Out of the Shadows // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Forty-Six

*Warning: This chapter has scenes of violence, bloodshed and deals with mental health crises.*

I entered the dark forest tunnel quickly, my feet finding purchase on the packed dirt path. I was only a few yards in when I stopped and quickly opened the satchel that was in my pocket.

They WERE potions. I recognized a Thunderbrew, A Calming Draught, Alihotsy Draught... and... was that a Fire-Breathing Potion? And there was another... a small bottle with a smoky pink solution in it that I didn't recognize. Great. How could I use it if I didn't know what it was?

I quickly stashed the bottles back in the Satchel, realizing that my timer was running and instead of putting it in my pocket, I tied it to my waistband for easier access.

I began to move forward. The ground started to slope downward slightly. I let my feet take me down the path.

I started to hear noises... soft voices. A little gravelly in tone. "Over here... This way." I kept going forward, wondering what they were really saying... were they talking to me?

"Follow me, traveler.... This way." I think they WERE talking to me. I tried to ignore them and just keep moving forward. Maybe if I just kept moving, I could avoid whatever this 'test' was and get through it quickly.

It got darker before it got lighter. "Lumos." I called and my wand tip lit up. The dirt path was curving slightly and still heading downward but I could see in the short distance ahead there was a clearing.

A meadow-like area. It looked like an old battlefield where a dilapidated castle rampart still barely stood as a testament to days gone by.

"You're here... follow me... come this way." The voices were louder. I was starting to feel really anxious about what was coming.

I moved slowly ahead through the meadow that was lit softly by the daylight that barely seeped through the treetops. "Nox." I extinguished my wand.

I was to that rampart when a small creature jumped out in front of me!

It was about three feet tall with a pallid looking green tint to its skin. It was wearing a bloodred hat, like a gnome, and carrying a wooden mallet that had red stains all over it. And its eyes were totally bloodred! A Red Cap!

It was kind of cute with its little red hat and soft whispers to follow. I tried to ignore it, but it was right in my path and also not seeming harmless... so I kept moving forward.

Suddenly, I was struck from behind by the wooden club of another Red Cap! I saw stars momentarily and shook my head. I could feel a soft trickle of blood down the back of my neck. Shit! A head wound already....

Could I use one of these potions? No. None of them seem to apply... except maybe the pink one I didn't recognize.

"Flipendo!" I yelled and the two surrounding me flew backwards in the air turning upside down and then hitting the ground. They scuttled away. I could hear the crowd cheer and my path was clear.

I started forward again. Three more jumped in my path, one swung at my legs and another latched onto my back. He swiped my bleeding head and wiped it on his hat "More... more blood.... More... MORE BLOOD!" It started to chant and the others joined in. I quickly shook him off and kicked him away like a small dog. He yelped.

"Arresto Momentum!" I called and they all stalled their movements and the chanting stopped. I squeezed around them, walking backwards a bit to see if there were more behind me but there weren't. I turned around to run out of the clearing and was smacked in the shoulder, hard, with a club! And then again in the head. And then in the knee.