The Trove of Kaefyl

Prologue

I collapsed in the muddy grass and leaned against the metal fence letting out a slight whimper.

I was never meant to be a fighter. I was never meant to see death. Pain, sorrow, despair. I'd never experienced them. At least, not in the immensity that I had today.

But now that was all over. I had made it to the fence. I was almost free.

It wasn't a golden, majestic, heavenly fence like it was supposed to be, but I was okay with this worn plain barrier.

No opening. I groaned with the realization. No opening? I had literally just been through a war and they weren't going to give me even a little hole to squeeze through?

I could hear His voice in the back of my mind, It's fine. He would say. Just one last push to a perfect haven. You can make it. You have to.

I reached up and forced my hands into the chain link fence, dragging my aching feet behind me. Every movement hurt. Did people normally endure this sort of pain?

Tears stung my eyes as the wind whipped around me. I wanted out. I wanted freedom. And you'll have it. His voice came to me again. All you have to do is make it inside. Then you'll be safe. Then you'll be free, Sierra.

I finally pulled myself over the fence and scrambled down, dropping the last few feet, glancing back at the world outside the fence and focusing in on the back of the "No Trespassing" sign that hung there.

I sighed, what if this wasn't even the right place? Oh but it is. It has to be.

The building, though decrepit and gray, stood like a beacon, calling me in. Promising peace. Freedom. Joy. Comfort. Anything I could ever want.

I limped forward, my makeshift bandage was already dyed red from the slice I had received from some enemy soldier or another. The several-yard stretch seemed much more like a twenty-mile climb as I struggled across the haggard field. Every so often, His voice would appear in my head, Keep going. Just keep going, Sierra. You're almost there. Then you can forget about all this pain and sorrow. A few steps more...

I collapsed at the door. I couldn't make it any farther. Dark clouds swirled in the sky, reflecting the turmoil in my head.

The door in front of me slid open easily and a three pairs of fancy shoes stepped out. The voices were nothing but murmurs as I layed on the steps, exhausted and surely next to death.

Finally, finally, a pair of gentle hands brought me to my feet. I brought my head up to look at a stiff smile and unreadable blue eyes. "Welcome," The woman said. "You've made it. You're here."

"Come inside," One of the men spoke. "We'll get you settled and then you'll be safe. Then you'll be free, Sierra." The voice was familiar. All too familiar. I looked at the man. It was Him. The voice that had spoke to me since I had left the palace. Different than I imagined him, but that didn't matter.

"Just get me away from there," I weeped, looking back at the world that I was about to leave.