. The Kind just did not know what to do. That is where Dexter stood. He was to protect his Kingdom along with his family.

After Dexter was told everything, he excused himself up to his oh so sweet room. Three times the size of his bedroom at home, everything was cleaned and orderly. He could get used to this, but first he had a Kingdom to save. His Grandfather knocked on the door and gave him a special sword. He talked to Dexter of what was going to happen and what to watch out for. Dexter was confused as to why his Grandfather had given him a sword. Oh wait. Dexter was going to have to kill King Vern. And from the soundings of this guy, it would not be easy at all.

I sprinted across the fields, using my new shield to block all the shadows that were chasing me. Because of the new speed I had gained while in the castle, I could outrun many of the shadows. There were few that were able to keep up with the pace of him and he felt powerful. On his sword was a special powder his Grandfather had given him. Right as he drew his sword and stabbed a shadow, the shadow had screeched and turned to dust. He continued on with this as it was getting harder and harder to fight the shadows. He wasn’t going to give him. That’s when Dexter saw what he was looking for. He saw the well and immediately dived into it, knowing what was going to happen.

 He was transferred in a dark realm and saw who was standing there waiting for him. He knew that it was King Vern himself. King Vern did not even care for talk as he just charged at Dexter. Dexter acted on reflex and dodged the sword. He drew his own sword and now there were in combat. King Vern seemed to gain advantage as Dexter left open his vulnerable right side. That was when King Vern quickly turned and stabbed. Dexter was anticipating that move and swung his sword right into King Vern’s heart. That’s when all the darkness ceased and light was once brought again.

Back at the castle, Dexter was relieved. All the shadows had disappeared and there was his father and mother, the King and Queen, waiting for him at the doorstep. Right beside them was Isabella herself as she smiled and waved at him. Dexter smiled and felt as though everything was going to be alright as long as Isabella was there smiling at him. There next to her was his mighty Grandfather. Dexter was glad to be home and now he needed to prepare for the Volleyball Match.